Saturday, May 30, 2015

Review: Gabriella (Alpha Marked, #2)

Gabriella (Alpha Marked, #2)Gabriella by Celia Kyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gabriella is the next in line for this fated mates nonsense and she is super jaded about it. She has to go through the equivalent of speed dating to have the alpha pairs sniff her. So humiliating. It seems like it is a giant waste of time until she gets a tingling feeling in more than one place. Unfortunately, she gets the most dysfunctional pair out there. Jack and Berke began becoming an alpha pair when they were younger, but when a set of mates ended in murder, they didn't complete the bond. Now they're trapped in a situation where they must make a choice: live in fear of the past or move forward with Gabby.

Gabby, of course, assumes she is the problem. This spirals into a fight (as is the custom, I guess, in these gatherings). She's got to fight for guys that she's not even sure want her. We get a good HEA out of it (complete with naughty sexiness), so it is all worth it in the end.

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Review: Making Him Purr

Making Him PurrMaking Him Purr by Celia Kyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lisa is determined to have a quick one night stand to get over her jerk of an ex. After her friends dress her and push her into going to a shifter bar, she's a little bit more hesitant than she was before. Luckily, the bartender has begun to chat with her, making her feel less and less awkward as the night goes on. Jonathan is immediately captivated by the stranger at his bar. While he would have usually spent more time flirting, an unexpected visit by her ex forces his hand and he (in caveman style action) ends up bringing her to his room above the bar.

These two have sizzling chemistry and a lot of unacknowledged romance. What Lisa wanted to remain a one night stand ends up causing her more guilt than she thought. These two end up with more than they bargained for in one night of fun and it was really enjoyable to read.

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Review: Furry, Fluffy and Wild

Furry, Fluffy and WildFurry, Fluffy and Wild by Celia Kyle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Were What? by Celia Kyle
Lyla is trying to avoid her arranged mating by an overbearing alpha. Luckily, she literally runs right into her savior. He might not be a member of the pack, but he's able to stare down her would-be mate and protect her. After that massive display of manliness, why wouldn't Lyla fall into his arms? These two pair up in the most unlikely of situations and end up winning against all odds. This was a sexy, quick, fun read.

Blue Moon Rising by Nina Pierce
Jayda just wants to get over her cheating jerk of an ex. She wants a one-night stand that will help her put the jerk out of her mind. It seems like an easy task, especially because the shifters in the bar are eyeing her like candy. Only with her luck would she end up in a town that is actually under attack from said cheating ex. Cole ends up getting called to the bar by someone who notices the difference in Jayda, a stranger from out of town. Being the chief of police, he rushes over only to be completely ensnared by the beautiful stranger. The chemistry between these two is crazy, but they seem to go with it, even when some mysterious circumstances should keep them apart. This was full-fledged story, even though it was part of this anthology.

Beauty is a Beast by Tina Holland
I'm usually not one for futuristic (or historical) reads, but this was a little bit of both, which made it more palatable for some reason. We're in some sort future world where there's clans and shifters everywhere. Oh, and there's evil skinwalker bad guys running around. Nizhoni and Michael might be true mates, but there is a lot in the way of that actually becoming real.

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Review: The Scribe (Mindjack Origins, #3)

The Scribe (Mindjack Origins, #3)The Scribe by Susan Kaye Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

These short stories are really great additions to the Mindjack series. I'm trying to work through them before diving into the next book so I can get a better feel for all the backstory that is not 100% covered in the books.

Sasha is a great character. He's been gifted with a powerful skill but it was twisted and abused by his last clan leader. His motivations are pure, but there are a lot of risks involved in joining Julian's clan. Sure, he says he won't ever use his power again, but the temptation is certainly there when forced to choose the fate of someone he despises.

Overall, this was a solid addition to the series and I'll keep gobbling these little stories up.

