Review: Blood Harvest Moon by Kelly Abell

Title: Blood Harvest Moon
Author: Kelly Abell
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: kNight Romance Publishing (Sept. 21st 2010)
Get it: Amazon | B&N

NOTE:  Story is for mature readers due to some sexual content.

Goodreads Synopsis
Only a few days from the Blood Harvest Moon a coven of witches must have a sacrifice in order to maintain their immortality.

A prophesy to fulfill...

Shaelyn, a beautiful Irish witch believes a prophesy that will bring her love and destiny. Little did she realize what it would cost her.

A destiny of greatness...

Derek Panthera, a sexy but mild mannered college student has no idea how an unexpected car accident will change is his life forever. It not only leads him straight to a coven of witches who need a blood sacrifice, but will enact a change in him he is totally unprepared for.

As the destiny of Shaelyn and Derek intertwine, a battle is on to save Derek's life from a treacherous and evil curse. As the attraction between the two becomes heated, it's Shaelyn who brings out the animal in Derek he didn't know existed. She must help Derek become the Powerful Shifter she knows he is and struggle to keep her own power intact. The two have only a few days before The Blood Harvest Moon wanes, to save his life and end the curse.


REVIEW

Derek Panthera is headed home one night to see his family but when he unexpectedly sees a figure of a man standing in the middle of the road, he loses control of his car, in an attempt to avoid hitting the man, and crashes into a tree. But when he gets out of the car, there is no one there. The damage to his car's headlights prevents him from attempting to continue on his journey so he heads for the nearest house.

Shaelyn greets Derek at the door, having been expecting him. She is a witch who had seen a vision that Derek would come into her life during a Blood Harvest Moon. She knows that Derek is part of an ancient Prophesy, one that will bring her great Power. She rules the coven of witches that live there. But the Shadow Demon chose Derek as the coven's next sacrifice for the Blood Harvest Moon. If the sacrifice is interfered with, another must take his place for if there is no sacrifice, the entire coven will lose their immortality thus causing their deaths. Shaelyn knows that Derek is her intended mate and doesn't understand why the Shadow Demon would choose him as the sacrifice. She has to help Derek learn of his true heritage, hope that he falls in love with her, and protect him from being sacrificed.

Blood Harvest Moon is an enjoyable read. I love books with shifters in them, whether werewolves or not. In this case, a panther shifter. Then throw in a coven of witches, a demon of death, and some backstabbing, and you've got a very exciting story! I will admit that some of it was predictable for me but there are definitely some interesting twists and turns in the story, that I didn't see coming, which kept me glued to the pages.

I found the interaction between Shaelyn and Derek to be, for the most part, lighthearted and fun. Derek is naturally confused but he can't deny the attraction he feels for Shaelyn. She is very patient with him, even though she doesn't really have the time to be.

This was my first book by Kelly Abell but I would definitely be interested in reading more of her work. I thought the story was very well written, though a quick read. I think when you enjoy a story you always want more and even though I loved the outcome, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to reading more about Derek, Shaelyn, and the coven of witches.

Find Kelly Abell Online
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Review: Frost Bitten by Eliza Gayle

Title: Frost Bitten
Author: Eliza Gayle
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Publisher: OmniLit/All Romance eBooks, LLC (Feb. 10th 2012 )
Get it: All Romance eBooks

NOTE: Book suited for mature readers, 18+, due to sexual situations and language.

Goodreads Synopsis

Resistance may be possible, but who are they kidding?

While on a search and rescue mission in the middle of a snowstorm, Seth and his twin Trent catch the scent of an unfamiliar shifter. Drawn to locate the source they hike deep into the woods to an abandoned cabin where they find an enticing little jaguar in the throes of heat.

Tired of being smothered by her five brothers and the pressure to mate, Daisy wanted nothing more than a week alone in the middle of freaking no where. The last thing she needed was a run in with two sexy as sin—and totally off limits—cougar shifters. Unfortunately, she's not the kind of woman to leave them out in the cold.

Faced with the misery of unmet sexual desire or hot, no strings attached sex with two men... What's a girl to do?


REVIEW

Frost Bitten is a steamy little read.

I liked the character of Daisy, who is a jaguar shifter but she's also a game warden, a profession held primarily by men and she's no stranger to having to prove her worth in that area of her life. But she's being pressured by her brothers to find a mate and start a family. She decides to just escape to the mountains for a week long rest, though she's in heat and with each subsequent season without bonding, her pain increases.

Then you have Seth and his twin Trent, cougar shifters, and search and rescue workers who were hunting for a missing skier on the mountain. When the skier is found on another section of the mountain, Trent wants to head home but Seth knows there is someone else up there as they'd been following the scent throughout their search. But they know that with the snowstorm that's coming they need to find shelter and Seth knows of an abandoned cabin nearby ... or so he thought it was abandoned.

