Review: The Love List (Four part, Multi-author Series)

The Love List is a series of four books by four authors that follow the stories of four friends looking for love.

 

Blurb:

Tegan Taylor is the owner of the Que Syrah Syrah wine shop in Vine grove, the heart of wine country. After her plan of starting a book club to meet single, local men falls flat, her new found friends come up with The Love List. Each dropped a name of a nice guy their friends may like but just not a guy they'd date. Or think of romantically. Tegan chooses Richard. After one disastrous meeting with him, Tegan wonders if The Love List isn't a terrible idea.

Richard’s a jerk. But, when handsome Australian cowboy, August, shows up, things may take a turn. 

Read book one in the Love List Series as Tegan, Chloe, Laura and Becca try to find love in a small town.

 

Blurb:

When it’s Chloe Miles turn to pick a name out of The Love List she didn’t expect to find true love. She just wanted to go on a date with a nice, available guy. Not one who drank too much, or was unemployed and wanted to stay that way. Or especially one who didn’t know what monogamy means.

Mitch Brodin didn’t know his heart was in the hands of The Love List. His Fate was set the moment he set foot into Roy's Pet Rescues looking for advice on how to care for new born kittens.

Chloe is vivacious, unpredictable, and tons of fun, while he is methodical, predictable, and well… cynical. He surely hadn’t planned on falling in love. But that’s what you get when you’re not looking for love.

 

Blurb:

Dr. Rebecca Miller is devastated over her fiancé's affair...with her best friend. Country charm is the best medicine. Along with a good friend and a bottle of wine. In the heart of wine country, four friends spice up their book club and create The Love List. Love is the last thing on Becca's mind until she's matched with Chase Tanner.

Chase discovers the love list and believes to be fooled. Can Becca convince him she really does love him?

 

Blurb:

Story 4 in the best-selling series, The Love List from some of your favorite sweet romance authors.

A small town can be a friendly place to call home and an impossible place to find a date. A shop owner starts a singles-mingle but only has three attendees—not a single man in sight. The women continue to meet, and change their name to The Love List. Each write names of single men and drop them into a basket. The Love List seems a success as each of the women finds their true love, except Laura. She is certain the basket is cursed.

Travis Jerome is new to town. He jumps at the chance to work on Laura’s B&B remodel, to once again have the feel of a hammer in his hand. For something to last a lifetime it must start with a strong foundation and build up from there.

Review:

The stories are very clean and are appropriate for anyone looking for sweet romances. They are short, quick, feel good reads. The series operates on the notion that even though each woman has been unable to find love for herself, that maybe she knows a guy that could be right for one of her friends. They each write names of eligible men on a piece of paper and they draw from a basket. The name drawn is the man that lady has to ask out and hopefully they can help each other find their happily ever after. Each installment focuses on a different woman and her quest for love.

 Overall, I would rank this series around an 8 out of 10. I like the concept behind the story line and would love to see it explored more fully. The main characters are very likable and their beaus are admirable. The relationships are believable--both the friendship between the ladies and the romantic relationships. Even though not everything happens on stage, there is talk about the way each couple's love develops over time which is a realistic quality that is absent in most romantic fiction. I believe that going this route might not make the story as exciting but it definitely makes it feel real. I often found myself smiling and thinking about my own dating experiences and the way my feelings for my husband developed.

The thing that prevents these books from being better are the errors. There were some grammatical errors that detracted from the story present in each installment and there were some consistency errors as well but overall, I think these ladies did a great job and I look forward to reading more from all of them.

Twisted: New Release from Elisabeth Naughton

NICK – Leader of the half-breeds and the last true hero. He’s spent his life fighting a dark pull toward the gods. A pull he now knows is linked to his father Krónos and the Titan’s plan to escape from the Underworld. But Nick’s hidden powers are coveted by more than just his father. Imprisoned by Hades, Nick battles every form of torture imaginable as the sadistic god schemes to break him. Only one thing is keeping him sane. One woman who gives him the strength to fight the relentless darkness. She has a dangerous plan of her own, though, and as Nick’s powers grow stronger, even she might not be enough to alter his destiny. As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, Nick’s allegiances are tested. And no one knows whether he will choose to fight for good or succumb to the sinister lure of evil. Not even him.

