Category: Review

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Bre’s Review of Hawthorn by Sarah Ballance

Hawthorn

By Sarah Balance

Noble Romance | Amazon Kindle | B&N Nook |Amazon | B&N
After a terrifying encounter with the unexplained, it took ten years and the news of her grandmother’s passing for Emma Grace Hawthorne to return to her childhood home.   She sought peace in saying a proper goodbye, but what she found was an old love, a sordid family history, and a wrong only she could right.
Living in the shadow of Hawthorne Manor, Noah Garrett never forgot about Emma Grace.  In a house full of secrets, his search for missing documents revealed a truth that could cost him everything.  What he found gave Emma the freedom to walk away from the mansion, her heart free and clear, but at what price to Noah?
Bre’s  thoughts:
Hawthorne was a stunning and exciting ghost story. It was very unexpected and riveting. I had a hard time putting it down. The whole story surrounds the Hawthorne Manor and the mystery of the missing will.
Emma Grace Hawthorne shows up at the news of her grandmothers death driven to find out what happened all those years ago when she was seventeen. Left behind ten years ago is Noah Garret, her teenage romance. Left behind without even a word of goodbye. Together they piece the mystery together about Hawthorne Manor and its many secrets as well as the mystery of the missing will. While thoughts of the past come to haunt them they struggle to come to terms with what was lost between them and if they can ever regain it.
While the story was too brief for my tastes (it was after all a novella) it was wickedly entrancing and had me holding my breath in anticipation. If you like ghost stories and lost love this is a definite read. I loved it!
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My review of If You Know Her by Shiloh Walker

If You Know Her
By Shiloh Walker
Book 3 in the Ash Trilogy
Feb 28, 2012
PreOrder:
AmazonDescription: http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=shilwalk-20&l=ur2&o=1 | B&N | Booksamillion | Indiebound | Book Depository
A SHADOW IN THE WINDOW
Nia Hollister doesn’t scare easily. Come hell or high water, she intends to find her cousin’s killer. She returns to Ash, Kentucky, for answers. What she doesn’t expect is to ache with desire every time she sees Law Reilly. If any man can help her escape the nightmares for a while, it’s him. But can she allow herself to take comfort in those strong arms when a murderer still roams free?
Unknown to Nia, as she quietly slips into Law Reilly’s home, is that she’s being watched—by someone who is waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Timing is everything, though he can’t wait forever. If she’s not frightened, she soon will be. Nia has made a vow to find her cousin’s killer. She should be careful what she wishes for.
Read an Excerpt Here
Learn more about Shiloh Walker here: http://www.shilohwalker.com
My thoughts:
In If You Know Her, Nia is on a mission to find answers to her cousin’s murder.  Even if the man that they said killed her is dead and buried.  Something is still not sitting well with her.  Nia’s gut is telling her that something is still very, very wrong. But what price is Nia willing to pay to get the answers she seeks?
Law has been fantasizing about Nia since the moment he laid eyes on her, even though they didn’t meet under the best of circumstances.   Now she is back, but he has no idea why.  When Law learns why Nia is back, he is willing to do anything in his power to help her, protect her, as long as she promises to stay with him.
This was a disturbingly good book.  If You Know Her is the final book in Shiloh Walker’s Ash trilogy. We finally learn who the killer is and a little about what makes the killer tick. Throughout this whole trilogy I had my guesses of who the killer might be.  Boy was I wrong!!!  When I learned who, I was shocked to say the least.  Why the killer did what the killer did was beyond disturbing.  The lengths the killer goes to, to cover up the crimes is unbelievable. 
I have REALLY enjoyed this whole trilogy, but If You Know Her has to be my favorite out of the three books.  I loved that Law finally gets a small piece of happiness.  That we also get to see the main characters from If You Hear Her and If You See Her and find out how they are doing.  Shiloh did a great job on this whole series.  Shiloh kept me guessing the whole time and completely disturbed me with how the killer went out their business. 
If you love a good romantic suspense story you really need to check out Shiloh Walker’s Ash Trilogy.  
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Review of Time Slice by Kerry Downing


