TITLE: Love In The Shadows
CHARACTERS: Jenny & Nick
AUTHOR: Barbara Wallace
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/28/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Can a feisty four-legged matchmaker help four best friends find the romance of their dreams?
Jenny is a woman on a mission – she’ll even resort to dognapping to make her point! But can she teach a reclusive, emotionally-wounded tycoon that love heals all things?
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the fourth is the “series” of short stories, each story is only about 60 pages long. I am not sure if it is really a series since each book is from a different author but it does involve the same people and the same dog. This is the best of the series. I enjoyed the couple very much. Their feelings are palpable from the pages. The hurt and insecurity. The story is sweet and completes the series very well.
Each book from this series is great to have on the e-reader for a quick read between books.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Dark Moon
SERIES #: Witch-Were #1
CHARACTERS: Skye & Jason
AUTHOR: Leisl Leighton
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/17/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N {link not up yet}
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lately, Skye Collins has been unable to shake the feeling that she’s being watched. After a lifetime spent hiding her true nature, she knows that any unusual attention is something to be wary of. And the only attention she’s been receiving lately is from the intense and attractive Jason McVale.
Jason claims to know things about Skye that can’t be true, and it’s obvious he’s hiding secrets of his own. Yet despite herself, Skye can’t resist the attraction between them, and her surrender will set in motion a chain of events that will have consequences for everyone she holds dear.
Gradually, Jason convinces Skye that she has to trust him if she is to solve the riddle of her past and learn the truth about her power. But believing Jason means that her entire life has been based on a lie.
As her enemies gather strength and the danger increases, Skye is forced to accept who she really is. Will she risk everything and fight for those she loves? Or save herself and let them be destroyed by the forces of darkness?
REVIEW:
I have to say I really enjoyed this story. I was not sure what it was really about when I picked it up from NetGalley but I am so glad I did. There are witches, wiccan, wolf shifters, ghosts, and so much more in this story. I didn’t want to miss one word of it even though some parts did get a little wordy I still could not wait to read the story.
The main characters are very entertaining and interesting. They have a connection from the moment they are together. I enjoyed the background characters as well. Maybe the next in the series is Adam and Shelley? One can only hope.
If you are a fan of paranormal then you should really pick up this book. It has everything a fan of the genre would like and a bunch of suspense as well. Terrific story and one I can’t wait to read the next one of.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Waking The Dead
SERIES #: Cafferty & Quinn #2
CHARACTERS: Danni & Michael
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/25/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They say a painting can have a life of its own…
In the case of Ghosts in the Mind by Henry Sebastian Hubert, that’s more than just an expression. This painting is reputed to come to life—and to bring death. The artist was a friend of Lord Byron and Mary Shelley, joining them in Switzerland during 1816, “the year without a summer.” That was when they all explored themes of horror and depravity in their art….
Now, almost two hundred years later, the painting appears in New Orleans. Wherever it goes, death seems to follow.
Danielle Cafferty and Michael Quinn, occasional partners in solving crime, are quickly drawn into the case. They begin to make connections between that summer in Switzerland and this spring in Louisiana. Danni, the owner of an eccentric antiques shop, and Quinn, a private detective, have discovered that they have separate but complementary talents when it comes to investigating unusual situations.
Trying to blend their personal relationship with the professional lives they’ve stumbled into, they learn how much they need each other. Especially as they confront this work of art—and evil. The people in the portrait might be dead, but something seems to wake them and free them to commit bloody crimes. Cafferty and Quinn must discover what that is. And they have to destroy it—before it destroys them.
REVIEW:
I read the first in this series and was not to thrilled by it but because I love Graham’s Krewe Of Hunters/Harrison Investigation series I thought I would give this series another try. I just really do not enjoy these characters. They have no true connection. While the story is interesting and the historical background that Graham weaves into her stories is interesting something is just off.
I am also not a fan of continuing stories. I enjoy past series characters coming by as background characters but I do not want the main characters to remain the same (ok maybe a series here or there but not usually) and especially with these two because they have no spark. It is as if they are forced and even they are not sure they should be together.
I need to remember to not pick up this series but there would be no stopping me from the next in the Krewe series.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Master Of The Opera #6: Crescendo
SERIES #: Master Of The Opera #6
CHARACTERS: Christine & Master
AUTHOR: Jeffe Kennedy
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/20/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the sixth and final installment of Jeffe Kennedy’s sizzling Master of the Opera, a man and a woman risk everything they’ve ever loved—for the most dangerous passion they’ve ever known. . .
Caught in a web of secrets and lies, Christy Davis has come under the suspicion of the local police. Since becoming an intern at the Sante Fe Opera House, she has witnessed strange occurrences in the underground tunnels. She has heard inexplicable whispers in the shadows after midnight. And she has found the lover of her dreams in the masked man who lives down below. But after the discovery of a dead body and other sinister events, Christy realizes that her life is in danger. Two men hold her fate in their hands: Roman, the opera house’s wealthy benefactor who uses his money and power to control her. And the masked maestro known as the Master who demands her surrender and commands her pleasure with each stroke. Both want her; only one can have her. . .
In a rising crescendo of madness, obsession, and lust, Christy must take a chance and follow her heart—to a breathtaking climax as powerful as love itself.
REVIEW:
This is the sixth and last installment. I am not really impressed with this series. I think it has a lot of potential if it had been a full story but with the short spurts it was lost between installments. I would also not consider this erotica. Very few moments of sexual encounters were written in.
I was disappointed in the story in general and while I was interested enough to find out how it ends I didn’t enjoy it very much.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Smokin’ Hot
CHARACTERS: Varies
AUTHOR: Lynn LaFleur
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/25/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Singe
After breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Julia Woods is ready to start fresh in a new town, a new state. She doesn’t want to get involved with another man, and especially not with an adrenalin junkie. The instant attraction she feels when she meets Stephen McGettis frightens her. She’s never experienced something so strong, yet she worries about starting a relationship with him. With his motorcycle racing, whitewater rafting, and skydiving, he’s as much of an adrenalin junkie as her former lover. Stephen loves Julia and doesn’t want to lose her because of her concern over what she considers his dangerous pastimes. He has to prove to her he’s not a daredevil, and that love is the greatest adventure of all.
Smolder
In town to visit her grandmother in the hospital, Rayna Holt never expected to run into her ex-husband, Marcus. Seeing him reminds her of all the pain and loss she’d experienced five years ago that led to their divorce. Marcus is still angry and hurt over Rayna destroying their marriage. They’re forced to spend time together while the construction company he works for repairs her grandmother’s house due to a fire. Old desires smolder beneath the surface, but Marcus is leery of giving in to them. Rayna broke his heart when she left him. He can’t live through that kind of pain again. Both Rayna and Marcus have to let go of the past before they can forgive each other and fall in love again.
Spark
Talia King has loved Dylan Westfield ever since the day she met him two years ago, but he treats her as nothing but a friend. Every attempt she’s made to date him or spend more time with him has been shot down by Dylan. Dylan loves Talia as much as she loves him, but his painful past won’t let him surrender to that love. Fear of physically hurting her keeps him alone and aching for a life with her…a life he knows he cannot have. A night of passion convinces Talia that she and Dylan are perfect together. Dylan admits his love to Talia, but tells her it doesn’t matter since they can never be together. Talia hatches a plan to convince Dylan that she knows he would never hurt her. It might backfire, but she believes it’s worth the risk to be with the man she loves.
REVIEW:
I can honestly say that I think Lynn LaFleur is the Queen of Short Erotica. Her stories are not very long but complete and enjoyable. While they claim to be “erotica” I really do not see it that way. This is intense sexual romance and written really well. This is not about BDSM, etc. This is about sex and romance and the couples that enjoy it.
I was going to review each separately but they are equally as good and I am enjoying these sexy firefighters.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Night of Pleasure
SERIES #: The School of Gallantry #4
CHARACTERS: Clementine Grey & Derek Holbrook
AUTHOR: Delilah Marvelle
PUBLICATION DATE: March 28, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
An arranged marriage is daunting, but not as daunting as seducing a spouse whose passions you do not understand…
Derek Charles Holbrook, Viscount Banfield, knew his fate since he was seventeen when his father announced his union to the
beautiful but mysterious American girl by the name of Miss Grey.
To protect the troubled estate, Derek submits to his father’s wishes, not realizing he’s about to entangle himself in a hell of a lot more than marriage.
Miss Clementine Henrietta Grey may be worth millions, but not a single coin has ever bought her a smidge of happiness. When she marries the charasmatic and dashing Viscount Banfield, whose only strife in life appears to be the uneven seams in his coat, she finds that siring the heir he wants requires far more than her heart is prepared to give.
