Hello! It’s Been A While

There are many aspects of being an author that I wasn’t aware of until I plunged into this world. I have learned a lifetime’s worth of knowledge and met some exceptional people in the process. I knew there would be a learning curve, and I am so grateful to all the industry professionals, fellow authors, and writing enthusiasts who invest in the writing community with resources, courses, and emotional support. I needed all of it.

After participating in Lauren Kay’s Query Bootcamp course (highly recommended if you ever plan to query agents), I committed myself to the querying trenches for my upcoming debut novel, Magic in Her Blood. If you’ve been on this journey with me for a bit, you know that I’ve been trying to bring this novel to the world for the last few years.

After several daunting months, I am pleased to say that I did receive several requests to view my full manuscript, however, the timing wasn’t right for those agents. Therefore, I have since decided to explore smaller publishing houses directly. Wish me luck!

While querying, I have written nearly 60,000 words of the first draft of book two, currently titled Shadows in Her Heart. It was an excellent distraction.

I took a break from writing during August, needed to refill my creative tank, and dove headfirst into several dark romance novels, a few writing craft-specific books, and the odd ARC I was sent to review. It has been lovely to lose myself in the pages of someone else’s book. Hopefully, I will find the time to write a few reviews to post here soon.

Lastly, I entered Magic in Her Blood in the Writing Award Category for Unpublished Manuscripts in the UK’s Page Turner Awards. I am thrilled to say that it was selected as a finalist and will move to the next round of judging!

Thanks for being on the rollercoaster ride of this author’s journey with me. Your company and support are deeply appreciated.

Book Review: House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard

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Alexis Menard knocked this book out of the park. I loved it. House of Bane and Blood had many of my favorite tropes—enemies to lovers, and magic in a real-world setting. “Two households, both alike in dignity” (thank you, Mr. Shakespeare).

Set in the age of steam, Camilla is the heiress of her family’s company, but the company has amassed substantial debt. Her brothers decide to set up an arranged marriage for her that will bolster their coffers and allow them to settle their debts.

What none of them were counting on was a move by their long-time enemy to insert himself into their situation and claim their sister for his own.

This book is delightfully dark and steamy. Nico and Camilla are deliciously wicked to one another as they unravel each other’s secret as their slow-burn relationship intensifies.

Menard does an excellent job world building in this story. Lynchaven has a rich history and reminds me a little of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, so if you enjoyed those books, I think you should give House of Bane and Blood a chance. 

I will warn you… the characters Menard has crafted jump off the page and will have you deeply invested in this story so go ahead and prepare to buy the second book as well, or you will end up like me having to wait for it to arrive, wondering what’s next in this brilliant series.

Book Review: Fairy by Morgan Daimler

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As always, Daimler has given those interested in Irish myths and folklore a solid and thoroughly researched work, particularly that which refers to the Other crowd. Fairy not only lays out the popular ideas surrounding the fair folk but also draws from authentic Irish lore found in the limited textual records and writings that Daimler has spent a great deal of time translating and interpreting.

While there are probably hundreds of people worldwide who claim to be an authority on Irish folklore, Fairy, and the creatures of the Otherworld, Daimler should be at the top of any reader’s list if they want a true and accurate accounting of this beloved topic.

I have used Daimler’s works countless times while researching for my fiction novel that features heavily in Irish myths and folklore. Even though it is a work of fiction, it is incredibly important to me that I am presenting that lore as true to the source material and Irish culture as possible. Ireland has such a rich and storied history, but her people and her language are very real and deserve to be honored and respected. Daimler does this masterfully.

If you are a person with Irish ancestry or heritage, or perhaps someone who read a fictional story and wanted to delve deeper into Ireland and her tales, you must add this book to your TBR pile. You will not regret it.

Book Review: The Fae Princes by Nikki St. Crowe

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This series has been a trip. Despite it violently thrusting me out of my comfort zone (not entirely a bad thing) and exposing me to reverse harem dark romance (not my thing, I’ve discovered), I have grown to adore St. Crowe’s version of Neverland, the Peter Pan story, and characters that are dark and twisty, and pretty effed up.

The Fae Princes is book four in the Vicious Lost Boys series and St. Crowe does an excellent job bringing Winnie, Pan, Vane, Bash, and Kas’s arcs to a relatively tidy end. With unlikely alliances, sweet revenge (again), and the fate of Neverland at stake, our villainous band of characters has to face their most difficult challenge yet.

In many (though warped) ways, this series is about believing in yourself, letting go of your inhibitions, found family, and of course fornication. If those themes tickle your depraved fancy, read this series.

Book Review: Their Vicious Darling by Nikki St. Crowe

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After the third book in this series, I am no longer clutching my pearls, but I can confidently say that I prefer a committed, two-person romantic relationship. It doesn’t matter how dark of a romance, as long as it’s between two consenting adults…not like 5 consenting adults. I guess that makes me old-fashioned or something but more than one person to focus on overstimulates me (take or leave the pun as you will).

What I will say about Their Vicious Darling is that the action finally reaches a fever pitch with this book and if you are like me and need a good story in addition to the smut, you will find it here.

Our female protagonist, Winnie Darling, has inadvertently found herself connected to Neverland in a way she probably could never have predicted. With the introduction of some new and intriguing characters, St. Crowe weaves a wickedly delightful tale of sacrifice and salvation. 

