TagSoul Mates

Book Review: When He’s An Alpha by Suzanne Wright

B

The Gist: A steamy paranormal romance that perfectly balances hilarious banter with emotional character development. The Heroine is awesomely self-aware and confident; she stands up for herself without tilting into the ‘not like other girls’ trope. The second chance romance provided some riveting angst but also contributed to the lack of a 5-star rating.

Series: Olympus Pride, #2*

Release Date: March 2, 2021

Synopsis
The golden rule of shallow flings is not to get attached, right? Well, Havana Ramos broke it. Big time. There’s just something about Tate Devereaux that pulls at her. Assertive, compelling, and self-assured, the Alpha cat shifter pushes every one of her best buttons. Like really, really hard. Having overheard an enlightening conversation, she knows he won’t give her more than a fling—something, to be fair, he’d told her well in advance. If she doesn’t want her heart to get bruised, it’s time to end what little they have. It’s not like he’ll care or anything. Except … it turns out that he does.

Newly-appointed Alpha Tate Devereaux is never bothered when women walk away. He can’t exactly blame them, given his distrustful cat’s habit of withdrawing from relationships. But when lone shifter Havana ends their fling, everything within Tate rebels against it—including his cat. Even as she and Tate work together to crush the threat looming over her, Havana holds him at arms’ length. But if she thinks she can end their fling with no real explanation and that he’ll just tip his hat and walk away, she’s forgotten one very important thing—there’s nothing easy about shaking off an Alpha.

Ending
HEA
Representation
• Heroine of colour
• Asian supporting character
• Bisexual side character
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Gun violence
• Human trafficking
• Reference to r@pe
• Blood and violence
• Murder of parents
• Torture
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions
No cheating
Does have OM and OW drama
– Ex-friends-with-benefits of Heroine tries to win the Heroine back
– Ex-almost-imprinted-mate of Hero tries to win Hero back
Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
– Hero doesn’t want a serious relationship so they break up for a bit
No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Kindle Unlimited

Rating: 4-stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

(more…)

Stone Guardian (Entwined Realms, #1) by Danielle Monsch

S

Series: Entwined Realms*

Release Date: July 3rd, 2013

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Gryphons flying past skyscrapers? Wizards battling it out in coffeehouses? Women riding motorcycles with large swords strapped to their backs? All normal sights since the Great Collision happened twenty-six years ago.

Well, not normal for everyone. Larissa Miller may have been born after the Great Collision, but as a history teacher who lives in the human-only city, she has never come into contact with any other race or species, nor has she wanted to. Her life is as ordinary as it gets – that is, until one day she walks out of her apartment and is attacked by a mob of Zombies, only to be saved by a Gargoyle.

Gargoyles trust no one outside their Clan, but due to a cryptic prophecy, Terak, Leader of the Gargoyles, has been watching over the human woman for months. While he can find no reason why the woman has been singled out, something about her stirs every protective instinct within him. When the attack confirms that the threats against her exist and are real, he convinces Larissa that though their races have never been allies, the best chance of discovering why she has been brought into his world is by working together.

In the course of their investigation, Terak becomes entranced by his little human. But when he discovers why Necromancers want her and the great reward that awaits him if he betrays her, he must choose between the welfare of his Clan and not only Larissa’s life, but the fate of this New Realm as well.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence (Blood and gore)
• The prologue is quite sad–it’s in the Heroine’s father’s POV, and it’s when the Heroine’s mother dies
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
No cheating
Does have OW (the Hero is engaged to an OW, however, in his culture, you don’t have sex with someone until after you’re mated.)
No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM (The Hero and Heroine are virgins.)
Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

(more…)

Found (Books of Stone, #1) by B.L. Brunnemer

F

Series: Books of Stone

Release Date: January 13th, 2018

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Forget everything you know about the world. Vampires exist, Werewolves exist, monsters hide in the shadows, and it’s my job to make sure they obey our laws. My name is Evelyn, and I’m a gargoyle. The last one or so I thought.

A team of Gargoyles have found me. And for the first time in over a century, I’m not the only one of my kind around. Which is a good thing since demons are slipping into this world fully formed. The bodies are piling up. Something is going on in my city, and it looks like I’m going to need the backup.

*While this is a Veil Diaries world book, this is not a Young Adult book. Graphic content.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence: The Heroine has both of her legs (below the knee) chopped off as payment to another supernatural species. The scene is descriptive.
Note: Gargoyle have regenerative abilities, so her legs do grow back.
• Murder of family (off-page, flashbacks)
• PTSD
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
No cheating
No OW
Does have OM (A human ex-lover of the Heroine attempts to win her back.)
Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

(more…)

Becoming Elemental (Five Elements, #1) by Ryann Elizabeth

B

Series: The Five Elements

Release Date: December 16th, 2017

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Eighteen year old Breanna Hunter has always seen herself as just an awkward teenager with the unfortunate aptitude for winding up in crazy and unexplainable situations.

After tragedy strikes, she ends up on a path she never knew was possible. Bre hoped her first year of college would be a life-changing experience and a new start. She will soon discover just how transformative college can be.

