When Evil Comes To Play (The Veil Diaries #5) by B.L. Brunnemer

When Evil Comes to Play is Book 5 in The Veil Diaries by B.L. Brunnemer

Summary:
My name is Alexis, though everyone calls me Lexie. I’m a Necromancer. I see the dead, talk to them, and help them move on. Well, I used to. Now, with the Veil closed, I’m the only way for a soul to cross over. It’s wearing me out, and according to my doctor, it’s going to killing me.

I don’t know how to tell the guys. I’m working on it, but there is so much going on right now; Isaac’s acting strange, Ethan’s worried that his brother isn’t eating or sleeping, Asher’s dad is back, and Tara is still snooping around my bedroom.
My symptoms are getting worse, and we’re running out of time. For everyone.

** This is a Reverse Harem story and may also include some triggering scenes. **

Review:
Okay, first let me start by saying OH MY F***ING GOD! This book was totally worth the wait! I don't think people realize how rare a thing that is. I binged read this whole book in one night, starting at midnight EST. I will try to leave my review as spoiler free as possible...

Okay, so in this installment, it starts out with Lexi at a Doctor's appointment, getting bad news. The story progresses at an even pace and I did not feel as if the author rushed or spent too much time on anything. Some questions were finally answered and some issues were solved. Overall this was an excellent addition to the series, well done Ms. Brunnemer! I can definitely add you to my list of literary goddesses!


The relationship progression:
Okay, so the foundation of the relationship is extremely important in a Reverse Harem. Especially from the boys' side of it. The boys' have to love the girl enough that the idea of not having her at all is unacceptable, that they would rather share her than risk not having her at all. I feel that this series embodies that idea perfectly. Lexi and the boys spent time getting to really know each other over that last five books that it makes it believable that they are all in love, truly in love. I especially love how the last few chapters are all from the boys POV, it lets us know where their mind is at the end of story. It's good to know if one of them did not have a POV in the middle of the story.


I rate this story Obsession - Once you start you can’t stop. I recommend setting an alarm to let you know when to put it down
Rated: 5/5 Stars


Audio Version:

Power & Choice (Iris Boys #2) by Lucy Smoke

Power and Choice is book two in the Iris Boys series by Lucy Smoke. 

Summary:

What does it mean to be an Iris girl?

Does it mean following instructions and respecting the authority of your team? Or does it mean taking risks?

The latter – I’m finding – is something I’m good at. When the guys send me to Ms. Enders’ Etiquette Camp for Refined Young Ladies, I know that I need to master the game and play the part of the respectable socialite. We need to find the answer to this question: What is causing the girls to commit suicide? I knew there would be danger here, and if I don’t watch my back, I could find myself in a whole lot of trouble.

** This is a Reverse Harem Story and may contain some triggering subjects and scene. **

Review:

First, you should know that I review a story for its storyline and plot only. I don't really pay attention to grammar issues unless it is so bad that it interrupts the flow of the story.

Power and Choice picked up right where Now or Never left off. However, it was difficult to get back into the groove of the story as it had been so long between the first and the second. I remember that I enjoyed the first book, but it wasn't life-altering. This one follows along that same vein. I enjoyed the story, but it wasn't life-altering. I think my main gripe is that Harlow is supposed to be a part of Iris now, as a new recruit, but no one tells her anything. We still have no real idea what Iris really is. Granted this is part of the reason I will probably read book three. 

The relationship aspect:

This is a huge part of any reverse harem story. The progression of the relationship is extremely important and I don't feel like she really connected with anyone. Only Texas has really given her the chance to know him and he's the one that was late to the physical part of the game. The others have already moved past the friend zone with her, but she has no idea who they are as a person and why they became who they now are.

I kind of wished the author spent more time building the relationship between Harlow and the boys before she moved past the friend zone with them. It makes it more believable that she truly can not choose between them if she loved them all, and you can not truly love someone if you don't really know them.

I rate this story: Attraction – A promising Story, but nothing life-changing. You would read the sequel as more of a backup story when you run out.

Rated: 3/5 Stars

Audio Version:

Blood Magic (Ariel Kimber #3) by Mary Martel

Blood Magic is book 3 in the Ariel Kimber Series.

Ariel Kimber isn’t your average seventeen-year-old girl. She’s recently discovered she’s a witch with magic and is looking to find her place in a brand-new world. Her place in this new world is in a coven with seven guys.

After all of the horrible things she’s been forced to endure, Ariel was looking forward to building her new life with the family she’s found herself a part of and focusing on healing with Dash after what Chucky did to the both of them. After the blood that had been spilled, they all struggle to put those memories and the incident behind them. It’s easier said than done, though.

Quinton is plagued with guilt and the rest of them struggle with the fact that they almost lost one of their brothers and Ariel is left with a permanent reminder of the incident.

New bonds are forged, and just as things are starting to settle down again for Ariel and her coven, the Council of Elders makes its first appearance in Ariel’s life. And they don’t plan on going anywhere any time soon.

** This is a reverse harem series. **

This series is pretty much about a girl who finds out that she is a witch. Ariel up until recently had to deal with an abusive mother and a lonely life. She never thought that she was anything special, but now that she learns that she is indeed special; she's not sure that she likes it. On top of having to deal with the death of her 'mother', Dash being stabbed, and the seemingly endless guilt of Quinton Ariel also has to deal with the Council of Elders. All Ariel really wants is to find her father and she will do everything within her power to do it.


