Reaper’s Pack, by Rhea Watson | Book Review

Hello and welcome to Adele Is Reading.
Today on the blog, I have my book review of:

Reaper’s Pack by Rhea Watson.

Reaper’s Pack is the first book in the All the Queen’s Men series.

Trigger Warnings: Mentions of Death, Abuse, Violence, Torture, Attempted Murder, Murder, Physical Abuse, Rape, Blood, Death, Murder, Loneliness, Blood, Sex Scenes.

One grim reaper. Three hellhounds who refuse to bow down to her. A monster hunting them in the shadows…

Ten years ago, I was judged worthy of life after death and returned to the mortal realm as a grim reaper. Scythe in hand, I guide souls to deliverance—and it’s time for a promotion.

My new territory is triple the size of any I’ve worked before. High death rates mean one busy reaper, and the only way to keep up is with a pack of hellhounds. Faithful. Strong. Merciless. Hellhound shifters are a reaper’s right hand in the field, shepherding and guarding souls until they can be reaped.

We get our pick of the litter from the best breeders in Hell, but for some reason, I’m drawn to the pack no one wants.

An alpha who refuses to yield.

A beta who doesn’t take me seriously.

A runt who flinches at every command.

I want them—even if they don’t want me.

Because the hunger in their eyes tells a different story. But the fact that they can’t decide whether to love me or hate me, fight me or screw me, is making our situation way too complicated.

Still, I refuse to give up. If this infuriatingly handsome trio can’t be trained, if we don’t pass the trials, they go back to a cage and a cruel demon master.

Yeah. Not happening.

Reapers and hellhounds are natural allies, and the sooner we secure our bond, the better, because as it turns out…

All our lives depend on it.

Reaper’s Pack is a standalone why-choose paranormal romance and is part of the ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN series. Each book in the series is a full-length standalone featuring layered heroes and a headstrong heroine who never has to settle for just one happily-ever-after. The books can be read in any order and are part of the same supernatural universe.

From GoodReads [x]:

“REVERSE HAREM” IS, LITERALLY, THE OPPOSITE OF “HAREM”, WITH A GROUP OF MALES CENTERING ROUND A SINGULAR FEMALE, USUALLY WITH THREE OR MORE MALES. QUITE OFTEN FOUND UNDER THE ROMANCE GENRE.

Hello hello! Beyond this point there’s going to be spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Going back more than a year to try and remember what happened in a book I’d read so long ago was…easier than normal as my memory isn’t the best… Yet, I do remember Reaper’s Pack! Which speaks to how much I enjoyed Reaper’s Pack.

Throughout the book the characters face multiple challenges, both in house, and otherwise. Even though the challenges the pack faced out of house kept me on my toes, I was more so concerned and incredibly interested in their problems in-house. And knowing that these 4 would eventually become a functioning group, but not knowing how genuinely kept my interest. Like, edge of my seat, what’s going to happen, I-need-to-know-right-now, interest.

Reaper’s Pack was fabulous, in my opinion.. I loved all the different points of view; which there are 4 of. Also, I especially love that each character was different enough from one another so that the guys didn’t meld into one, in my mind when I read Reaper’s Pack.

Moving onto talking about the characters we have: Declan, Gunner, Kale, and our main lead.

Declan, who in the hierarchy of the pack, is the omega. I remember him being the softest of the three of them. Another thing that stuck out to me about Declan, was that he was abused by his litter mates when he was young. This topic is going to be talked about in the book, seeing as how the abuse that Declan suffered through left a huge imprint on his life.

Gunner, who in the hierarchy of the pack, is the beta. Gunner, being the beta, takes his role as such very seriously. Almost to the point where Gunner is insulting others. However, Gunner loves to learn, and he’s actually a genius.

Kale (who might not actually be named Kale. I have his name as such in my notes though..), is the alpha of the group. Being alpha means that Kale is incredibly standoff-ish, because he wants to protect his pack. He knows the most about his guys and this shows over and over again. He’s also incredibly head strong. Kale is the alpha — he won’t let anyone take that position. I can’t remember if there’s a specific reason for that, but I believe that that’s because they’re all used to some form of abuse, and will not let history repeat itself.

