5 Star – Page 17 – Books-n-Kisses

September 16, 2014September 14, 2014

Kelly reviews Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall

TITLE: Night Unbound
SERIES #: Immortal Gaurdians #5
CHARACTERS: Zach & Lisette d’Alençon
AUTHOR: Dianne Duvall
NARRATOR: Kristin Potter
PUBLICATION DATE: September 2, 2014
AUDIO BOOK RUN TIME: 13 Hours & 21 Minutes
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardians protect humanity from unspeakable horrors–but their hearts are as fragile as any mortal’s. . .
For centuries, Lisette d’Alençon has been a warrior against the dark. She fights alongside her brothers and comrades. But when the dreams start coming, she can’t bear to confess them to the Immortal Guardians’ command. Dreams of a dark-haired man with soft eyes and brutal wounds, a man her heart aches for–and a man she knows has been declared a traitor.
Zach is an exile, a loner. He won’t defend himself against false accusations or grovel to those who should have faith in him. But he’ll damn sure defend the woman who kept him sane against a plague of super-vamps that seems to have appeared from nowhere. The Guardians will blame him, and that will make Lisette suspect, too. With life, death and eternity on the line, who can they really trust?

REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts It feels like I have been away from the Immortal Guardian world for way too long. When Ms. Duvall announced that Night Unbound was going to be Zach’s book I was over the moon. I just love this Immortal with wings!! And that Lisette was going to be his lady love. Super excited.
Night Unbound did not disappoint me. Zach & Lisette are so perfect for each other. I love that Zach is always wanting to try something 🙂 (you will have to read to understand). I am so glad that Zach got his own book. He really need to be excepted and find love after so many years of nothing.

There were so many heartbreaking tissue grabbing and happy joyful scenes in this book. Just a few that stood out were:
1) The scene with Cliff were heartbreaking I hope that they find a way to help him.
2) The scene with Amy: Oh gosh, poor Amy. Poor Marcus. Many tears
3) The scene with Aidan broke my heart.
4) Every scene with Zach & Lisette
I just loved this book. And as always I had the wonderful Kristin Potter read to me yet again. I just love how she is able to bring the characters to life for me. Kristin is so very talented at voices that it is really easy to tell who is who even before she reads who is speaking. I am very much looking forward to the next installment of the Immortal Guardian series.

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

September 4, 2014August 31, 2014

Kelly reviews Midnight Betrayal by Melinda Leigh

TITLE: Midnight Betrayal
SERIES #: Midnight #3
CHARACTERS: Conor Sullivan & Louisa Hancock
AUTHOR: Melinda Leigh
PUBLICATION DATE: September 2, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Curator Dr. Louisa Hancock left behind Maine and her troubled past for Philadelphia and a job at a prominent museum. Just when it seems that Louisa’s new life is safe from her dark secrets, the body of a museum intern is found—the victim of a brutal and baffling murder.

Louisa realizes this is no random crime. And when another intern goes missing, the abduction is linked to the only man who has ever tempted Louisa’s heart—Conor Sullivan, the sexy owner of a Philly sports bar. Louisa’s past has taught her to be wary, but her heart refuses to believe Conor is guilty.

Now Conor and Louisa must dodge a police investigation—and their growing desire—as they race to find the real killer before another girl turns up dead. But trusting Conor could be deadly, especially as the evidence against him mounts…and as a merciless killer targets Louisa as the next victim

REVIEW:
They say lightning never strikes twice.
Or does it?
If you are Louisa Hancock & Conor Sullivan you might just start to believe that it does.
Wow. I am not even sure how to start this review other than to say “Murder is a dirty, dirty business and oh my good golly Ms. Leigh can write a book”.
As with all suspense books I try my best to figure out the who’s, the what’s and the why’s. But let me tell you Midnight Betrayal kept me guessing the whole time. To say I was shocked would be an understatement.
I could say so much about this book (which I loved). About this story (which I loved). About the characters (who I loved). About the scary, sick and twisted mind of a suspense author (which I love and am just a tad bit afraid of Ms. Leigh now ;D). But I really want you to pick up a copy of this book so I will leave you with this. Midnight Betrayal is an amazing read!!!!!!!
If you are a fan of romance suspense you really need to pick up a copy of Midnight Betrayal. If you are new to romance suspense or new to Melinda never fear you can read this book as a stand alone and not miss anything (although I would read book one and two, but I like to read my books in order. Plus you met Conor & Louisa in book 2)

