Read-Love-Blog

February 2014 New Releases New Reviews

Synopsis:

He wants her. All of her.

NYPD sniper Matt Donovan is in Hell. Instead of driving his best friend’s little sister home from college, he’s stuck with her roommate—a fresh-faced ray-of-sunshine with a body that makes grown men weep. There’s no way he’ll allow himself to taint the little vixen, no matter how hard she tries to tempt him, so he resigns himself to the longest—and hardest—drive of his life.

Matt’s obvious attraction suits grad student Lucy Mason just fine. She had no idea her brother’s best friend was so deliciously hot. Knowing he’d never have his wicked way with his buddy’s sister, she lies about her identity and seduces him. But Matt’s no fumbling college boy. His desires run deep—and dark—and he wants to teach Lucy what wicked really means.

Matt’s demanding appetites only make Lucy want more. But when her cover’s blown, he’s furious—even as his hunger for her becomes insatiable. Matt can’t trust anyone, least of all himself. And he knows all too well that darkness always destroys the light…

My review:

Staking His Claim is the fifth, and sadly the final, book in author Tessa Bailey’s Line of Duty Series. This is a series I had fallen in love with from the very first book. I was beyond lucky to read an early copy of this last installment and I have to say….Tessa ended it with one of the best books in the series.

Finally finished with grad school, Lucy Mason is ready to get on with her life and enjoy some time off with her brother and her family before diving into career life. Being thought of a nuisance by her older brother too many times to count, she was on a mission to prove him wrong by being a grown-up and helping him out and returning the favor of helping her though grad school. Of course, this would require one last favor from him….asking his fellow NYPD buddy, Matt, to give her and her roommate a ride from school back home. Easy peasy, right? Not exactly. Her roomie bails and when Matt walks into the coffee shop to pick her up she finds herself in way over her head in lust with one of the most delicious guys she’s ever laid eyes on. Oh, one last problem? She kinda tells Matt she’s Sasha, her roommate. No way she’d stand a chance with him if he knew she was his buddy’s kid sister. And Lucy really, really wanted a chance. A little whit lie never hurt anyone, right?

NYPD sniper Matt Donovan wasn’t too keen on the idea of driving his buddy’s kid sister and her roommate the four hours back home. Scratch that, Matt wasn’t too keen being stuck with only the roommate for the four-hour drive back home. Fresh-faced and full of life, the minute he saw her his inner demons came to life crawling inside his head and filling him with all sorts of visions he knew he shouldn’t be having. He was used to keeping everyone at arm’s length and it would be smart is he kept her there as well. Far away from him. But even the strongest willpower can crumble….and damn if she is chipping away at his from her very first hello. He didn’t stand a chance and figuring one night wouldn’t kill either of them, he gives in….and not long after finds out she isn’t Sasha. She’s Lucy….his buddy’s kid sister and is beyond off limits. Not only because of who her brother is but because of who Matt is and the darkness he hides.

The beauty of a broken soul is that there is always the room to heal. It’s in taking that first step and letting someone help mend the hurt and heal the pain. Matt being resigned to his feelings that he would never be good enough for anyone and Lucy seeing right through to the heart of him and showing him just how much he matters. Matt needing to take and Lucy willing to give….emotional beauty in all it’s essence.

As I sit here and write this review I can’t help but get a little teary eyed. Tessa has given us some of the most delicious alpha males ever written and some of the most amazing gals for those men. I’m sad to see this series end. But if the series had to end, this was the book to end it on.

Matt has been the quiet guy in the shadows and we haven’t heard much from him. We kind of got a hint that there’s a story with him but didn’t get much else. I think the most he’d ever spoken was in Brent’s book and the minute he spoke I knew I would love him. His story is a gut-wrenching one. He’s broken and tortured and sees himself as unworthy of someone like Lucy. He’s lived thorough war and has been hurt by the ones he’s loved most. He hasn’t had much to be hopeful for…until he met Lucy. Lucy who is bright and fun and full of life. Lucy who makes him want to be a better man even with the knowledge that he will always have his dark desires. Lucy who is willing to be who and what he needs when he needs it most. Lucy who isn’t afraid of him and treats him like a man and not like a monster. The push and pull between them is tangible. She’s the forbidden fruit and knowing he will be damned, Matt takes a bite anyway, and is instantly addicted. He can’t believe that Lucy could be feeling the same way for him. Matt has some lines in this book that ripped my heart out but to see the affect Lucy has on him and to see him smile more each chapter was truly a gift to read. I desperately wanted Matt to get his happy ending because no one deserves it more. (my lips are sealed, of course…no spoilers here!)

This is definitely the darkest book in the series and in true Tessa fashion, she freaking nailed it. The passion, the anger, the angst, the emotion, the heat….she nailed all of it. Oh and the ending? I went from crying to laughing to cry-laughing and back to crying…but finished with a huge goofy grin plastered on my face.

Tessa, thank you for giving us Matt and Lucy. Thank you for giving us the Line of Duty Series. Thank you for being you! I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in the future…because I know damned well it will be amazing!

Five Loves

About the author:

Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

Connect with Tessa:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

February 2014 New Releases New Reviews

Lifers by Jane Harvey-Berrick….ARC Review

by Jilly

Lifers releases February 7

Lifers Print-FOR WEB

Book links:

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

After eight years in prison, twenty-four year old Jordan Kane is the man everyone loves to hate.

Forced to return to his hometown while on parole, Jordan soon learns that this small town hasn’t changed since he was carted off to juvie all those years ago. He is the local pariah, shunned by everyone, including his own parents. But their hatred of him doesn’t even come close to the loathing he feels every time he looks in the mirror.

Working odd jobs for the preacher lady, Jordan bides his time before he can leave this backwards town. But can distance erase the memories that haunt him? Trapped in the prison of his own mind Jordan wonders if the pain of living will ever subside?

Torrey Delaney is new in town and certainly doesn’t behave in a way the locals believe a preacher’s daughter should. Her reputation for casual hook-ups and meaningless sex is the talk of the town. Add that to her budding friendship with the hardened ex-con handyman, and the good Reverend is less than thrilled with her estranged daughter’s path.

As friendship forms, is it possible for two damaged people who are afraid to love take their relationship to the next level? Can Torrey live with Jordan’s demons, and can Jordan break through Torrey’s walls? With the disapproval of a small town weighing heavily on them, will they find their place in the world? Can they struggle against the odds, or will their world be viciously shattered?

Is love a life sentence?

Due to scenes of a sexual nature, not recommended for under 18.

My review:

Lifers is the newest work from author Jane Harvey-Berrick, an author I always look forward to reading. As I sit here with my tear-puffed eyes and type this review, I know it’s safe to say that Jane has once again rocked my world. This book is simply incredible.

Escaping a miserable, failed relationship and unhappy life in Boston, Torrey Delaney winds up in small town Texas and living with her reverend mother who she hasn’t talked to in years. You could say she went from bad to worse. That all changes when she meets Jordan. He walks into the diner she’s been working at and immediately Torrey senses something about him. She never expected the reaction of every person in the diner that morning. Reactions of contempt and hate toward him. Clearly there was s story there but she wouldn’t get the chance to ask him…at least on that day. To Torrey’s surprise the mystery man shows up at her mom’s house and begins handyman work. Clearly fate had a plan and Torrey was bound and determined to get to know this beautiful and clearly hurting man. But like an abused puppy, she had to earn that trust. Luckily she had all the time in the world…

Jordan Kane has finally ended his 8-year prison term and is now faced with life on the outside. He’s on parole, which will limit almost anything he could do, but at least he was out of that cinderblock hell. Unfortunately nothing could ever free him from the prison of his own mind. A place that was far worse than a jail cell. He expected the horrible treatment he was receiving from his neighbors, his parents, and the whole damn town. He was an ex-con with no plans for a future and most likely not deserving of one. What he wasn’t expecting was the treatment from the reverend’s beautiful and amazing daughter. She saw him as a person and not a damaged piece of trash. He knew he didn’t deserve it, but damn, how he longed for it. Surely she would treat him just like everyone else did when she found out his truth…but maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t.

What starts out as a much-needed friendship for both Jordan and Torrey turns into something much deeper and it’s that relationship that will be tested. Tested not only by the past, but also tested by the potential of a future together.

Every author has a certain character they write well. A type of character that remains with a reader long after the book has been read. For Ms. Harvey-Berrick, that type of character is the broken and damaged hero. My God, does she write them so well. I started this book and knew immediately I had to clear my calendar until I finished it. No way could I put this book down. And here I am, 24 hours after starting it, writing my review. This book was amazing. I don’t know if “amazing” can truly sum it up. Emotionally gut wrenching, poignant, touching, beautiful, full of hope and promise, yes…all of those things. Jordan is like a broken and battered puppy. He’s got a huge heart and has been paying for a horrible accident that happened when he was 16. Now 24, he may be out of jail, but he will never forgive himself for what happened just as no one else in town or in his family will. He truly believes he deserves all of the horrible treatment he’s been receiving and he’s stuck in this town until his parole ends. He broke my heart. Ripped it out, stomped on it and smooshed it in the dirt. I wanted nothing more than to heal this amazing boy. Then, in walks Torrey. Thank God for that girl! First off, she is a spitfire with a dirty mouth and full of life. I adore her. She had me laughing too many times to count and she was exactly what Jordan needed. Their relationship started out with Torrey busting through the walls Jordan has built up around himself and before long, the tables turn and it was Jordan’s turn to bust through her emotional walls. To see the transformation in Jordan as the book went on was a thing of beauty. All thanks to Torrey. On the flip side, I wanted to kick Jordan’s parents’ asses along with the other townspeople and their hideous treatment of him. But like yin and yang, there was a balance with a few of the townspeople who believed in Jordan and helped him live again.

I honestly went through a box of tissues reading this book. My chest physically aching for Jordan and his story while I was reading. I can’t remember the last time I wanted a happy ever after for a character so badly. This beautiful broken boy was just so deserving of one! Of course I can’t tell you if it happens but if you know me, you know I don’t recommend books that end poorly.

I’m certain I will be in a serious book hangover over Jordan and Torrey for a long time. I will always recommend Jane’s books and this is no exception. Get it on your list. Get some tissues and experience Lifers for yourself. It is so unbelievably worth it. Thank you, Ms. Harvey-Berrick, for yet another stellar read!

Five Loves

About the author:

I love to write.

Out of the crowd of voices in my head, I love to thread together their thoughts and tell the kind of stories that I want to read.

I’ve written my whole life, in one form or other, but it’s only since I started writing adult/new adult books that everything finally made sense.

I’ve lived in the metropolis and now I live in a small village by the sea. Inspiration comes from unexpected places and often when I’m walking my dog.

I hope my stories make you laugh and cry, and feel every emotion in between, because then I guess it’s job done.

Without you, there’s no me. Thanks for reading. jhb x

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

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Concealed by Victoria Michaels…Review & Blog Tour Stop

by Jilly

Title:Concealed (Hidden #1)

Author:Victoria Michaels

Genre:Romantic Suspense 18+

Publication Date:December 10, 2013

Publisher:Crazy-Bee Press

Event Organized by:Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis:

Life has been complicated for Sydney Ross. Desperate for a new start, she leaves home but, during her travels, witnesses something that will forever alter the path of her life. On the run for the last six years, Sydney finds herself living the life of a nomad until she one day stumbles into a small town and hopes she’s finally found a place to put down roots. With a good job in a local diner and, for the first time ever, friends who feel like family, things start looking up for Sydney. The biggest shock of all is catching the eye of the town’s most eligible bachelor, the sexy sheriff, Wade Jenkins.

Sparks fly between them, and it’s not long before Sydney believes Elton, Missouri could be the home she’s always wished for. But Sydney’s past and her secrets have a way of catching up with her. When a brutal murder shakes the small town, Sydney is terrified that the countdown has begun on her time in Elton.

Have the shadows from her past found her again? The people who mean the most want her to stay, but that would put everyone, including her daughter, at risk. Can Sydney put her faith in Wade or will she keep running from a danger that even she doesn’t fully understand?

My review:

Concealed is the first book in author Victoria Michaels’ Hidden series and a title I actually stumbled upon after a blog tour invite and it is truly a hidden gem and am SO glad I found it. I absolutely loved this book. Loved, loved, LOVED!

Sydney Ross has been on the run and looking over her shoulder for six years now and hasn’t ever had a moment to felt at home. That was until she cam here, to Elton Missouri. She has finally found somewhere where she can picture herself staying for the long term. People who treat her like family and that have embraced her. Her job at the local diner has given her friends she knows she would be able to count on when the chips are down. Her job has also given her the treat of seeing the sexy sheriff, Wade Jenkins, each and every day. Man, what Sydney wouldn’t do for a chance with a guy like him. She knows it’s safer for both of them to stay away from him but when the whole town points out that he has been coming to the diner for her, not just her pie, she starts to wonder if it could possibly work between them. Maybe she could finally leave her past in the past and get a chance to enjoy Wade and all he has to offer. After making her decision and just when things really heat up between them, her past comes slamming into her present with a murder and a clear message that she was in serious trouble. Would she ask the town of Elton, Wade, and her friends to risk everything to help her or would she pack up and run? Never has the decision been harder and never had so much been at stake.

