Geri’s Review: Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews

October 26, 2017 by ·

MAGIC STRIKES
Series: Kate Daniels #3
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Author: Ilona Andrews
Release Date: February 20, 2009

When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels…

Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with.

And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet.

As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation-only, no-holds-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community…

 

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I was conceived, born, raised and trained with one purpose in mind: to become the best killer I could be. It’s what I do.”

There are two things that I was curious about coming into this series. One, I wanted to know why Kate Daniels is so universally beloved by readers. Two, I wanted to know why the Curran-and-Kate pairing was deemed the OTP by so many who loved the series.

It becomes readily apparent why Kate and Curran are so loved by so many as the series progress. By the third book, I’m now a certified Kate Daniels evangelist.
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Yes! I love Kate’s character. She is one of my favorite heroines ever, if not my ultimate favorite. You just can’t help but love her character! If you look up “badass” in the dictionary, her picture would be in there. She’s brave, resourceful, and so hilarious. She’s also very relatable.

I had imagined our encounter a dozen times. I had constructed long conversations in my head, full of barbs and witty comebacks.
The bastard didn’t show.

And Curran is just the perfect scary, alpha, beast Lord who matches Kate perfectly. They infuriate each other and their interaction and dialogue are so hilarious and scary cute, I can’t help but fall in love with them more and more. I really get why there are so many Tumblr posts dedicated to this couple. They are amazing as individuals and as a couple.

Every time, I think you’ve reached the limit of your arrogance, you show me new heights. Truly, your egotism is like the Universe—ever expanding.”

You sure you don’t want to kiss me goodbye, baby?”
“How about a goodbye kick to the throat?”

Magic Strikes is a high-quality adult UF. It’s not just tightly plotted, with twists and turns, and enormous stakes, it’s also very character driven. Kate Daniels, our titular heroine who now works for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid is working against the clock to find the people who attacked one of her friends. Her investigation led her to the Midnight Games, an illegal fight-to-death tournament attended and participated by powerful and magical beings. And one of them are out to annihilate Kate and the people she’s come to recognize as her friends.

From the gladiator arena type battles to the intriguing and sinister plot, Magic Strikes is a book that once you start, you can’t put down until you’ve finished it. It will consume you. I was so invested in these characters and the story that I couldn’t possibly leave them while their lives hang in a balance!

I think you’re confused as to the nature of our relationship. You and I, we don’t get along. You’re a psychopathic control freak. You order me around and I want to kill you.”

 

I love how heroine-centric this series is. And it’s not just Kate, by the way. One of the things that used to frustrate me with UF is that its heroines tend to be so special that they can’t have any other female characters in the story that might take away from the specialness of the heroine. Every guy has to be in love with her, etc. etc.

Not so with Kate Daniels. There are other female characters that are as beautiful, (if not more so), intelligent and as skillful as Kate. It makes me so happy to see female characters of color in all shapes and sizes having and exercising their agency.

We need a team name.”
“Hunters,” Raphael said.
“Valiant Knights of the Fur,” Dali said.
“Justice Group.” Jim said. “Since Justice League is taken.”

I can’t say enough about this series. If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, I highly recommend you guys read this. Even if you haven’t tried UF before, this series is definitely a great way to immerse yourself in this genre. Yes, the romance may not be central but it still very strong and swoony.

His Majesty needs a can-I girl anyway. And I’m not it.”
“A can-I girl?” Andrea frowned.
I leaned back. “ ‘ Can I fetch you your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick out your fleas, Your Majesty? Can I kiss your ass, Your Majesty? Can I…”
It dawned on me that Raphael was sitting very still. Frozen, like a statue, his gaze fixed on the point above my head.
“He’s standing behind me, isn’t he?”
Andrea nodded slowly.
“Technically it should be ‘may I,’” Curran said, his voice deeper than I remembered. “Since you’re asking permission.”

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Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army.

Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

 

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Review: Dark Swan by Gena Showalter

September 25, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

DARK SWAN
Series: Alien Huntress 
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Gena Showalter
Release Date: September 25, 2017

The Alien Huntress series is back with fan favorite AIR agent Dallas Gutierrez from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling paranormal romance author Gena Showalter, who doesn’t disappoint with this sizzling hot alpha hero.

Lilica Swan isn’t quite human or otherworlder; she is the best—and worst—of both.

She is willing to do whatever proves necessary to save her sister from the seductive and deadly Alien Investigation and Removal agent, Dallas Gutierrez, even bonding her lifeforce to his by effectively marrying him.

But the bond will fade without consummation.

Can Dallas resist his insatiable desire for the powerful beauty? Or will she lead to his ultimate downfall?

Originally published in the Blood Red Kiss anthology.

AMAZON

I can think of three things you need right off the top of my head,” he said. “Well. Let’s hear them.”
“A spanking, a hug, and a good hard fuck.”


Firstly, this novella was originally released as part of Blood Red Kiss, so if you have that one, you’ll find this delicious little novella inside. If you haven’t read Gena’s Alien Huntress, you my dear friend, are seriously missing out. After I first discovered this author with her Lords of the Underworld, I soon found myself binging on her Alien Huntress series. Then I soon found myself completely hooked on Dallas and slowly dying a little with each year that passed and we didn’t get another book in that series. Well Gena has finally rectified that with Dallas’s story, and let me just tell you, it was worth EVERY SECOND of the wait!

…those sweet women with sweet smiles had never fully satisfied him. He’d never wanted one for more than a single night, because none had ever meant anything to him. But this woman with her carnal smile and quick wit utterly fascinated him. He couldn’t get enough of her.

