Must Love Vampires, by Heidi Betts. Review

Must Love Vampires, by Heidi Betts

So I haven’t had a lot of down time lately to finish my book reviews and of course their stacking up, which isn’t completely unusual, but I finally got around to finishing Must Love Vampires, which was on the top of my list,  and I gotta say, as far as a fast paced read, it’s pretty good.

I typically like books that take longer to finish, as I like the extreme details, and complicated plots, but I knew I wasn’t going to have a whole lot of time to finish this one, so I chose Must Love Vampire, because it has two short stories in it.

One, Vampnapped is about a woman whose bored making up stories for a conspiracy newspaper, and decides to delve into one she thinks will be more truthful, based on her sister’s boss, whom she believes to be a night-walking, blood-sucking, vampire.

What she finds is a more truth and honesty than she bargained for, as well as a whole lot more she could have never expected.

Of course, being that this is a paranormal romance, we all suspect her assumptions to be true, which is a little why I don’t usually get into these types of books, as I’ve mentioned before in earlier reviews. They are usually a little short on detail as they've got a limited amount of space, and the plot is slightly rushed, again, because of a limited amount of space. HOWEVER, this was a nice quick, fun read, very juicy at some points, and conclusive as well.

I would like to see this expanded into a full length novel, both books as maybe a series instead of packed into one title, but none the less I enjoyed the read.

The second story is called Married with Fangs, and it’s about said sister, who works in a casino as a dancer, who’s had the fortune of finding herself in a whirl wind relationship with the wealthy brother of her boss.

Thinking to finally find her son a father, and a husband for herself, so that she may retire from her hip-thrusting, high-kicking routine, she’s agreed to her sister’s outrageous schemes, and decides to marry the man of her dreams on the sly, in a little chapel, unbeknownst to both their families.

As I mentioned, I could have done with a little more plot, maybe a little intrigue or mystery, but overall, I enjoyed the story, and it had me smiling, and even laughing in several places.

I loved the ending, as it included both stories intertwining, with a lot more detail. Much more like the full length novel I’m used to. Definitely going on the keeper shelf, so be sure and check it out.  It’s everything you want and expect in a vampire story. 

How to Marry a Warlock in 10 Days, by Saranna DeWylde, review.

Recently I read How to Lose a Demon in 10 Days, by the same author, and in my previous review, I mentioned that I had a little bit of a hard time getting into it, although, I’m glad I stuck with it, I was expecting to have the same problem here, however….O.M.G does not even begin to cover how much I love How to Marry a Warlock in 10 Days.

It’s just soooo amazing….I’m gushing, yah, I know, It’s a no-no, but when a book is this good, how can you not? I mean seriously?  There were similar elements as in How to Lose a Demon, elements, that I am coming to LOVE. I’ve said love twice, and I haven’t even begun to describe the book yet. Yah, it was that good.

Ok, so we have Midnight, or Middy to her friends, a good little virgin witch, who spent most her childhood being taunted by the now, sexy warlock Dred, she’s developed a bit of a love-hate relationship with him, as he’s haunted her childhood, he’s also haunted her fantasies.

He’s everything a single, red-blooded witch would want, even Middy, who’s spent most of her days planning fundraisers, and fantasizing to his image. She’s sassy, quirky, and a perfect match for the Dred.

Dred, as a rule, is one of the witching world’s most notorious bad boys, he’s popular with the ladies, but not just that, but he has a rap sheet, one Middy isn’t buying into. She still sees him as the annoying boy who tormented her in school, but she knows he isn’t the bad guy everyone makes him out to be. He might be able to drop panties with a single look, but she’s got him figured out.

In this story however, the one you’d assume would be the bad guy, was ACTUALLY another good guy, who simply lost out. The real monster…was a shock as well, so no cliché’s here to worry about.

Note that I adore books that theme witches, and warlocks, so maybe I’m a bit biased, but all the flying brooms, magic spells, and quirky tid bits simply secure my fascination. Like most of the romances I read, there was mystery, mayhem, and of course the steamy parts that we all enjoy.  

There where so many parts to this book, that it’s hard to pinpoint which is my favorite, as there were several times, I literally laughed out loud, Middy, and Dred are a brilliant couple, and this book, in my opinion, is simply awesome; particularly the scene in which Middy finds herself face to face with not only her obedient ‘fantasy’ Dred, but the real one as well, who’s just walked in on her private moment. I wish I could list them all, but what would be the fun in that?

