A Silver Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear

September 28, 2015 By 2 Comments

SILVER
A Silver Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (311 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

C.J. Silver is eager to help the new she-wolves in town renovate the old hotel in time for the holidays, especially if it means spending time under the mistletoe with the alluring Laurel MacTire.

The bustle in the long abandoned hotel attracts the attention of human ghosthunters out to prove the place haunted, but the bigger problem is keeping them from discovering the werewolves in Silver Town. CJ and Laurel have to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. Working together is a surprisingly hot holiday treat for two attractive and clever wolf shifters.

There’s nothing better than a haunted holiday, wolfie style, and A Silver Wolf Christmas not only promises some spooky shenanigans and a romance but the solving of a decades old mystery. I enjoyed the journey.
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For the most part, this is a character driven story with Laurel and CJ’s budding romance on center stage. The author goes into a little bit of history as to why the heroine and her sisters are in town, and it also touches on the fact that CJ and his brothers are newly re-established in the town and are finally fitting back in. There is a strong sense of community which is accomplished through the varied secondary characters that populate the town. Ms. Spear took the time to describe the town, some of its traditions and some of its challenges. Like a lot of small hamlets, they struggle to stay afloat financially and have to come up with unique events to liven things up. Nothing makes a celebration easier than a holiday and Christmas is the perfect backdrop for some magic and romance. I adored the snowman making contest.

I enjoyed how Laurel and CJ ended up taking turns pursuing each other. The novel is told through both their points of view so I could get a sense as to what motivated them in their quest to connect. It’s hesitant at first but soon sparks fly, libidos are inflamed and readers get to see how good CJ and Laurel are together.

The mystery comes with a twist. It’s not as clear cut as I originally thought. In addition, the bad guys end up being a huge surprise and the revelation stunned me. I really like that Ms. Spear could pull the wool over my eyes so efficiently.

Most of this book worked for me. The only fly in the ointment was when the eldest villain’s words and actions at one point didn’t make sense. When he capitulated so completely right after he was snarly and vindictive and mean and then turned into a sappy Hallmark Moment made me think that an emotional step between point A and B was skipped. It happened too fast for me to believe, even for a possible Christmastime miracle. I still believe he’s a jerk and not to be trusted.

This is a very emotional book on many levels. Laurel and her sisters find out some shocking news, CJ and his brothers discover something even more disturbing about their late father, and through it all, Laurel and CJ have to reconcile what all the external conflicts might do to their growing love for each other. There are a lot of fears, doubts and worries but both protagonists are strong, motivated and hot for each other. They both also have healthy senses of humor and ability to laugh. Humor lightens the tone of the story when it’s needed most. It’s very well balanced.

The best part about the book is Laurel and her sisters have finally found a home; a home where their hearts can heal and, at least for Laurel with CJ’s help, find love and acceptance. It’s beautiful, welcoming and it’s the high note in a wonderful story worthy of the title, A Silver Wolf Christmas. Ms. Spear has written another wonderful story that illustrates the best of holiday romances. The bonus of this being a paranormal romance adds extra fun making A Silver Wolf Christmas a howling good time and a recommended read.

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Miss Winters Proposes by Frances Fowlkes

September 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment

PROPOSES
Miss Winters Proposes by Frances Fowlkes
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (145 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

An unseemly proposal…

Juliet Winters has come up with a wonderfully devious plan to avoid marrying her vile cur of a cousin. First, she’ll propose marriage to her handsome, reclusive neighbor, Lord Colwyn. Then, once she has both name and financial support, she’ll be able to pursue her true (if rather unladylike) passion — breeding dogs. But when Lord Colwyn rejects her proposal… Juliet must take matters into her own hands.

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I enjoy unconventional heroines so I was pleased to meet Juliet and enjoyed watching how her unusual proposal bore fruit. Her intended betrothed is a reclusive bachelor who wants nothing to do with marriage or the complications that arise from being in a relationship. It’s his love for his dog that tips the scales and I couldn’t help but expect that a man who loves animals as much as he should be able to extend that capacity to love to his own species. Benjamin proved to be quite the challenge. He’s afraid. His fear makes for some incredibly poor decisions which contributed to the plot conflict.

This is a character driven romance told from both Juliet’s and Benjamin’s points of view. A reader gets to understand Juliet a whole lot better because she’s the stronger of the two as far as personality. She takes risks, she goes after what she wants, she speaks her mind and, once she falls in love, has the grace and dignity to deal with a recalcitrant husband. Benjamin, as sexy and wonderful as he is in his own way, has a huge chip on his shoulder from his past. Fortunately, absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

There is a thorn in Juliet’s side and it comes in the form of her cousin. In dealing with him is where Benjamin’s strengths in the story come forth. It’s one of the reasons why I liked him as a hero and it proved Juliet’s choosing of him was sound. Her cousin is a bounder, no doubts about it.

Anyone who loves dogs will have their hearts bruised just a little. It worked as a contributor to the plot conflict and it was very emotional. Because I’m sure it does happen in real life, it’s poignant and effective.

When Juliet and Benjamin explore their budding love in a physical manner, it’s quite beautiful. It’s the start of Benjamin’s healing but he doesn’t trust it. Thank goodness Juliet is a veritable font of patience, understanding and intelligence. She might be hurting but she’s not blinded to the truth. I have a great respect for her character.

The happy ever after is as sweet as I could wish. It ties up everything in a big romantic bow of satisfaction and happiness. Miss Winters Proposes is charming, sweet and a thoroughly likable read. If this is the traditional writing style of Ms. Fowlkes, then I’ll be looking for more. Some days, I crave a truly happy romance about two people who a reader can really cheer for and connect with. Juliet and Benjamin certainly were that for me in this novel so I’m a very happy reader.

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

Dark Ghost by Christine Feehan

September 24, 2015 By Leave a Comment

GHOST
Dark Ghost by Christine Feehan
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (352 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

He wasn’t civilized or tame. He had his own code and he lived by it.

Monk. Bounty hunter. Vampire slayer. Andre Boroi has spent centuries battling the undead, holding out against the dark with honor. But now, gravely wounded by master vampire Costin Popescu, Andre will be easy to track—his spilled blood marking the killing trail for Popescu and his hungry band of underlings. Andre’s only chance is to disappear into the gray mist of the Carpathians. To wait. To hope.

She had a healing touch and a scent that was his lifeblood.

In the mountains in search of a precious crystal, geologist Teagan Joanes suddenly finds herself hunted by those she once trusted. Then she comes across the warrior—wounded, wanting and irresistible. Andre has been craving her for an eternity: his lifemate. Her warmth envelops him. Her scent pulsates. And with every beat of her heart, Teagan surrenders to a passion she can’t possibly comprehend.
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Now they are bound by destiny, but is it enough to keep them safe from a stalking, relentless darkness that threatens to swallow them alive?

Get ready for a full on romance with Ms. Feehan’s latest, Dark Ghost There is the requisite bad guy to spice things up and provide a bit of drama and suspense but the focus is most definitely on Andre and Teagan. This is also a book that is perfect for readers who’ve never read any of the previous Carpathian novels because this story is 100% a standalone read.

Teagan had quite the learning curve ahead of her. I enjoyed her unique talents and her sense of humor. I also liked how the author had the heroine express her many reasons for falling in lust, then in love, with the hero.

Andre is a typical Carpathian alpha male, but he is so smitten with his lifemate that he will do anything to make her happy. That was very romantic.

There are a few bad guys that pop up to keep things interesting at various points in the story. All of them get their eventual comeuppance and I was very happy to see that. I was also gratified to see that the heroine got through to the hero and they eventually became a team instead of Andre’s initial caveman tactics. They both matured in their relationship, with a few near misses, until their love was a thing of beauty.

When I said this was a full on romance, I wasn’t kidding. Usually there is more meat to the plot of Ms.Feehan’s books but this one seemed to focus only on their romance. It’s hyper-focused on him learning to bend a little, and on her following his orders a bit more often than not. Teagan has a tendency to being obstinate and stubborn. And, hot and spicy bed scenes pepper the entire novel, so much so that I felt like I over indulged on dessert and forgot about the main entrée of a meal. Considering Andre’s age and all that, I expected more substance of a plotline especially when the hero has the nickname of ‘ghost’. I mean, the history behind his ghost handle is a bit sad, and that aspect made the hero more rounded while giving his character more depth, but the author really didn’t take it anywhere. She focused strictly on a man and a woman from different cultures coming together, and his seduction and kisses were the bridge between the two. I felt a bit let down because I like my stories to have a bit more substance and conflict to make their passion more powerful and a must read. As it was, I sort of lost interest in the sex after a while. I prefer the excitement of action and adventure against the challenge of incredible odds, not a litany of see-sawing emotions, followed by steamy clinches and ‘all is right with the world’, until the next revelation that makes Teagan mad at the hero, again.

