Kelly reviews Stripped With The Vampire by Jax Garren

TITLE: Stripped with the Vampire
SERIES #: Austin Immortals #1
CHARACTERS: Charlie & Vince
AUTHOR: Jax Garren
PUBLICATION DATE: March 11, 2015
ORDER LINKS:Amazon | B&N (coming soon)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In a world of dark spells and blood ties where no one is safe, love is the most powerful magic of all.
Shy vampire Charlie never intended to see Vince again after the bad boy human broke his heart. But when Vince turns up beaten and marked for sacrifice to an Aztec God, Charlie will do anything keep him safe.

Vince has never forgiven himself for the lie that ended things with Charlie. The spark between them is as hot as ever, and Vince would risk body and soul to make it a fire again. But as they hide deeper in Austin’s supernatural society—a world of lies, dark magic, and warring immortals—he finds the path to reconciliation more twisted than he’s ever imagined.

REVIEW:
**Warning**
This is a m/m romance so if you don’t like reading this genre I would stop here.

Stipping the Vampire was a good story. I don’t normally read m/m romances but I did enjoy Charlie & Vince’s story. I enjoyed the crazy world that Ms. Garren has created of vampires (both good and totally messed up). There was so much going on in this story. Myths, legends, crazy people, love, longing and an uncertain future.

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

February 23, 2015February 22, 2015

Kelly reviews Accidentally Demonic by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Accidentally Demonic
SERIES #: Accidentals #4
CHARACTERS: Clayton Gunnersson & Casey Schwartz
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
NARRATOR: Meredith Mitchell
RUNTIME: 10 hours & 49 Minutes
AUDIO PUBLICATION DATE: May 30, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The devilish new novel from the national bestselling author of The Accidental Human

When mild-mannered Casey Schwartz wakes up in jail, she has no memory of how she got there. But after her sister, Wanda, bails her out, Casey has more to deal with than a foggy memory-like abrupt mood swings and fireballs shooting from her fingertips. But things really head south when a vampire shows up on her doorstep…

Vampire Clayton Gunnersson is seriously hot. And seriously taken-by a demon. In a ritual gone wrong, Clayton tried to get rid of his unwanted bond, but spilled some demonic blood on Casey, getting her possessed in the process. Now, Casey has to share her body and manage to keep her growing attraction to Clayton in check, because falling for her demon’s boyfriend just might get Casey killed-from the inside out.

REVIEW:
In Accidentally Demonic we get to finally met Wanda long lost sister Casey. Unfortunately it begins with Casey calling Wanda from jail. But that is just the beginning of Casey’s problems. Seems Casey has a little problem with fireballs, floating, horns and a very hot vampire.

Clayton has been living a lie for years. Okay more like centuries. But when he thinks has a way to rid himself of his demons he jumps at it. Sadly, things didn’t go according to plan. Now Clay’s problems include the cute Casey Schwartz.

Another fun book from Ms. Cassidy. I really liked Casey and Clay’s story. At times the story was a little slow. And there were a few times that I thought to myself “What why is this happening?” or “When did that rule change?” But as the story went on I did get my questions answered. Looking forward to the next story in this series.

As always Ms. Mitchell does a great job. My only issue with this audio version was there was a lot of yelling that does not translate very well.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this audiobook from Audible.com and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 19, 2015February 15, 2015

Kelly reviews One Grave At A Time by Jeaniene Frost

TITLE: One Grave At A Time
SERIES #: Night Huntress #6
CHARACTERS: Cat & Bones
AUTHOR: Jeaniene Frost
PUBLICATION DATE: Aug 30, 2011
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans’ voodoo queen just keeps on giving-leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

REVIEW:
Cat is still having some after effects from her involvement in the ghouls vs vampire war. The war might be over and it might look like things are quieting down for Cat & Bones, but that is far from reality. Cat is asked to help hunt down a ghost who likes to kill. This killer might prove to be the trickiest yet and how far is Cat willing to go to save his next victims?

This was not my favorite Cat & Bones book. But I am guessing that this book was intended as a build up to the next book. None the less any time with Cat, Bones and their friends is always worth the trip.

