Monthly Archives: October 2014

The Reading Cafe is Darynda Jones’s BLOG OF THE DAY-Giveaway

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The Reading Cafe is Darynda Jones’s BLOG OF THE DAY -Giveaway

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Everyone at The Reading Cafe is pleased to announce that thanks to our followers who voted, we are DARYNDA JONES’S blog of the day for October 28, 2014.

To celebrate, we are offering a giveaway to TWO (2) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe.

First Prize

Winner’s choice of any ONE (1) paper book from Darynda Jones’s CHARLEY DAVIDSON books (1 thru 5).
-giveaway is open internationally wherever THE BOOK DEPOSITORY delivers

Second Prize

Winner’s choice of either a paper copy of ONLY by HelenKay Dimon or a paper copy of ECHOES OF SCOTLAND STREET by Samantha Young
-giveaway is open to USA only

Giveaway-Black and Fuscia

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. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS  for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE Darynda Jones on FACEBOOK .

7. Giveaway guidelines for qualification as above.

8. Giveaway runs from October 28-October 31, 2014, 2014

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Love Me To Death by Marissa Clarke – a Review

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Love Me To Death by Marissa Clarke – a Review

 

Love Me To DeathAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
Medical research scientist Elena Arcos has always lived her life under the radar. When she is shot in a convenience store robbery, she finds herself rocketed into supernatural insanity courtesy of a sexy immortal law enforcer. He’s convinced she’s some kind of freaky half-vampire thing and that her deceased dad was the real deal: a blood sucking monster. Yeah, right. As a Slayer, an elite law enforcer descended from Azrael himself, Nikolai Itzov’s orders from the Underveil General are clear: Kill Elena Arcos or die. The only thing holding him back from that directive is the overwhelming urge to protect her. Too bad she’s also the offspring of his father’s murderer. Kissing Elena, let alone being with her body and soul, can never happen. Nikolai and Elena find themselves in a life and death battle to stop a plot designed to lift the Underveil and enslave humans. With her analytical mind and his centuries of training, they might be able to foil the plot with their lives, and maybe even with their hearts intact. But in order to succeed, he must help her become the very thing he hates the most: an Undead.

Review:

When Nikolai has his target, his vampire enemy in his hands on the brink of death (though he didn’t have the pleasure of causing her demise)…why on earth couldn’t he finish her…why would he suddenly freeze? Let’s follow the supernatural trail Marissa Clarke sets up in Love Me to Death, because where Nikolai leads…I willingly follow…

End of story. She wasn’t dead. Death had saved her instead.

A formidable slayer, Nikolai is “a terrifying being created to patrol the Underveil and execute immortals who broke the laws”. There should be no hesitation on his part. Except, there was a genuine vulnerability; a genuine innocence/ignorance about Elena’s nature that belied his Uncle Fyodor’s instructions to kill her on site.

When he had stood over her in the convenience store, ready to end her life, something had happened – something more frightening than death itself: He had felt the pull of her soul. A distinct tugging at his own, calling him to join with her.

I loved Nikolai and Elena immediately! His fierce exterior was intimidating, but endearing when he screwed up, pissed off Elena or made her cry. Elena…she’s a paranormal enigma. For 26 years, “she’d just gone along with the ebb and flow of life”; a hematologist who suffers from hypoglycemia. Is she going to freak when she realizes the cure is never going to be sugar! Ha…I love it!

The chemistry was scorching and written seductively. I loved everything about this book! Secondary characters were fascinating and I’m crossing my fingers Stefan, the droll Time Folder, gets his own book. Charming, powerful, and intriguing, but a “biological eunuch”? Say it ain’t so! Aleksi, the other slayer, is made of steel and is loyal to a fault (what she’s enduring at the fortress with Fyodor *shudders*). Ricardo, the vampire leader of the resistance faction was swoon-worthy and compelling. Then there’s Vlad, the epic vampire prisoner in the dungeon…Seriously, I have hopes for several spinoffs! The world building is amazing!

Truths will be revealed and people will be held accountable. Discoveries will be accepted, a prophecy of a legend will be fulfilled, and a fated love will be embraced. I was swept up in the sensual relationship of our H/H, but equally gripped by the events and subplots warring within such a dynamic community.

In short, this book was UNPUTDOWNABLE!  It’s a word I saw in a review somewhere, but I couldn’t resist borrowing it.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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Archangel’s Shadows by Nalini Singh – Dual Review & Giveaway

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Archangel’s Shadows by Nalini Singh – Dual Review & Giveaway

 

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Archangel's ShadowsAmazon / Amazon Ca / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
In the wake of a brutal war, the archangel Raphael and his hunter consort, Elena, are dealing with the treacherously shifting tides of archangelic politics and the people of a battered but not broken city. The last thing their city needs is more death, especially a death that bears the eerie signature of an insane enemy archangel who cannot— should not—be walking the streets.

This hunt must be undertaken with stealth and without alerting their people. It must be handled by those who can become shadows themselves…

Ash is a gifted tracker and a woman cursed with the ability to sense the secrets of anyone she touches. But there’s one man she knows all too well without a single instant of skin contact: Janvier, the dangerously sexy Cajun vampire who has fascinated and infuriated her for years. Now, as they track down a merciless killer, their cat-and-mouse game of flirtation and provocation has turned into a profound one of the heart. And this time, it is Ash’s secret, dark and terrible, that threatens to destroy them both.

Barb’s Review:

Archangel’s Shadows by Nalini Singh is the 7th book in her Guild Hunter’s series. I am a big fan of Nalini Singh & her Psy/Changeling series. It bothered me that I did not have a chance to read this series, since Sandy was always telling me how great it was. So I was determined to get ahead on my reading and this summer I was able to sneak in time to read 6 books. I am so glad I did, as it proves that Nalini is a fantastic writer, who can change the format and still put together another fabulous series. Now I had the opportunity to read the latest novel in this series, and do the dual review with Sandy.

Archangel’s Shadows picks up where the last book left off (Archangel’s Legion), right after the battle of New York. Raphael’s angels are recovering, and the newly found Legion are helping rebuild New York. This book belongs to Ash and Janvier, though we get to spend time with many of our favorites, such as Raphael, Elena, Dimitri, Honor, Illium, and Aodhan. I also want to note that Naasir has become another intriguing character that I cannot wait to find out more of him.

Ash is a top notch hunter, who is a friend of Elena and Honor. Janvier is one of Dimitri’s top vampires, and he works closely with Ash. There is no question that Janvier is in love with Ash, but she holds a secret that stops her from any kind of relationship. They do have some wonderful chemistry together, and their banter between each other is awesome….I loved Ash and Janvier together.

They both work together to find out who was committing horrific murders, that left their victims drained. Raphael and his Seven, worried that it looked so much like Lijuan’s doing, though she was either dead or in the throes of a long recovery; they suspected some of her infected angels may have been left behind in New York. Ash and Janvier work quietly and quickly, so not to alarm the city, to discover the culprit. This is a very exciting mystery, with a few twists along the way; though at times early on it was a slower pace, as we learned more about Ash.

As exciting the hunt was for the killers, the best part was watching Janvier and Ash act on their feelings, which will become sizzling. As Ash reveals her secret, it is Janvier’s dedication to Ash, that will help her move forward. I loved both of them, but I totally fell in love with Janvier, as he took care of his Ash. I do not want to give spoilers, but I will say that I worried that they would not be able to stay together.

Nalini Singh does it again, with another wonderful addition to her Guild Hunter series. There are so many more Angels that need their happy endings. I cannot wait for the next book. If you have not started this series, you should not wait, as it is a gem.

 

Sandy’s Review:

ARCHANGEL’S SHADOWS is the seventh full length installment in Nalini Singh’s adult, contemporary Guild Hunter paranormal romance series focusing on archangels, angels, vampires and hunters. This is Guild Hunter Ashwini and vampire Janvier’s storyline but one that looks at the aftermath of a war (brought about by the Cascade) that pitted archangel against archangel, and angels against vampires-a war that all but destroyed New York and archangel Raphael’s territory. With a number of angels in recovery, there is a new enemy on the streets of New York known as Umber-and its’ source of power is unlike anything they have ever seen.

The focus of the storyline finds Janvier and Ash on the hunt for a killer. With emaciated and desiccated bodies-both human and animal- finding their way onto the streets, the Guild and the Cadre begin to suspect a very powerful archangel may have returned ‘from the dead’. But clues begin to point in another direction when human vampire feeders go missing.

The relationship between Ash and Janvier is one that began in a previous storyline when Guild hunter Ashwini was sent to retrieve Janvier for being on the lam. Their attraction to one another was immediate but Ash knew that as a hunter there was no room in her life for a vampire who had broken the rules. A portion of the storyline focuses on Ashwini’s family history cursed with the ability to sense and feel the emotions of anyone they touch, hinting that Ash’s mental and emotional well being may be in jeopardy. The sex scenes are intimate and intense but limited in number. Janvier is a man possessed by the need for one woman and he intends to spend the rest of eternity with Ash as his mate.

The secondary characters include a number of the previous storyline players including Honor and Dmitri, Illium, Aodhan, Jason and Naasir, and of course Raphael and Elena. Raphael and Elena’s story continues as we are pulled into the burning love between the Archangel and his consort- a love that was never meant to be. Naasir’s true identity begins to unravel as more clues about his ‘lineage’ are slowly revealed.

Nalini Singh’s GUILD HUNTER series an amazing and starling look at the paranormal. The world building is infinitely detailed and continuous throughout the series; the characters are well developed, colorful and control the storylines of which they are a part. There is conflict, betrayal, emotions and anger; there are cultural nuances that are cleverly injected into the premise. Nalini Singh has developed a political infrastructure of angels and vampires that could rival a human senate or parliament at any give time in history-one that is controlled by the elite of the supernatural world.

I applaud Nalini’s imagination and her ability to pull the reader into a storyline where we become one with the story-touched by the emotions –and fall in love with some very delightful characters.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reading Order

Angel’s Dance *
Angel’s Judgement*
Angel’s Pawn *
Angel’s Blood
Archangel’s Kiss
Archangel’s Consort
Angel’s Wolf *
Archangel’s Blade
Archangel’s Storm
Angel’s Legion
Archangel’s Shadows

giveaway

Nalini’s publisher is offering a paper copy of ARCHANGEL’S SHADOWS 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. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS  for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE Nalini Singh on FACEBOOK.

7. Giveaway is U.S. only

8. Giveaway runs from October 28-October 31, 2014, 2014

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The Chalet (The Submissive Series 3.5) by Tara Sue Me-Review and Interview

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THE CHALET (The Submissive Trilogy 3.5) by Tara Sue Me-Review and Interview

The Chalet

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 21, 2014

New York Times bestselling author Tara Sue Me’s Submissive series is an international sensation. Now, Abby and Nathaniel’s story continues with their romantic wedding and a honeymoon too hot to believe…

Submitting her body was only the beginning.

Abby King didn’t know true passion until she gave herself to Nathaniel West, one of New York City’s most eligible bachelors and desired Dominants. Now, on the eve of her marriage, she realizes all her dreams are coming true. And with a romantic honeymoon getaway planned at a secluded Swiss chalet, she’s sure Nathaniel will find even more fantasies to fulfill…

Nathaniel never thought he’d settle down until Abby broke down his barriers and changed his plans. With their wedding only weeks away, he can barely wait to possess her completely—heart, body, and soul—and show her the true meaning of being both a wife and a submissive.

Only Abby has one more challenge in store before she becomes his: no sex and no collar for one month before the wedding. Nathaniel is willing to give it a shot but he has one scandalous stipulation—once that month is up, anything goes…

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE CHALET is the latest installment in Tara Sue Me’s contemporary, adult The Submissive erotic romance series focusing on ‘Dom’ Nathaniel West and his submissive Abby King. Because THE CHALET is part of an ongoing series focusing on one couple, it should not be read as a stand alone because important background information about our couple is revealed in the previous storylines.

Told from alternating first person points of view (Abby and Nathaniel) THE CHALET is a novella that focuses on the weeks up to and after Abby and Nathaniel’s wedding wherein Abby has declared a no-sex policy during the 30 days prior to the ceremony. Nathaniel is a Dominant who fell in love with his sub, and because their Dom/sub relationship focuses more on the sexual aspect of their lives, the month of celibacy is something new. But it is during the honeymoon phase at a chalet in Zermatt, Switzerland where Abby will ask more of her Dominant than Nathaniel had expected to give. It is a time to explore her truly submissive side-not just on weekends-but throughout the week as well. When Abby accidentally calls Nathaniel ‘sir’ in a playful exchange, she begins to understand that perhaps she is a ‘true’ submissive –after all.

THE CHALET is a sexually graphic, erotic storyline that continues to explore the D/s sexual relationship of Abby and Nathaniel. While vacationing in the Swiss Alps, Abby will discover that she enjoys the submissive side of their relationship and is willing to accept everything Nathaniel has to offer.

The secondary characters include some of the previous storyline couples including Nathaniel’s cousin Jackson and his new wife (and Abby’s best friend) Felicia. Felicia is aware of Abby and Nathaniel’s relationship and is slowly learning to accept that her friend has a submissive side that needs to be addressed.

With THE CHALET, Tara Sue Me’s offers up another side of Abby and Nathaniel’s D/s relationship. Theirs is not a true, hardcore BDSM exchange but one built upon mutual understanding, marriage and love. I do foresee some difficulties in the relationship as Nathaniel will begin to demand more from Abby then she is willing to give.

Reading Order

1. The Submissive
2. The Dominant
3. The Training
3.5 The Chalet (October 2014)
4. The Enticement (April 2015)

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Interview

TRC: Hi Tara and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the success of THE SUBMISSIVE series and the release of THE CHALET.

American Author Tara Sue Me We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Tara: Thank you for having me! Honestly, there’s not much to tell. I’m a forty-something mother of two who likes to write sexy love stories.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Tara: I think as a writer, everything, everyone, and every experience influences me in some way. Some more than others, certainly.

TRC: When not writing, what do you do to relax?

Tara: When I’m not writing, I’m usually thinking about writing! It’s so hard to turn my mind off or make the characters give me a few minutes of silence. For those rare opportunities I can, I either swim or read.

The ChaletTRC: THE CHALET is your most recent release (and novella) in THE SUBMISSIVE series focusing on DOM Nathaniel West and submissive Abby King. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Tara: So many readers wanted the details of Nathaniel and Abby’s wedding and to be honest, those details didn’t fit in with the plot of THE TRAINING. But as I thought about it, I decided it would be fun to see what happened at their wedding and where they went on their honeymoon. I couldn’t make an entire novel out of it, so I decided to write a novella.

TRC: SEDUCED BY FIRE is the first book in your new PARTNERS IN PLAY series. Would you please tell us something about the book?

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

Seduced by FireTara: SEDUCED BY FIRE tells the story of a woman exploring her submission and what she does with that information when she is faced with the dangerous side of play.

TRC: Do you have any information regarding the next book in the series?

Tara: Funny you should ask that. I’m actually combining Partners in Play with The Submissive Series. When I sat down to plot out the next few books, it made sense. Everyone is in the same geographical area, they’re about the same age, have the same interest, and Daniel and Nathaniel work in the same field.

The EnticementSo, you’ll see Julie, Daniel, and Jeff (from SEDUCED BY FIRE) in THE ENTICEMENT (April 2015) and then Jeff and Dena’s story will be out in July 2015 (THE COLLAR).

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

TRC: What are your thoughts on writing a series and ending an installment with a major cliff hanger?

Tara: I know I don’t like it as a reader and for the most part, I won’t read a series until all the books are out if I think that’s going to happen.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Tara: I always like to think I’m directing the characters, but the truth is, nine times out of ten, they don’t listen to me and they do their own thing. I’ve learned, the hard way, they know what they’re talking about and that I need to listen to them.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Tara: A writer has to make the character act in character. This is actually one of my personal pet peeves when it comes to reading because if it’s not in character, the reader isn’t going to believe you no matter how well written the story is. I think as writers, we often feel the need to add drama or some issue to the plot and it doesn’t work because it doesn’t make sense.

The Submissive Trilogy

The Submissive (book 1):Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / KOBO/ The Book Depository

The Dominant (book 2): Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

The Training (book 3): Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO

TRC: Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon. How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of writer’s block?

Tara: Writer’s block for me occurs because I want the scene to be absolutely perfect and I know it won’t be with the first draft. I have to tell myself just to get words on the paper and fix it later. Butt in chair. Writing. Even when you don’t feel like it.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Tara: Mr. Sue Me is good to bounce ideas off and my crit partner, Elle, is awesome, too. The general premise for THE ENTICEMENT came about after a chat with another crit partner, Cyndy.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Tara: I’m currently working on THE COLLAR. This is Jeff and Dena’s story and it’s unlike anything I’ve written before. Jeff and Dena are an experienced BDSM couple with a common tragic history they think won’t allow for a future.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food Salmon

Favorite Dessert Anything chocolate

Favorite TV Show Property Brothers

Last Movie You Saw Maleficent

Favorite Musical Group The Police

Dark or Milk Chocolate Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush David Gandy

Last Vacation Destination Alaska

Pet Peeve Aggressive drivers

TRC: Thank you Tara for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the success of THE SUBMISSIVE series.

Tara: Thank you for having me!

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Her Perfect Game by Shannyn Schroeder – a Review

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Her Perfect Game by Shannyn Schroeder – a Review

 

Her Perfect Game

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:

Spring break is supposed to be a week of fun in the sun for three childhood friends about to graduate from college. But one of them is ready to get her game on somewhere else…

Charlie Castle is an expert archer and a fierce warrior—in her favorite video game, anyway. But college life was a program she couldn’t quite master. To land a cybertech job without a degree, she’s entering a “hackfest” over spring break—where she also hopes to meet the sweet gamer who’s been flirting with her online. Instead, she runs into the hot guy who walked away years ago, and can’t fight the desire that comes rushing back.

Jonah Best has never gotten over Charlie, whose kisses were always as deliciously creative as her coding. But now that they’re face to face again, he doesn’t know how to admit that her online admirer is really him—or how to convince her that he’s offering her a job for her incredible skills, not her sex appeal. Can Jonah cut through their communication glitches and persuade Charlie that the next level up for them should be forever?

 

 

Review:

Her Perfect Game by Shannyn Schroeder is her second book in her Hot & Nerdy series. This is a novella series about three friends; the first book was about Layla, and in this book, the heroine is Charlie. The background story about gamers, and hackers. Charlie dropped out of college, and hasn’t told her friends. She wants a job, in the gamer field, especially in security, since she is good at hacking. Charlie learned all about how to hack from her ex boyfriend, Jonah, who up and left her three years ago. Charlie wants to go to Vegas gamer convention, and needs to win money at the hackfest she is attending. It is there she runs into Jonah.

Charlie finds out that Jonah works for a game production company, as their security expert to make the games hack preventive. Charlie happens to play the game that Jonah is in charge of, and unbeknownst to her, Jonah is Charlie’s online friend, under an assumed name. It doesn’t take long for both of them to rekindle their romance. Jonah regrets walking away years before, but at that time, he felt Charlie needed space to get over the death of a friend. Now he wants more, but will Charlie be able to forgive him or trust him.

This was an interesting story, being about gamers and hackers. The romance between Johan and Charlie did heat up the action, but Jonah still needed to come clean with Charlie about why he left her, as well as being the friend online. They were a likeable couple, but personally I did not feel the chemistry between them, though they did have hot sex scenes. It was a nice ending, though a bit rushed. Overall it was a fun, different and fast read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Seventh Grave and No Body (Charley Davidson 7) by Darynda Jones-Review and Blog Tour

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Seventh Grave and No Body (Charley Davidson 7) by Darynda Jones-Review and Blog Tour

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Seventh Grave and No Body
Charley Davidson #7
by Darynda Jones
Genre: adult, contemporary, UF, paranormal
Release Date:

Seventh Grave and no Body Oct 14

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 21, 2014

Twelve. Twelve of the deadliest beasts ever forged in the fires of hell have escaped onto our plane, and they want nothing more than to rip out the jugular of Charley Davidson and serve her lifeless, mangled body to Satan for dinner. So there’s that. But Charley has more on her plate than a mob of testy hellhounds. For one thing, her father has disappeared, and the more she retraces his last steps, the more she learns he was conducting an investigation of his own, one that has Charley questioning everything she’s ever known about him. Add to that an ex-BFF who is haunting her night and day, a rash of suicides that has authorities baffled, and a drop-dead sexy fiancé who has attracted the attentions of a local celebrity, and Charley is not having the best week of her life.

A tad north of hell, a hop, skip, and a jump past the realm of eternity, is a little place called Earth, and Charley Davidson, grim reaper extraordinaire, is determined to do everything in her power to protect it.

We’re doomed.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: SEVENTH GRAVE AND NO BODY is the seventh installment in Darynda Jones’s adult, contemporary Charley Davidson UF series focusing on part time PI/full time Grim Reaper Charley Davidson. This is the continuing story of Charley’s life as the Grim Reaper, the corporeal spirits who have yet to pass, and the man to whom she has pledged her undying love-the son of Satan-Reyes Farrow. The series should be read in order for cohesion and the ongoing history between Charley and Reyes.

Told from first person POV (Charley) the focus of the storyline follows Charley as she is called in to help investigate a series of ten year old unsolved murders. Meanwhile, not only has Charley been targeted for extermination by Satan himself but someone has sent twelve hellhounds to make sure the job gets done. When a young sixteen year old girl is murdered, Charley is asked by the recently deceased herself, to track down her missing body. With the number of cases building, Charley continues to place herself in danger at every opportunity. Reyes is NOT a happy camper when he discovers that Charley has risked their future for the sake of someone else.

The relationship between Reyes and Charley is one of undying love, ordained by hell, and soul mated by birth. Reyes has waited thousands of years for Charley’s arrival and he isn’t about to lose Charley to the demons of hell. Their sexual chemistry is explosive; provocative and intense. But Reyes sex appeal does not go unnoticed and a local reporter aims her sights at Mr. Farrow.

SEVENTH GRAVE is a storyline that advances the series but a few days. Charley’s father is still missing; Uncle Bob (Ubie) is in a relationship with Charley’s BFF Cookie; and Reyes is more determined to protect Charley than ever before. Enter the Dealer-a demon known as ‘Osh’-and Charley has a veritable army of supernatural beings hoping to keep her alive while an even more powerful and larger army is hoping to take her down. As Charley’s powers slowly reveal themselves, she will discover that she is more god-like in potential and talent then ever before.

As per Darynda’s writing style, SEVENTH GRAVE AND NO BODY is packed full of sarcastic whit, one liners, sexual innuendo, euphemisms and character asides. Each chapter is introduced using ‘bumper stickers logos’ or ‘t-shirt quotes’ adding an even more humorous element to the story. Cookie and Charley play off of one another like yin and yang-a veritable game of table tennis of the mind.

The secondary characters and regulars, including human and spirit alike, add a familiarity to the storyline as each adds their own charm and finesse to Charley’s life. Angel (Charley’s perpetually thirteen year old spirit assistant) and Rocket (a deceased savant who tracks every death in the world) add mystery and reveal a little more information about Charley’s purpose on earth. Mr. Wong’s identity-although his role has yet to be completely determined– is a constant spiritual presence in Charley’s apartment, and one that may have a larger role in the upcoming installments. Mr.Wong’s purpose in the series is painstakingly slow to reveal with only a hint of what is to come.

With every storyline, Charley begins to amass a following of the recently deceased that assist Charley in one way or another. Not only do these spirits refuse to move forward but they remain behind to help Charley in any way they can. SEVENTH GRAVE adds one more ghost to Charley’s fan club.

Darynda Jones is an amazingly, talented author whose imagination grows with each installment. There are moments of humor and sorrow; heartbreak and love; mystery and suspense. My only complaint is the slow reveal of everyone’s purpose (including Charley) in the series. There are so many secrets that have yet to be revealed. The true nature of Charley’s predestination is the biggest secret of all.
Charley Davidson Series

Reading Order and Links to Reviews:
First Grave on the Right
Second Grave on the Left
Third Grave Dead Ahead
Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
Fifth Grave Past The Light
Sixth Grave on the Edge
Seventh Grave and No Body

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Excerpt

 

I set Cookie to finding out everything she could on the missing suicide-note victims. There had to be a connection between them somewhere in their pasts. In the meantime, I would go talk to their closests, but first I needed to know if the victims were still alive. If they’d been abducted, this would quickly become a much different case. We would probably have to get the FBI involved, if they weren’t on to it already.
Reyes was still working, so I decided to cut out alone. I knew he’d freak. He wasn’t about to leave me alone for long, and neither would he put up with my running off without him, so I decided to pick up a passenger. Well, another passenger. The one I had at the moment would be of no help in a fight against hounds from hell, should they spot me in a crowd.
Jessica was harping again, this time about how her friends were at the restaurant, fawning over Reyes as though she had never died. She’d called dibs the moment she saw him, and they seemed almost relieved she was out of the way. I refrained from reminding her that (1) I’d had dibs long before that, and (2) she was as dead as the Twizzler I was gnawing on in an attempt to forget about my extreme caffeine depletion. Poor little Twizzler.
“She said that!” Jessica shouted. “Like, she said it. Right to Reyes’s face.”
“Wait, what?” I almost slammed on the brakes, then realized my foot was already on the brake, as we were idling at a stoplight. “Who said what to Reyes’s face?”
“Oh . . . my god. Have you heard a word I’ve said?”
“Not especially. Who said what?”
“She said she’d do anything, any . . . thing, for an interview.”
I turned to her. “Are you telling me you heard what Reyes and Jolene—I mean, that hooch—were talking about?”
“Duh. I was so upset with Joanie and the girls that I started to walk out when that—that ho practically assaulted our man.”

 

 

7thGraveAudio copy
 

 

About the author


Darynda JonesFollow: Website / Facebook / Twitter /Goodreads

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

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Last Light (Night Owl Trilogy #2) by M.Pierce-a review

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LAST LIGHT (Night Owl Trilogy #2) by M.Pierce-a review

Last Light

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 28, 2014

Matt Sky is missing. After a solo ascent of Longs Peak that left only a large blood stain, tatters of climbing clothing, and the tracks of an animal in the snow, he is presumed dead …

Hannah Catalano is guarding a secret …

Tensions rise, secrets grow bigger, and passions run deeper in the highly anticipated second book in the Night Owl Trilogy.

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SPOILER ALERT-It is not possible to reveal the premise without revealing the truth about what happened to Matthew Sky.

REVIEW: LAST LIGHT is the second installment in M. Pierce’s Night Owl Trilogy focusing on reclusive author Matt Sky and publishing assistant Hannah Catalano. At the end of book one-Night Owl-Matt appeared to have plummeted to his death leaving the reader wondering how Hannah would survive without the man that she loves. The series must be read in order for cohesion, history and understanding the personalities and background of each of the characters.

Matt Sky is an enigma; a reclusive and solitary writer (almost paranoid in thought) whose personal and private life had been secreted from the public until the day his publicist Pam and girlfriend Hannah convinced him to acknowledge his fans. But Matt’s psyche is fragile and his emotional health is unstable. Unable to handle the public pressure, Matt disappears and demands that Hannah promise to keep secret what she knows. What Matt never suspected was that Hannah was not willing to go into hiding with him, leaving Matt on the verge of another emotional breakdown. As the storyline unfolds Hannah is in the unenviable position of having to face Matt’s family and friends knowing that the man that they mourn is in seclusion waiting for her return.

The relationship between Hannah and Matt is sexually erotic and intense yet somewhat controversial as Matt’s need for Hannah is obsessive, bizarre and traumatic. Matt has a bit of a dominant personality, one born out of a need for control. Their weekend rendezvous become a necessity to Matt’s sanity but there is pressure from all sides when Matt brings in an assistant and Hannah becomes the object of another man’s affections. Hannah will be pulled from all sides as the truth about what happened to Matt is slowly revealed.

LAST LIGHT is an erotic and passionate storyline told from alternating first person points of view-Hannah and Matt. We are pulled into the mindset of a man whose emotional stability is questionable; whose need for privacy borders on obsession; and whose preoccupation with Hannah is manic and uncontrolled. There are heartbreaking moments as you realize that Matt’s emotional balance and his impassioned personality are fallible and frail. Sometimes there is only so much one person can do.

I did enjoy LAST LIGHT much more than NIGHT OWL. I questioned the strength of the relationship between Hannah and Matt, one built upon lies and deceit, and although the lies and deceit continue, the focus of the betrayal is in another direction.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Dark Desires Series 1-3 by Nina Croft-reviews

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The Dark Desires Series 1-3 by Nina Croft-reviews

Blood Hunter Series

••••••••••••••••••••••

BREAK OUT
(Blood Hunter/Dark Desires #1)
by Nina Croft
Genre: adult, sci-fi, paranormal, fantasy, romance

ABOUT THE BOOK: Re release September 30, 2014

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

Break OutThe year is 3048, Earth is no longer habitable, and man has fled to the stars where they’ve discovered the secret of immortality—Meridian. Unfortunately, the radioactive mineral is exorbitantly expensive and only available to a select few. A new class comprised of the super rich and immortal soon evolves. The Collective, as they’re called, rule the universe.

Two-thousand-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, vampire and rogue pilot of the space cruiser, El Cazador, can’t resist two things: gorgeous women and impossible jobs. When beautiful Skylar Rossaria approaches him to break a prisoner out of the Collective’s maximum security prison on Trakis One, Rico jumps at the chance. Being hunted by the Collective has never been so dangerous—or so fun.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: BREAK OUT is the first instalment in Nina Croft’s sci-fi/fantasy/ DARK DESIRES (formerly Blood Hunter) paranormal romance series. This is 2000 year old vampire Rico Sanchez and warrior Skylar Rossaria’s storyline. When Skylar commissions Rico’s space vessel-The El Cazador- to rescue her brother ‘Jon’ from the maximum security prison on Trakis One, Rico suspects there is something more to her story than what she has told.

The focus of the storyline finds Rico and crew embarking on an impossible mission. No one has ever escaped the prison on Trakis One and no one has ever broken in. As the crew attempts to hunt for information about the facility, Rico and Skylar begin a sexual dance of attraction.

The attraction between Rico and Skylar is immediate. Rico is a vampire and his desire to claim Skylar is tempered by the knowledge that Skylar has kept hidden the true nature of her trek. Skylar’s identity and history is an unknown but Rico is a 2000 year old vampire with skills that even Skylar has not seen.

The secondary characters are colorful, exciting and play an active role throughout the storyline. We are introduced to the captain and her crew of misfits beings-all are humanoid but not quite human. The world building includes the Cybergenic Research, The Collective and The Corp. The Collective has discovered the secret to immortality and anyone standing in their way will be destroyed and The Church of Everlasting Light is determined to destroy anything that has been genetically modified.

Many of the scenarios are similar in nature to, and a combination of, both Star Trek and Star Wars technology, background and premises. There is action, romance and suspense; a little humor and a whole lot of sexual tension.

Nina Croft pulls the reader into a passionate, captivating and thrilling ride across a galaxy that we have yet to discover.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

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DEADLY PURSUIT
(Blood Hunter/Dark Desires #2)
by Nina Croft
Genre: adult, sci-fi, paranormal, fantasy, romance

ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release November 1, 2014

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

Deadly PursuitHe craves his own freedom.

Jonathon Decker knows how to keep his enemies close—and his allies closer. But what about his women? Everyone wants a piece of the world’s sexiest werewolf, now that he’s been broken out of prison. Enter Alexia, the High Priestess of the Church of Everlasting life. Captivating and independent, Alexia is everything Jon could want in a woman. But can she be trusted? It will take more than one night of endless passion to find out…

And she is his to possess…

After twenty-four years of faithfully playing by the rules, Alex is finally ready take fate into her own hands. Her passion for Jon is a force to be reckoned with—and the way he makes her feel keeps her coming back for more. But their desire could lead them both down a dark path—one in which there’s no turning back. How much will each of them risk to be together…for all time?

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DEADLY PURSUIT is the second installment in Nina Croft’s adult, paranormal, sci-fi DARK DESIRES (formerly Blood Hunter) fantasy romance series. The continuing voyage of the crew of the space cruiser-the El Cazador-finds their most recent and reluctant rescue Jonathon Decker running for his life. Not only does the Collective want Jonathon dead but The Church of Everlasting Life is hunting for their wayward priestess- a young woman who now calls the cruiser her home. With two warring factions of interdimensional space on the attack against the El Cazador, our crew members are in for the fight of their lives. The Dark Desires (Blood Hunter) series takes place one thousand years into the future where Earth is no longer inhabitable and immortality can be bought-for a price.

The storyline follows a race against time and space. In the first storyline –BREAK OUT- the crew rescued space assassin Jonathan Decker from an uncertain future. As the newest member of the El Cazador cruiser, Jonathan finds himself in the unenviable position as the only ‘species’ of his kind still in existence. When the Collective demand the return of Jonathan, his rescuers find themselves on the defensive and protecting a man they know nothing about. But it is Jonathan’s attraction to another crewmember that has everyone concerned.

Alexia has been hiding in plain sight. As the youngest member of the El Cazador, Al as she has come to be known, is the High Priestess of The Church of Everlasting Life and wanted by the very people from whom she ran. But it is her unrequited attraction and love for Jonathan that will be the deciding factor in Alexia’s decision to return to her place within the Church. What follows is an assault and several attempts on her life leaving Alexia wondering where everything went wrong.

The relationship between Jonathan and Alexia is slow to build. Their attraction to one another is immediate although not welcome by Jonathan Decker. He is a man who likes to pursue but being pursued is not what he wants. As the storyline builds, so too does the animosity between our couple, one brought about by need, instincts and lust. It is only when each will sacrifice themselves for the other, does the reality of love and the possibility of a future together realize.

The world building continues with the inclusion of most of the previous storyline characters including all of the crew of the El Cazador. The Collective ( and their elite army Corps) as well as The Church play a major role in the control of space as we learn a little more about the personal cost for those seeking an unnatural immortality and its affects on the controlling elite. With the Collective controlling the rare radioactive element known as Meridian-known to bestow immortality on those who could afford the price-they now control most of the universe.

DEADLY PURSUIT (and the Dark Desires series) is very similar to the Star Trek and Star Wars franchise storylines including the concepts of technology, background and species. These are the stories of suspense, mystery, romance and love whereby the people or species who once called Earth home must struggle for acceptance in a new world order. The GMs (or genetically modified) are considered abominations by the Church and meant for extermination, and in this most of the crew of the El Cazador are wanted just for whom they are-GMs, vampires, werewolves and more.

Nina Croft’s ability to weave a tale of paranormal science fiction with romance is compelling and remarkable. You will be pulled into the action, the anxiety and their struggle to break free from the hold of those who consider themselves more superior and powerful. The DARK DESIRES series is addictive, intense and seductive. The storylines are heartbreaking, emotional and wondrous-the virtual reality of the storylines is intriguing and believable.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

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DEATH DEFYING
( Blood Hunter/Dark Desires #3)
by Nina Croft
Genre: adult, sci-fi, paranormal, fantasy, romance

ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release November 25, 2014

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

Death DefyingPart snake, part human, and—some would say all bitch—Captain Tannis of the starship El Cazador has one goal in life—to earn enough credits to pay for the Meridian treatment to achieve the immortality she craves. And one last job will get her there. The assignment: protecting the most powerful man in the Universe.

Being leader of the known universe isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, it sucks big time. And after five hundred years, Callum Meridian, founding member of the Collective, is bored out of his mind. But as things are changing, he’s changing—into what, though, he isn’t sure. Callum is determined to discover the truth, and he’s employed the crew of El Cazador to help him do it.

Not everyone agrees with his plan, though. His own people will stop at nothing to prevent the truth coming out, the Church is taking advantage of the confusion and attempting a coup, and even the crew of El Cazador seem close to tossing him out the airlock without a space suit. But defying death has never been more dangerous, sexier, or more fun.

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DEATH DEFYING is the third installment in Nina Croft’s adult, paranormal, sci-fi DARK DESIRES (formerly Blood Hunter) fantasy romance series focusing on the crew of the space cruiser –the El Cazador. This is GM (genetically modified) captain of the El Cazador Tannis, and Leader of the Universe Callum Meridian’s storyline. DEATH DEFYING can be read as a stand alone story but for cohesion, back story and overall enjoyment, I would recommend reading the series in order.

Some background: 1000 years after Earth’s demise, the ruling Collective, and the self-proclaimed Church of Everlasting Life play a major role in the control of space. The Collective control the rights to the rare radioactive element known as Meridian-that will bestow immortality on those who can afford the price. The Church is in the business of exterminating the genetically modified beings-considering them abominations and a sin against God. These two ruling factions are currently at war with one another and will destroy anyone that gets in their way-the El Cazador and crew are number one on the most wanted list.

Told from third person point of view, DEATH DEFYING finds Callum Meridian in need of help. Having left the Collective council in search of answers about the progressive physical changes to the members of the Collective, he presents Tannis and her crew an offer she cannot refuse. In exchange for their help, Callum will bestow Tannis with the promise of procuring the Meridian element for her personal use. But reaching the outlying planet of Trakis Seven is becoming increasingly difficult when The Church targets the El Cazador, Callum and Trakis Seven for destruction.

The relationship between Callum and Tannis is slow to build as the crew must find a way to outrun The Collective and The Church. Tannis’s backstory and history are revealed-the abuse and experimentation at the hands of the Collective finds our Captain reflecting about the loss of family and the isolation she had to endure. Tannis considers Callum persona non grata when she discovers that Callum may have more of a connection to the abuse then she had realized. But there is a definite sexual attraction between our leading couple, one that does not go unnoticed by the crew members or one another.

The secondary characters include all of the El Cazador crew. There are heartbreaking moments of loss and death for the misfit crew of vampires, werewolves and more. The world building continues with the story behind how Earth’s inhabitants came to find new homes on several different planets as well as the continuing war for control of space.

Once again, the similarities between this series, and the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises cannot be denied-from technology, to species and beyond. There are hopes and dreams, loss and death, mystery and suspense, action, drama and romance. We follow the members of the El Cazador on their journey through time and space; from black holes to poisonous planets they will encounter both the good and the bad, but sometimes there is no difference between the two.

Nina Croft’s DARK DESIRES series is seductive, entertaining and compelling. There are moments of pure passion, terrifying destruction and inventive fun all blended into a romantic tale not only between two people but about the vastness of space exploration and what is beyond the stars.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviews by Sandy

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