Caress of Darkness by Julie Kenner….ARC Review

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Synopsis:

From the first moment I saw him, I knew that Rainer Engel was like no other man. Dangerously sexy and darkly mysterious, he both enticed me and terrified me.

I wanted to run–to fight against the heat that was building between us–but there was nowhere to go. I needed his help as much as I needed his touch. And so help me, I knew that I would do anything he asked in order to have both.

But even as our passion burned hot, the secrets in Raine’s past reached out to destroy us … and we would both have to make the greatest sacrifice to find a love that would last forever.

 

My review:

Caress of Darkness is the twelfth book in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series as well as the debut work in Julie Kenner’s new series, Dark Pleasures. I was intrigued when I read the synopsis for this story and by the end of the first chapter I was completely captivated. I tried desperately to read slowly and savor the story but alas I couldn’t, and I devoured it in one sitting. It was exceptional.

Successful assistant district attorney Callie Sinclair is at her ailing father’s antique shop, trying to sort through the finances and merchandise while trying to keep her emotions in order over her father’s illness when a sexy, tattooed, imposing stranger enters. And acts like quite an ass. Both startling her and having a less than pleasant reaction to her presence in her father’s shop. It wasn’t exactly how she wanted to start the day. After his rude arrival, and a few marginally more pleasant exchanges, her feelings of anger and annoyance are quickly replaced with feelings of curiosity and, strangely, attraction. There was something about this man who called to her on a deeper level and after chatting for a little bit more, and learning of his business dealings with her father, she feels at ease. Maybe there was something to this connection she was feeling? She would certainly get the chance to explore it further when they both can’t deny the attraction. The attraction that may turn out to be a reincarnation of a long-lost love. Could fate have given two once mated souls a second chance at a happy ever?

Ranier Engel was more than a little bit disappointed when he entered the antique shop and learned the item he was searching for hadn’t been found. That disappointment was soon replaced with a feeling he never thought he would feel again after losing his mate. But here he was, starting at this beautiful woman and thinking he must have her. He couldn’t explain it to her, yet, but eventually she would learn what he was and that he has been alive for thousands of years and had a bond with her that spanned those years. Would she be able to accept what he would eventually need to explain to her? He prayed she would…he couldn’t lose her again.

I have read a lot of paranormal over the years and when I first delved into the genre, I found a few key authors that still hold a place in my heart. They gave me the love of paranormal. It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a new paranormal romance that grabbed me like those original authors had. That’s not to say I haven’t read great books, but there is something different about those first stories. I hadn’t been able to recapture that feeling…until this novella.

Maybe it’s the way Ms. Kenner describes Raine in the first few pages. Maybe it’s the way she wrote the deep, soul-bound attraction or how strong of a heroine Callie is. More than likely it’s the combination of all of that but I can tell you, whatever that magic combination is, she has captured it and wrote it into these pages. Raine is all alpha but with a softer side that had me swooning. He’s a protector. A man who wants to comfort his love. Stop her from ever feeling hurt. Callie is strong and independent. She’s understanding and knows herself well. I enjoy those character traits immensely. The heat and fiery passion between them is intense and hotter than hot.

Above all of that, what Raine is, under his human façade, is new and fresh. It’s exciting and something I haven’t read but is intriguing and well thought out. Also being introduced to characters I’m sure we will se more of throughout this series has me beyond excited.

Truly, this is the start of a series I am certain I will adore. Thank you, Ms. Kenner, for rekindling my love of the genre in writing this phenomenal story.

 

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

kenner dec teaser 3

 

Book Links:

Kindle  |  Paperback  |  1,001 Dark nights

About the author:

jkenner-author

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York TimesUSA TodayPublishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.

Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.

J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

Website  |  Facebook  |   Twitter  |  Pinterest 

The Flame by Christopher Rice…eBook Giveaway

 

Giveaway!

I have FIVE kindle copies of Christopher Rice’s THE FLAME to give away! (if you don’t have a kindle, not to worry! You can download free Kindle reading apps HERE)
Enter to win in the rafflceopter below…the contest runs through midnight next Thursday and winners will be announced Friday, November 28.
Thanks for stopping by!

