Month: July 2017

Book Review: Scorched by Paula Quinn

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

SCORCHED (Rulers of the Sky, #1) by Paula Quinn Is an original dragon shapeshifter paranormal romance that BLEW ME AWAY! The world-building, all of the characters and the love story were all completely engaging.

Marrkiya is a beautiful, arrogant and proud Drakkon. He is of the Aqua line and is the last of his kind. He is hunted and transformed into a human against his will by the Council of Elders led by Padgora, who has control of the Phoenix Amber. Padgora wants Marrkiya’s treasure. As a human, Marrkiya is now called Marcus Aquara. He can still bring forth his wings to fly and communicate using telepathy, but none of this is good enough. Marcus wants to be in his dragon form again, which he is promised if he brings his hoard to the Council.

Samantha Montgomery is a historical romance writer who has fled to England after a failed romance. She has purchased a rundown castle which is her first real home. Samantha writes about knights and finding true love even though she is not sure she knows what true love is. She survived the New York State foster care system and now she wants her own forever love and family. Oh, yeah and she is a virgin.

From the moment Marcus falls through the roof of Samantha’s barn, the two of them begin a well plotted and paced romance. They start off with Sam not believing in Drakkon and thinking Marcus is mad or she is even though he is the most beautiful man she has ever seen while Marcus smells a virgin and wants to take her essence. Sam has to open her mind to accept this new reality and open her heart. Marcus is portrayed brilliantly by Ms. Quinn. He has to go from being an unfeeling, arrogant dragon to a human man with understanding of others feelings. The author makes you feel the loss and love of his dragon form, all while he is learning the benefits of his human life.

This story will stay with me and I will definitely recommend it to others who enjoy this genre. I cannot wait to get the next book in this series!

Written for and posted first on the Romance Reviews.com.

Book Review: Death Plays a Part by Vivian Conroy

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

DEATH PLAYS A PART (Cornish Castle Mystery Book 1) by Vivian Conroy is the first of a new cozy mystery series featuring Guinevere Evans and her adorable dachshund, Dolly. It is a clever locked room cozy set in an old castle on a tidal island off the coast of Cornwall.

Guinevere is a costume designer for a London theater that has to close for renovations over the summer. She receives an offer to work and live at Cornisea castle cataloguing their library. She is excited to have a summer of island adventures with Dolly to tell all of her theater family about in the fall.

When she arrives on Cornisea, she is immediately thrown into the mix of players that are producing a reenactment of the medieval trial of Branok the Cold-hearted. Arthur Haydock is playing Branok and is locked in a cell in the dungeon for the rehearsal and found stabbed to death by the cast. Only Lord Bolingbrooke has a key to the cell, but he swears he is innocent even though he and Haydock were at odds. Guinevere and Dolly, with the help of Oliver, Lord Bolingbrooke’s son who has returned after traveling the world, work to uncover all of the players’ secrets and motives for wanting Haydock dead.

I enjoyed every aspect of this story. The plot was tightly woven and had me guessing until the end, even though I suspected who was responsible, I could not figure out the “How”. The pacing is steady and as you read the story, you are always given some new piece of the puzzle that makes you want to continue on. The setting of the castle and village on the tidal island was vividly described and a unique setting.

Guinevere is a main character that I am looking forward to reading more about. We gets peeks into her past, but some things are still unclear. She is mature and steady even though she is only 24 years old, which could come from being raised by her grandmother and/or being on her own. One thing is certain, she and Dolly are a great pair. Oliver, Lord Bolingbrooke’s son, makes an interesting co-sleuth and possibly more in future books? Ms. Conroy portrays the islanders vs. the main landers mentality realistically and shows how it effects the characters’ moods and actions.

I am looking forward to more Cornisea adventures with Guinevere and Dolly.

**Please visit all of the Death Plays A Part Blog Tour stops and check out all of the great blogs/reviews for this new book!