Spotlight Feature & Kelly’s review of Heather Graham’s Blood on the Bayou

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We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Review/Excerpt Tour for BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham! BLOOD ON THE BAYOU is A Cafferty & Quinn Series Novella brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. It is available now, so grab your copy of this sexy novella today!

Blood on the Bayou - cover

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About BLOOD ON THE BAYOU: A Cafferty & Quinn Novella

From New York Times bestseller Heather Graham…

It’s winter and a chill has settled over New Orleans, binding a stream of blood that leads a tourist to a dead man, face down in the bayou.

The man has been done in by a vicious beating, so violent that his skull has been crashed in.

It’s barely a day before a second victim is found . . . once again so badly thrashed that the water runs red. The city becomes riddled with fear.

An old family friend comes to Danni Cafferty, telling her that he’s terrified, he’s certain that he’s received a message from the Blood Bayou killer–It’s your turn to pay, blood on the bayou.

The two quickly become involved, and–as they all begin to realize that a gruesome local history is being repeated–they find themselves in a fight to save not just a friend, but, perhaps, their very own lives.

an old house in the French quarter of New Orleans
an old house in the French quarter of New Orleans

Excerpt: 

“People in this area all know the legends about the rougarou. Someone out there might be using the legend. In this day and age, it’s quite possible to fake a monster.”

They both looked at him with huge eyes, seemingly wanting to trust in him.

“Sound like a plan?” Quinn asked Larue.

The detective nodded. “Let’s move, though. We have to get out to Honey Swamp. We’re going to help the task force with the investigation.”

Ten minutes later they were at the hotel where the young women were staying. Quinn inspected the balcony while they gathered their belongings together. The room sat on the second floor, but the balcony might have been easily accessed from the street. There was a heavy pipe near enough for someone to crawl up and gain a grip on one of the wrought iron rails. “How did someone walk through the French Quarter all dressed up without being noticed?”

“This is New Orleans,” Larue said. “Not far from Bourbon Street. Think about it, Quinn. Does anyone really notice crazy around here? I mean, there’s a lot of crazy.”

“Something like the rougarou? A giant man with a wolf’s head?”

“Somebody walked stark naked down Bourbon Street about two days ago, and it took that long for anyone to report it to the police,” Larue told him.

“That’s not a rougarou.”

Larue shrugged. “Okay. I’ll give you that.”

“To put a spin of logic on this, I’d say that it was more than possible for a man to dress up, then crawl up here to scare Jane and Lana. It’s also possible that whoever was here had nothing to do with the murder in the swamp, or maybe someone got wind of the situation and knew that the two young women had been on the tour and decided to scare them. They’re visitors, yes, but they know the city and they might have met a young man anxious to scare them. Then he comes along and offers his presence as protection against whatever has them frightened.”

Larue did not argue.

“At any rate,” Quinn said. “Let’s go meet your friends from Pearl River.”

 

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 3

Just to let you know I have not read any of the books prior to this one in the Cafferty and Quinn series.  I liked this story, but it didn’t grab me the way that I had hoped when I started.   I did enjoy the history of New Orleans and the monster in the story.  I think It may have been better if I had read the prior books to understand the characters a little better.  But even with that I think that this story can stand alone.

Disclaimer:

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Evil Eye Concepts in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Square photo of couple kissing each others. without eyes only lips. square photo
Square photo of couple kissing each others. without eyes only lips. square photo

Heather Graham 07About Heather Graham:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell’s Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette’s Shadows, and for Harlequin’s mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.

Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children’s charity.

She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards from Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The NationRedbookPeople, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter Sign Up BLOOD ON THE BAYOU on Goodreads

Follow the whole tour here:

Heather Graham’s BLOOD ON THE BAYOU – Review & Excerpt Tour

January 27th

Bea’s Book Nook – Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

From the TBR Pile – Review & Excerpt

Read-Love-Blog – Excerpt

January 28th

Books to Get Lost In – Excerpt

Collector of book boyfriends – Excerpt

Deluged with Books Cafe – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

January 29th

Brooke Blogs – Excerpt

Extreme Bookaholic’s – Excerpt

Only One More Page – Review & Excerpt

Parajunkee’s View – Excerpt

January 30th

Evermore Books – Excerpt

TMBA Corbett Tries to Write – Review & Excerpt

The Consummate Reader – Excerpt

January 31st

DayReader Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Us Girls & A Book – Review

