The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne 5 Star

Title:	The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo
Author:	Kerrigan Byrne
Publisher:	St. Martin's Paperback
Series:	Victorian Rebels
Genre:	Historical Romance, Victorian
Publish Date:	August 28, 2018
Sold by:	Macmillan
Pages:	384
Ages:	18 +

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

I am getting to continue my current dragon theme with The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo. This was another NetGalley ARC that I received that I am delayed to read. Super thankful for the opportunity I was given to read this pirate-themed romance.

I have never read a book by Kerrigan Byrne before. I am completely new to the Victoria Rebels Series. So I just want to let you know that you can absolutely pick this up and roll with it. There is zero confusion about other characters in the world. This could very well be a beginning to the series if I didn't know any better. It is written so fantastically. I don't have a wonderous vocabulary like a lot of other reviewers. I am not in denial about that. So there were so many words that I get to add to my vocabulary because of this book. Kerrigan Byrne did a fantastic job, of keeping the Victorian feel by using words that would fit into that time period. Instead of just saying "if she had her preference, the word that was used was druthers. There are tons of little words like that that I appreciated. I have read a Victorian style book and the words used are too close to current time.

I enjoyed this book so much not just because of the personal gain with the vocab, but because of the change for the characters. You have a physically weak and nurturing woman who grows to be strong and commanding a little by the end. You have a man who has lost his memories of his younger years and is only left with memories of pain, torture, being a slave traded off to the highest bidder. He has created a hard life for himself as a pirate. He had become almost revered as a god to his crew because of how ruthless he was. The self-discovery for each character takes a well-planned path.

I think the only thing that I didn't care for was how Lorelei acted the same as she didn't when they were younger. If felt like an infatuation. Although she claimed to have grown up from the abuse from her brother, she still had a girl feel to her. I would have liked her to show a little more of her confidence a little earlier.****Spoiler**** There is another part to her adult character that I didn't like also. It felt like it was put there to add a little extra to a scene but it didn't really have to be there. The fainting I could have lived without. It happened once, and her sister in law said that it happened all the time. And why wasn't her afraid later to make her faint again. I guess if it was later and he had a thought maybe one or two more times like "what if I cause her to faint"... I might have bought it a little better.

This is a great Victorian style read. If you like pirates and whispy shy women,

 this is a perfect book for you. 

Check out below for a Free Sample of The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne.

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones 4 ✭

Title:	Wintersong
Author:	S. Jae-Jones
Publisher:	Thomas Dunne Books
Series:	Wintersong
Genre:	Young Adult, Dark Fantasy, Historical, Romance
Publish Date:	February 7, 2017
Sold by:	St. Martin's Press
Pages:	448
Ages:	Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

Wintersong leaves you feeling open. Your base emotions felt. You have a bewitching enchantment. S. Jae-Jones wrote some really cool scenes that feel spooky but completely captivating. This is for a person who appreciates someone having an actual style to their writing. 

This haunting romantic tale reminds me of older horror novels. The ones that lead you on a trail into their enigmatic world. I guess it starts with the world building right. There are key scenes in the book that are unforgettable. For example when Liesl can’t find her sister in the market, or when she finds her sister eating a forbidden fruit in the goblin grove. You could almost feel the juices from the fruit yourself just reading about it. There are so many little pieces that make it the story such a good read. The confusion Liesl feels, and the reader’s anxiety knowing what she has forgotten. Their grandmother’s constant reminder of the tales of the Goblin King.

The characters are set in a different time than us. It is distant but not so distant that it isn’t relatable in Germany. Which that caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting that, but I found it appealing. They have a drunk for a father and a nagging mother. There are three siblings in total. The older daughter is the prized beauty to be sold off into an arranged marriage. The younger, Liesl, is to watch after her old sister and sort of end up the old maid. There is a brother who relies heavily on Liesl’s support to maintain his confidence.

Overall I couldn’t be happier with reading this novel. It was thrilling for me. I always love a bit of romance to my stories. I really liked that this wasn’t as cookie cutter as I was expecting when I initially read the blurb. I am very thankful to have received an ARC copy to enjoy.

You can check out a preview of Wintersong below without leaving the page.

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead 3 ✭

Title:	The Glittering Court
Author:	Richelle Mead
Publisher:	Razorbill
Series:	The Glittering Court
Genre:	Young Adult, Romance, Historical
Publish Date:	April 5, 2016
Sold by:	Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pages:	403
Ages:	Teen

*Box or No box? Look at previous posts to see the difference in set up. I feel like trying something different.

