To Bind the Court: an continuing fantasy adventure series as one woman embraces her destiny to rid the world of evil

To Bind the Court is the second book in the Empire of Ash and Song trilogy by D.E. Carlson. Iris is destined to destroy the hold on the world held by the Fire Empire. She searches for clues in the Fire City and her greatest hope becomes her worst nightmare. She finds herself pulled into the political games. The Fire Emperor puts her through trial after trial of fire and she is determined to beat his games. However, she knows when you play the games, you will pay a ransom. Games she may lose. Prince Besaun has lost everything. Cassandra, the woman he loves, betrayed him and he finds himself in a personal prison as he knows that his mother tortures her and backs him into a corner to make sure he cooperates in his mother’s plans. However, when an assignment, meant to control him, brings him face to face with the one person who brings up questions in his very soul. Will he risk everything to fight back against the empire? 

I recently read the first book of the trilogy after finding D.E. Carlson on social media. After finishing that book, I immediately turned around and ordered the last two books. To Bind the Court picks up immediately after the events of the first book and it doesn’t let the reader go. It is action packed that I eagerly turned pages to see if Iris would be able to resist the Fire Emperor’s temptations. Can she find allies in rooms filled with enemies? I closed the book with a breathless “Wow!” and grabbed the third book. I wrote down a few great quotes to post above my computer. One of these quotes is “It is always possible to resist…It is not always possible to resist and see victory, but that does not make the fight unworthy.” If you enjoy fantasy stories with lots of action and intrigue, I highly recommend the Empire of Ash and Song trilogy, start with To Bind Fire. You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend To Bind the Court. 

To Bind the Court is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Forever Only Once: a gritty, hard hitting romance

Forever Only Once by Carrie Ann Ryan is the first book in the Promise Me series. Hazel Noble lives her life by strict measures. She has survived horrors and found the strength to build the life she loves. However, when her group of friends make a pact to start looking for love, Hazel finds herself the first one up. Cross Brady has no need for love. All he wants to do is live his life as peacefully as possible. However, when an accidental meeting with Hazel causes his life to take a dramatic turn. Taking their new found relationship as slow as possible, Hazel and Cross cannot deny the spark between them, but someone is determined to keep them apart. Is it someone from Hazel’s past or is it someone a little closer to home? 

Forever Only Once is such a great story. There’s suspense, action, packed with friendly and flirty banter and a tad bit of spice. Hazel is a woman who is trying to live in peace, determined to leave her painful past behind her and yet, a threat still lingers in the back of her mind. Cross is the typical older, protective brother who looks out for those he feels needs the backup. I loved that Cross understood Hazel’s hesitations and followed her lead as to how fast or slow they take their relationship. I also loved their support system of friends and family. It is a gritty, hard hitting story with great characters and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I recommend Forever Only Once. 

Forever Only Once is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

North of Nowhere: two teens running for their lives in a snowstorm, who do they trust?

North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan is a cat-and-mouse suspense. Kristin and Ryan McIntyre have been in hiding for the last five years and the day they were dreading has arrived. Their murderous father, Boyd McIntyre, the head of a Los Angeles crime family, has found them! Along with a man who has kept them safe, they attempt to escape in a small plane, when gunfire hits the fuel line and they crash in the middle of the Montana wilderness with a storm moving in. Kristin and Ryan have been taught survival skills and they make their way to their safe house. Ruby McIntyre, Boyd’s sister and the children’s aunt, walked away from the family business to join the army. She vowed never to return; however when the call comes that her niece and nephew need her help, she doesn't hesitate to help them. Ruby soon discovers she and Boyd aren’t the only ones looking for Kristin and Ryan and whoever finds them first will determine if they live or die. 

I hadn’t heard of Allison Brennan or her books before; however, the synopsis intrigued me. From the opening paragraph, readers are promised an edge-of-your-seat suspense. And it delivered for the first two thirds of the story. The story started to falter a bit during the last third and there seemed a rush to finish as the action piled on for a spectacular finish. The ending was satisfying and overall, I enjoyed North of Nowhere. I cheered for Kristin as she fought to protect herself and her brother and was unsure who to trust. I enjoyed Ruby’s character as a hardened veteran who fears her family. Boyd was an interesting villain but the true villain is revealed near the end and he was terrifying. I may have gasped as he was revealed. As this book was my first by Ms Brennan, I am curious about her other books and will be checking out her backlist. If you enjoy suspense with a survival aspect, you will enjoy North of Nowhere. 

North of Nowhere will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on August 8, 2023