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author as a gift. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

September 3, 2014August 31, 2014

Natasha reviews Pure by Julianna Baggott

TITLE: Pure
SERIES #: Pure Trilogy #1
CHARACTERS: Pressia, Partridge, Bradwell, Lyda & El Capitan
AUTHOR: Julianna Baggott
PUBLICATION DATE: 2/8/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it’s his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.
When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

REVIEW: I loved this book! I happen to come across this author and the synopsis intrigued me. I’ve read many post apocalypse books, and many YA novels. I have to say, this author did it right. I was so pleasantly relieved that even though this is YA the characters all had common sense and were not frustratingly juvenile. Having multiple character viewpoints can be dangerous in books. Things can get confusing and the back and forth frustrating. I did not have that problem with this book. I loved being able to experience each characters viewpoint: Pressia, Partridge and Lyda. They each added so much to the story. Though curiously we didn’t get a viewpoint from Bradwell… Every character in this book has a history and is a necessity to the overall story, even El Capitan and Helmet! I was able to see some of the story twists coming early on, but others took me completely by surprise! I love being surprised! This book has everything: action, emotional turmoil, government plots, love and loss. It was a great start to this series and I already have book two downloaded. I’m very excited to get started!

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

September 2, 2014August 31, 2014

Kimberly reviews Longing by Jamie K Schmidt

TITLE: Longing
SERIES #: Club Inferno #2
CHARACTERS: Anya & Clint
AUTHOR: Jamie K. Schmidt
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/02/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Reeling from a disastrous love affair, model and budding fashion designer Anya Litton needs a temporary refuge, a place to lick her wounds and plan her next career move. At Club Inferno, where seductively chic men and women indulge their most intimate fantasies, she can mix business with unimaginable pleasure. Anya quickly connects with club Dom Clint Reyes, who unleashes Anya’s deepest longings over nights of burning passion.
Clint is a master at taking submissives to the heights of pleasure in Club Inferno’s opulent private dungeons. But it’s Anya who has Clint begging for more when the woman of his dreams becomes his eager partner in exploring the limits of desire. As their relationship ignites into an erotic contest of wills—and a jealous rival plots against them both—Clint prepares to fight for a future with Anya. In this complicated dance, the wrong move could end it all . . . and taking control means total surrender.

REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts I really enjoyed this story. It is the second in the series but you do not need to have read the first at all. In fact Max and Mallory are only mentioned in passing a few times. So feel free to pick this up without having read the first… but then the first was really good so you might want to pick that one up too.
Now about this book. First about Clint. What a sweet guy. He has dreams and while he enjoys the kinky life it is not his whole world. In fact he wants to own his own place and fall in love. He wants to be more than a stripper and Dom and he finds that with Anya. I really adored Clint. However I really can’t imagine that he is a Dom in the full sense of the word. I really can’t recall anything he did that was Dom worthy. Yes he liked to be a little controlling but he didn’t Dom Anya. He understands her limits (which are plenty) and never pushes her to go beyond them.
Now to the best part of this story. ANYA! Let me say a hardy HELL YES to the author. She really pulled Anya off perfectly. I actually went and looked up a picture of Schmidt to see if she was a big girl because she really nailed the feeling us big girls have. The feeling of being too heavy to sit on a guys lap, will he laugh at her when she gets unclothed because her jeans hold in a lot, why would a guy that looks like Clint fall for a woman who looks like her, etc. Her feels are all ones that any big girl has had. Anya is a plus size model and while confident in her beauty to walk the runway as a plus size model when it comes to being an everyday woman she loses some of that confidence. And then she hears people call her fat and she crumbles. But somehow she picks herself back up. I LOVED ANYA and hope to grow up to be her someday (ok I am in my 40s so it is probably a lost cause but still).
Wonderful romance with a touch of erotica but not really any BDSM. And a wonderful couple who deserves to be cheered from an author who deserves praise.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

September 1, 2014August 31, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath

From New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath, comes the second book in a brand new series, The Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, featuring three eligible bachelors…and the scoundrels that reside within each.

Born to the street but raised within the aristocracy, Drake Darling can’t escape his sordid beginnings. Not when Lady Ophelia Lyttleton snubs him at every turn, a constant reminder he’s not truly one of them. But after rescuing her from a mysterious drowning, he realizes she doesn’t remember who she is. With plans to bring her to heel, he insists she’s his housekeeper—never expecting to fall for the charming beauty.

While Ophelia might not recall her life before Drake, she has little doubt she belongs with him. The desire she feels for her dark, brooding employer can’t be denied, regardless of consequences. So when Ophelia’s memory returns, she is devastated by the depth of his betrayal. Now Drake must risk everything to prove she can trust this rogue with her heart once more.

Amazon/B&N/iTunes

About the Author:

LORRAINE HEATH always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals and computer code, but something was always missing. After reading a romance novel, she not only became hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She’s been writing about them ever since. Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including RWA’s RITA® and a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her novels have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times best-seller lists.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Once More, My Darling Rogue

Review (5 Stars): Drake Darling has never been able to forget the events of his childhood and even with all the success that he has achieved, those memories are never far from his thoughts. Lady Ophelia Lyttleton has known Drake for years and has always treated him as though he was beneath her. The two verbally spar with one another every chance they get and it has become a game to see who will win first. One night, Drake finds a young woman on the side of the river, dirty, bruised and has no idea who she is or how she got there. What surprises Drake the most is that the young woman is none other than Lady Ophelia and she has no memories of Drake whatsoever. As a punishment for the way that she has treated him all these years, Drake tells Lady Ophelia that she is his servant and makes her spend her time doing servant duties. As the days pass, Drake finds himself falling for the new Lady Ophelia and dreads the day when her memories return, knowing that she will hate him even more for what he has done. But Lady Ophelia is falling for Drake as well and maybe this chance at love will finally help melt her deeply protected heart of ice.

I absolutely fell in love with Drake Darling in Once More, My Darling Rogue. He was a charming man who couldn’t understand why Lady Ophelia hated him so much when he never did anything to hurt her. In a way, he felt that he deserved the verbal abuse because of his torrid beginnings but Lady Ophelia was downright cruel, mean and vindictive whenever Drake was around. I loved when she became Phee, the woman with no memories, who was sweet, kind and a crusader against any injustice in the world. I didn’t agree with Drake for making Phee believe that she was a servant as retaliation for all the things that she had done to him, but if he hadn’t, he would have never seen the amazing woman she could become.

Drake and Lady Ophelia were two very interesting characters because they both believed that they were unworthy of love because of events that happened in their childhoods. They were haunted by their past and were finally able to heal their broken spirits by finding love in each others arms. This love story brought me to tears when I discovered both of their secrets and to what lengths Drake went to make amends for what he had done to Lady Ophelia when she had lost her memories. Such a beautiful story of love and forgiveness between two emotionally scarred people who deserved to find love and found it in the most unlikely of places. This is one of my favorite books this year and I am looking forward to reading more from this talented writer.

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August 26, 2014August 17, 2014

Natasha reviews Memory Zero by Keri Arthur

TITLE: Memory Zero
SERIES #: The Spook Squad #1
CHARACTERS: Sam & Gabriel
AUTHOR: Keri Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: 8/26/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
For Sam Ryan, life began at age fourteen. She has no memory of her parents or her childhood. In a decade of service with the State Police, Sam has exhausted the resources of the force searching for clues to her identity. But all mention of her family seems to have been deliberately wiped off the record. Everything changes the night Sam’s missing partner resurfaces as a vampire . . . and forces her to kill him in self-defense. Now Sam is charged with murder. Suspended from the force, and with no one left to trust, Sam accepts some unexpected help from Gabriel Stern, a shapeshifter who conceals startling secrets.
While investigating the circumstances surrounding her partner’s strange behavior, Sam discovers that Gabriel’s been involved with a dangerous organization that’s planning a war on the human race. More immediate, someone is guarding the truth about Sam’s past—someone who’d rather see her dead than risk her knowing too much. To stay alive, Sam must unravel the threads of her past—and find out not only who she is but what she is.

