5 Star – Page 15 – Books-n-Kisses

January 1, 2015December 27, 2014

Natasha reviews Call Of The Dragon by Elianne Adams

TITLE: Call of the Dragon
SERIES #: Return to Avalore #1
CHARACTERS: Rhia & Drake
AUTHOR: Elianne Adams
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/1/14
ORDER LINKS:Amazon|

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Rhia Atkinson is a woman on the run. The same vicious creatures that killed her mother four years ago are still on the hunt, and she’s the prey. She thought she’d come to terms with her solitary existence until Drake comes along, reigniting her dreams of family and belonging. His tall tales of a missing queen and the looming extinction of a race of people she never knew existed has her agreeing to go on a journey to Avalore. Traditions as old as time stand in her way as she tries to convince Drake that he’s her choice for a mate. With the enemy breathing down her neck, all she has to do is figure out a way to make it work before she ends up joined to some stranger, or worse, dead.
Drake Sperwell has spent years searching for one woman, the Queen of Avalore. Time is running out. With the survival of their entire species hanging in the balance, failure is not an option. When he finds her deep in battle in New York City, all his prayers are answered. What he didn’t count on was his reaction to the woman, or his dragon’s need to claim her as its mate. Denying their chemistry might just kill him, but she’s off limits. Her destiny lies with her true mate in Avalore.

REVIEW:
OH MY GOSH I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! I could not put it down! Ok, sorry, I know I’m yelling right now, but I am so relieved and happy to read a book that I absolutely loved. It’s such a sigh of relief to be excited about a series again! First of all can we all just sigh at this cover, it’s gorgeous! This is the first story in the new Return to Avalore series. It follows Rhiannon who recently learned that she is the lost Queen of the magical land called Avalore. Drake is a dedicated citizen of Avalore who spent years searching for their lost queen in hopes of bringing her back to their homeland and saving their people. From the moment they meet the connection between Rhia and Drake was obvious and undeniable. They go through countless obstacles and trials that bring them closer together, only to have them torn apart. I loved these two together, they are extremely strong individually but you could tell that they were just meant for each other. They were the perfect pairing. I was never bored while reading this story and just wanted to soak up every single character. The supporting characters were just as strong and lovable as the main characters. The only thing I felt missing was a little more detail on how and why Rhia was removed from Avalore in the first place. There are some assumptions but I don’t feel it was clearly explained. I’m not sure if that’s something we’ll see play out in future books or not, but I hope so. I cannot wait to see what else this author has in store for this series I will be a dedicated follower! I highly recommend this book.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 22, 2014November 29, 2014

Kelly & Kimberly review Marked by Rebecca Zanetti

TITLE: Marked
SERIES #: Dark Protectors #7
CHARACTERS: Zane Kyllwood & Janie Kayrs
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: December 22, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Janie Kayrs has known Zane almost her whole life. He was her friend in the dream world. She trusted him. But that was before he kidnapped her, spiriting her away to an isolated cabin to learn what her dreams never told her. Like how dangerous he looks. How he got on the wrong side of the negotiating table. And how much sexier he is in real life…

Zane is a battle-hardened warrior, used to command and solitude. But Janie has drawn him from the minute they met. His need for her could destroy everything he’s worked for, but the risk is too sweet not to take it. They call her the Chosen One. But when it comes down to the questions of peace or war, life or death, safety or passion, it will be Janie who makes the choice

KELLY’S REVIEW:
Where to begin?
Where to begin?
Sometimes when you love a books reviews are so easy to write. And sometimes when you love a book a spoiler free reviews is beyond difficult to write. That is my dilemma right now.
I loved loved loved MARKED. If you have not read this series yet. You really need to start with book one. Each book is it’s own story but there is a running story and if you read MARKED without reading the rest of the series you will not be a happy camper.

Now for my review.
It would be so easy to reveal so much in my review. SO very very easy. So here goes a hopefully spoiler free review.
Zane is not who you think he is and to be honest I was a little mad at him.
Janie plays a very important role.
Kalin plays a very dangerous game with very dangerous people.
Everyone and everything that Janie loves will be in jeopardy.
Everyone learns that sometimes you can fight fate.
And the only thing that can save them all is a little hope.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
This is the 7th in the series and trust me you can not jump right in and read this as a stand alone… Oh no! Do not do that. You NEED to read these from start to finish (oh what am I saying? I hope this series never ends.)

Now about this specific book. WOW. Ok did that tell you enough? Ok then how about DOUBLE WOW! Well this is probably my favorite of the series so far. Zane and Janie just have a chemistry and sex appeal together that makes them amazing to read about.

