Friday, September 29, 2023

Equinox by Eli Easton & RJ Scott Release Blitz

Death stalks the forests near Prophet. Is the killer man or beast? A Lake Prophet Mystery.

The tranquility of Prophet is shattered when a horseback rider is killed on a popular trail and whispers spread of dangerous beasts roaming the woods.

Three months after the murder of Mike Bressett, the sleepy town of Prophet faces another tragedy—the death of Billy Odette, a well-liked Makah man who ran trail rides for the tourists. When Billy is discovered to have been the victim of a vicious animal attack, dragged right off a popular trail, angry locals are quick to blame a wolf pack that’s recently moved into the area. Sheriff Gabriel Thompson is the only authority standing between those who want to protect the wolves and those who want them hunted down—all while trying to keep people safe and get to the bottom of what happened.

Tiber Russo, local animal whisperer, is firmly on the side of the wolves. But when a figure from his past shows up in town, his own spiraling panic casts a shadow over his blossoming relationship with Gabriel and his ability to help the wolves.

To get to the truth, Gabriel and Tiber unravel a tangled web of deception, greed, curses, magic, and long-held grudges. But when Tiber’s life is threatened, they both just might lose everything.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of The Lake Prophet Mysteries!
For book one, Solstice, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Equinox by Eli Easton & RJ Scott

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Excerpt



My cell phone rang. I took it out of my pocket and glanced at it, not intending to answer. But it was a 360 area code—someone local. I accepted the call. “Hello?”

“Hey, is this Tiber?”

“Yes.” I didn’t recognize the man’s voice. For a second, my brain hiccupped, and I thought it was my ex, Jeff. A chill of dread passed over me. Please God, no.

“It’s Sam, over at the riding stables.”

“Oh. Hey! Sam.” My relief was immediate but short-lived. It wasn’t Jeff, because I wasn’t asleep, and this wasn’t a nightmare. But why would Sam be calling me?

When I’d first moved to Prophet, I’d opened a customer account at the local trail rides stables up at the Thompson Cabins and I’d gone out a dozen times. It had been a big ticket item on the ‘pro’ list when I’d contemplated moving to Prophet, honestly. I’d gotten into horses on the rez in Arizona when I’d stayed with my Navajo grandma during the summers. It was one of the best things to do there, and popular with natives and tourists alike. The red rock landscape had that Old Western movie vibe and that was compounded on horseback. But since I’d taken in Duke, I hadn’t had the extra time or energy to go riding.

As for Sam, who owned the Thompson Cabins and the adjacent stables, I didn’t know him well. but I knew he was Gabriel’s brother. Gabriel—the hot sheriff of Prophet. The hot, gay sheriff, and a man I’d put firmly in the friend zone. The thought something had happened to him made my blood run cold. “Is Gabriel okay?”

“What? Oh. Yeah, Gabriel’s fine as far as I know. He’s over in Seattle for some law enforcement training today. I’m really sorry to bother you.” Sam sounded upset. “I just didn’t know who else to call who’s a strong rider. And Gabriel thinks the world of you.”

I looked across at the three crows. Two had jumped off the rock and were now pecking at the ground but one was still eyeing me. Thanks for the heads up.

“Sure. What do you need?”

“It’s Billy.” I heard Sam take a shaky breath. “He took River out this morning about eight a.m., and he hasn’t come back yet.”

I checked my watch. It was almost four. “That’s not good.”

“No. I’m getting really worried. I thought I’d better do something about it before it gets dark. It’d be good to have someone along, just in case. And with Gabriel away and the fact that Deputy Devin doesn’t ride, I didn’t know who else to ask. But if you’re busy, I totally—”

“No problem. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Sam gave me directions to the trailhead where he wanted to search. I gathered the troops and headed back up the game trail through the woods to my house. The dogs seemed to sense my mood had shifted, and that we were in a hurry. They came along quietly and without their usual reluctance to leave the lake.

I had time enough to worry as we hiked home. Billy Odette was the trail master for the Thompson stables. He was a Makah man in his forties—wiry, strong, and an excellent horseman. He’d grown up in nearby Neah Bay and knew the area well. There was no way he’d be out this long—for the horse’s sake, if not for his own.

