Book Reviews, Reverse Harem E-H

E - Authors

Kayla Erickson

 Shadow (Xenocrates #1)

              by Kayla Erickson   ****REVIEW

Delaney Benson has powers. To the world, she appears as a normal barista but she is a Xenocrate. She was born with the ability to phase from one place to another. She is known as The Shadow. She wears a super suit, complete with a cape but she's no superhero. She steals not to keep up a glamorous lifestyle but to care for the most important person in the world to her. However, the attention she has gained as The Shadow has several groups hunting for her to control her, use her powers. They aren't all good guys either. 
Shadow is the debut book by Kayla Erickson. I loved it. Great concept, great history of the origin of Xenocrates, a beautiful, amusing woman, multiple beautiful men, bad guys, mystery guys, and tons of emotions. Nolan, Kia, and Rowan are yummy perfection. Lucian is a keeper. Draven needs to explain himself. There was a lot of sadness in this book, so it's going to seem strange that what drew me in the most was its sense of fun. Laney is funny. Her sarcasm, her desire to shock and insult those around her, her hard punch all amused me. The banter in this book was fantastic. So were the sexual attraction and tension levels. I love that Laney has such a big heart. She's a good person but doesn't hesitate to cross the line to do whatever she needs to take care or her mom. I love a character that will burn the earth down for love! Her connection with the men was quick but felt natural. Then came that ending. What a cliffhanger(s)! I know many hate cliffhangers but I do not. I find a well-done cliffhanger thrilling. I immediately want the next book. This is a cliffhanger-extraordinaire. I can't wait for book 2!!

KB Everly

 Spelled: Toxic Bitchcraft Book Two

               by 

K.B. Everly   ****REVIEW

Christi Craft is a glorious mess. Sex-hexed by her mother, placing her male ghost stalker into a female body, and having her incubus sex-buddy declare his love for her. At least she has a great gay-pixie bestie and an incredible familiar, not to mention a foul-mouthed skull and some awesome bath bombs. Now she has a promise to fulfill to her ghost and some warm, fuzzy feelings to sort out.
I love this series. I love the chaos surrounding Christi. From beginning to end, she makes me laugh. Whether she's driving around with a naked girl or getting caught by security scaling a wall, her shenanigans crack me up. I love her sass and her ridiculousness. I love how uncomfortable she is admitting how she feels about Orrin, Milo, and Buttons even to herself. I love how normal she finds it to have Shakes yelling out profanity-laced insults. And I love that underneath all her bravado, she's a scared little girl who really does want to love and be loved.
This book was short but I think the length was perfect. It's like having hors d'oeuvres instead of a heavy meal and that works with the characters and story. It keeps it fresh and amusing. And there can be no complaints about how much is packed into the pages; character development, character histories, key information, action, sexy times, set-up for the next book. I love it!

 Jinxed: Toxic Bitchcraft Book One

                       by K.B.Everly    *****REVIEW

Christi Craft. Witch. Well, not a good one but a witch all the same. Owner of Allure: Objects, Bath, and Brews, a cute little magical shop in Salem with the best bath bombs around. Owner of the world's biggest scaredy-cat, Toast. Best friend to Turk, a fabulous Pixie. Lover to a sexy tatted, pierced incubus, Orrin. Hostess to a confused fae poltergeist, Beauregard Arlington. And crushing on a local warden, her childhood friend Milo. Christi thought that she liked her quiet, isolated life but in just a few days everything seemed to spin out of control. New men, new demands, new dangers. 

Jinxed: Toxic Bitchcraft Book One. The title alone drew me in. I expected a heroine with bite; snarky, unpredictable, sassy, unique. I expected a story with some quirkiness, a bit of heat, and a few surprises. I was not disappointed. It exceeded my hopes. I devoured this book page by page. It's definitely a one-sitting read. I could not put it down. I love Christy; Chris, Crafty, little witch by any name/every name. I loved her oops moments, her friendships/relationships, her fondness for Toast, her amusement over Shakes, her childhood memories, her love of black, her ferocity in the bedroom, her little antics. I loved every small detail about her. Turk was equally awesome and her lovers were so yummy.
This is such a short read but packs a surprising punch. It's so well done. There are so many precious tidbits thrown into each scene causing constant amusement and enjoyment. It's an absolute delight. With the hints of what is to come, I can't wait for more.

F-Authors

Lyn Forester

House of Strife (Poisoned Houses #4)

by 

Lyn Forester   ****REVIEW

They are the Councilor's children, the Elite. Untouchable. But if what Declan said, that's not true. The time for games is over. Someone is targeting the High Houses. Someone with power. Caitlyn Lonette has been raised to rule, to be calculating and to conduct herself at all times in a manner befitting the First House. However, she wants more. She is tired of living for her father and grandmother. She is tired of a silent, unemotional existence. She is now part of a team, a new family and it's being threatened. It's time she takes charge of her life. Time for her and her men to figure out what is going on before it's too late.

I don't feel that I can do justice to this book. Lyn Forester is a master at world-building, a master wordsmith. There are so many layers involved in this book that the stacked cities can't even begin to compete. Caitlyn is coming into her own as a person. Her self-reflection and honesty are admirable. She's adjusting to her desires with the guys and is handling each man and each relationship individually. She is embroiled in a deadly investigation better suited for professionals. She is doing all of this while attending classes and continuing her duties as the Lonette heir.

The writing is subtly complex. There is such depth. There are nuances to every scene. Caitlyn proved herself to be a brilliant player in the city this time. She is equally comfortable as the demi-Councilor or sneaking about in the insides of the city. I was impressed by her throughout but especially at the bank and at the club. Nikola is also remarkable. His intelligence and his expertise on such a wide range of matters and topics are sexy to me. He may be my favorite. I hope my regard is not poorly placed. Felix and Connor are such a perfect balance to one another. Although they are each desirable separately, I can't imagine not having them both. Energy and calm, precision and spontaneity. They are two sides of the same coin and offer the best of all options. It was nice to get to know Felix and address certain issues and time spent with Connor was perfect. Declan didn't have his best showing. Fear and jealousy are not good looks on anyone. This is made so much more complicated by his absence. Whether we want it to or not, the world keeps on moving without us. There is work to be done here. Of course, these are the main characters but there are so many vital minor characters: Skittles, Myrrine, their families, and several scene players. Each of these minor characters is fully fleshed out and play important roles. Skittles is pure resourcefulness and cunning. Each outing with her is an adventure and a lesson. Myrrine offered some of the most sage advice in the book. They may not get lots of page-time but they make the most of what they get. No one stands alone in this book. Each character is interwoven with the others and then woven into multiple storylines within the major plot. Like I said, layered.

The overall read is fantastic. The political intrigue and the dangerous game Caitlyn and the boys are playing casts tension over every page. Yet there's still time for emotional and physical advancement between Caitlyn, Connor, Felix, and Nikola. I have to say my favorite scene in the entire book was the game of Traboshan. Absolutely brilliant. I won't say a word about it for fear of spoiling anything but I could talk about it for hours. So much happens and yet there is still so much unknown. It's maddening. In the end, however, no matter what else is going on, I felt that this was Caitlyn's book. She has grown so much. I see her combining her life lessons in Lonette Manor with the rebellious disc-bike racer. Caitlyn, Sprinkles, and Spark are all beginning to merge into the woman she will become. And she will be a force. She will be an intellectual equal to Nikola, able to control Felix, be a perfect counterpart for Connor and able to challenge Declan. Mr. Black, Mr. Blue, and Mr. White won't know what hit them and Grandmother and Father will have to accept The Lonette.

 House of Silence (Poisoned Houses                        Book 3) by 

Lyn Forester   ****REVIEW

Caitlyn Lonette? Sparks? Sprinkles? Demi-Councilor? Disc-bike racer? She no longer knows who she is only who she is expected to be. Even then, her family expects one person, her friends another. Caitlyn thought that going back to APA would make life easier again but instead, she's at a breaking point. She's kept silent too long, held in too many secrets, suppressed her emotions. She needs to determine who she is, who she wants to be. Once she does, will her friends still want her?