I have to say that I particularly liked Seth, out of the two brothers, more. Maybe because he's the alpha, I'm not sure. Though they both want to help Daisy with her suffering ... and not just by having sex with her, Seth refuses to act on his instincts without her permission. He was very caring and considerate toward Daisy but at the same time could be seductively persuasive when he knew what she wanted. ;)

About my only complaint is that I really wish that the story had been longer. Or that I could have gotten to know the characters a little more. In Daisy's case, she has an interesting past that you get to hear a little bit about but I would have loved more. Who knows, maybe there is more coming in another book that I'm just not aware of yet. In any case, I look forward to reading more from Eliza Gayle!

Find Eliza Gayle Online
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**I received a copy of the ebook from the author.**

Review: The Waiting Booth by Brinda Berry

Title: The Waiting Booth
Author: Brinda Berry
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy
Publisher: Etopia Press (Jul. 15th 2011)
Get it: Amazon | B&N


Goodreads Synopsis 
A missing boy, government agents, an interdimensional portal...

Mia has one goal for her senior year at Whispering Woods High--find her missing older brother. But when her science project reveals a portal into another dimension, she learns that travelers are moving in and out of her woods in the most alarming way and government agents Regulus and Arizona are policing their immigration. Mia's drawn to the mysterious, aloof Regulus, but it's no time for a crush. She needs to find out what they know about her brother, while the agents fight to save the world from viral contamination. But when Regulus reveals that he knows Mia's secrets, she begins to wonder if there's more going on than she thought...and if she was wrong to trust him..


REVIEW

Mia Taylor is your average 17 year old high school senior. She's working on a science project to test whether moon phases influence feeding patterns of wildlife and her and her friends are really into online gaming. But there is something special about Mia very few people know about ... she has a condition called synesthesia. The same condition her missing brother Pete was diagnosed with.

Cameras set up throughout the woods around her house to capture pictures for her science project, reveals more to Mia than she expected. She is intrigued by the picture of the two guys in her woods but thinks nothing of it, until she meets them unexpectedly. And when one of them informs her that her brother is still alive, she's determined to learn everything she can about what happened to him, who these two guys are, and why they seem to know so much about her and her brother.

The Waiting Booth is Brinda Berry's debut Young Adult novel and I found it rather interesting. I liked the fact that Mia has synesthesia, a neurological condition, where her sensory perception overlaps and she sees colors within sounds, smells, and written words. Austin and Em are Mia's best friends, though Austin has developed deeper feelings for her that she's not ready to deal with. And, of course, she meets Regulus and Arizona, the two guys she photographed in the woods.

I enjoyed the story and the characters. Mia comes to a point where she doesn't know who she can trust but she never would have suspected the one that betrays her, putting her in danger. That's where a very surprising twist to the story comes into play. As for the characters, my favorite is Arizona because he seemed like such a playful, flirtatious, fun guy. And he's honest with Mia even when he probably shouldn't be all the time. Mia and Regulus develop feelings for each other, though it's against the rules for Regulus to have a relationship with her. And then there is Austin, who seems determined to not only keep Mia safe but to fight for her affections.

Though I did enjoy The Waiting Booth, it did have some errors in it that at times had me backtracking a bit to re-read some things but overall didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story too much.  I'm actually looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book, Whisper of Memory.

** I received a copy of The Waiting Booth for review as part of the Knights of the Round Table group on Goodreads.**

Find Brinda Berry Online
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Review: Desperate Betrayal by Hildie McQueen

Title: Desperate Betrayal
Author: Hildie McQueen
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press (Sept. 7th 2011)
Get it: Amazon | B&N

NOTE:  Story is for mature readers due to some sexual content.

Goodreads Synopsis
Cynden Frasier (Cyn) is a member of a group of immortal warriors, the Protectors, assigned to protect humans in Atlanta, Georgia, the epicenter of a major uprising in demon activity. When Cyn is approached by a beautiful woman in a dirty alley, he is intrigued by the fact that she can see him for what he is, a terrifying demon slayer, and still dares to approach him.

Emma Blake, a half-demon, has to convince Cyn to help rescue her sister from powerful demons. Terrified that the Protector will kill her if he realizes what she is, she still goes against every instinct and approaches Cyn for help. Despite knowing that she is leading them both into territory so wrought with treachery, neither of them may survive.

Can Cyn and Emma overcome betrayal, the ancient rules that prevent Protectors from taking a wife, unless she is his one true mate? And if they do, will it even matter?


REVIEW

Emma Blake is part demon and in need of help from a Protector (killer of demons) in order to save her sister from the master demon, Gerard. Cynden Fraser is the Protector Emma asks for help from. But what she doesn't tell him is that one, she's half demon, and two, she's leading him into a trap. But it's either that or let her sister die, and she won't do that.

Although initially Cyn refuses to help Emma, stating he doesn't do rescue missions, he eventually decides to help her. Cyn, an immortal warrior, has the ability to read minds but he can't read Emma's, at least not all of the time. He can tell she is more than simply human but he doesn't know exactly what she is and he doesn't trust her. He has a feeling that Emma is lying to him and that this rescue mission is nothing more than a trap. However, Cyn develops strong feelings for her. And Emma falls in love with him, which makes it that much harder to go through with her plans to betray him to save her sister.

Let me just start out by saying that I found this story of demons and protectors interesting. Both the demons and the protectors have fangs and they both drink blood. The demons need the blood to survive, much like a vampire, but they are not vampires. But the protectors do not need the blood to survive and generally only drink blood from their life-mates. It's because the demons are feeding from humans, and more often that not killing them as a result, that the Protectors are after them. There was quite a bit of action scenes in this, as you might expect with Protectors fighting off demons. And, of course, there is the romance aspect of the book which I enjoyed. Also, something that I totally loved was that there is sort of a flashback scene going back about 300 years to Scotland, where Cyn and his brother Kieran were born, adding a Historical element to this modern day story. You learn a little about how the transformation into becoming a Protector manifests itself.

Now although I did enjoy the story and would be happy to read more, after all, there are some things that have yet to be resolved by the end of this book, making way for the next installment, I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed. Now I can't say too much, or it might spoil the story, but there were a couple of events that took place that I thought were resolved way too easily. Plus I did find a good number of mistakes in the book. The errors didn't ruin the reading of the story for me but I did find myself getting a bit frustrated once or twice. Perhaps if I were to read it a second time, that wouldn't be the case.

Overall I liked Desperate Betrayal and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys books of this genre!

** I received a copy of Desperate Betrayal for review as part of the Knights of the Round Table group on Goodreads.**

Find Hildie McQueen Online
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Review: The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight

Title: The Curse of Gremdon
Author: Ciara Knight
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press (Dec. 19th, 2011)
Get it: Amazon | B&N

NOTE:  Story is for mature readers due to some sexual content.

Goodreads Synopsis
In a world where marriage is forbidden, sex is only granted to male warriors, and the outer realm is full of murderous creatures, Arianna fights to protect the life of her only living relative, her brother.

Tardon, an elite warrior, is granted anything he desires by the Elders, but finds little joy in the voluptuous women presented to him. Born for the bloodlust found only in battle, complicated emotions emerge when he discovers his equal in the alluring warrior, Arianna.

Charged by the Elders with saving the castle from attack, Tardon and Arianna risk the curse when they traverse the vast outer realm to retrieve serum from the Tree of Life. If successful, the Elders have promised Tardon the right to marry and Arianna the cure for her brother’s death fever. Will their love carry them through or will the discovery of a great deception be their ultimate demise?


REVIEW

Arianna is the only female warrior but she's one of the best, if not the best. Tardon is an Elite Warrior who is in love with Arianna and he is unaware that she also has feeling for him. However, their love is forbidden. They are not allowed to have any kind of relationship. The Elders, who rule over the people, believe that for a female warrior to engage in sexual activity, it would diminish their fighting abilities so such an act is punishable by death.

When Arianna's younger brother, Mardel, comes down with the death fever, it throws her and Tardon closer together. The Elders, were they to know that Mardel had the fever, would immediately sentence him to death. But with the help of a healer and Saldor, an Elder advisor, they are able to keep the Elders from knowing what plagues Mardel. Eventually Arianna and Tardon are charged with going into the outer realm, where the Cursed (grotesque monster-like creatures) reside, to gather and bring back the healing sap from the Tree of Life. A journey which no one has ever returned from.

Okay, I just have to say WOW! This story is action packed from start to finish. There is a lot of fighting in it, as you might expect with the story revolving around two of the best Warriors in Gremdon. Whether it be fight training in the Pit, fighting against a Cursed attack, defending oneself from those who serve the Elders and control the people through magic. Just when you think Arianna and/or Tardon can relax for a moment, something else happens.

As you can tell by the cover, which might I add fits perfectly with the story, an amulet is an integral part of the story. Everyone wears them. Apparently the amulets contain some of the sap from the Tree of Life and is used for protection. But when Arianna's is cracked during a fight, she begins having visions which she thinks are just dreams ... until they become a reality.