Ok, so there’s a big giant piece of this story that I cannot give away in this review and one that the whole story hinges upon….one that makes this story so freaking amazingly good. Sydney left home at a young age and hasn’t looked back since. She hasn’t been able to. She’s a determined and strong willed gal with a smart head on her shoulders and a huge heart. I admired the steps she has taken to keep herself safe and somewhat happy. I was a nervous wreck for this poor gal for almost the entire book and felt as if I was right there next to her, looking over my shoulder as well. Luckily, she has sheriff Wade. Delicious, sexy, brooding, loyal sheriff Wade. I’ve read a whole lot of book guys and he ranks up there with my favorite. There is just something about him that had me swooning from the very beginning. He ends up being even more amazing than I could have imagined and the very end of this book had my crying happy tears.

The rest of the cast of characters is just as fantastic. The kind and caring diner owners, the feisty neighbor, Sydney’s best friend….all of them played an important role and I so wish this was a town I wish I could go and visit.

The mystery surrounding Sydney is quite a doozy and I haven’t read anything like it before. It made this story intense, emotional and nerve wracking and when I got to the end, oh so satisfying. Concealed is a story that will be staying with me for quite some time, it was that good.

Thank you, Ms. Michaels, for an amazing story. I will be eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this series!

Five Loves

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Purchase Links: Amazon |Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Createspace

About the Author

Victoria Michaels is a wife and mother of many who lives her life in what seems like a constant state of motion. Kids’ sports, meetings, homework and general family fun take up twenty-seven hours of her day. In her thirty seconds of free time, Victoria likes to read, write and travel the country with her husband.

She most enjoys writing about love and laughter, two things that are central to her everyday life. If you would like to know more about what’s coming next from Victoria, please check back at victoriamichaels.net for updates, news and sneak peeks of future releases.

Connect with the Author: Twitter | Facebook |Website | Goodreads

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Blog Tour February 2014 New Reviews

Be Mine Forever by Marina Adair…ARC Review & Signed paperback giveaway

by Jilly

Happy Wednesday!

I am so happy to be able to bring you my review for Marina Adair’s Be Mine Forever as well as have a signed paperback copy to give away to one lucky winner!

Enter in the rafflecopter below…. thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

Book links:

Synopsis:

For Trey DeLuca, the idea of settling down was entirely unsettling. As VP of sales for his family’s wine company, he’s never in any one city ? or with any one woman ? for long, which is how he likes it. But when family obligations keep him temporarily grounded in his hometown, he finds the perfect distraction. She’s sweet, gorgeous, and sexy as hell?only her life screams commitment. Between raising her son and struggling to keep her dance school afloat, Sara Reed has her hands full. Dance students she needs ? a steamy tangled sheets cha-cha with a self-admitted commitment-phobe? Not going to happen. But sparks fly as the town prepares for a big Valentine’s Day gala, and Trey strikes a deal with Sara?he?ll ?manny-up? and watch her son in exchange for ballroom lessons. With love quickstepping ever closer, Sara needs to teach this playboy some new steps or risk losing him ? and her heart? forever.

My review:

Be Mine Forever is the fourth book in author Marina Adair’s St. Helena Vineyard Series, a series that I have loved from the first book. Well, I may love each book in the series but this book so far is my absolute favorite of the series! Trey and Sara are quite amazing.

Trey DeLuca has been lured back to St. Helena thanks in part by his sneaky grandmother and now that he was back, he couldn’t wait to leave again. He wasn’t the kind of guy to put down roots, which made him the perfect DeLuca brother for the VP of sales job. Always on the go and never on one place for too long which is just how Trey liked it. Of course that makes being stuck in St. Helena for a few weeks even harder. He knew he couldn’t let his grandmother down but he also knew staying here and seeing how happily married his brothers are, with growing families, would be hard. So now he’s here, and making matters worse, has been roped into dancing at the Valentine’s Day Gala with his grandmother and finds himself signed up for dance lessons. Could it get any worse? For Trey, no. Things seem to be looking up, however, when he meets his dance teacher, Sara. Ok, so maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to stay around and hopefully spend some time with one of the newest, and sexiest, residents of St. Helena.

Single mom Sara Reed has recently decided that she would attempt to get back into the dating pool. Yes, it would be slightly terrifying, but she owed it to herself to try to live life again. Running her dance school and taking care of her son takes up almost all of her time these days but if love came along, she wouldn’t shy away from it. Fate seems to be listening and practically drops the youngest, and most delicious and available DeLuca, into her lap. With a little help from some of St. Helena’s oldest matchmakers, it seems that they are working alongside fate to give Sara a second chance at love. Is she really ready? For that matter, is Trey?

Sara and Trey were walking down different paths in life but end up meeting at a crossroads along the way. Even with two different ideas on what the future holds for them, they will try to travel down a new path together….hopefully they won’t get lost along the way.

I am so mad at myself for finishing this book so quickly! I couldn’t help myself though! It was like eating a big, delicious piece of cake and savoring each bite until you realize you ate the whole piece and it was gone. Trey is by far the cheekiest and most playful of the DeLuca boys if I do say so myself. He likes woman and has honed his flirting and skills of seduction over the years. Sara is in his sights and damn, if he didn’t work his magic. He was in for a bit of a rude awakening though when she kind of gave him the cold shoulder! That didn’t stop his efforts though…thankfully. He’s persistent, that Trey. He also has a huge heart and is sweet and caring and amazing with kids and *dreamy sigh* the list could go on for miles. What he needs though is someone to tame him and Sara is just the gal for the job. Just being herself is enough to draw Trey in. She gives him a run for his money and is slow to let her guard down. Her past is a sad one and she is right in having some hesitations with Trey and relationships. Luckily he’s not one to back down and she’s willing to take a chance on him. They so amazing together and I cried my eyes out at the amazing ending!

Oh, and of course, we get to see our favorite St. Helena grandmothers and the entire DeLuca clan including kids and wives. I loved every interaction with the brothers and Trey with his sisters-in-law and nieces was just totally swoon-worthy!

So now I enter my book hangover phase and I will be missing Trey and Sara, going back to re-read my favorite parts and anxiously waiting for more from my favorite wine country town. Thank you, Marina, for a fabulous, sexy and devour-able read!

Five Loves

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About the author:

Every author can identify the exact moment of inception, when the skies parted, the heavens sang, and a divine being came forth, anointing them one of the chosen, blessed to spend the rest of eternity weaving stories of ‘ever after’ for mass consumption.

For me, it wasn’t so much a moment, but an intervention.

Sophomore year, my fellow Blockheads sat me down and explained that I had an addiction. I was a NKOTB–A-holic. Afraid of becoming enablers, they refused to listen to another one of my never-ending stories about our passionate intrigues with Jordan, Joe, Jon, Danny, and Donnie. What they didn’t understand was that New Kids on the Block wasn’t my obsession—they were my current romance-medium of choice.

Twenty years later, my romance addiction is a hard, bodice-ripping, half-dozen books per week. When I’m not reading it or watching it, I am writing it—or workshopping it—or editing it—or strategizing how my hands to get more of it.

