This isn’t the first book by Deborah Blake I’ve read and it certainly will not be the last. I don’t want to give everything away, but I can say that the characters (as always) are fantastically written, the dialog is wonderful–and, to the point–and, most importantly, these books are not books you want to put down. Not even for a moment.

After a quick trip to Amazon.com, I see that Deborah Blake has an entire catalog of books written in the same world. There are the Broken Rider novels and the Baba Yaga novels. AND, from what I’ve seen, you can read them all out of order and not miss anything (although, if there IS an order, I’m going to find it and start there to read the rest lol).

I don’t have any big problems with this book and I’m pretty sure there are no small ones either. Go buy it. You’re welcome.

Oh, yeah, I loved these books! Just like the previous series, I just devoured these books (I mean, I read 5 full length novels and 3 novellas in 3 days) and they were just so darned interesting! I loved learned more about the Riders, they were a big part of the first series, and yet, we didn't know much about them! So it was great to learn more about them, and watch them fall in love in these books!

All 3 of the brothers have scars, mental and physical, from the events of Wickedly Powerful. Day, because he fell for the bad guy's trap and was bait for his brothers, Sun, because he got captured, and could help save his brothers from pain. But meeting these ladies-and the adventures they had, helped them move on, which was really great!

Each book has a quest-type adventure. Charming, to find a way for Jenna to keep her baby, Divine, for Sun to find his mom. There's a lot going on in each book, with the personal problems, and the bad guys getting up to hijinks, which just makes them all the better to read!

I really hope that each brother gets a story, because they all deserve one. Now, there's just the final brother, which is the one I'm most worried we're not going to get a story of, because Goodreads doesn't have a page for a 3rd book, and there's nothing on the author's website that I can find! Though apparently it was marketed as a trilogy before Charming came out...so there is hope!

These books were just incredible, and I really, really hope that we get more!

“A witch, a Rider, a dragon, and a god walk into a monastery…”

Dangerously Divine by Deborah Blake is the second ingeniously amazing installment in Deborah’s Broken Riders series. This series is a spin-off from and set in the same world as the author’s Baba Yaga series, a highly imaginative fractured retelling of the Russian Baba Yaga folk tales. This tale features Gregori Sun, the eldest Rider, who is struggling to control new powers gained when he lost his immortality. Fans of Deborah’s Baba Yaga series will be delighted to find characters from that series appear and play strong supporting roles in her Broken Riders series. Sharing the spotlight with Gregori in this story is a new character, Ciera Evans, a university librarian by day and a vigilante by night.

While you could enjoy Dangerously Divine as a stand alone, my recommendation is to start at the beginning with the Baba Yaga series and then the Riders. They work best that way and, truly, you won’t want to miss one spellbinding moment!

Gregori’s always been the unflappable Rider, but since losing his immortality, he’s lost his way. He used to be able to effortlessly connect to the universe’s energy with a single thought. Now, he’s beset by disturbing visions, precognition that he doesn’t trust nor know what to do with, and a healing gift that he can’t control. Seeking elusive inner peace, he enters a Buddhist monastery to pursue becoming a monk while using his free time to search for his mother, a female Mongolian shaman, who may be able to help him. With limited options, he doggedly continues his search for her even though his mother has probably been dead for hundreds of years. Still, driven to follow every possibility, he enlists the aid of Ciera, the librarian at the university to assist his research as to where his mother may be found. Ciera is curious as to why this sexy monk-in-training is interested in a Mongolian shamaness, but Ciera holds close her own secrets. She is not who she appears to be - intent on a clandestine mission of her own.

I loved both of these characters! My heart went out to both of them as they’d both suffered such terrible trauma and sorrow. Would they ever learn to trust and follow their hearts? Their story kept me riveted from the first to the last…

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Dangerously Divine:

The taxi driver dropped them off back at the Wabasha Street Caves and drove off clutching a huge tip and muttering under his breath about dog drool on his upholstery. In return, Chudo-Yudo muttered something about taxi drivers tasting good with ketchup.
---

Only one kiss. That was what he had intended. But Ciera’s lips were sweet like the juice of a pomegranate, and her skin under his hands felt like velvet. When she put her arms around him, he deepened the kiss, pulling the pins out of her hair until it cascaded over her shoulders. The tiny jingle of the bits of metal falling to the floor was almost lost in the moan she let out when he moved his lips down her neck, and then he was lost too.
---

“I also juggle,” he said in a grave tone, “and am quite adept with a deck of cards.”