The Flame 3D giveaway

 

I also had the pleasure of interviewing Christopher for the 1,001 Dark Nights Monthly Newsletter. Here is a snippet:

The Flame is a decadent blend of erotic romance and paranormal. What was your inspiration for the story?

When I was staying at my mother’s house over the holidays last year, someone placed an old scented candle in my bedroom. It was small and mostly used up, but the fragrance hit me as soon as I walked through my bedroom door. I couldn’t believe it at first. I was actually getting turned on. By a smell! From a candle! Fragrances don’t typically arouse me sexually, but for some reason this one did. That experience planted the initial seed of the idea. But I had another inspiration flash, if you will, while I was visiting New York City. I was walking by a hotel where I’d stayed on a previous trip and experienced, let’s just say, a pretty intimate and passionate evening with someone. But when all was said and done, it turned out to be just an evening. (I don’t do long distance well.) So the memory brought with it all of this painful nostalgia and longing, and I thought, “What if there’s a way to go back to that hotel room and draw some spiritual essence of that experience out of the air itself?” What better tool for such a strange ritual than a candle? From there, my mind started racing. I actually bought a small notebook at a bookstore nearby and found the first Starbucks so I could start scribbling down some notes.

If you had to choose a dream cast for the characters, who would play Cassidy, Andrew, and Shane?

Dream casting is always hard because I was always want to play at least one of the characters in my books. And in some sense, I like for my readers to be able to imagine how the characters look. I find readers will do this anyway no matter how exhaustively you describe your characters. I know I do. But if I had to cast Shane from the world outside of my head, I think Ian Somerhalder would be a great choice. Jack Falahee who plays Connor on HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER would also do just fine as Shane. As for Andrew, Stephen Amell, hands down. Forever. In anything. Anywhere. As for Cassidy, I’m going to let the ladies decide on that one. Just remember. She’s supposed to be very petite. Like 5’2”.

As this is your first time writing in this genre, how did it feel diving into the world of erotic romance?

It was so much fun. Really. It was so refreshing and different. Much of what I’ve written in the past is dark; there’s usually some form of happy ending but it’s after some real toil and struggle. But with THE FLAME, for the first time I was writing in a universe in which everyone is safe, in which things are going to work out, it was literally soothing to my soul. There are stakes, for sure, and I hope there’s plenty of suspense. But erotic romance is a genre in which we’re rewarded for making ourselves vulnerable, in which our sexuality is exalted and embraced. And I love both of those ideas. I had no idea ménage even existed as a popular genre. When it’s done well, it’s complex and rich and sexy as hell.

Besides writing, you have a successful Internet radio show, The Dinner Party Show. How do you juggle new show ideas and your writing?

I’m the busiest I’ve ever been! I’m not sure when my weekends actually are anymore. We do a live show on Sunday evening at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT at TheDinerPartyShow.com and that show typically includes pre-produced sketch comedy we write on Monday and record on Tuesday. But that still leaves plenty of time for books and other projects. I’m incredibly impressed by the output of most of my romance writer friends. It’s inspired me to quit worrying about what I’m going to write and start writing it instead. Nothing’s being carved in stone and it can always be revised and edited later.

You were once named one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive. Who did you share a page next to? Do you still have a copy?

Ha! You know, I don’t know if I do still have a copy. Isn’t that a shame? I was included in the “Sexiest Sons” insert and the guys on either side of me were Faye Dunaway’s son and Deepak Chopra’s son.

 

You can read the entire interview HERE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About 1,001 Dark Nights:

1001 Dark Nights is a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are erotic. Each and every one is compelling and page turning. Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features 12 New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution. In our versions, month after month, each of our fabulous authors puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

About the author:

By the age of 30, Christopher Rice had published four New York Times bestselling thrillers, received a Lambda Literary Award and been declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive. His latest novel is THE HEAVENS RISE, a supernatural thriller about a young woman who is exposed to a mysterious parasite in the Louisiana swamp that gives her the power to control minds and unleash living nightmares. THE HEAVENS RISE is currently a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel. Together with his best friend, bestselling novelist Eric Shaw Quinn, Christopher recently launched his own Internet radio show. An outrageous and irreverent comedy variety program, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN streams 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at TheDinnerPartyShow.com, with new live episodes premiering Sunday evenings at 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific.