This book was not what I expected. Nothing that I wanted to happen, happened. Nothing. Yet, I realize now that I was wrong. I can't have what I want, not yet. You can't be in a relationship with one guy much less multiple guys if you don't know who you are. You would be forever lost to yourself. A shadow. Eventually, the relationships would suffer and die because you would have nothing of yourself to offer. Caitlyn HAD to discover herself and her strength before we could move forward. It was a painful struggle; she didn't always come across as a sympathetic character, but now she is a complete character. Then she added one unexpected character and temporarily removed one of the main characters. I thought this might be a mistake. It definitely disappointed me to be missing someone, however, it turned out that I love having the addition. I hope that he becomes permanent. He won me over completely. I like the back and forth with Felix, the comradery with Connor, the discomfort he causes Myrrine, and his devotion to Caitlyn. He's handsome and he's so knowledgable (HOT). There is a place for him. 

I bow down to the wisdom and writing skill of Lyn Forester. No one can rival her with world-building. Her characters have a distinctness that set them apart. They are all caught up in a web of politics. Caitlyn is torn between expectations and dreams. Felix is tortured over past trauma. Declan is lost to family demands. Nikola is still a mystery. Myrrine is too complex to even get into. Connor seems to have it all together but is that real? Now she has created an RH that is like no other. Two of the guys have a pre-existing sexual relationship that may not be healthy but is necessary. I am still not convinced that it's not more important than the relationship they have with Caitlyn, although this book went a way toward reassuring me. One guy has an unhealthy dependence on Caitlyn, although he managed to convince me of his independent mind. Luckily, she also has one guy who is exactly what they each need; brother, best friend, sympathizer, and peer. Right now he is the stabilizer. I hope that Caitlyn becomes their glue. 

The ending was unexpected. Fitting since the book didn't go as expected. I am intrigued. It followed the pattern of this book. Just as one problem goes away, another appears. I won't even guess what comes next or how they will deal with it. I do know that they must save their own. I do know they should be better equipped to face the future together, whatever comes their way. All five of them. I do know that I can't wait to see how this unforeseen story plays out.

 House of Artifice (Poisoned Houses Book 2)

                       by Lyn Forester   *****REVIEW

Caitlyn has only just agreed to try out a relationship with Declan and the twins, Connor and Felix when a national emergency closes the academy and sends all of the students back home. The four grudgingly separate with reminders to each other, "Resist assimilation". However, once back at Lonette Manor Caitlyn feels that her time away was more a dream than reality. Her actual reality is acting the perfect role as a Lonette, representing the family as a demi-Councillor, the role she was created for. To further complicate matters her family is pushing her to choose her secretary, who will fulfill a life-long duty as her aide in all matters, public and private. And as much as this life suffocates her, she is good at it. When the boys all stop returning her communications she's confused, lonely, and doesn't know who to trust. She's forgotten what it feels like to feel alone. She allowed the guys into her life, her heart and now without them, she's lost. As the national emergency worsens Caitlyn's separation from the guys is extended and her isolation grows. But the boys are resourceful and Caitlyn is strong. They are a team. Their feelings had to be real. 
This book is fantastic! It was definitely not what I expected. Unfortunately, the guys and Caitlyn are not together for the majority of the book yet I feel like their relationship was strengthened. Revelations came out about Caitlyn, her family and future, about the twins, and about Declan. Choices will need to be made, actions taken to prevent their family's wishes from becoming more important than the lives these four want for themselves. Their lives are complicated, full of politics on many levels; expectations are heavy. The intrigue and reasoning behind each action are fascinating. I gained a new appreciation for Caitlyn's Grandmother and enjoyed the continuing connection with Myrrine. The addition of two new characters, Nikola and Garrett, is intriguing. Is the Mulnupti expanding? I am not opposed. I love Declan, Felix, and Connor, but both of the new guys could each bring something of value. I still have a bit of a concern about Declan and Felix. I love a little M/M but I need for the center female to always be the most important person to all of the guys. I still haven't been convinced that either guy feels more for Caitlyn than for the other guy. Connor has made his feelings perfectly clear. How much does Caitlyn truly mean to Declan and Felix? I'm more convinced about Nikola's feelings (although he needs to prove his loyalty) than theirs. I look forward to them both proving their love in the future.
Lyn Forester is exceptional at creating imaginative, detailed worlds. Poison World exists in my mind. I am completely enamored with these young characters of the Upper-Level Houses. Their story is compelling. I look forward to more.

Set in a futuristic space world, Caitlyn is the mostly ignored daughter of a prominent leader. She spends her nights as Sparks, a fearless racer. After a disastrous race, she is sent to the Academia for Planetary Alliance. It's a finishing school for the children of the universe's politicians to learn protocol, politics, and other needed skills to follow in their parent's footsteps. Caitlyn is ill-suited for this atmosphere. Also attending the school are several of her fellow racers, Declan, Felix, and Connor. This is where the book really gets interesting! 
This is a well-written, nicely paced, wildly original book. The characters are well-developed and complex. This is a RH, reverse harem, with M/M. I loved this book, but it also left me unsettled. I am a huge fan of RH, but I need for the girl to be the center of the universe. I am afraid of the dynamics already in place between the boys; best friends and lovers. Will she be able the most beloved or only a piece of their relationship? Will she be able to balance her family's expectations with the person she wants to be? I can't wait for more!

 House of Glass (Poisoned Houses Book 1)

                        by Lyn Forester   *****REVIEW

Set in a futuristic space world, Caitlyn is the mostly ignored daughter of a prominent leader. She spends her nights as Sparks, a fearless racer. After a disastrous race, she is sent to the Academia for Planetary Alliance. It's a finishing school for the children of the universe's politicians to learn protocol, politics, and other needed skills to follow in their parent's footsteps. Caitlyn is ill-suited for this atmosphere. Also attending the school are several of her fellow racers, Declan, Felix, and Connor. This is where the book really gets interesting! 
This is a well-written, nicely paced, wildly original book. The characters are well-developed and complex. This is a RH, reverse harem, with M/M. I loved this book, but it also left me unsettled. I am a huge fan of RH, but I need for the girl to be the center of the universe. I am afraid of the dynamics already in place between the boys; best friends and lovers. Will she be able the most beloved or only a piece of their relationship? Will she be able to balance her family's expectations with the person she wants to be? I can't wait for more!

Cleo Fox

Yesterday

by 

Cleo Fox   ****REVIEW

They had it all. They had love, their careers were taking off, and their dreams were coming true. Evie had just gotten a major recording deal for her guys' band but after their first concert, she disappeared. Ten years and not one word. Now they have found her but she's not the same girl they once knew. She's broken. She drinks too much, she smokes too much, and her smile is gone. The guys need answers. What happened? Why did she leave them? Does she still love them? And all Evie can think about is running again.
This is my favorite story by Cleo Fox to date. I love that it's standalone. It's nice to get a complete story. I love contemporary RH; it's my personal favorite. It's a solid, compelling story, very realistic, very painful. The characters are a bit older and life has not treated them all kindly. There were fun side characters. It had a touch of M/M thrown in and I enjoy that. My only complaint is that I had the original version so there were lots of errors. I won't deduct for that because I saw the note that an edited version has been uploaded. Good enough for me.

Kingdom Fall (The Duality #2)

    by 

Cleo Fox   ****REVIEW

John won the first round when he took over the Aval's School for Deviants with Malik and Eden by his side. Now he has everyone locked up in their own room, powers suppressed and guarded by one of his followers. Jasmine's roommate/handler is Lochlan, Luck's twin. As the true Ultimate John wants Jasmine by his side as he wages his war to make humans subservient but Jasmine knows she would rather die than help his cause. She has no idea if Gideon, Casper, Luck, James, and Jax are safe but she's not about to give up on them or herself. And she's not alone.

