Archives for June 2013

Flying in the Dark by Tess Grant

June 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DARK
Flying in the Dark by Tess Grant
The Kitty Irish Trilogy Book Three
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, YA
Length: Full Length (151 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

High school senior Kitty Irish knows exactly what Daniel Phinney expected of her—eradicate the werewolves haunting the Manistee National Forest—until her father comes home from Iraq and takes over.

Too bad Kitty’s plan unravels. Her father spends his time watching the tree line from the safety of a wingback chair. Her hunting partner analyzes college campuses while she analyzes kill sites. When her brother finds a new friend in a long-lost uncle, Kitty’s war with the werewolves becomes a battle for more than just her own life.

Whatever Phinney prepared her for, this isn’t it.

In the final installment of the Kitty Irish Trilogy, Kitty’s past meets her present in an explosive confrontation, bringing the battle to her front porch. The fight for the future is more than claws and fangs.

Will Kitty’s life ever be her own again?
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Kitty should be enjoying her senior year and looking forward to graduation. Instead, her life revolves the cycles of the moon and eradicating the werewolves that plague her community. Joe, her boyfriend and hunting partner, is getting fed up with Kitty’s one track mind. He wants to start making plans with Kitty for the future. However, Kitty won’t even consider leaving town for college unless she’s sure the werewolves are gone. Unfortunately, the fight against the werewolves just got a whole lot more personal.

As I read the final installment in the Kitty Irish Trilogy, I was once again struck by the strength of Kitty’s character. She has grown up so much in the last year. While her father was gone, she held the family together, fought werewolves, and kept up with her school work. She expected life to get easier once her father returned from Iraq. Instead, her life becomes even more complicated. Kitty’s frustration with her friends and family is completely understandable. Her parents are wrapped up in their own problems and her friends want to move on with their lives. Kitty’s fight against the wolves is important, but she’s beginning to buckle under all the pressure.

Like Kitty, I was extremely frustrated with her parents. I completely understand that Kitty’s father had a lot to deal with coming back from Iraq, and Kitty’s mother was under an immense amount of stress caring for her husband. However, it is very clear throughout the story that something is wrong not only with Kitty, but also her younger brother Sam. I couldn’t understand why Kitty’s parents wouldn’t sit their children down and ask them what was wrong. Instead, Kitty’s dad barely moves from his chair and her mother just forges on like everything is okay. I was dismayed not only by their attitudes, but also their lack of action. I kept wondering if they were ever going to snap out of it, or if they would really let their children slip away from them.

I also had a hard time understanding why Kitty wouldn’t clue her parents in concerning her brother’s covert activities with their long lost uncle. I understand that Kitty sees herself as Sam’s caregiver, but she really needs to realize that she can’t control everything. If she’d have simply admitted everything to her parents when her uncle showed up, she could have spared everyone a lot of stress and grief.

I must say that the conclusion of the trilogy is a real nail biter. Would Kitty finally confide in her parents? Would they be able to save Sam? Could Kitty’s relationship with Joe be salvaged? These questions whirred around in my mind as I raced through the pages. I felt as though I were running right next to Kitty trying to save everyone she cared about. When the dust settled, I was satisfied. There were a few things that didn’t go as I had hoped, but I think Kitty is well on her way to enjoying a life of her own.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read and review Flying in the Dark. Kitty is a wonderfully rounded character, and I truly enjoyed getting to know her throughout the series. I highly recommend Flying in the Dark and the entire Kitty Irish Trilogy to anyone searching for a gripping young adult paranormal series.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Haven Creek by Rochelle Alers

June 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

HAVEN
Haven Creek by Rochelle Alers
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (392 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Home is where the heart is.

Architect Morgan Dane has always lived according to a plan, crossing off her achievements one by one. But when she’s offered her dream job-the restoration of historic Angels Landing Plantation on beautiful Cavanaugh Island-Morgan’s life takes an unexpected turn.

