Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

April 8, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Rated 5 stars
Review by Snapdragon

When Savannah history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to guest-curate a new museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski, she’s shocked. The ship sank after a boiler explosion in 1838, and the wreckage was just discovered, 180 years later. Everly can’t resist the opportunity to try to solve some of the mysteries and myths surrounding the devastating night of its sinking.

Everly’s research leads her to the astounding history of a family of eleven who boarded the Pulaski together, and the extraordinary stories of two women from this family: a known survivor, Augusta Longstreet, and her niece, Lilly Forsyth, who was never found, along with her child. These aristocratic women were part of Savannah’s society, but when the ship exploded, each was faced with difficult and heartbreaking decisions. This is a moving and powerful exploration of what women will do to endure in the face of tragedy, the role fate plays, and the myriad ways we survive the surviving.

You order viagra online can get pregnancy naturally by recommending the herbal pills to reverse the aging effects and enjoy intimate moments with her. He registers into a india viagra for sale surfing contest only to make it big while having fun. As time wears on, these physical signs worsen, but you attribute it to stress or getting continue reading over here now pfizer viagra pharmacy older. Depression is defined as pamelaannschoolofdance.com viagra buy best a medical illness. Author Patti Callahan assures us that stories are ‘best understood in the landscapes where they happen,’ and proceeds to bring us to a wonderful, novel place, that we recognize as if we’d joined her there. Throughout the book, she brings us subtly to new landscapes: to a wreck a hundred feet below the sea, through intricate iron gates to the family plot, to cities described so vividly we see them as if they were an entirely new concept. Somehow, although the main character is powerful and the tone of Surviving Savannah is endlessly enthralling, the places we move to and through become endlessly important.

The moment-to-moment interactions of the characters are unpredictable, and this is certainly true for the overall story. Everly is a strong main character, with surprising interests and skills, but more importantly, a depth of feeling she shares ever so gently. We feel her mourning even as she is moving forward. Events of the past filter in with Everly’s discoveries; they are somehow no less heart-wrenching for being part of the long-ago.

This has the flavor of the American south, and a hint of endlessly reminiscing. Surviving Savannah is one of those novels you will read, and then re-read as if touching the life of an old friend.

Patti Callahan’s writing is no less than simply brilliant. “Sunlight cast him in gold” she describes at one point, and I would say, reading casts this novel in gold.

Do read Surviving Savannah. This is a venture away from the common time and place, yet familiar: warming and wonderful and worth every one of those five stars.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Careless Whiskers by Miranda James

March 16, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Careless Whiskers by Miranda James
A Cat in the Stacks Mystery
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When librarian Charlie Harris’ daughter is falsely accused of murder, he and his faithful feline Diesel must leap forward to crack the case in this all-new installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

Charlie Harris has sworn off investigating murder and mayhem after a recent close call. Instead, he’s delighted to cheer on his daughter, Laura, who’s starring in a production of Careless Whispers. The theater department at Athena College is debuting the play written by a fledgling playwright with local connections and Charlie’s son-in-law, Frank Salisbury, will be calling the directorial shots.

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Charlie knows his daughter is innocent, and he’s not going to let anyone railroad his little girl. So, despite his intentions to put his amateur sleuthing days behind him, Charlie has to take center stage, and with Diesel’s help, shine a spotlight on the real killer.

There’s a murderer on the stage and Charlie’s intent on saving the day!

I like the Cat in the Stacks mysteries. They’re comfort food in book form. The writing is good and drew me right in, plus there are cats. The pacing was a little uneven at times, but I could overlook it because I wanted to know what happened.

Charlie is a sweet older man. I’m not entirely sure how old he is, other than he’s a widower and has an adult child, but I never really got a good picture of him. I did get a great picture of his cats, Ramses and Diesel. I’d love to live somewhere that allows cats that readily around town. Then again, I’d love a Ramses and Diesel of my own, as these cats literally follow him everywhere like a pair of dogs. I’ve never had a cat that would listen to commands and wasn’t so headstrong that commands didn’t mean anything. These cats are different. Then again, this is fiction, so it’s okay.

The mystery is interesting and I had no idea whodunit. I had to read through and it was quicker pacing near the end when the ending is revealed. I did like that the story picked up that way. I do have to admit I got a bit tired of the various meals Charlie ate, but again, it could be overlooked because the mystery was interesting.

