Cover Reveal: Devil in Boots (Devil in the Deep Blue Sea #2) by Stacey Marie Brown

Title: Devil in Boots

Series: Devil in the Deep Blue Sea #2

Author: Stacey Marie Brown

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Release Day: October 31, 2023

Designer: Jay Aheer -  Simply Defined Art

 

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨, 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮.
𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲.
For centuries this has been the drive for humans to lie, murder, cheat, and steal, and The Nectar is the biggest fortune of them all. An object which can change the dynamics between fae and human, save lives, and gives humans fae qualities. 
Tracking down Katrina in the ancient dragon caves, Croygen and Kat sink deeper into greed and betrayal from foes who have been hiding in the shadows—-nightmares from the past who still haunt Croygen.
When the nectar slips through their fingers, their chase takes them to the destitute streets of Budapest, where the divide between humans and fae is brewing, and leads Katrina to an old childhood friend. Someone who would have fought the world and would have killed any enemy for her.
Now 𝙨𝙝𝙚 is the enemy.
Choosing between love and her soul, Katrina will make the ultimate choice that will change all of their lives forever, setting a domino effect into the future.
But you should know never to trust a pirate. They seek revenge, battle for vengeance, and kill with cruelty.
Puss and her Pirate will ride the seas and hunt those who have betrayed them. 
Yo Ho. Welcome to the world of scavengers and cutthroats.

  

Stacey Marie Brown is a lover of hot fictional bad boys and sarcastic heroines who kick butt. She also enjoys books, travel, TV shows, hiking, writing, design, and archery. Stacey swears she is part gypsy, being lucky enough to live and travel all over the world.

She grew up in Northern California, where she ran around on her family’s farm, raising animals, riding horses, playing flashlight tag, and turning hay bales into cool forts. She volunteers helping animals and is Eco-friendly. She feels all animals, people, and environment should be treated kindly.

  

 

Review: Obsidio (The Illuminae Files #3) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Title: Obsidio

Series: The Illumine Files #3
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: March 13, 2018
Pages: 618
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Source/Format: Audiobook
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza--but who knows what they'll find seven months after the invasion?

Meanwhile, Kady's cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza's ragtag underground resistance. When Rhys--an old flame from Asha's past--reappears on Kerenza, the two find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heros will fall, and hearts will be broken.

From bestselling author duo Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff comes the exciting finale in the trilogy that broke the mold and has been called "stylistically mesmerizing" and "out-of-this-world-awesome."

This author duo has ruined me for all other science fiction authors. I will be forever comparing all future sci-fi reads to The Illuminae Files and the duo's other god-tier sci-fi series, The Aurora Cycle. Their combined writing style is my preferred brand of heart-stopping, jaw-dropping science fiction. There is just something magical about their writing that clings to my heart and casts a spell over me.

Again, I may sound like a robot repeating points from my review of Gemina but it can't be understated how innovative and fun the epistolary format of this series is. It is such a genuinely unique experience. And the audiobooks of this series are outstanding. I initially read the hardback copy but listening to the audiobooks is an entirely different experience.

I was absolutely in love with the overall plot of this series from the very start. I loved the conclusion and the journey from start to finish was incredible. This series boasts so many of the things that I love about space stories: excellent battle scenes, corrupt companies, biotech plagues, rogue AI, space stations, space colonies, spaceships, and the list goes on. I love how the authors incorporated so many amazing ideas into the story.

The characters in this series were fantastic. I loved the found family aspect that was present in each of the books. The reader really grows fond of each of the main characters throughout the course of the story. I loved how each character was distinct and vibrant to the reader.

The romances in the story were subplots so they didn't get a lot of page time. At least, not in a traditional love story sense. There is plenty of romance but it is more subtle. The characters express how much they mean to each other through actions and words while they are in dire situations. There isn't a lot of time for making out when you are fighting for your life. That said, I felt that the chemistry between each of the couples in the story was strong and written beautifully. I loved all of the banter as well. It really put a smile on my face.

Overall, this is an outstanding finale of a perfect series. I couldn't have asked for a better ending. That ending was so perfect and it got my brain whirling about possible sequels. I doubt there will ever be a sequel but one can dream, am I right? If you like your science fiction dosed with lots of explosions, excellent fight scenes, questionable AI, and characters that you would definitely want on your team when things get dark then this series is perfect for you. I hope and wish and pray to any and all gods with all my might that this author duo decides to write us another epic science fiction masterpiece.

Do you read books in an epistolary format? If so, what do you like about them? If not, what is stopping you?

Cover Reveal: End Game by Serena Akeroyd writing as G.A. Mazurke

Title: End Game

Series: New York Stars #1

Author: Serena Akeroyd writing as

G.A. Mazurke

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Brother's Best Friend/Hockey Romance

Cover Design (Illustrated & Discreet): Chelsea Chira

Cover Design (Hardcover): RBA Designs

Photographer: Rafa G Catala

Model: Aitor Ferrón

Release Date: September 7, 2023

BLURB

She’s my lifeline, my rock…

When I was billeted with the Bukowskis, I made a mistake.

