For fans of Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
In a world inspired by 16th century Italy, magic is a common occurrence. Everyone in the realms of Epidalio and Zafiria is gifted with it at birth, but with every spell cast, their power wanes.
Gaiane Asares is the result of an accurate selection by her mother, the queen of Zafiria. She’s infinitely powerful; a weapon of mass destruction kept segregated in a tower and used against her will to conquer Epidalio.
Meanwhile, in Epidalio, Leo was born with no magic at all, a rarity. She lost her home and family when Zafiria attacked, and her resentment toward the invaders still burns.
Gaiane manages to escape her gilded cage, and the two girls cross paths. But when war threatens the land again, their loyalty will be put to the test. Will they manage to overcome their differences in the name of freedom?
As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure for more details.
Three Reasons You Should Read This New Adult Contemporary Romance:
Stalling for Time by Christy Hayes is an emotional sort of love triangle (but not really) with an unrequited love twist.
Emily’s assumptions when she finds an engagement ring in her best guy friend’s backpack lead to a whole mess of an adventure – and she drags her roommates into the fun.
Instead of the stereotypes turning me away from a few characters – they really made them stand out against the unique ones.
What’s a girl to do when her best friend is making a huge mistake?
College sophomore Emily Dilbert has been best friends with Dylan Chamberlain since the second grade. When she finds an engagement ring in Dylan’s backpack, she panics and vows to do whatever it takes to stop him from marrying a girl he barely knows.
Dylan Chamberlain has been in love with his brother’s girlfriend, Emily, since they were kids. When his brother asks for help planning a surprise proposal, Dylan knows it’s time to bury his feelings and finally let Emily go. If only his heart would cooperate.
After her roommates fail to lure Dylan away from his girlfriend, Emily is forced to confront him directly. When she accidentally puts them in a compromising position, will Dylan reveal his long-buried feelings, or will Emily realize she’s dating the wrong brother?
Stalling for Time by Christy Hayes follows the high school couple into college. Emily and Zach seem like the perfect couple – the college football star and his supportive girlfriend. But not everything is good with them. It’s a very one-sided relationship, and I could tell from the get-go that things weren’t OK.
This story really shows why it is so important to be honest – not just in your romantic relationships, but in your friendships. Once Emily finds the ring and jumps to the wrong conclusion, it’s a series of misunderstandings and miscommunication for the rest of the story. At times it was a little humorous – especially the roommates and the part they played in getting the right people together. But after a little while, the confusion just got old and I really wanted everyone to just have a nice sit-down and sort it all out.
Emily’s plot (and the fact that her roommates seem to go along with it) seemed a little too juveline for a college student. And a little too cruel for a best friend. I feel like everyone mostly redeemed themselves by the end of the story, but it was touch and go there for a while.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Meet the Warlocks of the Black Oak: a powerful order of modern-day sorcerers fighting evil to protect the ones they love. Three urban fantasy romance now together in this second installment in the Order of the Black Oak – Collection
“Bourque develops a world of mages and sorceresses unlike any other.“ — Night Owl Reviews
Book 4: AN ARCHMAGE’S DESTINY: A Slow-Burn Urban Fantasy Romance: A steadfast attorney must convince a daredevil modern archmage to return to the folds of his powerful warlocks family or apply the devastating consequences herself.
Book 5: A SPELLBINDER’S DENIAL: A Slow-Burn Urban Fantasy Romance: A savvy banshee teams up with a guilt-ridden billionaire warlock in order to protect her adopted baby girl from cursed vampires after the child’s blood.
Book 6: A NECROMANCER’S LOVE: A Slow-Burn Urban Fantasy Romance: A life-loving blogger seeks the help of a lethal Seattle necromancer in order to locate her missing teenaged brother.
★★★★★ Fantastic series of action, magic and awesome romance. You will fall in love with the characters and feel you are right with them.
Bryce Jackson slid her damp palms on the wool fabric of her pantsuit and hoisted herself from her stool in the Singing Kraken Tavern.
Pushing her drink away with resolve, she eyed himagain.
That’s it. No more waiting.
She was here to do one job. Better get it done fast.
For half an hour already, she’d been observing him while aimlessly twirling the straw in the lowball glass of her diet soda. Not once did she break her focus.
She had watched him order his beer. Then, she’d studied his reflection in the faded mirror behind the bar while he exchanged casual banter with the bartender serving him.
He had flirted with at least three women dropping on him. First, she saw the whisper in the blonde’s ear. The girl, a tall beauty covered in swirling tattoos, had laughed before kissing him on the mouth.
Minutes after, he’d swapped phone numbers with a gorgeous black woman in regal yellow silk. Then, there was the small purple-haired girl, who had playfully tousled the dark curls from his forehead, before jumping to straddle his lap as he’d let his fingers trail lazily on her naked thigh.
Without question, he was hot.
The bar was full of millennials. Seattle hipsters with beards, expensive tattoos, upscale hiking garbs, glittery dresses matched with combat boots, and the occasional 12th man football paraphernalia.
Despite the variety bordering on outrageous, he managed to stand out from the crowd.
Not at all trendy but bad boy classic.
Basic jeans, black-t-shirt, and motorcycle leather jacket. The hair, which he raked back a few times, a little too long. Lips curled with both amusement and lust at the gaggle of women crowding him.
Marie-Claude Bourque is a Seattle-based author of gothic paranormal romance and the winner of the American Title V award with her first novel ANCIENT WHISPERS.
Her writing features modern-day fantasy skillfully weaved into infinitely romantic supernatural stories between smart strong women and complex passionate heroes.