There are a lot of characters involved in this story. Aside from Arianna and Tardon, you have Saldor who, as I mentioned previously, is an Elder advisor. Tardon feels that Saldor is after Arianna's affections and to be honest, despite him assuring her that he doesn't have those kinds of feeling for her, I still wondered if he had feelings for her, more than what he claimed. I liked the interaction between him and Arianna. He really does care for her. That, of course, created a conflict between Tardon and Saldor. Kendar is Tardon's servant boy who also wishes to be a warrior. I liked him because even though he's just a servant, he's honest with Tardon, even when it has to do with Arianna. And naturally I liked the main characters, Tardon and Arianna. Arianna is determined and strong and she doesn't give up. She does whatever she thinks is necessary to help everyone, not just those that she loves. Tardon is very much the alpha male character. Strong, take charge, caring, protective and at times over-protective and bossy when it comes to Arianna's safety.

Overall I felt this story was very intense, suspenseful, action packed, and at times romantic. And although by the time I was finished reading it I was wondering whether Ciara would write a sequel, it really isn't necessary. I felt that the story wrapped up nicely. That's not to say that another story couldn't be written. ;) I look forward to reading Ciara's other books at some point!

Find Ciara Knight Online
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** I received a copy of the book from the author for a giveaway win on GraveTells.**

Review: Bound in Sin by Cynthia Eden

Title: Bound in Sin
Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Cynthia Eden (Jan. 2nd 2012)
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

NOTE: Book suited for mature readers, 18+, due to sexual situations and language.

Goodreads Synopsis 
Human Paige Sloan once loved werewolf Drake Wyler more than life, but then that life was taken away from her. Attacked by vampires, Paige was bitten, and, on a cold, dark night, the life she’d known ended. She was reborn as a vampire—a werewolf’s deadliest enemy.

Paige ran from the vampires who attacked her, and she ran away from her lover. She didn’t want Drake to know what she’d become, and she didn’t want to face the fury of his pack. But a girl can only run for so long until the past catches up with her.

Some sins mark your soul.

When Paige learns that Drake is being targeted for death, she knows that she can’t hide in the shadows any longer. She has to return to him, and she will do anything—anything—in order to make sure that he keeps living. The vampires might have destroyed her chance to live and love Drake, but they won’t take him. Not over her undead body. She’ll slay them all…and maybe, just maybe…she’ll even have the chance to sin—one more time--with the werewolf who’d marked her as his mate.

Some sins are worth dying for…


REVIEW

This was a quick read but I did enjoy the forbidden love story between a vampire and a werewolf. I really felt for Paige, who was human but because of a betrayal was turned into a vampire, effectively taking her away from her love, her mate, Drake. After 10 years she returns to ask for his help and though it had been a long time and Drake is angry with her for disappearing all those years, he's still in love with her.

I would have loved it if this story had been longer but at the same time, you are given enough information to get you into the story and you learn everything necessary to reach a satisfying conclusion.

One thing that confused me at first was it almost seemed as if Paige was trying to say that she, herself, was a werewolf until I realized that whenever she'd reference "wolf" she was referring to Drake. Once I realized that, it was no longer confusing.

The fight scenes were well done and the love scenes were hot! I definitely will have to check out more of Cynthia Eden's books.

Find Cynthia Eden Online
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Review: Immortal Desires by Laura Eno

Title: Immortal Desires
Author: Laura Eno
Genre: Historical Romance, Time Travel, Fantasy
Publisher: Laura Eno (March 1st 2012)
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

NOTE:  Story is for mature readers due to some sexual content.

Goodreads Synopsis
After being dumped at the altar, Deanna Cameron seeks a fresh start in life. She gets more than she bargained for after accepting a new job, when an Immortal Guardian sends her five hundred years into the past. She can't return home and a magnificent highland warrior accuses her of being a spy.

Ian Mackay knows the beautiful woman that appears in his castle must be a spy. After all, she's a Cameron, a clan he despises. The powerful magic surrounding her obstructs his Druid senses, plus he finds he can't stay away from the temptress. But loving Deanna could come with a price too high to pay. Will she be the downfall of his clan—or its salvation?


REVIEW

Deanna Cameron is dumped on her wedding day. Afterwards she's hesitant to allow herself to fall in love again and she's tired of her life as it is. She wants a change. That change comes when Deanna is offered a job by Robert Thornton, CEO of Light Street Corporation. The offer seems too good to be true but she desperately needs a change so she goes for it.

Ian Mackay, a 16th century warrior, works with Robert (who is his mentor), and both are part of the Aeneas faction of immortals, those on the side of Order. There is, however, a faction on the side of Chaos known as the Conrí. Both factions are Immortal Guardians of the Well of Souls. However, the Conrí claimed to have tainted some of the souls in order to keep soul mates from finding each other. Deanna is one of the souls that Robert fears may have been tainted and Ian is afraid that she will be recycled. So Ian begs Robert to send Deanna back to his time, when he was a mortal, because she is his soul mate.

First let me just say that I absolutely loved this story! It was very well written. Whenever the story would change from one time period to another, it was always clearly marked. I never found myself confused as to when what I was reading was taking place. I don't even recall noticing any grammatical, punctuation or spelling errors which was a nice change of pace.

There are just so many great characters in the book. I loved how Deanna is strong and refuses to be bossed around. Ian, well, you just have to love a Highlander. Well, I love them anyway. He's very protective of his family and friends. Very loyal too. Robert ... well, Robert was a bit of a mystery for me. I found myself trying to figure him out. Wondering what he was really up to. Yes, there were some things that he couldn't share with Ian but I still felt like there was something else he was hiding. I just have this feeling that there is more to Robert than what was revealed in Immortal Desires! As for the minor characters, there were a number of them that I couldn't help but care for. Like William Munro, Ian's good friend; Tomas, Captain of the Guards; Isobel, Ian's mother; and Mairi, Ian's sister.

This book had mystery, suspense, and a wonderful romance. I laughed a little and a cried even more. As soon as I was finished reading it, I wanted more. I'm very much looking forward to reading other books by Laura Eno. And I will be impatiently, yes, impatiently, waiting for the next book in the Well of Souls series. :) If you love historical romances with a bit of magic and some time travel, you have to read Immortal Desires!

** I received a copy of Immortal Desires for review as part of the Knights of the Round Table group on Goodreads.**

Find Laura Eno Online
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Win a Box of Books!

Amanda over at Stuck in YA Books is having an awesome giveaway this month. You can win one of two boxes of books. Last reported, there were 15 books/ARCs in the box and more may be added before the end of the month.

Giveaway open to US/CAN only. Click image below to check it out!

Review: Trinity Bound by Carrie Ann Ryan

Title: Trinity Bound
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Publisher: Carrie Ann Ryan (Mar. 30th 2012)
Get it: Coming Soon!

NOTE: Book suited for mature readers, 18+, due to sexual situations and language.

Goodreads Synopsis
Hannah Lewis, a rare earth witch, is taken from the only life she’s ever known. Held against her will by a sadistic wolf, she almost gives up hope that she’d ever see her real life again. But as her fellow captive, a werewolf named Reed, tries to calm her fears, she begins to feel a spark of something she never thought she’d feel – love. But is Reed, alone, enough to get her out of this dark basement so she can move on with her life?

Reed Jamenson, the artist of a werewolf Pack of Alpha males, knows instinctually that Hannah is his mate. Thus, despite their imprisonment, he will do all to protect her and then worry about their hearts. But is he strong enough to find a way for both of them to escape? And why does he feel as though something else is missing?

Josh Kolb, an ex-military human, stumbles upon Reed and Hannah and finds he must trust this new world of supernatural beings to survive. But that desire will lead the three to a triangle of attraction that will test the boundaries they all possess and its consequences in defeating the enemy. Can they all trust one another to save themselves and life as they know it? Even at the cost of their own hearts?


REVIEW

NOTE: I received an eARC copy of Trinity Bound from the author.

**Trinity Bound is book 3 in the Redwood Pack series so be aware that this review may contain a spoiler or two if you haven't read book 2 yet.**

At the end of book two, Reed Jamenson is captured by the Central Pack, an enemy Pack to the Redwoods, and held prisoner. Their intended target, however, was Jasper, Reed's older brother and the Beta of the Pack. Reed finds himself chained to a wall next to a woman he's never met before but whom he is aware is his intended mate. Both Reed and Hannah feel a strong connection to one another but their main concern is figuring out how to escape. The problem is, the chains holding them are magically enhanced, thus making it impossible for either one of them to break free. That is until ex-Navy SEAL, Josh Kolb, a human with a special gift of his own, is able to locate them and help them escape. What Reed never would have expected, however, upon meeting Josh, is that Josh is also his mate.

I was thrilled to receive Trinity Bound from Carrie Ann. I was looking forward to reading more about the Jamenson family. Reed is the artist in the Pack, but he feels that he has no real purpose. The journey that Reed takes with his new-found mates does, to some degree, make him feel worthy to be apart of the Jamenson family and the Redwood Pack. Josh, he too has his insecurities but that's because of a life lived alone. His secret gift makes him choose a solitary life due to a painful past. So finding Reed and Hannah, despite his feelings towards them, he still isn't sure that a life with them can work. And Hannah, her world fell apart when she was taken by the Centrals.

I have to say that I found the banter between the characters in this book to be rather funny at times. And there were suspenseful parts that kept me on the edge of my seat, so to speak. I also enjoyed the romance between Reed, Hannah and Josh as well. What I really enjoyed was what Hannah was capable of doing with her power as an Earth Witch. That certainly made for some interesting confrontations.

Now one thing that sort of had me curious, and perhaps confused, was once Reed and Hannah were rescued from the Centrals, there is quite a long space of time (or so it felt that way) where it seemed as if nothing was being done. I mean, you'd think that Reed, at the very least, would want to retaliate against the Centrals for what they put him and Hannah (as well as Josh) through. But this time was used, instead, for the three of them to get to know each other. I'm not objecting to that at all, but I think maybe it was just drawn out a bit longer than necessary. I also found myself momentarily confused, at one point, because the story changes perspectives between the three main characters and it wasn't always obvious, right away, who's perspective I was reading.

Since the copy of Trinity Bound that I read is an advanced copy, I don't want to make too many judgements regarding errors that I came across, because those may be ironed out before the book is actually released later this month. But yes, there were some issues with spelling, punctuation and such. Even so, I still enjoyed the story!

Find Carrie Ann Ryan Online
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Review: Shadow of the Witte Wieven by Debbie Peterson

Title: Shadow of the Witte Wieven
Author: Debbie Peterson
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing (Apr. 21st 2012)
Get it: InkSpell Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis
Despite a contract on her head, lone Drug Enforcement Agent, Aliyana Montijo must ferret out a mole and stop the assassination of top DEA officials, as so ordered by the Colombian drug lord she seeks to take down. The task is a daunting one, for there is no one she can trust. No one that is, until she encounters a most unlikely ally.
Former seventeenth century captain of the Dutch West Indies Company, Wolfaert Dircksen Van Ness, now from a parallel dimension, encounters the beautiful agent during an unearthly storm in the Bermuda triangle. Drawn to the Spanish beauty he rescues, he pledges his assistance, despite her reluctance to accept either his help or his heart.
Can Wolf bridge both space and time to claim the woman he loves?


REVIEW

When Shadow of the Witte Wieven became available for review, I almost passed it up. It wasn't because I didn't want to read it, I did. It's exactly the sort of story I love to read. I just wasn't sure that I had time for it. Well, I am very glad that I did not pass up the opportunity to read this book. I loved it!

Aliyana Montijo is a DEA agent on assignment to gather information against Emil Mercado, a known drug lord for the Columbian cartel, by posing as a security specialist hired to install a new security system at Emil's compound. On the day she finishes the job she knows that Emil won't let her leave so she escapes in Emil's Twin Otto plane only to encounter a dark storm cloud. She ends up crashing, after landing the plane in the water. Wolfaert Dircksen Van Ness, captain of the Witte Wieven, having seen Aliyana crash, rescues her.

What Aliyana isn't aware of, at first, is that she is no longer in her own realm, she's in the in-between. With Wolf's and his crew's help, they return Aliyana to her own realm. However, they wish to help her with her assignment and that's where the adventure begins.

Wolf and his crew have unique abilities that help with Aliyana's mission. I found this part of the story particularly fun and fascinating. Also, since Wolf and most of his crew are from the 1600s they have a more proper way of speaking which I enjoyed. It sort of gave the story a historical feel. The romance aspect didn't come about right away but was really sweet. Apart from the fact that there were a couple of actions that were repeated perhaps too often, and that aspects of the story could have been drawn out just a little more, there wasn't anything that I disliked.

I really enjoyed this book. There were moments where I laughed and others were I cried. If you like light romances with adventure and suspense, give Shadow of the Witte Wieven a try. I don't know whether there will a sequel but I certainly wouldn't object if there was. :)

** I received an eARC copy of the book from InkSpell Publishing for review.**

Find Debbie Peterson Online
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Danielle Joseph Signed Book Giveaway

Danielle Joseph is offering up signed copies of her books. Each winner will get to chose if they want a signed copy of Shrinking Violet, Indigo Blues or Pure Red. Then they can also chose one of those books to be sent to a school or library of their choice.

Contest starts: Tuesday, March, 6 2012 at 12pm EST
Contest ends: Tuesday, March, 20 2012 at 12pm EST

Check out http://daniellejoseph.livejournal.com/26296.html for more information!

Review: An Alpha's Path by Carrie Ann Ryan

Title: An Alpha's Path
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Publisher: Carrie Ann Ryan (Dec. 1st 2011)
Get it: Amazon | B&N

NOTE: Book suited for mature readers, 18+, due to sexual situations and some language.

Goodreads Synopsis
Melanie is a twenty-five year old chemist who has spent all of her adult life slaving at school. With her PhD in hand, she's to start her dream job, but before she does, her friend persuades her to relax and try to live again. A blind date set up through her friends seems like the perfect solution. Melanie can take one night away from the lab and let her inner vixen out on a fixed blind date - a chance to get crazy with a perfect stranger. The gorgeous hunk she's to meet exceeds her wildest dreams – but he is more than what he appears and Melanie's analytical mind goes into overdrive.