Disclaimer:
This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

January 26, 2015January 24, 2015

Kelly reviews Bound By Flame by Jeaniene Frost

TITLE: Bound by Flame
SERIES #: Night Prince #3
CHARACTERS: Vlad & Leila
AUTHOR: Jeaniene Frost
PUBLICATION DATE: January 27, 2015
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Play with fire, pay the price.

Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…

Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both

REVIEW:
WOW!!!!
Being back in Vlad’s world is always a hair raising adventure. The beginning of this book was gut wrenching and heart breaking. And I had a very difficult time with parts of the story, until…… Well I can’t tell you that it would ruining the story for you.
Vlad is just as deadly and dreamy as always. Leila is amazing and tough as always. Vlad & Leila are a force that no one should ever mess with. There are so many ups and downs that I didn’t know where, how or who was going to make it out alive. There were quite a few surprises along the way too. Some were good, some not so much and some made you wonder is some of the secondary characters will get stories.
Loved this book. Love this world. Love Vlad & Leila. Love Ms. Frost and her storytelling abilities. Only thing I hate? Is having to wait until next year to get the fourth and final book in this series.
If you are a fan of Ms. Frost you will love this book. If you are new to this series. I would suggest reading Cat & Bones series first. But you could start with Once Burned (book one in the Night Prince series.

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

January 2, 2015December 27, 2014

Kimberly reviews The Quick And The Undead by Kimberly Raye

TITLE: The Quick and The Undead
SERIES #: Tombstone, Texas
CHARACTERS: Riley & Boone
AUTHOR: Kimberly Raye
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/31/14
ORDER LINKS:Amazon|B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to Tombstone, Texas, where anything is possible, even your wildest fantasy. Once a haven to outlaws, Tombstone is now a tourist town that gives travelers a taste of the old West. What visitors don’t realize, however, is that the super-hot cowboys, gunslingers, and lawmen walking the streets aren’t actors—they’re originals. These ancient vampires claimed Tombstone two centuries ago.

So step right up, folks, and book your trip today! The outlaws of Tombstone will be waiting . . .

Travel blogger Riley Davenport loves her job, travelling to the most exotic places in the world. Even better, it keeps her one step ahead of her stalking ex. The last thing she wants in her life is a strong alpha male. But that’s exactly what she gets when she comes face-to-face with Sheriff Boone Jarrett, a hero right out of her most erotic fantasies.

Boone isn’t just the law in Tombstone, Texas. He’s also an ancient vampire and the target of a crazed killer. He certainly doesn’t have time for romance. But a temporary fling? Now that he can handle.

Unfortunately, their first night together ends in disaster when Riley witnesses a murder. And to protect her, Boone forces her into hiding. Only her “captivity” ends up becoming the realization of her wildest, most carnal fantasies. Still, Riley’s not going to fall for him, at least that’s what she tells herself.

But as she gets to know him—the man and the vampire—she starts to wonder if she can hold out . . .

REVIEW:
This book had so much potential but it just didn’t meet up to it. I wanted to enjoy it. I mean what a great concept about original outlaw cowboys being vampires and now running a vacation spot to save their land. I really like the idea and if the story had been through a revision or two (or three) I think it would have worked.

First the good. The characters are interesting. Riley and Boone have an instant connection that continues throughout the whole book. The relationship between Tag and Belle is adorable and I look forward to hearing more about them. There was a bit of suspense. But I think some of the suspense was dropped without much-ado. I mean we heard so much about Phil and then he never shows up. So much could have happened to add to the story if he had shown up as well as the vampire who was there causing trouble.

Now the bad. The thing that drove me the craziest is how many times things were repeated. I mean you don’t need to tell the reader a half a dozen times that Riley had no childhood because of her father. We got it. Over and over we heard about her ex and how he was. Again we got it. And Boone’s father issues were repeated so many times I wanted to slap and tell him he was a outlaw get over it. And finally the fact that each time a character was mentioned we had to be told what he/she was (gunslinger/thief/etc). Maybe in the beginning but not every time.