If you’re looking for a comfort style story, something to pass an afternoon and that involves cats, then this might be the one for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Swimming Without a Net by Mary Janice Davidson

May 14, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Swimming Without a Net by Mary Janice Davidson
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

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There’s quirky and then there’s Fred. She’s one in a million.

I’ve read other Mary Janice Davidson books and liked them. When I saw this one about merfolk, I had to read it. I wanted to see what twist this author would do on the mermaid trope. The writing style is fluid and kept my attention. I read this one over the course of two afternoons. I didn’t want to put it down, but I had other things to do, so such is life.

That said, Fred, the heroine, isn’t going to be for everyone. She’s blunt, mean and tough. She took a lot of getting used to and to be honest, I wasn’t rooting for her. She said what she felt and didn’t seem to care if she upset anyone. I’m glad she was ballsy, but man…she could be a handful. I wasn’t sure who she’d end up with and the ending wasn’t as satisfying to me as I might have liked, but other readers might love it.

If you want another twist on the merfolk theme, then give this one a try. It’s worth the read.

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

Vengeance Road by Christine Feehan

March 29, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Vengeance Road by Christine Feehan
Publisher: A Jove Book, Berkley
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (418 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Breezy Simmons was born into a ruthless motorcycle club—and now that she’s out, she’s never going to be that girl again. But when her past catches up with her, Breezy must go to Sea Haven to seek out the man who almost destroyed her. The man who chose his club over her and left her feeling used and alone.

As vice president of Torpedo Ink, Steele is ride or die for the brothers he lived through hell with. He never thought he’d find something as pure as his feelings for Breezy, or that keeping her safe would mean driving her away with cruel words that turned her love for him to ash.

Now, Steele won’t let her walk away twice. He’ll do whatever it takes to make Breezy his woman again—especially when he learns the real reason she came to him for help, and that the stakes are higher than he ever could have imagined…

I’m hooked. I mixed up Ms. Feehan’s, Torpedo Ink novels with her Shadow series and I ended up reading a book I didn’t expect. This is the second book in the series and I didn’t feel lost because I hadn’t read the first. When this novel was through putting me through an emotional wringer, I found I have to spend more money, not only on the previous book but the end of the last Sea Haven series where Torpedo Ink was introduced. Like I said, I’m hooked.
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You saw the page count of this book, right? I read it in one day. One day. Stayed up until 1 A.M. to do it and yes I was dog-tired the next day at work. It was worth it.

If a reader is used to the action/violence of the vampires with her Carpathians, the style in this series blows it through the roof. Fortunately, Ms. Feehan only shares enough for a reader to get that lump in the stomach feeling, the horror and uncomfortable twitching that went on with me when Steele shared with Breezy just what he went through growing up and being groomed to be the ultimate assassin in Russia, for Russia. Understand that it’s not gratuitous that the author put this stuff in there – a reader needs to know the whys and hows that created such a dysfunctional, messed up and anti-social anti-hero hero. Yes, anti-hero hero. Why? Because Steele and his MC family do things that are not nice, legal or normal and would have every legal agency after them should it be known just who and what they were. And yet, these men and women of Torpedo Ink need saving the most. They need strong women/partners who will stand up to them while giving them what they need to heal emotionally and mentally.

I didn’t list the subject matter that made this book fall into the erotic side of things because not all of it was ‘bedroom door wide open for everyone to experience, and hey! Let’s participate! never mind see’ – yes, the door is open, but it’s not solidly voyeuristic, or exhibitionist or classified as BDSM. It’s mentioned but not an active part of the sex between Steele and Breezy. It’s backdrop. Sort of. Steele is incredibly dominant and when Ms. Feehan described for a reader the oral part of Breezy with Steele’s …. steel, it was so graphic and clear, and yes well written, that for the first time, I could visualize just what actually happens when a heroine is mouthy with the hero. I’m not a fan of that stuff but I now have a clearer understanding of the process. It actually sounds like a lot of work! But if you love someone, and Breezy most definitely loves Steele, every dark and naughty, scary and strong part of him, it fits.