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every Baba Yaga book and the first Rider book, but Dangerously Divine is my favorite of them all with wonderful characters, steamy times, action and danger galore, laugh-out loud moments and unexpected twists at every turn. I can’t wait to return to Barbara’s Baba Yaga/Rider world with Alexei’s story. It will be Deborah’s final Rider book. I fervently hope that that it won’t be the final book written in Deborah’s Baba Yagas’ universe!

DANGEROUSLY DIVINE was a very enjoyable and sweet story. While there was some spice, this one definitely ranked on the sweeter side of the scale. There was just something about Gregori's zen that wouldn't allow it to step into over-sexy drive. And while I enjoy a good smexy story just as much as the next gal, I found this one to be a refreshing change of pace. There was just something so enjoyable about seeing these two broken yet so strong people come together. I think the biggest thing I enjoy about this spin off series is the overall theme of healing. There's just something so satisfying about seeing both the hero and the heroine overcome such terrible but different paths. They are exactly the feel good reads I need!

Not only did this book feature all the character healing and feel good parts, but it also expanded the world behind both series a great deal. There was significant and interesting progression in the Rider's backstory that added a whole new depth to the series. That in itself is very impressive, the ability to add such depth into a world despite being so many books in. Very impressive.

All in all this was a very enjoyable installment in the Broken Riders series that only served to enrich this fascinating world even more. Fans of the series should be very pleased with Gregori's installment.

In book two of the Broken Riders series, we have Gregori Sun, the Red Rider. He has been dealing with the changes brought on by the torture he’s been through and has come to the conclusion that becoming a monk might help him. He needs to reconnect with the earth’s energy. He hasn’t been able to in a long time and instead is having nightmares and premonitions that he can’t control. As we read through Dangerously Divine he finds a new skill/problem he has that he can’t control and the fear is that his lack of control and the effects will eventually lead to his demise.

It’s funny that Sun is not at the monastery long before he meets Ciera and suddenly his decision to become a monk is in question. Ciera has a lot of secrets though. She’s not who she seems to be. The two have a lot to learn about each other. Ciera is truly a survivor, but can she continue on her own? Sun actually comes in quite handy and doesn’t try to keep her from her calling. It is nice that he doesn’t try to be too protective and shelter her.

The two stories, what is happening to Sun, and Ciera’s life run kind of parallel until someone out to get Sun turns their city upside down. Then we get to see one of our favorite Baba Yagas and their Chudo Yudo. We also meet some of Sun’s family which was really interesting. They are quite the characters and I really enjoyed them. The connection that appears between Sun and Ciera was kind of convenient, as it is something he hasn’t been able to do before, but just at a crucial time develops it. However, the part I love about Sun, the restraint to love Ciera but let her do some ass kicking of her own shines through. It was exciting and satisfying.

Now we are left with Alexei who travelling the country doing his own thing since they lost their immortality. We do get a sliver of him near the end, and I’m really looking forward to his story. I love how everyone is coming together and the Riders are not being left out in the cold by the Otherworld after losing their immortality. Seeing the characters from the previous books brings a lot of fun and connection to the story. I am a big fan of Chudo Yudos so, having them appear is always good for a laugh!

Dangerously Divine was a good read with an exciting story and satisfying HEA. I love strong female characters and I definitely get that with Ciera. Alexei is the last of the Riders so I’m afraid there is only one more in this series and am curious to see how or if Deborah Blake is going to build off of the Broken Riders. I’m hoping to see more of all of these characters, especially the gods. I think that would make a good place to go from here!

I really need to read the Baba Yaga series! They have quite the presents in this book that has me very curious on what the riders were like before they were attacked, especially Gregori. Why would he want to become a monk? Is it because he can’t control his new powers and where do those powers come from? He thinks his mother may have the answers so he set out to see if he could find her starting with research at the library.

Ciera may seem like a mild mannered librarian, but underneath that plain exterior is a warrior. She had a troubled, sad childhood that involved abuse and drugs, and now determined to save other lost teens. When she is not working at a shelter, she secretly patrols the streets to help others. A chance encounter on the street brings them together, his research at the library makes sure there is no getting away from each other. When Gregori purposes they work together to solve each other’s problems, she reluctantly agrees. And then things start to get interesting!