Romeo &Roo Books – Review

February 1st

Moonlight Rendezvous – Review & Excerpt

BooksPieAndCoffee – Review

Book-o-Craze – Review & Excerpt

February 2nd

Write for Your Life! – Review & Excerpt

The Sassy Bookster – Review & Excerpt

Renee Entress’s Blog – Excerpt

Books-n-Kisses – Review & Excerpt

February 3rd

Beneath The Covers Blog – Excerpt

Books Need TLC – Review

Liz’s Reading Life – Excerpt

The Two Brains of Book Reviewers – Review & Excerpt

February 4th

Amazeballs Book Addicts – Review & Excerpt

DRC Promotions – Review

Fictional Reality – Excerpt

Indy Book Fairy – Excerpt

February 5th

alpha book club – Review & Excerpt

Those Crazy Book Chicks – Excerpt

Love Affair With Fiction – Excerpt

 

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Kelly & Kimberly review SEAL Wolf In Too Deep by Terry Spears

seal wolfTITLE: SEAL Wolf in Too Deep
SERIES #: Heart of the Wolf #18
CHARACTERS: Allan Rappaport & Debbie Renaud
AUTHOR: Terry Spears
PUBLICATION DATE: February 2, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon  | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Debbie Renaud is a police diver working on criminal cases with SEAL Allan Rappaport. She admires him greatly for his missions in the Navy, plus he’s just plain HOT. Allan seems to share her attraction, but what she doesn’t know is that her partner is wolf shifter.

Allan is really hung up on his smart, beautiful dive partner, but he can’t get involved with a human outside dive duty. Yet when she gets between a werewolf hunter and his intended victim, one of the members of Allan’s pack, they run into real trouble, and their lives are altered forever.

KELLY’S REVIEW:
3 Hearts Another good story in Ms. Spears Heart of the Wolf series. While this was not my favorite in the series that I have read so far I did really enjoy it.
I really liked Allan and Debbie’s story. It was fun to watch them circle each other. While I liked Allan and Debbie I think my favorite part of this whole story was Rowdy. I love the homicide detective and hope that he will get a story soon. I am thinking he would be perfect for Tara.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts While enjoyable this story just wasn’t one of my favorite wolf shifter stories. First it was a bit too wordy. So many things repeated, I never really felt the connection between Allan and Debbie, the suspense part was really obvious and it just didn’t have much on the romance side to me.

Allan is ok. He just doesn’t seem like the alpha (2nd alpha really) that he should have been. He is sweet. He deals with Debbie well really but just nothing screams “ALPHA WOLF” to me about him. Debbie is just blah. Honestly I never really found myself liking her. I mean I didn’t hate her but she was just there, if you know what I mean.

The story is interesting in the whole “who is killing werewolves” but nothing really much happens. I guess that is it. It was just a bit too boring for me. No heat, no real suspense, no nothing. Again it was an ok read and if you have read the series you should continue with this one. Maybe the next in the series will be better…. Could Rowdy be the lead? Now that would be an interesting idea.

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

3hearts-68-77

Kelly reviews Bound By Darkness by Lara Adrian

bound to darknessTITLE: Bound by Darkness
SERIES #: Midnight Breed #13
CHARACTERS: Rune & Carys Chase
AUTHOR: Lara Adrian
PUBLICATION DATE: July 30, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Carys Chase is accustomed to making her own rules and letting her heart lead the way–no matter what anyone else has to say about it. A rare Breed female and a daywalker as well, headstrong, beautiful Carys is one of the most powerful of her kind. She lives passionately and loves without limits, especially when it comes to the lethal cage-fighting Breed warrior called Rune.

Unbeatable in the ring, Rune exists in a brutal world of blood and bone and death. He’s made his share of enemies both in and out of the arena, and his secrets run as deep and turbulent as his past. A dangerous loner who has survived by his fists and fangs, Rune has never allowed anyone to get too close to him…until Carys. But when the bodies buried in his past rise up to threaten his present, Rune must choose between betraying Carys’s trust or putting her in the crosshairs of a battle neither of them can hope to win on their own.