In 2010, I realized I was closer to menopause than prom and got serious about my career, writing my way toward a post-graduate degree in creative writing (in the off chance that the first one didn’t stick) and becoming a published romance author.

January of 2012, I sold my first novel, TUCKER’S CROSSING, to Kensington Books and The St. Helena Vineyard series to Montlake Romance. KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE, the first in the series is a National Bestseller and #1 Romance Series bestseller. SUMMER IN NAPA releases May 14, 2013 and AUTUMN AT THE VINEYARD releases October 2013. In 2014 the first in the Sugar Series, BUT SUGAR’S TWICE AS SWEET, will release from Grand Central’s Forever line.

I live with my husband, daughter and three neurotic cats in Northern California.

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ARC Review….Blood Reunited by Amber Belldene

by Jilly

Blood Reunited releases 1/28

Book links:

Synopsis:

Book Three in the Blood Vine Series.

Brooding vampire halfling and biologist Bel Maras is determined to create a cure for the wasting disease that plagues his vampire family. His work becomes essential as the Hunters intensify their global and bloody campaign. When Bel’s cure fails, only his ancient and estranged godmother Uta Ilirije can help. But seeing the ice-cold Uta reveals something shocking–she is his bonded mate.

She may be a dangerous warrior, but Uta feels her failures acutely. She has been unable to protect her kind from Hunters, and vampires are dying out. Worse, she tied Bel to her long ago in an accident of blood, then abandoned him for his own good–a choice he has never forgiven. Many days, she is convinced Bel and the vampires would be better off if she just walked into the sun.

Biology has fated them to be mates. Now these old enemies must overcome their past to save the vampires and come to peace with the bond they never chose.

My review:

Blood Reunited is the third and final installment of author Amber Belldene’s Blood Vine Series, a series that I have loved from the very beginning. As sad as I am to see the end to this series I must say that I am equally happy with how it did end. It was absolutely perfect.

Blood Reunited picks up where the second book, Blood Entangled, left off and to say things are a mess for the Kastle Estate Winery would be a gross understatement. The situation with the Hunters and the wasting disease are at the most dire points and things have never looked bleaker.

But vampire Halfling, Bel, still has hope that he can cure the wasting disease and in turn save the vampire race. He has been working non-stop on in his lab and believes he’s isolated what makes the wine so important. He also believes he’s figured out the same thing about the Hunter blood. It’s all right there, practically in his grasp but alas, it keeps eluding him. To throw another monkey wrench into things, Uta is at the winery. Uta, Bel’s childhood friend, one of the oldest vampires in existence, and his blood mate. As if he needed this kind of distraction. Her presence has awoken a need in him he has never felt before and also has brought back all his childhood feelings of hurt when she pushed him away all those years ago. He still had no idea why she sent him away when he needed her most after his mother’s suicide and he certainly didn’t have time to worry about it now. He needed to focus on his work and saving vampires. Easier said than done.

Vampire Uta Ilirije has stayed away from Bel for as long as she could. Now, being forced to head to his family’s winery with the council so they could work on saving the vampires and stopping the Hunters, she would be forced to see him…and ignite the blood bond. A blood bond she had formed by accident. No matter what the circumstances though, she loved Bel. Always had. And seeing his distaste for her was crushing her. But she was a warrior and would do what it took to stop this war with the Hunters and in the end she hoped one day Bel could forgive her. Dare she hope along with his forgiveness he could learn to love her?

Adding to this storyline was Ethan Bennett and his new plaything, Gwen. Whoa, talk about one effed up relationship! Amber did one hell of a job portraying them as the uncaring, soulless fiends they are…or shall I say were.

We also learned more about the vampire race and their ancient relationship with the Hunters. Seeing all the pieces fit into place was pretty amazing and again, Amber did one hell of a job weaving their historic tale throughout the series with the culmination in Blood Reunited.

While reading this story the saying “it’s going to get worse before it can get better” kept rolling around in my head…because never had it been truer. Things with the Maras clan and the winery are a devastated mess and I was heartbroken for all they had to endure. Bel and Uta go through so much in terms of emotion and rehashing their personal history. Bel being stubborn and angry while Uta is broken and tired of feeling all the guilt she has carried over their blood bond. All of that being said, it made the ending ever sweeter. I had such a sense of contentment when I read “The End” and I finished this book with a smile. You know I won’t give anything away so you’ll have to red it for yourself to find out.

Amber, thank you for one of the most amazing series endings I have ever had the pleasure of reading and for giving us the Blood Vine Series. All you vampire lovers out there really need to read this series…you won’t be disappointed!

Five Loves

About the author:

authorphoto-2 Amber Belldene grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book. As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days.

Amber is an Episcopal Priest and student of religion. She believes stories are the best way to explore human truths. Some people think it is strange for a minister to write romance, but it is perfectly natural to her, because the human desire for love is at the heart of every romance novel and God made people with that desire. She lives with her husband and two children in San Francisco

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Review….Loving Cara by Kristen Proby

by Jilly

Book links:

Synopsis:

In this new Love Under the Big Sky series from a USA TODAY bestselling author, Cara agrees to tutor her former classmate’s nephew—and learns some lessons in love!

Josh King is an expert at running his family’s multi-million dollar ranch in Montana. (And all that outside manual labor has done wonders for sculpting his six-foot-three body, too.) But as sure footed as he is when it comes to the ranch, Josh doesn’t know anything about how to deal with an adolescent boy—so when his twelve-year-old nephew, Seth, is dropped off on his doorstep, looking scared and acting surly as hell, Josh knows he needs help in straightening him out.

Cara Donovan loves her quiet life as a teacher in her sleepy hometown, so she jumps at the chance to make a little money over the summer as a tutor. But when she learns she’ll be teaching Josh King’s nephew, Cara’s sweet summer job gets a little bit hotter. Cara tries to focus all her attention on tutoring Seth, but Josh proves to be a delicious distraction, while Josh’s memories of the shy girl he once teased in high school are nothing like the beautiful woman he’s facing now. Can he persuade her that there’s more between them than a summer fling?

My Review:

Loving Cara is the first book in author Kristen Proby’s newest series, Under the Big Sky and talk about one hell of a debut. I loved everything about the book from start to finish.

Cara Donovan and Josh King have known each other for years. They went to high school together and still live in the same small town but despite the geography, they really don’t see much of each other. That all changes when Cara gets a job tutoring Josh’s nephew over the summer. Seth’s mother drops him off at the King’s family ranch and leaves without so much as a backward glance. Zach, Josh’s brother and Seth’s father, is in the Army and overseas for at least another month which means Seth was now Josh and his parents responsibility. No problem, right? Wrong. Seth needs a whole lot of love and attention to bring him out of the anger he’s settled into. He also needs whole lot of help in the schooling department which is where Cara comes in and ends up as Seth’s tutor. Luckily Cara is up for the challenge. Of course that means Cara and Josh will be spending a whole lot of time together and soon the attraction they both feel is too much to deny. Josh can’t believe his high school friend has grown into such a beautiful and smart woman and Cara is in awe of the handsome, sexy, and caring Josh. Sparks will fly and lust will ignite all while helping a young man learn to trust and love again. Will they all get their happy ending?

