Cu's Reviews

​***I was given a kindle copy in exchange for an Honest Review***
Onyx is a futuristic retelling of Othello. And it definitely doesn't disappoint in capturing the cruelty of racism, whether it be color, race, or specie.

This is perhaps the saddest love story I've ever read. The emotion Alicia put into writing this is evident as you follow Onyx and Dia's story. I wish this was longer, though in many ways, it didn't need to be. The story gets it point across beautifully and at Alicia's known fast-pace. 

There were three noticeable errors that I spotted in the work, but they shouldn't hitch the reader for more than a second and none of them take anything away from the flow of the story.

If you've read Othello or watched any of the movies based on it, you know this story isn't a happy one... Onyx follows that same line. It would be smart to have some tissues on hand while reading this.

Alicia, you did an amazing job on this retelling and this definitely one I would read and reread over and over again.

*I did the re-editing of this work and thus cannot speak of any errors I may have or may not have found*

This book is probably the most emotional of the series thus far. There will be anger, confusion, and tears. You've been amply warned.

We've all be hearing about the Unit's tech guy, Gabriel since the very beginning. We all know he's the Angel of Death by now. This book gives the readers so much insight on Gabriel and why he was sent to Earth to begin with.

We also meet Kapua Hale, A.K.A. Xee and her Parahoused, Micah; and get to see a rare glimpse of a nicer Deitrich.

Things with THO start to come to a head in this book. There is a LOT of action and blood will fly everywhere. Characters the reader has grown to know will meet their ends, and some will achieve their redemption and become who they were meant to be.

This book is definitely worth the read and I can't wait to see what happens next in Awakened in Shadows.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.

*Since I did the re-editing of this work, I cannot speak of any errors I may have or may not have found*

Bonded picks up a few weeks after Burned ends. It's time for Faith's birthday party, and the bonding ceremonies for Draven and Jesminda, as well as, for Royce, Ronin, and Belinda.

Tensions run high in this novella, as Draven's father shows his true colors. There are a couple of surprises in store for Jesminda when her family shows up for Faith's birthday party as well. There's more than enough times where the reader will be livid to the point of wanting to scream. A few times where there will be chuckles, and of course, plenty of steamy sex scenes. However, the tone of this book is a bit more subdued and serious than the previous books were, as this one seems to lay down and cement the foundation of the overall plotline.

Bonded in Shadows also opens the flood gates, as another key player in the series is found out to be part of the Red Sun Organization. It seems to me, this Organization has their hands dipped into every clan, pack, and group of immortals around.

While this book is about the half the size of the others in the series, it is packed with so much Shadow Unit action and drama, the reader will be continuously turning pages in the book.

I can't wait to get to work on Redeemed in Shadows, book 4 of The Shadow Unit series.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.

*Since I did the editing on this work, I cannot speak of any errors I may have or may not have found*

Tainted Hearts follows a Dom who left the lifestyle some time ago and has lived pretty much as a recluse since then, using alcohol as the reason for it.

This book is not short on lifestyle scenes, as our main character tries to teach a couple of his neighbors about being subs when they come to him, asking to be taught.

While the storyline is good, I feel it could have been expanded on. The scenes the book circle around could have been done in far more detail than they were. There are sex scenes, but they fall a bit short of the expectations of most who enjoy this genre of books.

I think those who follow the lifestyle will appreciate the time and effort put into detailing the Dom/Sub and Master/Slave relationship, painting it a better light than most other books which seem to show more punishment than reward.

Aside from the lack in the detail for the scenes, the storyline is enjoyable and should be found to be pleasing for readers.

I give this book 4 of 5 paws

*Since I did the re-editing of this book, I cannot speak of any errors I may have or may not found*

Burned in Shadows picks up where Enslaved in Shadows left off. Draven has been hi-jacked by the Red Sun Organization, Jesminda is learning more and more about the things Marcus did to her, Faith is learning to adapt to her wolfy heritage, and Belinda is preparing to become the next Matria and accept who exactly her consort is fated to be. Enemies the reader thought were dead pop up and show their faces again, Draven's predicament causes more then a few choked up moments and a LOT of anger. Enri proves he's not entirely what people think he is, though he makes you want to punch him a few times too.

