In Deep - Blue Saffire

In Deep by Blue Saffire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Deep tells the story of Demaris and Kevin. Demaris is an undercover FBI agent, working as a detective and trying to get to the bottom of the corruption in the police force. She's reluctant to get involved with anyone, as she has been living a fake life for years and has begun to forget where she ends and her undercover identity of Danita starts. When Kevin comes into her life for the second time, she soon realises that there's no way that she can continue to keep him at arms distance. No matter how hard she tries to not get involved, he has different ideas.
I really liked the chemistry between Demaris and Kevin. He's willing to accept who she really is, even when she's keeping much of her real-life secret from her. I thought it was quite interesting to see a relationship where he was willing to accept her as she was and not push too hard against the secrets that she was keeping.
The only thing that I wasn't totally on board with was Kevin's accent. I'm not keen on lots of dialogue written with an accent, which is probably just a 'me' thing. I also wasn't sure why he even had an accent, his parents might be from Ireland, but he seemed to be American unless I was missing something.
Overall, this was a gripping romantic suspense and I'd certainly be keen to read more from the Blackhart Brothers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Guardian's Grace - Rebecca Zanetti

Guardian's Grace by Rebecca Zanetti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've read a few books from the Dark Protectors series now, I have been waiting to find out how things would unfold with Grace and Adare. They have popped up time and time again, as they are reluctant mates, not properly connected. I thought that it might be fun when they finally got together and that's what they have in this book.
I've enjoyed seeing their relationship, or lack of it, at a distance in the previous books. Now we finally see them finding out what they might mean to one another. It clear that despite their distance, they really do have feelings for one another. I liked the way that they are together. Adare is a little overbearing, as most of the male characters are in this series, but Grace is able to hold her own. That said, there were a couple of times that I think he went a little too far, although I would like to think that he would learn to trust her and treat her as more of an equal. I prefer storylines where there is more equality.
With all of these books, there is the overarching storyline that involves Hope and her future role in bringing an end to the conflict in their world. We did see some more of this in this book, with whole chapters devoted to Hope and her friends. I'm looking forward to seeing where that will go.
This would probably work as a standalone if you haven't already read any books in this series. I think that you would get far more out of it if you were to read the other books first. It also sets up for the next book, which I assume with involve Benny.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Hidden Children - Cover Reveal

~ Cover Reveal ~

The Hidden Children (The Lost Grimoire #1)

by Reshma K.Barshikar

‘What price would you pay to be extraordinary? What would you do to speak to a butterfly? 

Shayamukthy cruises through life: shooting hoops, daydreaming and listening to her favourite books. Even moving from the US to India, to a new school, a new culture, hasn't really rattled her. But something isn't right anymore and it begins when 'New Girl' joins the school. 

She pulls Shui into a world of magic and wonderment, a world she has been hidden from all her life. What starts as a quest to look for a lost book, hurtles Shui into a world where people live in trees, talk to the dead and speak to butterflies. 

But like all power, magic comes at a steep price, and under all things wondrous lie demons waiting to crawl out. The more Shui learns, the more she doubts everything and everyone around her.   

Will she be able to master her powers, or will they devour her and everyone she loves? 

Releasing on 10th November

About the Author:

Travel writer and novelist Reshma K Barshikar is an erstwhile Investment Banker who, as she tells it, ‘fell down a rabbit hole and discovered a world outside a fluorescent cubicle.’ As a travel and features writer, she contributes to National Geographic Traveller, Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia, The Sunday Guardian, SilverKris, The Mint Lounge and The Hindu. Fade Into Red, published by Random House India was her debut novel and featured in Amazon Top 10 Bestsellers. She also holds well renowned workshops for young adults at both BDL Museum and Kala Ghoda and is keen to build a strong Young Adult reading and writing community to fill the desperate lack of young adult fiction in the Indian Market. Her new Young Adult novel, The Hidden Children, will be launching at the Vizag Junior Literary Festival. Reshma is from the ISB Class of 2003. She calls both Mumbai and the Nilgiris home. 

Contact the Author:
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Out of Splinters and Ashes - Colleen L. Donnelly

Out of Splinters and Ashes by Colleen L. Donnelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book had a lot of promise. a lost romance, political intrigue, a mystery to uncover and the discovery of love in the next generation. Unfortunately, for me at least, it didn't quite live up to this promise.
Although the storyline was interesting it got lost somewhere in the pages and the plot seemed to swirl around lacking any real cohesion. Although everything was revealed at the end, I spent much of the book scratching my head and struggling to keep a grasp on the characters or what was happening.
The other problem with this book was that I didn't really care about any of the characters. The original love story between the runner and the writer that forms the basis for the whole story didn't really shine through and I couldn't become emotionally invested in it. In the modern day storyline, I couldn't make myself feel much sympathy for either the Grandmother and Grandfather or Cate and Dietrich. I don't know if it was me, but ultimately the book just didn't come together and drag me in.
It wasn't an awful read, but I went in expecting much more than it ultimately delivered and I was left feeling a little flat. This one just wasn't for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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