After another dangerous encounter, she meets five alluring strangers who are not as they seem. Together they uncover the truth, she is like them. She is an Elemental. Through them she learns that the Elemental world is not only filled with magical gifts and bonding, but also demons and danger.

Bre and the guys need to work together to figure out where she came from while keeping her safe from those who want her dead.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Traumatic death of best friend (on-page)
• Violence
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
No cheating
No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
Does have OW drama
– She ends up staying at the guys’ house because she’s family friends with one of the heroes.
Does have the Heroes and Heroine pushing away
Does not have a separation between the Heroes and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3/5 stars

(more…)

Lure of Oblivion (The Mercury Pack, #3) by Suzanne Wright

L

Series: The Mercury Pack*

Release Date: November 21st, 2017

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Gwen Miller may be a human, but she has no problem taking a stand against her own kind. She’s going to testify against the teenage boy she saw viciously assault a lone shifter female—and no amount of pressure from the boy’s wealthy family will make her back down. But when the harassment turns violent, help comes in the form of a lean, toned wolf with winter-gray eyes.

As a guest at Gwen’s inn, shifter enforcer Zander Devlin can’t help but notice that the fierce and leggy brunette is in serious trouble. Since she’s putting herself at risk for one of his kind, keeping her safe is the least he can do. That’s not the only reason Zander wants her close. He desires her, even as the wolf inside him backs away from her. But his feral instincts are hard to keep down, and as they take shape, they’re harder for Gwen to resist. Then again, embracing them could be the only thing that could save her life.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
• BIPOC supporting characters
• LGBTQIA+ supporting characters
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence
• Domestic abuse (Heroine’s mother, off-page and memories)
• Emotional abuse
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
No cheating
No OW
Does have OM drama
– Unrequited (and they never dated) by the Heroine
Does have the Heroine pushing away
Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 5/5 stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

(more…)

Feather’s That Bind (Harper’s Destiny, #1) by L.A. Kirk

F

Series: Harper’s Destiny

Release Date: July 11th, 2017

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
The neighbouring kingdom of Greenwood is threatening war if Princess Harper doesn’t marry their Prince Landon, a childhood friend.

After years apart, the prince is not the man she remembers. His cold demeanour quickly drives a wedge between them. But when a legend comes to life and offers three sacred feathers for three destined husbands, Princess Harper’s future is thrown into chaos.

With the threat of war on the horizon and a traitor within the Greenwood royal family, Harper will have to overcome the schemes standing in her path and forge new bonds with three men destined to be hers.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• No OTT sad parts
• No abuse
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
No cheating
No OW/OM drama
Does have one of the Heroes and Heroine pushing away
Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 2/5 stars

(more…)

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3) by Sarah J. Maas

A

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Release Date: May 2nd, 2017

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
A nightmare, I’d told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
• BIPOC side characters characters
• Lesbian and bisexual supporting characters
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence (Blood and gore)
• Death
• PTSD
• Emotional abuse
• Allusions to rape (off-page, descriptions)
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
No cheating
Does have OM drama
– Heroine pretends to be in love with her ex-fiancé for strategic purposes in the war.
– There is no physical intimacy between them-the Heroine is disgusted by him.
No pushing away
Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Note: This is a review of the third book in the series; therefore, there will be spoilers from the first and second book below.

(more…)

Make Me a Wish (The Conduit, #1) by K.B. Ladnier and Anita Maxwell

M

Series: The Conduit

Release Date: May 31st, 2017

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
“Ever made a wish and had it come true? Well lucky you, because I have never had any of my wishes come true.”

Arsyn Henley has had a rough life growing up. All the universe has ever done, is take every loved one she has ever had and give deep rooted scars—both on the inside and out—in return. When a relative she never knew about dies and leaves her a cabin in the mountains, she’s eager to start over with a new life. She could never have guessed her new life would be riddled with secrets about her family, new people to love and most of all magic beyond her wildest dreams.

Enter the four dashing Kismet brothers who take this broken girl on a metaphorical magic carpet ride through the world of Jinn—beings who grant the wishes of the human race—and slowly put back together her soul with pieces of their own.
But where there’s light, dark is soon to follow. Can she find the strength to accept her new reality and the people who come with it bringing all the beauty of love and light to her? Or will she falter and beckon the darkness to take her away as it’s own?

*This is a 400+ page Reverse-Harem series with some disturbing sequences of events, mild language and is recommended for ages 17+*

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Physical abuse (Detailed on-page at the start of the book)
• Attempted murder (Past, Heroine’s foster parents were abusive)
• PTSD (a by-product is the Heroine goes into rages when she feels out of control)
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
No cheating
No OW/OM
Does have the Heroine pushing away
Does have a separation between the Heroes and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

(more…)

Follow Me on Wordpress

Follow Talk Nerdy To Me on WordPress.com

Currently Reading

You Should See Me in a Crown
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
I Hope I Join the Band: Narrative, Affiliation, and Antiraciset Rhetoric


Sarah Anne's favorite books »

Archives

Upcoming Releases

Parade
The Art of Catching Feelings
A Novel Love Story


Sarah Anne's favorite books »