Hisses and Honey (The Venom Trilogy, #3) by Shannon Mayer

Hisses and Honey by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! Alena just keeps getting stronger and sassier!

I love Shannon's ability to draw you into the story and make you a part of it. You can't help but root for Alena with her insecurities and burgeoning strength which sometimes seem so at odds with each other. This final part of the trilogy is a true coming-of-age story for our heroine.

Having beaten two of Hera's heroes she now must face a third WITH a monster... and a raging increase in the Aegrus virus to boot. Can she - and her friends and family - triumph over Hera, or will all be lost?

With the ending of this story I can't wait to read a spin-off series which is so strongly hinted at! ;)

**I received a complimentary e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

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Bound (The Nevermore Trilogy Anniversary Edition #2) by Shannon Mayer

Bound by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book continues the story begun in Sundered. There are hard truths to be accepted, and hard choices to be made. The new reality does not allow for the weak or weak of heart to survive. Forced to leave their home, Mara & Sebastian must try to navigate their new reality and decide which is more dangerous - the humans who "rescued" them... or the Nevermores. Can Mara become "monster" enough to survive? Can they get back to the few allies they had managed to cultivate?

Reading this series pulls the reader into the world that Mara & Sebastian are trying to live in. You are worried/afraid/sad/jubilant when they are. Not all authors are good enough t their trade to involve you in their characters lives, but Shannon manages to do it time after time.

A cross between Resident Evil and Titanic this series would appeal to those who are looking for love and all it is capable of in times of extreme duress.

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Sundered (The Nevermore Trilogy Anniversary Edition #1) by Shannon Mayer

Sundered by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mara & Sebastian bring us into a world that could be today... in Canada... that becomes a nightmare overnight. A young couple who seemingly have it all... except the child Mara so desperately wants. When a seeming "miracle" drug appears that should end their fertility issues Mara jumps at the chance to use it - only to learn she's allergic to the primary component. And, then things start to unravel...

Shannon is a true wordsmith, and I adore her ability to create worlds that let you "live" with the characters in her stories. I had not read the original trilogy before so I can't compare this revision to the original, but I can say that this series is worth a read.

Unlike her other series - Rylee Adamson & The Elemental - this series is not a genre I would normally read on my own. I feel this series would appeal to anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic and/or zombie stories . While this series doesn't truly deal with zombies the creatures are similar enough that they have that type of feeling/read.

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Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer

Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received an e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
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An action-packed debut in an imaginative new series! Shannon has a way with words that pulls you in and paints pictures in your mind.

Alena is a protagonist with whom it is very easy to empathize. Brought up within the confines of a very strict and unforgiving religion, Alena must now face some hard truths in order to not only survive, but to thrive, in her newly formed life. Unlike other female protagonists in Shannon's Elemental series and Rylee Adamson series, Alena has NOT been raised to be a warrior of any kind. In fact, if anything she was raised to believe that fighting back was a sin.

I love that she finds her solace in baking. (Maybe we'll be getting some recipes in future books?!) And, have a hard time deciding whether Yaya or Ernie is my favorite secondary character.

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Ash by Shannon Mayer

Ash by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
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SPOILER ALERT - If you have not yet read Rootbound skip this!

Have you wondered what Ash REALLY thinks of Lark? Are you curious as to HOW Ash was turned into a golden eagle? Maybe you just wonder what kind of trouble Lark's cohorts get into when she not around? If you answered yes to any - or all - of those questions, then this is the book for you!

I won't lie - there were tears shed during the reading, some angry - some sad. Ash gets to tell us his side of the story starting with Lark's banishment to the desert and ending with when he next gets to see her - on Raven's arm. There's tons of adventure and action like any of Shannon's books, but the male narrative is an interesting perspective after so many female ones.

Can't wait to see what Shannon brings us next!

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LIAM (The Riley Adamson Epilogues) by Shannon Mayer

LIAM by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
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Honestly? My only complaint is how quick I read it! Tears were shed, but they were (mostly) good tears. Shannon has another treasure of a story on her hands!

Liam has chased after Riley for years; suspected her, hated her, commiserated with her, and loved her. Now, after the battle that could have ended the world, he needs to find peace within himself so that they can move forward together.

The triplets are sick - dying - and only Liam and Levi can save them by finding them an ogre wet nurse. As with any of Riley's adventures there is no plan other to find the wet nurse and get her back to the triplets... in under 48 hours. Oh, and did I mention in some of THE most hostile territory they've ever been in?!

