Tag Archives: vampires

Darkness Awakened (Darkness #1) by Katie Reus-a review

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DARKNESS AWAKENED (Darkness #1) by Katie Reus-a review

Darkness Awakened

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 3, 2013

Years ago he ended things between them to protect her…

As leader of one of the fiercest werewolf packs in the south, Finn Stavros is in full battle mode 24/7. He has no choice—he’s one of the few beings strong enough to fight the Akkadian demons, whose mysterious escape from hell threatens the entire world. With the battle turning bloodier by the second, Finn is ready for anything…until his vampire long lost love shows up on his doorstep in desperate need of his help, sending his heart into a tailspin. He agrees to help her, unaware that she carries a shocking secret that will turn his life upside down.

This time, he’s not letting her go…

Vampire Lyra Marius curses the day she met Finn. The ruthless werewolf promised to love her forever, but he rejected her instead—before she could share her life altering news. Pregnant, kicked out of her coven, and cast aside by the love of her life, Lyra struggled to raise their rare shifter-vampire daughter Vega alone among humans. When the 16-year-old is kidnapped and used to fulfill a frightening prophecy, Lyra swallows her pride and turns to Finn for help. But how long can she fight her feelings for him and keep him from guessing the truth about who Vega really is? As they race against the clock to save their daughter, they must defeat the lethal threat imposed by demons infiltrating the human world and a hell gate that could not only reveal their existence to mankind, but destroy the world in the process.

••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DARKNESS AWAKENED is the introductory storyline in Katie Reus’s new paranormal adult series-Darkness. This is Finn Stavros (Alpha wolf shifter) and Lyra Marius’s (pureblood vampire) story and one that began seventeen years earlier.

Darkness Awakened is a story about forbidden love and second chances for two people from different species that have more in common than anyone could have known. It has been close to seventeen years since Lyra was pushed away by the only man she has ever loved and the hurt has only increased in the ensuing years. But Finn knew that to enter into a permanent relationship with a vampire could bring about her death at the hands of his then pack alpha and uncle. To protect Lyra, Finn walked away without explanation and Lyra suffered additional rejection when her vampire coven threw her out.

The relationship and attraction between Lyra and Finn is one that has never waivered in all of their years of separation. Finn has always known that Lyra was his mate but her subsequent disappearance left Finn wondering what had truly happened to the woman he had loved.

The premise to the storyline follows the approach of Samhain and the eclipse. A powerful vampire intends to open a portal to Hell and Lyra’s daughter has the perfect blood. When Vega goes missing, Lyra begs Finn for his aid and in the end, the truth about Vega’s true heritage will be revealed to all.

Katie introduces a cast of secondary characters from pack and coven members to a long forgotten species that is larger than life. When the portal to Hell opens, it will take a tentative peace between shifters and vampires to ensure that the world in which they both live is safe for everyone. The reader is pulled into a world where the paranormal is real and the lives of everyone are threatened when a vampire takes control of a young woman whose only sin was to go looking for the father she never knew.

If you are a fan of the paranormal; stories with a little bit of mystery and suspense; and a sensual romance between two people that are perfect for each other than Katie’s new DARKNESS series and DARKNESS AWAKENED is the perfect read.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Return of the Assassin by Donya Lynne-Review, Interview, Blog Tour and Giveaway

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Return of the Assassin by Donya Lynne-Review, Interview, Blog Tour and Giveaway

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Return of the Assassin
All the King’s Men #5
by Donya Lynne
Release Date: October 29, 2013

Return of the Assassin

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Review

About the Book:

Malek and Gina are two vampires with big problems and pasts they can’t let go of. Malek has never dealt with and accepted the death of his first mate, Carmen, and Gina has never been able to let go of the pain she suffered at the hands of her first mate, an abusive half-Dacian named Arman. But now that Malek and Gina have met, they had better start getting over their pasts, and fast, because Gina is Malek’s new mate, and she’s on the run from a pair of Dacian hunter-assassins out for blood vengeance.

Neither Gina nor Malek are eager to see her fill the role of mate, but biology and Mother Nature don’t want to hear their excuses. The longer Malek and Gina fight the bond between them, the more they will suffer. Will they be able to get over their painful pasts and accept the healing they can give to each other before it’s too late, or will they wait too long and lose each other forever?

REVIEW: RETURN OF THE ASSASSIN is the fourth full length novel ( and 5th storyline)  in Donya Lynne’s paranormal vampire series focusing on the vampires who work for AKM and the women (and men) they love. This is Malek and Gina’s storyline and one with heartbreaking and painful pasts that each must accept and endure to get on with their lives.

Malek’s first mate was murdered and he has had a difficult time overcoming the painful memories and thoughts about retribution and death-something broke inside Malek and he was floundering in despair. And no amount of booze or sex brought any relief including the thoughts of Gina Carano and the ‘who and what’ she was about. Gina was an enigma and Malek’s thoughts continued to return to the woman who would one day be his mate-but the overriding guilt of losing his first mate had placed Malek in a position where he pushed everyone and everything away including Gina. When male vampires go into their needing nothing can stop the rush of aggression and the need for sex and nothing was stopping Malek and his possessive instincts to protect the woman he both needed and despised.