Rating: ✭✭✭

So I am really not sure what to rate this one. I am really not. I have read 2 series by Richelle Mead and I have really loved them. I couldn't get into the one with the little alchemist even though I enjoyed the vampire academy series.

I did borrow an audiobook version of the story and while I listened I felt like I was getting a story of beginning settlements in America. But the names of countries were changed. I guess that's the part that I felt wasn't necessary. If you are going write a period piece that sounds historically like a specific situation, then say that. Call a spade a spade, ya know. It just felt like reading/listening to a great American settlement story and then trying to sound a little more trendy so like let's give the places some new names, but the same accents you would anyways.

The characters are worth the read at least. You have your strong female lead, Adelaide, who expresses her opinions and stands up for others. The men are written pretty well with devious and intelligent sides. Adelaide's friends are good side characters that provide an extra mysteriousness and humor. So you have a cast of characters that bring a lot to the book. You even get this common lackey type of character found in a lot of movies. You know the one that less intelligent and is always nasty with words. I really would go into the characters more, but that's the whole story really and don't want to spoiler it. The whole story is basically the interaction of Adelaide, Cedric, her friends, and the young governor once she's in America, I mean Adoria.

If I am not mistaken the other books in the series are about Adelaide's two best friends that she met in the finishing school she didn’t need. The second book is about Mira who is looked down upon because she is a refugee trying her best to get her freedom. And the third and final book is the other best friend in the trio, Tamsin's story. From what I see it almost looks like it may take place simultaneously as the first book. So these aren't your typical chronological romance series, nope these sound like they are different perspectives of the same events. This idea really makes me interested in the series. Adelaide's book was just cut and dry and basic. But there were seems where Tamsin was lost at sea, and then maybe lost at sea again. And Mira is mysterious and always running off, or hidden somewhere. So there really is a possibility for the story to really get me into it. I just don't know if this intro to the world and people were enough to pull me in.

If you would like to read a free sample of The Glittering Court,

you can do that below without leaving the page. 

Adeline by Christina McKnight 4 ✭

Title: Adeline

Author: Christina McKnight

Series: Lady Archer's Creed

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency

Publish Date: August 29, 2017

Pages: 260

Ages: 18 + 

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

Adeline by Christina Mcknight was a sweet story but one I have read before, sort of. The story isn't bad, it just introduces you to a snobby young lady who is full of attitude right before she goes to an etiquette school. Then it cut scenes to her as an adult and who has grown-up mature. I just feel like it almost wasn't even worth reading the first part. Now, this is part of a series. So maybe the introduction ties with the previous books of the series, I don't know I have never read them. I guess that kind of threw me off for the first half of the book.

This is another retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Books like that are a classic for a reason. So when you read them you have to find what makes that one special. I think part of what makes this so special is how Jasper is. He is almost like a scared little boy who grew to be a man. So everyone around him cares for him, and he equally tries to take care of them. It's really nice. He is horribly scarred from a fire that took his family away from him. You can genuinely feel the love that he has.

As the story continues I did start to like Adeline more as a character. She had been discarded by her family. So both characters are lonely and need a someone of their own. For me, it was Adeline's character that sort of lost it for me. Online I see tons of people do love her character, so maybe I wasn't feeling it personally. I would recommend this book so some of my friends, but only if it was something I think they would be into. It doesn't feel like one of those books to me that you have to tell EVERYONE you know.

This was a book that I received from NetGalley to give my honest review. You can get all of the books in the series for your Kindle in one bundle for $7.99. Individually it looks like the books vary from $0.99 to $2.99. So if you picked these up getting the four-book bunch would be a better deal. If you want to check out a book by Christina McKnight, I did see that the first book from another one of her series is available for free on Kindle. (Prices are at the time of this review)

You can read a free sample of Adeline below without leaving the page.

You can get all of the books in the series for your Kindle in one bundle for $7.99. Individually it looks like the books vary from $0.99 to $2.99. So if you picked these up getting the four-book bunch would be a better deal. If you want to check out a book by Christina McKnight, I did see that the first book from another one of her series is available for free on Kindle.