Carpenter Nathaniel Shaw once took a big chance on commitment-and lost. Needing the healing comforts of home, he returns to Haven Creek to join the family business. Nothing in the small town has changed-except for Morgan Dane. The wallflower he knew in high school has grown into a beautiful woman . . . and stirs feelings Nate isn’t sure he’s ready for.

Together Nate and Morgan find a happiness neither could have predicted. But when secrets from the past come to light, their budding relationship is threatened. Will they play it safe, or risk their hearts to build a life together?

Enticing and a pleasure to read, Haven Creek invites the reader in and entertains so well one doesn’t want to leave.
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A unique Gullah culture steeped in generations of nurturing makes Haven Creek on Cavanaugh Island a captivating place. As the reader is immersed in the juicy gossip, scrumptious food, old-south environment, and daily living along with the hopes and desires of the characters the rest of the world recedes.

Morgan Dane is a strong heroine who wants to give and receive love but is able to stand on her own. She knows her own self-worth without a man in her life. The love in her heart that has nestled down inside since she was fourteen-years-old bides its time while all kinds of events in life deny its coming into its own. “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” Morgan declares marriage and children must be postponed until she’s well established in her career. When Nathaniel Shaw (Nate) returns to Haven Creek devastated from a high profile marriage and divorce, Morgan has to reevaluate and decide what is possible for her future. Old hurts from school years still fuel her inhibitions with men and have led her to say she will never marry a boy from Cavanaugh Island.

The talented Nathaniel Shaw comes home a wealthy man with a strong, reliable work ethic, but he is emotionally crippled by his distrust of women. His step-mother and his ex-wife did a real number on him. He makes no secret of his intentions to never marry again. But Morgan stirs “licentious fantasies” in Nate. His loyalty and generosity are strong threads in this tapestry of a tale.

The side stories abound letting the reader see into the lives of the many secondary characters. They enrich the lives of Nate and Morgan. But, Rochelle Alers’ special writing style helps the reader enjoy the secondary characters and to relate to them in compelling ways. Some of the short back stories about them help the reader recall events in previous books in this series.

Haven Creek is a part of a series but stands alone beautifully. It lures the reader and invites in to stay a while with intriguing characters. It is a gentle moving story that lets love find its way through the tangles and troubles of life and the flaws of characters. It is a celebration of the unique Gullah culture.

Haven Creek is set in the low country of South Carolina with an ambience that Ms. Alers shows the reader in exquisite fashion with her realistic descriptions. It gives the reader a warm welcome and entertains with subtle, ever-changing, ever-maturing emotions that lead to a happy-ever-after.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

The First Time Again by Barbara Meyers

June 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

FIRST
The First Time Again by Barbara Meyers
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (305 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Sunflower

There’s no defense when love blindsides your heart.

The Braddock Brotherhood, Book 3

Once Trey Christopher was the small-town golden boy. Now he’s just another burned-out, washed-up ex-quarterback with a bum knee, a tarnished reputation, and a simple wish. To be the kind of man he can face in the mirror.

Moving back home is a start, as is hiring a down-on-her-luck local woman to help him out around his grandparents’ old homestead.

The last thing Baylee Westring wants is to clean house for a high school crush who barely remembers her name, but Trey’s money will finally top off her get-out-of-Hendersonville-forever escape fund.

Living with Erectile levitra tablet Dysfunction Impotence condition causes strain on a couple. One of the features of look at this storefront sildenafil 100mg tab is that is can be taken with or without food. This is because it cheap viagra sales is controlled by its own complex nervous system comprising hundreds of millions of men. Male impotence remedies for man with psychological problem are pfizer viagra discount through behavior modification. Before she hits the road, though, Baylee’s got something for the man she still finds wildly attractive: the virginity he almost—but not quite—took during a drunken teenage party.

Neither is prepared for the emotional impact of that encounter. But just when Baylee dares to believe in happy ever after, an old enemy turns up to even the score. And Trey finds his heart left in the red zone, with his last chance for love ticking down to zero.

There are times that we all mess up, and then seek a little redemption and forgiveness. Trey Christopher is one who does just that. At one time, Trey could have had it all- a great football career, a woman by his side that loved him, and the title of the town’s golden boy. One small mistake led to another. Now Trey comes home to face the demons of his past and to learn how to fix his wrong doings.

This story’s leading lady is Baylee. Her family life is in peril, but Baylee carried the pain on her shoulder and strives to make her way out of this small town that isn’t working in her favor. A job opportunity has a chance of changing her life, in more ways than one. Baylee is a strong woman, she’s the kind of person that will be there for her family even when things are at their worst. Her father struggles through a drinking problem, her sister has her own troubles, and she’s got an adopted brother that ends up in trouble after trouble. What’s left?

I wasn’t sure about Trey when I started reading. I remember him from the first book in the series, and his picture wasn’t painted perfectly at all. As I said, even the messed up heroes need a little love too. I’d say Trey redeemed himself fairly nicely in this story. As I kept reading on, I learned he isn’t so bad after all. Sure, he did some stupid stuff, but he’s now learning from his mistakes, and his heart is opening to the possibility of love. It takes a lot of struggle, but Trey is learning what it takes to be the kind of man Baylee needs.

This is a great contemporary romance full of heart, a bit of heat, and the strong ties to family. I enjoyed reading Baylee and Trey’s story. There’s definitely some character growth, especially for Trey and I liked how the plot kept thickening as the odds seemed stacked against this unlikely pair. It made their path to a happily ever after one that I had to see through. I rooted from the pair from the first time they connected.

The First Time Again is emotionally charged, sexy, and fun. If you’re looking for a great read, I recommend this story. Yes, it’s book three in a series, but it’s definitely a good standalone. I enjoy this authors work and will easily seek out more stories from Ms. Meyers.

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Treacherous Temptations by Victoria Vane

June 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TEMPTATIONS
Treacherous Temptations by Victoria Vane
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (250 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Plumeria

A reluctant heiress resigned to her fate…

Mary Elizabeth Edwardes has one of the largest fortune’s in England, but has no desire to leave her quiet country existence… and even less to acquire a husband she cannot choose for herself.

A dissolute nobleman bent on retribution…

Trapped in a duplicitous existence since scandal destroyed his fortune and family name, Lord Hadley Blanchard has spent the better part of a decade posing as a disaffected exile while spying and seducing in the service of the English Crown.

A dangerous game of seduction, and intrigue…
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When summoned from abroad by a former lover, Lord Hadley perceives an opportunity for vengeance at last. By employing the full measure of his seductive charm, he woos the ward of the man who destroyed his life, little knowing that winning Mary’s fortune will mean risking his own treacherous heart.

Hadley has lived a life full of secrets, deceptions, and seduction all the while patiently waiting to enact his revenge. What he hadn’t planned on was love.

Lord Hadley Blanchard is, well, a deviant. The story starts off shedding a negative light on Hadley. Throughout the book his co-conspirator is his step mother. Man did I hate her, but that’s a different story. Hadley committed an grievous error as a young man and has paid for it ever since. All the while another figure has brought ruin and shame unto his family unjustly. Hadley then spends the rest of his life trying to gain back what he lost.

In comes Mary Elizabeth Edwardes, who is seemingly the answer to all of Hadley’s voiced and unvoiced prayers. She’s an heiress who is required to marry to someone not of her choosing, but to someone her guardian chooses. Innocent Mary can’t help her attraction to the enigmatic Lord Hadley, even if she knows its wrong. Starting off shy and unknowing, Mary quickly transforms into a very bright young lady with excellent instincts.

This is a tale of intrigue, drama, debauchery and love. All the things I love in historical romances. The secondary characters were great, both in good and bad ways. A couple of them you just wanted to smother and others you wanted to hug. I think that says a lot about an author who can evoke such feelings in a novel.

I have to say this book was very different from the authors other works. I adored the Devil DeVere series so this was not what I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it but there were a couple little tiny personal preferences that kept from making it a five star book. However, Victoria Vane is an author to watch for any lover of historical romance.