I became a fan of the cult of kimchi in book one, so I was eagerly waiting for this book. This one, like the first, had plenty to like and also gave me room to critique. It didn't captivate me like the first book did because of the captivity. The first half of the book was spent in one room with one person and they didn't speak to each other a large percentage of that time. There was only so much plotline available. I would have preferred to use this time to really get to know Lochlan and develop a bond with him. It felt like a lost opportunity. It did pick up the second half of the book but they were still confined. Having little opportunity for adventure, I would have loved to spend time one-on-one with each character, really get to know them in-depth. I would have liked more advancement between Jasmine and each guy learning personal tidbits. I would have liked to spend time with Jessica and Peter. And still barely any Maru. Again, I felt like this was a missed opportunity. Conversations, games, let them get to know each other, enjoy being together, have fun. Too much self-reflection. Let them show us they are falling in love, don't tell us and expect that to be enough. I did like the subtle changes in Jasmine. She's still self-harming and too focused on her weight but the references weren't constant (huge improvement) and she actually found aspects of herself she liked. I really liked the Gideon storyline and actually like Gideon more now than in book one. I like Jasmine's dreams or visions whichever they turn out to be. I like the power sparring. I like the advanced technology. I like the surprise surrounding the person running the safe house. And I love Malik and that entire story. That was a twist I didn't see coming (liking Malik).

Finally, I need to address the editing. It needs better proofing. It's not so bad that it's distracting but there are too many errors that should have been caught before publishing. This is easily remedied.

I look forward to the final book. I'm not sure how they face John and defeat him. So dar I have seen no evidence that they are as strong as he is. Should be interesting!

Wicked Game (The Duality Series Book 1)

               by Cleo Fox   ****REVIEW 

Jasmine is a Deviant, once again on the run from the government. They held her as a young child, testing and torturing her until her father ran with her. Now her powers have manifested and the government is after her again. They have killed her father and Jasmine is by herself trying to make it to the safe house. She makes it to the safehouse where she is taken in by her father's best friend. There she also meets the Summer Watchers, a group of teenage boys staying there over the summer on break from boarding school, and their girlfriend Eden, this Deviant generation's Ultimate. Eden takes an immediate dislike to Jasmine and as they all head back to school, the boys have ended any friendship they may have started with Jasmine. Eden is determined to make Jasmine's life miserable but Jasmine believes she is up to much more than only being the mean girl. Is the school truly safe? Is Cleo who they all believe her to be or could Jasmine be the one they need?

There is a lot to like about Wicked Game. Jazz is smart, strong, and independent. She has an interesting past and as new powers and memories surface, this increases. Jessica is a great girlfriend and I enjoyed the tie with her. I wish that her boyfriend Maru had been written into the story as well. I loved Peter. I enjoyed his wit and humor. I knew his secret from the very beginning causing my heart to hurt for him and was happy once he shared it with Jazz. I have mixed feelings about the guys. I like James despite his initial impression. he and Jazz are a good match. I like Jax despite his initial action. He was so out of line but he earned his forgiveness. His power is no tone to be envied making him more sympathetic than he might have been otherwise. I'm not sold on the Summer Watchers, Casper, Luck, and Gideon. I realize why they behaved like they did but Jazz forgave them, trusted them, and started falling for them way too quickly. Gideon had misplaced loyalty, but Luck and especially Casper said some awful things to Jazz. They all abandoned and mistreated her. I haven't seen them in a good light long enough to accept them without reservation. Weak, manipulated, and mean does not make their initial impression one that I can easily forget. It's going to be even more difficult to forgive Loch when the time comes. Eden plays her role brilliantly. Mean girl/popular girl/Ultimate distracts from the bigger picture. It's never truly a secret from the reader; only the characters. I Loved this approach. 
I only had two issues with the story, one plot based, one personal. Jasmine going to the 'back to school' party made me crazy. WHY? You know that it's a set-up, you know you are the target, yet you go anyway because "she can get me kicked out". That's ridiculous. She can't. I would have liked a better plot device to accomplish the goal of this scene. There was an easy fix; make it a mandatory school event, not a personal party. My personal issue is with Jasmine's weight. I know lots of readers like less than perfect heroines. I do too with their character and quirks. However, I like my characters to be beautiful, physically perfect. That's MY thing and when they aren't I rewrite it in my head. I don't want constant reminders about weight or other physical imperfections. Those belong in real life, not in my fictional world. It bothered me even more that she was a "fat" Korean. Having lived in Korea for years, I never even met a plump young person. Their diet is healthy and they crave perfection to the extreme. They are actually super skinny! Even as they age and have multiple babies, they only spread, they are still not fat. So yes, this bothered me and I couldn't change her image in my mind due to the constant reminders. Once again, why? Skinny characters don't harp on their size, why should she? Luckily, my personal preference only played a minor role because I was so caught up in the story. 
This book sucks you in. It's easy to read and entertaining. I was caught from the first scene on. I enjoyed the flashbacks, both recent and buried memories. I loved the ending and can't wait to see what happens next. Eden, Loch, and Malik on one side, Jazz and the guys on the other, John against Peter, the government versus the Deviants. There are so many dynamics to be explored! I read the Sneak Peek of Kingdom Falls after book one ended. I hope we don't have to wait long for more. Consider me an honorary member of the cult of Kimchi!

To Lure the Frog (Woodside Academy #3)

by 

Cleo Fox    ****REVIEW

Chanel is getting closer to her tutors as she house hops between them. Even with her mystery stalker, she hasn't enjoyed herself as much in years. With her mom's absence and Jason's preoccupation, she takes advantage of her time with the boys. Her grades are improving, she's eating, she's laughing and loving. But she should remember not to let her guard down.

I am not sure how to review this book. I can't say much. It's a mystery. Sometimes intriguing, sometimes frustrating, sometimes confusing. I wish there would be more revealed. It's fallen into a pattern of mostly ignoring the mystery and danger until the end and then throwing a tantalizing final scene at the reader. I have no idea what to think. This book did advance Chanel's relationships with her tutors. Beware! The sex scenes are hot, hot, hot. It's not just sex, the emotional connection is deepening as well. These boys are so sweet and open. Except Zeke, of course, and naturally he is my favorite. Can't get enough of this one. I'm not sure how many books are in this series but I am ready for more answers. I hope that we get them in the next book.

And Catch the Fly (Woodside Academy #2)

by 

Cleo Fox   ****REVIEW

Saturday, Chanel had one of the best afternoons of her life with her tutors but it ended abruptly in fear. Now it's Monday morning and she's waking up with a terrible hangover and no memory or anything more than vague flashes since she left the guys. Where did the time go? What happened? Where are the maids who report to her mother? The guys know that she received an upsetting text before she left them. Later they intercepted some disturbing texts. They know something bad happened. But how bad? And who is behind it?

Without a doubt, this is one of the most unique RHs I have read. Chanel has a boyfriend that will become her fiance after graduation. She's not even really with the harem, they don't know if they can trust her, and one of the guys still dislikes her. Chanel is missing key memories. There are strange things going on within her household. Then there's Red, the mystery stalker and the dragon cult. Everything is surrounded by uncertainty and mystery. We know next to nothing. It's intriguing. The one thing I do know is that I am behind Chanel. I want her out of that house, away from her mother and boyfriend, and safe from Red. Can't wait until Halloween and the next book.

