Kelly & Kimberly review Blood Assassin by Alexandra Ivy

TITLE: Blood Assassin
SERIES #: The Sentinels
CHARACTERS: Fane & Serra
AUTHOR: Alexandra Ivy
PUBLICATION DATE: December 30, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They are the outcasts of humanity. Blessed with power. Cursed by fate. Driven by passion. The Sentinels have returned. . .

Out Of The Shadows

At six-foot-three and two-hundred-fifty pounds, Fane is a natural born guardian. A flawless mix of muscled perfection and steely precision, he has devoted years of his life to protecting a beautiful necromancer. But after she found love in the arms of another, Fane has been a warrior adrift. He swears allegiance only to the Sentinels. And no woman will ever rule his heart again. . .

Into The Fire

Not only a powerful psychic, Serra is that rare telepath who can connect to minds through objects. When the daughter of a high-blood businessman is kidnapped, Serra agrees to help. But when she stumbles onto a conspiracy involving secrets sects and ancient relics, her life is in mortal danger–and Fane is her only hope. Is the warrior willing to risk his body, his soul, and his heart, for Serra? Or will one last betrayal destroy them both?

KELLY’S REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Another good book in Ms. Ivy’s ‘The Sentinels’ series. Really like Fane & Serra relationship and I enjoyed the story for the most part. But it was a bite of a cat and mouse game for most of the book. It seems that Fane & Serra were never going to solve the mystery of who kidnapped Molly.

Not sure I like Bas at all, but was willing to do anything to keep Molly safe. So I guess you could like that about him. As the story went on I found myself liking him just a little bit more and in the epilogue I almost cried. Poor Bas.

Lana (The Mave) and Wolfe were a nice little side story. Really like Lana & Wolfe, I hope these two become an item.

Overall this book was a tad bit different then book one but it was still good. Blood Assassin added a new element to the Sentinel world. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Ok so here is the thing. I enjoyed this story for the most part but some things about it just didn’t add up. First the good. I enjoyed the connection between Fane and Serra. Even from the last book we knew they were attracted to each other and Fane was holding off so it was great to see them come together. Bas… well Bas is an interesting character who at first seemed like a jerk and then we realize he is just a dad wanting his baby back (that is in the synopsis so it is not a spoiler) so you give him some slack because come on what dad wouldn’t go to any lengths they had available to get his baby back? And the Mave and Wolfe. Well lets just say they need their own story or at least a novella.

But now the other side of things. First Fane does a 180 so quickly that it makes his “no Serra rule” just seem crazy. I mean he is alone with her for 2 seconds and all of a sudden he realizes he can’t live without her? And here is Serra’s dream coming true after everything and she just says “ok sure no problem”? I mean wouldn’t she question his turn? Ok maybe she does for a moment but not too long. Then the baby kidnapping story goes on wayyyyyy too long. I mean sheesh we didn’t need a walk through of every house that Serra needed to look for Molly at. Then I can’t even tell you how many times this Sentinel and psychic screw up. How many times they let someone get the jump on them or the “psychic” doesn’t see what is going on. I mean sheesh it is like they left Valhalla and lost their strengths. And finally the cover is just terrible. Yeah I know that had nothing to do with the storyline but it has to be said. Who designed that cover? Neither one of the characters look good.

Ok so yes there is a bunch just not right with this story but all in all it is a good story. It leads us to the next book which is Bas’ story and that sounds like it might be interesting. Am I jumping up and down over this story? No but I am looking forward to continuing the series.

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 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 5, 2014December 1, 2014

Kelly reviews The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter

TITLE: The Darkest Touch
SERIES #: Lord of the Underworld #11
CHARACTERS: Torin ‘Keeper of Disease’ & Kelleycael ‘The Red Queen”
AUTHOR: Gena Showalter
PUBLICATION DATE: November 25, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes the long-awaited story of Torin, the most dangerous Lord of the Underworld yet…

Fierce immortal warrior. Host to the demon of Disease. Torin’s every touch causes sickness and death—and a worldwide plague. Carnal pleasure is utterly forbidden, and though he has always overcome temptation with an iron will, his control is about to shatter.

She is Keeley Cael. The Red Queen. When the powerful beauty with shocking vulnerabilities escapes from a centuries-long imprisonment, the desire that simmers between her and Torin is scorching. His touch could mean the end for her, but resisting her is the hardest battle he’s ever fought—and the only battle he fears he can’t win.

REVIEW:
Of all the Lords I think Torin was the one who broke my heart the most. As the Keeper of Disease he can’t touch anyone for any reason. Because they will get sick and die. And for any reason they do survive they will have to be taken down or they will be come a carrier of that disease. Meaning the sweet, caring and totally kick ass Torin can’t ever touch or be touched. I often wondered as I read through this series how Ms. Showalter was going to solve this little issue. And in The Darkest Touch Ms. Showalter does just that. She solves Torin’s problem but only to bring him more problems.
Keeleycael ‘The Red Queen’ is one mean SOB. She is feared and hated throughout the world and the realms but we good reason. Keeley is a bit of a drama queen with a very short fuse and a pension for killing things. Needless to say that her and Torin’s first visit doesn’t good smoothly. But soon Keeley will find herself in a situation that even The Red Queen can’t bully, threaten or kill her way out of.
This was another really good story from Ms. Showalter. I just loved Torin and Keeley. They are perfect for each other after they get over the whole I want to kill you moments. If you are a Lord of the Underworld fan you will love this book. If you are new to this series, I would suggest that you start at the beginning. There is a lot of history that leads up to this book. BUT I do think that you could pick up The Darkest Touch and read it and not be too lost.