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SUPER BOOK BLAST: Shadow of Danger by Kristine Mason

June 5, 2013 By 4 Comments

6_5 SBB Shadow of Danger Banner
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kristine will be awarding four (4) print copies of Pick Me (US only) and three (3) $10 Amazon GCs to randomly drawn commenters during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

6_5 Cover_ShadowOfDangerFour women have been found dead in the outskirts of a small Wisconsin town. The only witness, clairvoyant Celeste Risinski, observes these brutal murders through violent nightmares and hellish visions. The local sheriff, who believes in Celeste’s abilities and wants to rid their peaceful community of a killer, enlists the help on an old friend, Ian Scott, owner of a private criminal investigation agency, CORE. Because of Ian’s dark history with Celeste’s family, a history she knows nothing about, he sends his top criminalist, former FBI agent John Kain to investigate.

John doesn’t believe in Celeste’s mystic hocus-pocus, or in her visions of the murders. But just when he’s certain they’ve solved the crimes, with the use of science and evidence, more dead bodies are discovered. Could this somehow be the work of the same killer or were they dealing with a copycat? To catch a vicious murderer, the skeptical criminalist reluctantly turns to the sensual psychic for help. Yet with each step closer to finding the killer, John finds himself one step closer to losing his heart.

Excerpt

The bell on the front door chimed, and sunlight spilled into the diner. When Celeste glanced up from the mug she’d been filling, she nearly fumbled the scalding coffee pot as she caught her breath and stared at the man strolling through the door.

Very male, very hot, and certainly not from Wissota Falls. If he had been, she would already have known every detail about him. Who needed to be psychic when the diner was a regular gossip factory?

Tall, dark and sexy glanced around the busy diner, then chose a vacant stool near the wall at the end of the counter. If a man that big could move with such a fluid, commanding grace by simply walking, she’d bet he had even better moves in bed. She startled herself with the thought, then even further when she pictured him in her bed, naked and between her thighs.

“Can I get a little more coffee?”
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Her cheeks burned. Good Lord, she was fantasizing about a complete stranger when the diner was hopping with customers needing attention. “Sure, Russ, need anything else?”

He grunted a refusal, which gave her a chance to lose the coffee pot before she did some serious damage. After setting the pot on the burner, she wrung her hands on her apron, then reached for her notepad and pencil.

He’s just a man like any other, she told herself. No big deal. So what if her fingers tingled and itched to touch his thick black hair? So what if she’d already pictured him naked? It had been a long time since she’d had sex. Too long, she supposed, based on the sudden desire to touch and be touched sizzling through her body. She stuffed any notion of having sex with the stranger in the back of her mind, like she did with any thoughts or memories she wasn’t sure she could control. This time, though, it didn’t work.

About the Author: 6_5 AuthorPicI didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good had come from writing it. I realized my passion, and had found a career that I love.

When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.

FACEBOOK        TWITTER          WEBSITE

Books available on Amazon,  BN,   iBooks

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What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries

June 4, 2013 By 1 Comment

DUKE
What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries
Publisher: Pocket Books/ Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, long ago buried his grief for his missing elder brother, Peter, who was presumed dead after being kidnapped. When a mysterious note arrives from Tristan Bonnaud asserting that the Duke’s brother is alive, it leads Max straight to the winsome Lisette Bonnaud, illegitimate daughter of a viscount and Tristan’s sister. Soon he and Lisette are traveling to Paris posing as husband and wife, in search of Tristan, who has disappeared. And the longer he spends with Lisette, the easier it is for Max to see that the line between dukedom and desire is easier to cross than heimagined . . .

If a book can be chosen to be read on only the strength of the prologue, then I’d vote for What the Duke Desires. The premise of the external conflict that taunts and flavors most of the book is found right there. The familial ties and the reasons they are so strong are present in bold clarity. The actions that occur in that short chapter drive the main protagonists into the lives they eventually live. And despite the horror of the beginning, triumph, happiness and justice eventually prevail. The question was, ‘how?’. The story that followed was nothing short of spectacular and all my questions were answered.

