Tag Archives: Grace Draven

Review Phoenix Unbound

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I found Grace Draven’s books the way I find many of my favorite reads; a friend recommended her book Ediolon. Which, if you haven’t read you need to, but I digress. I follow Grace on Facebook and have been eagerly awaiting this release. To say it was worth the wait is an understatement. Rich world building, strong character ARCs, and an enthralling storyline that kept me transfixed for a long flight. This story examines the bonds of family, loyalty, honor, and love. The romance element is intense but not overwhelming, and the fantasy cultures are believable and rich. Both characters share a history of abuse imposed on them by a vicious empire and family betrayal. The growth of both characters as the story progresses is believable, heart wrenching and well written. One of my pet peeves when reading stories where characters have suffered abuse is the magic penis/vagina scenario wherein the person who has been abused is suddenly okay with sex because they met the right person.  This story handles the sexual tension between the characters with respect and sensitivity. Her approach to the main characters’ attraction to each other and their conflicting feelings as they struggle with their sense of family and kinship, demands of family loyalty, and the political threats to their lives was believable and captivating.

  As a long time reader of fantasy and fantasy romance what I like best about Grace’s books is her ability to deliver both a terrific fantasy story and a great romance in one package. She also writes fight scenes that are some of the best I’ve ever read, and the revenge fight scene in Phoneix Unbound is high up on my list of greatest fight scenes ever.  I am a person who re-reads fight scenes the way some folks re-read sex scenes, and the showdown fight scene in Phoenix Unbound is earmarked for future re-reads. For those of you wondering, Ms. Draven delivers hot sex scenes too. This novel is perfect from the first to the last page, don’t wait, go pre-order your copy of Phoneix Unbound. Be warned, know that you are going to want to read the rest of Grace’s catalog after you do.

Grace Draven is a Louisiana native living in Texas with her husband, kids, and a big, doofus dog. She has loved storytelling since forever and is a fan of the fictional bad boy. She is the winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice for Best Fantasy Romance of 2014 and 2016, and a USA Today Bestselling author.

 

 

Brenda Murphy writes short fiction and novels. She loves tattoos and sideshows and yes, those are her monkeys.  When she is not loitering at her local tea shop and writing, she wrangles two kids, one dog, and an unrepentant parrot.  She reviews books, blogs about life as a writer with ADHD and publishes photographs on her blog Writing While Distracted.    You can find her on Facebook by clicking here.

If Twitter is your thing follow me @BMurphySideshow

Website: www.brendalmurphy.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Writing-While-Distracted

Books available at

Amazon

NineStar Press

Knotted Legacy

Both Ends of the Whip

ONE  

Sum of the Whole 

 

Women’s Voices: Review Amid the Winter Snow*

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Four of my favorite fantasy authors in one volume? Four stories that are rich, well written, and glorious in their world-building? Four stories that are my idea of what a winter holiday anthology should be no matter what you celebrate? Bring it. All of it, and give it to me. That is exactly what Grace Draven, Thea Harrison, Elizabeth Hunter, and Jeffe Kennedy have done. Confession: I don’t usually read holiday anthologies. I do not like sticky sweet stories, holiday inspired or not. I like tension, drama, action, and a well wrought HEA or HFN. And that is what Amid the Winter Snow delivers. The anthology is full of strong plots, aching desire, fantastic worlds, and love. Each story had me turning pages and staying up later than I should to finish it. I have not read as much of Thea Harrison and Elizabeth Hunter’s work but am going to remedy that after this book. As for Grace Draven and Jeffe Kennedy, I am knee deep in their fantasy realms and this book reminds me why I started reading them in the first place.

Grace Draven’s story, In the Darkest Midnight, with it’s nod to the Wraith Kings made me ugly cry. Not unusual for Grace’s stories, but be forewarned, she will squeeze your heart hard and then gently release it.

Thea Harrison’s story, The Chosen, had me one clicking her books. I like a bit of intrigue with my fantasy romance and this fit the bill. Steamy and fun, a good read right before bed.

Elizabeth Hunter’s story, The Storm, is a parable of sorts, the characters are well-developed and their story is entertaining, hopeful, and very relatable.

And finally Jeffe Kennedy’s story, The Snows of Windroven, is a tale set in the Twelve Kingdoms universe, featuring Ash and the Queen Amelia. No one writes a slow burn like Jeffe, and it is worth every page you turn to get there. This story stands on its own, so even if you have not read the other books in the Twelve Kingdom and Uncharted Realms series you will enjoy it. Be warned, you may find yourself one-clicking the rest of the series. And you should. Really.

If you are looking for a palate cleansing read this anthology is the perfect antidote to overly sweet holiday tales. It drops on December 12th but you can avoid the rush and pre-order. Links below.

TITLE: AMID THE WINTER SNOW

AUTHORS: Grace Draven, Thea Harrison, Elizabeth Hunter, Jeffe Kennedy

PUB DATE: 2017

As the snows fall and hearths burn, four stories of Midwinter beginnings prove that love can fight its way through the chillest night…

THE DARKEST MIDNIGHT, by Grace Draven The mark Jahna Ulfrida was born with has made her a target of the cruel and idle all her life. During the long, crowded festivities of Deyalda, there’s nowhere to escape. Until a handsome stranger promises to teach her to save herself…

THE CHOSEN, by Thea Harrison In her visions, Lily sees two men fighting for her tiny country’s allegiance: the wolf and the tiger, each deadly, each cunning. One will bring Ys chaos and death, one a gentler path—but she’s destined to love whichever she chooses. The midwinter Masque is upon them, and the wolf is at her door…

THE STORM, by Elizabeth Hunter When her soul mate died in a massacre of the half-angelic Irin people, Renata thought she’d never feel happiness again. She’s retreated to the snowy Dolomites to remember her hurts—until determined, irrepressible Maxim arrives to insist on joy, too. And before she can throw him out, they discover a secret the Irin have to know…

THE SNOWS OF WINDROVEN, by Jeffe Kennedy As a blizzard threatens their mountain keep, the new Queen Amelia of the Twelve Kingdoms and her unofficial consort Ash face their own storm. Ash knows a scarred, jumpy ex-convict isn’t the companion his queen needs. But when a surprise attack confines them together in their isolated sanctuary, the feast of midwinter might tempt even Ash into childlike hope…

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*ARC Review

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