 To Ensnare a Spider(Woodside                            Academy Book 1) by 

Cleo Fox   ****REVIEW

Gorgeous and dating the quarterback/school's meanest bully, Chanel has the reputation of the stereotypical high school mean girl. And yes, she lives up to her reputation, but that's only a small part of her story. There's also the heart-broken, abused, desperate girl. Faced with two choices for her future Chanel's plan is to escape to college after graduation and disappear from her current life. In order to do that however, she needs to get her grades up, so she responds to a school ad for Four Epic Tutors. Rhett, Zeke, Sai, and Bon are at the top of the graduating class. Each has a bright future ahead of them but presently they live life at the bottom of the high school hierarchy and as the main target of Jason, Chanel's boyfriend. Each has been an object of ridicule or physical abuse by the school's 'king" and to a lesser extent the 'queen". Having made a plan to turn the tables on the golden couple to teach them a lesson, the guys see their opportunity when Chanel reaches out to them for help. It doesn't take long, however, for them to see that there's more going on than they imagined with Chanel. And possibly, Chanel doesn't even know. 

I'm almost at a loss as to how to review this book. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I could enjoy it when I started. I do not like the mean girl character. EVER. I love a bad boy but not the jock/bully type. I love intelligent guys but looks are important to me. I will own up to being shallow in my fictional tastes. I want broad shoulders, cut jawlines, and lickable abs. No apologies. So the main characters didn't originally appeal to me. But I trust this author, so I dove in. It became clear immediately that Chanel is anything but a one-dimensional mean girl. She's an almost fragile creature locked in a gilded cage. She's not fragile by nature but by circumstances. The spirit can only stand strong for so long and her's is bruised. Yet, she still has a spark of fight and hope. Given even a slight opportunity, she will burn bright again. The Epic Tutors are definitely not my typical Alphas but it does sound like there is more to work with than I originally imagined. I also had a problem with their revenge plot. Lowering themselves to 'teach someone empathy' makes you more like them than you want to believe. I am hopeful now that they have more information and the beginning of a connection, they will rethink their plans. 

As the book went on, it picked up momentum. As the characters became more fleshed out, I sunk deeper into their lives. I like their inner thoughts about one another and I think intelligence is sexy. Then...the book changed direction on me. A mystery was introduced and I became intrigued. I need more! I have theories and can't wait to see if I am on the right path or not. This story line definitely makes a huge difference. Now the book stands out and makes me want the sequel as soon as possible.

Ivy Fox

 Archangels MC (Bad Influence #2)

               by Ivy Fox   ***REVIEW

Michael, Cam, and Gabriel are Archangels. MC Brothers. They live on the edge of the law. Their moral code is clear. Protect the Archangels, protect the family, protect the brothers. Justice is what they decide it is. So when they arrive home to find a girl in their front yard, severely beaten, more dead than alive, they take her in, determined to see her back to health and seek revenge on her behalf. She has no memory of her past, not even her name. A bracelet with the name Hope is the only clue. Hope may be bruised and battered but she is not broken. She has an inner fire and a determination to be the woman she wants this time around. It's a second chance for her and the baby she discovers she's carrying. She wants to be strong, independent but she also wants the three bikers who saved her. They seem to be in total agreement. However, it may not be that simple. Even though she doesn't remember the past, that doesn't mean her past can't catch up to her. 

Archangel MC is the second stand-alone in the Bad Influence series. There is one tie-in which is fun but this is definitely its own book. I liked this one so much more than Her Secret. At no time was I offended. At no time did I hate a main character. Progress! The characters were nicely defined. Hope was easy. She was a clean slate so she got to choose who she wanted to be. Cam was a likable, eager puppy. Once he decided that Hope should be his/theirs he was all in and never held back. His single-mindedness was refreshing. Gabe was the dark, sexy, brooding soul. His history was heartbreaking. When he finally decided to give in to his feelings, it was fantastic. I loved his little bird inner thoughts. Michael was the most complex, conflicted. he knew what he wanted but he had been groomed for a role that didn't allow for it. I liked that this Viking god took his life and his happiness into his own hands. He was true to his brothers and to himself. The side characters were a nice assortment. Aurora was kickass, Uri was not likable, Mabel was a hoot. The others will remain secret to avoid spoilers. 
The storyline was entertaining. At times it was a bit disjointed. The characters didn't always act like it seems they should. Overall, though this was an absorbing read. 

 Her Secret (Bad Influence, #1)

                     by  Ivy Fox   ***

Freya Wilson is the girl next door. Literally. Once the five Perry Brothers were her best friends. She was their princess. Days full of swimming and games, sleep-over nights full of movies and long talks. They were her best friends, her brothers. But then Freya started to have feelings for them that were anything but sisterly. Afraid that she would be hated, scorned, labeled a freak, she decided that it would be best to distance herself from the brothers. She became a shadow of herself, withdrawn and alone. She also became their enemy. As they went on to conquer high school, they couldn't put their hurt and anger over her loss aside so when their parents decided to take a cruise with Freya's parents and have her stay in the house with them for the summer, the boys see an opportunity to make her suffer. 

Her Secret is a tough one for me. I love the concept. One-time innocent feelings changing, maturing, confusion, awkwardness, shame. So much to work with but I couldn't get past parts of the story. The Perry boys crossed a line with Freya. They were intentionally cruel, verbally and with their actions. It went way beyond acceptable. The scene where Freya first came into the house was so offensive and painful, there is no coming back. The intentional remarks meant to devastate her were unforgivable. Forget about any relationship, this girl would have been permanently scarred if she were lucky, suicidal if not. There were NEVER any apologies, acts or redemption. Even the reunion started out feeling bitter and sexually manipulative. What was meant to seem sexy with each first encounter with a brother seemed controlling and calculating. Because of this, I can't rate this story any higher than a three star. I can't for one second allow any young girl to accept this behavior. Either stand up for yourself or walk away. Girls deserve better. Each girl in this world is a princess, demand to be treated like one, Make Prince Charming man up!
The sex was steamy, the back and forth relationship drama believable. With less meanness, some atonement I could have loved this story. Instead, it leaves me feeling battered. I would like to see this author continue with this genre. Preferably with more depth, preferably not with brothers and definitely without the level of cruelty. I do believe that she understands group dynamics and I did love the character's individualities.

G - Authors

Nhys Glover

 Goddess Unbound (The Airluds Trilogy Book                   3) by Nhys Glover    ***REVIEW

Goddess Unbound is the conclusion to the Airlud Trilogy; the story of Airsha, the Goddess Incarnate, her men, and the war for magic. Airsha, the Airluds, and their children are reunited with Flea, Zem and the rest of the rebels. The final battle of the war is quickly approaching when Airsha is kidnapped right out of the rebel stronghold. She is taken by Trace, magical son with the ability to steal memories. Having no idea who she actually is and believing Trace's lies, Airsha falls in love with her captor. Her husbands don't give up easily though and with Flea and Zem's help, Airsha is rescued and returned to the rebels along with Trace. He also has a role to play for the Goddess. Plans are put in place, obstacles faced, and the final battle is waged against the Godling. The outcome will decide if the lands will be ruled by the Godling and his priests. Whether it will be a land where magic is controlled by a few, and others are castrated or put to death to protect the power of these few or if the Goddess will again rule and magic will be free to anyone born with it. Not everyone will make it through the battle either way. The risk will be high, but the fight is a worthy one.
I can't say I was pleased with this book. It's well written, but I was disappointed. The focus was hardly on Airsha and her Airluds. The war was the central focus. I was not pleased at all with the Goddess's plans with the role of Trace, and there was way too much Flea POV. I fell in love with this trilogy because of Airsha, Darkin, Rama, Calun, and Jaron. I felt cheated in this book because there is very limited brother time. And for Airsha to fall for Trace immediately turned me against him even more. To feed him, be intimate with him, and forgive him so quickly and continue to love him after the truth was revealed and restored left me feeling icky. I felt like everything involving him was too predictable, but even then I couldn't endorse it. The war made a nice backdrop in the earlier books and was obviously going to take center stage for the conclusion, but it was just too much to keep my interest. And I realize that the Author loves Flea, and I swear I tried to give her a chance, but I simply do not like the girl. When she makes the statement that Airsha shared her husband's affections with her, when Jaron refers to her as our girl, my dislike grew even more. I think she's overly familiar with Calun still, intrusive, brash. I don't find it believable considering their beginnings that she would become a valued member of the family and loved by Airsha. So the fact that it felt like half of the book was her's made it less enjoyable to me. I would not be surprised if she gets her own spin-off books. I will not be reading them.
I feel like this was a missed opportunity. This was an original, entertaining trilogy, but this particular book missed the mark. It marred the entire trilogy by not focusing on the special love of Airsha and her Airluds. Not enough Darkin. Not enough Rama. Not enough Calun. Not enough Jaron. It's a shame.

