Review: Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross

Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross

(Stay a Spell #1)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Genre: Paranormal Romance

What's the worst thing that can happen to a werewolf? Unable to shift for three months, Mateo Cruz knows all too well. His wolf has taken up residence in his head, taunting him night and day with vividly violent and carnal thoughts. Convinced he's cursed, he needs the help of a powerful witch before he literally goes insane.

​Evie Savoie has always obeyed the house rules of her coven — no werewolves. They're known for being moody and volatile. So, when a distempered, dangerous werewolf strolls into the bar and almost strangles one of her late-night customers, she's ready to bounce him through the door. But the desperation in his eyes when he begs her to help him softens her heart and convinces her to bend the rules.

​What Evie doesn't know is that Mateo's wolf has a mind of his own. And now that she's in his sights, he wants only one thing. Her.

I loved this fun, sexy romance between a nerdy witch and an out of control werewolf. 

He woos her with Star Wars! *swoon*

I love the characters in this and I’m excited to read the rest of the series, 6 in total, one book for each sister. The world-building in this is pretty classic urban fantasy but I like that each sister has a different type of magic.

Evie Savoie is a witch who specialises in breaking hexes. She’s also a star wars fan and comic book connoisseur/artist. I love that she’s nerdy like me! She’s also a total sweetie who can’t resist helping a desperate werewolf, even though it’s against her sister’s rules. Wolves are dangerous.

Mateo is awesome and I love that we can hear his wolf Alpha’s voice in his head. The inner dialogue is hilarious! His wolf is all violence and sex and is totally at odds with Mateo’s gentle, artistic nature. However, they agree on one thing, they want Evie. 

I was so keen for the forced proximity, friends to lovers romance in this and I was not disappointed! The story also kept me guessing over who would have cursed Mateo. I really enjoyed every minute of it.

If you’re looking for a funny, steamy paranormal romance with all the classics - werewolves, witches and vampires - then pick this one!  

Happy reading!

If you enjoyed this review, follow this blog for updates and find me on Instagram  @iwishiownedabookstore or add me on Goodreads 💗

ARC Review: Of Wicked Blood by Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz

Of Wicked Blood by Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz

(The Quatrefoil Chronicles #1)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

No rest for the wicked... or the cursed.

SLATE

I didn’t mean to steal the Bloodstone from the De Morel’s crypt.

Scratch that, I did mean to steal it.

Until I realized it was a curse-magnet that only comes off if I, along with a jolly trio, successfully defeat four curses.

If any of us fail, I’m dead.

I’ve never been a glass half-empty sort of person, but my glass looks in dire need of a refill right about now.

The only highlight of this wicked treasure hunt: feisty, entitled Cadence de Morel.

CADENCE

I was raised on tales of magic, in a small town reputed to be the birthplace of French witchcraft.

Did I believe all the stories I heard? Absolutely not. I mean, if magic existed, Maman wouldn’t have died, and Papa wouldn’t be stuck in a wheelchair, right?

Wrong.

The night Slate Ardoin waltzes into my life, wearing a ring he stole from my mother’s grave, I call him a monster.

But then I meet real ones, and Slate, well . . . he becomes something else to me.

Something frustrating to live with but impossible to live without.

Something I will fight for, no matter the cost.

*Warning: profuse cursing (and not just the magical kind).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Curses and treasure and demons oh my!

I really enjoyed this story of a ragtag crew on a life-threatening magical scavenger hunt. They only have a limited time to find all the pieces of the puzzle in order to restore magic otherwise Slate will die and they will lose their chance forever. The danger and the urgency feel very real. A few times the characters missed things which seemed obvious to me, but I suppose they were a bit busy either trying not to die or flirting.

The romance is sweet, enemies to lovers with plenty of tension and I hope they kick it up a notch in the next book. I really enjoyed the verbal sparring between Slate and Cadence, though I did find the changing POVs a little confusing at times. Slate and Cadence both have very rich back stories and I enjoyed getting to know their characters. 

