Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Review: Sunroper


Sunroper
Sunroper by Natalie J. Damschroder

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having picked up this series at book 2, I was really eager to get my hands on more from this author. The writing style is great, the pacing is quick, and the story is addictive. This world that these books takes place is really unique and interesting, too.

This book picks up with Marley, who we were all worried about at the end of book 2. She's toughed up considerably and is now working with the most unlikely of partners. While on her mission to nullify as many possible leechers as possible, she runs into Gage. Gage is looking for his brother, who went undercover to infiltrate a group of guys who are getting high off power doled out by a rogue sun goddess. He crosses paths with Marley and is immediately ensnared.

Marley sees herself as damaged, but Gage sees her as perfection. Their reluctant love story was sweet, gritty, and real. There were a lot of characters from previous books, too, which was a nice little treat. Marley started the book so hard, I'm glad that we get a pretty good HEA out of this one. She deserved it.



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Monday, December 30, 2013

Review: Heart of the Incubus


Heart of the Incubus
Heart of the Incubus by Rosalie Lario

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this little paranormal read. I've not read any of the other books in this series, so all the characters were brand new to me, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of this really well written novella.

Cresso is an incubus who has fallen in love. He also happens to be a coworker in a large scientific organization with the object of his affections. The problem, of course, is that she seems completely uninterested in him. Genevieve is a researcher with a small amount of magical gift. She was recruited for this rather hidden organization and thought it was a great time to run away from her cheating fiance and all the problems associated with it. This left a very scarred and broken woman that obviously thinks herself unable to draw the attention of one very sexy incubus.

There is some fun back and forth where both characters think they are unworthy of the other that ends in some rather explosive and sizzling scenes. There was mystery, romance, action, and some amazing chemistry. While I wasn't familiar with this author before this short story, I'll be sure to remedy that in the future. I would love to see what the author can really do with a full length installment in the series.



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Review: Dragon Awakened


Dragon Awakened
Dragon Awakened by Jaime Rush

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book really takes off from page 1 without letting up! I've read one of the short stories that takes place before these books (I think), but even that didn't prepare me for diving right into this book. You get thrown head first into the deep end of this new world of the hidden -- where dragons and magicians are real things.

Raised on fairy tale stories by her uncle, Ruby never knew anything was different about her, other than her orphan status. When she watches something unexplainable murder her Uncle, Ruby's world starts to tilt on its axis. Chasing down leads on his Uncle's murderer drags her to Cyntag. Years previous, Cyntag was just going about his duties as a sanctioned assassin when he found the child of his victims still alive in a boat. Since then (and after quitting his job) he's been duty sworn to protect her. But can it actually be possible for a romance to happen between a woman and her parent's killer? I was skeptical too, but this book completely sold me on it.

The romance is really wonderfully done, with just the right amount of sizzling scenes thrown in to keep the dragon's sensuality just right. The fighting and training made for some really hot story. I'm so sad that the book came to such an abrupt end -- I want more! There was some resolution, but I guess I should've waited until I had the whole trilogy before starting the first one. Now I've got to worry and wonder about these characters that I've grown to love.



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Review: Legend of the Highland Dragon


Legend of the Highland Dragon
Legend of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I'm not usually a fan of historical paranormal romance, but since I was on a dragon kick, I figured I'd check this one out as a change from my typical reads. This was a fun little story that was a mix of romance, paranormal, and mystery. There's lots of magic and strong female characters, along with a good start to a few dragon book follow-ups.

Mina begins the book as a tough little secretary to an aging professor. One day, Stephen MacAlasdair walks into the office and turns her life upside down. Drawn into his mysterious conversation, she ends up ultimately working for him and living in his house. While I'm used to a more contemporary romance that has a few hot scenes leading up to some sort of culmination, this was certainly a book with "propriety of the times" in mind. Mina certainly can hold her own, and there is a lot of feminism that pops up along the way.

All in all, this was an interesting read, especially for the historical romance fans out there.



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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Review: Caged in Bone


Caged in Bone
Caged in Bone by S.M. Reine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



These books are completely addictive. They suck you in and just won't let you go! Elise and Rylie once again joined forces in what seems like a small task, but ends up exploding to apocalyptic proportions.

Abel has gone missing and the only clue they find is a rune that indicates the ever elusive James Faulkner has been somehow involved. Rylie obtains the ruler of Dis's help (aka Elise) in a cross country search for her missing mate. Elise, of course, has an agenda of her own that is a mix of guilt, rage, and conflicted love/hate feelings that still bounce around between James and Elise.

I pretty much read these books for the heartbreaking little scenes we get between James and Elise. Every time James enters on the scene, I smile. As much as I know we should all hate James by now (especially Elise), I'm rooting for every small sign of affection between the two of them. I think I finally figured out what first drew me to this book two-some. They completely remind me of Aeon and Trevor from the Aeon Flux series. It's a tortured love/hate relationship, but you still can't help but root for a happy ending. If that brings back fond memories for you, this series can't be missed. Start from the beginning, though, because all the torture is really worth it for the moments of true happiness.

There are some truly big events that happen in this book, further progressing the storyline and pushing us towards whatever massive ending this series has in store for us. We get slightly more happiness and slightly less torment by the end of the book. It's still a gritty and awesomely action-packed read that you've come to expect from S.M. Reine, with a little ray of sunshine to keep the HEA-chasers holding on to hope. I can't wait to see where this series ends up!



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Friday, December 27, 2013

Review: Reaver


Reaver
Reaver by Larissa Ione

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, now that I'm officially caught up on this series I don't know what to do with myself! It seems like with each book, we get more an more answers, but at the same time, there's more questions floating around, too! This book was a few installments in the making, so I'm glad that a lot of my most pressing concerns and questions were all resolved in one tidy book.

This book, obviously, was about Reaver and Harvester (as they've both "reinvented" themselves in their new names). With oodles of baggage for each of them, it seemed like they would never actually be able to be with one another. Lots of trust issues, LOTS of memory tinkering and betrayal, but at least there's a big impetus to clean house in the angel ranks, since it seems just about every bad thing that happens originates there. It's a little hard to give a review without being too spoilery, but I will say that this book had some pretty dark moments, but managed to spin it around to yet another HEA ending to make me smile.

I still really love Reaver, but learning about his past was a bit of a turn-off. Turns out, his past should have probably stayed a mystery. I mean, yes, we learned some really big things in the previous book, but as far as relationships go, he was kind of a douche (to steal a popular word from this series). I kept thinking we'd learn something that was missing (like he was somehow forced to be a mean guy to save something blahblahblah). Nope. Just a douche. Luckily, he's had five thousand years to kind of redeem himself. Harvester, on the other hand, really seems to have gotten the short end of the stick in all of this. She really did do things for some pretty selfless reasons all along and got nothing but grief about it. I guess ending up with the yummy Reaver is a bit of a prize. I'm still waiting for a teary baby scene.