Man, I devoured this book. In less than a day. Cara and Josh have some serious heat building from the very beginning and it slowly builds at a delicious pace until they both decide to take the next step and holy hell. These two are HOT together! But beyond that, Cara and Josh come together to help Seth, and that’s where they shine. Where Josh is stern, Cara balances him out with a softer side and Seth stands to learn a lot from both of them. Of course there are a few bumps in the road for Cara and Josh, which makes it more emotional and intense and that much better. Along the way we meet Cara’s best friend Jillian (love the name, of course!), Jillian’s brother Ty, and at the end, Zach, Seth’s dad. All of them are fabulous, complex characters and I suspect we will be seeing more of them in this series and I can’t WAIT!

If you’re looking for a romance with serious heat, loads of emotions and a small town feel, this is the book for you! Thank you, Kristen, for a fantastic book and a series I look forward to continuing!

Five Loves

About the author:

Kristen Proby has made a living as a massage therapist, a medical biller, a registrar in an Emergency Room, and a professional photographer. But what feeds her soul is writing romantic, erotic love stories about strong women who don’t necessarily need saving, and gorgeous, alpha-type men who want to save them anyway.

Kristen lives in the amazing Pacific Northwest where, conveniently, her muse lives too.

Kristen loves hearing from readers! You can contact her on her Facebook page or via email.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Review….Fighting Kat by P.J. Schnyder

by Jilly

Book links:

Synopsis:

Book two of The Triton Experiment

Intergalactic mercenary Kat Darah has been ordered to keep her shape-shifting ability a secret from everyone but those closest to her, for her own safety. She’s learned how to control the feral rage… for the most part. But when Lieutenant Rygard’s military unit goes missing, she’ll use every skill she has to find her man.

Lt. Christopher Rygard has witnessed his girl shift, and he still wants her. After Kat rescues him from alien clutches, he’d like nothing more than to wrap her in his arms again, but his first duty is to his men. And half of them have been shipped off-planet to be sold as slaves.

Kat and Rygard will need to form a new team to go deep undercover, posing as gladiators and learning to fight together—not just side by side—in order to survive. In the arena, it’s all about who is the strongest predator…

My Review:

Fighting Kat is the second book in author P.J. Schnyder’s The Triton Experiment Series and follows Hunting Kat, a novella I loved. I was anxiously awaiting this next story and wow, what a fantastic follow up!

Mercenary Kat Darah is back on her ship and kind of keeping things status quo. Daily life, ship duties and all that….and missing Rygard. They hadn’t had nearly enough time together and now he was on a mission with his unit and she was here, trying to keep herself busy and ignore the itch she feels for him. Adding to that itch is not being able to shift into her panther form and go for a nice long run. But she’s had years to try to get used to that and control her shape shifter urges. This whole guy itch is new though and adding those urges together is a tricky combo. Luckily, Rygard calls in with a holographic call so she could see him and for a small moment in time she has peace. That tiny sense of peace is shattered when she finds out that after his call, he and his team had gone missing. Now, she is on a mission to save him and his men. Kat has no idea that the mission will end up taking her right back into the world she’s tried for years to forget. A world of violence and shape shifting viruses…the world that has haunted her memories and the world from her nightmares.

Wow. Talk about a pulse pounding, white knuckled read! I’m going to tread carefully here and not give any spoilers away because this is a story you really need to experience first hand.

To save Rygard and his unit, Kat must join up with friends new and old to get to the bottom of where he has been taken and what the enemy plan is. Of course, it can’t be easy and poor Kat is thrust into the middle of the world that created her and the world she is trying to forget. After she finds Rygard, they realize that in order to save his men, they’ve got to go deep undercover in an underground world filled with cage matches and infected shifters. People and species held prisoner for the entertainment of others. Slaves fighting, literally, for their lives. The amount of action in this book is nothing short of spectacular and I held my breath during some of the fight scenes, fearing for Kat, Rygard and their team. There were tense moments but there were also tender and emotional moments. Kat and Rygard’s connection and attraction is strong an unyielding and I loved seeing their relationship grow after being put to the test.

In the addition of many characters in this story, one really stood out to me and he was a mystery for almost the whole book….Bharguest. A dark and deadly prisoner being held on Kat’s ship, I was always excited to get to a scene with him in it. He held many secrets and I do hope we get to see more of him in the series. I also have to mention that P.J. did an amazing job making me as a reader connect with the new characters and strengthen my love for Kat, Rygard, Dev and crew.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and action packed tale from start to finish and I cannot wait to see what P.J. has in store for us next!

Four Loves

About the author:

Born and raised in the North East, PJ Schnyder spent her childhood pretending to study for the SATs by reading every fantasy and sci-fi novel she could borrow from the local and school libraries. She scored fairly high in the verbal portion.

She was introduced to the wonderful world of romance a decade later by her best friend at an anime convention in Seattle.

She now lives somewhere temperate watching the seasons go by with her two dogs and super stealthy ninja kitty, writing her stories.

PJ would love to hear from you. Whether it’s questions or comments regarding her stories or this website, please feel free to email her.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Blog Tour January 2014 New Releases New Reviews

Sweet Southern Betrayal by Robin Covington…Release Week Event, Giveaway & Review

by Jilly

I am so happy and excited to be a part of Robin Covington’s Release Week Event for her newest release, Sweet Southern Betrayal.

I absolutely ADORED this book! Robin has an amazing giveaway happening with prizes that include an iPad mini! The giveaway information and rafflecopter are at the bottom of this post so be sure to read all the way down.

Thanks for stopping by and ENJOY!

Buy links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ All Romance eBooks

Synopsis:

Privileged and ambitious attorney Teague Elliott is on the fast-track to getting everything he wants. All he has to do is stay on the straight and narrow and a high-profile political career is his for the taking. Until he wakes up naked with a Vegas showgirl…

Risa Clay has worked hard to put her showgirl past behind her and start fresh. But she owes ten grand to the wrong people, and to pay off her debt, she agrees to betray a stranger. . .but she ends up with a husband and guilty conscience.

Savvy and determined, she double-crosses the mob, goes on the run, and turns up on Teague’s doorstep armed with a dangerous secret, a marriage license, and the power to ruin his well-planed future. She thought using Teague again would be easy, but the passion that exploded between them in Vegas didn’t stay in Sin City and betrayal is the last thing on her mind.

Now Teague has to choose between the future he’s planned for all his life, or the one with Risa that he can’t turn away from.

