A VALENTINE DEMON FOR VERITY by Chloe Alice Balkin

Title:  A VALENTINE DEMON FOR VERITY
Series:  Candy for Demons #4
Author:  Chloe Alice Balkin
Publisher:  Chloe Alice Balkin
Publish Date:   12.19.2020
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from:  Chloe Alice Balkin
Goodreads link: A Valentine Demon for Verity
Date completed: 12.22.2020
 
Description from the publisher:
The end is here.

The flood has begun on Earth. The plague of Kur has swept across both Earth and Hell. The cure for it, a formula that's been in the hands of the archangel Gabriel since the first flood, is wrong. Only the Prince of Lust, sometimes known as Abe, knows the true formula.
Except he doesn't. It's locked in his ancient memories, and there's only one person in the three realms who can unlock it.

Verity wants nothing to do with this.

Despite being felled over a single night of stupidity with Abe, Verity has a good life on Earth. Well, not exactly good, but she's made the best of it. The world might be ending, but she's finally able to put her warrior training to good use fighting the Kun'Sumani. But when Verity kills the wrong demons, she's stuck with a spawn she has to return to Hell and a note that might be the true formula. Verity only knows one way to Hell, through the home of Abe's daughters.

Cue the reunion.

Verity doesn't want anything to do with Abe. He claims to be her mate, her one true love, her evermore, but she is repulsed by him. He wants her to go on a journey with him to find the meaning of the note and return the spawn to his family. She just wants to go home and be done with Abe forever.

Too bad the portal to Earth is broken.
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A VALENTINE DEMON FOR VERITY is the fourth book in the Candy for Demons series.  These should be read in the order of release (and I am kicking myself for missing the third book in the series!).
 
I just could not connect with these two.  The premise is great – a demon and an angel, both fallen angels, are meant to be forevermores – but, while Abe claimed Verity as his from the first page, I never felt that Verity truly fell for him in return.  The words were there, but I never felt it.  In addition to the “romance,” the story was too convoluted.  Maybe I just couldn’t grasp the enormity of the broken worlds.  Again, this may be preconceived knowledge interfering.  Deeply-rooted Catholicism will not allow me to set aside the promise of the rainbow (though it is mentioned).
 
The writing is strong.  This is not because the author fails; I will take it as me failing as a reader.  Let’s chalk this one up as “not my cup of hot chocolate.”
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Candy for Demons Series:
1.      A Christmas Demon for Clara
2.      An Easter Demon for Eloise
3.      A Halloween Angel for Hazel
4.      A Valentine Demon for Verity
Also from Chloe Alice Balkin:
The Series I Shouldn’t Have Written Series:
1.      Magical Cave of Glowing Wonder
2.      Plus Three
Tales of Fate’s Desire Series:
1.      Talia
2.      East/West (coming soon)
THIRD Shift Series:
1.      Warren’s Tabby
2.      Beauty and the Boar
3.      Song Bird
4.      Truth or Weres (coming soon)
 

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SECOND CHANCE MATE by Kristen Strassel

Title:  SECOND CHANCE MATE

Series:  Real Werewives of Colorado #3

Author:  Kristen Strassel

Publisher: Kristen Strassel

Publish Date:   12.03.2020

Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused

Received from:  Kristen Strassel

Goodreads link:  Second Chance Mate

Date completed: 12.18.2020

 

Description from the publisher:

I’ve raised my kids, rose to the top of the game in my career as a private celebrity chef, and now it’s my time to shine.

All my adult life I’ve worked hard to provide the best life possible for my family. I can finally take some time for myself and maybe even find a man who’s willing to stand by my side. So when I hear The Real Werewives are looking for contestants for their Colorado season, I apply.

Levi chose me as his forever mate. This cowboy wolf has a rebellious streak that’s seriously hot. He’ll break all the rules to claim me, even if it causes a pack war.

I know a thing or two about fighting for the things I want. And I’m determined to fight for this pack. But when my daughter drops a bombshell on me, I realize it might be too late for me to help Levi save Colorado Ranch.

Join The Real Werewives for this fun and STEAMY season on Colorado Ranch and follow each couple as they find true love after forty.

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SECOND CHANCE MATE is the third book in the Real Werewives of Colorado series. 

 

I picked up the ARC because I was told that “Sunny and Levi's story is complete, but there are some pack issues that span across the series.”  I took that to mean that it would stand alone.  It does not.  Do not pick this up unless you have read the other two books in the series.

 

The Real Werewives of Colorado are not mid-twenties ingénues.  Isn’t it refreshing to have older ladies (early to mid-forties) who have a grasp on what life is?  They still have dreams and desires, including a desire for a man who will appreciate them for themselves.  That’s where the wolves come in.

 

There is no shortage of steamy appreciation, growly admiration, and sexy, yummy, toe-curling loving … along with a bit of fun sneaking around and clandestine pack politics. 

 

The big pro:  it is fun sneaking around.  Like teenagers again, sneaking behind their “parental figures’ backs,” Levi and Sunny are having the time of their life.

 

I only wish I had read the previous books to better understand the back story.  It is my ignorance that caused the lost feeling that permeated the entire book.  That is my caveat.  Do not read this story without reading the series.

 

Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

 

The Real Werewives of Colorado Series:

1.      30 Day Mate

2.      Midlife Mate

3.      Second Chance Mate

Also from Karen Strassel:

·         Awakened

·         Chase the Moon:  Mountain Mermaids

·         Fire Brand (Fated & Forbidden #4)

·         First Blood

·         Silent Night

·         Wanted: Corynne

Colorado Shifters Series: 

1.      Lion and the Doe

2.      Doe and the Hunter

3.      Cougar and the Lion

4.      Doe and the Pride 

Escort Series:

1.      No Strings Attached

2.      Wrapped Around My Finger

3.      Ties that Bind

4.      The Passion Project

The Inheritance Series:

1.      Dirty Little Secret

2.      Exposed

The Night Songs Collection Series:

1. Because the Night

2. Night Moves

3. We Own the Night

4. Silent Night 

The Real Werewives of Alaska Series:

1.      Running Wild

2.      Reindeer Games

3.      Silver Fox

4.      Catching the Vixen

5.      Wildcat

6.      Playing to Win

7.      Intercepting Christmas

The Real Werewives of Sawtooth Forest Series:

1.      Claimed by the Rogue Wolf

2.      Trained by the Rogue Wolf

3.      Protected by the Rogue Wolf

4.      Seduced by the Rogue Wolf

5.      Mastered by the Rogue Wolf

Sawtooth Shifters Series:

1.      Forever Home

2.      Rescue Me

3.      Protect Me

4.      Conquer Me 

5.      Celebrate Me 

6.      Shelter Me 

7.      Complete Me 

Smoky Mountain Dragons Series:

1.      Love Spell

2.      Harvest Spell

3.      Samhain Spell

4.      Yule Spell

The Spotlight Series: 

1.      Secondhand Heart 

1.5  The Trouble with Bree

2.      Too Many Reasons

 

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BITES AND BOWS by Lia Violet

Title:  BITES AND BOWS
Series:  Cougartown & Hot Hearts Café #14
Author:  Lia Violet
Publisher:  Lia Violet
Publish Date:   09.24.2020
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from:  Lia Violet (as an ARC gifted copy)
Goodreads link: Bites and Bows
Date completed: 10.21.2020
 
Description from the publisher:
Lisa and Linda didn't mean to change international shifter relations forever during the Halloween conference.

Jared is ready to show everyone why vampires need to be respected, even broke ones, and no fluffy Cupid will distract him, even with her impressive financial presentation.

Linda is tired of guys who don't see beyond her looks and family connections. No way will she ever have a shifter for a mate, especially ones who can't even see that someone is taking over their royal family finances and who try to mesmerize her with their brooding gazes.

Josiah is looking forward to exploring the nightlife while his twin stresses over the conference. When a cute Cupid saves him from being drugged and kidnapped, the trip suddenly becomes a lot more interesting.

Lisa's archery skills aren't just for making matches, and while saving a spoiled vampire prince wasn't on her agenda, she was glad she could help, though she isn't sure what Josiah means by royal destiny.

The Cupids take over Halloween in this sexy, funny book of intertwined fated mates stories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BITES AND BOWS is the fifteenth book in the Cougartown & Hot Hearts Café series. This definitely needs to be read as part of the series.  Unfortunately, it is not marked being part of a series and the fourteenth book!  Now you know; I didn’t.
 
At the beginning of the book is a list of who is who and to whom they are mated (and in which book).  Which is a good information dump in my opinion, if you have a mind for remember those types of facts.  I prefer to get to know my characters, so jumping in on the fourteenth book in a series really doesn’t work for me, but I didn’t know that until I got to the end of the book and looked at the author’s info.
 
What’s refreshing about this story?  Cupid shifters!  What a novel idea!!
 
Another unique twist was the twins.  Lots and lots of twins.  So many that they confused me.  Linda and Lisa are twin cupid shifters and accountants.  Josiah and Jared are twin vampires, models, and princes from England.  Regrettably, they didn’t have unique personalities, so the twins were interchangeable.
 
Peripherally there were more twins – again interchangeable – but we are set up for future story lines.
 
Would I read more from this author?  Yes, but I would prefer to start closer to the beginning of the series and get to know the characters organically.  I “caught on,” but I wouldn’t call it a stand-alone.
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Cougartown & Hot Hearts Café Series:
Cougartown
1.      Bearly Married (coming Dec 2020)
2.      Sweet Hearts
3.      Shifted Hearts
4.      Spooky Hearts
5.      Foolish Hearts (by Ginger Leone)
6.      Rockin’ Hearts
7.      Delicious Hearts
8.      Merry Buns
9.      Magical Holiday Fruitcake Rolls (by Trinity Blacio)
10.  The Cupid Competition
11.  Raffle of the Heart (by Trinity Blacio)
12.  The Cupid Crush
13.  Lucky Hearts
14.  Bites and Bows
Also from Lia Violet:
·         Wolf Healer
Full Moon Werewolves Series:
1.      Wolf Training
2.      Full Moon Dangers
3.      Full Moon Shimmer
4.      Full Moon Foretold
5.      Full Moon Everlasting
6.      Off-screen Heat
7.      A Shot at the Moon
Seasons of Three Series:
1.      Three Hearts
2.      Summer Heat
3.      Autumn Fever
4.      Winter Blaze
 

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