I have to say usually at the end of vampire books something happens to the non-vampire causing the vampire to have to turn his/her love and they un-live happily ever after. Well that didn’t happen and it left me hanging. I mean what happens now? Will Riley eventually be turned? Will he only have her a few decades and then he moves on? What? BTW: I will never complain about the typical ending happening ever again.

As I said this book had a lot of potential and I wish it had actually met it.

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

December 10, 2014December 8, 2014

Kelly’s interesting interview with Zane from Marked by Rebecca Zanetti’s + a giveaway

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have Zane from Rebecca Zanetti Marked on the blog today. MARKED is the last book in Ms. Zanetti Dark Protector’s series. While I am so very sad to see this series come to an end, but I am excited to finally learn more about Zane. There have been so many questions about what and who Zane is. And how he will help or hinder the Janie Kayrs. So let’s see if we can get some information from Zane so we can figure out what he is. But before we do that let’s take a quick look at MARKED.

Marked

Dark Protectors #7

Amazon| B&N

Janie Kayrs has known Zane almost her whole life. He was her friend in the dream world. She trusted him. But that was before he kidnapped her, spiriting her away to an isolated cabin to learn what her dreams never told her. Like how dangerous he looks. How he got on the wrong side of the negotiating table. And how much sexier he is in real life…

Zane is a battle-hardened warrior, used to command and solitude. But Janie has drawn him from the minute they met. His need for her could destroy everything he’s worked for, but the risk is too sweet not to take it. They call her the Chosen One. But when it comes down to the questions of peace or war, life or death, safety or passion, it will be Janie who makes the choice.

*****

Now on to the interview.

Kelly: Hi Zane, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses

Zane: Ah, Hi, Kelly. I’m new to the interview scene, so go easy on me, will you? J

Kelly: Thank you for taking time away from your busy……. schedule to sit down with me to take to talk about…. well you.

Zane: Sure. Not much is going on right now besides war, world catastrophe, and my unsettled love life.

Kelly: Okay I have to ask because everyone wants to know. What are you?

Zane: Just a regular guy, I think. I mean, I’m a soldier and part vampire, but really, I’m just a normal soldier with maybe a couple of secrets thrown in. I like beer, football, inventing new weapons. You know. Normal guy stuff.

Kelly: Okay *thinks to self: so that didn’t work* How about a game of 20 questions?

Zane: I do love a good game. Usually when I win, I take over a continent, though.

Kelly: Sounds good.

Zane: All right – shoot them my way.

Kelly: Questions #1: What is your favorite color?

Zane: Blue – the exact color of Janie’s eyes.

Kelly: Questions #2: Do you have any magical powers?

Zane: Yes.

Kelly: Questions #3: Who is your favorite person in the whole world?

Zane: Janie Belle Kayrs would have to be number one. But I also like my brothers, usually. Their names are Sam and Logan.

Kelly: Questions #4: What are you?

Zane: Just a regular guy.

Kelly: Questions #5: Who is your least favorite person in the world?

Zane: I’d have to say Kalin, who’s a Kurjan, is probably my least favorite person. It’s hard to completely hate him, though. We’ve known each other since we were kids, and even when you don’t like somebody, there’s a type of bond you get with people you’ve known forever, you know? I hope I don’t have to kill him, but to save Janie, I may have to. I’m prepared.

Kelly: Questions #6: How tall are you?

Zane: Last time I checked, I was about 6’6.

Kelly: Questions #7: Do you drink blood?

Zane: I’m part vampire, so I do drink blood during battle or maybe during sex. We don’t need blood to survive and can make our own. I plan on biting Janie, just so you know.

Kelly: Questions #8: Do you dream walk with anyone except Janie?

Zane: No. Well, Kalin shows up sometimes, but Janie’s the draw for us both. Kalin and I have never met in the dream world without Janie.

Kelly: Questions #9: What are you?

Zane: A realist. I enjoy the romances throughout the Realm, but really? I don’t see myself having a happy ending. Of course, I hope I’m wrong about that.

Kelly: Questions #10: Tell me your favorite thing about Janie?