If you’ve read the first two in this series, Their Vicious Darling is a logical and necessary next read. Do it, and maybe just take the pearls off and embrace the debauchery.

Book Review: The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe

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Shadows and pirates and fairies — Oh My! The Dark One is the second book in Nikki St. Crowe’s Vicious Lost Boys series and I am so glad I didn’t let book one (The Never King) turn me away from it. This book, while still full of debauchery, has an enemies-to-lovers vibe that I can’t get enough of. I think there is something so primal about it.


Is the undeniable pull of opposites toward each other that creates such intense attraction? Is it the innate human drive to conquer and pursue those things that are seemingly untouchable, the thrill of the hunt? Or is it that those who go from enemies to lovers start by seeing the other as a reflection of the worst parts of themselves and then, through proximity and eventual acceptance, find that the person they once hated is the very same soul that will love them unconditionally despite their flaws and failures?


I cannot say it’s one or the other. Perhaps it’s both, but St. Crowe lays it all out in The Dark One, ending on a cliffhanger that made me glad I have book three next in the queue.

Book Review: The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe

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I picked up this book with extremely high expectations. Who doesn’t love a good re-imagining or twist on something familiar? The Never King spins the familiar story of Peter Pan, Neverland, and Captain Hook into a dark, debauched romance with magic and menace. If you are not a fan of reverse harem stories (which I have discovered that I am not), then this book will be jarring at the very least.
I have seen this book (the first in a series) hyped in several places on social media but I was not prepared for how debauched it was. If that’s your thing, great. It isn’t mine, so I gave the book 3 stars. Not because it was poorly written, (it wasn’t), and not because the story wasn’t well crafted (it was), but I need more from a story than what I got from The Never King.
I will say, however, that I intend to read the other three books in the series. You might ask why. Why would I keep reading if I don’t like reverse harem romance? Why bother using precious reading moments with a book series that doesn’t thrill me? Well, to be quite honest, the story itself intrigues me.
St. Crowe has created compelling characters and a world I am anxious to explore. For those reasons, I am willing to see the series through to the end, even if the romance is a little dark for my tastes. Don’t take my word for it. Read this book, and decide for yourself 🙂

Book Review: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

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I see this book recommended everywhere, and since I’ve been on a bit of a dark romance kick lately, it was an obvious choice to read. I had no preconceptions before I read it so I was delightfully ignorant about what I was getting myself into. Imagine if you can, the deliciously dark almost taboo desire for vengeance that lies deep within the human psyche when we’ve been wronged. Feed that desire with vigilantism and throw in some good old fashion serial killers and you will start to get the picture. Butcher and Blackbird are killers, but what sets them apart from your average bloodthirsty psycho is they scratch their murderous itches by killing the scum of the earth. Think Dexter, but sexier.


Their relationship is a slow burn over the years with competition and banter that made me laugh out loud (literally) and culminates when the hunt for a particularly dangerous target doesn’t go as planned, the fallout breaks down any remaining barriers stopping them from embracing their longing for one another.


This is one of the absolute best dark romances I have read and it has all the best tropes with the author’s unique spin that had me immediately looking for the rest of her work.
I was thrilled when I discovered that Brynne Weaver is not only a fellow Canadian author, but a fellow Nova Scotian as well.

If you like serial killer stories, read this book. If you like friends to lovers, read this book. If you’re not sure what to read next, and you don’t mind a little spice, READ THIS BOOK. Just read it. Okay? Okay. Now excuse me while I go add all of Weaver’s books to my TBR!

Book Review: Kushiel’s Chosen by Jacqueline Carey

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I’ve often heard it said that sequels can be a dangerous venture. There is a balance required where you give the reader more of what they love but also improve upon the first so as not to repeat what you’ve already done.

I think Jacqueline Carey masterfully executed this sequel. Not only do we get to see more of her fabulous world-building, but well-loved characters return and we meet new and equally endearing personalities that almost steal the show.

One of my favorite aspects of Kushiel’s Chosen is how we see Phèdre completely out of Delaunay’s shadow, and how resourceful she is without him. Her perseverance is one of my favorite things about her. She will do everything it takes to accomplish what she believes to be right. 

I also love that one of the main antagonists in these books is the intoxicating villainess, Melisandre. Carey does an excellent job bringing this character, and truly all the characters, to life. With a cast as vast as the one found in these books, the fact that Carey can make each one seem unique and memorable is impressive.

This book has more intrigue and action than the first, and it will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.  I loved it.

I recommend you read it and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Book Review: Crossed by Emily McIntire

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I wanted to love this book, having enjoyed the others in this series as much as I have. I don’t know if I was in a weird place while reading it or if I didn’t manage my expectations correctly, but I was a bit disappointed.

I will say that overall, it wasn’t a bad story. It had another of my favorite tropes: forbidden love, but there was just something about the whole thing that I couldn’t get into.

As per usual, we have our villain, in this case, a priest.  This particular story has familiar elements from Victor Hugo’s classic, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, although is not in any way a re-telling.

If I am being completely honest, I found the beginning slower than some of the other books in the Never After series, and then by contrast, the ending felt rushed and a little implausible.

There also seemed to be less spice than previous books in the series.

Like I said, maybe I was in the wrong frame of mind to read this particular book. I have thoroughly enjoyed the other books in the Never After series so don’t let me dissuade you from reading it. Check it out for yourself and see what you think of this most recent installment in Emily McIntire’s Never After series. I’d love to know what you think!