Emotions run high in this second book of the acclaimed Shadow Unit Series. There's many times the reader will be angry enough to scream due to the predicament Draven and Jes find themselves in, but there's plenty of "aw" moments too.

We learn more about everybody's favorite Feral, Blue-Blood twins, Royce and Ronin, and I must admit, I have a soft spot for Ronin after reading his tale and seeing how he's grown into who he is now. Even if he did eat that dude's brain in the first book.

As always, Tigris Eden has brought her world shockingly alive. There's no dull moments, no times when the story slows enough for the reader to get bored, and there are twists at every turn. There's a major, major cliffhanger at the end of this one. It's cloaked as being nothing, but trust me when the reader hits it, they'll know. Rest assured, I've been informed THAT cliffhanger is dealt with in book 3: Redeemed.

While I can't wait to find out what happens in Redeemed, I'm still looking forward to reading about Faith's birthday party in book 2.5: Bonded in Shadows.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws

*Because I did the Re-editing of this book, I cannot speak of any errors I may have or may not have found*

I absolutely love this series! It's like a The Walking Dead meets Zombieland. It's a dark and serious as any zombie horror movie is, but at the same time, the main character's narration lightens up the mood enough so the reader isn't overwhelmed by all the serious things going on.

Like most zombie stories, there's no mention, thus far, on how the outbreak started. In fact, our main character, Canada, and her family were watching the nightly news when they found out. Canada grabs her trusty pink hammer and gets to work with her husband, Will, to fortify the house. (I'm almost sad that that scene is the only mention of the infamous pink hammer)

Naturally, the family has seen enough movies and television shows, and played enough video games, concerning zombies to know they can't stay in their home. So they race against the shuffle of dragging feet and the eerie moans of the undead to get to their relatives.

Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, forcing the reader to turn the page to see what happens next. There's more than enough action going on to keep even the most hardcore zombie fan interested, and Canada is just snarky enough to keep those with a fainter heart entertained.

All in all, Dying to Live & Fighting to Live are must haves for any zombie collection and is sure to entertain and amuse zombie lovers as young as 16 (there's some swearing sporadically in the book due to the stress of those situations so I wouldn't recommend it for readers under the age of 16)

I look forward to reading Learning to Live, book 3 in the Zombie Overload series.

I give this double edition 5 of 5 paws

In the Moment part four, picks up with Adam and Ace dealing with being kicked out of Alicia's car. It also deals with the person who broke into Alicia's house.

There's more sex in this one than in the other three combined, however they are, as always, well placed and make sense with what else is going on in the story.

I found this book to be more emotionally driven than the other three and the reader will definitely run through most of the known feelings while reading.

There's a mild cliffhanger at the end of this one, and I can pretty much guarantee no one is going to be in a happy mood by the time the book ends. Our mild cliffhanger definitely leaves the path wide open for part five, where I hope everything gets cleared up. (unless Ms. Orman has decided to add some parts to the original five lol)

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.

Evolution is just that. With Dante in Theoden's hands, Theoden intends on creating the ultimate weapon of the supe world. Dante, however, is even less thrilled about being embraced than Noel had been. With Dante, Theoden and his house's obligation to their king, Ara, is complete.

The season two finale holds nothing back. There's more sex, action, and twists in this episode in then in any other episode in this season. The truth about Dante and his capture is brought to light in the climax of this episode and while it's not really all that surprising, it's still worth the read since its the reader's first true glimpse into the wolf pack's den.

As always, Nicholas Bella pulls the reader into his dark, twisted, and very demented world, and doesn't let go; not that we want him to. The storyline flows beautifully and captures the reader from beginning to end.

I would still recommend this book to lovers of the BDSM lifestyle, and lovers of paranormal erotica in general.

There's no hardcore cliffhanger at the end of this season, but it without a doubt paves the way beautifully for Season Three, Prince of the City, whose first episode is Branded. (I'm pretty sure that's the way it goes lol I haven't gotten confirmation on the season title yet lol)

I look forward to reading Season Three.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws

Where to start, where to start? Missing Royal starts like any other book of this type, outcast teenage girl who doesn't seem to fit in finds out she's from somewhere else, gets home and has to save the world. This is a popular theme, and with all the ways it can be twisted and turned, it never gets tiring to read.