Zane: She’s smart as hell and a complete smartass. The smartass part is just a cover-up to keep everyone around her calm. She really has a huge heart, and she’s incredibly fragile but has no clue how true that is. Fate and destiny weigh heavily on her, and I have a feeling she’s about to meet both. She’ll win, though. She has to.

Kelly: Questions #11: Football or Basketball?

Zane: Football. I have two brothers, and we like to hit things.

Kelly: Questions #12: What do you do for a living?

Zane: I’m a soldier and a pretty damn good assassin. That weighs on me, to be honest.

Kelly: Questions #13: How much can you deadlift?

Zane: Two vampires and a Kurjan.

Kelly: Questions #14: What are you?

Zane: A guy about to make a move to get the woman I’ve loved for years. That makes me more dangerous than I’ve ever been, but I’m okay with that now.

Kelly: Questions #15: If you could go anywhere in the world for one night where would you go?

Zane: Well, okay. Don’t tell anybody, but I do have a retreat in the wilds of Alaska where I just get away from everybody and everything once in a while. I love that place.

Kelly: Questions #16: Whom would you take with you on the one night?

Zane: Janie Belle Kayrs, but she’d probably be mad if I kidnapped her. Not that I kidnap her or anything. Really. Trust me. J

Kelly: Questions #17: Whom do you work for?

Zane: If I told you who I worked for, I’d have to make sure you couldn’t tell anybody else, and I don’t know of any nice way to do that. So let’s just say I do have a job, and it’s bloody.

Kelly: Questions #18: Naughty or Nice?

Zane: Naughty. Life is too short for Nice.

Kelly: Questions #19: What are you?

Zane: Who are any of us? I guess it’d depend who you asked as to who I am. I’ve got friends, I’ve got enemies, and I’ve got Janie Belle Kayrs. Whether she considers herself friend or enemy, I don’t know yet. But I do know that she’s mine, so we’ll have to figure it all out, won’t we?

Kelly: Questions #20: Okay fine. Final question Boxers or Briefs?

Zane: Who has time for either?

Kelly: Okay seriously Zane, Off the record. What are you?

Zane: Okay, seriously. Off the record. Read MARKED. At the end of Chapter 1, both you and Janie will know exactly what I am. Let’s hope you’re not as pissed as Janie is. I do have a plan, you know.

For my first interview, this is been a lot of fun. To celebrate, I’d love to give away a print copy of FATED, the first book in the Dark Protector series, to a commenter here. Kelly will randomly draw a name. Just so you know, the book is about Talen Kayrs, who’s Janie’s father. The first time I met him, it, ah, didn’t go so well.

Here’s the blurb:

The damn earth ground to a stop. A weapon hit the pavement a yard away. Dage Kayrs’s eyes widened, and Moira Kayrs gasped.

Zane sighed and focused just as a locomotive the size of Talen Kayrs tackled him midsection, throwing him ten yards and landing hard on his chest. Zane’s head crashed onto the asphalt. Stars exploded behind his eyeballs, and unbearable pain cut into his brain. He tried to concentrate, to say something, when a fist plowed into his face.

Unconsciousness was a fucking blessing.

*****

To Enter: Please leave a question or comment for Ms. Zanetti.
Winner will be picked on Dec 15th.

October 31, 2014October 26, 2014

Kelly reviews Accidentally Dead by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Accidentally Dead
SERIES #: Accidentals #2
CHARACTERS: Greg Statleon & Nina Blackman
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
NARRATOR: Meredith Mitchell
PUBLICATION DATE: July 1, 2008 (Audio: May, 13, 2014)
RUN TIME: 10 Hour & 35 Minutes
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A vampire puts the bite on a dental assistant.

It’s a lousy first day on the job for Nina Blackman when a patient, loopy from the anesthesia, bites her. At least he was cute. But for real drama she can’t beat the next evening. Nina wakes up with a set of razor-sharp fangs, bionic vision, supersonic hearing, and a taste for blood. But there’s a good explanation: It’s her patient, Long Island vampire Greg Statleon. Actually they’re perfect for each other if Nina’s willing to commit to one man for eternity.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Nina Blackman is no stranger to the paranormal. Not after the wild ride she went on with her friend Marty. But waking up as a vampire is too much for Nina. She is determined to find a way to become human again. Now to find the vampire who turned her.

This was another great story from Ms. Cassidy. I enjoyed Nina’s crazy story. I will say that I didn’t care much for Nina and her smart mouth in The Accidental Werewolf (bk 1). But as Accidentally Dead went on I really grew to like Nina. There is a whole lot more to Nina then just her tough guy act and her smart-ass mouth. And Greg!! Greg is the perfect solution for Nina. Beyond perfect! I love their fights and make ups. I love that Nina always has one more questions. I can’t wait to see these two in future books.

I am looking forward to book 3 Wanda really needs a little HEA!!

I listened to this book on audio. Ms. Mitchell did a great job again bring the characters to life again. I often wonder what narrators think when they are narrating books. I would guess that Ms. Mitchell had a great time being Nina and all her foul mouth and easily angered persona.

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

October 25, 2014October 28, 2014

Dakota Cassidy’s The Accidentals Series

The Accidental Werewolf

Accidentals #1

When Marty Andrews gets bitten by a mangy mutt while walking her teacup poodle, her blond hair darkens, the hair on her legs starts growing at an alarming rate, and her mood swings put her dream job as a sales rep for Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics in serious jeopardy.

Then a drool-worthy man shows up at her door claiming that he accidentally bit Marty. And since he’s a werewolf, she is now, too. Thinking Keegan Flaherty is clearly insane, Marty refuses to believe a word until a kidnapping makes her realize there’s more at stake than just her highlights. And she must put her out-of-control life in the hands of the man who makes her blood run wild in more ways than one…

*****

Accidentally Dead

Accidentals #2

A vampire puts the bite on a dental assistant.

*****

The Accidental Human

Accidentals #3

Immortality bites- new from the author of Accidentally Dead and The Accidental Werewolf.

Wanda Schwartz is raking in the dough selling Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics-and she’s a pro at recruiting new saleswomen. So, she’s shocked when a man comes to one of her in-home parties-a very hot man. Heath Jefferson is sure to put some extra spin into a lot of women’s color wheels.

When Wanda is diagnosed with a terminal illness, it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. With a werewolf and a vampire for best friends, she has options that most ordinary people wouldn’t. As Wanda ponders what to do about her mortality, Heath reveals he has secrets, and one of them is that his former bloodlust has turned into an old-fashioned lust-for Wanda. And he’s already given up too much to lose the love of his lifetimes.

*****

Accidentally Demonic

Accidentals #4

The devilish new novel from the national bestselling author of The Accidental Human

*****

Accidentally Catty

Accidentals #5

A purrr-fectly scintillating new novel from the national bestselling author of Accidentally Demonic.

Katie Woods never thought she’d be forty-one, divorced, and thrust back into the dating world. To start fresh, Katie uproots her veterinary practice to upstate New York-not exactly the hottest dating scene on the planet. But when an unconscious cougar appears at her clinic, Katie’s newly single life gets a much needed jolt of the supernatural kind.

After Katie examines the cougar and leaves him caged overnight, she’s shocked to find a big strapping specimen of young, hot man in its place. And when the scratch she got during the exam results in some unnatural side effects, Katie has more to deal with then her animal attraction to a much younger guy-she has to figure how to stop herself from becoming a cougar of the four-legged variety.

*****

Accidentally Dead, Again

Accidentals #6

He was just looking for a night of fun.

After a wild work-sponsored Halloween party, entomologist Sam McLean wakes up with a spotty memory—and a pointy set of fangs. Sam’s one-night stand wasn’t just dressed as a vampire; she had the bite to match. Somehow, Sam’s unconscious body ends up at the OOPS office, where paranormal crisis counselors Nina, Marty and Wanda give him the down-low on accidentally becoming a creature of the night.

What he got was an eternity of trouble.

