S.A. Bayne, The Demon You Trust (Magical Elite #1)

Title:  The Demon You Trust (Magical Elite #1)

Author:  S.A. Bayne

Rating:  Five Siren Stones  

Genre:  Paranormal Romance 

Keywords:  Half-Demon, Hell, Magical Elite, Magical Police, Magic

Page Count:  129                

ISBN E-Book:  Amazon Digital Services LLC

Price:  $3.97 

ISBN Print:  978-1940968766 

Price:  $7.97

Publisher:  Authenticity Playground, LLC 

Buy-Link:   https://www.amazon.com/Demon-You-Trust-Magical-Elite-ebook/dp/B07R49R81M/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+demon+you+trust&qid=1558036902&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug 

 Blurb/Summary:

If Ellie Locke dies, so does her sister, so when Ellie is murdered by a water god, it's a no-brainer to cheat death by accepting a deal from a stranger with the power to freeze time…until she discovers he has just set her up as a target for sociopathic serial killer with excellent magical skills.
Her only chance to survive her new job as an agent in a magical crime-fighting organization is her partner, a deliciously sexy half-demon who needs to stay alive as badly as she does. Neither of them has the magical ability to defeat a sociopath who has already killed seventy-six of their predecessors, but who needs skills when you have incentive?

Smoke, shadows, a hostile demon dad from the beyond, and highly paid assassins sent by her loving parents make things a little complicated for Ellie and her new partner, but what's a pair of breasts and an intimate moment for, if not to save themselves and the world?
And this is just the start. 

NOTE: Do you see the gold medallion on the cover? That means this book contains Super Secret Bonus Scenes, which are extremely cool and contain secrets you won't find anywhere else. 

Review:

I was completely engaged from the first page to the last page and didn’t want to put the story down.  The characters are endearing, and their chemistry is palpable.  The Demon You Trust is a fantastic start to a new series.  S.A. Bayne gave us a complete story to begin with, but so many unanswered questions that we will want to come back for more.  There is so much more to learn about Ellie and Jack.  I look forward to the next adventures of the Magical Elite team!

If you like hard-hitting action with humor, magic, some gore, and every super-hero’s weakness: a loved one, then this is a story to check out.  Don’t forget to read the bonus scenes!

I received an ARC for an honest review. 

S.A. Bayne, Immortally Cursed (Immortally Cursed #1)

Title:  Immortally Cursed (Immortally Cursed #1)

Author:  Stephanie Rowe writing as S.A. Bayne 

Rating:  Four Siren Stones 

Genre:  Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Keywords:  Guardian, Dragon, Satan, Pretzel King, Curse, Goblet of Eternal Youth 

Page Count:  410                

ISBN E-Book:  Amazon Digital Services, LLC

Price:  $5.97

Publisher:  Authenticity Playground, LLC 

Buy-Link:   https://www.amazon.com/Immortally-Cursed-1-ebook/dp/B07QFS89WN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15EDPFRM97IES&keywords=immortally+cursed+sa+bayne&qid=1556639553&s=gateway&sprefix=immortally+cur%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug 

Blurb/Summary:

Justine Bennett's life isn't the one you'd want for all eternity, which is exactly how long she's going to have to live it. 

She's the sword-wielding Guardian for the Goblet of Eternal Youth, which is currently masquerading as a shape-shifting espresso machine in a fancy New York City condo. Being an immortal badass in the City that Never Sleeps sounds exciting, but Justine hasn't gotten to behead anyone in centuries, the celibacy oath she took two hundred years ago is getting to her, and her dead mom is being hotly pursued by a lovesick Satan. 

But then Derek LaValle, a no-carb pretzel mogul cursed to die in a week, shows up at Justine's door to behead her and steal the Goblet. If he fails, both he and his twin will succumb to the curse, so this handsome hunk of deliciousness is not going to let anything stop him. He's charming, tempting-as-hell, and extremely determined, all the things that Justine needs to amp up her life.

Unfortunately, if Justine makes even one mistake, her mom will end up as Satan's love pancake, and her own soul will be destined for an eternity in the Chamber of Unspeakable Horrors.

Derek, however, can't afford to fail either, which means one of them needs to die. But when high-octane attraction blooms between them, killing each other no longer seems like a fantastic option. With such high stakes, they better figure it out fast, or Satan dating her mom will become the least of their worries. 

About the Author: S.A. Bayne (aka Stephanie Rowe) is a gift to the universe, at least according to her dogs, and everyone knows dogs are world-class judges of people. She was taught to play by the rules, but after suffering numerous apoplectic breakdowns, she realized that she had to ditch the rules, figure out her own way to live, and then turn that into a high-octane, irreverent, unpredictable-as-hell paranormal romance that will make your day so much better just by reading it. And yes, she is also New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Rowe, winner of the 2018 RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance. Because she's nifty like that.

Review:

Immortally Cursed has a plot that keeps moving forward at a steady pace with tons of crazy obstacles being thrown at the main characters.  S.A. Bayne has given readers a new world to play in where immortality and magic abound.

There is plenty of slapstick humor that lightens the mood of our cursed hero and hunted heroine.  Both Derek LaValle and Justine Bennett light up the pages with their chemistry and crazy issues.  These characters put the “fun” in dysfunctional families.