Excerpt:

“What do you want, Teague?” Risa leaned in, brushing her lips against his with the weight of a whisper, and he knew that in spite of his grip on her, she was the one who was in control. “Throw out all your plans. Live in the moment, and tell me what you want. Not for your family or the firm, but you.”

Her tongue was wet and warm against his lips, pressing lightly until he allowed her to enter for a slow, sweet kiss that promised him all he desired if he would just say the word. “Tell me what you want.”

For one more night—fuck the plan.

Teague took her mouth wanting, needing, to make her stop talking. She opened to his tongue as he swept inside her, tasting and devouring her breath with every press of their lips. Her hair was like a silken cord wrapped tightly around his fingers and he couldn’t tell if he held her or if she’d captured him. Her moan, deep and low, tore him open like an explosive blast, unleashing everything he’d kept bottled up inside him.

“You make me so goddamn crazy.” He panted against her skin, tasting her sweet desire, soaking in her surrender. “You live so freely, but I know you’re holding things back, pushing me away.” He caught her lips in another kiss, swallowing her cry of passion. “But I can’t seem to shake you loose.”

“What do you want, Teague?” She wouldn’t let it go. Risa tracked her hands down his chest, across his stomach, until her fingers curled around the waistband of his sweatpants. Her skin against his belly made him gasp with its heat and electricity. His body was on autopilot, his hips bucking forward until she responded to his silent request with the press of her palm against the hard, aching length of him. “I’ll leave soon and this will be over, but I’m here now. All you have to do is ask and you can have it. Anything you want.”

“I want—” He swallowed hard, the images of what was to come making it difficult to speak with his heart clamoring in his chest. “I want your mouth on me.”

My Review:

Sweet Southern Betrayal is the third book in author Robin Covington’s The Boys Are Back in Town Series and oh my, these boys can back into my town any time they’d like! I adored this book!

Successful attorney Teague Elliot has the world in the palm of his hand. He’s just about to land the title of youngest partner in his uber successful Washington D.C. law firm and he couldn’t be happier. Of course, this is just another stepping stone in his plan to enter the world of politics. He’s also managed to keep his nose clean and the skeletons out of his closet his entire life in prep to take The Oval Office one day. This brings us to the present…when he heads to Las Vegas with his friends and ends up in bed with a Vegas showgirl and absolutely no memory of why she’s here. Or what he may have done the night before. Will “what happens in Vegas” actually stay in Vegas? Never has Teague needed it that saying to be more true than right now….

You could say that Risa Clay has taken the lemons life has handed her and made them into lemonade. She didn’t have an easy childhood but has managed to make a pretty good life as a Las Vegas Showgirl and can’t really complain. She certainly can’t complain when she wakes up to a sexy stranger after an unforgettable night. But that’s just what she’d have to do…forget him. Her best friend was in trouble and she had done last night as payment to her boss for borrowing money to help her best friend kick a nasty drug habit. A shame, really, because this sexy stranger was positively delicious and they had an undeniable chemistry. It’s this chemistry that prevents her from doing the last part of the payment for her boss and sends her fleeing Vegas…and showing up on her handsome one-night stand’s doorstep.

So I’ll say it again….these boys can come back to my town any time they’d like. This book started out with a kick and just kept getting better with each chapter. I couldn’t put it down! Teague is straight laced, buckled up and not one to forget his end goal: The White House. He’s worked hard and has dotted every “i” and crossed every “t” knowing full well that he didn’t want to deal with the hassle of a shady past. Well, you know what they say about the best-laid plans. Risa is exactly his opposite, a girl with a messy past and just living in the moment. And this brings me to another saying: opposites attract! Fate has slammed these two together and never before has she gotten it more right. Risa and Teague are so amazing together. The push and pull between them is practically tangible, the chemistry between them palpable. They’ve got quite a mess on their hands and fixing it proves to push them both to the limit, testing all emotions and crossing all sorts of lines. Did I mention I loved this book? Well, I did. A lot. Also, I have to mention that Robin writes some of the most amazing smexy scenes that I’ve ever read….and I’ve read a whole lot of them. There’s just something about her writing that gives her characters a little dash of more and it makes all the difference in adding to the heat factor!

If you haven’t read the other books in the series, no worries, you can totally read this book as a stand-alone. Of course, I absolutely recommend you do, well, if for no other reason than Robin writes some phenomenal characters and you will enjoy each one! Thank you, Robin, for Teague, Risa and another fab story!

Five Loves

A message from Robin:

I love Vegas. I love Elvis. I love romance novels.

In my latest release, SWEET SOUTHERN BETRAYAL, I got to indulge in a little bit of fun on the strip. Glitz, glamour, Elvis, and a little bitty wedding chapel.

In this book, Teague Elliott is a man with a plan. A hotshot lawyer with the White House in his future, the last thing he needs is a most unsuitable wife who tangles up his mind and burns up his sheets.

Risa Clay is a Vegas showgirl who runs an online sex toy business on the side. She’s put her rocky past behind her but when she owes the mob money, she has no choice but to betray a sexy stranger and ends up with an irresistible lover.

I loved writing this book and bringing these two unlikely people together.

But the best part? Putting poor Teague through the wringer and turning his life upside down until he had no choice but to lay it all on the line and put all his chips on one number.

Winner takes all.

And Teague is not a man who likes losing.

To celebrate the release, I’m giving away the following awesome prizes:

An iPad mini (16gb, WiFi) to one lucky player
$25 Amazon or B&N gift cards to four lucky players
10 Robin Covington SWAG packs (tote bags, koozies, notebooks, t-shirts) and/or “what-the-hell-just-happened-last-night” packs full of awesome! The prize pack includes: A copy of the movie, THE HANGOVER andVegas hangover kits (including Gatorade mix, Tylenol, travel toothbrush set, Shout wipe, make-up remover, sleep mask, band-aids and spare pair of undies – all in a gorgeous little travel case).

I will pick the winners on Friday, January 17, 2014 at midnight EST.

So what do you have to do to win here? Just – use the rafflecopter widget below and you will be entered to win!

Burn it up,

Robin

Sizzling Romance. Burning Up the Sheets . . . one page at a time.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her bestselling books. When she’s not writing sexy, sizzling romance she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello. You can find Robin at her website (robincovingtonromance.com), Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Don’t send chocolate . . . send eye candy!

Website ~ Facebook Profile ~ Facebook Page ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

3 Comments »

Review….Die For Love by Caridad Piñeiro

by Jilly

Book links:

Synopsis:

Loving a dead man can be brutal.

Diana Reye’s pregnancy is draining her of life. Now she and vampire Ryder Latimer are faced with the most difficult choice of all. Turn Diana, or lose her and the baby. If Ryder chooses to save them, he risks the wrath of the Slayer Council and will be marked for his own death by their friend Michaela. Chasing a vampire can be consuming.