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

October 2, 2014September 28, 2014

Kelly reviews Hell On Heels by Robyn Peterman

TITLE: Hell on Heels
SERIES #: Hot Damned #3
CHARACTERS: Dixie & and the rest of the Hot Damned crew
AUTHOR: Robyn Peterman
PUBLICATION DATE: September 15, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Where does a Demon go when she gets deported from Hell?

Kentucky. Eden, Kentucky to be more specific—where nothing is exactly as it seems.

My name is Dixie. I’m a Demon—a lousy Demon. I’m a twenty-one year old virgin and I have a battery operated boyfriend. My magic is iffy at best and downright dangerous at worst. Leaving Hell to represent my race is not high on my list of things to do.

Hell was exact. Hell was simple. All I want to do is get to home base with the hotter than Hades Demon of my dreams and work on my dark side so Satan, my dad, will get off my ass.

Instead I end up in Kentucky looking for the Balance of Chaos, avoiding pole dancing classes with Mother Nature and finding out my invisible friend is a silver skinned destructive weather pattern.

And if that isn’t craptastic enough, the damn Sword of Death is missing again and who ever has it wants the King of the Underworld dead. Seriously.

With new powers emerging daily, keeping my Demon side, horniness and general disgust under wraps doesn’t make it any easier to fit in with the humans. Thankfully my priorities are in line; get laid…save world…try not to blow up kitchen appliances…and get laid again. I was ready to rumble.
All I want to do is go back to Hell, but with the balance of good and evil in my hands, I’m stuck in the garden of Eden. Oh well, what the Hell. Someone has to save the world before there’s no world left to save. Might as well be me.

REVIEW:
Where do I start this review. I have loved all of Ms. Peterson’s past books. But Dixie’s book just didn’t cut the mustard for me. Hell on Heels was filled with all of that typical snark and crazy funness of all of Robyn’s past books. That makes you want to laugh so hard your side hurts and a pair of depends could come in handy. And I have truly loved Dixie in the last book. But I am not sure. It just didn’t connect with the story, which sadness me because I wanted to love this whole book. I LOVED the ending of the book!! And I am looking forward to the next journey that Mr. Peterson take me on.

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

September 15, 2014September 15, 2014

Natasha reviews Mind Sweeper by A.E. Jones

TITLE: Mind Sweeper
SERIES #: Mind Sweeper #1
CHARACTERS: Kyle & Dalton
AUTHOR: AE Jones
PUBLICATION DATE: 9/15/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
An angel, a demon and a vampire walk into a bar. Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it’s just another day in the life of Kyle McKinley.
Kyle was born with the ability to erase memories, and the inability to keep her opinions to herself. She and her teammates – a vampire who looks like a sexy pirate with fangs, and a Shamat demon with a penchant for Italian pastries – provide supernatural damage control when humans see too much. Today’s problem? A sword-wielding angel and a demon had a supernatural smackdown during happy hour in a Cleveland bar, leaving behind a headless vampire and a dozen human witnesses.
This latest supernatural slip-up is attracting all kinds of attention. So much attention that the police step in, and Kyle has to deal with Joe Dalton, a know-it-all human with the sexiest turquoise eyes she has ever seen. Kyle has no room in her life for yet another human who will treat her like a freak. However, Dalton definitely makes her naughty parts sit up and take notice, and it’s more than mutual. But before they can act on their attraction, they must join forces to solve a dangerous puzzle. And when they uncover the truth, the apocalyptic ripple effect forces Kyle to make a choice. Learn to trust again, or risk losing everyone she cares about, including Dalton.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This was a good start to a new author and new series. Kyle McKinley is a strong female lead character – with special supernatural abilities – who takes no crap from any male on her team. I love seeing the interaction between Kyle and her teammates – Jean Luc, the vampire and Misha the demon. *sigh*…oh Misha. Oh sorry, back to the team. They are a well-oiled machine, and then a human by the name of Joe Dalton enters the mix and shakes things up. He immediately stands strong as a lead male character and is assertive with this group of supernatural beings. I really liked that about him. He didn’t let anyone intimidate him; he kept an open mind and worked well with an already established team. He fit in perfectly. Seeing him and Kyle dance around one another was both comical and intense. I love them together. I also loved all of the supporting characters of this story. I’m very excited to see more of them and how their stories unfold. This new series has it all, action, comedy, suspense and great characterization. I would recommend this book to my friends and am happy I got a chance to enjoy it!

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

December 7, 2013October 4, 2013

Kara Gillian Series by Diane Rowland

Mark of the Demon

Kara Gillian #1

Cop and conjurer of demons, she’s a woman in danger of losing control—to a power that could kill….