Dangerously Divine was Fun! Fun! Fun! It’s loaded with action, curious twists and secrets begging to be discovered. The chemistry between Gregori and Ciera was fantastic. Because of their backgrounds, honestly I don’t know who I loved more - Ciera and how she overcame her past or Gregori and his parents. Speaking of which, I loved all the extra characters! A cat-dragon…heck yeah! And then throw in that there is more than one bad guy to battle. Between the humor, the heat, and the non-stop action, I couldn’t put this book down and found myself racing to the end just to see what would happen next. This is definitely a book worth recommending. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the final Rider brother.


I received this book from The JeepDiva with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars - 4, Flames - 3
reviewed by Jac

5 Wine Glass #Review of Dangerously Divine by Deborah Blake
Linda's Thoughts:
“A witch, a Rider, a dragon, and a god walk into a monastery…”

Dangerously Divine by Deborah Blake is the second ingeniously amazing installment in Deborah’s Broken Riders series. This series is a spin-off from and set in the same world as the author’s Baba Yaga series, a highly imaginative fractured retelling of the Russian Baba Yaga folk tales. This tale features Gregori Sun, the eldest Rider, who is struggling to control new powers gained when he lost his immortality. Fans of Deborah’s Baba Yaga series will be delighted to find characters from that series appear and play strong supporting roles in her Broken Riders series. Sharing the spotlight with Gregori in this story is a new character, Ciera Evans, a university librarian by day and a vigilante by night.

While you could enjoy Dangerously Divine as a stand alone, my recommendation is to start at the beginning with the Baba Yaga series and then the Riders. They work best that way and, truly, you won’t want to miss one spellbinding moment!

Gregori’s always been the unflappable Rider, but since losing his immortality, he’s lost his way. He used to be able to effortlessly connect to the universe’s energy with a single thought. Now, he’s beset by disturbing visions, precognition that he doesn’t trust nor know what to do with, and a healing gift that he can’t control. Seeking elusive inner peace, he enters a Buddhist monastery to pursue becoming a monk while using his free time to search for his mother, a female Mongolian shaman, who may be able to help him. With limited options, he doggedly continues his search for her even though his mother has probably been dead for hundreds of years. Still, driven to follow every possibility, he enlists the aid of Ciera, the librarian at the university to assist his research as to where his mother may be found. Ciera is curious as to why this sexy monk-in-training is interested in a Mongolian shamaness, but Ciera holds close her own secrets. She is not who she appears to be - intent on a clandestine mission of her own.

I loved both of these characters! My heart went out to both of them as they’d both suffered such terrible trauma and sorrow. Would they ever learn to trust and follow their hearts? Their story kept me riveted from the first to the last…

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Dangerously Divine:

The taxi driver dropped them off back at the Wabasha Street Caves and drove off clutching a huge tip and muttering under his breath about dog drool on his upholstery. In return, Chudo-Yudo muttered something about taxi drivers tasting good with ketchup.
---

Only one kiss. That was what he had intended. But Ciera’s lips were sweet like the juice of a pomegranate, and her skin under his hands felt like velvet. When she put her arms around him, he deepened the kiss, pulling the pins out of her hair until it cascaded over her shoulders. The tiny jingle of the bits of metal falling to the floor was almost lost in the moan she let out when he moved his lips down her neck, and then he was lost too.
---

“I also juggle,” he said in a grave tone, “and am quite adept with a deck of cards.”

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every Baba Yaga book and the first Rider book, but Dangerously Divine is my favorite of them all with wonderful characters, steamy times, action and danger galore, laugh-out loud moments and unexpected twists at every turn. I can’t wait to return to Barbara’s Baba Yaga/Rider world with Alexei’s story. It will be Deborah’s final Rider book. I fervently hope that that it won’t be the final book written in Deborah’s Baba Yagas’ universe!

Second book in this series features Gregori Sun who is one of the three immortal brothers who are no longer immortal. I loved this book because of Gregori and his parents. Ms. Blake takes a serious situation and gives it a sense of humour with a bit of danger. This book can be read as a standalone. Reading the first book in this series will help a little.

