Book Review: The Warlord's Captive by Cass Carlton

Author: Cass Carlton

Title: The Warlord’s Captive

Series: Alien Warlord Brides #1

Genre: SciFi, Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 316

Published: July 17, 2022

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

A female spaceship captain? That’s me. I shouldn’t have taken my vessel that route. I’m the captain of my ship. I’m the decision maker. Bad decision. I knew it was bad when the warlord appeared on the comms screen and pretty much said he wanted me to warm his bed. Now I’m avoiding pirates, warlords, and a clan war between alien warlords. Oh, and I’m trying to pay a debt off and save my crew’s life.

I’ve had dreams about her. She shouldn’t exist. This shouldn’t be a thing. But it is. She’s mine. My soul has marked her as such. I’m the captain of a warship. I’m a warlord from another planet. A human cannot be my soulmate. So why is fate bringing us together? Why is an antiquated arrangement used by my kind for eons determining that this human female is my mate. I don’t expect to seize her ship while she’s evading an attack.

Now, I’ve got to convince this fiercely independent sexy human that she’s the one. And try to keep her alive at the same time.

Review:

Picked this up to complete a bingo square on my reading challenge, plus, this didn't sound too bad. Love a fated romance. 

Here we have Valeria and Aedyn. Valeria has not only inherited a ship but she has some debts to pay off as well. This is the last run. Right? Enter in Aedyn. He's been having mate dreams that his species gets about their Fated Mate. The universe is so vast, so it is near impossible to find this Fated Mate. He has to ignore the dreams...he has a job to do. 

*wakes up* Oh? It's over. What did I miss? 

Yes, yes, I pushed through reading this because 1) I had hope that it would turn around and 2) I wanted the credit for my reading challenge...and 3) I love torturing myself I guess. 

I wanted to DNF so many times, but I pushed through. I started skimming the last quarter of the book JUST to be done with it. There was no real tension. No chemistry. No excitement. And the spice? Meh. 

All-in-all, this was not the one for me. Sure, SciFi isn't my favorite genre, but there is usually something that grabs me. Sadly, this wasn't for me. 

1 star. 

Reading Challenges

- Reading Romance Challenge #13 (Alien)

Audiobook Review: Marriage by Arrangement by Sophia Singh Sasson

Author: Sophia Singh Sasson

Narrator: Sharmila Devar
Title: Marriage by Arrangement

Series: (Nights at the Mahal, Book 1)

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook
Published:  August 1, 2020
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible) 

Summary: 

When a business proposal turns

very personal…

Rule #1: Don’t fall for the client.

Because he’ll rock your world…

Architect Rani Gupta will never let a man compromise her career or freedom again. Which is a problem now that her newest client is irresistible hotelier Arjun Singh—aka the sexiest bachelor in India. A little fling with this gorgeous man would be scandal enough. But a fake engagement might just be more trouble than they bargained for—especially if Arjun has a prior arrangement!

Review:

Randomly stumbled upon this while looking for something else. Yayyyyy! And it fits a challenge? Even better. 

Here we have Rani and Arjun. Rani is an architect, and Arjun needs a firm to help build his newest hotel. There are sparks immediately, but that can never be. Rani will never let a man and his family compromise her career or freedom EVER again. Arjun is supposed to marry a childhood friend, but neither of them wants it, and neither of them can find the courage to tell their families. Nothing can happen between them....nothing at all, but the universe has other plans. 

This was a lot of fun. I liked Rani and Arjun a lot. I loved watching them get to know each other and eventually fall into lust and then love. It was sweet. I did hate that Arjun didn't tell her of his engagement, BUT 1) Arjun and his "fiancé" made a pact they can date whomever and eventually they'll break it off or delay it for as long as they can, and 2) it was just a fling. He should've mentioned it, though, but I get why he didn't. 

I hated their families. Yes, yes, traditional values and etc, but GAH. I wanted to hit them all. They all eventually see the errors of their ways, but man, it killed me seeing Rani and Arjun treated like that. :/ I was very annoyed that there wasn't more resolution and more time for them to try and make it up to them. There needed to be more apologies and more conversation. It didn't sit well with me how quickly that was wrapped up and put to the side. 

The narration was lovely. Great voices and accents. 

All-in-all, I did like this one. It was not your A-typical boy-meets-girls and etc. It had a lot of differences and depth. Lots of twists and turns. 4 stars from me. 

 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #15

- Reading Romance Challenge #12 (Office romance)

Blodeuedd's Monday: Summer with My Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller and Maisey Yates

Author Linda Lael Miller, Maisey Yates

Narrated by Renee Dorian

Publication date Apr 28, 2026

Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher: Tantor Media

Categories: Romance /to review

These were two sweet short cowboy romances.

First we have Kendra and Gabe. Kendra left a horrible marriage to start fresh. Gabe is a widower. They meet, there is attraction. But she does not want another failed marriage.

There is some tiny drama with someone from her past, but mostly it is these two getting to know each other and her daring to try things again.

Sweet short novella.

Then there is Jane and Spencer. Two foster kids who met a camp, fell in love and lost touch. Now Jane is back to be a counsellor as her life is stuck. Spencer is also one, and he has a ranch now.

He never forgot her. She does not really know what she want. They reconnect, find out what is important in life and get their hea.

Short and sweet too

Good narration. She handled the different stories well.

COWBOY WANTED by Linda Lael A painful divorce has brought Kendra Spencer home from Seattle to sunny Copper Ridge, Arizona. Despite a comfortable settlement, Kendra needs to keep busy—and keep herself from stalking her ex on social media. So she starts waitressing at the local diner, finding comfort in the regulars and her thankfully ordinary days. . . . Until far from ordinary newcomer Gage Elder walks in. Not only is he a champion bronc rider, turns out he's a widower—and maybe the one man understanding enough, kind enough—not to mention charming enough—to inspire Kendra to put the past behind her, and open her heart once more . . .

ONE MORE SUMMER WITH YOU by Maisey Between a fiancé with cold feet and a blocked promotion at the law firm where she works, it's as good a time as any for Jane Cahill to help out at the Oregon camp where she spent her summers as a troubled teen. But the place brings up a mix of memories, mostly about Spencer Quinn, who has also returned to volunteer. Now a ranch owner, Spencer was Jane's romance of three summers—plus one unforgettable night. In fact, neither has ever forgotten the other. And though fears about the future led Jane to break away, that future has arrived—and maybe this summer will be the one to last a lifetime . . .

Book Review: The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig

Author: Lauren Willig

Title: The Deception of the Emerald Ring

Series: Pink Carnation #3

Genre: Historical Romance, Chick Lit, Mystery

Format: Paperback

Pages: 400

Published: November 16, 2006

Where I got It: My shelf (Walmart...Meijer? I can't recall)

Summary: 

The year is 1803 and England and France remain at odds. Hoping to break the English once and for all, Napoleon backs a ring of Irish rebels in uprisings against England and sends the Black Tulip, France's most deadly spy, to the Emerald Isle to help. What they don't know is that also in Ireland is England's top spy, the Pink Carnation, who is working to shut the rebels down. Meanwhile, back in England, Letty Alsworthy intercepts a note indicating that her sister, Mary, is about to make the very grave mistake of eloping with Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe (second in command of the League of the Purple Gentian). In an attempt to save the family name, Letty tries to stop the elopement, but instead finds herself swept away in the midnight carriage meant for her sister and is accidentally compromised. Geoff and Letty, to each other's horror, find themselves forced into matrimony. Then, Geoff receives word that he is to travel to Ireland to help the Pink Carnation and disappears immediately after their wedding ceremony. Letty learns of Geoff's disappearance and, not to be outdone by her husband, steals away on a ship bound for Ireland, armed and ready to fight for her husband…and to learn a thing or two about spying for England.

As in her previous tales, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation and The Masque Of the Black tulip, our modern-day heroine and hero, Eloise Kelly and Colin Selwick, continue their budding romance in this captivating third novel in the series.

Review:

I'm loving re-visiting this series! It has been one of my favorite series for years. This one is one of my fave books of the series. Awww Letty. 

Here we are with Eloise continuing her research and trying to ignore her feelings for Colin. She turns her research to Letty and Geoff. Letty intercepts a message meant for her sister. It sounds like Mary is planning to elope with Geoff, and what Mary wants...Mary gets. Letty figures that Geoff will be the more level-headed of the two, so she sneaks out to meet him and talk some sense into the man. However, they are discovered...alone...and in a compromising position. Enter the wedding bells, and Geoff hates her because 1) He loved Mary, and 2) Obviously, this was a trap. Lucky for him, duty calls, and he slips to Ireland to join his fellow spies for a mission to save England. Letty finds out and decides to join him and try to talk sense, and maybe find some common ground. Color her shocked when she finds out the man she married is a spy, and she will have to help save England. 

OMG, I forgot how chaotic this book is. In a good way, of course, but sOooooOOOoo much miscommunication and misunderstanding. I forgot about all the hoops and loops. It's all so entertaining LOL.

I wish I could be mad at Geoff, but I totally get his side and his perspective. BUT just hear Letty out, man. GAH. He does eventually become the man Letty deserves, and they DO find common ground, and it's amazing. Love them. 

Mary....meh. 

Vaughn....I love him. 

Jane....awwww.

And honestly, I'm having more fun with Eloise's story. I enjoy it in the past, but I felt like it wasn't as entertaining as the main story. Maybe because I'm older and wiser? 

It was so nice going back because I had forgotten so much, and it kinda felt like when I read it the first time. Awwwww!

5 stars for sure. I can't wait to read the others. 

Reading Challenges

- Reading Romance Challenge #11 (re-read)