REVIEW:
Oh how I love this series. One of my all time favorite series. Love everything about it!!!!! And Bound by Darkness is no different. In Bound by Darkness we catch up with Carys and Rune. We got to see the very beginning of their relationship in Crave the Night. I know that this relationship was going to be but to the test. But I didn’t know how much of a test it was going to be.
Rune has some dark secrets that he has been hiding from Carys. And he is afraid of what will happen when she finds out. Silly Breed male, you know know by know that the Carys is not your typical Breedmate female.
We also get to learn just how badass Carys is!!! This is a lady you don’t ever want to be oh her bad side. And clearly she kinda likes Rune 😉
As a super fan, I loved this book. It is so great to see all the characters pop up now and then. It is nice to know what is happening with the originals. I love the younger generation and know they are the future but the originals have a very fond place in my heart!!! Midnight Breed fans will love this story.
Can’t wait to see who is next and where the Order, the humans, the Colony and the Atlanteans go from here.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly reviews Dangerous Craving by Savannah Stuart

dangerous cravingTITLE: Dangerous Craving
SERIES #: Miami Scorcher Series, #4
CHARACTERS: Thomas Lazos & Nissa
AUTHOR: Savannah Stuart
PUBLICATION DATE: August 16, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She has nowhere else to go…
A century ago, the only man Nissa ever loved turned his back on her when she needed him. Now that her life is in danger from one of her own kind, he may be her only hope for survival. As a full-blooded faerie and next in line to be queen, Nissa figures the last place anyone would think to look for her is with a pack of werewolves.
So she turns to the one man who broke her heart…
Werewolf Thomas Lazos knows he screwed up by letting Nissa go and he’s suffered the consequences for too long. Now that she’s finally back on the same continent, he shows her what she’s been missing all these years. The sex between them is as scorching as ever and the seductive faerie is still the only woman who makes him lose control in and out of the bedroom.
But who will protect her from him?
When he learns that someone wants her dead, Thomas will do whatever it takes to keep Nissa safe and finally claim what is rightfully his—her heart. But with an unknown enemy stalking her, it might be too late for a second chance.
Length: 33,000 words

REVIEW:
100 years is a long time to wait for a second chance, but that is exactly what Thomas is getting. He just hopes that he doesn’t screw it up again.
There is something very rewarding to read a novella length story and feel complete. Yes, this was a quick story and a very quick read. But Ms. Stuart does a great job of giving us the complete history of Thomas & Nissa and the current story without leaving us feeling like we are missing parts or pieces of the story.
I really liked Thomas. He knows what he did wrong and he does everything in his power to make it right.
Nissa is a bit of a challenge. She knows what and who she wants but her sense of duty is clouding her judgement.
I enjoyed this story!! And really need to go back and read the first 3 books in this series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & KR Press, LLC in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly reviews White Trash Zombie Gone Wild by Diana Rowland

white trash zombieTITLE: White Trash Zombie Gone Wild
SERIES #: White Trash Zombie #5
CHARACTERS: Angel Crawford
AUTHOR: Diana Rowland
NARRATOR: Allison McLemore
RUN TIME: 11 Hours & 18 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: October 6, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Angel Crawford has buried her loser past and is cruising along in undead high gear—that is, until a murder-by-decapitation sends her on a hazardous detour. As Angel hunts for the killer, she uncovers a scheme that would expose zombies to the public and destroy the life she’s built, and she’s determined not to rest until she finds out who’s behind it.

Soon she’s neck-deep in lies, redneck intrigue, zombie hunters, and rot-sniffing cadaver dogs. It’s up to her to unravel the truth and snuff out the conspiracy before the existence of zombies makes headline news and she’s outed as a monster.

But Angel hasn’t quite escaped the pill-popping ghosts of her past—not with an illicit zombie pharmaceutical at her fingertips. Good thing she’s absolutely sure she can handle the drug’s unpredictable side effects and still take down the bad guys…or maybe she’s only one bad choice away from being dead meat—for real this time.

Angel knows a thing or two about kicking ass, but now the ass she needs to kick might be her own.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Well Angel you did it again.

White Trash Zombie Gone Wild (WTZGW) was another fun and exciting Angel Crawford adventure. Boy howdy did Angel get herself into a huge pile of you know what. But as Angel always does she finds a way to not only pull herself out of the pile of crap she was in, gets the job done and saves the day.
I enjoyed this story a lot, maybe not as much as a few other books in this series. There was a lot going on in WTZGW. The Tribe is stretched thin leaving Angel on her own to watch, wait and see what is happening locally. But as everything starts to happen Angel is able to you her witty, street smarts and just dumb luck to figure out the issues at hand.
I really liked the Bear and Angel show. That was a hoot and a half. Nick has turned out to be a pretty good guy (still not my favorite person, but he is growing on me).

As always Allison McLemore does a fabulous job of bring Angel and all of Tucker Point to life. I thoroughly enjoy having Allison read to me and can’t wait for the next one.

It should be interesting to see where Ms. Rowland takes Angel from here. Until next time Angel, keep doing you!!!

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

3hearts-68-77

Natasha reviews Born Of Betrayal by Sherrilyn Kenyon

born in betrayalTITLE: Born of Betrayal
SERIES #: The League: Nemesis Rising #10
CHARACTERS: Galene & Fain
AUTHOR: Sherrilyn Kenyon
PUBLICATION DATE: November 3, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon  | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Years ago, family loyalty caused Fain Hauk to give up everything he loved: His military career. His planet. His fiancée. Even his name.

Now decades later, everything has changed. He’s built a new life out of the ashes of his old, and he’s vowed to never let anything threaten his loved ones again.

But when old enemies align themselves with new ones, he’s caught in the middle of a brutal war. And when fate throws his former fiancée back into his world and she has her own agenda that includes taking his head for what he did to her years ago, more than just his life is at stake. The fate of the Ichidian universe and that of his brothers-in-arms hangs in the balance. Winner take all.

It’s kill or be killed, and never has the battle been more fierce…

Or more fun, in Born of Betrayal, the next League: Nemesis Rising novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon!

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts I have been a fan of the League series for over 10 years; I am so excited that Sherrilyn Kenyon has really decided to give this series more priority than in previous years. This book is kind of a follow-up to the previous release in this series, Born of Defiance, and follows the parents of Talyn Batur (the hero in the previous book). I loved Galene and Fain together. I’ll just say – the scene where they see each other for the first time after a number of years is one of my favorite book scenes of all time! I dropped the book and laughed out loud! Galene is a great character with tons of personality, just like her son Talyn and Fain just breaks my heart, I love him! I really enjoyed being able to follow this story and family over the two-book arc – so many things happen!

We get all – and I do mean ALL – of our previous series favorites in this book. Literally everyone and their families make an appearance. Though the series is difficult to follow, because the cast of characters is so large and there are so many worlds and species to keep track of, I have found that I will continue to love it anyway. The individual stories themselves are strong enough that the fact that I often am lost in the names, and alliances and references, it doesn’t take away from the joy of the current story. Unless you’re mind is an information vault, it will be hard to follow this series without asking yourself, “Who was that again?” “Whose kid is that?” “Why do I remember something about this character in the past?” But if you’re a fan of great character development, intense drama, and truly intriguing story lines, you will still love this series.

I do have one complaint about the book and it contains a spoiler, so you have been warned! I truly dislike how she is rewriting Jullien’s character. While taking a villain and reforming him into a likable character is not new for Kenyon, I don’t buy the way this is being done. Kenyon is completely changing the history of the series, but the way she just threw this in the book seemed really random. It came out of nowhere and we’re all just expected to agree that this is a thing…I dunno, I’m not sold. Also, geez, the way Kenyon played with death in this book was a little exhausting. However, that will not prevent me from following every book in this series. The story line is open and I’m excited to see where the next books go!

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly reviews Whisper Of Sin by Nalini Singh

whisper of sinTITLE: Whisper of Sin
SERIES #: Psy-Changeling #0.6
CHARACTERS: Emmett & Ria
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
PUBLICATION DATE: February 25, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
“Please note that Whisper of Sin is a reissue. It was first published in the multi-author anthology, Burning Up. This is the worldwide stand-alone ebook release for those who wanted to buy only this novella from the anthology.

For those of you who have Wild Invitation, this novella wasn’t in that collection.” – Nalini Singh

A PSY-CHANGELING NOVELLA BY “THE ALPHA AUTHOR OF PARANORMAL ROMANCE” (Booklist)

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her phenomenal Psy-Changeling world as a woman in peril finds herself in the arms of a dangerously beautiful shapeshifter…

San Francisco is under threat from a violent gang…a gang that has no idea who they’re challenging. The DarkRiver pack of leopard changelings has already claimed the city as their territory, and they will fight with wild fury to protect its residents. Emmett, a lethally trained leopard soldier, isn’t about to let outsiders muscle in on his home ground—especially when they target a human named Ria.

Emmett has one word for the smart stranger with her curvy body and tough spirit: mine.