I am soooo looking forward to the next story in this series, and I’m praying it’ll have one of Middy’s brothers as the lead because I am loving the Trifecta of Doom.

If you haven’t read the first book, How to Lose a Demon in 10 Days, no worries, they are capable of standing on their own, though seeing the way they weave together was pretty cool too.

Saranna DeWylde has definitely made it to my top ten!

This book is humorous, romantic, kick-ass, and simply amazing! Read it, if you liked How to Lose a Demon in 10 Days, you will LOVE this one.

Amazon link

Review for; How to Lose a Demon in 10 Days, by Saranna DeWylde

Ok, so I ALMOST gave up on this book.

Yah I’m ashamed. After the first couple chapters, it didn’t seem at all like the type of book I typically enjoy, and so I went in search of other reviews, hoping to see whether or not the book picked up, or if I was wasting my time.

About 3 chapters in, I’d yet to see the story everyone seemed to be raving about, BUT an eternal optimist, I decided to give it one last shot, and I’ve gotta say, I’m extremely pleased.

About halfway through, I realized, like so many others, I was in love with this book. So, a big thank you to the reviewers who convinced me to keep reading, it was definitely worth it.

So, in the beginning, I was a little confused as to what the story was actually about, though I’d read the synopsis before choosing the book. We have a woman, clearly scorned, not once but many many times, who has somehow managed to hang on to her sanity despite having her child taken from her…a child that- *spoiler* will leave that part to you to find out.

She’s managed to get herself a contract with a crowned prince of hell, in order to wreck revenge, which normally turns out bad for the scorned. However in this story, we see a different take. It isn’t always about blood, and death, and making people pay, sometimes it’s simply about learning a lesson, and being put through the type of trials, that only the strong, and truly good at heart can learn.

I was a bit surprised with Nadja’s demise…it wasn’t the big bang, and burning flames one usually expects with the evil, but then, that’s what made the story different, and exciting, never knowing what was about to happen, where some books have become so cliché.  Of course, Nadja has Sasha to thank, sure he was a body-disposing mob boss’s lackey, but he had a good heart…mostly, and he DID love her. I suppose that love is what got them *spoiler*…rewards?  You’ll have to read to find out that as well.

I was however EXTRMELY pleased with Grace and Caspian’s ending, after all it wouldn’t be a romance without a happily ever after, and it was well and truly earned.

There were some other, humorous and sweet relationships to be seen, which only helped the book to be so much more than the evil plot buried inside. I was well and truly thankful for those other bits, as they made the more bitter parts with Michael easier to swallow, a good combination of good versus evil. Especially Grace’s grandmother…She was perhaps one of my favorite characters.

All in all, I gotta say, slow to start maybe, but I LOVED this story so much! I highly recommend it to anyone who likes quirky, snarky characters, who, while just wanting to find love, simply cannot do things the easy way. A little hard work goes a long way though, and nothing worth having is ever easily gained. Definitely gonna keep an eye out for more of Saranna DeWylde’s books; an obvious 5 star novel in my opinion.

Do keep in mind that this is an adult book, and there are explicit details. 

Word Counts

Due to Word Count limitations, in posting my review to the various book sites, I summarized the 2 reviews for Howl For it, so it reads as:

As I suspected, this story was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!  “Howl For It” is really making me want to reconsider my novella policy. As I stated before, I typically don’t read books with more than one story in them, because I usually find them lacking in details, and quality. I don’t like to feel rushed when I’m enjoying a good story, but with this one, rather than feeling as though you are being shoved at warp speed through the set-up, you are dropped dead center into the action, with just enough back story to keep you interested, while simultaneously giving you ample time to fall in love.

The first Novella in the book is called ‘Like a Wolf with a Bone’, and it’s by Shelly Laurenston.

Keep in mind as I write this review, that I typically don’t read novella’s, or books with more than one story inside, as I like my books to be a bit longer, however, recently I read a story, ‘Bear Meets Girl’ by Shelly Laurenston, who is one of the authors here, and as I loved it so much, I decided to give this one a try as well.

Like a Wolf with A Bone, starts on, somewhere, I think in the 1970’s, but as the wolves are somewhat long lived, I cannot be entirely certain. There are a few hints to give that impression however, such as one of the cars, a 1971 Plymouth GTX, which I know, really could mean nothing; but there was also a concert, in which a rock band famous in the 70’s was one of the coveted entertainers, as well as a few other mentions, that you’ll have to read to find out about.