That's about where the similarities end though. Shanice doesn't go it alone, like in the other books of this theme. In fact, her first quest and the most important is to find the other missing royals.

I liked this story didn't hide the morals it wanted to convey. Shanice has to overcome her obstacles with friendship, morals, teamwork, and love. Even at her lowest moments, she was reminded that the burden was not just hers to carry.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy adventure full of friends and magick. Even children that are able to read it regardless of their age. (I would let my 8 year old read it since it has princesses and a good message)

I look forward to reading The Enchanted Rose, the second book in the Finding Gold series.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws

The Beautiful Dead follows a girl simply known as Winter.. it's the name given to her on her Raising. Winter quickly learns she's very different from the other undead in the town Trenton, and that sometimes being different makes a big difference when it counts.

I just want to say I LOVED this book! This has to be the most unique story about the undead I have ever read in my life. The characters are a mix of the popular flesh-eating zombie lore and so, so much more. Our undead friends and foes are given a reason as to why they eat humans which is just is such a simple reason it's a wonder no one's thought of it before honestly.

I found NO errors in the work (Kudos to your editor Mr. Banner) and the storyline, itself, is flawlessly written. The story will engross the reader under they are a part of the story sharing in Winter's curiosity as she learns about her new world, and feeling every emotion she herself can't fully feel.

Every character is well-developed and unique and quite distinguishable. There's also enough twists, turns, and drops to keep the reader on their toes and eagerly flipping pages to see what happens next.

I would absolutely recommend this book to any lover of zombies, dystopians, post-apocalyptics, and/or fantasy. The Beautiful Dead is a sure to be a favorite for anyone that reads it.

I look forward to reading Dead of Winter, the second book in this series.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.

This book follows, mainly, Aphrodite; the Greek Goddess of love. It's modern times and the gods who haven't been forgotten completely and aren't dead, are etching out a living in our times the best they can.

I loved that this book brought together two different pantheons. Aphrodite and Loki make one hell of a team in this story. Loki's life hasn't been as dull and mundane as Aphrodite claims hers is. There was a definite chemistry between the two gods that any fan (or follower) of either pantheon will appreciate.

The sex scenes in this book are very well written and each scene flows perfectly with, not only the storyline, but the personalities of the two gods' as depicted by their respective lores.

The book didn't leave off with a cliffhanger, but it does pave the way for The Vampire of Vancouver which is the second book in this series.

I do hope there will be plenty of stories starring these two gods and their adventures and perhaps some other old gods will make an appearance.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.

The Vengeful is an interesting Sci-Fi adventure. Our hero, Zack is transported into a mirror copy of our world. While it's the same, there's enough differences to alert Zack that something is very wrong. When his brother Jake goes missing, he knows he must do everything in his power to get him back.

The story is filled with action and seemed to be pretty fast-paced. While the pace is quick, there's very little confusion of what's going on and the reader has no choice but to want to turn page after page to find out what happens next.

I would recommend this book to any lover of alternate dimensions, whether young or old, this book is sure to please fans of the genre.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.

This story unfortunately hits really close to home for me. I was a "victim" of molestation by a family "friend" for seven years of my life. And like our main character, Lizzie, my mother just wouldn't listen either.

Child abuse is a very real epidemic in the world, which sexual abuse being the second leading cause of children developing mental disorders such as PTSD and Clinical Depression at very young ages (My own daughter was diagnosed with PTSD due to abuse from her father at the age of 4). It's only second to physical abuse. It is imperative that parents listen to their children. 9 out 10 ignored cries of sexual abuse are NOT lies. Don't let your child become a statistic.

I don't know who the actual victim of Ms. Von's story is, I can only assume it's someone very close to her; if not herself. But I, for one, applaud her bravery in writing this, even if the names were changed to prevent unwanted backlash.

This story is powerful and anyone that's been a victim of this crime is going to fear the fear and the uncertainty right along with Lizzie. So the reader must prepare themselves for that.

There was a single error that I found in this work. a period misplaced, it may hiccup the reading flow just a bit, but it's the only one I found worth mentioning.

The only problem I had with the story was how quickly Lizzie recovered from her trauma. It normally takes years (and quite a bit of therapy) for a child to recover from something like that and not be afraid of every male that looks in her direction. That fear never fully goes away.

This book should definitely be in every parenting class, and every parent should read it.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.

This book starts with a hot scene and ends with a tender scene...sorta. I haven't really grasped the whole concept of Andrew yet lol. Most of the story from the second chapter until the start of the last is a flashback. It's a bit obviously that is, but some readers can feign ignorance to the fact.

Our characters, Michael and Andrew, are about as different as night and day from an outward perspective; but inside, in their hearts, they are really quite the same, they just go about getting things done differently.

There's no sex in this book. If you were looking for some skin-slapping loving, you won't find it in Dorm Game, but you will find plenty, and I emphasize plenty, of BDSM style foreplay, which is a whole other level of hot.

Both characters are quite complex and very well developed, though I felt the story was entirely too short. I do hope Mr. Banner decides to revisit these two for another story, if for no other reason than us fans seeing how their relationship has evolved.

I would recommend this book to any lover of romance and the M/M genre of romance, it sure to please and be a favorite on the shelves.

I look forward to reading the next book in The Brazen Boys, and any other work Mr. Banner released and will release in the future.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.

There's a definite change the writing style between this book and Reunion. With the books being published 15 months apart, the reader can really see how Ms. Von has grown into her current style of writing.

Teamwork picks up with Wunder, Tank, and Pete on the hunt for 776; an infected unlike any they have dealt with before. The reason R.I.P made the trio the first 3-man team in R.I.P. history is obvious with this new hunt, though I was a bit surprised they'd chosen 776 to be the trio's first mission together.

There's less sex and more action in this fourth book to the series. Not that the reader will be left wanting. 776 is a major issue for R.I.P and the story mainly focuses on it and the problems it's causing. Don't worry, there's still steamy semi-zombie sex scenes, just not as much as when the series first started.

Again, because this is a gifted copy, I must bring up the errors. There's quite a few in here. While they shouldn't affect the reader's speed or focus, they are noticeable and should be looked into at the earliest convenience.

Despite the errors, this book offers everything the zombie lovers crave, action, suspense, and romance and I'm definitely looking forward to see what happens next.

Teamwork DOES end with a cliffhanger, but fans of the series should be used to this already.

I give this book 4 of 5 paws.

Since it's been about a year and a half since I last read any of the Wunder books, I figured it would be a good time to read this nifty omnibus. It contains DreamZ (0.5), The Approach (1), and Reunion (2). Since I've already reviewed each book separately, this review will be based on the first three books of Wunder as a whole.

Wunder is an exceptional girl, born one-quarter zombie, she's gone her entire life thinking she was the only one like her. Each night for as long as she can remember, She's dreamed of a boy (now a man). She can never see his face, but they grew up together in their dreams. Pete, like Wunder has dreamed of a girl. Unlike, Wunder, he can see all of her, except her eyes. He's longed for this girl his whole life. When Wunder and Pete meet and find out they both work for R.I.P. sparks fly and zombies drop like flies.

This is a pretty unique spin on the zombie lore. Our main characters not only kill them, but have the tainted blood. Their tainted DNA gives them the extra edge they need to kick some serious zombie butt!

There are a few errors in the paperback edition, but nothing that will distract the reader from the enjoyment of the storyline.

The sex scenes are nice and steamy, which seems to have become a trademark of Ms. Von's work. They will definitely leave the reader with pleasant thoughts in their heads.

There's surprising more action and storyline in this series than there are in other "erotic" themed books, which in my opinion, makes it a bit more enjoyable. Picture-less porn is great and all, but I thoroughly enjoy a storyline to go along with it, and Wunder delivers.

This book does leave us with a cliffhanger as it paves the way for Teamwork the next book in the series, so be readers be prepared for that.

All in all, Wunder is a perfect mix of hot sex scenes and amazing storyline that will leave the reader on their edge of their seats and begging for more. Any lover of romance, zombies, and action is sure to love this series.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.