Silent Knight Re-Read Review January 2025: I originally read this King short in the O Deadly Night Vol 2 Charity Anthology last Xmas and loved it then Silent Knight Re-Read Review January 2025: I originally read this King short in the O Deadly Night Vol 2 Charity Anthology last Xmas and loved it then and I think I might love it even more now. Ezra and Senon are so amazing together, despite some of the darkness of the story you can't help but cheer them on. I have no idea if Davidson King ever intends to expand and branch this universe or perhaps connect it to another of her series, if she does I'll be like the family cat poised to pounce on discarded wrapping paper on Christmas morning. If Silent Knight is all we get of Ezra and Senon's world than I will savor it for Xmases and Xmases in July for years to come.
Original O Deadly Night Vol 2 Charity Anthology Review November 2023: (from the overall part of the anthology review): "these are dark stories would probably be an understatement. If you're looking for Hallmark-y, Disneyesque, cute meet, cliche HEA, then this is probably not for you. If you like creepy horror with your holiday fare then I can't recommend this anthology enough"
I said above that if you're looking for HEA this isn't the book for you but I think Davidson King's entry, Silent Knight(though more of a dark suspense than flat out horror) is probably as close to that HEA label as any horror collection can provide. Truth is, King's storytelling star shines bright in this perfect blend of dark, dreamy, and delicious. Destiny and holiday has rarely been darker....more
A full-on Christmas novella from Davidson King? Yes, please!!! King has written holiday tales before, most of them happen to be established series entA full-on Christmas novella from Davidson King? Yes, please!!! King has written holiday tales before, most of them happen to be established series entries with some mention of the holiday within the book.
**Side note: for anyone who knows me knows that as a Die-Hard-is-a-Xmas-movie person that also means books with even the tiniest mention of the holiday puts that book in the holiday column.**
Okay, side note made now back to Once Upon a Second Chance. Those familiar with King's work knows that she is 99% of the time all about the mayhem and she's darn good at it but she has a sweet side too and Second Chance is proof of that. Is Second Chance a bit too holiday sweet? Never! Because lets face it, if you can't be all about the sap at Xmas than there is no acceptable level of sap that works...more
You'd think I would get tired of saying this but it's true and for that I never tire of mentioning it: Davidson King has done it again!!! Not that I eYou'd think I would get tired of saying this but it's true and for that I never tire of mentioning it: Davidson King has done it again!!! Not that I ever any doubts that I was going to experience an entertaining read but her continued ability to harness the ever coveted "pulls the reader in" factor is just one of the greats of this book.
When I read Slay Ride last year, the book that introduced us to the Saint Brothers and their brand of justice, I knew JJ and Shep would be amazing together. Boy was I right. Kill Me Sweetly is definitely their story but I really love the inclusion of all the brothers as well as JJ's BFF and half of the starring couple in Slay Ride, Mason. Obviously all the Saints would be involved as they are a team but it was the inclusion of the amazing chemistry between all of the family and that's the best part, JJ and Mason are family too not just the significant other of 2 brothers.
I know that not everyone enjoys books with dual POVs but I find them to be among my favorites because we get to see a story from both characters and for me at least that helps to connect with them. From the lowest of the lows to the highest of the highs we feel and see everything which makes them more real and lets me feel I'm not just a reader on the outside looking in but right there in the room with them, a part of the story if you will not just an observer.
Now I won't go into too much detail so I don't spoil anything. Books with couples who are established prior to page one can lack a certain will-they-won't-they-go-get-them adrenaline rush but JJ and Shep quickly find themselves with a helluva loaded plate before them that in truth you'd expect the relationship part to take a backseat. Okay, perhaps it does but never so far back that there is ever any doubt where they stand in each other's lives and heart. To put it simply: they are just too darn cute together that I'll take any part of them the author gives us and let's face it, it's that chemistry and cute-iblity that drives them to do what is necessary to empty that loaded plate.
