Duke With Benefits (Studies in Scandal 2) by Manda Collins

LADY + DUKE = TRUE LOVE?

Lady Daphne Forsyth is a brilliant mathematician with a burning passion for puzzles. When she learns that the library belonging to her benefactress houses the legendary Cameron Cipher―an encrypted message that, once solved, holds the key to great riches―Daphne is on the case. Unfortunately, her race to unlock the cipher’s code is continually thwarted by a deliciously handsome distraction she hadn’t counted on. . .and cannot resist.

Dalton Beauchamp, the Duke of Maitland, is curious as to why Daphne is spending so much time snooping around his aunt’s bookshelves. He’s even more intrigued by her bold yet calculating manner: She is unapologetic about her secret quest. . .and the fiery attraction that develops between them both. But how can they concentrate on solving a perplexing enigma once the prospect of true love enters the equation?

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This was the second book in the series and we were immediately thrown into what seemed like the end of the first book (which I haven't read) which caused me some confusion (i.e. was the gypsy the killer? was this a cheap gimmick to get us to buy book one?)

The whole idea of the series was based on the four girls having areas of special knowledge but I struggled to figure out how the other three were gifted (I think one was an art prodigy and another something to do with books/poetry?, fourth one haven't a clue). I know that this book is about Daphne (the math whiz), but the cast is featured as an ensemble and I would have like a little bit more detail about the secondary characters.

The ending was the biggest let down for me. This was advertised as a book about a smart young woman trying to solve a mystery with a secondary romantic story line. But by the end it was all about the romance. I mean they found the treasure and then it was literally never mentioned again! Considering where it was from/who had hidden it, I would have liked to know what was in the chest/how much/who was entitled to it/what they were going to do with it, etc, etc. Nothing else was said about the fates of the bad guys either, former government agent Ian Foster and former tutor Richard Sommersby, they just vanished off the face of the earth/page (lol). 

This book started out weird, got a lot better, then went downhill fast. It was almost like the author got sick of writing about the mystery angle and decided to just finish writing as if it had been a traditional Victorian(?) England romance book all along. 

Sovereign (Nemesis 2) by April Daniels

Only nine months after her debut as the fourth superhero to fight under the name Dreadnought, Danny Tozer is already a scarred veteran. Protecting a city the size of New Port is a team-sized job and she's doing it alone. Between her newfound celebrity and her demanding cape duties, Dreadnought is stretched thin, and it's only going to get worse. 

When she crosses a newly discovered supervillain, Dreadnought comes under attack from all quarters. From her troubled family life to her disintegrating friendship with Calamity, there's no trick too dirty and no lever too cruel for this villain to use against her. 

She might be hard to kill, but there's more than one way to destroy a hero. Before the war is over, Dreadnought will be forced to confront parts of herself she never wanted to acknowledge. 

And behind it all, an old enemy waits in the wings to unleash a plot that will scar the world forever.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

While I had some issues with the first book, i.e. minor plot points ruining the overall story, in this case it was the reverse. Only some minor plot points were enjoyable and the rest...... well the rest was just unnecessary.

Something about the whole thing just annoyed me and I can't tell if it was the writing style, the characters and their attitudes, the way that the trans story line was treated like a gimmick or how 85% of the book was unnecessary and could have easily been included in the first book much better. (Nemesis reveal, Graywytch being dealt with, romantic story line)

I guess I really feel like this book was an unnecessary way to  drag out book one to earn more money, rather than trying to write another good story.

Triad Soul (Triad Blood 2) by Nathan Burgoine

The law of three is everything: three vampires for a coterie, three demons for a pack, and three wizards for a coven. Those alone or in pairs are vulnerable to the rest. Luc, Anders, and Curtis—vampire, demon, and wizard—sidestepped tradition by binding themselves together. 

When something starts brutally killing demons in Ottawa, the three find themselves once again moving among the powers who rule the city from the shadows—this time working with them to try to stop the killings before chaos and blood rule the streets.

Hunting a killer who seems to leave no trace behind, the triad are forced to work with allies they don’t dare trust, powers they barely understand, and for the good of those they already know to be corrupt.

They have the power of blood, soul, and magic. But they have to survive to keep it.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This book left me feeling confused and overwhelmed, though I think it was more due to the constant influx of information and changing scenes, characters, magic rules, etc than anything because everything seemed generally well explained.

I really wanted more romance between the MC's or at least an idea of what the relationship was, and it seems like I wasn't the only one, with Curtis (wizard) bringing it up himself at the end of the book. I hope that book 3 spends a lot more time addressing this, and the house! It was such a big thing at the end of book 1, that they were going to build the perfect house for the three of them, with it being spelled for protection every step of the way, and then in this book I think there was one throw away line about nothing being done because they were all too busy. That's life, especially in a book, shit's gonna happen, build the damn house!

As for the actual mystery/killer, I will say that they got away with that one. I really didn't have any idea until the reveal at the end even though there was clues when you looked back. The death of the bad guy was slightly anti-climatic but also really clever and fitting in a way. 

I'll keep my eye out for the third book, but I think the author needs to decide whether or not this is a m/m/m paranormal romance, or urban fantasy. Stop insinuating and teasing us with romance and sex if your not going to give us any/tiny scraps. 

As I Am (All Saints 3) by A.M. Arthur

Will Madden is healing.

Thanks to therapy and a growing support system, he's taking baby steps into a promising future. One of those steps leads him to an online chat room, where he quickly bonds with fellow PTSD sufferer Taz Zachary.

Despite their virtual connection, Taz is initially freaked out at the idea of meeting Will face-to-face. A sexual relationship may be the last thing on his mind, but his craving for human interaction—and more of the way Will makes him laugh—gives him the courage he needs to take the next step.

In person, the chemistry between them is undeniable. But Will is hurt when Taz doesn't seem to be in any rush to get him into bed. Still, acceptance, love and happiness all seem within reach for the first time in forever—until demons from the past threaten the future they both finally believe they deserve.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This is book 3 of the All Saints trilogy but is book 9 of the over-arching story line (including the Belonging trilogy and the Restoration trilogy). There are lots of references to characters and plots from the previous eight books, and while you don't need to read them to enjoy this book, it does give you a sense of an extra layer of involvement when you know the secondary characters backstories. 

The book itself was good but not great. I have been looking forward to Will's story for a while and I have to admit I felt a little bit let down. It just didn't feel like the main characters had the deeper connection that A.M. Arthur has shown in previous books.