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Review: Night of the Living Demon Slayer (Demon Slayer, #7)

Night of the Living Demon Slayer (Demon Slayer, #7)Night of the Living Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

These books never disappoint! They are filled with snarky good humor, witty banter, insane situations, and some sexy good times. I don't recommend diving right into this as your first book of the series, so please start from the beginning (you won't be disappointed).

Lizzie and her witch family are finally getting settled for the first time in years. Of course, nothing in her life is ever actually settled. After some dragon/dog/voodoo trap mistakes, they end up tasked with shutting down some evil voodoo magic. Obviously, Lizzie doesn't ever travel alone, so the whole biker witch gang packs up and comes with her to New Orleans. Where's Dimitri? He's at some sort of shape shifter convention, but don't worry! He shows up eventually to deliver the hotness.

The gang ends up crashing at a haunted house that wants more from Lizzie than she is willing to give. I guess we'll see where that goes in the future. What seemed like an easy enough task (for a demon slayer) ends up cascading into a full blown zombie apocalypse (almost). There's oodles of action, magic, and mayhem thrown into this short little read. It's always so much fun to watch this team battle against evil.

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Review: Witches Be Burned (Magic & Mayhem, #2)

Witches Be Burned (Magic & Mayhem, #2)Witches Be Burned by Stacey Kennedy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This book picks up where book 1 left off. Nexi is trying to find the balance between her and Kyden while still maintaining her guardian duties. Just when they thought they might have a stable future, everything is called into question in this book.

The big story in this book is the mysterious dark witch and her army of rogue vampires. Nexi (and Kyden) are tasked with hunting down the vampires that have been murdering guardians for no reason they can determine. While the locations seem to point to Nexi's dead arch-nemesis, that couldn't be right... right? Well, things have a way of coming back to haunt her.

Kyden struggles a lot in this book with trying to reel in his protective instincts while still managing to protect Nexi from danger. Yes, she can fight on her own, but he wishes they could just live a normal and safe life together. Throw in a new familiar, a mysterious warlock, lots of fighting (and sexing) and you've got a magic and mayhem book.

After a stellar kickoff to the series, I admit to being a little let down by this follow-up. Maybe I had my hopes up too high, but I had some real trouble finishing this book. I picked it up and put it down numerous times, jumping to a different book just to take a break. Something about the pacing and the repetition just made the book feel slow. Each reader is different, though, so this might not be the case for you. The series is still interesting and does deliver on the smut.

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Review: Moon Bayou

Moon BayouMoon Bayou by J.R. Rain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This is certainly a departure for the Samantha Moon world. Sure, there's still Judge Judy and the other fun pop culture references, but this series is taking Samantha way out of her comfort zone (and mine!).

The story starts innocently enough. She's accepted a case that takes her to New Orleans in search of someone's missing daughter. There's the typical "meet with the police" scene, some schmoozing, a little investigating, and then everything seems to go wrong all at once. What began as a short investigative story spins into a time travel mystery leaving us to wonder how in the hell this will all work itself out for Sam.

Thrown back into the past (complete with historical dress, ugh), Sam is now tasked with finding her way back, not messing up her future, and dealing with infinite amounts of time paradoxes (paradoxi?). I'm not particularly a fan of historical fiction, but managed to pull my way through on the hope that we'd be back in the present day in no time. This book does not exactly resolve things in the end, leaving me either desperate for the next book or sad that there are still loose ends. I can't decide. Either way, if you're a fan of the series, this is obviously a must read.

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Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Review: On Her Tail (Quick & Furry, #3)

On Her Tail (Quick & Furry, #3)On Her Tail by Celia Kyle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This installment of the Quick & Furry shorts was a little bit darker and more serious than the previous ones. It still had some sexy alpha action, some smut, and some excellent pack protection, though.

This story is about Addy, who is on the run with a baby that she has rescued from the evil crime boss. She ends up on her back in a decidedly unsexy way when Zane hits her with his SUV. They recognize each other was mates, but that doesn't mean Addy has any plans to stay put. These two end up having to overcome a little more than the rest when Addy ends up still being chased, even while in Zane's own home.

