Pages

Showing posts with label Juliette Cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Juliette Cross. Show all posts

Friday, 11 September 2015

{Review} Nightbloom (Nightwing #3) by Juliette Cross

20640268Posted by Melanie

Release Date: September 1st, 2015
Finished Date: August 25th, 2015
Publishers: Lyrical Press
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Source: For Review
Format: eARC
Pages: Unknown
Buy: Amazon UK Amazon US

The love between a human and a Morgon, the dragon-hybrid race, tempts fate once more…

All her life, Ella Barrow has allowed others to make her decisions. Forced to stifle her artistic talents and stay in a loveless relationship with Clayton Kerrington, the man her mother believes to be her perfect match, Ella’s life may be safe—but it’s not her own. Paxon Nightwing, on the other hand, is anything but the safe choice.

A charming and alluring Morgon, Paxon sees Ella for the woman she truly is. His bold confidence and protective nature ignites a passion she’s never felt before. But a dark family tragedy forces their secrecy—until Clayton makes it impossible to hide their clandestine affair. Will Ella be strong enough to fight for herself at last? Or will she succumb once more and risk losing the only man she’s ever loved?

The Review: I adore this series! It’s as simple as that and unfortunately this is the last one.

Paxon has met Ella before -considering she is close friends with his cousins’ mates- but for some reason never really noticed her until he enters the NightWing office she is working in where she is currently on her hands and knees looking for something; needless to say – he’s intrigued. It’s not until she attends the Vaengar games that he sees her again but unfortunately she is in the company of her boyfriend Clayton. When Clayton wagers one of her kisses to the victor of a fight, Paxon is more than happy to step in… only not for the reason you would think. Ella is enchanted by Paxon, she has never felt this way about anyone but she also belongs to a family that are prejudice against the Morgon race and she knows that they would never accept him. Should she live her life by society’s expectations or should she follow her heart and grab the only man to make her feel alive?

We have previously met Paxon & Ella in the two earlier books and both made an impression; Paxon always had an air of confidence about him that gave of a playboy vibe, Ella however, gave the impression of innocence and the only way she got any excitement was through her two best friends….but that is about to change because Ella is about to have an awakening herself. Now, I’m not one for love triangles but this was an exception to my rule because her boyfriend was the ultimate douche & so not worthy of her time so I was all about a change in that relationship status. I loved Ella and Paxon together, they smouldered, they had chemistry & Paxon was everything you could wish for in a paranormal love interest, he opens up Ella like a beautiful flower bud, making her blossom through his want, desire and love.

The storyline was great, I liked how the boyfriend featured heavily in the story because he was one of those people you can’t help but hate and we all know how despicable thwarted lovers can be. With books like this, you expect the Morgons to be the instigators of any fights/unrest but we are shown time and time again that humans are the real animals. The romance is a major part of the plot which is always fab, but then we also have Ella’s family and their prejudices, we are also  shown how society deals with those too…. Their relationship will be challenged but it’s others who must change their views. The story has a couple of twists to keep us on our toes, especially when blackmail is involved – so prepare yourself for some slimey characters that will need to be put in their place.
I’m quite sad that this will be the final book in this novella series because it was fabulous, I have greatly enjoyed them and not one book has disappointed – don’t believe me? Try them for yourselves! 

Thank you to Lyrical Press for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, 4 June 2015

{Review} Waking the Dragon (Vale of Stars #1) by Juliette Cross

23197122Posted by Melanie
Release Date: June 9th, 2015
Finished Date: May 25th, 2015
Publishers: Lyrical Press
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: For Review
Format: eARC
Pages: 288
Buy: Amazon UK Amazon US

The Gladium Province is on the verge of civil unrest as humans and Morgons, the dragon-hybrid race, clash once more. But amid disorder can also arise passion.

When the bodies of three human women are discovered in Morgon territory—with the DNA of several Morgon men on the victims—it’s just a matter of time before civil unrest hits the Province. But for ambitious reporter Moira Cade, it’s more than just a story, and it may mean risking her own life.

Descending into the dark underworld of Morgon society, Moira is paired with Kol Moonring, Captain of the Morgon Guard, for her protection. Fiercely independent, Moira bristles at his dominance, and defies his will at every turn. Yet resistance proves futile when passion flares between them, awakening powerful emotions within both, body and soul. But as the killings continue, can their fiery newfound bond survive an even greater evil—one that threatens all of humanity, Morgonkind, and Moira’s very soul?... 

The Review: Waking the Dragon is the first book in the ‘Vale of Stars’ series by Juliette Cross and I thought it was fab!
The author is new to me and I wish I had known that there was a series that this tied into before I started it, not because it spoiled my enjoyment of this book but simply so I could read them, which I plan to do soon. I enjoyed the world that we are thrust into- Men and women with wings, capable of flying, known as Morgons and very dragonlike but they don’t shift, they are a human version of a dragon. They are living in a world alongside humans and with all species like this….. there is unrest on both sides. Gladium Province is a more forward thinking area where humans and Morgons live in peace, forming businesses, allegiances and relationships but not everyone is happy about this. Human women have begun to turn up dead, drained of blood and posed, everything points to Morgons especially when it keeps happening in their territory and that’s how we meet our leading lady Moira Cade. Moira is a journalist and getting this story could land her the job she has always wanted and because of her brother in law, she has an in….. but, in order for her to be allowed to investigate, she must agree to protection from the Morgon Guard. Of course she agrees but that is until she meets and spends a bit of time with the Captain – Kol Moonring. Used to doing things however she pleases, she is less than happy to have a domineering, protective, stoic Morgon following her around and stopping her from getting the job done – not to mention that he makes her feel all kinds of things she really doesn’t need to be feeling around him. Passion will ignite between them, forging a deep bond and making a dragon crazy with soulfire but when another more dominant force decides that Moira is just what he’s looking for….. where will that leave Kol? What will Kol do to save Moira? And just how will Moira crack the case when she is picked to be the next victim?
I loved this book – it has romance, murder, intrigue, dragons, feuds, fights, action, sexytime…. I could go on but if you like all of those in a story then you will love this! Oh, did I mention the HOT dragons??? Well there are plenty of those too. Moira was a great character, quite independent, career driven, relationship phobe, all wrapped up in a bunch of wit and sassiness – just the way I like them. I admired her drive and determination, she wasn’t afraid to utilise the people she knew to get what she needed or where she needed to be and it shows just how well thought of she is when the help is given straight away and she also wasn’t afraid to take risks. Now Kol, if ever there was a perfect partner for Moira it wold be him – they challenge each other at every turn, disagree about lots of things, she has to learn to be flexible, he has to learn that she is her own person and they just clash in a good way. I like these kinds of relationships, they frustrate each other, deny what they have and bam! when it hits them – the sparks fly. There’s no denying their chemistry and that lead to some rather steamy sexytime.
 The story was incredibly easy to get into and understand. As I mentioned – there are murders happening and Moira will investigate with the help of Kol – but that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are discoveries to be made because we need motive, then we need the enemy(ies) and to understand what’s happening…. We need a whole lot of information on dragons and their history so that the story can unravel. We get to travel to new places, sometimes forbidden, sometimes scary but always meeting new characters and broadening the world that much more. Both Moira and Kol have personal hurdles to overcome so that they can progress with each other and that’s without all of the fighting and action the story brings. I was hooked from start to finish, I really couldn’t put it down and the romance really got to me here – to the poit where I actually felt it in my gut & heart which is really rare these days. I definitely look forward to more and I’ll also be checking out the authors other books very soon.
 
Design by Imagination Designs
Graphics by Octopus Artis