Veronica Scott

I mostly enjoyed this story. In a lot of ways this reminded me of Jayne Castle's earlier "Harmony" books; romance was present and the attraction the characters felt for each other shaped a lot of their interaction, but it wasn't the defining characteristic of the story. I think if they two hadn't become romantically linked they would have gone the extra mile for each other because that is who they are.

And to be honest I sometimes felt the romance was a bit forced. The timeframe isn't terribly long for this story and they spend the better part of that time tramping through the jungle with Tom's men, fighting off native warriors, unlocking the mystery of what was going on, Tom was practically comatose for a good chunk of time and at one point or other the two are separated. The few moments of quiet they do have together don't feel as deep a connection as they should have warranted.

Also, and maybe this was just me, but Tom's crew is sent to retrieve Andi (and only Andi). He doesn't know why, Andi isn't certain why and together the pair of them can't come to the obvious conclusion that is explicitly stated about halfway through. I honestly kept thinking "It can't be that simple an excuse right? There is something more special at work?". Nope. It really is that simple.

Scott tosses a lot of information at us in regards to the world, the political climate, the outside influences, the religion, the social structure, the business holdings, the outside military based on the planet, the economics, the history of the people, mystical woo-woo that saves lives, Andi's specialness...seriously. Its a lot of information for one book. I'm normally all for it, but there's no time in between anything to really absorb any of it.

I found myself confused, more than once, who exactly they were all running from and why the Head Honcho the rebels (I guess?) all claim to respect can't stop what's happening. And when the motivation is laid out, its a bit of a handwave that's kind of telegraphed, but not very well throughout the story.

I enjoyed the story for Andi and for Tom, and their misfit band of traveling companions. Despite my confusion I wanted to follow through to the end to find out what the big mystery was. And hey I'm always in favor of women who at least TRY to be proactive in their rescue attempt.

… (altro)

This wonderful romance collection benefiting Ukraine is a bargain that will fill more than two weeks of reading time.

Foreword points out that all proceeds will support Ukrainian refugees.

Acknowledgments do just that.

A Note on Heat Levels and Trigger Warnings should be taken seriously, although in a couple of places I have adjusted them to reflect what the younger people I know find tolerable.

Short Stories:
Her Beta Angel by G. Baily is for mature adults only, about a wolf shifter who is sent to a pack with a severe shortage of females, and takes about an hour to read.

Do No Harm by Jessica M. Butler starts on October 31, 2015, when the Annual Leander Heights Zombie Race and Blood Drive occurs. The story is PG15 and takes a little over an hour to read.

Swept Away by Alora Carter is a slow-starting, then fast-paced contemporary fantasy paranormal romance adventure that starts in a lecture hall, in the summer of 1982, involves camping, and takes about an hour to read. 6*

Night Capers by Anna Carven is an adult slice of family life that takes a half-hour.

Shadow City: Royal Wedding by Jen L. Grey is an NC17 romantic urban fantasy set in the Shadow City world with Vampire King Alex Kiernan marrying Ronnie, and takes a half-hour.

Prelude to Possession by Tana Stone is an adult sci-fi romance that starts on Gederven Prime, ends with a cliffhanger, and takes half an hour.

Novelettes
Nightfall by Maggie Alexander is a blistering hot fairy tale retelling, set on Zetaverse, about Zali Gold who was sent to investigate a bear sighting and takes 45 minutes.

Die From a Broken Heart by Elle Beaumont is the NC17 story of a ghostbuster's wife and takes about two hours.

Found by the Alien Lord by Ella Blake is for mature adults, set in 2324, and takes about 90 minutes.

Firebrand by Claudia Blood is an NC17 paranormal with Druids celebrating Imbolc near Cascade Creek, Rochester, Minnesota, and takes about two hours.

Rose's Boys by Eva Chase is PG15 twisted stepmother retelling set in September in the Pacific Northwest and takes about an hour.

Beyond the Stars by Debbie Cassidy is a mature adult apocalyptic dystopian tale thar=t takes about two hours.