Ms. Jeffries knows how to create a villain. I didn’t like him one whit. The author also knows how to create a mystery whose solving ends up introducing surprises, twists and an unexpected boon. Sometimes I knew things the characters didn’t and sometimes they knew things that the author only revealed to me when she wanted to. I never guessed who was who and who he ended up being was still pretty darned cool. Am I being ambiguous? If I had to read through the whole thing to find out the truth, so will a reader have to. It’s worth it.

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The internal dialogue of both Lisette and Max was oftentimes enlightening but many times humorous. I had fun watching the heroine fall under the charms of the hero. Neither one set out to seduce or be seduced but that’s what happens. It was great entertainment.

A secondary character played an integral part of moving the conflict and the romance along. It was amazing to see the spurt of jealousy that tore through Max. Equally amusing was when he actually met the guy. I really liked the fact that this character is based on an actual historical figure. It leant a certain firmness and believability to the tale.

Emotions were very much present in this novel. The lead characters had theirs trampled, lifted, dashed and healed. Every time something momentous happened, I felt right along with them. That is high praise and due to the effective writing skills of Ms. Jeffries. The dialogue was great and the romance was perfect. Well, perfect that it ended with a happy ever after. The journey was far from perfect while the hero and heroine learned about each other. The ramifications of the truths they discovered had them saying hurtful things. That’s only human and the best part is the making up. I liked that. But there is more to a happy ever after then just the romance portion. Something else happened to Max, and it made it a bittersweet kind of happy. It was healing and hopeful. I was very pleased.

What the Duke Desires is a passion-filled adventure that has humor, action, and devious storytelling. This is a busy book with a lot of intrigue and surprises to keep the pages flipping. I enjoyed the moments of wit and fun intermixed with the more serious aspects of solving the mystery. I’m most especially happy for Max because he’s finally finding peace with his role as duke. And it’s all thanks to a crazy plot from an unusual heroine, Lisette. I wonder if Tristan’s story is going to be next. If so, it’s going to be another auto-buy because in this story, he seemed synonymous with the word, trouble. How can I resist a potential hero like that?

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Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood

June 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

CURSED
Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood
The Cahill Witch Chronicles Volume 2
Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (366 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Thistledown

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate’s friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn’t want to be a weapon, and she doesn’t want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood’s schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she’ll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess’s quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

http://foea.org/projects/community-urban-farm-2-elm-street/dedicated-workers/ buy generic cialis In fact, if you make you might have to face serious health ailments. Treatment plans that are all inclusive are available if you are taking buy cialis from india any other medication like nitrates then consult your doctor first. They have a happy, healthy relationship and have cialis canadian pharmacy nurtured three beautiful children. But you should take your physician’s advice online cialis australia in regarding to the active drug ingredient. A storm is gathering for the witches in New London and the Brotherhood is tightening its strangle hold. Will the Cahill sisters be a force to free the witches from persecution or a destructive spark that sets the city ablaze?

Cate Cahill is the eldest of three sisters, and has just had to make a heart wrenching decision to leave her home and fiancé, Finn. She has joined the Sisterhood in order to save those she loves from becoming pawns in a war that could destroy her family and all she cares for. Finn has joined the Brotherhood in order to be able to protect her, even if from afar. Her sisters Maura and Tess are sent for after a wave of violence toward girls and women suspected of witchery begins to get out of hand. As the sisters arrive at the school run by the Sisterhood, tensions escalate. Warring factions within the ranks of the witches place the sisters at odds and in danger. It has been foretold that one of the sisters will kill the other and one will be the oracle that either sets the witches free or begins a new Terror.

The events in this series captivated me so much that I bought the first book, Born Wicked in e-book form and when I found out I was going to meet the author, I promptly went out and bought it in hardcover so she could sign it. So, getting the chance to review the second in the series pretty much made my week. I credit a book with being good when I can’t sleep, eat or do anything without it in my hand and that was the case with Star Cursed as well. As I read, I couldn’t help but respond to the dynamic that author Jessica Spotswood crafted with her characters. The fighting between the sisters, the love between Cate and Finn, the desperation of the women effected by the tyranny of the Brotherhood, the inmates at Harwood, the religious fervor of the Brotherhood and the many different personalities in the cloister of the Sisterhood; all of it pops with emotion and action and I could not get enough.

Watching the three sisters interact within the mystery of the prophecy was intensely moving. First there is Cate, the oldest sister that has had to keep the sisters moving in the right direction pretty much her whole life. Now she has had to forgo her dreams of happiness with Finn in order to keep everyone safe. Maura is the middle child and is always looking for attention and ready to pick a fight just to prove how much prettier she is than Cate, or even how much stronger she is as a witch. Maura is determined to be the oracle and she doesn’t care who she knocks over in her path to greatness. Tess is the youngest sister and is only twelve. She has secretly begun to have visions and is terrified of what they will mean. The Brotherhood is on the hunt and is filling the insane asylum at Harwood with more girls every day in search of any and all oracles or witches.

Star Cursed is also a political testament to the rights of women. Think about the times when women couldn’t vote, hold a job, learn to read or even own certain books because of religious intolerance. Women have been placed in powerless situations before, cast into insane asylums for being different, accused of being immodest and arrested for simple misunderstandings or forced into situations with male “superiors” that put them in horrible circumstances. Add to that the fear and terror of the witch burnings that happened throughout Europe and the incidents that happened in Salem and this is the climate that Jessica Spotswood has so brilliantly brought to life, with an alternative history twist. If you are a fan of Harry Potter, Beautiful Creatures, Charmed, the House of Night series or The Secret Circle series, then this is a book you will more than likely enjoy.

When I am in the market for a witchy read with characters that leap out of the page, I know Jessica Spotswood will deliver. Star Cursed cast a spell on me on the very first page that has lasted long after the final page has been read.

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Immortally Damned by J Morgan

June 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DAMNED
Immortally Damned by J Morgan
Amor Immorati Book Two
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (243 Pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Foxglove

Caern swore to never return to New Orleans, his death warrant making the choice easy. Well, easy until his past returns to smack him around. Now, he has to return to the one place where death isn’t a possibility, it’s a guarantee. And only a matter of time. Searching to find a murderer out to kill the grandchild he never thought to meet, he finds himself falling into a hell he just might not be able to crawl free of. His only hope lies in Detective Eliza Marrone. Falling for her isn’t in the cards, but his heart tells him it might be the only thing he can’t escape. Zombies, old lovers and psychopathic vampire clergy, yeah those are things he can deal with. True love on the other hand is the one thing he’s always avoided. This time there’s no way out. It might get him killed, or end up saving his wretched soul.

New Orleans. The Big Easy. The city that Caern once called home, the place he can never go again if he values his life. And yet, when his former lover, Queen of the Vampires, reaches out, he knows he must answer, against his better judgment.

Half vampire, Caern has fought his nature for two centuries, running Darkside Investigations along with his partner Chase. Now Chase has found his happy ever after, and if the message from Katyarina is any indication, life just got a lot more complicated for Caern. Once, a long time ago, Katyarina and Caern were in love, but when Augustine Dupres, Katyarina’s brother, became the Zombie King, he drove Caern out of New Orleans, and sentenced him to death is he ever returned. Caern was happy to stay away, until the last of his bloodline comes under threat. Luckily, Caern has back up in Raiz, a Russian Were bear and Stephanie, an Amazon of an Elvin warrior to help. Meanwhile, New Orleans is suffering a series of grotesque and horrific murders of nuns, and it becomes Detective Eliza Marrone’s job to find the killer and stop the insanity. What no one knows is that an insane former priest, trying to find Caern’s descendants and destroy them all, links the killings to the search. When Caern discovers the link, and also finds love in the form of one tough and unknowing detective, things go from bad to worse in a hurry. Can Caern and his friends stop the carnage before his family is destroyed? Can Eliza stay sane, once she learns that vampires, shifters and all those things that ‘go bump in the night’ really exist? Will these two star crossed people save each other, and stop the madness once and for all?
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Immortally Damned is the long awaited second book in J Morgan’s Amor Immorati series. This is a darker world than Mr. Morgan usually depicts, and it is filled with danger, desire, and yet, there is still that edge of irreverent and delicious humor that any J Morgan book has. The characters here are not the cute and sarcastic vampires and shifters J Morgan does so well, these people are much darker, edgier, and more violent when it is needed. The New Orleans that the author depicts is gritty, dark and filled with beings that scare normal people. I enjoyed my visit, but I was happy to leave it behind once the story was told.