When a person is invulnerable and can never die, life is less precious. When Gregori becomes mortal, he learns a lot of his powers which he took for granted are no longer easy to obtain. This self re-discovery journey could be dry - filled with meditation and disciplined training. Fortunately, Ms. Blake does not torture the readers in this manner. Instead, she tortures us with twists and turns that keeps the book lively if a bit frustrating. Gregori meets Ciera. She is a bit of a mystery to him. When he learns more about her and her secret witchy ways, he helps her as she helps him.

From a character perspective, I liked them all. Down to Gregori's obvious and absent father. Whilst Gregori is becoming something different, there is a jealous force trying to eradicate him. Tying in Gregori's history with his mother gives a richness to his character. Instead of just a super hero who rides in on a motorcycle, Gregori becomes more relatable and human. This story does a nice job of showing how children can grow apart and lose contact with their parents. However, this does not mean that they can not reconnect. And that good parents, when a child is in trouble, no matter the age, will still rush to their side to help them. I think this is the part that really made me feel good. Seeing how Gregori may have been all alone, but he really isn't. He has family and they all want to help him become this different person. The love interest definite helps bring him back to life. Recommended to paranormal romance readers who like self discovery themes.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar

In Dangerously Divine, we meet Gregori Sun after the events that took place in Dangerously Charming and he helped his brother Mikhail with his new-found abilities. Now is the case of Gregori, who, after being tortured by a crazy Baba Yaga and lost his immortality, has started to manifest strange abilities himself, abilities that resemble things that his mother was able to do. In hope of understanding his new abilities, Gregori has decided to look into his mother Iduyan, a mystical shaman, that was able to extend her life and of her followers’ through meditation and understanding of the universe energy. Given that he hasn’t seen his mother in a couple of centuries, he doesn’t know where she is or how to locate her, and his father the god Jarilo has been gone or asleep for some time to ask for help. The only thing that he can think of doing, is to join a Buddhist temple and research her mother’s history, while trying to find peace of mind again.

As Gregori starts his path with the Buddhists and his research to find his mother, he meets the librarian Ciera Evans, who works at the University of Minnesota and helps him when he asks for odd or weird information. On the outside Ciera looks like any other boring librarian, but at night she goes out and does her best to clean up the streets of dealers and pimps on the bad streets of Minneapolis. She has a dark past that is the fire that ignites her revenge and need to be a vigilante.

As the two of them start to spend more time together, a different fire ignites in both of them that makes them rethink their life choices and how it would change their lives, but there are different people who would like to see them disappear to keep their own plans a secret.

I really liked Dangerously Divine, at the beginning I felt it was somewhat slow to tell us the problem of the story, but once you started to get a hang of the characters and what they wanted it became more entertaining.

On this Broken Riders series, we get to learn more about the red rider, Gregori Sun. Gregori met a cameo the first book of the series, Dangerously Charming, to help his brother Mikhail. Gregori is very different to Mikhail and that was something that I liked in this series. It often is that in a series that has brothers as protagonist, that they tend to have the same personality and way of doing things. This wasn’t the case, and Gregori was a fresh breath to this fantasy world.

I liked the personality of both Gregori and Ciera. Both of them are different to the other, but still have similarities past that makes them come to a same choice or decision. They respect each other choices and accepted that they can become more is they help one another.

The story presents a variety of characters that add a different flavor to the story. We get to see previous characters from the Baba Yaga series, but at the same time we meet new ones. One that I liked was a the Jarilo, Gregori’s father, who was fun to read. For some reason I also liked a friend and volunteer from the Soup kitchen that Ciera and Gregori volunteer.

I keep liking the supernatural world that this series takes place and I like the interaction between the Otherworld and the humans.

If you are a fan of Deborah Blake or her work in the Baba Yaga series, then I recommend you, Dangerously Divine. In this story, we meet a man that after an awful betrayal, who has lost so many things, now just wants peace, and a woman that is looking for the murder of her mentor and savior; once they meet they start to reevaluate where their lives are going and how they can stay together.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

As The Riders, brothers Mikhail, Gregori, and Alexei offered aid to the Baba Yagas whenever needed. After being tortured close to death at the hands of an evil Baba Yaga, the brothers were stripped not only of their powers but their immortality as well. Choosing to go their separate ways as they try to find their new place in the world, Gregori Sun has decided his peace of mind can only be achieved by entering the monkhood.

He winds up at a Monastery in Minnesota, but as he begins his studies, he starts to develop very strong psychic powers. Figuring these powers stem from his mother’s side of the family he sets out to find his estranged parent, and what better place to look than at the library, where Gregori meets Ciera.