Wolfish Initiation by G.K. DeRosa is a PG15 supernatural academy tale that takes place on Azar, starts with a new student initiation assembly, and can be finished in about an hour.

Sett's Salvation by T.K. Eldridge is an NC17 paranormal set in New Orleans, Louisiana near Lake Pontchartrain in late spring and takes a little over an hour to read.

Sold to the Enemy by Sara Fields is a mature adult nonconsensual dubcon (whatever that is) with sex slavery, is QUITE explicit, and can be read in about an hour.

Jax-Xon by Alana Khan is a mature adult contemporary science-fiction fantasy involving the abduction of a single mom and her 4-year-old daughter and takes about an hour.

All of Me by Lea Kirk is an NC17 science-fiction post-alien invasion tale involving a 22-year-old pregnant woman that took me about two hours.

Legend by K.N. Lee is a mature adult urban fantasy tale of unrequited passion set on Koa with a surprising twist at the end and takes about 90 minutes.

Delarat's Wish by Jen Lynning is a PG15 royal paranormal about three children, set in Moial, and takes about an hour.

The Promise by Vee R. Paxton is an 18+ prequel to The Ring of Souls and takes two hours.

One Night in Mayfair By Chloe Parker is a mature adult prequel to In Her Thrall set in London post-WWI, M/M, and takes about two hours.

Bearly Hanging On by Honey Phillips is a mature adult paranormal second-chance romance prequel set in the days before there were cell phones and takes about an hour.

Between the Quiet by Candace Robinson is a sweet PG13 paranormal romance with a nod to Charles Dickens and takes about 75 minutes.

Chan's Story by Rebecca Rode is a PG15 high-pressure school story that speaks of suicide and takes about an hour.

The Willow Trail by May Sage & Alexi Blake is a PG15 paranormal about high school twins in Oregon and takes about two and a half hours.

Star Cruise: Rescue by Veronica Scott is a PG13 rescue after a planet leave gone bad and takes an hour.

Something Right by Jenni Ward is a PG15 college dragon shifter tail that takes a couple of hours.

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bite by Julia Vee is a PG15 about a magic-eating accountant at Club Whispers in Bangkok and takes about an hour.

The Blooming by Katherine Bennet is an NC17 military black-op suspense romance that kept me up WAY past my bedtime.

Broken Chains by Demelza Carlton is a mature adult academic archaeological romantic comedy set in Fremantle, West Australia in June and takes most of a day.

Glitch by Leslie Chase is a mature adult space opera set on planet Crashland where humans and some of the Prytheen space pirates are beset by the rogue Prytheens. The short novel can be read in an afternoon.

A Tempest of Discovery by Sarah M. Cradit is a PG15 mysterious soap opera that takes a full day to read.

One Wicked Night by Tameri Etherton is a mature adult Aetherverse tale set in California around Valentine's Day that takes about a day.

Angel and the Alien Brute by Hattie Jacks is an alien abduction tale meant for adults and can be read in an afternoon.

Claiming Riley by Lisa Kumar is an adult paranormal romantic comedy set in Murren, Wisconsin starting in February and makes for a lovely afternoon.

Stealing Maid Marian's Heart by Ashley McLeo is an adult paranormal with threatened sex slavery set in Las Vegas where two orphaned shifters, now grown, still wonder who murdered their parents that takes an afternoon.

Beware the Violet: Part I by Maria Vermisoglou is the PG13 first book in her Eulogimenoi series about 17-year-old Violet Webb starting on Halloween in Emberfall that can be read in a long day.

Blood Moon by Jessica Wayne is an adult paranormal hunter romance starting on October 30 and can be read in an afternoon.

The Alien's Pursuit by Calla Zae is an adult space opera romance with sex slavery set mostly on Asteroid Icarus that can be read in an afternoon.

First Chapters take about a half an hour each for:
Reject Me by Kel Carpenter & Aurelia Jane
Beast Charming by Grace Goodwin
Slay Date by Miranda Honfleur
His Human Nanny by Michele Mills
Catnapped by the Catman by Jade Waltz

I received my copy via Bookfunnel and this voluntary review is my own opinion.… (altro)