Little Bee

The Grim Reaper’s Lawyer

Posted on February 5, 2023 by Little Bee

by Mea Monique

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

The Grim Reaper’s Lawyer was the book of the month read for The Spicy Book Club. This review may contain spoilers, but also not really. It focuses on Joyce, who is a defense attorney, which she hates. She is falling out of love with her career, and decides to say fuck it all the way off, and quits. She finishes up her last case, which she lost, and her client promptly killed her. She was collected by a Grim Reaper named Aiden and taken to Eden. Aiden is being charged with violating 3 rules from the Reapers’ Code of Conduct, which she rejects doing and spends several days in “hell”, which is really only a few minutes.

This story follows their love/hate, grumpy/sunshine, story. Aiden is kind of a jerk, but also a total daddy…I mean baddie. I mean baddie. When he finally says “to hell with it” (quite literally) and allows them to purse the steam that has been building, it is hot. The story is a slow burn up until they decide to pursue a sexual relationship with each other. The agreement provided to Joyce is, she wins Aiden’s case, she goes to Heaven, instead of Hell (which she was slated for).

Joyce meets a variety of characters that become great friends. Each character brings out a fun side of Joyce that really makes you fall in love with her. The book is hilarious from start to finish. It does end on a cliffhanger and I have no idea when book 2 comes out as this book did not release until December 2022. The book is easy to figure out and ends how you want it to, but the journey was still fun!!

I tell you what, the book had an opening quote that I am STILL thinking about and had to share— “For those who feel that you must water yourself down for others- Let them choke.” Man, what words to live by!! I needed this when I was younger.

Overall, I would say the spice level is around a 3.5-4. I felt it took a bit too long to get to anything sexy, but when it did, it was quite a bit. Those two were like rabbits…but I guess it is the year of the rabbit isn’t it LOL. They could not keep their paws off of each other and Aiden is a total Dom. So we ship and approve.

Having said all of this, it was enjoyable. I laughed so much during the story. It was a very light read and I am looking forward to more in this series and from this author!

Romance

Death’s Captive

Posted on February 1, 2023January 31, 2023 by Little Bee

By G.K. DeRosa

3 out of 5 stars

I read this book because I realized I committed to an ARC of book 2 when I hadn’t read the first one yet. This story is about Atropos and Thanatos, and a curse put on them by Hecate and Luna to be star crossed lovers for all eternity. They are currently living as Astra and Thane. Astra is a human female while this time around Thanatos has appeared as Thane, the son of the alpha demon wolf. Just so happens, Thane sees Astra, and she is his fated mate. This is book 1 in an unfinished series. Book 2, Death’s Fate, is about to be released.

I was very confused through most of this book. Most of it was because I was not familiar with these two particular Greek myths. I know of the Three Fates, but I did not make the connection for quite a while. I felt the story was too muddled and very repetitive. The bulk of the story was the same scene over and over again until the end, which ends on a cliff hanger. I was not a fan of this story at all. I had to force myself through it so I could read my ARC.

I will mention this in my review for book 2 as well, but, maybe it is my ADHD, but I notice repetitions in words and I hone in on it like a hawk. So, I am quite honestly over the following descriptive words: azure orbs/eyes, lupine, and coalescence. Literally do not want to see them anymore. Surely there are other words…. we get it, he is a wolf and has wolfish features when he is a wolf. Again, it could be my ADHD that I noticed it way too many times.

So why did I give it 3 stars instead of lower? No, not because I was given a free ARC. I fully recognize that maybe I did not like this particular writing style, or something just didn’t connect with me. I really like Azar and the stories she has produced. I kind of got a late start with this realm, but the writing style of this book was very different from the introduction to G.K. DeRosa that I got. Reading other people’s reviews, it looks like, while it is not fully necessary, I should have read another series first to learn more about these two. There are snippets of memories throughout the story from their past times together.

There is a lot of sexual tension in the book with no explosion, and it was kind of a let down. I have read some spicier bits from her, so it was kind of a let down. It feels like DeRosa is just kind of dipping her toes in but not really ready to jump in. The one scene we had was very short and Astra tucked tail and RAN. So, that is where we are left.

Romance

Death’s Fate

Posted on January 31, 2023 by Little Bee

By G.K. DeRosa

4 out of 5 stars

I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I was not paid for my review.

Death’s Fate is book 2 following, Death’s Captive. This book picks up at the cliff hanger. I will say, this book was much easier to read, and went much faster. At first it felt like it was going to be much of the same, but I liked seeing Astra and Thane come together in their own way and in their own time. All odds are against them. Fate truly is a cruel mistress. In Death’s Fate the two are on the search for Luna and Hecate to break the curse so that Thane and Astra can truly be allowed to love and be together. You learn more about their relationship from each new regeneration, and it appears in this one, it is the furthest they have gotten to the truth. Without giving spoilers, it appears a “fail safe” if you will is put into place in order to ensure it is the last go around for these two.

This book had more spicier scenes, but they are mostly almost fade to black. You get some snippets and then they are waking up. At least this time, they eventually allow themselves to love each other. I liked that the story came along better. We even get to see one of my favorite bachelors from the Kindle Vella series “Hitched Live” that is now it’s own book called Sweet Revenge (I really liked reading this one), so this made me very happy. I will forever be #TeamSlade all the way.

Once again, we see the same damn descriptive words CONSTANTLY- azure orbs, lupine, and coalescence. I mean it felt like every page. It becomes all I can focus on. I will continue on with this series. After getting past the first book, I enjoyed book 2 much better and felt like I was starting to finally connect with the different characters. Once they start putting the pieces of their history together, it takes off for me. In this story, it really does feel like they are going to make it….or are they? Get your copy of Death’s Fate on February 1st! As a warning, book 2 absolutely also ends on a cliffhanger, so be prepared for that! Per Amazon, it looks like the third book may release April 25, 2023.

Romance

Shattered Vow

Posted on January 29, 2023 by Little Bee

By Eva Chase

5 out of 5 stars

Shattered Vow is the first book in the Shadowblood Souls series by Eva Chase. This book follows a group of captives who are forced to train together, caged, and not allowed to live a “normal” life. The story follows a female character (Riva) and five males. After a tragic incident, they get separated. Four years later, Riva makes her way back her men, but do they accept her back?

This is the first in a series, with book 3 coming out in February 2023. While it is a romance read, it is not spicy. It is very slow burn and the only sexy scene occurs much later towards the end of the book. I am not usually a bully romance reader. I tend to stay away from them as much as possible, because I am just not a fan. I will say, I did still enjoy this book. I had hoped for something a little more grander than the incident that kind of set everyone straight again. I thought Jacob’s treatment of Riva for majority of the book was too much and felt forced. Even with this, I still enjoyed the book. I really liked Riva’s character. She was very strong and put up with a lot of shit from these guys without ever faltering. The one sex scene that occurs was okay, I wouldn’t say it was the spiciest I have ever read, but was written well. I wish there was a little more information on the “marking” that happened, but maybe it comes in a later book, since at that point in the story, the characters still did not know what they truly were.

The characters are all part human and part monster. They are trained very hard to highlight and strengthen their gifts. They eventually break out of captivity and set across country to try and find the former head of the program to get answers. All they all want is answers and to be free. Along the way, each person has their own growth development. The story is told from multiple POVs, however, the main POV is usually Riva.

This book does end on a cliffhanger, and boy is it a doozie. The book starts out when they are about 16 years old when they are separated and picks up around 20 years old. During that time, each character had new “powers” show through that were further developed. Riva keeps hers pretty close to her chest as she does not know much about it or how to control it, so when she finally does show it off…..it is very intense. I could not help but smile and laugh all the way through the scene. I really wish I could have seen those guys’ faces afterwards. I am looking forward to reading book 2 to see how they felt about it!

Spicy Romance

Viridios

Posted on January 29, 2023January 29, 2023 by Little Bee

by L.A. Holloway

4 out of 5 Stars

This book is the first in a series. It is not a complete series at this time. It is set in the future after Earth has become overcrowded. Colonies of people are moving to new planets along with scientists to study the life forms. In this story, the main female character, Alaya, loves studying the ecosystem of the planet she is currently inhabiting. Alaya is not quite like the other humans who live there. They are very closed off and more extremist in their thoughts and approved customs. One day, Alaya is studying spores, when suddenly the ground rose up around her and a giant tree being sprouted. He captures her and tries to keep her as his pet. He does not understand why, but he has a strong desire to keep her and protect her. The story continues following through their growing bond and learning to communicate. I wont give any spoilers away 🙂

The story itself is quite unique. As someone who enjoys alien romance, this one was new to me. The trope is one you see a lot, insta love/fated mates, but I like how it was delivered. There was one sexy scene when he was still in tree form, which definitely was interesting! Steam wise, there is not a lot of spicy scenes, but the romance was still nice.

I gave the story 4 stars overall because of its uniqueness. It was also well written. It is not a terribly long read and can be read in one sitting. I hope more books come out in the series, because the ending set it up for more. If you are a fan of alien romance and want one that does not have much conflict, this is a good read to pick up. Sometimes having a nice palate cleanser between heavy reads is good, and this definitely helped! 🙂

Spicy Romance

Rhage: A Monster Rockstar Romance

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Little Bee

By R.K. Pierce

4 Stars

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is about a demon band that tours around playing music. Our FMC loves the band and is determined to meet the lead singer Sebastian Alex. Fate works out for her and she scores tickets to the concert in her town and a backstage pass to meet him. When he sees her, it was instalove though he didn’t quite process it to be that, he just knows he wants to feed off of her essence.

This book is the first in a series that will circle around each of the band mates. I am looking forward to reading the rest!

I did think the book took a little too long getting to the point where they meet and there wasn’t much left of the book for their actual relationship, so the last part of the book felt a little rushed. I felt there were still some unanswered questions by the end. The author did add an extra chapter and an epilogue, which I did enjoy as well, but still felt like some information was missing. As far as spice level goes, it was spicy with the few scenes that were given. And let’s just say, if you know you know, but I need one. LOL. I do think it could have had more spice had they been able to meet sooner. I also feel like when she sold her soul, it got a little short changed and could have been a little more grand because she sold her soul.

Other than those few things, I really did enjoy this book. I still have some unanswered questions, but I want to read more. I thought the trope was unique, but maybe it’s unique to me, because I have not read a lot of monster rockstar romances. I will say there may be a possible trigger warning, but overall that scene ends well.

Spicy Romance

Club Monstrum

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Little Bee

By Rene Hunt

5 Stars

Club Monstrum is a short book that packs a punch. If you are looking for a book that has all the heat of a Carolina Reaper, then pick up this book. Club Monstrum is a Sex Club where someone can go and explore a variety of Monsters. Star does not want the run of the mill, usual monster, such as a werewolf, vampire, or fae….oh no…she wants ALL OF THE BADDIES. This book has some small amount of plot…Star ends up creating a reverse harem with the men she indulges on at the Club, but other than that, is it page after page of sexy sex. It is 69 pages of nothing but sex, I don’t even think the story went more than one page without some kind of sexy scene in it. Star is a pretty cool leading lady. She is the only human who takes into account the needs and desires of the monsters too, treating them like people, at least in these particular monsters’ experiences. No human man has ever been able to sexually satisfy Star, so these Monsters make it their personal mission to have her exploding below them.

If you need something quick and easy, this is one of those reads. The author makes it known at the beginning you don’t read this book for the plot line, you read it for the sex. If graphic sex is not your thing, this book should be a pass 🙂

Book Reviews

The Memory Stones

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Little Bee

The Memory Stones by Lewis Pennington

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first review in a year and a half! It has been a struggle to really read or get into anything with all that has happened in the world these last two years, but if there was a book to bring me back from it all, it just had to be this one!

The Memory Stones is a fantastic blend of historical fiction and fantasy. It follows Mase Winslow through an adventure of scandal, finding himself, love, and being the change he wanted to see in the world. Mase was the son of a local plantation owner in South Carolina. His best friend was named Spoons, a slave on the plantation. Now, I know what you are thinking. Today’s times are not the time to write a book involving slaves, and that was my fear reading the book, I wont lie….how would this be handled. I will give you this little spoiler, during Mase’s time in the “current” “present-day” time he spent in New York and South Carolina, he learns that the plantation he grew up on, was actually one of the stops on the underground railroad and that his father had very progressive beliefs compared to everyone else during the Civil War era time he lived in. Mase uses this knowledge, and the things he learns about the future, to take back with him when he makes it back in time to his own era.

I will let you be the judge of the content of the story, but it is a highly recommended read. I am anxiously awaiting the second book, because boy did that ending get me! The book is wonderfully written, with care being put into each character, each scene, and each chapter. Each character was well developed and had their own personal growth through the story that you got to enjoy along with them. I will tell you this though, normally, if an animal dies, I automatically knock a book back an entire star, because my poor animal loving heart just cannot take it. And while I was upset, when I really looked at the scene where a horse does die, there really isn’t any other way for that scene to have played out but for the horse to have died. So this is why, I left that star intact. I would never want such a heroic creature to suffer, and there was no way to write it back to health and life and keep the integrity of the story.

I really hope you decide to pick this book up and read it. It captures your attention from the very beginning, I am just sad that life got in the way and it took me so long to finish. I would think about it constantly because wherever I left off each time, was always in the most exciting of places. I can’t wait for the opportunity to continue reading Mase’s story.

Book Reviews

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris

Posted on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 by Little Bee

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan
Rating: 5 stars

Every since I had my son, I have been in a book rut. I cannot seem to get into anything, or focus enough to read. My book club recently listed The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris as one of the April reads. I am so happy that I picked it up.

I have had this book occupying space on my shelf for the last several years. In fact, this book has recently been re-covered! The cover shown though, is my book. (Old right?!). This book has a lot of humor in it, and is exactly what I needed in this world we are living in today.

Anna Trent had a horrible accident at a run of the mill chocolate factory and ends up in a little chocolate shop in Paris through her former French Teacher knowing the owner. You will have to read the book to find out the inbetweens! Anyways, The French Teacher, Claire, is very ill and re-meets Anna while she is also in the hospital. The story goes back and forth between Anna’s new life in Paris, and Claire’s life in Paris when she met the chocolate shop owner, Thierry. Anna has some unique experiences, but watching her new life unfold, you find yourself really rooting for her to succeed!

This book had my LOL-ing, my heart swell, my heart break…I cried, I got angry, but it came full circle and even though my heart broke, I was really satisfied. I cannot wait to read other books by Colgan, and my book club has added several to our reading list!!

The writing style is easy and fluid. It does not feel like the author is trying to confuse the reader with extra pretty language. It feels as if your best friend is telling you a story of something that happened to them.

10/10 Recommend!

YA Book Reviews

Slay Me

Posted on March 24, 2019March 24, 2019 by Little Bee

Author: Louise Cypress

Narrators: Reba Buhr, Alexander Cendese

Length: 8 hours 48 minutes

Series: The Puritan Coven Series, Book 3

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Release date: Feb. 19, 2019

Genre: Paranormal Romance; Young Adult

He’s a vampire bad boy. She’s a slayer’s daughter who’s never been kissed.

Kyle Logan has been a 16-year-old bad boy for three years, ever since he became a vampire. After a stint at the rehab center run by the Brothers of Temperance, Kyle has finally kicked his blood addiction. Now, he’s back in high school with one goal in mind: stay clean so he can grow up and become an animal-rights activist.

Cassandra Xander wants two things in 10th grade: a car and the chance to attend a traditional high school. She loved being homeschooled growing up, especially since her family moved every six months for Helsing Incorporated, but now that her mother is founding a slayer training academy in La Jolla, California, Cassandra is excited by the opportunity to attend La Jolla Cove High.

When Kyle witnesses Cassandra give a verbal reckoning to a dog owner who leaves her beagle locked in a sweltering car, Kyle makes his move. He loves that Cassandra is smart, intense, and willing to break rules. But Cassandra has zero experience dating and isn’t sure a relationship with a hot-tempered vampire is a good place to start – especially when she discovers Kyle’s secret ability.

Kyle works hard to master his emotions and make all of Cassandra’s high school dreams come true. Just when their romance brightens both of their lives, Kyle’s past draws him back into darkness. The only way forward for these high school sweethearts is to slay or pay.

Louise Cypress believes in friendship, true love, and the everlasting power of books. She has never met a vampire or a mermaid, but she has been to a Love Sucks concert on Valentine’s Day. She can often be found curled up with a romance novel on Saturday night, diet soda in hand, secretly wishing bustles were back in fashion. Louise is from San Diego, California, where the beach is crowded and summer is immortal.

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram

Narrator Bio

Reba Buhr grew up in the Pacific Northwest and now lives in Los Angeles, working in theater, film, and television. She has degrees from Occidental College in theater and classical voice. Reba began recording audiobooks in 2012 and has turned her love for performance into a passion for narrating characters that jump off the page. Reba is an accomplished voice actor and has lent her voice to many commercials, video games, and animated projects, including Popples and Knights of Sidonia for Netflix, Toonami’s Hunter x Hunter, and Zagtoon’s Zak Storm.

Website⎮Twitter

Narrator Bio

Alexander Cendese is a New York–based actor/narrator whose credits include roles on and Off-Broadway, in films, and on popular television shows, including Law & Order: SVU and All My Children. He holds a BFA from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.

Twitter

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Louise Cypress. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

I really enjoyed this installment. Cypress keeps you hooked into the story from the very beginning. Once again, the narrators did a phenomenal job bringing this story to life. I really appreciate how Cendese voiced Lex, I could not stop laughing at the “orange faced” vamp whenever he spoke. I wont give away any spoilers or synopsis since one has already been provided.

I was happy to get Cassandra’s POV. I liked how her and Kyle were perfect together and how they made each other grow. It was great to see Cassandra’s character grow, especially after her childishness of Bite Me and Hunt Me. At first, it was a little much, but, the accuracy of a homeschooler attending high school for the first time was astonishing. I had a friend that was homeschooled and sometimes the naivety was overwhelming, but it was because certain experiences were lacked and they could only base concepts from tv shows. Which Cassandra also does in her expectations of what her first day of high school would be like.

I think, of the three books in this series, Slay Me is my favorite. I have really enjoyed listening to this series, and I hope you do to!

Top 10 List

Top Ten Reasons to be an Audiobook Listener

Voice actors make scenes come to life in new ways.
You love hearing accents spoken aloud.
Audiobooks are cheaper than Broadway tickets.
Road-trips are always more fun with a good book to listen to.
Audiobooks make great workout buddies.
Washing the dishes in silence is boring.
That basket of laundry won’t fold itself.
You’ve run out of space on your bookshelf for more hardbacks.
You love bossing Alexa around. “Alexa, read my book to me!”
Up to one in five people have a language-based learning challenge like dyslexia and ear-reading is just as valid as eye-reading.

Guest Post

The Inspiration Behind SLAY ME’s Hilarious Taxidermy-Battle Scene

By Louise Cypress

Did you ever go to summer camp? I’m a lifelong Girl Scout, and when I was in college, I worked at Camp Joe Sherman in Southern California as the nature director. This meant that I was in charge of Camp Sherman’s nature museum and extensive taxidermy collection.

“Eeeww! Gross!” you might be thinking. “Those poor, defenseless creatures!”

Yup. I 100% agree with you.

Girl Scouts aren’t normally known for taxidermy—I’d like to make that clear, but Camp Sherman was an exception. The original property was owned by a guy named Joe Sherman who traveled the world hunting animals, some of which are now endangered. Meanwhile, his wife would collect rocks. All of the animals are stuffed and displayed in the living room of their old house, and the rocks are built into the fireplace.

I understand why the Girl Scouts kept the taxidermy collection on display. They weren’t the ones who killed the animals, and the animals were already dead. But still…. [shudder.]

When you spend an impressionable summer in your 20s as curator to a taxidermy collection, it does weird things to your psyche. That’s why when I wrote SLAY. ME I made Kyle, my vampire bad-boy, a vegan. I’m not vegan myself, but I definitely oppose animal cruelty.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the end of SLAY ME features an epic taxidermy battle that had me laughing so hard that I could hardly write it. All of those summers at Girl Scout camp got processed into fiction. I took the icky and I made it funny.

I’ll just add it to the list of all the ways Girl Scouts has made a difference in life.

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