Rebecca Zanetti is one of my favorite paranormal authors. She writes in a way that drags you in the moment she writes the first paragraph but with Janie and Zane we have been waiting for what seems like forever. And I was not disappointed. And neither will you be.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 19, 2014November 29, 2014

Natasha reviews The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

TITLE: The Good Girl
CHARACTERS: Mia & Colin
AUTHOR: Mary Kubica
PUBLICATION DATE: 7/29/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: “I’ve been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she has her dry cleaning done, where she works. I don’t know the color of her eyes or what they look like when she’s scared. But I will.”
Born to a prominent Chicago judge and his stifled socialite wife, Mia Dennett moves against the grain as a young inner-city art teacher. One night, Mia enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn’t show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. With his smooth moves and modest wit, at first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia’s life.
Colin’s job was to abduct Mia as part of a wild extortion plot and deliver her to his employers. But the plan takes an unexpected turn when Colin suddenly decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota, evading the police and his deadly superiors. Mia’s mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them, but no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family’s world to shatter.
An additively suspenseful and tautly written thriller, The Good Girl is a compulsive debut that reveals how even in the perfect family, nothing is as it seems….

REVIEW: Wow! I wish I could be more eloquent, but I just can’t seem to pick my jaw up off the floor. I listened to this book on audio, which I highly recommend. The narrators are fabulous and give the story more character and greater depth. This book was 10 hours long which is really hard for a full time employed mother of two to get through with any sort of speed – but I finished it in 2 days because I was listening to it at every waking moment! This story was intense from the very beginning and it didn’t stop. The author alternated point of views from the “before” and “after” of some of the involved parties – that way we get bits and pieces of information but just enough to keep us guessing until the very end. Literally, the last 11 minutes had me screaming and crying and feeling so many feels I just didn’t know what to do with myself. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. If you’re a fan of suspense, drama and great writing then you’ll love this book!

Disclaimer:
I purchased a copy of this book on my own. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 15, 2014November 29, 2014

Kelly & Kimberly review Revenant by Larissa Ione

TITLE: Revenant
SERIES #: Demonica #11 /Lords of Deliverance #6
CHARACTERS: Revenant & Blaspheme
AUTHOR: Larissa Ione
PUBLICATION DATE: December 16, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
HELL HATH NO FURY . . .

For five thousand years, Revenant believed he was alone in the world, a fallen angel beyond any redemption. Now he finds he has a twin brother who had all the light and love Revenant was denied. Caught in a tug of war between Heaven and Hell, he must weigh his thirst for revenge against his desire for a mysterious female named Blaspheme—a female whose very origins could deliver him into salvation . . . or destruction.

LIKE AN ANGEL SCORNED

Blaspheme has a deadly secret: she’s the forbidden offspring of an angel and a fallen angel. Hunted by both heavenly and satanic forces, she has survived only by laying low and trusting no one. When Revenant claims he can save them both, how can she possibly believe him? But the powerful angel is persistence incarnate and for Blaspheme, there’s no place she can hide in Heaven or Hell where he won’t find her .

KELLY’S REVIEW:
5 Hearts If you have not read Reaver. Please stop here. You can’t understand Revenant without knowing what happened in Reaver’s book. That was your warning.

Revenant is a very complicated creature. In ways he reminds me a lot of Wraith (if you have not read Wraith’s book you need to). I can’t blame Revenant at all for how he feels or how he reacts. The poor guys has literally been through Hell. You can’t not root for him. Revenant is also his own worst enemy. But sometimes taking a leap of faith is the only thing you can do when you are at the end of your rope.

Blaspheme is saucy. I really like her. She gives Revenant a run for his money every step of the way. But Blas has her own set of issues that she is dealing with. Issues that if it gets out could mean her death. Blas will soon learn that trust is an important tool that she can’t live without. Only question is who can she really trust with her secret.

Oh man! I honestly can not get over the fact of how much I love Larissa Ione and her Demonica series. My only issue with this book is that I read it way too fast and wanted more. More Revenant, more Blaspheme, more sexy time, more of everything and everyone in the Demonica/Lords of Deliverance world.

It will truly be a very sad day when she writes the final chapter in this series. Let hope that the characters of the Demonica world keep invading her thoughts for year and years to come. I am already looking forward to Hades’ story which will be out in 2015 as part of the 1001 Dark Nights. Until then, you need to go get catch up on this series.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
5 Hearts Holy Crackers!
Honestly what more is there to say about a Larissa Ione book? I mean the woman can write no wrong. She brings you right into her world in the matter of a few words.

First on Blaspheme. Is it weird that I want her as a friend even though she is from another world? She has secrets but something about her calls to the reader and you want to be there for her. Now Revenant. What a messed up creature he is but yet you find yourself rooting for him every step of the way. He has been through so much. He is complicated and yet so damn sexy.

I am not sure I have ever found a book that Ione has written that didn’t have me mesmerized and engrossed. The way Ione writes makes her the queen of all paranormal if you ask me. It doesn’t matter if she wrote about the phone book I would be right there to pick it up. If you are a fan of the paranormal genre and already love Ione’s books then this will be no exception. If you are a paranormal fan and have not read her books yet then what the heck are you waiting for?

Lastly a warning. You need to read Ione’s book Reaver first. There is just too much connected. But really why haven’t you read Reaver? Heck why haven’t you read the entire series?

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 12, 2014December 12, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Once Upon A Grind by Cleo Coyle

A NOTE FROM CLEO

Thanks to Books-n-Kisses for hosting us today, and happy holiday greetings to everyone! Marc and I are delighted to tell you more about Once Upon a Grind, which merges classic fairy tales with a modern murder mystery.

Like any good fairy tale, our book takes you through secret doors; plays with your sense of reality; introduces you to an array of colorful characters; and while the ending is happy, not everyone survives.

Once Upon a Grind is also a culinary mystery. Our amateur sleuth, coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi, samples fascinating New York foods as she tries to solve the crime against “Sleeping Beauty,” and she cooks up some tasty goodies, as well.

For a look at the recipe section, click here.

We hope you’ll join us for more stops on our Coffeehouse Escape Blog Tour. We’ll give you more insights to reading Once Upon a Grind, and we’ll share holiday goodies like this one:

Holiday Cookie Swap! Today we’re sharing one of the most popular recipes on our blog, Oatmeal Cookie Brittle (no flour, no butter, no gluten, no kidding)! To get our recipe, which was featured by New Jersey Family magazine in its 12 Days of Cookies, click here.

To read a special excerpt from ONCE UPON A GRIND, click here.

SECRET CODE: The 6th of the 9 words in Cleo’s Secret Code Contest is DESTINY (Learn how to enter Cleo’s Secret Code giveaway here.)

May your holidays be bright!

~ Alice and Marc (Cleo Coyle)

About the Author:

CLEO COYLE is the pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. CLEO COYLE grew up in a small town near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After earning scholarships to study writing at Carnegie Mellon and American Universities, she began her career as a cub reporter for The New York Times. Now an author of popular fiction and New York Times bestselling media tie-in writer, Cleo lives and works in New York City, where she collaborates with her husband (also a bestselling author) to pen the Coffeehouse Mysteries for Penguin. Together Cleo and her husband also write the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries under the name Alice Kimberly. When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or rescuing stray cats, Cleo and Marc are bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for NBC, Lucasfilm, Disney, Fox, Imagine, and MGM. In their spare time they cook like crazy and drink a lot of java. You can learn more about Cleo, her husband, and the books they write by visiting www.CoffeehouseMystery.com.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

When coffeehouse manager turned amateur sleuth Clare Cosi roasts “magic” beans for a Fairy Tale Fall event, she brews up a vision that leads to a sleeping beauty in Central Park; a big, bad wolf of Wall Street; and an East Side enclave with storybook secrets…

Fairy tale fever has descended on New York City. Broadway fans are flocking to Red Riding Hood: The Musical; museums are exhibiting art inspired by the Brothers Grimm; and Clare Cosi and her merry band of baristas give their coffee truck a “Jack and the Beanstalk” makeover for a Central Park festival. Clare’s coffee hunter ex-husband contributes a bag of African beans with alleged magical properties. His octogenarian mother entertains customers with readings of the grinds, but Clare remains skeptical–until she receives a vision that helps her find a young model’s body in the park’s woods.

The police dismiss “sleeping beauty” as the victim of a drug overdose. Then Clare uncovers evidence that points to a list of suspects–from a New York Giant to quite a few wicked witches–and a cold case murder that reaches back to the Cold War. Now Clare is really in the woods with a dangerous predator on her heels and an investigation that leads from a secret Prince Charming Club right back to her own NYPD detective boyfriend. If she doesn’t solve this mystery, those magic beans predict an unhappy ending.

Amazon/B&N

Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Escape Tour Giveaway – Prize Package Includes…

* An autographed copy of Cleo’s brand new book, ONCE UPON A GRIND, in its beautiful first-edition hardcover format

* A complete set of all 13 Coffeehouse Mysteries published to date, each one personally inscribed by Cleo to the winner

* A durable, custom-designed Coffeehouse Mystery Tote Bag

* A freshly-roasted package of Billionaire’s Blend, a hand-crafted coffee created by One Good Woman Fine Coffees and Teas as a tribute to Cleo’s recent bestseller BILLIONAIRE BLEND.

* A Coffeehouse Mystery cup, featuring a favorite saying of Madame’s, the octogenarian owner of The Village Blend: “Survive everything. And do it with style.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jennifer’s Review of Once Upon A Grind

Review (5 Stars): This is one of my all-time favorite mystery series and Once Upon A Grind is a fabulous addition to this deliciously entertaining series. In this story, we find Clare Cosi and her employees are currently working in Storybook Kingdom, a week-long festival celebrating everything fairy tale related in Central Park. At the festival, Clare and her ex-husband, Matt, find a young woman from the festival who appears to be the victim of an overdose and Matt is arrested because he was seen with the woman earlier that day. Clare decides to investigate to clear Matt’s name and finds herself with a long list of suspects and a killer that wouldn’t hesitate to add to their list of victims.

This is the 14th book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series and I am always amazed at how each book is more delightful than the last. Once Upon A Grind is a smart, fun and exciting mystery that will not disappoint fans of the series. I have always enjoyed Clare as a heroine because she is very intelligent, articulate and is never a damsel in distress. She never backs down from a situation and is one of the best female characters out there today. I enjoyed the fairy tale aspect of this mystery and there were several plot twists and turns that will keep everyone guessing until the end. This is an amazing series by two talented authors and I hope it continues for many years to come.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Once Upon A Grind. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by December 20th, answer me this question in the comments:

What is your favorite holiday recipe?

December 4, 2014December 3, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell

KEEPER OF THE CASTLE
Guest Post by Juliet Blackwell

In Search of Ghosts:

To me, one of the best things about being an author is research. In the course of writing my two series, the Witchcraft Mysteries and the Haunted Home Renovation series, I get to do things like shop in vintage clothing stores, hang out in Haight Street cafes, and tour historic buildings.

But one of my favorite parts of research is trailing around after paranormal investigators, peppering them with questions:

Can ghosts reach out and “touch” a person?
Can they become violent?
What if you had different ghosts or entities in a building?
From different times, “haunting” the place for different reasons?
How would they interact?
Why are animals sensitive to spirits, and how might they react?

Actually, I try to reserve these questions for either before or after walking through an allegedly haunted house. While on site, I mostly keep my mouth shut, trying not even to breathe loudly for fear of mucking things up…or possibly attracting unwanted attention!

Unfortunately, I have found that there’s a lot of “grey area” in the paranormal realm – which, I suppose, is fitting – so not all experts agree on the rules of the afterworld. Some think we bring our own ghosts with us, for example, while others believe in “residual” energies, and still others think sentient beings sometimes roam the earth.

But here are the “Top Five” things I’ve learned from my recent encounters with “ghost professionals”:

1.   Bring extra batteries (some spirits “borrow” energy by siphoning off battery power)
2.   Don’t wear perfume or scented lotions. Ghosts have a profound sense of smell, and whether they like or dislike what you’re wearing, it might not be a good thing
3.   Animals and children are considered more “sensitive” (and attractive to) spirits. But since they can’t give consent, it’s unethical to take them along on a ghosthunt, darn the luck.
4.   Wear quiet shoes that are easy to run in (self-explanatory)
5.   Don’t make jokes about the size of the ghostbuster’s equipment (also self-explanatory)

So…how about you? Have you ever encountered something that felt otherworldly? Do you believe in ghosts at all?

About the Author:

Juliet Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mystery series, featuring a powerful witch with a vintage clothes store in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury. She also writes the Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series, about a failed anthropologist who reluctantly takes over her father’s high-end construction company…and finds ghosts behind the walls. As Hailey Lind, Blackwell wrote the Agatha-nominated Art Lover’s Mystery series, in which an ex-art forger attempts to go straight as a faux finisher. She is currently working on a novel about a woman who takes over her uncle’s locksmith shop in Paris, entitled The Paris Key. A former anthropologist and social worker, Juliet has worked in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France.

Visit her at www.julietblackwell.net, join her on Facebook (JulietBlackwellAuthor) and on Twitter @JulietBlackwell

Lately, Mel has been worried about finding enough historic renovation work to pay the bills. But while Turner Construction is in need of a project, Mel’s boyfriend, Graham, has his hands full managing the reconstruction of an ancient building shipped over from Scotland.

With the job plagued by rumors that the stones are cursed, Graham brings in Mel to look for paranormal activity. And while the ghost of a charming Scottish clansman does seem to be hanging around the site, the real shock comes when they stumble upon a body.

When the original construction crew starts running scared, Mel brings in her team to finish the job. Now all she has to do is nail down the killer, and put the spirits to rest, before anyone else winds up heading for the highlands…

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Keeper of the Castle

Review (5 Stars): I love, love, love the Haunted Home Renovation mystery series because I love any mystery that involves ghosts and the supernatural. Mel Turner is asked to be part of the crew to help reconstruct an ancient building from Scotland that has been plagued with paranormal sightings and has most of the construction crew running scared. Mel is no stranger to ghosts and can’t turn down the job offer when there is so many dollar signs offered by the ultra-rich entrepreneur that is funding the project. Before Mel knows it, she is involved with another murder mystery when she finds a dead body on the work site. Now, she must work to find the real killer and find out who or what is really haunting the ancient building that is scaring everyone away.

