ViragosReadingOdyssey

Steamy Monster Romance Novella

Revisado: 10-08-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Frost Mate - Demons of Frosteria
By Elle Beaumont
Candace Robinson
Narrated by Eva Caine

I received a digital copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

So I basically went into this book knowing nothing about it other than conclusions that can be drawn from the cover. I’m so glad I checked it out though. I finished the audiobook today. I was about 70% through when I had to stop and look up if a secondary character would be starring in the next book, and they are. I love continuation stories where there is an HEA, no cliffhanger but the world and the characters continue on and you see them again through a different focus in the next book. This is an introductory novella. So not super long, not a super meaty story but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The authors did a great job of setting up the premise and world building. We get a chunk of backstory that will pay off in the next book. We learn about the culture of a mythical creature, their motivations and priorities. I have to say I love a hero with horns. There’s just something about it 🤷‍♀️ and I loved where this story went with building on existing folklore and expanding out into a wider mythos. A lot of people disparage romance but that takes a lot of talent to produce a thought provoking plot and top tier steam. The narrator did a fantastic job with this book. The right narrator can really elevate the overall experience of an audiobook. Kudos to Eva Caine for making me feel like I was right there in the snow. 5/5

The next book releases 10/26/22 so check this one out now to get ready.

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Great post apocalyptic Shifter reverse harem with zombies!

Revisado: 12-28-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Shadows & Wolves: A Werewolf Romance Complete Collection
Written by Mila Young
Narrated by Krys Janae

I received an audible code for this amazing box set in exchange for an honest review. Individually the books are:

Shadowlands Sector, One (A Shifter Paranormal Romance)
Shadowlands Sector, Two. And
Shadowlands Sector, Three: A Shifter Romance

The ebooks are available to read on kindle unlimited along with many other paranormal romance works by Mila Young but honestly go for the audiobook here because Krys Janaes narration is just perfection and at a total of just over 20 hours the complete set allows you to settle in for a nice long listen to hold your interest through weekly household chores or a long road trip or where ever you do your audiobook listening.

This is a post apocalyptic world with zombies and wolf shifters. We open on our heroine as a child to get important details from her back story that sets up her reactions/motivation.

The world building involves packs of wolf shifters who fortify their communities against the undead. The hierarchy involves the Alpha, Beta, Omega construct that will be familiar to shifter romance readers. Fated mates and knotting is involved with the overwhelming compulsion to solidify bonds between fated mates. However at no point is anything consummated against anyones will on page. However (trigger warning) there are references to rape or near rape. I read everything that does happen as consensual though. This is a high heat, high steam, open door, reverse harem with no cheating though the harem does develop organically, quickly and somewhat surprisingly to the players involved but no one’s bothered by the end result of sharing. If you prefer closed door this is definitely not a book for you.

Now for the actual plot -
We’re escaping/fighting zombies and rogue wolves. Our heroine is acclimating from solo to pack life. Our hero’s are dealing with betrayal from within the pack. And at one point some of the characters from Lost Wolf cross paths with these characters but having read or not read that book first should not impact your enjoyment or understanding.
Overall this is an epic adventure where our main characters struggle not only literally but philosophically to come to terms with who they are, who they have been and who they can be and that relying on one’s loved ones for help can make us all stronger.
5/5 Great Series!

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Great opening to the story

Revisado: 12-14-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warnings - parent death/parent abandonment, mixed parentage discrimination.

There is a lot going on in this book. This is an Omegaverse with Alphas, Betas and Omegas. These individuals are also wolf shifter packs, there are also witches and it has a post apocalyptic feel with a wild landscape infested with zombies. Our heroine is a half witch half wolf shifter who has never learned how to use her powers and has been taught to hide her witch half. She is rejected by her fated mate. She and her sisters become separated and in her efforts to reunite with them she makes a deal to team up with 4 Viking alpha wolf shifters who are huge and intimidating but secretly all a little broken inside. Something I always love seeing emotional vulnerability in a physically invincible man. There is an uncommon attraction between her and the 4 and adventure ensues as they go on a quest through a poisonous forrest to locate the storied coven of witches that reside within.