FBI agent Michaela Ramirez has been searching for the vampire who raped and killed her mother while acting as an enforcer for the Slayer Council. Since meeting FBI Director Jesus Hernandez , however, Michaela is losing a bit of her edge as she imagines the possibility of a life full of happiness and passion with her handsome boss by her side…and in her bed.

Living without the one they love isn’t an option.

But soon trouble comes calling as the vampire she hunts makes Michaela his prey. Now Michaela finds herself in a battle not only for her own life, but for her friends lives as well, as she and Ryder both make the difficult decision to break all the rules for love.

My review:

Die For Love is the fourth book in author Caridad Piñeiro’s The Reborn Series and admittedly, the first in the series that I have read. Well, clearly I have been missing out. This book was amazing and I have already added the others in the series to my to-read list!

This story primarily follows two couples and their current struggles, which is a fun break from the one-couple-per-book norm I’ve been reading lately.

Michaela Ramirez is good at two things…being an FBI agent and a vampire slayer. You see those two things are easy for her because you don’t really require a whole lot of warm and fuzzy emotions. She really didn’t excel at the warm and fuzzy. Not since seeing her mother brutalized and murdered in front of her at twelve years old. The problem now is Jesus Hernandez, her lover. He is bringing about all sorts of emotions she never knew she was capable of, and emotions she’s afraid of feeling. Just when she thinks she already has plenty on her plate, she stumbles across her vampire father. The man she has wanted revenge on for as long as she can remember. Never before has Michaela been more emotionally confused or her focus more shattered and never before has it mattered most. Her heart and sense of revenge are at stake….

Soon-to-be-mom Diana Reye should be experiencing the common joys of first time parenthood. Picking out the paint color for the nursery, choosing names, buying baby clothes. Instead, Diana and her vampire husband Ryder are deciding if and when they will have to take away Diana’s human life in exchange for a vampire life in order to save her and their unborn child. Add into the mix their friend and vampire slayer Michaela and the possibility she will kill Ryder for turning Diana and you could say that this baby prep is anything but normal. Their happy ending is anything but certain and the stress is unbearable at times.

So, you already know this is the first book in author Piñeiro’s The Reborn Series that I have read but the beauty of Caridad’s writing is that I wasn’t once lost or confused during this book. That being said, I was able to thoroughly enjoy all the emotions swirling around in this book…and man, there were a multitude of them! Starting with Michaela and Jesus. These two are so well matched and Jesus has an innate ability when it comes to dealing with Michaela. He knows she’s not going to admit her feeling easily but he knows she is worth fighting for. Michaela is one kick-ass heroine. When she has her sights set on something, she goes for it. All in, consequences be damned. I loved her for that. Their ending in this story was so fitting for them as a couple! I won’t give any of the details away but know this….it’s in true Michaela fashion in how they get their own special version of a happy ever after.

Now, for Diana and Ryder….whew! These two are equally amazing. Diana was absolutely meant to be a mom and the way she fought for what was best for her unborn daughter was humbling and something any mom can relate to. Doing what’s best for you child no matter what. Ryder is also 100% dad material and he broke my heart with his worry for his wife and child. I will tell you that I sobbed through almost four entire chapters with them. But, if you know me, you know two things….1.) I love to cry while reading and 2.) I wouldn’t recommend a book that ends sadly. But other than that, my lips are sealed!

I have appreciated Caridad, as a person and as an author, for quite some time and this book is just another example of how awesome she is. If you’re a fan of love stories filled with emotion and suspense, and of course the paranormal, than I absolutely recommend this story. Thank you, Caridad, for a spectacular and thrilling story!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

About the author:

Caridad Piñeiro® is a multi-published and award-winning author whose love of the written word developed when her fifth grade teacher assigned a project – to write a book that would be placed in a class lending library. She has been hooked on writing ever since.

…for much more on Caridad, her book and many accomplishments and awards, please visit her website.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Blog Tour January 2014 New Reviews

2 Comments »

Golden Dunes of Renhala by Amy joy Lutchen…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop during the blog tour for Golden Dunes of Renhala (Renhala #2) by Amy Joy Lutchen!

The blog tour runs from 13 January till 26 January, you can view the whole tour schedule on the Golden Dunes of Renhala blog tour page on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

Golden Dunes of Renhala (Renhala #2)
by Amy Joy Lutchen
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: November 26, 2013

You can find Golden Dunes of Renhala on Goodreads

You can buy Golden Dunes of Renhala here:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo

Blurb:

How do you live with a secret so dark and so deeply woven into your being that it threatens to smother your very existence, with no known way out? Use it to your advantage.
Kailey Rooke, karmelean, and now a possibly unethical karma-for-hire, has spent the past year jumping from project to project without any real hope for salvation. With repercussions from her actions at every turn, she discovers that as time goes on, she loses a bit more of herself to that which feeds on her anguish–that which is thriving inside her own body.
When a new contract to find a missing girl arises, Kailey attempts to put her past and its associated problems on the back burner, but she soon finds out that treachery and deceit lie shortly ahead in Golden Dunes, only giving face to new problems, with one leading right back to her childhood past.
She struggles to complete her contract as her own life teeters on a fulcrum, constantly tipping according to karmaís whim. How long will she keep her balance? Which way will she fall?

My Review:

Golden Dunes of Renhala is the second in the Renhala series by author Amy Joy Lutchen. After reading and loving Renhala, the first in the series, I was eager to get my hands on this follow up. Amy brought me right back to the magical world I love and I was so happy to be there.

We pick up pretty much right where Renhala left off and are immediately brought back into Kailey Rooke’s new reality. A reality of magical lands and creatures only one could dream of. Now, though, Kailey has an internal conflict brewing and it will threaten her very being. The darkness within her, a piece of her father, takes over a bit more each day and Kailey finds herself lashing out at her friends. Pair that with her abilities as a Quicksilver and a karmelean and letting the darkness take over completely would mean massive consequences…and not for the good. Currently on a mission to find a missing girl, Kailey and her rag-tag group of friends and accomplices find more mystery at every turn instead of getting closer to finding the missing beloved sister and daughter. Will she be able to find this girl while also finding the ability to keep the darkness at bay?

I flew through this book. When storytelling is done as rich as Golden Dunes of Renhala was, it makes the transportation into a fantasy world an easy one. I loved seeing all of our friends from Renhala again. The fight Kailey has on her hands is a tough one indeed and she needs those friends and their help along the way to keep her grounded and that’s exactly what they do. Kailey may have lost both of her parents in the last book, but she certainly isn’t lacking family with friends like these. Bu is back (I adore Bu!), Gunthreon, Lupa, Connor, Jenna and Ladimer are all there and the journey they embark upon into the Golden Dunes is going to test all of them at one point or another. The search for the missing girl opens up a can of worms far bigger than just a missing person. I can’t go into too much detail without giving away spoilers, but Kailey meets a person in this book that was a pretty big shock to her, and to me. A good shock in a way though and one that I hope can develop into a positive thing for both Kailey and the mystery person. Although there was a lot more darkness in this book compared to the last one, there were also some really heartwarming parts when Kailey feels her mother’s spirit around her. There were also some positively heartbreaking moments that had me reaching for my tissues.