Christopher’s first novel, A DENSITY OF SOULS, was published when he was just 22. The controversial bestseller was greeted with a landslide of media attention, much of it due the fact that Rice’s mother is a legendary vampire chronicler who shares his last name. He served as a contributing columnist to The Advocate for many years and his additional criticisms and witticisms have been featured in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Salon.com and his own Facebook page, which currently hails over 100,000 subscribers. The members of the InsightOut Book Club selected his novel BLIND FALL as one of the best novels of 2008, and his noir thriller LIGHT BEFORE DAY was hailed as a “book of the year” by mega-best selling thriller novelist (and Jack Reacher creator), Lee Child. His short fiction has been featured in the anthologies Thriller and Los Angeles Noir. He recently served on the board of directors of the West Hollywood Library Fund, which was instrumental in securing private funds to build a brand new state-of-the-art library in the heart of the city he now calls home.

Website  |  Twitter  |  The Dinner Party Show

The Flame by Christopher Rice….ARC Review

The Flame releases Tuesday, November 11, 2014

 

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Book links:

Amazon  |  1.001 Dark Nights

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR CHRISTOPHER RICE PRESENTS HIS FIRST WORK OF EROTIC ROMANCE.

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT…

Cassidy Burke has the best of both worlds, a driven and successful husband and a wild, impulsive best friend. But after a decadent Mardi Gras party, Cassidy finds both men pulling away from her. Did the three of them awaken secret desires during a split-second of alcohol-fueled passion? Or is Mardi Gras a time when rules are meant to be broken without consequence?

Only one thing is for certain—the chill that’s descended over her marriage, and her most important friendship, will soon turn into a deep freeze if she doesn’t do something. And soon.

LIGHT THIS FLAME AT THE SCENE OF YOUR GREATEST PASSION AND ALL YOUR DESIRES WILL BE YOURS.

The invitation stares out at her from the window of a French Quarter boutique. The store’s owner claims to have no knowledge of the strange candle. But Cassidy can’t resist its intoxicating scent or the challenge written across its label in elegant cursive. With the strike of a match and one tiny flame, she will call forth a supernatural being with the ultimate power—the power to unchain the heart, the power to remove the fear that stands between a person and their truest desires.

 

My review:

The Flame is the first installment in a new series from author Christopher Rice as well as novella number 11 in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series. I am a new fan to Mr. Rice’s work and was so excited to read his first dip into the erotic pond and I can tell you, this story was beyond spectacular. Sexy, emotional, intriguing, and magical..it was all of that and more.

Cassidy Burke still can’t wrap her mind around the unexpected and erotic experience she shared with her husband and her best friend the other night at a Mardi Gras party. If she’s being honest, it’s more that she can’t get the sense of rightness over the exchange out of her mind. It also scared her half to death. All of these new feelings unearthed because of their kiss are new and, in a way, disarming. All she can keep coming back to, however, is how right it felt between them. Still trying to shake her feelings, she finds herself drawn to and entering a unique shop in the French Quarter. It’s in that store that she finds a candle that reminds her of the delicious scent of both her husband and best friend. It called to her in a way she couldn’t explained and after getting a very cryptic set of instructions from the shop owner, she leaves with the candle and a deep, hidden, hope that maybe what she is feeling also exists within her husband and best friend. Could there be a way they can all be as one? Armed with a candle and a her magical instructions, she was determined to find out…

Amazing. This story is truly amazing. Mr. Rice writes with such vivid detail and rich description that the reader is completely immersed in his world from the very first page. I could smell the decadent smells, picture the surroundings and sights, feel the turmoil within Cassidy and her uncertainty with the situation as well as her determination to explore it further. Her connection to both of the men in her life is strong and beautiful and I wanted desperately for there to be a way for the three of them to have a relationship. Together. I think I wanted it to work so badly because Mr. Rice did such a fantastic job at conveying the importance of the bond they all share. The deep ties and strong emotions when it came to their ties was done so beautifully. It’s those ties that make the heat between Cassidy, Andrew, and Shane so delectable. This is by far, one of the hottest novellas I’ve read and the bedroom scenes are done with heat and beauty…a combination that I think is hard to find these days, especially in a ménage. Sexy, smoking hot, beautifully described…totally delicious! I am so happy author Rice decided to delve into the world of erotic romance and I know this is the start of something amazing. I can’t wait to see where The Desire Exchange takes us!