Eliza Marrone is a strong and determined woman, one of the youngest female detectives in the department. When her superior tells her this case is her last chance to keep the job, she is even more determined to solve the murders. When her whole world is turned inside out by the knowledge that vampires, zombies and all those mythical creatures are real, she first thinks she is losing her mind. When she first meets Caern, she thinks he is crazy, because he tells her what he is, and that she has no idea what she is hunting. But I really like Eliza, because even as her world is being torn apart, she is determined to stop the killer, no matter what he is. And I enjoyed watching as she tried, and ultimately failed, to resist her attraction to Caern.

Caern Chevalier is a Dhampyre, half human and half vampire. He is strong, stubborn, and loyal to his friends and those he cares about. Handsome, quiet and darkly sarcastic, he is almost an anti-hero. But his determination to save the last of his descendents from the torture and death stalking her brings out the hero in him. I enjoyed watching as he stepped out of the shadows, and learned to love again. His reactions to Eliza start out as suspicion as she is seen leaving Dupres home, but slowly become admiration of her strength, and finally, a deep and unexpected love.

Mr. Morgan weaves together several threads to create the tapestry of this story, from Caern and Katyarina’s shared past, Dupres’ vendetta against Caern, and the unsolved murders creating chaos in the city. The dialog is sharp, witty and has a dark edge of sarcasm to it. The action is fast and decisive, and the danger is ever present once the trio reaches New Orleans. And just when things seem their darkest, J Morgan tosses in some of his familiar pop culture references to break up the tension, and ease through the tight spots. I got to learn more about Caern, and I really liked learning a bit more about the massive Raiz, the Russian were bear who has a code of honor all his own. This is not a story for the faint of heart, but id you are looking for a hard won happy ever after with some tears and laughs thrown in, this one is just the ticket. I hope Mr. Morgan has more where this one came from.

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From Here to Hallucigenia by Michael Sutherland

June 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

HERE
From Here to Hallucigenia by Michael Sutherland
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Horror, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Short Story (89 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Aviatrix- a steam punk tale set in Edwardian middle-England. Doodlebug – a train journey like none other through a future war-torn Europe. It’s Up to You Now, Bambi – Criminal aliens on parole ruled by a matriarch like none other who end up saving a little boy from his evil parents. What Goes Around Comes Back Weird – Be careful what you pray for because it definately will not come back anything like the way you expected it to.

Have you ever had a sneaking suspicion that an acquaintance is withholding a truth about themselves?

We never really know what’s going on in other people’s homes or heads. From quiet, single gardeners to young couples just starting out in life, everyone presents only some of their true selves to the outside world. This collection peels back the friendly, if also unusually private, facade that four different characters have erected to keep themselves or their families safe.

“Doodlebug” starts off with an extended description of what has happened to Europe over many generations. I read a half dozen pages before I met the narrator and began to figure out why he was running. It was a little confusing to piece together everything that was happening because of the order in which certain clues are provided, but once the plot picked up I was quickly drawn into the main character’s plight.
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I felt like I was an active participant in “It’s Up to You Now, Bambi” because the character and scene descriptions were so vivid. The dialogue between Frank and the narrator was sometimes difficult to believe due to how casually they discussed graphic subject matter, but once I discovered why they were so accustomed to spare body parts floating around their conversations quickly became my favorite part of this tale.

