Monthly Archives: June 2014

City of Heavenly Fire (Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare-a review

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CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare-a review

City of Heavenly Fire

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 27, 2014

Darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon, and their friends band together to fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. Nothing in this world can defeat Sebastian—but if they journey to the realm of demons, they just might have a chance…

Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world will change. Who will survive the explosive sixth and final installment of the Mortal Instruments series?

*************************

REVIEW: CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE is the sixth and final instalment in Cassandra Clare’s young adult, paranormal / UF Mortal Instruments series focusing on the war between demons and angels; heaven and hell; mundanes, downworlders and the supernatural. As our band of five intrepid young warriors endeavor to save the world from the evil that is Sebastian Morgenstern, each will lose something or someone close. Throughout the six book instalment, the series covers a time frame of approximately six to eight months where we will see a young Clary Fray discover a world of the supernatural and take her place among the most powerful of their kind.

Cassandra Clare blends loss and hope, love and hatred, betrayal and forgiveness into a storyline that will see the past, the present and the future unfold. We will be introduced to the next generation of Shadowhunters as Cassandra prepares for her next spin off series THE DARK ARTIFICES (A Shadowhunter series set in present day Los Angeles) where twelve year olds Emma and Julian prepare for the next war between good and evil. Brother Zacariah will make an appearance and in doing so will see the past meet the present with a love that has endured for all time.

CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE will bring together the Shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, fae, demons and the mundanes in a war that will see Clary’s estranged and demonized brother Sebastian build an army of the Endarkened using family and friends of those trying to save the world. As Clary and Jace’s powers grow with the encroaching battle so too will Sebastian’s need and obsession for his sister. To save the world and those she loves, Clary will make a decision that will have everyone wondering is she has truly lost her mind or if something all together evil has taken control.

The storyline is told from third person POV, focusing on several different plotlines, worlds, and battles that will overlap, run parallel and culminate in a final scene where good will win against evil-but at a cost. As with all of Cassandra’s previous instalments, the storyline is slow to build as she focuses on a number of premises and stories as well as the build up to her new The Dark Artifices spin off series starring Emma and Julian. This particular development is not necessary to City of Heavenly Fire but it sets the premise and background for things to come.

If you are a fan of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters series the City of Heavenly Fire is a storyline that will answer many questions, look deeper into the past, and make way for the future in her paranormal/UF young adult series.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Heated (Most Wanted #2) by J. Kenner-a review

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HEATED (Most Wanted #2) by J. Kenner-a review

Heated May 2014

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 3, 2014

I knew better than to risk my heart.
But fierce passion comes at a high price.

I grew up believing in right and wrong, good and evil, black and white. I knew better than to trust. And then I met Tyler Sharp.

Bold, charming, and dangerously sexy, Tyler always gets what he wants. But his smile can be deceiving, his dealings sordid, his ambitions ruthless. I thought I was the one woman strong enough to resist him, but our need for each other was too urgent to deny.

One look and I was in trouble. One touch and I was hooked. One night and I became his.

And now that I’ve fallen, there’s no going back.

•••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: HEATED is the second instalment in J. Kenner’s contemporary romance, adult Most Wanted erotic series focusing on three friends and the women they love-Evan Black, Tyler Sharp and Cole August-three friends who bonded as young adults and now earn a living with legitimate and illegitimate enterprises. Told from first person POV (Sloane), this is Chicago entrepreneur Tyler Sharp and Indianapolis police detective Sloane Watson’s storyline.

On medical leave from the Indianapolis Police Department, Sloane goes on the hunt for a missing friend whose last known whereabouts were listed as an exotic dancer at a gentlemen’s club in Chicago known as Destiny-enter Tyler Sharp-the owner and proprietor who is the number one suspect on Sloane’s list of suspects. Going undercover as a stripper is easier said than done when Sloane’s real identity has been known to Tyler all along. It is only when she reveals the true nature of her ‘private investigation’ does Tyler begin to understand-Tyler’s past and that of Cole and Evan are shrouded in mystery, illegal activity and underground connections and Sloane is determined to prove their guilt.

The relationship between Sloane and Tyler is sexual, sensual, exotic and hot. HEATED is an erotic series and a good portion of the storyline is sex, the build up to sex and more sex. Our leading couple has one thing in common and great sex is something that cannot be ignored. The love scenes are intimate, intense and provocative. Tyler Sharp is a man who needs control both in and out of the bedroom.

The secondary characters include Tyler’s friends Cole and Evan as well as some of the ladies of which Tyler has ‘invested’. There is more to Tyler Sharp than an exotic dance club-the man is an enigma that Sloane is slowly unraveling bit by bit.

J. Kenner continues the world building with the inclusion of the previous storyline characters as well as the skyline and familiar places of downtown Chicago. The atmosphere is charged with the nightlife, the game players and, the sights and sounds of The Windy City.

The Most Wanted series has a connection to J.Kenner’s Stark Trilogy but each instalment is a stand alone that ends with a happily ever after. HEATED follows a few days in the life of two people who under normal circumstances would have probably met inside a courtroom but for a missing young girl, have found love in at a time in their life when they needed it the most.

Reading Order
1. Wanted
2. Heated (June 2014)
3. Ignited (August 2014)

Copy supplied by the author through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Marie Force – I Want To Hold Your Hand – Review & Giveaway

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Marie Force – I Want To Hold Your Hand – Review & Giveaway

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I Want To Hold Your Hand
Green Mountain Romance #2
by Marie Force
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

 

I Want To Hold Your Hand 2Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
For the Abbott siblings, the Green Mountain state has always been an idyllic place to call home. But it isn’t until they open themselves up to love that they’ll truly discover how fulfilling life can be…

Almost seven years after losing her husband in Iraq, Hannah Abbott Guthrie isn’t sure she’s ready—or able—to move on, but the attentions of a lifelong friend are making her think about it for the first time. The memory of the sweet kiss she shared with Nolan Roberts hasn’t strayed far from her thoughts, but she also fears that pursuing something with him would mean betraying her husband’s memory.

Nolan has loved Hannah for years, but he’d been giving her the space she needed to heal from her devastating loss. Now, when an opportunity arises to show her how he feels, Nolan can’t resist, but he knows earning her love will take more than a kiss. Somehow he has to prove to Hannah that finding love twice in a lifetime is possible—and well worth risking her heart.


Review:

I Want to Hold Your Hand by Marie Force, is the 2nd book in her Green Mountain series. I have not read the first book in this series, but it did not matter, as it read perfectly as a standalone. However, I loved this book, and I will be going back to the first book, not to mention continue to read this series.   I Want to Hold Your Hand is a beautiful heartwarming contemporary romance of two people bonded by their long friendship, and the love of someone lost forever.

Hannah Abbot Guthrie lost her husband Caleb 7 years ago in Iraq. Her family, friends, her dog Homer, and the entire town have watched over Hannah all these years. Nolan Roberts is our hero, and a longtime friend of Hannah and Caleb. Nolan has always cared about Hannah, and a few years after Caleb’s death, he began to realize how much he cared. Hannah always depended on Nolan, if she needed something fixed, but that is what friends are for, and Hannah has a lot of friends. Hannah finally agrees to have dinner with Nolan, but when he comes to pick her up, she is holding Homer, as he is slowly dying, with his heart giving out. All of Hannah’s big family arrives in time, before Homer dies, to share the grief, since Homer was a huge part of all of their lives, not to mention Caleb’s.

What follows is a story of being able to get past a tragedy that effected them all; for everyone to move on with their lives; for a young woman to be able to rise up to fall in love again, and for a young man to finally be able to express his love after years of being patient and understanding.

Hannah was a wonderful heroine, as she was strong, caring, and very loving. It was wonderful to watch her slowly realize that she needed to move on from Caleb’s death, opening her eyes to how patient Nolan has been, and how much he loved her. Marie Force wrote this so well, allowing us to watch through tears of happiness and sorrow, as this story played out. I do not want to give spoilers, only to say that this was a wonderful romance; at times very sad, at times humorous and so much fun, and at times very sexual and steamy. I Want to Hold Your Hand is not to be missed, as Marie Force has written a fabulous story that pulls all your emotions throughout.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

MintgreenGiveawayMarie and her publisher, Berkley are offering a paper copy of her new release, I Want to Hold Your Hand  to one (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Giveaway is open to USA only.

