#AudioBookReview: Chained by Elise Marion

Source: Purchased

Format: Audio (Audible)

Series: The Chained Trilogy
Heat: Medium, Nothing To Heavy

Genre: Historical Romance

Author: Elise Marion

Available: BN | Amazon | +Goodreads
Rating: 5 Brazen Babes

♥My Review♥

Okay to begin, why is there a part 2? Y'all know I'm mad, lols. Like just when the story is getting damned good...it ends! Father Gawd, why?! lols. This is why I can do without cliffhangers sometimes. Le sigh, let's get serious then.

Chained started off slow for me because throughout it, I wanted someone to catch some sense about themselves and see that there was a setup going on BUT we wouldn't have a story if everything was figured out early now would we?

The medieval setting of chained was awesome and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that this author added characters of color. I'm saying I know we existed back in those days although we rarely see books where we do and if we are in those books, we aren't Kings, Queens or even highborn. No, we are always less than so  big thank you to this author for taking up the task to make us more in Chained.

Gwen and Caden were both likable characters. Gwen was strong, fierce and very smart but there were times during the story, I wanted to shake the mess out of her, lols. And I liked the fact that she just didn't want to settle into a loveless marriage, that she wanted more for herself. She was also willing to admit to her mistakes, which a lot of folk in Chained seemed to have a aversion too. Gwen knows there is more going on than what's on the surface when Caden and his men are brought to her. She intends to figure it all out but she did not intend to fall for Caden either.

Caden was the typical knight but he was smart and did not rush to judgment when the mess hit the fan. No he was calm and collective, another thing some folks in this story seemed to have an aversion too as well. Caden knew something was amiss, that a piece of the puzzle was missing. There was peace throughout the realm for decades, why would anyone go through such lengths to start war between his and Gwen's houses is what he needed to figure out even if it causes him to lose Gwen's trust and love.

Chained is an intricate story to get through. There are many things to remember, like all of the different houses and who belonged to them. I was a bit perturbed by some of the repetitiveness throughout the story but as a I listened more, I begin to appreciate it because as I said, there is a lot to take in. This author also does not skim on the blood, gore and death. The brutality of those days are strong within the pages of Chained.

Gwen and Caden are at an impasse right now. He started off as her prisoner and now she is his. Will this new turn of events quench the new love that our couple knows that's there? We shall see. Hence, we get a second book and I'm kinda not happy but am because we do, lols.

So yes, Ms. Marion I've added Bound to my wishlist.

As for the narrator's voice, I liked it enough and he kept me entertained while listening. I could however, did without his interpretations of the female voices...he totally ruined my image of Gwen and the others. This audio probably would have benefited more with dual narrators.

Chained is a great historical read and I highly recommend it if you are a fan of diverse historical romances.

Sharonda

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#BookReview : The Dom Around The Corner by Christine d'Abo

Source: Net Galley

Format: ePub

Series: Escape #1

Author: Christine d'Abo

Genre: M/M BDSM

Heat: Scorching Hot 

Available: Amazon | Goodreads

♥My Review♥


The Dom Around the Corner by Christine d’Abo is a re-release, it was originally published in 2010 and per d’Abos note in the book she felt like she has grown as a writer and found a new home for this publication. I’ve been reading d’Abo for a few years and almost always enjoy her stories. Some I like better than others but it’s rare that I don’t like one at all. This one is a M/M D/s tale and I am not new to either genre, but if you are new to these genre’s you might not want to start here because it is fairly explicit and details. You might want to ease into these sexy times. It’s a pretty short book so there isn’t a ton of character building but you get a pretty good sense of whom these characters are. Simon is our Dom and he definitely likes his control so it’s killing him that his business is failing so he works night and day to the detriment of his social life. It takes some needling from his cousin to get him to go out and get his “escape”. I found Simon a bit wishy washy and half the time he didn’t see to know what he wanted. I like Gavin better as a character, he is fighting some serious shit so I understand why he acts the way he does. Overall, it was a quick enjoyable read. I’d give it a 3.5 rating.



Review copy was provided through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

 
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#GuestReview by @sophiarose1816 : Ritual Magic by Eileen Wilks

Hi Guys! We have a guest review today. Please welcome Sophia Rose from Delighted Reader blog as she reviews Ritual Magic.

Format: Paperback

Series: #10 World of the Lupi

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Author: Eileen Wilks

Publisher:  Berkley

Published: 9.13.13

Pages:  417

Rating:  4

Flames: 3

Source:  Self Purchased

Available:  Amazon | BN | ARe | +Goodreads

♥Sophia's Review♥

First of all, thank you so much to Ana and Sharonda for the opportunity to do a review at Brazen Babes.  I enjoy visiting their blog and reading the posts and it’s a pleasure to be their guest.  I know that diversity is a strong element at Brazen Babes so I have chosen one of my favorite diversity-rich Urban Fantasy series reads of the year to share with other readers.

Each year, I challenge myself to read through a series to either finish it or get up to date.  This year’s series is Eileen Wilk’s World of the Lupi - an urban fantasy series for the mystery and romance lover.  It showcases her brilliant werewolf culture, but includes fey and demon realm races with gods and goddesses, dragons and magic wielding humans.  Her characters are drawn with depth and her main characters pull the reader in for an intimate experience like a visit with old friends.

In this latest installment which is the tenth in the series that must be read in order, Rule and Lily are at the eve of their wedding.  They are helping to celebrate Lily’s mother’s birthday when things go dreadfully wrong.  Julia Yu leaves the table at her favorite Chinese restaurant to visit the ladies’ room and comes out missing all her memories save the first twelve years of her life.

Lily and her family are devastated, but it gets worse, more memory loss victims begin turning up.  Some experience less loss and some more, but all of them have minds that are deteriorating including Julia Yu’s.  Then a ritual death is discovered hinting at uber dark magic and ill intent.  Lily’s suspicions are that her old nemesis, Robert Prior, is behind it all.  With everything going on around her, she struggles to work the case and time is running out for the memory loss victims.  The clues lead Lily, Rule, and the others to see that worse is yet to come- much worse, if they can’t figure out what is causing it all and how to stop it.

I dove into this book and barely surfaced from it until the end.  Lily and Rule along with their friends and family have gone through so much since the secret war began when a crazed goddess and her followers set out to destroy the Lupi and take over the world, but this latest situation is personal.  Lily is forced to re-evaluate so many things about her relationship with her family and learns that, though she and her mother are generally at odds, she needs Julia Yu in her life.  Lily learns why her mother is so staunch about their Chinese culture and her conservative ways when she gets to see her mother as a young girl and learns about her early life before her marriage and family.  Lily and Rule both learn the value of not shutting each other out during times of personal crisis and that they really need each other most at that time.  They have come so far in their relationship and now on the eve of their wedding both whole-heartedly want that life together.  They are as passionate as ever.  Rule adores his strong lady cop and is proud of Lily content to work alongside her.  Lily is amazed every day that the handsome lupi alpha wants her and her inflexible, driven ways.

But as always there is a paranormal murder mystery, a dire situation, and dangerous, deadly enemies to combat in a series of action scenes that keep the reader flipping pages.

In summary, this was another unputdownable installment to the series and I highly recommend it to those who want a complex Urban Fantasy series with great background and setting, well-written characters and a blend of plot elements including the paranormal, mystery, and romance.

Many thanks to Sophia for stopping by BnB Reviews!

About Sophia:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.  Associate Reviewer for Delighted Reader blog

Where You Can Find via Social Media: Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

 

Note: if you're interested in guest reviewing via our blog, hit us up at brazenbabereviews@gmail.com. 

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