As for the mystery, the case of rescue and revenge JJ brings into the house. I'm not going to spill any deets. Won't spoil anything! I will say that darkness is there in droves. Personally, I'd say Slay Ride seemed to have more "on page" darkness, Kill Me Sweetly has plenty on page as well but IMO there seems to be more "hinting at". I'll try to briefly explain without spoiling, the darkness, the evil of the bad guys is definitely spelled out but I found my mind imagining the depth of the evil going far beyond the words. It's this imagining that put me inside the story right alongside the Saint Brothers dishing out their special brand of justice and why as a whole Kill Me Sweetly is far darker than Slay Ride. However you see it though just know the author gets your blood boiling and skin itching to help and that is what makes this a winning gem of storytelling masterpieces.
Personal observation that I've gotta add: if this is what ends up on paper/screen then what heights of devilish mayhem lurks in Davidson King's brain yet to be let out? I ain't saying it's a bad thing but I guess I'm thinking this is one woman you do not want to piss off...more
HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!! I know that seems to be a common expression in my Davidson King reviews but when she keeps telling stories that grab my attentioHOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!! I know that seems to be a common expression in my Davidson King reviews but when she keeps telling stories that grab my attention and have no intention of letting go, well how can anything short of "HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!!" be my response?
When Fred was first introduced to us in Secret Simon, I knew he was a man ill treated and hurting but I never expected to find myself cheering for him in his own story. Here I am though rooting for him and loving every second of it. Fred is a man who overcame so much to be the doctor he dreamed of being but unfortunately he was unable to escape the role he was reluctantly destined for: mob boss. Through yet another tragedy, Fred finds a piece of himself he never wanted to admit was there: ruthlessness needed to exact revenge. I just want to wrap the man in the hardest Mama Bear Hug possible and let him know that Doctor Fred is not lost just stepping back to let Boss Fred do what must be done.
Lets talk Vin for a moment. I know only Fred calls him "Vin" and I know how to spell "Vincenzo" but my fingers type faster than my brain so "Vin" he will forever be here...more
HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!! Davidson King has done it again!!! Hurt Me Not is a highly personal journey for the author, perhaps not the paranormal element buHOLY HANNAH BATMAN!! Davidson King has done it again!!! Hurt Me Not is a highly personal journey for the author, perhaps not the paranormal element but all the emotions the characters feel stem from personal experience. I'm not a parent but I have spent too much time at my mom's bedside, hospital and home, feeling the very same things: fear, worry, need to breakdown but not being able to, wanting to take their pain away but can't. It can really weigh on a person and seeing the author take those experiences and channel them into an amazing storytelling journey, well it's just very uplifting and gives one hope on a variety of levels.
So let's talk Hurt Me Not.
Easton is facing what no parent wants: a phone call from his son's doctor who has low lab numbers and more tests are needed. When the team has issues getting an IV placed for young Milo, Finch is called in as he has an unbelievable yet welcoming calming ability about him. My mom is a hard stick when it comes to IVs and have seen nurses of all kinds try and fail, unintentionally cause pain and be so gentle you didn't even know you got poked, so I understand Milo's fears and the relief Finch provides.
Speaking of Milo, he and his sibling, Tru(or Tru-Bug as daddy Easton says) are an absolute delight. Hurt Me Not may be Easton and Finch's journey but seeing the kids navigate the illness and all the emotions that go with it warms the heart. In fiction I find kids can be hard to balance between sugary sweet and spoiled brat but Davidson King does it beautifully.
You could say Hurt Me Not is a story told in two parts: the contemporary tale of Milo's illness and effects on family and the paranormal tale of Finch, his family, and the Fae. On the surface it seems like an odd pairing to mix but King balances both with an equal mix of realism and fantasy until they are two sides of the same coin. My heart bleeds and cheers for everyone, well not everyone, Finch has a few family members that are on the dark side of life...more
Has it really been a whole year since we were first introduced to Lucifer's Landing? Doesn't seem possible, perhaps that's just me because when a bookHas it really been a whole year since we were first introduced to Lucifer's Landing? Doesn't seem possible, perhaps that's just me because when a book is as rich and thrilling as War of the Wicked was it never truly leaves my psyche.