I couldn’t help but flash back to the murder we’d had in Prophet just three months ago. Prophet, to all appearances, was a sleepy little town. It was historically an artist’s community. We were separated from the busy towns and cities around Puget Sound—including Seattle—by the Olympic Mountains, one of the densest, wildest, and wettest mountain ranges in the United States. On this side of them, in the open land between the mountains and the western seaboard, the population was sparse. As my mom put it, I’d moved to the ass-end of nowhere.

You’d think that would make Prophet a safe place to live. But lately, I’d begun to see the dark side of that isolation. People moved here who didn’t want to be found—me included. Maybe some of those people weren’t running from an abusive ex, or even themselves, but from the law. It drew people hoping to hide their sins in the deep, shadowed forests of the Olympics.

People who came here to escape the rules were especially angry when the local law tried to enforce them. As Mike Bressett had learned.

I prayed nothing like that had happened to Billy Odette.

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of intrigue and romance

This is the second book in the series, and you really do need to read them in order, as the storylines are ongoing. It will not be a hardship!

This is a very engaging murder mystery, with the two delicious characters from book one – Gabe and Tiber – working together to try and work out what has happened, why, and how to avoid it happening again. It is intense. Tiber does not have a great sense of self-preservation when he is doing what he thinks is right – which definitely caused some tension! That Mike's faithful dog, Duke, is now part of the pack, and helps give Gabe an excuse to keep visiting Tiber.

I love the menagerie of animals, and, if for no other reason, it shows us that Tiber's ex was a total douche.

The plotlines are interesting and support the bubbling romance by keeping us worried about both men as well as trying to decide who was to blame for Billy's murder. A grisly, unsavoury but sadly believable criminal partnership.

Really good read – I read it in one sitting, I was so keen to know what was going to happen, and I was not disappointed!


Veronica☆☆☆☆
Equinox is a good blend of mystery and romance, which is one of my favourite genres to read. I do feel like the relationship between Gabriel and Tiber was centre stage in Equinox because Tiber’s expertise in animal behaviour means he is involved in Gabriel’s investigation into the death of a local man, Billy, who was apparently killed by a wolf. So Tiber and Gabriel land in each other’s lives more than ever.

As far as the mystery goes, it was obvious from the beginning who was involved in Billy’s death but I still enjoyed following the investigation and finding out the hows and whys of the crime. With the murder investigation and also the reappearance of Tiber’s ex, the story is packed with tension and danger and moves at a fast pace.

The story also has loving romance, and I was thrilled with the developing relationship between the men. Both Gabriel and Tiber have issues from their past to deal with and it was wonderful to see them lean on each other.

As the story came to a close, I felt like it was just the beginning for Gabriel and Tiber and I was left wanting more. Hopefully the wait for the next instalment of the Lake Prophet Mysteries isn’t too far away.

 

 

Author Bio


Eli Easton

Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, ELI EASTON has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has published over 30 gay romances.

Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story.

Connect with Eli Easton

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Eli Easton's Mad Creek Clubhouse

 


RJ Scott

USA Today bestselling author RJ SCOTT has written over one hundred and fifty romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.

She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing, she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn’t defeat.

Connect with RJ Scott

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: RJ Scott – Special Secret Group

 
 

Hosted by

Love Lane Books Promotions.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Equinox (The Lake Prophet Mysteries #2) by Eli Easton & RJ Scott to read and review.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Hott Shot by Serena Bell

Beauty salon… and the Beast

Beauty salon… and the Beast

QUINN


Working at the family wedding resort wasn’t exactly on my Bingo card. But it’s the only way for my siblings and me to get our grandfather’s inheritance, so here I am, staffing the Hott Spot Spa and Salon front desk. It’s an absurd gig for a man who makes Oscar the Grouch look like a people-person.

Still, I’m a hard worker. I’ve made a fortune off my scientific discoveries, and if I can engineer groundbreaking drugs, I can do anything, right? Not according to Sonya Rossi, the spa’s smoking hot and relentlessly perky manager. My grumpy approach is testing even sunshine-y Sonya’s patience. Meanwhile, I’m not sure whether I want to rain on her parade—or kiss the smile off her face.

