Book Review: Claiming Grace: Ace Security #1 by Susan Stoker

Claiming Grace:
Ace Security #1
Susan Stoker

For Logan Anderson, moving on from a traumatic past means moving back to his hometown of Castle Rock, Colorado, to start a personal-security business with his brothers. But it’s not long before Logan runs into Grace Mason, his best friend from high school…and the woman who never answered his letters during his Army years.

Grace was pleasantly surprised to see Logan return to Castle Rock, despite their falling-out ten years ago. Everyone always assumed they would end up together, including Grace, who had eyes only for him. But as Logan eventually escaped their town, Grace got pulled further into her family’s controlling grasp—and farther away from the man she loved.

Now, united by scars both visible and not, the two must fight to free Grace from the suffocating hold of her family. But the Masons won’t let go easily—and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the couple apart.

Review:

I picked this as I needed a bit of a palate cleanser from all the fantasy I've been reading. This was a quick read, but really good. I have to warn people through if talking about abuse bothers you, then this is not the book for you. This book takes on the POV of abused men and the less talked about concept if emotional abuse. While I felt a bit like the author was trying to make a point, with the extreme mind games, manipulation and not quite physical abuse. My only issue with the book was that the flow was good in the being, but around the middle it slowed and was a bit of a struggle to get through before picking back up at the end.

Grace and Logan were great characters. Logan was sweet and protective without being overbearing. Grace grew so much through out the book. I enjoyed the relationship rebuilding that happened between them. Other than the bit of a struggle in the middle of the book, I found the book engaging and interesting with great characters.

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Book Review: A Court of Sugar and Spice Wicked Darlings #1 By Rebecca F. Kenney

 

A Court of Sugar and Spice
Wicked Darlings #1
By Rebecca F. Kenney

With their inheritance restricted until their marriage, sisters Clara and Louisa, both in their twenties, must live with their godfather Drosselmeyer. One night, an accident brings to life one of the strange wooden dolls in Drosselmeyer's mansion. The Nutcracker doll is a cursed Fae prince, and he pleads for the sisters' help. During the ensuing journey into the Fae realm, Clara encounters the handsome Sugarplum Faerie, and he promises her the chance to enact all the forbidden. fantasies she has dreamed of. Meanwhile Louisa and the Nutcracker Prince battle and bicker over everything, despite the growing attraction between them. And to make matters worse, the entire Seelie kingdom is under threat of conquest by the Rat King, ruler of the Dread Court.

This is a spicy, adult, fantasy romance retelling of "The Nutcracker" fairytale.

Review:

While this was an interesting take of the classic Nutcracker tale, I had issues with it but we'll get to those in a minute. I liked a fey take on the story. Having Drosselmeyer being a fey hunter and the sisters saving the Prince from him was an interesting twist. I enjoyed the world building on the fey world and the differences in fairies. I even enjoyed the relationship building between Clara and Sugar Plum as well as the tension between Louisa and the Prince. The characters growth with the sisters was done well.

What I had a hard time with is the sister switch, Clara should have been with the Prince. Even though I liked Sugar Plum more as a character, I just felt this nagging sensation that it wasn't right. No matter how much I tried to tell myself this is it's own thing, I just couldn't let it go.

Other than that this book was very enjoyable, but I have to give it a 4.

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I would like a little cheese with my whine, please.

 The last week has been really stressful, and my anxiety about selling on Ebay has returned full force. So much so I took down all my listing. It has to do with a lot of old toys Hubby had me sell. We got a decent amount for them, but now I'm freaking out. What if this happens or that happens? All these things running through my brain, and I'm having mini panic attacks waiting for what might happen or not happen. I'm probably just over thinking everything, but that's what I do stress myself out completely. I've relisted a few books, but I probably won't feel comfortable listing more until I'm sure nothing bad is going to happen. The stress of worrying over it is just to much. 

Confession... Toxic trait- When I get like this I tend to stop eating. Even if I'm feeling hungry I'll purposely ignore it until I start feeling woozy. I know I shouldn't and it's not good for me. It's not a healthy way to deal with stress or anxiety. I understand that. Yet I still feel like I have to I don't know have control over something. Does that even make sense?

Sorry for this whiney post I just had to get this off my chest. 

Review: The Nameless Trickster For the Love of the Villain #3 Rebecca F. Kenney

The Nameless Trickster
For the Love of the Villain #3
Rebecca F. Kenney

When Juliette’s older brother makes an astounding claim to save his own skin, Juliette is escorted to the palace, along with other magically gifted young women who are being taken from their villages so the king can choose a bride.

But Juliette’s brother lied. She has no magic. She’s a baker and a businesswoman, not a sorceress… and now she’s trapped, facing death if she displeases the king.

When a handsome tattooed man shows up and proposes a bargain, Juliette makes a deal with him out of desperation. But their collaboration results in a crisis neither of them expected, one with dire consequences—

Unless Juliette can learn the stranger’s true name.

This spicy grownup retelling of Rumplestiltskin is perfect for fans of romantasy & fantasy romance books, and it blends a cozy fantasy atmosphere with more intense, dark fantasy vibes. Reading guidance for the darker moments can be found in the front of the book.