I love the morally grey characters in this, it makes the plot so much more interesting. There is definitely something sinister going on and I can't wait for that reveal.

The French historic town setting is really cool too, very atmospheric, and it adds to the mystery and the danger.

If you're looking for a unique read with suspense, curses, and perfectly imperfect characters, then definitely give this one a try! This series will be a duology.

Happy reading!

If you enjoyed this review, follow this blog for updates and find me on Instagram  @iwishiownedabookstore or add me on Goodreads 💗

Review: Firefighter Griffin by Zoe Chant; a sweet/steamy shifter romance

Firefighter Griffin by Zoe Chant

(Fire & Rescue Shifters #3)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Single mom Hayley Parker has always had to face every parenting challenge on her own — but when her five-year-old son unexpectedly turns into a lion cub, she finds herself with more than she can handle. With her little boy stuck up a tree and yowling for help, the only thing she can think to do is call the fire department…

Ex-firefighter Griffin MacCormick has the heart of a lion and the eyes of an eagle — literally. As a unique shifter with two inner animals, his battling beasts are slowly tearing his body and soul apart. Forced to retire from the elite all-shifter Alpha Team by his degenerative condition, he struggles to be content working as a dispatcher… until one day he takes a call that will change his life.

When Griff meets Hayley, both his lion and his eagle instantly recognise her as their one true mate. But how can he ask Hayley to risk her heart on a dying man, when she’s already been abandoned once in the past? And when Hayley’s arrogant lion shifter ex unexpectedly reappears on the scene with a horrifying demand, how can Griff protect his mate and her cub?

This book starts with a lion cub caught up a tree. It’s adorable and I had so much fun reading it. It’s the story of a single (human) mum who’s kid turns into a lion cub, and the (half-lion half-eagle shifter) firefighter who comes to her rescue. This is a perfectly sweet and steamy true-mates story, complete with a jealous ex, and a crew of mythical beast shifters. 

Review: Gild by Raven Kennedy; a King Midas retelling

Gild by Raven Kennedy 

(The Plated Prisoner #1)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2 

Genre: Adult Fantasy, Romance

The fae abandoned this world to us. And the ones with power rule.

Gold.

Gold floors, gold walls, gold furniture, gold clothes. In Highbell, in the castle built into the frozen mountains, everything is made of gold.

Even me.

King Midas rescued me. Dug me out of the slums and placed me on a pedestal. I’m called his precious. His favored. I’m the woman he Gold-Touched to show everyone that I belong to him. To show how powerful he is. He gave me protection, and I gave him my heart. And even though I don’t leave the confines of the palace, I’m safe.

Until war comes to the kingdom and a deal is struck.

Suddenly, my trust is broken. My love is challenged. And I realize that everything I thought I knew about Midas might be wrong.

Because these bars I’m kept in, no matter how gilded, are still just a cage. But the monsters on the other side might make me wish I’d never left.

This is a King Midas retelling, but centres on Auren, the King’s favoured, and the only person he has ever turned to gold (not solid gold, he can do that, but everything about her, hair, eyes, blood etc. is gold-coloured).  He promised to keep her safe, and she is safe in her golden cage high up in his golden palace. She’s also very lonely. And bored.

I certainly enjoyed this book, even though the ‘a golden cage is still a cage’ message is really in your face. There is decent world-building with magic and kingdoms and the promise for more detail in future books. 

My favourite part of the book was definitely the main character. Auren had a shitty lot in life before being found by Midas, and she is determined to look on the bright side of every situation. Her interaction with other people is limited, what with living in a cage, but she finds ways to have fun, and I love her sass and sense of humour. 

Book Blitz: The Insiders by Tijan

"Tijan delivers on the fun, edge, and angst. Her books never fail to please!"

--Kylie Scott, New York Times bestseller

Oh yay!! I'm so excited to read this book! I've had it marked on my calendar for months and it's finally here 😄 So this isn't my usual genre - no dragons, magic etc. - but Tijan is such an amazing author. Her books are filled with real and intense emotion. If you haven't read any of her books, I highly recommend that you do. My favourites are Ryan's Bed, and Carter Reed, and of course I'm so excited for this brand new offering The Insiders. I'm sure it will be amazing!

