Review : Trader Prince of Aleshtain by Ariel Paiement

Happy new year to all the readers out there. May your 2021 be filled with success, prosperity and happiness.

To start my new year right, I wanted to pick up a book that had romance, great characters and an incredible plot. Trader prince of Aleshtain by Ariel Paiement was just what I needed. This is the second book in the legends of Alcardia fantasy series, (you can find my review of the first book in this series here) and can be read as a standalone. 

In the first book we are introduced to two characters Dhiabhan and Rhubhian. They are an important element in the first book, but their back story is kept under wraps. At the time of reading the first book, I was very curious to know Dhiabhan’s back story, as, it’s unusual to hear of a prince who becomes a trader. The second book eased my curiosity as it provides us with Dhiabhan and Rhubhian's back story.

Dhiabhan, who is also known by the name of Eras, is the prince of Aleshtain and next in line to become a king. Aleshtain is a kingdom where corruption, greed, and slavery are rampant. It’s a place where the king eagerly participates in buying women slaves and filling up his harem. But this is something that Eras hates. It’s against the principles that his mother brought him up with. Until one day, Eras is forced by his father, the king, to take up a slave. This slave’s name is Rhubhian. Eras accepts his father’s decision but takes a bold step to protect her rather than enslave her. Will Eras be able to protect her amidst a rotten system? Will he be able to give her freedom back?

This book is special. I went into it thinking that, like the first book it would be an adventure. But this is not an adventure, it’s a story about two people developing a very pure relationship. This relationship is based on trust, love and friendship. It’s about how two people protect each other from all the wrongs that the world has in store for them. I loved how the author gave enough time to the characters to build a relationship. This helped me as a reader to get a lot more invested in the story. 

 

 

With complex character and an amazing plot this story engages the reader from the first page. I loved the friendship that Eras shares with Ifan. Ifan  and Eras support each other no matter what danger faces them. Each character in this book was very beautifully crafted and well rounded. They served their purpose to the story very well.

Writing in this book is commendable. Crafting of the complex relationship is extremely well done. For instance, as a reader I could feel what predicament Eras and Rhubhian were in. Especially, when they start to develop feeling for each other, which according to the society is wrong, since he is a prince and she is a slave. 

Another notable thing about this story is the elements that are used in it. For instance, one of the elements of this story is how bad advisors to a king, who only give advice that serves them rather than the entire kingdom, can lead to a kingdom’s downfall. Specifically, when the king is cowardly and does not have his own opinions. Another element, that I really appreciated in this story was when Eras find an unlikely ally in Aladhan.

Trader prince of Aleshtain is a beautiful story of perseverance, friendship, trust and an incredible love story. It’s a book that will take you through an emotional roller coaster. A book that leaves you with wanting more. 

I would rate it a 5 out of 5 stars.

 

Get you copy here :

Amazon

(also available in kindle unlimited)

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Blog Tour (Excerpt + review): The Villain by L.J. Shen

"A love story with teeth and claws. I dare you not to fall in love with Cillian Fitzpatrick." - USA Today bestselling author, Parker S. Huntington

The Villain, an all-new twisted modern day Greek tragedy from USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author L.J. Shen is available now!

Cruel. Coldblooded. Hades in a Brioni suit.

Cillian Fitzpatrick has been dubbed every wicked thing on planet earth.

To the media, he is The Villain.

To me, he is the man who (reluctantly) saved my life.

Now I need him to do me another, small solid.

Bail me out of the mess my husband got me into.

What’s a hundred grand to one of the wealthiest men in America, anyway?

Only Cillian doesn’t hand out free favors.

The price for the money, it turns out, is my freedom.

Now I’m the eldest Fitzpatrick brother’s little toy.

To play, to mold, to break.

Too bad Cillian forgot one, tiny detail.

Persephone wasn’t only the goddess of spring; she was also the queen of death.

He thinks I’ll buckle under the weight of his mind games.

He is about to find out the most lethal poison is also the sweetest.

 

As soon as I read the above blurb, I was sold on this book. Cillian is bad news and Persephone sounds like exactly the person to tame him. On the evening of 13th December 2020, I received my ARC, and frankly, I have never delved harder into a book as I did this time. 

The villain, for me, is the best novel so far in 2020. The story is heart-breaking, smoking hot, intense, and beautiful. It will make you cry, fall in love with the characters, and tug at your heartstrings. 

The characters in the story, are well-rounded. Persephone is a badass character and no damsel in distress. She knows what she wants and how to get it. She also has the best comebacks. I especially loved when she told off Cillian's secretary. That made me laugh so hard. I've never heard or read of such an amazing comeback.

Cillian, on the other hand, is a rough-edged, angry, and intense billionaire, who is immune to emotions. He is dark, doomed, and unredeemable.

The chemistry and romance between these two characters are to die for. Romance is steamy and hot. The push and pull, and the entire drama surrounding their lives just makes this story an epic. The way Cillian protects Persephone, Oh my god!!!!!!!! just no words.

L.J. Shen has done an incredible job at writing this story. The story pulls at the heartstrings of the reader. While reading this book, I fell in love with the characters and cried my heart out when something hurt them. A line that I absolutely adored in this story is,

 

The strongest hearts have the most scars

 

Shen always tends to include a special element in her stories, for this story it was Tinder (a kid). Without going into specifics, the entire equation that Persephone shares with Tinder is special and very well written.

The villain is second in the series Boston Belles but can be read as a standalone.

After calling this book, the best read of the year, I don't think there is a need for a rating. However, if I had to rate this book I would definitely give it a 5 out of 5 stars.