I have loved Melanie from the very first book, If Walls Could Talk, because she is just this lovable character that you can instantly connect with. She has a difficult job of being a female in male-dominated world, so there isn’t much that can scare her except that she has the uncanny ability of finding ghosts on her work sites. After everything that she has been through over the course of the series, she still continues to impress me and I love reading her ghost hunting adventures with each new installment. Keeper of the Castle is an entertaining mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seat with memorable characters and an intriguing whodunit. Ms. Blackwell has this amazing way of weaving a story that will hook you from the first page until the great reveal of the true killer. Can’t wait to read the next mystery from this author.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Keeper of the Castle. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by December 17th, leave a comment for Ms. Blackwell below:

December 3, 2014November 29, 2014

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kelly & Kimberly review Merry Christmas, Baby by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: Merry Christmas Baby
SERIES #: Lucky Harbor #12.5
CHARACTERS: Sawyer & Chloe Thompson
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE: December 2, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis brings you a heartwarming tale that could only happen in Lucky Harbor . . .

SEASON’S KISSES

Wild child Chloe Thompson can’t believe how much things have changed. She still can’t get enough of her sexy husband Sawyer, but he seems to prefer working to thinking about impending fatherhood. So tonight, a very pregnant Chloe is escaping her troubles at the town Christmas party.

Sheriff Sawyer Thompson hopes surprising Chloe at the party will give him a chance to set things right. But as the snow begins to fall and the wind rages, he wonders whether he can make it back in time. While mother nature conspires to keep Sawyer and Chloe apart, an unexpected arrival will require them to kiss and make up . . . and ring in the happiest holiday Lucky Harbor has ever seen. 13,000 words

KELLY’S REVIEW:
5 Hearts Oh how I love a good Lucky Harbor story. And I love them even more knowing that the Lucky Harbor series is done (will kind of. I asked Jill about this and she said there will be more novellas).
Merry Christmas Baby takes us back to visit Sawyer and Chloe and little baby Bean. This was such a sweet story and I am so glad that we got to take a glimpse into Sawyer and Chloe’s life. These two have had a rough time of life and love. I am so happy that they are getting a happy ever after. And let me tell you Sawyer and baby Bean are beyond adorable together (totally tissue worthy)

Lucky Harbor fans you will love this very very short story. Until next time Lucky Harbor.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts This is a sweet Holiday novella with less than 40 pages but one that any fan of the Lucky Harbor series just had to have. We met Chloe and Sawyer in Head Over Heels (Lucky Harbor #3) and this is their follow up. Chloe is now pregnant and going through so many pregnancy hormones she can barely stand herself neither less anyone else and when Sawyer keeps leaving she is heartbroken. But like any Shalvis story there is more to it then Sawyer wanting to get away. I loved that within a few pages of the story Shalvis says “shes once been hell on wheels” as a shout out to their first story.

I won’t say too much since it is so short and it would give too much away but I will say that it was a great Christmas gift to the fans of Lucky Harbor and Jill Shalvis. (Just wish we knew what the baby’s name is – I wrote Shalvis on Facebook to ask – No word yet)

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 2, 2014November 29, 2014

Kelly reviews Hour Of Need by Melinda Leigh

TITLE: Hour of Need
SERIES #: Scarlet Falls #1
CHARACTERS: Grant Barrett & Ellie Ross
AUTHOR: Melinda Leigh
PUBLICATION DATE: December 9, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
While fighting in Afghanistan, Major Grant Barrett receives devastating news: his brother and sister-in-law have been murdered in Scarlet Falls, the sleepy suburb of Grant’s youth. Emotionally scarred from war, the career soldier returns home on emergency leave to temporarily care for his orphaned nephew and niece. But when someone tries to kidnap the kids and their teenage babysitter, Grant knows it’s not a random act…and neither were the murders.

Already devastated by her neighbors’ violent deaths, Ellie Ross is shattered by the attempted abduction of her teenage daughter so she desperately turns to Grant for help. As they navigate a deadly search for the truth, they struggle with growing feelings for each other and Grant’s impending return to deployment.

But time is running out. The killer is growing bolder by the hour, and Ellie and Grant must find him before the children become his next victims.

REVIEW:
WOW!!!
What a tangled web of craziness happened in this book. Gosh I am not even sure where to start without recapping the back blurb or giving everything away (you know how I feel about spoiler reviews) but here it goes:

We start Hour of Need with a double murder. A double murder that leaves more questions then answers. An unbelievable trauma that will bring a broken family back together. Hour of Need is a tangle of many threads that I could not figure how they were ever going to come together. To say I was shocked at the end would be an understatement. I had my guesses but Kudos’ to Ms. Leigh for keeping me on my toes. The mystery and suspense of it all was brilliant. The romance was sweet. But both balance each other so wonderfully.

I can’t wait for the next installment in the Scarlet Fall’s series (I know I should not wish bad things on to these characters, but I do 🙂 ). If you are a fan of Ms. Leigh’s you will need to put this on your must buy list. If you are a romance suspense fan, please put on your buy list. If you are new? Please put on your buy list. So in short you should buy this book.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley & Montlake in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 1, 2014November 30, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Cursed Bloodline by Cecy Robson

Since being cursed with unique abilities, Celia Wird and her three sisters have fought the most bloodthirsty preternaturals in the Lake Tahoe region. But Celia’s greatest threat is someone she would have never suspected: Anara, a werewolf Elder who has allowed his hatred for Celia to spiral out of control. In a play for dominance, Anara tortures Celia and gives her an ultimatum: sever her mate bond with pureblood were Aric—or Anara will kill everyone she loves.

From the instant they met, Celia and Aric have shared an attraction that cannot be tamed. So keeping Aric away is impossible, and Aric would sooner die than allow anyone to hurt the woman he loves. Misha, master vampire and Celia’s sworn protector, also finds his way into the chaos, seeking blood from those who have harmed her.

Now Celia and her sisters are caught in the middle of a war driven by lust, fueled by hatred, and destined to end in tragedy. For Anara is a force to be reckoned with, and he will not succumb without robbing Celia of those who hold her heart.

Amazon/B&N

I cleared my throat when I reached the open bedroom door and tried to speak as loudly as
possible. “I don’t want to see you, Aric. You need to leave.” And if you don’t, you’ll die.

There was so much pain and astonishment in Aric’s voice my stomach churned in painful
rumbles. “Celia . . . what—”

“I told you, I don’t want to see you!” I croaked. The tears that had stopped just moments
before returned full force. Being cruel to anyone—especially Aric—was unthinkable.

The seconds of stunned silence passed with brutal thumps to my insides until Misha broke through the horrible quiet. “Celia wants nothing to do with you. Go lick your wounds elsewhere, wolf. You are not welcome in our home.”

No one spoke. No one moved. No one breathed. For what seemed like an eternity, time
stood still.

“Come, Aric,” Gemini finally said. “Our efforts are better suited in finding Emme.”

Liam’s growls reverberated against the windows. “You’re an asshole, Misha. I know
you’re influencing her somehow.”

Koda sounded more pissed than Liam. “Tim, if you don’t wipe that goddamn smirk off
your face, I’ll tear out your throat and leave it for the crows!”

Shayna rushed past me, pausing only to shoot me a pained glance over her shoulder. Her
presence would help facilitate the wolves’ departure, despite the confusion and disappointment shadowing her pixie face.

Taran waited with me with her arms crossed. I couldn’t face her. Hell, I couldn’t even raise my head. Yet I felt her taking me in and scented the sharp aroma of her shock as it pierced through my damaged nose. When the last few snarls faded and the roar of the engines disappeared along the lengthy stretch of Misha’s driveway, Shayna returned and clasped my hands. “I know Aric doesn’t look the same, but he’s still the same wolf. He loves you, Ceel. You have to see past his injuries . . .”

Shayna’s voice faded when my sobs overtook me. She thought I was abandoning Aric because of his deformities. And I had to let her believe it was true. Despite how much it pained me, it would keep him, her, and everyone else safe for now.

Taran maneuvered her way between us and led me toward the sink. “Leave her alone, Shayna. Now’s not the time. Come on, we need to get this fucking glass out of her back.”

About the Author:

Cecy Robson is the New Adult author of Once Perfect, Once Loved, and Once Pure and the award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, Cecy counts among her talents a jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song despite her family’s vehement protests. A full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the Great Northwest, Cecy enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of A Cursed Bloodline

Review (5 Stars): Every time I read a book by Cecy Robson, I automatically know that I’m in for a story that will put me through the ringer of emotions and then carefully put me back together again by the end. I felt so horrible for Celia in A Cursed Bloodline because she had two big secrets that she was keeping from everyone and she did what she had to do to protect the well-being of the people that she loved. It broke my heart seeing her go through that much pain and not being able to tell anyone the truth as to why she was doing what she did.

Celia and Aric have this amazing connection with one another and he is her true mate, no matter what has happened to them in the past. Celia is now faced with a foe that has an immense amount of power intent on destroying her and the people that she loves. I hated this character from the very beginning and I was just hoping that Celia could find someone and tell them the truth before it destroyed everything forever. I can’t tell you how many times I cried because just when Celia found her happiness, it was ripped away from her in the very next breath.

