Rating this as a middle of the scale.

I was unaware this was the second book in a series when i requested it and have not managed to pick up the first.

from the reviews it sounds wonderful!

this was a great sequel, it had what I enjoyed from the previous book and had what I enjoyed about the characters in the first one.

In the aftermath of her mother's death, Sierra is trying to find her way as the new Sunfire Queen. Her mother was an evil person who ruled with an iron fist and Sierra vows not to be the same, but is having a hard time demanding respect with her more submissive nature. But first there's the issue of the handsome beastykin she found locked in her mother's garden.....

Sins in Sunlight is the second book in the Of Courts and Desire Series by Rachel Hailey. I had not read the first book, but I was able to follow along without too much trouble.

I really liked this book! It was my first by this author and wasn't sure what to expect. She didn't explain too much of the world she created and let you figure it out as you went along. It made it a little confusing at times, but honestly, it was much better than having to read 50 pages of explanation before getting to the good stuff. The character development was great, I really enjoyed and liked both the main characters as well as the side characters. The sex was super hot and while there weren't any big plot twists, it had more of an overarching adventure.

This is the second book in the Of Courts and Desire series and I really enjoyed this book. It has a little bit of everything, romance, paranormal, adventure and death. It covered all the bases for me and I can’t wait to see what the author comes out with next!

Sierra is the new Sunfire Queen and she steps up to take on the role and assert her power. But the catch is - she must do it without becoming like her just mother who was an unjust ruler. This book is kind of a standalone just so people are aware. There is a book one that comes before this but it isn't really required as it focuses on two separate characters - Sierra and Mikhail. And if you're big on character-driven stories, it's huge in this book. Sierra is just a character you really root for and she transitions perfectly from this timid woman to one who is fierce but still compassionate.

The story is humorous in many aspects which I just loved! It's rare a story makes me laugh out loud and even more so - the people around me want to know what I'm laughing about. I will also be frank here and just say that the smut was hot! It was unexpected and welcomed! It's kind of like a friends with benefits thing at first, but the growth is there. So if you're looking for a steamier read as well - this is it right here and you will surely like the dynamic between Sierra and Mikhail.

My only little nitpick would probably be that the story doesn't give you a lot with the world-building and you have to figure it out as you read. I was able to start figuring out what was happening, like the fact that it takes place in a modern setting almost with different names for different types of creatures. For example, bloodkyns are basically like vampires. Mikhail is also something called a Beastkyn just as Sierra is a lightkyn. It's a pretty intriguing concept combined with the fact that it was a fast-paced read. I just really enjoyed it and will definitely continue with the series starting with book one so I can read about Callie and Ashe.

I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to like this book. I relatively enjoyed the first book in this series. It had several issues but I still gave it a 3/5 and I was hoping that this one would live up to that one but for me it fell short. I think I was looking for things wrong with this book because of my experience with the last book instead of looking for things right. I don't like being over critical with books but it was hard to get through.

I just couldn’t get into this book. There was a lot of confusing terms to me. And I just never connected with the main characters.
I just reviewed Sins In Sunlight by Rachel Hailey. #SinsInSunlight #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In a futuristic world, many different fae, called "kyn" have conquered the human world and live openly among them. Newly risen to the crown and trying to reforge alliances destroyed by her abuse mother and former queen, Sierra is trying to prove her worth to a nervous court. Mikhail, recently freed from imprisonment trapped as a bear, seeks revenge against the assassin who double-crossed him. Someone is trying to rekindle a war between the Light and Dark kyn courts, while allies draw close to try and overcome.

I tried really hard to finish this book, but ugh!, it was just too painful. I got about 30% of the way through before I was crying at the thought of continuing. Not even that beautiful, beautiful cover could make me soldier on. Nothing about how the characters interacted with each other or their situations made any sense. The inanity of these choices are fitting to the genre, but it made it so hard to take seriously.

-- Did my mother keep someone as a prisoner? Let me check the bedroom!
-- I want to be taken seriously and seen as a force to be reckoned with! Step aside my queen, let the men talk. Oh, thank you for caring!
-- I am the most badass fighter and I need to lead my troops. At the first sign of danger: throw her in an isolated room she can't get out of and don't let her know what's going on! Oh, thank you for caring!
-- I am hell-bent on revenge and obsessed with catching the woman who betrayed me. Ooo, but the <s>damsel</s> heroine is so pretty, I must put all that aside and instantly <s>mansplain everything to</s> dote on her.
-- Etc.

Mikhail was supposed to be a romantic bad boy, but he was just derogatory towards all "females" and a violent criminal "because it's fun." I must not have a single, civilized conversation with any other "male" until they've admitted mine is bigger. That's not romantic, that's vile.

The many different types of kyn was just confusing - it would have been much easier to call them by their more common names (vampires, shapeshifters, witches, etc) - especially since they're more background information, as opposed to actual characters who make a difference in the plot. This book made my brain work to remember all the trivial information like this, in an effort to exhaust it into not noticing every single plot hole.

An Awe-Inducing Paranormal Steamy romance with Mysteries, Secrets, LOTS (Like So much😍) of Action & Bloodshed, Banters, Emotions, Prince & Princess, Magic, War, Happiness, Everything for Love, Finding the inner Strength, Love & HEA.
I stumbled upon this in Netgalley & had so much fun Reading this! I loved Sierra, Mikhail & Some other characters. I DEVOURED this story in 8hrs.
#My 1st by Rachel, I'm sure gonna check out the 1st book in this series.

~~ This Story is placed in the modern World, but Where 'Kyns' rule the world (Like: Vampires are called 'BloodKyn', Shifters being 'Beastkyn', etc). Every Kyn have different 'Courts' in most cities. This book was Semi Standalone, I felt that we see the aftermath Of Things happened in the 1st book. There were many characters, Of Multi-Skin-Color too (Like Sierra's Pink!), I most liked Callie, Ash (Hero-Heroine of previous book) & Diana (The Ard Ri I.e. Queen of all). The World Building is Quite awesome! ~~

Sierra's A lightkyn & the Sunfire Queen. Her mom was Bloodthirsty for Power & Did many bad things, even abused her own daughter (& Callie). After the war with Demonkyn (Callie's Court), she's dead & Sierra's left to pick up the pieces. I loved seeing her open up from the Shy soft-spoken girl to a Fierce queen her people needed, Mikhail helped to make her see that sometimes being Strict & Stubborn is Required.
"No one would follow a weeping monarch to the grocery store, let alone to war." ~Sierra

Mikhail's a Russian BeastKyn. He's also many other things, like A Prince, Arms Dealer (To fuck with His Family), White Bear, Golden Dragon, A Single Dad (His Kid is Grown). These are *some* of his Secrets, this maybe a spoiler but The real Fun is how we (& Sierra) find all out! He experienced a lot of Pain in his life, mostly due to his Family. He's Callie's Friend.

The Book Starts with us Seeing Mikhail in Captivity & Finding how he got there. Later, Callie comes to Sierra's Court accusing her of Keeping Mikhail for 8 weeks, she hasn't. But After Callie's gone, Sierra's Suspicions are confirmed When she finds a Starved Mikhail, Her mom Did it *Bitch*. Sierra's Cautious & though Mikhail is a playboy, He feels a Deep connection with her. She intrigues him.
~I adored Blitz, her Guard!

A Series of Bloody Events reveal that Releasing Mikhail had released Sierra's mom's Other captives...And Now they're out for Revenge.
Gladly, other Royals Will Help. During these events, Mikhail & Sierra grow close, their sparks blaze.
"She was beauty and grace. Sunshine and fire. Innocence and purity. She was everything he wanted to possess. If only for a night." ~Mikhail
Their Supposed to be 1 night becomes so much more. He's Protective of & Cares for her BUT Had reasons to not start a relationship, so they Remained Friends with Benefits. But Love couldn't be stopped. Even as his Secrets Surprise her, when he's honest with his Reasons, she takes it all well! And when his dear Daughter is Targeted, she protects her! Seeing the girls who mean Everything to him Bond, warms his heart.

BUT The Rogues are FAR more dangerous than they thought. For Power, they want to Complete Her mom's Plan & For that..They need Sierra's Blood.
Sierra finds her strength here & Mik does everything to protect his girls. Through it all, Mik+Sierra Realize their Feelings for eachother..But he HAVE to go back to Russia..
The Last Fight with Rogues had my Heart racing, it was Bloody Fierce!!! The end gladly is in our favor❤.

THEN Its Time for Goodbye..
Being away from eachother, both Sierra & Mik were Miserable. Though Sierra's Relation with Callie & Diana do grow here.
Mikhail did this for his girls' safety from his Family, but they're Fucked up & now still after their lives. AND Diana finds it out & She+Sierra goes to Save him & his daughter! My heart ached seeing how hurt they were, but Gladly They got Revenge! Mikhail's heart is With Sierra, his mate, his love. He won't ever leave her again.
I adored when they Confessed their feelings & I loved the ending! Cue HEA❤.

P.S. I'm so excited to see what's Planned next for this series!

A Sunfire Queen trying to repair the damage of her mother’s deranged rule and a beastkyn Mikhail on the haunt for the same woman who had imprisoned him are both brought together in search of the monsters that entwine them. Sierra is now the queen of the sunfire court and is trying to repair all the damages done by her mother, including trying to endure the abuse and pain her mother had done to her. Mikhail is banished and is looking for the woman who did this to him in order to exact revenge but when Sierra appears before him and breaking the banishment, he suddenly finds that maybe theres more than just revenge for him. Throw in some mischievous kings and queens, crazy relatives, and lots of murder plots, and well a bit of an angsty romance and heres what you got. The story was a fun one to read and getting read from both perspectives was a nice touch. Overall an interesting fantasy romance book, you can read the book as a standalone or part of the series, I read it as a standalone and didn’t find it hard to catch up to the story at all.

*Thanks Netgalley and FyreSyde Publishing for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I liked Sierra and Mikhail! She opens up to him and learns how to be the Queen her court needs, when she continues to doubt herself. And Mikhail has a lot of secrets, but he can't help how he feels about Sierra, even if they can't be together long-term.

The supporting characters were great, too. I didn't realise this was book 2 in the series, so I missed Callie and Ashe's story, but I will definitely go back and read it at some stage.

I enjoyed reading this story - a paranormal romance, with action and magic.