Review: A Summoner's Tale: The Vampire's Confessor

A Summoner's Tale: The Vampire's Confessor by Victoria Danann

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I read the first two books in this series and was really looking forward to Baka finally getting his own book. Maybe my assumption that this book was going to be his story led me to have some unrealistic expectations. To me, this book read more like a continuation of Elora and Ram's love story and had Baka pushed to a background story.

The story does, however, start with Baka. He is still a cured vampire (so not quite human), and is working with a beautiful but frigid research companion named Heaven. Most of his time is being spent obsessing over Heaven's chilly demeanor and devising ways to crack through her shell. A wrench is thrown into his plans, though, when he sets out on a rogue mission to save some vampire only to be captured. Since he told no one of his plan, he's essentially on his own. When he doesn't show up to work, Heaven begins to worry and ends up doing some research on Baka while waiting for them to open an inquiry to his absence. The research she does on him ends up revealing that he met or interacted with just about ever famous artist or thinker of his time (really?).

While that story is going on, we end up flip-flopping back and forth to Elora's story. She's super pregnant but still determined to be independent. While Ram is working on their future house, she works on befriending wolves (for some reason). Also while this is going on, the inhabitants of Elora's old dimension send some assassins to kill her (for some reason). They believe they are somehow preventing any more evil from her line, even though it seems like *a lot* of work just to maybe, sort of, somehow, prevent her from ever, possibly, going back to their dimension, and, somehow, ruling them with an iron fist (or something). The rationale was a little bit confusing, but it led them to injure her while she is all alone in the woods. She defends herself, but ends up injured and suddenly going into labor. The wolves take care of her (of course), but this leads to some really crazy searching when she doesn't come home.

There is a lot of fun action when the team comes back together and many revelations along the way when the team is confronted with their future plans. Also, we dive back into the Heaven/Baka story to be shows some even more shocking revelations. I had some trouble with the romance here (which was probably due to the "fated mates" type scenario). Either way, there was still some steaminess that is well suited to Baka's story.

I have to say that while I enjoyed the first two books, this one is not my favorite. I had some high hopes for the vampire's story and was instead given a very detailed birthing story and some history tales (with a vampire story peppered here and there). I'm hoping the next one will give me back the excitement that the first part of the series had.



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Review: Chaotic

Chaotic by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I put off reading this short story because I had already read all the books in the Otherworld series. They mention how Hope and Karl meet several times and I kept thinking "Why should I even read the short story about how they met? What could I possibly learn that I don't already know?" Well, the type of reader I am won't let me skip over any books in the series, so that meant I had to eventually swing back around and read this short story to be considered "complete" with this series. I'm so glad I did! This story shows us the Hope that we never meet in the books. She's still new to this whole world and super naive about the supernatural and people in general.

Karl is... still kind of the same Karl he always is. It was wonderful to watch him try to work his charm on Hope only to be rebuffed and forced to play second fiddle to the chaos she was enjoying. They meet at a museum party when she tries to stop his jewel heist and ends up leading to so much more. This relationship was fun to watch begin, especially since I know where it all ends up. If you are reading this series, you should definitely go through these stories in order.



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Review: The Case of El Chupacabra (Otherworld Stories, #6.1)

The Case of El Chupacabra (Otherworld Stories, #6.1) by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was another wonderful story that is completely essential to reading the series. I mistakenly skipped over a lot of short stories that happen between the books which left me with some gaps in story. One big gap is filled in by this story - how Paige and Lucas end up with the office. In the next book in the series, they are simply there with a lot of this back story missing. While this happens, there is also so much more in this short story.

The other big happenings revolve around Sean and his sexuality. He goes through a lot of internal struggle with his desire to do what's best for the Cabal, but also what is best for himself. He's been hiding for years and is forced to address what other people might think of him if he comes out. Of course, all his family and friends are obviously accepting, even if he doesn't come right out and tell them. The cabal is a completely other matter. Nobody in the cabal appears to be ready to accept a gay leader for some reason that has something to do with ... I don't know, but I'm going to blame evil corporation standards.

The mystery is almost secondary to all the personal drama in this story, but was still enjoyable. We get to watch Lucas and Paige go at a mystery while working on their future plans at the same time. It was nice to "come home" to such familiar characters. I love these little short stories and (again) stress reading these in order.



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Review: Bewitched (Otherworld Stories, #0.06)

Bewitched (Otherworld Stories, #0.06) by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I have to say, I wish I had read this short story before I read the Eve-centric book. It might have helped me like her a little more and understand some of her motivations.

This short story is truly wonderful at twisting the preconceived notions I had about both Eve and Kristof based on the horrible events of the first few books in the Otherworld series. Eve is early in her career as a dark witch, Kristof is trying to find his way in this Cabal world as a single father, and the two of them meet over mutual needs. Kristof ends up hiring Eve to secretly teach him witch magic while also (unbeknownst to Eve) taking care of Eve's bad guy problem. The two of them are both a little bit broken when it comes to regular relationships, so it seems that they would have no problem keeping it strictly professional. Luckily it doesn't stay that way for long and we get to see more and more of their feelings emerging.

I can't stress enough how important this story is to truly enjoying Kris and Eve *so much* more than strictly the books can accomplish. If I could do it over again, I would certainly try to read these stories and books with the order numbers correct.



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Review: A Ghostly Gift

A Ghostly Gift by Angie Fox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This is a short and sweet read to fill the gap between book 1 & 2 of this series. I highly recommend reading the series in order so you don't get accidentally spoiled.

Verity is still scraping along, but happily occupying her own home. She may have upgraded from ramen dinners to her sister's takeout "leftovers," but she is still lacking in the regular job department. While playing chess with her ghost BFF (as one does), her sister gives her a lead on a possible job offer. No, it doesn't involve using her graphic design skills. Instead, it uses her supposedly secret ghost management skills. She and Frankie take off for a second hand store that is being "broken in to" by ghosts.

This has a bit of a love story edge to it when Verity begins to solve this mystery. There are misunderstandings, lovers torn apart, and oodles of ghosts. I'm loving this world more and more with each new story installment.



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Review: Losing It: A Collection of VCards

Losing It: A Collection of VCards by Nikki Jefford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

Ordinarily, I would review each story individually, but this book is so jam packed with sizzling goodness that reviewing 22 different stories would only detract from the overall review. This book delivers *anything* you could want from a collection of sexy short stories.

The overall theme of this collection is that all of these couples are losing their virginity. Sound awkward? Some of them are hilariously awkward. Some of them are light your kindle on fire HOT. There is a wide variety of paranormal creatures (fairies, vampires, shifters, viking gods, runic warriors, and that's only naming a few). There are also a wide variety of relationships (practically strangers, fated mates, longtime boyfriend/girlfriend, love spell induced couples, and everything in between). Looking for a nice combination of settings? This book also gives you that variety. There's futuristic, fantasy, urban, and straight contemporary romance. What more could you ask for in a collection of short stories?

All of these stories are the perfect length, making the pages fly by quickly. I'm usually not the best at dedicating myself to short story anthologies, but this was really wonderfully combined. Each story had a little blurb before it, so that even if I was unfamiliar with the context, I was able to dive right in. If you're looking to discover new authors (and enjoy some sexy time reading), this anthology could be exactly what you need.



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Review: Deception

Deception by Alisa Woods

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

These books have me on the edge of my seat! Jak is risking everything each time he speaks to Arianna and I just keep expecting her alpha to catch them and execute them both!

This installment has Jak trying to recover from his meeting with the witches. He has come to accept that he has to fight Arianna's alpha and kill him. Unfortunately, this also means he will have to go against his alpha and time it just right. With the bonding ceremony set to go off that weekend, that leaves this couple very little time to plan their fight and escape.

Just when I think my nerves are at an all time high, this book throws you a twist at the end that has me desperate to know what will happen next. I need some serious HEA to make up for all this stress!



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Review: Lion's Honor

Lion's Honor by Celia Kyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

Wow - talk about a phenomenal ending to a super fantastic series! This story of Honor and Grayson has been a long time coming and they truly get the ending they deserve. Years have passed since Grayson and Honor have seen each other and her homecoming is anything but how they expected it to go. Grayson may have determined that Honor was his mate when she was 16, but it took years before Honor was willing to agree with him. While away in London, some truly horrible things happened to her. Not every pride is like her pride at home and Honor had to suffer to learn that hard lesson. During her first heat she found herself kidnapped, tortured, and forced to fight with her own cat. Luckily, she has the best family and friends a girl could ask for. Alex flies her back with no questions asked and keeps all the males away from her until she is ready - even her mate.

Grayson (appropriately) is pissed off that he's being kept from his mate. He deserves some kind of award for holding himself back and being patient with his super young mate. Even when she comes back and he knows she's hurting, he somehow doesn't knock the door down to get to her. He bides his time and waits for her to be ready. For that alone, he is my absolute favorite of the series. The way they go about finding their way together is romantic and awesome. It takes Honor a while before she can truly open up and share her experience with her mate, but when she does we learn exactly how horrible her time in London was. This also introduced us to the bad guy of the book - Angus. He's the prime's son (which also kind of makes the London prime the bad guy, too). The town really comes together to help guard their girl and, ultimately, give everyone a shot at revenge.

This series was such a treat to read. All of the installments were fun, but this was definitely my favorite. Maybe it's because I loved all the side characters so much already, or maybe Honor and Grayson just earned their HEA so much that it was super satisfying. Either way, I highly recommend this great series to all paranormal romance readers who like their books to have some hot sizzle.



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Review: Big Furry Deal

Big Furry Deal by Celia Kyle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I love this series. It's the equivalent of eating candy - yummy and awesome!

This story is about Millie, one of the escapees from years of torture. She's a very powerful Sensitive with the ability to drop all shifters with a tiny slip of her concentration. Through years of abuse her power got twisted into something horrible instead of the gift it should be. She's been working on getting back on track, but the only thing it's really done is give people a 10 second head start before she drops everyone around her. Everyone, that is, except for Wyatt. This shockingly paired up couple of mates ends up giving a bit of healing to the both of them.

There is always a little bit of action thrown into these tales, and this one has some mysteriously missing time in Millie's head. She can't remember where her bruises are coming from and she even has some bite marks (that really upset her mate). Just when you thought we killed all the bad guys, they just keep coming back. I'm glad this town has a great way of coming together to kick some bad guy butt.

If you're looking for a fun, romantic, and super sexy read, this author never disappoints.



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Review: Light Of Lorelei

Light Of Lorelei by Jen Minkman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This book really begins to take the Tales of Skylge to the next level. In the first book we saw the beginnings of a rebellion on the island and some Romeo and Juliet type love story. This tale takes the next step and introduces us to some even more surprising relationships.

Aska is a temple girl who has been "sentenced" to life serving the Baeles-Weards because she was born from the forbidden union between an Anglian and Skylger. She has started to doubt her teachings and each new piece of evidence makes her even more skeptical. While on one of her solitary beach walks, she meets a young fisherman named Tjalling. These two have chemistry from the start and Aska has finally found herself an ally that begins her tumble into real rebellion.

After some shocking attacks from the sirens, Aska knows she must act. She teams up with Enna and Royce to help free the imprisoned Light of Lorelei. There is a lot of shocking revelation and some pretty sneaky twists and turns. The story just keeps getting better and better! I can't wait to see where all these characters end up and what happens to this divided island.



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Review: Vampires Gone Wild

Vampires Gone Wild by Kerrelyn Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



V is for VampWoman by Kerrelyn Sparks (4 stars)

This was the story I wanted to read out of this anthology. I love the series and haven't really found any characters I dislike in the bunch. This troy follows Pamela as she further tries to find her more modern self. In catwoman style, she whips up a costume, works on her fighting skills, and ends up throwing herself into the action. Unbeknownst to her, the very viking-like and large warrior (Mikhail) has had his eyes on Pamela for a long time. These two end up forced to address the sizzling sparks that show up between them.

A Forever Love by Pamela Palmer (4 stars)

This world (Vamp City) was completely unique to me. Almost like an alternate dimension, vampires are currently trapped in a mirror image of the city and it's mistakenly sucking humans in and not letting them leave. Liz thought her mysterious boyfriend suddenly left her, when really he had even bigger issues. Turns out he's a vampire and the only thing keeping her from being devoured by the other inhabitants of Vamp City. This couple has some crazy chemistry and it was enough to make me want to find out more about this world.

First Dates Are Hell by Amanda Arista (4 stars)

Wow - I loved the wit and humor in this story! Valiance is a bit of a hermit and the person who runs the supernaturals in town tells him he needs to change his ways. In his first attempt at getting "out there," he asks out a clerk from the store. Sounds innocent enough, but so many things proceed to go wrong (or right?) for this budding couple. There's action, romance, and some adorable first date moments (with a supernatural twist). I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be checking out more from this author.

Blood and Water by Kim Falconer (3 stars)

This story stood out from the rest in that it was more a historical paranormal romance and definitely did not fit into what I considered "vampires." In this story, the vampires are some sort of water bound people who can only survive on land when they take human blood. There is also some sort of compulsion to destruction in their race. Stellan is already fighting against the typical way of life when he spies Angelina and falls instantly in love. These two had a quick and rebellious courtship that ends in a rather surprising way.



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Review: The Highland Dragon's Lady

The Highland Dragon's Lady by Isabel Cooper

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

This was a continuation of the Highland Dragon series. I think this can be read as a standalone (if you want to). The book combined a historical fiction with some different paranormal elements from the first.

Colin is a highland dragon shifter who is always on the search for his next adventure. Life has gotten monotonous and it's led him to a supposedly haunted house. He's procured an invitation from a friend and son of the house owner. Everything is going according to plan until Reggie (the owner's daughter) ends up barging into his bedroom at night. She thought she was continuing to save her brother from some misunderstood female attention, but a shifting of rooms throws her into the arms of something even more fantastical than herself. When she touches him, she immediately learns that he's a dragon shifter.

This pair has to wait a long while in between meetings to get each other alone due to the time period, but their alliance held strong. Together, they (and the rest of the guests) are working to rid the house of a malevolent spirit. While Colin's dragon shifter heritage doesn't necessary aid his quest here, his knowledge from years and years of research does. The story was mostly a mystery, with some romance thrown in. You get a HEA, so for the anti-cliffhanger group, you won't be disappointed.

Ultimately, I had a hard time getting through the book. I took some breaks and found it difficult to feel any attachment to the characters. Maybe it was just me, but the pacing was a little slow. That being said, if historical fiction is your thing, this might be a little easier for you. I tend to only check out historical fiction if it has a paranormal edge (which this did).



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Review: How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying)

How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying) by Kerrelyn Sparks

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I love this series, and will gladly read all installments until the end. That being said, this was not my favorite. I didn’t really connect with the characters and had no solid experience with Zoltan to hold my attention. The highlights of the book were the sexy scenes and the appearance from previous book characters (Howard, Emma, etc.).

Zoltan is a pretty old vampire who has tried his best to be good. He takes care of all those around him, but has always been looking for his father’s killer. Somehow Zoltan has been taking care of Russell’s blood and weapon needs since his disappearance (what?), and finds an arrow that matches one belonging to his father’s murderer. Immediately, Zoltan zooms off to try to track the owner down. This leads him right into a band of Amazonian women with oodles of secrets.

Neona has just lost her sister (in the same battle where Russell got the arrow). She’s hurting and questioning her strange way of life. When Zoltan suddenly shows up, she’s probably more susceptible to his charm than usual and this pair begins their unlikely alliance. He’s determined to win her heart and she’s determined to have his child. This story was filled with revelations (including a new species) and is steadily building to the big showdown with Master Han.

All of the action helped the latter half of the book, but there was a lot of information thrown at us in this one. We learn all about this Amazon way of life, Zoltan’s mother’s strange history, Zoltan’s childhood, and the tons of loose ends that are probably lurking around due to Nima’s stubbornness. This book sets the stage for later action and discovery, but took a little time to get into.




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Review: The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo

The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrelyn Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book was sizzling with some super-hot highlander action. Dougal is one of the last remaining kilt-wearing bachelors in the Love at Stake universe. He really got overlooked ever since his hand loss incident but this book gives him the great HEA we’ve been waiting for.

Dougal is still trying to figure out life with his prosthetic hand. He’s the only vampire who has one, so the novelty has not yet worn off on his overly concerned friends. They mean well, but he’d just as soon hide in a corner as be the center of attention for his disability. It’s taken him a long time to get put in charge of security, so he tries to remain professional when he sees the new arrival. Leah is a leader in genetic research and the vampires are hoping she’s the key to unlocking Master Han’s super powered soldiers. She knew nothing about vampires (or were-cats, or whatever else is out there) before arriving for work, but now her world is turned upside down. Oh, and she’s also insanely attracted to the mysterious Scotsman who seems just as uncomfortable in social situations as her.

These two seem like a perfect balance – he is a warrior, determined to prove his worth; she’s a scientist, more comfortable with facts and figures than romance. There’s also the little twist that Leah might be somehow the reincarnation of Dougal’s lost love from 300 years ago. All of this rolls together to make for a frustrating but awesome romantic read. The action is also present, in the form of a big attack on Master Han’s forces (and his pet demon). If you’re looking for a sizzling romance with some vampire (and reincarnation) twists, this is the book for you.




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Review: A Very Vampy Christmas

A Very Vampy Christmas by Kerrelyn Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



If you’ve never read this author and you’re wondering what the fuss is about, this is a good introduction to the wonderfully wacky world of the Love at Stake series. It gives you all the quirkiness, a nice dose of sexiness, and wraps it in a nice holiday bow.

Maggie has been on DVN for a while, pining over Don Orlando. Sure, he seems like a player who is up to no good, but Maggie can’t help but hold out hope that there is more to him than just sex appeal. After a scorching on-set kiss, Maggie is even more determined to find out who he really is (especially since he has amnesia!). In a page straight out of a soap opera, Maggie and Don Orlando head out to follow clues about his mysterious past. They certainly don’t lead where you think they will, and this budding couple ends up having a holiday they won’t ever forget.




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Review: The First One

The First One by Tawdra Kandle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This was a beautifully executed romance that managed to change around all my preconceived notions about Flynn and Ali from the previous book. I started the book determined to hate Flynn all the way through for abandoning his family, but somewhere along the line I began to hope for happiness between these two. Amazing!

We met Ali in the previous book and she was the picture perfect single mother. She has an adorable daughter that she’s raised on her own because she didn’t reach out to tell the ex for abandoned her that she was pregnant. When a funeral brings Flynn back to town, it’s very obvious that now’s the time for Ali to come clean about her daughter’s father. The small town hasn’t managed to put it together, but it’s only a matter of time. Luckily, Ali has a good support system to help her through this troubling time. Just as lucky for her, Flynn has never actually stopped loving her.

These two are adorable in an almost high school way. They have to find a way to co-parent, but they end up going way beyond that. Where they end up is so much better than where they would have been had he stayed, so I’m ok with everyone forgiving him. I love these two and was super happy about this HEA.




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Review: The Lost Souls Dating Agency

The Lost Souls Dating Agency by Suneeti Rekhari

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

This book was a really interesting take on YA paranormal romance. It manages to throw a college girl into the supernatural world in a completely unique way.

Shalini grew up in India and was happy being raised by her adoptive dad until college time rolled around. She decided to spread her wings and go to Australia. Everything appears to be going well until her dad misses their weekly call. Shalini finds herself the recipient of an inheritance (based on her dad's instructions) that gives her a bunch of money and a creepy warehouse. Normal people might wait a little while before acting on these gifts, but Shalini won't be slowed down. She fixes up the warehouse and starts brainstorming what type of business she could run out of there. Pointed in a strange direction by a mysteriously appearing newspaper, she decides to open a supernatural dating agency. Weird? Yeah - but somehow it works.

Shalini takes on a few cases, each of which get a few chapters to run their course. Overall, she is a pretty successful matchmaker, even though she knows very little about her target demographic. This book is clearly the beginning of what could be a fun series. YA paranormal romances tend to follow a specific formula, but this really gives us something unique in the genre.



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Review: Christmas Moon

Christmas Moon by J.R. Rain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I really should have read this in the right order. Unfortunately, if you skipped this short story like I did, there is a definite gap in Samantha's meeting with her guardian angel.

Sam is on a case where she has promised to collect a missing safe in exchange for half of what's inside. The Christmas time of year adds a fun little twist to this tale. Sam is still dealing with her shaky relationship with her ex, but is trying to make the best of the situation (because it's the holidays, right?). While investigating, trying to be a great mother, figuring out her relationship with Fang, giving her boyfriend the time and attention he deserves, oh, and handling the reveal of her guardian angel.

Her guardian angel makes an appearance in the rest of the series, so this read is definitely integral to the series. I highly recommend picking this one up in the proper order.



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Review: Like a Fox

Like a Fox by Celia Kyle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was a super short and sexy read that rounds out the Ridgeville series. Gina has been kind of stomped on in her past relationship, which makes her the best candidate for this yummy little read.

Gavin is in town visiting with his sister when he suddenly discovers the scent of his mate. It was fun to watch the steamroller way that he stomps into Gina's life to claim his mate. If you've read the rest of this series (or just enjoy sexy short reads), this will not disappoint. There's not an actual bit tie in to the larger storylines, but it was still a fun read.



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Review: Night Broken

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Man, I hate Christy. I knew getting into this that the book would make me pretty angry, but the character of Christy just knew how to push all my buttons. I’m kind of amazed that Mercy was able to hold it together the way she did.

This book starts up in a horrible way. Adam’s ex-wife (Christy) calls to tell him she needs help. Since Adam is an alpha and has a history of taking care of Christy, he agrees to let her stay at his (and her old) house until her drama dies down. Mercy, being the wonderful alpha’s mate that she is, somehow agrees to let Christy stay with them. It could have been the fact that the pack (for some inexplicable reason) still loves Christy. It could have been Mercy trying to prove she is the better person. Either way, this opens up a crazy amount of trouble for them all (and that’s saying something, when they are pretty much always in trouble).

The trouble that Christy brings is in the angry mystery creature stalker form. It really takes some imagination to come up with another monster they haven’t encountered yet, but this author really does it. I also have to admit that I thought horrible things about Christy. The entire length of the book, I kept waiting for the truth to be revealed that Christy actually orchestrated this horrible monster being released in order to get her back in Adam’s house. Turns out, I’m a horrible person, or just think horrible things. Christy is genuinely on the run, and I guess it’s good that Mercy didn’t doubt that part of her story.

Along with the mystery creature story, we get a good dose of fae meddling (in the form of a particularly volatile fae lord). We also get a bunch of Coyote and Coyote-related time spent in the story. Mercy winds up with another sort-of relative that came with a whole new level of snarkiness. One of my favorite inanimate object characters comes back, too. While this book might not have had a big story that tied into any overall storyline, the little bits we get (like Stephan revelations, pack magic, etc.) added up to make this a necessary read in the series.




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Review: Pleasure

Pleasure by Alisa Woods

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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

I admit to being very scared for Jak and Ariana when the last book ended. After snubbing their noses at Ariana’s mate and Jak’s alpha’s brother, it seemed like this series should have ended abruptly when they came home smelling like each other. Lucky for us, they were both smarter than me, and immediately showered and changed when they got back. Lucky for them, Mace was out while they did this.

Ariana is still stuck in her horrible situation, being essentially raped on a daily basis. It was tough to read in the first book and it is probably even tougher now that it’s very clear she is not consenting. These two star-crossed lovers really have their work cut out for them and that’s probably what pushes Jak to take some drastic action. After all we learned about witches in the previous series, I would think he would be more than hesitant to approach one for help. I guess this shows exactly how desperate Jak is to be with his would-be mate.

This installment ends on a sort-of cliffhanger, with us unsure how these two lovebirds will ever find a way to be together. I’m really hoping the next book shows more Jak and Ariana and way less rapey awfulness.




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Review: Vampire Nights and Other Stories

Vampire Nights and Other Stories by J.R. Rain

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This is probably the shortest of the short stories. We only get to see a late night introduction with a mysterious stranger (who happens to know a lot about Sam). The knowledge shared also reminds us where this is in the story. Sam is still really struggling with the “monster” that she has become and is having a hard time just being herself around other people.



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Review: Vampire Dreams

Vampire Dreams by J.R. Rain

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was a really short story, which is probably my favorite type. I already know the main character (Samantha Moon), and I’m very familiar with her world. In this story she keeps having the same prophetic dream. In this dream, a girl dies. As per usual, Sam has to try to save someone that probably doesn’t even want to be saved. This winds up getting her in all sorts of trouble, but it was still pretty enjoyable.



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Review: Vampire Blues: Samantha Moon Case Files

Vampire Blues: Samantha Moon Case Files by J.R. Rain

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This short story has Sam being the impulsive man hater that she has kind of toned down over time. When tasked with hunting down a cheating husband (by his cancer fighting wife!), Sam jumps to all the wrong conclusions. If she took a moment to slow down (mentally and physically) she would have easily seen the signs. Lost in her chaotic head, though, she doesn’t realize she’s headed down the wrong path until it’s too late. Lucky for her, she has some very forgiving clients.



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Review: Halloween Moon

Halloween Moon by J.R. Rain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This short story had some real meat to it. Rather than just a light short story, there was some definite gravity to all the choices made here. Sam is caught between her vampire world and the world that her kids live in. While waiting to pick them up, she gets confronted by a child ghost who has an unfair amount of suffering hiding in his head. Sam recognized the source of his suffering and makes a decision that best demonstrates the fine line she straddles. Should she let a monster continue to live, or hunt him down using her own “monster”? This might be one of my favorite of these short stories.



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Review: Vampire Gold

Vampire Gold by J.R. Rain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Remember how Sam is a private detective? This short story reminds us that we shouldn’t underestimate her creative problem solving abilities. When a client approaches her with a treasure map and some clues, she jumps right on it with no help of the ghostly kind. It was really enjoyable watching Sam hunt down the clues and make her way towards the buried treasure. As usual, Sam ends up going with her heart in the end.



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Review: Blue Moon

Blue Moon by J.R. Rain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was an example of my favorite quirky Sam behavior. It’s what makes her a favorite character of mine that she can be killing people in a previous story and then taking her kid for Starbucks in this one. When she can no longer ignore her suspicions, she confronts a Starbucks regular who she feels like she knows from somewhere. The questions don’t really ever get answered, but I really enjoyed the playful banter and the endless opportunities for interpretation. I’m a big fan of the Sam’s snark and I hope we see more of this in the next book in the series.



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Review: Dark Side of the Moon: A Samantha Moon Story

Dark Side of the Moon: A Samantha Moon Story by J.R. Rain

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I probably shouldn’t have read this before reading book 8. While the other short stories I’ve read don’t necessarily have any spoilers, I’m pretty sure this one did (big time). Woops. In this story (aside from the spoilery internal ramblings) we see Sam come to grips with the way she “changes forms” and pushes this form to the limits. She wants to head to the moon. Weird, right? I thought so. It was a strange little story that probably makes more sense after book 8.



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Review: Up From the Grave

Up From the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I am so sad to see this series come to a close, but this was a wonderful way to do it. Yes, there is a lot of Cat and Bones mayhem, misunderstandings, murder, and sizzling sexy times. It’s everything you want in a Night Huntress novel, except that it’s the last one.

This story picks up with Cat and Bones giving a shot at being “normal.” It continues the theme from the previous short story, which really should have warned Cat it wouldn’t last long. Her ghost uncle (Don) shows up with concerning news about her old team. Cat and Bones jump right into the thick of things by going after the evil new boss demanding answers. Ian (once again) becomes one of my favorites by helping Cat and Bones in ways that only Ian can – by being lecherous and slutty. It’s always nice to watch these characters interact.

The gang’s detective work ends up discovering a genetic engineering operation, backed by Don’s evil replacement and supplied test subjects by Cat’s old teammates. The rest of the book goes exactly how you’d expect – lots of action, lots of sexy times, and a good dose of surprises. Just when you think you know the group dynamic, we get thrown for another loop. While I’m sad to see the end of this wonderful series, I really enjoyed the way the author wrapped things up. This book reads like the rest of the series because it is just another chapter in their lives. Sure, this one ends with them going away, but I wasn’t nearly as sad as I thought I’d be. I’m happy that we still have Vlad and his friends floating around so I can enjoy this author still, but it makes me even happier that we didn’t get some horrible bloodbath or something equally distressing. Thanks for a really great read!




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Review: Home for the Holidays

Home for the Holidays by Jeaniene Frost

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



It always amazes me how quickly the Night Huntress world can suck me back in. All the characters are so engaging and addictive that I put off reading this short and the following book because I knew they were the last in the series. These characters will be sorely missed.

This story is set during the holidays (obviously) where Cat mistakenly believes she can have a nice “normal” holiday with all of their friends. A surprise visit by someone who claims to be Bones’s long lost brother (who also just happens to be a vampire) sets of a chain of events that almost ends in tons of death and destruction. Cat is one of the few unaffected by the mystery man’s mojo that seems to have wrapped all the incredibly strong vampires around his little pinky. She, Denise, and Ian (the most unlikely ally, always) manage to formulate a plan to get their friends and lovers back and out of harm’s way.

I admit, this story was almost as good as a full length book, with the action at extremes and the risks super high. Ian was a surprise highlight of this story and somehow forced me to begin enjoying his company. Who knew? All in all, this is a must read (especially for further connections?) for all Night Huntress fans.




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Review: Ashes and Arsenic

Ashes and Arsenic by S.M. Reine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

Ready for the same womanizing, magic allergic, OPA agent you’ve come to know as Cesar Hawke? We go back into his head in this installment of the series, diving back into a twisty-turny world where you can’t trust anyone, especially not your employer.

Cesar is temporarily in charge while Fritz is traveling and it’s gone to his head. Taking the lesser of two evils, he assigns himself to a bank robbery that he assumes will be relatively easy to solve. Unfortunately it ends up throwing him into an investigation that involves his “reformed” delinquent brother, sneaky women, his family’s shady magic past, and lots of paranoia. Seeing his brother on the security video should have easily meant that he was the bank robber, right? Well, in a world of magic, illusion can be used to do a lot of things. Cesar is forced to reassess everything he thinks he knows as oodles of secrets and lies come to light.

While I don’t particularly like the things that Cesar thinks, or the way he acts, or his blind spots for family and women, he’s still a pretty good investigator. Somehow, while bumbling around, getting kidnapped, and making incorrect assumptions, he ends up solving all the mysteries. It must be a combination of luck and magic. I don’t know why, but I can’t stop reading Cesar’s tale.




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Review: Frost Burned

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I came right out of the previous Alpha & Omega book and directly into this Mercy book. After the somewhat stunning turn of events, the world has obviously changed and Mercy has to deal with the repercussions. Mercy really shows how tough she is in this book, if there was any doubt about it.

The story begins with Black Friday shopping and a glimpse into the great relationship Mercy has with Adam’s daughter, Jesse. This nice family moment is interrupted by a panicky feeling, a car accident, and a cryptic text from Bran. All the wolves are missing and Mercy is left to pick up the pieces. Even without the alpha’s powers, Mercy really has some serious strength. She puts aside her worry and collects any wolves or mates left, rescues whoever needs rescuing, and holds her little family together. Adam works on his end, holding his kidnapped pack together where they are being held captive. Originally he thought it was the government, coming to take them all out, but it turns out to be a mix of malcontents and mercenaries.