I liked the first story by Shelly Laurenston, ‘Like a wolf without a bone’, but I LOVED ‘Wed or Dead’ by Cynthia Eden.

This being my first story by Cynthia Eden, I wasn’t really sure what to expect,  but again, I am so, so, SO glad I gave this book a chance, as it’s definitely going on the keeper shelf.

In this story, we have the female lead, Kayla, a bad-ass; take charge, paranormal butt-kicking human, whose fate led her to a small chapel in Sin City, where she’s married male lead, wolf shifter, and all around good-guy Gage.

I highly recommend this book, to anyone who likes fast, action packed drama, with a little love, blood, and lust thrown in for good measure. I’d consider this a paranormal romance, but true to my love of detailed plots, I gotta say, I would love to see ‘Wed or Dead’ as a full length novel, or even a sequel would be awesome!

Also, I'm including the Synopsis here for everyone to read:

Shelly Laurenston - "Like a Wolf with a Bone" - Quiet little Darla Lewis couldn't be happier when the most-feared member of the South's rowdiest pack kidnaps her. A girl gets real tired of being overprotected by her own shifter family, and there's nothing like a big bad wolf to start a pack feud, unleash her instincts- and have her surrender however and whenever she wants...

Cynthia Eden - "Wed or Dead" - Gage Ryder knew his human bride had a wild side. But spending their honeymoon night on the run from hunters out to finish him and his pack is sure not the kind of fun he was looking forward to. No problem - Gage will do whatever it takes to lay bare Kayla's secrets. If he can keep from being captured by his own seductive game...

Wed or Dead. By Cynthia Eden, Novella review, Pt.2 (Howl For It)

Just finished the second story in “Howl For It” called, ‘Wed or Dead’ by Cynthia Eden, about a Hunter, who somehow falls in love with her prey.

As I suspected, this story was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!  “Howl For It” is really making me want to reconsider my novella policy. As I stated before, I typically don’t read books with more than one story in them, because I usually find them lacking in details, and quality. I don’t like to feel rushed when I’m enjoying a good story, but with this one, rather than feeling as though you are being shoved at warp speed through the set-up, you are dropped dead center into the action, with just enough back story to keep you interested, while simultaneously giving you ample time to fall in love.

I liked the first story by Shelly Laurenston, which was called ‘Like a wolf without a bone’, but I LOVED ‘Wed or Dead’ by Cynthia Eden.

This being my first story by Cynthia Eden, I wasn’t really sure what to expect,  but again, I am so, so, SO glad I gave this book a chance, as it’s definitely going on the keeper shelf.

In this story, we have the female lead, Kayla, a bad-ass; take charge, paranormal butt-kicking human, whose fate led her to a small chapel in Sin City, where she’s married male lead, wolf shifter, and all around good-guy Gage.

Apart, they have their secrets, prey and predator, a kill or be killed type of story that leaves you wondering, just how they managed to fall in love to begin with. But together, they are a love so strong that even family ties cannot keep them apart. They perfectly balance each other in ways; I’ve yet to see in a similar setting.

I love Kayla’s ‘Oh hell-no’ attitude, as well as Gage’s ‘Touch her and die’ stance; to me, they are the perfect couple, matched in both wits, and strength, though completely different in race.

I highly recommend this book, to anyone who likes fast, action packed drama, with a little love, blood, and lust thrown in for good measure. I’d consider this a paranormal romance, but true to my love of detailed plots, I gotta say, I would love to see ‘Wed or Dead’ as a full length novel, or even a sequel would be awesome!

Cynthia Eden has for sure made it on to my authors to watch for list, so expect more reviews from her books in the future, as I intend to hunt those down as well.

The review for the first novella in “Howl For It”, ‘Like a Wolf With a Bone’ by Shelly Laurenston is currently available, so check that out as well, and of course, for a synopsis, this book is published by Kensington, so don’t forget to check out their site as well. 

Amazon link

How For It, by Shelly Laurentston and Cynthia Eden, Review pt 1

I am currently reading Howl For It, a novel, of 2 stories, by Shelly Laurenston, and Cynthia Eden.

Shelly Laurenston, also writes a new favorite of mine, Bear Meets Girl.

The first Novella in the book is called ‘Like a Wolf with a Bone’, and it’s by Shelly Laurenston.

