Review: These Immortal Vows (Bound by Blood, Book 1) by Kelsey McKnight

 

Familiars serve. Vampires command. But hearts never obey.

Cassandra Rollins was born to serve the immortal. A human familiar bound to the will of vampires, she’s spent her life walking the razor’s edge between power and peril. No creature—living or undead—has ever shaken her control. Until him.

Ruairidh Calder, a Scottish vampire forged in battle and haunted by centuries of war, is ready to abandon his wandering life. But when he settles in New York’s glittering vampire court, he’s forced to rely on Cassandra—his reluctant guide and the one human who defies him at every turn.

Their fiery clash ignites a forbidden desire neither can contain. Yet when vampires and their human familiars begin to vanish, their uneasy partnership turns into a fight for survival. In a city pulsing with dark magic and ancient rivalries, Cassandra must decide whether to trust the immortal who tempts her heart—or risk losing everything to the darkness hunting them both.

In a world ruled by blood and power, love is the most dangerous vow of all.

 

My Review: 

So good, I didn’t want it to end. 

Cassandra should have been off limits.  She was another vampire’s familiar and another man’s girlfriend.  She was also mortal.  When Cassandra is given the job of providing Ruairidh with documents and a place to live, she had no idea her life was about to change in ways she never expected.  When an ancient vampire is killed, Cassandra and Ruairidh move in together (where she will be protected) and search for the killer before someone else gets killed.  They eventually give into the temptation they have both been fighting, crossing the line from friends to lovers.  This book had everything I look for in a vampire romance, action, passion and excitement.  I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

 

 

Review: Chasing the Ring by Lauren Rowe

Iris Benedetto’s wedding day just went viral . . . for all the wrong reasons.
After a heated blowout with her lying, cheating fiancé at the altar, Iris storms off on a solo honeymoon—loudly announcing that she’s finally going to find out what good sex is all about. Rebranding from small-town preschool teacher to #Horny Runaway Bride was not the plan, but the insanely hot stranger who ends up double-booked in her bungalow on the island of Kauai is an opportunity even devastated Iris can’t ignore.

It’s not often NFL quarterback Roman Maguire meets someone who doesn’t recognize him. Even rarer to have that someone barge in while he’s taking a shower and quickly make him an irresistible offer. Roman is in Hawaii to secure the deal that could finally land him a Super Bowl ring—and closer proximity to his son. A sexy fling in paradise is a perfect way to spend a week with a surprise roommate . . .

Except . . . suddenly a week doesn’t seem nearly enough. And once the truth about Roman’s identity, Iris’s internet infamy, and all kinds of loyalty-testing secrets are revealed, will they both be willing to step into the real-life spotlight together? 

 

My Review: 

Fun, sassy and romantic. 

I enjoyed everything this book.  The story starts with Iris discovering, the night before her wedding, her fiancé is a cheater.  This led to the wedding being called off in the most dramatic way which was caught on video and shared on the internet.  The video, unfortunately goes viral the next day.  Instead of dragging her feet, Iris goes on the honeymoon alone and has her world totally turned upside down when she meets football player Roman, who just happens to be staying in the cabana that was supposed to be reserved for Iris and her husband.  This is just the beginning of a fun and emotional romantic story that I read in record time.  I was hooked from the start and I didn’t want the book to end.   

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.   

Review: Buried in the Sand (Elmo Simpson Mysteries Book 4) by J.C. Kenney

Paradise Springs is buzzing with its first-ever arts and music festival—but a shocking murder threatens to bury the fun.

Elmo Simpson, animal removal specialist, resort owner, and festival committee chair, expects a weekend of sandcastles and performances. Instead, there’s a body buried in the sand the morning of the beach sculpture contest. When his friend and business partner, Jordan Selassie, becomes the prime suspect, Elmo is forced into another high-stakes investigation.

The list of suspects reads like a who’s who of trouble: a hot-tempered wife, a secretive event promoter, and a local artist desperate for cash. Each hides secrets that could make or break the case. With the festival’s reputation, the pest control business, and his friend’s freedom on the line, Elmo must uncover the truth—before Paradise Springs turns on him.

 

My Review:

An unpredictable and entertaining cozy mystery. 

This book is the perfect complement to the Elmo Simpson Mysteries series.  It opens with the preparations of an upcoming festival when a dead woman is found buried in the sand where the sandcastle building competition is to be held.  There were lot of twists and turns in the story and just when I thought I knew who the killer was, I quickly found out I was wrong.  The author pulls you in with a great plot, setting and unusual and memorable characters.  I can’t get enough of these books.