Tag Archives: Sandy’ s Reviews

DEVOURED (Devoured #1) by Emily Snow-a review

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Devoured (Devoured #1) by Emily Snow-a review

young couple hugging

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DEVOURED (Devoured #1) by Emily Snow

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 2012

Sienna Jensen had no plans to return home when she graduated college last spring—after all, her dreams lie in California. But when she discovers her grandmother’s Nashville home has been foreclosed, and the new owner has started the eviction process, Sienna has no other choice but go back to Music City. And she comes face to face with the flawed, gorgeous man she never thought she’d see again. The man who now holds the deed to her grandma’s estate.

When millionaire rock star Lucas Wolfe finds the outspoken redhead glaring at him from across a courtroom, he’s both infuriated and intrigued. He still can’t get the night Sienna almost spent with him out of his mind, and the chemistry between them is as undeniable as it was two years ago. He craves Sienna more than ever. And just like everything Lucas hungers for, he’s determined to have her.

Now, Lucas will do whatever it takes to lure Sienna into his bed, even if that means making a deal with her: ten days with him, playing by his rules, and he’ll hand over the deed to her grandmother’s home. Though she agrees to the arrangement, Sienna is conflicted. Because of her duty to her family. Because of promises she’s made to herself and a past that still haunts her. And as Lucas’s game of seduction continues, and Sienna is introduced to his dark, erotic world and even darker background, she realizes that at any moment, she could be devoured.

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REVIEW: DEVOURED is the first storyline in Emily Snow’s New Adult Devoured series. Once again, this particular series has capitalized on the Fifty Shades/Beautiful Disaster/Crossfire success, which isn’t a bad thing, because like most trends you must strike while the phenomenon is hot.

Our millionaire rock star Lucas Wolfe-leader of the rock band Your Toxic Sequel- wants the one woman who got away-the only woman who said NO-and the woman he plans to seduce. Seeing Sienna Jensen after two years has stirred up old feelings and emotions. But when Lucas discovers that the property he wishes to purchase is Sienna’s grandmother’s property, Lucas approaches Sienna with a deal-10 days as his ‘assistant’ where she will do everything and anything he asks and at the end of the 10 days the property is hers. But Lucas had other plans and he is hoping that Sienna will be forever his at the end of the week.

Sienna grew up in a dysfunctional family where her drug addicted mother has all but bankrupt her grandmother and destroyed her younger brother. And to complicate matters, the man hoping to purchase the land is Lucas Wolfe-the man to whom she lost her heart and her soul. But Sienna and Lucas did not part ways amicably, in fact, what happened between the two is something she will never forget. But the offer Lucas presents is more than she could ever hope as long as they keep their relationship on a professional level-but Sienna knows Lucas has other plans.

The writing style is simple. The plotline is similar to many of the popular series that follow the Fifty Shades genre but not as angst ridden or dark; there is some BDSM titillation and threats but on the grand scheme of the FSOG phenomenon, the reality is that there is only a small comparison between the series. The hero has a dark past-one that is mired in a secret that threatens the foundation of his future and Sienna’s life. The world building is limited but this is only book one in a series and many of the questions are left unanswered. We learn quite a bit about Sienna and the choices she has made but Lucas has secrets and in this, his character development is limited. He is not necessarily an evil character with nefarious plans for a young woman, but he is a man who wants the only woman that got away-and he goes about it in a way that makes you wonder what are his true intentions. Because of the proposition and everything that it suggests and entails, Lucas comes across as overbearing and dominant-although-he is probably anything but. And again, because of the secret, the reader is left hanging as to who is the real Lucas Wolfe.

The cast and characters, including a troubled brother, a dysfunctional family unit, a BFF who is all about pushing Lucas away and, an ex with an axe to grind are all reminiscent of the ‘other’ series and the ending is a cliffhanger with a hint at what is to come. The flow of the story is a little uneven and disjointed and, a few plotline developments are left hanging but again, this is only book one and let’s hope there are answers in CONSUMED-book two. If you like the premise of Fifty Shades et al, you will like the twist with a rock star millionaire and the woman who got away. This is a second chance storyline about two people who have a small history but one that has never been forgotten.

Emily is working on a spin-off series Savor Us, involving ‘Your Toxic Sequel’ band members and the first storyline was released in June 2013-SAVOR YOU

Copy supplied by the publicist

Reviewed by Sandy

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Escaping Reality: The Secret Life of Amy Bensen by Lisa Renee Jones-a review

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ESCAPING REALITY (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #1) by Lisa Renee Jones-a review

Escaping Reality July 2013

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 22, 2013

Infinite possibilities….

Infinite passion…..

Infinite danger….

His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn’t trust him. I shouldn’t tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.