Gina’s painful past, history with the AKM and heartbreaking guilt fueled much of the character development and relationship between she and Malek. Malek’s character and personality bordered on sociopathic at times but in the end, he will realize that the only thing holding him back was the guilt and the memories of a life he could not save. The AKM needed Gina because without her, Malek would probably not survive.

Donya Lynne continues to build on the cobalt addictions and Drek premise as the relationship and intensions between Bishop and Apostle become dark and more dangerous. There is a new bad boy in town and he is out to make the lives of the vampires at AKM a living h*ll.

Donya also introduces the half-blood Dacians-a species that the AKM believed no longer existed-but to everyone’s surprise, the Dacians have returned just as powerful and aggressive as before. There is also a developing story with Kota and his history with both Sev and Gina makes for some interesting plot points.

Return of the Assassin is another eye opening and fascinating addition to Donya’s All The King’s Men paranormal series. The relationship between Malek and Gina was both difficult and aggressive but in the end, Malek will fall hard for the woman he would call his mate.

Donya has written a passionate storyline about two people who have loved and lost and who will one day love again.

1. Rise of the Fallen
2. Heart of the Warrior
3. Micah’s Calling
4. Rebel Obsession
5. Return of the Assassin

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

Interview beige 2

TRC: Hi Donya and welcome back to The Reading Café.

Congratulations on the success of All The King’s Men-your erotic, sexy vampire series.

Donya: Thank you. I’m enjoying writing these books.

TRC: For anyone who does not know Donya Lynne, would you please tell us something about yourself?

FOLLOW: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

donya lynneDonya: I’ve been writing since before I was even in school. I started out writing poetry, won a short story contest in fourth grade, and then progressed to erotic romance short stories in junior high and high school. When I saw The Lost Boys, I became fascinated with vampires and started playing with paranormal ideas in my writing. But it wasn’t until 2012, after about ten years of studying the publishing industry and taking coursework in fiction writing, that I decided to take the plunge into self-publishing with Rise of the Fallen, book one of the All the King’s Men Series. With the release of Return of the Assassin on October 29, there are now five published books in the series. I have plans for at least twenty more books in the series, including those from the two sister series in development.

Return of the AssassinTRC: RETURN OF THE ASSASSIN is the October 2013 installment in your All The King’s Men vampire series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

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Donya: Return of the Assassin is about an assassin and an AKM enforcer (both full-blooded vampires) who have to overcome painful pasts before they can embrace love again. Malek is the enforcer, and he was mated many centuries ago, but his mate died, and he never fully accepted her death. Gina is the assassin who nearly killed Malek’s teammate in a previous book in the series, and she was mated once before, too, to an abusive Dacian vampire who beat her so severely she lost the ability to have children. Gina and Malek met in book two of the series, Heart of the Warrior, but she left town when Malek indicated he had mated her. Now Malek is in the midst of an emotional crisis as he struggles with both Gina’s absence and the reawakened sorrow of the death of his first mate. He has to deal with her death before he can fully embrace his new mating to Gina, and he’s still in denial and very resistant. But when Gina returns, the biological connection between them becomes undeniable. Still, there are forces at work to keep Malek and Gina apart, and as with every book in the AKM Series, where none of the relationships come easily, Malek and Gina will be mightily tested by the end of the book. I predict tears will be shed.

TRC: You have hinted at a spin-off series. Are you willing to part with any information regarding the spin-off? 😉

Donya: Yes. In Return of the Assassin, readers meet Trevor Knight, who is a friend of Gina’s who runs a security agency in Miami with his ex-boyfriend, Talon Justice. The agency is called Knights of Justice, or KOJU. By the end of Return of the Assassin, readers will learn that Trevor wants a mate. He has never taken a true mate, and deep down, he yearns for that to happen. Little does he know that his future mate is lying in a bed in the AKM’s trauma unit this very moment. That’s a little insider info for you right there. *wink* Anyway, the spin-off series will start with Trevor’s love story as he returns to Miami with his love interest tagging along. A couple of other AKM characters will join the sister series, as well, but I’ll keep who they are a secret right now. Here’s the kicker. Both AKM and KOJU will reunite later when I start work on the Progeny Series, which will focus primarily on the next generation of characters (aka the children of our beloved AKM characters). The first story for Progeny is already started, simply because Micah’s son, Neal, demanded I begin it. LOL. Micah and his kids are so damn bossy, but Neal is a sexy beast, so it’s all good. But I think it’s his sister Mikayla’s story that will shock readers. Her mate has already been identified, and I think heads will roll.

TRC: Will the two series overlap; run parallel to each other; or take place during different time periods?

Donya: Yes, I believe there will be significant series overlap between AKM and KOJU, especially in book one of Knights of Justice. Readers who haven’t read All the King’s Men probably won’t get as much out of it as those who have. Obviously, since Progeny will be a spin-off of both series, there will be overlap in that the characters readers have come to know from both will be present.

TRC: All the King’s Men series contains some BDSM, M/M and erotic situations. What would you like to tell readers who are reticent about reading such storylines?

All the Kings Men 1

Donya: First of all, BDSM isn’t necessarily about pain for pain’s sake, and Doms aren’t always controlling sadists. Doms have insecurities and emotions, too, and I think readers will see and understand that better in Trace’s book, when Micah takes over as his Dom. And as far as Trace being a submissive is concerned, for him it’s about necessity. He is an incredibly powerful mixed-blood vampire, and the only way he can keep his power under control so it doesn’t consume him is through submission, pain, and humiliation. For Trace, submitting is survival. And in the real world, you’ll find that the most powerful and controlling individuals make the most willing submissives. It’s a very interesting duality.