Lastly, we have the main lead! Our femme fatale. Our badass little lady. Who I literally cannot remember the name of. ..My bad. Even though I can’t remmeber her name at the moment, I do know that I love love looove her character! And even though she works for Death now (yes, it’s been capitalized), she still retains her humanity (in her actions, how she cares for others, and her new pack).

Reaper’s Pack left me wanting more of these 4, but unfortunately as I came to find out, Reaper’s Pack is a single book in a companion series. If I end up reading more of the All the Queen’s Men‘s series I can only hope to catch glimpses of them. Yes, I love them that much.

Also, I love reaper stories so I knew I had to read Reaper’s Pack; and the fact that the story involved shifters? The icing on the cake, for me! Reaper’s Pack certainly delivered. I might just have to get my own physical copy of the book when I can. I’m still in love with the story even after all this time, so *shrug* I need to re-read RP asap.

All in all, Reaper’s Pack was a great story, and I’m so glad that I read it! I had high expectations for Reaper’s Pack, and I’m very pleased to say that this book is worth every star I gave it. Which is 5 stars!

Have you read Reaper’s Pack?

Thank you for stopping by.

See you soon, and happy reading.
Adele

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Lia, Human of Utah, by Greg Ramsey |ARC Book Review

Hello friends! Welcome back to Adele Is Reading.

Today I have my ARC book review of Lia, Human of Utah, by Greg Ramsey.

A huge Thank You to Netgalley, for allowing me to read Lia, Human of Utah in exchange for an honest review.
This in no way has impacted my review. 

Trigger Warning: Murder, Fighting, Blood, Terrorist Attack mention, Loss of a Child mention, Grief.

In the year 2342, Lia wakes up to a nightmarish world where the remnants of mankind have mutated into ravaging monsters. Alone and hunted, she struggles to remember who she is and what happened to civilization.

She cannot run forever. But when she turns on her hunters, the mutation takes her over violently. Now she must fight to maintain her humanity and uncover the terrible truth behind the apocalyptic infection—before the beast within her takes over and seals her fate forever.

Who is she? What is she? The fate of Earth hinges on the answers. And even all her courage may not be enough when the moment of truth arrives.

Release date: September 1, 2017.

Let me start things off with saying that I hyped up this book way more than I should have. There were so many things that completely fell flat from my expectations.

SPOILERS–Kill the Queen, by Jennifer Estep | Book Review

Hello loves! Today I have my book review of

Kill the Queen, by Jennifer Estep.

Kill the Queen is the first book in the Crown of Shards trilogy. 

Trigger Warning: Assassinations, Murder, Stabbings, Fighting, Fighting to the Death, Poisoning, Attempted Murder.

Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

When I saw that Jennifer Estep came out with a book that looked like there was an assassin on the cover, I jumped on the chance to read it. Thank you library e-books!

The Silver Stag, by Yasmin Galenorn | Book Review

Hello friends! Today I have my book review of

The Silver Stag, by Yasmin Galenorn.

The Silver Stag is the first book in The Wild Hunt series.

Trigger Warning: Blood, Fighting, Murder mentions

Life isn’t easy when you bear the mark of the Silver Stag.

Caught between the worlds of Light and Dark Fae, Ember Kearney was born with the mark of the Silver Stag. Rejected by both her bloodlines, she’s turned her back on her people to become a freelance investigator, hiring herself to take care of common problems like hen-stealing goblins.

When Ember’s best friend asks for her help, it leads them both into a glittering world of conspiracy and danger. Angel’s little brother has vanished, and Ember must race against time to save his life. But when Ember discovers what’s happened to DJ, both she and Angel find themselves recruited into Herne’s elite squad of bounty hunters. Now, Ember must not only face her heritage, but she’s bound to preserve the balance between the Fae Courts, for if order isn’t maintained, war and chaos will spill out into the mortal realm.

The Silver Stag is a book that I bought, hoping that it’d be interesting. I’m happy to say that I actually enjoyed reading this first book in Ember’s story.

I See You, by Clare Mackintosh | Book Review

Hello friends! In today’s post I will be reviewing Clare Mackintosh’s book, I See You.