As for the villains of the novel, there are a lot, and every single one of them gets what they deserve. Again, it’s rather violent but the crimes the bad guys perpetrate on the innocent are so heinous, only people the caliber of Torpedo Ink can exact a fitting level of justice. I appreciated it greatly when the author had Breezy, and that means the reader too, leave the scene before it became too shocking and ghastly. However, a reader has no problem imagining the rest. That was enough for me.

Another thing I found fascinating was the terminology. I’m starting to see so many books out there that I think it’s become a genre – MC romances. MC is Motorcycle Club and I am so glad that the author included a glossary at the end. I figured things out mostly by inference, but it was nice to have a solid explanation. I just wish I’d known about the glossary beforehand.

There is no doubt that Christine Feehan is a talented and creative word artist, but she pushed the envelope farther than I expected. Yet, she is so professional that I will continue to read about this new world she’s created, even if it seems darker than her Dark series. I like the characters she’s introduced me to and I found the men and women of Torpedo Ink worth the effort of saving. It’s the ‘how’ of it that fascinates me. Breezy is perfect for Steele but that doesn’t mean it’s easy between them. It’s not. There’s a history and a lot of water under the bridge that they have to reconcile in order for them to have a future. They are successful and it’s their journey that engaged me, gripped me and had my emotions bouncing like a pogo stick. Very cool.

So, in conclusion, if a reader is into gritty, no apologies alpha men with dark, tragic pasts with the strength to face their demons and pulverize them, then I suggest really giving Vengeance Road a try. I totally recommend it.

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

Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan

October 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Length: Full length (340 pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

After the devastating loss of her entire family, Lorraine Peters heads to the woods searching for peace of mind and anything to quell the anger in her soul. Instead, she stumbles upon a scene of horrific violence, as one man lies helpless in the face of three attackers.

Andor Katona’s existence has been a harsh one, living for centuries as a monk in the Carpathian Mountains. Unable to find his lifemate, he almost welcomes his release from a colorless and unfeeling world at the hands of the vampire hunters who have mistaken him for their prey. That is, until a whirling ball of fury bursts onto the scene, determined to save him.

In one glimpse, in one breath, Andor recognizes Lorraine as his lifemate, but it will take more than their telepathic connection to convince her of their immortal bond. Lorraine is a lethal combination of cunning and courage. So much so that she captures the attention of a master vampire, one who has already lost what was once irreplaceable to him. One who will strike with deadly precision at Andor and his ancient Carpathian comrades in a war to end all wars. . .

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Lorraine is a strong, capable leading lady who enchanted me from the get-go with her deadly saucepan attack. Andor is a strong leading man who’d given up the fight, until he had something, someone, to fight for, then he was all in and it was exciting. The hero and heroine complimented each other and brought out their good and fun sides. I enjoyed watching Lorraine teach Andor about a lot of different things. Of course, he taught her as well, and she kicked serious tuchus because of it.

The bad guys were delightfully depraved, twisted, evil and corrupt – perfect villains which showcased the difference between vampires and Carpathians.

Gary has become 100% different from the Gary readers once knew when he was human. He’s a force to be reckoned with now and the story benefitted from his presence.

The reason I rated this novel just shy of 5 stars is because I felt the replenishment of their strength, based upon the battles and injuries they sustained, didn’t match. Yes, there was a lot of action and suspense and I loved every moment. I simply could not believe they could last as long as they did and do as well as they did with only the few present to meet the demand. My brain got stuck in trying to make sense of it. It was a distraction I didn’t need. Also, I didn’t understand the book cover. I must have missed something in the story because I can in no way find the correlation. Not that it affected my rating at all; I don’t factor in book covers in my reviews. I just don’t remember a big city being part of the backdrop of the adventure. Maybe another reader can clue me in on what I missed or forgot.

Overall, Dark Sentinel was a great story and I did read it in one sitting. I enjoyed visiting the Carpathian world and how these emotion/color/feeling-blind heroes come to life with the right woman. I enjoyed watching their passions take hold. I liked Andor and Lorraine for the people they are. I found many surprises that delighted me.

I have already put Andor’s story on my keeper shelf with his other Carpathian brethren. One thing I guarantee, it’s a very heavy shelf.

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

Shadow Reaper by Christine Feehan

June 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Shadow Reaper by Christine Feehan
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (400 pages)
Other: BDSM (Shibari), M/F
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Billionaire playboy Ricco Ferraro knows no other life. Being a shadow rider is in his blood—but so is a haunting desperation stemming from the secrets of his dark past. His recklessness puts not only his life at risk, but also the future of his entire family. To save them all, he must find a woman who can meet his every desire with a heat all her own…

Just when Ricco has given up hope, he meets her—a mysterious woman whose shadow connects with his. She’s someone looking for a safe haven from the danger that has stalked her over the last several months. In Ricco’s embrace, she finds one. But the darkness in which they so often find sanctuary can also consume them…

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This time the hero is Stefano’s brother, Ricco. Once again, the first chapter sets up the hook, showing that Ricco has secrets, ones that he even has to keep from his family. Scenes also showed me that the hero is fast losing hope of finding the woman who’ll accept who he is, while being ‘what’ he is. Females like that are rare and almost impossible to find. The one that slips in at the last minute has her own secrets and when Ricco reveals what he believes to be true about her, I was a goner. Reading Shadow Reaper became a compulsion to read and I was powerless to resist.

The plot conflict is huge. I mean it’s mind bogglingly complex, exciting, nerve-wracking, suspenseful and action packed making this novel a true page turner. How are the attacks choreographed so perfectly? Who is doing it? Why? How can they be stopped? Will anyone survive? All these thoughts chased through my brain as I watched each family member, and secondary character that I came to know, come under fire. The Ferraro family is a force of nature but they’re tested to the max in this novel.

Like I said, Shibari is used to good effect with Mariko. The sensual buildup is intense. The sexual delivery is lava-hot and incendiary. Readers who seek highly detailed seduction will find it between the pages of this book.

One of the strongest elements in this novel is the circle of life. What began in the past ends up being finished in the present but not how I imagined nor with whom. Readers are in for a wild ride if they are as clueless as I was as to the truth of the plot’s instigators. Since the suspense is intense, and I had no nails left to bite from Shadow Rider, I consumed a LOT of pretzels instead. I think it’s called ‘stress eating’. Wow, did this book pack a punch.

Seriously, the second book in the series is just as amazing and gripping as the first one and has an equally satisfying HEA. If readers are like me, they’ll want to swoon when Ricco does that thing he does to the back of Mariko’s neck. It gave me delicious shivers and I loved it! Ms. Feehan has another success on her hands and I think readers are going to adore it. Pick up your own copy of Shadow Reaper and meet Ricco after you’ve read Stefano’s story first. I’m sure glad I did! This read was awesome!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan

June 21, 2018 By 1 Comment


Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (480 pages)
Other: BDSM, M/F
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Whether it’s fast cars or fast women, Stefano Ferraro gets what he wants. When he’s not fodder for the paparazzi, he commands Ferraro family businesses—both legitimate and illegitimate.

While their criminal activity is simply a rumor yet to be proven, no one knows the real truth. The Ferraros are a family of shadow riders capable of manipulating light and dark, an ability Stefano thought ran in his family alone—until now…

With little left to her name, Francesca Cappello has come to Chicago in hopes of a new life. She wasn’t expecting to attract the attention of a man with primal hunger in his eyes, driven to claim her as his to protect and to please. And if he discovers her secret, it could ruin her…

Ms. Feehan is well known for her strong, alpha and commanding heroes but the bar is raised and boundaries pushed with her new Shadow Riders series. These guys are contemporary movers and shakers; they’re coarse, hard-hitting, hard playing and they have a few kinks that heroes in her other series don’t embrace. These men are as un-PC as you can get, and I loved every minute spent with them between the pages of Shadow Rider.
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The hardest part of starting a new series is the world-building; presenting the environment, backdrop, characters, history and specifics unique to the people on stage, without dumping or making it seem unnatural in the telling. Ms. Feehan has no problems in this area. I learned through the POV of Stefano Ferraro what his role is, how he’s connected to his neighbors and why he has such pride in being who and what he is. I also learned that as rich, powerful and respected as he is, there is a dark side and a despondent yearning hidden deep inside that has shades of the author’s Carpathian men from the Dark series – but that’s about all that is similar. This series stands on its own.