REVIEW:
Can I give this more than 5 stars? I’d sure like to. I read it in one day, and stayed up until 4am to finish because I couldn’t put it down! I have a six month old baby, so sleep is definitely precious to me nowadays, so my forfeit of that tells you how much value I put on this story. I loved this book! I’ve always been a big Keri Arthur fan, and was so excited to see this series. This story had everything: action, tension, infatuation, drama, explosions, prison escapes etc. The character interaction was fabulous, and the supporting characters extremely strong! I particularly enjoy when the characters in the books I read display common sense and these did. It’s really refreshing to see a story unfold without all the unnecessary idiocy of character manipulation. There are so many questions to be answered, and these two are a great team. I sooo want to see more of Sam and Gabriel together and cannot wait for book 2 release!

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

August 22, 2014August 17, 2014

Kelly reviews Tangle Of Need by Nalini Singh

TITLE: Tangle of Need
SERIES #: Psy-Changeling #11
CHARACTERS: Riaz & Adria
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
NARRATOR: Angela Dawe
PUBLICATION DATE: May 29, 2012
RUN TIME: 15 Hours & 40 Minutes
ORDER LINKS:Amazon | B&N | Audio

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past—one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another.

For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle.

Their coming together is an inferno…and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.

REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts Another great book from Nalini. Seriously loving this series and I am so glad that I took the time to listen to them on audio. Ms.Dawe is an awesome narrator that is able to deliver Nalini’s story amazing way. Thank you to both of theses ladies for this series.

**Okay there may be a spoiler from here. So if you have not read you may want to stop. But I will do my best to be not give much away.

I loved that there was so much of Hawke & Sienna in this book 🙂 I think the people that felt there was not enough (I was not one of them) of Hawke and Sienna in Kiss of Snow will be very happy with how much we get to see the SnowDancer Alpha couple. And they are just as prickly sweet as ever. Of course my main man Judd is in this book. Love love love that guy. I really need to get a shirt that says I

But the main story is Riaz & Adria. These two’s story was so heart breaking. I felt for them on such a deep level that I kept waiting for Ms. Singh to make it right. But she didn’t. There was no bandaid for these two to cover up their wounds. And that made me really sad. BUT!!! Unlike some of the reviews I read. I think the Ms. Singh did right by these two and left a door open for there to become more. I am truly hoping that is the case. I guess only time will tell.

I can’t wait to get into Kaleb’s book. There is so much more to this Former Councilor than meets the eye.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

August 14, 2014August 13, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Curse Awakened by Cecy Robson

I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for A Curse Awakened and spotlight this great title. Cecy Robson is an amazing talented writer and I have had the pleasure of spending time with her at the Romantic Times Convention earlier this year. If you haven’t read her Weird Girls series, you are missing out because I believe that Ms. Robson will be a big name in the literary world before too long.

A CURSE AWAKENED
Excerpt

(From Chapter One)

Shayna meant well. But her optimistic attitude didn’t adequately describe my state of being. “If that were true, she’d never come out to play without my permission.” I turned to face them. “I―we—could never hurt you. I hope you know that. But sometimes, when she wants to break free, it is to do harm. Except there’s no one around to send her after . . . at least not anymore.” Not since I had killed the men who’d killed our parents. We hadn’t had much, but the gang members who’d broken into our home had robbed us of our most precious asset—our beloved mother and father.

Taran huffed and squared her shoulders when my voice trailed and she caught traces of my guilt. “You need to get over that, Ceel. Those bastards deserved everything that beast of yours unleashed.”

It was easy for Taran to say. She hadn’t heard the men begging for their lives. She hadn’t slashed their throats or watched them bleed, listening for their hearts to stop beating so she could finally walk away. Their voices stayed with me, screaming for mercy during my worst nightmares. And those nightmares were brought on by stress. So between the strain of selling the house and our decision to become traveling nurses, my prey had visited me every night that month.

I shoved my feet into the old pair of sneakers by the sliding glass door, not wanting to dwell on those I couldn’t bring back. “I’d better go meet Danny. He should be at the field soon.”

Taran rolled her eyes and adjusted her tiny cropped shirt. “Fine, but not without us. The last thing I want is you straddling his skinny ass and making skinny-ass babies.” She swore again since, well, that’s how she rolled.