Trigger Warnings: Rape Mention, Murder Mention, Stalking, Stalking Mention

It all starts during her commute home one night. Zoe Walker glances through her local paper and sees her own face staring back at her in a classified ad. With the grainy photo is a phone number and a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com.

In the following days, she sees other women in the same ad, a different one every day, and nearly all of them show up in the newspapers as victims of increasingly violent crimes–including murder.

With the help of a determined cop, Zoe uncovers the ad’s twisted purpose…And suddenly, the man on the train sitting across the car–the one smiling at Zoe–could be more than just a friendly stranger. He could be someone who has deliberately chosen her and is ready to make his next move…

In terms of summoning up I See You in two words, I would use “Ohh boy.”

I expected that I See You would have some creepy elements to the story. I didn’t think that the creepiness would go that far!

Truth or Bear, by Zoe Ashwood | ARC Book Review

Hello friends! For today’s post I have my review of the second book in the Shift series, Truth or Bear by Zoe Ashwood.

**Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my review.**

Trigger Warning: Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, and Sex Scenes.

Even a lone wolf’s heart can be broken.

Nikolai’s life was going just fine—until he was betrayed. He’s lost his job, his family’s trust, and his purpose, all for the cost of falling for a pretty bear. Now his friends have turned against him and they won’t stop until he’s dead. The last thing he wants to do is join forces with the woman responsible, but she might be his only chance at survival.

Getting kidnapped and shot was not part of Claire’s plan—and neither was falling for the lieutenant of the very organization she swore to destroy. Now working with Nik is dredging up all sorts of unwanted, heated memories. She couldn’t resist him when they first met, and nothing has changed when she sees his handsome face again.

But when rogues threaten their families, claws come out. Keeping secrets might have been their job description, but they’ll have to come clean to beat their enemies.

Publish Date: February 28, 2019.

I was quite excited to read this second novel.

Tempt, by Claire Farrell | Book Review

Hello friends! Today’s post is my book review of Tempt by Claire Farrell. 

Tempt is the third book in the Ava Delaney series, which is a Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy.

Enjoy!

“There’s a monster running around Dublin, and it’s up to Ava to catch it. The pressure’s on, and she’s becoming as cynical as Peter. But when a demon marks her friend, and a possible threat from England spells war, Ava’s left with a huge choice to make. The lives of one or many.

With a little help, Ava has the chance to win all of her battles… if the darkness doesn’t take her over first.”

Throughout this series there’s quite a bit that happens, but I’m glad that Farrell has written the story in a way where when one book ends, the following novel will pick up just about where the previous novel closed. And there was no exception with Tempt!

What I enjoyed about Tempt:

• These books are fast reads. Like, 1-3 hour reads.
• The pacing of the novels are fast, which keeps the story interesting.
• There is a lot of fighting that takes place throughout the series, but I am always surprised by just how much fighting scenes there are.
• How caring Ava is, even after all that’s been done to her.

Farrell’s writing sucks me into her books so quickly. I honestly love Farrell’s writing so much. She has to be one of my favourite authors of all time.

I give Tempt, 3 stars.

See you soon, and Happy Reading!
— Adele

The Girl From Blind River, by Gale Massey | {ARC} Book Review #394

**Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my review.**

A gritty tale of how far we’ll go to protect the ones we love for fans of Daniel Woodrell’s Winter’s Bone and Emma Cline’s The Girls from Gale Massey, a talented new name in crime fiction.

Everyone says the Elders family are nothing but cheats, thieves, and convicts—a fact nineteen-year old Jamie Elders has been trying desperately to escape. She may have the natural talent of a poker savant, but her dreams of going pro and getting the hell out of the tiny town of Parsons, New York are going nowhere fast. Especially once she lands in a huge pile of debt to her uncle Loyal.

At Loyal’s beck and call until her debt is repaid, Jamie can’t easily walk away—not with her younger brother Toby left at his mercy. So when Loyal demands Jamie’s help cleaning up a mess late one night, she has no choice but to agree. But disposing of a dead man and covering up his connection to the town’s most powerful judge goes beyond family duty. When it comes out that the victim was a beloved athlete and Loyal pins the murder on Toby, only Jamie can save him. But with a dogged detective on her trail and her own future at stake, she’ll have to decide: embrace her inner criminal, or defy it—and face the consequences.

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Publication Date: July 10, 2018.

I ended up marking The Girl From Blind River as Did Not Finish at 16%.

I was very excited to read The Girl From Blind River precisely because this book is a Mystery that genuinely interested me. Going into reading this novel I kept my expectations low. I didn’t want to end up not liking this book, just because there’s so much potential that I might’ve actually ended up enjoying The Girl From Blind River.

Drawn in by the interesting cover, I felt like I could really read The Girl From Blind River–especially because of that intriguing synopsis!

However, once I started reading Jamie’s story I almost immediately realized that Jamie’s story just wasn’t for me. Other people seemed to have loved it, which is great. I just couldn’t cope with how depressed Jamie was in the beginning, since it was triggering my own depression.

Happy Reading!
— Adele

The Shadow Minds Journal, by Kia Carrington-Russell | {ARC} Book Review #391

**Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my review.**

Trigger Warning: Attempted Rape, Violence, Blood, Murder, Stalking

New Dark Fantasy Series from International Award Winning Author, Kia Carrington-Russell: The Shadow Minds Journal

In this world, there are creatures lurking in the shadows. As a child, I once played with them. As a teenager, I began to fear them and became victim to their attacks. As an adult, I now realize that no matter how much I try to escape the grasp of this world, I was inevitably born into it.

Now reborn as a Guardian in the year of 2986, Vivian Lair must uphold the treaty between Angels and Demons on the human world and city of Shabeah. Contracted to seven demons who she can shift into while taking direct orders from the Underworld Lord, Haymen, it wasn’t exactly her ideal rebirth. Involving herself with the Angel of War, Gabe is even worse.

Still fighting those who try to possess her during her sleep, Vivian must now record and try to hunt the Volv through the Shadow Minds Journal. Now stuck between the hatred and lust of two of the most powerful entities in all worlds, Vivian is involved inevitably in the upcoming conflict.

Blood. Lust. War. She must kill before being killed.

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Publication Date: August 06, 2018.

Please note that The Shadow Minds Journal is a Dark Fantasy, and is in no way shape or form, a Young Adult novel. 

I was attracted to this novel because of the cover. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a newly published book that looked like, or is similar to the cover for The Shadow Minds Journal. The…creature..person…thing looks like a doll and that’s another reason why I wanted to found out more about the book. 

A Wolf Apart, by Maria Vale | {ARC} Book Review #388

**Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my review.**

A Wolf Apart is the second book in The Legend of All Wolves series by Maria Vale.

Can a human truly make room in her heart for the Wild?
Thea Villalobos has long since given up trying to be what others expect of her. So in Elijah Sorensson she can see through the man of the world to a man who is passionate to the point of heartbreak. But something inside him is dying…

Elijah Sorensson has all kinds of outward success: bespoke suits, designer New York City apartment, women clamoring for his attention. Except Elijah despises the human life he’s forced to endure. He’s Alpha of his generation of the Great North Pack, and the wolf inside him will no longer be restrained…

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Publication Date: August 07, 2018.

I was genuinely looking forward to reading A Wolf Apart. I enjoyed reading The Last Wolf so I had high hopes for this second book in the series.

The beginning of this book had a rough start, for me personally. I knew right away that something was up with Elijah and it’s not until a later that you find out what’s been on his mind. I could tell that something was up with Elijah because he didn’t care about anything. Frankly his attitude was very poor and I didn’t like his character.

Somewhere along the line, Elijah meets Thea and very, very slowly, Elijah becomes Elijah again.

I thought that there’d be two points of view in A Wolf Apart. The synopsis hints at a view aside from Elijah. I would’ve enjoyed reading Thea’s view a lot. I can appreciate that we only had Elijah’s point of view though.

In the end, I liked that A Wolf Apart is Elijah and Thea’s story (mostly Elijah’s story, admittedly). Yet I can’t deny the fact that when my two favourite characters in The Legends of Wolves came around, I was super happy about that. I loved seeing Tiberious and Silver in this book. I loved that the worlds are colliding, but of course they’re colliding, because they’re in the same world. Seeing everyone together is great.

I give A Wolf Apart, 3.5 stars.

Happy Reading!
— Adele