Time Slice
By Kerry Downing
Amazon  | B&N | Kindle  |Nook  | Smashwords
Ordinary People. Extraordinary Adventures. Science Fiction with Heart.
Newly retired workaholic Roy Washburn is not ready for a life of leisure. On a trip to the mall with his wife, he finds a small metal cylinder with odd markings. One nudge of the cylinder’s triangle-shaped pointer and Roy finds himself embarking on an exciting new adventure in the Time Stream.
There he meets The Traveler, a tall, gangly being who shows Roy how to use the cylinder to visit other civilizations that co-exist on “his” Earth, each occupying a different, thin Time Slice. The Traveler solicits Roy’s help in recovering an object invented by his murdered father and beyond his own reach. Roy is his last hope.
At first it seems that the Traveler’s wish might be easily granted. But after Roy’s wife Emily becomes ill and his daughter’s long-held resentments rise to the surface, he can no longer “travel” at a moment’s notice. He also discovers the very real physical and mental risks involved in roaming the Time Stream.
Despite the dangers, Roy is determined to help the Traveler. But he can’t do it alone. Fortunately he has a loving wife and a core group of loyal friends. But first he must convince them–and his daughter–that he isn’t crazy …
My thoughts:
This was a hard book for me to review.  I am not an overly huge sci-fi fan.  So I struggled with whether I liked or disliked this book.  I think I came to the conclusion that it was just okay for me.    I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the story at times really didn’t keep my attention.   I will chalk this all up to the fact that I am not a sci-fi fan.   I think the idea behind the story was good.  The characters all had their moments that I enjoyed them.  But in the end it was just okay for me.
If you love Sci-fi I would recommend you checking out Kerry’s book.  If you are not, well I won’t say don’t read it because everyone has their own opinion.   I would tell you please read the other reviews of the people that loved this book and decide for yourself. 
Kerry Downing’s Bio:
Kerry Downing set out to become a meteorologist, but was hooked by the world of computers instead, becoming a systems analyst and programmer. Astronomy and science fiction are his passions. He’s been gazing at the stars at all hours of the night since the age of 10, when he received his first telescope. As for science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke and his brand of “it really seems as if it could happen” has always been his favorite. In the 90s, Kerry found the third love of his life: his wife, Lucy. They live in St. Louis, Missouri, with their five children. Time Slice is Kerry’s second science-fiction novel. His self-published, debut work is The Collective.
Author Website | Author Twitter | Author Blog  |
Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook | Time Slice Blog Tour Site
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My review of Changeling Dawn by Dani Harper

Changeling Dawn
by Dani Harper

RUN

Shadow and moonlight merge beneath her bare feet, the forest floor
blurring as she flees the dogs and torches. Werewolf, monster — those are
the names given her kind by the humans who hate them.

HUNT

Kenzie Macleod has spent her whole life hiding what she is, and she’s not
about to open up to any man, even one as powerfully attractive as wildlife
expert Josh Talarkoteen. But legend says that a Changeling cannot escape
the call of her true mate, even in the wilderness of backcountry Alaska.

MATE

An isolated archeological site, a terrified Changeling cub, a secretive
research center — as Kenzie and Josh face the ultimate betrayal, his
obsidian eyes promise untold pleasure and hint at dark secrets of his own.

My thoughts:
Kenzie went through a terrible trauma as a child and has never fully recovered.  She has now dedicated her life to prevent this from happening to anyone else.  But in turn she has isolated herself from everyone but her family.  Kenzie is a loner and wants to keep it that way.  But fate has other plans.
Josh has suffered his own trauma in his life too.  But unlike Kenzie, Josh has tried to face his fears and is willing to move forward.  A chance meeting on the side of the road will change everything for these two.
Both are running from the ghosts that are chasing them.  But when an innocent girl becomes involved both Kenzie and Josh have to face their fears in order to save her. 
I loved Kenzie and Josh.  Poor Kenzie has no idea the changes that are coming her way and BOY does she fight them.   Kenzie and Josh banter so much it is was really fun to read.  Both are stubborn, determined and absolutely perfect for each other.
This was my first book by Dani Harper and even thought it was book three of the series, I didn’t feel that I was missing anything from the previous books.  Changeling Dawn can be read as a stand-alone book.  But I would recommend reading the first to books.  I know I am going to go back and read Changeling Moon and Changeling Dream. 
If you have not picked up any of the Changeling books I would highly recommend you get started on this series. 
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Review of In the Service of the King

In the Service of the King
By Laura Kaye
Kael, Warrior King of the Vampires, loathes the Night of the Proffering. He needs the blood of either his mate or a human virgin to maintain his strength, but hasn’t enjoyed the ritual since he lost his mate centuries ago. Kael doesn’t want a new companion, yet his resolve is tested when he lays eyes on his new offering, Shayla McKinnon. He is drawn to Shayla’s beauty and poise…and the submission she offers. She is eager to give him anything he wishes, including her innocence, to please him. Will Kael give in to their overwhelming desire–even if it means risking Shayla’s life?
My Thoughts:
Shayla has been working hard to find a way to avenge her sister’s murder.  Finally finds that way, in the King of Vampires.  She just never imagined how much it would change her life.
Kael is just doing what he has to do to survive and have his people survive.  But the last thing he wants to do is feed.  But one look into Shayla’s mismatched eyes everything changes.
I liked this story, but didn’t love it.  I was hoping for a little more action.  Maybe a rescue scene or two, but at last it was not to happen.   I really wished this story was long.  It felt a little rushed to me.  I felt like there was more to the story that was not told.  Maybe Laura is planning another story for these two.  I would like to know what happens next for them.  Does Shayla get the revenge she seeks?  Does Kael keep his family and people safe?  So many questions. 
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Review of Crave the Night

Crave the Night
This collection of novellas features paranormal pairings romance readers will pine for. Vampires, demons, werewolves, faeries and even a mermaid will satisfy the darkest of cravings.
ENEMY EMBRACE
by Patti O’Shea
When vampire hunter Nicole Ruiz nearly loses her life to a powerful vampire, she offers an alliance to her rescuer, a demon name Daktan. Demons might be an enemy, but she’d make a deal with the devil himself if that’s what it took to avenge her family.
ONE SOUL TO SHARE
by Lori Devoti
Mermaid, Sarina Neri, is desperate to regain her sister’s soul. The sea spirit who has it wants a man who can survive in her realm, underwater, in exchange. Fortunately, Sarina has found such a man, vampire Nolan Moore. Unfortunately, Nolan wants the soul too, for himself.
CRUEL ENCHANTMENT
by Michele Hauf
Investigating the vicious werewolf blood games, vampire Revin Parker struggles with his attraction to the faery informant, Sabrina Kriss. Six months earlier she had cursed him with an addiction to faery dust. Can they risk the desire that demands they fall in love with the one who could become their worst nightmare?
HIDDEN
by Sharon Ashwood
Rafe returns to the Devries werewolf pack to rescue his people from a scheming fey beauty. Pitting his will against her wits, he plans to seduce his way free of the ice queen’s trap. But surrender means death for the fey, and little does Rafe know that he’s gambling with more than hearts…
My Thoughts:
I loved this anthology.  I know some people don’t like anthologies, but I do.  I think it is a great way to find new authors.  Although I do have to say that does drive me nuts when I read one of the stories hoping that it is part of a series only to find it is a stand-alone story.  I won’t give anything away since each is a short story… But do know that I enjoyed all four stories very, very much.
If you are looking for 4 great novellas by 4 great authors I would highly recommend you picking up a copy of Crave the Night.
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My review of Hot Secrets by Lisa Renee Jones

Hot Secrets
By Lisa Renee Jones
Book 1 in the Tall, Dark & Deadly series
The Walker Brothers…
Tall, dark, and deadly, these three brothers run Walker security. Each brother is unique in his methods and skills, but all share key similarities. They are passionate about those they love, relentless when fighting for a cause they believe in, and all believe that no case is too hard, no danger too dark. Dedication is what they deliver, results are their reward.
Book 1 HOT SECRETS:
Royce Walker, a former FBI Agent, who’s opened a private security firm with his brothers, has always had the hots for the prim, proper Assistant District Attorney, but considered her hands off because of a family connection. However, when danger threatens Lauren, he isn’t willing to stand by and watch her get hurt. Now the passion for survival is only rivaled by the passion burning between them. And that passion, might just be the death of them both.
My Thoughts:
The Walker Brothers are to die for yummy.  Who doesn’t like a set of brothers who are tough, good looking and willing to put their life on the line to protect others.
In Hot Secrets (book 1 in the Tall, Dark & Deadly series) we are introduced to Royce Walker, the oldest Walker Brother and attorney Lauren Reynolds.  Royce has been hired to look into threats against Lauren’s life.  But he can’t tell Laruen that he has been hired to protect or who hired him.
Once Royce meets Lauren face to face he finds that he wants more than just to protect her, he just plan wants her.  Royce is willing to go to any lengths to keep Lauren safe from anyone who may want to hurt her.  But who is going to protect his heart from Lauren?
This was a great book.  I am really enjoying the romantic suspense genre these days.  Lisa does a wonderful job of always keeping me guessing about who is the bad guy in this book.  I am normally pretty good at guessing who done it.   I didn’t want to put this book down until I got to the very end.  And I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.  
Thanks you Lisa for writing such a wonderful story and thank you for allowing me to read and review this story for you.
♥
Kelly 
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ARC review of Enraptured by Elisabeth Naughton