Kade, a slightly older werewolf (at over one hundred years), needs a night away from the Pack. Too many responsibilities and one near miss with a potential mate made Kade hide in his work, the only peace he can find. His brother convinces him to meet the sexy woman for a night of fun. What could it hurt? But when he finds this woman could be his mate, can he convince her to leave her orderly, sane world and be with him and his wolf-half, for life?


REVIEW

An Alpha's Path is book one in the Redwood Pack series. Kade Jamenson is the first son of the Redwood Pack's Alpha, thus an Alpha himself and heir to the Redwood Pack. With the help of his brother Jasper, and Larissa (a witch), they set Kade up on a blind date with Melanie (Larissa's best friend). But what Kade isn't aware of, until he meets Melanie, is that she could be his mate.

Melanie is hesitant about a blind date but her friend Larissa insists that she needs to let loose, at least for one night. That one night, however, changes everything for Melanie. Not only does she learn about what Kade is and that she is a possible mate for him, but she finds out that she could be a possible mate for another werewolf from the Redwood pack as well. And because of that, she must choose between them. But Melanie is too smart and sensible to make such a decision without a lot of careful consideration, no matter what her heart tells her.

Because I read A Taste for a Mate, book two in the Redwood Pack series, prior to reading this one, I find myself wanting to compare the two a little bit. I think An Alpha's Path was a little better written, as there wasn't a repetition of words or phrases in it like A Taste for a Mate had. But on the other hand, A Taste for a Mate was more action packed, more suspenseful. There were a number of mistakes in the writing as well, though nothing that I found particularly distracting.

I sort of wish that the main instance of conflict in the story had been a little more intense, more drawn out maybe. It wasn't as exciting as I hoped it would be but I didn't mind the way the conflict ended. Plus, I suppose that the romance lover in me would have liked the story to be a little longer. I'd have loved to see Melanie and Kade get to know each other better. I wasn't quite ready for it to end where it did either. :) But at least, there is a little more to Kade's and Melanie's story in A Taste for a Mate. And, with any luck, maybe there will be a little more to their story in Trinity Bound, book three in the Redwood Pack series!

Find Carrie Ann Ryan Online
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Review: Intuition by J. Meyers

Title: Intuition
Author: J. Meyers
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy
Publisher: J. Meyers (Nov. 3rd 2011)
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Goodreads Synopsis
Intuition: A Bonus INTANGIBLE Short Story

Luke and his twin sister Sera have unusual abilities. Hers is a gift—she can heal with a touch of her hand. His is a curse—he can see the future but he can’t do anything about it.

On a hike up the mountain, Luke has a vision unlike any other—one that leaves him terrified. Knowing that it will come true—and that he must do everything in his power to stop it—leaves his own future uncertain.

REVIEW


Let me just first say that I didn't realize that this bonus story actually took place prior to the story in Intangible. Had I thought to check when they were published, I might have known to read this before reading Intangible, but as it was, I didn't. So, if interested in this series, be sure to read this story first!

Intuition seems to take place not long before the story in Intangible. You have 17 year old twins, Luke and Sera Raine, who are Gifted. Sera can heal with the touch of her hands and Luke can see the future. At the beginning of the book they set out to go hiking, which has become almost a ritual for them ... a way to escape and relax from their everyday lives.

Since this story is really rather short, I can't say much about the storyline as that would spoil everything. But the events that occur in this story are referenced in Intangible. One briefly but the other is a major story point, though if you've read the synopsis for Intangible, you can probably guess. :) So again, read Intuition first if you want to start this series!

I'm finding it hard to rate this short story. I think that I might have enjoyed it more had I read it first because, as I've mentioned, what is in this story is referenced in Intangible. So there wasn't really anything new, just an expanded story that you only got a quick bit of info on within the pages of Intangible. It is, of course, well written and interesting none-the-less.

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Review: Intangible by J. Meyers

Title: Intangible
Author: J. Meyers
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy
Publisher: J. Meyers (Jan. 29, 2012)
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Goodreads Synopsis

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

REVIEW

Twins Sera and Luke have special abilities. Luke has second sight, he can see events that will happen, and Sera has a healing touch. Because of an incident when they were 6 years old, they have chosen not to let anyone know about their gifts. Sera, in particular, is fearful of people finding out. Their lives, as normal as they can possibly be, is about change drastically! Their lives will never be the same.

There is a prophesy that a set of twins would be born with gifts that could possibly destroy all the creatures that live within the Realm. Luke and Sera are not even aware of any of this. Not the existence of the Realm, nor any of the creatures within it. There are those of the Realm who fear that the twins will destroy them, so they set out to strike first. That's where Luke's vision of Sera's death comes into play.