Thank you, Mr. Rice, for a phenomenal story filled with magic, beauty, and delectable heat!

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

Rice teaser #3

 
About the author:

By the age of 30, Christopher Rice had published four New York Times bestselling thrillers, received a Lambda Literary Award and been declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive. His latest novel is THE HEAVENS RISE, a supernatural thriller about a young woman who is exposed to a mysterious parasite in the Louisiana swamp that gives her the power to control minds and unleash living nightmares. THE HEAVENS RISE is currently a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel. Together with his best friend, bestselling novelist Eric Shaw Quinn, Christopher recently launched his own Internet radio show. An outrageous and irreverent comedy variety program, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN streams 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at TheDinnerPartyShow.com, with new live episodes premiering Sunday evenings at 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific.

Christopher’s first novel, A DENSITY OF SOULS, was published when he was just 22. The controversial bestseller was greeted with a landslide of media attention, much of it due the fact that Rice’s mother is a legendary vampire chronicler who shares his last name. He served as a contributing columnist to The Advocate for many years and his additional criticisms and witticisms have been featured in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Salon.com and his own Facebook page, which currently hails over 100,000 subscribers. The members of the InsightOut Book Club selected his novel BLIND FALL as one of the best novels of 2008, and his noir thriller LIGHT BEFORE DAY was hailed as a “book of the year” by mega-best selling thriller novelist (and Jack Reacher creator), Lee Child. His short fiction has been featured in the anthologies Thriller and Los Angeles Noir. He recently served on the board of directors of the West Hollywood Library Fund, which was instrumental in securing private funds to build a brand new state-of-the-art library in the heart of the city he now calls home.

website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  The Dinner Party Show

 

Need You Now by Lisa Renee Jones…ARC Review

 

Need You Now releases tomorrow! 

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Book links:

Amazon  |  1,001 Dark Nights 

 

Synopsis:

Life is hard. Life leaves you beaten, broken…alone. Then one day, a stranger touches your hand and you feel something intense, unforgettable, but yet, you want to forget. You need to forget. It’s safer than believing in things you’ve decided don’t exist. You know all about shattered promises and lost hope. You know them so much better than you know this excited, warm, wonderful feeling, and it scares you. He scares you, but he also makes you feel alive again. He makes you realize you haven’t really been living. You’re surviving and you fear he’s the one who’ll make you forget how to keep doing it. But what if he’s the one who changes everything?

 

My Review:

Need You Now is the first in a new series from author Lisa Renee Jones as well as novella number 11 in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series. This novella gave a wonderful introduction to this new series and has me hooked and wanting more!

Out for a night of celebration in honor of her best friend’s birthday, Danny expected to have a few drinks and head home to get ready for another day at work the next day. She’s been hard at work for a small and posh hotel chain, biding her time before she has enough funds for med school and it seems that it’s just around the corner for her to be able to realize her dream of becoming a doctor. She never expected to meet a sexy and irresistible stranger in the bar and certainly never expected to come so close to one night of passion with that stranger. But it had almost happened, and was completely out of character for her. Danny had made it home before she did something she regretted that night, though, and before Danny can figure out why this attraction had been so fierce and sudden, she seems him the next day at the hotel. To make things even more complicated, she finds out who he is and that she will be working with him in trying to turn things around for the hotel chain. She was in so much trouble when it came to this sexy man and her attraction to him. Will she have the strength to ignore this passion? The better question is: will she want to?

Holy yum, Batman. This novella packs a TON of delicious heat and attraction and I loved it. Danny is a really enjoyable character with many facets to her personality. She’s strong and loyal with a good sense of what she wants out of life and her future. Jensen is smoking hot. He’s take charge and no-nonsense. He’s all alpha and I loved reading the scenes between him and Danny. There was also another layer to this story in the struggle of the hotel Danny works for and Jensen’s role in the future of the company. There is a bit of mystery surrounding him and that just added even more to love with this novella. Need You Now is the perfect book to spend an evening curled up on the couch with and truly is a great into to Lisa Renee Jones’ new series. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment.