At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loves to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she’s finally dared to believe she is forgotten–even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets down her guard down, the ghost’s of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run.

On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take “no” as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam than meets the eyes

•••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: ESCAPING REALITY is the first storyline in Lisa Renee Jones’s contemporary New Adult series The Secret Life of Amy Bensen and as the series name states-Amy Bensen’s life is awash in secrets.

Lisa pulls the reader into a storyline of mystery and romance, suspense and heartache. As the tension builds, so too does the anticipation of the final revelation but like every good series the reader is left with a cliff hanger of epic proportions. Where does she go from here?

Amy is a heroine with a secret past of pain and sorrow; she is strong and resilient yet amazingly tender and vulnerable. Liam is an alpha male-who goes for what he want and he wants Amy; Amy’s presence in his life will throw our hero into a world he never expected and into a relationship where his heart will forever be tied. But is this the something or someone Liam is looking for? You can feel the heat; the sexual tension is high; and the angst and pull is palpable..

Lisa Renee’s foray into the world of New Adult romance is a fascinating look at one woman’s struggle to survive in a world of people hoping to bury the truth along with the past. In a genre where the storylines overlap in similarity, ESCAPING REALITY and Lisa Renee Jones moves to the head of the pack with her first installment in The Secret Life of Amy Bensen.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Against The Wall (Maverick Montana #1) by Rebecca Zanetti-a review

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AGAINST THE WALL (Maverick Montana #1) by Rebecca Zanetti-a  review

Agains The Wall

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release March 23, 2013

Never challenge a cowboy in the courtroom…

Surveying the proposed site for a high-end golf course should have been a breeze for spunky Landscape Architect Sophie Smith. But when this born-and-bred city girl is suddenly—and quite literally—swept off her feet by a sexy cowboy on horseback, she realizes that the country life has some serious (and seriously steamy!) possibilities. That is, until she finds out exactly who her smokin’-hot wrangler really is.

Cowboy and Tribal lawyer Jack Lodge is desperately trying to block the development. And if that means playing hardball—and being every inch the shark lawyer—so be it. But Sophie is a distraction he didn’t expect. A distraction that makes his blood burn.

Two different worlds. Two opposing sides. And when they finally give into the exquisite temptation, the consequences will shake the foundations of both of their lives…

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

REVIEW: AGAINST THE WALL is the first storyline in Rebecca Zanetti’s new Maverick Montana contemporary romance series focusing on the Lodge brothers and, the men and women of the Kooskia Tribe of Montana.

The Charleton Group of investors hires an architectural firm to design and oversee the plans for a golf course surrounding the Native community near Mineral Lake. Sophie Smith is the landscape architect who must present her designs to the local band (tribe) members for final approval, while trying to win the support of the various groups opposed to the development. But convincing the elders was futile when the tribe has plans of their own. And Sophie’s fight was only beginning when vaguely disguised threats begin to surface suggesting she leave town. There was no recourse open to Sophie and failure appeared to be the only option-only failure meant that her uncle’s firm would most likely suffer a terrible financial blow.

Concerned for the environment, the Kooskia Tribe hire one of their own, lawyer Jake Lodge to represent the community in their fight to preserve the natural resources of Mineral Lake. But Jake’s struggles now included his Sophie. Pitted on opposite sides of a debate, Jake knew that to prove his case and win, he may lose Sophie in the process.

Against The Wall is an interesting tale but left a few questions and holes with a number of storyline premises. There is some bad blood between Sophie and her family but it was never fully addressed; a potential suitor from within her uncle’s firm is brought into the storyline but this particular angle ends rather abruptly without explanation; the threats against Sophie are resolved too quickly and rather poorly.  Too many holes and unexplained variables did not sit well with this reader. The storyline had potential but fell short on many levels with what felt like a rush to the finish and in doing so, there was something missing. Everything came to conclusion too quickly; too neatly. There was a definite problem with cohesion.

Overall, AGAINST THE WALL is a fast paced storyline with an interesting premise that can be found in many local headlines wherever the environment, Native communities or land acquisitions are threatened. The love interest and relationship between Jake and Sophie is aided by several well meaning men and women of the community and when things begin to unravel for Sophie, she knows she has the support of Jake and the people she has grown to call family and friends. 

Reviewed by Sandy

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Death’s Servant (The V.V.Inn 0.5) by C.J.Ellisson-a review

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DEATH’S SERVANT (V.V.Inn 0.5) by C.J.Ellisson-a review

Death's Servant

Amazon / Barnes and Noble /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 13, 2013

Jonathan Winchester has clashed with his alpha one too many times. After another argument he leaves the Manitoba pack, his only home since the werewolf attack that changed his life. He returns to his home state of Virginia to start a new life free of pack politics. Jon finds work and meets a young waitress, Raine, who appears to be a lone werewolf, too.

As their relationship progresses, Jon’s embroiled in more intrigue than he bargained for and a danger bigger than he can handle. He’s running scared until his own alpha tendencies surface, making him unable to leave the pretty werewolf’s problems behind. The young man is desperate to save Raine—even if his efforts may lead him straight to death.

Journey along in this first prequel novel involving the favorite characters from the bestselling V V Inn series. Written at reader demand, this stand-alone story explains how the beloved Jonathan came to serve the deadly redheaded vampire, Dria.

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

REVIEW: DEATH’S SERVANT is the prequel novella in C.J.Ellisson’s V.V. Inn series featuring Vivian Alexandria (Dria) a 580 plus year old vampire with the ability to manipulate emotions. In this particular storyline, C.J. opens up about Jon’s past and how the alpha without a pack came to be Dria’s most trusted servant.

Jon has always been an alpha-as a human and as a shifting wolf, and those tendencies do not diminish throughout his trek to discover what he wants from his new life. But what Jon uncovers is a wolf pack in trouble and there is only one solution on the horizon. Enter Dria-an ancient vampire who makes Jon an offer he cannot refuse.

We watch as Jon wars with his emotions about Dria-the vampire to whom he has pledged his life. But it is the calculating methods and swift due diligence of the ancient vampire that has Jon second-guessing about to whom he has vowed his servitude. Dria’s power and ability to get the job done is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg as Jon discovers there is more to Vivian Alexandria than a beautiful face.

DEATH’S SERVANT is a fascinating look at Jon’s emotional introduction into Dria’s Seethe. CJ Ellisson has given us a glimpse into Jon’s personality and the warring conflict within when he witnesses Dria’s power first hand. I am a big fan of prequel novellas where the reader is taken back in time to learn about the roots of established characters. Death’s Servant is a welcome and I believe necessary addition to CJ’s V.V.Inn series. Fans have always wanted to know how Jon established himself as Dria’s right hand man and Death’s Servant reveals the truth about Jon’s beginnings with the Seethe.

Reading Order
1. Vampire Vacation
2. The Hunt
3. Big Game
4. Just One Taste (prequel)
5. Death’s Servant

Copy supplied by the publicist.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Identity Crisis by Eliza Daly-a review

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IDENTITY CRISIS by Eliza Daly-a review

Identity Crisis

Amazon/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

About the book: Released March 4, 2013

When Olivia Doyle’s father dies under suspicious circumstances, rather than inheriting a family fortune, she inherits a new identity. She learns they were placed in the Federal Witness Security Program when she was five years old. Her father was involved in an art forgery ring and testified against the mob. Brought up not to trust anyone, Olivia has a difficult time relying on U.S. Marshal Ethan Ryder to protect her, and to keep her secret. She fears her father may have continued his life of crime through her art gallery. She has little choice but to depend on Ethan when she realizes someone is now after her. Olivia’s search for the truth leads her and Ethan across country to a family and past she doesn’t remember.

At the age of ten, Ethan witnessed a brutal murder. He vowed when he grew up, he’d protect people in danger. Protecting Olivia is difficult when she won’t trust him. He soon realizes his desire to protect her goes beyond doing his job, but if his judgment becomes clouded by emotions, her safety could be jeopardized.

Can Ethan and Olivia learn to trust each other when they uncover secrets that will change their lives forever?

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

REVIEW: IDENTITY CRISIS is a contemporary romance storyline with a little suspense, a little mystery and a little romance. Our heroine Olivia will discover that her entire life has been based on a lie when a personal letter, written from her dead father, reveals that they have been in the Federal Witness Program for close to twenty four years. And to complicate matters, her father was involved in one of the biggest and most expensive art forgery scams involving the mob and millions of dollars in fraudulent paintings. Olivia has been schooled in the arts and now owns a very prestigious art gallery.

As an agent with the US Marshall’s office, Ethan Ryder has already lost a fellow agent and one witness in the protective custody program. Blaming himself for the losses, Ethan endeavors to keep Olivia Doyle safe but begins to wonder if Olivia’s own art gallery is somehow connected to her father’s past. Hoping to protect Oliva, Ethan agrees to help her return her father’s ashes to the place of his birth but along the way he will lose his heart and his sense of duty when he has Olivia investigated as a possible connection to a recent series of art forgery and sales.

Identity Crisis is a fascinating storyline of one woman’s discovery that her entire life has been built around a government lie to protect her father and herself from the mob. Throughout the story, Olivia’s early memories are triggered by the sites and sounds of the family she never knew existed prior to a few days before. But a string of suspected burglaries, break-ins and hostage takings, all leading back to Olivia and her father’s past, has Ethan circling around Olivia fearing for her life. When Olivia finally meets the family she never knew she had, a surprising twist in her father’s past will have Olivia wondering is she ever knew her father and if her mother’s death is to be blamed on someone close.

