Review: 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 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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Review: 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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Review: 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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Review: 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 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 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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Review: 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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Review: 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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Review: 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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Review: 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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Review: 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 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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Review: 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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Review: 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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Review: The Guardians

The Guardians by T.M. Franklin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

I tore through this book in one night because I just could not put the thing down! The dialogue and characters sucked me in from the first chapter and kept me constantly trying to put together the mystery through all the different POVs.

The first installment had me falling in love with Ava and Caleb’s adorable YA-ish romance, so I was obviously terrified that the second book would find a way to mess with them in a horrible way. That’s usually what happens after a HEA-like ending from book 1. Yes, there were some not so happy scenes between Ava and Caleb, but I should have trusted this author more. I spent the majority of the book waiting for something tragic and irreparable to happen, only to be so pleasantly surprised by the lack of a true cliffhanger *and* some happiness at the end of the book! After all the turmoil that we encounter in this book, it was such a relief to not have to suffer at the end. I appreciate a good “self contained” book that doesn’t keep me up at night after I finish it.

So, the story – Ava and Caleb are still training to try to access all of Ava’s new Race abilities. She’s still got Protectors watching her most of the time and she’s still going to college. Her relationship and bond with Caleb is growing steadily until he leaves to go on a Guardians run. When he comes back, his personality is notably more aggressive and Ava finds him snapping at her a few times, when in the past he was the most patient boyfriend ever. After a suspiciously long and unannounced absence, both Ava and Caleb find themselves accused of possibly Rogue-related crimes. To clear both their names, they disagree on how to move forward and take different routes to what eventually turns into an action packed journey. We meet some new faces, get some more backstory on Caleb, and I find myself hating a few characters less and less.

This series is steadily improving and I can’t wait to see where it heads next! If you want a completely unique world filled with a very new type of “paranormal”, check this series out!




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Review: Spring Moon

Spring Moon by Hrh Princess Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

This was a fun and quick read by an author that is brand new to me. The writing style made for a very easy to read book with an interesting plot. I was also completely in love with the main character, Indiana. Yes, his name is silly, but he is one of the most adorable YA boys I've read about in a while.

Indiana Teller is the mostly human (not werewolf) grandson of the leader of the werewolves. Growing up in the pack without being a shifter obviously made him a little bit more resourceful than your average "prince." His intelligence and resilience really made him compelling form the first chapter. After getting granted the freedom to go to college on his own, he meets Kat. While we don't get to see inside Kat's head, she takes up the majority of Indiana's thoughts. Their cute and rather star-crossed YA romance had me sighing like a teenager. There were some political werewolf games going on in the background, but for me, the romance was the main focus. That and getting to know the awesome character of Indiana.

While we get some resolution at the end of the book, it's clear there should be more coming. I can't wait to see what's next for Indiana!



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Review: Midnight's Surrender

Midnight's Surrender by Donna Grant

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

Having not read the Dark Warriors books at all, this world was brand new to me. Overall, it was a fun and quick read that included a brief romance, some steamy scenes, some magic, and a unique world.

This book was a very short story that details the romance between Dale and Rennie. Having just come off his time working for the bad guys (under duress), Dale is on the run from everything and being pulled towards some sexy good Druid magic. Rennie is lonely and feeling down around the holidays, determined to hide away in her home to avoid touching people and consequently giving them random visions.

The two flawed main characters made for some good chemistry and interesting story. Druids are not typically my "thing" when in it comes to paranormal books, but I would be interested in seeing what the other books in this series look like. Short stories are inherently hard for me to review, because they always leave me wanting more, which I guess is the point? At any rate, this one was a good change from my usual reading.



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Review: Darkness Awakened

Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This book marks a great start of a new series! It hit on some of my favorite things: hot werewolves, steamy scenes, tough chick vampires, shifter mating, and action!

The story follows Finn and Lyra's rekindled romance. In typical Romeo/Juliet love story fashion, Finn is a alpha werewolf and Lyra is a royal vampire. 17 years ago, Finn chose to protect Lyra from his pack's then alpha/uncle. Breaking Lyra's heart had some untended consequences, the biggest of which is her keeping a multitude of secrets from him. After the kidnap of her daughter, however, she is unable to stay away. Finn immediately jumps at the chance to help, even though Lyra quickly messes up the math to assure him that her daughter could not be his. Much baby daddy drama ensues. We eventually learn that they want Lyra's daughter for her blood, which a prophecy says can open a gate to hell.

The sizzling chemistry between Lyra and Finn made this book an absolute joy to read. There were many hot vampire/werewolf scenes to be had. In between those scenes, the author also developed a rather rich set of other characters, all of whom had some interesting stories. I would love to read more about in future installments. All in all, this was a very strong first book for a brand new series that I'll be looking out for in the future.



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Review: Bad Cop

Bad Cop by Angela McCallister

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

Having not read the first book in this series, I had no real expectations. That being said, the lack of experience with the series did not at all stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book.

I love reading contemporary vampire romance books. This one takes place in a world where vampires are in the open and consist of two different "types" that make up their rather archaic system of ruling. Our main character is Alice. She's tough in her own right and is dealing with the heavy burden of her dying twin brother. Even with that weight on her shoulders, she manages to step into the position acting as a vampire liaison head. As far as my understanding goes, this involves coordinating investigations and a lot of paperwork. And hot vampires. That's where Ian comes into play. He's a hot vampire Tracker, in charge of policing his own kind and tracking down rogues. When they are forced to work together, the sparks fly. This book doesn't shy away from the smut, and for that I was grateful.

Of course there are issues, secrets, and misunderstandings, just like in every other paranormal romantic situation (especially in this one because Alice has a particular ax to grind when it comes to cops). These books appear to be relatively self contained, so the story wraps up nicely with no cliffhangers, and a good HEA.

I really enjoyed reading Alice and Ian's story and will have to keep an eye out for other books from this author. I could always use more hot vampire romance on my kindle!



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Review: Realm Walker

Realm Walker by Kathleen Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This book was a fun and original read that created a rather unique world filled with "realm walkers", vampires, werewolves, and demons (just to name a few).

I freely admit to some procrastination about reading this book. The title just didn't scream "you'll love this!", though the tough chick certainly seemed to be right in my comfort zone. I shouldn't have worried. This book was jam packed with action of the paranormal kind (but not high fantasy, thank goodness), as well as enough romantic entanglement and drama to sustain a massive new series. The chemistry between Thomas and Juliana was off the charts! My only complaint would be not getting enough payoff in that department, but I understand that you can't just give me HEA in book 1.

The main plot centers around Juliana's hunt for a couple of demons who just so happen to know her by name. They end up hopping bodies to some of her loved ones, and that's when things get rather personal. Juliana's character is one of a tough chick shell with a gooey girl in the middle. The method of storytelling was one of my favorites. We jump right into Juliana's story, gaining insight along the way.

I'm eager to see where this series goes and would *love* to read more about the side character. They were all very well written and interesting on their own. This book will hopefully be the first of many in this new world.



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Review: A Warlord's Lady

A Warlord's Lady by Nicola E. Sheridan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This was a good read filled with magic, action, and romance. It's story-telling style was one of my favorites -- you jump right in and get hints and flashbacks to the prior events.

The story centers around Sabra, a suddenly famous and wanted woman who was "kidnapped" by a magical warlord (magic is out in the open in this world), then made to be his concubine. She escapes to write a memoir that earns her notoriety and oodles of money. Unfortunately, she is kept under house arrest "for her own good" by a controlling government in order to keep her safe from the Warlord's attentions. There are a lot of warring factions and hidden agendas, but in the end, the Warlord appears to have been the least of Sabra's worries.

The world that the story takes place in was a nice unique twist on your everyday paranormal romance read. There is race of magic users and groups of supernatural creatures of all shapes, sizes, and powers. After all of the bad press the Warlord got from Sabra's book, we eventually learn that there may be more to his agenda than kidnapping some unsuspecting tourist. It was fun to watch the romance play out and progress. There were surprises, misunderstandings, and even some darker events that lead our two main characters to an ultimately HEA (I hope).

This was my first time reading this author, and this book really made me want to check out her other work. The writing and story made for a good read.



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Review: Out for Blood

Out for Blood by Mike Walker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This was a really hilarious and fun read! The writing style was so entertaining and always "on" -- moving seamlessly from action to intrigue to romance (all with a lot of vampire goodness thrown in)!

The book follows around Clark Kelly, gossip writer extraordinaire. He's working a million a minute and loving every second of his undead existence. Always on the hunt for the next big story, he ends up falling head over heels for a young Hollywood star, Taylor. The romance isn't really what the book was about. In all honesty, the book could have been about anything and it still would've sucked me in. The writing style is absolutely fabulous -- like watching your favorite TV show, starring your favorite actors, while being scored by your favorite musicians.

There were a million little twists and turns in the plot along the way that really kept me guessing until the end. All the characters were interesting and quick witted enough to balance Clark out nicely. I somehow fell in love with Clark, even though I thought he was going to be way too abrasive in the beginning. He really grows on you, like some sort of undead (but vastly entertaining) fungus. There were puns and bad jokes, but at the same time it managed to have a solid plot. Like I said earlier, this book really was a great read, even for people who might not be your typical paranormal reader.



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Review: On the Far Side of Darkness

On the Far Side of Darkness by R. C. Graham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This book was a fun read. The writing style was easy, the format made for a quick read, and there was a good amount of paranormal romance in there to keep me turning pages.

As opposed to my typical read, this book was set up as a series of novellas or shorter stories. While they did not always flow seamlessly between one and the next, they chronicled the present day life of Georges and Diane. Georges is a semi-famous historian/teacher who also just happens to be a vampire. This brand of vampire is somewhere between the sexy type and the scary type (don't worry, there's lots of sexy in this book). While acting as a visiting professor at a college, he meets Diane and immediately feels drawn to her. Diane is an archival specialist at the college, and was apparently mostly gay before meeting Georges. They hit it off, but, as is the case with most vampires (in this world), strange events abound. Some student drama causes Georges to make some tough choices to protect Diane.

The next few stories follow them on their journey to becoming the couple they probably should have been all along. There are ups and downs (and a lot of unusual events), but it was a lot of fun to watch them develop as a couple. As a side note, there were some things that readers might find not to their liking in here. F/F scenes were pretty common in the stories, as was questionable consent. I didn't feel like they detracted from the story, though. It's a dangerous (and sexy) world that Georges and Diane live in, so these stories reflect that. We get a good dose of HEA, which is a nice change from my typical reads.

If you're a vampire lover who is looking for a quick and easy read, check this one out. It found a way to make me excited about vampire romance books again.



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Review: Darkness Splintered

Darkness Splintered by Keri Arthur

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This might be my new favorite book of the series. Everything that has been ramping up in the previous installments really fell into sync in this one. There was action, romance, revelations, and revenge all rolled up into one really great read.

Risa begins this book in the same dark place we left her. She was still hurt and feeling betrayed by her reaper/lover/boyfriend and still dealing with the Maury show-esque events that had even my head spinning. Never one to get more than three days of recovery (even when in the hospital), Risa is forced to hop right back into finding the keys, saving all her friends' lives (as usual), and keeping Hunter happy (and not killing her, or, you know, her friends). I guess all of Risa's enemies know her weakness by now, and that's her friends.

This book also finds Risa in a decidedly different place. She comes across as much tougher, less apt to spend chapters going back and forth about decisions and guilt, which made her infinitely more likable. Her love life also seems to reach a sort of steady state, which wins her bonus points. The back and forth witty banter is back, and while the stakes are not lower than before, the book was not as dark as previous ones have been. I found myself smiling more than shaking my head, which is what I want a book to have me doing.

There was a lot of progress in the overall key story, also. I can see where things are headed and I'm not cringing -- I'm eager! Bring on the next book!



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Review: Darkness Unmasked

Darkness Unmasked by Keri Arthur

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I am completely torn about this book. On one hand, this book was filled to the brim with information I've been desperate to learn since book 1. On the other hand, it was also filled with some serious darkness, including rape, which I usually have issues dealing with in a series. My rating would be somewhere in between 3 and 4 stars, taking those things into consideration.

While the last book felt a little slow in both key and personal story progress, this book really sped things up quite a bit. We meet up with Risa, still desperately exhausted and overworked, torn in quite a few directions, and emotionally taxed. Things might actually be looking up for her, though. Finally, we get to a good place with Azriel and Risa for most of the book (thank goodness!). Unfortunately, Hunter is still working on pulling Risa's strings, while hiding their interaction from Risa's family. She gets dragged into another mystery, which takes up most of her time. In these stories, it almost seems like the keys are not her first priority.

The key story, however, really picked up in the last half of the book. Of course, there are a lot more betrayals in store for Risa (even when you thought she had been maxed out). All the personal and emotional progress that I thought was made in this book was mostly undone at the end. It seems like Risa just can't have everything. In the end, she gets *a lot* of answers that she's been searching for, at the loss of her own growth. Sigh. These books really take you on such an emotional ride.



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