Throne of Shadows Duet

Duet Title: Throne of Shadows

Titles: Princess of Thorns and Ruin & Queen of Ashes and Scars

Author: Anya J. Cosgrove

Genre/Tropes: Vampire Reverse Harem, Enemies-to-Lovers, Grump-Sunshine, Pleasure Bites, Touch Her and Die Vibes 

Cover Design: Fiona Jayde Media

Princesses are expected to smile, hold their tongues, and stay in the shadows...but not this princess.

Becoming a vampire is not the debutante party I'd hoped for. I'm being hunted by my enemies and cast aside by my friends.

The night court runs on betrayals and secrets. As its newest, sparkling addition, I can't trust anyone.

Especially not them.

Alec, the arrogant assassin-turned-bodyguard who mocks me with his feline grace and sexy smirks.

Leo, the addictive human who swore his life to me for all the wrong reasons.

And Sebastian, the childhood bully who broke my heart.

I have to fulfill my duty to my family, but in the face of temptation, how can I resist something so forbidden?

Every rose has thorns. It only takes one bite to defile the most perfect bloom.

Princess of Thorns and Ruin is book 1 in a fast-paced, sizzling fantasy romance duet set in the deadly Delacroix Night court. You’ll love this story if you like sexy vampire bites, enemies-to-lovers, and heroes who love to share.

Princesses are expected to smile, hold their tongues, and stay in the shadows...but not this princess.

Becoming a vampire is not the debutante party I'd hoped for. I'm being hunted by my enemies and cast aside by my friends.

The night court runs on betrayals and secrets. As its newest, sparkling addition, I can't trust anyone.

Especially not them.

Alec, the arrogant assassin-turned-bodyguard who mocks me with his feline grace and sexy smirks.

Leo, the addictive human who swore his life to me for all the wrong reasons.

And Sebastian, the childhood bully who broke my heart.

I can't fall for any of them. I have to fulfill my duty to my family and marry someone I've never met, but in the face of temptation, how could I resist something so forbidden?

Queen of Ashes and Scars is book 2 in a fast-paced, sizzling fantasy romance duet set in the deadly Delacroix Night court. You’ll love this story if you like sexy vampire bites, enemies-to-lovers, and heroes who love to share.

Anya J Cosgrove lives in Québec with her husband, her beautiful son, and two mischievous cats. She works as a veterinarian by day. She’s a travel and Disney junkie and is passionate about her favorite paranormal series.

What would Buffy do? Kick ass!

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My Husbands Lies - Liz Lawler

The police are coming, they’re going to arrest me.’ My blood runs cold at his words. My husband is accused of murder. He swears he is innocent – so why won’t he tell me where he really was that night?

I feel so lucky to have my handsome husband Mark and our blue-eyed little boy. Everyone says we’re the perfect family. I used to believe them.

But everything changes when Mark comes home from a work trip with dark circles under his eyes. That night I jump at a hammering at the door. The police want to question him about the murder of a beautiful, blonde young woman. Mark swears he had nothing to do with it, that she was a colleague, nothing more.

Mark is a respected airline pilot, and the model husband and father. It seems impossible that he would be involved in something like this. But he won’t say a word about where he really was. I believe that he’s not a killer – but I know he’s hiding something. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Then my husband is attacked. I sit by his hospital bed praying for him to wake up, tears streaming down my face. The police say it’s an accident. But what if someone has done this to him?

I go rigid with fear when I see someone hidden in the garden, watching the house. Are they coming to hurt us too? I’ll do anything to protect my precious little boy – and I have to start by uncovering my husband’s lies...

An unbelievably tense and twisty psychological thriller that will leave you breathless for more! Perfect for fans of Kathryn Croft, T.M. Logan and Ruth Heald.

Author Bio:

Liz Lawler grew up sharing pants, socks, occasionally a toothbrush, sleeping four to a bed. Born in Chatham and partly raised in Dublin, she is one of fourteen children. She spent over twenty years as a nurse and has since fitted in working as a flight attendant, a general manager of a five star hotel, and is now working with trains. She became an author in 2017 when her debut novel Don’t Wake Up was published by Twenty7.

https://twitter.com/authorlizlawler?lang=en

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Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CKLDXJSDsocial

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My Review

My Husband's Lies certainly keeps you turning the pages and trying to find out what's going to happen next. When her husband is accused of murder, Kate just can't believe that he has anything to do with it and try and she might to prove that, it isn't long before her whole life seems set to come tumbling down around her ears.
I'm as willing as the next man to suspend disbelief a little when it comes to murder mysteries and thrillers. I'll happily accept that one person seems to spend their whole life stumbling over dead bodies, or that something unplausable might happen to move a thriller along at breakneck speed. But I do have my limits and it seems that My Husband's Lies found them. It's not that it's completely unbelievable or anything, but I think that Kate might just be one of the stupidest characters I've ever come across. I was drawn into her story, but couldn't help almost shouting at the book: 'No! Don't do that!' She didn't seem to want to listen to me though.
This was a good read and well-written. It would have got more stars if I hadn't found Kate to be such a complete fool. she did seem to bring a lot of things on herself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Flirt Alert - Kaylene Winter

The Flirt Alert
Kaylene Winter
Publication date: November 17th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

When a man who has everything will do anything to ease the pain of the incredible woman who’s living with a timebomb.

My best friend’s twin, Shay Stojanović, is my ultimate gamer dream girl come to life.

Gorgeous, flirtatious and popular, she didn’t know I existed.

Until one fateful night, she made this nerd’s every fantasy come true.

The next day she blew me up like a frag grenade.

Years later, Shay’s brother and I have built a billion dollar gaming company.

He had the nerve to give his shady sister a coveted executive role.

Oh, I’m not going to make it easy on her—she’ll quit. You’ll see.

Everything’s going exactly to plan…

Until we get stranded at the top of a mountain.

And I learn the truth.

Now I can’t—and won’t—resist her.

She has a lot to overcome.

And I’m just the man to soothe her hurt.

It’s Shay’s turn for a flirt alert.

The Flirt Alert is a scorching, standalone, billionaire, enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother, forced proximity, STEM workplace, HEA romance.

Goodreads / Amazon

My Review

The Flirt Alert is the second spin-off book from Kaylene Winter's Less than Zero series. It features cameo appearances from some of the main characters from that series and focuses on people who were minor characters in the books.
This time the story is about Shay and Austin. Austin has had a crush on Shay for years, but since something happened in their teenage years, he hasn't been able to stand her. There is a thin line between love and hate though and it isn't long before they find themselves crossing it, when they spend more time together.
I enjoyed this romance, Shay and Austin are a good couple. I also really liked the way that Shay's health issues were handled. It was informatively and sensatively done. I learnt a lot about a condition I knew very little about, without it taking over and taking anything away from the romance itself. This was a great read and one that I really enjoyed.

Author Bio:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Just Like Magic - Tara Wyatt

 Adam Shephard is not in a rut.

So what if he’s forty, single, and still running his family’s Inn? So what if he’s still grieving his father’s death and mourning the spectacular failure of his writing career? His life is perfectly fine, thank you very much. He’s not looking for love or a relationship, no matter what his nosy family thinks. Especially not with a writer from out of town.

Which is fine, because bestselling author Hazel Woodward isn’t looking for love either. She’s just looking for an escape, which is how she winds up in Gossamer Falls, a town where magic feels more than just make believe.

With her deadline looming, Hazel has only a few weeks to submit the first hundred pages of her manuscript or forfeit her hefty advance—which might be a problem, because she’s been living off of it for the past two years. While getting divorced, losing her best friend to a heartbreaking betrayal, and dealing with the worst case of writers block ever known to man. Now, in the picturesque town of Gossamer Falls, while staying at the Shephard Inn, she's hoping she can put the past behind her and focus on her career.

There’s a reason Adam doesn’t get involved with his guests, even ones with the most amazing brown eyes he’s ever seen. Even ones as gorgeous, smart, and talented as Hazel. Because in the end, they all leave.