As far as future installments go, we saw the setup for the next one pretty obviously in this one. I'm not sure how much longer this series can sustain itself on some of the side characters, but with all the revelations in this book, I'm eager to at least read about Rev. The writing style and pacing have me diving into these books and not stopping until I am done. Sadly, I'll actually have to wait for the next one before I can continue my binge reading.



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Review: O Come, All Ye Horsemen (and Angels) (Lords of Deliverance, #4.6);


O Come, All Ye Horsemen (and Angels) (Lords of Deliverance, #4.6);
O Come, All Ye Horsemen (and Angels) (Lords of Deliverance, #4.6); by Larissa Ione

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was another of the author's short little reads that take place before Reaver's book. It follows Reaver as he tries to figure out what his first gifts to his children should be. As most Christmas stories are, it was adorable and heart warming to watch these tough guys and girls share a moment during the holidays. I can't wait to read Reaver's book now.



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Review: Oh, Christmas Hells, Oh Christmas Hells… (Lords of Deliverance, #4.5);


Oh, Christmas Hells, Oh Christmas Hells… (Lords of Deliverance, #4.5);
Oh, Christmas Hells, Oh Christmas Hells… (Lords of Deliverance, #4.5); by Larissa Ione

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was a cute little blurb that let us see how shade and Runa are handling all their kids and the meshing of their very different holidays. It was good to get a little catch up from some often overlooked characters. The story was available for free on the author's website, so anyone can swing by and read it for themselves.

In the spirit of reading everything from these overlapping books, I'm going to read all the mini stories to make sure I don't miss anything!



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Review: Rogue Rider


Rogue Rider
Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Things are really starting to fall into place, and this book was a really solid installment in the series. We get love and action and some really big reveals in this book.

The central story is about Reseph, who had all his memories taken from him when Reaver dumped him in a snowy field. Luckily, Jillian finds his frozen body and drags him back to her cabin in the middle of nowhere. All of the other big changes in the previous books (Aegis drama, DART formation, hellhound activity, the Horsemen's mystery father, Harvester sneakiness, and Reaver's missing memories) seem to all play a major role in this book. Yes, Jillian and Reseph's love story plays out in a pretty predictable way, but it was almost nice to have something easy to predict when everything else is falling apart.

To be honest, I predicted who their father ended up being before the previous book ended. There were some clues scattered throughout the books, which would make a re-read pretty fun. All of the other events came fast and furious and even though the "demon apocalypse" isn't on the horizon, I can see the setup happening for this other "biblical apocalypse." These books are fun and completely addictive. The blend of mind-blowing action and some hot paranormal romance (and smut) is perfect.



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Thursday, December 26, 2013

Review: Lethal Rider


Lethal Rider
Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Wow, this book was just jam packed with all sorts of storyline progress. There's the usual sexy goodness and witty banter that I expect from Larissa Ione, with so much action that I couldn't put the book down.

We meet up with Than and Regan almost 9 months after she got pregnant. She's been held at the Aegis headquarters to try to keep her safe. She's still conflicted and sad, but very determined to save her baby. Than has been drugged and going out of his mind. Through some magical meddling, Than escapes his caring captors to find Regan, drawn by the baby. This sets off a huge set of events that can't really be summarized. Reseph is still on a rampage, bad things are still happening around the world, we still don't know who the horsemen's father is, but the pieces are really starting to come together.

I'm especially glad that I read the short story in "Supernatural" before this one, and the short story in the "Apocalypse" compendium. It gave some insight that I appreciated while some things were coming together. I really like that the series spent so much time giving a nice HEA to Regan and Than, while I thought this book might spend more time on another pair of doomed mates. I absolutely can't wait to continue with this series.



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Review: Apocalypse: The Lords of Deliverance Compendium


Apocalypse: The Lords of Deliverance Compendium
Apocalypse: The Lords of Deliverance Compendium by Larissa Ione

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I'm not really a fan of these compendium style books, but the short story in it was what motivated me to read this one. The short story was a really nice bonus that gives insight into how Lilith seduced Yenrieth. We get to see some characters that ultimately get referenced in later Lords of Deliverance books. It's like a little gem that you, as an "insider" get to read because of your super fandom.

Lilith was obviously a sex demon, on a mission to seduce a sexy angel from the moment she sees him. Yenrieth is a conflicted (and kind of oblivious) angel who feels nothing wrong with having some casual sex with what he believes is just a very confident human woman.

The story was smutty and gave some insight, but wasn't anything really mind blowing. There's more mysteries than there are answers, but I know it's all heading somewhere spectacular.



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Review: Let it Snow


Let it Snow
Let it Snow by Erica Ridley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a short and adorable paranormal romance. Set in a sort of contemporary but magically medieval world, Lance and Mari get stuck in a groundhog's day-esque situation in a legendary castle. There was a lot of quick and witty banter, oodles of fun pop culture references, and a sigh worthy love story.

While trying to fight off assassins after a reward on his head, Lance heads off in search of a priceless treasure kept in a legendary castle. Unfortunately, Lance gets trapped in the castle, just like all the adventurers that came before him. He finds Mari, wearing a medieval gown, and desperate to not tell him the truth -- that at midnight, anyone else that has gotten caught in the castle has turned into a Christmas ornament for her rapidly filling Christmas tree. Through some magical designs (or fate?), Mari and Lance end up being able to spend a few wonderful days trapped in Mari's rather large cage and they begin to know the real people hidden behind their first impressions.

This author's writing style is easy and fun, peppered with lots of wit, sarcasm, and a truly entertaining storyline.



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Monday, December 23, 2013

Review: Rival


Rival
Rival by Lacy Yager

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am in love with this series and this author. The writing is easy and fun to read. The characters are YA-ish and completely adorable. The action is fast-paced and perfectly balanced. Oh, and the dialogue is always sarcastic, silly, and 100% entertaining.

This was a short installment from the strictly Chaser perspective. I've read the other two books in the series before reading this installment, which probably helped. Emily was raised in a Chaser family, but when her father passed away, her mother forbid her to continue following her calling. Brett is a boy who has been in love with Emily for most of his life. They fight together, but their relationship has been strained by what she believes was him throwing their last fight in the tournament.

Aside from the story being really fun to read, it was nice to have a touch of my real life thrown in. Having recently been diagnosed with RA rather early in life, reading about Brett's battle with hiding and managing his RA really struck home. I'm glad that it doesn't always have to be the female characters that have some sort of hidden flaw. Brett's inner turmoil and romantic inner monologue was really refreshing to read. This was a wonderful addition to what is quickly shaping up to be a great series.



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Review: Shadow Allegiance


Shadow Allegiance
Shadow Allegiance by Lacy Yager

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love these little yummy reads. They are perfectly paced with short, changing POV chapters filled with adorable YA-ish crushes and romance. Oh, and there's action. Lots and lots of action. But the witty banter and hilariously "real" dialogue was peppered in all the scenes (even while knee deep in blood and guts), making the book a wonderfully entertaining read.

This book primarily focuses on Rachel and Alex. I admit, I had to give myself a little crash course on what happened in the last book (there were a lot of books for me in between that one and this read), but once I did that, this book refused to be put down. While Rachel came across as a petulant teenager in the last book, she really revealed herself in this one. Alex also, came across as the quintessential baddie, but both he and Rachel are able to become so much more together.

If you're a fan of paranormal romance and love your action quick and filled with laugh-out-loud dialogue, this series is for you!



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Review: Prince of Shadows


Prince of Shadows
Prince of Shadows by Tes Hilaire

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but was able to pick this book up and dive right in. It was a great blend of action, romance, smut, and unique paranormals.

While there were smaller storylines that I'm sure will star in the next few books, this one followed Gabby and Valin. Gabby is a half breed who was forcibly turned into a vampire. After years of abuse, she still managed to hold her own and eventually broke free of her tormentors. Now training a group of half-Paladin gifted warriors, she is determined to not fall in love with Valin. Valin, on the other hand, knows that Gabby is his mate. He's been searching for her since she last ran from him. Their cat and mouse game was really fun to watch and sucked me right in.

Something about their chemistry and the twists and turns of the story had me rapidly plowing through this book. The characters were entertaining and the story was something I haven't read before. I'm hooked and eager to see a certain null get her story told! I'll certainly be looking for the next books in this series.



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Sunday, December 22, 2013

Review: Best Served Cold


Best Served Cold
Best Served Cold by Tawdra Kandle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm typically a paranormal romance reader, but made an exception for this author because her other series is one of my all time favorites. This book reminded me that contemporary romance can be fun and easy too. The writing style was the same wonderful breath of fresh air that I've come to expect from Tawdra Kandle books. It's easy and has some truly "real" feeling interactions and character building.

The story was one of a Julia, a woman scorned. Her longtime boyfriend, Liam, broke up with her in a particularly spectacular and publicly humiliating way. Still reeling from the burn, she, her roommate, and Liam's roommate work to try to get them back together (while Julia and her roommate are secretly setting up a way for Julia to humiliate Liam). While this plan is at work, Julia stumbles into a situation she couldn't have planned. Jesse, the older brother of Julia's babysitting charge, turns out to be a temptation that she can't ignore. He's sweet and adorable, with just the right amount of sizzle. They sure did heat up the pages with their chemistry. Their dates made me sigh and smile right along with them. And the Joss references didn't hurt!

This book was a really refreshing take on a revenge storyline. Rather than getting mired in the negativity, this book felt really positive. There were no cliche "gotcha" moments and it left me with a really big smile on my face. After a stressful morning, this was a great relaxing bathtub read that turned my whole day around.



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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Review: Darkfever


Darkfever
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Jeez, this book was really a super quick read and fantastic! Yeah, it ends on a "to be continued" but really, it makes me want to dive right into the next of the series. I thought I'd find the main character annoying, but she's growing on me. We'll see how well this series develops because I am downloading the next one immediately after posting this :-)

Update: I re-read this thing in record time and -- damn -- it was still really great!

Update: 2nd re-read and it still sucks me in. I listened to the audio version of the additional scene and it still broke my head. Onward to book 2!

Update: This was my 4th time through (3rd re-read) and I can't wait to continue on. Each time I try to pick up more "clues" and re-read with new people. I have to say, the comments about it getting annoying how Mac always talks about the things that happen later are completely spot on. I admit to skimming on her doom and gloom at parts only to slow down on the yummy early Barrons/Mac interactions. Since we read all the highlander books in the book club before starting this re-read, I'm curious to see how I'll enjoy this time through as compared to the others. We shall see!



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Friday, December 20, 2013

Review: Rescuing Their Virgin Mate


Rescuing Their Virgin Mate
Rescuing Their Virgin Mate by Vella Day

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was a short but really nice erotic read. There was MFM, the werewolves I’ve grown to know in the previous two books, and a nice resolution to the storylines started earlier.

Elena was kidnapped earlier in the series, but we didn’t exactly know what became of her. Turns out, she was kept in a cage until it was time to auction her off to the highest bidder. Luckily, Clay and Dirk had already planned a rescue mission that began with them “purchasing” her from Hood (the big bad). Little do they know, Elena is destined to be their mate. After some awkward virgin moments, the three really hit it off in a good way that balanced their relationship out. The dirty/bad thoughts that had Elena second guessing herself (thankfully) did not last long.

In the end, it was a fun, quick read for an erotic paranormal story reader. I recommend reading the books in order, which are now available in a box set.




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Review: Midwinter Magic


Midwinter Magic
Midwinter Magic by Erica Ridley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am in love with this world. The author really does a great job of creating a quirky and wonderful read that I just cannot put down! This was a shorter installment in the “Nether-Netherland” series, but it was still just as enjoyable as the first.

This book follows Sarah Phimm, a guardian angel who has been assigned to Jack, a very driven philanthropist who will stop at nothing to “save the world.” Because Jack is diving head first into saving some small villages, Sarah is forced to reveal herself and try to stop Jack from constantly putting himself in danger (thus making her job harder along the way!). Their interaction was adorable and heartwarming. There was a ton of chemistry and magic thrown in along the way that kept this book firmly in the paranormal romance zone. It was such a joy to read.

If you are a paranormal lover and enjoy a good HEA, check this book out. No previous experience with the Nether-Netherland world required.




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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Review: Blood Unleashed


Blood Unleashed
Blood Unleashed by Tracy Cooper-Posey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this third installment of the Blood Stone series really had a lot jam packed into it! There was tons of action, romance, smut, character development, secrets revealed, and mystery mystery mystery! I had no idea what to expect next because this book was really a departure from any formula I’d seen in the author’s previous work. Yes, there is still M/F/M action and M/M action and lots of interesting combinations, but this book also caught us up on all the other characters we met along the way.

The three main characters in this book are Marcus (a CIA agent, which was kind of expected after the ending of the previous book), “Rick” (a vampire who we also met at the end of the previous book, as a “vampire computer”), and Ilaria (an assassin vampire hottie who is working for some ultimately evil organizations). The interactions between these three happened in a strictly one on one fashion until part 2, where everything changes. The alliances, political motivations, and other drivers were hard to get a grip on to predict any sort of happy ending, but boy oh boy was it a wild ride along the way.

It was a great treat to catch up with some of our favorites from the previous books as well as seeing them in their previous roles. I’m rapidly falling in lust with all these characters and stories and can’t wait to read more. I was a little sad when I thought that this was the last book. So much happened along the way that I couldn’t imagine leaving everyone where they ended up. Luckily, after finishing up, I saw there is another book scheduled! Happy day! I am loving these stories that are so alike and yet so different. If you want a good paranormal erotic read, check these out!




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Review: Blood Stone


Blood Stone
Blood Stone by Tracy Cooper-Posey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really solidly developed book that just so happens to have some erotic scenes in it. While I have had experience with the author’s other books, this series really is in a league of its own. There is a really interesting plot, well developed characters, vampire angst, and of course smuttity smut smut. The levels of each are much more balanced than I was expecting and I’m really sucked into this series.

Here we meet up with Kate, a tough Hollywood producer who is unwittingly drawn into a whole bunch of vampire politics. Ramping up their “coming out” to the public, Nial sends Garrett to get “invited” to the set of Kate’s new movie. At the same time, Roman (Garrett’s ex-lover) is working his own angle that includes seducing Kate. They both get sucked into something even more real than the vampire political games the warring factions are stirring up.

As I said previously, the smut and story were really balanced in this installment. I was rooting for Kate, Garrett and Roman all the way through, even when they were all fighting against it. I also really liked the strong heroine that really didn’t need saving most of the time. This was a hot and interesting paranormal read with some solidly ramping up story. I can’t wait to see where this ultimately ends up.




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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Review: Blood Knot


Blood Knot
Blood Knot by Tracy Cooper-Posey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read other books by this author, but this one is really a different breed. There is some serious story development and character building going on that, while is present in the other books I’ve read, is given some more time to grow in this book. There is still the M/M/F, M/F/M dynamics and oodles of smut to entertain you, but it had a little something… extra.

This book follows Winter, a breed of her own in that she can control body chemistries. Totally unique, she doesn’t really have a support system. While working as a thief and con artist with Sebastian, they later discover that they’ve both been hiding themselves when Winter inadvertently cures Sebastian of his vampirism. After a bunch of drama, Winter ends up on her own, dealing with some inherited blood cravings and trying to fight off Nial, Sebastian’s ex-lover and maker who has suddenly turned up and started trying to seduce her.

This book is the first in a series and really shows some good promise of things to come. I’m eager to begin book 2 to continue this storyline!




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Friday, December 13, 2013

Review: Beauty's Beast


Beauty's Beast
Beauty's Beast by Tracy Cooper-Posey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This author is fast becoming my go-to for paranormal erotica. These quick serial reads are long enough to keep me engaged, and jam packed with sizzling hotness.

The story picks up years after the first book. Tally is dead, and her daughter, Riley, has finally been found. Damian and Nick appear on her doorstep to take her into their world of gargoyles and other supernaturals. She has to learn how to be the demon hunter that her mother spent years becoming. Oh, and she also has to work around the issues between her, Damian, and Nick almost from the get go. The boys have a lot of vampire/boyfriend baggage that Riley is tasked with handling. The attraction is instant, and HOT.

These books are yummy erotic reads and I'll keep reading them until the author stops writing them. What's not to like about paranormal erotica?





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Review: Forged by Fate


Forged by Fate
Forged by Fate by Reese Monroe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book really blew me away! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this book was well written, had some really great characters, and was completely unique.

Theo is a Gatekeeper, tasked by the "great one" with protecting people from demons and sending them back to Hades. His brother, Justin, has been keeping him company and helping him with his fight for over 900 years. All the while, Theo has been eagerly waiting (and saving himself!!?!!) for his mate, a predestined woman who will be bonded with him and help him come into his true powers.

Sadie is an orphan who has made up for her luck in life by excelling at martial arts (as a black belt) and breezing through college by the age of 18. Set to graduate in mere days, her world is turned upside-down when a mysterious tattoo shows up on her shoulder. That coupled with her inability to keep down food does not bode well for her. All of her book smarts couldn't prepare her for meeting Theo, though. After a tumultuous first meeting, they spend the next few days running from demons, alternately saving each other from demons, and fighting some serious attraction. My only warning (depending on your reading tastes) is that this book is filled with a lot of sizzle, some fade to black, and a little sexy time. I don't think any of those things took away from the book, but there are some people out there who are very specific about what level of "sexy time" they want in their books...

This book was like a breath of fresh air. The dialogue was easy and the characters had me hooked from page one. I found it really disappointing to have to put the book down to do silly mundane things like sleep or go to work. I was torn between wanting to speed through to see what happened between Sadie and Theo and savor each and every page. I'm really eager to see what the next installment delivers. Will we follow Theo? Will we get to see Justin get his comeuppance? Will there be a new big bad? I'm hooked!



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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Review: Unclaimed


Unclaimed
Unclaimed by Sara Humphreys

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I don't think it hurt me at all. The backstory was revealed as needed and the characters were developed enough in this book to stand on their own. This was a solid paranormal romance, with a mated pair twist (and oodles of action!).

The book revolves around Tatiana, a vet who can read the animal's emotions thanks to her half-amoveo (aka shifter) heritage. She's got a chip on her shoulder about the Amoveo people, even though her sister is mated and happily living in their camp. After some horses get sick on the prince's ranch, Tatiana begrudgingly heads out to help. Of course, this is where she meets her mate, who she has been hiding from for a while now. Dominic seems just as conflicted about being saddled with a mate as Tatiana, which leads to a whole heck of a lot of denial and running away.

Of course, fate won't be denied, and while the action and mystery were great motivators to keep the pages turning, the mated pair was what really kept me interested. There's a lot of sizzle and steamy scenes wedged in between the paranoia and shootouts. After getting a warm and fuzzy HEA vibe from this book (which made all the couple issues worth it), I'm interested in where this series will go in the future and will have to keep my eye out for new installments to come.



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Review: By Blood


By Blood
By Blood by Tracy E. Banghart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow – this was a really fantastic read! The writing was excellent, the characters were well thought out and engaging, and the story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! This was YA goodness at its best!

The main character is Emma, a teenager being raised by her father in the US. Her mother, in an attempt to spend some quality time, invites her to spend the summer in England with her, her new husband, and their infant. Despite her begging and pleading, Emma still ends up on the long plane ride overseas. While moping and fighting every step of the way, she discovers that she’s not the only houseguest. Josh, her stepfather’s research assistant, has been chosen to stay with them for the summer as well. The hot, young American is a great distraction from Emma’s plan to be miserable. I really loved the relationship and banter between the two of them. Something about their interactions just seemed really genuine. A simple love story is never as entertaining as a complicated one, though, so Emma had to find a way to mess up this good thing with Josh. It came in the form of a group of “druids”, led by the mysterious and sexy Simon.

I was firmly on team Josh, but I have to say that Simon was awfully tempting. He’s a complete mystery for most of the book and really had me guessing at his motivations. I’m still not quite sure what really drove him throughout the book. Of course Emma was caught in this horrible love triangle and it was a little frustrating to watch. Josh was clearly the good guy while Simon was the sexy bad boy. I guess I can’t blame her for wanting a little bit of both on her seemingly horrible summer abroad.

This was a truly amazing read that I couldn’t put down. The story and writing had me flipping pages quickly and eagerly. The ultimate payoff was a great wrap-up that made this book stand alone as a winner for me. If you’re interested in a YA paranormal romance, you won’t be disappointed by this one.




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Monday, December 9, 2013

Review: Black Widow Demon


Black Widow Demon
Black Widow Demon by Paula Altenburg

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To be fair, I haven’t read book 1 in this series, but was intrigued by the synopsis of this one. I’m a big fan of paranormal romance, so this seemed like that plus a cowboy twist. It is a lot more than just that. The world is almost a post-apocalyptic type, destroyed after some goddess/demon dispute that left a bunch of half demon “spawn”, a camp that is loyal to the now missing goddesses, a group of assassins and those in training, and those who are just trying to survive in this new environment.

This book read a bit like a high fantasy novel, but was set in a world very similar to the old Wild West. There is a big “quest” that involves a lot of hiking around, there are powers being discovered and explored, friends made along the way, and a reluctant love story (where the two characters are fighting to save the other from a horrible fate with them). In this world, women are treated as possessions, suspected spawn are burned at the stake, and there are miles and miles of desert to roam. The story begins with Raven, the stepdaughter of a goddess chosen loyalist, who is a spawn with the power to call men to her. After rejecting her stepfather’s advances, she is set to be burned at the stake. Blade, an ex-assassin (and presumably involved in book 1), wanders through the town, only to watch Raven escape from her punishment. Drawn to her, he takes her troubles upon himself and they end up setting off on this “quest” together.

There are oodles of characters and a very rich world that exists in this book. It almost felt like a few books stitched together because as soon as it feels like things are wrapping up, even more mayhem invades their lives. For the fantasy fans out there that want a very dense alternative, this might really suit their needs.




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Sunday, December 8, 2013

Review: Britton


Britton
Britton by Abby Niles

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been eager to read this one ever since being introduced to Val and Britton. I knew there was a great story between them and this book proved me right. Something about the love/hate dynamic twisting to a lustful romp made for a wonderful read.

Val is a by the book, strict leader of SPAC, who never misses a chance to rub that fact in Britton's face. Britton is a shifter who has been forced to remain in human form for 20 years as punishment for endangering the shifter community while he was the leader of SPAC. This love/hate thing that they have going was bound to explode, but nothing could really prepare them for how it did. In order to re-enable Britton's masterful tracking abilities to solve a critical case, they have to give him back his beast (or stop silencing it). As with all shifters who fight too hard against any sort of mating instinct, Britton is almost brought down by it in the form on his previous enemy -- Val.

Val is equally dumbstruck by this whole mate thing, although she's at least knows what's going on. It was really great to watch the chemistry sizzle between those two, even as they fought it every step of the way. These books are little yummy delights and I can't wait to see where the story heads next!



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Saturday, December 7, 2013

Review: Operation Saving Daniel


Operation Saving Daniel
Operation Saving Daniel by Nina Croft

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nina Croft is becoming one of my favorite authors for a guaranteed fun read. There is a great balance of supernaturals, story, smut, and romance. I could tear through a hundred of these books without a problem.

This story is about Daniel and Lissa. Childhood friends, something changes on the last night before Lissa leaves. Determined to seduce him and rid him of his virginity, Lissa gives Daniel a farewell/birthday gift. After years of each having a crush on the other, this could have turned into something more. Unfortunately, Lissa runs away from this possible relationship. Fast forward 10 years and Lissa has finally decided it's time to stop running. Unable to fight her still present feelings for Daniel, she returns only to discover that he's a changed man.

Daniel is not ordinary guy and he certainly isn't the hesitant young man that Lissa fell in love with. The story only gets more interesting as the paranormal elements surface and Lissa has to fight to get the Daniel she knows back. The conflict and characters were interesting enough to warrant a whole series of follow-up books (which would be great!). The romance and steamy scenes were really well done in this book. The pacing was good and I was able to devour this book in an afternoon. As I said before, I will read as many of these yummy Nina Croft books as I can get my hands on.



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Review: Animal Instincts


Animal Instincts
Animal Instincts by Patricia Rosemoor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a really unique paranormal read. It felt like we dove into the second or third installment in a series because of the rather developed characters and story. We hit the ground running, meeting Skye and Shade, a pair of twins with interesting telepathic abilities. Shade, a cop, has a skill more geared towards police work, while Skye is able to communicate with animals. After breaking up some illegal animal fighting, Skye bumps into Luc, a stranger who has an inexplicable control over some wild animals.

Luc is a conflicted half breed who is straddling the human and "kindred" world. In this book, the word kindred refers to a group of demon-like creatures who can shapeshift. This book was filled with a really unique mythology and a mystery that had me guessing until the very end. The romance was nicely paced, as opposed to your typical love at first sight stories. It was heavier on the romance and mystery and light on the smut (although there was some). This was a great stand alone book to introduce yourself to this author.



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Friday, December 6, 2013

Review: The Gleaning -


The Gleaning -
The Gleaning - by Heidi R. Kling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book thankfully picks up immediately where book 1 left us. Logan and Lily are trying to figure out how to make their relationship work, all while the clock is counting down the "the gleaning." Throw in some really confusing and hot doppelgangers and we've got a really addictive YA read.

Yes, this one ends in a cliffhanger, too, so if that sort of thing is a deal breaker none of my review will matter. That being said, this was a really fun read. I like trying to put together the pieces and solve this grand mystery that the author is building up. I wish we got more Logan/Lily time, but am holding out for even more romance in book 3.

The structure of this book was similar to the first in that you are prompted to make choices along the way. I don't know that my read would be the same as everyone else's, but I kept choosing to run after Logan (as everyone should, I guess). I'm still rooting for the doomed couple and can't wait for more YA paranormal romancey goodness!



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Review: The Godborn


The Godborn
The Godborn by Paul S. Kemp

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I had just finished The Companions, book one of this series by R.A. Salvatore, and I enjoyed it very much. I am very familiar with Salvatore's books and characters and found it to be an enjoyable read. I assumed that all of the books in this series would be connected in some way, but that does not seem to be the case. Perhaps when further books in this series are released it will become more evident how they will tie together, if at all.

Unlike R.A. Salvatore, I have not read any prior works by this author, and I felt a little lost at times. The author does an ok job of filling in the backstory, yet I still had difficulty feeling familiar with these characters. I did enjoy the story for the most part, but it did feel a little slow, I would find myself struggling to get through certain parts. Overall not a bad read, but it felt a little too much like work at some times. I hope that the rest of this book series will tie everything together at some point, that might help me enjoy this book a bit more and make me want to re-read it.



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Review: Witch's Brew


Witch's Brew
Witch's Brew by Heidi R. Kling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can honestly say I’ve never read a book like this before. It was almost like a “choose your own adventure” in that it asked which direction you wanted to go at two parts. I’m not sure how the book would’ve gone otherwise, but I really enjoyed what I read.

This is the story of a world where witches and warlocks are separated by a years old feud. Destined to battle it out in “the gleaning” to steal each other’s power, they are trained in same sex groups (women are witches and men are warlocks), with the witches getting the light power and the warlocks getting the dark power. After weeks of malfunctioning magic, Lily stumbles upon a book that details the 100 year curse that is set to expire. After those 100 years pass, they won’t have access to any magic, unless they find a warlock who can possess both types of magic. It looks like Lily finds a candidate for this in Logan, the first warlock she’s ever met.

The YA romance was pretty adorable. Logan and Lily had me rooting for them all along the way, no matter what their respective warlocks or witches had to say about it. Sadly, this ended in a huge cliffhanger (in my opinion). Luckily, I’ve got the next book lined up to start right now! I can’t wait to see where the story goes!




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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Review: Eternal Ever After


Eternal Ever After
Eternal Ever After by A.C. James

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy tortured vampire romance (with some erotica thrown in), this is the book for you. It is jam-packed with a paranormal/paranormal relationship that is primarily slowed down by the vampire’s desire to protect the girl from his evil ways.

This book follows Holly, an average young girl, except for the fact that she is a “seer” and gets glimpses of the future when she touches people. Obviously, this put a bit of damper on her love life throughout the years. Arie is a vampire with oodles of baggage. Drawn to Holly because of her resemblance to her most recent ex (and her pretty gold aura), he ends up at the coffee shop she works at more days than not. In an effort to protect her from his insane ex, he enters her life reluctantly. Arie constantly struggles to find a balance between protecting her and keeping her safe from the insanity that comes with a vampire’s life.

The story in this book ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, which indicates that there are many more books to be written. The world was filled with enough interesting characters to keep the series going for a little while, without it being forced into a formulaic serial. Arie and Holly’s story was a good start to this new series.




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Sunday, December 1, 2013

Review: Charred Heart


Charred Heart
Charred Heart by Lizzy Ford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a steamy dragon shifter paranormal romance that kicks off a new type of series for Lizzy Ford fans. There's a good balance of smut and story, with a few last minute twists and turns to keep it interesting. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger ending, but I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment.

Chace is a dragon shifter who is ready to end his life. Unfortunately, he's unable to die unless he enlists the aid of a mysterious shifter who has amassed the magic to do so. This, like all paranormal bargains, comes with a price. He must hand over Sky, a dragon hunter, in order to complete the deal. While this seems pretty straight forward at the beginning of the book, their relationship really grows as Sky discovers that the hunter organization she never doubted before may have taken more from her than she thought.

This was a really unique twist on your typical hunter/hunted paranormal romance. I was happy to see a lot of mystery and twists thrown in to keep me guessing throughout the book. Oh, and sizzling shifter scenes never hurt.



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Saturday, November 30, 2013

Review: Bitter Fruits


Bitter Fruits
Bitter Fruits by Sarah Daltry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick and easy read that had all my favorite paranormal romance elements: hotness, vampires, and lots of steamy scenes. It bordered on erotica in the steamy scenes and language, but I'm not complaining about that.

The book was about Nora, a college student who gets dragged into a world filled with a rather unique type of vampire. Alec and Caleb are brothers that Nora meets at a role-playing vampire masquerade. Of course, things are not as simple as they seem. Drawn to them both, there is a very big love triangle that manifests itself quickly in this book. Torn between the two brothers, Nora finds herself in a tricky situation that only gets trickier when they enlist her help in hunting down their maker.

There's a lot of biblical mythology and history thrown into this deceptively simple story. I didn't realize that this was the start of a series because it didn't end in a definitive cliffhanger. I felt like it was a solid enough ending to happily satisfy the anti-cliffhanger people out there.



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Review: The Boy From The Woods


The Boy From The Woods
The Boy From The Woods by Jen Minkman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow -- what an amazing read! This book took me on an amazing ride that had me unable to stop reading from start to finish. I just couldn't put the book down! It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it was an absolutely beautifully tragic love story.

This story is about Julia, a loner who is obsessed with your stereotypical popular guy in high school. After a magical night with Michael, followed by a subsequent snubbing, she is heartbroken. She finds herself drawn to her "meditation spot", a big oak tree in the woods where she writes and is able to be alone with her thoughts. It's there that she discovers Michael, knocked unconscious after an accident. He makes a miraculous recovery and is suddenly the boyfriend that Julia had always wanted.

There is a lot more to the story than that. It takes some rather dark twists and turns along with way, but overall it was a really beautifully written story about Julia and Michael. There are sacrifices and both of them have flaws, but it made their journey all the more amazing. I am in love with this book.





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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Review: Bitten by Treachery


Bitten by Treachery
Bitten by Treachery by Shawntelle Madison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was not familiar with the series, but this short read was still really enjoyable. To help further enslave the werewolf population for their needs, a group of witches infects one of their members, Charly, with the werewolf virus. She is forced to choose between saving her mother and helping to further enslave the already stricken pack of werewolves in Hadley. Trenton was a lone wolf until he moved to Hadley. Now the resident cop on the scene, he (along with the rest of the town) has a certain prejudice against witches. Little does he know, the hot new werewolf in their town that’s caught his eye is also a witch.

I always have a little bit of an issue rating short stories. This was a very quick read that really left me wanting more, but that’s good for a short book, right? There was a good combination of seduction and action that kept me tearing through the pages right until the very end. I’d love to see what the author could do with a full length novel in this series.




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Monday, November 25, 2013

Review: Raytara: Judgement of the Stars


Raytara: Judgement of the Stars
Raytara: Judgement of the Stars by Elke Schuster

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After having read the first of this series, I wasn’t really sure where the second book would take me. The love story seemed to be in HEA territory, but this book threw all of that into turmoil.

After Livia and Cassius finally became a real couple, with Livia making the transition to Arash, now we are faced with a new bunch of issues. Ruth is still trying to figure out which side of the battle she should be on when he long lost lover resurfaces mysteriously. After some even more stunning revelations, it appears that there is another Arash family in town with the sole objective of calling judgment (Raytara) on Randolph. There is a lot of misunderstanding, betrayal, and forgiveness throughout this story. The introduction of a lot of new characters was also a welcome surprise. Sadly, we don’t get a lot of romance, because Cassius and Livia spend the majority of the book fighting or simply not talking to one another.

The world that the author has created continues to be completely unique and surprising at every turn. It really leaves you never knowing what will happen next.




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Saturday, November 23, 2013

Review: Carson's Night


Carson's Night
Carson's Night by Tracy Cooper-Posey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This author's short erotic reads are always good. They are jam packed with paranormal storyline, quickly escalating romance, and sizzling hot erotica.

This new series begins with Tally, the daughter of a demon hunter who has just lost her father. Raised by vampires and trained since she was young, she is forced to pick up where her father left off. Her father's partner, Carson, is dumbstruck when he sees Tally. Love at first sight, I guess, since they almost immediately fall into bed. Unfortunately, gargoyles and demons abound, and that throws a wrench in their romantic time together. As always, I'm left wanting even more of these little gems.





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Review: Tempting His Mate


Tempting His Mate
Tempting His Mate by Savannah Stuart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow -- I'm happy that I took a chance on this book because it introduced me to the wonderful writing of Savannah Stuart! I haven't read any of the other Crescent Moon books, but I didn't have trouble diving into this short read. It was a sexy shifter read that had some really great romance and story jammed into very few pages. I'm eager to read more!

Ella is running away from the drama her sister caused with her previous pack. While getting drunk at a shifter bar, she decides to throw caution to the wind and go home with Asher, a yummy wolf shifter who show some sexy protective and dominating traits when someone tries to paw at her. After a night of hotness, Ella continues her run down to her new job and new pack. Little does she know, Asher is headed to the same place and they find themselves at yet another bar together. What starts out as a casual fling ends up being a really sweet love story. Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of sizzle in the pages, but the way these two slightly broken characters end up together was heartwarming.

I'm really eager to read the other books in this series to see how all the characters in this book ended up where they are. This author's writing style was really great, and you can't go wrong with some hot shifters.



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Review: Fox Yearning 1


Fox Yearning 1
Fox Yearning 1 by April Hanna

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While we don't get a lot of information in this first installment, this short story was an enjoyably paranormal and hot read. It definitely made me interested in learning more about these characters and where they're headed. I wish there was just slightly more story in there.

This story follows Lia, some sort of fox related paranormal type person. She's maybe a combination of a shifter and an incubus, but it's really not that clear yet. She's sent on the town for her first kill, which somehow involves seducing a man and giving him a kiss of death. At the bar, she meets Alec, your super rich and powerful business man/scientist/hottie. I guess this bar is one of those "anything goes" places, because an awful lot of their seduction game (and hookup) happens in that setting. Struck by her conscience and some really quickly developing feelings for Alex, Lia is unable to go through with her killing. I honestly have no idea what will happen in the next installment, and I'm curious to see. I always enjoy a sizzling paranormal read.



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Thursday, November 21, 2013

Review: The Fiery Heart


The Fiery Heart
The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I have a really hard time reading these books. I am in love with Adrian and Sydney's relationship, and really I'm just in love with Adrian. Having the alternating Sydney/Adrian POVs was amazing. It was everything I dreamed of and more. That being said, of course you can't just have a book about Adrian and Sydney loving one another and living happily ever after. Knowing this was the most torturous part of the reading experience.

We pick up right where we left off at the end of last book. Sydney is hiding her relationship from her sister. She is also still progressing rapidly in her magical studies. Heartbreak still abounds for the teens and tweens of Amberwood. Adrian still delivers the best one liners, but is starting to lose the battle with his use of spirit. As if Sydney wasn't trying to juggle enough, she finds out that her parents are getting a divorce and her father expects her to slander her mother in court so he can get custody.

There's a lot of other side stories that get progressed in this book, but for me, it was all about Adrian and Sydney. Their relationship really grows into a genuine, real life relationship (minus the sneaking around). Adrian's poetic musings made me sigh aloud. There were some truly heart-breakingly beautiful things he says to Sydney during their stolen time together. As much as I enjoyed reading about how much they loved one another, I spent most of my time waiting for something horrible to happen. Things just don't work out for Richelle Mead's characters on the first try, so I was expecting bad news from about the 50% mark on. I thought I'd give myself an ulcer by the time I got to the end. I know that to enjoy the good you have to have some bad thrown in there, but it still pained me to know it would have to be coming.

Even without getting a HEA, this was still a really great read for the Adrian/Sydney fans. We got a healthy dose of Adrian's awesomeness and a whole bunch of relationshippy goodness. Yes, there are troubles, but where would the series be if all the loose ends had already been tied up? I'll eagerly pick up the next book, even though I'm sure it will break my heart, too. It's worth it for the highs (although now I'm starting to sound like a spirit user...).



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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Review: Wicked Sense


Wicked Sense
Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this book down! The flip-flopping POVs, the perfect sized chapters, the action, the wonderful dialogue, the mystery, the YA sigh-worthy romance -- it all had me addicted from page 1! Why did I wait so long to read this book?

We dive right into a unique world filled with witches and magic. Skye is a new high school student that has caught Drake's eye. Egged on by his friends, he introduces himself and sets in motion a series of events that cannot be undone. Drake's just a good guy who is often overlooked. Skye is a witch sent to find the "singularity" - a witch who will change everything about their world. Together, they make the perfectly "real" high school couple. Throw in some angst, unresolved ex issues, supernatural events, sizzling chemistry, and you've got a romance I fell in love with.

The mystery of "who is the singularity" was really well done. I was second guessing myself the entire way. This wasn't your usual "I figured it out in the first chapter" type YA mysteries. It could've also helped that I was distracted by just how amazing Drake's character was. From dialogue to the warm and fuzzies he created in Skye (and me), he was a rich and developed character. I can't wait to see what's in store for him next!

It takes a lot to get a 5 star rating out of me -- it essentially means that I would re-read this book because it was so enjoyable the first time around. This book met all my expectations and then some. There was no aspect of the book that I felt got shortchanged. It was the kind of book that left me smiling every step of the way (even through the teen angst!).



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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Review: Accidentally Married to...A Vampire?


Accidentally Married to...A Vampire?
Accidentally Married to...A Vampire? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having fallen in love with this series after the first book, I jumped at the chance to read this second installment. I love a good vampire romance, and this book certainly met that criteria. This book details the fated love affair of Niccolo and Helena.

Niccolo is a centuries old vampire general who has been forced to endure the orders of an insane vampire queen. In a desperate plea to free himself from her rule, he begs Cimil for any way she can help him. Being the quirky and ADD-stricken goddess that she is, Cimil helps in a rather roundabout way to ensure maximum entertainment value. Helena is a human woman who is trying to find her place in the world. The end of summer is near and all her friends are scattering for their “real life” beginnings. While on a vacation, a series of unfortunate events leave her stranded in the jungle following a strange voice into a tomb. I guess these fated matings are a love at first sight deal, because it appears that way for both Niccolo and Helena. So much so that she pines for him in the weeks that follow, while he is away reacquainting himself with the world and his queen’s orders. When he reappears, it is to whisk her away to New York, without much information at all. I had some issues with this seemingly tough chick being on board with this plan, and with Niccolo doing it at all, but as the book progressed, we get some good reasoning and I started to forgive Niccolo for the overbearing move.

So instead of just dealing with vampires and gods in this book, we also get a form of vampire god hybrid that was specifically designed to hunt down the bad vampires (because the queen is crazy). Of course, they are also really hot and end up kidnapping Helena during one of her “escape” attempts from Niccolo. Much love triangle drama ensues, along with much more hotness. These books are always good for some steamy chemistry and a sigh-worthy HEA. I would read as many of these as the author can churn out because they are like little treats for my paranormal romancey brain.




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Monday, November 18, 2013

Review: Vengeance Borne


Vengeance Borne
Vengeance Borne by Amanda Bonilla

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow – this was one really fabulous read! It isn’t often that a book blows me away, but this one really hit on all the things I love about the paranormal genre. There was action (lots of action), there was romance (not smutty romance, but still romance!), and there was a richly developed paranormal world (complete with a shadowy government-like organization pulling the strings).

Using my favorite storytelling device, we jump right into this world with no training wheels. Jax is a barista by day and a monster hunter by night (a Waerd in this world). Juggling those two completely separate lives is a challenge, but she isn’t alone in her night job. All Waerds are coupled to a Bearer, or a person who can manipulate and detect the emotions of others. These matches are made by the shadowy organization that raises and trains all Waerds from birth until they deploy. Unfortunately, in Jax’s case, she and her Bearer, Finn, have just broken up, resulting in an awkward and tense working environment. Throw in the fact that there is a rapid increase in paranormal activity in her small town, and Jax has her work cut out for her.

Micah is a man who is just desperate to get away from everyone else. He’s always had the ability to feel other people’s emotions, and even has prophetic visions, but has no idea why or how to control these abilities. Through a twist of fate, he ends up running into Jax. The sparks fly almost immediately and they find themselves struggling to find a way to work together (all the while trying not to get caught in a very messy and jealousy filled love triangle). With very little instruction, Micah is forced to learn on the job because there are Furies loose in Jax’s little town and someone in town is directing them.

The mystery in the book really had me guessing and second guessing myself all the way through. Yes, it seems obvious looking back, but the author did a really great job throwing some doubt into the mix. I also loved the growing relationship with Micah and Jax. They are both such strong characters in their different ways that it was great to watch them find a good balance. Whereas Finn was trying very hard to take the lead, Micah was happy to work with Jax (but not let her walk all over him). This duo will be wonderful to watch in the future installments of the series. The writing style was gritty and real, completed with pop culture references and messy breakups. It was a good balance of paranormal and “real world” issues.

To summarize, paranormal fans shouldn’t miss this intro to a new series! It takes a lot to get a 5 star rating from me, and this book really did it.




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Saturday, November 16, 2013

Review: A Vampire's Christmas Carol


A Vampire's Christmas Carol
A Vampire's Christmas Carol by Cynthia Eden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a short and well written standalone novella that is a twist on your typical christmas carol tale.

Ben is a vampire who has lost his way. After being transformed into a vampire, he soon loses the love of his life, Simeone, which sends him into a 10 year long spiral into darkness. On Christmas eve, he is approached by a demon he saved years previous and taken on a trip through his past, present, and future.

While a little dark at times (and certainly sad), this was ultimately an uplifting tale of how a vampire can turn his life around with the proper motivation. There was some steamy scenes to chop of the seriousness, along with the wonderful writing style that I associate with this author. This was a solid read and one that is sure to put you in the holiday spirit.



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Review: Moonlight


Moonlight
Moonlight by Katie Salidas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had no prior exposure to the Immortalis series, but the synopsis caught my attention, so I decided to give it a shot anyway. This is a novella that takes place at some point after Fallon is together with her alpha werewolf mate, Aiden. It's clear that the characters surrounding them have all been previously developed and well thought out -- this novella was a really solid read. I don't think that my enjoyment of this book was at all hindered by the fact that I didn't read any other books in the series.

This book covers a very pivotal time in Aiden and Fallon's relationship. In order to retain his alpha status, he needs to be mated to another member of the pack. Fallon is still retaining her human status, determined to hang on to what she feels is "who she is." While dealing with her own issues, she also has to fight off the rather determined female pack members who are after Aiden for their own. There was a lot of action, some heartfelt romantic scenes, and lots of yummy bedroom scenes (or office scenes, as the case may be).

This short read did what I feel all novellas should do -- it made me want to pick up the rest of the series. With such a well written and interesting world, how could I not want to read more?



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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Review: Bittersweet Magic


Bittersweet Magic
Bittersweet Magic by Nina Croft

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow – this was one shockingly good read! From start to finish, I couldn’t get the story out of my head. Hot vampires, steamy scenes, one really tough chick main character, and some sigh worthy romance make this a must read for paranormal fans out there.

Admittedly, I have not read book 1 of this series (something that I mean to remedy in the near future), but it did not impact my enjoyment of the book in the slightest. This book begins with Roz, an immortal “seeker” (with some bonus powers) who is in service to a demon for a number of tasks. Her character was a refreshingly crass and honest take on your typical heroines. She, of course, probably wouldn’t see herself as one, but she’s the good guy in all of this. To complete the very last of her tasks tying her to the demon, she must go collect a key from a very secluded convent. Cue the undercover nun music – but don’t worry, it wasn’t nearly as hokey as it sounds. While staking out the key, a vampire and his demon henchmen end up slaughtering most of the convent and tasking a nun with delivering a message to Piers, leader of “The Order.”

Piers was absolute perfection. The absolutely unforgiving vampire leader of The Order, he has a history of seducing innocents and pretty much being a womanizer. When Roz stumbles into his life with a nun in tow, everything changes. While not a love at first sight moment, it eventually escalates to fireworks and near heart-attack level desire. The romance and denial of that romance made for a truly wonderful read. They are both prone to enormous acts of self-sacrifice which results in a coupling filled with some high stakes fights with even bigger rewards.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you’re at all into paranormal reads – check this one out!




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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Review: Lover At Last


Lover At Last
Lover At Last by J.R. Ward

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finally finished listening to this in audiobook format and can say that it was definitely a highlight of the series. No, it really wasn’t because of Blay and Qhuinn, although that was part of it. For me, the relationships I was more interested in seeing more of were those of the side characters. We got an update on Layla’s “romance”, Assail and Sola’s romance (my personal favorite), a check in with the king and queen’s romance, and Trey’s budding romance. Yes, I picked this book up thinking that I’d be completely happy to just hear about Blay and Qhuinn finally getting together. Unfortunately, this book was so filled with misunderstandings and arguments between them that I found their storyline the most frustrating.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that there was no easy path for Blay and Qhuinn to come together. All the years of previous misunderstandings and lies really culminated in this book. That led to chapters and chapters worth of “near misses” between the two of them. They really needed a friend to sit them down and sort them out about 10 chapters into the book. Instead, it really took entirely too long for them both to figure out the truth. I had zero problems with the guy/guy romance or love scenes, except that they usually just ended in more frustration and misunderstandings.

Sigh. I guess that pretty much explains why I found Assail and Sola’s romance to be so much more enjoyable. Even though they are not even from the same race, and they are both criminals, they were significantly more up front and honest with one another than Blay and Qhuinn. Even Layla and Score’s horribly doomed romance was more refreshing to watch play out in the little bit that it did. Maybe I’m just getting burnt out on the forced turmoil that always exists in these books.

The overall storyline was not really significantly moved forward, but there was an interesting development that I’m eager to see progress in the next book. I’m not sure how long the author can sustain the brotherhood/band of bastards conflict if they never actually fight one another.




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