“I’m not straddling Danny,” I insisted. “What we had was sweet, but it’s very over.” I grabbed the house keys and marched out with my sisters behind me. I held open the door, waiting for everyone to scamper out. As I jiggled the old lock to the door, Emme tugged on the edge of my wolf T-shirt I’d purchased on a recent trip to the Bronx Zoo. I had a soft spot for wolves.

Discover Cecy Robson’s sensational Weird Girls series—or return to where the magic first began—with this eBook original prequel novella about four sisters coming to grips with their unique supernatural powers.

Celia Wird shouldn’t possess the ability to transform into a tigress. Her three sisters should never be able to burst into flames, heal wounds, or transform common objects into deadly weapons. And yet they do.

Before they were born, the Wird Sisters were cursed by a spell that was intended to destroy them, not endow them with extraordinary powers. The sisters’ magic is untamed and explosive at best, and time is running out for them to take command.

Vampires have targeted Celia’s sweet, tragically human ex-boyfriend Danny. The sisters rush to his aid, but in order to take down the vamps, first they must face their dark past and break a spell that’s screwing up their powers. Except this curse wasn’t meant to be broken . . . and the witch who cast it isn’t done toying with them yet.

Amazon/B&N

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, Robson 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, she 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 Curse Awakened

Review (5 Stars): I have been a huge fan of Ms. Robson’s writing since reading Sealed With a Curse last year and I was so excited to have the opportunity to read more about the Wird sisters. A Curse Awakened is a prequel to this amazing paranormal series which provides the much needed answers about the girl’s powers and the beginnings of the back-fired curse that turned their lives upside down. In this story, Danny calls the sisters for help when he finds that his family is being hunted by vampires and his father is now missing. Determined to help Danny in his quest to find his missing father, Celia discovers that the only way to truly help him is to break the curse that is binding their powers. To do that, they have to face a dark evil that wants nothing more than to see the girls dead and will stop at nothing to make that prophecy come true.

A Curse Awakened is a fast-paced thrill ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. I love Ms. Robson’s style of writing because she not only creates a vivid paranormal world that will surely entertain readers but provides the perfect amount of humor that will have you laughing out loud when you least expect it. I can’t get enough of the Weird Girls series and I desperately want to get my hands on her next book, A Cursed Bloodline.

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August 12, 2014August 12, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Billionaire Blend by Cleo Coyle

BREWING UP MURDER

by Cleo Coyle

“Pluck” is a word I usually associate with chickens. On the other hand, Booklist was kind enough to describe my amateur sleuth as having pluck, a valid observation because Clare Cosi may be many things, but she is no chicken.

A divorced, single mom in her forties, Clare is like many of the women I grew up admiring in my big Italian-American family. Smart and determined with a sturdy backbone, Clare also has a generous spirit and enough ingenuity to cook mouth-watering feasts (and raise a daughter) on a shoestring budget.

By day, Clare manages a charming landmark coffeehouse in New York’s Greenwich Village. By night, she is a relentless snoop, who displays quite a bit of pluck in BILLIONAIRE BLEND, the latest entry in my Coffeehouse Mystery series.

When a car bomb goes off outside Clare’s charming shop, she comes to the aid of an anonymous customer, an intense young man who turns out to be billionaire tech whiz Eric Thorner. Eric is so grateful to Clare for saving his life that he hires her to create the most expensive coffee blend on the planet. But as Clare is pulled deeper into Eric’s world of cutting-edge luxuries and cutthroat rivalries, she begins to wonder: Is this brilliant CEO marked for termination? Or is he the one making a killing?

To solve this case, Clare will have to bribe an NYPD bomb squad lieutenant; conjure up a menu for a “billionaire’s potluck”; fix her daughter’s love life; stop a Slayer while working with one; and stay alive while doing it.

By the end of BILLIONAIRE BLEND, you’ll have taken a trip with Clare to an exclusive millionaire’s club, flown with her to a bohemian Paris neighborhood, visited some of the most intriguing coffee growing regions of the world—and uncovered the dark motives behind several murders.