Enraptured
Eternal Guardians, Book 4
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
April 3, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781402262128
ISBN-10: 1402262124
Read an Excerpt »
Order Here:
Amazon |Barnes & Noble | B-A-M | Borders | Chapters |IndieBound | Powell’s
ORPHEUS—To most he’s an enigma, a devil-may-care rogue who does whatever he pleases whenever he wants. Now this loose cannon is part of the Eternal Guardians­—elite warriors assigned to protect the human realm—whether he likes it or not.
Orpheus has just one goal: to rescue his brother from the Underworld. He’s not expecting a woman to get in the way. Especially not a Siren as gorgeous as Skyla. He has no idea she’s an assassin sent by Zeus to seduce, entrap, then ultimately destroy him.
Yet Skyla herself might have the most to lose. There’s a reason Orpheus feels so familiar to her, a reason why her body seems to crave him. Perhaps he’s not the man everyone thinks… The truth could reveal a deadly secret as old as the Eternal Guardians themselves.
My thoughts:
Enraptured is book 4 in Elisabeth Naughton’s Eternal Guardian series.  I really, really enjoyed this story.  Orpheus is such a bad boy, well he thinks he is just bad.    ‘O’ thinks that he doesn’t need anyone.  That he is so bad that no one could ever need him.  Boy is he wrong on all accounts.  Everyone around him can see the good in him, but getting ‘O’ to see that is another story.  It will take a very stubborn, strong and determined woman to open his eyes.

Skyla is not sure she wants to do her job anymore, but she knows she needs to keep going.  Skyla is willing to take on a least one more assignment before she makes her decision. But this mission becomes more then she can handle when you touches the man she has been sent to kill.

Orpheus & Skyla are combustible together.  I LOVED this book!!!  ‘O’ is such a big softy even if he will never admit it to himself.  I loved to watch his struggle with this very fact.  Skyla is such a kickass heroine.  My only fault with her is she lied to Orpheus. But with out the lie there would not have been as much drama.  Darn me for loving the drama of it all. 

If you are a fan of Elisabeth and her Eternal Guardian series you will love Enraptured.  If you have not started this series you really need to. 

Now I am so looking forward the next book in Elisabeth’s book in this series.  Enslaved, scheduled for release November 2012. 
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Review of Gifts from the Past by Liz Borino

Gifts from the Past
Book 3 in the Taylor Twin Series
By Liz Borino
Following Expectations and What Money Can’t Buy, the third novel in the Taylor Twins series, Gifts from the Past, finds the twins, Chris and Matt Taylor, immersed in the greatest challenges of their lives—parenthood. Chris and Aiden are raising their adopted daughter and their special needs son, who struggles with physical and emotional challenges daily. Matt, on the other hand, has a beautiful and happy baby girl. However, his fiancée, Carley, has gone from overemotional to abusive and Matt needs to decide his best course of action. When Ally, Chris’s college girlfriend, comes back into the twins’ lives, everything becomes complicated. Especially for Matt.
Gifts from the Past is a novel redefining love, family, loyalty, and ultimately survival. Sometimes, taking the best from your past moves you forward through the present, creating a brighter future for you and your family.
My thoughts:
Gifts from the Past is book 3 in the Taylor Twin series.  Gifts from the Past takes us back into the life of the Taylor twins and not everything is rosy and good.  Chris and Matt find themselves both learning to struggle with all of life’s twists and turns of parenthood, marriage and betrayal.
I have loved the Taylor twins from the very first book.  Chris and Matt just want the happy life they never had as kids.  But each step of the way fate is throwing them curve balls.
Liz, does a wonderful job of taking the twins and their families to the edge of disaster and back.  If you have not read this series you really should.  But I will say for those who don’t like m/m relationships one of the main relationships in this series is m/m.  But Liz does the m/m relationship beautifully.  
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ARC review of Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves 
By Kristina McMorris
Amazon | B&N | Powell’s  | Books-a-Million  

Loyalites tested in a country divided…
Los Angeles, 1941. Violinist Maddie Kern’s life seemed destined to unfold with the predictable elegance of a Bach concerto. Then she fell in love with Lane Moritomo. Her brother’s best friend, Lane is the handsome, ambitious son of Japanese immigrants. Maddie was prepared for disapproval from their families, but when Pearl Harbor is bombed the day after she and Lane elope, the full force of their decision becomes apparent. In the eyes of a fearful nation, Lane is no longer just an outsider, but an enemy.

