DEACON (GIDEON'S RIDERS #2)

Ana has trained most of her life to achieve one goal: to prove that anything men can do, she can do better. Now she’s Sector One’s first female Rider, and being the best is the only way to ensure she won’t be its last. Distractions aren’t allowed--especially not her painful attraction to the reserved but demanding leader whose stern, grumpy demeanor has already gotten into her head.

Deacon has spent the last twenty years trying to atone for his past, but the blood he spilled as a mercenary and assassin will never wash away entirely. If his Riders knew the extent of his sins, he’d lose their trust and respect. It’s easier to keep them all at arm’s length, especially Ana. But his newest recruit’s stubbornness is starting to crack his defenses.

And their sparring matches are driving him wild.

The passion sparking between them can’t be denied, but neither can the vengeance barreling toward Deacon. When his old squad comes back to punish him for his betrayal, Ana and the Riders are squarely in the line of fire. The only way to save his people may be to make the ultimate sacrifice.

But first, he has to convince Ana not to follow him straight into hell.

Release Date: August 29, 2017

Kit Rocha

Gideon's Rider's #2

Dystopian Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Deacon is the second book in the Gideon's Riders series from Kit Rocha. The Gideon's Riders books take place in Sector One following the war with Eden and the sectors and the atmosphere is very different from the Sector Four books. The Riders are the protectors of Sector One, and especially Gideon's family.

I found myself pulled into Deacon every bit as much as I was into the first book, Ashwin. I loved learning more about Deacon's past as I read, and found myself slowly falling for Deacon the more I read. While this book is totally Deacon's story, it is equally Ana's story. Honestly, Ana might be one of my most favorite heroines in any of the Kit Rocha books....after Lex of course. Ana is a total badass who was basically groomed by her father to join the Riders. She is also so freaking smart and can see problems from many sides to help figure out solutions.

Nothing about their relationship comes easy though. Deacon is the leader of the Riders and Ana is the very first female Rider and feels as if her every action is under scrutiny from everyone in the sector. Deacon's past becomes a huge issue as his past comes back to haunt him and he has to share the real reason he came to Sector One all those years ago. It almost broke my heart to see Deacon pull back from the Riders to give the others in the group a chance to decide how each felt.

I loved watching Deacon and Ana find their way to be together. It was so fun to watch them battle their attraction until neither could fight it any longer. OMG they were so freaking sexy together! There was also a sweetness about them that I really didn't expect, but absolutely loved.

Deacon was a wonderful addition to the Gideon's Riders series. We learned so much more about each of the Riders, which I loved, while also learning more about what is going on in the various sectors now. I have to say I loved getting a visit from some of my favorite characters from the Beyond series in Deacon. I loved the new information we discovered in Deacon has totally set up the next book if not more books in this series and can't wait to see where the authors take us. I highly recommend this book and series of books to anyone who enjoys dystopian books filled with super sexy romance.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (A-)

Links

§  Amazon Global Link: http://viewbook.at/Deacon

§  Apple: http://krocha.link/deacon-apple

§  Barnes & Noble: http://krocha.link/deacon-bn

§  Kobo: http://krocha.link/deacon-kobo

§  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30529717-deacon

§  Kit’s Website: http://www.kitrocha.com

§  Kit’s Twitter: http://twitter.com/kitrocha

§  Kit’s FB: http://facebook.com/thebrokencircle

LONEN'S WAR (SORCEROUS MOONS #1)

An Unquiet Heart


Alone in her tower, Princess Oria has spent too long studying her people’s barbarian enemies, the Destrye—and neglected the search for calm that will control her magic and release her to society. Her restlessness makes meditation hopeless and her fragility renders human companionship unbearable. Oria is near giving up. Then the Destrye attack, and her people’s lives depend on her handling of their prince…



A Fight Without Hope

When the cornered Destrye decided to strike back, Lonen never thought he’d live through the battle, let alone demand justice as a conqueror. And yet he must keep up his guard against the sorceress who speaks for the city. Oria’s people are devious, her claims of ignorance absurd. The frank honesty her eyes promise could be just one more layer of deception.



A Savage Bargain

Fighting for time and trust, Oria and Lonen have one final sacrifice to choose… before an even greater threat consumes them all. 

Release Date: July 19, 2016

Brightlynx Publishing

Fantasy 

Sorcerous Moons #1

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

I'm a pretty big fan of Jeffe Kennedy, though I admit I generally read her contemporary romances and this is my first time reading one of her fantasy books.  First of all, it won't be my last and I'm so glad there is a backlist of books for me to tackle. Loren's War was a really great start to the Sorcerous Moons series.

Loren's War has much world building and I loved the pacing Jeffe Kennedy does with her world building. I've found when reading fantasy series, sometimes there is too much information thrown at the reader all at once, yet felt the pacing was perfect with Loren's War.

I absolutely adored Princess Oria from the moment we met her. I knew she was way stronger than anyone had ever given her credit for being and I loved that she proved to be even stronger than I had originally anticipated. I did love that she had her familiar Chuffta with her to help with her concentration and her magic and her mother, Queen Rhianna always in her corner, even when Oria's own brother and the priestesses of the land try to stand in her way.

Loren and the army of the Destrye had little choice in attacking Bara after suffering years of attacks from them. While the battle was bloody and devastating on both sides, the connection between Loren and Oria is obvious from the moment they first see each other. I loved that they each felt a bit of inherent trust when making treaties with each other. The fact that Oria's brother Yar is working behind her back to break the treaty, really didn't surprise me. Honestly, I wasn't really a big fan of her brothers Nat and Yar, and their actions never really surprised me. I did love how Oria proposed fixing the treaty between Destrye an Bara with Loren, though I need more information as to some of her stipulations.

Loren's War pulled me into Jeffe Kennedy's new world and has me wanting the other books in the series immediately. Luckily, there isn't too long a wait for the next book in the series, as Oria's Gambit is set for release in August.

Rating 4 Stars (B)

Buy links available

http://www.jeffekennedy.com/lonens-war/

BITTER BITE (ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN BOOK 14)

Which is stronger: blood ties or a battle-tested friendship?

It’s not easy being queen bee of an underworld abuzz with crooks and killers. Wielding my potent Ice and Stone elemental magic will only get me so far—my real secret is my tight-knit makeshift family, a motley crew of cops and criminals, dwarves and playboys. My foster brother Finnegan Lane is my right-hand man, but when his suddenly not-dead relative comes back into the picture, I’m the one on the outside looking in. 

It’s funny how life works: one minute your best friend is rock-steady, and the next he’s doe-eyed and buying into this whole loving-relative routine to the point of ignoring you. I’d like to be happy for Finn, I really would. But all of my instincts are telling me that beneath the syrupy sweet demeanor and old-fashioned charm, this sudden interloper is planning something. The whole shtick leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. This person might have avoided the grave once, but I’ll put anyone who hurts Finn in the ground—for good.

Release Date: February 23, 2016

Pocket Books

Elemental Assassin #14

Review copy provided by publisher

With each book in the Elemental Assassin series I think there is no way I'll like this book more than the last book, and I'm wrong every single time. I absolutely adore each book in the series and feel the books get stronger with each addition to the Elemental Assassin series.

Gin Blanco remains one of my favorite characters in the Urban Fantasy genre. She is such a strong character partially due to everything she has gone through in her past and partially because she must always be the one to step up and protect her friends and family. When her foster brother Finnegan Lane's long dead mother reappears, I knew it wouldn't be pretty for Gin for long. I didn't trust Deidre any more than Gin did and just knew she was using Finn for something bad. I hated that Finn, who had known Gin pretty much their entire lives decided to trust Deidre and blow off Gin's concerns about her. I did love that Ms. Estep addressed the elephant in the room, since Gin had just gone through a similar situation with Owen right up front. I will say with all my love for Finn, I still wanted to "Gibbs smack" him across the back of the head multiple times while reading Bitter Bite.

I always know in my heart of hearts that everything will work out for Gin and her family and friends, but have to say Ms. Estep kept me on the edge of my seat a little longer than I really wanted. I have to say I really kind of loved to hate Deidre as a villain, and couldn't wait to see her get hers. Bitter Bite was a can't put this book down until I finish reading the story for me. Seriously I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish reading it because I had to see where Ms. Estep was taking the story next.