Release Day Review: Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
Series: Mercy Thompson #9 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: March 8th 2016
Links: Ebook • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Mercy Thompson has been hailed as “a heroine who continues to grow and yet always remains true to herself.”* Now she’s back, and she’ll soon discover that when the fae stalk the human world, it’s the children who suffer…

Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.

Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?

*Library Journal

It’s been a while since I’ve really delved back into urban fantasy, but reading Fire Touched reminded me of all the reasons why I love reading that genre. The Mercy Thompson series is one of my all-time favorites, so being back with Mercy and the gang was pure bliss. What I love most about Patricia Briggs books is that even though we’re this far into the series, all of the characters still grow, still go through their ups and downs, and experiencing all that along with them is one of the best feelings ever.

“You and I,” he said, “will always be okay. I can’t promise anything more.”

Mercy and Adam are back on track after the mess that was his ex-wife in the previous book, but of course, things are never easy for this couple. Tensions are rising between the fae, humans, and werewolves, and Mercy has become somewhat of a leader in keeping the peace. Adam is dealing with dangers that threaten his pack, his territory, and his mate. Beloved old characters return while new ones are introduced – one fire touched boy from “Underhill” needs protection from the Gray Lords who want to use him, and of course Mercy and the pack will do everything they can to help him. Fire Touched is definitely a game changer in the Mercy Thompson series and it’s an installment fans should not miss.

I really loved the way everyone was working together to try to keep a war from breaking out, be they shifters, fae, or humans. Mercy is at the center of it all, the one everyone knows they can turn to because she’s someone they can trust to have their backs and keep her promises. I’ve seriously missed Mercy, who’s one of my favorite heroines ever. It was great to see her so strong and badass, funny and humble. And her relationship with Adam is as strong and steady as ever. Sometimes I get tired of a couple when their relationship lasts through many books, but I don’t think I’ll ever feel this way about Mercy and Adam.

Despite the long time in between books I had to wait, I was easily able to immerse myself into Mercy’s world from the very first page of this book. Patricia Briggs’ writing is as fantastic, action-packed, and thrilling as ever. There was honestly never a dull moment in Fire Touched. If you’re a fan of the series, you already know how amazing these characters are so why wouldn’t you read this book!? If you’ve yet to experience the Mercy Thompson series, I highly recommend it if you love action, incredible and lovable characters, and a brilliantly-written paranormal world to get yourself sucked into. I can’t wait to see what Patricia Briggs has in store for us next!

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Mercy Thompson series

#1 ~ Moon Called: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Blood Bound: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Iron Kissed: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Bone Crossed: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Silver Borne: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ River Marked: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Frost Burned: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#8 ~ Night Broken: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#9 ~ Fire Touched: Ebook • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads

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8Mar2016

Audiobook Review: Play It Safe by Kristen Ashley

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Play It Safe by Kristen Ashley
Series: Standalone
Audiobook Publication Date: February 16th 2016
Length: 14 hours and 41 minutes
Narrated by: Savannah Richards
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

No connections. Play it safe. These were the rules Ivey lived her life by.

Until she hit Mustang, Colorado, a perfectly imperfect town where the citizens were welcoming and one of them included the tall, beautiful, macho man rancher cowboy, Grayson Cody.

On the run for a decade, Ivey knew she was supposed to play it safe. But she was tired of being on the run. She wanted a normal. She wanted real. She wanted a home.

And she wanted Grayson Cody.

And Grayson Cody wanted Ivey.

No one who looked at them couldn’t see they belonged together. There was one man in this world for Ivey and one woman in this world for Grayson Cody.

So they fell in love.

But just as quickly as they fell together, they were betrayed and torn apart. Separated for years, Ivey was certain her life would not include her rancher cowboy. Until the town of Mustang reached out to her when Gray was in trouble. Even though she thought he broke her heart, she charged in to help. Then Gray and Ivey discovered they were betrayed and, not only that, Gray had an enemy who would stop at nothing to defeat him.