Then the universe throws another curveball, putting us under the same roof. The closer Sonya gets, the more I like it—and her. I want to get to know her better and let her see the side of me I never show people. Until now, I’ve only believed in what I can touch, sense, and prove. I definitely don’t believe in love… but Sonya's making me wish I could.

A spicy, grumpy-sunshine, opposites attract, under-one-roof, forced proximity standalone romantic comedy set in the beloved small town of Rush Creek.

Want more Rush Creek? Click HERE to check out our posts for Wilder Adventures!

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Hott Shot by Serena Bell

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords
Paperback (US)

 

 

It’s easy to forget, because Quinn Hott is such a good man, that he’s also a big man, and right now, he’s set to maximum predator. Blue gaze fierce. Beard just starting to grow a bit wild again, waves gone a little ragged. He’s leonine. A lion that’s hunting me.

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, but you will recognise some of the characters if you have enjoyed the Wilder Adventures series – and if you haven't read them, I would highly recommend them too!

Quinn and his male siblings all left town to pursue their interests and make their fortunes, leaving their sister, Hannah (who's married a Wilder), to run the family business with their grandfather. He has now died, and his will has some very strict instructions to follow – or all the land will be going to a local mining company, which will destroy everything.

So, Quinn, a genius scientist whose Biotech business has been researching and finding cures recognised on a world-wide scale, now has to spend time on the reception of the Hott spa. His temporary boss, Sonya, is not at all happy about this. She has been scrimping and saving on the budget so she can employ the last of the people who she had to let go from her mum's salon. The fact that he is a grump, and hides in a lab for a good reason, is not going to help her plans at all. That they also share accommodations is the icing on the cake of this dysfunctional pairing!

Quinn does not understand why Sonya is so invested in a business which is not her own, but as he does start to figure out what is going on, he wants to support her. In fact, he starts to invent products for the spa... or really, for her.

It is a lot of fun watching Quinn remind himself what he loved about home, and how Hannah deserves the support of her siblings – and obviously his burgeoning relationship with Sonya.

Cannot wait for the next installment – in fact, I am just as impatient as I was with the Wilder gang!


Veronica☆☆☆☆
Hott Shot is the first book in the Hott Springs Eternal series, which is a spin-off from the Wilder Adventures series. You can still read and enjoy Hott Shot even if you haven’t read the previous series.

Quinn Hott and his brothers have returned to their hometown of Rush Creek, after the passing of their grandfather. Quinn quickly finds out that in order to keep their grandfather’s name, Quinn needs to spend the next two months working at the reception at the family’s spa.

Firstly, I have to say how mad I was when I found out Quinn hadn't returned to Rush Creek for his sister Hannah’s wedding. But he steps up and agrees to play receptionist at Hannah’s spa, even though his business and life was on the other side of the country.

Sonya, the spa manager, has to deal with her new receptionist, Quinn, and the discovery that her previous receptionist had been stealing from the business. I loved the instant chemistry between Quinn and Sonya and how respectful and considerate of each other they are.

Sonya is such a strong independent woman, and it is so sexy that Quinn, who is an intelligent, successful guy, is so strongly attracted to her. Even though on the surface, Sonya and Quinn seem to be very different, they actually work well together. I particularly liked that while there might be problems going on around them, the romance between the couple was fun and low angst.

Hott Shot is a fun, easy to read, adult romance with a dash of spice and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more books about the Hott brothers.

 

 

“I didn’t think scientists had a particular rep for being good in bed.”     “Oh, we do,” I say. “I mean, think about it. We understand chemistry. We’re good at experimenting. We’re very, very patient.”

 

Author Bio


Serena Bell

USA Today bestselling author SERENA BELL writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.

Connect with Serena Bell

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Serena's Splendid Readers

 

 

Under the grumpy shell, Quinn has the hugest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. He’s like a teddy bear that thinks it’s a wolf.

 

ARC provided by

NetGalley.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Hott Shot (Hott Springs Eternal #1) by Serena Bell to read and review.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

The Wedding Shake-up by J.J. Knight

Will destiny tear them apart… Or will it turn an intoxicating romance on the rocks into more than they ever expected?

In a breathtaking island paradise, it’s easy for a handsome local and a sexy tourist to get swept away in a tart and tempting romance by a USA Today bestselling author.

