Kelly & Kimberly review Hero Of A Highland Wolf by Terry Spears

hero of highland wolfTITLE: Hero of A Highland Wolf
SERIES #: Heart of the Wolf #14
CHARACTERS: Grant MacQuarrie & Colleen Playfair
AUTHOR: Terry Spears
PUBLICATION DATE: August 5, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She’s ready for change…
Colleen Playfair has never been to Scotland, but when she discovers she must spend a year and a day overseas learning to manage her newly inherited estate, she’s ready for the challenge. She even has some ideas for improvements-if she can get past the sexy werewolf who seems convinced he’s the one in charge.
But he’s digging in his claws…
Grant MacQuarrie and his clan have been managing Farraige Castle for three centuries. The last thing he wants is a meddling American heiress trying to change the way things have always been done. He’s more than willing to fight the she-wolf every step of the way, using every tool at his disposal. And if that means taking the lass to bed, well…all the better.
Locked in a battle of wills, caught in an attraction they can’t escape, Colleen and Grant must find a way to work together…or face losing it all

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts Grant will not let another Fairplay come into his home and try to take over. He didn’t let the last one do that and he won’t let this one do it either. But poor, poor Grant has no idea what is about to walk through his doors.

Colleen is excited and nervous to finally be at the Farraige Castle and ready to take on the manager of the estate too. No matter what he has planned she is ready. One little problem. No one told her that Grant and his clan were Highland Wolfs. Well doesn’t that just throw a monkey wrench in the whole thing.

I didn’t realize when I pick this book up that it was book 14 of Terry’s Heart of the Wolf series. But Hero of a Highland Wolf was easily read as a stand alone. Yes there were other couples together that made me realize that I might have missed a book or two before this one, but I would not have guessed I missed 13 :).

I really enjoyed Grant & Colleen. They are both alpha to the core yet they both turn to putty when they are together. Something that fires both of them at times. I loved the all night girl party that Colleen has with Julia. My only issue with this story is the drama. I would have loved to see that bad guy get a little more sneaky and maybe his ass handed to him a little more. But all in all this was a great Highland Wolf story :). Come one hot wolf shifters in kilts? Does it get much better?

I can’t wait to see what Terry has in store for these Highland Wolfs. I have my guess who is next and it should be a fun ride to watch him fall.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts This is the 14th in the series and I have to say I have only read one other which I enjoyed and plan to go back and read the whole series but I really loved this book. Colleen and Grant had an interesting connection. They really hit it off right from the start. I adored Colleen. I want to be her friend. She has a great sense of humor and is snide and quick witted. I also liked she was alpha. So many times we hear about the men being alpha but it was great to have the girl be it too.
Grant is great. He is so alpha and yet can be so adorable. I loved him and everyone else for that matter at the ladies party. I could not stop smiling. They are just so cute during that exchange. I can’t wait for the other two triplets to get their stories.

I really enjoy this series. I enjoy the humor that Spear adds to her paranormal romance. If you are a fan of shape shifters then you will really enjoy this book. You do not need to have read the series to read this book even though you will certainly want to go back and read them all.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly & Natasha review Crave The Night by Lara Adrian

crave the nightTITLE: Crave the Night
SERIES #: Midnight Breed #12
CHARACTERS: Nathan & Jordana
AUTHOR: Lara Adrian
PUBLICATION DATE: August 5, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Born and raised to be an emotionless killing machine, Nathan is one of the most lethal Breed vampires in existence. A key member of the Order—an elite group of warriors charged with protecting both mortals and vampires—Nathan executes each mission with flawless precision and a total lack of mercy. Now he must pursue a powerful, hidden enemy. But Nathan’s hard discipline and training are no match for the fierce pull he feels toward a young woman he has no right to desire—a woman of wealth and high social standing who has long been promised to another Breed male, and who may also prove to be the key to rooting out Nathan’s elusive quarry.

Jordana lives a life of glittering privilege as a member of a prominent Breed family in Boston. Surrounded by fine things and fawning admirers, Jordana wants for nothing—until she crosses paths with a dark, intense warrior from the Order and finds herself swept into an impulsive, sizzling kiss that neither of them will forget. As much as she tries to deny her deep feelings for Nathan, Jordana cannot resist the craving to be near him, to break through his forbidding walls and see the man he truly is. But getting close to Nathan will thrust Jordana into a treacherous new world, forcing her to risk all she has and all she knows about herself and her past. And loving this seductive man could be the most dangerous temptation of all

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts We all fell in love with Nathan as a young 13 year old boy back in Hunter’s book. Nathan had been taken from his mother and put into the hunters training course and raised to be a cold blooded killer by the Breed’s enemy. While he might have been saved by his mother and new family the demons of his past will never leave him. Making it extremely difficult to be normal or as normal as a Breed member can be. But one small, determined Breed-mate might just be the one thing that Nathan needs to realize that his is not the monster he believes himself to be.