Oh, and in the end, Kailey ends up with the guy I have wanted her with from the minute I met him in Renhala (nope! My lips are sealed!) Speaking of the end, WHOA! Totally taken by surprise at how Amy Joy ended it and I can only hope it means we get another book….because let me tell you, the delivery Kailey gets on her doorstep is a pretty shocking one!

Thank you, Amy Joy, for another rich and magical story filled with enchanted surroundings, fairy tale friendships and a mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end!

Four Loves

Some information about the first book in this series:

Renhala (Renhala #1)
By Amy Joy Lutchen
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: 26 September, 2012

Blurb:
Kailey Rooke, timid accountant dedicated to philanthropic work, finds herself spiraling into a deep depression after she suffers a horrifyingly odd and humiliating assault, to only discover more of these freakish assaults occurring across the globe.
A chance discovery leads Kailey to a meeting with elderly Gunthreon, actual master of persuasion. Gunthreon, who seems to know too much of Kailey’s history for her liking, opens Kailey’s eyes to a coexisting magical realm she never knew existed: Renhala, while entrusting her with the knowledge of her newfound power as karmelean, serving as a beacon to the Higher Ones. She soon discovers that Renhala is in danger, and this danger has been leaking into her own realm. As she uncovers secrets within herself, and attempts to toughen up, she fuses with an unlikely band of fellow travelers/creatures, falls into an unexpected love triangle, and finds the courage to master a new deadly weapon.
As blood is shed and puzzles near completion, Kailey pulls from deep within herself, conjuring up mystical qualities that enable her to astonish as once predicted at her birth, but despite the newfound strength, Kailey will discover that monsters not only come in ugly packages, but can be easily disguised as those she has come to love and trust.

You can find Renhala on Goodreads

You can grab your free copy of Renhala here:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

About the Author:
Was born in Chicago and slept in a dresser drawer for the first few weeks of my life, marking me as a future claustrophobe.

I studied at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (man I grew up quick), where I became a number, but decided it was a good number.

I write with plenty of snacks in hand, making sure they are not in multiples of three. That number makes me nervous.

Author of the Renhala series.

You can find and contact Amy here:
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway:

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour for Golden Dunes of Renhala. Here is what you can win: signed Renhala hardcover, signed bookmark, tea(s), two fun pouches (one with a skull, the other the word “LOVE”), a snake ring and $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card.
You can enter the giveaway here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

6 Comments »

Review….The Hunted One by Meg Collette

by Jilly

Book links:

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

The fallen have trespassed into Heaven for the first time in eternity. Prepared for battle, Michaela and her Archangels open Heaven’s gates to confront the fallen. Only, Michaela’s Archangels—her brothers and sisters in Heaven—betray her. And when the fallen attack the sanctuary in the skies through the gates Michaela inadvertently left open, the holy angels accuse Michaela of planning the invasion.

One simple mistake with a thousand consequences.

Dragged to Earth by an Archangel turned fallen, Michaela will do anything to return to Heaven and save it. In her fervor, she kills the Archangel—something no angel has ever done before. Wingless, without any hope, Michaela welcomes death when an unlikely human ally, Clark, finds her. With the help of Clark and Gabriel, an innocent Archangel whose friendship deepens into something far more torrid and unexpected on Earth, Michaela must prove the holy angels have their own plan for Heaven, and it is one that may prove to be the End of the Days.

It may be too late to save herself, but Michaela is the only one who knows the truth about the holy angels. If she fails, she may never be able to return to Heaven. But even that may be a hopeless dream.

My Review:

The Hunted One is the first book in author Meg Collette’s End of Days Series and one that piqued my interest immediately after reading the synopsis. It seemed like a new sort of twist on the whole Heaven and Hell story….well, it was….and it was awesome.

Archangel Michaela has been serving as General to the Archangels since the beginning of her existence. It was all she had ever known. She was charged with keeping things in line and balanced between Heaven, Earth and Hell. She was part of the elite force in Heaven and had her friends and fellow Archangels by her side. It was a job she performed with the utmost sincerity and respect. She thought she had done everything right until she found herself on the other end of horrible deceit and conspiracy. Deceit and conspiracy at the hands of her fellow Archangels…her friends. Suddenly, everything she had thought to be pure and true was tainted and she finds herself without her friends, without her wings, and without a clue on what to do next. She knows she has to do what she can to fight the forces of evil and save both Heaven and Earth but the problem now is that she is just Michaela….not the General Archangel. The remaining forces in Heaven are after, wanting revenge, and the forces in hell want to assure that she is destroyed as well. Her only hope is Clark, a human and part of a family line trusted to help the heavenly inhabitants. Will she have what it takes to regain the trust of Heaven, bring down the forces of Hell and save the human race? That’s a whole lot of burden to carry….

I always love stories surrounding Heaven and Hell and always enjoy reading each author’s unique spin on things. In this story, author Collette has given a darker side to characters we normally think of as good and it was exciting to read from the very first few pages. Michaela has been an upstanding member of Heaven and has never really had anything unsavory happen to her in all her years. Well, that poor gal was in for a really rude awakening. From the beginning she has so many obstacles to overcome and I was worried for her the entire book. She is being framed for some serious heavenly crimes and is being held responsible for unspeakable acts all thanks to her so-called friends. She finds help and friendship in Clark and I adored him! He is part of a bloodline of heavenly helpers, if you will, and really wants nothing to do with any of it. But, in the end, not only does he help Michaela when anyone else would walk away, he does it with bluntness and honesty. He had me laughing at the most inappropriate times because he said exactly what anyone would…even if it was a bit frank. He may win as my favorite character.

Now, I can’t give too much away here as to why Michaela was framed by her friends and what their end goal is but trust me when I say, there were more than a few “whoa” moments had when I was reading. This tale is woven beautifully with pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place until the end. Oh, and the end? Michaela gives one hell of a kick ass speech, which leads me to believe she will be on a path for revenge in the next book in the series (which I can’t wait to read!). Watch out, Team Evil….Michaela’s coming for you!

Thank you, Meg, for your unique spin on the good and the bad, Heaven and Hell….I enjoyed every minute and can’t wait for more!

Four Loves

About the author:

Meg Collett lives deep in the hills of Tennessee where there the cell phone service is a blessing andinternet is a myth of epic proportions. She is the mother of one giant horse named Elle and one giant dog named Wylla. Her husband is a saint for putting up with her ragtag life. End of Days is her first series, and trust her when she tells you that she hopes you enjoy it, because it has been a big pain in her #%&. Just kidding. Sort of.

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