At first it seems as though Ciera is just a mild-mannered librarian who volunteers at the homeless shelter on her days off. Soon, however, it becomes apparent that a secret from Ciera’s past is back to cause trouble, but this time, she’ll have Gregori on her side—that is, if Gregori’s own past doesn’t end up wiping out the city completely.

Going into Dangerously Divine, and being more familiar with previous events, I connected to the story better than I did with Dangerously Charming. I liked Gregori’s character a lot and I appreciated the precarious position that Deborah Blake puts Gregori and Ciera in by having Gregori’s end goal to become a monk. In a romance, this means that you know some decisions, some sacrifices, are going to be made and I was very interested to see how this would play out. I’m a big fan when unexpected obstacles are placed in front of our couple(s), and seeing how/if the author will get them together in the end.

Unfortunately, things were very disconnected between Gregori and Ciera’s storylines. They each have too much going on individually, which is fine, except that it doesn’t lend itself well for any kind of relationship to form between them, yet as a romance we’re supposed to believe in their love above all else by the end. The common grounds that they develop–Gregori visiting the library where Ciera works while he searches for his mother, and similarly Ciera finding out that Gregori is a trained fighter—never feel like they actually deepen the feelings between Gregori and Ciera. I just could never get on board with their romance.

Their individual story paths both have merit, which makes it difficult to conclusively decide which one I feel Deborah Blake should have given more weight, but I definitely feel one of them should have precedence.

This one was just an all right read for me. While there is interesting build up for Alexei’s story next, because of my questionable feelings toward this book and its predecessor, I may not be too quick to pick up the next book right away.

In completion of this insert into the Baba Yaga world, I love this book as much as all the other I have had the pleasure of completing in this series. Gregori Sun definitely gave off the "monk" aura throughout the book, but he still rode his Ducatti steed around. I always picture the Riders transportations to have personalities similar to the Chudo Yudos and would love to see that come about in some way in a future book.
Ciera Evans is an amazing female character. I enjoy rooting for a female main character that isn't some weakling "help me brave sir" type and does for herself. She overcomes a lot and is unquestioningly a character to look up to and emulate.
5 stars; thank you Deborah Blake for this series.

What an amazing ride Deborah Blake has taken us on! The three immortal brothers, protectors of the Baba Yagas, have lost their immortality to a power hungry individual and now the always confident, Gregori, is struggling to find his way. Dangerously Divine is Gregori’s story.

Gregori has decided to become a monk, following a spiritual path that his mother had instilled in him since an early age. As he goes down the path toward monkhood, he also wishes to discover whether his mother is still alive. Gregori goes where anyone would go to do research, to the library, where he meets a librarian he just can’t get out of his mind, Ciera Evans.

Ciera is on the run from someone in her past and is weary of anyone new. When Gregori turns up at the library she doesn’t think much of it but then he also keeps showing up in other places in her life she suspects him of being an agent of her ex, the one she is running from.

Gregori’s explorations into the elusive spiritual group that his mother started kicks off a goddess’ wrath, endangering Ciera, Gregori and everyone living the city. Together they must protect those they've come to care for and work together before its too late.

Dangerously Divine was a gripping and completely riveting paranormal romance. I have loved the Baba Yaga series from the first installment I read and am now devouring Blake’s storytelling with the Broken Riders series. What else could a fan ask for…crossover characters, same Baba Yaga world, an explosive, action intense plot AND a swoon worth romance!

I received this ARC copy of Dangerously Divine from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. This book is set for publication November 28, 2017.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Deborah Blake
Series: A Broken Riders Novel
Sequence in Series: Book 2
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: November 28, 2017
ISBN-10: 1101987189
ISBN-13: 978-1101987186
Genre: Paranormal Romance | Urban Fantasy

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Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

6 likes

This is book two in the Broken Riders series. That series is a spin off from the Baba Yaga series. I have not read any of the previous books and at times I did feel like I was missing some background. Even so I had no trouble keep up with the characters and the story line. I liked the two main characters. Gregory Sun is the ultimate strong and silent type. In his case that is not a strength. Ciera Evans has a very big secret in her past and she keeps to herself to protect that secret. The two keep trying to protect themselves by keeping apart. Does not work that well. I enjoyed the world building, backstory and plot. A very interesting romance mixed with a lot of danger and tension.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

The second of the three former Riders gets his story. Gregori Sun, the calm, logical, and oldest of the three brothers is unraveling at the seams. I wanted to bundle up each of these guys and heal them with a hug. But no… they have to make their own way back. Gregori’s story and his extra special lady was captivating and emotional from the beginning.
Review

There was something extra special about this story that took it up several notches even from the first book, Mikhail’s story. I suspect it was the themes of broken people, broken families, abuse, surviving and thriving, and paying it forward.

