Tag Archives: shifters

Witch Bound/Demon Crossings by Eleri Stone – Reviews

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Witch Bound/Demon Crossings by Eleri Stone – Reviews

twiligt of the gods

Links to order:Witch Bound: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo
Demon Crossings : Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

In Twilight of the Gods, Ragnarök—the apocalypse foretold in Norse prophecy, has already occurred. After the cataclysmic final battle, some of the Æsir manage to escape their broken world and travel to a new planet. Their descendants guard the bridge between worlds, preventing Surtr’s host from invading earth.

 

Witch Bound
by Eleri Stone
Book # 2
Twilight of the Gods series
Release Date: June 24, 2013

witch bound

Review:

I really liked this book, I love my shifters, and I love my tortured alphas, and this had BOTH in it  😉  We met Fen in the last book, and I had hoped his story would be told next. And to be honest I liked this one better than the first book.

Only male wolves are born in this story, they meet their mates, usually human or supernatural, bite and bond. But this story is so different, only the males bond, females can leave whenever they want, no commitment !! (Well that sucks !!) Once a male bonds, he bonds for the rest of his loooooooooong life. So if a male wolf doesn’t want to bond, (as the trigger is sex, then he stays either a virgin, or shares a female with other males of his pack)

One of Fen’s pack bonded to a female years ago, when they were both young, she met her future husband, and never looked back, poor Brian still pines for her, even though he hates her.  Fen also swears never to have kids, as they will be male, and he doesn’t want to see his sons live the same life he has.  Then Fen meets his best friend’s fiancée, Raquel. And Bang !!! He feels something he has never felt for another female before. But he is sure it will pass with time, he just needs to avoid her.

Raquel has the potential to be a really powerful witch. But she has a block, whether it was from birth, or a spell, she doesn’t know. But she feels her power behind a wall, and she desperately wants to break it down.

Raquel has been promised to Christian since birth, it’s not a love match, but in time, she hopes that mutual respect for each other, will grow to love. The hunters from Ragnarok are unaware that their new witch isn’t as powerful as they were lead to believe. They have Lois, but they need more power to keep the portals from splitting open, and fire demons from roaming the earth.

The portals are opening more and more, and the hunters are getting worried. Something or someone is helping from the other side !!!!

Raquel feels the same way for Fen, as he does for her. He really has all the best intentions. (Unrequited love is always a page turner for me) But his wolf seems to have bonded to Raquel, and his alpha tendencies are beginning to show.

There are some really tender moments between Raquel and Fen, and some REALLY hot moments, and some funny scenes that had me snorting at the most inappropriate moments.

Oh and what about poor Christian, he has a duty to marry his witch, he is a pleaser, and has spent his entire life trying to make his family proud. So he feels compelled to complete his duty, even though his heart belongs to a certain Raven.

A battle puts Fen in an awkward position, does he put his pack or Raquel first, and it’s a battle Fen is losing more and more. All he thinks about is her, he smells her everywhere, and for the first time ever, Fen wants a bond with his little witch, because as far as he is concerned, she is HIS.  And once he and Raquel decide to mate, wellllllllllllllllllllllll ……… HOT HOT HOT 😀

Oh …….. and remember the something or someone helping on the other side to keep the portals open ? We met that person in book one 😉   And a twist I did not see coming, it came, and it caught me good.

I really liked this book, and although there wasn’t much sex, it wasn’t missed, as the point to the book, was abstinence, and the duties we try to uphold, even though they aren’t the ones we like.  I’m hoping Christian gets his book soon, and he gets his little raven.

Demon Crossingsby Eleri Stone
Book # 1
Twilight of the Gods series
Release Date: January, 2012

Demon Crossings

Review:
4.5 Stars 🙂 🙂 🙂   I really liked this book.  The mixture of Norse gods were a little bit of a surprise, but once I got my head around the fact, that they WEREN’T gods, and in fact Odin was a type of leader in each clan, I read with avid interest.                                                                             

Grace is a Private investigator with a difference, she uses a very powerful psychic ability to find lost, or missing children. And after tracking a father who has abducted his daughter from her grandmother, to Iowa, she assumes that the case is closed, and she can look forward to her holiday.  On her way home, Grace hits what she assumes is a dog, but as it turns out, it’s not a dog, but in fact a fire demon !