Because this is a “culinary” mystery, you will also have over 20 fantastic recipes to try in your own kitchen, including a list of Clare’s secret off-the-menu coffeehouse drinks, as well as tasty foods enjoyed by the characters in the book, namely:

Clare’s Billionaire Bars
Baileys Irish Cream and Caramel Nut Fudge
Perfect Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Chocolate-Bottom Banana Bars
French Apple Cake Squares
Italian Beignets
Copycat Twinkie Cupcakes
Make your own Kahlua
Skillet Lasagna
“Coffee Hunter” Ugandan Stew
Crunchy Almond Biscotti (easy food processor method)
Quesa Fundido (Mexican Hot Cheese Dip) and more…

One last note for new readers: Although BILLIONAIRE BLEND is the 13th book in my Coffeehouse Mystery series—now celebrating ten years in print—you can read it as a stand-alone novel. If you enjoy the characters, you can read more about them in the previous books.

To download a free title checklist of all 13 Coffeehouse Mysteries, in order, including brief story summaries, click here

And please feel free to friend me on facebook at www.Facebook.com/CleoCoyle or sign up for my newsletter by writing an email that says “sign me up” and sending it to CoffeehouseMystery(at)gmail(dot)com.

May you read with joy!

~ Cleo

About the Author:

CLEO COYLE is the pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Their latest mystery, BILLIONAIRE BLEND, earned a starred review from Kirkus, a “Top Pick” honor from RT Book Reviews, and this month Berkley is releasing the book in mass market paperback. When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or rescuing stray cats, Alice and Marc are New York Times bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for NBC, Lucasfilm, Disney, Fox, Imagine, Marvel, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they not only write the bestselling Coffeehouse Mysteries but also the popular Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. To learn more, and sign up for Cleo’s newsletter, visit her website: www.CoffeehouseMystery.com

In this 13th entry of the Coffeehouse Mystery series, we return to the Village Blend, a charming coffeehouse in the heart of New York’s picturesque Greenwich Village. When a car bomb goes off outside this landmark shop, single-mom and manager Clare Cosi comes to the aid of an anonymous customer, one who turns out to be billionaire tech whiz Eric Thorner. In gratitude for saving his life, Eric hires Clare to create the most expensive coffee blend on the planet. But as Clare is pulled deeper into Eric’s world–a mesmerizing circle of cutting-edge luxuries and cutthroat rivalries–she begins to wonder: Is this charming young CEO marked for termination? Or is he the one making a killing?

To solve this case, Clare will have to bribe a bomb squad lieutenant; conjure up a menu for a “billionaire’s potluck”; fix her daughter’s love life; stop a Slayer while working with one; and stay alive while doing it. Coffee: it can get a girl killed.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Billionaire Blend

Review (5 Stars): Cleo Coyle is one of my favorite mystery writers and I absolutely love the Coffeehouse Mystery series. Billionaire Blend is the 13th book in this impressive series and shows no signs of stopping for its dedicated readers. In this novel, Clare’s staff has been quizzed on a daily basis by an eccentric young man about unusual coffee drinks to the point where they dread his appearance at the coffee house. He has met his match when he starts a conversation with Clare, that is short-lived when an explosion rips apart the Village Blend and severely injures the young entrepreneur. Clare soon learns that the Village Blend was not the intended target and must quickly find out who wanted him dead before more lives are lost.

The Coffeehouse Mystery series is one of my favorites with its complex mysteries, a strong-minded heroine and delicious coffee creations. Billionaire Blend is a perfect addition to this series and I was impressed with the amount of research that was involved in bringing this particular mystery to life. I had a very difficult time figuring out the killer and that is one of the reasons I like these mysteries. So many plot twists and turns that will have you guessing for hours. I enjoyed every minute of this delightful mystery and I can’t wait to read more of this series for many years to come.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Billionaire Blend. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by August 19th, answer me this question in the comments:

What is your favorite coffee (or other caffeinated) drink?