When her husband is interned at a war relocation camp, Maddie follows, sacrificing her Juilliard ambitions. Behind barbed wire, tension simmers and the line between patriot and traitor blurs. As Maddie strives for the hard-won acceptance of her new family, Lane risks everything to prove his allegiance to America, at tremendous cost.

My thoughts:

WOW!!!!  This was a GREAT book.

First I have to say to Kristina “I forgive you” 
Okay back to the review.
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves is such an emotional book.  When you think it can’t get any worst it does.  Kristina does a wonderful of sucking us into the world that she has created.  A world that revolves around a set of kids and one horrible event.  Pearl Harbor.  It is truly amazing how people were treated back then.  The struggle that these kids have to go through on a daily basis makes me realize that we should all be thankful for the things we have in our life.
I loved every page of this book.  Yes, Kristina every page!!!
Kristina thank you so very much for allowing me to read and review your book for you.  I look forward to see what you come up with next.
If you love historical I would HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this book!!! Oh and please have some tissues. 
Want to learn more about Kristina?  Find her here
http://www.kristinamcmorris.com/
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my review of Tempted by Blood by Laurie London.

Tempted by Blood
Book 3 in the Sweetblood Series
Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the battle for supremacy rages on between two Vampire coalitions:

Guardian enforcers sworn to protect humanity, and Darkbloods, rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors….

He might be known for his effortless charm, but Guardian Jackson Foss is hiding a terrible secret. For months, he has battled the emergence of his dark nature—deadly urges that threaten to consume him. And those cravings only intensify when he meets Arianna Wells, the human he’s been assigned to protect. Smart and perceptive, Arianna doesn’t seem like a dangerous temptress. Yet she awakens in Jackson an unstoppable need that, if left unchecked, will brand him a traitor…a crime punishable by death.

But soon their bond may be Arianna’s only hope. For stalking her in the shadows is a merciless enemy—one who will stop at nothing to claim her completely….

My Thoughts:
Jackson is the playboy, extreme bad boy of the group but he has been keeping secrets from this team mates.  Secrets that once exposed could get him killed.  But in order to save the ones he loves he will put everything on the line.
Arianna has always known that there are monsters hiding in the shadows, because she watched those shadows kill her mother.  When Arianna learns the truth of these monsters she will have to learn to trust the one thing that she has feared all her life.
OH, How I loved Jackson’s story.  I just love when the bad boy gets taken down a notch or two by the woman that they are going to fall in love with.  It is so much fun to watch them fall, and boy do they fall hard.   Jackson & Arianna are great together.  And Jackson is a man with many talents and a few surprises I never saw coming.
This was another wonderful book from the uber talented Laurie London.  If you enjoyed the first two books in the Sweetbloods series, Tempted by Blood will not let you down.  
I am looking forward to book 4 now, scheduled for release summer 2012
HUGE thank you to Laurie for allowing me to read and review Jackson’s book, I have only been begging for Jackson’s book since I finished Alfonso’s book.  
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Review of Heart Ache by Morgan Kearns

Book 1 in the Bound by Touch series
One Touch
 Gabrielle Ryan felt an electric attraction to her new employer the first time he reached out and shook her hand. She dreams of him, fantasizes about him, but all Nikolai wants is an assistant—and to Gabby’s chagrin, it’s not to assist him with taking off his pants!
One Beat
 An ache has inhabited Nikolai Voinea’s chest for the last four hundred years. Yet stubbornly resolute not to repeat his father’s mistakes, Nikolai refuses to take the one female who is his heart’s greatest desire.
Captures His Heart Forever
 When murder charges make Gabby second guess everything she knows about him, she’s hurt and angry and determined to walk away. But Nikolai’s just as determined to do everything within his power to keep her.
My Thoughts:
Nikolai will do anything for the woman he loves.  Even give her away to marry someone else.  But if given the chance to love her he will never let her go.

Gabrielle has had a huge crush on her boss for the last three years.  But now she is engaged to someone else.  But if Nikolai would just say the words would she change her mind or is it too late?

Nikolai is stubborn to a fault.  I wanted to slap him upside the head at times.  But finally, FINALLY he does something.  But it may be too late.

Heart Ache is book one in Morgan’s Bound by Touch series and WOW!!  This was a really good book.  There is so much emotional turmoil happening both good and bad.  And let me tell you the bad is really, really BAD!!!!!  But just like any good romance novel there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

I can’t wait to see what Morgan has in store for us next in this series.   

Thank you to Morgan for allowing me to read and review your story.