Review: Compared to the other two books in this series, I didn't like this one as much. It didn't have the same enemies-to-lovers feel that the first two books had. Juliette's love and loyalty got her in over her head, yet to be honest they got her out as well. 
While I liked the main characters, there was no real sexual tension and Juliette was ready to drop her panties as soon as the first room was transformed into gold. I really just kept reading for the assassination plot. Wanting to know how that was going to go down. While I liked the characters they were also a bit bland. The romance aspect was also a bit to quick for me. The plot was ok but also a little blah at times. The twist at the end was really well done. Yet over all not as good as I thought it was going to be. 

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Review: The Maleficent Faerie For the Love of the Villain #2 by Rebecca F. Kenney

The Maleficent Faerie
For the Love of the Villain #2
Rebecca F. Kenney

A spicy, Fae Sleeping Beauty retelling with a male version of Maleficent, a dying realm, and intriguing twists on the old tale.

When Malec, the Void King, attacks Princess Dawn's carriage, her Fae bodyguard Aura switches places with her. Glamoured as a human, Aura must fool Malec into thinking she's the Princess he cursed 25 years ago. Relentless and powerful, but with a vulnerable side he hides from others, Malec begins to crave Aura's respect as much as he craves her body.

Trigger warnings and content warnings can be found on the author's website or in the front matter of the book.

Review:

This was a very interesting tale a play on Sleeping Beauty. Aura has grown up as the princesses body guard. She was trained and schooled to protect, this woman is no shrinking violet. I loved how strong and spunky she was, yet how vulnerable she was at times. When everything is revealed and her world falls apart she has a few dark moments but manages to rally. Mal is a wounded soul, torn down by his responsibilities and his own mind. These two were made for each other, darkly tormented they can find release together. 

I mean who doesn't like a little slap and tickle or light choking during naughty time? Lots of rough sex, a King who likes being dominated and a Beauty who is up for it. 

The revelations in the story are jaw dropping with wonderful twists. The plot moves along really well with action and intrigue to push it in just the right spots. Another 5 for this series.

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Let's Chat!

So yesterday Hubby and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary. We did what we do almost every year and went for a hike. This year it was Black Bear Mt in Cranberry Lake.

It's a little over 4 miles up hill with a lot of switch backs and very rocky. 

We were trying to get around a couple with 3 large dogs, when a bank gave out and Hubby slid down into a mud puddle. He was ok but really dirty. 

The bugs were crazy which is why I look like I'm weirdly waving in this picture.

But the view was lovely when we got to the top. 

The Ebay store is going pretty well. I changed the name to The Caffeinated Shopper because Hubby wants to start selling toys with me. So I switched things to match my other user name. Also let's be honest here I'm not really zen, I'm hyper, and over caffeinated most the time. Which is why I switched the name here too. I currently have 7 listings up right now, that are books and we haven't gotten the other ones up (as of my writing this) but I'm hoping to have some listed soon. 
I've been reading fairy-tale retelling's recently, with the added twist of them being the enemies to lovers type.

I've been enjoying them for the most part, the current one A Court of Sugar and Spice has been a bit of a slog, but I kinda wanna finish it anyway. It's a Nutcracker retelling and I don't want to give too much away because I will be reviewing but it's not meshing well with my brain. Yet I've DNFed quite a few books recently so I think I'll tough this one out. 
Next on the docket is Nora's Kraken and The Horseman of Sleep Hollow (another retelling.) 
What about you all? Do anything fun this week or weekend? What are you reading? Let me know in the comments. 

Linking up with The Caffeinated Reviewer for the Sunday Post because us caffeinated folk have to stick together. 

Review: The Sea Witch: A Little Mermaid Retelling For the Love of the Villain #1 by Rebecca F. Kenney

The Sea Witch: A Little Mermaid Retelling
For the Love of the Villain #1
Rebecca F. Kenney

When Averil saves a young man from a shipwreck, she thinks she feels the Soul Echo--the sign that the young human male is her one true mate. And the malevolent Sea Witch is all too happy to offer a deal that could make all her dreams come true. He wants her to win the prince's heart--even coaches her in the art of seduction. But what is the real price of the Sea Witch's help? Why is he more brutally beautiful--and charming--than Averil expected?

[TW/CW: age gap between fantasy characters, violence, abu-se, tort-ure, murder, se-x-ual threat, self-harm, expl-cit intimacy/spicy scenes, inexperienced/vir-gin female main character]

Review:
I always felt like the Little Mermaid got shafted, and not the way it happens in this book. This retelling of The Little Mermaid turns the story on it's head and spins around. Averil is the youngest of Tritons daughter yada yada we all know this part so I'm just going to skip ahead to the juicy bits. Zoltan, the Sea Witch, has an immediate attraction to Averil, but suppresses it in favor of his plan for revenge. Averil is drawn to the dark brooding, bad boy with lots of tentacles, yet believes that her true love is the human Prince.

Averil is spunky and brave, yet so innocent. She has lived a sheltered life and is naïve. I felt bad for the little princess, seeing her innocence destroyed in more ways than one and used as a pawn in two men's games. Yet her character grew so much and I came to like her more as the book progressed. Her resilience and how she came to certain revelations was great. I don't want to give to much away but the character growth in this book is awesome. 

This was a fun read with lots of action, a fast moving plot, a little mystery to keep you
interested along with a bunch of sizzling naughty bits.
I give this a five and if you like a sexy, bad boy with tentacles check this out.  

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