There are some losses in this book, but the real big bad ends up being someone I never suspected. There are a lot of mysteries to be solved, but it was nice to see Mercy’s allies rally behind her to get things done. We also get some resolution to poor Gabriel’s story and watch things finally change for the better. After watching Mercy struggle with her PTSD and find a way back to Adam, these two really manage to overcome all the odds and come out stronger at the end. This book gave us a lot of character growth, some good resolution to a bunch of issues, and showed us a pretty nice path forward. I can’t wait to see where these wonderful characters end up next.






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Review: Fair Game

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Anna and Charles might be my favorite couple in this book universe. They are the perfect balance of strength and patience and thought and action. I love watching them grow together, even if they have to struggle through some tough times.

The book starts with Charles in a really bad place. He’s been forced to kill a lot of wolves lately, and most of them would’ve been let off with a warning a few years ago. Since the wolves came out, there’s a lot more pressure on Bran to police their own to avoid the public seeing the danger that werewolves really are. He’s being plagued by the ghosts of his kills and has isolated himself from Anna to protect her. Anna, being the tough Omega wolf that she’s grown to be, has been ranting at anyone who will listen that things have to change. Charles cannot keep doing his job without breaking, especially now that he’s cut Anna out. Asil, always the meddler, manages to convince Bran to send Anna and Charles out to do some good instead of the “evil” Charles is always tasked with.

When the FBI asks for a werewolf advisor (and Adam is still taking care of Mercy), Anna and Charles get sent out to hunt down a serial killer. Of course, nothing is straight forward with the case, and way more paranormals (and evil humans) are involved than they originally assumed. Luckily, even when everything else gets crazy, Anna and Charles begin to find their way back to one another. Maybe it was the dangerous situations, maybe it was the fear, but Charles accepts that he needs Anna to help fight his demons, and Anna accepts that she is tougher than she originally thought.

I love these two and cannot wait for more of them! While the Mercy series is more action than romance, this series definitely centers on their relationship. Watching these two unlikely people find a way to make their life together work is really great.




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Review: Single White Vampire

Single White Vampire by Lynsay Sands

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This installment of the series wasn’t my favorite, but it was still entertaining. In this one, we take stuffy Lucern and throw him at a tenacious editor who will stop at nothing to get him into the publicity circuit. Oh, and the ever-present matchmaking mom helps to push these two at each other in fun ways. If you can get over the stuffiness and the fact that this is a vampire romance about a vampire romance author, this is a solid paranormal read.

Lucern is by far the stuffiest of the brothers and is completely not likeable at the start of this book. He fights against his editor’s suggestions of a publicity tour for his set of vampire romance novels. The letters back and forth were entertaining, but Luc is certainly not a nice guy. Kate is determined to prove herself as a competent editor who can manage the notoriously stubborn Luc. After being brushed off in letter, she hops into a plane to show up at Luc’s doorstep. She befriends his family and gets drafted to be Luc’s date for a wedding where it becomes clear that these two have some chemistry. Sure, that chemistry is hidden behind layers of professionalism and uptight beliefs, but it began there.

These two sort of explode into a relationship despite their attempts at remaining professional. It was nice to watch Luc’s exterior crack and have his whole life turned upside down by Kate. I found myself on Luc’s mom’s team, determined to have Luc acknowledge the needs in his life. There was absolutely not possible outcome other than this HEA, which hopefully leads into Bastien’s story.




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Review: Alpha & Omega

Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I really wish I had read this short story before diving into the world of Alpha & Omega! If you haven’t started the series yet, I highly recommend starting here. This story shows how Charles and Anna meet one another and how they stumble into their relationship.

Anna is a new werewolf who has been seriously abused by the pack that should be protecting her. What they don’t realize (or pretend not to) is that she’s an Omega. Omegas are highly coveted wolves because they are able to calm the pack as a whole. They lead to a more stable environment for the naturally volatile wolves. Charles originally was sent to Anna’s town to handle the alpha situation. When Bran gets a call from Anna, that mission becomes more about protecting Anna than looking into the issues with the pack. Lucky for them, the two missions intersect and they are able to kill two birds with one stone.

There’s a little bit of misdirection and mystery, but really this story is about Anna and Charles. It was great fun watching Charles be captivated by Anna after seeing him as a force to be reckoned with. This story is really critical to understanding their relationship and should absolutely be read before starting the Alpha and Omega series. It also wouldn’t hurt to have experience in the Mercy series to have some character backstory.




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