Saturday, December 29, 2012

Pamela Palmer--Ecstacy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)

Paranormal Romance

They are called Feral Warriors--an elite band of immortals who can change shape at will. Sworn to rid the world of evil, consumed by sorcery and seduction, their wild natures are primed for release . . .

Shattered by recent nightmarish events, Hawke feels his bond with his animal spirit weakening--and once it breaks, he's finished. The arrival of Faith sends his life spinning even further out of control, for although she delights him and enflames his deepest primal passions, she's promised to Maxim, the newest Feral Warrior.

Faith is drawn to Hawke from the start, but Maxim holds her in his thrall and has secretly bent her to his malevolent will. Though gravely damaged, Hawke is the only one who can end Faith's slavery and protect the Feral Warriors from Maxim's evil designs. But first they both must embrace the wild . . . and surrender body and soul to a forbidden, all-consuming ecstasy.


{2 stars}
As much as I hate to post a review with only a 2 star rating. I have read and reviewed the previous 5, so I feel the need to continue on with it. This series has, up until now, kept my attention with fascination. The storyline is very different then anything else out there. They are tied to animal spirits that help them shift into their animal for battle. They are fighting a war against a rogue Mage army set on releasing all the Daemons trapped in hell. Each Feral Warrior in turn has met his true mate and we have furthered the series along. And Hawk and Faith follow the same storyline, but with a lot less passion in my opinion. What I had trouble with this time was the overwhelming corniness of it. Draden? Radiance? Cheesy ceremonies, rituals, and "one liners". This book is 372 pages, and I read probably 250 of them, I skimmed most of it. And even though this book lost it's "sparkle" for me, I am in no way giving up on the series. One bad story will not ruin the whole thing for me, so I will push on to the next one and hope it changes.....

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Maya Banks--Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)

Romantic Suspense

Grace Peterson is desperate, in hiding, and on the run after escaping a shadowy group determined to exploit her extraordinary ability to heal others. Her only lifeline--an unerring telepathic ability she shares with her sister--has been severed, leaving her alone and vulnerable. And time is running out...

Enlisted to bring Grace home is Rio, relentless member of the KGI. He's unprepared for his reaction to this wounded, damaged woman, and he's fiercely determined to protect her from those who nearly destroyed her. In Rio, she finds a safe haven, and for the first time...hope. But the mission is far from over. The danger Grace has eluded is fast closing in. And now it's pitching two lovers toward an unfamiliar horizon, with no place left to hide.


(3.5 stars)
This is one of my "go to" series when I need to just sit and read. It doesn't take a lot of concentration, and the series is really easy to follow. The thing I like most about it is that each couple changes the series in some small way. I really like Rio and Grace, didn't think I would, because the whole "psychic" storyline was stretching kinda thin from the previous one. But Grace is a gutsy woman who knows how to show some backbone and call "bullshit" on people. Charming book, shows a definite softer side to Rio. Great addition to the series.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

J. A. Redmerski--The Edge of Never

Adult Contemporary Romance

Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.

Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.

With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.

But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?



{5 stars}
I don't know if I can put the impact this book had  on me into words. It is about two people trying to find something, anything really, that will make their life mean something. Happiness, freedom, love? Learning how to live outside the box and follow a dream, no matter how small or weird. Looking forward and not back, no regrets. You read between the lines a lot, and compare it to your own life in many aspects. I probably wouldn't have picked this book up based on the synopsis, but couldn't resist it based on others reviews. One of my best friends read it first and called me crying, and scolding me for doing this to her. But she loved it all the same. So as I went into it I was leery of when the tears would fall and for what reason (I forbid my friend from telling me the end--no spoilers!) So I spent the first half of the book just being an observer to the road trip Camryn and Andrew were taking. They "jumped off the bridge" so to speak and headed off with no plan at all, learning about each other, their pasts, their dreams, taking leaps of faith and trying new things and loving every stop in the road. I would have loved to do that also, to just leave everything behind and follow happiness, wherever that might lead. But no matter how far you go, you always end up back at home. Hopefully looking forward to the next adventure with no regrets, happy memories, and new friends.

This book, if anything will make you think about your life. Are you happy? Do you have regrets? If you knew the end of the road would lead to heartache would you still go just so you had a little piece of happiness for awhile. You might just meet your "other" half. Very emotional, thought provoking story.  I won't give away any of the secrets.....but have a big box of Kleenex handy.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

J.D. Tyler--Black Moon (Alpa Pack Novel #3)

[Paranormal Romance]

A group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers combating the greatest dangers in the world. But sometimes those dangers are more intimate than they bargained for…
Ever since he saved Dr. Mackenzie Grant’s life, panther shifter and sorcerer Kalen Black has had trouble keeping the beautiful doctor out of his thoughts, and his heart. The brush with death awakened an intense passion between them—one that for the first time had the notorious loner letting down his guard.

With the Alpha Pack battling an evil Fae who is slowly gaining control over Kalen’s mind, Kalen can no longer trust his own actions, and he breaks off his affair with Mackenzie in order to keep her safe. But when Mackenzie learns that she is carrying Kalen’s child, no amount of danger will keep her away from the man she loves. To protect his mate and unborn child, Kalen will have to battle a terrible evil, unleash the full fury of his power, and risk destroying them all…


{3 stars}
I struggled with this one. Kalen has never been one of my favorite characters, but I guess everyone's story needs to be told. I found his need to run to the evil Malik everytime he got his feelings hurt a bit juvenile. But judging by his past, it somewhat makes sense. Kalen and Mac don't have what I would consider a "love story", so I will just chalk this one up as a story that needed to be told to move the series along and look forward to the next one.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Sophie Oak--Siren Unleashed (Texas Sirens #7)

Twin detectives Ben and Chase Dawson have been sent to investigate an unusual murder at a resort owned by Julian Lodge. Julian wants them to protect the prime suspect, a young submissive who was the last person to see the victim alive. The job seems simple until Ben and Chase discover that the beautiful submissive they both desire has a dark past.

Natalie Buchanan came to the Willow Fork Tranquility Spa seeking sanctuary after escaping the clutches of a twisted sadist. Working as a massage therapist at the resort has given her a chance to heal as well as access to the spa’s secret dungeon. But when one of her regular clients ends up dead on her table, Natalie fears that the monster she once escaped has come back to claim her.

As Natalie rediscovers the beauty of BDSM with her twin Masters, all three will be forced to confront her past.


{5 stars}
Sophie Oak can do no wrong in my library! And as much as I love the Bliss series, I am a true Texas Sirens girl (Texas girl, born & raised) Ben and Chase have been tweaking everyone's interest for several books, and now we get the whole package. Chase has always been the picky, broody one and Ben the easy going lovable one. Well, they have met their match in Nat. She has seen the worse life can throw at a person and still survive. Trying to just find a way to live again by putting one foot in front of the other for years after her abduction, but her past isn't as easily escaped. Ben and Chase are sent to investigate a murder she is suspected of committing, but they instantly know it wasn't her. And just as instantly find she is the one to complete the two halves of themselves. Along the way we get to revisit some of our old friends: Jack/Sam/Abby, Kitten, and Julian/Finn/Danielle. I have missed my Texas bunch. Along with them we get to meet Georgia, Ben and Chase's little sister, who catches the eye of our favorite (if not a little broken) Bliss boy, Logan. Mixed with all the passion with our main trio, is Sophie Oak's trademark humor. If you don't get swept away by the Dawson brothers and Nat, you may find the antics of Georgia and Logan (with Kitten's help) quite hilarious! Always a page turner, never a disappointment! Looking forward to reading Logan and Georgia's tale....

**this is not a series you should jump in to the middle of, start at the beginning with first Texas Sirens book and follow in order, you will switch between the Bliss series and this one. The characters are sexy, funny, and very addictive.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Olivia Cunning--Double Time (Sinners on Tour #5)

Trey Mills, the notoriously sexy Sinners rhythm guitarist, gives up his bisexual lifestyle and is swept into a hot, heady romance with Reagan Elliot, a female rock star sensation. But when Trey encounters Reagan's sexy bisexual roommate, Ethan Conner, he can no longer deny who he is or what he wants. Reagan heartily agrees to a solution that opens up a hot new world of sexual experience--and love--with the two men she wants the most.


{3.5 stars}
Ugh!! I said I wasn't going to read this until the others came out but I couldn't help myself, I have been in love with Trey since book 1. And I was completely dumbfounded to find out that the books were released out of order. Jace's (book #3) and Eric's (book #4) don't come out until Feb and Sept of 2013. Poor decision on someones part. Because truthfully, I would have waited impatiently for Trey's book to come out. Now I'm not sure if I will ever get around to the other guys, except maybe Jace cause he is sooooo cute. So, If you don't want to know how the series ends, DO NOT READ Trey's story until you have waited all year to read the other 2.

Ok, now that my rant is over....
I was a little disappointed in Trey's story. It was cute, don't get me wrong. But it seemed to lack something I needed because the rest of the band wasn't around the whole time. Reagan and Ethan are great additions to Trey's life, but somehow it all fell in place a little to easily. I can't quite put my finger on what put me off, maybe it just lacked that "passion" I always felt when reading about Trey. The band as a whole, performing, getting into trouble, and touring was what drew me to the story the strongest. When you seperate someone from the main storyline, it losses something (for me at least). Strong M/M interaction in this one, not for the "lite" reader, but overall, the trio were great together.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Rhyannon Byrd--Dark Wolf Rising (Bloodrunners #4)

Eric Drake, a powerful Dark Wolf, has never trusted himself around human females-preferring to mate only within his pack. That is, until he encounters Chelsea Smart snooping around Silvercrest pack land in search of her missing sister. Secretly, Chelsea thinks Eric is the sexiest man she's ever seen, though she is wary of his potent Alpha energy. Then it's discovered that Chelsea's sister is being held by a pack of vicious Lycans, and Eric heroically leaps into action. Now, Chelsea will risk everything-her body and soul-to surrender to the passion that will mark her as Eric's woman for all eternity...if they survive.

{4 stars}
Finally, we get to continue the Bloodrunners storyline. It has been several years since we have had another installment in this series. And truthfully, I thought I probably wouldn't have remembered where we left off. But even though I can't remember the finer details of the previous 3 books, it was easy to slide back into the series. Chelsea is a stubborn, hard headed woman, who doesn't  relax enough to actually "live" life. And when her sister disappears, she is hell bent on finding her and bringing her home, whether she likes it or not. Eric has been dealt a hard blow by his father and the remaining "elite" members of the pack, so he now resides with the Bloodrunners. But once he gets one whiff of Chelsea, she becomes his sole focus. Nothing worth anything comes easy right? They don't have a "fairytale" courtship, but it is a passionate ride all the same. Eric has to rescue Chelsea in more ways than one, and in turn she rescues him. Great addition to the series, can't wait to read the next one.


***ARC provided by netgalley