Book Review: Heartless Hunter Series by Kristen Ciccarelli

Heartless Hunter Series (The Crimson Moth #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli
Genre: New Adult Fiction (Paranormal/Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: February 20, 2024
Publisher: Wednesday Books

On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch… is falling in love.

Heartless Hunter is the first book in The Crimson Moth duology by Kristen Ciccarelli. I absolutely love a good enemies to lovers story, and this one did not disappoint in that department. Their interactions were entertaining. They challenge each other, but will they be lovers with all the lies and mistrust on both sides? He wants her dead for Pete's sake. They've known each other for a long time, but in reality, they barely know each other. There is so much to unwrap with these two, and I feel like it's just getting started. I'm here for it guys! The world and character building was fantastic. I could easily see it all play out in my mind. I'm more than ready for the next book! 

Kristen Ciccarelli grew up on a grape farm, dropped out of college, and worked various jobs before becoming an author. Some of her previous trades included: baker, potter, bookseller, and NGO worker. Kristen lives in Canada’s Niagara Peninsula with her husband and daughter. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Heartless Hunter (Book 1 in The Crimson Moth duology), as well as Edgewood, and the internationally bestselling Iskari series.

To learn more about Kristen Ciccarelli and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, & Pinterest.

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Book Review!! Fallen Demon by Juliana Haygert

Fallen Demon (Rite World: Fallen Angel #3) by Juliana Haygert

Genre: New Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)

Date Published: December 5, 2024
Publisher: Dark Witch Press LLC

I thought I'd already lost everything. Now, I might lose him forever...

The moment Levi vanished into the underworld to save me, my world shattered. Our bond is the only thing keeping him alive in that hellish realm, but it’s unraveling fast. The powerful magic I’ve been cursed with is more unstable than ever and its control is slipping through my fingers.

But guess what? Giving up isn’t my style. I’ll tear apart heaven, hell, and everything in between to get Levi back. With a war brewing in Elysium and Rhodes plotting to become king of everything, I’m caught in the middle of a nightmare—and this time, the fate of the world is at stake. Great timing, right?

Falling for Levi was never part of the plan, but now I’ll stop at nothing to save him. Because if I lose him for good, that’s one fight I won’t survive.

FALLEN DEMON is an intense and steamy paranormal romance set in the dark, dangerous world of Juliana Haygert’s Rite World. With epic battles, scorching passion, and forbidden love, this book will keep readers on the edge of their seats!

Fallen Demon is the third book in the Rite World: Fallen Angel series by Juliana Haygert. Ariella goes through a lot in this one. She's forced to trust. There are unexpected plan changes. She's kept on her toes. She goes through some great realizations and character growth as well. As a reader, it took me until about halfway through to really feel invested. I felt like something was missing with Levi being MIA, but I'm weird like that, I suppose, but he helps carry the story. And, once he was back in the picture, no matter the form, all was well. The characters and worlds this author creates are detailed, well thought out, and pull you right into the characters’ lives. I'm anxious for what's next, because you just never know what will happen.

The ARC of Fallen Demon by Juliana Haygert was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.

Have you read the previous books in this series?

Check out my reviews of other books by this author!

While USA Today Bestselling Author Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in North Carolina and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

To learn more about Juliana Haygert and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Twitter.

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Book Review: The Dog Who Was There by Ron Marasco

The Dog Who Was There by Ron Marasco
Genre: Adult Fiction (Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction)
Date Published: January 31, 2017
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

No one expected Barley to have an encounter with the Messiah. He was homeless, hungry, and struggling to survive in first century Jerusalem. Most surprisingly, he was a dog. But through Barley’s eyes, the story of a teacher from Galilee comes alive in a way we’ve never experienced before.

Barley’s story begins in the home of a compassionate woodcarver and his wife who find Barley as an abandoned, nearly-drowned pup. Tales of a special teacher from Galilee are reaching their tiny village, but when life suddenly changes again for Barley, he carries the lessons of forgiveness and love out of the woodcarver’s home and through the dangerous roads of Roman occupied Judea.

On the outskirts of Jerusalem, Barley meets a homeless man and petty criminal named Samid. Together, Barley and his unlikely new master experience fresh struggles and new revelations. Soon Barley is swept up into the current of history, culminating in an unforgettable encounter with the truest master of all as he bears witness to the greatest story ever told.

The Dog Who Was There by Ron Marasco is a beautifully told from Barley, the dog’s, perspective. I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by the author himself. I thought he did an excellent job. Even though it wasn't told in a first person point of view, he became Barley. We walk with Barley from the time he was a young pup, still with his mother all the way to the Crucifixion and shortly after. I knew it would make me cry, especially in the end. I was expecting it, but it had me in tears already by chapter two. This story was told very believably in just the way you’d expect a dog so see the World and the people around him. This is definitely a story I will be recommending. And, with the holidays just around the corner, this would make an excellent gift.

Epigraph
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”
—Mark 10:29–30

 Barley was lying with his snout resting on the hearth, looking up with his alert brown eyes, watching Adah cook dinner. She was sitting, as she always did at this time of night, on her small stool and stirring a pot of something that, to Barley, smelled delicious. It was nightfall in the small home that Duv had built, all by himself, when he and Adah first became husband and wife, many years before Barley had come into their lives. The walls of the homey, one-room house were thick, made out of light-colored stone and coarse mud, from the region of Judea they lived in…

Listen to more here.

Ron Marasco is a professor in the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. His first book, Notes to an Actor, was named by the American Library Association an "Outstanding Book of 2008." For the past five years he has taught a very popular course on the subject of grief using film, theatre, literature and oral history as a way to study this often intimidating subject. He has acted extensively on TV―in everything from Lost to West Wing to Entourage -and appeared opposite screen legend Kirk Douglas in the movie Illusion, for which he also wrote the screenplay. He has a BA from Fordham at Lincoln Center and an MA and Ph. D. from UCLA. Brian Shuff is a writer from Mesa, Arizona, who now lives in Los Angeles where he is at work completing a book of short stories. His mother died when he was eight years old, giving him a life-long interest in the subject of grief. Along with Ron Marasco he has written a screenplay based on Louise Hay's groundbreaking book, You Can Heal Your Life that will premiere in 2011. He and Marasco are also working on a dramatic adaptation of John McNulty's book This Place on Third Avenue.

To learn more about Ron Marasco and his books, visit his IMDB page. You can also find him on Goodreads and an excerpt of this book on YouTube.

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Book Review: Light Magic by Juliana Haygert

Light Magic (Rite World: Fallen Angel #2) by Juliana Haygert

Genre: New Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: May 23, 2024
Publisher: Dark Witch Press LLC

I’m better alone than deceived …

In my wild pursuit of redemption, I struck a sketchy deal with a demon to get back my celestial wings. Surprise, surprise – I got played, ended up hurt and alone.

Now, I'm trying to snatch back my lost magic, untangle the mysteries surrounding Elysium, and scrub my name clean.

However, thanks to a fat bounty on my head, every stroll outside turns into a showdown with supernatural freelancers hungry for the jackpot. After a brutal brawl left me broken, I reluctantly called on a witch with healing mojo. And guess who shows up? Her brother, the two-faced demon who betrayed me not too long ago.

Plot twist: he's still bound to me, thanks to some unbreakable spell.

Fueled by equal parts rage and necessity, I'm flipping the script, hell-bent on breaking the annoying bond, reclaiming my magic, and taking down not just the backstabbing demon but also every threat aiming to wreck my world.

LIGHT MAGIC is a sizzling paranormal romance, set in Juliana Haygert’s kick-ass Rite World. This spellbinding urban fantasy promises a riveting blend of magic and suspense, leaving readers yearning for more..

Light Magic is the second book in the Rite World: Fallen Angel series by Juliana Haygert. I love Ariella and Levi's Hot-Cold, Argue-y bantering. They're a lot of fun! Like book one, there's a lot of action. Just when Ariella starts to feel comfy somewhere. Boom! She's found! Levi spent some time away this time around. He was missed, as I definitely like it better when he's around. These books definitely keep me entertained. We got some surprises and twists, and I look forward to seeing where things go next.

The ARC of Light Magic by Juliana Haygert was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.

Have you read the first book in this series?

Check out my reviews of other books by this author!

While USA Today Bestselling Author Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in North Carolina and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

To learn more about Juliana Haygert and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Twitter.

Buy this book at: