I sincerely hope you consider picking up some of Fiona’s books after reading my breakdowns and thoughts surrounding them. She has so few reviews on Goodreads but has written some phenomenal stories.

I am going to discuss the books in the order I read them…

Vouyer

Goodreads synopsis: “I didn’t know she was my student the first time I paid to watch her at Voyeur.
Once she walked into my classroom, another smiling college freshman, I knew I should stop going. Stop watching. 
But I couldn’t do it. Everything about her makes me want more, and once I realize she wants me too, the temptation becomes irresistible. 
The worst part is that she has no idea her professor is the one watching behind the glass. 
I just have to hope that once she finds out the truth, she wants the same thing I do. Because now that I’ve seen all of her, I can’t look away.”

Voyeur was an enthraling read that hooked me into Fiona Cole’s works instantly. Warning this one is not for the faint of heart, it covers so many taboo topics I would not even be able to name them all. How quickly I was connected and emotionally invested in the characters astounded me, and you will soon see that this is a pattern with Fiona’s books. If you are a seasoned NA reader be prepared to fall in love with this one.

Are you interested? Pick it up here (*affiliate link*): https://amzn.to/2RXbOmb

Deny Me

Goodreads Synopsis: “Jameson King.
My best friend’s brother and the person who could make an Olympic sport of ignoring my relentless teasing and taunting.
I was a live-in-the-moment girl flirting with a man who always looked to the future. He was traditional, carrying the weight of his whole family on his broad shoulders, and I had been taught to never fall in love, focusing on my career instead of a future with anyone.
He tried to deny me, tried to deny the passion simmering between us, bubbling under the surface of every game we played.
But all that changed during one week in Jamaica. 
Falling into bed with Jameson was easy, but falling in love was out of the question.”

Deny Me tells the story of two people who have resisted getting together for years. Watching the two characters fall in love, and go through their ups and downs was so fulfilling. If you are in the mood for a quick standalone read this is a must read.

Are you interested? Pick it up here (*affiliate link*): https://amzn.to/2DIezol

Shame

Goodreads Synopsis: “The girl next door. Pretty. Sweet. Kind. 
Submissive. 
Until I met her, I was alone with the dark desires that I didn’t understand, that I couldn’t reconcile. 
She became my best friend, and then she became so much more. 
Desire. Disgust. Shame. 
Dominance. 
I wouldn’t have survived until college without her. When we were together, I was at peace for the first time in my life. 
But it was too good to last. 
Our appetite for pain and pleasure destroyed us. And all the drinks in the world weren’t enough to get used to missing her. 
On the verge of earning my degree, Ana walks back into my life, those gray-blue eyes still able to see right through me. It’s the chance I’ve been waiting for. One last chance to overcome my shame. 
If only it were that easy.”

Shame has been sitting with me ever since I read it. It is my newest addition to my NA required reading list (a post that will be coming soon) as it warps perceptions and really allows you to understand controversial issues. As the characters’ story begins with them in high school and follows them into adulthood not only is there amazing character development, there is an evolution in how both you and the characters understand. If you are a more mature reader, please consider picking this up.

Are you interested? Pick it up here (*affiliate link*): https://amzn.to/2TghLMq

Imagine Me

Goodreads Synopsis: “Shane’s her brother’s best friend and thirteen years older than her. Juliana knows his desire to be the loner and to never settle down.
But none of that stops her from showing up at his hotel room late one night.
Months later, she imagines every scenario for when she runs into Shane again. However, she never imagined him brushing off their scorching night together. She never imagined him calling her a ‘little girl’ who can’t handle a man.
His words ignite a fire in Juliana. If she has to date every single guy in Cincinnati, she’ll prove that she is more than capable of “handling” a man. Except Juliana and Shane can’t stay away from each other, so they set up some rules; only sex, and no telling her brother.
It doesn’t take long for the sex to turn into feelings, and Juliana can feel his icy exterior melting. Is he willing to risk his best friend for a chance at love?
For Juliana, that might be too good to imagine.”

Imagine Me features characters previously introduced in Deny Me, so I recommend reading both of them and reading Deny Me first. Another book with great characters, another book where I saw myself becoming so incredibly invested very quickly in Juliana’s life and happiness.

Are you interested? Pick it up here (*affiliate link*): https://amzn.to/2qP2jK1

The Lovers

Goodreads Synopsis: “I loved him first. 
Jake was my best friend in college-my very straight best friend, until one night he was more. He may have ran after what happened between us, but I never forgot him. 
When fate puts us in the same place, five years later, he has a fiance by his side. Carina is beautiful, driven, and draws my attention almost as much as he still does. 
A game of truth or dare leads to a wild night and a relationship that has our feelings growing into something bigger than any of us intended. 
But what happens when our feelings deepen? Can I handle being with two people? 
If it means I can have him, I’ll love them both.”

The Lovers is Fiona’s latest release and features characters from Voyeur. I have read many books within the trope that The Lovers is set, but I found it to be very unique. Its uniqueness is a spoiler so I will not tell you why it is unique, but I would encourage a seasoned NA reader to pick this one up if the desire a bit of a surprise.