Dealing with a newbie like Sam is no easy task, but things get even more crazy when Phoebe Reynolds—a woman who claims to be Nina’s sister—storms into the office and causes a catfight that ends when Phoebe is accidently bitten by Sam’s recently formed fangs. Now, the OOPS girls have two fledgling vamps on their hands, and their powers—and the attraction building between them—are unlike anything they’ve seen before

*****

The Accidental Genie

Accidentals #7

She’s all bottled up.

Jeannie Carlyle is a caterer extraordinaire, more than ready to handle any challenge thrown at her. But when her client asks her to open up a rare bottle of gin for a party, Jeannie is shocked when a guy in poofy pants pops out and she gets sucked inside. Trapped in the bottle, Jeannie does the only thing she can think of and uses her cell phone to search the term “paranormal” and finds the number for OOPS—Out in the Open Paranormal Support.

Until he sets her free.

Werewolf Sloan Flaherty isn’t keen on dealing with distraught women, especially since his sister-in-law Marty basically forced him to man the OOPS phones. But when Jeannie calls in a panic, Sloan is the only one available to find Jeannie’s bottle. After giving it a good rub, Jeannie emerges dressed like a character from Arabian Nights and starts calling Sloan “Master.” Now, they need to figure out how to break their unwanted bond, before the wishes Jeannie can’t stop granting get them into more trouble than even the OOPS girls can handle…

*****

The Accidental Werewolf 2: Something About Harry

Accidentals #8

He’s in a furry situation.

Accountant Harry Ralph Emerson has always been a by-the-numbers kind of guy. But when he finds himself trapped at work sprouting an obscene amount of hair, he knows his odds for maintaining normalcy are zero to none. After a frantic internet search, Harry goes through the OOPS—Out in the Open Paranormal Support—checklist and comes to a disheartening conclusion: He’s turning into a werewolf and he needs help ASAP.

She might be the only solution.

Werewolf Mara Flaherty has long carried a torch for Pack Cosmetics’s sexy single accountant, even after her attempt to seduce him went down in flames. When her sister-in-law, Marty, shows up to handle Harry’s OOPS emergency, she tasks Mara with showing the hirsute hottie the ropes. But Mara knows Harry’s condition is a result of her lab experiment gone wrong—and the previously mild-mannered object of her affection is about to give her a piece of his mind…

*****

The Accidental Dragon

Accidentals #9

From national bestselling author Dakota Cassidy comes the latest in a series that “gets better and better with each book” (Bitten By Books).
Firefighter McAllister “Mick” Malone knows he has a protective streak, especially when it comes to his deceased best friend’s sister, Tessa. But after twenty-five years of verbal sparring, Mick can’t help but notice that their recent arguments have started to feel a lot like foreplay. And while Tessa knows exactly what to say to get him going, Mick is thrown for a loop when he actually starts breathing fire.

Antique-store owner Tessa Preston has loved Mick Malone since she was ten years old—not that she’d ever admit it. Fighting with Mick is the only thing keeping her from an embarrassing romantic confession, but when the sexy firefighter accidentally ingests some ancient dragon scales masquerading as powdered aspirin, Tessa finds herself handling something much hotter than long-simmering sexual tension…

***
Books:

Audiobook:

September 30, 2014September 28, 2014

Kelly, Jennifer & Kimberly review Chained By Night by Larissa Ione

TITLE: Chained by Nights
SERIES #: MoonBound Clan Vampires #2
CHARACTERS: Hunter & Aylin
AUTHOR: Larissa Ione
PUBLICATION DATE: September 30, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
THE FUTURE OF HIS TRIBE
Leader of the vampire clan MoonBound, Hunter will do what he must to save his people from extinction—or worse, a torturous eternity as vampire slaves and subjects of human experimentation.To keep his enemies at bay, he has agreed to mate a rival clan leader’s daughter in return for peace between the clans and an ally in the looming war with the humans.

THE LOVER OF HIS SOUL
But survival comes at a price. First, Hunter must break an ancient curse by successfully negotiating three deadly tests. Then he must resist the searing passions of the gorgeous vampire warrior he despises but is bound to mate. Will Hunter stay true to his word? Or will he risk everything for the woman he really loves: the vampire seductress’s identical twin sister?

