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Imprisoned Heir by River Starr @ Xpresso Book Tours

28/11/2020

 
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BOOK DETAILS:

 Title: Imprisoned Heir (Atlantis Institute For Dangerous Criminals, #1)
 Author: River Starr
Publication date: July 1st 2020
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis:

We’re the most dangerous criminals…

They call me Nyx. Under the cover of night, I used to steal from the rich to give to the supernaturals at the bottom of the chain, and to earn enough money to find a cure for my sister’s death curse.

After an… accident we’ll call it, I ended up with a one-way ticket to the sea fae’s top prison: Atlantis. Not the lost city, but the inescapable penitentiary beneath the sea fae court. The Atlantis Institute For Dangerous Criminals is where the vilest supernatural prisoners are kept. Assassins. Murderers. Treasonists. And the three supernaturals sentenced with me are the most ruthless of the worst. Dax, the dark, enticing vampire whose gaze is too intimate for a total stranger; Titus, the fiery dragon shifter with an anger problem; and Frost, the winter fae with a chilly personality to match her ice-blue eyes.

But to escape and survive, we’ll have to work together despite our differences…

We may not get along, but we’re all we have to survive and escape Atlantis Prison. It won’t be easy. Someone thinks I’m a criminal—but I have no memory of committing the murder, and it wasn’t amnesia…

It was the other soul inside of me.

Imprisoned Heir is the first of a paranormal romance trilogy full danger, action, heart, and an enemies to lovers fated mate romance.


My thoughts:

Imprisoned Heir is a fast-moving  New Adult / Paranormal fantasy set in the world inhabited by various kinds of fae, vampires, shifters, and humans living in the kingdom of Cornwall!

The protagonist of the book, Nyx, is a sea-fae. Well. half-sea-fae, as her mother escaped the sea court and ended up living on land. Nyx doesn't really have any magic. What she does have is loyalty to her younger sister who may soon die from a lethal curse unless Nyx finds a cure. Nyx earns her living by petty thievery, but almost everything she manages to get is spent on magic potions and counter spells to make sure Cara lives to see another day. One of these attempts to free Cara from her death curse goes horribly wrong and a long dead sea fae Eos gets access to her body. Their souls become entwined and now Nyx can't liberate herself from her unwanted guest who possesses her body on a regular basis. the worst thing is that Nyx doesn't remember anything that happens while her body is under Eos's control. This is how she finds herself caught red-handed with two dead bodies of sea fae nobles. Nyx desperately pleads her innocence, but gets sent to the worst prison imaginable, the Atlantis Institute for Dangerous Criminals, which is buried deep in the ocean. Can she survive it and hope for a reduced sentence? Nyx knows every day she spends there  is another day that brings Cara closer to her death. She doesn't know who she can turn to and she definitely has no idea why she is so attracted to the prison guard who caught and arrested her at the crime scene. It defies all her the logic. She knows all he can feel for her is hate and yet, whenever she feels his magic, all her being seems to respond in a way only a life mate would.

What I liked the most about this book is the magic sea fae world created by River Starr. The criminals Nyx is stuck with are all a feisty bunch of creatures and are all endowed with their own distinct personalities and, of course, magic powers. They also have their own agenda which you have to learn step by step as you 'immerse' yourself in this adventure. At first, I was a bit peeved by Nyx describing everyone as good-looking, attractive, hot...you get it, but then again, this is a New Adult book and hot and steamy scenes go with the territory. The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of my favourite ones. You know what is going to happen, and yet, it is the journey that counts.

I also liked the shared body/dual soul theme. once you start getting Eos's chapters, you're hooked on the story and can't wait for her next re-appearance. Nyx and Eos' personalities, life experiences and motivations couldn't be more different, and this contrast makes the story even more gripping.

Add the setting of a supernatural prison, the excitement of of competitions /trials that decide the fate of the inmates, and the terrifying figure of the Deep One (even the cruel sea fae guards fear the Deep One)- all these elements make up a fast-moving and imaginative story. The dialogue is probably not the best feature of this book, but I was ready to overlook it in my eagerness to follow the story to the end.

Of course, this is Book 1, so there is a cliffhanger. Luckily, the second book is already out. Can't wait to read it to find out what adventures River Starr has in store for Nyx and the other characters.

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours, the author and the publisher for the free digital copy and this opportunity to review the book. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.






