Ebook Review: A Forced Bond (Dark Pack Series #1) by Ann D. Lang

 

Blurb: 

Forced together. Fated forever.

She was supposed to find her fated mate under the full moon. Instead, she is ordered to bond with a stranger.

The full moon after Rhia’s twentieth birthday was meant to be the happiest night of her life. Among wolf shifters, it is the first full moon after turning twenty when a wolf might finally recognize the mate chosen by the Moon Goddess.

Rhia has always hoped that mate would be Caleb, the boy she has loved for years.

But when an entire neighboring pack is brutally wiped out, everything changes.

Fearing they could be next, the Red Moon Pack forms a desperate alliance with the neighboring Silver Lake Pack. And alliances between alpha families require one thing above all else: a mating bond.

As the only unmated alpha daughter of Red Moon, Rhia’s future is decided for her. Instead of discovering her fated mate under the coming full moon, she is ordered to form a bond with Jalen, the future alpha of Silver Lake. Leaving her home, her family, and the life she thought she would have.

Jalen never wanted a forced bond any more than Rhia did. But protecting their packs comes before everything. What neither of them expected was the instant pull between them, a connection that feels far too real to be political.

But if the Moon Goddess had a plan for their bond all along, it may be because the Dark Pack that destroyed one pack is not finished yet — and their own may be the next target.

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If you love wolf shifters, forced bonds, pack politics, and warm, addictive romance with genuinely good characters — this one is for you. Not dark romance. Warm hearts, real danger, HEA guaranteed. For readers who want their hero strong and good, not broken and brooding.

A Forced Bond is Book One of the Dark Pack Series, a five-book paranormal romance series best read in order.

Content warnings: explicit sexual content, violence including death (not graphic), forced/arranged mating bond, brief captivity.

Amazon: Amazon.com: A Forced Bond (Dark Pack Series Book 1) eBook : Lang, Ann D.: Kindle Store

Goodreads: A Forced Bond (Dark Pack Series Book 1) by Ann D. Lang | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

I found this story very hard to put down, though it did start a little slow. I read it in one sitting. There was plenty of action, loss, love, and family. I loved both Rhia and Jalen as they put their packs ahead of their true feelings. As they got to know each other, a connection began to form. They were both honest with each other from the start and admired the other's skills and intelligence. I look forward to the next in this series to see how the background story plays out.

I received a copy through Enticing Journey Book Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.

Ebook Review: Truth or Dragon (The Dragon Guard #55) by Julia Mills

 

Blurb: 

Return to the world of the Dragon Guard, where loyalty is eternal, magic is deadly, and Fate always collects its due.

Carrick has exactly three priorities:
Rescue the brother he thought was dead.
Destroy the ancient Elven Sorceress holding him captive.
Protect the Golden Fire Clan at all costs.

Then Fate just added a fourth.
Virginia “Ginnie” Heatherton.

The last Heatherton Necromancer standing, Ginnie spends her days helping the grieving connect with the other side—not battling Hellmouths or Demon Lords. But when her psyche is snatched, and she sees a vision that her niece is in danger, she knows the end isn’t coming quietly.

Then the Dragon arrives.
Power calls to power.
Fire answers magic.
Mate.

Their timing couldn’t be worse. The factions of evil are coming together, and Carrick’s brother is still imprisoned. Saving their family— and the world— will require more than ancient fire and necromancy.
It will take trust.
Sacrifice.
And a mating bond strong enough to shake Heaven and Hell.
Fate set everything into motion, and She refuses to be denied.

One Dragon. One Necromancer. One bond that will change everything.

*Perfect for fans of Fated Mates, powerful heroines, possessive Alpha Dragons, found family, and high-stakes paranormal romance.

Amazon: Amazon.com: Truth or Dragon (The Dragon Guard Book 55) eBook : Mills, Julia, Edits, Em: Kindle Store

B&N: Truth or Dragon by Julia Mills | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: Truth or Dragon eBook by Julia MIlls - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Google: Truth or Dragon by Julia Mills - Books on Google Play

Bookbub: Truth or Dragon (The Dragon Guard Book 55) by Julia Mills - BookBub

Goodreads: Truth or Dragon (The Dragon Guard Book 55) by Julia Mills | Goodreads

My Review - 4 1/2 of 5 stars - 

4 1/2 stars. I found this story intriguing. I loved the worldbuilding and that there was a fated mate for everyone. Acceptance of that connection was accepted. Plenty of tricks, danger, secrets, and even witty dialogue throughout. Ginnie knew what she needed to do and was quite sassy internally and externally. She was strong, intelligent, and loyal to friends and family. Carrick carried a lot of guilt for what had been happening around him but felt stronger with Ginnie and family by his side. A fun read with plenty to keep me reading.

