Category: Contemporary

Guardian Demon by Aurora Ascher

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Contemporary, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Romantasy, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Guardian Demon by Aurora Ascher

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Hell Bent #4

Release Date: September 30, 2025

After being demoted to a guardian angel, Sunshine has been waiting centuries for redemption. So, when she is summoned by her angelic mentor and given a mission to locate and return as stolen grimoire, a task that once completed will see her reinstated to her former rank, she jumps at the chance. But when she learns that she will have to go to hell to retrieve the grimoire, Sunshine decides she will need help and knows the perfect demon for the job! She knows that Raum will never help her voluntarily, so a bit of blackmail will be needed. She should feel bad about that, but she thinks Raum is just a means to an end. She never expected to like him or be attracted to him or heaven forbid (literally) to fall in love with him and question everything she ever believed.

Centuries ago, the demon Raum, an Earl of Hell, did something so vile, that heaven wiped his memory for the previous three centuries and leaving him feeling empty and numb. Now he and his “brothers” have left hell and live as fugitives in Canada, hunted by both heaven and hell. Raum has no memory of his lost time but knows he is not the same demon he used to be, and now he only true vice is stealing, not for personal gain, but for the small thrill it gives him. One by one his brothers have found love and Raum is feeling more numb than ever, so when he sees Sunshine for the first time, he is stunned to feel something for her, but before he can figure out the feeling, she is gone. Days later she turns up at a nightclub and they dance, which leads to the promise of more, yet ends up with Raum being held prisoner by Sunshine until he agrees to help her steal the grimoire from the Necromancer in hell. Raum agrees to help her to save his family but can’t shake the feeling that there is something between them. But how could that be as he is a demon and she is an angel?

I am freaking OBSESSED with this series! I freely admit that I had my doubts about this book, but I think it might end up being my favorite of the series. I loved Sunshine and Raum, they are both amazing characters and the chemistry between them is scorching hot. This book has lies, secrets, betrayal, torture, smoking hot love scenes, a bit of Dom/Sub action, an anti-hero who will burn worlds for her, laugh out loud brother moments, rescue dogs, shocking revelations, and a mind-blowing ending that still has me stunned! OMG – I just loved this book so much and can’t wait to read the next installment! If you like morally gray characters, steamy love scenes, lots of action and snarky banter – you need to read this book. This is the fourth book in the series, and while it could be read as a standalone title, I would recommend reading the series in order for the best reader experience.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Ghost of a Chance by Katherine Garbera

On By TracyIn Audiobook, Contemporary, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Ghost of a ChanceGhost of a Chance by Katherine Garbera

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone Title

Release Date: September 30, 2025

After a long day promoting her newest book, Kirsty Henson AKA cozy fantasy mystery author K.L. Henson, needs to unwind and as luck would have it, her favorite band, the Dead Boys were playing at a club in town. Things get even better when she meets Jasper, an extremely hot guy who is also a super fan. Sparks fly between them, and they go back to his place, but too much tequila cuts their night short, and she leaves in the morning thinking she will never see him again. She returns to her hotel and gets ready for a television interview on a popular morning talk show, Live with Bri O’Brien. But while in the green room she comes face to face with her almost one night stand and he begs for her help. Jasper tells her his old college roommate Paul is haunting him via physics book, and he wants her to help him move on. Kirsty thinks he deceived her and refuses to help him, not just because she is angry, but because despite her author bio saying she is able to talk to ghosts, just like the heroine in her books, she can’t. But when Bri overhears their discussion and blindsides Kirsty during the interview by inviting Jasper to join them. When Jasper’s ghost makes itself known, Kirsty is backed into a corner and ends up agreeing to help the ghost move on. She plans to fake it until she can make it, but she doesn’t count on falling for Jasper and wanting to give him closure.

Jasper Cotton believes the ghost of his college roommate Paul is trapped in a physics textbook. In the years since Paul’s death, not only has the book has been following him but the ghost has been communicating with him via his phone’s playlist and the Judge Judy show. He is wracked with guilt about Paul’s passing and has never really dealt with his grief. Meeting Kirsty seems to be fate, not only is she beautiful, smart and has great taste in music, but she can talk to ghosts. If he can get her to talk to Paul, maybe he can finally move on with his life and maybe he can convince Kirsty to be a part of it. But first they will have to figure out why Paul hasn’t moved on and how to be honest with themselves and each other about their past experiences.

I was hooked on the first page and had a hard time putting this one down! I loved Kirsty and Jasper, both as a couple and individuals, they are both intelligent, considerate people with a lot in common. Their lives have been similar, but at the same time vastly different. Being forced to spend time together will cause them both to face themselves and decide what they want from their lives. The book is filled with emotion, great characters, witty banter, spicy love scenes, an adorable dog, frat parties, temporary tattoos, a ghost who wants to be heard, grief and healing. Overall, I found this story to be a well-written and fast-paced third person POV romance with an actual “happily ever after” ending not just a “happy for now” ending. I was lucky enough to both read the print edition and listen to the audiobook – both were great, and I would happily recommend this book to anyone who loves a dash of paranormal in their romance novels.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

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