Category: Reviews - Drako's Den

Review: Spring Frost Romance by Johnny Miles

7/11/2020

Synopsis: Spring is coming, and under the melting frost, desire stirs…

Jackson Frost is youthful and charming, even if he can come off as a bit cold at times. Griffin Kloss is a gruff, 30-year-old failed businessman in need of nurture as he licks his wounds. When the two meet, it’s love at first sight. And there’s something about Jackson that’s magical.

And mysterious.

Jackson has secrets, and with the spring thaw coming, it’s harder for him to keep them from his lover. As Griffin deals with an ailing mother and a life that seems to slip away, he longs to hold onto Jackson, even if it means denying the worst of his fears.

Some things are not meant to last, but Griffin is determined to find the one exception, even if he must learn to believe in a new kind of magic.

The magic of the heart…

Review: This was a short one for me. Jackson Frost is kind of obvious. I knew who he was right away, but that didn't bother me. It makes it interesting. Griffin is a regular guy down on his luck and dealing with discovering his mother seems to be in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Jackson is on vacation with some friends and meets Griffin in a bar. It's one of those instant connection type of things, though there's a little frustration in the beginning as they can't get to the fun stuff completely. Ultimately we get the HEA, I think, but the ending seemed a tad bit abrupt to me and there are some questions left unanswered. Doesn't kill the story or anything, just things that made me curious. Overall enjoyable for a quick read.

Review: Lucifer's Odyssey (Primal Patterns #1) by Rex Jameson

5/2/2020

Synopsis: What if Earth was not the only planet Jehovah cared about? What if humanity was not the only intelligent race that Jehovah had created? What if the war between angels and demons had a much more ancient history that spanned three universes and many billions of light years of space?

The Lucifer’s Fall trilogy of the Primal Patterns series is the story of the most celebrated demon warrior and king in history, and the birth of a moral and intellectual renaissance in the Chaos Universe. The first book, “Lucifer’s Odyssey”, traces the demon prince Lucifer from his imprisonment by Jehovah on Earth to the betrayal of his parents in Chaos and a shaky alliance with the Elven people. Filled with irreverent humor and fast paced action, Lucifer’s Odyssey beckons you to take a journey through space and time into a story where elven technology meets the ruthlessness of the demon race and the potential of Jehovah’s great creations.

Review: I'm not sure when i downloaded this to my kindle but I am glad I did. This was such a different take on the old Lucifer and Jehovah story. This Lucifer is dfferent than most takes of the character that I've read, he's not a smooth talker or super persuasive. Has an anger issue, but he's not inherently evil. He has a twin, Jehovah is not exactly god, and definitely not the creator of the universe, nor is he Lucifer's father. I was intrigued enough to continue reading. There's demons, demon wizards, angels, and elves. There's political intrigue and some racism. A few references to different mythologies, but this seems like a universe all unto itself and a very interesting one. I intend to continue reading more into the series to see where it goes

Review: Stay Lucky by Leta Blake

3/31/2020

Synopsis: A second chance to build the family of their dreams…

Grant long ago gave up on a relationship with Leo Garner. After all Leo left him for a movie star, and who can compete with that? But now, Leo’s back with his adorable, genius daughter in tow, leaving Grant consumed by three important questions:

1) Did Leo come home looking for a fresh start without the movie star?
2) Does he want a do-over with Grant too?
3) Why else would Leo be hanging around Grant’s hospital so much anyway?

The attraction between Grant and Leo is undeniable, and soon their affection reignites as well. But will their luck hold out through health scares and family drama so they can find their happy ending at last?

Review: This one took me a little while to get into. The time skips back and forth were a little jarring for me. It was confusing because I didn't expect it. But once I got past that, I really enjoyed this story. I love Grant. I like his witty and sarcastic nature, his blunt demeanor, and the fact that at least for a while he was cynical and stuck to it. Leo took a minute to grow on me, just because he's the one that left and kept Grant all cynical. The kid, Lucky, makes up for that. Then his illnesses and his determination to be happy despite being sick made me warm up to him. By the end, I was happy they ended up together.

Review: Adam Bomb by Kilby Blades

2/5/2020

Synopsis: Levi's best friend, Adam, has always been larger than life: a smoking-hot billionaire hotelier with imposing charm. When Manhattan stops being big enough for both of them—at least if Levi ever wants to fall out of love with Adam—Levi accepts a job in in San Francisco.

But when Adam pulls an Adam—upending Levi's calm new life with a plea to lend his photography talent to a worthy cause—Levi is helpless to resist. Adam will be the first Fortune 100 CEO to come out of the closet in grand fashion. He needs a trusted ally on his PR team. And the job will only last three weeks.

Levi accepts on one hidden condition: he’ll keep his new friends away from Adam, certain that if they get a whiff, they'll fall under Adam’s spell. Bent on keeping his two lives separate, Levi barely makes it through the first two weeks unscathed. Then, Adam drops another bomb….