King of Swords by Anna Durbin 4 ✭

Title: King of Swords

Author: Anna Durbin
Series: Kings of the Tarot
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency
Publish Date: June 11, 2017
Pages:  376
Ages: 18 +
Rating:  ✭✭✭✭

King of Swords is an amusingly enchanting story about a couple who couldn't be more irritated by each other that end up on a twisted path. Definitely do not judge a book by the cover here or you will miss out on an entertaining start to a new series. I found it amusing how the character interactions are with their dislike for each other, plus the whole town acts like watching their fights like a soap opera. There is also a very serious and sensuous side to the story too. I feel like it just all comes out very well rounded.

My favorite thing about the book was between the character point of view switches. They usually end up with a one word descriptive thought that punctuates the characters frame of mind for that scene. I just liked how it gave that similar insight to the two. I liked the overall writing of the book. It is a very well written romance novel. There is character development, strife, anguish, happiness and even more emotions for their journey the two go on.

I wish it went into the Tarot aspect a tad more. I am a fan of tarot cards for one thing. The book starts out with a scene with the tarot and it doesn't discuss it many more times. Don 't get me wrong there are more "clips" I guess I would call them from the tarot at the beginning at each chapter I really liked. Basically it was like a card and the cards meaning which give you a hint to the chapter. I really did like this. I just felt like the character had the tools in her hands to do more to control her situation, but she was stubborn and didn't think of it.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys regency romance.

Saving Grace by Aubrey Wynne 4 ✭

Title: Saving Grace

Author: Aubrey Wynne

Series: Enchanted Keepsakes

Genre: Paranormal & Urban Fantasy, Romantic Suspense, Mystery

Publish Date: May 1, 2017 

Pages: 120

Ages: Mature

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

Saving Grace is a wonderful start to a new series. Aubrey Wynne has managed to write another book, or in this case a small novella, that will compel you to read the rest of the series. I am becoming a pretty decent fan of the author I would say at this point. She managed in such a short amount of pages to thrill me with some lore, romance, and suspense.

I grew up a military brat, and part of that time was spent in Virginia. Virginia is a wonderful state full of rich history. So having a story with a heroine, Chloe, being haunted by a ghost, Grace, and having legitimate history mixed in with Aubrey Wynne's own story telling is just a treat for me. Also the idea of Chloe seeking out information about what could be happening and a historian falling in love is just super cool to me. This story was written where is was flipping between past and present and is was done great. You are able to follow what is going on pretty easily.

If you would like to read a FREE SAMPLE of Saving Grace, you can below without even leaving the page!

Rolf's Quest by Aubrey Wynne 4 ✭

Title: Rolf's Quest
Author: Aubrey Wynne
Series: A Medieval Encounter, Book One
Genre: Historical Romance, Medieval, Fantasy
Publish Date: February 1, 2017
Pages: 234
Ages: 18 +
Available for: Kindle and Paperback

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

I may or may not have picked this book up because the cover made me think of Jon Snow. I have read a book by Aubrey Wynne before and I loved the sweetness and genuine love that was written in that story so I decided to pick this book up as well. I was not disappointed by this book. It was another very well written story about magic and true love. 

Rolf has to break the family curse and the woman he has fallen for is already attached to another man. They begin having dreams about each other that feel connected. Melissa struggles with her feelings with Rolf and these tales of magic and the great wizard Merlin. 

This book is a fantasy nerd's dream romance. It comes in a nice little love package with a great amount of medieval lore and action. As a self-proclaimed nerd, I approve.

Check out a free preview below. You won't even have to leave the page to read the beginning of Rolf's Quest.

Rahab and Joshua (a biblical love story) by Rivha Gonen 4 ✭

As the title suggests this is a biblical story a girl who was raped and had to become a prostitute. She helps some spies hid in her home while they are trying to help take over Jericho. I'm gonna let you know, I am not religious at all. So to be this was a very interesting read. And while I understand that there are actual facts here as well that are supposed to be accurate, so I really want to understand the view of this time of conflict.

Rahab really had a rough childhood, and it goes into a lot of detail about her father's childhood and life too. There is so much information about the characters and their lives. It is written extremely well. It's very interesting (again I am not religious) how there is a prostitute in Jesus' lineage. After reading this book, I may even be interested in learning more about different religions in general. 

I did receive a free copy of the book to give the author a completely honest review. So when I saw a few typing errors, I am hoping that it was just the copy I had received was an ARC. In one instance there was suppose to be a town name, but it was just two random letters. But this I am sure will be fixed in no time if it hasn't already been fixed.

Click here to check this book out on Amazon.com

This book is going to be released for kindle on July 31, 2017. It will also be a Kindle Unlimited book!