A bright piece of intrigue was the monastery and Teagan’s belief that a special stone is going to help others when nothing else ever had the power to do so before. What does she know? What will her discovery do? And who will be the next hero; the one who came out of nowhere? That in itself is enough to ensnare my imagination. Even though this book wasn’t as exciting as some I’ve read in the past, it was still fun and entertaining, and Ms. Feehan definitely set her hook nicely. I am actually looking forward for the next book in the series. Unfortunately for fans everywhere, it’s not going to get published fast enough for us. I really do enjoy those alpha Carpathian men.

Dark Ghost is a good read with a well written romance between two unlikely people. Andre does his thing, and Teagan does hers. If a reader is looking for a character driven romance without a lot of external conflict, just enough to keep Andre on his toes, then this is a solid choice. And if a reader is interested in more background about Carpathians in general, the author included an extensive listing of Carpathian info at the end of the book that might be helpful for new readers. All in all, I’m glad I read it.

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

Even Vampires Get the Blues by Sandra Hill

September 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment

BLUES
Even Vampires Get the Blues by Sandra Hill
Publisher: Avon, Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (241 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

New York Times bestselling author Sandra Hill delivers a sizzling new entry in her Deadly Angels series, as a Viking vangel’s otherworldly mission teams him with a Navy SEAL who’s more than his match— she’s his predestined mate . . .

The fact that vampire angel Harek Sigurdsson was a Norseman in his mortal life doesn’t make thawing out after exile in Siberia any easier. But things heat up when his search for evil Lucipires connects him with Camille Dumaine, a human who thrums with sensual energy that can mean only one thing: she’s the mate Harek’s been seeking for centuries . . .

The SEALs call her “Camo” for her ability to blend into a crowd—yet Harek’s intense blue gaze singles Camille out like a white-hot spotlight. The security wiz was hired to help bring down a ruthless band of international kidnappers, but Camille senses an unspoken agenda—besides Harek’s bold declaration that she’s his “destiny.” Just Camille’s luck that the sexiest man she’s ever met may also be . . . a vampire!

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Something tells me that the author spent quality time doing serious research in preparation for writing this novel. The one thing that I give her credit for is her ability to wield this knowledge with the gravity and seriousness it deserves without letting the subject overtake, overwhelm or subjugate the story with the darkness of the conflict. The romance is front and center with the focus strongly aimed at Harek and Camille. They made for an interesting couple.

Ms. Hill continues her tradition of clever Viking quips, funny puns and sexual innuendo. This author loves to play with the written word and some of the dialogue, both inner and verbal, was hilarious and truly inspired. All her characters practice a certain form of wit that can be endearing, annoying, (to the other protagonist, with giggle-worthy results) and sometimes insightful. It’s the repartee between the main characters and secondary characters that oftentimes provides the most interesting clues about the hero and heroine’s personalities.

There were some important secondary characters and some that were on stage only to illustrate a point or move the story along. Each and every person in the story had a reason for being there, even if it’s only to have a door slammed in their face. I liked that part.

I can only think of three areas where I think the story fell a bit flat and that was the island and the decision about the undiscovered item, and then the scene when the binding slipped. I’m wondering if the editor really thought that whole interaction through, because I found it inappropriate. Granted, Herek had some clever lines during the process but all I kept thinking about was who was involved. It was explained, true, but still, its handling didn’t sit right with me.

I enjoyed reading about all the sensual hijinks that Harek and Camille explored while they were falling in love. Ms. Hill always has her heroes and heroines have fun during sex and Even Vampires Get the Blues delivers the smiles. Each scene has a bit of dialogue, laughter and the requisite Viking S Spot. I wish I knew how to find it; frankly I’m envious of the heroines.

Even Vampires Get the Blues is an action-filled quick read that was greatly entertaining. I liked Camille’s personality and Harek’s preoccupation with her. If I had to choose one of them as being the most interesting and well-rounded, I’d pick Camille. Her conflict, both familial and personal, was easy to connect with. There’s a lot to like about this novel but my sincerest wish is that somehow, fact would follow fiction, and a certain group would get their comeuppance as only a Vangel could deliver. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Vangels rock!