Thank you, Lisa Renee, for a phenomenal and sexy tale!

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

Jones teaser 1

 

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT SERIES, and is now in development by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland, Austin Powers, MustLisa-Renee-Jones-Headshot-275 Love Dogs) for cable TV. In addition, her Tall, Dark and Deadly series and The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series, both spent several months on a combination of the NY Times and USA Today and USA Today lists.
Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 40 books translated around the world. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.
Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on twitter and facebook daily.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Author Amazon

Tempted By Midnight by Lara Adrian eBook Giveaway

Happy Friday!

To start your weekend off right, I have FIVE kindle copies of Lara Adrian’s TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT to give away! (if you don’t have a kindle, not to worry! You can download free Kindle reading apps HERE)
Enter to win in the rafflceopter below…the contest runs through midnight next Thursday and winners will be announced Friday, October 24.
Thanks for stopping by!

Adrain 3D giveaway

I also had the pleasure of interviewing Lara for the 1,001 Dark Nights Monthly Newsletter. Here is a snippet:

Lazaro and Melena are a wonderful couple and had a fast and intense connection that was phenomenal to read. What made you choose them for your 1,001 Dark Nights novella?

Thank you! When Lazaro Archer first appeared in the series (TAKEN BY MIDNIGHT, Book 8) I hadn’t intended him to be anything more than an interesting secondary character. But the reader reaction to Lazaro and to the devastating loss he suffered in that book was overwhelming. Everyone wanted me to write a story for him! I was thrilled to have that opportunity as part of the 1001 Dark Nights collection.

As for Melena Walsh, his heroine in TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT, I knew it was going to take someone who’d known Lazaro from before (however briefly) and who was probably the one woman who could break through all of his darkness and his defensive walls to touch the heart of a good man who deserved to find love again.

Your Midnight Breed Series is a huge fan favorite and many of the fans have gotten the Breedmate tattoo. What was your reaction when fans first started tattooing the symbol?

Totally surprised and incredibly honored! And I’m also impressed by all the creativity some people have incorporated into their designs.

The Midnight Breed Series spans many years and has many characters and relationships. It’s truly amazing and I love all the intricacies. How do you keep track of all of it?

I have an ongoing story bible that I maintain in WriteWayPro while I’m writing (full disclosure: my husband is the developer of this software). I also published most of my story bible into THE MIDNIGHT BREED SERIES COMPANION, which I frequently refer to while I’m working.

You also write historical romance at Tina St. John…is it difficult at times to transition from paranormal to historical?

It’s been quite a while since I’ve actively written historical romance, but I don’t find it difficult to transition from one type of writing to another. If anything, it’s refreshing! I research different topics, of course, and there are differences in word choices in my prose, but my voice is essentially my voice no matter what I’m writing. I love many different genres—in fact, I’m looking forward to expanding into straight contemporary, romantic suspense, commercial thrillers and other things in 2015 and beyond.

You can read the entire interview HERE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About 1,001 Dark Nights:
1001 Dark Nights is a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are erotic. Each and every one is compelling and page turning. Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features 12 New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution. In our versions, month after month, each of our fabulous authors puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.

Website  |  Facebook  |   Twitter  |  Pinterest

About the author:

LARA ADRIAN is a New York Times and #1 internationally best-selling author with nearly 4 million books in print and digital worldwide and translations licensed to more than 20 countries. Her books have been named among Amazon’s Top Ten Romances of the Year, and have also been nominated by readers multiple times as finalists for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance of the Year. Reviewers have called Lara’s books “addictively readable” (Chicago Tribune), “extraordinary” (Fresh Fiction), “strikingly original” (Booklist), and “one of the best vampire series on the market” (Romantic Times).
Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion’s Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.
With an ancestry stretching back to the Mayflower and the court of King Henry VIII, the author lives with her husband in New England, where she is working on her next novel. Visit Lara’s website and sign up for new release announcements at http://bit.ly/LaraAdrianNews

Facebook | Twitter | Website

Tempted By Midnight by Lara Adrian…ARC Review

Tempted By Midnight releases October 14, 2014

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Book links:

Amazon  |  Paperback  |  1,001 Dark Nights 

Synopsis:

Once, they lived in secret alongside mankind. Now, emerged from the shadows, the Breed faces enemies on both sides—human and vampire alike. No one knows that better than Lazaro Archer, one of the eldest, most powerful of his kind. His beloved Breedmate and family massacred by a madman twenty years ago, Lazaro refuses to open his heart again.