I have been away from the Midnight Breed series way to log!! I loved Nathan as a young boy and loved seeing glimpses of him in Edge of Dawn. And loved this book. Lara does a great job of sucking me back into the Breeds world. There are new twists and turns in the world and a newest enemy of the Breed is more determined than ever. I just love this series and so can’t wait to see what is next!!

NATASHA’S REVIEW:
4 HEARTS I was so excited for this book! I am so obsessed with this series, and am thankful that Lara has decided to continue the series with the next generation of Breed! I couldn’t put this book down, I devoured it! I’ve loved Nate since we first met him and couldn’t wait to dig deeper into his character and past. He didn’t disappoint. The electricity between him and Jordana vibrated off of the pages and it was palpable. My only complaint is that their relationship felt a little rushed and lacked depth. I would have liked to see them spend more time together, getting to know each other more. I still feel that Nate is somewhat of a mystery to me. I love where the story is going and the new twists and turns taking place. It will definitely be an exciting future for the Breed and I can’t wait!

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews The Hexed by Heather Graham

The Hexed TITLE: The Hexed
SERIES #: Krewe Of Hunters #13
CHARACTERS: Devin & Rocky
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/01/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A place of history, secrets…and witchcraft.
Devin Lyle has recently returned to the Salem area, but her timing couldn’t be worse. Soon after she moved into the eighteenth-century cabin she inherited from her great-aunt Mina—her “crazy” great-aunt, who spoke to the dead—a woman was murdered nearby.
Craig Rockwell—known as Rocky—is a new member of the Krewe of Hunters, the FBI’s team of paranormal investigators. He never got over finding a friend dead in the woods. Now another body’s been found in those same woods, not far from the home of Devin Lyle. And Devin’s been led to a third body—by…a ghost?
Her discovery draws them both deeper into the case and Salem’s rich and disturbing history. Even as the danger mounts, Devin and Rocky begin to fall for each other, something the ghosts of Mina and past witches seem to approve of. But the two of them need every skill they possess to learn the truth—or Devin’s might be the next body in the woods…

REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts There is just something about Heather Graham’s books that draw you in. I read this book in one sitting staying up until 3am to finish it. Graham incorporates so much research that each book is a history lesson that you do not know you are attending or even wanted to know about. In this case the history is about Salem and the witch trials. And the story is really interesting and written well.
As with all of Graham’s books I never know who did it. I can never seem to figure it out. I am sure there are people out there that can but I am not one of them and I am pretty good usually with a mystery but not from Graham which is always exciting to not know even until the end. Rocky and Devin have an instant connection. Lately Graham’s books have started with the couple having an antagonistic relationship and I really did not enjoy that but this couple doesn’t. They have a chance meeting and they spark right away which was really enjoyable.

This is the best Graham has written in a while and that is saying something because all her books are really good.

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

5hearts-68-77

Kimberly reviews Shifters Claim by A.C. Arthur

Shifters Claim FullTITLE: Shifter’s Claim
SERIES #: Shadow Shifter’s #4
CHARACTERS: Priya & Sebastian
AUTHOR: A.C. Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/29/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Sebastian Perry, gorgeous shape-shifter, has tremendous guilt. Completely disarmed by his momentary hesitation to save a woman, he has fallen into despair. Sworn as a shifter to protect any female in danger, no amount of status, success, or money, can make him feel right again. Prowling around his domain, Bas aches to feel complete, to feel alive, to feel the love of a female. But what woman could possibly trust a man, shifter or not, that cannot protect her?Priya Drake is tired of fending for herself. Growing up in a family that had nothing but problems, she’s made it to a top newspaper as a reporter, only to continually get snubbed by her boss. When she accidentally witnesses Bas shift, she knows she’s sitting on the scoop that will make her career. But telling the story isn’t so simple. She needs to get her facts straight, and the mounting attraction between her and Bas isn’t helping one bit. Priya thinks she has everything under control, but as the nights get hotter and danger continues to mount, Priya has to ask herself—can she betray the man she loves?