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

About a Vampire by Lynsay Sands

September 22, 2015 By Leave a Comment

VAMPIRE
About a Vampire by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (240 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

With immortal good looks and scorching charisma, Justin Bricker has yet to meet a woman he can’t win over. His potential life mate should be no different. But instead of falling into his bed, Holly Bosley runs away and ends up mortally wounded. To save her, he has to turn her. And then Bricker learns the shocking truth: Holly’s already married.

Holly wakes up with a bump on her head, a craving for blood, and a sexy stranger who insists they belong together. She needs Bricker’s help to control her new abilities, even as she tries to resist his relentless seduction. Choosing between the world she knows and the eternity he offers is impossible. But Justin is fighting for his life mate—maybe even his life—and he’ll break every rule to do it.

Ms. Sands has done it again. She took a premise I was not comfortable with and turned it around to create an amazing romance that was impossible to put down once the conflict became clear. I actually enjoyed myself and relished the convoluted process of the hero and heroine falling in love.

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The fact that Ms. Sands had Holly actually honoring her marriage vows impressed me. The heroine was loyal, steadfast and pragmatic, to a point. However, she is only human and temptation is only a kiss away. Knowing how life mates work in this series, it was only a matter of time. But how was the author going to handle it knowing how the heroine feels about her being a wife? Interesting ploy and it worked.

And, of any hero in the series, Justin Bricker is the perfect hero to be in such a romantic pickle because in all the books in the series, he sort of had it easy but in About a Vampire, his free ride has come to a screeching halt. I was completely entertained by his confused and confounded situation. I mean, he knows he has to respect her wishes and her vows, he knows that he can’t interfere with a mortal’s marriage and even knowing all of that doesn’t stop him from imagining, conniving, yearning and trying to come up with clever solutions that fail at every turn. That is, until he comes up with a plan.

Readers of my reviews know how much I’m in disfavor of highly detailed sexual dream sequences. I consider them fillers and a waste of space. However, Ms. Sands has cured that failing with shared dreaming. In those kinds of dreams, two protagonists are experiencing the same things and are affected by them simultaneously. That means they create ripples of effect in their waking lives and I thoroughly approve of that approach. Shared dreams do have an effect on their relationship and plot movement, as such, they are worth reading every single spicy moment because there are details not to be missed that are relevant later on.

Unlike many books in the Argeneau series, there are no villains to combat and no one to rescue in dramatic fashion; this is a solid character driven romance. The fact that Justin turned his life mate, a woman who was already married, is the biggest kind of personal conflict a story could have. How the author managed to get around that ginormous hurdle is a feat of great imagination and storytelling genius.

Some readers might think it ‘convenient’ in the way the conflict was ultimately resolved, but I found it fits with my needs as a romance reader. I want the happy ever after, and I want a tidied up, all threads accounted for, kind of ending especially when a story is not a cliff hanger. Ms. Sands satisfied that need and that’s good enough for me.

About a Vampire is as sexy, fun, entertaining and delightful as a reader could wish. Fans should get plenty of chuckles at Bricker’s expense, especially in light of all his past shenanigans. Holly is really cute and her history is rather interesting. It’s that personal history that lends itself to the belief in the final outcome. Holly is Justin Bricker’s life mate, and it’s a wonderful thing. I definitely recommend this story to new and established fans alike.

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

Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron

September 21, 2015 By 2 Comments

SHUDDERS
Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (276 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Check in for some Southern hospitality in Plantation Shudders, the Cajun Country series debut from Ellen Byron.

It’s the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family’s plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival–elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other–one from very unnatural causes– Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.

With the help of Bo Durand, the town’s handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives? Decades-old secrets and stunning revelations abound in Ellen Byron’s charming cozy debut, Plantation Shudders.

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First, the mystery works. I didn’t figure out the “whodunit” until the author wanted me to. I liked the fact that so many of the guests had secrets that Maggie ferreted out, but I never clued in as to which one was going to be the ‘tell’. I enjoyed all hoops the heroine had to jump through in order to investigate on her own. Another aspect of her sleuthing is her eventual trust in Bo. I was thrilled when he not only didn’t stop her from doing her own investigating, nor did he try to dissuade her, but instead treated her as a valuable informal partner. I enjoyed watching that trust grow.