The HEA in this one was a little bit more heartwarming than the others, which made the seriousness more forgivable. Zane as a family man is adorable.

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Review: Heads or Tails (Quick & Furry, #4)

Heads or Tails (Quick & Furry, #4)Heads or Tails by Celia Kyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This short little read had a great amount of spunk that I've come to expect from this author. She really excels at writing spunky chicks who don't put up with the overbearing men in their lives. Adorably sarcastic and tough, I'm a sucker for that type of thing.

Hilary has been trapped behind a locked door for a long time. She thought she might never escape until the day Oscar (her mate) ends up raiding the house to clear up a crime boss's holdings. At first scent, these two know they are mates, but there are more than a few hoops to jump through first. Then with the sexy times (which are always good in these books).


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Review: The Last True Vampire (True Vampire, #1)

The Last True Vampire (True Vampire, #1)The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

I want more books in this series right now. After reading the short story and getting hooked, this book just completely got me addicted. I had some serious problems putting this book down for simple things like sleep and work. If there were more books set in this world, a sick day might have been in my future. Seriously, if you're a paranormal romance fan, dive into this universe right now!

This book is about Michael, the last remaining vampire. Through some lucky-ish events, he ended up surviving the extinction of his species by the slayers. Instead of dying with the rest of his kind, he's been barely surviving the power draw that all the half breeds demand of him. He's essentially a king with no way to grant his vampire gift on anyone. Until he finds his tether (aka soul mate), he can't risk making anyone a vampire.

Claire is a hustler who is barely stealing enough to survive on. Determine to make "one last score" she sneaks into a club that also happens to be occupied by the dark and seriously broody Michael. The draw between them is undeniable and, holy crap, their chemistry is off-the-charts hot. These two might not have understood their destined mates status, but they certainly couldn't keep their hands off each other. Things are never that simple, though.

This whole world that gets created in this book (and the novella before it) was simply wonderful. There's almost-vampires with souls, seers, shifters, and who knows what else out there all roaming around and trying to live their lives. Throw in some really sinful sex, lots of action, and a boatload of heart and you've got a book that really grabs you and won't let go. While Michael and Claire eventually get their HEA, we got to meet a handful of interesting secondary characters and I'd like to see their story play out. If you're looking for a book that will *not* let you put it down, check this one out. I absolutely cannot wait to see what else comes out from this author in the future.

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Sunday, May 17, 2015

Review: Stripped Bear: A BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance

Stripped Bear: A BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter RomanceStripped Bear: A BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance by Kate Baxter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

If this prequel is any indication of how the series will go - sign me up! This book was filled with sexy alpha male sizzle and managed to jam a lot of story into a quick read. I would like more of this world now, please.

Caden rushed home to visit his grandmother when he heard she was very ill. His work might have devoured his life, but he still made time for the only family he had left. Of course, his grandmother knew this, and orchestrated beautifully so he would run into the one woman he didn't want to see - Leah. They grew up together, but were of two different worlds. Caden is a bear shifter and Leah was never told about his secret world. When Leah confronted him with her feelings (at waaaaaaaay too young an age), Caden ran away. He might have thought he was doing the right thing, but when he greets her with a handshake upon his return, he knows that she's his mate.

Leah was scheduled to get married that weekend and Caden somehow managed to turn her world on its head. Sure, she still held out hope of his return, but she didn't want to be thrown away again. These two had a lot of baggage to get over, but luckily the mate bond smashed through it all with undeniable attraction. These two sizzle right off the page and give you warm and fuzzy feelings with their HEA. I can't wait to see what happens next in this neat little world.



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Review: The Sandman (Reveler, #7)

The Sandman (Reveler, #7)The Sandman by Erin Kellison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

After a lull in the action, this book really sucked me right back in! Everything is really starting to ramp up for the final showdown now. These books definitely have to be read in order to be fully appreciated (and understood).