Sworn to his duty as the leader of the Order’s command center in Italy, the last thing the hardened warrior wants is to be tasked with the rescue and safekeeping of an innocent woman in need of his protection. But when a covert mission takes a deadly wrong turn, Lazaro finds himself in the unlikely role of hero with a familiar, intriguing beauty he should not desire, but cannot resist.

Melena Walsh has never forgotten the dashing Breed male who saved her life as a child. But the chivalrous hero of her past is in hard contrast to the embittered, dangerous man on whom her safety now depends. And with an unwanted—yet undeniable—desire igniting between them, Melena fears that Lazaro’s protection may come at the price of her heart.

 

My review:

Tempted By Midnight is story number 12.5 in Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed Series as well as novella number 10 in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series. I am always thrilled to read a new story from Lara Adrian and head back into the Breed world and this novella was spectacular. Packed with emotion, heat, and action, I devoured it in one sitting and loved every second.

Leader of the Order’s Italian command center, Lazaro Archer was used to sensing threats and eliminating them. It was his sole focus, especially now that his family had been taken from him in a horrific manner years before. Preparing for an important meeting with political members with the hopes of ending the strife between the Breed, vampires, and humans, he thought he knew all the players intended on coming to the meeting…and then he saw her. The intriguing and beautiful red-head that shouldn’t be here. Melena. But here she was and his reaction, and attraction, to her was almost immediate. He remembered her from almost another lifetime ago, and remembered saving her from an untimely demise when she fell into an icy lake when she was much younger. She was grown now, and with beauty and brains to spare, he shouldn’t wonder why he was attracted to her. But could he really forget all that he had lost in the past? His family? There wasn’t too much time to ponder more on that night because as fate would have it, he would have to rescue her once again before the evening came to an end…

Melena Walsh would never forget Lazaro Archer. He had saved her life and she will be eternally grateful for that. Now she was here with him and wanted nothing more than to thank him for what he had done all those years earlier. She also would love to be able to ease some of the pain she still saw in his eyes. He had been hardened since she last saw him and after losing his family it was no wonder. But the pull she felt when she saw him was much more than wanting to ease his pain…it was a longing for more. Maybe she would have the chance to rescue him this time…from the sadness and pain that lingered.

Before either one of them can contemplate their attraction, they are met with a terrible situation and thrown together, having to rely on each other to stay alive. And with that, their attraction only grows stronger and into something much more meaningful. Could this be fate’s way of giving Lazaro a second chance at love?

I loved, loved, loved this story. Lara put so much heart into the pages and so much emotion that I was drawn in from the very first page. I loved that Lazaro and Melena had a history and that she understood what he had gone through with the loss of his family. Melena never tried to forget the past, in fact she wanted Lazaro to accept it and move on with his life…a feat he had been unable to do until now. She was exactly what he needed and even though it took a while for him to realize it, she pushed him to realize she was right. He deserved a chance at happiness again and Melena was that chance. It was beautiful to read and I wanted nothing more than for these two to have their happy ending. Of course, my lips are sealed as to if they got it!

Adding another layer to this story was the conflict between the Breed, fellow vampires, and the humans and the trouble all the sides are facing. Also, we got to see a few familiar faces along the way, which was a real treat, and met some new ones that I can’t wait to read more of!

Thank you, Ms. Adrian, for a yet another phenomenal story!

 

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

Adrain teaser 2

 

About the author:

LARA ADRIAN is a New York Times and #1 internationally best-selling author with nearly 4 million books in print and digital worldwide and translations licensed to more than 20 countries. Her books have been named among Amazon’s Top Ten Romances of the Year, and have also been nominated by readers multiple times as finalists for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance of the Year. Reviewers have called Lara’s books “addictively readable” (Chicago Tribune), “extraordinary” (Fresh Fiction), “strikingly original” (Booklist), and “one of the best vampire series on the market” (Romantic Times).

Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion’s Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.

With an ancestry stretching back to the Mayflower and the court of King Henry VIII, the author lives with her husband in New England, where she is working on her next novel. Visit Lara’s website and sign up for new release announcements at http://bit.ly/LaraAdrianNews

 

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Roped In by Lorelei James ebook GIVEAWAY

Hi, everyone!

I have FIVE kindle copies of Lorelei James’ ROPED IN to give away! (if you don’t have a kindle, not to worry! You can download free Kindle reading apps HERE)
Enter to win in the rafflceopter below…the contest runs through midnight Friday and winners will be announced Saturday, September 20.
Thanks for stopping by!

roped in giveaway

I also had the pleasure of interviewing Lorelei for the 1,001 Dark Nights Monthly Newsletter.

Here is a snippet:

I adored Roped In. Sutton Grant was sweet, shy, and sexy while London Gradsky was a total spitfire I would love to hang out with. What made you choose Sutton and London for your 1,001 Dark Nights novella?

I adored Sutton in TURN AND BURN, he was such a great friend to Tanna—and it intrigued me that he wasn’t a wild cowboy on the rodeo circuit like so many of the male characters I’ve written. As much as I love all of my secondary characters, not all of them have enough conflict to carry a full length book, so I knew Sutton’s story was perfect for a “slice of life” novella. And London just blew onto the page, the in-your-face cowgirl with a smart mouth who was the perfect match for the laid-back steer wrestler.

Ok….so you mention a whole closet full of cowboy boots. Do you have a favorite pair?

I have a new pair that are mango-colored embroidered with flowers that are awesome. I’ve been eyeing a new pair with fringe but I’ve resisted temptation…so far.

The book titles for your Blacktop Cowboys Series and Rough Riders Series are some of my favorite out there. Do you have a hard time choosing a title that reflects what the story is about?

I have to have a title before I can even start a story. With the Rough Riders series some of the characters’ names were great for a play on words in the titles (RAISING KANE, ALL JACKED UP, CHASIN’ EIGHT) and I’m such a sucker for song titles as book titles. With the Blacktop Cowboys, I like using the ___ and ___ theme, then mix it up for the next book and find a western word or phrase. Sometimes I have to fight for my titles. My NAL editor wasn’t crazy about HILLBILLY ROCKSTAR, but she agreed to let me use it and she grew to love it. I think it helped that the title fit the character so much. I originally had HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR as the title for RODE HARD, PUT UP WET. And uh, yeah, my editor at the time nixed that title and I’m grateful.

You have a touching real life experience that made it into Chasin’ Eight about an adoption in your extended family. Have you ever heard from any readers saying you’ve maybe helped them with a personal experience of their own?

I get tons of email from readers who are happy to tell me that reading my books have made them grab onto their significant other and have a more satisfying sex life. I also get readers who’ve contacted me and relayed their experiences when something I’ve written about strikes a chord with them. Most recently a woman’s husband had been put in a medically induced coma, like Carolyn McKay in COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY, and she said when he came out he could tell her things she’d said to him while she sat by his bedside. Those types of things are so gratifying to hear because readers are happy that I’ve touched on an experience in their lives that they can relate to.

You can read the entire interview HERE

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About 1,001 Dark Nights:

1001 Dark Nights is a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are erotic. Each and every one is compelling and page turning. Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features 12 New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution. In our versions, month after month, each of our fabulous authors puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.

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About the author: 

A bit about me: When I’m not squirreled away behind my laptop writing fun, sexy, contemporary erotic romances set in the modern day Wild West, I can be found reading everything under the sun, practicing yoga until I’m a pretzel, shootin’ my .22, watching the Professional Bull Riders tour on Versus, and running a kid’s taxi service, all in the guise of avoiding housework and rustlin’ up vittles.
Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I’m a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I’m not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.

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