pages_and_procrastination's Reviews (1.6k)

Thornbound

Stephanie Burgis

4.75

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Brimstone Bound

Helen Harper

4.75

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

To Hell and Back

Traci Lovelot

4.0

mysterious tense fast-paced

I was given a copy of this title, free. All opinions are my own.

Wow! What a sequel! This was full of so much more of just about everything. More sexy times, bonding, danger, trouble with the DHA and surprises, I'm going to pause here to say that if you have not read the first one, don't go any further. Go back and read the first one, it ends on a cliffhanger and this continues that story. It is so worth it.

The next mission that Demetri has for Mel and her vampire coven is equally as dangerous as running to California would be. But at least in California they would be safe, He tasks them with going into the Infernal Realm, find what is keeping the gates open and kill it if possible, bring back information if they can't. Mel outright refuses - an untested charm and a shady DHA isn't worth the risk on something that seems like a guaranteed suicide mission. Then while sitting on the wall she sees her mother's ghost and discovers that she 's being tortured. Her mother's ghost informs her that she can close the gates by killing the anchors.

**Tangent: It is at this point that Hudson shows how big of an ass he is by trying to emotionally manipulate Mel into going into the Infernal Realm

But, you can make sure others don't suffer the same fate. Go with me, Mel, and I know Jax and Nico will follow.

First it was the emotional blackmail asking if Mel wanted to atone for all of the vampires that she murdered. Then it was attempting to use her to get her other covenmates to go. I am not sure if there was another way to get them to go, but this? I just lost a lot of respect for Hudson. Instead of taking a step back to consider why all 3 of them were hesitant about going, he just pushed for his way-by any means necessary. End Tangent**

Each member is finding finding their way in the new coven, but Nico is still trying to keep himself apart from it all. Slowly he does start to up, giving pieces of his secret but holding on to the fear that he is just too dangerous for those he has come to love. Despite this, the coven bonds are strengthening. They are aware that he's holding back, but decide to wait him out. With the news the Mel's mother's spirit is being tortured inside the infernal realm, they decided to go, but they don't make it far before they are attacked, separated and their supplies run out. When they exit, they find that not only had they traveled further than they expected, much more time has passed. Everyone believed them to be dead. And instead of having months for their public coven joining they have days. Plus they have to crash the ceremony since the DHA has begun rounding up all of the vampires and has stripped Mel o her rank. But, that's not the biggest surprise. Again, this ends on a cliffhanger. the first one ended on a less climatic part of the story. This one ends at a very pivotal moment, so many things are going on. There is a little bit of convenient storytelling that happens, it is noticeable but not distracting. And while the coven is in a good place with each other, I am con

What the Cat Dragged In

Kate McMurray

DID NOT FINISH

I am sure that this is a cute romance, but .... they were sleeping together and thinking about forever the first time that they met each other. It went from 'let's have a one night stand' at the beginning of the chapter to 'I want you forever' by the end of the chapter.