Steve has finally come back to them, but he's been wandering for so long that he's hardly recognizable. Saved by Maze City (just like all the others who were in the black market), the gang plans the order they will awake to best handle all the things that are going crazy at once. Steve wakes, hoping to find Sera there to rescue him from the facility. Of course, nothing goes as planned. People are taken into custody, no one can get word to one another about their safety, and Steve discovers that the Sandman isn't just rising, he has risen!

It was great to watch these very different individuals work together (with an even darker side of the dreamworld) to try to save their world (both dreaming and awake). The nightmares are still moving in and the sandman is still trying to destroy the world. The next installment should be even more intense than this one as they all work together to stop the big bad.



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Review: Bruja (Alpha Girl, #4)

Bruja (Alpha Girl, #4)Bruja by Aileen Erin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This book totally changed how I view Claudia. In the previous books I found her to be a little too uptight, with questionable motives, and wasn't particularly looking forward to being in her head. Boy was I wrong! This book was awesome and fun, filled with oodles of new things and a hot new love interest.

If you've been reading the series then you know this book was going to take us to Peru. Claudia may not have been sure, but a series of unfortunate events end up pushing her onto that plane and into a new country. She may not have known exactly what she was going to do once she got there, but she'd do just about anything to save what's left of her family. Turns out, Claudia is a power to be reckoned with! I guess I didn't realize how powerful she was until she was on her own (and maybe that was the point). Even while dealing with her jerk of an ex, a strange place, altitude sickness, and the stress of her bond with the wicked witch, she manages to hold it all together.

There is the added bonus of finding another surprise in Peru. Lucas is an interesting mystery from the first time Claudia lays eyes on him. He draws her in and has her wondering at his motives. Since everyone else has been using her along the way, it only makes sense that she assumes the worst. Lucas is patient, though, so we all end up getting a nice happily ever after in the end. These two might rival our previous alpha pair in their awesomeness. Only time will tell.




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Review: Chaos and Moonlight (Order of the Nines, #1)

Chaos and Moonlight (Order of the Nines, #1)Chaos and Moonlight by A.D. Marrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

After reading the synopsis I thought this book would be more drama than romance, but the blend is just perfect. You get some good setup for future installments without having the book bogged down in backstory.

This book begins with a glimpse inside a breed of vampires desperate to save their race. What once was viewed as an invulnerable species is not on the brink of extinction because of the way humans have evolved. Their only hope at living "normal" lives anymore (with families and children) is to engage the leading scientists who are making breakthroughs that might apply to their unique genetic issues. Lucky for them, on the eve of another horrible funeral, Dr. Sarah Bridgeman makes a memorable appearance on a TV show, telling off the news anchor while describing her research. Taris, the eldest of the surviving vampires, is determined to get her on their side and working on their "cure."

Still stinging from her suspension based on the horrible impression she made on national TV, Sarah didn't think her life could get worse until she finds herself kidnapped by a vampire, running from another, and leaping from tall buildings with no safety net. The plucky doctor makes a good match for the serious Taris. Even his friends, the remaining "nine" who are tasked with policing their own kind, find a good symmetry between the couple and try their best to give them space to discover their feelings. There's action, adventure, betrayal, discover, and (of course) some sizzling sexy scenes thrown in to make this a truly entertaining paranormal romance read. Since this is only the start of the series, we got a good dose of introduction to the rest of the nine and I cannot wait to see who gets a book next.

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Friday, May 15, 2015

Review: Affliction (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #22)

Affliction (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #22)Affliction by Laurell K. Hamilton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not really even sure how to review these books anymore. If this is the first book you're planning on reading in the series - don't. 22 books in, you've kind of learned what to expect in the series. There's a lot of sex. There's a lot of time spent describing the guys, having relationship drama, and worrying in situations where time is of the essence. If that is going to bother you, why are you reading this series? I've come to accept them as the little mindless reads they are.