REVIEW:
I read this as the installments that were released but this is the full story and I have to say I would think it would be best to read it in full. I read the installments back to back as if it was the full story so I was able to see how the breaks would be as I opened up the next part and I would have really hated having to wait.

I enjoyed the story of Priya and Bas. There is something that connects them right away. I enjoyed the suspense as well as the background story. I have not read the first three in the series but that did not take away from the story except making me realize I had missed some of the story.
If you are a fan of shape shifters then I think you will enjoy this story a lot.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews Shifter’s Claim part 4 by A.C. Arthur

Shifters Claim 4TITLE: Shifter’s Claim Part 4
SERIES #: Shadow Shifter’s #4
CHARACTERS: Priya & Sebastian
AUTHOR: A.C. Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/29/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In Shifter’s Claim Part II, from The Shadow Shifters series by A.C. Arthur, Priya never imagined there was truth to the story she’d been forced to track down, she never imagined coming face to face with a man that can shift into a cat.Bas hadn’t meant to reveal himself to her, he’d tried to protect the secret. Now, it was out and he wonders what the reporter will do with the information and more importantly, how the woman will react to this new facet of the man.

REVIEW:
This is the final installment (#4) of the story. The story was really interesting and the main characters really had a connection right away. The suspense part was right one. I actually read the 4 installments in one sitting which I think was best. I am not a fan of the installment fad that is going on right now but the full story can be picked up on July 29th as well which is what I would prefer.
Bas is an interesting shape shifter and Priya is perfect for him. I enjoyed them both and I really enjoyed the entire story.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly reviews Taste Of Darkness by Katie Reus

taste of darknessTITLE: Taste of Darkness
SERIES #: Darkness #3
CHARACTERS: Drake & Victoria
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE: July 27, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N (coming soon)| ARe

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He spent more than a thousand years imprisoned in hell…

Drake is an ancient dragon shifter, one of the most powerful beings in existence, but a millennium trapped in utter darkness has left him ill-equipped for modern society. If it wasn’t for Victoria, the sweet female brave enough to befriend him, he’d be lost. She’s smart and gorgeous and everything he never dared dream of during his years of agonizing loneliness. He may not have anything to offer her, but one thing he knows for sure: he’d die to keep her safe.

Only to fall into the heaven of her touch.

Victoria is a wolf shifter, healer of the Stavros pack. She’s seen a lot, but she’s never met anybody quite like Drake, the fiery, fascinating shifter who can blaze through the skies unseen by mere mortals. He’s lost, dangerous, and the last male she should fall in love with, but the more time she spends helping him navigate modern life, the deeper—and hotter—their connection becomes. She’s thrilled when they finally locate his family, but reuniting with his people plunges them both into unimaginable danger. It’s a race against the clock trying to figure out who wants them dead and who they can trust, especially when the threat is closer than they ever imagined

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Taste of Darkness picks up a few months after the end of Darkness Awakened (bk1). Drake is out of Hell and trying to figure out his place in the world. He may not have much in the way of money or experience in this new world, but one thing Drake does know is that he will do everything to be the man that Victoria needs. But as Drake tries to navigate this new world the past comes back to bite him in the butt
This was a great follow up to Darkness Awakened. I knew from the minute the Drake blasted on to the pages that he would be a very important person in this world. And I was right. Drake’s reappearance into the world really up roots the world. And brings in a whole bunch of new characters that I can’t wait to read about. Drake and Victoria are just to cute together. I loved the Drake is trying so hard to be who he thinks Victoria wants. Yet Victoria keeps telling him that all she wants is Drake, just the way he is. I hope that Ms. Reus will revisit these two soon.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Katie Reus in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Interview & giveaway with Jennifer Estep

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome the wonderful Jennifer Estep to the blog today to chat about being author, life and her newest release Poison Promise (Elemental Assassin)

Jennifer Estep author photo.Jennifer, can you please share with us a little about yourself

JE: My name is Jennifer Estep, and I’m the New York Times bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series.

The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

JE: My mom used to take me to the library every Saturday when I was a kid, so that’s how I fell in love with books and reading in the first place. So I think wanting to write my own stories and be an author grew out of that love of books and reading.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

JE: Some of my favorite writers are Robin McKinley, Donald Westlake, David Eddings, Ian Fleming, Lisa Kleypas, and too many others to name.