Stefano made me cringe in the beginning because he is extremely coarse. My reference is his propensity for dropping F-bombs like hail on a flower – it’s hard hitting, and at times, obnoxious. Not all flowers get pummeled into the ground and that’s how I see Francesca. The heroine is beaten down but her determination, drive and compassion lends her a strength that is more than a match for Stefano. The meeting between the two happens in the first chapter and the hook is set.

Another difference in this series from the others is the sexuality. There are a lot of detailed scenes and some of them without a doubt fall into the erotic category, especially since there is a distinctive dom/sub relationship between them – a little tying up, commands, a few spanks – but Francesca is definitely the submissive – in bed. Outside, well, she’s sassy, feisty and has a sense of humor – when she’s not in fear for her life. There are also very descriptive scenes of oral sex, which, on the whole usually don’t bother me but I’m not of fan of the…taking it all in stuff. That’s too much for me.

The drama, suspense, violence and justice delivered, came from dealing with some very evil, twisted and effective villains. The levels of intensity varied depending on the villain on stage but the writing was well done so I had no problem believing their badness.

The skillset of the shadow riders is unique to my reading experience. How the author even conceived of this paranormal aspect is fascinating and I’m pretty sure it’s never been done before. I like it when an author discovers a new angle.

There is a ton more details and scenes, descriptions and dialogue I could share because this novel is jam-packed with great dialogue, fascinating personalities, descriptions and plot. The main focus is on the romance and it’s a definite HEA that I’m happy with.

I enjoyed the journey and there were many times I was left biting my nails because of the suspense, but through it all, it kept my interest and totally had me sucked into their world. Shadow Rider is such a novel concept; it proves that Ms. Feehan has an indomitable imagination. We fans are so lucky to be the beneficiaries of such a talent. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Crimson Death by Laurell K. Hamilton

March 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment


Crimson Death by Laurell K. Hamilton
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery, Horror
Length: Full Length (708 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F, M/F/M, M/F/F, F/F, M/M, F/M/M, Multiple Partners, Menage
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

In her twenty-fifth adventure, vampire hunter and necromancer Anita Blake learns that evil is in the eye of the beholder…

Anita has never seen Damian, her vampire servant, in such a state. The rising sun doesn’t usher in the peaceful death that he desperately needs. Instead, he’s being bombarded with violent nightmares and blood sweats.

And now, with Damian at his most vulnerable, Anita needs him the most. The vampire who created him, who subjected him to centuries of torture, might be losing control, allowing rogue vampires to run wild and break one of their kind’s few strict taboos.

Some say love is a great motivator, but hatred gets the job done, too. And when Anita joins forces with her friend Edward to stop the carnage, Damian will be at their side, even if it means traveling back to the land where all his nightmares spring from…a place that couldn’t be less welcoming to a vampire, an assassin, and a necromancer.
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Ireland.

Ever have a book that gripped you so hard that it sucked you right into the author’s world and your own faded away? That’s what Crimson Death did to me. I only did the bare minimum of household chores. I read late into the night until it flipped to morning, grabbed a few hours of sleep only to wake up a few hours later to devour a few more chapters before having to slog off to work to simply come home to read and read some more until almost midnight the next night. Yeah, so, it took me two days to read, but what an amazing two days it was.

I’ve been following this series for years. I’ve watched Anita view everything as black and white; a character was either good or bad, no quarter. Monsters were bad, humans could be bad too but they were human. As the series unfolds, the heroine realizes that she can no longer ignore the ‘gray’ areas; life is a LOT more complicated, and messy and as she grows, Anita realizes that gray areas not only exist, they’re huge. It opens her up to accepting and doing things she never, ever, in a million years would think or do. Following her has been an amazing journey and that journey continues in Crimson Death. Sure, there are original fans that prefer her early years when it was all about the mystery, the horror, the suspense, drama and how it affected her. I mean, first person point of view really gets into a character’s head and the author has the daunting job of staying there. Ms. Hamilton has done Anita for so long, it seems second nature – I’m always right there with Marshall Blake, even when the blood flows.