This is my unsolicited review.

Audiobook Review: Kade's Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans #1) by Kym Grosso, narrator Ryan West

 

Blurb: 

After a series of ritualistic murders plagues Philadelphia, seasoned detective Sydney Willows is forced to partner with a powerful and dangerously alluring vampire. Kade Issacson is secretive, dominant, and utterly inhuman, yet with every step closer to the truth, the harder it becomes to deny the chemistry between them.

Kade has spent centuries hunting monsters who prey on the innocent. Protecting Sydney should be simple. Falling for her is not. As desire intensifies and the threat grows closer, Kade is forced to confront a truth he never expected. The woman he is sworn to protect may be the one who dismantles his carefully controlled world.

In New Orleans, where dark magic lurks in the shadows, Sydney and Kade are drawn into a deadly game of power, seduction, and fate. When Sydney becomes the next target, Kade must choose between the laws of his immortal world and the woman who has claimed his heart.

Kade’s Dark Embrace is the first novel in the Immortals of New Orleans series, a dark paranormal romance of vampires, shifters, witches, and dangerously irresistible alphas.

Amazon: Kade's Dark Embrace: A Vampire Paranormal Romance (Immortals of New Orleans Book 1) - Kindle edition by Grosso, Kym, Roberts, Julie. Paranormal Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Audible: Kade's Dark Embrace Audiobook by Kym Grosso

B&N: Kade's Dark Embrace by Kym Grosso, Ryan West | 2940169253450 | Audiobook (Digital) | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: Kade's Dark Embrace Audiobook by Kym Grosso - Listen Free | Rakuten Kobo United States

Google: Kade's Dark Embrace by Kym Grosso - Audiobooks on Google Play

Bookbub: Kade’s Dark Embrace by Kym Grosso - BookBub

Goodreads: Kade's Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, #1) by Kym Grosso | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

I did not want to stop listening to this story. Sydney was an intelligent woman, good in her job. Suddenly Kade joined her investigation because of the nature of the murders. The connection between them was hot, and Kade's natural dominance pushed her limits at times. With a little self-doubt, Sydney was not sure of his true feelings. I loved them as a couple, enjoyed the secondary characters, and need to look into the rest of the series.

The narration by Ryan West added to the story. His intensity and rumbling voice had me listening to every work.

This is my unsolicited review.

2026 What an Animal Reading Challenge

I have decided to take on this challenge again. In 2025, I selected Level 3 which is 13-20 books. As I almost made it to 20, I am upping my goal to Level 4 (20+). Join me by following this link: https://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2025/11/what-animal-reading-challenge-2026-sign.html.

The challenge will begin on January 1, 2026 and end on December 31, 2026.

The rules are really simple. 

1. Any book read for this challenge has to have an animal that plays a major role in the book (which could be fiction or non-fiction.) It also counts if a main character is (or turns into) an animal (define that however you'd like). In the past, books would qualify if an animal is in the title or on the cover, but that alone no longer qualifies. This challenge is for books related to animals and just because they are in the title or on the cover, doesn't mean it's about an animal. 

These are the levels.

Level 1 - Read 6 books

Level 2 - Read 7-12

Level 3 - Read 13-20 

Level 4 - Read 21 or more

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragon, mermaid, centaur, vampire, werewolf...you get the idea...

3. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.

4. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or you can just list them as you find them.

5. Book titles may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).

6. Crossovers with other challenges are permitted and encouraged.

7. You don't have to have a blog or write a review, but you can if you want to. If you don't have a blog, just post in the comment section that you'd like to join. You can post your books in there. Or you can sign up by joining my group on Goodreads for this challenge by clicking here.

8. Books can be in any format of your choice (print, audio, ebooks)

9. To sign up, use the Mister Linky below. There will be links for reviews and wrap posts later.