Unable to seduce his overly-serious and reluctant wife, Derek realizes his dreams of creating a loving family has turned into a nightmare. But with the unexpected assistance of a retired courtesan and her outrageous school, Derek and Clementine discover that passion is a language spoken not just from the body, but from the mind, heart and soul.
REVIEW:
I just love this series! I thought I knew the characters well since I’ve encountered them in previous books, but I was so wrong. Focusing on Derek and Clementine rather than them being mere mentions made me see them in a whole new light and I loved it! Poor Derek, he expected so much from his marriage to Clementine, and she just wasn’t having any of it. She is extremely strong-minded and doesn’t submit to anyone’s authority over her own. She initially was a very difficult character for me to like, which is not the norm with Delilah’s novels – I instantly fall in love with everyone. However, as we got to know Clementine better I feel like I began to understand her at the same time Derek did, and I realized how wrong I’d been about her. She is a truly unique and complicated individual. By the time I got to the end of the book, I was astonished at how beautifully Clementine was written and admired Delilah for her bravery in writing a character as different as Clementine. It was a new and great experience for me and really made this book even more amazing. I absolutely loved the interactions between the main characters as well as all the side characters – I’m really hoping we’ll get to see more of them in future books. This is another great story to add to an already fabulous series. Delilah always amazes, and this book was no different. Read it now!
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Delilah Marvelle in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Waiting for You
SERIES #: Blue Heron #3
CHARACTERS: Lucas Campbell & Collenn O’Rourke
AUTHOR: Kristan Higgins
PUBLICATION DATE: March 25, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Does being nobody’s fool mean that you’re nobody’s love?
Colleen O’Rourke is in love with love… just not when it comes to herself. Most nights, she can be found behind the bar at the Manningsport, New York, tavern she owns with her twin brother, doling out romantic advice to the lovelorn, mixing martinis and staying more or less happily single. See, ten years ago, Lucas Campbell, her first love, broke her heart… an experience Colleen doesn’t want to have again, thanks. Since then, she’s been happy with a fling here and there, some elite-level flirting and playing matchmaker to her friends.
But a family emergency has brought Lucas back to town, handsome as ever and still the only man who’s ever been able to crack her defenses. Seems like maybe they’ve got some unfinished business waiting for them—but to find out, Colleen has to let her guard down, or risk losing a second chance with the only man she’s ever loved.
KELLY’S REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts Sometimes your first love is not easy to forget or get over no matter what you do. This is the case for Colleen. She has never forgot the boy she loved when she was a kid. But he is married now so there is nothing she can do. Except Lucas is back and he is no longer married. The questions is can they get over the past hurt? And is Colleen willing to take a chance with her heart on a man who is only in town temporarily.
Waiting for You is book 3 in Kristan Higgins’ Blue Heron series. I really liked Colleen and Lucas. Even if at times both of them are brats. This two have such sad past story. I was really pulling for them, but there were so many roadblocks.
I really enjoyed the side story too. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I am hoping for Connor.
KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts What if your first love ruined you for all other men? What if he then came back into your life? That is what Colleen has to find out. I really enjoyed this story. It was my favorite of the series or by Higgins in general but it was really good.
I thought I would enjoy Colleen a little more than I did. She is sassy, quick-witted, snide and loves everyone but I never seemed to connect with her. I like her but I didn’t want to become her best friend (if you know what I mean). Lucas is sweet and funny and yet again I didn’t fall for him. Now all that being said I enjoyed their story. I enjoyed them falling in love again and I enjoyed reading about their past together. I am just not sure why I didn’t connect with them.
I would grab any Higgins book that comes along so I can’t wait for the next in the series (Connor’s story maybe?). Higgins is one of the best.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Fated Mates: The Alpha Shifter Boxed Set
CHARACTERS: Varies
AUTHOR: Varies
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/04/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All American Wolf by Adriana Hunter: If Serena’s not careful she may lose her heart to Brody Sullivan – the dangerously possessive stranger who is willing to break every one of her rules.
Charming the Alpha by Liliana Rhodes: Hannah Crane’s ordinary life changes after she meets Alpha wolf Caleb. As the center of a centuries old curse, is Hannah a wolf charmer or Caleb’s fated mate?