This huge novel is no different when it comes to exploring her growth, both in her personal life and in her power. Yes, there is large section that explores Anita’s power’s connection to sex within her small group of loves and lovers, but before anyone scoffs at all the sex, be aware that there are a few astounding and earth shattering revelations that ripple through the rest of the novel stemming from all that erotic sex, which includes just a smidgen of voyeurism and exhibitionism from one of mine and Anita’s favorite people. Another warning to die-hard fans – be prepared to sniffle or cry or just get serious goosebumps on what happens. The one huge tragedy that affected me the most ends up being a turning point in Anita’s life that will have ginormous ramifications for future books. I didn’t want it to happen. All I could say was ‘no! no! no!, but of course Ms. Hamilton excels at writing the hard scenes – scenes for which a reader ultimately comes to the sad but resigned conclusion that it served a valid, crucial and necessary purpose. I don’t have to like it but I recognize Ms. Hamilton is staying true to Anita’s journey.

A lot of my favorite recurring secondary/primary characters populate this novel. There is one new character that sheds some light on Edward/Ted. It was actually humorous at times, which I didn’t expect at all. I think Anita was just as bemused as I was. Thing is, she has the ability to pester him in future books to satisfy her curiosity. I’m looking forward to what she finds out.

Of course the main villain and cohorts are truly evil, nasty, horrific, sociopathic and creepy. However, not all the cohorts are there willingly and how the author dealt with them kept my heart pounding with dread. This is such a powerfully, well written book, I could not remain unaffected.

This isn’t truly a standalone read because some of the things that occur are at their most commanding and powerful if a reader is personally vested in caring for certain characters from previous stories. If a person were to just start with this book, there are mentions of past experiences that provide Anita with the power she currently has, and they might be shocked by how erotic and numerous the sex initially is, but the main mystery of trying to figure out who or what is making all these vampires and why, can carry this novel by itself. It also might capture new fans and they might be inspired to read the series from the beginning or at least a few of the books that were alluded to in this one.

I am a fan of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, and I highly recommend this novel to fans that’ve followed her all this time. Crimson Death wowed me to the point that writing this review was a compulsion. I just HAD to tell you how marvelous and incredible Crimson Death was, and recommend it to readers with high praise and accolades.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seduction in Session by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake

February 8, 2016 By Leave a Comment

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Seduction in Session by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
 The Perfect Gentlemen Book 2
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (400 pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Privileged, wealthy, and wild: they are the Perfect Gentlemen of Creighton Academy. But the threat of a scandal has one of them employing his most deceptive—and seductive—talents…

Recruited into the CIA at a young age, Connor Sparks knows how dirty the world can be. Only when he’s with his friends can he find some peace. So when an anonymous journalist threatens one of the Perfect Gentlemen, Connor vows to take down the person behind the computer, by whatever means necessary—even if it means posing as his target’s bodyguard.
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Publishing a tabloid revealing Washington’s most subversive scandals has earned Lara Anderson the ire of the political scene—and a slew of death threats. To keep herself from ending up a headline, Lara hires a bodyguard, a man as handsome as he is lethal.

When the bullets start to fly, Lara is surprised to find herself in Connor’s arms. But as they begin to unravel a mystery that just might bring down the White House, Lara is devastated when she discovers Connor’s true identity—and finds herself at the mercy of forces who will stop at nothing to advance their deadly agenda.

Trust. It’s so hard to win and just about the easiest thing to lose. Unless you naturally believe in the innate goodness in all people and then you simply want to make the world a better place. But how do you get the attention of those who have the power to affect the needed changes? You create a tabloid blog and start naming names.

This is the second book in The Perfect Gentlemen series. The mystery that began in Scandal Never Sleeps continues into Seduction in Session. There’s a complete story that starts and finishes within these 400 pages but I can’t imagine not wanting to understand where it began so, I’d suggest reading Scandal first.

Connor Sparks left an indelible mark on this reader at the end of book one and I needed to see him redeemed. Lexi Blake loves a tortured hero and Connor fits the bill nicely. His background story sprinkled in throughout this book and the little taste of his youth at the beginning all meld together to make him someone I wanted to see happy. But could this hard core, kill ’em if I can’t use ’em, never let them see you vulnerable, Agency man find happiness, more importantly peace, with a tree-hugging vegan? I had my doubts but I should know better by know.

Lara Armstrong wants to save the world one tree full of squirrels and one tasty cow at a time. She doesn’t find them tasty but Connor sure does and so does her fugly (Connor’s word) dog. I liked Lincoln, he may be a shivering mess but he brought some necessary comedic relief to what could have been a really dark story otherwise. I liked Lara, too and she does end up being exactly what Connor needed. He gravitated to her light and didn’t even realize it at first.