Thank you Social Butterfly PR for including me in this book blitz.

The Insiders, an all-new not-to-be-missed, intense and emotional romance from New York Times bestselling author Tijan, is available now!

Bailey is as normal as could be, with a genius IQ and a photographic memory. But still, normal for her. Then, things happen -- a guy breaks into her house in the middle of the night to take her hostage. She learns her father is billionaire tech genius Peter Francis, the same guy she’s idolized all her life. She finds all this out when she meets dark, mysterious, and electrifying Kashton Colello. He’s also an associate of her father’s, and he gives Bailey two choices—go with him and meet her father or survive on her own because those kidnappers are going to try again.

It’s a no-brainer.

After this, three things become clear for Bailey:

1. She has to live at her father’s sprawling estate, complete with bodyguards and the best security that money can buy.

2. She’s no longer an only child. She has three siblings and has no idea what to do with them and vice versa.

3. She is being guarded by Kash himself. Personally guarded. And there is a lot of guarding going on there and some of it is going to drive her crazy.

A complete outsider in a world of wealth and decadence, Bailey has to find her way within a family that has more secrets than she could have imagined. One of these secrets could be deadly…

Books I've Read That Were Written Before I Was Born

 

Time for another Top Ten Tuesday: Brought to you by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Some Old Books I've Read, Oops I Mean Classics

I really don't read many older books. I guess that's partly because I'm really into Urban Fantasy, which is modern. So I really needed to wrack my brains to come up with this list. I do have a few classics on my TBR, but they're not books that I would typically feel like reading at any given time, so unless I'm reading them for a book club or something I probably won't. Here's my list.

My Fiance's Favourite Book

My Mum's Favourite Author

 

Read It For Book Club

Review: Wolf Girl by Leia Stone; aka Werewolf Bachelor

Wolf Girl by Leia Stone

(Wolf Girl #1)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

When my parents were banished from Wolf City before I was born, I thought there was no way I would ever live in a pack again. Cuffed, with my shifter magic bound, I was forced to go to school with witches in order to keep my true nature from coming out.

Then I met him.

Sawyer Hudson.

The Alpha's son was visiting Delphi Witches' College and spotted me. He took one look at me, and an hour later, I was being pulled out of school, taken into Wolf City and leaving my parents and everything I knew behind.

It's the Alpha's son's selection year, the year he must pick a mate, and every female aged 18-22 must be in attendance.

I've landed myself in the middle of Werewolf Bachelor, and just when I think I've got a handle on things, Sawyer releases my cuffs, unbinds my magic, and sees what I really am.

The problem is, I don't know what this creature is that I transform into. It's not an ordinary werewolf, that's for damn sure.

What the fuck? Twenty girls to date all year? What was this, Werewolf Bachelor?

(Don't mind the F-bombs lol.) I honestly wasn’t expecting to love werewolf bachelor this much - but wow! It was amazing. I mean, I thought it would be funny, and it was - the sarcasm is on point - but this book was so much more than that. It was emotional and fun and heart-pounding, and I just fell in love with the characters and this book and this world. Just wow. I need more!

Down The TBR Hole #1

Is your TBR out of control? Because mine certainly is!

There are more books on my 'Want to Read' list than I will ever be able to physically read, and let's be real, I'm going to keep adding to that list forever. So I've decided to take a good look at that list to decide which books I'm actually going to read one day, and which books I can let go of. 

Down The TBR Hole is a meme I first discovered on Starlightbooktales and was created by Lost in a Story. The goal is to cleanse your TBR of all those books you’re never going to read and sort through it all to know what’s actually on there.

The rules are simple:

• Go to your Goodreads Want to Read shelf
• Order by date added (starting with the oldest)
• Take the first 5 (or 10) books
• Read the synopsis and try to remember why you added it to the list
• Decide whether to keep it or remove it.