Keep in mind as I write this review, that I typically don’t read novella’s, or books with more than one story inside, as I like my books to be a bit longer, however, recently I read a story, ‘Bear Meets Girl’ by Shelly Laurenston, who is one of the authors here, and as I loved it so much, I decided to give this one a try as well.

As there are 2 stories here, this will be a 2 part review, that way both stories receive a review, rather than a review of the entire book itself, so as not to confuse the reader as to which book I am talking about.

This review is for ‘Like a Wolf with a Bone’ by Shelly Laurenston.

Ok, so as I’ve mentioned, Shelly Laurenston has become a recent favorite of mine, I’ve only ever read one other book by her, but as first impressions go, that one blew me out of the water. Bear Meets Girl was much anticipated, so for me to love it so much as to read another book by her, one not related, and one in a format I usually don’t read, you know, the author really has something. (A review of Bear Meets Girl is currently available on my blog)

Like a Wolf with A Bone, starts on, somewhere, I think in the 1970’s, but as the wolves are somewhat long lived, I cannot be entirely certain. There are a few hints to give that impression however, such as one of the cars, a 1971 Plymouth GTX, which I know, really could mean nothing; but there was also a concert, in which a rock band famous in the 70’s was one of the coveted entertainers, as well as a few other mentions, that you’ll have to read to find out about.

Lately, I’ve been choosing books written in southern tones, and this one, was much the same, with names such as Egbert Ray, (the main male character) and Darla Mae (the main female lead) as well as their endless amount of siblings, and cousins, all with similar names. The names alone are enough to give you that southern feel, but if that isn’t enough, we have enough good home cooking to feed an army, a few gun toting relatives, as well as some back road racing, and even a family dinner guaranteed to intimidate even the bravest of future in-laws.

With that being said, as I am not familiar with that time period, I don’t know that the overly country phrases, and accents are realistic, but as it’s a story about wolves, I hardly think that matters, the book was funny, romantic, and exactly the kind of thing I LOVE to read. As a country girl myself, I could relate somewhat to the thoughts, and feelings, and of course, some of the given circumstances.

My favorite scene (possible spoiler alert) was right before a steamy scene, when Eggie (Egbert Ray) admits he can’t resist Darla, claiming it isn’t fair for her to smell so nice, or look so ‘damn’ pretty.  You really get a feel for their relationship, and Eggie’s personality, as well as finding out the sort of girl Darla is, and how different she is than her somewhat ‘in your face’ sisters.

Also…you’ll wanna read this book, because not only was the story pretty awesome, the Epilogue was, in my opinion, HILARIOUS, and so so so well deserved. I highly recommend this book, if for this story alone, but if that isn’t enough to convince you, then keep a look out for the second part of this review, which includes ‘Wed or Dead’ by Cynthia Eden, who also writes ‘Angel Betrayed’ which is also on my TBR (to be read) list.

http://www.cynthiaeden.com/about/

http://www.shellylaurenston.com/

And of course, Howl For It, is published by Kensington, so please check out their site as well.

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/

Also, don’t forget to watch for the review of Wed or Dead, to be finished soon. 

Demon Hunting in the Deep South, Lexi George, Review.

Demon Hunting in the deep South ,

Lexi George.

Ok, I’m extremely late with this review, and I apologize, but I had a lot of family stuff going on, and I’ve just now, finally gotten time to finish it.

I have been working on getting this book read for almost 3 weeks now, since it first arrived in the mail, and I decided to take a day to finish it.

First, I’ve got to say, I loved it! But then, I knew I would, I have gotten pretty good at choosing books over the last couple months, and I, being somewhat of a southerner, knew this sort of thing would be right up my alley.

Demon Hunting in the Deep South, is about a girl who, like me, has body issues, and is very self-conscious, she doesn’t believe in herself, and yet she has so much power, that she isn’t even aware. Something traumatic has happened to her, and in her best interest, the love of her life, took her memories, a huge mistake as we later find, because Evie (Evangeline) is a force to be reckoned with.

This is perhaps one of the best love stories I’ve read in awhile, and I’ve read a lot of romances, so that’s something. I loved Ansgar, and his brother Brand and of course, Addy, and Nicole, the other characters in the story, and then there’s Muddy, Shep, and Lenora…so really, I loved everyone…alright, I’m drooling, sorry. But I really did love this book, and I wish I hadn’t taken so long to read it. Lexi George has definitely made a spot for herself on the list of authors I look for.