Gregori and Ciera both are hanging by threads when they encounter one another. Ciera is in a better place from her past, but she is stirring up things in the dark she won’t be able to handle when she puts herself on the radar of a drug cartel leader while Gregori is literally going to pieces and must find a way to control the supernatural gifts that are emerging since he was tortured and lost his immortality.

Both have a hard row to hoe, but I loved how the author made this a romance story of two survivors finding each other and helping each other finish finding their strengths and that they can reach out to others in trust and have a chance at love.

Things are pretty exciting and come at the pair from a few different angles. Both have enemies they aren’t even aware of that are after them and both are on separate quests. It was neat and got in some great action moments along with a few Baba Yaga Bella and cat-dragon and Rider scenes which made me grin.

Oh the feels I got from this book. There were bits of humor slipped in to make me chuckle, sweet ahhhs, passionate ohhhs, suspenseful page-turner scenes, and heartwarming triumphs.

And now we’re down to the last Rider, the big larger than life bear of man, Alexei. Can’t wait to see what and who is in store for him.

Dangerously Divine is probably my favorite book between both the Baba Yaga and Broken Riders series. Incidentally, my recommendations is to read them in order from the first Baba Yaga and on through in order because they work best that way. Those who enjoyed action, suspense, a bit of witchery, humor, and slow-burn passion in their paranormals should definitely pick these up.

I really enjoyed being back in this world full of magic, the fae and of course the Baba Yagas . What makes this book so special though is the previously unflappable Gregori Sun. Gregori has always seemed the one most in tune with the universe and his place within it but recent events have left him in inner turmoil. No longer immortal, no longer a Rider and now discovering latent powers that he has no idea how to control! Ok time to take action and Gregori feels his place is in meditation readying himself for life as a Monk but it turns out that perhaps the universe has other ideas !
Ciera has reinvented herself. No longer a runaway, no longer dependent on drugs but now a model citizen working as a librarian and helping those less fortunate. Oh who am I kidding? It would be a boring story if nothing untoward was happening and the truth is Ciera has a secret of her own ! Their initial meeting might be coincidental but there's a connection between them that confuses Gregori. Still he hasn't time for romance and really needs help discovering his roots but not everyone wants Gregori to retrace his past !
Most paranormal stories have good versus evil but this book offers us more than one villain and it's really a twisting tale that had me gripped. These Riders are so very different to each other and I would definitely recommend starting with the Baba Yaga books but right now it's all about Gregori getting his mojo back and he manages that with some very unexpected intervention! What can I say? With families you never quite know what to expect!
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I am addicted to this series and the Baba Yaga series that this was spun off of and I wonder what is going to happen after the next book when the last Rider is finished.

Gregori and Ciera made a great pair in this story since neither were looking for a relationship and actively worked to avoid one but fate has other plans it seems.

There is of course a bad guy and he is pretty evil but human BUT there is yet another bad guy and HE is a lot more trouble and the plot around him is a bit more complicated. It was a great reading and I loved it but I did scan a few pages here and there so 4 Stars for that but this is a 5 Star story you will love BUT if you have not read the Baba Yaga trilogy and the rider book that preceded this one I would not start here.

Review goes live on Butterfly-o-Meter Books on Nov 24 at 00.00 am gmt+2 and will show up on Goodreads sometime later.