Every time I read a really great book, it always inspires me, and I hope that I can write something just as good one day.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

JE: I’ve always enjoyed fantasy stories and strong heroines, so writing urban fantasy seemed like a natural fit for the kind of stories that I wanted to tell. I also write young adult and paranormal romance.

I have ideas for books in different genres, and I’d love to write a western or a heist book someday. But I will probably always write urban fantasy just because I enjoy it so much.

What are some of your writing rituals?

JE: I know a lot of authors listen to music while they write, but I don’t do that. It’s just me and my computer with no distractions. I always joke that the only thing I need to write is dead silence. LOL.

Poison Promise - cover imageCan you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

JE: Poison Promise, the 11th book in my Elemental Assassin series, will be released on July 22. My heroine Gin Blanco has to protect someone who witnesses a horrific crime, so there’s a lot of magic, action, and adventure in the book. I hope everyone has as much fun reading the book as I did writing it.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

JE: Many times in the series, Gin finds herself getting into trouble because she’s trying to protect her friends and family, and that’s what happens in Poison Promise as well. Being a protector and watching out for people is one of the core things that drives Gin, so it sort of naturally leads to a lot of story ideas.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

JE: Right now, I’m working on Black Widow, the 12th book in my Elemental Assassin series which will be published on Nov. 25.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

JE: In the first chapter of Poison Promise, Gin gets into a fight with a couple of vampires.

What would you be if you were not an author?

JE: Good question! I would probably still do something book-related, like be a librarian or work in a bookstore.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

JE: I have about 40 books waiting in my TBR pile, so I’m looking forward to catching up on books/series by Katie McGarry, Sarah J. Maas, Alex Bledsoe, Scott Lynch, and several other authors.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

JE: Thanks for hosting me on your blog! I appreciate it.

If folks want more info on my books, they can check out my website at www.jenniferestep.com or follow me on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Happy reading, everyone!

Jennifer Estep author photo.A little more about Jennifer:

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. Spider’s BiteWeb of LiesVenomTangled ThreadsSpider’s RevengeBy a ThreadWidow’s Web,Deadly StingHeart of VenomThe Spider, and Poison Promise, along with the e-shorts Thread of Death, Parlor Tricks, andKiss of Venom, are the other titles in her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series and the Bigtime paranormal romance series are her other works. For more on Jennifer and her books, visit JenniferEstep.com and @Jennifer_Estep.

Find Jennifer here: Website Blog | FacebookTwitter (@Jennifer_Estep) | Goodreads

 

 

 

*****

Poison Promise

Poison Promise - cover image

Pub Date:   07/22/14

Amazon | B&N | BAM| Indie Bound Simon & Schuster

In book eleven of her New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series, author Jennifer Estep continues “one of the best urban fantasy series going on the market” (Fresh Fiction).
Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed “The Spider,” she’s a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.

There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight…

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

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Kimberly reviews Shifter’s Claim part 3 by A.C. Arthur

Shifters Claim 3TITLE: Shifter’s Claim Part 3
SERIES #: Shadow Shifter’s #4
CHARACTERS: Priya & Sebastian
AUTHOR: A.C. Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/22/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Giving her body to Sebastian “Bas” Perry was inevitable, but sacrificing her heart wasn’t in the plan. Now, as they face a killer together she wonders just how far she will go to be with this man.Sebastian “Bas” Perry is in too deep—with Priya and with a rogue that’s out for revenge, but this sexy shapeshifter will protect Priya Drake from all paranormal terrors…by any means necessary in Shifter’s Claim Part III, from The Shadow Shifters series by A.C. Arthur.

REVIEW:
Part 3 of the installments. This one just gets better. There is more to the sexual element between the two but also Priya also meets Bas’s cat and we get to finally see the shift (more than once even). We see them really connect and realize they are falling for each other. They explain the problems between them and still connect.

Again this is the 3rd in the installments out of 4 so obviously you need to read them all to get the story.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

 

Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin Series

Poison 

Elemental Assassin 0.1

Online Fiction Read HERE

1st Edition, 6 pages

This short story takes place when Gin is a teenager and is told from the point of view of  Finnegan Lane, Gin’s fos­ter brother.

*****

Web of Deceit

Online Fiction Read HERE

1st Edition, 10 pages
This short story takes place when Gin is a teenager. It’s told from the point of view of  Fletcher Lane, Gin’s assas­sin men­tor, and focuses on

Gin’s first solo job as the assas­sin the Spi­der.

*****

Spider’s Bargain

Online Fiction Read HERE

1st Edition, 9 pages

This short story takes place before the events of Spider’s Bite, the first book in the Elemental Assassin series. In “Spider’s Bargain,” Gin Blanco takes on a corrupt cop, but only one of them will be left standing in the end.

*****

Spider’s Bite

#1

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I’m the most feared assassin in the South — when I’m not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don’t use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.
Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I’m out for revenge. And I’ll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I’m still one of the bad guys. Which is why I’m in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I’m battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction…especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

*****

Web of Death

Elemental Assassin #1.5

Online Fiction Read HERE

1st Edition, 8 pages

This short story takes place after the events of Spider’s Bite but before the beginning of Web of Lies. In “Web of Death,” Gin Blanco’s retirement is interrupted by some unwanted guests.

*****

Web of Lies

Elemental Assassin #2

#2

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

 

I’m Gin Blanco. You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coal-mining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired.

So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scount mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental — with a little Ice magic thrown in — but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man … dead or alive.

*****

Wasted

Elemental Assassin #2.7

Online Fiction Read HERE
1st Edition, 12 pages

This short story takes place in between the events of Web of Lies and Venom. One day, a beau­ti­ful woman walks into the bank where Finn works, and trou­ble soon fol­lows.

*****

What kind of assassin works pro bono?

It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most.

To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists.

At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life

*****

Tan­gled Dreams

Elemental Assassin #3.5

Online Fiction Read HERE
1st Edition, 10 pages

This short story takes place in between the events of Venom and Tan­gled Threads. It’s told from the points of view of Jo-Jo Dev­er­aux and her sis­ter, Sophia Dev­er­aux. When a car­jacker fol­lows an injured Gin back to Jo-Jo’s beauty salon, Jo-Jo and Sophia join forced to elim­i­nate the threat.

*****

Tan­gled Schemes

Elemental Assassin #3.7

Online Fiction Read HERE
1st Edition, 15 pages

This short story spans a period of time start­ing from the last chap­ter of Spider’s Bite and end­ing right before the begin­ning of Tan­gled Threads. It’s told from Detec­tive Bria Coolidge’s point of view and shows her search for her long-lost sis­ter Genevieve Snow. What Bria doesn’t know is what she’s going to do about the fact that Genevieve also hap­pens to be the as…more

 

*****

Tangled Threads 

Elemental Assassin #4

#4

I’d rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings.

But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson’s front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesn’t shy away from my past—or my present. And right now I have a bull’s-eye on my forehead.

Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there’s a fifty-fifty chance one of us won’t survive this battle. I intend to kill LaFleur—or die trying—because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too.

The only problem is, Bria has no idea I’m her long-lost sibling . . . or that I’m the murderer she’s been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn’t know just might get us both dead. . .

both dead. . .

*****

Spider’s Revenge

Elemental Assassin #5

#5

Old habits die hard. And I plan on mur­der­ing some­one before the night is through.

Killing used to be my reg­u­lar gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spi­der, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly mat­ters: Mab Mon­roe, the dan­ger­ous Fire ele­men­tal who mur­dered my fam­ily when I was thir­teen.

Oh, I don’t think t Old habits die hard. And I plan on mur­der­ing some­one before the night is through.

Killing used to be my reg­u­lar gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spi­der, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly mat­ters: Mab Mon­roe, the dan­ger­ous Fire ele­men­tal who mur­dered my fam­ily when I was thir­teen.

Oh, I don’t think the mis­sion will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more prob­lem­atic than expected. The bitch knows I’m com­ing for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters she hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keep­ing Bria safe is my first pri­or­ity. Tak­ing Mab out is a close sec­ond.

Good thing I’ve got my pow­er­ful Stone and Ice magic — and my irre­sistible lover Owen Grayson — to watch my back. This bat­tle has been years in the mak­ing, and there’s a chance I won’t sur­vive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s com­ing with me…no mat­ter what I have to do to make that happen.

 

*****

Thread of Death

Elemental Assassin #5.5

 

#5.5

Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab’s funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland’s most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to Mab.

*****

By a Thread

Elemental Assassin #6

#6

Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab’s funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland’s most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to Mab.