That being said, I highly recommend this book, to others like me, who love romance, and of course a good murder mystery. I did have a moment, when I thought maybe the dialogue was a bit immature, some of the words supposedly used by southerners, not as known as I’d like them to be, but overall, it was fantastic. I look forward to more from this author, and especially any in this series. Happy Reading. 

Review of HUNTED, by Rebecca Zanetti.

So I've been sick this week, and got a little behind in my reading, but finally, I have my review for Hunted up, so here it is;

Hunted

By Rebecca Zanetti

Another to add to my keep shelf!

This was my introduction to Rebecca Zanetti, and her stories, and yes, I am aware that this is not the first book in her series, but given that I didn’t even KNOW it was a series until after I read, there was no problem, with whether or not the story would work as a standalone.

I chose this book, because I love books about witches and of course because it was a romance, and I was NOT disappointed.

I would recommend this book to all my friends, and anyone who likes a good paranormal romance. The details where terrific, and I love the way Moira is so sweet, she wanted Conn to claim her all those years ago, and has made herself into a very powerful witch waiting on him. Conn is fantastic character in his own right, formidable, though I was worried, because the vampire bit is a bit cliché now with all the vampire stories out there. BUT he was a different sort than I’m used to reading about so it was a refreshing new take in my opinion. He’s very take-charge, but he clearly cares about her, I loved him as the male lead.

Rebecca Zanetti, is for sure going on my list of authors to look out for, and of course, now that I’ve read Hunted, I will most likely being go back to find the other books in her series as well- and I have to say, I LOVED the way she started Hunted. The chemistry was awesome; the brisk pace of the story line, and of course, the abundance of action- you couldn’t ask for a better story.  

Read this book, you won’t regret it. 

Bear Meets Girl, Shelly Laurenston. (review)

Bear Meets Girl,

Shelly Laurenston.

I just finished Bear Meets Girl, by Shellly Laurenston, and Oh.Em.Gee.

I’m going to go ahead and apologize in advance, because this is going to be one of those drooling fan-girl moments.

I freakin LOVE this book!

I wanted to read this book almost from the first time I saw the summary of it, on Kensington’s website, and I have been chomping at the bit to get my hands on it ever since.

It finally arrived a few weeks ago, and I waited to read it, because I wanted to make sure I had enough time to do it justice- meaning I had to wait for a night were I would have at least 4 to 5 hours of non-stop reading time.

To be completely honest, this book reminds me a lot of Rachel Vincent’s shifter series, and coming from me, that means A LOT.

There is plenty of girl power; in fact, there is more girl power, than male chauvinism, which is usually the case with shifter stories.

This is the VERY FIRST book I’ve read, where the men did not walk all over there women, demanding they stay safely tucked away.

In fact, in THIS particular book, the women ran the show- and I do mean that literally.

Every male in this book knew that when his woman was angry it was best to as she said, because there was no getting around the fact, that these women are kick-a**.

It took me a little over four hours to read this book simply because I DEVOURED it. Yes, I said devoured. It was more than just kick-a**, it was more than a steamy scene in the sheets, it was MORE than a love story, there was so MUCH to this book, it’s hard to pinpoint what I loved the most, but I think it would have to be, that this book inspired me.

I love to write, as much as I love to read, and the fact that I wanted to jump up and run to my laptop with each passing chapter makes me giddy.

This book is for-sure staying on my shelves!

Be advised, due to language, mature scenes, and violent details, I would not advise this book to someone who is either not old enough, or can’t handle mature content.

This book had more than its fair share of verbal abuse, fighting, and of course bedrooms. But for those who love a good paranormal romance, one with a little kick, and more than a little bar-none attitude, this book is DEFINITLEY for you! I highly recommend it.

Bravo Shelly Laurenston, I’ve never read your books before, so this is a great first impression.

Blood Secret, By Sharon Page. - Review

So, I have Blood Secret, by Sharon Page for review today, a historical paranormal romance.

Now as you read this, keep in mind that I love Historical romances, as well as paranormal ones, so to have those two genres TOGETHER is very nearly a perfect book for me.

This book is a bit steamier than I’m used to of late, but considering there is a WARNING on the back, that’s to be expected….and anticipated? Yes, I had that in mind when I asked for this one.

We start out with Lucy Drake; her brother has managed to get himself into pretty deep trouble, the least of which may be his gambling debt to a certain Duke of Greystone.

Irate, Lucy knows someone must pay her siblings debt, but without money, she offers the one thing she has left to her- her virginity; in order to save her family.