In a Flutter: Very fun!
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: Minneapolis, Minnesota main setting, plus some traveling about in interesting locations. Well, a monastery is certainly an uncommon place to start a PNR. Many fantastic elements in the world: fantasy Otherworld complete with centaurs, queens, and maigc, plus paranormal elements like visions and healing, witches, dragon-pets, cool concepts like the Baba Yagas, the Riders, plus gods and goddesses to boot.
Characters: Gregori Sun is old – like really old, we’re talking 1000yo. That sort of gave me pause for a moment, but any story that begins with the execution of a mustache has definite potential, hehe. He has a lot to deal with and is trying to regain his balance, which made Gregori easy to empathize with and like – and root for, ofc. And yet I didn’t see his monastic life surviving for too long, lol, for obvious reasons.
Ciera was so, so awesome: librarian with unruly hair and glasses who seemed to have given up men, and could kick serious ass literally. Loved her pretty much on the stop. Her tough past and dedication to punishing whoever had killed Skye made her all the easier to like. I loved how nuanced and layered she was, and how invested she proved to be in the well-being of homeless teens.
But my favorite thing had to be the whole Chudo-Yudo thing, and Koshka was my top fav because cat lover galore, hehe.
Plot: I loved the slow burn romance, but if it was any slower my eyes might have burst out, haha. The Victor angle was interesting, and added an edgier note compared to the search for Iduyan and the results of it. Great pace of events, lots of action.
Writing: Third person, past tense narrative, mostly his/her POV but technically multi-POV.
Curb Appeal: Very cool cover, hooking blurb – impulsive buy material for my UF/PNR moods.

I recommend Dangerously Divine to fans of slow burn romance with kickass heroines with troubled pasts and stelwart heroes who fall for them while doing their best not to. Lots of fun!

I thought that the book was quite nice. The happy ending was good to see - and the amount of murders just kept piling up. Yikes. I liked the book.

When looking for a modern supernatural romance you don't usually think of Buddhists monks or librarians but this mix of sons of Russian Gods and street smart bookworm works. Fun and exciting and will take you away for an hour or two.

Gregori Sun is a former rider, a supernatural being born from a Russian god and a Mongolian shamaness. He is known to the Baba Yagas and the Otherworld as the mystical and the cool-headed Red Rider. Now mortal, Gregori searches for a way to reconnect with the universal energies and reclaim his natural equilibrium. He joins a Buddhist Monastery in Minnesota to control the sudden manifestation of new abilities. Fate keeps throwing an intriguing librarian into Gregori’s path during his search for his spiritual mother. Will Gregori find his mother before it is too late? Can Gregori discover a way to regain his inner balance before his new talents consume him?

Ciera Evans works as a university librarian. She volunteers at a local soup kitchen in her free time. Ciera secretly stalks the wintry streets in search of the person responsible for her late mentor’s death. She meets the peculiar yet gorgeous Gregori Sun at the library, and she aids him in his odd research. Ciera grows alarmed when he appears at the same soup kitchen she works at. The dark past she tries desperately to bury re-emerges and threatens her new existence. Can Ciera exorcise her inner demons enough to let Gregori in? Will Ciera succeed in finding her late mentor’s killer?

I have always liked Gregori from his appearances in both WICKEDLY POWERFUL and DANGEROUSLY CHARMING. His level-headedness and inherent spirituality rounds out his brothers Mikhail’s charm and Alexei’s robust exuberance. I like how for a former immortal, Gregori is susceptible to the same weaknesses as mortals. He tries to push past the trauma caused by a power-mad, former Baba Yaga and reclaim his innate balance. I adore how Gregori assures both Barbara and Bella that he does not hold them responsible for his and his brothers’ new circumstances.

I had some difficulty connecting with Ciera. Generally, I like a good strong-willed and independent tortured-heroine type, yet there is just something about her that felt one-dimensional. Ciera has been through much, overcoming the many obstacles thrown in her path by re-inventing herself. However, I admire her courage to pick up her late savior/mentor’s mantle by helping the downtrodden. I understand Ciera’s reluctance to allow Gregori or anyone else close. But what I like most about her is how Ciera dedicates the majority of her free time at the homeless shelter.

DANGEROUS DIVINE is book two in Deborah Blake’s paranormal series, BROKEN RIDERS, a delightful spinoff from her BABA YAGA books. It is necessary to read the previous series to better understand Gregori’s unique circumstance. I only wish this story had the same supernatural angle as the prior book, DANGEROUSLY CHARMING. However, I like that Bella Young from WICKEDLY POWERFUL, book three in the BABA YAGA series, plays a vital role in the plot.

DANGEROUSLY DIVINE is a positive tale of two tortured souls conquering their internal handicaps enough to discover love. I love this brilliantly creative world that Deborah Blake created. I cannot wait for Alexei to get his happily-ever-after.