Review – Broken Rivalry by R G Angel #rgangel #midnightreaders

Posted on January 22, 2024 by fundinmental

MY REVIEW

First off, I want to say, I loved the first R G Angel book I read, Hades’ Game. It told me that she is an author on my automatic read list. That means, I see it, I read it. But, Broken Rivalry was not my favorite. It read like a young adult, teenage angst novel, with some steam sex thrown it. Poppy was a character that peaked my interest and I would like to know what is in story for her next.

But, in Broken Rivalry by R G Angel, we have a rich, have it all girl who loses it all. I cannot imagine what it would feel like to go from living in a mansion and having designer everything to living in a trailer park and shopping, if you can afford it that week, at the thrift store.

I liked the idea of the three girls and the three guys, and we will have to hang around for the next book in the series to see how all that pans out.

Poppy is a character that stands out. She sacrifices for the needs and the happiness of her mother and two brothers. Even with all the hardship, she managed to get a scholarship to Silverbrook University, where she met her two best friends. They all have their own tragic story to tell, holding secrets close.

The story was pretty predictable, but it still pulled out a lot of the feels that I look for in a romance. Anger at those who wield their power, chopping down those who get in their way. Sorrow for the innocents who get caught in the middle, through no fault of their own. Respect for the ones who pick themselves up and make a new life for themselves. Love, loyalty, forgiveness, passion, second chances, sacrifice…and a happy ever after.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Poppy:
Once, I walked the halls of privilege, but in a heartbeat, I watched my world crumble. Now, as I stand at the threshold of Silverbrook University, I’m armed with nothing but a scholarship and a determination to reclaim a semblance of my former life.
But fate has a cruel sense of humor. Ethan Hawthorne, the golden boy of my former elite world and my ex-rival, is here. His every smirk is a reminder that the past is not easily outrun.

Ethan:
At Silverbrook, I’m the guy with the world at his feet—star athlete, heir to a legacy, the guy who always wins. But Poppy? She was the one challenge I never conquered, the one competitor who never played by my rules.
Her return in my life is a curveball I never saw coming. She’s changed, hardened by life’s twists, and now she captivates me more than ever. Our history wasn’t just competition; it was a clash of hearts and egos. Now, the rules have changed. I’m not just out to win a petty game. This time, I’m playing for her heart.

In the elite corridors of Silverbrook University, a tale of passion, redemption, and undeniable attraction unfolds. Poppy and Ethan, bound by their tumultuous past, are caught in a dance of denial and desire. Can an alpha athlete truly humble himself for love? And can a strong-willed girl find forgiveness in her heart? Dive into a steamy saga of love, scars, and second chances.

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Sports
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 22, 2024S
Series: Silverbrook University, #1

ABOUT R G ANGEL

On top of being an International Bestselling Author, I’m a trained lawyer, world traveller, coffee addict and cheese aficionado.

When I’m not busy doing all my lawyerly mayhem or writing Contemporary Romance with heart, heat and a little darkness, alpha heroes and strong heroines and because I’m living in rainy (yet beautiful) Britain, I mostly enjoy indoor activities such as reading, watching TV, playing with my crazy puppies.

I hope my stories will make you dream and will bring you as much joy as they brought me by writing them.

If you want to know any of the latest news join my reader group R.G.’s Angels on facebook or subscribe to my newsletter!

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MY R G ANGEL REVIEWS

Hades’ Game

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Recknor’s Paladin – Beginning Of Arrogance by Bryan Cole

Posted on January 17, 2024 by fundinmental

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I can see where the title came from and it fits the book perfectly. Once, you meet Krell, you will know what I mean. He comes from no where, had nothing, but maybe that was Recknor’s plan. Recknor is the god of the seas and skies. Paladins are champions of the gods, but Recknor thinks they are nothing but trouble. If that is the case, why did he choose to raise a paladin?

A holy warrior going out to work his will on the world.

Krell is naive in the ways of the world. Deserted on a desert island after the first shipwreck, he had to learn to fend for himself. Olgar was on the dock when he was rescued the second time. Hmmm…is this all part of Recknor’s plan?

Krell is such a fascinating character. He does not see himself as a leader, though there are those that will follow him, does not seem himself as a lover, though there are those that would give themselves to him freely, only sees himself as himself. Others see him as arrogant, stubborn, prone to act without thinking, never shying from danger, but diving right into it. I loved when he got his first understanding of the difference between the haves and the have nots and his sense of justice is awakened.

There are many laughs to be had at his expense over his arrogance and stubborness. I laughed right along with the characters, of which they all played a pivotal role in Krell’s life.

“You think we can survive?”
“Of course he does. His arrogance makes it impossible for him to see any other outcome.”
:”I am here to be Recknor’s sword, to keep his followers alive, and to slaughter his enemies”

We have monstrous beings, ocotpus bats, sea devils, orcs, halflings, fey, magical talents, and a battle to be won. The sea devils made me think of the blob with teeth and claws. We even have a dragon named Fortis, who has bonded with Krell. Can you imagine a tiny dragon curling up in your lap conveying his feelings of happiness to be with you to you? He is only ten inches tall right now, but what will happen when he is full grown? He brings treats, like a cat, to Krell’s doorstep. How cute is that?