“Aviatrix” could easily be expanded into a series or full length novel, and it was the best story in this collection. The emotional bond between Simon and Adrian is so tightly woven they almost could have sailed through this adventure without verbally communicating with one another. One look would be all either one would need to know what the other was thinking.

The first few scenes of “What Goes Around Comes Back Weird” were so enthralling I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Eric’s relationship with his husband is a tentative happy ending to a bizarre childhood. Unfortunately the pacing grew uneven as the plot progressed, and some of the twists never quite made sense to me. The premise was excellent, but this story would have benefited from a final round of editing before publication.

From Here to Hallucigenia asks questions I’d never before pondered, and it took me to places I didn’t know could exist. This is a great recommendation for readers who prefer jumping straight into the action while the backstory is revealed in small doses.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Immortal Kiss by J.K. Coi

June 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

KISS
Immortal Kiss by J.K. Coi
Publisher: Elloras Cave Twilight
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (191 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Verbena

It’s been two years since Baron’s initiation into the world of the Immortals, a task force who fight the demons hiding in the shadows of the human world. During those years, he’s been training hard and trying to forget. All in the name of setting aside his past to embrace the challenges of his new future…a future without Maxine Deveraux.

The last person Maxine wants to face is Baron Silver, the man her body and soul cry out for. But Baron’s brother is dying, and Maxine must honor his last wish.

A vendetta with a vampire doesn’t faze Baron…until the creature leaves Max on his doorstep, her beautiful body broken, her soul changed forever. Now Maxine must come to terms with her new dark nature—and if Baron wants to keep her, he’ll have to explain why he broke her heart.

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. But what about when it hands you a woman from your past in the form of a newly turned vampire? Poor Baron; he’s had his share of lemons. After all, who wants to get ripped out of their life and forced into hunting demons? Aside from the extra physical strength, mental abilities, and immortality, there’s no glory to be had. The people he’s charged with saving—humans—have no idea he even exists or keeps the things that go bump in the night from eating them for dinner. Having a rival dump Maxine’s body on his front door step merely adds some freshly squeezed juice to his already tart lemonade.

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My third book by J.K. Coi proved to be just as entertaining and enjoyable as the others. I’ve always been a sucker for suckers—bloodsuckers that is—so I was hooked on page one. Max has had a pretty hard life surrounded by constant disappointments, sadness, and rejection. Her father left before she was born. Her mother constantly drunk and drugged herself into a stupor. Her best friend died a little more each day. And the only man she ever loved walked out on her without so much as an explanation or goodbye. It’s no wonder this woman is filled with bitterness, distrust, and anger. Who wouldn’t be?

Baron’s life hasn’t been a picnic. He carried burdens that Maxine and his brother didn’t even know about. Maybe he made some bad choices, but he’s not the uncaring rake Max makes him out to be. It takes a lot of determination and hard work on his part to make her put aside the anger and hostility she carries to see the man he truly is. Watching the struggle is what makes their characters seem so real. Ms. Coi has a knack for creating complicated relationships with major hurdles and struggles. Once again I found myself wanting to strangle them both at times, but that’s what I love so much about her stories. I want them to work through the issues, so I’m right there with them, feeling every triumph and struggle. There were very few editing errors to distract me; an extra or missing word here and there, but nothing major to detract from the story.

I loved Immortal Kiss and will definitely add it to my keeper list, along the Dark Immortal and Immortal Duty. I’m still hoping for some more books in the series. The introduction of the Enforcer really grabbed my interest. He sounded absolutely yummy. Scary as hell, but yummy. Wouldn’t it be something for him to find a mate? Alas, I can only dream unless Ms. Coi takes mercy upon this reader’s hungry appetite for more.

Vampires, hunky heroes, danger, and lots of great sex, what more can you ask for in a book? Ms. J.K. Coi delivers the total package in book two of her immortal series. It’s one I’m glad I didn’t miss.

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