As far as M/M story lines go, I’ve noticed an incredible surge in interest for M/M romance, especially from women. And I’m a self-professed conflict junkie. What better way to give these readers what they’re craving while also delving into an incredibly controversial subject, which provides ample opportunity for conflict? Historically, good M/M romance has been hard to find. I’ve read reviews of M/M books where the reviewer prays for better-written M/M romance or simply comments about how better editors are needed for the M/M genre. I want to fulfill that need for those readers. On a personal note, I received so many heart-warming comments from readers who read Heart of the Warrior and had never read a M/M book before. They loved it. Heart of the Warrior made these traditionally-het readers notice M/M, and now many of them read it regularly. One reader said it’s all she’ll read now.

Lastly, erotic situations are a fact of life and a fantasy for many. Women love to imagine that these alpha men exist, and they like to fantasize about how they’d behave in the bedroom. So I like turning up the heat on some of my love scenes, while also showing that even a knife, a necklace, or even a foot can be erotic. For me, it’s about discovering how every person is different and how we all have unique fetishes, some more intimate than others.

TRC: Where do you believe some authors go wrong or err with their BDSM/Erotic content?

Donya: I recently read a book where the sex scenes were just that. Sex scenes. Not love scenes. The difference is that sex scenes are just physical. The reader is told all the physical components of the scene about where the body parts all go, but there’s no love. On the other hand, love scenes tap into the readers’ emotions and minds. For a scene to be truly erotic, it needs to hit the reader emotionally and mentally. The reader needs to be engaged sensually, not superficially. This is why a simple scene that holds no sex or physical intimacy at all can be highly erotic. The first draft of book one in my Mark Strong Series (forthcoming) is like that. The main characters don’t have sex until well into the second half of the book, but the erotic tension between them from the moment they meet until the moment they fall into bed was smoldering even as I wrote it. I think more authors needs to focus on capturing the romance and not just the physical mechanics of what goes where.

With regard to BDSM, I’ve read a lot of BDSM novels, and sometimes I feel like I’m reading a clinic instead of a story. Or where the BDSM feels more like shock value instead of part of a legitimate story. Or I feel that the BDSM elements are contrived or forced into the plot…that there is nothing else about the character other than his or her relationship with BDSM. The character(s) live, breathe, eat, sleep, and work BDSM 24/7, which isn’t realistic. I want a story with a plot, where BDSM is the icing, not the cake. This is what I strive for in my BDSM elements within the AKM Series.

I also think there’s a misconception that a Dom is a Dom whether in the playroom or not. That’s not necessarily the case. Sometimes Doms are very subservient in the “real world.” I think that’s a lot more interesting than a control freak in the real world and a Dom in the playroom, don’t you? BDSM is about more than just spanking and flogging. It’s about the bond, trust, and communication that go into a D/s relationship. It’s about the vulnerability of both participants to the other. It’s about a Dom’s responsibility to take care of his or her sub and not betray that trust. In D/s relationships, it’s the submissive who holds the control, not the Dom. The Dom is merely allowed by the submissive to control him/her. Without the submissive’s consent, the Dom can do nothing.

I just read two books by AJ Rose (Power Exchange and Safeword) that were wonderful representations of BDSM in fiction, for anyone interested in reading good BDSM.

TRC: You are currently working on a new series-a new adult, romance storyline. Would you please tell us something about the series?

Donya: The Mark Strong Chronicles is a series that I think will include four books: Good Karma, Bad Karma, Strong Karma, and Full Circle. I completed the rough draft of Good Karma a few months ago, and even though the majority of beta reader feedback was overwhelmingly positive (one beta reader said it was the best book she’d ever read, and others said it was my best book to date), there were elements I wasn’t happy with and which a couple of beta readers pointed out as problem areas. So I’m rewriting almost the entire beginning one-third of the book to eliminate those issues.

The overall story is about how my hero, Mark Strong, and my heroine, Karma Mason, are brought together through a series of coincidental—and somewhat comical—events. Karma suffers self-esteem issues as a victim of moderate childhood bullying, which has given her a stigma over her appearance. She’s also had horrible dating luck. After yet another nightmare date, her best friend decides to give her a makeover to lift her spirits.

Mark was engaged to be married six years ago, but his fiancé left him at the altar. Now he has commitment issues and refuses to allow himself to be in a relationship for longer than a few months. But the revolving door of girlfriends is tiring, and the emotional toll of breaking up and hurting the feelings of the women he dates is beginning to wear him out.

When Mark and Karma meet, there’s promise for them both that the other could be just what each needs, until they meet a second time when Mark shows up at her place of employment as the company’s new consultant. When Mark makes it clear he’s not interested in long-term commitments but would gladly show Karma that not all men are pigs with no clue how to treat a lady, Karma must decide whether or not a wild fling with sexy Mark could be hazardous to her job or worth the risk. When the time comes for Mark to leave, saying good-bye won’t be as easy as they thought.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Donya: Four books are planned for the Mark Strong Chronicles, and I have no idea how many more books are in store for All the King’s Men. Too many to count right now.

TRC: Will you tell us what is in store for Donya Lynne in 2014?

Donya: I have an affirmation taped to my computer monitor and my bathroom mirror that says, “2014 is the year of Donya Lynne!” LOL. Right now I plan to release the first two books in the Mark Strong Chronicles, as well as two more books in AKM, one of which is the much-anticipated Bound Guardian Angel, which is Trace’s book. Other than that, I have several more projects in development and would like for at least one to win an RWA contest. I am also beginning a search for an agent, because I would like to be a hybrid author and have bigger guns, so to speak, in the market for me. An agent could help me get TV or movie deals down the road, or assist in finding the right fit with a Big Five publisher to make my dreams of becoming a hybrid author come true.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Donya: Currently, I’m working on Good Karma rewrites, the Bad Karma draft, the draft for Bound Guardian Angel, a mini-prequel for AKM, and a stand-alone novel I think could be something very special. But waiting in the wings are a ton of books I’ve either started or that I’m about ready to start once Return of the Assassin is released.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Donya: Everyone have a great holiday season! And don’t forget to show your local vampire some love.

Rise of the Fallen

 

If you haven’t read Donya’s ALL THE KING’S MEN series why not start with a FREE copy of RISE OF THE FALLEN: book 1 in her All The King’s Men series.

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LIGHTNING ROUND

Cat or dog
Cat

Red or white wine
Neither. I’m not a big drinker.

Vampire or werewolf
Vampire! Micah, Micah, Micah!

Coke or Pepsi
Pepsi

Coffee or Tea
Tea

Summer or Winter Vacation
Summer

Favorite Fast Food
pizza

Last Movie you Saw
Star Trek II

TRC: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. It is always a pleasure catching up the with author and finding out what is in store for the reader.

Donya: Thank you for having me!

Giveaway beige

There are TWO ways to win with the RETURN OF THE ASSASSIN tour.

Donya will be giving away an ecopy of RETURN OF THE ASSASSIN to ONE lucky reader at each of her blog tour stops including The Reading Cafe.

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

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

3. Please comment and tell us to enter you into the draw

4. For additional entries:

  1. Tweet: ” #NewRelease #RWAFinalist RETURN OF THE ASSASSIN #RaveReviews #SexyVampires #AKM @DonyaLynne http://amzn.to/1aozesD “
  2. Like my FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DonyaLynne
  3. Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonyaLynne

Share the Amazon buy link on Facebook: http://www.amazon.com/Return-Assassin-All-Kings-Men-ebook/dp/B00G7WGTDC/ref=cm_rdp_product

Then come back and paste the link to where you shared!

5. Giveaway runs from November 7 to November 15, 2013

6. Giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL.

rafflecopter giveaway

Two Grand Prizes will be given away at the end of the tour, drawing to be held on Christmas Day (Merry Christmas!).

Rafflecopter giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!!

The first name drawn will have their choice of the following two prizes, and the second name drawn will receive the other. The two prizes are valued at $210 each and include:

Grand Prize #1: Coach bag and a $50 Amazon gift card
Grand Prize #2: The newest version of the Kindle Paper White, leather cover (winner’s choice of color), and an AKM blanket.

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

blog tour schedule

DATE

 BLOG

11/4/2013

 GraveTells

11/4/2013

 Talk Supe

11/5/2013

 Pimpin’ Reads

11/5/2013

 Obsession is a Book

11/6/2013

 I Smell Sheep

11/7/2013

 The Reading Cafe

11/8/2013

 Reading Between the Wines Book Club

11/9/2013

 The Jeep Diva

11/11/2013

 Confessions of a Book Heaux

11/12/2013

 Book Addict Mumma

11/13/2013

 Mad Hatter Reads

11/14/2013

 Read-Love-Blog

11/15/2013

 Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews

11/18/2013

 Paranormal Book Club

11/19/2013

 Romance Book Craze

11/20/2013

 Love of Bookends

11/21/2013

 Book Lovin’ Mamas

11/22/2013

 Page Flipperz

11/25/2013

 Ramblings from this Chick

11/26/2013

 Books-n-Kisses

12/1/2013

 The Pen Muse

12/2/2013

 My Secret Romance Book Reviews

12/3/2013

 Close Encounters with the Night Kind

12/3/2013

 Cocktails and Books

12/4/2013

 Smut Book Junkie

12/5/2013

 Dark Desire’s Book Blog

12/6/2013

 Satin Sheets Romance

12/9/2013

 Lisa T Jung – Read Me

12/10/2013

 Night Owl Reviews

12/11/2013

 Smexy Books

12/12/2013

 Lisa Bilbrey

12/13/2013

 Feisty Girls Book Blog

12/15/2013

 Morning After a Good Book

12/16/2013

 Author’s Corner Blog

12/17/2013

 Book Junky Girls

12/18/2013

 Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway Book Blog

12/19/2013

 Author Connie Rhinehart

 

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One Lucky Vampire (Argeneau #19) by Lynsay Sands-a review

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One Lucky Vampire (Argeneau #19)  by Lynsay Sands-a review

ONe Lucky Vampire Sept 2013

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About the book: Release Date September 24, 2013

Luck be a vampire tonight . . .

When Nicole Phillips agreed to hire a housekeeper, she pictured someone a little frumpy and almost certainly female. Instead, she gets gorgeous, unmistakably male Jake Colson. The man is proving indispensable in the kitchen—and everywhere else. Except Jake might not be a mortal man at all.

. . . and every night

Who wouldn’t want to be a tall, dark, powerful vampire? Jake, for one. He’s barely had time to adjust to his new state before he’s roped into a family favor. Still, secretly playing bodyguard to sweet, sexy Nicole is turning out to be the wildest ride of his life. First he’ll put a stop to whoever’s targeting her. Then he’ll prove that this kind of love, and luck, happens only once in an eternity.

Review:

Nicole is going through an ugly divorce. She is a very in demand artist, and it seems that her soon to be ex-husband likes living off of his soon to be ex-wife. Enter Marguerite Argeneau Notte. Nicole is the niece of Marguerite’s long time housekeeper and she doesn’t like the “accidents” that keep happening in Nicole’s home, and she knows just what to do to protect her. Fans of this series know what happens when Marguerite gets involved……………Lifemates abound!

Jake Colson was turned in an earlier book in the series, and he didn’t take well to becoming an immortal. Even though Vincent did it to save his life, and he knew of the immortals, he left his family to pursue his own life and became a body guard. When Marguerite approaches him to guard Nicole, she explains the things that have been happening and that she suspects the soon to be ex-husband, Jake reluctantly accepts the job. To top it all off? He has to go in as her housekeeper, because Nicole doesn’t believe that she’s in danger.

Once he arrives at Nicole’s home, he knows that things are not as they should be. Of course, when Marguerite told Nicole that she found her a housekeeper, Nicole thought it would be an older woman, NOT the hunk of hotness that showed up. Things were about to get interesting for them both. Jake realizes that he can’t read or control her and knows that she is his lifemate. How will Nicole take the news that immortals exist? Even more important, how will she react to the news that she’s his lifemate? And, are the accidents the result of the mooching ex-husband? Well, you’ll have to read to find out!

Once again, Sands has written a wonderfully witty romance with a few twists and turns. We get to see some of our old friends, and Marguerite plays a big part in how this story plays out. Jake is almost killed by one of the traps set for Nicole and once some of the enforcers show up to help things along, things really start jumping. The Argeneau series is one of my favorites. It is written with humor, a little action, a little suspense and a whole lot of love. Every installment in this series only reaffirms to me why I love this series so much. If you are looking for a light and fast read with hot men, great heroines and a lot of romance, this is a series for you. I can’t wait for the next one!!

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Bound by Night (MoonBound Clan Vampires #1) by Larissa Ione-a review

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Bound by Night (MoonBound Clan Vampires #1) by Larissa Iona-a review

Bound by Night-Colby Lefebrve

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NOTE:  That is the amazing COLBY LEFEBRVE on the cover of BOUND BY NIGHT.  You can check out our interview with Colby HERE

DESCRIPTION: Release Date September 24, 2013
 

The first installment in a sexy new paranormal romance series by Larissa Ione, author of the bestselling Demonica series!

A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD
Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories—along with every bloodsucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most . . .

A VAMPIRE OUT FOR REVENGE
A member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clan, Riker is haunted by demons of his own. When he recognizes Nicole and remembers how her family enslaved his loved ones, his heart burns for vengeance. But when he kidnaps Nicole and holds her in a secret lair, his mortal enemy becomes his soul obsession, his greatest temptation, and, perhaps, his only salvation—a hot-blooded lover who could heal him with her touch . . . or bury him forever.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
REVIEW
 
5 out of 5 for this reader folks!
 
YAHOOOOOO!  Larissa Ione is BACK with another series!  I will state this right away before I start gushing and swooning all over your computer screen … her Demonica and Lords of Deliverance series are a couple of my absolute faves that I have read over and over again!  When I saw she was coming out with a new Vamp series, I admit I may have squealed like a little kid in a candy shop.  Actually there was no “may” about it .. I did squeal.  LOL  So without further delay, let’s get on with it already!
 
Bound by Night by Larissa Ione is the first book in the MoonBound Clan Vampire Series.  We start the book about 20 years back when our leading lady Nicole Martin was a child and her family has been viciously attacked by vampires (a revolt of vampire slaves that have had enough).  Somehow Nicole survives and we are brought into present day with Nicole inheriting the CEO position of a pristine company that specializes in vampire research.
 
Nicole is completely overwhelmed with all the responsibility she has inherited and leans on her brother Chuck (seriously a sadistic SOB although Nicole doesn’t know this yet) for help.  The company specializes in formulating a anti-vampirism vaccine and in order to do this, many vampires are treated with horrible cruelty (once again, Nicole is not privy to all this information).  Before she knows it, her company has been infiltrated and Nicole has been kidnapped by a clan of “wild vampires”.  Nicole is now thrust into a world that she fears and finds intriguing,
 
Riker (our hunky, yummy, sexy vamp … oh and leading man …SIGH ..LOL) is the right hand man to the clan leader Hunter.  Riker leads this infiltration of Nicole’s company as this company is responsible for the kidnapping of a precious and highly skilled vampire that is treasured among vampire clans.  When he finds Nicole, he is thrust into flashes of history as he realizes that she is the little girl that his mate had been forced to care of and who Riker believes was the cause of his mates death.  Once he gets his hands on adult Nicole, all he can think about is vengeance.  Except .. that isn’t all he can think about!
 
Nicole is afraid and yet she is captivated by Riker.  When the truth comes out (so much more than what meets the eye in true Larissa Ione fashion), she is humbled, petrified and somehow grows very strong in her belief that the wrongs must be made right.  Riker finds himself confused by this human.  He has held her family responsible for years with regards to his mates death and the general torture of his species.  He is also finding himself completely drawn in by Nicole and it isn’t just the symptoms of the moonphase (this is when vamps need to feed and mate) that is causing him to fall for her.
 
Both characters must overcome their own personal feelings (good and bad) to get to the truth.  When a rival clan threatens, they both need to trust and lean on each other and sacrifice for one another.  I have to say, Larissa once again wrote a compelling story setting up a series that I know is going to ROCK my PARANORMAL world.  While she is building this world, she certainly doesn’t forget to build her main characters and secondary characters (who I am hoping get their own books).  I love that she once again incorporates medicine and science into her story line.  There are some intense fighting scenes, hot smexy scenes and the quick witted humour that are one of my fave components of a Larissa Ione book.
 
Here is a small blurb that made me LMAO!  Just to set the scene, Nicole and Riker just got a little hot and heavy and Riker is kinda freaking out while Nicole has come to terms with certain things ….
 
“I’ll never regret it,” she snapped.  “Because somehow I feel like I’ve finally healed.”
 
“What are you saying?  That if I open myself up, climb into bed with you, I’ll magically get better?  I’ll forget your family destroyed someone I cared about, someone I was charged with protecting?”
 
“Yes, she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.  “That’s exactly what I’m saying.  In fact, let’s try sex again.”  She leaped to her feet and tore open her jeans.  “Maybe my magic vagina will cure you of all the traumatic acts my family has inflicted on you.”
 
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!  Go Nicole! 😉
 
So …. will Riker’s personal guilt for the death of his mate hold him back from loving another??  Will Nicole leave the only life she has known and accept her fate??  Flip those pages to find out!  LOL
 
HAPPY READING! 🙂
Copy supplied by Netgalley
Reviewed by Rachel T
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The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo (Love at Stake #14) by Kerrelyn Sparks-a review

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The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo (Love at Stake #14) by Kerrelyn Sparks- a review

Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo

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

About the book: Release Date August 27, 2013

Dougal Kincaid has something to prove. After being injured in a battle with the Malcontents, he’s ready for active duty protecting unsuspecting mortals from these villainous vampires who want to rule the world. But first he has to get control of himself . . . because just the sight of a certain lovely doctor has his injured hand doing some peculiar things, not to mention the sizzling sensation that burns along his dragon tattoo.

Vampires? Vampires?! As a scientist, Leah is having trouble believing that these immortal creatures exist. But there they are, standing in front of her, asking for help in solving a genetic puzzle that can save mankind. There’s even one in a sexy kilt! Just one look into Dougal’s gorgeous green eyes sets her pulse racing. But can she trust him—and the overwhelming desire that refuses to be ignored?

Review:

This entry into the Love at Stake series begins with Dougal having issues with his “bionic” hand. But, those problems pale in comparison to what happens when the beautiful Leah enters the lab and he sees her on one of the security monitors. He is immediately drawn to her, and for some reason, his dragon tattoo reacts as well. Seems Dougal lost a love three hundred years ago and Leah invokes her memory.

Once Leah enters the labs at Romantech, she is ushered into a particular lab and shown slides of samples under microscopes. Leah is renowned geneticist and is immediately curious about what she is seeing. But, once they start to tell her about the existence of vampires and such, she thinks she’s being punked. Once Dougal sees that she’s upset, he intervenes on her behalf. He thinks that the work they ask of her is too dangerous, but, once the others finally get through to her about all of the people she could potentially help, she decides to stick around.

Dougal takes it upon himself to be her friend and protector and hopefully more. Problem is, Leah still isn’t convinced about this whole vampire thing. To top it all off, once she finds out about their death sleep, she is plagued by indecision. How can something or someone be dead one minute, and alive the next? And, the fact that Dougal makes her feel more alive than she has ever felt scares her. Leah is a genius and went to college at fourteen and has been socially awkward ever since. She’s never had a true friend, but that’s about to change…………….

Once things get rolling, Leah is kidnapped by the bad guys and Dougal is furious. He has failed to keep her safe, but once they get her back, she is so devastated by the events that played out, Dougal makes the ultimate sacrifice in order for her to be happy again. What sacrifice you ask? You’ll have to read to find out, but let me tell ya, you may shed a tear or two………….

The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo is a wonderful addition to the Love at Stake series. A lot happens in this book. We get a new species or two introduced into the storyline. Well, not “new”, but new to this particular series. Old threats are taken care of as new ones emerge. I loved that we get to see old friends and make new ones, as always. That’s one of the things that Sparks does that I love. You don’t have to continually wonder what others are up to. Sparks also writes with humor, which is always a plus for me. This is one of my “go to” series. It is such a nice departure from the darker things that I (we) read. I always look forward to the next installment after I finish one of these books. Now, the waiting begins……………

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Taken by the Vampire King by Laura Kaye-Review and Giveaway

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Taken by the Vampire King by Laura Kaye-Review and Giveaway

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Taken By The Vampire King
Vampire Warrior Kings #3
by Laura Kaye
Release Date: August 1, 2013

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Order Links:  Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO

TAKEN BY THE VAMPIRE KING (Vampire Warrior Kings #3) by Laura Kaye

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 1, 2013

Henrik Magnusson is supposed to be immortal, but a mysterious ailment leaves the vampire king near death, and not even the blood of the Proffered, human virgins trained to serve the elite, can sustain him. Then he rescues a beautiful young woman from his enemies, and is filled with blood lust and desire he hasn’t felt for centuries.

Photographer Kaira Sorenson’s life takes a nightmare turn when she’s attacked by blood-thirsty creatures—and saved by a vampire. She should be afraid of Henrik, but she can’t deny her intense attraction to this regal, enigmatic being—nor the fact that her blood may be his only salvation. Now she must decide if she’s willing to be his forever…

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REVIEW: TAKEN BY THE VAMPIRE KING is the third novella in Laura Kaye’s paranormal Vampire Warrior Kings series focusing on the remaining seven vampire kings and their need to find a mate. Vampire Kings must feed from the ‘proffered virgins’ and without a suitable ‘donor’ Henrick Magnusson is dying. But the night he stumbles upon Kaira Sorenson he knows he must control his blood lust or lose the only woman capable of bringing him back from the brink of extermination.

Laura Kaye takes the reader on a fast paced journey as King Henrik quickly discovers that the woman he saved from an attack may be the ‘one’. When Henrik begins to feed from Kaira, her blood begins to heal the dying king, but there is something wrong with Kaira. When the mating mark appears, Kaira has three days to decide if Henrik is the man she wants for an eternity.

Taken by the Vampire King is a short story where the relationship between Kaira and Henrik develops quickly; Kaira accepts the vampire’s existence without question and is willing to sacrifice herself for the vampire king. There is some heartache and sorrow as Henrik learns about the plight of one of his fellow vampire kings; and the discovery of Kaira’s bloodline presupposes any storyline revelation about the history of the ‘proffered and their relationship with the kings’.

The Vampire Warrior Kings series was my first foray into the world of Laura Kaye and I loved the premise surrounding the ‘proffered ‘ and survival of the king. Laura pulls the reader into the storyline with an emotional tale of survival against the odds. My only complaint-the novel was too short and in doing so, I felt there was something missing in the overall telling of the story. Again, it presupposes the background information into the ‘proffered and the kings.’ For new readers to the series, this may be a bit confusing if they were to start with this particular storyline therefore I am a strong advocate of reading a series in order.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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series spotlight

In The Service of the King
Vampire Warrior Kings #1
by Laura Kaye
Release Date: February 2012

ORDER LINKS: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

In The Service of the KingKael, Warrior King of the Vampires, loathes the Night of the Proffering. He needs the blood of either his mate or a human virgin to maintain his strength, but hasn’t enjoyed the ritual since he lost his mate centuries ago. Kael doesn’t want a new companion, yet his resolve is tested when he lays eyes on his new offering, Shayla McKinnon. He is drawn to Shayla’s beauty and poise…and the submission she offers. She is eager to give him anything he wishes, including her innocence, to please him. Will Kael give in to their overwhelming desire—even if it means risking Shayla’s life?

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Seduced by the Vampire King
Vampire Warrior Kings #2
by Laura Kaye
Release Date: June 2012

ORDER LINKS: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Seduced by the Vampire KingAmerican exchange student Kate Bordessa has fled to Russia to escape her family’s hopes that she’ll become one of the Proffered, human women who feed and mate with elite vampire warriors. But when she stumbles upon a wounded vampire in the streets of Moscow, she’s instinctively driven to protect him–and feels an undeniable spark of desire.

Grieving over the deaths of his brothers, Vampire Warrior King Nikolai Vasilyev has thrown himself into battling his enemies, focused only on vengeance. Until the attack that brought him to Kate. Their sexual attraction explodes into a night of uncontrolled passion–a night that marks them as mates. Is their connection strong enough to convince them to embrace a destiny neither of them was expecting?

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About the author

Laura Kaye-21Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Giveaway

Laura is offering an ecopy of TAKEN BY THE VAMPIRE KING to one lucky reader at The Reading Cafe.

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

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

3. Giveaway is open internationally.

4. Giveaway runs from August 8 to August 11, 2013

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Tall, Dark and Vampire (Dead in the City #1) by Sara Humphreys-a review

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TALL, DARK AND VAMPIRE (Dead in the City #1) by Sara Humphreys-a review

Tall Dark and Vampire

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

RELEASE DATE: August 5, 2013

The last person Olivia Hollingsworth expected to see at her Greenwich Village vampire club was her one true love, Doug Paxton—whom she believed to be dead for centuries. Olivia thought she had moved on, but when Doug reappears, her heart knows she’d rather die than lose him again.

Ever since Doug can remember, a red-haired siren has haunted his dreams. He never thought she could be real until he goes to investigate a murder at Olivia’s night club. However, as the bodies keep piling up at her feet, he must fight to prove her innocence—even if it costs him his life…

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REVIEW: TALL, DARK and VAMPIRE is the first installment in Sara Humphreys new Dead in the City series focusing on the vampires of New York City. Although the series is not necessarily a spinoff from Sara’s Amoveo Legend series about shapeshifters, Tall, Dark and Vampire does have a couple of characters who cross over that give the story a more familiar edge.

Olivia Hollingsworth is a three hundred year old vampire who lost her life and her love the night she was made. Twenty years ago she began having dreams about her former love which isn’t all that bad, but vampires do not dream. And to complicate matters, the dreams were becoming more lifelike and real. But a series of vicious murders leading to a newly made coven of rogue vampires would bring in the NYPD and Olivia’s long lost love, who had died more than three centuries earlier or had he?

Doug Paxton is a NY city police officer and his dreams about a beautiful red-haired woman were coming true the night he walked into The Coven-an nightclub owned by Olivia Hollingsworth-and the woman of his dreams. Together Doug and Olivia would begin the hunt for a coven of rogue vampires, but who was their maker and why was he/she trying to implicate Olivia and her coven in the murders?

Sara Humphreys has written a storyline of second chances and new beginnings in Tall, Dark and Vampire. The reader is taken on a journey through one woman’s centuries of guilt and the need to protect those in harms way or risk everything that she is in doing so. Olivia’s ‘family of vampires’ are a coven of likeable characters and there is definitely a hint of an upcoming storyline for one or two.

Olivia and Doug are relatable and could pass as your ordinary every day human, as well as Olivia’s coven of vampires and friends. Although Doug is at first reticent to accept the situation, he will quickly learn that to be with the woman who has captured both his heart and his soul, he must accept what is, even if he must sacrifice himself, to save the woman he loves.

Sara Humphreys brings the world of the Amoveo Legend into Tall, Dark and Vampire with the appearance of half-demon/half-vampire Pete and in doing so, brings some familiarity into the storyline for fans of Sara and her beloved shapeshifting series.

As an introductory storyline, Tall, Dark and Vampire had just enough world building to peak the interest of any reader including a little bit of history behind the first vampire and the governing body of the Presidium. If you like a story with a little bit of sex, a little bit of romance and a little bit of mystery, Tall, Dark and Vampire is a must read for fans of the paranormal storylines.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Vampire Elite by Irina Argo-a review

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 Vampire Elite #1 by Irina Argo-a review

VAmpire Elite

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca/ Amazon.uk
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 7, 2013

A millennia-long war between two immortal races is about to come to an end. Long ago, the Vampire Elite began capturing the immortals called the Amiti, attracted by their unique blood properties. Now most Amiti live in underground cells, forced to serve as vampires’ bloodstock. The few surviving free Amiti, preparing a final strike, have declared their Queen a traitor. Her execution makes possible the rise of a new Queen, her young daughter Arianna, who will inherit her mother’s mystical powers. Working with the Keepers of the Key, Arianna may be able to eliminate the vampires, once and for all, from the face of the earth.

The new Queen is the last hope to save her dying race and she’s ready to fight to the last drop of her blood. But the King of the Vampires has other plans. What neither expects is the passion that erupts between them.

Vampire Elite is an epic story of a bitter conflict between two immortal races, and the effect of that conflict on everyone living in its grip. The characters are driven to love and betrayal, vengeance and sacrifice in a world without easy black-and-white answers.

Based on an ancient Egyptian legend, packed with action and intrigue, Vampire Elite will pull you into the entrancing world of immortals and open new portals into their hidden universe.

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REVIEW: VAMPIRE ELITE (Prophecy) is the first storyline in the Vampire Elite series co-authored by the writing team of Irina Argo. The series premise is based on Egyptian legends, gods and their descendants and is packed with world building, character development and, enough betrayal and heartbreak for a lifetime let alone centuries of pain and sorrow.

The legend states that vampires were created when a goddess became enraged and the blood she trailed created a new species dependent on blood to survive. When the vampires all but annihilated the human population another species of immortals was formed –the Amiti-as a source of blood for the vampires. But over time the Amiti became like cattle (bloodstock) to the vampires and the two species remained distinct and separate and, have been at war with each other for centuries. PROPHECY: VAMPIRE ELITE is a contemporary paranormal storyline of racism, segregation, abuse and sacrifice between the species. There are flashbacks as well as several parallel storylines that will all coalesce in the final scenes of book one.

There is plenty of background information on which the storyline premise has been built and the bigger problem between the species is the blood bonding between vampire and Amiti- that in many cases leads to a physical and emotional relationship of love and hate-and under these circumstances it is akin to a mortal sin and blasphemy against their own kind. In this, we have several scenarios that push the storyline forward when the King of the Vampires falls in love with the Queen of the Amiti. What ensues is the utmost betrayal between lovers and a declaration of war between the species.

VAMPIRE ELITE is a well written, explicitly detailed and fascinating dark story of two species who have become master and slave. The storyline is fraught with betrayal and heartbreaking sorrow as lovers becomes enemies-at some point all blood bonded lovers will know the loss of a mate; torture; destruction of a relationship and the tearing of a soul shared through the blood bond between the species. There was not one relationship or couple unaffected by the end of book one.

Irina Argo has taken a vampire tale and placed a spin all their own. This is a dark tale of racism and specieism– that excludes rights to one group (Amiti) over another (vampires): whereby one becomes the cattle to be used and abused; where membership in one species definitely has its’ privileges; and death is a blessing for many. At times the altruistic nature of the relationships is painful and hard. PROPHECY: Vampire Elite is NOT your sparkly vampire series.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Sandy

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