The strongest element in the novel is Maggie and her family’s relationship. The author is able to bring a reader into the Crozat family home where they’re treated to some very down to earth daily activities. They may seem normal and routine but that’s part of the book’s charm. It’s that welcoming atmosphere that brings the guests to the B & B, and gets a reader to care about the Crozat family and creates a drive to continue reading until the amazing conclusion when all is revealed. I think the moving log is a great scene.

One thing I noticed was the importance of food and local dishes to the atmosphere of the book. Imagine my delight when I found recipes after the epilogue. There is one that I am surely going to try. It sounds delicious!!

My favorite parts of the story are whenever Maggie and Xander are together. I appreciated how the author handled that subject and I thought their final scenes together to be the sweetest things ever. It highlighted more than anything else in the story, just how wonderful a person Maggie really is. It’s that kind of insight that helped her solve the mystery, and it will surely be an asset when a future relationship develops with Bo. At least, I hope that’s what will happen. It sure was a nice touch in Plantation Shudders.

Cozy mystery fans need to give Plantation Shudders a try. It’s a fascinating read and I enjoyed watching Maggie try to solve the crimes. She’s a regular lady with a strong sense of family and history. Her character has a gentle strength which appealed to me. I also got a kick out of the wrap up epilogue which documented how the aftermath of the solving of the mystery affected the town and some of its residents. It was totally grin worthy.

Plantation Shudders is a great read and it gets a hearty recommend from me. Ms. Byron has a winner.

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

Evil and the Details by Roy A. Teel, Jr.

September 14, 2015 By 1 Comment

EVIL
Evil and the Details by Roy A. Teel, Jr.
Publisher: Narroway Publishing, LLC
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery, Horror
Length: Full Length (171 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

There’s a scourge on the streets of Los Angeles. A serial killer is stalking, capturing, torturing, and killing young teenage boys. FBI Profilers Special Agent Steve Hoffman and Special Agent John Swenson are working with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Jim O’Brian to catch this elusive killer. However, with each turn the investigation takes into the murders, the more puzzling they become. The deeper the investigation goes, the darker the soul of its source. It’s a race against not only time; it is also a race against The Iron Eagle, who they all know is working to unravel the mystery and capture the killer. Who will solve the crimes and end the terror? Only time will tell.

I was breathlessly horrified while reading this gripping tale of serial killers being hunted down and brought to justice. The F.B.I. and the Sheriff’s detective are scrambling to find and stop these monsters but they just don’t have the abilities that a certain Iron Eagle has. A reader gets to see more in depth of the man and the vigilante and find that he’s a very complicated human indeed.

It took a little while for the story to gel, at least it did for me. Even after saying that, the chapters flew by until I got to the chapter where the author truly laid the trap of intrigue, and I was completely hooked. Understand something; every single clue and killer that is revealed in the beginning leads to the big kahuna. It’s like tributaries that lead to a waterfall, seemingly innocuous as they merge into the big water system that goes over a huge cliff that shocks and awes a viewer. That is what is in store for a reader when they delve into Evil and the Details.
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Mr. Teel spends some time on character growth with each individual protagonist. I felt bad for Steve on his loss, I was entertained by the very unique relationship between Jim and his wife, and I was intrigued with how Sara and John’s relationship is developing, especially with how the first book ended. I advise readers to read Rise of the Iron Eagle first in order to understand how Sara could do the things she did in this book because its born from what happened to her in the previous.

Once again, the author takes a reader into the minds of killers. I was dragged through the mire of some very deviant murders and it bothers me that it’s always the young and vulnerable that seem to attract the worst of the worst. That is, until one of the bad guys makes a fatal mistake with one of his victims; that is the turning point. People around me could hear me gasping and I’m sure my face was making some YouTube worthy expressions because parts in the book got positively gruesome. It needs to be in order for the Iron Eagle to get involved and he gets involved in a huge way. The scenes with Marker made me cringe. I had to take a small break after that, but I couldn’t stay away. Where were the clues leading? And, how in the world does a bakery and baking mixes fit in? Readers are going to get a shocker from the solving of that mystery. Brace yourselves.

The author switched gears towards the end of the book and sort of narrated things a bit. True, I was glad to hear the facts without all the descriptions that otherwise might have been needed to get it all told thereby bogging down the pace of the conclusion. But then, Mr. Teel went back into action mode and produced a prologue for the next book. Obviously, the tables are about to be turned on the Iron Eagle if that scene was anything to judge by, but again, the author seems to relish the idea of making his readers squirm. The last few paragraphs were horrific. Definitely I’ll be rooting for the Iron Eagle to clean up this mess too.

One thing that stood out for me was Sara’s question to John. I was actually wondering about that myself. The author handled that in a creepy yet hard-hitting and honest manner. Seeing John transition, and the words the author used to describe it, and the dialogue that occurred during those moments, was masterful and extremely well done. It sent shivers up my spine because I could easily envision it. That truly made an impact on me.

Evil and the Details isn’t an easy read, but it’s a must read. If a reader has read the first book, then they won’t be disappointed with this one. John is even more interesting, convoluted and intriguing than he was in the first story. In this novel, a reader sees a more human side and validation that he never truly loses his humanity even when he’s involved in inhuman actions. He’s a robot in the field but his humanity doesn’t have a complete off switch and for that I was very grateful. Now Sara on the other hand, she is a character I need to watch. I question what is happening to her psychologically. I think those that read this book might see what I saw and will understand why I am wondering about her. I’m hoping I’m wrong because I think the Iron Eagle needs her. I need her. I like her in the story with him.

For fans of this genre, Evil and the Details is a must read. The mystery and suspense make it hard to put down, and the only reason to stop is to catch your breath. This is a hard hitting mystery for adults who like their stories with a sharp edge. Beware, this one cuts.

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

Alpha Marked Boxed Set by Celia Kyle

September 11, 2015 By Leave a Comment

MARKED
Alpha Marked Boxed Set by Celia Kyle
Publisher: Summerhouse Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (184 pgs)
Other: M/F, M/F/M, Ménage, Anal Play, Anal Sex
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Thirty and single? Well, getcha butt to the Gathering!

Scarlet – As if hitting thirty wasn’t enough, unmated Scarlet Wickham is summoned to this year’s Gathering. As a woman Marked to be the mate of an Alpha pair, she’s not going to find happiness anywhere other than in the arms of two Alpha werewolves. So, off she goes with her sisters in tow. ‘Cause yeah, she’s one of the plump Wickham triplets, and they’re all being carted off to werewolf speed dating.

Gabriella – Ugh. Gabriella Wickham thought turning thirty was bad enough, but now she’s been invited (ordered) to attend this year’s Gathering (werewolf speed dating). Having a Mark on her arm means that she’s one of the few human women destined to mate with not one, but two Alpha werewolves. Thank goodness werewolves don’t come in “ugly.” After her sister Scarlet mates the Ruling Alphas, things really start to get interesting. Gabby runs into not one, but two hotter than hot werewolves who make her tingle in all the right places. Yum. Of course, “yum” comes with baggage of both the mental and female kind. Lovely. Luckily it’s nothing a few punches and a good talking to can’t cure. Maybe…-ish.
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Whitney – Whitney Wickham is at the darned annual werewolf Gathering all right. Only there’s one problem: she doesn’t belong there. Her sisters carry the Mark indicating they’ll mate an Alpha Pair of wolves, while Whitney does not have that lovely, swirling scar. She’s been hauled half way around the world to be stared at, and not-so-covertly sniffed, for no reason. Unfortunately the gorgeous, drool worthy, magic-mojo-wielding Wardens don’t know why she’s been summoned to the Gathering any more than she does. Which sucks. But at least they’re hot.

Three sisters, three dynamic personalities with their own special quirks are summoned to appear at a mating event, but one doesn’t belong there with the other two, or does she? Each story tells the tale of how each lady finds her mates and ends with an epilogue that segues into the next until the final story. These were incredibly fast reads that are highly entertaining and enjoyable.

It’s the paranormal aspect that allows the main characters to go from the initial meeting to ‘hot-to-trot’ within minutes of being in each other’s proximity. I like that the author included a valid reasoning and a tradition that all characters on stage have been tutored and trained in. What I liked is how the author interjected a unique conflict and drama in each one to give the plots teeth and motivation. They all worked for me but especially the last one.