A destination wedding on La Jarra Island for Tillie James’s sister has its drawbacks: hair-wrecking ocean spray and pincher crabs. And its perks: sexy, hotheaded beachfront bartender Gabe Landers, who brings out the competitive streak in fellow drinkslinger Tillie. When the rivals get together for a cocktail-making challenge, the blend is pure bliss, leaving them shaken and stirred.

The spirited blue-eyed tourist from Georgia makes Gabe’s head spin faster than his signature drink, the mermaid sunrise. But he’s determined not to obsess—out-of-towner love stories never last. Tillie agrees. They’ll just enjoy each other for now and make a clean break. No strings. No attachments. No chance. But when Tillie’s kiss goodbye comes with an invitation for Gabe to visit Atlanta, he can’t resist. As fate has it, it’s home to a heartbreaking piece of his own past.

As Tillie and Gabe face new challenges, destiny could tear them apart… or turn an intoxicating romance on the rocks into more than they ever expected.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Wedding Meet Cute series!
For book one, The Wedding Confession, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

The Wedding Shake-up by J.J. Knight

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Mary☆☆☆☆☆
This is book two in the Wedding Meet Cute series, and it is filled with loads of fun, sun, a wedding, killer crabs, and a two-week vacation filled with more than two people were expecting.

Tillie James and her sisters are on La Jarra Island for Tillie's sister's wedding when the killer crabs begin to attack. Along comes a hunky local to save the crabs from the tourists.

Gabe Landers doesn't like tourists, but they keep the island alive. When he sees a wedding party about the kill the female crabs, he rushes in to save them.

There is something between Tillie and Gabe, a connection neither wants to explore for long. Neither one believes in relationships. So they decide to have an island fling. What can go wrong with that?

I loved everything about this story and think I love it more than the first one. So grab book one and catch up and then enjoy this one. You will not be disappointed. I recommend reading them in order as it will not make any sense any other way.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series and I would recommend that you read them in order for the full goodness, however, you can read this as standalone too.

Tillie is at her sister's destination wedding, but she prefers to be behind the scenes, so enjoys talking to Gabe, the resort's bartender, and takes him up on the cocktail making challenge. Their chemistry is wonderful, their banter is fabulous, and I was delighted that they decided to at least enjoy each other short term. I am sure that most of us will have been hoping that there would be a twist that ensured that they could have a long-term future.

I really enjoyed the holiday vibe, and the side stories – reading it was like taking an extra summer holiday with friends!

 

 

Author Bio

J.J. KNIGHT is the USA Today bestselling author of romantic comedies and sports romance. She’s a fierce mama bear for all the humans under her care: biological, adopted, and those in need of mom hugs. Her books portray characters who learn to push through hardship to find love and belly laughs.

Connect with J.J. Knight

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Nobody beats Tillie James in a cocktail challenge. Especially not a hot-headed island bartender. Her favorite kind.

 

ARC provided by

Montlake.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of The Wedding Shake-up (Wedding Meet Cute #2) by J.J. Knight to read and review.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

The Trouble with an Heir by Stacey Kennedy

The unearthing of a dark secret could leave the fate of two prominent Texas dynasties hanging in the balance—along with Jessica and Marcus’s future…

Long-buried secrets and scandal ignite when a CEO and an aspiring chef are caught between two feuding dynasties… Only in the next exciting installment of the Texas Cattleman’s Club: Diamonds & Dating Apps miniseries from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy.

The TCC’s upcoming extravaganza hosted by the Del Rio family could be aspiring chef Jessica Drummond’s make-or-break gig. But her dream job is threatened when she shares a night of mind-blowing passion with devastatingly attractive and highly off-limits CEO Marcus Winters.

Marcus has tried to distance himself from his powerful family. But he can’t stay away from Jessica, and their sizzling affair soon thrusts them into the middle of a centuries-long feud. The unearthing of a dark secret could leave the fate of two prominent Texas dynasties hanging in the balance—along with Jessica and Marcus’s future…

Harlequin Desire transports you to the luxurious worlds of American tycoons, ranchers and family dynasties. Get ready for bold encounters and sizzling chemistry.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

The Trouble with an Heir by Stacey Kennedy

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Harlequin

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Mary☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

Jessica is a chef who was hired by the Del Rio for her friend Maggie's engagement party. But she has to work with Marcus Winters on the decorations. Maggie is engaged to Marcus' brother, so Jessica and Marcus can feel the sizzling between them from their first meeting.

The Winters and Del Rio families have been feuding for as long as anyone can remember. Kinda like the Hatfields and McCoys. This engagement might bring these two families out of the centuries-old and end the feud.

While Jessica and Marcus explore their feelings for a little while, things take a turn, and their time together comes to an end. Is there a way the past of these two families can ever heal and Jessica and Marcus can have their happily ever after?

I enjoyed this story; it is filled with mystery, suspense, it’s fun, flirty, steamy, and all around, a great story. I recommend it and hope you enjoy it too.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in a series, but the first for me, so I plan on going back to get the full story, as I did enjoy this installment.

Two families who have been at war for centuries due to a romance gone sour, and accusations of a jewel theft, are going to have to find a truce as an upcoming wedding is going to join them permanently again. First comes the engagement party, which is going to be designed by Marcus and catered for by Jessica.

Jessica has made herself a successful glamping business but is ready to use her hard-earned catering skills in a new venture, so the opportunity to show her skills to the two leading families in the area is important. But her chemistry with Marcus is definitely off the scale and could be a distraction in her plans. Then they make a very complicated discovery, which could blow everything.

I really enjoyed the complications surrounding their attraction, and the chance they have at a wonderful future!

 

 

Author Bio

STACEY KENNEDY is a USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romances full of heat, heart, and happily ever afters. With over 50 titles published, her books have hit Amazon, B&N, and Apple Books bestseller lists.

Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario—in a city that’s just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.

Connect with Stacey Kennedy!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Stacey Kennedy's Book Club



Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of The Trouble with an Heir (Texas Cattleman's Club: Diamonds & Dating Apps #4) by Stacey Kennedy to read and review.

Monday, September 25, 2023

Infamous Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine Blog Tour

Available NOW!

Who are we? Like you even need to ask. We’re the seven richer-than-sin legacies causing debauchery at the prestigious Astor University in Manhattan.
Some call us spoiled.
Some call us trouble.
But everyone calls us the Park Avenue Princes.

Weston LaRue
“The Playboy”

I’m never one to turn down a bet. Especially not when it comes to retaliating against the dean for pulling a dick move before summer break.
So when the dean’s golden child arrives at Astor for his freshman year, my fellow troublemakers throw down a wager I can’t resist.

The target: the dean’s son, John Thomas Hawthorne, or “JT.”
The bet: corruption in any way I choose.

It should’ve been easy. With his mess of brown curls, pouty lips, and good-boy reputation, JT is the perfect revenge. And even better? He’s straight.

Challenge accepted. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove a point, no matter how reckless it might be.

Game. On.

Infamous Park Avenue Prince is the first standalone novel in the Park Avenue Princes world.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Infamous Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
 Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

“What do you guys do when you’re not partying?”     “Sleep. Sex. Eat. Sex. Occasionally grace Astor with our presence.”     I laughed. “You’re obnoxious.”     “I prefer charming.”

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Shannan☆☆☆☆☆
Infamous Park Avenue Prince is the first book in the new series Park Avenue Princes. And oh, what a start to a series it was.

The bet was simple – corrupt the dean's son. It should have been easy. On paper, West had this in the bag, but JT wasn't anything that West expected. West was the rich boy, the privileged, the prince of the school, not only the school, New York. He was cocky and arrogant enough to know he'd get exactly what he wanted, and JT proved to be a bit tougher than he was used to. The deeper West got, the more he liked spending time with JT. He found himself craving the one thing he shouldn't.

JT was starting his freshman year and is the dean's son. A combination that was going to make it hard for him to find friends. When West showed up, JT wasn't expecting the charming man to want to be his friend. JT was way out of his comfort zone with West as friends, but something about West had JT experiencing things he never thought he would. And that first kiss...woo.

I loved everything about this. But the angst I had knowing that JT was going to find out about that bet had me on edge throughout each chapter. I loved seeing West's sweet side when he was alone with JT, it redeemed him in my eyes for being that jerk we are supposed to hate but I just couldn't!! And JT's ability to knock West down a peg, showing him that his money wasn't everything.

I can't wait to see what happens for these princes in the coming books!


Angie☆☆☆
I love both of these authors, together and separately, but this book was a total miss for me. I couldn't connect with JT or West. The story seemed to drag on forever and nothing spicy happened until around the 50% mark. I wasn't invested in the relationship or the outcome honestly. I tried, I tried to leave and read something else and come back, but still nothing. I will say I really liked West's dad and I liked Caleb. Even though this was a miss for me, which could have been due to the whole stupid bet storyline, I will read the series. I really want the story with Travis and Caleb and I want to know more about East as well.


Ruthie☆☆☆
I am a huge fan of these two talented authors – but have discovered that the turn someone gay concept, especially by entitled rich guy for pretty naive and sheltered dean's son wasn't for me. I chose to have faith in there being a redeeming edge to the tale, but wow, it was a surprisingly long wait.

I am still trying to decide whether I was amused by the way that West overcame curfews, or just fed up of the money being thrown around. The fact that he did some work for the family business wasn't really enough to convince me he was in any sense a good guy.

JT – would his well-educated parents really saddle him with such a name combination? – was a pleasing character, who went through an important awakening in his early days of college, on top of being known as the dean's son. The jeans error made me smile, and he was definitely the person who kept me reading.

I do want to continue reading this series as I am particularly curious about Travis and Caleb. Hopefully, now we have been introduced to them all, there will be less concentration on the princes as a whole.


Erica☆☆☆
I'm going to be upfront that this book was just not for me, personality wise. Maybe my mood. Maybe I'm just tapped. Maybe because I'm neurodivergent and felt overwhelmed.

Honestly, I never, ever in my life thought I'd write this. Too much banter. I love me some banter and angst. The beginning was a chaos I couldn't escape, and it tainted the rest of the journey for me.

I rolled easily through JT's opening and subsequent chapters, but felt bombarded during every single West chapter.

As a reader, I feel as if I place myself in the scene. So as seven boys got off a bus, it felt as if I was getting bombarded at once. What was supposed to be a banter-filled introduction to seven current and future main characters made me feel like crouching to the ground, covering my head, and screaming, "Enough!"

Let me meet the narrator first before more than half a dozen are talking over each other like the first day of kindergarten, not college upperclassmen.

I'm not a fan of too many characters in a scene, especially when they are new to me and I feel like I need to take notes. This novel was lacking a smooth introduction transition.

I appreciated TJ mentally describing them while looking from the window. I just couldn't handle meeting them en masse.

I felt this madness during every West scene. Too much stimulation. Too much banter. Never an honest thought or genuine conversation. Sure, he was charming in spades but 100% fake.

I almost tapped out at their first lunch. The back and forth banter to build tension, it was grating on me to where I just tapped forward to the next chapter.

This isn't a bet issue for me. I love me a novel dripping with angst. That squicky feeling as I wait for the betrayal to be revealed. I'm a sucker for books, shows, and movies featuring this.

The first half was a slow crawl through not much happening, so I wasn't invested. I enjoyed the angsty reveal and the subsequent groveling.

After dozens of times where West thought how fun and humorous it would be to corrupt an impressionable, naive, and all-around good JT, I wasn’t down for JT being with West.

If you can't stand one of the narrators, who shows very little growth for more than 75% of the novel, it's hard to ship them.

Forget the money and selfishness. I don't mind self-proclaimed assholes either. I just found West extremely obnoxious and immature for his age and standing in society. I never felt he was remorseful or got the gravity of his actions. There wasn't much redemption for me. So, this pretty much was a death knell when it came to the romance.

I'm curious about others in series and will gladly give them a try.

 

 

Author Bio



ELLA FRANK is the USA Today bestselling author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan favorite PresLocke series. Her Prime Time series has been praised as “highly entertaining!” and “sexy as hell!”

A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction.

Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.


Connect with Ella Frank

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Brooke & Ella's Naughty Umbrella




BROOKE BLAINE is a USA Today bestselling author best known for writing romantic comedy and M/M romance. Her novels lead with humor and heart, but Brooke never shies away from throwing in something extra naughty that will scandalize her conservative Southern family for life (bless their hearts).

She's a choc-o-holic, lives for eighties bands (which means she thinks guyliner is totally underrated), believes it's always wine o'clock, and lives with the coolest cat on the planet—her Ragdoll/Maine Coon mix, Jackson Agador Spartacus
.