So lets' take a trip down memory lane to the first books I added to Goodreads over 5 years ago and see if I still plan to read those books. Titles link to Goodreads.

Want to Read: 625 Books

Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier

I love Juliet Marillier's books, though I haven't read one in years. I actually have this whole trilogy sitting on my bookshelf waiting for me and I don't know why on earth I haven't read them yet. I absolutely still want to read this series, and this book is on my must read list for this year. 

Verdict: Keep

The Shape of Stars Unknown by Sybil Le Pyrmont - Blog Tour and Giveaway

The Shape of Stars Unknown 

Sybil Le Pyrmont 

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

(The Aldarfall Saga, #1)

Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

World domination is the least of their problems.

A STRANDED DEMIGOD. Lau of the House of Feofar, troubled and headstrong, screwed up. Royally. Now he lives out his days in exile on Earth – the very planet he once tried to exterminate.

A RUDDERLESS MORTAL WOMAN. Silver Laing leads the ordinary life of a white-collar worker. Lonely and desperately in search of purpose and new horizons, she gets more than she bargained for when she is offered a mysterious job.

A CATACLYSMIC PLAN BILLIONS OF YEARS IN THE MAKING. When a deadly visitor from Lau’s shrouded past threatens to lay the world in ashes, Silver and Lau must form an unlikely alliance against ancient and far superior forces.

An alliance with the potential to shake the very foundation of the Universe.

Shimmering new worlds?
Sizzling tension?
Secrets as old as time?
Splashes of humour?

If your answer to all of the above is ‘Hell, yeah!’ then The Shape of Stars Unknown is your guy. This first book in Sybil Le Pyrmont’s new urban fantasy adventure series, The Aldarfall Saga, will take you from Germany to Tibet, from Japan to Iceland and all the way to the other end of the Universe.

Goodreads / Amazon

Thanks to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours for inviting me to join this blog tour! Keep scrolling for the giveaway and to read my review. 

My Top Ten New Favourite Authors I Read In 2020

 

Time for another Top Ten Tuesday: Brought to you by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

 

New-To-Me Authors I Fell In Love With In 2020

 

  Some of these are debut authors, while others I've been meaning to read for ages and I'm kicking myself for not picking up their books sooner! While I didn't read a lot of books last year, I did manage to read a high proportion of good books, so getting ten authors on this list was easy. I loved them all! Here they are in no particular order, with the books that got me hooked (and a link to my review).

1. Shelby Mahurin - Serpent & Dove
2. Luanne G. Smith - The Vine Witch
3. Margaret Rogerson - Sorcery of Thorns
4. Pippa Dacosta - Twilight Seeker
5. Elise Kova - Air Awakens
6. Jessica Thorne - Mageborn
7. Katherine Arden - The Bear and the Nightingale
8. Amelie Wen Zhao - Blood Heir
9. Michael McClung - The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids
   
10. Martha Wells - All Systems Red

 

And that's another Top Ten Tuesday! Do you like any of these authors too? Which new authors did you discover last year? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Reading! 💗

You can follow this blog for updates or find me on Instagram @iwishiownedabookstore or add me as a friend on Goodreads

Most Anticipated 2020 Releases I Didn't Get To (Yet)

Time for another Top Ten Tuesday: Brought to you by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Books That Came Out Last Year That I Really Really Wanted To Read But Didn't Get To

There was a lot of books I wanted to read last year and didn't get around to. A lot a lot. So to narrow down the list I'll focus on the new releases that I was really excited for, but for one reason or another (stupid 2020) I haven't read yet. These will definitely be higher priority for me to read this year.

Number One

and the rest are in no particular order...

Review: The Conjurer by Luanne G. Smith

The Conjurer by Luanne G. Smith

(The Vine Witch #3)

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Sidra didn’t murder her husband. Yet even a jinni can’t wish away a wrongful imprisonment. Determined to prove her innocence, she returns to her adopted home—a French village renowned for its perfume witches—with her friends Elena and Yvette by her side. Here is where Sidra’s true destiny awaits, but danger also lurks in the village’s narrow lanes.

On her trail is Jamra, another jinni, who’s after more than revenge for the murder of his brother. He also seeks vengeance for the indignities inflicted on jinn by mortals over the centuries. When he learns of an ancient relic capable of unleashing chaos on the world, and that the weapon is in the hands of his murderous sister-in-law, he vows to destroy Sidra to get it.

Relying on a sisterhood of magic, a mysteriously faithful dog, and a second-rate sorcerer, Sidra defends herself using the village’s greatest asset: its perfume. It’s as beguiling a lure as it is a formidable shield. But is it enough for Sidra to protect herself and those she loves from powers yet to be released?

Amazon (US) | Amazon (AU) | Book Depository | Kindle Unlimited

*Affiliate Links

The series so far: 

The Vine Witch | The Glamourist

I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Smith’s writing style, it has an almost lyrical feel to it and it’s so smooth and lovely to read. I feel like it really fits the time period setting as well (early 20th century). The whole series has a fairytale quality to it as well that I love and I think this is my favourite of the trilogy. The story has some Romeo & Juliet themes, but is definitely it’s own unique story, with twists of fate, vengeful Jinnis, and three powerful women brought together by circumstance and magic. If you’ve read the others in the series, this is Sidra’s story, but of course features Elena and Yvette as well. Sidra is a great character, forced to confront the love and heartbreak of her past. The three women are so different, and it was great getting to know them all throughout this series.

Book Blitz: Witch Unexpected by Debbie Cassidy

Witch Unexpected by Debbie Cassidy
(The Thirteenth Sign #1)
Genres: Adult, Romance, Urban Fantasy

An ancient war, a tenuous truce, a delicate balance.

Sounds ominous right?

It is.

The tri-pack collective has existed for centuries—three dire wolf packs bound to the most powerful coven in the world through a single witch born under the thirteenth sign of the zodiac.

Through this covenant they keep an ancient threat unlike any other at bay.

At the next blood moon, I’ll be that witch—bound to the three leaders of the dire wolf packs. Responsible for keeping the peace.

That is If I make it to the blood moon alive, because someone is trying to kill me.

Now the hot-headed wolves are going to have to work together to make sure our inventive little murderer doesn’t succeed.

And me?

Well, I don’t take kindly to being targeted, so whoever’s gunning for me better watch out, because they just became the hunted.

An Urban Fantasy Romance filled with witches, shifters, warlocks, Gargoyles, Ghosts and Vampires.

Goodreads / Amazon / Kindle Unlimited

First Post of 2021: Reading Goals and Challenges

 So 2020 was a write-off, let's move on

While I had planned to do a quick re-cap of my goals from last year, I didn't finish any of them? So we'll pass on that, and go straight to my new reading goals for this year! If you would like to know about my last year's reading, here's my Year in Books, or check out my Review Index for the blog. 

Goodreads Reading Challenge

Every year I set myself a goal for the number of books I want to read. Last year I read 39 books, which was below my goal, it was a stressful year, but I think I can manage 50, so that's my goal for 2021. What's your goal for the year? 

A Book Buying Ban

Yep, I have zero willpower and I bought too many books last year that I haven't read, leaving me with a ridonkulous TBR pile, both physical and on my Kindle. So I'm going to try and enforce a book-buying ban on myself. I did cheat slightly by getting a 6-month Kindle Unlimited subscription while it was on sale before Christmas, so I'm hoping that will help with my distractible reading habits. Other than that I'm trying to focus on reading books I already have, or have been on my TBR forever, which brings me to my next goal;

TBR Cull posts every month

I'm planning to start a new thing where I go through my 'Want to Read' list on Goodreads, which is currently over 600 books, see what's there, and see what I can cut. I'm going to be ruthless and get rid of all those books that I'll probably never read, so that I can focus on the ones that I really do want to read. 

Beat the Backlist Challenge