But Lucy has a secret, and she isn’t the only one.

The Duke of Greystone is a man on a mission, he’s intentionally allowed Lucy’s brother to stay in his debt, but only because he believes he may have knowledge of his nephews ware bouts. But the Duke isn’t only out to find his missing nephew, he has another mission as well; one that could mean the end of Lucy.

I abhor spoilers, and try not to give them away too often, so I’m not going to give away any now, but I loved the way Sharon Page seems to bring the book to life through beautiful descriptions, and realistic thoughts/speech.

I enjoyed ‘Blood Secret’ and I’m not sure if it’s because I wasn’t very interested in the last two books I reviewed, or if it was truly a great book. Either way, ‘Blood Secret’ is a keeper, and it’s staying on my shelves for a long while. I hope you check out, and enjoy it as much as I did. –Be on the lookout for more from Sharon Page.

Kindle Cover 3

So as I've mentioned, I purchased '3' old hardcover books for only .10 cents at my local library. And as MY way of recycling them, I decided to hollow them out and turn them into Kindle Covers! I've posted the results of my first, and second Cover already, so here's the third, and final (until I get more books).

And here are all 3 of them, (in case you missed it)



Kindle Cover Number Two!

I bought 3 used books from the library a few days ago, for only .10 cents a piece, and I just couldn't wait to get started on the others! It's so much fun!

So anyway, I got a different kind of Duct tape, (used strictly for decoration) and a new ribbon, and voila! Here is the finished product:

Note* All my favorite colors are present and accounted for!

You'll notice that with this one, the closure is different, and I've added a pocket, as well as a corner tag for EXTRA protection, though precise measuring, and the rubberized texture of the Duct tape holds the kindle in just fine. 

Homemade Kindle Cover

So I LOVE my kindle. No, really- I LOVE it! I also love my son, he's the greatest kid a mother could ask for, and he's 3.... needless to say 3 year olds, and expensive electronics DO NOT get along...


Recently I found a website that recycles old hard back books into Kindle covers, and while it looked pretty cool, and I'd LOVE to have one, they were very expensive! BUT the hardback covers looked like they'd do a better job protecting my kindle from toddler fingers then my admittedly cute leather bound STORE BOUGHT one.

 SO....I thought about making one myself, but it seemed like a difficult thing to do, so I decided against it.


A couple days ago however, a friend of mine mentioned she was thinking of trying it, and that got me thinking- there's no harm in trying, so why not? So I looked up the directions online, and with a bit ot tweaking, THIS was my final result.

To see more details, click on 'The Kindle Project' page link at the top.

The Seduction of Phaeton Black- Review

The Seduction of Phaeton Black

By; Jillian Stone 

*Paranormal Investigator.

So I’ve been reading this book for a couple weeks, and although it is a really great story, I just can’t seem to get interested in it.

Normally when I read a book, I can read it in 5-10 hours, depending on how well the plot interests me, and while this book has a unique plot, It just doesn’t seem to be keeping my interest- but as I said, the book is still really good, so I’m going to go ahead and give it a 5 star, because my lack of interest should not judge the book.

So, The Seduction of Phaeton Black, is kinda like a steam punk, in that it is in an unusual time frame- One that I do not immediately recognize. Phaeton Black is an on again-off again employee of Scotland Yard who lives in what I understand to be the basement of a pleasure house.

He is good at his job, but his unique ability to see things that should not exist have gotten him a couple eye-rolls from his fellow employees, and so they don’t completely trust him, but a series of grisly murders forces them to hire him back- because while they do not necessarily like, or trust him, there is no doubt that he is good at what he does.

In one instance of the book, it seems like the ‘normal’ characters do not really know about the ‘other’ things that exist in their world; but a few pages later, it seems that maybe they do. So I was a little confused as to why Phaeton black was such an outcast. –That being said, Ms. Stone was able to develop a new world for me, which is somewhat difficult for an avid reader such as myself, so I definitely give her props for that.

Now, of course this is a romance, and as our leading lady we have, America Jones. She is sort of an odd character, with little to no known background, other than her father’s shipping business. She too is a bit unusual in that she can sense ‘others’ and how they feel. Together the two should make a wonderful team, and you would expect them to fall madly in love, but I feel at times as if they are repelling each other, more than attracting. Now that is not to say that there weren’t plenty of times when the love was clear, so maybe it is just my understanding that clouds my judgment on that particular score.