Cecy Robson is one of my absolute favorite authors and each book that she writes becomes more gut-wrenching and brilliant than the last. A Cursed Bloodline is an amazing addition to the Weird Girls paranormal series and after finishing it, I’m dying to read the next installment.

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November 29, 2014November 28, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Never Judge A Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean

By day, she is Lady Georgiana, sister to a duke, ruined before her first season in the worst kind of scandal. But the truth is far more shocking-in London’s darkest corners, she is Chase, the mysterious, unknown founder of the city’s most legendary gaming hell. For years, her double identity has gone undiscovered…until now.

Brilliant, driven, handsome-as-sin Duncan West is intrigued by the beautiful, ruined woman who is somehow connected to a world of darkness and sin. He knows she is more than she seems and he vows to uncover all of Georgiana’s secrets, laying bare her past, threatening her present, and risking all she holds dear…including her heart.

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He chuckled. “If wishing made it so.” He spun her across the floor, the candles lit around the room leaving trails of light across her field of vision.

“Langley has arrived.”

The viscount had entered not five minutes earlier. She’d noticed immediately. “I saw.”

“You don’t expect a real marriage from him,” Temple said.

“I don’t.”

“Then why not do what you do best?”

Her gaze flickered to the handsome man on the other side of the room. Her choice for husband. “You think blackmail is the best way to go about securing a husband?”

He smiled. “I was blackmailed in advance of finding a wife.”

“Yes, well, I am told that most men are not such masochists, Temple. You’ve been saying I should marry for more than a year. You and Bourne and Cross,” she added, ticking off her partners in The Fallen Angel. “Not to mention my brother.”

“Ah, yes, I’ve heard that the Duke of Leighton has placed a heavy dowry on your head. It’s remarkable you are able to stand upright. But what of love?”

“Love?” It was difficult to voice the word without the disdain.

“You’ve heard of it, no doubt. Sonnets and poems and happy-ever-after?”

“I’ve heard of it,” she said. “As we are discussing marriage at best for convenience and at worst for debt relief, I hardly think a lack of love is of issue,” she said. “And besides, it is a fool’s errand.”

He watched her for a long moment. “And you are surrounded by fools.”

She cut him a look. “Every one of you. Besotted beyond reason. And look at what has happened because of it.”

He raised his dark brows. “What? Marriage? Children? Happiness?”

She sighed. They’d had the conversation a hundred times. A thousand. Her partners were so idyllically matched that they could not help but foist it on everyone around them. What they did not know was that idyll was not for Georgiana. She pushed the thought away. “I am happy,” she lied.

“No. You are rich. And you are powerful. But you are not happy.”

“Happiness is too highly prized,” she said with a shrug, as he turned her across the room. “It’s worth nothing.”

“It’s worth everything.” They danced in silence for a long moment. “Which you see, as you wouldn’t be doing this if not for happiness.”

“Not mine. Caroline’s.”

About the Author:

Sarah MacLean grew up in Rhode Island, obsessed with historical romance and bemoaning the fact that she was born far too late for her own season. Her love of all things historical helped to earn her degrees from Smith College and Harvard University before she finally set pen to paper and wrote her first book.

Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband, baby daughter, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She loves to hear from readers. Please visit her at www.macleanspace.com

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Never Judge A Lady by Her Cover

Review (5 Stars): This is the final book in the Rules of Scoundrels and is the perfect ending to a deliciously romantic series. Lady Georgiana has spent the last ten years as a ruined woman, unwed mother and an outcast of London society. To protect her daughter from the same fate, Georgiana is on the hunt to marry a man with a title to give her daughter a fighting chance at a happy life. Duncan West, newspaper owner, has always been attracted to Lady Georgiana and sympathetic to what has happened in the past to this beautiful young woman. What Duncan soon learns is that Georgiana has been harboring dark secrets for years and these secrets may destroy everything that she has been planning for her new life. Duncan is now on a mission to bring these secrets to light but finds that by doing so may break what is left of her precious heart.

Lady Georgiana was an amazing character since she protected her secret identity for so long and no one had any clue what she was capable of doing to London society. She used the secrets that she discovered while working at The Fallen Angel club to help her one day gain access back into society to help her daughter achieve what she could not. She was smart, brave and fiercely protective of her young daughter, making her one of my favorite female characters to date. She once believed in love but those dreams were shattered when a man took her reputation and her heart in one brief moment that she could never take back. I was hoping that she would give love one final chance to make things right and I’m glad that she gave her heart to the one man who wouldn’t break it.

Never Judge A Lady by Her Cover was a story that had me captivated from the very first page and I was hoping that Lady Georgiana would finally receive her happy ending after so much heart break. Ms. MacLean has written such amazing books over the years and Never Judge A Lady by Her Cover is a perfect addition to her long list of historical romances. Can’t wait to read what she publishes next and I’m looking forward to revisiting this series again in the future.