Review: I wondered how well I would relate to this one given the characters. Thankfully, I found Levi and Adam super interesting. They're fun because they were friends. Everything isn't easily predictable in this one, not the story, not the characters, not the roles they play in certain areas of life. I like the Levi is so fiercely independent, refusing money from Adam. I like that Adam doesn't do things thinking he can buy affection. Most of all, they have flaws. Adam doesn't seem to know how to release control and Levi is so adamant on not being controlled or indebted to someone that he'll refuse help from Adam repeatedly. There's a happy ending, but there's work to get to that ending so I thoroughly enjoyed the story

Buy links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Gargoyle's Embrace (Polar Nights #3) by Siryn Sueng

2/13/2019

Synopsis: As the owner of a high-profile exotics bar for the supernatural, Krystalf is used to attention. Being the son of wealthy and powerful parents and a formidable second-tier mage himself, Krystalf is also used to being the target of petty humans looking for a healthy ransom. Luckily, his life in Tromsø, Norway is usually quite peaceful.

Then…the fae arrived. After a brutal attack, Krystalf is left shaken as he witnesses for the first time how powerful they are. And at how helpless he truly is against them.

For the devilishly-handsome Auren, a gargoyle from Cara, Egypt, finding his mate was the last thing on his mind. He’s been painstakingly hunting the host of fae who attacked his home. That hunt leads him straight to the arms—and heart—of the mysterious mage, Krystalf. Yet, more questions than answers arise once Auren sets foot in Tromsø. Questions regarding how Auren knows a certain incubus—and perhaps the reason why the fae have come so far north…

Review: So this is the third installment, and I still have questions. These magical beings know so much about each others races, but not about the Fae that are now hunting them. The reason and method behind their mating is also still confusing. There are some answers about Jakai, but we're left with more questions than answers in the end. I'm not sure how the next book will go in this series, but there has to be a next one at some point. There's more information in this book than the previous two, at least, and enough to keep me interested once there's a fourth one.

Review: Wolf's Kiss (Polar Nights #2) by Siryn Sueng

2/13/2019

Synopsis: Under the lights of the beautiful city, Tromsø, the call for pleasure fills the snowy air.

Having left the deep north in an attempt to bury past demons, Halken finds himself drawn in by a gorgeous blond dryad. With his original plan to leave Tromsø tossed out the window, he takes his dance partner home, fully intent on mating with him.

Nolan has heard rumors about werewolves, what they like in the bedroom. He quickly finds out that most all of these rumors are true. Taken in by his sexy wolf, he finds himself in the most erotic of situations with Halken…and begging for more.

Halken talks little of himself, preferring to keep his past exactly where it belongs. In the past.

But what he left there has a mind of its own. A deranged rogue wolf stalks the city, following the scent of what he wants—and he will have it, one way or another.

Review: I feel like this one and the last one could have been combined into one story since this one essentially picks up right where the first one left off. As with the first one, there's plenty of sex, but it's a little different for Nolan and Halken than it was with Valyn and Jakai. Wolves apparently like a little BDSM. The issue with the Fae from the first book takes a back seat to a rogue wolf. I would have liked to see more of Halken. While we get more backstory, he's not exactly the hero of the story at the end as I would expect. I feel like these stories are good, the writing and concept are good, but I wish they were longer and explained more.

Review: Incubus Touch (Polar Nights #1) by Siryn Sueng

2/13/2019

Synopsis: Sex under the northern lights has never been so arousing.

Valyn enjoys the snow-covered city of Tromsø, Norway, because of the long nights, and the northern lights that bring more than just color to the skies above. As a siren, the energy that floods the city beneath the strong pulses of the aurora are both needed for magic and sought after for intense pleasure.

During the winter, the urge to be claimed drives many of the mythical populace. It is Valyn’s third winter without a partner, and the overwhelming need for sex is almost too much to bear. Until his search in an underground club leads him to an incubus named Jakai. Finally, after so long, Valyn has found the man to share his life with. Jakai is mysterious, but kind, and the sex is far more erotic than Valyn ever imagined it could be.

But in the deep dark, there are things that crawl through the snow. The fae are far less civilized and out for blood. When Valyn spots a terrifying figure in Jakai’s yard, the peace in Tromsø begins to break apart — and the fae’s presence is just the beginning.

Review: So, I received this in exchange for an honest review. It's in my preferred genre but it's not exactly my usual read. It's shorter and the pace is very fast. It seems more like a serial than a standalone. The writing itself is good and the premise of the story is also good. It simply moves much too fast. Valyn is a male siren looking for his mate. Jakai is an incubus who winds up being his mate. The instant knowledge of a fated partner can be a bit jarring, especially as the story progresses and you notice that Jakai has to have an interesting background. By the end of the story, I was intrigued enough to read more, mostly because Jakai is a lot more powerful and useful than any of the other characters and I really want to know more.