Intangible was really great! I do believe that it took me just a little bit to really get into the story but once I did, I didn't want to put it down. You learn so much about Luke and Sera throughout the book. Your introduced to a bunch of different and interesting characters that, for the most part, tie into the story nicely and create some twists that you might not see coming. There is a little bit of romance, which I loved. And, of course, there are the creatures! Creatures such as vampires and elves. I found myself laughing, particularly with the banter between Luke and Sera and I even teared up a little.

Intangible is a fun adventure that was well written! I recommend giving the book a try! Plus, there is a bonus Intangible short story available called Intuition and it's currently free on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles. I'll be reading that next! :)

Find J. Meyers Online
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NOTE: I received a copy of Intangible from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Shield the Heart

If you like YA books with lots of twists and turns you may enjoy T.K. Richardson's new book Shield the Heart. When you mix one girl with a special gift, one ancient Russian prophecy, danger, and a dash of romance you end up with Shield the Heart!  

I hope you'll check it out. The book is available in paperback and as an ebook.

One Gift, One Prophecy, One Choice

Shield the Heart

(Note: This book is part of a series. Book #1 Return the Heart. Book #2 Shield the Heart.)

What if the battle was in your heart?

Lilly's gift of reading the heart seemed like a curse, but when she discovered her gift was linked to an old, Russian prophecy it changed everything. What she never questioned, though, was her own heart.

When the prophecy pulls Lilly back to Russia and demands to be fulfilled she is torn between love and loyalty. She must make the most difficult decision of her life and choose between the two. But Lilly's decision is farther reaching than even she is willing to acknowledge. It stretches from East to West - from the past to the future.

Lilly discovers there's more to the old prophecy than she realized and enemy forces are bent on stopping it from unfolding.

One thing is certain - there will be casualties. And sparing those closest to her may be impossible. While Seth attempts to shield Lilly from the truth, Nikolai reveals secrets that could change everything.

As Lilly falls into the arms of Russia she must decide: will love or loyalty reign? And can she live with the consequences? Two sides compete for Lilly's heart and she must find the answers she needs before her enemies find her.

Shield the Heart, by T.K. Richardson, is the riveting second book in the series and takes Lilly deeper into Russia's mysterious past... and her future.

(**This post was part of a contest to win a Kindle Fire.  If you'd like to enter for a chance to win visit the site to find out how!)

Winners Announced - All's Fair in Vanity's War

 

#4 Patty R.

#2 Kristen H. 

Winners were randomly selected using Rafflecopter and they have been notified by email.

Again I must thank Elizabeth Marx, author of All's Fair in Vanity's War for allowing me to offer up two copies of her book! Thank you!!

Review: Anew by Chelsea Fine

Title: Anew
Author: Chelsea Fine
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Acacia Publishing (Dec. 7th 2011)
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Goodreads Synopsis
Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery...until she met a boy with a familiar voice.

Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet's determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer.

Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past...might just be the death of her. 


REVIEW

I loved this book. While you can find a lot of books with some similar aspects to them as this one, I really felt that this has a uniqueness that makes it stand apart from others. You have Scarlet Jacobs, a girl who just woke up in the middle of a forest one day with only the memory of her name and age, nothing more. The story really begins two years later, just before her senior year of high school. She meets Gabriel Archer at a festival. His voice is so familiar to her and she instinctively knows she can trust him, though he's a stranger to her.

Things become even more complicated when Scarlet learns that Gabriel has a twin brother named Tristan, who seems to hate her though she feels an even stronger pull towards him than even to Gabriel and that confuses her all the more.

Now there is a lot of mystery to this story! You slowly, bit by bit, learn about Scarlet's past and that the Archer's are searching for something that they feel will solve all their problems but they don't have a clue how to find it. But then again, Tristan has his own solution to the problem but that's not as easy as he'd like it to be either. He too is in search of something specific. Something other than what Gabriel is hoping they find.

As you might suspect, this story contains a love triangle and while I don't mind love triangles at all, it's sometimes difficult to choose who to root for. Both Gabriel and Tristan are good guys, even if Tristan is mean to Scarlet quite often. It's just that there is a reason for his attitude. However, when he lets his guard down he's amazing. As for Scarlet's best friend Heather, I wish I had a best friend like her. She's spunky, witty, a little crazy ... well maybe a lot crazy, and she's fiercely protective of Scarlet. Plus she's annoyingly fashion conscious. But you gotta love her.

Anew is intriguing, fun, heartbreaking, and mysterious. I have to admit, I was crying by the end because let me tell you ... it ends in the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. If I hadn't been crying I might have been yelling at the book, telling it it can NOT end that way. LOL  There are many unanswered questions that I can not wait to learn the answers to. Awry, book two in the Archers of Avalon series is scheduled for release later this year and I'm dying to read it. :) I definitely recommend Anew!

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NOTE: I received a copy of Anew from the author.