Monthly Archives: December 2012

Kept (Coveted #2) by Shawntelle Madison-a review

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KEPT (Coveted #2) by Shawntelle Madison

KEPT is the second storyline (November 27, 2012 release) in Shawntelle Madison’s paranormal Coveted series. Now that her return to the pack was to be tested, Natalya Stravinsky would have to overcome a few obstacles including her OCDs, a penchant for collecting holiday ornaments and a broken heart that has been five years in the making. But when her father is called in to repay a ‘moon debt’ to another pack, it will be Natalya and her therapy group of supernatural friends that will make right a wrong from so many years ago.

As in the previous storyline, Natalya continues to suffer through a series of emotional disorders that hamper her life as both human and wolf. When her father does not return from repaying a debt, Natalya, along with her brother Alex and pack alpha Thorn will venture into enemy territory. But no sooner do they arrive when Nat must make a decision that could affect everyone she loves. Hoping to save her father’s life, Nat agrees to repay the debt herself and in doing so, has now risked her own life.

Nick continues as Natalya’s therapy buddy as well as something more. As a wizard, it was Nick who was instrumental in helping Natalya when the Long Island Pack wanted to take her life, but now that they are on an adventure to save her father, Nick will profess that his feelings for Nat are more than just friendship. But Nat’s heart has and always will be lost to Thorn, even though he is promised to someone else. I am terrible with the love triangles. I am not a fan. I want everyone to be happy. Love triangles suck!!

Shawntelle once again brings together the many varied and vibrant supernatural friends from therapy. As Heidi continues to struggle with her fear of the ocean, she and Abby, along with Nick will join Natalya as she endeavors to repay her father’s moon debt. But the cargo they must transport is magical and the power emanating from the most unlikely of passengers will help Nat as she keeps her promise for her father.

Throughout the storyline, Thorn continues to send mixed signals to Nat. She has never stopped loving the man who is now the pack alpha, but his betrothal to another has all but shattered her heart. Thorn will reveal the truth behind the nature of the union, and in doing so will admit to Nat the truth. And all too soon, Nat would become the target of a very enraged alpha-female to be, and must accept a fight to the death in order to prove her worthiness.

Shawntelle writes a fast paced, engaging storyline that kept my attention from the very first page. Although at times my heart broke when Natalya’s fears and anxieties would overcome such a young woman, it only made it worse knowing that there were members of her family who believed she wasn’t worth the air that she breathed. Many people suffering rejection and loss will sympathize with the heroine but it was, at times, difficult to read how badly she wanted to fit in and those who professed to be family could destroy her with only a few words-sometimes family need to be shown the door. Shawntelle takes us on an emotional ride that is very reminiscent of many of today’s real-life stories. But I was hoping for Natalya to make some sort of breakthrough.  In fact some of her problems are compounded by her lifestyle decisions.  And the love  triangle is difficult in any storyline. Congratulations on another new release. I hope everyone gets a chance to read the Coveted series by Shawntelle Madison.

ORDER NOW: Amazon / The Book Depository / Books a Million / Barnes and Noble /

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Miss Mistletoe by Erin Knightley – a Review

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Miss Mistletoe by Erin Knightley – a Review

Description:
A Lord’s fortune is forever changed with a kiss on Christmas from a daring young woman…

Finn, Viscount Edgerton, has avoided the London scene to focus solely on digging out from under the pile of debt his father left behind. A decent dowry could make things a hell of a lot easier for the estate, but he hasn’t met the right woman. And he never would have expected her to come in the form of “Miss Mistletoe”—the young woman who stole a kiss at a ball in front of the ton and caused a scandal.

On the eve of her cousin’s wedding, Cece McCrea hardly expects to run into the man who inspired her indiscretion five years ago. This time, she resolves to put aside her childish crush and avoid him altogether. Her will is tested, however, when he pursues her….

Review:
As we are in the month of December, and this is the season to be jolly, I thought I would write a short and quick review on a wonderful regency romance novella by Erin Knightley; which is perfect for the Christmas season….Miss Mistletoe. This story is in between Knightley’s first book, More than a Stranger, and her new release, A Taste for Scandal.  All three books are part of her Sealed With a Kiss series. 

Miss Mistletoe was an enjoyable fun read. It is Christmas time, and Evie and Hastings, our couple from the first book, are getting married. Finn is sitting the night before with Hastings and Richard teasing him about their cousin Cece’s infatuation with him, and the famous kiss under the Mistletoe years ago. Cece will be at the wedding, and Finn plans to avoid her at all costs. 