Why me? Why now? That’s what Beaulac, Louisiana, detective Kara Gillian was asking herself when an angelic creature named Rhyzkahl unexpectedly appeared during a routine summoning. Kara was hoping to use her occult skills to catch a serial killer, but never had she conjured anything like this unearthly beautiful and unspeakably powerful being whose very touch set off exquisite new dimensions of pleasure. But can she enlist his aid in helping her stop a killer who’s already claimed the lives—and souls—of thirteen people? And should she? The Symbol Man is a nightmare that the city thought had ended three years ago. Now he’s back for an encore and leaving every indication on the flesh of his victims that he, too, is well versed in demonic lore.

Kara may be the only cop on Beaulac’s small force able to stop the killer, but it is her first homicide case. Yet with Rhyzkahl haunting her dreams, and a handsome yet disapproving FBI agent dogging her waking footsteps, she may be in way over her head.

*****

Blood of the Demon

Kara Gillian #2

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL, MAN AND DEMON, SHE’S ABOUT TO FACE THE ONE THING SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SURVIVE.

Welcome to the world of Kara Gillian, a cop with a gift. Not only does she have the power of “othersight” to see what most people can’t even imagine, but she’s become the exclusive summoner of a demon lord. Or maybe it’s the other way around. The fact is, with two troublesome cases on her docket and a handsome FBI agent under her skin, Kara needs the help of sexy, insatiable Lord Rhyzkahl more than he needs her. Because these two victims, linked by suspicious coincidence, haven’t just been murdered. Something has eaten their souls.

It’s a case with roots in the arcane, but whose evil has flowered among the rich, powerful, and corrupt in Beaulac, Louisiana. And as the killings continue, Kara soon realizes how much there’s still to learn about demons, men, and things that kill in the night—and how little time she has to learn it.

*****

Secrets of the Demon

Kara Gillian #3

Homicide detective Kara Gillian has a special talent: she can sense the “arcane” in our world, and there’s quite a bit of it, even in Beaulac, Louisiana. She’s also a summoner of demons, and works on a task force that deals with supernatural crimes. Her partners are attractive and smart FBI agents, but they’re not summoners, and they’re not telling Kara why they are on this special force with her.

TO make things worse, Kara has pledged herself to one of the most powerful of demons-a Demon Lord-who helped save her partner’s life, but now expects things in return. Meanwhile, she’s trying to solve a string of murders that are somehow tied together by money, sex, rock music and…mud. But how can she concentrate on the case when she’s not even sure who-or what-her partners are?

*****

Sins of the Demon

Kara Gillian #4

The homicide beat in Louisiana isn’t just terrifying, it’s demonic. Detective Kara Gilligan of the supernatural task force has the ability to summon demons to her aid, but she herself is pledged to serve a demonic lord. And now, people who’ve hurt Kara in the past are dropping dead for no apparent reason. To clear her name and save both the demon and human worlds, she’s in a race against the clock and in a battle for her life that just may take her to hell and back.

*****

Touch of the Demon

Kara Gillian #5

Kara Gillian is in some seriously deep trouble.

She’s used to summoning supernatural creatures from the demon realm to our world, but now the tables have been turned and she’s the one who’s been summoned. Kara is the prisoner of yet another demonic lord, but she quickly discovers that she’s far more than a mere hostage. Yet waiting for rescue has never been her style, and Kara has no intention of being a pawn in someone else’s game.

There’s intrigue to spare as she digs into the origin of the demonic lords and discovers the machinations of humans and demons alike. Kara is shocked to discover that she has her own history in the demon realm, and that the ties between her and the demonic lords Rhyzkahl and Szerain go back farther than she could have ever imagined. But treachery runs rampant among all the lords, and she’s going to have to stay sharp in order to keep from being used to further their own agendas. The lords have a secret that dates back to earth’s ancient history, and it could have devastating repercussions for both worlds.

Yet more than anything else, Kara’s abilities as a homicide detective will be put to the test—because this time the murder she has to solve is her own.

*****

Fury of the Demon

Kara Gillian #6

Release Date January 7, 2014

Demon summoner Kara Gillian bears the scars of Rhyzkahl’s treachery, but she refuses to let them slow her down. She and the demonic lord Mzatal have not rested in their efforts to recover Idris—Mzatal’s summoner protégé who was kidnapped by enemy lords—but now their search has brought them back to Earth.

With the help of FBI agents Ryan Kristoff and Zack Garner, they begin to track down summoners who are working with Rhyzkahl. However, Kara knows Ryan’s true identity, and questions of loyalty threaten to tear apart this group of allies. When Kara intervenes to help a brilliant young computer expert and his bodyguard after an accidental shooting, she quickly learns that Rhyzkahl’s machinations run deeper than she could have ever imagined. The search for Idris takes on a desperate edge as their enemies increase in number, and Kara realizes that an old homicide case may hold the key to their success—or their doom.

With the very fabric of the universe at stake, Kara must rely on her skills, wit, and luck to save her friends and her world, yet ancient vows will have to be broken if she is to have any hope.

But the price of breaking those vows may be her own blood.