 The Chosen One(The Airluds Trilogy Book 2)

                       by Nhys Glover   ****REVIEW

Airsha is the Goddess Incarnate, but she's also an 18 year old newlywed to 4 men, pregnant, and the figurehead of the rebel army. Is it any wonder that she's feeling a bit overwhelmed! The Chosen One picks up the story of Airsha and her Airluds where book one left off. The new family has settled in at their training center to begin preparing the airlings and young riders for the rebel army. One afternoon while enjoying married life, a young boy, no girl, Flea wanders up to the center asking to join their efforts as a rider. She quickly finds a place at the center reminding the Airluds of a younger version of their beloved. Unfortunately, she is nothing like Airsha. She's a con-artist with the ability to hear thoughts. She causes stress and insecurity for Airsha and raises suspicions from Rama. Flea has a crush on one of the brothers and is disrespectful to Airsha as the Goddess, as a woman, and to her marriage. Adding more stress and discord is the arrival of Airsha's twin.
Even set in a fantasy realm. I think that this series is one of the most realistic of all reverse harem. These 5 people dearly love each other. Yet even though they have chosen to be together it's not easy. There are doubts, insecurities, misunderstandings, and fights. There are raised voices and tears. There's also passion, friendship, comforting hugs, and so much love. This is a truly fantastic relationship. This is a book of questioning, accepting, healing. The characters come into their own as individuals, couples, and as a family.
The family and relationship drama is set in the middle of a budding war. There is excitement, suspense, betrayal, danger, and some truly heroic actions. It's exciting and entertaining. The stories balance each other nicely. It's good storytelling
I was not and am not a fan of Airshin or Flea. Airshin is a cowardly, worthless, weak excuse for a man. Flea is a liar. I realize that at times she felt guilt and tried to make good, but I do not like her. She tried to deliberately take what was not hers from another woman. She tried to hurt a woman who had been nothing but kind to her. She caused Airsha pain and caused her husbands to hurt her. I don't care that Airsha was overly hormonal and emotional. I don't like females like this and would be happy to never read another word about her. Unfortunately, I doubt I am granted this wish. I do want more of Ramic and Dalma, Bertil, Zem, Dark (love this pet name), Rama, Calun, Jaron, and Airsha!

 The Sacrifice (The Airluds Trilogy Book 1)

                     by Nhys Glover   ****REVIEW

Airsha has grown up as the favorite daughter of the Godling living in his palatial harem. She's little more than a pampered prisoner, but her nature doesn't allow for her to live a passive life like the other women. She has regularly snuck out disguised as a boy to watch her twin and the other males train as elite soldiers. She also has hidden magic; hidden because only males are allowed to have magic. Women found to have magic suffer castration/death to remove it. She lives a life of secrets. When word comes that she is to be sacrificed to the gods to bring favor back to her father and the kingdom, she plans a risky escape instead. This sets her on the road to her true loves, four brothers, Darkin, Rama, Calun, and Joran, who are airling trainers and riders. She is also following her destiny. 
I liked Aisha despite her stubbornness. She is an intelligent woman with spirit, yet she continued to believe the sexist teachings of her upbringing. Once she threw away her former life, it seemed like she would be more open to new ideas. I liked the men. The brotherly bond and rebellious nature were endearing. The connections seemed rushed at times, but overall the relationship worked for me. I like the political turn that the book took and look forward to watching Airsha and the men balance family with the fight against the Godling in the next book.

Laura Greenwood

 Hidden: A Dystopian Reverse Harem Retelling of Rapunzel  by Laura Greenwood    ****REVIEW

Hidden is a quick, entertaining, futuristic dystopian Reverse Harem story. Zel has been burdened with a breathing condition her entire life which would not allow her to step foot outside of her home. To do so would result in her death. Therefore, she has never met another living soul other than her mother. Her apartment has every luxury; she has access to books and entertainment. Zel has created a good life for herself, but still, it's an empty life. For several months she has had online communication with a guy, Asher. He's become a lifeline of sorts; a distraction of sorts; possibly the most valued part of her day. An unexpected gift and unexpected meeting introduce Zel to new thoughts and new possibilities. Not everything is as it seems.
Zel is a fascinating lead female. She has never had any socialization and is starved for companionship, yet she is not bitter or withdrawn. She's brilliant and has a sarcastic streak. For someone who has no idea if they are nice or nasty, shy or friendly, she is remarkably well-adjusted. She's very likable. Asher is an interesting character and becomes more so as we learn more about him. 
This new vision of Rapunzel is quite clever and original. It could have benefited from a bit more editing and I would have loved for it to be longer and more detailed, but only because I enjoyed it. For such a short read, the story was nicely developed with surprises along the way. I would be in favor of a much longer follow-up book. The story is already in place with the ending. What do you think Laura?

 Shattered Illusions (Ashryn Barker Book 1)

                 by Laura Greenwood    ****REVIEW

Ashryn Barker, elite sai-loving vampire hunter has a hidden talent, when she looks you in the eye she can see your deepest, most private secret. Now she has been betrayed and has become what she once hunted. She should be horrified. Instead, she fears she has been told lies her entire life. Vampires don't seem all bad. In fact, they seem normal, kind, thoughtful, mysterious, maybe one is a grump, but the rest have been nicer than she could have ever expected. And they are all really attractive. Ashryn feels more at home with the vampires than she ever did with the hunters. However, she may not get a chance at being a vampire. Now she's the prey. 
This is a short novella, but an entertaining start to Laura Greenwood's new series. This first book is mainly setting up the characters and creating the story's foundation. As yet, there is no romance, only hints. Ashryn is a solid female lead. It's hard to say exactly how strong and talented she is since her first mission was a trap and her skills weren't enough then or in the end. I do like her snarkiness, the fact that she was able to put the vampires in their places immediately, and her secret ability. The guys are all intriguing. The mysterious, authoritative Dimitri, scarred Remus with his caring nature, Bram's consuming need for revenge, and Erik living a sham are all intriguing. The book ends with a killer cliffhanger that leaves you wanting book 2 immediately.

 Chasing Aledwen (Fated Seasons #2)

                  by Laura Greenwood   ****REVIEW

Aledwen, the Fae Princess of Spring, has no magic. Now she's turned 18 and as tradition depends she is to take over the ceremonial Birth of Spring from her mother. The human realm depends on the Spring Fae for the rebirth of their year. Aledwen will fail the Fae and the humans if she can't find her magic. Adding to the pressure Aledwen is being allowed to join the Fae festivities leading up to the birth. She's been hidden away for 18 years. Now she's expected to attend balls each night, wear uncomfortable gowns, dance and make small talk with the Court. She's not comfortable in these situations but she does want to finally meet her people. She wants to be involved in the politics, not the parties. Aledwen has big plans for her time as Queen. She wants to serve her people well, better than her mother has. The weeks leading up to the Birth turn out to be an eventful time for Aldwen (Dwen). She meets a cheeky, temperamental shifter Drey, an elvish ambassador Fane, and twin shifters outgoing Brandon and silent Cyprus. They each have an important role to play in Aledwen's life, her future, and her magic. Although Fane may choose to put duty first and deny his true role. If so, Aledwen will never be the Queen she hopes to be. 
This is the second book in the Fated Season's series. It's even better than the first. I love Aledwen's spirit and her dream of serving her people. I love her shifters. I am not attached to Fane but hope that he grows on me in the next book. This book had plenty of palace intrigue and politics, plenty of sexy times ( OOH twins!!), and plenty of fun. Watching Aledwen experience a taste of life for the first time, becoming a confident young woman, and falling in love made for an entertaining read. This book is not a complete story. It doesn't really end with a true cliffhanger but it is unfinished. There are two more books in her story. I look forward to more! 

 Reigning Eira (Fated Seasons: Winter                       Book 2) by 

Laura Greenwood   ****REVIEW

The Fae Queen of Winter is dying, and her daughter can't accept the throne, Eira is next in line. It's not a position she wants but that might make her the perfect person to rule. And when one of her men gets in trouble, it may be the only way she can help him. 

Frosty and her men Leth, Josh, and Rueben are back. All Eira wants is a peaceful, easy life but that's not what the fates have in store for her. I really enjoy this group of characters. There is a sense of whimsy surrounding them. The fact that Eira 'accidentally' freezes people who annoy her is hysterical. That Leth still uses windows instead of doors is too. The men's affection for one another and their devotion to Eira is everything. I am assuming that there will be a follow up of sorts to this book. Surely, we need to know the changes Eira brings to the fae and forces on the high council and vampire elders. Three of the fae queens are in place now to change both realms. Should be fun.

 Saving Eira (Fated Seasons #1)

                      by Laura Greenwood    ****REVIEW

Saving Eira is a wonderfully imaginative paranormal Reverse Harem in the Fated Season series. Eira is the first-born daughter in the line of Jack Frost's descendants. This makes her responsible for the frosts. All of the seasons depend on the frosts, so it's important magic. She also feels responsible for her younger twin sister Izzy, she's in love with her best friend Josh, and as a part-succubus, she has needs that must be met. It's time to top off (what she calls her succubus side) so she and Josh head out for a night on the town. After a steamy dance that goes a little far, a sexy vampire Rueben comes to Eira's rescue. Within seconds she finds herself feeling for him like she does for Josh. Then the next morning she finds a gorgeous fae, Leth in her house who informs her that the frosts are late and that he has answers. He will only give her these answers on a date. Now there are three men Eira sees as her mates. Could it be possible to have them all? Can she save the frosts?

As much as I love the creativity in the storyline, a RH is successful (or not) depending on its characters. These are great. They work nicely together. Eira was a strong lead. Josh was easily my favorite. Best friend to lover doesn't always work, but in this case, it certainly does. A sexy witch that can move from caring friend to domineering lover is perfect. I loved that he took point with the guys. Reuben with his quest for perfection was frustrating, but when he finally came through, he did it in a big way. I have mixed feelings about Leth. The fae rules are unacceptable and he needs to find a way to circumvent them for his mate. I did like his relationship with his sister and his obvious desire for babies. Sweet. And his large family can provide plenty of characters. Reagan, Josh's sister was also an intriguing character. I can't wait to see more of her.

This is a fun book with wonderful characters. Very creative premise with great world-building. Several paranormal circles and courts are introduced giving us plenty of characters for future books. There's sexual tension and follow-through, there's political intrigue.

H -Authors

Auryn Hadley

 The Kiss of Death (Demons' Muse #1)

                  by Auryn Hadley    ****REVIEW

Sienna is obsessed with Death. Not dying but Death himself. Wrong place, wrong time. Sienna's life is about to be cut short when she is saved by Death. The doctors tell her it was hallucinations brought on by the trauma and the pain meds but four years later, Sienna can still recall how his eyes looked, the shade of his skin, and exactly how his lips felt against hers. Since that experience, however, Sienna's artwork is dominated by sketches of Death and by drawings so realistic that they actually fall off the page. So Sienna enters college with her secret but she's already captured attention. She's wanted. Some want to save her for her powers; others only want to use her. Sienna must quickly decide if she can trust her heart, her mind, herself. 

The world is not what we have been taught. Religion, Demons, Angels are not what humans think they are. If you are devout, this is NOT the book for you. The twist on Christianity will be offensive to you. For me, The Kiss of Death is a fantastically creative adventure. The characters; Sienna and her Legion, Nick, Sam, Luke, Bel are all fully developed and likable. Sienna's character can be a bit inconsistent. Fierce one moment, weak the next but it seems natural considering the circumstances. Her trust level swings back and forth too much for the situation she is facing, one minute she's all in the next, she won't take advice but again everything moves so quickly for her, I guess it's understandable. Nick is a great blend of strength and vulnerability; Sam is the perfect easy-going flirt; Luke takes warming up to but is a good guy, and Bel, the oversized teddy bear, is a fish out of water having been asleep for so long. There is the history of M/M, one kiss, and the promise of more to come in the future. The RH is unique in this book because Sienna (Sia) is only with Nick but it's established that the Legion is hers for when she is ready. It's an interesting dynamic all the way around. 

The story itself was very entertaining. I loved the pace of the story; it escalates quickly. I thought it did lose momentum when the focus shifted too much to the paths but it would quickly get back on track with the return to the character's interactions. I love Nick and Sia together. It felt a little contrived at times to keep removing Nick so that Sia spent time with Luke and Sam. Overprotective Nick didn't seem like he would disappear for such lengths. I felt like there could have been a better way to connect Sam and Sia. Luke felt more natural. And Bel's inclusion was simply hysterical each step of the way.
The book leaves off at a good place and doesn't really leave the reader in a bad spot. There is still so much story to be told. I'm excited to see where book two takes us.

Rise of the Iliri Series (7 books)There are 7 primary works and 9 total works in the Rise of the Iliri Series. I have only read 1 to date

 BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri #1)

                by Auryn Hadley   ****REVIEW

Bloodlust is a fascinating book; part sci-fi, part fantasy, part political expose'. Sal is a rarity, a pure Iliri. The humans have taken over the planet in their quest for metals. They have cross-bred the Iliri making them pets and using them for their own purposes. They are treated worse than animals. Sal as a purebred can never fit in with humans. She stands out with her white skin, ears located more on the top of her had, as well as razor-like teeth. She doesn't act quite human either, her senses are better and she has an animal like streak. She has always been a slave, but has a chance at a better life in the military, especially if she is chosen to be a member of the Black Blades, an elite force. The Blades consist of their Lieutenant Blaec, his First Officer Arctic, Shift, Razor, Zep, and the assassin Cyno. The Blades are an elite force with a secret; they all have Iliri blood. And they have found their Kaisae, a female to rule their pack.

This is a coming of age book of sorts. Sal has no knowledge of the Iliri and has always tried to be as human as possible. Blaec looks human and while he takes advantage of his Iliri traits, he has hidden his heritage. Cyno's Iliri side has left him nearly a wildman. Sal brings the group closer while also presenting new problems. She has personal relations with more than one of the men and a couple more seem interested. This is a reverse harem so she will end up with several of the men. She makes the group stronger, better but may end up destroying them if not careful.
I loved the world building and the history introduced into the story. The characters are complex, conflicted. Sal and Blaec most of all. It was frustrating, yet understandable. The dynamics, the warring instincts, the struggle for dominance, the fear over acceptance, the love; all of these issues balanced with military tactics and battles as well as the everyday discrimination struggles Sal faced made for a very entertaining book. The suspense near the end kept me up reading late into the night. I loved the book and look forward to more with Sal, Blaec, and the rest of the Blades.

Lily Harlem

 Breakaways (The Challenge #5)

                       by Lily Harlem   ****review

Olivia and her guys are in Spain. They have returned to the real world. The world of social media, mothers-in-law, society's judgment, and surprises. When an unexpected responsibility surfaces Olivia and her men are on the move again. This time they are off to a remote sheep station in Australia. However, this time it could lead to putting down permanent roots, a bigger than expected family, and a HEA. 

Breakaways is a satisfying ending to one of the most fun RH's I've come across. I also admit that the entry into real life was much more realistic than I could have envisioned. I love when untraditional wins! There's plenty of love, sexy times, and sweet moments. I was frustrated with Harry, amused by Raul, turned on by Mason, hurt for Evan, and fell in love with Lucas even more. I love these guys, faults and all. And the sexy times are wonderfully steamy! Lily amazed, amused, and inspired. I can't explain my only complaint without spoilers but I will say I was not happy with the guy's locations at a pivotal moment. This upset and pi**ed me off. Other than that I loved this book.

This RH was an adventure from beginning to end. 100% FUN! Totally recommend! Okay, Lily while this was perfect the little note at the end regarding begging for a guy's POV.... pleaaaaase!

 Stowaways: Reverse Harem Romance            (The Challenge Book 4) by Lily Harlem  **** REVIEW

Africa. Hot. Wild, Beautiful. Complicated. The home to beginnings and endings. Olivia is finding 6 husbands to be more difficult than anticipated. There's still tension between Evan and Harry. Paul doesn't seem to be taking their relationship seriously. The hospital is built and serving the village, the jeep is repaired. It's time to move on, decide if there's to be another challenge or whatever else the future holds. The only thing that's certain is that they will be together. At least that's what Olivia thought. It's decided that they will travel to Spain to check on Raul's restaurant. But when it's time to leave Paul makes it clear that his plans are not the same. Olivia's heart is broken but for her, there is no choice. She loves her husbands. Where they go, she goes. After a brief, dangerous return to the villa, the team is ready to say goodbye to Africa. When Evan refuses to fly the team mostly gets a job working on a huge freighter for a surly, drunken captain. Since the Captain won't take them all on as crew, a couple stowaway on board. And they aren't alone. A 10-day voyage turns out quite unexpectedly. What else could be expected with this team! Heading back to the real world where complications will arise and their relationship will be judged this is a bridge between their time alone and normal life.
It's a remarkable thing when an author takes every criticism you had with the prior book and fixes it! That's exactly what happened here for me. I am so pleased. Harry and Evan both confided in Olivia reestablishing her as their center priority. They allowed her to have an opinion and to "fix" things between them. Paul behaved exactly as I thought he would and the guys, especially the twins handled him properly. Raul, Harry, and Lucas all handled Olivia appropriately as well. Please let Paul remain a footnote in Africa. No takebacks! And no more tears over him. Paul's so not worth it and she has 5 incredible men who adore her.
This book is satisfying. It has danger, adventure, and plenty of sexy times. There are sweet words and tension, hurt feelings and displays of love. I truly enjoyed the Captain's reaction each time he caught Olivia with someone other than her 'husband'. It amused me. We get to see several of the guys react to a new situation. I think this will come in handy in one of the next books because there was plenty of foreshadowing about a big change coming their way. I'm interested to see how the team transitions into their past lives. I hope that they are strong enough to weather the so-called civilized world. If it gets to be too much I hope that Harry will buy a small island off the Spanish or Scottish coast for them to all live and love together.

 Runaways: Reverse Harem Romance                    (The Challenge Book 3) by Lily Harlem   ****REVIEW

    ** spoiler alert ** Olivia and the rest of her team, plus Paul are heading to Africa to build a hospital in Anya's village. This time the challenge is of their own making, it's charity with a sense of adventure. And it keeps the team together. Perfect. Olivia is in love with her five men; Henry, Evan, Raul, and the twins Lucas and Mason. They all adore her in return. The twins brother Paul will also be accompanying the team. As a doctor, he appears to be a perfect fit but will he upset this unconventional relationship? Worried for his brothers he could be a problem. Olivia already has her hands full trying to keep Evan and Henry in line, she doesn't need another difficult male. Africa will definitely be a challenge; heat, hard work, dangerous animals. There are also so many possibilities for happiness as long as they are together.

My reaction to this book changes by the moment depending on what page I am talking about. It may be my favorite book in the series. I may be unbelievably upset with it. I will do my best to cover both sides equally and fairly. This won't give details but could be a spoiler. Please stop reading now if you don't want to take the chance. 
Positive: The sense of fun that was missing a little in book 2 is back. The Challenge captured my attention in book one as a fun adventure. Fun, fun, fun. Even with the lost boat mishap and danger, it was exciting, adventurous, and enjoyable. Book 2 lost its momentum. This book recaptures the magic and it's even better this time around because the characters are committed to one another. There's a true bond between the men as brothers and between the men and Olivia. There are love and friendship, respect and understanding. The heat between Mason and Olivia finally exploded, Henry's kink, Raul's playfulness, Evan's intensity, and Lucas's sensitivity are all highlighted. This part of the harem story is ideal. Africa serves as a great setting. It's hot, deadly, raw, and beautiful. 
Negative: Paul. Yes, it was obvious how it was going to play out but I hate how we got there. Olivia made a bad choice. As far as I am concerned she cheated. I feel that she cheapened herself in the process. I liked the connections she had with the others because they felt emotional. Yes, that led to great, steamy sex, but it started out with a bond first. Paul was insulting and suspicious. He has never claimed to really care for her. She respects his doctoring. LUST. It looks like she can't be satisfied by 5 incredible men whom all love her, she has to have another because she acts on lust now?! Eventually, they will take turns in the real world; when she gets a good haircut, has a great waiter, goes to a pain-free dentist does she take all of those men too? I know I am being ridiculous and I'm exaggerating but could she not manage to control herself to talk to her men? How would she have felt if they decided, "Hey Anya is a great girl, she's one of us now!" No respect or consideration for her guys. I'm also having an issue with Henry and Evan. The little dance they are doing with one another and not talking about it with Olivia is also not harem-friendly. I'm all for a little M/M (I realize that we aren't there yet, but something is happening) but if they keep it hidden and the relationship separate from Olivia that is not cool with me. The harem revolves around love and consideration, not secrecy and selfishness and both of these relationships within the harem are upsetting to me with the way they are being handled. 
The positives outweigh the negative and I did enjoy this book. Plenty to celebrate! I look forward to continuing this adventure. I'm hoping for more guy time the next book. Evan, Henry with Olivia, the domination and kink, the M/M factor is hot! Lucas with his blend of innocence, pure adoration for Olivia, and that something uniquely Lucas makes his every scene special. Mason and Raul both bring the passion. (I'm ignoring Paul. He'll get his whether I want him to or not.) Stowaways is next up and I plan to dive in right away!!

 Tearaways: Reverse Harem Romance              (The Challenge Book 2)  by Lily Harlem     ****REVIEW

Tearaway's is part 2 of The Challenge. After losing their ship at sea and not completing the cross-Pacific challenge of part 1, Dante Vidal has issued a second challenge. If the team can bike from New York to LA they will receive the second portion of the money for cancer research. They will have no money, must work to pay their way across America, roughing it along the way. Time spent with her 5 lovers all dressed in riding leathers on the back of a Harley. Open road leading to a donation for a worthy cause. Win-win as far as Olivia is concerned! The road trip isn't the biggest challenge Olivia will face, however. Her biggest challenge is learning how to be in a relationship with 5 guys.

This book shows a new side of the team. They still work wonderfully together at tasks, but it's more complicated when it becomes personal. Plus, they are no longer secluded. Everyday life, civilization now plays a part in their relationship dynamics. Jealousies and insecurities arise. New sides of personalities are revealed. Feelings are hurt. This book doesn't have the physical danger of book 1, although there is a bit; however, there is much more emotional angst.

Harry and Evan continue to play the Alphas. Their growing friendship is interesting. They work well together considering their dominant ways and need to rile one another up. Could lead to a new aspect of closeness. Raul continues to be crafty. His ingenuity impresses me even if his dramatic flair and obsession with rum do not. The Scottish twins play a more separate role this time. Wonderful Lucas remains the most romantic, beautiful man and finally gets his time, but Mason doesn't. He gets cheated for time this go-around. The introduction of Paul is a twist I didn't see coming. I can't wait to see how he either fits in or disrupts the team.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as book 1. I went in expecting the same level of fun as the first Challenge. This one is equally good, it's just not as light-hearted. Olivia fails as a girlfriend and the results damage the team on an individual and group level. I ended the book upset with her. I don't ever remember being upset with the lead female in an RH like this before. I feel that she was careless, selfish, and thoughtless with her role. I need book 3 to see how she plans to fix everything. I love the team plans for the next book; hopefully, this next goal brings them back together and happy once more. 

 Castaways: Reverse Harem Romance

          (The Challenge Book 1)  by Lily Harlem     ****REVIEW

The Challenge is a cross-Pacific sailing adventure hosted by Vidal Industry. If a 5 man, 1 woman crew can successfully sail from California to Australia under Captain Harrison Vidal, his father will donate $5million to the charity of his choice. This once in a lifetime opportunity is the dream of Olivia Bailey. She finds well-deserved success when she is chosen for the sail. She joins 5 guys from 4 nations; Evan Tate from Australia, Raul Santiago from Spain, the twins Mason and Lucas McCadam from Scotland, and Harrison Vidal from America. Each brings something special to the mission, each is heart-stoppingly gorgeous, and each is attracted to their female passenger. Let the Challenge begin!
This first book in a new reverse harem series is great fun! It's sexy, full of action, good conversations, romance, and danger. It's well-written and nicely paced. It has humor and a light-hearted appeal that I loved. The storyline was thought out and the characters were nicely developed. The tensions, between the men's egos and between Olivia and the men were believable. The attractions were hot!
Olivia is a great female lead. Strong, smart, kind, beautiful; she's unconsciously competent. She's an equal to the men. Harrison is a man that expects to be obeyed, but he has more depth than a rich playboy. I want to explore his to-do list more! Raul is a sexy Spanish chef. His English vocabulary mistakes, his love of his knives, and his fear of sharks are hysterical. Evan is an outdoor god; fun-loving, and knowledgeable. His healthy lifestyle and love of the earth are sexy. Mason is talkative and sweet and his twin Lucas is quiet and romantic. They are almost two parts of the same soul; I find this intriguing for later play. Each crew member is an accomplished sailor so the yacht, Temptress is in good hands. However, prepared and aware the crew is, fate steps in and the ship is in peril. The dream becomes a nightmare in minutes and their lives are on the line. However, this team is strong and they pull together.
Relationships move fast, but considering the circumstances this seems natural. The connections seem real and differ between Olivia and each of the men. They are all pretty great. Harrison and his kink, Raul and his romance, Evan and his sexiness, Mason and his concern, and Lucas...Lucas is everything I could ever want. He doesn't spare words, but the ones he uses are perfection. Incredibly romantic and sweet. I love this guy!
The action lasted until the very end and with the ending came a new unknown challenge. I can't wait!



Lena Mae Hill

 Sister of the Sea: A Reverse Harem Witch                                   Series (Winslow Witch Chronicles #2)

                  by Lena Mae Hill   ****REVIEW

Sagely, Fox, Raina, and Shaneesha are on a road trip. They need to locate and save the coven but first Raina wants to find her brother. He was taken as a young boy by a sea faery and she has glimpsed him in the seeing stone frolicking with mermaids. This image calls to Raina in a powerful way. As a water witch, she has never felt like she truly belonged with the earth witches. She only stayed out of love for Quill and now that he's with Sagely, Raina wants to join her brother in the sea. Her deepest desire is to be a mermaid. The four travel up the coast following Raina's directions until they reach a coastal coven of wind witches. Off-shore there is a group of mermaids or sirens as the witches call them and Raina is convinced that her brother is among them. Raina feels the lure of the sea and soon finds herself enthralled by a siren and wishing for a life at sea as a mermaid. She has never felt more at home. However, in this world, each wish comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Sagely, Fox, Shaneesha, and their new friend, a wind witch, Gale have their hands full with members of their old coven sent by Viziri to deliver a lethal message and trying to rescue Raina without falling to the siren's charms themselves. After a particularly dangerous use of her magic, Quill having felt Sagely's distress arrives. Now her collective is reunited and actually getting along. May be time to add another!
I loved the dual POV with Sagely and Raina. I felt it gave us a more complete story to know what was happening on land and at sea from a first-hand perspective. Raina's story was quite a roller-coaster ride. My heart broke for her at one point but once again she showed her strength and cleverness. I hope that she's happy with how everything turned out. As much as I disliked her in book 1, I was surprised by how much I liked her in this book. She may be the most powerful and important character of them all. I have my reservations about Yvonne. Time will tell with this new character. I enjoyed the introduction of Gale. Her thrill embracing the adventure was refreshing. The other new character, River, I have a feeling that I will love him when we get to know him better. Sagely didn't show as much growth as I would have liked although she did learn a valuable lesson or two. I am still not a Fox fan but he is starting to grow on me. (I just wish I didn't picture him as an evil little leprechaun-like faerie) I don't when the female doesn't even seem to like the male but still lusts after him relationship so I am glad that Sagely seems to have developed some actual feelings for him. Quill continues to be my favorite character. This guy is seriously wonderful. He's hot, he's loving, protective, puts Sagely first, and says the right thing exactly when needed the most. All of the characters seem to be more fully developed this time.
I know that the author is putting this series on hold but I do hope that she goes back to it. I would like to see how Sagely's collective ends up. Her unusual assortment is interesting and I would like to see them all have time together to get to know one another and truly connect. I would like to follow up with Willow and know that Raina is happy. I would like to see the paranormal world safe. Viziri is such a powerful foe that I can't imagine how he can be defeated. Sagely needs her magic back, Quill needs peace, the coven needs justice, Viziri needs to be destroyed.

 Magic of the Void: A Reverse Harem                Witch Series (Winslow Witch Chronicles #1)  

                     by Lena Mae Hill   ****REVIEW

A normal afternoon at the beach, playing frisbee with her roommate, a chance collision with a gorgeous jogger; Sagely couldn't know that her life was about to change forever. She's deliberately run off the road on her way home, and then attacked and left for dead. The gorgeous jogger, Quill, saves her with magic, transferring some of his magic into her. When she awakens, she finds herself in a coven surrounded by a world of magic that she never knew existed. There's plenty of positives here. She has Magic! She is part of a coven. As a foster child, having a family means a great deal to her. And as a witch, she gets to pick out her own Collective, a group of "husbands". There are negatives. Sagely has her own previously unknown magic, void magic. It's ancient and has mostly been used for darkness, chaos, and destruction. When others learn of her magic, it incites fear and anger. Enemies try to capture or kill her and the dark wizard Viziri is after her to claim it for himself. Without meaning to Sagely has upset the balance of the paranormal world. Witches are dying, the fae and shifters are attacking. Sagely is overwhelmed in this new life. Every new day brings more information, new dangers, more chaos. The only person she can truly rely on seems to be Quill and maybe, just maybe a dangerous fae, Fox.
I enjoyed Magic of the Void. I liked Sagely. She's intelligent, fiery, and strong. At times I would have liked her to be a bit more sympathetic. I understand that she's overwhelmed, I just felt that at times her emotions were misdirected. Too hard on Quill, too attracted to Fox. I loved Quill. He's everything a hero should be. I was not a fan of Fox. I can't understand being attracted to someone I can't trust or who tries to kill me. The side characters were a mixed bag. Raina, Shaneesha, Eli, and Willow. All are nicely developed, but each time I thought that Sagely was developing a closer bond with one, it would go sideways. I want her to have a close friend or two in the paranormal world. I also want more distance between Quill and Raina. Recent Exes are not acceptable friends.
The storyline is full of action, plenty of twists and turns. Danger, suspense, and a hint of romance. There's good world-building and back-story. I love the familiars. I think that there's potential here for an interesting "relationship".

I am conflicted about the ending. I know that the author states up front that this is a slow-building Reverse Harem and I am okay with that, but a separation was not what I had in mind. Still, I look forward to more of this adventure and can't wait to meet more characters.