When an author begins a new series, no matter how much I love the author's works to that point, there is always a layer of "can the author really knock another one out of the park?" Lets face it, even the greatest authors of all time have been known to put out a clunker or 2 and be it next year or 20 years from now, the day will come when King has a slightly less than stellar release . . .
BUT TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY!
Rise of the Ruthless is the exact opposite of clunker.
I'll admit I don't think I can say Ruthless topped Wicked but honestly that comes down to Wicked being the first. The first is 99.999% of the time always my favorite. Though Ren and Mykel definitely give Dante and Rainn a heated race for that notch in my heart representing Lucifer's Landing. Does their pairing meet the "opposites attract" label? That's a toss up. Yes they are definitely opposites in the "where my moral line in the sand sits" column(at least in the beginning) but their passion to protect loved ones and family is very much in the "equals" category. The column I put them in is what I like to call "Snark and Cuddle". They each give as good as they get, they can match snark for snark but they can both cuddle till their hearts explode from the emotional chemistry. There is absolutely nothing I didn't like about them.
I can't forget Zeus. How anyone could forget such a protective beast that can be both ferocious and gentle is unfathomable to me. Animals often play a variety of roles in a story but I don't think I've ever loved one so dearly that they truly are their own character. If Davidson King were to write a bonus chapter from Zeus' POV I would be first in line to gobble it up.
Now I won't touch on the mystery side of the story as I don't want to spoil anything for either Ruthless or Wicked for those who haven't visited Lucifer's Landing yet. I will say that there might not be quite as many twists and turns as in Wicked but Ruthless still keeps you on your toes from page one. There is never a dull moment for the characters or the reader.
The passion and chemistry between not only Ren and Mykel but Ren and Dante's friendship is equally powerful(for different reasons but I still label it passionate chemistry). I always find an extra special connection to stories and characters when there is more than just the romantic chemistry involved in the book which makes for an all encompassing storytelling experience.
It took me a few days to read the story and I wish I could say I did that on purpose to savor the King yumminess but it was time that dictated my reading clock. Had time been on my side, I could easily have read this in one setting and then kicked myself for not savoring it, that's just how engrossing this entry is. However you choose to set your reading pace, I highly recommend giving Lucifer's Landing a visit, if you haven't dipped your toe in yet you really should start with War of the Wicked because even though Rise of the Ruthless revolves around a different pairing there is an ongoing storyline....more
How is it possible that someone who can create such dark, twisted, and ethically ambiguous characters so expertly is walking around free and innocent How is it possible that someone who can create such dark, twisted, and ethically ambiguous characters so expertly is walking around free and innocent in the world without creating such havoc and mayhem in their wake? Just kidding. Davidson King, though innocent may be a bit of a stretch in certain areas...more
Original Audiobook Review October 2024: Well I didn't let The Last Seer go as long as the previous entry, Emperor of Dragons, but it still went unlisteOriginal Audiobook Review October 2024: Well I didn't let The Last Seer go as long as the previous entry, Emperor of Dragons, but it still went unlistened to for 4 months. Shameful...more
All authors have one genre they excel at, no matter how great their writing is across the board, there is one category that speaks to them on a littleAll authors have one genre they excel at, no matter how great their writing is across the board, there is one category that speaks to them on a little higher level. For Davidson King, that genre is mafia-level mayhem. Seriously, she writes danger and mayhem so fluently I can't help but wonder if she isn't living a created life in witness protection due to flipping on her mob boss to keep her family safe. How can one create so consistently without having lived in that world at some point in her past?...more
Original Audiobook Review June 2024: There is nothing I can add to my original review that could possibly express how much I love this book and WelcomeOriginal Audiobook Review June 2024: There is nothing I can add to my original review that could possibly express how much I love this book and Welcome Boulevard as a whole. So many emotions that take you all over the place and yet heart is at the center of it all. Heartwarming love, friendship, found family, just plain heart that fills you with all the warm and fuzzies imaginable. Now, don't get me wrong, despite all the warmth there is also plenty of mayhem that only Davidson King can weave throughout the story that somehow manages to not only get the adrenaline pumping but heightens the warmth amidst the danger.
