The Lion's Claim by Candace Ayers

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
One thing stood out here, Candace Ayers did her research on Lion prides. Unfortunately, I liked the book and the story. I however did not love it.  Jacob is a stalker. Yes, I know lions are stalkers and it makes sense that he would stalk his mate. Still, it's creepy. I fully understand Bree's misgivings, and the stalking probably didn't help. Candace did a great job of portraying a lion's pride even the disenchanted males in the pride, and a creepy romance to boot.

The Major's Faux Fiancée (The Dukes of War #4) by Erica Ridley

I love Erica Ridley and her crew of characters in the Dukes of War. Daphne is a crusader, but for all the wrong reasons. Bartholomew is a guilt ridden feeling sorry for himself ex-soldier. They are both childhood friends, and Daphne's new predicament gives Bart a reason to leave his London townhouse.  There's a morale in this story whether Erica Ridley meant it or not and I for one embraced it. I understand the loss that Bartholomew felt and Daphne overlooked for the sake of his confidence. Sometimes a loss will not make us less, but it can make us stronger and more.

Grime and Punishment (Dirty Secrets #1) by Sylvia Selfman

This book is funny, and I feel Detective Cooper's frustration. A woman who can't stay out of everyone's problems is a nightmare for a police detective. The worst part is I want to read what comes next, because I know she can't stay out of her clients business. This book will lift you out of your blues and bring a smile to your face.

Tanak (Star Fall #1) by E.A. James

Although the plot and premise is good for this book, it somehow falls short of expectations. I enjoyed the interaction between Marigila and Tanak, the way she came around was a little too weird. Personnally, I don't know why he had to hide his people from her. She either accepted them or she didn't. She was dead to her people anyway. She could have gone straight to the city and learned about the city, made her decision and lived as Tanak's wife or servant.  Tanak waiting for her to make a decision put all of the Ravenis at risk. They were tracking him and he shouldn't have returned to the city, but then there wouldn't have been that battle scene. You would think that with starship power, the Ravenis would have had some type of communications system, considering how the people on the planet lived. Don't get me wrong, I liked the story. I just found a lot of flaws. But then when it comes to science fiction, I can even find something wrong with George Lucas!

Ineq (Dragons Of Kelon #6) by Maia Starr

I read this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from the Author and this is my honest opinion. I won't be posting to Amazon or Goodreads because I do not want to hurt this author and I understand how damaging a bad review can be. This book should be listed strictly erotica. As it is not, I can only review it as a book over 18. This is a book with a storyline to highlight bad behavior and acceptability of having sex with anybody and then justifying that behavior, and then going on as nothing happened. I have been in situations where the temptation is great, but I would have broken off the relationship first, before moving on or just giving into sex. Sex is a choice. Just because your body feels all those things does not mean you have to give into them. Relationships are important, and betrayal of those relationships are not acceptable. Although I might forgive a person, I would never have the same level of trust with that person. This author presented Alexandra's personality as one thing, and it evolved into another to suit the author's storyline. This is unacceptable. Camilla's forgiveness I understand because she has been represented as what I call a blonde. (Not much up in the brain). The only thing I'm surprised about this book is that they all didn't break into an orgy afterwards. P.S. Also the first sex scene between Alexandra and Ineq is no less a case of rape. A male pressing an unwilling female til she gives in and uses her body against her to gain his advantage. It's garbage like this that makes females not press charges against men for this kind of rape.

Zaine (Verian Mates) (A Sci Fi Alien Abduction Romance) by Stella Sky

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It wasn't a story to prop up the sex in the book, but it took time to look at the differences between the two races and also their similarities. Their is no right and wrong in this war. Two races trying to survive, but going about it the wrong way. Rachael and Zaine are no different. They are trying to live through war, but how can love happen in such stressful conditions? Truthfully, love makes us see both sides and draws light on the situation.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy and this is my honest opinion.

Mr. Swirlee (Devlin Haskell Mysteries #2) by Mike Faricy

What can I say? Dev Haskell is basically a good guy. His friends are the dregs of society, and he really needs to change his profession, because on the luck scale Dev is a two. And he is never going to keep a girlfriend with his lifestyle. This book is hilarious, even up to the end. This is the first book I read in this series and if the others are anything like this, I'm going to save them for my blue days. Thanks Mike for brightening my day!