This story had some goodness in the form of lots of Ted/Edward, necromancy bad-assery, and actual relationship decisions. The story itself was definitely the usual throwaway. The only difference here was that we got to meet Micah's father and see that his estranged family is (shockingly) also a non-traditional family now. A zombie virus is attacking Micah's old home town and he gets called in to say a final goodbye to his father. While that seems sad and interesting, it kind of spirals out of control from there. Is it a zombie apocalypse? Is it the return of some horrible vampire plague? In the end, it doesn't matter, because it just ends up throwing Anita and Ted into wonderful action scenes that make me love Ted/Edward even more.

The smutty stuff is still hot and sizzling, but does drive you to want to shake Anita when she takes time to make out while Micah's dad's life is draining away by the minute. I still love Jean-Claude so I was happy he made an appearance, too, but it is pretty brief. This is definitely an Anita and the B-team type book. There was an awful lot of Nicky instead of Micah (who you think would be more of a co-star in a book about his dad dying). As you can see by my review, the book has left me a little disjointed in my ramblings, but, again, you know what you're getting into when you start one of these books. I'll keep reading them until they stop getting written.

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Thursday, May 14, 2015

Review: When Darkness Ends (Guardians of Eternity, #12)

When Darkness Ends (Guardians of Eternity, #12)When Darkness Ends by Alexandra Ivy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I'm so sad to see this series end, but it is always good to read a book set in this universe. The characters are fun, quirky, and easily make you fall in love with them despite all their flaws.

The stars of this book are Cyn, the vampire clan chief with a playboy lifestyle, and Fallon, the fairy princess who starts the book engaged to a pretty annoying fairy prince. Through some oracle related machinations, these two end up getting sucked into some sort of time vortex that makes people believe they were gone for longer than they actually were. Obviously, this leads to a lot of worry. Fallon's father and fiance are looking for her and teaming up with the vampires to search because they are also looking for Cyn. Cyn and Fallon, however, have been given a mission to help save the oracles before they are unwittingly driven to close the pathways between dimensions. Bad things would happen if they closed that would probably result in all the vampires, fairies, and demons dying out.

With all this pressure heaped onto them, Fallon and Cyn manage to fall hard for one another in a fated mates type of way. Sure, they fight it a little, but the chemistry between these two is off-the-charts hot. Oh, and don't worry about Fallon's fiance. Not only is he a jerk, but he also kind of finds his happy ending in a really unlikely place. I like unlikely matches and these two are awesome together.

Overall, this didn't read like an epic, everything-explodes-and-we-kill-lots-of-characters type of finale, but it was still a nice bookend to the series. You get some warm and fuzzy epilogue and lots of character references to make you smile. In summary, though, the Guardians of Eternity do just what they set out to do. Now they just all have mates.

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Review: Valan Playboys

Valan PlayboysValan Playboys by Scarlett Dawn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This was a super quick, dirty, paranormal read. There's M/F/M action and a bit of introduction to this new world thrown in, too. Overall, I'm intrigued by the world of the Valan.

Lana is an orphan who has a drinking problem. She drinks a lot. It's mentioned a lot in the book. I'm a little conflicted about it, but she's eighteen (so I guess it's not that bad?) and has a troubled life, so she gets some leeway in the story. She's also got a bad habit of making lightning show up. Of course, this isn't normal, but she's never had any other explanation in her life until she stumbles into the world of the Valan, a unique group of all sorts of paranormals. One thing they all have in common, though, is the hunt for their mate.

While attending (and drinking... lots of drinking...), Lana ends up meeting two Kings of their respective races. They're all drawn to one another, despite their different dispositions. Somehow, these three end up finding their way together in a bit of an unconventional way even among the Valan. Lana's siren song manages to bring together the most unlikely of bedmates and even manages to show them the beauty of the human race (I think).

The book itself was a really short read with a little bit of a quickie finish at the end. Will this be a series? I kind of want to see more of this world with all its supernatural inhabitants...

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Review: Heart Mates (Pull of the Moon #1)

Heart Mates (Pull of the Moon, #1)Heart Mates by Mary Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This book had tons of sizzle and a wonderful blend of sarcastic silliness that really made me eager to dive in and never stop reading. Sure, there is a lot of smutty goodness, but who doesn't want some smut mixed in with their paranormal? Am I right???

Sophia is a "reformed" witch who is on a mission to find her missing aunt. She's left the witch life behind after some bad behavior and is very reluctant to even go near spelling supplies. When she comes upon an adorable little dog in her aunt's place (which was previously cats only), she can't help but stick around to look into this mystery a little further. Noah is trapped in Sophia's aunt's hex which makes him stay in mini-dog form (instead of the big bad werewolf form he usually takes). This wouldn't be so bad (especially the parts where he gets petted and snuggled by the sexy Sophia), but he's got a pack uprising to deal with and he can hardly handle challengers as a puppy.

These two have SIZZLING chemistry from the first time they lock eyes (as humans, not dog/witch), unfortunately the witch/shifter pairing is strictly forbidden. While these two try (a little) to keep their paws off each other, old witches from Sophia's past, awful pack members, and mysterious strangers keep ganging up to help or hurt this couple. The story takes a few twists and turns, but at the center of it all is a really sexy, silly, fun, and forbidden romance. These two characters have a lot of baggage to deal with, but fear not! There is a bunch of happiness to go around at the end.

If this is the successful start of a series, I wonder where it will go next. Do we get more characters getting their match? Will we see Noah's beta get hitched? I'm excited to see more of this fun and zany world.

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Review: Art of Cunning: steamy fox shifter romance (Crookshollow Foxes Book 1)

Art of Cunning: steamy fox shifter romance (Crookshollow Foxes Book 1)Art of Cunning: steamy fox shifter romance by Steffanie Holmes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

Alex is desperate to make her boss happy. After landing a job curating famous artwork, she's been tasked with organizing the once in a lifetime job of showing the recluse artist, Ryan Raynard, and his priceless art. Of course, it would be a lot easier if she could get the guy to return her phonecalls. In a moment of desperation, she ends up forcing her way into his house to get answers about the show. Once Ryan sets eyes (and nose) on Alex he knows that she's supposed to be his. This fated pair might be able to resist one another if there wasn't the added element of danger thrown in.

Turns out, Ryan is much more than just a grumpy recluse. He's also a fox shifter who is determined to keep his territory safe from the bad guy shifters. Surprisingly, Alex takes to Ryan's sexy shifter nature pretty easily. The chemistry is hot between these two, but there are lots of things standing in their way. Oh, and cliffhangers. Yes, cliffhangers, indeed.

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Review: Beautiful Monster (Spellspinners of Melas County, #4)

Beautiful Monster (Spellspinners of Melas County, #4)Beautiful Monster by Heidi R. Kling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This very short read picks up immediately after book 3 ends, so you should definitely read these stories in order. There's still every bit as much mystery, drama, romance, and witchy goodness jammed into this novella as you've come to expect from previous books.

Lily and Logan are still on the run. In an attempt to save Logan's friend, they are going on a quest to the Isle of the Seven Sisters for a magical cure. Lily is still battling between who she has been all her life and who she believes she is becoming. Logan is trying his hardest to overlook the darker side she's displaying, but is forced to speak up when things get far too dangerous. On yet another of their escapes, they end up discovering a magical ship that gives them time to rest and relax (and lulls them into forgetting their ultimate goal - saving Chance). When they are finally able to break free, they are confronted by their most unlikely ally (and the other participant of our favorite love triangle).

I have to say that I was left with way more questions than answers in this book. It definitely feels like this one was written as a way to bridge the gap between the madness of book 3 and what will happen to these characters in the future. It was a super quick read that definitely gave a nice look at what's to come.

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Monday, May 11, 2015

Review: Blood Street

Blood StreetBlood Street by Carl Alves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

What an unexpected treat! When you read the description of this book it appears to have a rather odd combination of mob crime drama, FBI detective mystery, and vampire romance. I was interested in the vampire part, but wasn't completely sold on how these two things would mix. Lucky for me, it really ended up becoming a quickly addictive story.