As I stated in my audio review of book 1, They Call Him Levity, Cendese and Alces are brilliant narration that brings the story to life. Pulls you in so deeply that you don't know where Clove and Marcel end and your daily activities begin because you are there, they are here. That's the best way to say how alive Cendese & Alces make these characters.
This edition of Breathe My Name is a perfect marriage of words and voice.
Original Review March 2023: I feel the need to scream "HOLY HANNAH, BATMAN! Davidson King has done it again!" but that seems almost redundant because there hasn't been a time King hasn't done it with her brilliant knack at storytelling. So I guess I'll skip it this time...more
I want to start by saying if you read the author's original Lucifer's Landing(which sorry to say I did not get around to so I can't speak from experieI want to start by saying if you read the author's original Lucifer's Landing(which sorry to say I did not get around to so I can't speak from experience) this is heavily edited and expanded. When the author got the rights back she set out to create the story she originally wanted and envisioned and that is how War of the Wicked came to be.
Now, on to War of the Wicked.
HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!!! Once again Davidson King delivered!
I have to be honest, mafia, especially contemporary mob stories, have never been my genre of choice. I love learning about the heyday of the mafia, i.e. the 1920s and prohibition but as the mob evolved into more contemporary ages I become less interested. Well, fictional mob tales are the same usually. That's not to say I don't enjoy them I just don't seek them out. Davidson King is such a dynamo in the field of storytelling I can't help but read her take on the violent world of mafia. If you read the author regularly it's hard to imagine she could possibly get any darker but personally I think Wicked is just that, her darkest yet.
There are so many amazing factors in Lucifer's Landing that I won't touch on so I don't spoil anything. I do want to touch on one of the elements that stood out for me(beyond the chemistry between Dante and Rainn as well as a few others I highly expect to see get their own journey): sex workers. Of course there is the negative side of the occupation but amongst most of the characters, the author does not shame the sex workers(except where it's meant to create division and discord). Is it an occupation they chose to be in? Of course not. But they know it's a job that keeps them alive and frankly King gives them respect for surviving and doing what they have to to do so and that is rarely seen in fiction or reality.
As for Dante and Rainn. There's just something about an alpha male with a heart who can be tender and dangerous at the flip of a switch and at times even all at once. Dante Scavo is definitely dangerous and that can mean he does things that scare people away or attract those with a violence fetish so when he meets Rainn I think he's a little . . . well, gobsmacked at his presence. Dante's desire to possess, protect, and provide creates problems(or potential for problems) with those around him. However, Rainn is not your typical character and he doesn't freak out easily, he may not be an alpha male but he's no pushover and he isn't afraid to speak up(even though there are a few times he maybe should've been...more
Davidson King has created some pretty amazing stories but Haven Hart will always be my favorite. Perhaps it's siOh how I love returning to Haven Hart!
Davidson King has created some pretty amazing stories but Haven Hart will always be my favorite. Perhaps it's simply because it was the first, perhaps it's the power the characters have at grabbing your heart, perhaps its just the right balance of snark and cuddle, soft heart and dangerous mayhem . . . whatever the reason, Haven Hart universe is brilliant! And this Halloween holiday novella is no different. Law of Retaliation grabs your attention and doesn't let go.
I won't give out any spoilers(as if you had any doubts on that) so the plot won't be touched on. We get to see all the characters we have come to know and love celebrating the spooky holiday, otherwise known as Halloween but as par for the course, nothing quite goes according to plan. The characters may get a little rattled at first but then they jump into action as only they can.
As Bette Davis says in All About Eve: "Fasten your seatbelts; it's going to be a bumpy night."
One of the things I loved about Law is being able to see the characters talk about their families and the home lives they are fighting to protect. Lovely! Lovely! Lovely! Just another day in Haven Hart, even though you know these characters interact throughout their days in various forms, the gathering at Atlas' club, Joker's Sin for Halloween has a very class reunion feel minus the occasional screams of "OMG! I can't believe they dared to show their face after all these years!"
I will confess that I haven't had a chance to read the last 2 novels in the Joker's Sin series so yes, a few of the couples journeys were unknown to me and I know I would have had a deeper connection to said characters had I read those books but I wasn't lost. The author does a fantabulous job to make sure the reader knows the couples have had a long hard fought road to reach where they are so it's easy to love and root for them all. She does that in a way that gives you insight yet no spoilers for those like me who have to go back and discover their journeys.
I know we'll be getting Fred Brennan's story down the road and I can't help but wonder who he'll find himself entangled with and if that character might have been spoken of briefly already? If it is then what a ride Fred's about to travel and if not, he'll still be facing an intriguing journey knowing the author's attraction to danger.
So once again I say; "Oh how I love returning to Haven Hart!" and I'll add: Here's to many, many, many more trips around the sun with the residents of that unlawfully, chaotic, mayhem filled city. So bring it on, Miss King, I'll be here for every single one!...more
HOLY MOLEY SWEET PETUTIE! Davidson King has done it again! AGAIN I SAY! How is possible that so many dramatic danger-filled romantic suspense stories HOLY MOLEY SWEET PETUTIE! Davidson King has done it again! AGAIN I SAY! How is possible that so many dramatic danger-filled romantic suspense stories keep percolating in one author's brain? Must be all the coffee I know she refuses to start the day without.
Seriously though, The Button Man is brilliant in so many ways.
First: the name. The Button Man. Such a common daily item that most of us use at least once a day. Let's face it as a nickname you'd expect the moniker for someone who dresses dapper with high end suits or perhaps likes lots of bling on his body. But not King's anti-hero MC. I won't spoil the reason behind said nickname but I love it. Common, clever, unique, legacy . . . sometimes the simplicity of titles can make the biggest impact.
Second: the cast of characters. As for Duke and Kelly, they are a meshing of both sides of the scale. Duke is the hired killer with a legitimate business front and Kelly is the computer geeky teacher with a keeping the hired killer safe sideline. Polar opposites that occupy the same existence without knowing it. When their worlds collide, you can literally see them being totally gobsmacked, that's just how vivid Davidson King's creativity shines. As for the rest of the cast, also equally lovely and 150% needed, not a single character is just thrown in for page or scene filler, they all have a part to play.
Third: the mystery. I love a good who done it or who's behind it woven web. I won't go into too many details because I don't want to spoil this masterpiece for others. I'll just say that I had a few inklings early on that were partially right and there were a couple possibilities that floated in about 2/3 of the way through that ended up being nearly completely wrong. By the time revelations were shared, my brain was a mish mash of "I thought ??? would factor in" and "HOLY CRAP! ??? never even fluttered in".
Last but not least: the family man. I've made no secret of the fact that I have found men who care for kids sexy as hell and Duke's little Everleigh, or Ever as she's called, is a delight. Seeing Duke, and eventually Kelly as a bit of an outsider acquaintance, care for her, protecting her, loving her is just icing on the cake.
Davidson King's talent for storytelling is once again rich and flavorful, a well stirred pot of spicy and sweet with just the right pinch of salt to enhance the taste. I don't know if the author has plans for this setting beyond The Button Man(either way is okay with me, as a standalone it's great but there is definite potential for more which would be equally as great) but I do have to admit that in a seemingly throwaway line, a one sentence statement in passing, Duke mentioned a name to someone in the same line of business he reached out to on the phone. I couldn't help but notice the name is a prominent character name in one of the author's other series. Coincidence? Perhaps. Hints at a future crossover? Perhaps. Please, oh please let it be the latter because seeing Duke and Kelly mixing with that crowd? Talk about mayhem X10. *...more
Original Audiobook Review October 2024: How can it possibly be 2+ years since I read Emperor of Dragons and an even bigger HOW has it been over a year Original Audiobook Review October 2024: How can it possibly be 2+ years since I read Emperor of Dragons and an even bigger HOW has it been over a year and a half since the audio originally released and I didn't listen? Well, I remedied that!
I can't really think of anything new to add to my original review to express my love for Emperor and the whole intriguing paranormal world that Davidson King has created in Black Veil so I'll let my original words below speak for the story. As for the narrators, Tim Paige & Declan Winters, they sure nail Emil and Aldrich spot on. I can't say who narrates who but whichever way it is, balanced with King's words, they bring to life every minute detail. I've often said in my audio reviews that my love of the old radio shows of the 30s, 40s, and 50s is a bench mark I factor into my expectation and there's something extra about dual narration that brings OTR even more into a checkpoint. Paige & Winters leaves me not only expecting to hear the sponsor's message but I swear I can hear the sound effects man creating the creaking doors, howling winds, and flapping wings painting the whole picture of the magic and mayhem fueling King's storytelling.
Yep, Davidson King, Tim Paige, & Declan Winters are a triad of story presentation . . . well I'd say "made in Heaven" but considering the genre and world being explored I'll just say "not to be missed"....more
Original Audiobook Review August 2023: How did it take so long to listen to Head Rush?!?!?!?! I said the same thing last year with Secret Simon so maybOriginal Audiobook Review August 2023: How did it take so long to listen to Head Rush?!?!?!?! I said the same thing last year with Secret Simon so maybe it was fate...more
You're the One ticks all my holiday romance boxes. Thomas and Noah's Christmas journey may not have the mystery, violence, and action that Davidson King often brings to the page but that doesn't make it any less brilliant. Personally, I think those missing elements speak volumes to the incredible talent the author has for storytelling.
Knowing King's penchant for giving her couples a HEA, I think we can all guess where the men's journey ends up but the road they travel getting there is so much fun, so full of holiday spirit, so many edge of your seat smiles that I won't spoil it for anyone. Just know that you won't be bored, you won't be Bah Humbugging, you'll be Santa HO! HO! HO-ing! many hours after the final page.
If you're a fan of Hallmark Christmassy romances, not only will you love You're the One but you'll be blown away because IMO, King's holiday fare is 200% better. Some may call it "holiday schmaltz" but I call it "holiday heart". Davidson King may regret having written such a holiday gem because I am already highly anticipating next year's holiday story....more
Original Audiobook Review April 2024: As it so often goes when reviewing audios I can't think of anything new to add to my original that goes into exprOriginal Audiobook Review April 2024: As it so often goes when reviewing audios I can't think of anything new to add to my original that goes into expressing my love of the story. I can't believe it's been over 2 years since I experienced Levity, and yes I said "experience" not just "read" because that is what Davidson King delivers: a story to be experienced, a story you get so caught up in you feel like you are living it not just reading it. Alexander Cendese and Philip Alces helps further that experience by giving voice to the characters of Welcome Boulevard.
I rarely, and by "rarely" I mean 99.9999% never listen to an audio without reading beforehand. Mostly because I listen as I work in the kitchen or on the computer and can zone out no matter how much I'm loving the story my mind will focus on what I'm doing at times. By reading the story first I haven't lost the plot and don't have to spend 30 minutes trying to find where I last tuned in. Zoning out on my part has nothing to do with the narration it's just how my mind works sometimes...more
Original Audiobook Review February 2022: Last summer when I first read The Blood Boss it really helped boost be up as my mother was 3 months into what Original Audiobook Review February 2022: Last summer when I first read The Blood Boss it really helped boost be up as my mother was 3 months into what would be 108 days in the hospital and I was in a hotel across the street the whole time. I can still remember sitting in the hospital cafeteria being completely blown away by Davidson King's newest series. As timing went I needed a similar morale boost the last 10 days, my mother is home but was completely wore down as she dealt with an infection, I knew this was the audio I needed.
I wasn't wrong.
I knew what was coming so the adrenaline rush one gets for a first time read may not have been as high but I was still completely hooked. The combination of King's words and the dual narration of Tim Paige and Declan Winters that brought said words to life made everything pop. More than once, I looked up expecting the visuals in my head to be playing on the television.
This is the first time I've listened to a book by either narrator, which just like a new-to-me author can be iffy going in but Davidson King has once again chosen wisely. Everything was just spot on and left me even hungrier for the next Black Veil journey.
Original Review August Book of the Month 2021: HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!!! Once again Davidson King has proven that the Force is strong within her because . . . WOW! The talent for storytelling that runs through her veins is so strong, if it really was the force she could singlehandedly blow up the Death Star. Her gift of words is so powerful you can't help but get sucked in once you start.
I won't say she had "fears" about venturing into the paranormal genre but I'm sure there were inner hesitancies but she needn't have worried because the world King has created in her new series, Black Veil, really is the complete package. The Blood Boss, or as those closest to him call him, Cain may be a vampire of few words but you know he's the boss by his presence. "Presence" may seem like an odd word to use in literature since you aren't seeing the character on a screen or stage but the world building that Davidson King has created is so vivid and descriptive, I felt like I was witnessing it right outside my window. You really lose yourself in the book and become part of the environment that is Black Veil and the desire to discover all it's little nooks and crannies, rumors and truths, and how the lines of good and evil can sometimes blur.
As for the main characters, Cain and Jayce? Well, I mentioned the power Cain gives off but he also has heart(and yes I realize that's an odd thing to say about a vampire but its no less true), he cares for others more than he wants the world to know. We meet Jayce as he steps in to receive punishment for a debt his father hasn't been able to pay back and he doesn't do this on a whim, this is the kind of man he is. Put these two together and you have a recipe for what could be complete and utter chaos or the grand champion winning pie at the fair that you want to eat even though its been sitting on the judging table for days. Which is it? Trick question really, on one hand I won't give particulars to spoil anything but truth be told Cain and Jayce are a little bit of both, chaos and champion.
Cain and Jayce and the supporting cast of characters who I'm sure we'll get to see more of in future installments makes The Blood Boss an absolutely delicious read sure to satisfy any and all your fiction hungers....more
Original Audiobook Review April 2022: How in the world has it taken me so long to listen to Secret Simon?!?!?!?! The audiobook was released last OctobeOriginal Audiobook Review April 2022: How in the world has it taken me so long to listen to Secret Simon?!?!?!?! The audiobook was released last October and here it is nearly May, again HOW? Oh well, no matter how long it took for me to listen, I've listened and once again I fell even further for Haven Hart. Having recently read book 2, Head Rush, everything was fresh in my mind but that didn't lessen the depths I fell again for Simon and Rush. Truth is, there's not much more I can say to the story itself or the storytelling genius that also goes by the name of Davidson King.
What I will say is this: I never listened to a dual narration before King's audios and was leery going in but loved it instantly. I'm not sure why I had any hesitancy because I love the old radio shows of the 30s and 40s and a good audio portrayal always reminded me of the classic radio platform. Truth is John Solo and Alexander Cendese bring so much passion and strength to the characters that I can almost hear Harlow Wilcox breaking in with the ad for spark plugs he pitched on Suspense all those years ago. Not only do they bring Simon, Rush, and all the characters to life, I can hear the sound effects, I can hear the studio audience gasping with "oohs" and "ahhs" with each new revelation.
Another winning combination of author's words and narrators' voices to heighten the enjoyment of Secret Simon, the new Haven Hart-connected journey.
Original Review June Book of the Month 2021: HOLY HANNAH BATMAN! OMG! The Force is with us all! We have a new Haven Hart book by Davidson King!!!!!!
Okay, I got that out of my system, lets continue.
I should start by pointing out as the author mentions at the end of the blurb, Secret Simon is not linked to the original 7 book arc, story-wise at least. We see a few of the characters and of course "Simon" is Eight all grown up(he's still Eight to Snow but I have a feeling Snow will still be calling him Eight when he's 60). So if you haven't read Davidson King's Haven Hart universe you can start here although I don't know that I would want to, you won't be lost in any way, shape, or form. To be honest, I am a series-read-in-order kinda gal and Haven Hart is one of my all time favorite series of all genres.
Secret Simon. Flat out brilliant! This story has it all(okay there's no sci-fi or apocalyptic end of the world stuff although going after Christopher Manos' family probably won't end well for anyone) romance, mystery, heat, action, friendship, danger, love, family, and it wouldn't be Haven Hart without mayhem and plenty of well . . . heart(see what I did there...more
Once again Davidson King has stomped on my heart, kicked me in the gut, Mama Bear Hugged me into submission, and all around bedazzled the beejeesus ouOnce again Davidson King has stomped on my heart, kicked me in the gut, Mama Bear Hugged me into submission, and all around bedazzled the beejeesus out of me.
From Max deciding whether or not to apply a little self-love before his sister walks in to the satisfying ending to Sparkles' past hiccup(and yes it's far, far worse and heartwrenching than a hiccup but I don't want to give any details away so let's go with "past hiccup"), To Die For is certainly worthy of the Joker's Sin tag, the Haven Hart Universe, and the storytelling stamp of the incredibly talented Davidson King. Just Yummy!
When we met Max in book 1, My Whole World, I'll admit I was less than impressed with him but I also knew there was more to the man than bedding anyone and everyone on two legs so I held back any permanent judgement. Boy was I right to do so. So much more to him. Again, I won't give anything away but just know that if you are familiar with Miss King's work than you know nothing is as it seems at first glance but getting to watch what makes her characters tick is an absolute dream.
As for Sparkles(Or Lane as he is known in his day job)? He is the kind of character you really need to experience for yourself to grasp. He too is more than what many see: club patron and dancer, I don't like to label people too much but I will say he has this aura around him that make some see only the outside and not the inside, see his moves but not what makes him move. I said "aura" well that may seem a bit flowery, but it certainly understandable why they call him Sparkles, when he's dancing he literally sparkles, he shines, because that is where he can "be free". Will he let people see(and yes by people I mainly mean Max) that aura, that sparkle goes far deeper than appearance and moves, it's just part of who he is.
Together Max and Sparkles have the potential to exude brilliance but will they live up to what each thinks the other needs? You know the answer to that: read to find out. You won't regret it. Do I want to say they evolve before my eyes once they found "the one"? No, but they certainly grow, they seem to find their spot in this world, not because they had to have someone to make themselves special or complete but because once they find each other there's this desire within to be what the other needs and in turn it gives them a focus to see other things around them and inside themselves clearer too.
Once again, we see that Joker's Sin is not just a place of employment, a club to let go, it is a family and as it should be, family looks out for each other. As in My Whole World, this family comes together to help Max and Sparkles with the previously mentioned "hiccup", to keep them safe. I don't do spoilers and I don't really think I am spoiling anything with these vague mentions because Davidson King always has heart, a HEA in her stories but it's the journey that is the where it all comes together and I'll never spoil that.
Is To Die For as brilliant as My Whole World? Definitely. Did I love Max and Sparkles as much as Atlas and Toby? Probably not quite. Is the difference even worth rating? Hell no. The men who work and play at Joker's Sin will grab you until you can't let go, they are characters that remain long after you've swiped/turned that last page. If you haven't read Davidson King before, don't wait another minute! She is definitely on my Top 10 All-Time Favorite Authors list, if there was an All Star game for authors she would be a shoe-in. Truth is(and I know I've said it before but I just can't stress this point enough) she is a genuine storyteller. What is the difference you ask? For me, an author spins a good yarn, entertains you, makes you see other aspects of life but a storyteller will create a world you not only read but you find yourself living within the covers of the book, you become part of the story, your senses come alive and in the case of her Joker's Sin series, you are sitting at the next table, you are standing on the street corner waiting for the light to change so you aren't late to get in the doors, so much so that there is a level of grief when you reach the last page and have to say goodbye(for now) to the people and the places....more