Change For Me by Lynn Red: Motorcycle riding, tattooed bad boy alpha werewolf fights to save his mate from his terrifying rival. Steamy, seductive, sensual werewolf romance.
Bear King’s Curves: A BBW Werebear Shifter Romance by A.T. Mitchell: Curvy Lyla’s bad attitude toward bears is about to change. Destiny blind Nick is the Alpha to do it, no matter how much passion, mystery, and danger it means…
Delicate Freakin Flower by Eve Langlais: Can a pair of hunky shapeshifting jocks convince a not-so delicate freakn’ flower that they can handle her thorns—and her passion?
The Alpha’s Mate by Michelle Fox: Chloe Weiss has finally met the mate of her dreams, but jealousy in the pack and a murderer on the loose make for a dangerous ‘happily ever after.’
Romancing the Wolf (BBW/Werewolf Romance) by Skye Eagleday: The romantic adventures of two curvy sisters and one hot pack: Can the werewolves survive Bree and her sassy sister?
Protecting the Pack by Tabitha Conall: In a world where werewolves mate in threes, the mating lust pulls one triad together while overwhelming obstacles pull them apart, possibly forever.
Witchy Wolf by Alexis Dare: A brutal attack alters Chloe’s life. As her world crumbles, biker Gabe steps in to pick up the pieces. Can he save her from the danger lurking in the shadows?
A Change To Bear (Last of the Shapeshifters) by A.E. Grace: Liam, shapeshifter, is on the run. Hunted by a man who will hurt anyone he cares for, it’s why he can’t fall in love. Until he meets a curvy Terry Spencer…
Curves for the Lone Alpha by Molly Prince: When Carrie is dumped before a weekend away, her decision to go alone puts her on a collision course with James. A packless alpha who hunts rogue shifters.
The Alpha Claims A Mate by Georgette St. Clair: Curvy Ginger Colby accidentally insulted the Alpha of the local pack when she rejected him at the local honky tonk-and now he’s seeking delicious, sexy revenge.
REVIEW:
I was going to review each story individually but I found myself writing the same things over and over so I decided I would write a general review. Some stories are better than others and some are worse. I guess that is to be expected. The problem is that even the best of the stories was great just good. If you enjoy short stories of shifters then certainly give this boxed set a chance but it just wasn’t my idea of great.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Hope Ignites
SERIES #: Hope #2
CHARACTERS: Logan McCormack & Desiree Jenkins
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: March 25, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Logan McCormack likes his isolated life on the ranch, until a movie crew starts filming there. When actress Desiree Jenkins blows into his life, she wrecks it harder than the Oklahoma winds with her brutal honesty and soft touch. Des knows this is a temporary stay, but she loves the open freedom of the land, and for the first time in her life, Des feels like she might have found a place she can call home, with a man she might be falling in love with. But Logan’s heart is tougher than the soil beneath them—can she convince him that they belong together?
REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Love love love Jaci!!! She always knows how to pull me into a story and make me fall in love with the characters. Jaci also always make it so easy for me to want to strangle the characters at times too. And Hope Ignites is no difference.
I loved Logan. He is a total alpha male, a cowboy and a man who thinks he need no one in his life. Logan is an island of his own and he is about to met a hurricane named Desiree..
Desiree is awesome. I love her back bone of steel. I love that she stands by her best friend no matter what. And I absolutely loved how she blow in and turned Logan’s world upside down.
Needless to say I loved this book and can’t wait for the next installment in this series.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the 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.
TITLE: Love and Other Cosmic Nonsense
CHARACTERS: Maggie & Evan
AUTHOR: A.D. Marrow
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/24/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Breaking it off with her long-time non-magical boyfriend, Evan, was for his own good. At least that’s what Maggie Owen tells herself. After all, a witch and a human can have no future together. Her vision told her so. But now it seems the universe is exacting revenge for upsetting the balance of what “should be” and her heart is telling her she was wrong.
Evan Jackson can’t believe his bad luck. It’s been a year since Maggie broke his heart, and now his business partner has hired her as their new receptionist. Fine, they need the help. But no way will he let her get close again. He can’t take another heartbreak from the woman he still dreams about, even if it feels like there’s still a magical pull between them.
Being in the same building with Evan is a start, but it’s going to take more than Maggie’s special talents and a wink to get the hard-hearted bad-boy to see that love is really more than just cosmic nonsense and set the universe back into balance.
REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is a very cute short story about a witchy woman and the man she tries to protect by leaving him until they meet again. The characters are sweet and connect well. The background characters are great too. Great short story to have between reads for a light read with a touch of magic.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Unwound
SERIES #: Masters #2
CHARACTERS: Ronin Black & Amery Hardwick
AUTHOR: Lorelei James
PUBLICATION DATE: March 25, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In this conclusion to the Mastered series by New York Timesbestselling author Lorelei James, a man’s need for control is tested by the one woman he’ll risk everything for
When sensei Ronin Black first encounters Amery Hardwick, the fire in her eyes ignites a sexual spark a thousand times better than the primal rush he used to get from mixed martial arts matches. She accepts his darker edges and admits to him that her desires aren’t as wholesome as he believed. And before long Ronin is grappling with emotions he’s never felt before .
Yet despite demanding Amery bare her body and soul to him, Ronin holds a part of himself back. When she learns Ronin’s secret and walks out, his life begins to unravel. To regain her trust he must let go of his pride and prove to her that it’s more than passion binding them together. But after their private pleasures are made public, Ronin is unsure if he’s the right man for Amery. Can they face the consequences together? Or will their differences rip them apart?
REVIEW:
Unwound is the final book in Ronin & Amery’s story. Yes there was two books in this series. So if you have not read book 1 Bound. You really need to stop here and get book 1. These stories are too interlinked to read out of order.
In Unwound we pick up 6 weeks after we left off in Bound. Ronin and Amery have not spoken to each other until Ronin shows up at her door bloody, injured and talking nonsense.
Amery does the smart thing and call for help. These two have a huge uphill battle to get their relationship back on track. The question is will they be able to weather all the storms that are about to hit them.
I will say that I enjoyed this second book a little more than the first book. I think that I connected with Ronin & Amery more in Unwound then in Bound. It was a great story of love, loss and learning to find one’s self. There were many heart breaking parts of this book but so many good parts.
If you love Bound you will love love love Unwound for sure!!!! If you have not read Bound again you need to read Bound before you read Unwound.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the 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.
TITLE: Fall into Forever
CHARACTERS: Jon Priestly & Ivy McAllister
AUTHOR: Beth Hyland
PUBLICATION DATE: March 10, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Some girls may find guys like Jon exciting and charming. Some are even naive enough to want to date them. But guys like him can harbor dark, dangerous secrets. Secrets you don’t want to know or be involved in. How do you think they got this way in the first place? It’s best to follow your head and stay as far away from them as possible.
Trust me when I say this: Guys like Jon Priestly are nothing but trouble.
Ivy McAllister had it all. Perfect boyfriend. Perfect life. Perfect future. Or so they tell her. Because one night, on a dark country road, a fiery crash changed everything…and Ivy can’t remember what happened.
Now, two years later, at a new college far from home, she tries to regain control of her life, but her plans don’t include a tattooed, motorcycle-riding, indie music-obsessed guy with his own sorority girl fan club.
Jon Priestly is the hottest guy at Pacific State University. Just ask his groupies. But with a dark past he must keep hidden, he shuts himself off emotionally and trusts no one. That is…until he meets a broken girl with haunting green eyes and secrets of her own.
Ivy shouldn’t be attracted to Jon. They’re wrong for each other in every possible way. Yet as they spend time together, something about him—everything about him—feels so right.
But when threats from her past make her question what little she does remember, Ivy must decide whether to run again or trust the one person she can’t live without.
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts College can be hard enough, even without the added trauma of the past. So when Ivy’s past pops up at her college is throws her into a tail spin. And just when she thinks that she will spiral out of control a knight in not-so-shiny armor comes to her rescue. The only problem is that he is everything she should never want.
Jon, might be well known on campus for all kinds of things. But he really wants is a future, stability and maybe love. Who would have ever though helping someone down from a tree would change his future.
I need to start by saying that I am not a huge new adult fan. I have found few new adult books that I have liked. So when I was asked to review Fall into Forever I was a little hesitant. But I read the blurb, though it sounded really good so I decided to give it a try. And I am glad I did. I enjoyed Fall into Forever. I think any fan of the new adult genre will enjoy Jon & Ivy’s story.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Aspendawn Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Love In The Shadows
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