#Book Review #Book Blitz #The Office Grump by Nicole Snow (November 16-20) @Xpresso Book tours

16/11/2020

 
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Book & Author Details:


Office Grump
by Nicole Snow
Publication date: November 12th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance






Synopsis:


Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nicole Snow returns with a fierce and hilarious office romance where two sworn enemies make undeniable lovers.

My “interview” with bosshole supreme was anything but normal. He picked the worst day ever to chase me off my favorite park bench. I retaliated with a spray of cinnamon latte all over his Italian shoes.

Then—for some unholy reason—Magnus Heron offered me a job.

Even his name sounds like a piece of work. Guess what? He is.
But when you’re single, broke, and barely surviving in Chicago, you hop on the gift horse offering a six-figure salary and ride.
I picked the stallion on a one-way trip to hell.


It’s not the impossibly long hours working under Grump-zilla. It’s not the fact that he’s snarly, demanding, horribly rich, and chiseled. It’s not even the pesky way he makes me blush every flipping time we’re together.

Mag is my boss. I’m his lowly assistant. Some rules are carved in stone.


That’s my mantra until we’re sharing a sunset too beautiful for life. Alone with wandering lips, whispered secrets, and disaster in the making. The plan was simple: punch the clock, get paid, and keep hating my boss. What’s the blueprint when the office grump brings me to my knees?

Full-length enemies-to-lovers romance with the banter, intrigue, and slow-burn love worthy of a Happily Ever After. The bossman from Hades meets the hellion he totally can’t stand—until he can’t live without her.

Goodreads

Purchase

Amazon


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My thoughts:

 I have to say that this is my first book by Nicole Snow, so I had no expectations when I started reading, but, boy, was it entertaining! Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes in romance- nothing beats a fiesty female lead, no, cross it, two fiesty protagonists, and good banter.

On paper, Brina Bristol can't keep a job for the life of her. She has just lost the third one, due to restructuring and right-sizing (general cost-cutting) in her company. When a gorgeous and oh so arrogant businessman tries to order her to vacate her bench in a public park, she digs in her heels. Their not entirely amicable conversation ends in Sabrina throwing the remains of her cinnamon latte on his shoes and completely ruining them. You can imagine her surprise when the hunk's HR manager seeks her out and offers her an interview for the position of his executive assistant. The pay is more than average, but nobody has lasted in this job for more than a couple weeks- Magnus Heron is notoriously difficult to work for. Brina, who is completely broke, decides to give it a try. Thousands of emails, 16 hour working days, weekend work trips- she tackles every task and it soon becomes clear she is the best EA Magnus ever had. She is also witty, creative, honest, and impossible not to like. Magnus has very strict non-dating rules in his company,  and he is determined to keep his attraction under control. Brina will not allow anyone treat her without respect. She can and will walk away if necessary, but can he see her go? She is one of a kind, after all.

Brina was a fabulous character. Well, in real life nobody is going to give you the job after you use swearwords to describe the CEO's work ethics, even though the HR manager may agree with you. But otherwise, the girl is practically a saint. Loved what she did for her parents (won't give it away!) and she is really always there for Mag. Mag... is hot, although for the life of me I don't know when a workaholic like him would hit the gym to get the washboard abs described so vividly in the book. He is caring and loyal, and he does put up a fight to get his girl. There are other characters who are also well-written and developed- Ruby, Jordan, Armstrong, Paige....

I often say I am not a big fan of insta-anything. Be careful what you wish for, because this is slow-slow-burn romance and is definitely on a long side. Having said that, the timeframe just felt realistic and once the protagonists did get to those hot and steamy scenes, they were indeed hot and steamy. One thing I didn't feel was necessary was giving Mag his military background, but perhaps I just missed something.

Funny, entertaining, hot, with likeable characters, twists and turns, Office Grump may be my first book by Nicole Snow, but it won't be the last. Recommended for anyone who enjoys contemporary romance.

Thank you to the publisher for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

AUTHOR BIO:

Nicole Snow is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. She found her love of writing by hashing out love scenes on lunch breaks and plotting her great escape from boardrooms. Her work roared onto the indie romance scene in 2014 with her Grizzlies MC series.

Since then Snow aims for the very best in growly, heart-of-gold alpha heroes, unbelievable suspense, and swoon storms aplenty. With over a million books sold, she lives for the joy of making two people fight with every bit of their soul for a Happily Ever After.

Current fan favorites include her Enguard Protectors series, accidental love novels, plus long beloved MC romance thrillers like the Grizzlies and Deadly Pistols.

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GIVEAWAY
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
  • $10 Amazon gift card + signed copy of Office Grump
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