The book begins with an introduction to the mafia. Enzo is the head of this city's organized crime and he gets drawn into the paranormal element after a rather gruesome murder of one of his men. A vampire "brood" is living right under Enzo's nose and he didn't even know it. Alexei is the troublemaker in that vampire house who no longer feels like he should hide from the humans. While the rest of his vampire family seems to be at least a little bit law abiding, no one can hold back Alexei.

Obviously, an escalation in killings in an organized crime area is bound to attract the attention of the FBI. Somehow, the FBI ends up in an uneasy alliance with Enzo to stop these murders. The dynamic in the story was compelling enough to rope in even the most skeptical reader. Everyone in the story ends up learning and changing in the most unexpected ways and it really keeps you on your toes. If you are interested in reading a strongly written vampire story that will take you to some new and exciting places, this book is definitely worth a read.

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Review: Beta: An Urban Fantasy Novel (War of the Alphas Book 2)

Beta: An Urban Fantasy Novel (War of the Alphas Book 2)Beta: An Urban Fantasy Novel by S.M. Reine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

Looking for more gritty urban fantasy in an addictive world? Look no further than this series. It is filled with oodles of messy violence, dirty betrayal, and enough mystery to keep everyone guessing throughout the book.

We meet back up with Deirdre who is the unlucky member for Stark's rebellion. At first she wanted to infiltrate the group, but as the killings pile up and her world gets turned upside down, it is no longer clear where her allegiance lies. Throw in some drug use, fairies, abusive situations, and super weird sexual tension and you've got a pretty confusing situation.

While Stark's mission to take Rylie's place appears to continuing at a steady pace, there are a lot of other questionable activities that lead you to believe he's up to something more nefarious that even taking over the alpha spot. It is a little weird to even contemplate Rylie being a bad guy, but Stark makes a pretty decent case for it. Sure, there's mitigating circumstances, but this book did a good job of selling both sides. We even got some cameos and references thrown in to keep the fans happy as we struggle to reconcile our feelings.

This book took us to some dark places and it will probably only get darker as Deirdre is forced to make her own decisions. With the action so ramped up already, I can't wait to see where we go from here.

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Friday, May 1, 2015

Review: The Werewolf Wears Prada


The Werewolf Wears Prada
The Werewolf Wears Prada by Kristin Miller

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

Wow – this quick and easy read was jam-packed with some sizzle! Combine a bit of revenge scheme with some paranormal romance and you have a book that I cannot put down.

Melina thought she was going to get all she ever wanted. Her interview went great and the subject of said interview was smoking hot. He also asked her out, giving her the perfect excuse to wear her new designer gown. Unfortunately, her happiness doesn’t last long – the charming prince stands her up and she’s left in a wasted dress. She, however, manages to pick herself back up again and throw herself into her work. This turns out to be a bit of a curse, in that her boss ends up throwing her at her “prince charming” once again to try to straighten out his bad boy image.

Hayden is not your typical rich bad boy. He’s got secrets and one of them happens to be that he is a werewolf. Of course, he didn’t reveal that to Melina during her interview, but he probably would have if she asked. At fight sight, he was so taken by her that he suspects there are bigger forces at play. While trying to juggle issues in the pack, rogue attacks, and his feelings for Melina, he’s also go to try to be the best man he can be (to live up to his deceased father’s legacy). If you’re interested in a paranormal romance that will light your kindle on fire, you should definitely check this one out.




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Review: The Handler


The Handler
The Handler by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I love this world, so I jumped at the chance to read these little novellas that accompany the series. This one gets inside Julian’s head and shows us more about his motivations and decisions.

We join Julian as he is still in the recruiting phase of his revolution. He’s obsessing a little bit about the leader of the most public step forward in years. His sister is not pleased with him, but supports the role that was left to them by their parents. It was nice to see into the inner workings and developing group dynamics as they begin to occupy their new home. If you’ve read the series (or up to the second one, as I have), these are must-reads.




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