Grace is rescued by a horse and rider, and instantly tries to tell her it was a dog or deer that she hit, but Aiden doesn’t realise that Grace can see through his glamor that he has set around the scene of Grace’s car accident.

After being treated by the resident doctor, Grace is invited to stay with Aiden the night, until the car is fixed, and she is able to drive without seeing double. The attraction between Grace and Aiden seems a little one-sided, and I wasn’t really sure if Aiden really liked Grace, but I went with flow, and carried on reading…..

Aiden is the leader of a group of Norse men and women, who are decedents from the Asguard world, from which the original Norse mythology came from.  Aiden doesn’t have a hammer, but he has a BIG sword 😉 And he knows how to wield it.

We meet up with the rest of the hunt, we have Fen who is a wolf shifter, and his pack of shape shifting wolves. Lois who is the resident witch and florist. Christian is Aiden’s second in command. And as far as I am aware, has no power, except his charm and smooth lines. Rane and Elin, who are twins, and can turn into Ravens. Alan the doctor, who is in fact a magical healer.

Grace notices a picture on the wall, as is instantly drawn to it, without warning, she gets images of a little girl in a cold dark place, and is very scared. Once Aiden tells Grace that it is his daughter, and she has been missing almost a year things seem to change between them. Aiden sees her as a means to rescuing his daughter, and Grace seems to unlock her emotions.  So a rescue attempt is made (skipping chapters here, as Aiden and Grace closer together)

Asguard is their home world, but they can’t go home, as it was destroyed by the fire demons. But Aiden who is their leader (or Odin) can widen the portal across to Asgurad. (did I mention, that these portals are not welcome, and are getting more frequent).

So they rescue his daughter (Hallie), but in the process, lose Grace !! She is grabbed and returned to Asguard !! She is captured by a dark figure. Grace keeps her hope up that Aiden will rescue her.  Do you want to know if Grace gets rescued ? Do you want to know if Aiden will let go of his past, and embrace his future with Grace ? Well ……. Buy the book and find out 😀  I really do recommend this book, and can’t wait to read the next one.

Both books reviewed by Julie B.

Copy provided by Author

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Gabriella (Alpha Marked #2) by Celia Kyle-a review

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Gabriella (Alpha Marked #2) by Celia Kyle-a review

Gabriella

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 24, 2013

Thirty and single? Getcha ass to the Gathering!

Ugh. Gabriella Wickham thought turning thirty was bad enough, but now she’s been invited (ordered) to attend this year’s Gathering (werewolf speed dating). Having a Mark on her arm means that she’s one of the few human women destined to mate with not one, but two Alpha werewolves. Thank goodness werewolves don’t come in “ugly.” After her sister Scarlet mates the Ruling Alphas, things really start to get interesting. Gabby runs into not one, but two hotter than hot werewolves who make her tingle in all the right places. Yum. Of course, “yum” comes with baggage of both the mental and female kind. Lovely. Luckily it’s nothing a few punches and a good talking to can’t cure. Maybe…-ish.

Berke Davis and Jack Wright know that lush, curvaceous Gabriella is their mate. Who cares that they’re currently not part of an Alpha pair? Details, details. Burke has been half bound to his best friend Jack since they were four, but the past keeps them from solidifying their pairing and taking up the mantle of Alpha. Berke understands his friend’s feelings, but Jack is about to get a lesson on living and loving. Berke just hopes the lessons are learned before they both lose Gabriella. Especially when she is Challenged by a rival to first blood…a Challenge that could end in very permanent, and deadly, consequences…for Gabriella.

•••••••••••••••••••••

GABRIELLA is the second storyline in Celia Kyle’s erotic paranormal BBW Alpha Marked romance series focusing on Scarlet, Gabriella and Whitney Wickham-fraternal triplets and potential mates to shape-shifting ruling Alpha pairs. A bit of a warning, this series contains M/M/F sexual situations.

The premise of the novella length storylines is the festival of The Gathering- a speed dating (of sorts) where marked human females (who have not been claimed by their thirtieth birthday) are commanded to present themselves as potential mates for Alpha pairs. As luck would have it, the Wickham triplets had not been claimed and it was their turn to appear before the Alpha pairs for the official ‘sniff test’ of compatibility. Two Alpha males rule as one-claim and mate one female together. This is Gabriella’s story and one with a bit of a twist.

Captain of the Guard Berke Davis knew that Gabriella was his mate. Along with his second in command and life long best friend Jack Wright, both males knew they were Alpha material but Jack’s belief that his blood line was tainted prevented either male from seeking the coveted position within the pack or any pack, for that matter. But The Gathering would force Jack’s hand as well as Gabby’s potential as a worthy mate for two wanna-be Alphas whose only sin was being born into the wrong pack.

Gabriella-Alpha Marked is a fast paced, short storyline whose events start immediately following the end of Scarlet. The attraction between the trio is immediate as the ‘wolves’ know that the female is their mate. The sex is hot and limited to only one chapter. The sexual language and descriptions are not as graphically explicit as the first storyline but there is still quite a bit of heat and steam due to the nature of the M/M/F relationship. And because the storylines are novellas, the world building and character development are limited to what may or may not occur in the span of a few chapters and a couple of hours in virtual time.

Reading Order
1. Scarlet
2. Gabriella
3. Whitney

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Talon/Xavier-Bayou Heat 5 & 6 by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright-a review

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Talon/Xavier-Bayou Heat  5 & 6 by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright-a review

Talon:Xavier

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

BAYOU HEAT 5 & 6: TALON/XAVIER by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release July 9, 2013

TALON
After the tragic death of his parents when Talon was young, he’s dedicated his life to protecting the Pantera. To the strikingly gorgeous man, loyalty and honor mean everything. So it’s no surprise that he’s determined to treat Isi Rousseau as the enemy. If the elders believe she is a danger then he will do whatever necessary to prevent her from destroying his beloved Wildlands. But discovering the delicate beauty sleeping in his bed, Talon discovers his noble intentions wavering. The female, with short, jet black hair streaked with blue, and a pair of dark eyes, might act tough, but it’s obvious to him that she’s as desperate as he is for a place to call home. More importantly, her presence is helping keep Ashe and her baby alive.

Suddenly things are not quite as black and white as Talon assumed, and he must decide if his loyalty to his people is worth losing his true mate.

XAVIER
He shouldn’t want his best friend’s little sister…

The drop-dead gorgeous leader of the Geeks, Xavier has one goal: find the human male his enemies seek. Devoted to his work, and to the Pantera, there is nothing that can distract him from accomplishing his goal. Until he spots his best friend’s little sister alone and partying it up with a bunch of human males at the local bar. Consumed with possessiveness, Xavier takes her home and refuses to leave her side until her brother returns. He tries to convince himself he’s just looking out for her, but the longer he’s around Amalie, the harder it is to deny the molten attraction that burns between them.

She has three days to change his mind…

•••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: Talon/Xavier are the 5th and 6th storylines in the Bayou Heat series by Ivy and Wright. Focusing on the search for the betrayer to the Pantera species, this particular installment moves the storyline closer to the identity of the person(s) responsible for the illness sweeping through the Bayou and the threat to Raphael’s pregnant mate. With no new births in over two decades, the Pantera population is praying for a miracle to save Raphael and Ashe’s baby.

With the search focusing on a tattoo parlor and its’ clientele’s connection to all things evil, Talon/Xavier’s storylines will bring together lost siblings and missing parents. And in doing so, one will prove to be a risk worth taking while the other will prove to be a risk best left alone. And in the end, both will be problematic to the Pantera people.

Talon/Xavier’s storylines advance the series such that the familial connections are directly related to all things evil in the Bayou. But without these connections there is also the possibility of the Pantera species ending before it has had a chance for renewal.

Talon/Xavier is another welcome and fascinating addition to the Bayou Heat series. Two more Pantera male’s have found their mates and in doing so have uncovered another connection to the myth and the ‘goddess’ responsible for the slow demise of the Bayou and the Pantera race. Ivy and Wright have written a wonderful series of shifter males, their mates and, the trial and tribulations of forbidden love and the ramifications of a sibling rivalry carried too far.

Bayou Heat 1 2 3

Reading Order
1. Raphael and Parish
2. Bayon and Jean-Baptiste
3. Talon and Xavier

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Alpha’s Daughter (Wolver #3) by Jacqueline Rhoades-a review and giveaway

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The Alpha’s Daughter (Wolver #3) by Jacqueline Rhoades-a review and giveaway

AD2

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

The Alpha’s Daughter
Wolver #3
by Jacqueline Rhoades
Release Date:  July 1, 2013

The Alpha’s Daughter is book three of the “Wolver” series. All the books in this series are written as stand- alone, but I always love having the background and history inherent in reading a series start to finish. So if you haven’t read this series, you may want to pick them up.

This story begins with Jasmine “Jazz” Phillips traveling a lonely road in the Arkansas Mountains at night on her motorcycle, remembering the turn of events that led her here.

Jazz is the only child of Alpha wolver Bronson Phillips, a hard, power hungry, brutal man. He runs his pack in a way that promotes the more animalistic traits. Their businesses are mostly criminal and drug related, good money – but bad.

Jazz recently had a visit by the mysterious Mr. Begley, who informed her that her father was going to demand she mate the next powerful alpha he found to take over his pack. He then outlined a route for her to take to a pack where she could seek sanctuary in the Appalachian Mountains. She thought this would just not happen and almost threw the napkin with the route away – but didn’t. When a week later her father demanded that she mate for the good of his pack, she tried to protest, but was quickly beaten into submission for her efforts. Pretty much a prisoner in her own home, Jazz decided it would be better to escape than live a life she’d watched her mother live, abused and used as a tool for her mate.

This is a lot of background, but I’ve put it here all at once so you can get the feel for the life Jazz has come from…the book is well written with the background coming in interspersed with other events to keep the story informative, but incredibly entertaining.

The story comes to life when as Jazz stops for a rest in the town of Gilead, where she’s to meet a wolver by the name of Goodman who will assist her on her way; she’s attacked by three rogues at the bar/café where she stops. Trained to fight since a child, by “Uncle Moose”, she’s doing pretty well when a huge, hairy giant of wolver comes to her rescue.

Michael “Doc” Goodman is a doctor, an actual MD specializing in wolver medicine as well as human, who has left his old life behind to find some peace in helping the poor but wonderful pack in Gilead. The sparks and lightning that begins to fly when these two meet is wonderful to say the least. The great dialog that Ms. Rhoades puts into this tale is enthralling and exciting. I love great arguments and fun dialog and this book is simply filled with great conversations as well as some truly steamy love scenes!

Watching Jazz and Grizz (Jazz’s nickname for him) dance around each other and the situations that arise is not only entertaining, it’s compelling. This is a page-turner. So hard to put down, I just had to see what was going to happen. I fell in love with the pack in Gilead, wonderful people so well written you feel you have known them forever and they actually become your friends. Of the three books, so far, in this series; Alpha’s Daughter is definitely my favorite. I loved all of them, but this one is so rich in emotion, humor and life it’s in my top three books ever! And that’s a pretty big statement for me. I’m not going to do anymore spoilers, you just have to read and feel this wonderful story for yourself! Do yourself a favor, allow enough time for a great read and curl up with this one! Enjoy, I did!

The Wolvers

Reading Order
1. The Alpha’s Mate
2. The Alpha’s Choice
3. The Alpha’s Daughter

Reviewed by Georgianna S.

Copy supplied by the author.

Giveaway-Blue:Black

Jacqueline is offering an ecopy of THE ALPHA’S DAUGHTER to TWO lucky readers at The Reading Cafe.

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

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

3. Giveaway is OPEN internationally.

4. Giveaway runs July 2 to July 5, 2013

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The Loneliest Alpha (The MacKellen Alphas #1) by T.A. Grey

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THE LONELIEST ALPHA (The MacKellen Alphas) by T.A.Grey-a review

The Loneliest Alpha 1

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 14, 2013

ONE LOOK WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER

Lingerie designer Alicia Clarkson just had to open her stupid mouth. Now thanks to trying to defend a fellow pack mate, Alicia’s been blindfolded, tied up, and carted off to the new alpha of the Oregon pack—Gavin MacKellen.

However, the blindfold doesn’t come off so soon as Gavin reveals he’s searching for a mate. But Alicia’s curiosity gets fired up when Gavin refuses to reveal his face to her. Just what happened to him? He talks to her from shadowy corners and behind closed doors. The man is as allusive as a squirrely fox. But Alicia doesn’t play games and the quiet spoken, hoarse-voiced alpha doesn’t stand a chance against her. They settle on an agreement, thirty days for them to get to know each other because that’s the only way this cowboy alpha will have it.

Gavin MacKellen needs a mate. But he knows no good woman would ever want to look at his face after the incident he suffered. After one look at Alicia Clarkson all his plans fly out the window. The woman’s beauty has stunned him damn near speechless. She torments his thoughts and Gavin finds himself yearning to know everything about her. As a relationship forms and love threatens to grow between them, Gavin struggles to cope with his physical appearance in the face of the beautiful Alicia. Will she be the one to stand in the face of a monster and accept him or will she turn her back on him?

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE LONELIEST ALPHA is the first storyline in T.A.Grey’s new series-The MacKellen Alphas. This is Gavin MacKellen and Alicia Clarkson’s story-a story of beauty and the beast.

As the blurb says, Gavin is searching for a mate. As the new alpha of the Oregon pack, Gavin needs a mate to stand by his side and support him in his role as leader, but there are no available females in his pack –or at least – there are none who are willing to mate with a man whose face has been ravaged by an attack. When his lieutenants kidnap several potential females from other packs, Gavin will find himself intrigued and attracted to feisty lingerie designer Alicia Clarkson. But Gavin refuses to show his face and forces himself into the shadows where Alicia is unable to get a clear view.

The storyline progresses as Gavin begins to fall for Alicia, knowing he would have to reveal his appearance but for the time being Alicia is kept in the dark or blindfolded whenever in the company of the Oregon alpha. Their relationship is obviously acrimonious in the beginning but will become one of friends to lovers when Alicia’s life is threatened on numerous occasions. Believing a former alpha rival is to blame, Gavin will go in search of proof to his guilt only to find that another member of his pack, once closer to home, is leading the assaults against the alpha and his mate.

The relationship between Gavin and Alicia is slow to build because of Gavin’s reluctance to reveal his scars but Alicia is having nothing to do with his secrets and pushes Gavin at every opportunity until another threat against her life has the truth finally revealed. I don’t know if Gavin felt sorry for himself, but he definitely had issues with the scars and disfigurement- a once seductively beautiful man, Gavin has been reduced to the wounds and stigma of an attack that was both personal and familiar.

There is no question that Gavin knows Alicia is his mate but the only question is whether Alicia will accept Gavin-scars and all. Gavin is a well respected and trusted alpha but there are problems plaguing his pack and it is his responsibility to uncover the who and what behind the threats and missing members.

The world building is smooth but limited as a good portion of the story focuses on Alicia. I would have liked to learn more about the pack dynamics but as this was only the introductory storyline perhaps there will be more revelations in future installments. The characters are colorful and Gavin’s sisters add plenty of humor when they ‘steal’ Alicia for a girl’s night out-I was laughing along with the trio.But one thing I did notice– there was no mention of shifting or characters shifting in the storyline-interesting considering this is a story of lycans and the paranormal.

THE LONELIEST ALPHA is a fast paced, and interesting spin on the Beauty and the Beast storyline phenomenon. This is a story of suspense and mystery, love and hate, betrayal and heartbreak, friends and family. T.A. Gray pulls the reader into the storyline of one man’s need for a mate, only to be refused over and over because of his scars. But in the end it is the scars in his heart that will be healed first-when he is willing to die for the woman he loves.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

About the author

T.A.Grey

 

 T.A.Grey loves to write the kind of stories that will keep you up late at night and make your heart pound. It is her goal to make each new book better, more exciting, and more action-packed to keep thrilling the reader. She is always trying to push the boundaries with her imagination, as well as the reader’s, to create something new and different.

Open up one of her novels and the reader will find hot, erotic stories that will make you laugh out loud, cry, and fly through the pages. 

Visit T.A.Grey’s website to learn more about her books at www.tagrey.com.

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Heart of the Jaguar by Katie Reus – a review

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HEART OF THE JAGUAR (Nocturne Craving Paranormal Series) by Katie Reus-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 1, 2013

Dr. Cindy Shahi is resigned to being mateless, but her inner jaguar has needs that must be sated. An encounter with a deliciously sexy stranger is the perfect chance for a night of no-strings primal passion.

Elias was content to be a lone wolf until the moment he laid eyes–and much more–on Cindy. Their intense attraction can mean only one thing: the mating call. And when it becomes clear someone isn’t happy about their budding relationship, all of Elias’s protective instincts go on high alert. He’ll do anything to keep Cindy safe–and convince her that he intends to claim her as his own, no matter what.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: HEART OF THE JAGUAR is the fifth installment in Katie Reus’s Nocturne Craving Paranormal series of novellas. This particular series is NOT connected to Katie’s Moonshifter series, but is series of short stories focusing on the lives and loves of the shifter wolves and jaguars in Bear Mountain, Montana.

Heart of the Jaguar follows wolf shifter Elias, the pack alpha’s new second in command and Dr. Cindy Shahi, a jaguar and local physician. The chemistry is instant when the couple meet at the wedding of mutual friends, but Elias’s wolf only knows one thing-Cindy is his mate. Cindy on the other hand wants nothing to do with long term relationships-she had a secret and was willing to bet that no shifter male would take her on as his mate

Threats against the couple begin to escalate placing Cindy and Elias in danger. Believing they know who is responsible, the information is handed over to the local police, but all too soon, the rules of the game change when a late night drive turns deadly and the couple are forced to shift in order to save their own lives.

HEART OF THE JAGUAR is another fascinating storyline from the pen of Katie Reus. Although this series of novels can be read as stand-alones, there is enough of a connection between the storylines that they should be read in order to keep the character and world building cohesive. I am a big fan of Katie Reus, and she has yet to disappoint this reader.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Sandy

Destined Mate- August 2011
Protector’s Mate- April 2012
A Jaguar’s Kiss-October 2012
Tempting the Jaguar-February 2013
Heart of the Jaguar-May 2013

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The Awakening: Aidan by Abby Niles-a review

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THE AWAKENING: Aidan by Abby Niles-a review

Aidan

 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 21, 2013

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Is the gift of eternal love a blessing or a curse?

After years of counseling grieving shifters, psychiatrist and half-shifter, Dr. Jaylin Avgar has become jaded on shifter mating. She wants to marry a human and forget about the love for eternity crap. Then she meets Aidan O’Connell, an infuriatingly laid back shifter who represents everything she doesn’t want. Yet, the more he pursues her, the more she craves a future with him. Only one thing stands in her way: death. Can she overcome her fear of losing Aidan to the one guarantee in life?

Millionaire consultant, Aidan O’Connell knows he’ll one day meet a woman who’ll awaken an unrelenting mating instinct. Unfortunately, that woman is Jaylin, who has no qualms about telling him that he and his so-called eternity can shove it. When she pushes him away, he takes a drastic step so she can no longer escape. The close proximity throws the instinct into overdrive. Can he control the need engrained in him until he’s certain she will reciprocate the bond, or will a moment of weakness doom him to hell on earth?

••••••••••

REVIEW: THE AWAKENING: Aidan is a contemporary paranormal, shifter romance storyline that builds upon the various emotional and physical states of shifters when the male is rejected by his female mate. Although this particular installment focuses on Aidan ( a cougar shifter) and Jaylin, much of the story’s premise is driven by a mass of world building and, the emotional and psychological breakdown of Aidan’s friend Liam when his mate rejects him after she has been marked.

The story follows Aidan as he is desperate to find help for his best friend and ‘brother’ Liam, who six months after rejection, is bordering on permanent withdrawal and suicide. Much of the novel’s focus is dependent on world building with an influx of terminology for each of the various stages of finding one’s mate, bonding and rejection. As an introductory storyline, The Awakening: Aidan is awash in plenty of background information and psychological description, courtesy of Aidan’s future mate Jaylin Avgar-a half shifter who wants nothing to do with shifters in both her personal and professional life. As you can imagine, Jaylin’s rejection of Aidan sets into motion another shifter spiral into the depths of despair and despondency over the potential loss of one’s mate.

The character building is fairly fluid, but Jaylin’s personality and need to prove her rejection of everything shifter got to be a little too much at times. She was annoying and difficult to like especially when at every opportunity she gave mixed signals to the shifter who wanted nothing more than to claim and bond with his mate. It was even more frustrating watching the hurt from Jaylin when she realized that Aidan was no longer going to play her games and walk away. What did the woman expect when she continued to reject and deny her mate! Jaylin knew that Aidan was her mate but after watching so many shifters go through life despondent and depressed, she refused to put herself into the position where the death or loss of a mate, meant death for the other. But it will take another shifter, one who survived the death of his beloved, to prove to Jaylin, that life does go on, even in death one’s happiness is not always dependent on another.

THE AWAKENING: AIDAN is an interesting storyline, with a bit of a twist on the shifter-bonding premise. Abby Niles’s world building is detailed but will pull you into the storyline with the continued use and application of the various psychological stages of shifter mating so that by the end of the book, hopefully everyone is on the same page-so to speak. 😉

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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Blog Tour and Giveaway: Bayou Heat II-Bayon/Jean-Baptiste by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright

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Blog Tour and Giveaway: Bayou Heat II-Bayon/Jean-Baptiste by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright

BHII Tour Button

LEGEND OF THE PANTERA series
by Alexandra Wright and Laura Wright
New Year. New World. New Species

Bayou Heat Trilogy

ABOUT THE SERIES: Hidden in the depths of the Louisiana bayous, the Pantera, have become little more than a legend to most humans. It’s rumored that in the ancient past twin sisters, born of magic, had created a sacred land and claimed it as their own. From that land was born creatures who were neither human or animal, but a mixture of the two. Faster and stronger than humans, they have hyper acute senses, and when surrounded by the magic of the Wildlands they’re capable of shifting into pumas. It was also whispered that they possess other gifts. Telepathy, witchcraft, immortality, and the ability to produce a musk that could enthrall mere mortals. Mothers warned young girls never to roam alone near the swamps, convinced that they would be snatched by the Pantera, while young men were trained to avoid hunting anywhere near the protected Wildlands. Not that the warnings were always successful. What girl didn’t dream of being seduced by a gorgeous, mysterious stranger? And what young man didn’t want to try his skill against the most lethal predators?

As the years passed, however, the sightings of the Pantera became so rare that the rumors faded to myths. Most believed the entire species had become extinct. Sadly they weren’t entirely mistaken…

Series Spotlight Black and White

Raphael & Parish
Book #1 and #2 in the Bayou Heat Series
Available Now:
ORDER LINKS: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Bayou Heat-Raphael/Parish The brilliant and dangerous diplomat of the Pantera shapeshifters, Raphael has devoted his life to discovering the key to the infertility that is threatening the extinction of his puma race. Creating a vast network of spies worldwide, he never expected to discover that the answer might be beneath his very nose. But when Ashe, a beautiful human female, crosses his path, his most primitive instincts are stirred.

Unable to resist, he takes her to his bed, and is shocked when she becomes pregnant with his child. It’s a miracle that might prove to be the salvation of his people, but only if he can keep her safe from the mercenaries determined to kill her.

Untamed and undeniably sexy, Parish, leader of the Pantera hunters, rarely leaves the magic of the Wildlands to deal with the humans he despises. But with the prized and risky Pantera birth on the way, puma shifter, Parish must travel to New Orleans to find and bring back a human doctor. The moment he sees the lovely, talented and all too human Dr. Julia Cabot he cannot resist the wild, potent drive to make her his. Betrayed and destroyed by love, Julia will not let her heart choose her path again. But as she and Parish fight to save the life of an unborn child, a fierce and overwhelming bond develops between them, threatening her frozen heart with the secret hope and ultimate temptation of love and family.

Bayon & Jean-Baptiste
Bayou Heat Series, #3 and #4
Available now for Only $0.99

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO

Bayou Heat trilogy 2 The fight continues in the Wildlands. Facing extinction, the Pantera have been given a miracle. A child. The first one in over fifty years. But even as they prepare to celebrate, the enemy strikes, putting at risk the fragile female who carries the hope of their people.

BAYON
Charming, drop-dead gorgeous Hunter Bayon is thirsting for revenge on the enemies who slipped into the Wildlands and attacked Ashe and her vulnerable child. Pledging to track down the cowards, Bayon goes on the hunt, pursuing the humans to a nearby town. But searching their shabby hideaway, he makes a discovery that shocks him to his very soul and might very well destroy the heart of the Pantera.

JEAN-BAPTISTE
Tattooed and pierced, sexy Nurturer Jean-Baptiste has been living in utter isolation. His cat is out of control, and the only thing that soothes the beast is a rare mineral he keeps inking into his skin. Until he meets her: Genevieve Burel. The beautiful and buttoned-up female puma is unlike anyone he’s ever met. She makes his cat purr, and he knows he must possess her, mate with her. But the secret she’s keeping might threaten not only their unbridled passion for one another, but the very future of the Pantera race.

About The Author Black and White

Alexandra Ivy

Alexandra Ivy is the New York Times bestselling author of the Guardians of Eternity series, the Immortal Rogues series and the Sentinels.

Alexandra graduated from Truman University with a degree in theatre before deciding she preferred to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She currently lives in Missouri with her extraordinarily patient husband and teenage sons.

Connect with Alexandra:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads


laura_wright

Author of the Bestselling Mark of the Vampire series, Laura Wright spent the early years of her life immersed in the worlds of singing, acting and competitive ballroom dancing. But when she started writing, she knew she’d found her true calling. Laura lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband, two children, three dogs, two frogs and two fish. She’s been thrice nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and loves hearing from her readers.

Connect with Laura:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Rafflecopter Giveaway Black and White

Giveaway Details:
Alexandra and Laura are giving away the following prizes on their tour:
Grand Prize: $50.00 gift Card to Amazon or B&N
Runners-Up: FIVE Runners-Up will receive an eBook of Bayon/Jean-Baptiste and a Bayou Heat SWAG Pack
(If you haven’t read the first book Raphael/Parish you can substitute for that book)

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is not responsible for the Rafflecopter Giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the blog tour promoter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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