Review: To Save His Prince by Hurri Cosmo

10/26/2018

Synopsis: Emory is a humble kitchen servant intent on working hard so he can continue to earn his daily crust of bread. It is a thankless, back-breaking job, but it is exactly where Emory wants to be. In the magnificent West Quay castle. Because that is where the incredibly handsome, extremely talented Crown Prince Riffyn lives. The beautiful, kind, and attentive man stole Emory’s heart years before when he rescued him and his mother from a band of thieves. Now Emory’s only wish is to be close, so he can simply admire and serve the man.
But a great evil walks the halls of the castle, and Emory stumbles on a heinous plot to not only kill the prince but a possible plan to overthrow the Kingdom. A wicked scheme that includes the use of magic. Of course, being a lowly servant, no one believes Emory when he tries to raise the alarm, including the prince, who has been commanded to choose a bride now, or one will be chosen for him. Even as Emory’s heart breaks for his prince, he has to find a way to save him. But how, when no one, not even the king, the prince’s own father, can be trusted?

Review: Familiar with the author, I was excited to take this one on. I haven't read from this series in particular but the premise was very interesting. The connection between Emory and Riffyn is established early through the rescue from thieves, and an infatuation begins for Emory. His loyalty is admirable and he's brave in his own way. He's also naive and it's cute, although a tad bit infuriating. Riffyn seems a bit idealistic, everything one would wish for in a future king. He's noble and honorable, which isn't a bad thing.
The introduction of magic was a welcome one. The story is well written and demanded that I finish it the day that I started it. I could probably have done without part of the ending. I'm glad they had a happily ever after but without spoiling the ending, let's just say I could have done with the simple marriage and living on. Doesn't make the story any less riveting though.

Rating: 4 Stars

Black Balled by Andrea Smith & Eva LeNoir

9/9/2018

Synopsis: Two dominant males, two worthy adversaries, in a business that takes no prisoners, will soon learn that fate refuses to be ignored...

My name is Troy Babilonia, but I'm best known as Babu, a renowned literary critic with my own online column. I'm followed by thousands! I'm a living god in the literary world. I have no filter, and for that, my flock of humble followers are forever grateful. If it weren't for me, they wouldn't know what to read. I have zero tolerance for the weak-minded attention seekers, nor do I have respect for the self-proclaimed geniuses of the Indie world. My advice to all Indie authors is to never break the cardinal rule in this cut-throat business. Ever.

My name is L. Blackburn and I'm an Indie author. My extraordinary genius was loved and worshiped throughout the literary world, until one egocentric critic tried to obliterate my career. It seems I broke some "cardinal rule," and now I'm paying the price for it. But I don't plan on going down without a fight.

Review: This one was fun. Maybe because it's semi-relatable. An indie author getting a bad review makes the mistake most authors don't when he responds to it. I like the fact that there was a distance kept between them. The two didn't know each other and even when they eventually meet, it's more by chance and they have no idea who the other is. Blackburn figures it out first. This isn't the classical love story. There's attraction but not instant love between them. They both have issues. Troy isn't a jerk for no reason. They don't have an easy time getting together at all. Also, they are both jerks. Equal jerks, and they deserve each other. I loved it in the end.

Review: Darkling by Brooklyn Ray

1/17/2018

Synopsis: Port Lewis, a coastal town perched on the Washington cliffs, is surrounded by dense woods, and is home to quaint coffee shops, a movie theater, a few bars, two churches, the local college, and witches, of course.

Ryder is a witch with two secrets—one about his blood and the other about his heart. Keeping the secrets hasn’t been a problem, until a tarot reading with his best friend, Liam Montgomery, who happens to be one of his secrets, starts a chain of events that can’t be undone.

Dark magic runs through Ryder’s veins. The cards have prophesized a magical catastrophe that could shake the foundation of Ryder’s life, and a vicious partnership with the one person he doesn’t want to risk.

Magic and secrets both come at a cost, and Ryder must figure out what he’s willing to pay to become who he truly is.

Review: So, I read this book in a little less than a day, when I had to work. It was that good. I'm partial to anything related to witches and magic, especially when you can tell some real thought and perhaps research went into the world crafting, and not just haphazardly throwing ideas together and hoping they flow. I love that the witches have specialties and while there is some light and dark separation in the magic, it's not as black and white as the lighter witches would want you to think. I love Ryder. He's got a good balance of light and dark, and I can understand his reservations about revealing his secrets when members of his coven aren't always the most open minded. I like the fact that Liam is apparently just as into him and neither one has realized it. Better than the usual guy falls for best friend he thinks is straight and never gets him, or worse has to turn him. This story flew by and absorbed me in it from the opening.