REVIEW: VORTENA by Neven Iliev

Title: Vortena
Author: Neven Iliev
Series: Everybody Loves Large Chests
Genres: Fantasy, Adult
Publisher: Creative Spaces
Release: October 21st, 2018
Source: ebook
Pages: 444

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BLURB:
What happens when one takes a murderous psychopath and forces them to team up with a cowardly tinkerer? Though not a question that Jeremiah ever expected to ponder, he is nevertheless looking forward to seeing what the aforementioned duo will cook up. Success or failure does not matter to Richard, only that the journey be entertaining.

Things are far less jovial for the one under Tom's 'care,' however. Stuck in the monster-infested wilderness, lacking the usual backup, hunted by the Empire's top brass and tasked with an incredibly vague and obtuse Quest, Boxxy will face a world of uncertainty and adversity. However, this is nothing new. Pain, suffering and loss are things that have been commonplace since day one, and Boxxy is not only entirely undaunted, but also eager to share those valuable lessons with its new 'companion.' With things both shiny and tasty on the line, the crafty killer has every intention of showing that lich who's boss.

Assuming Boxxy manages to find it, of course.

CONTENT WARNING: Profanity, gore, violence, explicit adult content

 

REVIEW: MORNINGWOOD: EVERYBODY LOVES LARGE CHESTS by Neven Iliev

Title: Morningwood: Everybody Loves Large Chests
Author: Neven Iliev
Series: Morningwood Vol.1
Genres: Humor, Adult Fiction
Publisher: Kindle Edition
Release: 2017 October 27th
Source: eBook
Pages: 252

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BLURB:
Large chests are said to encompass all manner of hopes and dreams. Men covet them. Women envy them. But one fact holds true - everyone wants to get their hands on some big ones.

The same holds true for one intrepid adventurer - a strapping young lad by the name of Himmel. Armed with his grandfather’s trusty longsword and the dream of being the strongest, he sets out on the journey of a lifetime! It is sure to be a long and dangerous road, fraught with danger! And it all starts with a simple test - reach Level 5 in the dungeon called the ‘newbie zone’ and earn the right to become a full-fledged adventurer!

However, such things get hopelessly derailed when his adolescent mind beholds an exposed chest for the first time. A fateful meeting that would inevitably lead his life in a direction he never even dreamed of!

Content warning: Profanity, Gore, Sexual Themes

REVIEW: VICIOUS by V. E. Schwab

Title: Vicious
Author: V. E. Schwab
Series: Villains #1
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction
Publisher: Titan Books
Release: January 10th, 2014
Source: Kindle Edition
Pages: 366

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BLURB: Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

REVIEW: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen

Title: Water for Elephants

Author: Sara Gruen
Series: -
Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Source: Paperback
Pages: 335


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BLURB:

Orphaned, penniless, Jacob Jankowski jumps a freight train in the dark, and in that instant, transforms his future.By morning, he's landed a job with the Flying Squadron of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. By nightfall, he's in love.In an America made colourless by prohibition and the Depression, the circus is a refuge of sequins and sensuality. But behind the glamour lies a darker world, where both animals and men are dispensable. Where falling in love is the most dangerous act of all... 

REVIEW: KINGS RISING by C. S. Pacat

Title: Kings Rising
Author: C. S. Pacat
Series: Captive Prince #3
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Free Online Fiction
Source: Ebook
Pages: 368

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SYNOPSIS: The epic conclusion to the internationally acclaimed Captive Prince trilogy.

Damianos of Akielos has returned.

His identity now revealed, Damen must face his master Prince Laurent as Damianos of Akielos, the man Laurent has sworn to kill.

On the brink of a momentous battle, the future of both their countries hangs in the balance. In the south, Kastor’s forces are massing. In the north, the Regent’s armies are mobilising for war. Damen’s only hope of reclaiming his throne is to fight together with Laurent against their usurpers.

Forced into an uneasy alliance the two princes journey deep into Akielos, where they face their most dangerous opposition yet. But even if the fragile trust they have built survives the revelation of Damen’s identity – can it stand against the Regent’s final, deadly play for the throne?