6. Giveaway runs from June 5  to June 8 , 2014

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An Heir to Bind Them by Dani Collins – a Review

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 An Heir to Bind Them by Dani Collins – a Review

 

An Heir to Bind them

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description
Off the boss’s payroll and into his bed

Jaya. Her name reverberates around Theo Makricosta’s head in time to the whirring blades of his private helicopter. He must find her; only Jaya can help with the care of his infant niece and nephew…. It’s not because he hasn’t stopped thinking about the single night of mind-blowing passion he shared with the exotic beauty

Jaya Powers couldn’t refuse her gorgeous millionaire Greek boss when she worked for him, and she can’t refuse him now! Only this time she has a secret. Their night together had consequences that will change Theo’s perfectly ordered existence forever!

 

 Review:

An Heir to Bind Them by Dani Collins is a contemporary romance. The story begins as Jaya goes to see her boss to hand in her resignation. We meet our hero, Theo, who is surprised by Jaya’s leaving. He finds out though that her cousin is dying, and she needs to go home and take care of her. Theo, has never really paid much attention to Jaya, other than knowing that she was a very good worker, and he will miss her expertise. Jaya has always had an attraction to Theo from afar, and somehow when they say their goodbyes, the two of them end up in a wild night of steamy sex. Jaya found herself shocked at how she reacted to Theo, as she had a bad experience years before.

18 months later, Theo is stuck taking care of his nephew & niece, as his family is stuck  overseas. He texts Jaya for help. She comes to his rescue to help with the children, and brings him a surprise.

What follows is an interesting story of a man who has everything, wealth, power, women; but it is the bad memories of his childhood and his father that prevents him from having any kind of relationship. Theo doesn’t know what love is, and is fearful of having children, because of his father.

Jaya at first blocks her feelings, thinking Theo doesn’t care for her. But as they help one another with the children, she learns more about his past, and tries to help him overcome those fears. By the time his family returns to take the children, Theo has softened his heart and finds himself more comfortable around the children.

Will Jaya be able to get Theo to open his heart to love? Can Theo be able to rise above his fears of being like his father? There are many obstacles in this relationship, but I really did like Theo’s family, who were very supportive.

I wanted our couple to have their happy ending, and they were both very stubborn, causing me to get annoyed at times. However, this was a nice romance, and Dani Collins is a very good writer, and I recommend this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by publisher.

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Jaguar Hunt (Heart of the Jaguar #3) by Terry Spear-Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

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JAGUAR HUNT (Heart of the Jaguar #3) by Terry Spear-Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

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Jaguar Hunt
Heart of the Jaguar #3
by Terry Spear
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Genre: contemporary, adult, paranormal, shifters

Jaguar Hunt

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

About the book: Release Date June 3, 2014

An agent and a jaguar-shifter chase trouble, and each other, through the jungles of Belize…

Agent Tammy Anderson has a reputation: she prefers to work alone. So when she’s paired up on a mission with jaguar-shifter David Patterson—who’s only recently been released from jail—to say she’s less than thrilled is an understatement. Until she realizes that this sexy agent has what it takes…

Soon, what started as an “easy” mission to locate a missing jaguar takes the pair to Belize, where they’re chasing down two renegade teen shifters who know more than they’re telling. As the action heats up, can they keep their minds on the job and off of each other?

•••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: JAGUAR HUNT is the third instalment in Terry Spear’s contemporary, adult Heart of the Jaguar paranormal shifter series. This is jaguar shifters Tammy Anderson and David Patterson’s story. David is Wade’s brother and Tammy is Maya’s cousin whose story was told in book two-Jaguar Fever. With the continuing search for a missing ‘natural’ jaguar, David (a special forces Golden Claw JAG agent) and Tammy (an agent in the Enforcer branch) will be paired together on an assignment that will take them to the jungles of Belize where they will find assistance from an unlikely source.

The storyline finds Tammy and David following a trail of clues that leads our couple on a journey to the tropical rain forests of Belize-where not only do they uncover a potential threat from inside the agency but they discover that partnering together has made for some very romantic and sexy bedfellows.

The relationship between Tammy and David begins as partners working towards a common goal and ends with a declaration of love and a happily ever after. The sex is animalistic, steamy and seductive. Their inner cats have found their mates but the timing finds our couple on the run when their lives are threatened and they are no closer to discovering the whereabouts of the missing jaguar.

Terry Spear pulls the reader into well paced storyline of suspense, mystery and action; developing friendships; and the introduction to the next generation of potential JAG agents. Not only must David and Tammy search for an elusive and missing jaguar but they are caught in a web of deceit, revenge and betrayal that finds them the target of someone within the force. The secondary characters are colorful; mask their true intent and drive the premise of the storyline. Terry Spear does a terrific job of combining the major and minor players into a tale where you don’t know who is the guilty party or why.

JAGUAR HUNT is a perfect blend of mystery, suspense and romance. The reader is never lost or trying to find their way back to the story. There is always something happening and always a path back to the leading couple and the storyline premise.

Copy supplied by Sourcebooks through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Guest Post-Black and Green

 

Guest Post: 10 Reasons to Date a Jaguar Shifter

1. If you’ve ever been to a jungle environment, having a jaguar shifter boyfriend can really help. He’ll show you all the do’s and don’ts of visiting the rainforest and jungles south of the border. You’ll experience all the best when you’re down there.



2. Big cats have lots and lots of energy. They exercise regularly and can lift weights much greater than themselves to places high above without any difficulty. They can run, swim, and climb. Strong, versatile, extremely flexible and you know where that can really be a good thing, don’t you?

3. Protective. If someone’s hassling you, one show of a jaguar shifter’s claws and teeth and that’s the end of your troubles.

4. He can smell your distress, fear, excitement, and intrigue and so you don’t have to spend a lot of time explaining how you’re feeling or what you need. He already knows and he’s the best thing there is for whatever ails you.

5. He loves exotic locations, so if you’re adventurous, he’ll take you to them and you can enjoy them together. He will not be a couch potato or prefer to see it on TV, but will want to enjoy it for himself with you.

6. They’re great swimmers and what’s not to love about dating a hunky guy wearing a wet swimsuit, especially when he’s making the moves on you?

7. They love to play, so forget a totally serious boyfriend. With a jaguar shifter, expect to have fun.

8. They’re never boring. If things get to be too much of the same, change things up by having him shift.

9. If you ever get lost in the wilderness, a jaguar shifter can take care of you and get you to safety.

10. In cold weather, they’re hot. In hot weather, they’re hot. What’s not to love?

~~Terry~~

excerpt

She headed for her car, parked as far from other vehicles as she could manage, not wanting anyone to scratch or ding the new paint job. She didn’t hear David’s footsteps following her, but she knew he was sticking close to her from the heat she felt radiating from him. She heard his heartbeat thumping. Smelled his hot, sexy, masculine jaguar scent close by. Big cats moved so quietly that their prey would never think they were being stalked-unless the person being followed was also a big cat.

She glanced over her shoulder. Sure enough, he was only inches away. Where do you think you’re going?

With you. I’ve got a tip. This is going to be one helluva hot assignment.

Narrowing her eyes, she tilted her chin down and gave him a look of disbelief.

We’re headed for Belize. It’s hot down there.

~~What are some reasons you’d love to date a jaguar shifter?~~

 

About The Author Black and Min

Website/Goodreads/ Twitter/ Facebook

Terry SpearLove, love, love romance, the paranormal, hunky Highlanders with their delicious brogue and hot kilts, so Terry Spear writes about those hunky Highlanders both in medieval times and as wolves in contemporary times. Jaguar shifters too! And young adult urban fantasy. And romantic suspense.

She grew up reading mystery, adventure, mythologies from around the world, ghost stories, the paranormal, fell in love with Dracula and Wolfman, and felt they needed loving too. Everyone should have someone to love. Which means her stories always have a HEA.

USA Today Bestseller residing in Central Texas from Sacramento, California who creates award-winning teddy bears too!

giveaway

Sourcebooks and Terry Spear are offering a paper copy of JAGUAR HUNT to three (3) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

 4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. LIKE Terry Spear on Facebook for an additional entry

5. Giveaway open to USA and CANADA

6. Giveaway runs from June 4 to June 10, 2014

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Marie Harte – The Troublemaker Next Door – Interview & Review

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Marie Harte – The Troublemaker Next Door – Interview & Review

The Troublemaker Next Door
 McCauley Brothers series – Book #1
by Marie Harte
Release Date: June 3, 2014
The Troublemaker Next DoorAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Flynn McCauley never thought he’d be so cliché as to fall for the girl next door. But when Maddie calls him over to help fix her faulty sink, he’s a goner. Too bad the fiercely independent interior designer wants nothing to do with him. Even worse, he’s forced to rely on the advice of his nosy brothers—and his five-year-old nephew!—to figure out how to make her give him a shot.


Review:
The Troublemaker Next Door by Marie Harte is the first book in her new McCauley Brothers series. I have not read Harte before, but having discovered this was a romance with a family/brothers theme, which I have been enjoying lately, I couldn’t wait to read this book.

We meet our hero Flynn McCauley almost immediately, when he realizes his mother has rented the house next door to three women. It doesn’t take long for our womanizing Flynn to offer to help fix their sink, as he is a plumber and wants to meet these ladies. Just when he is finished, he hears one of the woman who just came home shouting, and he goes to find out what is wrong.

Maddie is a very angry young woman, as she describes to her friend Abby, how her boss tried to get her to have sex with him. Beside herself, and unable to control her temper, she eyes the handsome sexy Flynn and curses him out as a typical man. It was a funny scene, but it doesn’t take long for things to change. When she goes the next day to apologize to Flynn, she meets some of the other hot brothers, but it is Flynn who immediately rises her lust level just by looking at him waking up from and drunken hangover in his briefs.

Flynn and Maddie hit it off pretty quickly, and soon they hit the sheets and everything else around them. Both do not want commitment, and consider themselves casual friends, or is it sex buddies. Besides the sex scenes, and there were a lot, this was an interesting story, with an excellent cast of characters. Maddie’s roommates, her cousin and friend; and Flynn’s wonderful family.

Maddie having quit her job, decides to try to make it on her own, in an interior design business. She has her own issues of hiding her own insecurities, and being able to have a successful career. As her relationship deepens with Flynn, it is these issues that could put damper on any possible future, despite her friends trying to help her. Will Flynn and Maddie get past their no-commitment issues, or just remain sex buddies?

I enjoyed the friendship, the fun and snarky comments between the girls. I also loved the closeness of the brothers. This is an erotic storyline and thusly there is plenty of sex and may not be suitable to all readers.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher


Interview-Black and Deep Rose

TRC: Hi Marie and welcome to The Reading Café. We would like to start with some background information.

Marie Harte
TRC: Please tell us something about yourself?

Marie: Hmm. Well, I’m a night owl and caffeine addict. I have two awesome, energetic boys, live in beautiful Central Oregon, and writing is my passion. I’ve been a U.S. Marine, worked in IT, managed truck drivers for a transport company (oh, the stories!), and am now working at what I love—fulltime writing.

 

 

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Marie: Always. As a kid, I’d write stories for fun. First on index cards, then notepads, then on a 5” floppy disk. Ha. In college I earned a BA in English, always with the dream of writing for a living.

TRC: Is there anything (in general) you find particularly challenging about writing?

Marie: The discipline it takes to sit down and do it every day, especially when the weather is beautiful. (My desk is right in front of windows.) Sometimes I don’t feel like writing, but I make myself sit down and do it.

TRC: Can you please tell us the premise of your new series, McCauley Brothers?

Marie: I LOVE my McCauleys! These books are a steamy new contemporary series featuring the tight-knit rough-and-ready McCauley brothers. The guys are down to earth—two are plumbers, one’s in finances, and the oldest works construction. But they sure do know how to treat their women, in bed and out.

The Troublemaker Next DoorTRC: The Troublemaker Next Door is the first book in this series. Can you please give us a brief description of this story?

Marie: Sure! When Flynn McCauley meets Maddie Gardner, sparks fly. She hates men. He’s not into relationships. She lost her job. He fixed her sink—but that’s not all he wants to fix. When a ride home turns into a lot more, Maddie and Flynn decide to keep things strictly casual. Strictly sexual. They won’t date. And they end up not dating…a lot. But soon Flynn wants more from the wary redhead. If he can just keep her distracted long enough to burrow under her skin, Flynn might convince Maddie they have a shot at real happiness. That’s if Maddie can overcome her past to take a chance on the future.

TRC: You write various genres, such as Romance, Erotic Romance, Military, & Paranormal. Do you have a preference? Do you find it difficult to switch between these genres, when writing your stories?

Marie: Because I write a lot, I need to vary what I write so I don’t get bored or stuck. I enjoy my romance on the spicy side, but I’m very open to all genres. I particularly like paranormal stories because I’m a control freak. *grin* I like making up my own rules and setting boundaries for my characters. I find it difficult to break up a series though. Writing them all in a row helps with consistency. But if the series is particularly long (my McCauley are 4 books—short, my Cougar Falls are 8 books and counting—not so short) it helps to take a break. I prefer going from genre to genre rather than say, contemporary series to contemporary series. I’m fresher when I switch it up.

TRC: Though it is more open in this day and age, some authors use pen names when writing Erotic novels. Do you ever receive negative feedback?

Marie: I decided to use a pen name from the beginning, because one, it seemed pretty cool, and two, I was writing professionally while living in the South, the Bible Belt. Not huge fans of erotic romance, let me tell you. I had negative feedback from woman I thought was a friend. Needless to say, she’s a friend no longer. But surprisingly, most people where I live now are very accepting.

TRC: What are you working on now?

Marie: I’m currently finishing up a paranormal novella called Jackal’s Measure, as part of a multi-author anthology called Dark Fates. It was a fun change-up from my year of contemporary romance, dealing with mythology, and in particular, Egyptian mythology. In Jackal’s Measure, a guard of Anubis must deal with the evil Set and save a human woman who’s interfering in Ludos Deorum—the Games of the Gods. Fun stuff!

TRC: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Marie: Sleep? LOL I love hiking outdoors, especially since it’s often sunny where I live. I walk everywhere I can. I also like to read, watch movies, and occasionally garden. I had a tomato plant last all summer last year. I didn’t kill it and ate homegrown tomatoes. A win-win!

TRC: Many author bounce ideas and information between each other and their family and spouses. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Marie: The voices in my head. Seriously. I have so many ideas about stories I can’t get to that I have a huge folder on my computer filled with pending ideas. I do have friends I go to when I need help with research on careers or technical specifics. But my muse is my only go-to guy for ideas.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Marie: Thanks so much for having me at The Reading Café. It was a pleasure to be here, and I’m so happy to share my brand new series, the McCauley Brothers, with you. I fell in love with the guys while writing, and I’m beyond excited to see The Troublemaker Next Door at my local bookstore. 🙂


LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food—chocolate

Favorite Dessert—crème brûlée

Favorite TV show—Supernatural (through season 5), then Big Bang Theory

Favorite Book: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

Dark or Milk Chocolate—milk

Favorite Literary Character (male & female) not your own: I have so many favorites, I decided to go old school with this one. Corum, from Michael Moorcock’s The Swords Trilogy, and Dana, from Octavia Butler’s Kindred (fascinating book)

Dog or Cat—I used to say cat, but I live in a dog town. So I’m going with dog.

TRC:  Marie, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions. The Reading Café wishes you good luck with The Troublemaker Next Door.

Marie: Thank you!!

If you would like to learn more about Marie, you can find her at the following links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh – Review & Giveaway

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Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh – Review & Giveaway

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Shield of Winter
Psy/Changeling series – Book #13
by Nalini Singh
Release Date: June 3, 2014

Shield of WinterAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch—if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life.

For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake…

Having rebuilt her life after medical “treatment” that violated her mind and sought to stifle her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she’ll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption. But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness…


Review:
Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh is the 13th book in her Pys/Changeling series. Before we go to my review, I wanted to mention how much I love this series. Nalini Singh is such a phenomenal writer, that after 13 books, she still keeps us wanting more and more of this awesome series. Many times, other big series suffer from redundancy, or just lose more with each book, as we either know what is going to happen or we get bored. Not so with Nalini Singh, and our Psy/Changelings. We still have wonderful stories, wonderful couples, and a fantastic world building that just continues to smoothly head to what promises to be a wild and exciting climatic finish to this arc.

We have known Vasic, who is our hero in Shield of Winter for a long time. The description of Vasic is perfectly described above in the book description. He and Aden are the leaders of the Arrows, who originally worked for the evil Ming, and now work together with Kaleb; the ghost we discovered in the last book, Heart of Obsidian. At the end of the last book, when Kaleb broke down Silence, we expected the fallout to be bad, since Silence was created to stop violence. With Silence no more, a dangerous sickness has infected the net, and the madness threatens to destroy everyone. Nalini goes into much detail, giving us what is necessary for us to understand what is happening, why and if it was possible to fix this. She also gives us a beautiful and difficult romance, which seemed almost impossible throughout the series. Vasic, who at the age of 4, was trained to become as an Arrow, a cold and calculated killer, to help preserve Silence, and protect the rulers of the Psy Council. We knew changes were coming, but we never thought there would ever a mate for Vasic, who was close to the end.

We meet Ivy, who is an empath, and living with her parents on a remote land, hidden from the Psy’s. Empaths were looked upon with distaste or fear, but now with the fall of Silence and the infection spreading, it is the Empaths who will come out of hiding to help work with the Arrows to try save the world. All the Empaths are brought to Changeling territory under the protection of the Arrows to come up with a plan.

Ivy was a wonderful heroine, who allowed herself to feel emotions. We saw this early on, when she would smile, and play with her beloved Rabbit (her dog). Ivy saw through the cold inner wall that Vasic built around himself. He was Ivy’s protector, and in time it was wonderful to see his wall slowly disintegrate, as he finds himself with feelings he never felt before; with each passing day going by, he cannot resist Ivy. Those emotions between them became so strong, that it not only sizzled, it totally melted Vasic’s wall, bringing out the man who was falling love and it was just wonderful to watch. To watch him come to life, and be so passionate with Ivy was great. Nalini did a fabulous job bringing in much humor during their relationship. Even to the point Vasic went to Judd to find out anything he needed to know about sex.

Both Ivy and Vasic made a great couple, and to the very end, we prayed they would be able to survive and make this work. After Kaleb in the previous book, I did not think I could find another hero to redeem in Vasic. Sigh I totally loved him.

It was great to see some of our favorites again, as they played a major part in trying to find a resolution to the infection that was spreading. I enjoyed seeing Ivy, Sascha, and Sahara, plus others work together. Shield of Winter is another great addition to the Pys/Changeling series, and I must say again that  Nalini Singh is on the top of my list as a favorite author I will not miss. I cannot wait for Aden’s story next, since in this book I began to fall in love with him too.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher


giveaway

Nalini and her publisher, Berkley are offering a hardcopy of Shield of Winter to one (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

 1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on  FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. LIKE Nalini Singh  on Facebook.

6. The giveaway is open to USA only

7. The giveaway runs from June 3 to June 7, 2014

 

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Jennifer L. Armentrout – Release Day Launch – Lux Series

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Jennifer L. Armentrout – Release Day Launch – Lux Series

 

Lux Series Collage

Release Day Launch

It’s here! Today is the day you can get the beautiful new bindups of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s LUX Series! Are you as excited as we are?

Lux SeriesDoesn’t it look amazing? You don’t want to miss these or the bonus content included in each bindup! We have all the information for you below, and a fabulous giveaway for you. Make sure you check it all out and enter for your chance to win!

LUX: Beginnings

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble

ABOUT LUX: Beginnings:
Now available together for the first time, don’t miss Obsidian and Onyx the first two books in Jennifer L. Armentrout‘s bestselling Lux series. Also includes bonus content exclusive to the print edition! “A thrilling ride from start to finish,” says RT Book Reviews.

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

 If I don’t kill him first, that is.

LUX: Consequences

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble

 

ABOUT LUX: Consequences:
Now available together for the first time, don’t miss Opal and Origin, the third and fourth books in Jennifer L. Armentrout‘s bestselling Lux series. Also includes bonus content exclusive to the print edition! “A thrilling ride from start to finish,” says RT Book Reviews.

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well… There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different… And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger…and they know it.

 

OPPOSITION Comes out August 5th! Pre-Order It Now!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble

Opposition

 

About the author
Jennifer Armentrout

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Find Jennifer L. Armentrout

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Goodreads

Add the LUX Series on Goodreads!

LUX: Beginnings Goodreads ** LUX: Consequences Goodreads ** Opposition

Find Entangled Publishing

Entangled Website ** Entangled Twitter ** Entangled Facebook

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/OTE3MmMxYTA5NWI0YjhkMjZkNWU0YzM1M2E1YzU2OjE2Mw==/

 

Ink Slinger

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