If you are looking for something a little different in the fantasy/romance genre then give this a try.  S.A. Bayne gives you a complete story without any major cliff-hangers to be frustrated over.

I received an ARC for an honest review. 

Dianna Love, Evalle and Storm: The Belador Series, Book 10.5

Title:  Evalle and Storm: Belador Series Book 10.5

Author:  Dianna Love

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Keywords:  Gryphon, Skinwalker, Beladors, The Belador Series

Page Count:  199                

ISBN E-Book:  Amazon Digital Services, LLC

Price:  $3.99

Publisher:  Silver Hawk Press, LLC 

Buy-Link: https://www.amazon.com/Evalle-Storm-Belador-Book-10-5-ebook/dp/B07NKMHCMB/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=evalle+and+storm&qid=1556634670&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug 

Blurb/Summary:

New York Times bestseller Dianna Love's Beladors are back with a special story for Evalle and Storm!

This is the book fans have been waiting for - Evalle and Storm's. To bond or not to bond should be a simple question, but nothing is ever easy in the life of this particular Skinwalker and Belador couple.

Investigating a strange death in unfamiliar territory threatens to rip them apart forever as Storm tracks a predatory majik killing in the cruelest ways and Evalle makes a dangerous gamble to save what's left of her disappearing preternatural powers ... and herself.

Until he completes the mating bond with Evalle, Storm has no way to find her if she's kidnapped again and preternaturals are actively hunting her in a chaotic Atlanta. Word hasn't gotten out that she can no longer shift into a powerful gryphon. When Storm's estranged uncle in Arizona pleads for help in finding the cause behind a strange death on his tribe's reservation, Storm agrees to go just to get Evalle out of the city and somewhere safe. A good idea on paper, not so much when he confronts a predatory majik that attacks his.

Prior to surviving a brutal imprisonment, Evalle wanted nothing more than to bond with her Skinwalker mate to share their lives and energy. She cheated death upon escape only to discover she's lost he ability to shift into a gryphon and her powers are failing. Opening a connection with her Storm could destroy his as she discovers her body is going through new insurmountable changes. When she's offered a chance to bring her gryphon back, Evalle jumps at it, determined to heal herself and save her life with Storm. Too late, Storm realizes he's made a deadly mistake by bringing his mate with him.

Review:

Evalle and Storm’s relationship has never been what anyone could define as normal.  It never will be, but it works for them, little gargoyle and all.  These two are a couple of my favorite characters in the Belador world and it was so much fun to read a story dedicated to them.

We get to see more intimate moments that show how Storm and Evalle’s relationship has progressed.  This was also the perfect time to share their story before hard hitting Belador issues assail us in the future with human/Belador exposure and supernaturals screwing up in Atlanta, Georgia.

You will not want to miss how Evalle deals with the aftermath of her kidnapping and how Storm deals with her.  This is a fun story that highlights the evolution of Storm and Evalle’s relationship and provides us with Storm’s family background.  It will be interesting to see if Storm’s family is pulled into future conflicts with the Beladors.

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Dakota Cassidy, The Smoking Nun (Nun of Your Business Mysteries Book 4)

Title:  The Smoking Nun (Nun of Your Business Mysteries Book 4)
Author:  Dakota Cassidy 

Rating:  Five Siren Stones 

Genre:  Cozy Mystery 

Keywords:  Ex-Nun, Nuns, Demons, Deacons, Priest, Demonic Owl, Demonic Dog, Cops, Ex-Cop

Page Count:  203                

ISBN E-Book:  Amazon Digital Services LLC

Price:  $4.99 

Publisher:  Self-Published

Buy-Link:   https://www.amazon.com/Smoking-Your-Business-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B07Q6JMZR9/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dakota+cassidy&qid=1556222139&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug  

Blurb/Summary:

Sister Trixie Lavender, reporting for Miss Marple duty! It’s been months since the evil residing inside me has reared his violently helpful head, and things are pretty peachy. My demon sidekick Coop continues to assimilate with the unsuspecting humans, our tattoo shop is busier than ever, we’re more and more involved in our little community of Cobbler Cove…heck, I’d even begun to attend the occasional Sunday sermon (after safely confirming my body wouldn’t burst into flames upon entering Our Lady of Perpetual Grace, of course). Yep, life is pretty good for me and mine. 

Until the shocking murder of our new friend, Sister Ophelia, during a church-sponsored speed-dating event. Talk about flirting with death—literally. I can’t fathom who’d want to kill a sweet little ol’ nun, but as I’ve learned by now, life in small-town Oregon isn’t always what it seems. When a second corpse is found, the stakes are even higher as Coop and I, along with our good friend Higgs, race to unmask a killer.

But when my demon breaks free yet again, the killer’s not the only one in danger of being exposed… 

Review:

If you are looking for non-stop action in a cozy mystery with a story that is wrapped up by the end of the book, then The Smoking Nun is the book for you.  There is an underlying plot that runs through all the books, but you get a full story each time with the Nun of Your Business series.

The characters are endearing and grow on you with each story.  Cobbler Cove wouldn’t be the same without Trixie, Coop, and the gang.  The gang is yet again thrown into the middle of a murder case, but this one hits close to home for Trixie and has emotional ties.

Be prepared, once you start reading this story you will not want to put it down.  Plot twists and secrets will have you riveted until the end.  As a reader, this was a very satisfying story and complimentary to helping the series move forward.