Possessive, dominant, unyielding in his demands and desires, Emmett is unlike anyone Ria has ever before met. But while the sexy leopard changeling makes her body ignite, his kisses molten and his touch addicting, she’s no pushover and she has a few demands of her own. This leopard has met his match…

REVIEW:
As always Ms. Singh writes a story that makes me fall in love with the Psy-Changeling series all over again.
Whisper of Sin is a prequel to the series. This book happens before Lucas, before Clay, before Dorian, before Judd (who is my favorite), before Hawke and before Kaleb. It was nice to get back to the beginning for me. I have been obsessed with the series since book one. Emmett and Ria’s story is sweet, spicy and quick. It was a lot of fun to see how these two got together. It was great to see some of the other characters too before we know them so closely.
If you are a fan of Ms. Singh’s series and you have not picked up this story you need too. If you are new to this series now is a perfect time to pick up a copy of Whisper of Sin and learn why I love this series so much.

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

5hearts-68-77

Kelly reviews City Of Lights by Keri Arthur

city of lightTITLE: City of Lights
SERIES #: Outcast #1
CHARACTERS: Tiger
AUTHOR: Keri Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: January 5, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The first in an all-new futuristic fantasy series from Keri Arthur—the New York Times bestselling author of the Souls of Fire novels.

When the bombs that stopped the species war tore holes in the veil between this world and the next, they allowed entry to the Others—demons, wraiths, and death spirits who turned the shadows into their hunting grounds. Now, a hundred years later, humans and shifters alike live in artificially lit cities designed to keep the darkness at bay….

As a déchet—a breed of humanoid super-soldiers almost eradicated by the war—Tiger has spent her life in hiding. But when she risks her life to save a little girl on the outskirts of Central City, she discovers that the child is one of many abducted in broad daylight by a wraith-like being—an impossibility with dangerous implications for everyone on earth.

Because if the light is no longer enough to protect them, nowhere is safe…

REVIEW:
Tiger our main character has survived things that no one should ever have to survive. In City of Lights Tiger finds herself exposed to a world that she has hid from for over a 100 years.
I was very excited when I saw that Ms. Arthur was coming out with a new series. So of course when I had a chance to review I jumped at it.
City of Lights was not at all what I had expected. I enjoyed the story, but there is a LOT of world building in this first book of the series. Which is not unusual but at times the storyline dragged for me. I did really like Tiger and her little ones Bear and Cat.
I really enjoyed the very end of the story (cliff hanger and all) and I am looking forward to see where Tiger goes from here.
Keri Arthur fans will/should enjoy this new world that she has created.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

3hearts-68-77

Kimberly reviews Suddenly Sorceress by Erica Lucke Dean

suddenly sorceressTITLE: Suddenly Sorceress
CHARACTERS: Ivie & Jack
AUTHOR: Erica Lucke Dean
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/30/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
PMS can be a real witch.

Ivie McKie isn’t your run-of-the-mill kindergarten teacher. After an encounter with a horny goat, followed by a confrontation with her lying, cheating fiancé, Ivie is shocked when the big jerk suddenly transforms into a skunk—the black and white furry variety.

Enlisting the help of her shopaholic friend Chloe and sexy club magician Jackson Blake, Ivie is forced to play a literal game of cat and mouse as she races against the clock to change her ex back before she’s arrested for his murder.

With every new spell comes a fresh wave of sexual desire, drawing Jack further into Ivie’s troubles—her panties, the car, the kitchen, and assorted seedy bathrooms along the way.

Ivie soon discovers what every witch worth her spell book knows: There’s nothing worse than a bad case of Post Magical Syndrome.

REVIEW:
Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

DNF Ok so here is the thing. I started reading this story and realized right away that it is dated in some parts so I went back and looked and while it was written only 2 years ago it seems a bit longer. But that was ok. The other thing is it is written in first person. Another weird thing to get used to but again it was ok. The problem was it just wasn’t funny to me.

This is a book of stupid comedy and I don’t like it when I watch movies so I am not sure why I would like it reading a book. I honestly couldn’t finish it. I read about 50 pages and decided I had a bunch of books I would rather read.

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

2hearts

Kelly reviews Smoldering Hunger by Donna Grant

smoldering hungerTITLE: Smoldering Hunger
SERIES #: Dark Kings #8
CHARACTERS: Darius & Sophie
AUTHOR: Donna Grant
PUBLICATION DATE: December 29, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
TEMPTING FATE
Darius is back. Edinburg thought it had seen the last of this seductive Dragon King, but that was before Darius found something worthwhile. He just can’t stay away from the impossibly beautiful Dr. Sophie Martin-even though he knows that a passion this strong could prove detrimental…for them both.