Trigger warning- Has elements of physical child abuse.

 

 Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lWU0pT

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TheVillain

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3757c81

Add The Villain to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/LJVillianGR

Excerpt

I leaned against the doorframe, hands tucked in my front pockets, and observed. It took
her three minutes to notice me. Another two to lift her jaw off the floor, straighten her
spine, and turn scarlet. Our eyes met across the room, and that nagging murmur in my
chest happened again.
Get that checked. If you drop dead from a heart attack at forty, you’ll have no one else
to blame. She winced, looking like I physically slapped her.
“Mr. Fitzpatrick.”
“Miss Penrose.”
“Veitch,” she corrected, just to spite me.
“Not for long,” I noted dryly. “A word?”
“I know many. My favorite one right now is—leave.”

“You want to hear me out.” I cracked my knuckles. “Now say goodbye to your little
friends.”
She looked back and forth between the kids and me, then turned and murmured
something to the teacher next to her, and hurried my way, dunking her head down.
“What are you doing here?”
She closed the door behind her, whisper-shouting.
I’ve been asking myself the same question since bailing on Keith and his snooze-fest
speech. What the hell was I doing here?

About L.J. Shen

L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of
contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to twenty different countries.

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and
enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

Connect with L.J. Shen

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OhSvp1

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For more information, join L.J. Shen’s reader group: http://bit.ly/2lTnonw
Stay up to date on all release news.
Follow L.J. Shen on Instagram: https://bit.ly/LJShenIG

 

 

 

 

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Review : Blood and Bone by Paula Dombrowiak

 

I have always been a great admirer for rockstar romances. They generally have beautiful poetry and, intense romance and drama. I have been on a hunt for such a story and this weeks recommendation put an end to this hunt.

This weeks recommendation is Blood and Bone by Paula Dombrowiak. 

 

Jack O'Donnell who is a middle aged rockstar has known fame in his days. He was the singer, lyricist and guitar player in the band named Mogo. However, all the members of this band have always kept their lives away from media and tabloids. Thus, to get some story on them, Erin Langford, a journalist, shows up at Jack's house to interview him. But Jack refuses.

When she goes back to her car all dejected and upset, she see's an ambulance going towards Jack's house. Suddenly the next moment Jack is in her car directing her to follow the ambulance. Will Erin be able to get her story? What is the story behind Jack?

This book takes you on an amazing journey that is Jack O'Donnell's life. From his childhood to his rockstar fame and everything in between. The best part about this book is the way it's written. As the story jumps from past to present, you get to experience Jack's life from his eyes. This helps in getting an in-depth understanding into Jack's character. It helps to understand why Jack ends up making his life a mess.

The entire transformation that Jack goes through in this book is just amazing. He goes from a rebel but soft at heart to a compassionate mature adult who owns up to all his bad decisions and tries to right all the wrongs. 

My favorite character in this book apart from the protagonist was Wade. His comments were funny and he is way too chill in intense situations. Also, how can I forget the poetry. The song from where Jack's journey starts is Blood and Bone. The lyrics of this songs are excellent. Further, this book has some really great dialogues between the characters, one of my favorite is,

"Pain has a way of cutting into all of us and sometimes it's so deep that it can't heal."

The only thing that bothered me about this story was the entire relationship angle between Erin and Jack. It would have been interesting had there been a story line on how and why Erin and Jack start developing feeling for one another.

All in all, this was a beautiful story about a rockstar's journey. It has swoon worthy romance and a super interesting story-line.

I would rate this book as a 4 out of 5 stars.

You can get this book at the following links: - 

Amazon IN 

I would like to thank Paula for giving me the opportunity to review this amazing book.

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Review: Playing with fire by L.J. Shen

 Hi there!

 

This week was full of emotions for me. Like a serious emotional roller coaster. I cried, laughed and fell in love (With a book). Even though, I have been reading books since I was very young, but there are only few that created a space for themselves in my heart. So without further ado let me introduce you to the book that shook me to the core and will always be in my heart.

Playing with Fire by L.J. Shen is a master-piece. It is about this complex, yet beautiful love hate relationship between West and Grace. 

Grace experienced a very traumatic event in her life, the scars of which she bears even today, not only emotionally but also physically. These scars are the reason that she wants to be invisible to the world. She works at a food truck to support herself and her grandma. When one day she meets this handsome, popular and every girl's dream boy West St. Claire. Even though, they study at the same university, but this is the first time that West acknowledges her existence. He is obnoxious, rude, and somebody that Grace wants nothing to do with.  He wants a job and the food truck has an opening. 

This is an epic enemies to lovers romance. But most importantly there is an entire journey of healing from trauma, that is central to the story.  L.J. Shen has done a commendable job at very carefully unraveling the insecurities each of these characters have due to these traumas.

Some of my favourite lines from this book are,

We're all categorized. Stereotyped by our flaws and weaknesses. Welcome to life. It's a bitch and then you die.

 

Reality is overrated. Say yes to magic

 

 Playing with fire got me in a true dilemma. On one hand, this book is very difficult to put down and part with. On the other hand, I didn't want to finish this book very quickly.

In addition, I think a very important element of romance is making the reader feel what the characters are really going through. L.J. Shen has written this story so admirably that at no point would you feel disconnected with the main characters and not feel what they are feeling. This connection with the characters makes the reading process a lot more intense and helps the reader get more invested in the book.

I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars. 

I loved every bit of this story.

 

If you have read this book, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section. Also, if you would like to recommend some books to me which are similar to the one above, I would be very grateful.

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This book is available on Amazon and is also free on kindle unlimited.

 

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