Excerpt:

“You just…won’t…break.” Her words were a whisper, a frustration, a surprise. She never spoke to him. Though he’d spent more time with her than anyone else in this hellhole, she never addressed him directly. She gave the commands to her grunts, and they did her dirty work. She never even got near him. Something about today was different, though. A tiny voice in the back of Nick’s head screamed what was about to happen in this cell was on a whole different level from what he’d been through before. Cynna stepped close, so close he could feel her heat but not close enough to touch, then moved to her right, slowly making her way around him. His stomach tightened, and that blistering arousal came rushing back. “This isn’t a game.” Her warm breath fanned his nape, sending a shiver across his bare skin. And in his wounds, where the nymph had spread the balm, heat gathered and grew, radiating outward, heading for his belly. “You cannot beat Zagreus. No one wins against the Prince of Darkness.” Nick’s arms flexed, and the chains rattled above his head. He didn’t want to beat the fucker, he only wanted to destroy him. Not just for what he’d put Nick through during the last few months, but for what he put everyone in this wretched place through—Cynna, his gut told him, included. “I can’t stop what he has planned for you.” She circled around and stopped directly in front of him again. “Give in, and you save yourself the torment. Give in, and this ends now.” “Give in,” Nick repeated, staring into her dark eyes. But unlike before, they weren’t empty. They weren’t dead. There was something there. Something that looked a lot like…desperation. Was she warning him of something horrendous to come? Why would she do that? She was Zagreus’s puppet. Or was she simply afraid of what would happen if he didn’t break? “You want me to give in?” he asked. She didn’t answer. Only stared at him. “The way you gave in?” The desperation in her eyes faded and was replaced with that lifeless, vacant look, the one he’d seen so many times when she’d ordered Zagreus’s satyrs to torture him. Without a word, she stepped back, but she didn’t break eye contact. “You were warned,” she said in a low voice. “Females?”

Find out more at www.ElisabethNaughton.com/books/twisted/

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Author Giveaway: Celebrating the re-release of Saving Cassie by L.A. Remenicky

It's finally here! Blitz day for the re-release of Saving Cassie! One year ago today L.A. Remenicky first clicked on that publish button and it's been a wild ride ever since. So, let's get down to business: Here is the new and improved Saving Cassie!

Everyone has secrets. Sometimes secrets can get you killed.

After ten years in the big city, Cassie Holt is moving back to her hometown to take over the bookstore left to her by her beloved Gram, vowing to live her life alone. To her best friend, Sheriff James Marsten, Cassie seems to be the same girl that left Fairfield Corners to go to college but Cassie has secrets and one of those secrets could get her killed. When one of her secrets becomes a threat to her life, James turns to his new deputy to help him keep Cassie safe.

Deputy Logan Miller has been burned by love and is not looking to get involved with anyone anytime soon. When he is thrown into close quarters with Cassie, the sparks begin to fly and he begins to see through the walls Cassie has built around her heart. As the threat gets closer, can Logan protect Cassie and protect his heart?

Amazon US Amazon UK Paperback coming soon!

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L.A. Remenicky is a forty-something wife and mother of three fur kids. She has been an avid reader as long as she can remember, often disappearing with a book when it was time to do dishes or clear the table. She reads all genres, but her favorites are romance and horror. She started out reading Nancy Drew and quickly graduated to adult romances. Her favorite romance is "Moonraker's Bride" by Madeline Brent. She started writing recently after thinking about it for years, signing up for NANOWRIMO in 2012 and winning.

Email: remenickywrites@yahoo.com

Blog: www.laremenicky.blogspot.com

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Cover Reveal: Serpent's Kiss by Sherri Hayes

Title: Serpent’s Kiss

Genre: Erotic Romance

Author: Sherri Hayes

Expected publication: December 4, 2014

SYNOPSIS

After losing her husband unexpectedly, Katrina Mayer decided to open Serpent’s Kiss. She wanted it to be a place where she and her fellow kinksters could play and socialize.

Five years after the doors opened, the club is everything she’d hoped it would be. On Friday and Saturday nights, Serpent’s Kiss is filled with men and women who share a similar desire to explore the pleasures BDSM has to offer. The club has continued to grow, and over the years, many of its members have become friends.

The one thing Katrina didn’t expect when she’d decided to open a club was the human drama that came with it. Learning to balance her life as the club mistress has taken some getting used to, but she wouldn’t change a thing.

Add it to GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23232400-welcome-to-serpent-s-kiss

AUTHOR

Sherri spent most of her childhood detesting English class. It was one of her least favorite subjects because she never seemed to fit into the standard mold. She wasn’t good at spelling, or following grammar rules, and outlines made her head spin. For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an author.

At the age of thirty, all of that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternate ending, and give the characters their happily ever after. By the time the story finished, it was one of the top ten read stories on the site, and her readers were encouraging her to write more.

Six years later, Sherri is the author of six full-length novels, and one short story. Writing has become a creative outlet for Sherri that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. She is most well known for her Finding Anna series about a young woman rescued from being a sex slave by a wealthy Dominant. The third book in that series, Truth, released July 25, 2013.

SOCIAL LINKS

Website: http://www.sherrihayesauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sherri-Hayes/122511444477280?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sherri_Hayes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4496779.Sherri_Hayes

Review of Impostor's Kiss and Between the Waters by Renea MasonReview of Impostor's Kiss and Between the Waters by Renea Mason

 

Blurbs:

Impostor's Kiss

Symphony of Light Book 0.5

One night of sexual pleasure could teach a lesson in love.

Cyril is weary from weeks of traveling the Scottish moors, but his luck takes a turn when he rescues a battered and broken child. To express his gratitude, the boy’s father offers Cyril a night of carnal indulgence with his eldest daughter. Cyril graciously accepts, looking forward to a night of sexual release to ease the loneliness of his travels.

But what the supernatural sex god and deliverer of souls doesn’t expect is to be taught a lesson in love from the young and beautiful Celestine.

In a night of passion, two lost spirits find solace in an impostor’s kiss: one longing for a love that doesn’t yet exist, the other drowning in pain and guilt over love lost. Neither is what they seem…but what they learn will change them forever…

Between the Waters

Magic is no match for love…

Trapped somewhere between life and death, demigod Cyril has lost the ability to communicate with his love. But not before giving her valuable lessons in magic, as well as his blessing to move on without him.

Coming to terms with Cyril’s absence isn’t easy, but Linden is doing her best to honor his wishes. Until she receives an unusual request from Moreaux, an estranged member of Cyril’s family. Bizarre things are going on with Mary, the former housekeeper, and Linden can’t let them go. But when her investigation leads to a mistake that nearly costs her life, Cyril’s best friend, Overton, steps in and violates a promise he made centuries before to bring her back from the dead.

Gratitude turns to comfort, comfort turns to desire, and desire leads Linden to a shocking revelation. In her charge to uncover the truth behind Mary and Moreaux, she discovers a spell she can’t undo without leaving wounds on her heart, wounds she knows will never heal…

Rating and Audience:

Both of these stories are absolutely amazing and both deserve a solid 10 out of 10. Due to the erotic scenes in both stories, I'd say they are intended for mature audiences.

Review:

Impostor's Kiss is a novella that takes place centuries before the first novel and it gives insight to Cyril's character. In this story he proves that he can overcome the limitations set on him by his creator. He wields an amazing amount of power and carries a terrible curse, but he doesn't let either corrupt him. In this tale, told from his point of view, we are shown just what kind of being he is. I absolutely loved it and after reading book 2, I understand just how important it is to know the story of Cyril and the innkeeper's daughter. (That's all the additional info you're gonna get from me!)

Now on to Between the Waters...

I thought the first book, Symphony of Light and Winter, was one of the best books I had ever read and I hoped the second would be just as good, I wasn't the least bit disappointed.This book was absolutely riveting! If you haven't read the first one, you need to start there to understand all that is going on. (It would probably be a good idea to read the novella as well.)

So Linden and the others are trying to find a way to bring Cyril back from whatever realm he is trapped in. At first, Linden can hear Cyril in her head but as his communications with her get shorter and farther apart, he gives her permission to seek comfort in Overton's arms, after all, he once had to seek a way to ease the tension with others for centuries until he finally found her. It isn't easy to convince Overton to cooperate with the arrangement, but when he finally gives in to his desires and hers... Lets just say he has several hundred years of celibacy to make up for and he isn't wasting time.

I wasn't too sure about all of it at first... I mean, I was TEAM CYRIL all the way but then, I found myself wondering what Linden and Overton could become. Even though part of me wanted to see Cyril come back, part of me began to hope there was a future with Overton. It was like being on a roller coaster. The sex is HOT but there is all of the underlying emotion left to deal with. It makes for one hell of a ride.

Then there the bizarre mystery surrounding the former housekeeper who keeps popping up in places she shouldn't be even after they believe her to be dead. Trouble is brewing left and right for poor Linden. Besides the trouble with Mary, things have gone terribly wrong for her friend Clarence who has been dragged even farther into her new world. Then there is the curious case of Moreau, who seems to be attempting to see Linden without the others finding out. I don't want to give anything away so I'm going to stop there. Just trust me when I say there is never a dull moment in this book and it has a little of everything.

I am completely in love with this series and I cannot wait until the next installment comes out.

Review of Unassailable by Cynthia St. Aubin

Blurb:

When dead men tell mo' tales...
Running afoul of a pants-less ghost pirate wasn't exactly what Paranormal Psychologist, Matilda Schmidt had in mind when she took off for some R & R. Even at a quiet beach-side bungalow, Matilda can't catch a moment's peace when the restless spirits aren't the only ones haunting her bedroom.

Marooned by a disappearing demigod, and seeking a solution to banish her unwelcome guests, Matilda rides shotgun with a hit man who's better at making ghosts than eliminating them. When Matilda's new-found abilities leave her feeling more psychotic than psychic, she's forced to consider an offer she doesn't want to take, but can't afford to refuse.

Rating and Audience:

Another great book! Again I have to give St. Aubin top marks- 10 out of 10 -for this one. There are a couple of steamy scenes and some sexual innuendo and a pants-less ghost from a time when men didn't wear underwear so if any of these things bother you, you might want to find another book.

Review:

I dove in to this series with both feet after reading the first book. It is witty and brilliantly written and I can't get enough. I love the humor and craziness in each book and the sex scenes are H-O-T, but I also appreciate the intelligence behind the writing. The development of the characters through each story is subtle but also profound.

This installment reveals more about both Matilda and Liam. The majority of the revelations about Matilda have to do with the character development I was talking about; while the revelations about Liam have to do with his feelings. It would seem that these characters are either learning about themselves or learning to accept the truth. Of course, the discovery of some truths only leaves us with more questions in need of answers. I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment to find out what else Matilda discovers!

Review of the Cynthia St. Aubin's Dr. Matilda Schmidt Series (Books 1-4)

Blurbs:

Unlovable: It isn’t every day a sexy demigod throws a pissed-off Cupid onto psychologist Matilda Schmidt’s couch and informs her the fate of the world depends on her ability to get him off his diapered ass and back to helping people fall in love.

Just when Matilda convinces herself she’s not hallucinating, in walks a Vegas hit man with a big gun and a bigger threat: pay back the million dollars she owes a notorious casino mogul, or wind up as fish food in Lake Mead.

Rocketing across country with a gun to her head, Matilda has a dysfunctional love-god in her laptop bag, a million dollar debt she has no knowledge of, and must convince the seductive hit man he’s snatched the wrong woman before he convinces her he might be the right man—for a night.

Can Matilda stay alive long enough to keep love from becoming history?

Unlucky: Accused of stealing gold from an infamous Irish street gang, Paranormal Psychologist Matilda Schmidt will die in exactly five days if she doesn’t cough it up—guilty or not. With minutes ticking away and her office overrun by a leprechaun who's loopier than he is lucky, Matilda makes a deal with a demigod—give him one night in her bed and he’ll help her locate the missing gold.

But when Matilda’s recent one-night stand shows up with inside information about the heist she’s being framed for, she finds herself caught between a hit man and a demigod both offering to protect her—if they don’t kill each other first.

If Matilda’s luck doesn’t change soon, death might be the only thing waiting for her at the end of the rainbow.

Unhoppy: When there's not a hop in hell...