I have visions running through my mind of what is to come from their bonding and the ongoing story and I can hardly wait to get to the next chapter in their lives. I see so much coming and I am going to love watching Krell grow into the man Olgar and Recknor believed he would become. Krell is a fabulously written character that grows and develops along with the story. He has come to realize he can make his own family, choosing and meeting those who will come to lay their life down for him as he would for them. So many varied, high strung, strong personalities.

Krell’s story is far from over and I look forward to seeing him again in Futility Of Defense by Bryan Cole.

GOODREADS BLURB

Paladins are nothing but trouble. Stories about paladins are everywhere, noble warriors riding magic steeds into battle against terrible foes. Champions of their gods. Heroes to everyone, except those who already have everything. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don’t worship their deity.

So when Krell is called to service by the capricious god of the seas and skies, ReckNor, those with wealth and power can’t help but be concerned. ReckNor hasn’t called a paladin in years, and his nature is ever-changing and erratic. The fact that Krell is also an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea turns their concerns into fear.

All of which matters less than the threat clawing its way from the waves, ready to turn the ocean red with spilled blood…

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy
435 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2022 by TellWell Talent
Series: Beginning Of Arrogance, Book I

ABOUT BRYAN COLE

Bryan Cole is a long time fan of the fantasy and science fiction genres, having grown up reading and watching everything he could find in those domains. He has had a long career in the enterprise software space, delivering countless presentations and technical sessions to customers all over the world.

His love for stories about heroes, villains, magic, and dragons has never dimmed, and in 2022 published his first book is Beginning of Arrogance which is a story about what it means to be a paladin in a world where the gods are manifestly real.

Bryan is a complete optimist on the outside, believing that anyone can accomplish any task they set themselves to. He’d suggest that he’s a great example, since his first published book came out of nowhere to all of his friends and family!

It was a strange journey that led him to writing, but decades of building business presentations gave him a surprising amount of practice in crafting words and conveying emotion (an often overlooked aspect of selling), and he finally made the time in 2022 to take the hundreds of pages of random notes, stories, and adventure ideas he had and committed them to the page.

“Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t scared. Being brave means you are scared, really scared, badly scared, and you do the right thing anyway.”

― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

Pick up a pen (or sit down in front of your keyboard) and write! Everyone has a story and you never know what you can create if you don’t try!

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You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Victorian Gothic Romance – Creeping Fate by Michael B Chikondi @M_B_Chikondi

Posted on January 15, 2024 by fundinmental

Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Michael B Chikondi has a distinct writing style that I find intriguing. It is not in your face, but subtle, eerie and creepy, such as in Creeping Fate. A Victorian gothic romance is an accurate description. It is 1847 London. Cecilia Everett’s family is gone and she is a wealthy woman. It is time to be wed, but there are no men in sight. I felt I knew where this was going pretty quickly, but Spencer Black and John Oliver kept the mystery alive. I wasn’t sure who was the good guy and who was the bad guy, but sometimes…well, I know what I want to say, but I feel that will give it away, so mum’s the word. You’ll have to read Creeping Fate by Michael B Chikondi to find out for yourself what becomes of Cecilia.

“:…choose a man who loves you more than you love him. Such a man won’t let you down.”

GOODREADS BLURB

Cecilia Everett, still grieving the loss of her family, and struggling under the weight of societal obligations, knows she must start to build a life for herself. Under the guidance of her indomitable Aunt Euphemia, she turns her attention towards the prospect of marriage. Its London, 1847, and even an heiress like Cecilia cant escape the pressure to find a husband. Two candidates soon capture her attention; the respectable, but difficult, Spencer Black, and the notorious playboy, John Oliver. As she begins to fear her mind is unraveling, might it be, her financial situation is more alluring than she is?

Genre: Fiction, Gothic, Romance, Victorian
109 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2023

ABOUT MICHAEL B CHIKONDI (from Amazon)

Michael B. Chikondi is not to be trusted, but the creature agrees to a meeting in its burrow. We enter with trepidation, given that the thing has no doorbell. As we crawl through the narrow tunnel, gored out by its own teeth, by the texture, we hear what can only be described as a hacking cough.

“Can we approach?” we call.

“No soliciting.” the voice returns.

“You sent for us; you told us to ask you questions. You know, for promotional reasons.”

“Ask.” the dread voice responds.

“Alright, who are you?” we try.

“A creature of mist and shadow, half-mad, I used to go out, I did, and know those…humans. Not now, not since…the pen.”

“You found a pen? That’s why you became a writer?” we ask, now terrified, trying to gauge how fast we can leave the burrow. The photographer has already left us, chewing off his own watch, caught on a tree root.

“Yes, but now…I hunger…”

We are not proud; we turn tail and flee, before it can leave its den. We aren’t paid enough to get a full bio. We can only pray someone buys its books, so that the thing never comes out on its own.

Ed. What the hell is this? This isn’t what we requested. Just some nonsense and an artist’s rendition of what one of my people saw before he contracted rabies? Eh, whatever. Plenty more writers in the sea.

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MY MICHAEL B CHIKONDI REVIEWS