KELLY’S REVIEW:
5 Hearts In Chained by Night we pick up a few months after where we left off in Bound by Night (bk1), with Hunter waiting to be mated to a rival clan’s first daughter. But this is not a mating of love, but one of duty. Even so, Hunter is willing to do what needs to be done to protect his clan. So when Hunter’s intended mate is attacked outside his clan’s walls he runs to her rescue. Once she is safe Hunter is happy to see that she is more than he could have wished for.

Aylin is strong, feisty and determined. Unfortunately, she has been told all her life that she is nothing and noone. But in Chained by Night Aylin learns so much about herself and grows into an amazing person. One of the many things that Alyin learns is that she loves a man that can never be hers.
Rasah is Hunters intended mate. And let me tell you I hate this girl. I mean I wish there was a deep dark hole for her to fall into. Rasah, has no problem taking what she wants no matter who she hurt or what stands in her way. Not even her sister.
This book was Awesome sauce. I honestly don’t think that I have met a Larissa Ione book that I have not fallen in love with. And like all of Ms. Ione’s books, Chained by Night kept me up late at night and turning that next page to see what would happen. If you have not read Bound by Night you need to start there.
I am hoping that Myne’s story will be told next. Although there are many others that need a story too 🙂 Either way I will be very happy for the next book in this series.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
5 Hearts Let me think how to be describe this book… Wonderful? Sure. Maybe Amazing? Sure. Maybe Perfect? Yep that about covers it.

Ione has brought us back into her world of the MoonBound Vampires. The world where everyone knows that vampires exist and are something to be hunted. At the end of the first in the series we told that Hunter was being forced to mate with Rasha for the good of the clan but Hunter had one problem he can’t stand the vampire. But when Hunter meets her identical sister, Aylin, now that is a vampire he could sink his teeth into to (did I just say that?). This world is a bit different then most of the worlds that are written in vampire lore. She also takes some liberties with what we have learned about the “norm” of vampires but those liberties make this story special and she mixes a bit of Native American lore which is a fun twist.

I couldn’t put this book down. I am a huge fan of Ione’s books and love this series. If you have not read any of Ione’s books then you are missing out. Ione is one of the best in the paranormal genre and should not be missed. While this story could (mostly) be read as a stand alone I would not suggest it. Read the first in the series first. It explains why Hunter is being forced to mate with Rasha.

Enjoy… I did!

JENNIFER’S REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts Hunter was a character that had always intrigued me and I definitely wanted to learn more about him when he made his appearance in Bound by Night. In Chained by Night, we learn that Hunter has agreed to mate with the daughter of his mortal enemy to help pacify the volatile relationship between the two clans. What he never expected was that his future mate, Rasha, was a nightmare to be around and that he unexpectedly finds himself attracted to Rasha’s twin sister, Aylin.

A man of his word, Hunter prepares for the mating ceremony, but first, he and his future mate must take part in three deadly trials to save their future first born child. Each born vampire must participate in these trials before the mating ceremony or be destined to lose their future child to a deadly enemy. Rasha declines to participate in these trials but Aylin agrees to take her place, to assist the man that is like no other that she has ever known before. As Hunter’s feelings for Aylin deepen, will he be able to say goodbye to the one woman who has his heart in order to protect the people that he has been his family for so long?

I loved Hunter and Aylin together as a couple in Chained by Night and I was praying that they would find a way to stay together in the end after everything they went through. Hunter had spent most of his life trying to be good man for his clan and even though he didn’t want to be around Rasha, he was willing to make the sacrifice. Meeting Aylin wasn’t what he planned but she was the perfect partner for him. She was smart, humble and was always looking out to help other people. After the horrors that she had been through growing up had made her not only a strong person but a good one as well and she’s become one of my favorite heroines to date. Personally, I would love to smack Rasha with a shovel just because of her attitude and the way she treated Aylin during the course of this book. She made me hate her and because of that, I loved Aylin all the more because she was still able to love her sister even after the things Rasha had done to her.