The day is going to hell in a hurry for Paranormal Psychologist Matilda Schmidt, and that's *before* a suicidal Easter bunny shows up for treatment.

When pictures surface of Matilda caught in the middle of a hit man-Cupid sandwich, she lands in the oily grip of a ruthless blackmailer, whose motives are as ugly as his mustache. Now Matilda must betray the trust of someone who cares for her to meet the blackmailer's demands, or she can kiss her reputation, her practice, and even her freedom goodbye. But blackmail is only the beginning when the immortal mystery-client brought to her couch by a seductive demigod causes Matilda to fling caution—along with her panties—to the wind.

Hunted by two jealous goddesses who would gladly use her intestines to lace up their strappy sandals—and with her full-time hit man sometimes lover nowhere to be found—Matilda will have to save herself, or the world will be up River Styx without a paddle.

Unbearable: When you can't grin and bear it...

Paranormal Psychologist, Matilda Schmidt is sick of secrets. But when her troubled mother falls into dangerous hands, she must enlist the help of the two men who may be hiding the most: the hot-bodied demigod who's suddenly tight-lipped about his current client, and the delicious hit man who's been concealing much more than a gun in his pocket.

Faced with the destruction of her tidy life at the paws of three rowdy werebears, and protected only by an immortal egg on the edge, Matilda will have to come riding to her own rescue, or risk a life that's anything but happily ever after.

Ratings and Audience:

On a whole I have to give the series a 10 out of 10. There are some pretty steamy sex scenes in these books and a lot of innuendo so they might not be for everyone. I'd say they are on par with Janet Evanovich's books, especially the between the number books from the Stephanie Plum series.

My Thoughts:

I like to attend online parties. Authors, groups, and pages do them pretty often and there are usually some great prizes to be won. I find it is a great way to discover new books and authors; I get a chance to hear more details about books before I read them. I will say that I have found some of my favorite books this way.

(My other preferred method it to take my hyperactive sister to the library but that can get scary at times and should only be attempted when my patience is at its highest.)

Anyway, it was at one of these recent online parties that I learned about this series. I won an Amazon gift card from Cynthia St. Aubin and decided that using it to purchase her books was only fair. After reading this series, I know I made a great decision. I don't think I will ever be able to get enough of Dr. Matilda Schmidt. The books were very enjoyable and even though they are short, I never felt like the story was missing something. Each book in the series picks up where the previous one left off, creating a continuous story line so if you read them in order, you never feel out of the loop on the events.

There are so many wonderful things I could say about these books. I found them to be fast paced--there's never a lull in the excitement which, I think, is vital for shorter stories. All four books were absolutely hilarious--the parade of shady and supernatural characters with unexpected psychological disorders provided tons of comedic antics that made me laugh until my sides hurt. There is more to them than laughs though, I found them very sexy as well--they weren't filled with smut, but there was enough steam to make me want to adjust the thermostat on the A/C. There was also an element of intrigue that kept me enthralled and had me looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The writing style is superb. The characters are all very vivid and well written and the story flows perfectly. I love the way the author takes bits and pieces from myths, legends, fairy tales, and even nursery rhymes to create a stunning cast of supernatural characters; it is cleaver and wonderfully refreshing. I also like the more realistic components of the characters as well. The good doctor is a psychologist and she has a way of assessing everyone in the terms of her profession. I think it highlights our tendency to explain our own world in terms we can understand. It also gives accurate commentary on the human condition. Everyone has their own set of issues and the only way to be content with life is to learn to deal with who and what we are. Then you have Liam Whatshisface, who's sordid past and irresistible charm highlights humanities baser desires and the ability to not only overcome anything, but to also do what is necessary to survive.

**Oops, I'm letting my inner scholar take over--get back heifer!

For those of you that read for enjoyment, you wouldn't be disappointed in this series. It isn't often that a series of shorter stories offer this much entertainment but St. Aubin pulls it of magnificently. The tales of Matilda Schmidt kept me highly entertained for the better part of my week. They were so cleverly written that I just couldn't get enough. I will be anxiously waiting to get my hands on the next book so I can find out what happens next.

Review of Twilight Guardians by Maggie Shayne

Blurb:

They told 20-year-old Charlie O’Malley that they had a cure for the rare blood condition that would eventually kill her–an untested, experimental cure. All they wanted in return was for her to join their elite military team and train to kill the Undead.

She took the deal, not because she cared so much about extending her life, but because it would make her strong–stronger than ordinary humans. Strong enough to kill the vampire who’d pretended to love her, taken her blood, used her body, and murdered her mother.

Killian was the last of his kind, or so he thought. When he found Charlie, he felt the pull. She had the rare Belladonna Antigen all vampires had as humans. Vampires were compelled to protect those rare mortals they called The Chosen. But with Charlie, the bond was different, more poweful than anything he’s felt before, and impossible to resist, even though surrendering to it will probably get him killed.

Ancient vampire elders Rhiannon and Roland come out of exile, risking their lives to help their mortal friend Roxy reclaim her granddaughter. But before the tale ends, their lives will be forever changed.

Join Maggie Shayne as she returns to her most beloved series of all time with this new beginning….

Wings in the Night: Reborn

Rating and Audience:

I think this book ranks somewhere in the 9-9.2 range on a 10 point scale. Some of the sentence structure in the beginning bothered me and had me rereading passages to make sure I understood what was being said, but that was REAL early in the story. There are some other things that stop me from giving the book top marks but I will discuss those below. There are a couple of steamy scenes but they are fairly mild in nature--meaning yes, there is sex but it isn't overly detailed and if you are the type that skips these scenes, you won't really miss any key parts of the story.

Review:

I managed to discover Maggie Shayne's books a few years ago. I bought a grab bag of paperback books at a library sale and luckily, there were several vampire books in the mix, including one of Shayne's Wings in the Night novels. Lemme tell you, that bag of books got me hooked on several authors and has made me a perennial customer at out local library's sale.

Maggie's Wings in the Night novels revolve around a pretty common story line- every one has a true soul-mate, even vampires. The draw between the two halves of a single soul search each other out and when you meet The One, you automatically know. The fated pair are inexplicably drawn to one another and they face seemingly insurmountable odds to find their happily ever after.

The vampires and the Chosen in these books share a common blood abnormality called the Belladonna antigen. Only those that have the antigen can become vampires and vampires are driven to protect all of the Chosen but they are more drawn to one individual in particular.

The original series ended with a showdown between the vampires and DPI, a secret division of the CIA that conducted all kinds of heinous experiments on both vampires and the Chosen, killing some and seriously hurting others. This book is the first installment of the Wings in the Night: Reborn series. It picks up a few years after the previous series.

At this point, the public believes that all of the vampires were destroyed so when a news story breaks reporting that several people with the Belladonna antigen were found exsanguinated, DPI assures the populace that the culprits have been executed and any who have the antigen can depend on the government's help just in case there are still some vampires living out there in the world. [on a side note- "We're from and the government and we're here to help..." Really? Why do people keep falling for that one?] Of course I've read the earlier books so I know that DPI is a bunch of lying douchebags that seem hell bent on conducting Nazi-like experiments on a race they deem nothing more than animals. So, to me it is obvious that DPI is up to their old tricks and they have orchestrated the whole thing to get their hands on the Chosen again they've just changed tactics slightly to get willing volunteers for their experiments.

Charlie O'Malley doesn't intend on going to DPI but she didn't expect to be living off the grid with a grandmother she's never met before either. She decides almost immediately that Roxy is definitely paranoid and possibly insane but Roxy has experience with DPI and knows how to avoid them and she is determined to keep them safe. Unfortunately, Charlie doesn't know enough about her new world and decides to run away when she learns the man she's been dreaming about and falling for is one of the undead. Now in the hands of DPI, she has to learn the hard way just which side is the right one.

Meanwhile, news of the attacks travels to Hotel Transylvania where many of the survivors of Vampire Armageddon have been hiding. The vamps are getting restless, they are tired of hiding and they don't like the idea of DPI causing another witch hunt. The elders are trying to decide how to act when they find out that a group of their own has gone rogue and the granddaughter of an ally-the oldest of the chosen- is in DPI's hands.

I waited for months to get my hands on this book. I love the Wings in the Night series and I was very excited to hear that the author was bringing it back and even more so when I learned that Rhiannon would be coming back as well. (Rhiannon and her pet panther, Pandora, are two of my favorite characters from the original series.)

I will say that there is a lot going on in the book with the threat of rouge vampire attacks and DPI being back in full force; it gives the characters a very distinct set of objectives that seem pretty cut and dry--rescue A, stop B, destroy C, etc.--but there are some unexpected twists that the writer throws at us proving that not everyone may be what they seem. This definitely raises the rating in my opinion. As a student of literature, I do like the fact that the characters aren't static or stagnant. Maggie Shayne's characters are vibrant and alive (even if they are undead); they grow and change throughout the tale. Hell, even the most hated character(s) sometimes show growth.

The problematic part for me is the relationship between Charlie and Killian. I know that the two are supposed to be together and find their happily ever after, but the development of love seems completely connected to the pull between vampire and chosen. There is talk of shared dreams before they actually met and maybe if that were explored a little more, the designation of actual love between the two instead of intense physical attraction would make more sense. But the actions of the characters convey that the emotion between the two is real; (I mean, come on, they are willing to die for each other so that has to mean something, right?) So the lack of emotional development doesn't detract from the story much but it is the reason that it doesn't get a perfect score.

I believe the new cast of characters introduced in this book will provide a good catalyst to relaunch the series and it could potentially last for a long time. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had a little bit of everything, action, intrigue, romance and even some humor and I was unable to put it down until I knew just how the story ended.

Now the wait for the next installment begins.

Review of Eternal Flame by Valerie Twombly

Blurb:

A woman he cannot have, a man who is only a dream...

When guardian Marcus Dagotto, discovers the gods have gifted him with a mate, he is pissed. He has no room for love and even less for a human who has no idea he exists.

Cassandra Jensen, has a shattered heart and has given up on men. Only one man can set her body on fire, but he is a fantasy that haunts her sleep.

Two worlds, one desire. When the two collide, fate will rip them apart and test their resolve. Will darkness and evil prevail? Or, will love conquer all?

Rating and Audience:

I give this book a 10 out of 10. It was well written, original, and mesmerizing. There is some violence and steamy sex scenes, so it may not be for everyone.

Review:

The book opens up in the midst of an epic battle. Powerful and moving, this scene not only sets the tone for the story but also gives the reader the best insight into Marcus's character--specifically the source of his greatest pain. Fast forward 300 years; times may have changed but the struggles facing the vampires have not. The queen has been murdered and the quest for vengeance is about to begin. Marcus has promised his friend, the new king, to help avenge the queen's death but things might not be as cut and dry as he thought. He still has his duties as a guardian to uphold and things get even more complicated when Marcus learns the gods have given him a mate, and she is human.

The story is fast paced and sets up an entire world full of vampires and dragons and demons. It really is an amazing world with a fresh take on the Vampire race. They are created to be guardians, but cursed to become monsters. It is an inevitability that they all accept, and they trust their fellow guardians to take them out when it happens. Of course there is hope, they just need to find a way to cure the curse that has plagued them for 300 years.

Throw in a bunch of misguided dragons and a slew of demons (on both sides of the fray) and you have the makings of a complex story that keeps you riveted. There is so much I could say about this one but I don't want to spoil the story for the rest of you. I will say that the world that she creates is vivid and the characters have distinctive personalities that enrich the story. You can feel the pain of each character and understand what drives them to carry on despite seemingly insurmountable odds. It is a great start to a series that shows real promise. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Review of First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

Blurb:

Private investigator Charlotte Davidson was born with three things: looks; a healthy respect for the male anatomy; and the rather odd job title of grim reaper. Since the age of five, she has been helping the departed solve the mysteries of their deaths so they can cross. Thus, when three lawyers from the same law firm are murdered, they come to her to find their killer.

In the meantime, Charley's dealing with a being more powerful - and definitely sexier - than any spectre she's ever come across before. With the help of a pain-in-the-ass skip tracer, a dead pubescent gangbanger named Angel, and a lifetime supply of sarcasm, Charley sets out to solve the highest profile case of the year and discovers that dodging bullets isn't nearly as dangerous as falling in love.

Rating and Audience:

I would have to say this book earns a 9.9 out of 10 rating. I will explain it in a minute. As far as the audience- there are some pretty steamy scenes, so read at your discretion.

My Impression:

I didn't know a lot about this series when I picked it up this summer; in fact the only things I knew were the names of the two main characters, and what they were. Normally, that isn't enough to get me interested but I had seen a lot of talk about how amazing these books were and I wanted to know if they lived up to the hype. So I hauled my butt down to the local library and picked the first one up.

Now when I started reading, I found myself rolling my eyes at (and immediately docking points for) some of the grammar . I wondered why an editor would ignore sentences that sounded redundant until I realized that it was a quirk that was peculiar to Charley's character. Once the realization hit me, I absolutely loved it; that quirk along with many others made the character more real for me. Sarcasm and snark aren't what you would usually think of when you think of a grim reaper (at least I don't), but Jones definitely makes it work.

Charley is a very colorful character and thankfully, she isn't the only one in the story. Cookie the receptionist/bestie in some ways balances Charley out, and in other ways, she is an enabler--just like a best friend should be. The depiction of the relationship between the pair is absolute genius. The other secondary characters are well written and each has a distinct personality, I could almost picture myself being surrounded by the eclectic cast--Ubie, who tries to utilize Charley's abilities to solve crimes without putting her in undue danger; Swopes, who doesn't believe a word she says about the supernatural but has to put his own feelings aside to get the job done; and Angel, who is just what you expect from a dead teenager. There is never a boring moment with any of that bunch. Then once you throw in Reyes--dark, mysterious, and sexy--he adds more mystery to the story than a triple homicide can muster and enough steam to keep the reader (and Charley) begging for more.

I honestly could not get enough of this book. I found myself enthralled and I truly enjoyed every minute. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series and find out what kind of trouble Charley gets into next.

Review of Symphony of Light and Winter by Renea Mason

Blurb:

Symphony of Light Book One

One woman. Seven men. All bound by one man’s undying devotion.

Fundraiser Linden Hill has a knack for reading people. She always knows which conversations will put a prospect at ease, which drink will loosen a patron’s lips—or his wallet, and how cleavage will make a donor sweeten the deal. She’s even foreseen her dateless weekends four hundred and sixty-four times in a row.

But ten years after watching life drain from her former mentor’s and first love’s eyes, her skills for divining the predictable are lost. When Cyril returns, he’s still gorgeous, but this time he’s beyond human, far less dead, and pissed. His lack of memory drives him to desperate acts, and his turbulent re-acquaintance with Linden pulls her into his war with a creature hell-bent on his destruction. His group of six supernatural men share a tantalizing secret, but despite the hunger, it’s love that leads her to sacrifice everything to save him…

Rating and Audience:

I would have to give this book a solid 10 out of 10. It is well written, it has a great story and an unexpected twist at the end that is sure to lure the reader into the series. It does have explicit sex scenes so it isn't for everyone.

Review:

I actually won a copy of this book in an online contest and it was one of the best prizes I've ever won.

Symphony of Light and Winter is an amazing work of art. Beautifully written, the story flows like music and makes me think of a perfectly composed musical score but there is serious power in this piece, the kind that keeps you on your toes. From the very beginning, Mason makes takes you on an erotic and emotional journey exploring the powerful attraction between Linden and Cyril, the fantastic events that spanned their shared history, and the dangerous foe that hunts them. From the very beginning, there is this amazing chemistry between Cyril and Linden and it only grows as the reason behind their connection is revealed.

Everything in the book is fast paced; there is a rush of adrenaline that hits when Cyril confronts Linden in the very beginning, and that rush follows you throughout the book. I love that there was no lull in the story. Even when filling in the missing pieces of Cyril's memory, Mason keeps you enthralled. It was one of those books that keeps you reading late into the night, simply because you can't bear the thought of waiting to find out what happens next.

For anyone who thinks that the paranormal field has been overdone, you should really give this book a try. I admit, The world is filled with thousands of romances involving vampires, shapeshifters, and various other creatures but this one is different, completely unexpected and refreshing. I have to say that this was one of the most unique books I've ever read. I won't post any spoilers, so you will have to read it and find out for yourself why I won't be satisfied until I find out what happens next!