I’m a huuuge fan of Kristen Ashley’s audiobooks – I feel like that’s the only way I’ll ever want to experience her books now. Play It Safe is another winner from KA – it’s an emotional and addictive second chance romance, which is probably my favorite trope to read. KA did a wonderful job with Ivey and Grayson’s story, and the narrator Savannah Richards portrayed Ivey’s voice perfectly. If you love KA and audiobooks, Play It Safe is a must-listen!

Pool hustler Ivey and her brother Casey are always on the go, never staying anywhere for long or making connections. But when they stumble upon the quaint, homey town of Mustang, Colorado, her feelings about being a nomad start to change. As she gets immersed in the small-town life and its residents, she can see herself making a home in Mustang – especially when she meets cowboy rancher Grayson Cody (who has the most cowboy of all cowboy names). Gray is handsome, steadfast, sweet, and alpha, so of course Ivey can’t help but instantly be attracted to him from the first start. But their growing relationship proves to be something special as they create a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love that would last forever… or so they think. Outside forces wrench these two lovers apart, and it’ll take seven years before their story picks up again. Will their love survive, or are Gray and Ivey just not meant to be?

I enjoyed this story so much. Even when I hurt for Ivey and Gray because of and during their separation, I never stopped rooting for them. These two are honestly so sweet and lovely together. I loved the fact that even after all those years apart, they never stopped loving each other. Love was never a question for the two of them, and the real challenge was whether they could continue on after all the hurt and heartbreak. It gets a little slow during the middle, when I wished they would reunite and figure out the reason for their separation quicker, and there are a ton of things going on outside the romance, but otherwise, Play It Safe is an enjoyable listen. I loved Savannah Richards when she narrated KA’s Knight, and I loved her narration just as much in Play It Safe. I especially adored her gruff tone whenever she voiced Gray’s dialogue or any of the other men in the book.

The Play It Safe audiobook has the perfect blend of an entertaining story and a fantastic narration. It’s not too long like KA’s other audiobooks, but it’s still more than worth the credit. I highly recommend giving this a listen!

Here’s an audio excerpt from Play It Safe!

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22Feb2016

Review: The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Titan #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 16th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

First off, I have to say that I am SO happy Seth gets his own series. Not only because I love Seth, but also because the Covenant world is one of my favorites. I adored the Covenant series, so the fact that I don’t really have to say goodbye to it is just the best. The Return kicks off the Titan series, beginning a year after the ending of the Covenant series. You don’t necessarily need to read that series before starting The Return, but I highly recommend it. Alex and Aiden’s story is incredible, Seth is first introduced there, and you won’t be as lost in the world in The Return if you’re familiar with the Covenant series.

Seth, the Apollyon, is pretty much owned by the gods. He made a deal with them for someone he cared about, and in return, he’d be at the gods’ bidding. He has a new mission now, when Apollo sends him to protect the life of a demigod – the child of a god and mortal. But Josie’s innocence, strength, and beauty surprises him and he finds himself drawn to her in a way he’s never truly felt for anyone.

Josie Bethel’s life is turned completely inside-out and upside-down when she finds out she’s not exactly human. As a demigod, she has incredible power, but it’s bound until the moment it’s needed the most. I loved Josie. She’s thrust into a dangerous world where she has no ability to protect herself other than Seth, but she learns to fight. She has an inner strength I found admirable, but honestly, I just loved her heart and her little quirks. She’s also funny too, and not immune to Seth’s charms. The chemistry between them is HOT, and I freaking love that this series is New Adult, because we get plenty of sexy times between Josie and Seth.

“I cannot even begin to count how many lives I’ve ended with these hands. These hands, Josie.” Lifting them, I curved them over her knees. “The ones you want touching you.”

Seth has changed considerably in the year since the war. He’s guilty and remorseful about what he did in the past and has been trying to right his wrongs, trying to take responsibility, all the while feeling like he deserves every punishment he gets and doesn’t deserve anything good in his life anymore. I felt for Seth so much. I LOVED that we get his POV in addition to Josie’s in The Return – I connected with him so much better this way, and plus, he has some fantastically naughty thoughts that I found hilarious. His perspective gives a lot of insight to who he is and how he feels, and the fact that he’s been trying to do some good makes him, well, good in my eyes. And his growing feelings for Josie only makes him all the more lovable.

“Say it again. … Say that I’m not just the Apollyon,” he whispered, his voice harsh.
Tears built in my throat. “You’re not just the Apollyon, Seth.”
His eyes drifted shut, his face tensed as his fingers splayed across my cheeks. “I don’t even know who I am anymore. Or what I ever was.”
Oh goodness, that ripped right through my chest. “You’re just… you’re just Seth.”
A tremor moved through his arms. “And you… you’re just my salvation.”

There’s not too much action going on in The Return, but for a first book in a series, it’s an incredible start with lots of potential to become even better. There are some similarities between Alex and Aiden and Josie and Seth – Seth even mentions how it’s almost like history repeating itself. Nonetheless, I absolutely adored this new couple. It’s possible I might even grow to love them and the Titan series even more than the Covenant series, but who knows. I can’t wait to see what JLA has in store for Seth and Josie!

Reading Order: Titan series

#1 ~ The Return: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Power: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Struggle: Goodreads (2017)

The Titan series is a spinoff of the Covenant series, and though it’s not necessary to read the Covenant series beforehand, I highly recommend it to become familiar with the world and get to know Seth prior to how he is in the Titan series.

Reading Order: Covenant series

#0.5 ~ Daimon: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1 ~ Half-Blood: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Pure: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Deity: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3.5 ~ Elixir: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Apollyon: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Sentinel: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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22Feb2016

Review: Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Covenant #5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: November 2nd 2013
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

It’s a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.

I’ve finally, FINALLY finished the Covenant series!!! I honestly don’t know why it took me this long to get to this final book – I read Apollyon over two years ago and I guess I just never kept going even with that awful cliffhanger. But I guess one good thing about waiting is that I have Seth’s series ready for me to read! Anyway, now that I have finished the Covenant series, I’m feeling so bittersweet. Jennifer L. Armentrout did an amazing job ending this brilliant series, but I’m still so sad to say goodbye to Alex and Aiden, who make up one of my favorite couples ever. Sentinel is fast-paced, action-packed, and never has a dull moment, but the highlight of the book is definitely Alex and Aiden’s relationship. They’ve been through so much, so it’s amazing to see how everything wraps up between them.

Our love had never been easy.
… He was my strength when I needed him to be, my friend when I needed someone to talk me down, my equal in a world where by law I would always be less than him, and honest to gods, he was the love of my life.
And he would wait forever for me, just as I would wait forever and a day for him.

I skimmed through the first four books before starting Sentinel, because I knew if I picked this final book up, I’d be just a teensy bit lost. Luckily, JLA is a fantastic writer, able to suck me into her Covenant world even after leaving it for over two years. Sentinel picks up right where Apollyon left off, after Alex’s terrible fight with Ares, which left her completely broken and near death’s door. But once she’s healed thanks to Apollo, she’s still not quite up to par, which isn’t good since the world is being torn apart by Ares, Lucian, and… Seth. It’s a race to the finish to see who will reach whom first – whether Ares will find a way to enslave mankind, or if Alex and the gang can manage to stop him and pretty much save the world.

What I love about this series (besides the amazing romance) is how humorous it is. No matter how dire things are, Alex and her friends manage to find a levity that lightens everyone up. As serious as the whole end-of-the-world thing going on is, Alex and the gang always make quips and jokes that have me laughing so hard. I love this balance in emotions that JLA handles so effortlessly.

Of course, now I get to talk about the romance! Alex and Aiden are just… perfect. They complement each other so well, even after the both of them have grown so much throughout the series. Alex has matured greatly, no longer that impulsive girl who seems to always get herself in trouble. Aiden is as swoon-worthy as ever, always believing in Alex and never being too overly alpha-male. These two just GET each other, support each other, love each other, and my heart easily fell for these two all over again in Sentinel.

“I love you.”
“Agapi mou, you are my everything.”

And oh gods, SETH!! I have to admit, I was Team Seth once upon a time back in Pure, so he’ll always have a piece of my heart, even though he’s turned a little power-hungry and is on the bad guys’ side. But if you’re a Seth fan (or even if you’re not), he’ll surprise you in this book. He’s made bad decisions, but he’s inherently a good guy, and I’m definitely excited to see how his story continues in his series!

The ending was something I… didn’t expect. I’m honestly still not quite sure how to feel about it, but the book overall was an epic ending to a series I adore. Sentinel isn’t my favorite of the series (I think it still might be Deity), but I’m so glad to have finally read it. I know I’d feel a lot worse leaving the Covenant world if there wasn’t the spinoff series, so I’m thanking the gods that JLA is giving us that!

Reading Order: Covenant series

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15Feb2016

Audiobook Review: Getting Rough by C.L. Parker

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Getting Rough by C.L. Parker
Series: Monkey Business Trio #2 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: January 26th 2016
Length: 8 hours and 22 minutes
Narrated by: Brian Pallino & Muffy Newton
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Hotshot San Diego sports agent Shaw Matthews and his sexy professional adversary Cassidy Whalen have gone head-to-head in the boardroom—and the bedroom. Now Shaw has scored a big promotion—but only because Cassidy turned it down and ran off. There are many things he wants when it comes to Cassidy—just not her pity. So Shaw rushes to a small town in Maine to retrieve his dignity—and maybe the woman he’s hungry to claim once more.

Cassidy has pushed herself to the max to realize her career dreams—until a family crisis brings her home. But Shaw isn’t letting Cassidy go that easily. Neither is gorgeous heartthrob Casey Michaels, the childhood sweetheart she left behind—and who now wants to win her back. As the rivalry between the two alpha males intensifies, and Shaw’s seductive moves reach a whole new level of heat, Cassidy has to make a choice. And this time, it’s for the highest stakes of all.

Going into Getting Rough, I didn’t realize it was the second book of a series, but I listened to this audiobook perfectly fine on its own. Cassidy Whalen and Shaw Matthews are sports agents, and also enemies turned lovers. I’m a huge fan of enemies-to-lovers romances, because I absolutely love the part when the characters realize their feelings of hate have turned into love. This second book in the Monkey Business Trio is exactly that, with Cassidy and Shaw recognizing the feelings they’ve developed for each other and trying to make something more out of their relationship. The narrators Brian Pallino and Muffy Newton did a wonderful job at voicing their characters, so this audiobook was all-around so fun and sexy to listen to.

Getting Rough picks up with Shaw running after Cassidy all the way to Maine when she gives up a coveted job position to take care of her family. But when the two of them are staying in Maine for the time being, the charm and quaintness of Cassidy’s hometown starts to get to them and their relationship becomes a lot less volatile than it used to be. Everything is more meaningful between and Shaw has most especially realized how much he wants Cassidy for so much more than just her body. The chemistry is still hotter than ever, and Shaw becomes even more alpha when Cassidy’s ex-boyfriend is introduced and wants her back. Even though there’s a bit of a love-triangle (and even a love-rectangle) going on, this didn’t detract from Shaw and Cassidy’s romance at all, and I was rooting for these two from beginning to end.

I love dual-narrator audiobooks, so listening to Getting Rough was perfect for me. Brian Pallino had a smooth, deep voice that I loved, and Muffy Newton was fantastic at narrating Cassidy’s indecisions about what to do with Shaw and her ex. The narration can make or break an audiobook for me, but I have to say that Brian and Muffy’s narrations are the highlight of this audiobook. I’d definitely listen to other audiobooks that they narrate!

If you love enemies-to-lovers romances, or stories with characters with explosive chemistry who draw a thin line between love and hate, I highly recommend Getting Rough. This book is sexy as hell, and listening to the audiobook only made the steamy scenes hotter. I can’t wait for more from the series!

Reading Order: Monkey Business Trio series

#1 ~ Playing Dirty: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Getting Rough: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Coming Clean: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Sept. 20, 2016)

Here’s an audio excerpt from Getting Rough!

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Category Archives: 4 hearts

Release Day Review: Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Reading Order: Mercy Thompson series

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Audiobook Review: Play It Safe by Kristen Ashley

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Review: The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Reading Order: Titan series

Reading Order: Covenant series

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Review: Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Reading Order: Covenant series

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Audiobook Review: Getting Rough by C.L. Parker

Reading Order: Monkey Business Trio series

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Reading Order: Mercy Thompson series

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