IDENTITY CRISIS is a well-written storyline that brings two people together that would never have met under ordinary circumstances. Ethan Ryder will compromise his position as a US Federal Marshall when he uncovers Olivia’s secrets as well as opening up about his own troubled past. This story is about two souls lost in a sea of pain who begin the long road to recovery when the people they once trusted most, are not whom they were once believed to be.

If you like a storyline with a mystery as well as a little romance, Identity Crisis is for you. There is a little foreplay, but no sex; a little romance but nothing over the top; a little suspense and a big twist in the background information revealed near the end.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Angel Betrayed (The Fallen 2) by Cynthia Eden- a review

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Angel Betrayed (The Fallen #2) by Cynthia Eden-a review

ANGEL BETRAYED by Cynthia Eden

ANGEL BETRAYED is the June 2012 new release by Cynthia Eden. The second storyline in The Fallen series, Angel Betrayed follows Fallen angel Sammael as he helps a beautiful hybrid escape the demands of the Angel of Punishment, fight the hounds from hell, as well as a host of other demons and the Fallen.

Seline knew she was different. As a hybrid cross between a succubus demon and an angel, Seline believed her demon father had killed her mother and the Angel of Punishment- Rogziel had always fueled the flames of Seline’s sorrow and guilt. Raised from a small child by Rogziel, Seline only knew that she had to follow orders whenever he ordered her to hunt. But her latest assignment involved a Fallen angel with his own agenda. And drawing power from her lovers was an added bonus when her relationship with the Fallen pushed beyond her assignment.

Sammael (Sam) was a Fallen Angel. Punished for disobeying and taking the souls of those who were not meant to die, Sammael had a dark side. Sam had stood by his reasons for the many deaths at his hands, but Rogziel had promised that one day he would pay. Always ready for an attack, Sammael was taken by surprise when the beautiful Seline ‘conspired’ to set him up. But finding himself on the run, chased by the hounds of hell while trying to determine if Seline’s actions were a betrayal, kept Sam ever vigilant. And the death of two of the other Fallen was warning that something bigger than just Seline was heading his way.

Azrael was a powerful angel, but as a newly Fallen he still considered Sammael his primary target. But finding himself targeted by the Angel of Punishment for something he could not remember forced Azrael to consider his options. To find Sammael, he would have to hunt the hybrid. But allegiances and promises can be broken, when it is discovered that perhaps there is more to the story than just what appears on the surface.

The relationship between Sam and Seline is very sexual and tense. Seline knows that she is falling for the Angel, but trust is difficult when neither has been truthful about their intentions. Each with their own agenda, betrayal is a constant worry, but their feelings are hard to deny, especially when they discover they are more compatible then they would have thought.

Cynthia introduces Tomas. As one of the Fallen Guardian angels, Tomas was stripped of his wings when he fell in love with Sierra whom he had sworn to protect. But Tomas was soon a pawn in Rogziel’s hunt for Sammael and Seline, and Sierra would be the one to suffer the most. And it is Tomas who will eventually bring the Fallen together at the ‘crossroads’ between heaven, hell and earth. But the Angel of Death will once again make an appearance, and someone will lose their life in the battle between Heaven and Hell.

Angel Betrayed is another fantastic instalment in Cynthia Eden’s new Fallen series. Based on the premise of heavenly angels who have fallen to earth for disobeying their superiors, the Fallen angels find themselves serving their sentences on earth after a fiery exit from Hell. With only the shadows and the memory of their wings, the Angels must fight their way through a maze of deception and torment at the hands of those who still consider themselves above everyone else. And Uriel, once believed to be the second-in-command in heaven, will make it known that he will not tolerate any disobedience from his angels. Punishment is swift, but when an ‘new angel’ is willing to give up the wings for the love of another, there will be another Fallen who must burn in Hell before remembering the reason for the Fall.

The Fallen is a fantastic new series that is sure to please. If you love angels, demons, witches and shifters, Cynthia writes a story that includes a collection of supernatural beings that will grab your attention from the very first word.

Reviewed By Sandy

READING ORDER
1. Angel of Darkness
2. Angel Betrayed
3. Angel in Chains (Nov 2012)

Copy supplied by the author

LINKS TO ORDER:
The Book Depository
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paper Book
B & N Nook and Paper Book

Want to start your love of CYNTHIA EDEN? Why not start with BOUND BY BLOOD-it is FREE today from Amazon for your Kindle

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****FREE from AMAZON KINDLE-Today*****

Amazon Kindle Link: BOUND BY BLOOD by Cynthia Eden

NOTE:  At the time of this posting, BOUND BY BLOOD was FREE from Amazon.

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