But there’s magic in the air, and he can’t watch Hazel struggle. Especially when he just might have the solution to her writer’s block.

Too bad it might cost him his heart.

My Review

Just Like Magic by Tara Wyatt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't know what to expect with this new series from Tara Wyatt. I've read and enjoyed quite a few of her other books and series, so I was excited to try something new. I think that this would fall under the genre of small-town romance, but don't worry, there's plenty of heat here too.
Gossamer Falls is a town with magic in the air. Not only is there a shop selling spell and other magical items, but the waterfalls, after which the town is named is also credited with magic of its own. A visit at a special time in moonlight and you'll meet your true love soon. After her visit, things certainly seem to be happening for Hazel.
I really enjoyed this read. There's not a lot of angst, instead, we have a couple who seem made for each other and only need a little bit of magic to get things moving along. I really liked that they were a bit older than many couples in similar books and yet were of a similar age. Adam and Hazel make a really cute couple and I really enjoyed their story.
There are a lot of other people in the town, particularly in Adam's family, who I think could use a story themselves and I suspect that's what we're going to get in the following books in this series. I can't wait!

View all my reviews

Queen of Ashes and Scars - Anya J Cosgrove

A grumpy human servant.

An arrogant bodyguard.

The scoundrel that broke my heart…

I'm queen of the ashes... Now what?My kingdom is in ruins, and I have to find my way back to my throne and my people.To take back control of the night court, I need my men by my side. All three of them, though they're not exactly on board...yet.The crown of shadows doesn't care for love, only blood.Love...is dangerous.Queen of Ashes and Scars is the second and final book in the Throne of Shadows series. It's a fast-paced, sizzling romance duet set in the deadly Delacroix night court. You’ll love this story if you like sexy vampire bites, enemies-to-lovers relationships, and heroes who love to share.This duet is set in the same world as Magnetic and Shadow Witch, but it stands alone. Pick up your steaming-hot copy now!

My Review

I do love Anya J Cosgrove's books and this one is no exception. I was dying to find out what was going to happen to Arielle after the last book Princess of Thorns and Ruin: A Dark Fantasy Romance (Completed Series) and this book certainly delivered.
There was also a little glimpse of characters from a previous series, although I would have liked to see both of the main characters from there, it being one of my favourite books. Little things still make me smile though!
I loved Arielle's character, she grew both in confidence and ability through the course of these two books. I enjoyed her relationships with Alec, Sebastian and Leo. The only downside was that I felt that this was too short. I didn't want to leave this world behind and I felt that there was much of the story still to be told. What will happen with Leo? Will she be accepted properly now? How does Keenan fit into it all? I only hope that there's more to come because I really want to know.
Overall another great read and one that I really enjoyed.

Princess of Thorns and Ruin - Anya J. Cosgrove

 A grumpy human servant.

An arrogant bodyguard.

The scoundrel that broke my heart…

Betrayals and secrets rule the deadly and hypnotic court of night.

The pleasure bite is an art that a proper vampire princess shouldn’t think so much about, but how can I resist the pull of Leo’s blood or the warmth of his tanned skin? My new servant has sworn his life to me, body and soul, but he’s quiet and full of secrets.

Alec Beaumont simply boils my blood every time he opens his damn beautiful mouth, and Sebastian Chastain is as cruel and calculating as the day he set fire to my dress.

I can’t fall for any of them, forced to marry whoever my brother will choose for me, but is duty reason enough to betray my own heart?

I’m a Delacroix. We rule or die. There’s nothing to compromise.

Princess of Thorns and Ruin is book 1 in a fast-paced, sizzling romance duet set in the deadly Delacroix night court. You’ll love this story if you like sexy vampire bites, enemies-to-lovers relationships, and heroes who love to share.

This duet is set in the same world as Magnetic, but it stands alone. Downton Abbey meets House of Dragons. Mature themes.

My Review

When it comes to dark, paranormal romances, you don't get much better than Anya J. Cosgrove. It's been a while, but I was really excited to find out that there was a new duet on the way. Although this is linked to Magnetic it is a standalone story. Do you need to read Magnetic first? No. Should you read it anyway because it's great? Obviously.

Arielle has just come into her 'powers' her human servant who gave her the first drink of blood that turned her into a vampire doesn't really want anything to do with her. Then there's her bodyguard, an old crush and even the hint of an angel towards the end of the book.

In many ways, this first part of the duet is just to set everything up for the conclusion and I have to be honest, I'm not really sure yet where it's going to go. I know where I might like it to go, but I'll have to wait and see.

I don't ant to give any spoilers, so I'm being quite vague. This was a brilliant read and I can't wait for the next book. Fortunately, I don't have to wait too much longer!

Acing the Game - Carey PW

Acing the Game
Carey PW
Publication date: February 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

Is food really the way into a person’s heart?

Shep Lee thought he had it all. A successful restaurant, a loving husband who understood his asexuality, and most of all, the ability to be himself, a popular chef in the small town of Cloverleaf, Montana. That is, until his husband, Elmer Eshler, began pushing Shep more on sex.

Elmer doesn’t understand why he can’t turn his partner on—aren’t they perfect for each other? And Shep loves him, right? Shep, meanwhile, while confident with his body, is and forever will be sex indifferent. Why has Elmer suddenly changed his tune? But he doesn’t want to lose the man he loves so much. What can they do?

Shep convinces Elmer to try a polyamorous relationship. Elmer gets to have Shep and the sex life he’s always wanted. Shep gets a cooking buddy and a chance to experience a relationship and even try sex with a woman as his authentic gender. At first, Shep isn’t sure, but finds himself coming around—this feels safer than opening up the relationship. All three of them will be romantically involved, so that should ease any jealousy, right?

But when Willow Saint, a free-spirited, boisterous, and saucy young woman, comes into their lives, neither are prepared for the emotional and sexual rollercoaster that follows. Enthralled by Willow’s charm and kindness, Elmer and Shep struggle to understand what this means for their own bond. Can they become one happy family? Or will this ruin everything?

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Carey PW (he/they) is an author, college instructor, and mental health counselor.

Carey currently lives in Montana, and identifies as nonbinary, transmasculine (AFAB) and panromantic asexual. Carey has discovered that writing about his lived experiences is a therapeutic outlet for him and hopes that his readers relate to his own personal struggles and triumphs shared through his characters’ narratives. He has also worked as a high school and college writing instructor, earning a B.A. in English Literature, a M.Ed. in English Education, and Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education all from the University of Georgia. In 2020, Carey earned his second M.Ed. in Counselor Education and works as a licensed clinical professional counselor, LCPC.

Readers can learn more about Carey from his blog, www.careypw.com. When he is not writing, Carey is busy training for marathons, parenting his six cats, sharing his culinary talents on social media, and serving on the board for the nonprofit Center for Studies of the Person (CSP).

Carey PW loves to hear from readers. You can find his contact information, website and author biography at www.extasybooks.com.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

My Review

This book was not at all what I was expecting. It tells the story of a couple; Shep and Elmer who are having some difficulties with their relationship. Shep is asexual, while Elmer wants a more regular sex life. They decide to address this issue by adding a third person to their relationship, younger woman Willow.
The book tackles a number of quite weighty and challenging concepts. How can they make a relationship work when they are so incompatible sexually, even though everything else works? How important is it to be on the same page when it comes to sex and what might be the fallout if they do decide to take this step?
I thought that for the most part, this was all handled well and sensatively. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of backstory to understand with these two characters, there's no real way around this as what follows in the 'main' part of the story simply wouldn't make sense without it. The problem is that we then end up with rather a lot of telling rather than showing and that slows the whole narrative down. It also made it difficult to fully connect with the characters. It's a shame because it does detract from the story somewhat.
I did enjoy this read despite this slight disconnect and it was a really thought-provoking read. I did feel that the end of the book was slightly less satisfying than it might have been. This is probably due to the nature of the storyline, but I was left feeling a little let down by the end.

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