REVIEW: ANGELS & DEMONS by Dan Brown

Title: Angels & Demons

Author: Dan Brown
Series: Robert Langdon #1
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Detective
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: Hardcover
Pages: 713


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BLURB:
When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol—seared into the chest of a murdered physicist—he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati ... the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth. The Illuminati has now surfaced to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy—the Catholic Church.

Langdon’s worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces they have hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.

Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair ... a clandestine location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.

REVIEW: PRINCE'S GAMBIT by C. S. Pacat

Title: Prince's Gambit
Author: C. S. Pacat
Series: Captive Prince #2
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Free Online Fiction
Source: Ebook
Pages: 216

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SYNOPSIS: The second novel in the critically acclaimed trilogy from global phenomenon C. S. Pacat—with an all-new chapter exclusive to the print edition.

With their countries on the brink of war, Damen and his new master, Prince Laurent, must exchange the intrigues of the palace for the sweeping might of the battlefield as they travel to the border to avert a lethal plot.

Forced to hide his identity, Damen finds himself increasingly drawn to the dangerous, charismatic Laurent. But as the fledgling trust between the two men deepens, the truth of secrets from both their pasts is poised to deal them the crowning death blow…

Includes a bonus chapter!

REVIEW: CAPTIVE PRINCE by C. S. Pacat

Title: Captive Prince
Author: C. S. Pacat
Series: Captive Prince #1
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Free Online Fiction
Source: Ebook
Pages: 240

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SYNOPSIS: From global phenomenon C. S. Pacat comes the first in her critically acclaimed trilogy—with a bonus story.

Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos. But when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity, and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.

Beautiful, manipulative, and deadly, his new master, Prince Laurent, epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country.

For Damen, there is just one rule: never, ever reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reason to hate him than anyone else…

Includes an exclusive extra story!

REVIEW: AND AGAIN by Jessica Chiarella

Title: And Again
Author: Jessica Chiarella
Series: -
Genres: Science Fiction, Adult
Publisher: Touchstone
Source: Audiobook
Pages: 320

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BLURB: In the spirit of Station Eleven and The Age of Miracles, this exciting literary debut novel imagines the consequences when four ordinary individuals are granted a chance to continue their lives in genetically perfect versions of their former bodies.

Would you live your life differently if you were given a second chance? Hannah, David, Connie, and Linda—four terminally ill patients—have been selected for the SUBlife pilot program, which will grant them brand-new, genetically perfect bodies that are exact copies of their former selves—without a single imperfection. Blemishes, scars, freckles, and wrinkles have all disappeared, their fingerprints are different, their vision is impeccable, and most importantly, their illnesses have been cured.

But the fresh start they’ve been given is anything but perfect. Without their old bodies, their new physical identities have been lost. Hannah, an artistic prodigy, has to relearn how to hold a brush; David, a Congressman, grapples with his old habits; Connie, an actress whose stunning looks are restored after a protracted illness, tries to navigate an industry obsessed with physical beauty; and Linda, who spent eight years paralyzed after a car accident, now struggles to reconnect with a family that seems to have built a new life without her. As each tries to re-enter their previous lives and relationships they are faced with the question: how much of your identity rests not just in your mind, but in your heart, your body?

REVIEW: AMOUR AMOUR by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Title: Amour Amour
Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Series: -
Genres: Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: K. B. Ritchie
Source: Kindle Edition
Pages: 396

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SYNOPSIS: Love is a circus

"Every day,” he says lowly, “I hold a person’s life in my hands. The circus is based one-hundred percent off trust. I give it all to someone, and they give it all to me.”

The best aerial technique won’t land 21-year-old Thora James her dream role in Amour—a sexy new acrobatic show on the Vegas strip. Thora knows she’s out of her element the second she meets Amour’s leading performer. Confident, charming and devilishly captivating, 26-year-old Nikolai Kotova lives up to his nickname as the “God of Russia.”

When Thora unknowingly walks into the crosshairs of Nikolai’s after-show, her audition process begins way too soon. Unprofessional. That’s what Nik calls their “non-existent” relationship. It’s not like Thora can avoid him. For one, they may be partners in the future--acrobatic partners, that is. But getting closer to Nik means diving deeper into sin city and into his dizzying world.

Thora wants to perform with him, but when someone like Nikolai attracts the spotlight wherever he goes—Thora fears that she’s destined to be just background to his spellbinding show.

This sexy and exhilarating New Adult Romance can best be described as Cirque du Soleil meets the steamy, athletic romance of Center Stage.

*standalone & no love triangles—recommended for readers 18+ for mature content*

REVIEW: B.S.INCORPORATED by Jennifer Rock and Michael Voss

Title: B.S.Incorporated

Author: Jennifer Rock and Michael Voss
Series: -
Genres: Fiction, Adult fiction, contemporary, comedy
Publisher: Wise Inc Creative Publishing

Source: Paperback
Pages: 342


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BLURB:
Business Solutions, Inc. is falling apart at the seams. While employees kill time stalking free snacks and filming porn in the HQ stairwells, the company’s co-CEOs bring in shadowy corporate consultants to shake up their business in ways even they don’t understand.

As the communications manager tasked with translating C-suite doublespeak, Will Evans is constantly torn between his blue-collar warehouse past and his white-collar future. When he is put in charge of rolling out a dubious strategy the consultants brand Optelligence, Will is thrust deep into a muddle of absurdity and responsibility he never expected.

Enter Anna Reed, corporate mercenary with heels as high as her ambition. To her, BSI is just a steppingstone to a better job at a smarter company. Demoted to Will’s team on her first day, she’s ready to steamroll anyone to get her career back on track.

When BSI is pushed to the brink of bankruptcy, Will hatches a covert plan that just might save them all. But he needs Anna’s cunning and courage to pull it off. Can Anna, the consummate job jumper, find a reason to go all-in on BSI? Or is she better off bailing and letting the company go down in flames?

REVIEW: PAPER BOATS by Erndell Scott

Title: Paper Boats

Author: Erndell Scott
Series: -
Genres: Adult, Historical Fiction,
Publisher: Erich Scott Group
Source: Paperback
Pages: 441


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BLURB:
Set in the desperate turmoil of Germany during the final chapter of World War II, “Paper Boats” by Erndell Scott is an emotionally intense, theatrical, suspense-driven read, examining the inevitable crossing of ideology, prejudice and faith amongst the chaos of a decimated post-war culture. As each character strives to find their own safety from enemies and persecution, two nine-year-old boys, Otto, of Jewish faith, and Joseph, a fanatical Hitler Youth, the most unlikely of partners, find themselves saviors for one another. Companions cast in deep personal conflict that is entangled with deceit and betrayal, they are swept into an unforgiving journey and become bound to each other, challenging their individual perceptions of mankind, and unbeknownst to them, their very own hearts. As their journey unfolds, Otto’s hope wanes, Joseph’s hatred swells, and without warning, the steady menace of war unleashes an evil, the likes of which they have never witnessed before.

REVIEW: ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes

Title: Me Before You

Author: Jojo Moyes
Series: Me Before You #1
Genres: Romance, Realistic Fiction, Adult novel
Publisher:  Pamela Dorman Books/Viking
Source: Hardcover
Pages: 369


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BLURB:
Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick. What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of color. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

REVIEW: RARITY FROM THE HOLLOW by Robert Eggleton

Title: Rarity from the Hollow
Author: Robert Eggleton
Series: -
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction
Publisher: Dog Horn Publishing
Source: Kindle Edition
Pages: 335

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SYNOPSIS: 'Lacy Dawn's father relives the Gulf War, her mother has lost her teeth, and her best friend is killed by her own father. Life in The Hollow in West Virginia isn't great. But Lacy Dawn has one advantage—she's been befrended by a semi-organic semi-robot (DotCom, alias Buddy) who works with her to 'cure' her parents. Buddy wants something in exchange, though. It's up to Lacy Dawn to save the universe.' —Books for a Buck

'Imagine Wizard of Oz and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy smashed together and taking place in a hollow in the hills of West Virginia.' —Adicus Ryan Garton, Editor, AtomJack

'quirky, profane, disturbing.' —Missouri Review