Scarlet’s story sets up the world building and the crux of the story arc. Gabriella’s turn was fascinating because for all her humanness, she turns the tables on her combatant and proves she’s not as weak and discombobulated as she sometimes came across. It was a wonderful surprise. It’s amazing what love will motivate a person to do. Finally, Whitney’s exciting adventure wraps up the trilogy in a grand style because it exposes a deeply hidden lie and blows the lid off of an evil conspiracy. Ms. Kyle saved the best for last.

All the male heroes are hunky, totally alpha and aim to please their women. The author saved all the sexy fun hijinks for later in each novella once the heroine and her heroes have jumped the dramatic hurdles they were confronted with. Sex is the goal but love is the prize.

I enjoyed the dialogue, the settings and the discourse between all the characters in each book. None of them were copies of the other but were unique and special in their own ways. Erotic romance readers will thrill to all the three-way action but none of it would have worked without the wonderful plots they were couched in. Yes, they are short but Ms. Kyle focused on giving readers the best experience in the quickest amount of time. So, if a reader can only read a story a day, the enjoyment can be spread out. As for me, I couldn’t stop, didn’t want to stop until I read all three, which meant 1 A.M. Ouch.

The Alpha Marked series was a readaholic’s treat. I had a lot of fun meeting Scarlet, Gabriella and Whitney and their mates and commend Ms. Kyle on giving me a memorable reading experience. I do so love a good growly alpha, or two.

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

Coercion by Chloe Cole

September 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment

COERCION
Coercion by Chloe Cole
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (162 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A Montana Wolves crossover romance…

Book One:
When Willa Stone is cast aside by the alpha-wolf she’s been promised to since birth, she’s humiliated and angry, but also secretly relieved. Now, maybe she’ll have the chance to mate for love. If her power-crazed parents will just give her a little time, she’s sure to find the man of her dreams…

Dragon-shifter, Drake Blackbourne, has an itch to scratch and precious few options for an outlet. When the Stone family offers up their daughter’s hand in exchange for protection and political favors, he agrees to wed her, sight unseen. Drastic times call for drastic measures and, so long as she does her part and keeps out of his way the rest of the time, surely he can manage to bed her, no matter how plain she might be.

What he doesn’t expect is that captivating, defiant Willa will ignite a fire in him that will burn everything in its path, and turn both of their worlds upside down…

Book Two:
Willa Stone is stuck on a mountain with the dragon-shifter she was forced to wed, and she can’t wait to escape. At least, that’s how things start out, but day by day, Drake Blackbourne is breaking down her defenses. If she stays, she risks losing herself to him forever, but if she goes, will she be able to reconnect to the wolf-pack who betrayed her?

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Willa Stone has been fighting for freedom her whole life. Freedom from her parents. Freedom from the tyranny of a cruel, power hungry alpha. And now, the freedom to select a mate of her own choosing.

When she’s sold into an arranged marriage with dragon-shifter Drake Blackbourne to gain political favor for her family, every part of her rails against the injustice of it all…until now. She’s fallen in love with her captor. But when a cruel twist of fate tears them apart, it will take everything she has to regain his trust and recapture the happiness she found in his arms.

I’m glad I waited until the box set of Coercion came out because I would have been chomping at the bit from those two cliffhangers. This book contains all three novelettes so I could read to my heart’s content until the conclusion of the happy ever after and I’m very pleased.

Because they are all together, I’m not going to break them down by book. The overall story is about a woman whose parents use her as a pawn. They practically force her to marry a man unseen, and said woman, Willa, is frustrated, beyond belief. I’d be too. No one listens to her or takes her seriously and I could understand why she tried at every opportunity to get away. It makes perfect sense.

Drake is a hard character to understand, mostly because the author wanted it that way. Doing so made me feel more strongly towards Willa’s predicament. Even being in Drake’s head, from his POV, I still found that he kept secrets from both the reader and Willa. It kept me guessing which means it kept me reading.

It was easy to follow Willa’s path as she fell in love with her captor husband. A reader sees her thought process much more clearly and her insight is crucial to believing the relationship had a chance at success. She might have been a pawn, but she’s no pushover. She has a brain and is not afraid to use it. Unfortunately, Drakes brain is a bit distracted, so he doesn’t make the best decisions, which contributes to the conflict. This is definitely a character driven romance story.

The one thing that works well between them is their physical attraction and chemistry. A reader is left in no doubt that they are highly compatible in bed. Drake’s a bit rough, but he is a dragon after all.