This story kept me captivated and guessing the whole time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It does end on a cliff hanger so I’m impatiently awaiting the next installment now. I really enjoyed the narration. Superb job. Good sound quality. 5/5

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Short Alien Romance

Revisado: 09-20-21

Claimed by the Alien: Alien Menage Romance (The Ragrim Conflict Book 1)
Written by Nessa Claugh
Narrated by Marissa Morreale

I was provided with a copy of this audiobook through audible by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first time I have read (or listened) to this author. While this is a familiar premise - alien bride program: male aliens + human women = off world arranged marriages. This particular book is a slightly different set up. First of all our heroine is already married to a human male, additionally she works for the bride program selecting brides.

There is no cheating and anything that occurs between her and the alien is consensual between the three of them. This makes for a rather unique dynamic. While there is the relationship interplay there is also solid world building regarding the post apocalyptic situation on earth and the newly established bride program on another planet. Her original purpose is to set up a center for the human brides to assist them in adapting to their new home world and allow them to connect with other humans in a bid to combat homesickness. This is presented in a really interesting way and to my mind would have supported the lengthening of the book which ends before they arrive at the new planet. The tasks necessary were interesting enough to support a continued story which is a little short at right under 2.5 hours of listening time. While it doesn’t feel unfinished or end on a cliffhanger I would have been interested to know what happens next. This is the first in a series so maybe we will find out more later on.

This is a very steamy open door alien romance. Triggers include cultural displacement, pollution/air quality, marital tension related to the wife being the primary bread winner due to husbands injury.

I enjoyed the narration. The sound quality was just a little tinny. Not distractingly so but could have been better. 4/5 stars

This book is also available in ebook form free through kindle unlimited and comes in at 100 pages for a fast read.

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An Honest Woman Montana Brides #2

Revisado: 09-05-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Written by Leslea Tash
Narrated by Eileen Smith

I was provided with an audiobook by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Montana Brides series by Leslea Tash and picks up right after the ending of the first book. The heroine of this book is the wild sister of the hero from the first book. The hero from this book is a neighbor and occasional contract employee of the hero from the first book.

Trigger warnings - racism towards indigenous peoples, rape - though not detailed.

This second book felt more dramatic and suspenseful than the first. There is a level of tense adventure throughout the story. Sometimes finding the place where we belong and the people we belong with is a difficult road - but it was worth it. This book was closer to a Christian romance than the first - along the lines of Colleen Coble in the vein of historical suspenseful dramatic clean romance with faith based undertones.

Sound quality and narration were solid. 4/5

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The Rancher Takes a Wife

Revisado: 08-28-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This audiobook was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

The historical stopping points are painted with a vivid brush and while the heroine is a tad naive… some people are. The cast of characters are colorful and entertaining. The early part of the book begins in the excess of the 1920s while Chastity is attending teaching college. Through a series of events following the stock market crash she ends up in the west for her first teaching position in a one room school house teaching both towns children and Native American children. Our rancher hero has an admirably progressive view on the treatment of others especially Native Americans and how he can serve the town for its future betterment.

I have read a wide gamut of romance books from Christian to closed door to open door. Generally there are parameters that are typically followed. For example in Christian romance the arc of developing faith in a character typically has a break through moment; those committing risky behavior are referred to as nothing more risqué than fallen women or referencing a child conceived outside of marriage/wedlock in dry clinical tones. This book is a little hard to categorize in that respect as there are references to “unnatural relationships” and the terms sl*t and wh*r* are used more than once.
And while morality is emphasized and church/Christianity is a background theme it did not feel like a central topic. While it does remain largely pg and really no consummation is even hinted at there are two occasions where there is fully clothed full body contact. I can see where these things might be a bit much for someone who only reads sweet clean Christian romance and I feel reviews stand an important roll to tell a potential reader whether this is a book that is to their taste or not. Often I feel 1 star reviews come from people who have read a book that is just not for them. I believe there is a book for everyone and a person for every book. On the flip side if you’re someone who only reads open door romance this may not be your cup of tea either. If you’re more flexible in your expectations it is worth a listen.

Audiobook length comes in at just under 6 hours. Good sound quality and narration. 4/5

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