Review: Magical Midlife Battle - K.F. Breene

It has all come down to this. 

The battle to save Kingsley's pack, and Austin's place of birth, is upon them. They have their team, they have their supplies, and they have a very nerve-wracking secret weapon that Edgar devised.

They aren't even close to ready.

If they lose this battle, every shifter in the world will be in jeopardy. But to fight means danger they might not all walk away from.

If only the battle was their sole worry.

Austin has come home for the first time in fifteen years. He left the pack in tatters and a great many people haven't forgotten, his family included. He must finally face his past.

Get ready for a thrilling and emotionally charged next installment in the Leveling Up saga.

Leveling Up Series:

Magical Midlife Madness
Magical Midlife Dating

Magical Midlife Invasion

Magical Midlife Love

Magical Midlife Meeting

Magical Midlife Challenge

Magical Midlife Alliance

Magical Midlife Flowers (Novella)

Magical Midlife Battle

Magical Midlife Awakening

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
Well it's the moment we've all been waiting for, a battle that the series has been building towards since the first book, it's time to fight for their lives in defence of Kingsley's territory. I feel like I've been waiting so long for this book and it really didn't disappoint.

It was so fun to see Jesse and her motley crew away from Ivy House and trying to fit in with Kingsley's pack mates. Kingsley has already made his peace with Austin and Jesse but the rest of their family, and the pack, have no idea what kind of madness is heading into town and they're not particularly happy to have Austin back - even though he is there to help them.

There were some really interesting dynamics in this instalment of the series and it was interesting to see Austin trying to tread carefully and build bridges, I felt really sorry for him with the way some people treated him but it was good to see Jesse and the others come to his defence.

I honestly don't want to say much more about this book, if you're a fan of the series you'll know the kind of antics to expect from the regular characters and you'll already be prepared for an action packed ride. If you've stumbled across this review by accident don't start reading at this book but do grab yourself a copy of Magical Midlife Madness and be ready for a fun adventure as you end up binge reading the rest of the series though!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Faithless in Death - J.D. Robb

It's a beautiful Spring day in NYC when Lt. Eve Dallas gets an early morning murder call. A talented young sculptor hasn't had such a perfect day in May. Killed by her own hammer, at first it looks like an argument with a jealous partner but it soon becomes clear that there is much more to this case than a lovers' quarrel turned fatal.

Eve finds herself drawn into the dark and dangerous world of a secret order. A world in which white supremacy, misogyny and religious fanaticism are everyday activities. Eve has dealt with some tough cases before but is it too much even for her to take on a wealthy, influential organisation with friends in very high places.....?

In Death Series:
Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Midnight in Death (Novella)
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgement in Death
Betrayal in Death
Interlude in Death (Novella)
Seduction in Death
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Big Jack (Available in the Remember When Anthology or separately)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Haunted in Death (Novella)
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
Creation in Death
Eternity in Death (Novella)
Strangers in Death
Salvation in Death
Ritual in Death (Novella)
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
Missing in Death (Novella)
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
Possession in Death (Novella)
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Chaos in Death (Novella)
Celebrity in Death
Delusion in Death
Calculated in Death
Thankless in Death
Taken in Death (Novella available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or separately)
Concealed in Death
Festive in Death
Obsession in Death
Devoted in Death
Wonderment in Death (Novella)
Brotherhood in Death
Apprentice in Death
Echoes in Death
Secrets in Death
Dark in Death
Leverage in Death
Connections in Death
Vendetta in Death
Golden in Death
Shadows in Death

Faithless in Death

Forgotten in Death

Abandoned in Death

Desperation in Death

Encore in Death

Payback in Death (September 2023)

Visit J.D. Robb's website for more information.

Review:
Faithless in Death was another fantastic instalment in the series, I will never get tired of reading about these characters but a big draw of the books is how well the murder mystery side is written too. J.D. Robb manages to make every single case different from the last and this was the first time Eve is investigating a so-called religious cult that is really just one man using religion to justify his mysogynistic, racist & homophobic views and to force others to adhere to his rules.