Shannon's ability to draw the reader in continues in this book, but with a twist - it's Liam speaking this time - not Riley! Don't miss out on another awesome piece of Riley's world. Snag LIAM now!

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Rootbound by Shannon Mayer

Rootbound by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
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"Oh, little Larkspur. Your desire to fit in, to be the good girl. It will be the death of you, I think."
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Lark has learned that the gem stones are not as safe as she though, and she must gather them up again. With Peta, Bella, and Shazer, Lark sets off once again to try to prevent the destruction of the world.

I love how this series twines with the Rylee Adamson series, and how Shannon always tries to be forthcoming about timelines between and among the two series. You can read one without the other, but... why would you?!

As always, Shannon's writing is detail-oriented, action-packed, and full of sarcastic wit - all of which are at the top of my list for "great reads" .

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RYLEE (The Rylee Adamson Epilogues) by Shannon Mayer

Rylee by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
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OMGEEEEEEEE!! Rylee is back - taking names and kicking butt!

True fans all bawled buckets of tears when Blood of the Lost ended. But, because she screams so loudly in her author's head, now we get to see where Rylee has ended up a year later.

Rylee is having trouble transitioning from Tracker to daywalking vampire. When she transitioned she lost her tracking abilities and immunity. She has gained immense strength and healing abilities among other things, but to remain alive she now requires blood - something only a monster would require to her previous mindset - and that is causing her to question who she really is. Her fears and worries are holding her back from her patchwork family, and while the love remains as strong as ever her relationship with Liam is strained.

Enter a job... While she has either passed off to other family members - or completely rejected - most jobs for months now, this one calls to her. Liam agrees that she should do this job as a way of finding not only the lost girl, but also herself. Her investigation leads her into The Pit. And, of course, Rylee manages to find new friends along the way.

Another awe-inspiring chapter in the world of Rylee Adamson by Shannon Mayer! I can't wait to read more in the epilogues!

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Replica by Shannon Mayer & Denise Grover Swank

Replica by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

** I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
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Wow! WOW! And, WOWZA! How two authors manage to co-write with two characters who are so similar and so different and make it all blend so seamlessly is beyond me!

Rachel and Lea pick up shortly after where Recombinant left off. Rachel still doesn't realize the full extent of the bond she and Lea now share, and they are going their separate ways to try to fight the powers that be creating the unnatural supernatural creatures that now lurk in the shadows. Fate steps in though, and that's where it gets really interesting! Joined by two men who are almost as similar and different as Rachel and Lea - the women are now in a race against time and outside forces to shut down the Asclepius project.

I love the humor, (sarcasm), action, and emotions that are all a HUGE part of this series. Throw in supernatural creatures and you a have lure I am hopeless to resist!

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A Rylee Adamson Omnibus: Boooks 1-3 by Shannon Mayer

A Rylee Adamson Omnibus: Books 1-3 by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the continuity of having the first 3 books all in one file. It saved me having to go find the next book to be sure I had the right file to listen to after each story.

The thing I love most about Rylee's story is Rylee's attitude and Alex's devotion. They are the things that my reading dreams are made of! I feel there is a special layer if imagination added any time you hear a story vs. reading it, and this edition did that for me.

I wish I had the time to do listen to the entire omnibus in one sitting, but most of my listening time is while I am driving or when I am alone at work. With 19 hours and 29 minutes of listening it would be hard to do even if it weren't for those restrictions!

My only issue with this edition is that for the first book and a half or so there didn't seem to be much audio differentiation between Rylee's voice and Liam's which disturbed me a little. By about 1/2 way through the 2nd book there seems to be more of a difference in the two voices.

Overall, well worth the money! I'll be snagging Book 4 in audio as soon as I can!

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Windburn by Shannon Mayer

Windburn by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
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Book 4 of the Elemental series is all you've come to expect... and more! Shannon has managed to bring together elements from all of the previous 3 books as well as some of Rylee's story from her Rylee Adamson series to create a beautiful and spellbinding 4th story for Lark.

Quick-paced, highly-imaginative, and intricately-detailed are just some of the many ways this book (and series) can be described. I love Lark and her world. Strong female protagonists are always a winning point in my opinion, and Lark does not disappoint on that front. No matter the foe or circumstances she stands firm in her beliefs - even when it costs her.

I can't wait to get my hands on Rootbound!

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