Cece leaves her father home, since he is blind, and he does not want to travel, as she goes to the wedding. She spots Finn, and hides from him in embarrassment from those early days when she was a teenager.  Of course, as in romance, they are both pushed together, since they both were alone, and they were a matching pair.  To Finn’s surprise, Cece totally ignored him, and he found himself attracted to the now grown up Cece. This was such a cute and adorable fun romance.  Despite her trying to avoid Finn, as they are pushed together often, Cece finds herself falling in love with Finn, as he does with her, but she runs back home, after the wedding, refusing to become serious.  She is loyal to her father, and will never leave him to marry and move to Finn’s home. 

But this is a Christmas story, and this is romance.  Somehow, someway, they will find each other.  I love this series, and this cute novella was just the thing to hold me off until A Taste for Scandal comes out.  Erin Knightley has such a wonderful and refreshing voice. I do not read a lot of Regency/Historical romance, but Erin is winning me over fast.

Reviewed by Barb

 

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More Than a Stranger by Erin Knightley – a Review

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More Than a Stranger by Erin Knightley – a Review

More Than a Stranger is Erin Knightley’s debut novel and her first in her Sealed With a Kiss series.

Our heroine in this wonderful historical romance novel, is Evie Moore, and we meet her as a young child who worships her brother, Richard, who is now heading off to Eton. When Evie gets letters from her brother, he constantly talks about his new friend Hastings. 

Benedict Hastings is our hero, and Richard’s best friend.  He learns all about Evie, as she writes a letter to him to tell him to back off being her brother’s best friend, since she is already that.  This starts a wonderful friendship of letters between young Evie and Hastings.  Over the years, though they have never met, the letters built a great friendship of trust, which led both of them to care very much for each other.  Then out of the blue, when Hastings graduated, he cut off Evie totally, with no reason, and she was heartbroken.

A few years later, Evie, now a young lady, has decided she wants to work with horses, as has no intention of finding a suitable mate.  Her mother is determined for her to go to London for the coming out ball, which Evie no longer wants anything to do with. 

Hastings visits Richard, without telling him too much of where he has been.  Just that he needs a break and Richard offers him to come with him to his family home. Under the assumption that the family is in London during the season, Hastings accepts.  Then to his shock, as he arrives he sees a girl run up to Richard and realizes that he is looking at the girl he loved from afar, Evie.   But Hastings as he introduces himself to Evie,  lies,  as he does not want her to know who he is.  He calls himself Mr. Benedict, and with Richard’s help, he keeps his true identity a secret, not wanting to hurt her, or for her to learn the real reason he disappeared.  

When Hastings left school, he was recruited by the English government to do undercover work, which even Richard did not know.  Hence, his separation from his family and Evie. Though this is not really a mystery, there is some element of danger, as Hastings/Benedict left some baggage behind that will come to haunt him near the end.

But More than a Stranger is a wonderful charming romance.  Evie having sworn off men, having had her heart broken by Hastings, finds herself intrigued and enamored by the charming Benedict.   Benedict, trying hard not to allow himself to hurt Evie, finds himself falling deeper in love with her, as she is more then he could ever have imagined. 

To watch their relationship grow, despite both not wanting this to develop, and Evie not knowing who he really was, was wonderfully done by Knightley.  I loved Evie, who was not only beautiful, but vivacious, and extremely likeable.  You can’t help but love Benedict despite his lie to Evie.

Knightley did such a wonderful job creating such likeable characters all the way around.  Evie’s sister Beatrice, and Richard were great characters too.  The amazing thing about this story was the sexual attraction between Evie and Benedict, and you felt that chemistry throughout, without even one sex scene.  It was so beautifully done, as we watch them both fall in love all over again. Did Evie find out who Benedict really was? What is the danger that is following Benedict from his past? Is there a future for the awesome couple?  You need to read this book to find the answers. 

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, as well as an exciting ending.  More Than a Stranger is a wonderful start to a new series, and a wonderful new author in Erin Knightley.  Can’t wait to read A Taste for Scandal, which is the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

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Coveted (Coveted #1) by Shawntelle Madison-a review

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COVETED (Coveted #1) by Shawntelle Madison

COVETED is the first storyline (April 2012 release) in Shawntelle Madison’s paranormal Coveted series focusing on female werewolf Natalya Stravinsky and her fight to stay alive. Estranged from her pack and without their support, Natalya becomes open prey for a neighboring pack of wolves hell-bent on taking her out. With an impending turf war between the packs, Natalya’s ex-boyfriend is called back to town, and her heart is unprepared for the sight and sounds of Thorn Grantham. But an attack against her by the Long Island Pack puts everything into perspective when the current alpha refuses to help and her family is unwilling to acknowledge her existence. Nat has a few secrets and one in particular has brought the wrath of the Long Island wolves to her door. Now that her best friend and fellow wolf Aggie has moved in to help, Natalya is hoping she will be able to eek out some kind of normal life-whatever normal is.