By a Thread (Elemental Assassin #6)

When killing people is your job, there’s no such thing as a vacation. Then again, how often does an assassin live long enough to enjoy her retirement? In this line of work, you either get lucky or you get dead. And since I destroyed my nemesis Mab Monroe a few weeks ago, all of Ashland’s lowlifes are gunning to make a name for themselves by taking out the lethal Spider—me, Gin Blanco. So I’m leaving behind my beloved barbecue joint and heading south with my baby sister, Bria, to cool my heels in a swanky beach town. Call it a weekend of fun in the sun. But when a powerful vampire with deadly elemental magic threatens an old friend of Bria’s, it looks like I’ll have to dig my silverstone knives out of my suitcase after all. Complicating matters further is the reappearance of Detective Donovan Caine, my old lover. But Donovan is the least of my problems. Because this time, the danger is hot on my trail, and not even my elemental Ice and Stone magic may be enough to save me from getting buried in the sand—permanently.

*****

Widow’s Web

Elemental Assassin #7

#7

I used to murder people for money, but these days it’s more of a survival technique.

Once an assassin, always an assassin. So much for being plain old Gin Blanco. With every lowlife in Ashland gunning for me, I don’t need another problem, but a new one has come to town.

Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but she’s really a dangerous enemy whose water elemental magic can go head-to-head with my own Ice and Stone power. Salina also has an intimate history with my lover, Owen Grayson, and now that she’s back in town, she thinks he’s hers for the taking.

Salina’s playing a mysterious game that involves a shady local casino owner with a surprising connection to Owen. But they call me the Spider for a reason. I’m going to untangle her deadly scheme, even if it leaves my love affair hanging by a thread.

*****

Deadly Sting

Elemental Assassin #8

#8

Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot.

Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me— Gin Blanco, aka the Spider—it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’s priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.

Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.

*****

Kiss of Venom

Elemental Assassin #8.5

#8.5

The New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series continues with a new e-novella from the hero’s point of view! Owen Grayson is bound and determined to get Gin back…if her enemies don’t get her first.

When you have a history of dating an assassin, a night out on the town can turn deadly—fast. Owen Grayson is still wracked with guilt over the end of his love affair with Gin Blanco, and there aren’t enough gin and tonics in all of Ashland to ease his heartache. But when Gin happens to show up at the same nightclub, he isn’t the only one hoping to get her alone. Some shadowy figures will do anything to take down the Spider, Gin’s assassin alter ego, and Owen will do anything to protect her. This could be the way to win her back, or at least give her a night off from fighting for her life; if Owen can survive.

*****

Heart of Venom

Elemental Assassin #9

#9

The hotly anticipated ninth novel in the hugely popular Elemental Assassin series finds Gin Blanco on a dangerous mission to rescue a friend. 

When a terror from the past threatens Gin’s friend and body-disposer, Sophia, Gin will stop at nothing to protect her, even if it means walking straight into a killer’s trap. Meanwhile, the rocky romance between Gin and Owen reaches a turning point—can they reunite and rekindle their love? Or will the things Gin has been forced to do in her line of work as the deadly assassin the Spider keep them apart forever? Assuming, that is, she survives long enough to find out

*****

The Spider

Elemental Assassin #10

#10

The tenth book in the bestselling and “outstanding” (Romantic Times) Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series finally reveals for the first time the origins of Gin Blanco’s career as the deadliest of assassins.

For the first time, the origins of Gin Blanco’s career as the deadly assassin “the Spider” are revealed in full. In a story that pre-dates the other nine books in the series, Gin Blanco goes through her paces to become the most feared assassin in the Ashland

*****

Poison Promise

Elemental Assassin #11

#11

In book eleven of her New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series, author Jennifer Estep continues “one of the best urban fantasy series going on the market” (Fresh Fiction).

Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed “The Spider,” she’s a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.

There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight.

 

*****

Black Widow

Elemental Assassin #12

#12

Release date November 25, 2014

There’s nothing worse than a cruel, cunning enemy with time to kill—and my murder to plan.

With wicked Fire elemental Mab Monroe long gone, you’d think I could finally catch a break. But someone’s always trying to take me down, either as Gin Blanco or my assassin alter-ago. Now along comes the Spider’s new arch-nemesis, the mysteriously named M. M. Monroe, who is gleefully working overtime to trap me in a sticky web of deceit.

The thing is, I’m not the only target. I can see through the tangled threads enough to know that every bit of bad luck my friends have been having lately is no accident—and that each unfortunate “coincidence” is just one more arrow drawing ever closer to hitting the real bulls-eye. Though new to Ashland, this M. M. Monroe is no stranger to irony, trying to get me, an assassin, framed for murder. Yet, as my enemy’s master plan is slowly revealed, I have a sinking feeling that it will take more than my powerful Ice and Stone magic to stop my whole life from going up in flames.

Kelly reviews Knight Avenged by Coreene Callahan

knight avengedTITLE: Knight Avenged
SERIES #: Circle of Seven #2
CHARACTERS: Henrik Lazar & Cosmina Cordei
AUTHOR: Coreene Callahan
PUBLICATION DATE: July 15, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Alone in a world on the brink of war…two unlikely allies will discover a love greater than time.

Exiled from her home, powerful oracle Cosmina Cordei holds the key to uniting those protecting mankind from evil. But just as she makes her way into the holy city to perform an ancient rite, the enemy closes in for the kill…

Drawn by a destiny he won’t accept, elite assassin Henrik Lazar detests the mystical curse handed down by his mother. But when the sorcery in his blood is activated and past pain comes back to haunt him, his new abilities come into play and he must learn to control them.

Rescued by Henrik in the heat of battle, Cosmina must decide whether to trust the assassin who loathes the goddess she serves or face certain death on her own. Forced into an untenable position, Henrik is left with a terrible choice—protect the magical Order he despises, or deny destiny and lose the woman he loves forever

REVIEW:
Oh Henrik… How do I love you? Let me count the ways. One you are bad ass assassin. Two you are a hot bad ass assassin. Three you are a deadly, hot, bad ass assassin. Do I need to keep going? I guess not. I loved Henrik in book one Knight Awakened and loved him even more in Knight Avenged.
Henrik does a lot of growing in this book. He finally comes to terms with who he is, why he is and what he is.
Cosmina. Really liked this girl. She is tough when she needs to be. Yet she is really a sweet girl. And really knows how to get under Henrik’s skin 🙂

Another great read from Coreene. I just love this world of the Circle of Seven warriors. Although, I really wish Halál would get his just desserts already. That man gets on my last nerve. But like every good villain he knows when to tuck tail and run. Henrik & Cosmina are great together. I loved their bickering and the pull that they feel to each other despite the fact that they don’t want to feel it. I loved that we got a closer look at some of the other warriors. I want to know what makes Tareek tick, this boy has secrets. I want to know what Kazim is and why Thea loves him so much. So many need to knows. But one thing for sure I am so glad that Henrik is finally in a good place.

I can’t wait to see what the next book holds for Cristobal.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Guest blogger: Carrie Ann Ryan + a giveaway

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome our pal Carrie Ann Ryan on the blog today.  We are letting Carrie Ann take over the blog for a bit.  So without further ado.   Take it away Carrie Ann. 

What happened to Cinderella and Prince Charming after they rode off into the sunset in that white carriage? I’ve always wanted to know beyond a random Made-for-TV movie or internet MEME where they comment on the fact that the two characters actually didn’t know each other at all…but I digress LOL.

In my Redwood Pack series, I write novellas after each novel that looks into another couple I already wrote about. This hero and heroine already have their HEA (Happy Ever After in case you didn’t know) and are riding into the sunset. But what do they do along the way?

In A Night Away, my first novella, I wrote about Melanie and Kade, the hero and heroine from book 1, An Alpha’s Path. I wanted to see what happened to the pair after they’d had a child. It was one of my favorites only because I got to see Uncle Maddox babysit! It was the first time I’d written in his POV and loved it!

In Blurred Expectations, I wrote about Trinity Bound’s triad, Hannah, Josh, and Reed. The trio oh so wanted a baby, but it just wasn’t happening yet. I wanted to look into that and look into Josh’s military past since their book focused on their future with the Redwood Pack. It was a sad yet emotional novella to write and readers have really fallen in love with this trio!

In Forgiveness, I focused on Adam and Bay. Adam and Bay’s story, Enforcer’s Redemption, was the hardest (before I wrote Fighting Fate that is) book I ever had to write. Adam and Bay had a rough courtship and in the novella, they were parents learning to be a couple at the same time. I also got to introduce a character, Emeline, that surprised me! I hadn’t planned on writing her story until people begged and she wouldn’t get out of my head. So Emeline and Noah’s story will be in DARK FATES, coming out August 12th.

In A Beta’s Haven, I got to go back to Jasper and Willow from A Taste for a Mate. I wanted to see what happened to a couple who had been around since the beginning of the war and look at the toll said war had on them. I shouldn’t have been worried though, Jasper and Willow could make it through anything.

And finally, in Loving the Omega, I got to see my favorite hero. (I know I’m not supposed to choose favorites, but shh!) Maddox and Ellie are probably the most requested couple I have and I honestly have to agree. I love them to pieces. They went through SO much before they even had each other and now they’re in the middle of their happy ending. Only, it’s not so happy due to the aftermath of the war. I wanted to see how they coped and what their daughter, Charlotte, did now that she was part of the Pack.

I truly love writing these after the HEA novellas and I hope you enjoy them!!!

 *****

Loving the Omega

Loving the Omega

AmazonB&NARe | Kobo | iTunes

Maddox Jamenson almost lost his mate before he knew she existed, but his life is now exactly how he’d dreamed it. The war with the Centrals is over, and his family is healing one day at a time. Ellie is reveling in the simple perfection that is her life and family now, but that doesn’t mean she can shed the self-doubts and concerns that come with being a new mother, mate, and Redwood.

When a disturbance in their quiet life threatens to ruin everything they’ve fought for, Maddox and Ellie will have to learn not only to rely on each other more than ever, but find within themselves the power to forgive.

Author’s Note: This is a novella set after book 7 to give you a taste of Maddox and Ellie. It is best that you have already immersed yourselves in the Redwood Pack world, however even new readers will enjoy a glimpse of one of the Redwood’s favorite couples.

Excerpt… (used with permission from Carrie Ann Ryan © Carrie Ann Ryan 2014)

The quick, lethal slice of the blade robbed him of breath, and he gasped, clinging to that last thread of life he knew would fade away as he exhaled. Fire scorched down his throat, down his spine. The absence of pain, the absence of agony was a torture in itself. He reached out, begging, screaming until his voice was raw.

It wouldn’t matter though.

It never did.

The darkness surrounded him, clawing, digging its talons into his skin until he bled dry. It was the same thing every time. No matter what he did, he wouldn’t save him. He’d watch him die and lose the connection to the one man who mattered.

He pushed off the enemy and the cloying scent that meant the nothingness had found him and ran through clay and mud to the man who’d fallen, the man who’d been his everything as a child.

“Dad!”

His screams did nothing.

The man fell to the ground, his body burning, turning to ash. There would be no rebirth. No phoenix rising. Only death.

“Maddox! Let go!”

He turned at the sound of his mother’s voice, the pain underlying her terror unbearable. She stood in a ring of fire, a sad smile on her face.

“Let go, baby. Stop fighting.”

*****Learn more about Loving the Omega

 

Carrie Ann RyanA little about Carrie Ann Ryan : 

USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

Get in touch with Carrie Ann Ryan!

WebsiteBlogFacebook, Author PageFacebook, FriendTwitter | GoodreadsPinterestNewsletterEmail

*****

Giveaway Time:

Carrie Ann Ryan signed paperback and a $15 Amazon gift card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kimberly reviews Vampire Trouble by Sara Humphreys

Vampire TroubleTITLE: Vampire Trouble
SERIES #: Dead In The City #2
CHARACTERS: Maya & Shane
AUTHOR: Sara Humphreys
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/01/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Shane Quesada, a four-century old vampire sentry, is known for cold, unemotional precision when hunting rogue vampires.
Maya Robertson is a youngling vampire who will not be controlled—and to prove it, she rejects Shane’s protection—only to find herself in over her head with an alpha werewolf.
Soon, a war between the coven and the werewolf clan ignites, and Maya and Shane flee to Louisiana, where their passion for each other grows—as does Maya’s power. When she finds herself at the center of the conflict, will she finally trust Shane with her life—and her heart?

REVIEW:
I had a hard time getting into this book. I never really warmed up to Maya. While I realize she is a young vampire she is just plain young. She acts like a spoiled brat and while I hoped that was just in the beginning I never got over the feeling that she is just immature and it bugged me. Shane is fine but too indulgent if you ask me.

The story is just too wordy. Also a lot of liberties were taken in the vampire lore. While was kind of interesting but also a little off putting since being a fan of the genre I am used to there being certain “rules” to the vampire world and this changes that and some so drastically that it is a bit odd. This was just off for me but that being said it still held my attention and I wanted to know what was going to happen.

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

3hearts-68-77