Release Day Review! Creatures of the Night by Grace Collins

Creatures of the Night by Grace Collins
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: July 13, 2021
Publisher: Wattpad Books

Make your way home at five. Be in the tunnels as the sun begins to fall. Seal the entrance. Leave enough room for malfunction. These are the rules I grew up with, the ones I never dared to break. Until now.

Milena’s twentieth birthday, the day she would join the ranks of her village’s hunters, should have been the most exciting day of her life. Being a hunter meant she would be able to help protect her village from the murderous wolves who take human form—the creatures of the night. But a chance encounter with Elias, the enigmatic leader of the creatures, leaves her questioning everything she has ever believed to be true.

Up until now, Elias has managed to protect the creatures of the night and keep the secrets of his past well hidden. Now, as tensions between the groups grow, Elias is forced to make hard decisions: ones that will cost lives. Nobody is safe, especially Milena, the person he is inexplicably drawn to even though it could destroy them both.

Creatures of the Night by Grace Collins puts a different spin on wolf shifters, as well as adding some new creatures. I completely enjoyed the characters, the story line, and all the going ons. I felt like there was definitely a romance, but it was hard to feel the chemistry completely, because the trust hadn't been built yet, and I find that to be very believable. She was raised to believe certain things, and it's hard to forget all that quickly. So, her world was turned upside down and her trust was gone. I feel like she had signs that all wasn't well, but as a child you want to believe the best about things, and that's what she did as she grew up. So, I felt like that was all well done too. The story had a dark feel to it and kind of made me think of The Village at times. 

My issue is with the ending.

It all happened so fast. Just bam, bam, bam. Done. As a reader, I felt a little left in the dust. But, I'm hoping there will be some clarity in the next book in this series. Despite the 3 star rating (which I'm still struggling with. I might change it to a 4, because, it's been a few weeks since I've read it, and I'm still feeling favorable to it. There was so much to love about it. It had practically everything I love about fiction within it's pages, but endings really make or break a story for me. You know what? Since I'm still arguing with myself all these weeks later, which means the book has clearly stuck with me in a big way. I'm bumping it to 4 stars.) I'm actually quite excited to read more in this world. I'm extremely glad there is another book coming. 

The ARC of Creatures of the Night by Grace Collins was kindly provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley for review. The opinions are my own.

 

Grace Collins first discovered her love for writing when she posted her ideas online at the age of thirteen. She has a BA in psychology and French, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education. Her debut novel, Creatures of the Night, has amassed over one million reads online and received a Watty Award for Horror and Paranormal. Grace lives in Aotearoa New Zealand and enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, and learning new languages.

To learn more about Grace Collins and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Wattpad, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Book Review: Alpha's Moon by Sabrina Silvers

Alpha's Moon (Dirigo Pack #1) by Sabrina Silvers
Genre: Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published:  June 22, 2021
Publisher: Self

The mating heat ignites between a dominant alpha-heir and a forbidden wolf-witch hybrid when they’re forced to find his kidnapped sister and stop a war.

Now is not the time for Kane to have found his mate. But the Goddess is never wrong. If he gives in to his desires for Sheridan, her lineage could cost him everything. Yet as his body aches for her, and thoughts of her curves cloud his mind, he finds himself willing to risk it all to claim her.

Forced, out of friendship and loyalty, Sheridan joins the hunt and gets more than she bargained for with a dangerous attraction to a darkly handsome wolf. While she seeks to distance herself from pack politics, Sheridan can’t deny that the first place she has ever felt she belongs is at Kane’s side. Not everyone agrees, and some will stop at nothing to destroy their love, their family, their future. 

Alpha Moon is the first book in the Dirigo Pack series by Sabrina Silver. I read this book on a whim. I posted a promo for it last week when it was released, read the blurb and a couple teasers, and decided to start reading it. I'm so glad I did, because I couldn't put it down. There is a lot going on all through it. The supporting characters were interesting too. Their whole pack dynamic is intriguing and makes sense when you think about it from a wolfy perspective. Wolfy perspective? Is that a thing? It is now. Of course you have the romance too, which I found to be very believable. There was chemistry from the start between Sheridan and Kane, but there was no trust. So, they had to build a friendship and so on. Sheridan has a lot of baggage, and I'll let her explain that for herself when you read the book. Kane had it a little easier, but he was quite blindsided by Sheridan. Things could go very wrong for him on so many levels. Needless to say, this wasn't an easy romance. Then you have the kidnapping, the betrayals, and the threat of war. Lots going on in the background, and you don't know who to trust, making it even harder for any kind of relationship to grow. This one is a keeper, and I can't wait for more books to be released in this series!

Alpha's Moon by Sabrina Silvers was kindly provided to me by Xpresso Tours for review. The opinions are my own.

Sabrina Silvers began her writing career dreaming of elves, orcs, and hobbits in the fantasy section of her local library, looking in wardrobes for Narnia and Aslan, and hunting for gnomes in the forest. To her dismay, she never found any of them except between the pages of her books. So, she had to go out and create them for herself, leading to her lifelong love of reading and writing and dreaming about adventures, fantasy creatures and love in fantasy lands! She divides her time between writing sexy contemporary romances under a different pen name, reading, knitting and being owned by a very spoiled cocker spaniel who does not share her love of fantasy creatures.

To learn more about Sabrina Silvers and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, & Instagram.

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Release Day Blitz! Alpha's Moon by Sabrina Silvers

Alpha's Moon (Dirigo Pack #1) by Sabrina Silvers
Genre: Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published:  June 22, 2021
Publisher: Self

The mating heat ignites between a dominant alpha-heir and a forbidden wolf-witch hybrid when they’re forced to find his kidnapped sister and stop a war.

Now is not the time for Kane to have found his mate. But the Goddess is never wrong. If he gives in to his desires for Sheridan, her lineage could cost him everything. Yet as his body aches for her, and thoughts of her curves cloud his mind, he finds himself willing to risk it all to claim her.

Forced, out of friendship and loyalty, Sheridan joins the hunt and gets more than she bargained for with a dangerous attraction to a darkly handsome wolf. While she seeks to distance herself from pack politics, Sheridan can’t deny that the first place she has ever felt she belongs is at Kane’s side. Not everyone agrees, and some will stop at nothing to destroy their love, their family, their future. 

Update: Check out my review here!

She sighed, letting her spine relax. She had a direction. A sound made her jerk and turn. Kane was leaning against the wall, just inside the door, his arms crossed in front of him, wearing jeans that fit him comfortably and a black leather jacket over a tight T-shirt. She tried to ignore the way he filled out the shirt and jeans, and the way his dark eyes heated as they roamed over her, but he didn’t move from the wall, just watched her with the steady intensity of the predator that he was. Her body heated as if his gaze was a laser as it traced her body, and a steady throbbing built deep inside reminding her of how long it had been since she’d been laid. His scent trailed through the room, through the layers of incense she’d lit, and she melted inside.

Damn it. She should have sensed him invading her house. Her wards should’ve warned her. How could he have slipped past them without her knowing? She uncrossed her legs, an involuntary whimper escaping her lips as blood rushed to the limbs and the stiff muscles protested the movement. Quickly, he shoved off the wall and gripped her arm, helping her to her feet, not touching her anywhere else, his hand burning her like a brand. He then shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her wordlessly.

“Not that I mind the way you’re dressed, but I thought you might be more comfortable this way.” His voice was a deep rumble, and she swore she could feel her pussy clenching then softening. Damn, he sounded sexy.

She narrowed her gaze and dropped his jacket, striding casually from the room to her bedroom where she forced herself to slowly dress, not letting on how it bothered her that he was seeing her naked. It didn’t bother him at all, since shifters had a much more open view of nudity, not able to shift with their clothes. But she had never liked being that vulnerable, not that she’d let him know that.

He leaned against the doorjamb and watched her with hooded eyes. Once she was appropriately armed with her jeans and black T-shirt, she turned to face him.

“Do you often break into women’s houses? Is that how you get your rocks off? Or is this some sort of bizarre courting ritual?”

He levered himself off the doorjamb and prowled over to her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I find it funny that you ask about my courting of other females. I’ve never courted anyone, and I won’t be going to any other female’s house.” He leaned closer to her neck and inhaled. Then he stepped back. “And when I’m courting you, you’ll know it.”

Sabrina Silvers began her writing career dreaming of elves, orcs, and hobbits in the fantasy section of her local library, looking in wardrobes for Narnia and Aslan, and hunting for gnomes in the forest. To her dismay, she never found any of them except between the pages of her books. So, she had to go out and create them for herself, leading to her lifelong love of reading and writing and dreaming about adventures, fantasy creatures and love in fantasy lands! She divides her time between writing sexy contemporary romances under a different pen name, reading, knitting and being owned by a very spoiled cocker spaniel who does not share her love of fantasy creatures.

To learn more about Sabrina Silvers and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, & Instagram.

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Book Review! Five Weeks by Dannika Dark

Five Weeks (Seven #3) by Dannika Dark
Genre: Adult Fiction(Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy)
Date Published: July 27, 2014
Publisher: Self

Destiny will find you. 

Izzy has always loved the freedom and adventure of life on the road, but she’s recently decided to settle down—as much as a rogue wolf can. When her boyfriend gets her a job working at a hot Shifter bar, she runs into the last person on earth she expected to see again. 

Jericho isn’t the famous rock star he once was, though he still plays in a local band and loves to party. Beautiful women come and go, but music is his only passion—until a sassy redhead named Isabelle Monroe shows up unexpectedly. 

Fate reunites two former friends living with one foot in the present and the other in the past. But will they have a future when one of them is forced to choose between life and death? Old habits die hard, and sometimes the toughest addictions to shake are the ones that control our hearts. 

Five Weeks is the third book in the Seven series by Dannika Dark. I was excited to read Jericho's story. I just knew there had to be more to him. Izzy and Jericho have some history, that's for sure. There was an incident that tore them apart, and both were hurt in the process. Thankfully, the chemistry is still there, and their interactions are intoxicating. The way they joke around and take trips down memory lane are my favorite parts of the book.

She began singing a Pink Floyd song, except with numbers.
“Isabelle?” Something wasn’t right. Hawk must have drugged her, but he didn’t see any track marks on her arms.
“One hour, Reno said. Denver made me sing it,” she said incoherently.
When she sang another verse, he realized it was a phone number. Reno knew how to run a trace, and that’s what he must have been setting up.
Jericho covered her legs with a sheet and leaned close to her ear. “Stay here, Isabelle. I’m going to call for help.”
That was a promise.
But first, he had to leave her alone for ten minutes. He had something more important to take care of, and that something was time alone with Hawk—no holds barred. Carnal thirst consumed his wolf, one that wouldn’t be sated if Hawk were given the option of life, even if it were for a few more days in a basement. That animal didn’t deserve an easy death.
As Jericho arrowed down the hall, he shifted into his wolf and then back into human form. This happened twice as man and animal became one in thought. He dialed the number Isabelle had been singing, and when Reno answered, Jericho dropped the phone and made his way down to the basement.
Shifters played by a different set of rules than humans did. Wolves avenged those who were abused in their pack, and with the full support of the law. Although Isabelle wasn’t legally part of his family, she was in his heart, and that’s all that counted. Justice would be served, no matter the consequences.
Jericho entered the basement and moved like a predator into the room, closing the door behind him.
Hawk’s eyes widened with terror when Jericho’s savage wolf emerged, pink tongue passing over his sharp fangs, promising a brutal death.

Check out my reviews of other books in this series!

Dannika Dark is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Urban Fantasy Romance and Paranormal Romance books. Her books have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, and she is a 2016 Audie Awards finalist. In addition to writing about supernatural worlds, Dannika is passionate about graphic design and creates all her own covers and series art. When not writing in her cave, she enjoys indie music, reading, Netflix, heaps of chocolate, and unleashing her dark side.

To learn more about Dannika Dark and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Google+, Spotify, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Book Review! Six Months by Dannika Dark

Six Months (Seven #2) by Dannika Dark
Genre: Adult Fiction(Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy)
Date Published: March 25, 2014
Publisher: Self

April Frost is a compassionate young woman with a steady job and ambitious goals. But the harder she runs away from her past, the more it threatens to destroy her. When three strangers enter her life, April is forced to face her demons and it's a battle she may not win.

Private investigators in the Breed world are men who take risks, and Reno Cole is no exception. As a Shifter, he's expected to control his inner animal. But lately his wolf has been venturing dangerously close to the city, and he's about to discover why. When Reno is reintroduced to a family friend, the attraction is immediate. April captivates him with her secretive eyes and resilient spirit. She's also in trouble, and despite the fact she's a human, Reno can't turn his back on her.

April is caught between two worlds: One that threatens to bury her dreams and another that could fulfill them. Can she trust the wolf at her door and find the courage to overcome her demons?

Six Months is the second book in the Seven series by Dannika Dark. This is Reno's story, and I loved every bit of Mister Mystery. He's a pretty intense dude too, plus all the mystery that shadows him makes him quite intriguing. April has her own secrets, and she's in a lot of trouble through no fault of her own. She wants to handle it all on her own, but it seems impossible. These two are an unlikely couple. First of all, April is human, so there's that. Second of all, I feel like there are still some secrets they should know about each other, even after the book ended. So, will these secrets put a strain on them? It's not like they're deep, dark secrets, but if I were April, I'd want to know.

There’s a buzzing sensation when you have chemistry with someone. It’s like there are invisible threads connecting your bodies and igniting into sparks, and the residual pulse bounces back in shockwaves, growing stronger with each second.

I felt that with Reno. He stepped so close to me that I remembered how good it felt when he’d held me in his arms. The animalistic look in his eyes captured me like he was a predator and I was prey. He felt it too. I could tell by soft breath he took before he spoke.

“I’ve always liked hazel eyes,” he said. “Yours look like a sunset over sea-green waters.”

I hit pause. This was a scene I’d be replaying in my head for weeks to come, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment by saying something inane. I let him graze his thumb across my mouth. He pulled my lower lip down just enough that his thumb glided across the fleshy inside. Then he rolled his wet thumb across my lip, making what seemed like a casual gesture become the most intimate moment I’d experienced with a man outside of sex.

Staring into Reno’s chocolate eyes up close was like riding on that motorcycle. Intense, sexy, and addictive. When I felt his hand leisurely traveling down the curve of my back, my icy walls began to melt and I warmed to his touch.

I waited for him to make another move, but it never came. He looked at me like something unattainable—the same way I coveted the expensive perfume bottles behind the display counter, or the chocolate macadamia nut cookies at the gourmet shop.

I whirled around and he captured my wrist, gently tugging me back. “Something wrong with the way I touched you?”

“It’s nothing,” I breathed.

But Reno didn’t let go. He stepped closer and lifted my chin. “Did you want me to kiss you?”

“No.”

Reno grinned. “Liar.”

Check out my reviews of other books in this series!

Dannika Dark is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Urban Fantasy Romance and Paranormal Romance books. Her books have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, and she is a 2016 Audie Awards finalist. In addition to writing about supernatural worlds, Dannika is passionate about graphic design and creates all her own covers and series art. When not writing in her cave, she enjoys indie music, reading, Netflix, heaps of chocolate, and unleashing her dark side.

To learn more about Dannika Dark and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Google+, Spotify, Pinterest, and Twitter.