Natalya is a strange young woman with an affinity for holiday decorations that could land her a spot on the TV show Hoarders. To complicate matters, her ever-present copious quantities of OCDs interfere with her ability to socialize and make friends- an OCD that started approximately 5 years earlier. And the only man she has ever loved, is sending mixed messages about his intent. Five years ago Thorn left Natalya for bigger and better things with the promise to return, but now he was in line for Alpha and promised to another. He never made good on his promise to return and Natalya’s life spiraled out of control.

Without the support of the pack, Natalya is at risk. She is not a fighter and is a weak link to both her family and her former pack. Constantly on the look out for another attack, the family will discover that one of their own is missing and Natalya is demanded for his return. As the threats against her life increase, so too, does the family support but the local pack alpha needs to know what has happened now that Natalya has been targeted. Natalya was told to leave town or she would be marked for execution by her own pack for putting everyone at risk.

Shawntelle adds an assortment of supernatural beings to her storyline ensemble: wizards, necromancers, witches, pregnant nymphs, fairies, werewolves, mermaids, dwarves, muses and zombies. We meet many of these creatures as Natalya attempts a version of supernatural counseling. It is amazing what an author can do with a few psychological dysfunctions and anxiety disorders: a mermaid afraid of the water: a succubus who is unable to find a date: a warlock who casts spells every time he sneezes and a muse who can only inspire the supernatural authors. As Nat is partnered with a wizard, she will soon discover she has the support of the supernatural community, even it she doesn’t have the support from her own. A battle between packs would prove who was the most powerful after all.

COVETED is an interesting tale of one woman’s struggle with emotional disorders in a supernatural world. Natalya is slowly learning to deal with the problems that developed out of a need for comfort when rejection by the very people she has loved pushed her too far. Shawntelle Madison writes a heartfelt story that had me drying a tear or two, and although there is still a need for some major therapy, Natalya Stravinsky is on her way to healing a broken heart and a broken mind.

ORDER NOW: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO/ Books a Million

Copy supplied by Netgalley/Author

Reviewed by Sandy

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Collected (Coveted #.5) by Shawntelle Madison-a review

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Collected (Coveted #.5)by Shawntelle Madison-a review

COLLECTED (Coveted .5) by Shawntelle Madison

COLLECTED is a short story (September 30, 2012 release)  that takes place 7months before COVETED. Natalya Stravinsky is a female werewolf with a few OCDs and psychological problems, among them her penchant and obsession for collecting Christmas ornaments. When her recent order failed to arrive, Natalya used her werewolf senses and went on the hunt, looking for the ‘thing’ that had stolen her latest online acquisition.

The zmee is a three-headed dragon-like creature-the stuff of wicked fairy tales, and Natalya scented a trail that led directly to the zmee. When Natalya confronted the thief, she was surprised to discover there is some background information about the antique Christmas ornament and a series of hidden trinkets, that had not been revealed. As a member of the supernatural world, she is well aware that not everything is as it appears. The zmee was willing to negotiate a price with Natalya in exchange for the holiday bauble for some information contained on another antiquity.

Natalya needed help. To retrieve the information, she requested assistance from her brother Alex and his friend Miles, but Alex was not pleased when she revealed who and what they were after. But in order to retrieve the information, Natalya and her brother would have to face bigger problems and even more powerful supernatural creatures. Everyone wanted the same information-for a price.

COLLECTED is a prequel novella that adds some background information into the world of Natalya Stravinsky and her obsession with everything Christmas. Natalya’s obsession will place the people she loves in danger and the price for online shopping is greater than anyone is willing to admit. Collected is a wonderful addition to Shawntelle’s Coveted series.

Order FREE from: Amazon Kindle / Barnes and Noble Nook / KOBO

Reviewed by Sandy

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J.D. Tyler-Blog Tour and Giveaway

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J.D. Tyler-Blog Tour and Giveaway

J.D. Tyler is an award-winning, multi-published author who writes for New American Library under three pseudonyms. Whether this is due to an overdose of ambition or a multiple personality affliction, she’ll never tell.

J.D. writes dark, sexy paranormal romance and has a huge thing for shifters, vampires, the Fae, and just about everything else that goes bump and grind in the night. She can’t get enough of those dangerous supernatural heroes, and the fun of creating her own was just too much temptation to resist… so she didn’t. J.D. doesn’t do self-denial.

When she isn’t writing, J.D.’s idea of a good time certainly isn’t cleaning house (sniff), bungee jumping (not in this lifetime, or the next), or camping (her idea of “roughing it” is a slow bellboy). She enjoys reading, being pampered like the diva she is, and spending time with her awesome family. She lives in Texas with her two teenagers.

Connect with J.D. Tyler:

Website / Facebook / Twitter

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PRIMAL LAW:  Alpha Pack #1

Founded by a group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers tasked with eliminating the most dangerous predators in the world. But the gift of their abilities comes at a price…

After a massacre decimates half his team and leaves him crippled, Jaxon Law must relearn how to fight—and battle the anger and guilt threatening to overwhelm him. But when he rescues a beautiful woman who reawakens his primal instincts, Jax is unprepared for the dangers that lie ahead.

On the run from her employer, brilliant lab assistant Kira Locke has evidence that leads the Alpha Pack on a hunt for someone targeting human civilians with Psy abilities. And as Jax and Kira circle both the killer and each other, Jax will have to decide if the deep connection he feels with Kira is worth breaking the ultimate shifter rule—because bonding with Kira means putting his abilities at risk, and they might be the only tools he has to keep his mate alive…

Order from: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO

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BLACK MAGIC:  Alpha Pack e-Novella #1.5

An original Alpha Pack novella featuring the sexy sorcerer and panther shifter Kalen Black…

Recruited by the Alpha Pack, Kalen Black is still very much a lone wolf. But when a paranormal creature threatens the life of Dr. Mackenzie Grant, Kalen must use all of his abilities to rescue her. This brush with death excites a passion between them, and after a night of intense pleasure, Kalen leaves Mac with a mysterious gift that just might save her life again.…

Order from: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

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SAVAGE AWAKENING:  Alpha Pack #2

A group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers combating the greatest dangers in the world. But sometime those dangers are more intimate than they bargained for…

After a mission goes wrong, Aric Savage is taken prisoner. Half-dead and despairing, he makes a stunning discovery: his Pack mate Micah Chase, who was reported dead, is a fellow captive. When the Alpha team goes into full-rescue mode, accompanying them is an absolute stunner with sable hair–and a spine of solid steel.

LAPD officer and Psy Dreamwalker Rowan Chase has one priority: her brother Micah’s recovery. Still, she can’t help but be drawn to Aric, the ruggedly handsome wolf shifter who pleasures her as no man ever has–however fleeting their affair is destined to be. But when Aric’s life is endangered, Rowan must ask herself what she’s willing to sacrifice in the name of love, for the man fated to be her Bondmate.

Order from: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO

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BLACK MOON:  Alpha Pack #3 (release date December 4, 2012)

Ever since he saved Dr. Mackenzie Grant’s life, panther shifter and sorcerer Kalen Black has had trouble keeping the beautiful doctor out of his thoughts, and his heart. The brush with death awakened an intense passion between them–one that for the first time had the notorious loner letting down his guard.

With the Alpha Pack battling an evil Fae who is slowly gaining control over Kalen’s mind, Kalen can no longer trust his own actions, and he breaks off his affair with Mackenzie in order to keep her safe. But when Mackenzie learns that she is carrying Kalen’s child, no amount of danger will keep her away from the man she loves. To be with his mate and unborn child, Kalen will have to unleash the full fury of his power, and risk destroying them all…

Order from: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

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BLACK MOON BLOG TOUR 

11/25/12 – 12/15/12 

11/27 – Riverina Romantics

11/28 – United by Books

11/29 – Books-n-Kisses

11/30 – RR@H Novel Thoughts

12/01 – The Reading Café

LIVE CHAT – 8-9pm EST (7-8pm CT, 6-7pm MDT, 5-6pm PDT)

12/04 – Book Reader Addict

12/05 – Under the Covers

12/07 – My Keeper Shelf

12/10 – Cocktails and Books

12/11 – Paranormal Haven

12/12 – Romancing the Book

12/13 – I Smell Sheep

12/14 – Grave Tells

12/15 – Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies…Oh My!

J.D.Tyler is offering a paper copy giveaway– WINNER’S CHOICE — of either Primal Law, Savage Awakening or Black Moon.

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe to qualify for the giveaway.  If you are not a member, please register using the log-in at the top of the page, or by using one of the social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Google, please post your email address along with a comment, as Twitter etc do not allow for email contact information.

3.  Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY.

$.  Giveaway runs from December 1, 2012 to December 17, 2012 (end of tour)

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