What I liked about the story: I loved how this installment gave us a more in-depth look at Julian and even introduced us more to Damien.


What I thought could have been better: There was a lot of inner dialogue but none of it helped us to understand Ariel's state of mind. She seemed to have glossed over a lot of issues that normally a person would have dwelt upon. For a 200+ book, it did not give us a lot of information, and I did not like how the installment ended where it did. No warning, no idea on how she even knew what she was doing, she went straight to blood magic.

I would give this an Attraction Rating – A promising story, but nothing life-changing. You would read the sequel as more of a backup story when you run out.Rated: 3/5 Stars

Audio Version:

Love Potion - Ariel Kimber Book 2 by Mary Martel

Love Potion is book 2 in the Ariel Kimber series by Mary Martel. This series is about a girl who just finds out that she is special, that she has magic. This fact makes her extremely important as the race of witches only currently have 3 other known females.

Her coven Tyson and his Uncle Quinton, Abel and Addison, the twins, Julian, Dash, and Damien all have to decide if Ariel is who they want.

Love Potion starts off with the aftermath of the accidental death of Ariel's mother, Vivian.  You would think that after that event Ariel's life could literally begin, but that is sadly not the case. Instead, she now has to avoid emotional-mines in the form of guilt. Not guilt for a mother she loved, because she didn't, but guilt for lying to the only person in her life to have shown her parental care and concern. Ariel hates lying to Mr. Cole about her mother's disappearance, but she knew, for his own peace of mind, she shouldn't tell him.

Now with her life uprooted once again Ariel has to decide what to do next, but this time she is not alone. She has people who care about her and want to take care of her. Something she also had never had before, but one thing held her back. - They intended to share her.

What I liked about this story:
First I have to say that this story was so exciting that if the editing mistakes from the first book made it into this one, I did not notice. Ms. Martel continues to keep the pace of the storyline excellently. I especially liked the way that Ariel is blossoming as a character, I like who she is becoming. My favorite male character has to be crazy Quinton with Tyson a close second.

What could have made the story better:
I kind of wished that we got to learn more about Julian. We got a brief look at his personality in this story and I find him intriguing.

I rate this story as Light reading/Infatuation – You would read this story every chance you could.
Rated 4/5 Stars


Below you can find the audio version of this review:

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Thief The Academy: The Scarab Beetle Book 1 By C. L. Stone

Thief is the first book in C.L Stone's new spin-off The Academy series, The Scarab Beetle. The story is about a girl named Kayli Winchester. Like with Ms. Stone's other series, this one is also about a girl with an abusive home life. Unlike with Sang, Kayli is an adult, an older sister to a classmate of the original series heroine. Kayli is not your average everyday girl, she is an expert pickpocket and she uses her skill to help support herself and her little brother Will.

While she was out, looking for her next mark, Kayli is picked up by an Academy team that needed her special talent.

** This series is a Reverse Harem - Kayli has 5 love interests. ** This series is an adult series, but it does not contain erotica. **

It did take me a while to get into this series, but once I had I found it just as interesting as the original series. I liked the more adult themes that the spin-off offers because frankly, you can only passionately kiss someone so many times before (naturally) the boy will try for more.

Thief gave off more of a "spy" feel then the original series had and for me that made this story more interesting for me. Even though I was not crazy over Kayli, I continued to read because I liked the storyline - and the boys didn't hurt either!

I would recommend this series to anyone, but I would tell them to give it a few chapters first.

I rate this: Infatuation – You would read this story every chance you could.
Rated 4/5

Insatiable Darkness (Vigilant) by L.M. Preston

Insatiable Darkness is a short novel and can be read easily in a single sitting. The story is about Emvee a teenage girl who was forced to move to a new town because of her parents work. She soon learns -by eavesdropping on a conversation between her parents, that the reason for their move was not as clear-cut as she had first believed. This knowledge has led to a "need" in Emvee to know what is truly going on. It didn't take her long to realize that she may have bitten off more than she could chew.

*** Insatiable Darkness is the prequel to a new series that has yet to be published. ***

Forewarning, my review will be heavily based on storyline and plot, I will not ever mention grammar or spelling issues unless it is so bad that it distracts me from the overall tale.


What I liked about the story:
This is an interesting start to a promising series. I can't wait to learn more about Emvee and her coming trials. I have personally read many stories that take mythology and bend it to be used in many different ways, but I can honestly say that Insatiable Darkness bends mythology in a way I have not yet read. She had perfectly blended the idea of science and magic together so well that the idea was believable (if magic ever existed I could totally believe this could happen!) Emvee is a strong kiss-ass heroine that does not fall apart in the face of danger, she kicks it in the gonads!


Things that I believe could have made the story better:
The beginning of the story did not seamlessly bring me into it, it took the first chapter and some of the second before I could comfortably say I was all in. Once I was able to connect with the story I was sufficiently 'pulled in'. Though I do wish Ms. Preston could have expounded more on what a Soul Trainer is and what its purpose was.


The book did its job as a prequel and has left me wanting to know more about Emvee, her friends, and the dangers she will no doubt come to face.


I rate this light reading... You can finish this part within a few hours.
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Below you can find an audio version of this review: