Monthly Archives: August 2015

Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

Posted on by
11

Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

 

Dragonbane
Dark-Hunter / Were-Hunter series
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release Date: August 4, 2015

DragonbaneAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

 

Description:
Out of all the mysterious boarders who call Sanctuary home, no one is more antisocial or withdrawn than Maxis Drago. But then, it’s hard to blend in with the modern world when you have a fifty-foot wingspan.

Centuries ago, he was cursed by an enemy who swore to see him fall. An enemy who took everything from him and left him forever secluded. But Fate is a bitch, with a wicked sense of humor. And when she throws old enemies together and threatens the wife he thought had died centuries ago, he comes back with a vengeance. Modern day New Orleans has become a battleground for the oldest of evils. And two dragons will hold the line, or go down in flames.

 

Review:

I absolutely loved Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Book 26, I can’t believe it, 26 books in this series and it hasn’t dulled once, nor is showing any signs of slowing down. There’s just something about Kenyon’s writing, storytelling ability and imagination that makes each of her books fresh and exciting. This one had everything but the kitchen sink thrown in, oh wait I think a sink could have come flying from the kitchen in one the battles in Santuary in this one, LOL!!! Just kidding, I don’t recall an airborne sink in any scene. 😉

Dragonbane picks up where Son of No One ends. Maxis’ brother Illarion is now living at Santuary with him and adjusting to life outside of the Fey realm. We are also introduced to their other brothers; Blaise who is also part Mandrake and lives in Avalon, and Falcyn, I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side, just saying, he’s one ornery dragon. Along with meeting Maxis’ other brothers, we also learn he has a wife, who happens to be an Arcadian dragon and Amazonian dragon slayer. She comes to town to ask for his help in rescuing their children, twin dragonets Haydn and Edena. Since Maxis walked away from Seraphina centuries ago, thanks to her tribe, he never knew she was pregnant and that she gave birth to twins. Now thanks to her leader Nala who’s in league with the gallu demon Kessar, yes he’s back and wanting revenge in the worst way against everyone who’s wronged him, they must find a way to mend fences and work together. Easier said then done in Maxis case thanks to everything he’s suffered at the hands of Seraphina and her Amazonian sisters.

Throughout the story we are bombarded with tons of information about the Dragon race, how Werer-Hunters came to be, who the first one’s were, the cause of the hatred between the Arcadian and Katagaria, the creation of the Omegrion and how Savitar came to be it’s leader. There was so much information in this one at times I felt like my head was spinning and I was on information overload, but in a good way. It helped to keep everything in perspective and helps to answer any unanswered questions us as the reader may have still had regarding the Were-Hunters. We are also privy to flashbacks of Max and Sera’s life together in her Amazon tribe, what happened to him at her sisters hands and why he left her. His story is rather heartbreaking at times and I did shed a few tears for him. There wasn’t a single thing about Max I didn’t like, Seraphina however had a lot of groveling and making up to do in my books. By the end of the book I approved of her as Maxis’ mate.

Along with all the information we learned in this one, it was also fast paced and non- stop action when the battles ensued. Nothing like a Kenyon battle scene to get the blood pumping and nail biting happening. There was also plenty of Kenyon humour and sarcasm flying about throughout the story that had me laughing out loud and snorting many times. What can I say, Dev, Fang, Fury, Thorn and Styxx have to be the best at letting the sarcasm fly and use it at the most inappropriate times possible. Love it. Heck Fang was even rubbing off on Seraphina at one point when she tells her Amazon sisters to ‘arm up bitches’, then turns to Max and says; “You left me in Fangs company too long.” LoL!!! We also get to see many of our faves from Santuary and New Orleans come together to help Max, and due battle against Kessar, Apollo and company on Olympus. There’s also a new little tidbit about Savitar that we learn, and get to see some intriguing interaction between him and Apollymi, and a very touching scene with her and Styxx. I think one of my fave scenes has to be when Thorn drops in on the Omegrion council to inform everyone about what’s going down on Mount Olympus. It was perfect Thorn, he hit all the sarcastic high-notes and no other character could have pulled that scene off. That’s one of the things I love about Kenyon’s characters. No two are remotely the same, or have similar personalities. Each one has their own distinct nuances that make each unique to the story and keep me coming back for more.

For anyone who’s a fan of Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series this one is a must read, and won’t disappoint. All I can say is I can’t wait for Dragonmark. If the way this one ended is any indication of what’s to come, then in the words of Seraphina; “arm of bitches” cause there’s going to be hell to pay for Apollo, Kessar and company. Man I hate waiting……..is it August 2016 yet????

Until next time, happy reading my fellow Menyons!

Reviewed by Marcie

 

 

Share

Scotsman of My Dreams (MacIain #2) by Karen Ranney-a review

Posted on by
11

SCOTSMAN OF MY DREAMS (MacIain #2) by Karen Ranney-a review

Scotsman of my Dreams

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 25, 2015

An unconventional woman and a former scoundrel embark on a daring mission of desire

Once the ton’s most notorious rake, Dalton MacIain has returned from his expedition to America during the Civil War— wounded and a changed man. Instead of returning to his old haunts, he now spends his time at home. But Dalton’s peace is disturbed when Minerva Todd barges into his London townhouse, insisting he help search for her missing brother Neville. Though Dalton would love to spend more time with the bewitching beauty, he has no interest in finding Neville, whom he blames for his injury.

Minerva has never met a more infuriating man than the Earl of Rathsmere, yet she is intrigued by the torrid rumors she has heard about him . . . and the fierce attraction pulling her toward him.

Dalton does not count on Minerva’s persistence, or the desire she awakens in him, compelling him to discover her brother’s fate. But when danger surrounds them, Dalton fears he will lose the tantalizing, thoroughly unpredictable woman he has come to love.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: SCOTSMAN OF MY DREAMS is the second installment in Karen Ranney’s adult MacIain historical romance series. This is the Earl of Rathsmere and notorious rake Dalton MacIain, and Minerva Todd’s storyline. SCOTSMAN OF MY DREAMS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from third person point of view SCOTSMAN OF MY DREAMS focuses on the hunt for Minerva’s eighteen year old brother Neville who was last seen in the company of Dalton MacIain as they embarked across the ocean towards the American Civil War. Minerva has been searching for any information about her missing brother and Dalton is the man she is determined to prove knows more than he is saying.

Minerva is a strong willed, fiercely independent woman who is no longer innocent of the world around her; her interests in history and archaeology do not meet the demands of a demure single woman of mid 19th century England; Minerva is a woman ‘ahead of her time’ who knows what it is she wants and needs to do, and Dalton is the man to help her do it. While Minerva struggles with the information Dalton reveals, Dalton struggles with his attraction to Minerva.

Dalton returned to Europe a broken man and the title of Earl of Rathsmere upon the death of his older brother; blinded and scarred by a bullet to the face that all but keeps our storyline hero a recluse and shut in, Dalton’s reputation as a rake has preceded his introduction to Minerva Todd, but his reputation is all that remains of his former carousing ways. Meeting the feisty but determined Minerva finds our hero longing for her companionship and company.

The relationship between Dalton and Minerva is slow to build as the animosity between our leading couple is fraught with potential betrayal, mistrust, anger and a sister’s broken heart. Minerva demands information from Dalton about her missing brother only to realize that Dalton knows more than he is willing to reveal; Dalton’s revelations have Minerva considering the truth about everything she has learned until a missive from America reveals the whereabouts and what happened to her missing brother. The $ex scenes are sensual but mostly implied. Minerva is no blushing virgin in the bedroom or on the library floor.

The secondary and supporting characters include a number of household servants and care takers-some with agendas while others are as close as family or friends. Minerva’s neighbors-the Covington sisters -are more than just busybodies who keep a close eye on Minerva’s comings and goings-they are also concerned about the woman whose only brother has gone missing in a foreign war. We are introduced to Minerva’s driver Hugh whose attraction for our heroine was once one of mutual affection; and Dalton’s brother Lewis whose lifestyle demands a new financial backer.

I want to address the lack of historical language or Scottish /English tongue throughout the storyline. Although I am not disheartened by the missing Gaelic or Scottish terminology or expressions, I did not feel that I was completely immersed into the timeline and setting due to the lack of articulation and local colloquialisms of the time/era.

SCOTSMAN OF MY DREAMS is an intriguing and fun read. There is some mystery surrounding the people responsible for much of the storyline premise; everyone is not as whom they appear to be. There are some lighthearted moments followed by heartbreaking resolve; the premise is entertaining; the characters are energetic; the happily ever after revealing .

Copy supplied by Edelweiss

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

Quinn Invisible (Quinn Callahan Chronicles #1) by Amy Martin-a review

Posted on by
9

Quinn Invisible (Quinn Callahan Chronicles #1) by Amy Martin-a review

Quinn Invisible

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 1, 2015

When her cop father is killed in the line of duty, Quinn Callahan returns from New York to her hometown of Shady Springs, Missouri, to live with her aunt. Unfortunately, Shady Springs holds nothing but pain for Quinn, whose mother allegedly murdered Quinn’s popular best friend Emma before killing herself, leaving Quinn a bullied outcast at her upscale prep school.

After almost four years away, Quinn finds not much has changed at Harrandale Preparatory Academy, although her bullies have grown older, taller, and crueler. And Emma’s twin brother Evan is still indifferent to her, which is more painful than any punishment her classmates can inflict.

Determined to clear her mother’s name, Quinn begins re-investigating Emma’s death with the help of some new friends and–eventually–Evan. But will Quinn and Evan be able to live with what they learn about their families in the process?

••••••••••••

REVIEW: When fifteen year old Quinn Callahan’s father is killed in the line of duty, she is left with no choice but to leave New York City and return to her hometown of Shady Springs, Missouri. But sometimes going home isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Now in the custody of her Aunt Maureen, Quinn must return to the one place she doesn’t want to be. And even though her past continued to haunt her in New York, returning to Shady Springs means returning to a life of hell as she knows it. Quinn’s mother allegedly murdered her best friend Emma and then killed herself four years ago, and returning to town will bring nothing but heartache and pain to her. And to add insult to injury, her father’s wish before he died was that she return to Harrandale Prep School – where she was a social outcast because of the tragic turn of events. But the determination Quinn has to clear her mother’s name wins out, and she soon returns to the upscale school where all the bullies still go. But there is a silver lining. …

Quinn’s first day back she makes friends with Seti and Hal, a couple in love, who must keep their relationship a secret. They are determined, more than ever to help her figure out what happened to her mother, and what lead up to the events that left both Emma and her dead. But facing old ghosts and memories also leads to facing Evan, Emma’s twin brother. At first his coldness to Quinn is hurtful but soon they begin a journey to find out what truly happened on the night their lives changed forever. Will Quinn and Evan be able to rekindle the love they once felt for each other when they were younger? And will they be able to handle the truth they uncover in the search for justice? Can their friendship withstand another tragedy?

Quinn, to me, was the perfect mix of teenage sarcasm and wit. While her life is a series of one tragedy after another you wonder how she gets the courage to face those that condemn her for nothing that was a fault of her own. I loved that Seti and Hal stepped up and into her life on the first day back to school – when no one else would. Those are what true friendships are made of. And their intentions from the start was to protect her at all costs. Of course, Evan is the guy you love to hate or is it hate to love? His annoying, rich, entitled friends are relentless in making Quinn’s life miserable and you want nothing more than to see her rise above all of them. But when Evan shows his true self, you can’t help but wonder if his intentions are pure- I hoped with all my heart that they were. The story moves flawlessly and each turn of events leads you to finding out who murdered Emma and what exactly befell Quinn’s mother. And when Quinn finds something that will truly hurt Evan will she tell him or keep it to herself? The twist in the story leaves you wanting more. Looking forward to continuing with these chronicles.

Reviewed by Erin

Copy supplied by the author.

Share

Blood and Metal (Dark Desires 5) by Nina Croft- a review

Posted on by
11

BLOOD AND METAL (Blood Hunter/Dark Desires 5) by Nina Croft-a review

Blood and Metal

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 24, 2015

She’s his last chance for redemption…if she doesn’t kill him first.

Copilot of the Blood Hunter, Daisy is a newly-turned vampire, and she’s hungry. Really hungry and it’s interfering with her plans for revenge. Unfortunately, the only thing that can distract her from said hunger is sex…which is a problem when she can barely refrain from draining any man dry within moments. But old flame Fergal Cain might just be the sexy-assed solution to her problem.

Part human, part cyborg, and with a poison coursing through his system, Fergal’s running out of time to find the scientist who has the cure. Unfortunately for him, the misfit crew of the Blood Hunter put a serious kink in his plans. And if the poison doesn’t kill him, the hot little vamp he can’t resist might do the honors herself.

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: BLOOD AND METAL is the fifth installment in Nina Croft’s adult Blood Hunter/Dark Desires sci-fi, paranormal romance series focusing on the crew of the space ship Blood Hunter. This is co-pilot of the Blood Hunter and newly-made vampire Daisy, and part human/part cyborg Fergal Cain’s storyline. BLOOD AND METAL can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for cohesion, history and backstory. Each installment builds upon the previous storyline(s) resulting in the continuing voyage of the Blood Hunter and her crew.

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.

Told from third person point of view BLOOD AND METAL focuses on revenge. The crew of the Blood Hunter is hoping to take down the Church of Everlasting Life including its’ current leader Temperance Hatcher-a man whose hatred of everything genetically modified has resulted in the death of several members of the Blood Hunter crew. But a mission to rescue their missing crewmates, Jon and Alex (Deadly Pursuit 2) who are currently ‘prisoners’ of the COEL, finds Daisy rescuing the man with whom she had had a relationship-months before.

Fergal is a man on a mission and needs to find an antidote to prevent the poison coursing through his system, from destroying what’s left of his sanity and his mind. But getting to the planet means finding a suitable spaceship for his travels, and the arrival of Daisy and the Blood Hunter is perfect timing. While Daisy struggles with her new found vampirism, Fergal battles with the secrets and truth he keeps hidden from the Daisy and the crew.

All of the previous storyline couples play a secondary and supporting role throughout the story. We are introduced to Stefan Wolfe-Fergal’s friend who may or may not be aligned with the Church of Everlasting Life. Wolfe is a scientist who specializes in cybernetics, and it is Wolfe’s experiments that have resulted in Fergal’s ever changing DNA and cyborg implants.

Dark Desires is a series that crosses fantasy with paranormal with science fiction resulting in many supernatural species including vampires, werewolves, dragons, and an assortment of immortals who are hybrids of inter-species breeding and genetically modified DNA.

The relationship between Fergal and Daisy began in a previous storyline wherein our couple began a relationship that barely got off the ground. Daisy’s ‘rescue’ of Fergal, whether it be six months or 20 years later, depending upon which side of the wormhole our characters currently reside, finds that our couple has not lost their sexual attraction to one another-although Daisy is no longer the same woman that Fergal left behind.

As per my previous reviews, there is a distinct Star Trek™ themed premise and trope throughout the series, and none more so than the ‘Borg-style’ army and its’ epi-center of control. The concepts of futuristic technology, intergalactic species, cybernetic organisms, and space travel are reflected in all of Nina Croft’s BLOOD HUNTER installments. The further the series travel, the more familiar are many of the storyline concepts to fans and followers of the Star Trek franchise.

BLOOD AND METAL is an entertaining and fast paced storyline; an intergalactic journey through space and time where religion and politics continue to battle for the ultimate control of man and the universe. Nina Croft’s BLOOD HUNTER series is the perfect blend of sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal all wrapped around a story of romance and falling in love.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Series Spotlight

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

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of BREAK OUT

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.

____________________

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

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of DEADLY PURSUIT

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?

_______________________

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

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of DEATH DEFYING

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.

___________________

Temporal ShiftTEMPORAL SHIFT
Dark Desires #4
by Nina Croft
Genre: adult, fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal romance

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

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of TEMPORAL SHIFT

Release Date: November 17, 2014

Caught between destiny and desire…

After diving into a black hole in search of the source of Meridian, the key to immortality, the crew of the Blood Hunter finds themselves stranded in an alternate universe.

Engineer Devlin Stark doesn’t want immortality. He just wants to live long enough to get his revenge on the man who murdered his brother. Now, he’s trapped in a strange world with a crazy woman who claims he’s fated to be her lover.

Saffira Lourdes has a destiny: to save humanity and lead her exiled people to the Promised Land. Haunted by visions of the past and future, she’s been sustained through the years by a dream lover. Unfortunately, Devlin doesn’t believe in fate. But it’s obvious there’s a connection between them, one that will soon be tested by the limits of time and space. Saffira is about to make the crew of the Blood Hunter an offer they’ll find impossible to refuse.

They’re heading back to Earth, and they’re going back in time.

Share

Own Me / Risk Me by Lexi Scott – Reviews

Posted on by
10

Own Me / Risk Me by Lexi Scott – Reviews

 

Own Me
Silver Strand Series – Book #3
by Lexi Scott
Release Date: 8/17/15

Own MeAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Limits were made to be broken…

Genevieve Rodriguez’s life isn’t panning out the way she’s always envisioned. At all. Not only is she exactly one “D” away from getting kicked out of school, but her heart is in pieces after her long-time crush marries someone else. For Genevieve, sunny Silver Strand has never felt more dismal.

Then Adam Abramowitz, her super-cute, super-smart physics tutor-who never seems to notice even her sexiest tops-tells her his visa is about to expire and he’s going to have to return to Israel.

Suddenly the words pop out of Genevieve’s mouth before she can stop them. “Marry me.”

At first, it’s a joke…until it’s not. Because in that brief, unexpected moment, everything changes. The rules. The boundaries. And Adam and Genevieve are about to discover what happens when you push the limits.

 

Review:

Own Me by Lexi Scott is book three in the Silver Strand series. Genevieve Rodriguez’s life isn’t going quite the way she has planned. Her long-time crush Deo has recently married someone else. Her college career is about as close to failing as it could possibly be. She is working in her families furniture store and life as she knows it couldn’t get anymore bleak. The one highlight she has is her tutor – Adam Abramowitz. While they have become close friends, he is all by the books, scientific guy. And while she flirts with him and plays with his intellect she secretly is completely and totally into him.

But Adam’s student visa is about up and with the deadline looming he is worried he will be deported. Gen quickly devises a plan for her best friend to stay in the states and for her to move out of her overbearing families house. She will marry Adam and move into the married dorms with him. But will Adam go for the plan? Will he accept the gift of staying in the states since he desperately does not want to return to Israel and his disapproving father. And if they do go through with this – will immigration believe them and let Adam stay?

Genevieve Rodriguez is a spitfire of a woman. While she is struggling to find herself in not only her family but her own life – she knows one thing is for certain. She would do anything to keep her best friend in the United States. And anything may include a sham marriage that may get Adam deported and her thrown into jail. Gen is an amazing woman with so much potential, and the only person that really can see it at the moment is her best friend Adam. He encourages her to be the best person she can be. He makes her want to be a better person. And she will not let that be taken away by some stupid expired student visa. Will Gen’s family accept Adam on such a short courtship? Will they find out the truth? And will her fake marriage change the one friendship she is fighting to keep?

Adam Abramowitz is all books and science. He has his life experiment he has been slaving over and he completely forgot about renewing his visa. With the expiration date looming he isn’t sure what he is going to do. His best friend comes up with a solution – but can he be so selfish as to take her up on her offer. Especially knowing that one day their fake marriage will end and she will divorce him to be with someone she truly cares about.

Each book in this series is wonderful and thought provoking. This one truly hit home. I absolutely loved both Gen and Adam’s characters. They truly complete each other – fulfilling each other, making each other better people. But both their pride and stubbornness get in the way of either of them telling the other how they truly feel. I wouldn’t even begin to pick a favorite so far in the series – but this one is up there. I found myself laughing out loud and smiling to the universe at this one.

The sub-characters and intertwining of all of the stories may be my favorite of any series. They truly are mingled each one in the others stories and the continuation of each story is magical. Probably the best continuing series I have read… Truly enjoyable!

 

Risk Me
Silver Strand Series – Book #2
by Lexi Scott
Release Date: 7/28/2015
Risk MeAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
You can never judge the depths by the surface…

For Cohen Rodriguez, getting dumped by his girlfriend was bad enough. Being told he’s “not impulsive enough” was just the cheap parting gift. Still, he takes a break from his über responsible ways and dates his way through Silver Strand. Except it’s not exactly turning out the way he thought…

On top of that, there’s Maren Walshe, whose combination of sexy and down-to-earth is everything Cohen wants in a girl. But while they’ve recently been talking on the phone and texting every day, they’ve never actually met. Now Maren wants to meet. In person.

Faced with turning his oh-so-safe fantasy girl into an uncertain reality, Cohen and Maren are both about to dive head first, ready or not.

Review:

Risk Me is book two in the Silver Strand series. Cohen Rodriguez does everything by the book. Never stepping outside his comfort zone. He works at his families furniture store – always reliable and dependable. He has had the same best friend, Deo – since they were in diapers. Never faltering. He seems quite content with his life and his girlfriend until she decides to dump him and to add insult to injury she tells him that he is just too predictable for her. After attempting to get over the break-up. He decides that he is just going to step out of his comfort zone and date girls he would never normally pursue.

After one disastrous date after another the one constant in his life, he realizes has been Maren Walshe, an employee at his fathers furniture company. While they have only ever spoken on the phone and never met in person, he has a fantasy in his head of this amazing girl who has been there for him through the tough times.

But Maren isn’t content with just sitting back and keeping everything over the phone. In a moment of complete impulse she asks Cohen to meet her – in person. Will Cohen’s fantasies of the girl on the phone meet up to his expectations of what she really is? Or will this be the end of the amazing phone conversations they have had over work discussions for so long?

Cohen Rodriguez plays everything by the book. His life is planned, although working at his parents furniture store is a side step, he doesn’t mind taking it. Everything is the way it should be. But, after the recent break up with his girlfriend he plays the field, and each date becomes more disastrous than the last. All the while he is confiding in his super sexy, sultry voice on the other end of his work phone – Maren. She is hilarious, sexy and makes him laugh – something he hasn’t been doing much of lately. But when she asks him to step outside of his comfort zone and meet her – he isn’t sure he wants to take things to the next step.

Maren Walshe has put her life on hold to take care of her alcoholic, has-been rock star father. She quit college, works full time – all to try and keep their life together. When she forms a bond with the bosses son, Cohen, over the telephone, she isn’t quite sure where she is treading. She is completely shocked when she asks him to meet her. Once she meets the man that has filled her thoughts for quite some time, she realizes that she has nothing to offer him in terms of a relationship. She can’t bring this amazing man into her chaotic life. She doesn’t even know if they will have a place to live from one moment to the next and she certainly can’t let him know that she is drowning in the life her father has dragged her into.

In a thought provoking turn of events, Cohen gains her trust and offers to help her with her father and with her life. But her every instinct is telling her to run and to protect this man from the chaos of her life. I truly liked the character of Cohen. He has strong family beliefs and bonds and he is just what lost soul Maren needs. She has no family since her mother and sister basically turned their back on her for choosing to stay and help her father! Maren is a true and relatable character. You just want her to have her happy ever after ending. But is she willing to allow someone into her life, a life that she has worked so hard at protecting and shielding from everyone in the outside world?

The sub characters of Cohen’s family – Enzo, Lydia, Gen, and Cece were truly enjoyable and I absolutely love the family dynamic that was the Rodriguez clan. I loved that Deo and Whit were so involved in this story and played a huge part in bringing Cohen and Maren together. I am truly enjoying the intermingling of stories and I hope that the series just continues to play out like this. Such an enjoyable, easy read. Highly recommend this series.

Reviews by Erin

Copies provided by Publisher

Share

End of Day (Jack and Jill #1) by Jewel E Ann-Review and Book Tour

Posted on by
9

END OF DAY (Jack and Jill #1) by Jewel E. Ann-Review and Book Tour

 

End of Day
Jack and Jill #1
by Jewel E Ann
Genre: adult, contemporary, humor, romantic suspense
Release Date: August 17, 2015

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 17, 2015

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life.

Four caskets. Two bodies.

Jessica and Jude Day witness their funeral and that of their parents a few yards away from mourning family and friends. Stripped of the only life they’ve ever known, the Days say goodbye to San Francisco forever.

Six months later, two thirty-year-old misfits with elite self-defense skills and penchants for alcohol, sex, and trouble arrive like an earthquake to Peaceful Woods, a retirement community in Omaha, Nebraska, that thrives on rules and gossip. Welcome home, Jackson and Jillian Knight.

Jackson celebrates his new beginning by embracing his job and wiping his cavalier past clean with a temporary oath of celibacy. But Jillian’s past is branded into her soul—the deaths, the insanity, Dr. Luke Jones, and the need to make her lovers bleed. Her chance for redemption comes in the form of a next door neighbor, one Senior Master Sergeant Monaghan. He’s sexy, dangerously alluring, and riddled with emotional issues from years of service. He’s also … So. Damn. Grumpy.

Their mission is simple: Let go, start over, don’t kill anyone, and pray that nobody wakes the dead.

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: Wow…just wow.

END OF DAY is the first installment in Jewel E Ann’s adult, contemporary END OF DAY romantic/comedy suspense series focusing on twins Jillian and Jackson Knight (aka Jessica and Jude Day).

Told from third person, dual time line perspectives, using present day and past memories, END OF DAY is a storyline that is unlike anything else I have ever read.

As per the blurb, thirty year old twins Jessica and Jude Day, now known as Jillian and Jack Knight, are no longer the people they were born to be. A new life, a new identity along with a new location and state find our siblings trying to co-exist in a community of nosy but well meaning elderly citizens along with one grumpy neighbor (and his twenty year old son) who may or may not have an interest in Jillian Knight.

Jillian is an emotionally damaged and broken heroine who hides behind a façade of one liners, twisted humor, sexy clothing and seductive foreplay. She is a force unto herself; a woman whose life has been shattered, destroyed and put back together but no longer functions at its’ peak performance. Her previous life with Dr. Luke Jones is revealed through memories, flashbacks and ‘DAY’ points of view, while her current life in the retirement community in Omaha Nebraska finds our heroine falling in love with a man-Senior Master Sergeant Monoghan- who quite possibly, is more damaged than our heroine-herself.

Jackson is the overprotective brother who keeps our heroine on her toes ensuring that Jillian’s sense of self-preservation does not go unforgotten or falls to the side. The sibling’s relationship is fraught with typical brother/sister antics that are taken to the next level of guardianship, babysitting and love. Jack and Jill have tumbled down the proverbial hill and are trying to climb back up to regain some sense of normality. Their verbal and physical sparring matches leave a trail of sweat, blood and water (along with a few fish) in the wake.

END OF DAY is a storyline that allows the reader small glimpses and clues into the events that culminated in the person now known as Jillian Knight. Readers who tend to skim or skip will, in all likelihood, miss some important information regarding Jillian/Jessica’s past but for all intents and purposes, the bigger picture has yet to be revealed. Small flashes of their previous life reveal more heartbreak and pain than anyone could possible imagine. But…saying that….END OF DAY is awash in humor, funny comebacks, and comedic one-liners that will have you giggling and chuckling throughout the story-a bit of comic relief among the painful memories. The storyline ends on a cliff hanger but the author gives the reader the option of a sneak peak into the first chapter of book two where your heart will break once again.

Jewel E Ann’s END OF DAY is unique among the current crop of romantic suspense storylines. The premise is amazingly detailed; awash in clues, memories, hints at the potential for further fall out and heartbreaking reality. The back and forth between timelines add a mix of anxiety, suspense and humorous situations that reveal a young woman not unlike our current timeline Jill but one whose life has not yet completely spiraled out of control.

END OF DAY is a seductive storyline that will take hold and never let go. The intense drama and traumatic scenarios are balanced with humor and the amazing banter between our heroine and the people in her life. END OF DAY will astonish the reader with its’ one of a kind premise; the phenomenal build up of clues that barely hint at the truth; and the addictive nature of a story that leaves the reader wanting more-NOW !

Copy supplied the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

 

excerpt

 

“Have you ever killed anyone?”
Jessica’s smile slipped. “If I told you then I’d have to kill you.”
“So you’re a secret agent?”
She flipped onto her stomach, resting her chin on her crossed arms. “If I said yes then it would no longer be a secret. Come on, Jones, you’re losing your focus. Don’t let me feel smarter than you or our time together will be over and I rather like hanging out here.”
“Luke,” he corrected.
“Lucas.”
“Luke.”
“Lukey.”
“LUKE!”
“Lulu.”
“I mean it!” Luke showed another rare moment of teetering emotion.
Jessica chuckled. “What are the chances of us having sex? I’ve never done it missionary, but you could possibly counsel me through it.”
He refocused on his crossword puzzle, filling in a word in pen. “Less than zero percent.”
“So, not in my favor, eh?
“Why not missionary?”
Jessica smiled in delight that Luke continued with the topic of conversation. “I’m sure you already know, but if you want me to say I need control, then sure, I need control. But the truth is I’d control any sex position you want to put me in.” Jessica winked as Luke gave her a fleeting glance. “I just don’t want you thinking you have control, even if I know it’s not the case. Pisses me off to see the smirk on a guy’s face when he thinks he has control.”
“Tell me why you need control.” Luke continued with his crossword.
“In bed?”
“Yes.”
“Someone has to have it.”
“Why?”
“Because someone initiates it.”
“So if I initiate sex with you will I have control?”
“There’s only one way to find out.” Jessica wiggled her eyebrows at an ill-humored Luke.

 

 

about the author

JJewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest

rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions please contact the tour promoter.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Share

Secret Pleasure (Bound Hearts 13) by Lora Leigh-a review

Posted on by
8

SECRET PLEASURE (Bound Hearts #13) by Lora Leigh-a review

Secret Pleasure

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2015

Sebastian DeLoren and Shane Connor were born to love Alyssa Hampstead. No other woman on Earth can burn for them, ignite with passion between them, the way Alyssa does. But after three sensual months of pleasure come to a crashing halt, Sebastian and Shane are left fighting their powerful family, risking it all to have Alyssa one more time…

Alyssa has closed off her heart. A senator’s daughter in the political spotlight, she’d rather be quiet and safe than feel the emotional intensity Sebastian and Shane roused within her years ago. But when the sexy cousins blaze their way back into her life, Alyssa cannot help but succumb to the heady pleasures the two men can give her. And as an unknown enemy draws near, Alyssa will need Sebastian and Shane to protect her…and satisfy every forbidden craving…

••••••••••

REVIEW: SECRET PLEASURE is the 13th installment in Lora Leigh’s adult, contemporary BOUND HEARTS slightly, paranormal erotic romance series. This is Alyssa Hampstead, Sebastian DeLoren and Shane Connor’s storyline. SECRET PLEASURE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Several previous storyline characters play secondary and supporting roles. The Sinclair Men’s Club is but a hiccup in the overall story.

NOTE: SECRET PLEASURE is a M/F/M storyline with graphic $ex scenes and explicit sexual scenarios. If you are not a fan of ménage romance SECRET PLEASURE will not be for you.

Told from third person point of view SECRET PLEASURE follows the building relationship between Alyssa, Sebastian and his cousin Shane. While on summer vacation in Barcelona, Spain an eighteen year old Alyssa will meet up with the two men who have featured prominently in her sexual fantasies and dreams. For close to three months our trio explore one another’s bodies introducing Alyssa to a world of sexual pleasure she had never known. Sebastian and Shane believe they have found their soul bond in Alyssa but threats against the woman with whom they have fallen in love find our trio destroyed when eight years will pass before Sebastian and Shane are able to claim the woman who stole their hearts.

SECRET PLEASURE is a storyline awash in secrets, lies, espionage and revenge. Alyssa Hampstead will become a pawn in a much bigger game, at times leaving our heroine on the verge of death and struggling to survive. Eight years will pass before Alyssa is reunited with the two men that she loves and throughout the years her anger, humiliation and heartbreak have grown. Without knowing the truth behind Sebastian and Shane’s disappearance Alyssa has become a shadow of her former self-withdrawn, disheartened, and living in an emotional hell of sorrow and pain.

The relationship between Alyssa, Sebastian and Shane begins slowly as our heroine is only eighteen years old to the cousins’ twenty four. Sebastian and Shane begin to show Alyssa the pleasures of exploring the sexual unknown, teaching an inexperienced young woman what it is like to be loved by two men at the same time. The M/F/M $ex scenes are erotic, provocative and explicit.

SECRET PLEASURE covers eight years in the life of Alyssa, Sebastian and Shane. There are moments of intense pleasure and heartbreaking loss; betrayal, revenge and murderous rage. The premise not only focuses on the relationship between three colorful and engaging characters but also looks at the fall out from a life of greed, power, and dangerous family secrets. There is more than one person willing to destroy Alyssa’s happily ever after.

SECRET PLEASURE follows all of Lora Leigh’s signature sexual scenarios and romantic suspense storylines. There is a familiarity to the premise outline where the heroine falls in love with her two leading men ensuring everyone gets his or her happily ever after.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

Led Astray Anthology by Kelley Armstrong-a review

Posted on by
10

LED ASTRAY Anthology: The Best of Kelley Armstrong-a review

Led Astray 1

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 17, 2015

Two brand new tales anchor this wide-ranging collection from one of urban fantasy’s most successful authors. Here is the first time that best-selling fantasy, YA, and crime author Kelley Armstrong has had her stories collected from Otherworld and beyond. With her signature twists and turns, Armstrong gives a fresh spin on city-dwelling vampires, werewolves, and zombies, while also traveling further afield, to a post-apocalyptic fortress, a superstitious village, a supernatural brothel, and even to feudal Japan.

With tales that range from humorous to heart-stopping, these are the stories that showcase Kelley Armstrong at her versatile best.

– Rakshashi (standalone)
– Kat (Darkest Powers universe, non-series narrator)
– A Haunted House of Her Own (standalone)
– Learning Curve (Otherworld universe, Zoe)
– The Screams of Dragons (Cainsville universe, non-series narrator)
– The Kitsune’s Nine Tales (Age of Legends universe, non-series narrator)
– Last Stand (standalone)
– Bamboozled (Otherworld universe, non-series narrator)
– Branded (Otherworld universe, non-series narrator)
– The List (Otherworld universe, Zoe)
– Young Bloods (Otherworld universe, non-series narrator)
– The Door (standalone, original to this collection)
– Dead Flowers by a Roadside (standalone)
– Suffer the Children (standalone)
– The Collector (standalone)
– Gabriel’s Gargoyles (Cainsville universe, Gabriel)
– Harbinger (standalone)
– V Plates (Otherworld universe, Nick)
– Life Sentence (Otherworld universe, non-series narrator)
– Plan B (standalone)
– The Hunt (Cainsville universe, non-series narrator)
– Dead to Me (standalone)
– Devil May Care (Cainsville universe, Patrick, original to this collection)

•••••••••

REVIEW: LED ASTRAY is a collection of short stories, novellas, glimpses, and chapters from author Kelley Armstrong. Because there are twenty three (23) entries in the anthology, I am not going to review each one individually but review the collection as a whole.

For followers of Kelley’s CAINSVILLE series we get four short stories and/or chapters that reveal some of the back story and history behind the residents of Cainsville including two installments that look at Gabriel Walsh and his inception; his connection to the current series; and a little bit about his life as a young child.

For fans of Kelley’s OTHERWORLD series most of the short stories or chapters do not connect directly to the original series except for V Plates-a short story with Nick and Noah; and The List-another short story featuring the female vampire Zoe who slips in a quick mention about a hunky blonde werewolf male.

All of the entries in the anthology are paranormal or fantasy in origin: zombies, vampires, demons, fae, werewolves, ghosts and Kitsune. The anthology can be read by all ages; there is one entry from each of Kelley’s YA Darkest Powers and Age of Legends series while the majority of the other short stories are stand alone without any direct connection to her previously released adult series. I had previously read several of these short stories in other anthologies or collections.

LED ASTRAY is a great introduction for readers who have yet to climb onto the Kelley Armstrong train. You do not have to have read any of the established series to understand the premise behind the short stories; every entry can be read as a stand alone that will tease your paranormal pallet leaving you wanting a little bit more.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

Share