Don’t get me wrong, the book was great, the plot was new, something different that I have not come across before; the characters believable, if a bit challenging to understand- to be clear, this is one of those books you really have to follow along to understand. This book deserves a lot more focus than me, a young mother of a 3 yr old can really give, so perhaps the fault is not with the book, but with me as a reader.

This book is going on my shelves, as I would like to read it again another time where hopefully I will be able to have a better understanding of what’s going on. I recommend this book to someone with a lot of time on their hands, who can give it the attention it deserves.

To be completely honest, I didn’t always know exactly what was going on, so maybe that is why the book couldn’t hold my interest. I don’t know, but give the book a try anyway, as I’m sure our tastes differ, and this is just my opinion, so you might have a better chance at it than I did.

Tasting Fear- By; Shannon McKenna.

Tasting Fear

Shannon McKenna

Tasting Fear is a combined novel of three novellas, based on three sisters who, after finding their foster mother dead embark on an adventure full of intrigue and romance. 

A killer, bent on the destruction of the three girls is looking for priceless sketches, their mother, an Italian countess happens to possess. After accidentally killing the countess, the killer must rely on his talents in order to find out what he must from her daughters; Nancy, Nell, and Vivi  D'Onofrio, the three Irish women adopted as young girls by Lucia D'Onofrio.

Lucia, having gotten the upper hand by dying long before the thief could get the answers he wanted leaves clues for the three sisters, starting with some very pretty expensive jewelry. 

To be honest however, while I enjoy a good romance, it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a contemporary, and this is perhaps not the best book to get me back into them. The story had a great plot line, but the story itself was a little dull. The characters started out great with a strong sense of who they were, but as the story went along, I got a sense that they tended to be a bit dry.

The story starts out very dramatic with the death of the Countess, and Marco, but fades a little. The only real drama was during the killer’s point of view, and only because he seemed like a disturbed individual. 

That is not to say that this was a bad book, I’m sure given the right reader, that this book is terrific, that reader is just not me.

I appreciate getting to read the book, I’m sure the author put a lot work into it, and I applaud her that ability, but this was just not the book for me. I intend to give this book another try a little later, but for now, I’m just going to leave it at that, and give it a 3. However, keep in mind that I have never read a book by Shannon McKenna before, and this book alone is not enough to keep me from checking out her other stories.

A Seal in Wolfs Clothing (Terry Spear) –review

A Seal in Wolfs Clothing –review

By Terry Spear.

Fair warning- I’m going to gush and I apologize. I know it’s not very professional, which is why I apologized I advance, but sometimes a girl just can’t help it!

Terry Spear has, and always will be on my list of favorite authors. She’s been there for some time, since I picked up one of her books from the public library, but every book I read of hers just seems to cement her place on my shelves.

To be honest, getting one of her wolf books in the mail is a little like Christmas to me. I anticipated each day, until it finally arrives, and then I squeal like a teenage girl before I finally mange to calm down and read it.

I was no different with this one. –You’ve been warned.               

The last book I reviewed by Terry Spear was ‘Dreaming of the Wolf’, and before that was; ‘Heart of the Highland Wolf’ so I’ve gotten used to her writing style and I really like it. Truthfully, I love her Highland series the most I think, simply because of the romance of it, and the accents of course. LOVE the accents. But in this review I’m going to talk about ‘A Seal in Wolfs Clothing’ which I just finished.

We start out where we left off in ‘To Tempt the Wolf’ with Hunter’s twin sister Meara. She’s determined to find a mate, and why shouldn’t she be? With her brother safely on his honeymoon, she’s finally left to her own devices, and has every intention on utilizing the time to herself.  She’s already made plans with several apha’s and is quite intent on getting to know them while her overbearing overprotective brother is away. What she doesn’t count on is Finn Emerson coming to screw it all up.

As part of Hunter’s elite Navy SEALS team, Finn, and every other male in the vicinity knows that Meara is strictly off limits, and even though he keeps telling himself that, he can’t make his body listen. He wants her, and the worst part? She wants him too, there’s no resistant to keep them apart….except a deadly assassin.

I am in LOVE with this book! I say that a lot, I know, but trust me, Terry Spear is a great author, and she has several note-worthy books, it bears repeating!  This one in particular is great because we are thrown into the world of intrigue, and adventure. We get to read about sexy SEALS, and their wolfish ways, while joining in on the mystery of finding a killer, and even falling in love along the way. What isn’t to love about that???

