Friday, October 31, 2014

Review: Alpha Divided


Alpha Divided
Alpha Divided by Aileen Erin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This series is a fun little mix of action, romance, and general YA cuteness. If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, I highly recommend it. The books take place in sequence with no gaps in between, which might leave you wondering what happened. If you’ve already caught up, this book delivers more of the same fun story.

Tessa and Dastien continue to be plagued by annoying interruptions. They might have finally begun to live as a mated pair but just about everyone else is out to ruin their day. The witches are a big player in the drama this time. On the eve of their mating ceremony (and the full moon) things go horribly wrong and somehow Tessa has negotiated to spend a month away from her mate. Nothing good can come from this, as we all know, but Tessa’s desire to bridge the gap between the two groups will not allow her to give up. This (again, of course) causes tension and sadness in what was really shaping up to be a wonderful relationship. We get very little Tessa/Dastien time, but when we get some, we really get some. I am in love with these two and I really hope the next book consists of them on a desert island somewhere. I know that wouldn’t make a very entertaining book, but this poor couple has really taken a beating.

A lot happens in this book, though, that needs to happen. Pieces are moving around on the chessboard that is the supernatural community and I’m excited to see where this goes. I’m also super excited to see a book that follows Claudia on her future endeavors. These books continue to surprise and entertain, which will always keep me coming back for more.




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Review: Death Fricassee


Death Fricassee
Death Fricassee by Tawdra Kandle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This book was a really fun blend of an adult romance and paranormal read. Even if you’ve never had the pleasure of reading this author before, you can easily dive into this one as a standalone. If you’ve read any of her previous books, you will be pleasantly surprised by some familiar faces. Either way, this book was a fun little gem that begins what should be an adorable series.

The story begins with Lucas, a teacher who spent the last night celebrating his upcoming move to Florida. He’s got a massive hangover, a lot of unanswered questions, and a sudden desire to drink blood. Jackie is the young outlier in a community of retirees. She works at home reviewing cookbooks and has slowly become a bit of a hermit. While she seems content to hide in her house most of the time, her dog has other plans. During a morning walk, he shoots off to greet the new next door neighbor, who turns out to be Lucas. Jackie does her best to bumble through the meeting (and a few subsequent others), but fate seems out to get her. This awkward beginning, luckily, does not doom the rest of their interactions. Through the course of a few weeks, we get to watch this unlikely pair grow into something more than just neighbors.

It bears mentioning that the characters in this book are wonderfully written and full of heart. From the gossipy neighbors to the friendly diner owners, all the characters felt fully developed and real enough to hug. I would gladly read anything set in such a fun little world. Throw in a romance, some paranormal elements, and I’m sold. There’s some HEA to make for a solid ending, but there are still plenty of questions about Lucas and his “condition.” I devoured this book in a day, more addicted as the story progressed. If you’re a fan of sexy paranormal romance, you should definitely pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.




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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Review: Night Sky


Night Sky
Night Sky by Suzanne Brockmann

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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

This book had it all – action, romance, drama, all set in a future and revolving around a girl who suddenly finds herself “Greater-Than” all her peers. While the story is set in the future, it managed to convince sell the futuristic idea without jamming crazy techno devices down my throat. The end result was a completely engaging romantic YA story filled with tons of awkward, awful, and adorable high school moments. Oh, and super powers. Lots of super powers.

Skylar begins the book as your average teenager. She has an overprotective single mom, babysits the neighbors kid, Sasha, a few nights a week, and has a BFF named Calvin who goes to school with her. Everything begins to fall apart when Sasha turns up missing. This would just be heartbreaking and sad, but not out of the ordinary except that Skylar sensed it was going to happen. While weird, it is just the beginning. An insane, “joker-ed” woman trying to kill Sky in a supermarket results in her introduction to the world of the “Greater-Than,” courtesy of her rescuer, Dana. Greater-Thans (GTs) are an elite group of girls are gifted with varying degrees of superpowers in the form of telepathy, mind control, telekinesis, premonitions, or visions. Until Sky came along, it was believed that GTs only had one or two basic powers. Apparently, Sky is the total package, having almost all the powers that GTs can have. The story follows Sky on her journey from awkward teen to something much more.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t highlight what I loved most about this book – the characters. Each character we meet is so wonderfully developed and unique that I never wanted to leave this great little world. Calvin, Sky’s best friend, had such a well thought out and interesting story that I was hooked from the beginning. I love their dynamic and “real” friendship. From the jocks at school, to all the parents, there wasn’t a single thing I’d add or change. Last, but certainly not least, is Milo. I’m absolutely in love with the adorably awkward romance that began in this book between Milo and Sky. It travels seamlessly through the overall story without being clunky or interfering with all the action. This book manages to equally be a paranormal romance and a sci-fi action/mystery. The mystery element will keep you on the edge of your seat, rooting for our band of misfit heroes. If you’re worried about cliffhangers, don’t! This story has a solid beginning and end, while still making me want more from these characters. I can definitely say that this is a series I’ll be keeping a close eye on. I can’t wait to see what happens next for Dana, Milo, Calvin and Sky!




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Monday, October 27, 2014

Review: Lailah


Lailah
Lailah by Nikki Kelly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

This book was a blend of angels, vampires, and a reincarnation type love story. It has a unique way of looking at heaven/hell, and all the dimensions in between.

Lailah begins the book as Francesca, a bartender living in an abandoned house. She has very few memories of her past, and a whole bunch of scars. The world she lives in is filled with memory flashes from her past lives and the firm knowledge that vampires are real (and evil). She’s managed to fly under the radar and not die for quite a while until she makes a foolish decision to help a vampire out. Jonah meets “Cessie” on the side of the road. He’s wounded badly and on the run from some really evil vampires and trying to get back to his group of “reformed” vampires. Against her better judgment (and my own opinion on the matter), she ends up throwing Jonah into a car and taking her back to her “home.” There’s some sexy vampire tension, a little flirting, and then everything goes the hell.

Jonah sucks Cessie into his life pretty quickly from that point onward. Suddenly the face she’s been seeing in her dreams isn’t just a fantasy anymore. He has a name, Gabriel, and they are inexplicably drawn to one another. Her past lives are even more of a mystery as she finds Gabriel might be the key to remembering everything. This is where the name “Lailah” comes into play. There’s a lot of clues, a YA level of drama (and oodles of misunderstandings coupled with jumping to conclusions), and ultimately an ending that left me with even more questions.




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Friday, October 24, 2014

Review: To Love a King


To Love a King
To Love a King by Shona Husk

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

This last (?) installment of the Court of Annwyn certainly tied all the previous stories together. Finally, we get to see Felan’s beloved and watch him flounder his way through a courtship. The stakes are all high and the world is falling apart around them. This book was filled with tension and tough choices for all the characters.

Jacquie and Felan had a wonderful romance 7 years ago, but to Felan it feels like only a few months have passed. Their relationship ended suddenly and with a lot of drama. Jacquie was pregnant with his child, but the pregnancy ended suddenly while Felan was in Annwyn. Stunned, confused, and devastated, the couple split with many misunderstandings. In an effort to either find closure or rekindle his romance, Felan sets out to have a long overdue conversation with the love of his life. All while he is trying to reconnect with her, tons of plans are hatching around him concerning Sulia’s bid for the throne.

It was nice to have our own closure as far as Annwyn is concerned. There is HEA for almost everyone and a lot of the bad guys we’ve had to deal with finally get their punishment. While completely tension filled and action packed, this book was still a nice little romance with a fairy twist.




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Thursday, October 23, 2014

Review: A Very Levet Christmas


A Very Levet Christmas
A Very Levet Christmas by Alexandra Ivy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This adorable little glimpse into Levet’s mind was completely heartwarming. There are oodles of Christmas spirit jammed into this short read. Poor Levet never gets any rewards and this one finally showed him getting a bit of the recognition he deserves.

The story begins with Levet trying to spread Christmas cheer to the Queen of the Weres and her new pups. Turned away at the door, he is set on sulking for the rest of his evening until he stumbles upon a “Christmas Angel” who also happens to be a hottie. Through a bit of sweet talking, somehow Levet ends up tasked with performing her duties for the evening and gets a magic wand. Levet with a magic wand? This can only end well.

Damon is a were on a mission. All his life he has been told that he needs to challenge for title of King of the Weres. This mission from his mother and father has left him with tons of guilt and a feeling of obligation. His destined mate, Gia, has also suffered for his preoccupation with becoming king. What could be a beautiful love story has taken a horrible detour. Enter Levet – Christmas Angel for a night, out to steer Damon back on to Gia. The story was cute and fun, with the same witty and hilarious Levet to keep you completely entertained. You could probably read this as a standalone short story if you wanted, but it adds a little bit more if you’ve read the series.




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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Review: Hunted


Hunted
Hunted by D.B. Reynolds

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

As most of these smaller installments go, we got to see Cyn and Raphael’s relationship grow. Rather than the stubborn and hotheaded pair they started out as, they are replaced with somewhat more rational and adaptable people. It was strange, but satisfying at the same time. I’m glad to see that these two are in a much better place than they were before.

We meet up with the vampires (and their mates) beginning to deal with the power vacuum in the Midwest. There still has been no Lord appointed and a challenge has yet to begin. Raphael, in his never-ending scheming, has a good idea of who he will place in the challenge, but we aren’t sure what he has as an end game until much later in the story. Finally we get a glimpse of where this overall storyline will end, assuming everything goes according to plan. In between all these revelations there is a healthy dose of sex, a mystery to solve, some rogues to slay, and some mate bonding to begin. It was great to watch Kathryn get inducted into the mates club by going through an attempted murder with Cyn. Their personalities overlap so well that I can’t believe they haven’t met before. Oh, and Lucas. I still love Lucas.

If you’re working through the series like I am, this quick read should help bridge the gap between books. You get a nice little introduction to Aden and I’m eager to see where his story takes us.




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Review: Prophecy


Prophecy
Prophecy by Julie Anne Lindsey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

What a fabulously unique story! This book took everything I thought I knew about mythology and turned it on its head. It gives you a solid YA romance, lots of very original paranormals, and a lot of action. This is (hopefully) the start of an exciting new series.

Callie is a teenager, a swimmer, a girl who was cheated on by her football player ex-boyfriend, and completely obsessed with the new boy in school. Aside from all that, she’s also been obsessed with the house next door all her life. Mysteries abound in the cemetery behind the house, the upgrades and repairs done when there was seemingly no owner, and (of course) the haunted reputation it has. There are a lot of mysterious murder/suicides that surround the history of the house, and it even fills a book that they are assigned to read in class. Of course, the boy Callie finds herself crushing on is one of the occupants of the creepy Hale house. That doesn’t really seem to stop her, though. If anything, she is probably more drawn to this endless mystery.

Liam is a brooding boy who shows up one day at the high school with little warning. He rejects all the girls that approach him until Callie takes an interest. Callie seems to be a little bit trouble prone because Liam stands up for her a few times before the end of the week, showing that he’s out to protect her at any cost. The two might try to fight it, but the fates appear to be pushing these two together from the start. Their adorably awkward romance was a joy to watch. It was entertaining and constantly kept me guessing. At about 50%, everything changes and completely for the better. While all this yummy romance is happening, there’s also a bunch of disappearances, murders, and mysterious strangers that are tangled into this story. It’s a little hard to go into detail without giving all the secrets away, but nobody is what you expect them to be. The twists and turns kept me guessing and mostly guessing wrong. I am absolutely in love with Callie and Liam, though, and cannot wait to see where this world goes next.




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Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Review: River Vamp


River Vamp
River Vamp by Karen Greco

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was an extremely short but cute little read set some time before the first book, but still in the Hell’s Belle world. While it wasn’t very long, it felt good to be in their world again as a way to tide myself over for the next book.

Nina and Frankie are partners at this point (in the Blood Ops) and their friendly banter is adorable to watch. They were tasked with following up on a victim in the river, who just so happens to be more than they expect. There were a few hints of things to come, but overall it was just a little fan service to make you smile. If you read book 1, you’d probably enjoy this little glimpse of Nina’s past and her time right out of training.




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Monday, October 20, 2014

Review: The Sham


The Sham
The Sham by Ellen Allen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

I finished reading this book in one sitting and, wow, it took me on a rollercoaster ride. I like to think that I’m good at figuring out mysteries and guessing the outcome of your average paranormal read. This book was impossible to pin down from one chapter to the next. One minute I thought I knew who the killer was and then I changed my mind completely. This book will keep you guessing until the very end!

Yes, as many reviewers have said, the book starts with a big slap in the face of some gore and some horrendous bullying. Both were disturbing and a little off-putting, but necessary to set the stage for the insanity to come. I thought that maybe this book wasn’t for me, but because I always complete books I start, I was determined to see this through. I’m glad that I did, because this book had me completely hooked after the first chapter. Trust me, you want to continue this twisty tale.

Emily is confronted with the brutality of this bullying event and ultimately saved by a mysterious stranger named Jack. He rescues the poor bullied boy and ultimately dives into Emily’s life. She’s forced to deal with the lack of consistency in Jack’s life. He speaks with a weird cadence, using no pronouns. He says he “feels” what other people are feeling. He eats constantly, to the point of being pretty weird. He also is cagey about his past and even some of his present. This wouldn’t really be too critical except for the murders that start soon after his arrival. The bullies we met in the first big event are being targeted or picked off for some reason or another. Of course, the mysterious stranger is the most likely of targets.

This book has you guessing and second guessing yourself throughout. There are no solid answers until the end, and I have to say, I’m still not completely sure about Jack’s background. Part of me wants to hold out hope that my theory might still be right, but the other part of me feels a little… betrayed. You definitely can’t say that this book doesn’t make you feel things, because I went through the full range of emotions with these characters. There’s some gritty realness thrown into this truly shocking story. The characters had me desperate for more and I was a little disappointed when the book finally ended. More, please?



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Review: Chained by Night


Chained by Night
Chained by Night by Larissa Ione

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This series is definitely one to watch. It has a truly unique blend of Native American origin stories and vampire mythology. The story was so completely addictive that I had trouble putting the book down!

Hunter is the leader of his vampire clan. Having grown up in a very hostile environment, he strives to make sure he is nothing like his father, the previous clan leader. In an effort to make allies out of another clan (and hold off a possible war), he agrees to mate the clan leader’s first born daughter. Rasha is a horrible horrible person and an even more evil vampire. She was raised in a clan where torture and fighting were everyday occurrences. Her twin sister, Aylin, was the supposedly cursed second born female. Her leg is slightly deformed and she walks with a limp. These things relegate her to the same status as the lowliest of peasant. She is considered a burden on her clan, and thus is offered to another clan leader (probably the worst one) in exchange for an alliance. All hope seemed pretty lost at the start of the story, but, lucky for them, there is a human hunter attack on both the clan and Rasha’s traveling party (of which Aylin is a part).

Through a bit of miscommunication and confusion, Hunter ends up saving Aylin, believing her to be Rasha. Sparks fly almost immediately and from that point on I was sold on this romance. I am in love with this couple! Hunter easily overlooks any outside deficiencies that have played such a prominent role in Aylin’s life so far. She is far from the weak little thing that Rasha and her father believe. Right from the start, Aylin shows that she is much stronger than her sister. This couple was a wonderful match. I was also surprised by the lack of awful misunderstanding between this pair. Typically in a PNR you’d get to a point where you hope the couple is truly on their way to happiness when suddenly there is a horrible misunderstanding that makes us all suffer. It was nice to have a change of pace when it comes to paranormal romance. This pair of warriors was amazing to watch. We also had the bonus story of Myne and whoever he ends up with thrown in. This guy is growing on me with each additional bit of information we get.

Overall, if you’re looking for an action packed, sexy, paranormal romance with some truly unique twists, you should definitely dive into this series. I’d recommend starting with book 1, but this book could probably be read as a standalone if you can’t wait to fall in love with Hunter and Aylin.




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Review: Twisted


Twisted
Twisted by Elisabeth Naughton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

I have been waiting for Nick to get a book to himself for a long time. This series has had him as a constant source of angst, never really getting any resolution to his number of issues. The title is really appropriate because, yeah, this story was “twisted.”

Nick is the king of angry brooding. He’s still suffering for the actions of the last book, getting tortured by a sexy mistress who is more than she seems. Cynna is in her own sort of hell. She’s been “making the most of it” by using her darker urges to survive Zagreus’s private attentions. I was a little concerned about the very fine line they tread in this book. It’s not really rape, but it’s not truly consensual either. Luckily we don’t spend much time in Zagreus’s bedroom and instead get some nice glimpses into Cynna and Nick’s heads. Nick is somehow using his obsession with Cynna to survive all the things Zagreus is doing to try to break him. Cynna thought she knew what she was doing, biding her time while she plans her revenge. Nick shifts her entire world on its head by showing his determination and resolve. She can’t help but be impressed by his irreverent attitude. Their twisted relationship somehow grows out of the torture sessions Cynna watched Nick endure.

Yes, there is a bit of darkness thrown into their sexy times. If that isn’t your cup of tea, you might want to skip this one. That being said, this book really makes a lot of progress in the interpersonal relationships between the Guardians, their mates, the Misos, and the witches. We finally get some firm resolution to the Isadora/Nick situation, and (thank god) not in the way I thought it would go. This couple, for all their personal issues, really might be the toughest one out there. Certainly Nick’s developing powers will play a role in the future storyline. While this book was a little darker than the others, it was definitely necessary. I hope we see a less angsty Nick in all future installments.




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Friday, October 17, 2014

Review: Fateful Magic


Fateful Magic
Fateful Magic by Rachel Higginson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was a really cute, short addition to the Star-Crossed series! The novella flip-flops between the present and the past, filling in lots of gaps and giving us wonderful glimpses of a softer Tallbot.

The story is told from Lilly’s perspective and really sold me on the idea of this mismatched pair ending up together. She started out so weak and timid and really grew into a wonderful young woman. Tallbot, too, grew (in my eyes) throughout the story. He begins as a duty bound soldier and ends the book as a really great husband. Overall, this was a nice little addition to the series, but not critical to your understanding of any of the other books.




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Thursday, October 16, 2014

Review: Bound


Bound
Bound by Elisabeth Naughton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This set of books is a great blend of fantasy, action, romance, and paranormal rolled in some yummy smut. Natasa and Titus were a really great couple, horribly matched, but wonderful to watch because of it. Oh, and if you’re curious about the title, yes, there is some bondage thrown in for good measure.

Natasa was the mystery woman in the last book that caught Titus’s attention. He could touch her without getting her emotions and had trouble reading her mind. Obsessed ever since, he chases after her immediately when she resurfaces. Usually the most logical and reliable member of the Eternal Guardians, Titus changes with one simple touch from Natasa. She has him diving headfirst into portals without thinking and giving up all his responsibility. Natasa, on the other hand, is running as fast as she can to avoid her destiny. She’s determined to find her father so he can stop the fire inside of her from destroying the world. No pressure there.

Again, the story was interesting and pushed some characters into interesting places, but the real focus was the romance. Titus and Natasa lit the pages on fire (ha!), and we got an extra dose of angsty love in the form of Isadora and D (and Nick). I’m loving where this series is heading and really hope Nick gets the angsty rage beaten out of him in his new world. I look forward to a day when the series is just all the great couples saving the world, with no angst.




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Review: The Undead Pool


The Undead Pool
The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



OK, it took me forever to get through this book in audiobook format, but now that I’m finally finished I can honestly say that this is another solid installment in a series that is sadly almost over. A lot happened in this book. It felt a little bit like a few books mashed into one big read. We get resolution with Trent and Rachel (finally), there are some solid updates with the long forgotten werewolf pack, Felix gets some time to flex his bad guy muscles again, and elven magic is explained (kind of).

Rachel begins the book playing as Trent’s bodyguard. I really don’t get it, but I’m glad that they are mashed together. Watching them attempt to date is adorable and scary all at the same time. How did the author somehow convince me a guy who tried to kill her is good date material? It’s amazing what 12 books can do for you. At any rate, things (of course) do not go according to plan. Bits of magical waves end up putting all the undead vampires to sleep and making all charms performed in its wake backfire.

So, obviously, Rachel is the only person who can stop this. We learn a lot about the inner workings of elven magic, the political drama that goes along with the elven race, and we get more insight into the demon/elf grudge. Sadly, Al is almost absent in this book. He pops up, does bad things, makes things way worse, and then leaves again. I hope we get some more Al (and things get better) in the last book of the series. Overall, I was less focused on the storyline of this book and more focused on the Rachel/Trent drama. Will then end up together? Will Rachel mess everything up? This book showed a lot more of the Rachel I used to hate in the beginning of the series (the weak and whiney one), so I hope she gets back to her usual, more grown up self in the next book. If you’ve read the series, this has a lot of fan service thrown in. All your Trent and Rachel wishes will come true, and a lot of questions get answered. I enjoyed this one, but not nearly as much as some of the other epic installments.




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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Review: Souls (Grimnirs Book 2)

Souls (Grimnirs Book 2)Souls by Ednah Walters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I am in love with Cora and Echo. I admit it. This couple has me completely hooked and I don't ever want to give them up! If you liked them in Grimnirs Book 1, you will be smitten by this wonderfully entertaining second installment. If you haven't read this series yet -- what are you waiting for?!? Start with book 1 and you won't be disappointed!

Cora is still our little firecracker, working hard to "give back" to all the souls drawn to her. She helps them find closure, and is overall a genuinely great person. Her boyfriend/chosen/mate is kind of the opposite. While he holds Cora in the highest regard, he is still a brutally protective, sometimes overbearing, all around bad boy reaper. At first, this was sort of a turn off. Cora should be her own person! She should be able to do what she wants! I found myself almost yelling at my kindle. Well, you see, I guess there's a reason for things happening the way they do, right? Poor Cora gets drawn into yet another life or death situation, which kind of proves Echo right.

The "big bad" in this one wasn't really revealed until the end, and it was really well done. I was truly convinced to be on the lookout for one thing, but was surprised right along with Cora. Honestly, it could be any bad guy, and I'd still be completely happy reading anything these characters do. The witty banter, the fun and "real" interactions they have, the convincing high school feel (all while being surrounded by *a lot* of supernatural action), all made it a great addition to this series. Even after just finishing, I still want more of Cora and Echo. Give me a book about this feisty, sexy, fun couple any day of the week and I will read it in a heartbeat.

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Monday, October 13, 2014

Review: Enslaved


Enslaved
Enslaved by Elisabeth Naughton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I took a long while off between books, but this book sucked me right back into this world again. It’s a really great blend of fantasy, paranormal, mythology, and (of course) sexy times. This was based around Gryphon and Maelea, with some really great hints at things to come. While the overall storyline didn’t move until the very end, I was happy enough with some yummy romance.

When the book starts, Gryphon is still recovering from his time in the Underworld. Mostly confined to his room, battling against the voice of Atalanta in his head, Gryphon is probably the person I’d assume was least likely for a pairing. Those are usually the pairings I like the most. Maelea is a loner, dragged to the colony by Gryphon’s brother. She’s used to roaming around the colony at night and has been using it to research her escape route. There’s some sort of valiant excuse about protecting the colony, but ultimately she’s trying to run away. Lucky for Gryphon, they both end up running away at the same time. This puts them as unwilling partners at first, but it grows to so much more. Their romance was a really great thing to watch. They both grow into much more likable characters and a wonderful couple by the end of this book.

Bonus points for the side stories that make me super excited for Titus and his soul mate story. Also, there was a little bit of story resolution thrown in at the end for people who need books in a series to move the overall storyline along. Overall, if you’ve liked this series, you’ll enjoy this one. It was easy to read in a few days, and left me with a smile on my face.




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Review: His Road Home


His Road Home
His Road Home by Anna Richland

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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

Wow. This book really blew me away. I took a chance on an "army romance book" by an author I've had a good experience with and it turned my world upside down. Rey and Grace's romance was wonderfully written and powerfully delivered. It really threw a whole ball of emotions at you and did it in such a gritty and "real" way that I was 100% on board from page 1.

Rey (who some of you might know from First to Burn, and if you don't -- go read that book too!) is stuck in an awkward situation. He's in Afghanistan and has to politely reject the offer of someone's daughter for marriage. The easy option was to say he was already engaged, but then he's forced to come up with a photo. From there, things seem to spiral out of control. He mocks up a photo of him and one of his sister's friends from school, which is later found in the rubble after his injury. Injury is probably too easy a word. His world his pretty much shattered, along with both his legs, when he does the hero thing and saves a child.

Grace is a marine life researcher who suddenly finds herself the attention of the news when her face is identified in Rey's photo. An awkward situation turns surreal when she is thrust onto a plane to visit her wounded fiance (who she's never met). What begins as a quest for information turns into so much more. No, there's no supernatural draw involved (like most of my other books). It's pure and it's simple, but really really good. They fight and they struggle even during the week she is at his bedside, but it's wonderful to watch the gritty goodness of real life play out. I was completely in love with this unlikely pair from the start.

The romance that follows will melt your heart. Watching the once carefree guy adapt to his new life, struggling to communicate, and fighting for the girl that he pulled into his world was... beautiful. There's not enough good words to describe this relationship. I would read this book again in a heartbeat, just to watch this couple grow together. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to put a smile on their face. It's one of my very favorite reads of the year so far.



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Friday, October 10, 2014

Review: Captured


Captured
Captured by Alisa Woods

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

Finally! In this installment we see Lucas forced to make a solid decision about his relationship with Mia. I couldn’t be happier that now that we see Lucas as the alpha, as he should have been from the beginning. There wasn’t a lot of romance in this one, but I am very eager to see where it goes.

We meet up with Lucas still reeling from Mia’s reaction to his rejection (again). He slowly comes to the realization that more is up than just Mia hiding from him (thanks to Lev, my hero). In an effort to rescue her roommate, Mia has given herself up to the rival pack. Stupid, brave, and tough all at the same time, Mia does her best to stall while hoping that Lucas will rush in to save her.

Since this is called Captured, not Rescued, we only get a snippet of the story here. Things are definitely going in the right direction, but I am eager to see this couple finally reunite!




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Review: Break Out


Break Out
Break Out by Nina Croft

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

I completely forgot that this was going to be a futuristic book by the time I started reading. Once I got over my initial shock (I don’t usually read that type of story), it read a lot like a mix between an episode of Firefly and Buffy. If that doesn’t excite you, then this is probably not the right book for you.

In a world that has created immortality for a price, the immortal essentially rule. Rico is a sort of space pirate for hire, who also happens to be a vampire. He figures that taking a beautiful woman up on her offer of money in exchange for a rescue operation should be a no brainer. It doesn’t hurt that she presents an intriguing mystery. Skylar has been tasked with hiring a rogue spaceship to break an assassin out of high security prison. The stakes will be high for all involved, but this could really offer her some advancement in the corps. She’s hiding her secrets with everything she has, but somehow the pirate vampire has found a way to connect with her.

This was a space adventure with some really sexy bits thrown in. At first I was a little worried that the sexy scenes were going to be a little rapey (based on some initial interactions), but the relationship developed and became a lot more natural. Overall, this was an interesting little sci-fi read.




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Review: Generation 18


Generation 18
Generation 18 by Keri Arthur

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This book was more like what I expect from this author. While the previous book left me a little confused, this one had a much more natural and expected flow. We are learning more while still not knowing all the answers.

Gabe and Sam have been reluctant partners for a little while now. While this sounds like a good thing, Gabe is making it anything but. In an effort to “save her” from whatever curse he imagines is acting against his partners, he has relegated her to doing the most boring paperwork imaginable. Sam, always the fighter, has decided to take matters into her own hands and force him to acknowledge her as a full partner. Of course, this does not go smoothly, which was kind of expected based on the level of stubbornness they each exhibit.

Sadly, there isn’t much romance happening in this one. I’m still rooting for these two to crash together one way or another, but it doesn’t really seem likely at this point. Instead, there were a few intersecting mysteries and investigations going on that conveniently tied to Sam’s missing memories. We still don’t know much more than we knew in the last book, but there are some things that got ruled out (I think?). If these books keep getter better and better, I have high hopes for the next one in the series.




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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Review: Red Blooded


Red Blooded
Red Blooded by Amanda Carlson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

Having devoured the first few books of this series, you sort of know what to expect from these books by now. Jessica will inevitably get in over her head and her super awesome support group will help her save the day. Oh, and a cliffhanger – always with the cliffhangers. That being said, it was still a fun ride, especially once everyone ended up on the same plane.

This book begins after Jessica’s brother was kidnapped and taken to hell. She’s in training with the witches, learning how to deal with demons on their turf when (of course) something goes horribly wrong, throwing her into hell. All alone, Jessica spent a lot of time wandering around and cataloguing hell. To be honest, I had a little bit of trouble getting through this part of the book. There was a large learning curve for the reader with a lot of different demon types, realms, plants, and other “demonish” ways. Once we hit the halfway mark, though, I was completely sold again.

Mostly, this book shows the rise of Jessica from extremely rare shifter woman to a very important extremely rare shifter woman. We knew that something was coming, but I’m not quite sure anyone would have predicted the ending to this book. There’s a lot of change, a lot of familiar faces, and we even get some “relaxing” time with Jessica and her mate. While this book was a little heavier on the demonic learning and little light on the sexy time romance, it still pushed along the overall agenda of the fates (and their meddlesome plans). This series continues to surprise me in new ways.




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Sunday, October 5, 2014

Review: His Road Home


His Road Home
His Road Home by Anna Richland

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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

Wow. This book really blew me away. I took a chance on an "army romance book" by an author I've had a good experience with and it turned my world upside down. Rey and Grace's romance was wonderfully written and powerfully delivered. It really threw a whole ball of emotions at you and did it in such a gritty and "real" way that I was 100% on board from page 1.

Rey (who some of you might know from First to Burn, and if you don't -- go read that book too!) is stuck in an awkward situation. He's in Afghanistan and has to politely reject the offer of someone's daughter for marriage. The easy option was to say he was already engaged, but then he's forced to come up with a photo. From there, things seem to spiral out of control. He mocks up a photo of him and one of his sister's friends from school, which is later found in the rubble after his injury. Injury is probably too easy a word. His world his pretty much shattered, along with both his legs, when he does the hero thing and saves a child.

Grace is a marine life researcher who suddenly finds herself the attention of the news when her face is identified in Rey's photo. An awkward situation turns surreal when she is thrust onto a plane to visit her wounded fiance (who she's never met). What begins as a quest for information turns into so much more. No, there's no supernatural draw involved (like most of my other books). It's pure and it's simple, but really really good. They fight and they struggle even during the week she is at his bedside, but it's wonderful to watch the gritty goodness of real life play out. I was completely in love with this unlikely pair from the start.

The romance that follows will melt your heart. Watching the once carefree guy adapt to his new life, struggling to communicate, and fighting for the girl that he pulled into his world was... beautiful. There's not enough good words to describe this relationship. I would read this book again in a heartbeat, just to watch this couple grow together. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to put a smile on their face. It's one of my very favorite reads of the year so far.



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Review: Freak Show


Freak Show
Freak Show by Patti Larsen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This first "episode" of the series really captured my attention. The writing style is more like a movie script and less like your typical book. That, coupled with the many mysteries kept me rapidly flipping pages.

Gerri, Ray, and Kinsey are a trio of girls with oodles of secrets. They met each other in college only to go their separate ways. In Silver City, we find them all recently reunited and tied together by a secret they all share. Gerri became homicide detective and recently lost a partner in a strange way that Ray and Kinsey somehow witnessed. Ray became a medical examiner (after being a doctor) for a personal (and paranormal) reason that neither of the other girls knows. Kinsey relocated to a new university suddenly, with the help of her own hidden talent. Together, these three girls are captivating and left me completely wanting more. I want to know more about their past, the history together, and the powers and strange occurrences that surround them. This trio gets more than they bargained for when Gerri gets assigned the murder investigation of a dancer at a drag club. Of course, when the weirdness pops up, she reaches out to her girls for help.

Who killed the girl? Why are more bodies popping up and then disappearing? Why does it seem like everyone knows more than these three girls? What kind of abilities does Gerri have? This book was filled with questions and very few answers. It gave a lot of introduction and mystery to get you hooked on even more installments. Oh, and it totally works! Even if you haven't been a detective story fan, this introductory serial will convince you otherwise.



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Saturday, October 4, 2014

Review: Hunted


Hunted
Hunted by Alisa Woods

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

This quick paced serial is definitely my new guilty pleasure. I've cheated a little bit on my review list just to have a little yummy alpha shifter treat.

This installment was filled with Lucas and his silly conflicted mind. Mia, rightly so, is super confused about the whole situation. First, she's thrown into this shifter life with nobody but Lucas to guide her. Second, Lucas wants her, but insists they can't have one another (oh, but don't worry, they do, and it is HOT). Lastly, the jealous push-pull of their interactions is enough to drive any woman crazy. Mia shows how strong she can be, simply by surviving his never ending confusion. I kind of hoped she would make a play for any number of other hotties we met in this book. I hope some of them end up coming back to ramp up Lucas's protective streak even more. Oh, and Lev -- he deserves a real mention here. He's a really fun and wonderfully written supporting character that I hope gets a little more time to shine.

Now... do I have time to start the next one? Of course I do! I'm a little concerned about what will happen when I catch up to the released installments... I can only assume I will go through alpha withdrawal. Send yummy PNR books quickly!



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Review: Claimed By Light


Claimed By Light
Claimed By Light by Reese Monroe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This book is the third (and final?) book of the series. After meeting Halena and seeing all the signs (making fun of the mated couples, stressing how much she did not want a mate, etc.), I knew this one was coming. We get to watch the most unlikely of candidates break through her tough as nails exterior to find the true Halena.

Slade is the typical overprotective brother, with a twist. His gift of visions lets him truly see when his sister is in real trouble. In his usual fashion, he shows up to save his sister, only to find that her latest problems are from a deal with a demon. Of course, Slade swoops in to save the day, leading him to the deadly sexy Halena. Kidnap a Gatekeeper? Sure, that should go fine.

Halena and Slade are definitely the most reluctant of mates. Between visions, prophecy, demons, and oodles of baggage, there was a lot of work to be done. What starts off as sizzling quickly gets turned way way down as the two struggle to stop the bond. Don't worry -- it gets better! This story gave some really great resolution to all the storylines, let us catch up on all the great characters we met along the way, and lets them have a warm and fuzzy HEA. I kind of hope this is the last of the series, because (even though I want to know about Zander), I love some really happy endings. This was a really satisfying and fun series that I'd recommend to anyone who wants some really unique paranormal reading.



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