Review: Assassin's Touch (Iron Portal #1)

Assassin's Touch by Laurie London
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This book had me hooked from the start. I love when a story just dives right in and explains as needed. The pace was great and had me making discoveries right alongside the characters.

Neyla is a reluctant recruit of the army. In a world where people with paranormal skills are mandatory recruits, she's essentially a prisoner in her own world. There is a war between the two existing worlds (the Cascadians and the Pacificans) and it is primarily waged around the portal linking the two. On a mission to find one of these portals, Neyla is betrayed by her own team and kidnapped by the Cascadians. Rickert is a Cascadian determined to assassinate as many of the Pacificans as he can. All his plans start to fall apart when he comes upon the injured woman wearing a Pacifican uniform.

It started innocently enough, with him making promises to turn her over to the jailers, but when he touches her bare skin, they are both shown an erotic vision of a possible future between them. Both of them end up looking at things in a different light after spending a bit of time in close quarters. These two are a perfect pairing and I almost wish the book was longer so we could get even more of these two. Maybe we see them in future installments?


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Review: Alpha: An Urban Fantasy Novel (War of the Alphas Book 3)

Alpha: 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.

This author has the magical ability to convince me that some of the most horrible people are just somehow misunderstood. I don't know how she does it, but it seems to happen every time.

This book picks up where the previous one left off (you don't want to read these out of order). Deirdre is still trying to figure out exactly what type of shifter she is (it is 100% cleared up in this book, so don't worry). She is also still trying to navigate her life and its minefield of broken alliances and lies. She's with Stark, but she's still sort of lying to him about some things. She talks to Rylie, but she actively goes against her. Deirdre is a riddle wrapped in teenage angst and election fever.

Stark and Deirdre's relationship bothers me. It should bother everyone! Part of me hates that this book pushes me into such uncomfortable situations but without the tension, turmoil, and horrible situations, the book wouldn't really sell me on this future world. This place is *horrible* and something needs to change. I'm still not sold on any of the solutions that the characters put forth so I'm still hoping for an as yet unnamed option. Oh, and, bonus, there's a lot of arrogant Fritz (who happens to be one of my favorite cameos in here).

It's very hard to sum up this book because it was jam-packed with action, changing alliances, and lots of new faces. I have no idea who to trust at this point (and I especially don't trust Deirdre... or Stark... or ... well... anyone). I do, however, trust in a satisfying conclusion to this series.

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Review: Dying to Date (Fated Match, #2)

Dying to Date by Victoria Davies
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I love these books. I could read a million of them and never grow tired. Sometimes you just need to read something that is short, sexy, and fun. Oh, and paranormal.

We continue the stories of Fated Match's clients, this time focusing on Melissa (our previous star's "daughter"). She's determined to find her mate and will shamelessly use her connections at Fated Match to do so. After a meeting with her soon-to-be mother-in-law (I think), she happens upon the yummiest guy she's ever seen. Since he's in a supernatural dating agency, it seems obvious to assume he could potentially be her match.

The sparks fly between Melissa and Tarian until his necromantic past comes back to haunt him. He just wants a "normal" life but his family is determined to wage war against the vampires, and Melissa is a sort of figurehead for that group. There's secrets and lies, lots of hurt feelings, but we ultimately get a happy (and sexy) HEA for these two. Why aren't there more of these books available to read yet??

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Review: Deal With The Devil (Purgatory, #4)

Deal With The Devil by Cynthia Eden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is the book I've been waiting for in the Purgatory series! Eric Pate has been an infuriating enigma and his whole world gets blown open in this book. It was fantastic to watch and had me rooting for all sorts of chaos in his life.

We met Eric Pate a while ago. He is control personified and despises anythign that puts his control in question. Enter Ella, the survivor from Keegan's horrible basement. She's a mystery that Eric has decided to solve. Unfortunately (for him, not us), his animal instincts go off the charts when he watches her in her cell. Ella is old - seriously old. While she might have been a prisoner of one crazy werewolf hybrid, she doesn't intend on staying as anyone's test subject.

There is a ton of baggage between these two characters. They've got guilt and revenge and *amazing* chemistry that is all rolled up into a combustible package. When all their secrets come to light, we are left with two people who couldn't be more perfect for one another. Don't worry, though, we've still got crazy exes and evil werewolves to contend with before we get our HEA. If you're looking for a great blend of action, romance, and sizzling smut, this series (and this author) should definitely be on your "to-read" list.

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Review: The Alpha's Hunger

The Alpha's Hunger by Renee Rose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This book reminded me a lot of the movie "Secretary." If you really enjoyed that movie (or edgy BDSM books/movies), this is the right blend of paranormal and sexy for you.

Ashley thought her job was boring until the CEO, Ben Stone, storms into her life. It starts out innocently enough, with him offering to drive her home, but quickly spirals out of control. Ben can't seem to control his animal instincts around Ashley and ends up creating a personal assistant job just for her, to keep her close. That's good, right? Except that Ben is an incredibly alpha wolf shifter and Ashley ends up being blackmailed into acting against him.

This coupling starts out in a bit of an unconventional way, with Ben essentially kidnapping her and... disciplining her. Throw in some fated mates, some betrayal, lots of confused feelings, and you've got this book in a nutshell. It was quick, sexy, and everything else you'd expect from a paranormal romance read.


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Review: Wicked Night (The Amulet, #1)

Wicked Night by Caris Roane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

This very quick read told the tale of a master vampire who begins his day (or night) set on seducing a woman and ends up with way more than he bargained for.

Gabriel is a master vampire and, as such, has access to magical amulets. Thea, the woman who has captivated Gabriel for a while, ends up approaching him for a healing amulet. When it becomes time to pay, they quickly fall into bed. What began as a simple exchange rapidly grows into so much more. There's some sizzling alpha male scenes in here, some fighting, some horrible violence against human women, and, thankfully, a good HEA.

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Review: Enticed By Blood (A Sweetblood World Short Story)

Enticed By Blood by Laurie London
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This is a really quick short story that takes us into the world of Andre (a "good" vampire) and Juliette (his human ex-girlfriend). There's romance, action, and a little sex.

Juliette finds herself tasked with talking to her ex, a task everyone dreads. He didn't even properly break up with her. Instead, she found out he left the hotel he was staying at with his wife (who he didn't even know existed). Andre had to force himself to leave Juliette because human/vampire relationships just never worked. He made up a lie that was sure to keep her away and ran back to his hotel business in New Orleans. During their relationship, however, he made a deal with Juliette's father to get some woodworking done. It didn't seem like a big deal until they encountered an issue and she got sent right to his doorstep.

While they both resist it, a storm conspires to bring these two back together. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that evil vampires (not the good ones, like Andre) are lurking about. To save Juliette, Andre's got to get over his fears and face his true feelings about Juliette. There is a lot of cute romance and chemistry jammed into this short read. It really convinced me to check this world out a bit more in the future.

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Review: Trapped (Blood Rose Tales #1)

Trapped by Caris Roane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

We go back into the world of the blood rose to meet up with new characters (to me, at least). It was interesting to see this story told from the point of view of two characters who had previously broken up.

Mastyr Vampire Zephyr and Alesia (a diner waitress half-fae) have broken up but he insists on walking her home every night. He is a warrior and she is completely against killing the Invictus. She believes they can be rehabilitated if he would just take the time to capture instead of kill. This argument is reason they decided it could never work between them. They never exchanged blood during their relationship, but he's sure it would be intoxicating. As a "mastyr" vampire, he's always hungry, and even moreso around Alesia.

While I enjoy the world and the characters is just felt a little... rushed. What seemed like a giant relationship-ending issue is suddenly resolved when Alesia takes the time to reveal a bit of her past. I guess I just wanted more resolution between these two and not the quick fix. Either way, I still love this world and am obviously on a binge read from this author. Once you check out any one of these stories you'll probably be hooked too!

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Review: Brink of Eternity (Guardians of Ascension, #2.5; Dawn of Ascension, #1)

Brink of Eternity by Caris Roane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

Having not read any of the Guardians of Ascension, this book was a really unique introduction to author's world for me. While there was a little bit of a learning curve, I couldn't put the book down until the very end. I can't wait to read more of this storyline.

Elise and Gideon broke up for good reason. Now that Elise is forced to meet up with him after time apart, both of them are having a little trouble remembering why they stopped seeing one another. Their explosive "dates" are almost palpable when they meet up for the first time since. Unfortunately, the reason for the meeting isn't exactly happy. Elise has been hiding things from Gideon and now has to reveal herself to him (in an entirely different way) to save his sister.

Elise is finally going to follow her call to ascension whether Gideon likes it or not and he is forced to make a choice more than once in this story. These two are such an unexpected match that I couldn't help rooting for them in the end. Oh, and who doesn't love a good vampire romance (with a good amount of sexy scenes)? This world has totally got me hooked and I can't wait to read some more!



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Review: Embrace the Dark (The Blood Rose, #1)

Embrace the Dark by Caris Roane


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

This book puts a spin on the typical vampire romance, throwing in fated mates, "mastyr" status, and the fabled "blood rose." There was a lot of sizzle and an equal amount of story all rolled in one solid read.

Gerrod is the mastyr vampire (you get over the spelling) of a Realm adjacent to our normal world. With an incredible amount of power comes a never ending hunger. No matter how much blood he consumes, he always craves more. There is a long lost legend that if a "blood rose" surfaces, she alone will be able to sate his hunger. Abigail leads a relatively simple life. She takes care of her ill sister, she runs a bakery, and is trying to open a new one in Gerrod's realm. As a human, she will always be viewed as an outsider in his realm. Everything gets a little bit more chaotic when Gerrod can no longer deny the pull Abigail has over him. One kiss sends both their worlds in disarray.

This couple really has their work cut out for them from the start. He's a grumpy old vampire with way too much guilt and she's an overprotective sister who is just as stubborn as him. Together, however, they manage to make things work before it gets too late. Both of them have to learn to make sacrifices for the sake of their relationship (and their survival). I really liked the introduction to this world and can see oodles of possibilities for follow-up stories. I hope all the mastyr vampires end up with mates!



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Review: Date with a Demon Slayer (Demon Slayer #7.5)

Date with a Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

This was a cute, funny, short read that gives you a little yummy taste of the series that made me smile. It can easily be read in a few hours and is 100% pure enjoyment.

Lizzie and Dimitri are trying to celebrate their anniversary with a minimum of drama. This, of course, does not go as planned. How can they possibly expect to have a relaxing evening when their family of biker witches is right down the road? Their “normal” dinner turns into their more typical evening when they discover a dangerous haunting happening in the restaurant/inn. Though there is some excitement and magic, our favorite couple ends up celebrating their anniversary in the only way possible for a Demon Slayer and a Griffin. Oh, and Pirate helps in his own special way, too.


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Review: Free Souls (Mindjack Trilogy, #3)

Free Souls by Susan Kaye Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

This is the final installment in the Mindjack Trilogy that has taken me on a wild rollercoaster ride. Kira and the rest of the "jackers" have their final showdown, resulting in a world that no one could have predicted.

Kira is still somewhat of a mess. She's with the JFA but she still grieves for her lost "normal" life with Raf and her family. Her focus has shifted dangerously to obsession, especially when it comes to Kestrel. She is also in pretty big denial about Julian's feelings for her (and her feelings for him). They are all planning to get to the "tipping point" of their revolution through Vellus, the evil senator who has been trying to discredit the JFA since Kira's first appearance.

When they try to pen all the jackers in with the National Guard, it's clear that now is the time to act. Kira ends up thrown into some very Kira-like messes along the way, but the gang does end up reaching their "tipping point" moment. There's tough decisions to be made, real feelings to confront, and her family (both blood and otherwise) for Kira to protect. This book ends in such a wonderfully surprising and satisfying way that I had to give it a solid 5 stars. I would gladly re-read this book to get to the end all over again.

This book so well written that I didn't even notice that I was reading a genre that I typically avoid - futuristic sci-fi. They are simply wonderful characters put through extraordinary circumstances and I couldn't wait to get more of their story. I'm sad to see this trilogy come to an end, but I hope that there's more to come from this author that I can add to my "to-read" shelf.

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Review: Keeper (Mindjack Origins #4)

Keeper by Susan Kaye Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Of course, I love being back in Kira's head. It was nice to get another glimpse of her, especially since I know that the last book in the trilogy is all I have waiting for me to complete.

This short story delves into Kira's ability to manipulate her own mind and get some insane speed bursts. She also hints at the fact that she might be able to do this for others if needed (and if she had enough practice). She ultimately uses this as an attempt to get on the mission to kill Kestrel. In typically Kira style, though, everything goes horribly wrong, scaring Julian to death in the process. We also get to watch Kira and Julian try to figure out their relationship. They are friends, but it is clear that Julian wants to be more than that (I think).

This was a very short read, but gave me a happy little glimpse into this world I love so much.

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Review: Roaring for Him (Wicked in Wilder #1)

Roaring for Him by Celia Kyle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

Wow! This was a fabulous read! If you like witty, hilarious, sarcastic, sexy paranormal romance filled with some sizzling alpha male chemistry, this is the book for you!

Tilly is a half werelion/half human who is just trying to support her younger sister while running their bakery. Her mother wasn't exactly the most motherly type and ended up signing over Tilly's sister to her when she was of legal age. This has obviously made Tilly the "responsible one" and she doesn't waste her time on men... until she hears a voice that simply melts her and has her lion panting.

Turns out, the voice is owned by Mitchell, the alpha of the local wolf pack and he is instantly smitten. He is determined to reshape his pack's outdated beliefs on half breeds so that he and Tilly can become mates. There is a bit of reluctance from his pack, but nothing this tough twosome can't handle when Tilly's claws come out. Did I mention her little sister is half werebear? Well this family is not one to be messed with!

Even with all the drama, this couple manages to heat up the pages. I couldn't put this book down from start to finish, completely addicted to Tilly and Mitchell. I want more, more, more!

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Review: Betrayed (The Guardian Legacy #1)

Betrayed by Ednah Walters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

It had been a long time between the previous book and this one for me, but I managed to dive right back in. It's filled with teenage drama, secrets, action, and oodles of angel/demon battles.

Lil is accepting her place among the Guardians more and more each day. While they are keeping her on the bench, she is getting her butt kicked by her new instructor every day. When the hardest part of her day was planning how to meet up with Bran and convince her grandfather to let her out of the valley, things look good in comparison to where they end up in this book. Lil's father resurfaces to make her life way more chaotic. She's forced to keep even more secrets from those around her and try to find a balance between her human life and her Guardian one. Throw in the mystery of who is feeding her father information, and you've got a confusing time for poor Lil.

The romance that was more of the focus in the first book ends up becoming one of Lil's frustrations in this one. Bran is pulling away and not telling her why. Ahhhh, teenage love stories! They infuriate but deliver such wild romance that it is always worth it. Through all the ups and downs of this book, we still get a fabulously resolved ending with happy feelings all around. If you're looking for a neat new spin on the angel/demon storyline, this series is shaping up to go to some interesting places.

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Review: Tall, Dark & Hungry (Argeneau #4)

Tall, Dark & Hungry by Lynsay Sands
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is definitely my new favorite of the series. Something about the combination of the workaholic Bastien and the fun-loving Terri just made the best coupling so far.

Bastien was overdue for a mate. He watched as his family found love and didn't want any part in it. Of course, he finds his mate in the form of his reluctant houseguest during the final planning phase of Kate and Luc's wedding. What could go wrong, right? Poor Chris (Kate's coworker from the last book) was adorably cursed and had Bastien and Terri putting out some crisis or another. Couple that with Kate and Luc abandoning the rest of the wedding preparations to Bastien and Terri and you get to watch this power couple in action. Caterer goes bankrupt? Flowers unavailable? They manage to work through just about anything, other than their own baggage.

The sizzle in this book really balanced all the drama and mayhem nicely. It was a perfect blend of fun, humor, wit, and romance (with some naughtiness thrown in to keep it spicy!). This series is quickly becoming my guilty pleasure.

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