Chained by Night was an amazing paranormal tale of forbidden love and adventure that will definitely strike a chord with readers. I was swept right along with Hunter and Aylin during their dangerous trials and tribulations to protect the people they loved or die trying. Ms. Ione has always been one of my favorite authors and with each new book, she continues to captivate with her stories of hot, sexy romance and heart-stopping action.

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

September 26, 2014September 26, 2014

Natasha reviews Generation 18 by Keri Arthur

SERIES #: Spook Series #2
CHARACTERS: Sam & Gabriel
AUTHOR: Keri Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: 9/30/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
COUNTDOWN TO CRISIS
A serial killer strikes every twelve hours. A vampire takes lives at random. At first glance, these tragic incidents seem unrelated. But Special Investigations Unit agents Sam Ryan and Gabriel Stern trace them both back to a military base known as Hopeworth. Is the murder spree part of a cover-up? And are the vampire killings less by chance and more methodical?
The investigation takes an eerie, personal turn when Sam discovers a connection between herself and the victims—and a clue to her own mysterious origins. With the violence escalating and the danger drawing closer to home, the stakes are raised and the mission changes from seeking justice to ensuring Sam and Gabriel’s own survival. And the one person who seems to hold all the answers—about Hopeworth, about Sam’s past—is a mystery man she isn’t sure she can trust. They share a psychic link through her dreams, and he once saved her life, but he may just be the greatest enemy humankind has ever known.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Darn you cliff hanger endings!! This was another really strong installment of the Spook series. There are so many questions and so little answers in this second book. Sam is finding keys to her past and it’s pointing in a direction that is so disturbing. She continues to be a great lead character for this series. She’s extremely practical and self-aware, which makes her very likable and strong. Gabriel is just driving me crazy! Someone just needs to slap him on the head a couple of times. Though it does make for great intensity and funny dialogue between the two. We meet more supporting characters in this book, which is really fun. However, trying to keep all of the plot characters in line was difficult for me. There was just so much going on, at times it was hard to follow. The strong story was there for me and I’m completely invested in this series. I cannot wait for book 3, I need to know how all of this ends!

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

September 15, 2014September 15, 2014

Natasha reviews Mind Sweeper by A.E. Jones

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

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

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

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

August 26, 2014August 17, 2014

Natasha reviews Memory Zero by Keri Arthur

TITLE: Memory Zero
SERIES #: The Spook Squad #1
CHARACTERS: Sam & Gabriel
AUTHOR: Keri Arthur
PUBLICATION DATE: 8/26/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
For Sam Ryan, life began at age fourteen. She has no memory of her parents or her childhood. In a decade of service with the State Police, Sam has exhausted the resources of the force searching for clues to her identity. But all mention of her family seems to have been deliberately wiped off the record. Everything changes the night Sam’s missing partner resurfaces as a vampire . . . and forces her to kill him in self-defense. Now Sam is charged with murder. Suspended from the force, and with no one left to trust, Sam accepts some unexpected help from Gabriel Stern, a shapeshifter who conceals startling secrets.
While investigating the circumstances surrounding her partner’s strange behavior, Sam discovers that Gabriel’s been involved with a dangerous organization that’s planning a war on the human race. More immediate, someone is guarding the truth about Sam’s past—someone who’d rather see her dead than risk her knowing too much. To stay alive, Sam must unravel the threads of her past—and find out not only who she is but what she is.

REVIEW:
Can I give this more than 5 stars? I’d sure like to. I read it in one day, and stayed up until 4am to finish because I couldn’t put it down! I have a six month old baby, so sleep is definitely precious to me nowadays, so my forfeit of that tells you how much value I put on this story. I loved this book! I’ve always been a big Keri Arthur fan, and was so excited to see this series. This story had everything: action, tension, infatuation, drama, explosions, prison escapes etc. The character interaction was fabulous, and the supporting characters extremely strong! I particularly enjoy when the characters in the books I read display common sense and these did. It’s really refreshing to see a story unfold without all the unnecessary idiocy of character manipulation. There are so many questions to be answered, and these two are a great team. I sooo want to see more of Sam and Gabriel together and cannot wait for book 2 release!

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