A Veritable Orgy Of Reading!

Review Of Scrap Metal by Harper Fox 5*
BLURB: Is there room for love in a heart full of secrets?
One year ago, before Fate took a wrecking ball to his life, Nichol was happily working on his doctorate in linguistics. Now he’s hip deep in sheep, mud and collies. His late brother and mother had been well suited to life on Seacliff Farm. Nichol? Not so much.
As lambing season progresses in the teeth of an icy north wind, the last straw is the intruder Nichol catches in the barn. He says his name is Cam, and he’s on the run from a Glasgow gang. Something about the young man’s tired resignation touches Nichol deeply, and instead of giving him the business end of a shotgun, he offers Cam a blanket and a place to stay.
Somehow, Cam quickly charms his way through Nichol’s defenses and into his heart. Even his grandfather takes to the cheeky city boy, whose hard work and good head for figures help set the farm back on its feet.
As the cold Scottish springtime melts into summer, Nichol finds himself falling in love. When tragedy strikes, Cam’s resolutely held secret is finally revealed and Nichol must face the truth. He’s given his heart away, and it’s time to pay the price.
My Review: I loved this story. It was full of emotion and reality. The plight of trying to survive in a harsh physical and economical environment came through in every word. Yet the love that grows between the two main characters softened the harshness just right. The author had some great lines and a plethora of Gaelic in the book and it was well worth reading just for those.

Review Of Darkling Mine by Andra Sashner 3*
BLURB: Set to solve the mystery of a recent string of highway robberies, Bjorn is startled when he hears the details of the crimes—as though the very darkness comes to life to attack the nobles trapped within their carriages. It is a description he knows very well indeed, a description that puts the robber far closer to home than he dares let anyone realize...
My Review: A free story that had good world building and an interesting plot. Could have done with a lot more story. Hope the author writes more from this couple.

Review Of Konnor and His Omega Mate (Love Slave of the Alphas #3) by Shannon West 4*
BLURB: Ethan is having a really bad day. First he’s required by Lycan law to appear before a judging panel consisting of big, important alphas who intimidate him and make him so nervous he’s afraid he won’t be able to perform at all. He’s desperate to prove himself a worthy gamma, so he can get an apprenticeship, and start his new life. When he walks into the room he finds Konnor Balenscu, a handsome, important Lycan alpha, who also happens to be his mate. Ethan is incredibly drawn to him and is amazed to learn that Konnor returns his interest. There’s only one hitch—Konnor finds him to be a lowly omega, deemed mentally defective by the proud Lycans, and doomed to live his life as a love slave, sold to the highest bidder. He only has one option left. He has to run.
My Review: I haven't read any of the previous ones in this series but it didn't make too much difference as each story is about a different couple and the world building is pretty good so I knew what the background was. I enjoyed the misunderstandings and mishaps the two main characters encounter on their way to a happy ending and if I ever want another short, enjoyable read I will look for others from this series.

Review Of Fate Drops In by K.C. Grim 3*
BLURB: Werewolves and vampires have always been sworn enemies. They have fought battles and raged wars to keep their kinds apart for centuries, but that all changes one night when a young wolf named Connor accidently drops into a room full of unexpected vampires.
A young wolf living on his own in the city would be easy prey for a group of angry vampires. They are older and stronger than the werewolf, but Connor isn’t ready to give up without a fight. Can he face them alone, or will he find an ally in the most unusual place?
Davis has lived hundreds of years in the shadow of darkness, but what good is eternity if you spend it alone? With nothing left to live for, the older vampire is losing his desire for life when Connor comes crashing into his world. Is the handsome, scrappy werewolf worth saving if it costs Davis his immortal soul? Or will saving this young wolf end up saving them both?
My Review: This was another short read but it was rather well written and gave a fair amount of background for so few words.The romance between Connor and Davis felt a bit rushed but was sweet despite that and the meeting the family bit was rather amusing. Overall I think I will be on the look out for more by this author.

Review Of Break Out (Hidden Talents, #5)by Claire Cray 5*
BLURB: The Talents have made it to Los Angeles, but it's more Wild West than California Dreams. Ken starts to struggle with his Talent, but his growing pains are forgotten during a balmy night on the town that leaves Jin with a bad taste in his mouth. Meanwhile, Sky's come a long way with Mark's support, and Aki feels better, too. But will it last when a certain troubled Talent makes a dramatic comeback?
My Review:Jin, Ken and Sky return in this fifth episode of Hidden Talents and I enjoyed every word. My only complaint was the long wait for it to be available to read and the shortness of the story overall.

Review Of Squad 19 - Prequel Volume 1 (The Tisaian Chronicles)by Nicholas Sansbury Smith 4*
BLURB: Squad 19 is a thrilling post-apocalyptic short story and prequel #1 to the novel - The Biomass Revolution.
Welcome to Tisaia – The last hub of modern civilization in a world left scorched by the nuclear fires of the Biomass Wars. Surrounded by a fortress of steel walls and protected by a fierce and loyal Council of Royal Knights, Tisaia seems relatively safe to the average State worker and citizen. A plentiful supply of Biomass powers the cities and food is abundant, but security has come at a terrible cost. The State will do anything to protect its resources, even if it means suppressing the rights of its citizens and deporting immigrants into the Wasteland - a virtual death sentence.
Sasa is one of the young immigrants left for dead outside the safety of the Tisaian steel walls. It is only by a dash of luck the rebels find her. They bring her back to Camp Salvation where she is put to work as a technician, working to purify the camps water in the rain gardens. But more than anything she wishes to fight.
Obi Hepe is the commander of infamous rebel group known as Squad 19. After meeting Sasa he is faced with a tough decision; teach her to fight and risk seeing her killed like so many others, or risk having her run away. With the Royal Knights hunting his squad deeper into The Wastelands, Obi realizes he may not have a choice. He is going to need every gun he can get in a final battle for Camp Salvation.
My Review: Very short and full of action. A nice introduction to the world of The Biomass Revolution. It tells the story from the viewpoint of the Squad's leader and is mostly his introspective thoughts whilst on a dangerous run back to the camp. If you haven't read any of the series it won't matter at all as the relevant information is given.

Plus a bunch of reads that only warranted 1* for various reasons like no proper story or felt like I'd been dumped into the story halfway through with no explanations. Also some of them were badly written too.

Incubus Master: Captured 1 (Incubus Master: Captured #1)by Yamila Abraham, Barbara Apostolico (this was the one that felt like I was dumped halfway into the story!)(Illustrator)

The Vengeance of the Forsaken Soldier by Alexander Wilder (Just not for me nothing wrong with it per se)

Broken In: The Railroad Boi #1 by Alec Taylor (This had no proper story for me)

and two that were so badly written I can't even remember the titles now!