Connect with Brooke Blaine

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Brooke & Ella's Naughty Umbrella

 

 

Giveaway


 

 

In that moment, I would have done anything he asked of me. I wanted to please him. I wanted to make him beg. But more than anything else, I wanted him to keep going.


 

Hosted by

Foreword PR & Marketing.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Infamous Park Avenue Prince (Park Avenue Princes #1) by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine to read and review.

Friday, September 22, 2023

Spider and Frost by Jennifer Estep

When an Assassin... ...Meets a Champion

New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep delivers an epic team-up featuring beloved characters from her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and her Mythos Academy young adult series. This crossover novella, Spider and Frost, mixes magic and mythology in an action-packed adventure. Perfect for fans of Ilona Andrews, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Rick Riordan.

WHEN AN ASSASSIN...

My name is Gin Blanco, and I’m on vacation. Sort of. As the assassin the Spider, it’s hard for me to completely relax, but I’m determined to enjoy a scenic train ride and a nice, quiet lunch before heading back home to Ashland.

My plans change when Gwen Frost boards the train. The girl says she’s heading back to Mythos Academy, the fancy private boarding school, but I can’t shake the feeling that Gwen is hiding something—and is in far more trouble than she realizes.

...MEETS A CHAMPION

My name is Gwen Frost. I might have saved the world from Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos, but I’m still chasing down Reaper villains. It’s all part of being the Champion of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.

I’ve been assigned to protect some mythological artifacts that are being transported via train to Mythos Academy, but some Reapers are hot on my trail, and they’ll do anything to recover the artifacts—and kill me.

Also on the train is Gin Blanco, who claims to be the owner of the Pork Pit barbecue restaurant. My psychometry magic keeps whispering that there’s more to her than meets the eye, although I can’t tell if Gin is a friend, an enemy, or something else entirely.

Author’s Note: Spider and Frost is a crossover novella between the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and the Mythos Academy young adult series. It is told from the points of view of Gin Blanco and Gwen Frost.

Spider and Frost takes place after the events of Last Strand, book 19 in the Elemental Assassin series.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Elemental Assassin series!
For the novella, Unwanted, click HERE.
For book #15, Unraveled, click HERE.
For book #16, Snared, click HERE.
For book #17, Venom in the Veins, click HERE.
For book #18, Sharpest Sting, click HERE.
For book #19, Last Strand, click HERE.
For the novella, Heart Stings, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Spider and Frost by Jennifer Estep

Elemental Assassin Book 19.6
Mythos Academy Book 6.5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Erica☆☆☆☆☆
Spider and Frost is a crossover novella featuring the Elemental Assassin and Mythos Academy series. To avoid any and all confusion, as well as spoiling the story, I suggest being up-to-date on both series. Both are amazing series in their own right, highly entertaining. Don't miss out on the journey by reading this crossover novella without reading both series from start to finish.

I adore crossover stories, especially when I was a fan of both series. Highly entertaining to watch Gin and Gwen interact with one another, the story told in dual points of view. Our favorite fierce ladies are on the same path, attempting to stop Reapers with their magics, but they just don't trust one another at first. So it was beyond fun to watch them get to know one another. They make the best of partners, each bringing something different to the table, balancing their strengths and weaknesses.

Read in one sitting, exciting yet lighthearted, the pages turned quickly. Not that the story wasn't satisfying, but I do wish it was longer than a novella, simply because I enjoyed Gin and Gwen teaming up so much. I hope we get more stories from this pairing.

I will say, if you read this novella, before your reach the end, you'll be hankering to start both series from the beginning. A tall order, but I'm already planning to do just that when I get a chunk of free time.

 

 

Author Bio

JENNIFER ESTEP is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer is the author of the Galactic Bonds, Section 47, Elemental Assassin, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, Mythos Academy, Mythos Academy spinoff, Black Blade, and Bigtime fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.

In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.


Connect with Jennifer Estep!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Spider and Frost. Gin Blanco. Gwen Frost. An Elemental Assassin and Mythos Academy crossover novella. September 26, 2023.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Spider and Frost (Elemental Assassin #19.6; Mythos Academy #6.5) by Jennifer Estep to read and review.