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November 24, 2014November 22, 2014

Kelly reviews Talking After Midnight by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Talking After Midnight
SERIES #: Plum Orchard #3
CHARACTERS: Taggart Hawthorn & Marybell Lyman
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
NARRATOR: Scarlet Chase
RUN TIME: 8 hours & 20 minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: June 24, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Shields up, sugar—things in Plum Orchard are about to get real.

Marybell Lyman is notorious for two things:

Her look. The wicked hairstyle, multiple piercings and practiced sneer that say: “Stay back—I bite.”

Her voice. The syrupy lilt that’s her bread and butter at Call Girls, the prim little town’s flourishing phone-sex company.

Hunky handyman Taggart Hawthorn is mesmerized by the contradiction: such sweet tones inside such a spiky shell! He wants to know more about mysterious Marybell, to hear more of her sexy talk—all for himself.

But Tag’s attentions, delicious as they are, have Marybell panicked. She’s been hiding a long time. She’s finally got a home, a job and friends she adores. She won’t have it all snatched away by another stupid mistake—like falling in love. So when Marybell’s past comes calling, she and the Call Girls will prove no one handles scandals like a Southern girl!

REVIEW:
Another amazing story from Ms. Cassidy. With each Plum Orchard series I have falling more and more in love with these characters. I hope to all the Plum Wine Gods that there will be more stories in this series. There are a few more people I want to see matched up and a few I want to see wrestled into a huge pile of mud. So Ms. Cassidy PLEASE write more stories in this series. But back to Talking After Midnight.

OH my gosh. I am not sure if I was just an over sensitive wreck today but this book made me cry at least 3 times. Full on tears cry I tell you (thank goodness I was alone could you image if I was in public?) But Marybell & Tag are just perfect. I loved every part of their story. Even the parts where they are being stupid. Just loved it all.

Normally in a series you have a favorite and a least favorite couple. Not for me. I have love all three couple equally. I am not sure I could pick one over the other if I had to.

Ms. Chase as she has done so perfectly over this whole series brings the characters of Plum Orchard to life for me. I am so very glad that I started this series on audio. I will most definitely be looking for more books narrated by Ms. Chase in the future.

If you have not started the Plum Orchard series I would highly recommend you grab the novella Talk this Way. You really do have to start from the beginning!!! Now go get you a copy of this series and start reading and find out why Plum Orchard is so awesome.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Tantor Media in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

November 24, 2014November 22, 2014

Kelly reviews Something To Talk About by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Something to Talk About
SERIES #: Plum Orchard #2
CHARACTERS: Jacks Hawthorne & Emmeline Amos
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
NARRATOR: Scarlet Chase
RUN TIME: 9 Hours & 24 Minutes
AUDIO PUBLICATION DATE: October 21, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Sexy is as sexy does. And in Plum Orchard, sugar, it does!

Emmeline Amos is sick of her ex saying she’s boring and prissy. After all, she works for a phone-sex company! (As general manager, but still.) On a rare girls’ night out, fueled by blender drinks and bravado, Em accepts a shocking dare—to handle a call herself. But it’s tipsy Em who gets an earful from an irate single father on the other end of the line. Awkward.

But not as awkward as discovering that same mad dad is Call Girls’ gorgeous new programmer. Jax Hawthorne is still upset that his daughter called the “girlfriend store” on his behalf, but he can’t deny he’d choose a hot-librarian type like Em if he were looking for love. Which he’s not.

Em wants to do more than just talk the talk. So she makes a bawdy bargain with Jax. They’ve both been burned before—this time, they’ll keep it strictly physical. Except as soon as they settle on no strings attached, things start to get tangled.

REVIEW:
Oh my!!!!! To say that I love Emmeline Amos would be an understatement. When we first Emmeline in Talk Dirty to Me, she was shy, unsure, hating Dixie and not happy with her life. But even with that Em holds her head up high and tries to be the best person and mom as she can possible be. But in Something to Talk About Emmeline Amos finally finds out who she is and how far she is willing to go to protect those she loves. Oh and Em finds out a few little secrets that could possible turn her world upside down again.

Let’s talk Jacks. Mr. Jacks Hawthorne is beyond yummy. Jacks not only is an amazing dad to his beyond sweet little girl. He is fiercely protective of those around him. But Jacks has secrets too. And one of those secrets is back and stalking around Plum Orchard.
I loved this story. Love Emmeline and Jacks. Love Dixie and the ladies at Call-Girls. Loved! Loved! Loved! I will say that there was a few *gasp* moments and a few tears while reading this book. I can’t wait for the next book “Talking After Midnight”

Scarlet Chase does another AMAZING job of narrating this book. I just love love love her. She really brings the characters to life for me. I can’t wait for her to read Talking After Midnight to me. Great job again Ms. Chase.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.