The deeper Eve digs into this cult the more of their abhorrent practises she uncovers but the biggest issue will be trying to make the people in charge pay for their crimes before anyone else gets hurt. Eve has really come into her own as a capable leader and she shows here just how well she can pull together a huge operation with involvement of multiple different agencies. I love watching Eve work but I also really enjoy the personal interactions between all the team members, Peabody and McNab are always on hand to add a bit of humour alongside the other detectives in the bullpen and of course Feeny and Mira have that calming parental influence over everyone too. The biggest draw is always the relationship between Eve and Roarke though, total couple goals right there.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Shadows in Death - J.D. Robb

As it often did since he'd married a cop, murder interrupted more pleasant activities. The again, Roarke supposed, the woman lying in a pool of her own blood a few steps inside the arch in Washington Square Park had a heftier complaint.

When a night out at the theatre is interrupted by the murder of a young woman in Washington Square Park, it seems like an ordinary case for Detective Eve Dallas and her team. But when her husband Roarke spots a shadow from his past in the crowd, Eve realises that this case is far from business as usual.

Eve has two complex cases on her hands - the shocking murder of this wealthy young mother and tracking down the shadow before he can strike again, this time much closer to home. Eve is well used to being the hunter, but how will she cope when the tables are turned? As Eve and the team follow leads to Roarke's hometown in Ireland, the race is on to stop the shadow making his next move...

In Death Series:
Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Midnight in Death (Novella)
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgement in Death
Betrayal in Death
Interlude in Death (Novella)
Seduction in Death
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Big Jack (Available in the Remember When Anthology or separately)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Haunted in Death (Novella)
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
Creation in Death
Eternity in Death (Novella)
Strangers in Death
Salvation in Death
Ritual in Death (Novella)
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
Missing in Death (Novella)
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
Possession in Death (Novella)
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Chaos in Death (Novella)
Celebrity in Death
Delusion in Death
Calculated in Death
Thankless in Death
Taken in Death (Novella available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or separately)
Concealed in Death
Festive in Death
Obsession in Death
Devoted in Death
Wonderment in Death (Novella)
Brotherhood in Death
Apprentice in Death
Echoes in Death
Secrets in Death
Dark in Death
Leverage in Death
Connections in Death
Vendetta in Death
Golden in Death
Shadows in Death

Faithless in Death

Forgotten in Death

Abandoned in Death

Desperation in Death

Encore in Death

Payback in Death (September 2023)

Visit J.D. Robb's website for more information.

Review:
When you're this many books into a series it can be really hard to think of new things to say in a review but the fact that I'm still mad about this series when it's over 50 books in (and am close to finishing my third reread of all of the books and novellas!) should tell you all you need to know. These books are like crack and I especially love the audio versions narrated by Susan Ericksen who does a fantastic job of bringing all the characters to life. J.D. Robb aka Nora Roberts really is the queen of this genre, nobody does it better.

Shadows in Death sees Eve taking on a formidable enemy and one who is targeting the person she cares about most in this world. I always love getting to see more of Roarke's past but it's not often we see him quite so unsettled and it was an interesting change to their dynamics to see Eve comforting him for a change.

The killer in this book may just be one of their most dangerous opponents yet but when you come gunning for one of the NYPD's top Lieutenants and her husband you'd better believe that the NYPD are going to turn out in force to stop you.

This story moves at a fast pace all the way through and it was lovely to see so many people step up and come to bat for Eve and Roarke.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Magical Midlife Alliance - K.F. Breene

After a disappointing return from the basajaunak lands, it's clear that Jessie and her crew need to form an alliance and fast! A massive battle is materializing, targeting Kingsley. Without more help, they'll never be enough to save Austin's brother from total annihilation.

The good news is, gargoyle cairns are interested in meeting her. She's the only living female gargoyle and a connection with her has the opportunity to improve their status. They'd just have to change their way of life to accommodate her, not an easy ask for a gruff, stubborn sort of creature.

She has her back against the wall. She must try and wrangle her crew into some semblance of "normal" to entice even just one major cairn to her side. Something not totally impossible…except for the interference of a cairn's Lead Enforcer.

He isn't just a gargoyle. Couldn’t be, not with his unnatural size, strength and glowing eyes. His origins are a mystery and his entire person is cloaked in danger. He might just hold their fate in his hands.

Making an alliance was always going to be difficult, but now it might be nearly impossible, and not just because the crew has no idea what "normal" might look like.

The clock is ticking.

Leveling Up Series:

Magical Midlife Madness
Magical Midlife Dating

Magical Midlife Invasion

Magical Midlife Love

Magical Midlife Meeting

Magical Midlife Challenge

Magical Midlife Alliance

Magical Midlife Flowers (Novella)

Magical Midlife Battle

Magical Midlife Awakening

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
Jessie, Austin and their crew know they still need to gather as many allies as they can before the big showdown with Momar and they need to do it fast if they want to have a chance of helping save Kingsley and his pack. 

The last book saw them focused on getting to know more of the basajaunak but this time around we get to see more of the gargoyles when Jessie invites 4 of the largest cairns to meet. Things don't always go to plan though and a lot of the gargoyles are very set in their ways and have no idea what to make of Jessie and the rest of her crew.

I'm not going to go into any more details because I want to avoid spoilers but it was really fun to see Jessie once again boggling people's minds because she doesn't think or act the way they expect her to. She definitely has her own way of doing things but she is also extremely loyal and protective of the people she considers hers so she's the kind of person you want on your side when you're going into a fight.

I love the whole Ivy House team but I am getting a little annoyed with Sebastian and Nessa for the way they go behind Jessie's back and start plotting without anyone else's input. I'm sure they have Jessie's best interests at heart but it really is about time for them to start acting like the team members that they've become. I really hope that is something that changes as the series continues but either way I'm fully invested and can't wait to see what happens next.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Magical Midlife Challenge - K.F. Breene

The signs are unmistakable, Momar isn't just targeting Austin's brother.

When one of Momar's grunts breaks into Austin's territory looking to grab Jessie for questioning, Jessie and her crew realize they are under fire. In order to protect themselves, it becomes obvious they need backup.

Thankfully, the basajaun's people have invited Jessie and her crew into the basajaunak lands. This is their golden opportunity to seek their help.

The problem is, a host of mages and mercenaries are following them. Once they take Jessie this time it won't be just for questioning, and she won't be coming back.

To omit this detail to the basajaunak would result in punishment. And everyone knows "punishment" with basajaunak is synonymous with an unmarked grave. But to tell them would get their visit canceled and force them to face the threat alone. Either way could mean certain death.

Decisions, decisions.

Welcome back to O'Briens, where the only certainty is that nothing is normal.

Leveling Up Series:

Magical Midlife Madness
Magical Midlife Dating

Magical Midlife Invasion

Magical Midlife Love

Magical Midlife Meeting

Magical Midlife Challenge

Magical Midlife Alliance

Magical Midlife Flowers (Novella)

Magical Midlife Battle

Magical Midlife Awakening

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
There was quite a long gap between the release of the previous book in the series (Magical Midlife Meeting) and this one so I took the time to indulge in a series reread before picking up this book and I found myself falling in love with this world and the characters all over again. This is just such a fun series to read and I love that the characters are older than you often see. 

Jesse may be fairly new to the magical world but she's got plenty of life experience to draw from so she's able to hold her own. Her relationship with Austin was a real slow burn but things have reached well over boiling point now so we're getting more of the heat that I'm customary to in K.F. Breene's writing.

The side characters shine with all their crazy antics and this instalment lets us get to know so much more about the basajaunak which was fun. I did think we might get a little further information about Momar but it makes sense that Jesse and Austin are taking the time to build their power base and get as many allies as possible before the big showdown and I'm already excited for the next book so it's great that we only have a couple of months to wait!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: A Queen of Ruin - K.F. Breene

The final book in the Wall Street Journal bestselling series!

I thought once we released the curse, I'd only have one enemy to contend with.

Wrong.