CRAVING DESIRE
Sophie tried to forget her encounter with smoking-hot Darius to no avail. He’s in her dreams, tempting her. But her association with Darius catches the attention of another, putting her
in mortal danger. . .and Darius, who has vowed to protect her, is her only hope. But can she trust the notorious dragon shapeshifter? The only thing she knows for sure is that she cannot resist him..

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Another good installment in the Dark Kings series. I really enjoyed Darius and Sophie’s story. Both have been hurt in the past and both believe that there can never be a happy ending for them. It was great to finally learn more about Darius, his past and his relationship with Rhi.
I will say that Rhi is driving me nuts. I am so much stress and anxiety over her and her journey. Smoldering Hunger takes an already complicated story and thrown more fuel on the fire. I am scared, nervous and excited to see what happens next. I have to believe that it will all work out in the end. But getting to the end might just kill me.
Oh and Con is on my bad list again.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly reviews A Fantasy Medley 3 by Kevin Hearne, Laura Bickle, Aliette DeBodard & Jacqueline Carey

fantasy medley 3TITLE: A Fantasy Medley 3
SERIES #: Iron Druid Chronicles #0.3
AUTHOR: Kevin Hearne, Laura Bickle, Aliette DeBodard & Jacqueline Carey
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/31/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In “Goddess at the Crossroads,” Kevin Hearne shares a thrillingly memorable episode from the past of his popular Iron Druid Chronicles hero Atticus O’Sullivan, revealing how one night’s dark encounter with the cult of Hecate served as inspiration for Shakespeare’s witches in the Scottish play.

With “Ashes,” Laura Bickle revisits Detroit arson investigator and powerful spirit medium Anya Kalinczyk as she, her five-foot-long salamander familiar Sparky, and Hades’ Charon pursue a destructive fire elemental named the Nain Rouge through the city’s festival in his dubious honor.

“The Death of Aiguillon” finds Aliette de Bodard exploring an episode sixty years prior to the start of her latest novel, The House of Shattered Wings, in which the survivors of an ongoing magical conflict in Paris eke out a grim existence, and one woman’s wish for a better life is granted at a terrible price.

And in “One Hundred Ablutions,” Jacqueline Carey, author of the much-beloved Kushiel’s Legacy series, tells the tale of Dala—a young woman chosen by her people’s overlords to be an exalted slave among slaves—and of the twining in her life of ritual, rebellion, and redemption.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I read this one for Kevin Hearn’s Goddess at the Crossroads
As with all of Kevin’s IDC stories it is so much fun to watch and learn more about Atticus’ past. It was a lot of fun to listen to Atticus tells Granuaile and Oberon his adventure with Mr. William Shakespeare. And of course it is great to hear Oberon’s take of this harrowing tell. Silly dog.
As one who has listened to all of the IDC via audio (Thanks Luke Daniels) it is sometimes hard to read these short stories because I miss Luke reading to me. Maybe Luke will get his hands on this story and read it to me (hint, hint Luke). I can’t wait for January 2016 for the next installment of the IDC series.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly reviews Ravaged by Elisabeth Naughton

ravagedTITLE: Ravaged (A 1001 Dark Nights Story)
SERIES #: Eternal Guardians #7.5
CHARACTERS: Aristokler & Daphne
AUTHOR: Elisabeth Naughton
PUBLICATION DATE: June 9, 2015
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ari—Once an Eternal Guardian, now he’s nothing but a rogue mercenary with one singular focus: revenge.

His guardian brothers all think he’s dead, but Ari is very much alive in the human realm, chipping away at Zeus’s Sirens every chance he can, reveling in his brutality and anonymity. Until, that is, he abducts the wrong female and his identity is finally exposed. It will take more than the Eternal Guardians, more even than the gods to rein Ari in after everything he’s done. It may just take the courage of one woman willing to stand up to a warrior who’s become a savage.

REVIEW:
Aristokle “Ari” has been living a lie for 50 years. He has let everyone he loves think he was dead. He has justified it to himself over and over again. But what Ari doesn’t know is that the Fates have a plan for him. A plan that is going to be hard, heartbreaking and worth more than he could ever imagine or wish for. If only he can open his eyes and see what is right in front of him.

I really enjoyed this novella in the Eternal Guardians series. I think I went through every emotion in this story. I am looking forward to seeing what is next and I really hope someone fries Zeus’s butt!!!

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts