Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

Druid Cursed by C.J. Burright

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

Druid CursedDruid Cursed by C.J. Burright

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Kellen Ravenwood is an Irish Druid who was cursed centuries ago by a witch named Sorcha, for a crime he did not commit, thankfully his twin brother Caedmon was able to cast a spell that allowed Kellen to be free one week every 50 years, and offered them time to try and break the curse, but the catch is that Kellen is trapped in the enchanted prison for the rest of the time and is not able to help find a way to break the curse, but their time is running out and this will be the last time Kellen will have a reprieve before he is trapped for eternity. When Caedmon summons Kellen from his prison, he is happy to tell him that he may have finally found a way to break the curse. They will need to sacrifice Sorcha’s descendant, and Caedmon has invited her to the Ravenwood Samhain festivities. Kellen refuses to even consider spilling the blood of an innocent to save himself and insists that Caedmon find another way. A conviction he holds on to even stronger about once he meets Maggie O’Malley, Sorcha’s descendant and realizes she is his soulmate.

The last year has been hard for Maggie O’Malley, her marriage ended in divorce and then she learned that her ex not only hadn’t paid the taxes on the house her father built and left her, but unbeknownst to her, took out a loan against the house and defaulted on it, leaving her jobless, and on the brink of losing her home. Thankfully her best friend Wendy has stood by her throughout it all and somehow managed to secure Maggie an invitation (with Wendy as her plus one) to the Ravenwood Samhain festivities in Ireland giving her the opportunity to win enough money to save her house and set her up in the business she has dreamed of starting for years. But almost from the moment they arrive, things start to go wrong, and Maggie finds herself navigating the house party alone. Even more troubling is her reaction to Kellen, she has just gotten out of a relationship and has no desire to start something new, but Kellen makes her feel things that she has never felt before, but can she trust him?

This was such a nicely paced, well written story with wonderful characters and a complex, mysterious plot with a bit of spooky vibe, that had me wondering how this could possibly have a happy ending. The story is filled with emotion, loss, curses, lies, secrets, a crazy ghost witch, possession, warm love scenes, magic ending in an epic battle of good vs evil. I have read reviews of other readers who felt the ending was a bit cliché, but I loved it. I am hoping that there will be another book so Caedmon can find his soulmate!

*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. *

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. *