The queen lives. Not only that, but she knowingly hid herself from me and the rest of this kingdom until the moment the curse was broken. Now she is back, and her desires aren't clear. Neither are her motives.

Will she try to take the throne for herself?

We can stop her…unless she had a hand in that curse. In which case, will we need to battle her and the demon king before we can finally live in peace? Or has this all been for naught?

Regardless, we have very little time before the demon king returns to wipe us out.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:

A Ruin of Roses

A Throne of Ruin

A Kingdom of Ruin

A Queen of Ruin

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:

A Queen of Ruin is the fourth and final book in K.F. Breene's Beauty and the Beast inspired dark fairytale series so I'm going to assume if you're reading this review you've already read the first two books. I'm going to keep the review deliberately vague to avoid spoilers for this book but events from previous books may be referenced. 

I've been totally hooked on this series since book one was published and have eagerly waited for each instalment since then so I was both excited and a bit nervous for this final book. I wanted it to be amazing but at the same time I didn't want it to end. I'm happy to say A Queen of Ruin is everything I hoped for and then some, it's a long book and so much happens but I really don't want to go into much detail because I'd hate to accidentally spoiler anyone. 

What I will say is that I was excited to get to spend some time exploring other kingdoms and meeting some of the other rulers, I loved getting to know the new characters from the last book even better and I was thrilled with the way Finley and Nyfain's relationship has developed over the course of the series. This final book was an emotional rollercoaster and there was one moment that shocked me to my core and had me so emotional I had to put it down and walk away for a bit before I could carry on reading but I still loved every minute of it.

I'm sad the series has come to an end but I love the way everything has wrapped up and I think we got a really fitting end to the series. That said I have really high hopes for a spin off or two, not because things have been left unfinished but because some of the side characters are so fantastic I want to spend more time with them. I can't say who because *spoiler* BUT one in particular is part of a HUGE revelation that I'm desperate to know more about. I'm sure anyone who has read the book will know exactly what I'm talking about.

K.F. Breene has long been an auto-buy author for me and this series has only cemented her place on my favourite authors list.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: A Kingdom of Ruin - K.F. Breene

Never sell your soul to the Demon King.

Too late.

In an effort to save all that I love, I have to finish the job Nyfain started… and ruin myself.

I've made a trade with the most cunning creature alive.

Me for them.

The dungeons will be my new home. Dolion's destruction will be my new goal.

I just have to get out of here and back to my golden dragon. Preferably alive.

Deliciously Dark Fairytales Series:

A Ruin of Roses

A Throne of Ruin

A Kingdom of Ruin

A Queen of Ruin

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:

A Kingdom of Ruin is the third book in K.F. Breene's Beauty and the Beast inspired dark fairytale series so I'm going to assume if you're reading this review you've already read the first two books. I'm going to keep the review deliberately vague to avoid spoilers for this book but events from previous books may be referenced. 

I have loved this series from the first book but it just keeps getting better and better with every instalment. After the cliffhanger ending of book 2 I knew Finley was going to be in for a bumpy ride in this book but there was so much I didn't expect from this story, especially the fun new allies she met along the way. Trapped in the demon realm thanks to the bargain she made to protect Nyfain Finley is now Dolion's prisoner and has a newfound home in his dungeon. Her bond to Nyfain protects her from some things but it doesn't stop physical torture from her guards so her life is now mostly pain and anguish as she tries to figure out a way to escape.

I really admire Finely's attitude and the way she is so determined to fight for and protect the people she cares about no matter what it costs her personally. She has earned a lot of respect from friends she made in Nyfain's court and her selfless attitude is starting to rub off on some of them which leads to some interesting developments. I love that we got some of the story from Hadriel's point of view here, his character is just so funny and gave some much needed light relief in places.

I don't want to say much about the new characters that we are introduced to but there are some I absolutely loved and can't wait to see more of in the future. There were some great revelations in this book and things are only going to get more interesting in the next book thanks to the way things ended. Luckily this didn't finish on such a cliffhanger as A Throne of Ruin but it's still left me wanting the next book ASAP.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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