I think the only drawback to the whole story was Drake’s stubbornness. It was a bit overwhelming at times to the point where Willa wasn’t the only one frustrated. I wanted to knock some sense into the blockhead.

There are only two other secondary characters that are worth mentioning, Greyson, and Etienne. Of the two, Etienne is the more interesting because he’s a frenemy. His character is the perfect foil for Drake because he allows me to see a different side to Drake’s personality. I wouldn’t mind finding out more about the other dragon.

Coercion as a whole is the way to go. It kept me entertained and fascinated. I liked Willa and felt she was the more well-rounded character of the two, enough that I was cheering for her throughout the entire story. The personality conflicts between Drake and the heroine were intriguing and part of its charm. I liked the dialogue and the lair descriptions, especially the chair. That produced a giggle or two.

Coercion is worth recommending to fans of dragon paranormals and readers who enjoy stories whose only focus is on the relationship dynamics between a hero and heroine; on how they overcome their personality differences to discover their happy ever after. It’s a fun read.

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

Siren’s Call by Jayne Castle

September 7, 2015 By Leave a Comment

CALL
Siren’s Call by Jayne Castle
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Action/Adventure Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (246 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

In the mysterious world of Harmony, there are places filled with unexplored marvels. But Rainshadow Island isn’t about to give up its secrets…

In the alien catacombs of Rainshadow, there are creatures whose compelling songs lure the unwary to their death. That’s why Rafe Coppersmith, hired to clear out the catacombs for exploration, needs a music talent. He’s knows the perfect one, but she probably doesn’t want anything do with him…

Ella Morgan had once fallen hard and fast for Rafe, but then he disappeared for months…and he’s not about to tell her why. Ella, too, has secrets that only her dust bunny knows. She’s not just a music talent, she’s a Siren: a paranormal singer capable of singing men to sleep—or to their deaths.

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The dust bunny in Siren’s Call cracked me up. She dragged that wedding veil everywhere! I love their attachments to bling. Dust bunnies never cease to amaze and amuse which only enhance the stories they are found in. In this adventure, Ella and Rafe are two unlikely people who meet under the weirdest and dangerous of situations. Lorelei, the dust bunny, is a fluffy heroine from the get-go. She and her new partner, Ella, become a vital team especially once the heroine, Ella, finds herself in a pickle where only a dust bunny’s alien talents can save the day. Even big, hunky, alpha, chip-on-his-shoulder Rafe had to agree.

I always enjoy my visits to Ms. Castle’s planet Harmony because it’s always so unusual and surprising. Each book takes place where a discovery of alien influence occurs and this one is no exception. What was surprising were the dinosaurs. I actually felt bad for them once Ella figures out what is going on, and what had happened in the past. But that didn’t stop them from being significant reasons for fear, drama and action.

Another thing I enjoy about Ms. Castle’s stories is how she weaves villains in, leaving red herrings to distract a reader while drawing us closer and closer to the real plot conflict and motivation behind the criminal activity. There’s always someone who is so villainous, they’d be eligible to join the “injustice league” but Superman can’t be found here on Rainshadow. Only Rafe and his fevered dreams, which, incidentally, turn out to be sort of like a superpower. It took Ella’s faith and confidence in him to stop fighting it and embrace what he feared. Once he does, the hero works wonders. I adore the scenario of a hero or heroine being supported by the ones who love them to such a degree that they accomplish feats unimaginable to them prior. Ella does that for Rafe. I’d call that a superpower too.

Humorous dust bunny antics aside, the story does have its moments of seriousness and mystery. There’s action, suspense, and donuts. Yes, donuts are a serious business but only by reading the book will a reader understand why. You could have knocked me down with a feather.

I greatly enjoyed it when Rafe and Ella finally got together. I also found it amusing as to how hard it was for Rafe to give in to his falling in love with Ella. The more they fight it, the harder they fall and that applies to the hero. Entertaining reading, for sure.

Siren’s Call is another excellent adventure on Rainshadow Island and not to be missed by fans of the series. I think this could be read as a standalone because it does focus primarily on Ella and Rafe with only vague references of past stories of the supporting cast.

Ms. Castle has another winner on her hands with this one and I definitely recommend it. A fan’s bookshelf would not be complete without a copy of Siren’s Call added to it. I have it on mine.

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