Are you interested? Pick it up here (*affiliate link*): https://amzn.to/2BaGtGX

I cannot stress any further how much I love the stories I have featured above by Fiona Cole. Please please please consider giving any of them a try.

If you like to follow Fiona Cole online check her out at any of the links below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorFionaCole/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FionaColesLovers/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorfionacole?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorfionacole/

Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Author Spotlight on Fiona Cole (and Mini Assignment #6) appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Experiment in Terror

If you are in the mood to marathon a longer series that is completed look no further. This was a plunge into paranormal that I’ve only done in small doses, but this was full on ghost hunting and actually a little freaky at times. So many places were really close to home for me, some I had visited or live nearby. This was just an added bonus to me. What makes this an essential read from Karina is the slow burn angsty romance between Perry and Dex. The burn over the entire series is perfect, an essential if you love watching a beautiful romance develop slowly. If you ever have a chunk of time or go on a holiday pick this up and read it straight through.
Another essential marathoning experience from Karina is…
The Artists Trilogy + Dirty Angels Trilogy + Sins Duet
I accidentally did not read it in this order (I read the Sins Duet first) but you would benefit from reading chronologically if you wanted to read them all.



I wanna warn that these books are the darkest in Karina’s portfolio (especially Dirty Angels). Each series got better and improved upon the previous one. These series have produced some of Karina’s most interesting characters, as most are not good or bad, but are rather somewhere in between (if you’ve read these you know I’m talking about Javier).
The Sins Duet is actually my favourite thing from Karina that she’s written so far. I absolutely love the romance and how sucked into the story I was. I became so invested in these characters. Again I would highly recommend these as another marathon experience, it would be great to delve into these on a holiday.
Now I’m going to discuss Karina’s best contemporaries…
If you want to explore vibrant international settings…
Love, in English
Where Sea Meets Sky
Racing the Sun 
Heat Wave 

Love, in English and the subsequent concluding short story Love, in Spanish are beautiful and heartbreaking. This book is everything you could possibly want in a contemporary romance, it would make the most perfect film romantic dramedy. The protagonist was from Vancouver so that sold it to me from the start. The book is mainly set in Spain through and the setting is wonderful. This is one of Karina’s bests.

Where Sea Meets the Sky tells the story of the brother of the protagonist from Love, in English and it is also that sweet, emotional contemporary romance. This book’s setting is almost 50/50 Vancouver and New Zealand. This is a great one.

The protagonist of Racing the Sun is a character that is introduced in Where Sea Meets the Sky. This story is wonderful and is reminiscent of what I love about Love, in English. The Amalfi coast was such a gorgeous setting and my favourite of this kinda trilogy (I’m biased being Italian and all). If you want to swoon over some wonderful love stories then I highly recommend marathoning the last three interconnected books I just discussed.

Heat Wave was based on Karina’s frequent trips to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The setting is gorgeous and the story is just wonderfully emotional. The romance was a wonderful burn. This is worth a read. I feel like it would be wonderful to read this while on a beach in Hawaii.
Next up a wonderful set of contemporaries…
Books set in Vancouver and surrounding areas…
Before I Ever Met You
After All
Smut

Before I Ever Met You is a wonderful story of a couple falling in love. Vancouver is the backdrop to this story and it does really come across as a book written by a born and bred Vancouverite. From the film industry to the insane housing prices that keep the protagonist living at home with her parents, this book is so Vancouver. Even if you don’t have the Vancouver connections I have this book is wonderful.

After All features characters from Before I Ever Met You and is another wonderful contemporary. Read these two together and you won’t regret it.

Smut was an early favourite of mine from Karina. If you are new to NA and unwilling to accept your undying love for it, this is a great read. This story should leave any NA reader proud to read what they read. Many characters mock the romance novels, but by the end, many come to respect what they contribute to the literary world. After the Sins Duet, Smut is my next favourite.
Next up is a great trilogy…
North Ridge

The North Ridge series takes place in beautiful Northern BC and tells the story of three brothers and the women they fall in love with. If you love the small town trope this is perfect. This is riddled with drama and emotion. If you ever need a good trilogy read this one.
Now for Karina’s most recent stories…
The Swedish Prince 
The Wild Heir

My favourite of her latest stories The Swedish Prince, tells the dream we are all dying to live of a normal girl, falling for a Prince in disguise. Karina even went to Sweden to research this story and took photos of the book all over major sites. This was a wonderful story and if you are in a royals kick after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, you can continue that high by picking up this novel.

And to close, this month Karina released The Wild Heir, the story of the Prince of Norway who is introduced in The Swedish Prince (it isn’t really necessary to read The Swedish Prince first. These are both complete standalones.) This story is one of the best marriage of convenience style tropes I’ve read in a long time. The Norwegian touches are great, as Karina is Norwegian herself.

I really hope this has convinced you to pick up some Karina Halle if you have not already or if you have to continue with some of her other books. I did not discuss all of her books here leaving out many more contemporaries that are also really good.
If you want her whole arsenal check out Karina Halle’s books on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785031 
I will also link some other ways to connect with Karina Halle online:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetalBlonde
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/912577838806567/  (such a fun Facebook Group to be a member of)

Thank you so much for reading!

The post Author Spotlight on Karina Halle appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.