Meara is strong, independent, and bull headed- she doesn’t take orders, well and she’s all too ready to kick butt, while Finn is strong, protective, and not mention he’s one of her brother’s best friends. He knows the rules the same as everyone else, but can’t keep himself from wanting to be with her.  It’s like they were MADE for each other!

*I can't wait to see if we hear about Bjornolf next!*

If I haven’t said it yet, I’ll say it now- this book is definitely a keeper!!!! And if you don’t believe me, well….you’ll just have to check it out for yourself. “A Seal in Wolfs Clothing” by: Terry Spear.

For more of her books, check out her website at; http://www.terryspear.com/werewolf_series.html

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Alaskan Fury, by: Sara King (review)

Alaskan Fury
By: Sara King

 

So Sara King is a new author I have been enjoying lately. Alaskan Fury is the second book in her series, the first being Alaskan Fire –and I’ve got to say, BOTH books are AMAZING. I know I’m gushing; I’m trying not to, so stick with me, while I try to explain WHY I love this series.

I’ve already put my review of Alaskan Fire on Amazon and if you check it out, you’ll see that I am not the only one in love with it, and that it is totally worthy of your book-lust.

So now I’m gonna talk about Alaskan Fury, and why IT is so great.

We start out where we left off in Alaskan Fire, with Kaashifah the little wolf we were introduced in her first book. She and her friend; ‘Aqrab (I use that term lightly) –the djinni.

I don’t think I’d ever heard of a djinni before this story, so the term is still a little new to me, but to my understanding he is some sort of gene in a lamp type. In the first book she introduces a different sort of world, kind of like realms, but in this one we get to take a closer look and even venture into one. It wasn’t like most books I read however, which of course is why I love her books so much, they are never like other books, it’s as if she takes some of the same concepts, and turns them into something completely different and foreign, which is a hard thing to do as we see with some authors who like to repeat each other’s plots.

With Alaskan Fury however, we are introduced to an entirely new breed of creatures, some new, some old, some I’ve never even heard of before, and every page is like a new adventure. Admittedly, I DID skip parts. BUT that is not the fault of the book, but rather my impatience to get to the next part. I regret that decision however, as I missed quite a bit, and I have every intention of going back and re-reading it, as the book deserves.

 I am not going to give any spoilers here, as I know how that can ruin the anticipation of a new book, but I WILL say that I LOVED it, and I can’t wait until she gets the next one out. I was extremely pleased with the ending as well. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!

 If you like Fantasy romance, sword fights, and mystery, this is DEFINITLEY the book for you!! –Be sure to look out for Alaskan Fury! It’s a real page-turner!

My Wicked Little Lies, by Victoria Alexander (review)

I just finished reading ‘My Wicked Little Lies’ and it was pretty good. I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5 simply because while it was enjoyable, there were a few slow moments, where I wanted to skip parts. For the most part, the plot was fantastic, there was a lot going on to grab the attention, but a couple times it moved a little slow.

I really liked reading this story though and I wouldn’t mind reading it again, and while I got this book free, I would not regret having paid for it. The characters were believable, the plot unique, and unlike anything I’ve read before.

It was a pleasant change to the cliché normally created in a historical romance. I especially liked the way Evie played such a large part of the story, and not just in the ballroom, but on the ‘battle field’ as well. I know that is hard to do given the time period, and I am impressed. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the story! Definitely recommended!

The ending was a huge shock…I wasn’t really prepared for it, so that’s good- and I loved the secondary romance that went along side by side with the main plot. My favorite part would have been the Rouse section however as I really love a little revenge in romances, particularly when you know the characters will end up together regardless.

Over all, it’s one of the better romances I’ve read lately, and I look forward for more from this author.

Last Historical Review for Awhile

Check out the Historical Review page to see my review of
'My Wicked Little Lies' by: Victoria Alexander.
Probably my last historical review for a while as I switch gears back into paranormal reads. -Enjoy.

Next to Review

Next on My list is; 'My WIcked Little Lies' by: Victoria Alexander.
Immediatley following that is: 'A Seal in Wolfs Clothing' by: Terry Spear.
"Dark Enchantment" by: Anya Bast- is a library loan, and so I may have to check that one out again later, as I've renewed it once already, and still haven't gotten to it.

1st official Historical Review posted!

Click on the Historical tab above to find a review of
'Just Like Heaven' by; Julia Quinn.