Crown of Dragons: Bleeding Realms: 
Dragon Blessed Book One
by Nina Walker
Rating: 5/5

Wow! I can’t even believe that I finished the first book in this series so fast! I definitely lost some sleep trying to speed-read to find out what happens next. I was disappointed when I realized that I had come to the end of book one and would have to wait a few months till the next book. (Sigh)

The story is told from two POVs and if that bothers you, then this book is probably not for you. However, there is a purpose for these two POVs since there are two realms to explore. Nina Walker gives the reader a glimpse inside both the magical and non-magical realms by telling the story from Hazel’s (non-magical realm) and Khali’s (magical realm) POVs. 

Hazel has lived her life blending into the background as much as possible but entering college has changed her anonymity. She also has quite the secret. She sees dead people. Her brief encounter with bad boy Dean only heightens her curiosity on what secrets he’s hiding. Getting a job as psychic medium can only help her situation, right? She’s tried her whole life to control her ability but has had no luck. What is she? Why is this happening to her? When multiple girls go missing in the small college town, Hazel sees their ghosts and doesn’t know how to help them. What can she do? Will Dean be able to help her?

Khali is a princess because she was born with two different colored eyes which indicated she had all four elemental powers. She is destined to be the next queen to one of the four Dragon princes. She is also Dragon blessed – she can shift into a dragon. She is powerfully powerless to control her own destiny – or is she? Tragedy strikes and forces Khali to make a decision about her future. Does she have what it takes to forge her own path?

Super interesting concept and definitely need to read the next book now! I’ll just be here waiting impatiently. Highly recommend!

My thanks to the author for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Midnight: A Cinderella Retelling
by Melanie Gilbert
Book 1 of the Fae Brothers’ Ever Afters series
Rating: 4/5

First, I love the cover. It’s gorgeous, beautiful and eye-catching.
Second, I love a good retelling. Who doesn’t love a Cinderella story?*
Third, I love when genres mix. It just adds another layer to the story and keeps you on your toes.

*Note: as much as I love a Cinderella retelling, the story didn’t need it and I feel like the Cinderella angle takes away from this intriguing story. As a reader, I kept trying to figure out how this story was similar to Cinderella, which was distracting. Just my two cents.

Nova’s father blames her for the tragic deaths of her mother and younger sister. He moves them to a new city – a new home to forget the past. However, their nextdoor neighbors (is it next-wall if it’s a shared duplex?), Stella and her older twin brothers, seem to want to make life more miserable for Nova and her secrets.

Kent has a Destiny – a soulmate of his own kind of fae. He was marked at birth and must wait till he finds her. He can’t date anyone else, but his resolve starts to dissolve when Nova comes crashing into his life. He can’t stop thinking about her but his attention should be on protecting his family from a coven of power-hungry witches.

Kent’s family is a war with the witches and it seems that Nova has stepped right in the middle of it all. What happens when secrets are revealed?

Again, I loved the story. Unique and interesting. Great characters dealing with real emotions – even if they are in high school. This was a slower read for me but I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. Clever and mysterious adventure read plus romance? Yes, please.

Highly recommend!

My thanks to the author for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

The Express Bride
by Kimberley Woodhouse
Book 9 in the Daughters of the Mayflower series
Rating:5/5

Let me just say that I lost sleep over this story. I am always so amazed the way an author can completely capture my attention and take me on an amazing journey to the past and make me root for the heroine and boo the villain.

After her father passes away, Jacqueline “Jack” Rivers desperately wants to stay in charge of the Pony Express station that she grew up on. Running the station has its challenges but she enjoys the work and doesn’t know where else she’d go. When a government official asks for her help involving counterfeiters, she can’t say no – even if it’s dangerous. When the handsome Elijah Johnson arrives and also wants her help and company, she too can’t say no. Elijah is searching for his boss’ daughter with very little clues to go on. He is determined to find out what happened to her and decides to stay at the station before traveling on. Will Jack and Elijah find love in this 1860 story set in the Utah territory?

I loved this story so much. I learned so much about the Pony Express and living in the 1860s. I fell in love with all of the characters that lived at the station. The author brilliantly weaves a story of adventure and mystery into a historical romance. It’s fast-paced but you still get to see the characters develop and get to see their faith in action.

Highly recommend this book! Even though the book is part of the Mayflower series, you can read the book by itself and not feel like you’re missing something. Just read it!

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.