Review ~ Twisted Love by Ana Huang

Twisted Love by Ana Huang
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was hoping to love this one, as I like the darker reads, however this one was a bit too twisted and I didn’t enjoy it like I hoped. Ava’s suppressed memories slowly came back, and she remembered things from her past. Alex had spent a lot of time around Ava and her family and had a connection with them all. I liked Alex and Ava together, but her dad was a piece of work and that really annoyed me.

I ended up skimming through a bit of the book because that element was just terrible. Her dad was an ass and I couldn't believe what he did. Alex was great for Ava and I'm glad that he came back into her life. This book wasn't for me and I honestly am surprised that I made it to the end.

Title: Twisted Love

Author: Ana Huang

Series: Twisted #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: April 21, 2021

He has a heart of ice...but for her, he'd burn the world.

Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and cursed with a past he can’t escape.
Driven by a tragedy that has haunted him for most of his life, his ruthless pursuits for success and vengeance leave little room for matters of the heart.
But when he’s forced to look after his best friend’s sister, he starts to feel something in his chest:
A crack.
A melt.
A fire that could end his world as he knew it.

***

Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember.
But despite her broken past, she’s never stopped seeing the beauty in the world…including the heart beneath the icy exterior of a man she shouldn’t want.
Her brother’s best friend.
Her neighbor.
Her savior and her downfall.
Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen—but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both…and everything they hold dear.

Twisted Love is a brother’s best friend/opposites attract romance with a hint of suspense. It's book one in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

WARNING: This book contains a possessive, morally gray alphahole; explicit sexual content, and profanity. No cheating or menage, but if you're looking for a traditionally sweet, loveable hero, this is not the book for you. Recommended for 18+.

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Audiobook Review ~ Conspiracy of Magic series by Luanne G. Smith

The Raven Spell by Luanne G. Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up The Raven Spell after reading the blurb and seeing that it had free audible, I was excited to listen to it. It didn’t take long to be immersed into the world building and the characters that Luanne G. Smith created.

It was interesting getting to know Edwina and her sister Mary. They had unusual powers that they used in their everyday lives that they tried to keep hidden. They each had different powers, and it was interesting on what they could do.

When Ian came into their lives, Edwina wanted to help him, and it wasn’t long until they were on a journey to unravel what happened to him and how he lost his memories. It was an exciting journey, and I was carried away with them. The ending was upon me quickly and I continued into the next book immediately.

Title: The Raven Spell

Author: Luanne G. Smith

Series: Conspiracy of Magic #1

Genre: Fantasy

Published: February 1, 2022

In Victorian England a witch and a detective are on the hunt for a serial killer in an enthralling novel of magic and murder.

After a nearly fatal blow to the skull, traumatized private detective Ian Cameron is found dazed and confused on a muddy riverbank in Victorian London. Among his effects: a bloodstained business card bearing the name of a master wizard and a curious pocket watch that doesn’t seem to tell time. To retrieve his lost memories, Ian demands answers from Edwina and Mary Blackwood, sister witches with a murky past. But as their secret is slowly unveiled, a dangerous mystery emerges on the darkened streets of London.

To help piece together Ian’s lost time, he and Edwina embark on a journey that will take them from the river foreshore to an East End music hall, and on to a safe house for witches in need of sanctuary from angry mortals. The clues they find suggest a link between a series of gruesome murders, a missing person’s case, and a dreadful suspicion that threatens to tear apart the bonds of sisterhood. As the investigation deepens, could Ian and Edwina be the next to die?

The Raven Song by Luanne G. Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Raven Song continued directly after the first book and despite what Edwina had lost, she was determined to unravel the mystery around Ian. They both worked together but it was soon very apparent that she was part of something bigger than what had happened to Ian.

They were separated for a time and things got a bit dicey there. Ian was determined to get back to Edwina, to protect her and ensure of her safety. As the story unravelled, things fell into place, and I was excited to see this story unfold and how it all entwined together.

I really enjoyed how Susannah Jones narrated this story. She portrayed the characters perfectly and I kept me engaged in the story. For my first series by Luanne G. Smith, I was quite impressed and enjoyed the story immensely.

Title: The Raven Song

Author: Luanne G. Smith

Series: Conspiracy of Magic #2

Genre: Fantasy

Published: October 11, 2022

Fleeing Victorian London, a witch finds her newfound independence comes with all-new perils—both mortal and immortal.

Forever untangling the branches of her strange family tree, Edwina Blackwood is at a turning point. Her parents’ disappearances still strike her as unaccountably odd. Her sister’s questionable life and untimely death have left her shaken. Spellfire has transformed her home and livelihood to ash. And now a devious stalker is on her trail. With supernatural detective Ian Cameron by her side, Edwina can’t get out of London fast enough.

Gaining safe passage, she finds refuge with Sir Henry Elvanfoot, famed wizard of the north, and is promised protection from ill-aimed curses. But in this unfamiliar city of fair folk and witches, where the veil between Earth and the Otherworld is about to be lifted, something is amiss. How else to explain Edwina’s sudden prophetic visions? Or the fear that surviving whoever pursues her will require the powers of an ancient bloodline she’s only beginning to comprehend?

Whatever destiny awaits, it’s Edwina’s to finally control. Where will it lead? Only time, cunning, and magic—in this world or the Other—will tell.

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