About Wolvenguard:
Title: Wolvenguard
Author: Sarah Westill
Series: Gen-Heirs: The Guardians of Sziveria
Page Length: 375
Publication Date: Nov. 29, 2023
Synopsis: To find the assassin responsible for murdering her family, Lucianna Castien is willing to do anything. Even commit treason.
Once Cia learns a wanted felon may have the answers she seeks, she sets off unaccompanied to the hazardous Uninhabited Zone of New Columbia. Still training to become a guardian, she’s unprepared for the confrontation with one of Sziveria’s most dangerous criminals. All hope of finding the truth is lost when she’s thrown into a cell and left for dead.
Complicated missions are nothing new for Deklan Ralston, the Arch Guardian of Wolvenguard. Bonded to three wolves, Deklan makes quick work of even the worst situations. Rescuing a wayward guardian and returning an escaped convict, will prove to be no challenge. But the beast master didn’t count on the young woman turning his entire world upside down.
Tenacious, sexy, and refusing to take no for an answer, Cia continues to run headlong into danger. Deklan must do everything in his power to keep her safe, even as he opposes his nature to claim her for his own. A fight Cia is determined he lose as she convinces the arch guardian the passion smoldering between them is worth igniting….
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My Review:
This is the seventh book in the series, and I was so excited to read it because it focused on Deklan and, by extension, his wolves. Deklan always felt a bit reclusive and mysterious in past books. Not in this one. Deklan is a dynamically developed character and a swoon-worthy MMC. Cia is layered well too, as is the slow-building romance between them. Both characters are dealing with wounds from their pasts, and Deklan has major concerns about the age difference since she is 19 and he is more than 10 years her senior. it definitely affects their views on relationships and the future. However, the chemistry between them is undeniable.
I also loved that we got a look at Deklan’s large and fantastic family. Westill’s novella series Bella and the Beastmaster is actually about Deklan’s parents Markus and Bella, so to see what their life is like so many years and children later makes my heart so happy. I adore Markus and Bella (and Lunah!), and the life they made is wonderful. Other secondary characters are also dynamic and well-developed, and I love how the characters from the previous books in the series have roles in this one, too. It’s interesting to see how their stories and lives weave together.
And then there’s the wolves. I think they were my favorite part of the story! I’ve been intrigued by the bond some characters have with them, so I liked that this story went into more detail about it. I also like how the author keeps expanding and developing the setting. Each country is unique and distinct from the others, and learning about the different cultures, customs, terrain, and more is fascinating.
Some aspects of the over-arching plot are resolved in this story as Cia searches for the man who killed her family, and an escaped convict is found. It’s intense and suspenseful, and Cia’s life is in constant jeopardy. I would recommend checking out the content warnings before reading the book, as there are some parts that could be difficult for some to read. That being said, it’s an engrossing read and a great addition to the series. And the next book is about Voklane, another enigmatic character I’m eager to learn more about!
Rating:
Favorite Line:
Hope endured even the bleakest of heartaches.
About Dreams Never Seen:
Title: Dreams Never Seen
Author: Sarah Westill
Series: Bella and the Beastmaster
Page Length: 166
Publication Date: Oct. 31, 2023
Synopsis: Having spent an entire winter apart, Bella and Markus want nothing more than a few private moments to themselves. But a historian desperate for answers is waiting at their apartment door, disrupting their hopes.An archaeologist who may have made the discovery of the century has gone missing in the distant land of Thanzia. The assistant director for ancient civilizations for the Sziverian Museum of History and Art convinces Markus he’s the only one who can help solve the mystery. With the antiquity of a culture on the line, Markus doesn’t feel he has much of a choice but to accept the request. However, he refuses to go without Bella.
After persuading his new bride the world has more to offer her than the Sziverian National Investigative Division can give, they set off for the desert country in what remains of the African continent. What they learn has the power to change the course of history for an entire nation.
And in the midst of unearthing the secrets left behind by a lost archaeologists, Markus and Bella struggle to find enough stolen moments to appease the awakening desires of their new relationship….
My Review:
This is the second in the series, and I loved it! Markus and Bella are now married, and Markus has just returned to Bella after an entire winter apart. When Markus is called on to investigate a missing person, he convinces Bella to work alongside him as his equal.
As always, the chemistry between Bella and Markus is off the charts. They are so fantastic together. They weren’t together long before Markus had to leave, so seeing them together and reconnecting in this book is a delight. I love the slow, romantic build-up laced with massive amounts of sexual tension between the two. Their desire for each other is palpable, and being constantly interrupted during potentially intimate moments heightens the sexual tension even more. Swoon!
I can’t tell you how much I love that Markus wants to work side-by-side with Bella. She has been underestimated and underappreciated in her work, and the fact that Markus sees her strengths makes me adore him even more than I already did. Bella and Markus make a great team, and I have a feeling they’re only just getting started!
I’m loving these novellas. The characters and romance are wonderful, and the plot is original and clever. I also like how it expands this unique world since Bella and Markus spend much of their time traveling to and in Thanzia. Their discoveries are fascinating, and I’m so curious to find out how this will change things!
Rating:
Favorite Line:
“With his mate in his arms and his wolf in his lap, Markus had his whole world.”