The book flows smoothly and easily sets up the next in the series, Big Easy Temptation. This mystery just keeps taking on new layers and new players. I started trying to make guesses but there’s no way to know the direction it’ll ultimately take. So many paths!

Readers who want a healthy dose of intrigue with their redeeming romance should run, don’t walk, to the nearest retailer and get in on this series. The heroines are the right mixture of tough but tender and the men are the perfect combination of protective and push-over (not that they’ll ever admit that but, the women know). Bottom line, well worth the read and another fantastic series from these brilliant story tellers.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Scandal Never Sleeps by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake

December 1, 2015 By Leave a Comment

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Scandal Never Sleeps by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (400 pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

They are the Perfect Gentlemen of Creighton Academy: privileged, wealthy, powerful friends with a wild side. But a deadly scandal is about to tear down their seemingly ideal lives . . .

Maddox Crawford’s sudden death sends Gabriel Bond reeling. Not only is he burying his best friend, he’s cleaning up Mad’s messes, including his troubled company. Grieving and restless, Gabe escapes his worries in the arms of a beautiful stranger. But his mind-blowing one-night stand is about to come back to haunt him . . .

Mad groomed Everly Parker to be a rising star in the executive world. Now that he’s gone, she’s sure her job will be the next thing she mourns, especially after she ends up accidentally sleeping with her new boss. If only their night together hadn’t been so incendiary—or Gabe like a fantasy come true . . .
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As Gabe and Everly struggle to control the heated tension between them, they discover evidence that Mad’s death was no accident. Now they must bank their smoldering passions to hunt down a murderer—because Mad had secrets that someone was willing to kill for, and Gabe or Everly could be the next target . . .

Everly’s world took a nose dive when her friend and boss died in a plane crash. Now she has a new CEO who may fire her on the spot, cyber-security issues that threaten the company and a one night stand that feels like so much more…and those are the easy problems.

Hold on to your hats fearless readers, this is a bumpy ride with so many twists, turns and layers, I thought I was going to need oxygen at one point.

Both Lexi Blake and Shayla Black are known for writing intricately built worlds where just when a reader thinks they are going to zig, they zag. I couldn’t help but love every single minute of it. I’ve read everything Ms. Blake has ever written and this new series holds true to her writing skills. I got lost in this world of the privileged where life isn’t nearly as cushy and smooth as having money should make it. I loved the whole premise of a group of friends who share a bond forged by a common distaste for the life they’re forced into. They all know their futures are planned out and they have a duty to fulfill. It doesn’t mean they have to like it and it certainly doesn’t mean they have to fall in line quietly. In fact, thanks to the ring leader of this band of high society sons, Maddox Crawford, they’ll draw all kinds of attention before they assume their rightful places. But then Maddox had to go and die. It changed everything.

Gabriel Bond, Gabe to his friends, stands to both win and lose the most with Mad’s death. I like how Gabe is both alpha male and yet it’s clear his feelings for his friends and family run deep. It made him seem reachable and vulnerable and yet I had no doubt he’d get to the bottom of the problems Mad’s death caused. Gabe is also faulty. He has a short temper that tends to make him say things before his brain has time to consider otherwise. It gets him into hot water more than once in this novel. At the same time, when Gabriel wants to be smooth, he’s practically silk. Everly didn’t stand a chance.

Everly is one those heroines that I love pretty much immediately. She’s a geek and truly nice to everyone who isn’t crazy mean. I say that because there is a crazy mean girl in the picture. Seriously, this girl has issues but she isn’t Everly’s main problem, just a side slice of pain in her behind. I had no problem at all in cheering for Gabe and Everly’s HEA. They had so much chemistry. I also love that she isn’t afraid to walk away from Gabe, she doesn’t want to but she’ll stand up for herself even if it means losing him.

Readers who enjoy a hot romance with lots of non-sexual action and suspense outside the bedroom should give this series a read. This is book one in the Perfect Gentlemen series. It gives the overall back story and introduces the men who’ll star in the next books. They’re all so different and I can’t wait to be a part of their stories. This is a must read!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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