Magical Midlife Rogue (Leveling Up #12) by K. F. Breene

5 Stars

A thrill ride, again.

With book 12 in the series Leveling Up, K. F. Breene has again shown readers that she can write a thriller with heart, a paranormal romance, and a story with a romantic heart.  Each book in this series has built on these 3 promises, and she continues to deliver.  Once you start reading you become invested in the story, and don’t want to see the series end.  I laughed and cried while reading what Jessie and Austin, and their crew, do to further their futures.  I have enjoyed every book and this one only adds to the finely woven and intricately told narrative based on a middle-aged woman finding herself.  This series is a must read for anyone who want to cheer on a perceived underdog.  Well done Queen Breene!

I was given an ARC of this book by the author, and this is my honest opinion. 

Kiss of Skye (Skye Druids Book 8) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

Outstanding! West meets East to help.

This book is centered on Mason, a member of the London Druids, and Rowan, a Druid from Washington state in America.  They meet in London while attending a large gathering of the London druids.  From this beginning Donna Grant has written a fast paced, exciting, and very involved story that moves the reader through an intricate web of characters.  As part of an ongoing series, this book should be read in order for the best experience, and what an experience Kiss of Skye is.  Well written with fully developed main characters and a supporting cast whose stories have already been told, it moves along quickly and for fans gives the reader an edge of the seat experience.  I cannot wait for the next book to read what else is going to happen to the Druids who live on the island of Skye. 

I received an ARC of this book from the author through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.

Kiss of Skye by Donna Grant

He’s a secret wrapped in sin—power in every step, temptation in every breath.

He moves through danger like it belongs to him. I should be afraid.

Instead, I ache.

Everything around us is a threat, but the moment he touches me, the fear disappears.

His mouth is a promise. His body a weapon.

And I don’t know which one will break me first.

I tell myself this is survival—that the heat between us is just adrenaline, a temporary madness.

But when he looks at me like I’m the only thing that matters, the truth cuts deep. This isn’t madness.

It’s obsession.

Need.

And it’s already too late to stop.

He’s my temptation.

The mistake I’ll make again and again.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant delivers a sensual, high-stakes story of magic, danger, and the kind of love that dares the dark to strike in the Skye Druids series.

BUY LINKS:

✦ DG SIGNED PB → https://dgrant.co/4oIC5n0

✦ DG Store ebook → https://dgrant.co/4oIC5n0

✦ Kindle → https://amzn.to/4azpjDu

✦ Audible → https://dgrant.co/4haLphe

✦ Nook → https://dgrant.co/4nCTQVL

✦ Nook Audio → https://dgrant.co/4n2QJ7O

✦ Apple → https://apple.co/4lnckbf

✦ Apple Audio → https://apple.co/4hff60S ✦ Kobo → https://dgrant.co/4nNjcAm

An Heir to Blood and Power (Billionaire Sanctuary: The Heir Book 2) by Blair Babylon

5 Stars

More and more!

This picks up where A Prince of Smoke and Mirrors left off.  Lexi Byrne, a country girl from Nebraska, and Nicolai Romanov, royal billionaire, who married yesterday evening are trying to work out how they will stay married for a full year.  Nicolai married Lexi to avoid having to marry the daughter of a Russian mafia boss, Demyan Volkov, who is now planning on his revenge.

Blair Babylon writes billionaire romance with adventure, and in this book so far, we have the romance and I’m sure that upcoming books will be giving us the adventure. Well written with great characters they are fun to read and are an escape from all our more mundane lives.  Can’t wait for book 3!

I was given an ARC of the book by the author through BookFunnel, and this is my honest opinion.

Mountain Fire by Donna Grant releasing 11 November 2025

He’s the fire I crave—and the danger I can’t escape.

I entered a hidden city of power and secrets, only to find myself consumed by him. Body and soul.


Strong, unyielding, and impossible to resist, he commands everything around him—including me. Every movement, every word, every heated glance pulls me deeper into his orbit.

His touch scorches, his gaze dragging me closer to the edge where passion and danger collide.

Darkness lurks around every corner, but desire is the deadliest temptation. I never meant to surrender my heart.

But some flames are impossible to fight.

And in this world of shadows and lies, I must face what’s burning between us before it destroys us both.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant weaves a sensual tale of forbidden love, fiery passion, and the impossible choices that come with it in the electrifying fourth installment of her Elven Kingdoms series.

BUY LINKS:

✦ DG SIGNED PB → https://dgrant.co/4bCvPsj

✦ DG Store ebook → https://dgrant.co/4bCvPsj

✦ Kindle → https://amzn.to/42eOuHf

✦ Audible → https://dgrant.co/478SbQ2

✦ Nook → https://dgrant.co/3FGGJRK

✦ Nook Audio → https://dgrant.co/47vvS7F

✦ Apple → https://apple.co/4iEkRVl

✦ Apple Audio → https://apple.co/4hdUlmn

✦ Kobo → https://dgrant.co/4iG7STm

✦ Kobo audio → https://dgrant.co/478VJBU

✦ Google → https://dgrant.co/4hOTjvA

✦ Google Audio → https://dgrant.co/42EGCyM

✦ Tantor → https://dgrant.co/3KR3kgX

Mountain Fire (Elven Kingdoms #4) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

The story continues.

Our two main characters-Inej, a human and Manu, a Mountain Elf- are both complex characters.  I never really connected with Inej, but found in Manu a wonderful character to read about.  Inej has traveled to the mountains to try and find a co-worker who has been abducted.  She’s been told that Manu is the one behind the abduction.  Manu is the de-facto head of his tribe of Mountain Elves the Navara.  Unknown to Inej, Manu is working against the evil that is spreading through the planet Zora.  This is the start of the book Mountain Fire. Somewhat slow to me through the middle of the book, it picks up as we get closer to the end. 

Well written, with a good plot that ties into the prior Elven Kingdom books and has some characters from the Dragon Kings series, this is an overall enjoyable read with a mostly satisfying ending. 

I was given an ARC of Mountain Fire by the author Donna Grant through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.

A Prince of Smoke and Mirrors (Billionaire Sanctuary: The Heir Book 1) by Blair Babylon

5 Stars

Another amazing start to a series!

Blair Babylon writes intricate and interconnected series; not just a story but a saga that once you start reading you will not want to stop. And so, with this first book in the Billionaire Sanctuary series we are introduced to Lexi Byrne, a young woman who thought she was getting married.  But as she approaches the altar, she finds out her fiancé is not who he’s been pretending he is.  Now ditched by him, his family, and all her supposed friends she is alone in Las Vegas.  Wearing her wedding dress since she has nothing but the clothes she has on, she starts busking for a few dollars as a statue in front of a hotel like building. 

Nicolai Romanov, who is related to the deposed and murdered Tsar of Russia – though he wants no part of Russia and its politics, is traveling with Harry and Megan (!) to a mutual friend’s bachelor party being held at the Las Vegas Billionaire Sanctuary.  As they and their security detail are moving toward the entrance, Nico sees a woman in white, who catches his attention.  This is the start of a compelling, exciting, and interesting set up for book 1 of this series.  Blair writes contemporary adventure romances which always have a believable plot and intertwine current political and social events into it.  None of her main series are short so there are always several books that end with a development that hooks you into the next book.  I find that I learn a lot of new things when reading Blair’s books, and her research is always spot on.  She likes to write about billionaires, which I find a bit fascinating since I, and probably most other readers, fall far below that level of income.  But I love reading about them, and this first book in the series is no different- giving us a look into the lives of the rich and famous.  Cannot wait for book 2! 

I received an ARC of the book from the author through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion. 

You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan

4 Stars

Christmas second chance

Six months ago, Maisie Smart, photographer with an always forward, never backward mindset and Nick King, professional hockey player who is currently injured and on the bench, had a one-night stand.  Nick felt the best way to handle the morning after is to leave without talking to Maisie.  So now Maisie has a burning anger at the man who up and left without a word.  Nick almost right away regrets not talking to Maisie and thoughts of her are in his head.  Now, just before Christmas, they find themselves in Merry, Washington.  Maisie and her family are celebrating the holiday season staying at a Christmas tree farm called Tickle Tree Farm.  Injured Nick has come to stay with his sister Ellie and nephew Asher at the tree farm she owns, Tickle Tree Farm.  With almost no chance of avoiding the other, the two have to work through the feelings that they have for each other. Will this be the second chance for them? 

Well written with all the characters interesting, the story moves along with minimum angst.  I enjoyed how the characters changed and developed and gave me a happy, holiday feeling.  Great read for the weeks before Christmas, or just when you want that holiday feeling.

I received an ARC of the book from the author through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart by Morgan Lockhart

5 Stars

Worth it!

I struggled to read this story whose two main characters, Rowan Midwinter, a witch who won’t use her magic, and Gavin McCreery, non-magical but son to the man who wants to sell a big part of the magical town they live in, try to avoid each other and are failing at that.  Rowan is not a happy character and this gave me some trouble dealing with her almost overwhelming negativity.  In contrast Gavin is much more positive in his outlook.  In the past the two were close until Gavin made a decision which ultimately drove Rowan away from her family, friends, and hometown.  The ensuing story is more interesting, and the author allows her characters to grow.  I enjoyed the book excepting for Rowans lack of self-worth, which in the end she decides to push that part away and becomes a more likeable person.  Set around the Mid=Winter solstice the story also gives off Christmas season vibes.  In the end a very enjoyable book. 

I was given an ARC of the book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

After Midnight (Skye Druids Book 7) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

Excitement off the charts!

In this book we have our two main characters-Kurt Barclay, son of two London Druids, and a turncoat hacker know to the Skye Druids as Sabretooth, aka Saber.  He is guilt ridden due to a betrayal of Sabryn one of the group of Skye Druids trying to stop a seemingly unstoppable evil that is on Skye and targeting the Druid population.  From this start. Donna Grant has written one of the most exciting books I’ve read in this series.  She writes mostly about our two main characters but also expands to others who have been featured or will be featured in up -coming books.  I could not stop reading this!  I thoroughly enjoyed After Midnight and wish that Donna Grant had already written the next book. The author has an extensive catalog of books, in her ever-expanding Dark Universe.  If you enjoy well written, contemporary, romantic paranormal fantasies Donna Grant should be your go to author. 

  This book has no obvious grammatical issues, a strong plot, great characters, and solid characterizations.  Read as a standalone, but you will get more enjoyment if you start at the first book of the Skye Druids series.

I was given an ARC of this book by the author through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.