I didn’t lock Gracie Agnieska Bukowski down.

Instead, like a 16-year-old idiot, I became best friends with her brother, Kow, and now, the family considers me one of their own.

Until her, hockey was my only refuge. So, when I’m traded to the New York Stars, my first move is to change my number to 35. See, we made a vow, one that she might have forgotten, but I haven’t.

Gracie’s about to be swept off her feet.

I’m going to prove to her that not only is she not my sister…

She’s my end game.

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AUTHOR BIO

G.A. Mazurke is the crazy lady behind Serena Akeroyd, crafter of smexy heroes you just wanna lick. While Serena has us expecting dark romance with lots of twists and turns … G.A. is her more mainstream/contemporary personality.

She explores her sweeter side while keeping the sexy we love, where the women fall hard but the men fall harder.

Some of G.A.’s books will cross over into Serena’s universes… so expect a cameo or two from beloved characters, while discovering new bands of brothers, with the banter, the laughs and the tears you are used to.

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Review: Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Title: Gemina

Series: The Illumine Files #2
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: October 18, 2016
Pages: 659
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Source/Format: Audiobook
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

I didn't write a review the first time that I read this so this review was written after reading it a second time. The first time I read the hardcover and this time I opted for the audiobook. (And honestly, the audiobook brings a whole new experience to this book! It was amazing!)

Yowza! The genius of this series is astounding!

I am salivating over the complexity of the plot and the arrangement of the overall story arc. The plot is so clever and all the pieces are expertly woven together to create something totally unique and monumental. I am a huge fan of this author duo and I love how seamlessly they collaborate. They have something special going on and I can only hope that they continue to collaborate and bestow the world with more marvelous stories. I loved the atmospheric world-building and the scientific components of the story. The storytelling was so immersive.

The way that the characters in this book capture your heart cannot be understated. To be honest, when I first started this series I was unsure if the character development would be enough to make me care about the characters because of the epistolary format of the story. I was wrong. The story may be told through a dossier of text messages, surveillance footage, and the like but these authors really bring their A-game because these characters were incredible. The reader really comes to care about them and their plight. I initially imagined that they would feel abstract because of the epistolary format of the story but they feel significant and the reader really grows to love them and root for them.

The story had a small romantic aspect, though it wasn't the main focus. It was a slow-burn romance that was really endearing. The two main characters are from different sides of the tracks and they grow to care about each other and trust each other throughout the events in the story. The romance is a tad more involved than that but it would get into spoiler territory so I'll keep it brief. I will say that Hanna and Nik had excellent and believable chemistry and their banter kept me perpetually amused. They were just so in sync.

Overall, this is a mind-blowing story that is expertly crafted by an author duo that pretty much has the Midas touch when it comes to creative writing. If there is a way to fangirl harder then please tell me now because this book series is really something special and it is so hard to put into words the magnitude of my love for it. If you love science fiction with a unique flair, unorthodox story formats, and sensational plots then you need to start this series! 

Do you read books in an epistolary format?  If so, what do you like about them? If not, what is stopping you?

New Release & Release Blitz: Second Down Darling (Varsity Dads #4) by Lex Martin

Title: Second Down Darling

Author: Lex Martin

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Single Dad/Forbidden Romance

Release Date: August 7, 2023

BLURB

Jake’s my best friend and first love. There’s just one problem—he belongs to my sister.

I’ve been crushing on Jake for years, but never had the guts to tell him. One drunken night with my sister and two pink lines later, and he’s lost to me forever.

She doesn’t care that I met Jake Ramirez first. That he and I were best friends first. That I fell in love with him first. Because what my sister wants, my sister gets.

When she video-calls me and Jake accidentally walks by in the buff, something in me snaps.

Transferring to a different college might seem like a copout, but I have to get away from Jake and my sister before I say or do something I’ll regret. In an act of desperation, I ghost my old life.

For the next two years, everything is great—until I come face-to-face with Jake and his son, who my sister abandoned.

Jake’s the new wide receiver at my school, and he wants nothing to do with me, which is fine because I plan to keep my distance. Except we’re thrown together in the most dire circumstances that bring back all those old feelings.

They say everyone deserves a second chance, but my heart can’t handle breaking one more time.

Second Down Darling is an angsty, friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance, featuring a sexy single dad who’s a down-and-out college football player and a nerdy girl determined to overcome her wallflower ways. It has major second chance vibes and lots of steam! Second Down Darling is a dual POV standalone in the USA Today-bestselling series Varsity Dads.

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Lex Martin is the USA Today bestselling author of The Varsity Dad Dilemma, the Texas Nights series, and the Dearest series, books she hopes readers love but her parents avoid. A former high school English teacher and freelance journalist, she resides in Texas with her husband, twin daughters, and a bunny named Dandelion.

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