July 25, 2014July 20, 2014

Jennifer reviews Autumn In The Vineyard by Marina Adair

TITLE: Autumn in the Vineyard
SERIES #: St. Helena Vineyard #3
CHARACTERS: Frankie Baudouin, Nate DeLuca
AUTHOR: Marina Adair
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/29/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Frankie Baudouin has a hundred reasons not to trust Nate DeLuca.
First, he’s a DeLuca. Second, he kissed her–in front of the entire town–and then never called. Oh, and he’s after her land. Sorrento Ranch is Frankie’s last chance to prove to her family–and to herself–that she has what it takes to be an award-winning winemaker. And she will stop at nothing to ensure her success–even if it means playing nice with the starched, sophisticated, and oh-so-sexy Italian.

For Nate, Sorrento Ranch is more than just soil and grape vines; it was his father’s dream–a dream Nate is determined to make a reality. So when he finds himself forced to cohabitate with a hot-headed, irrational, and incredibly gorgeous Baudouin, Nate is surprised to discover that chaos could be so much fun–especially when she sleeps in nothing but lace.

REVIEW: Marina Adair has quickly become one of my favorite authors because I know that each of her books in the St. Helena Vineyard series is going to be a great romance. Frankie and Nate were great as a couple because their personalities were exact polar opposites, which made them perfect for each other. Frankie was such a free-spirit, motorcycle-riding woman while Nate was a straight-laced, making organized lists type of guy. They had such a long history together that they were destined to be together.

Frankie has to be one of my favorite characters ever because you see her vulnerability in this book and how she wanted to feel as though she belonged in her family but all she ever felt like was an outcast. But with Nate, he made her feel special and wouldn’t let her family try to destroy what she had worked so hard to build on her own. Nate did some pretty awesome things for Frankie so nothing could stand in her way from achieving success for her amazing wine and that just made me want to cry.

Autumn in the Vineyard is a great addition to a wonderful series and I can’t wait to see what is in store for Trey in Be Mine Forever.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

July 23, 2014July 23, 2014

Natasha reviews Champion by Marie Lu

TITLE: Champion
SERIES #: Legend #3
CHARACTERS: Day & June
AUTHOR: Marie Lu
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/5/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position.

But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything.

With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

REVIEW: I literally started this book 5 minutes after finishing Prodigy. I had to put all other books on hold so I could finish this series. June and Day’s lives have completely changed and they have to adjust to some very difficult challenges. June is trying to find her right path in the new Republic, and Day is fighting for his life and the life of his brother. A series of devastating news begins to hit the pair and the entire Republic is at risk. This book opened up the world of the Legend series so much. I had no idea how much of a narrow perspective I had on the world the Republic existed in, until all of a sudden we saw the goings on of the entire planet in comparison. It was great to move things away from the Republic and show how they interacted with the rest of the world. I struggled with June and Day at the same time. Trying to find the best ways to live in the world together, or apart. This book was INTENSE. So much was happening, so many hostilities, people having to rely on their enemies – it was a lot. All three books were leading up to one intense moment, and it did not disappoint. It felt so very real, I was right there with them the entire time. The ending was both heartbreaking and exciting. Usually I am disappointed with how trilogies close out, but this author broke the disappointing third book mold for me. She wrapped up the series beautifully and I am so happy I read them all.

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

July 22, 2014July 20, 2014

Natasha reviews Prodigy by Marie Lu

TITLE: Prodigy
SERIES #: Legend #2
CHARACTERS: Day & June
AUTHOR: Marie Lu
PUBLICATION DATE: 1/29/13
ORDER LINKS:

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic’s most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots – a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

REVIEW: This was book 2 of the Legend series and I couldn’t wait to begin it. The story picks up directly where it left off in book 1 and the intensity didn’t ebb at all up to the end. This installment took so many twists and turns. There was deception, intrigue, heartbreak and strength in all of these characters. June and Day are put through so many tests. Their devotion and dedication to one another is pushed to its limits when they are forced to follow different paths. One of the most intense scenes I’ve ever read was in this book. I found myself holding my breath and reading so fast so I could hurry up and know what was going to happen. A lot of the supporting characters in this installment drove me crazy. There was so much speculation, blaming and jumping to conclusions. I just wanted everyone to get along! Then I realized that would make for a very boring story. The angst is what made it so great to read. There were surprise revelations that I did not expect, and even deaths that I did not see coming that really hurt. Our characters had come so far in this book, yet there is still so far to go. I can’t be left with not knowing how it ended, so book 3 here I come!

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