Dallas has been hunting the Schon queen that’s been building her army by deceasing all that come in sexual contact with her. And let’s just say the woman has some…stamina. Uhem. While at first I was convinced that Dallas would somehow end up with the queen, Trinity, I was a little baffled by the heroine’s name here. Who in the world (pun intended) is Lilica? Oh the deliciousness of it all!

Lilica Swan is sassy, classy, and all things bad-assy!

Congrats. You’ve mastered hiding your actions from me. Now it’s my turn.” With no more warning than that, she slammed her knee between his legs. He hunched over, gasping for breath, stars winking through his vision. She smiled at him. “Sorry there’s not a tracker to help you find your balls.”

Lilica is determined to save her sister that’s in the crosshairs of AIR and especially the stranger from her dreams with the crystal blue eyes. When she finally comes face to face with Dallas, nothing can prepare either of them for what happens.

Dark Swan was everything I’ve come to love about this author; humor, snark, witty banter, sizzling romance and an addicting story. And it had my beloved Devyn (from Seduce the Darkness), so how can I not love it?

This finally brought the immensely satisfying conclusion to the Schon story line and gave the much awaited HEA to one of my favorite characters in the series. I really hope that there will be more books in this series, but even if it ends here, it couldn’t have ended with a better book.

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Review: Destined To Crave by Setta Jay

August 31, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

DESTINED TO CRAVE
Series: Descended of Guardians #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotic
Author: Setta Jay
Release Date: August 30, 2017

Fate gave them love… then tore them apart.

This standalone novella is the first spin-off from the Guardians of the Realms world!

The descendant of two almighty Gods and a Guardian of Earth, Eirykr “Rykr” is born of immense power. Yet, no amount of strength or skill can save him from the curse that tore him away from his first and only love. Turned into a shadowy assassin, he wields the demons bound to his soul with the ruthlessness of a blade. For nearly a decade, he’s searched for the key to free himself, all the while watching over and dangerously craving the beautiful mate who believes she’s driven him away.

Lucy is a born protector, a trait of her Guardian lineage. When her greatest gift was torn from her, leaving a gaping hole in her soul, she refuses to allow a young Rykr, her known mate, to suffer the same dire consequences. Her fear forces her to make a haunting decision and with a grave threat she crushes him, demanding they part for a decade. Yet, as the years pass she can feel him watching her from the shadows, conjuring wild fantasies that make her ache for him to finally end their torment.

As time ticks toward the decade mark, dark forces rush to descend. Will Rykr’s secret and relentless need to protect Lucy condemn them to a hopeless destiny of constant craving? Or will Lucy bind them for all eternity, no matter the violent threat to her very soul?

Warning: This title contains dirty talk, bad language and erotically charged scenes meant to scorch your eReader.

AMAZON

Every night, she fantasized about the sexy male he’d turned into while mourning the loss of the mischievous boy she’d loved.

Oh YUM.

Setta Jay’s Guardians of the Realms series has been a guilty pleasure of mine for years. A well crafted, erotically charged PNR that hooked me from the first and kept me riveted until the end. When I saw she’ll be coming out with a spin-off series, I was thrilled. And now that I read it, I’m already craving more!

Destined To Crave is a short, but extremely satisfying novella that sets the scene for her brand new Descended of Guardians series which, you guessed it, features the kids of the couples from the previous books. We get a well crafted set up and intro to most of the characters and a main couple that will melt your e-reader with their sizzling chemistry.

This is also a great opportunity for new readers to discover this fantastic author, because while it doesn’t hurt to read the previous series, it’s certainly not necessary to enjoy this one. You get all the back stories and the characters are unique and don’t much piggy back of the stories of their parents.

Rykr and Lucy were amazing together. This book was hot, entertaining, and addicting. My only quibble is I wished for more, but that’s always my complaint with novellas from favorite authors. I’m hooked, line and sinker and can’t wait for more in this series! If you like erotic PNR, then you definitely want to check this one out!

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Soul Redeemed by Keri Lake

June 27, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
 Title: Soul Redeemed
Author: Keri Lake
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Being half incubus sucks sometimes. Sure, the sex is great, but getting hounded by females gets old pretty fast. Especially when the only one Calix cares about has gone missing, propelling him into a downward spiral of depression and abstinence.

Trapped by a wannabe mad scientist inside a nightmare of her own, Ava longs to be free, even if it means going back to the only male she regrets having betrayed. All she needs is a single opportunity to lead the way.

Calix should hate Ava for the way she deceived him and his brothers. Yet, when she shows up looking like she’s been through a hell of her own, the sweet relief over her return battles the bitter sting of her betrayal, and Calix can’t bring himself to turn her away. Not to mention, an incubus who’s starved himself of sex for too long is a detriment to everyone—including his brothers—and the way Ava commands his body is exactly the release he needs.

Unfortunately, thanks to the lunatic who held her captive, she’s now a walking death trap to any male that tries to bed her. But danger is closing in, placing Ava’s life in jeopardy, and if Calix doesn’t find a way to control his virile urges, he might just be her deadliest threat.

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It was the exact moment Ava had come to realize her love for the male was deeper than she could’ve fathomed. That she’d understood what he meant had told her that not even death would change what he’d come to mean for her. For her, there would never be another.

GAH! Finally! FINALLY! To say that I’ve been waiting forever for this story may be a sliiiiiiight understatement. For fans of gritty and sexy PNR, this series is an absolute must read. I wouldn’t recommend reading it as a standalone, because there is a story arc that continues throughout the series. While each book focuses on a different couple and their individual HEA, there’s so much that happens in the story that you simply wouldn’t appreciate the complexity of it all without reading it in order. That and you get more pieces of the other Wrath brothers in each book. Calix and Ava’s really began in Soul Resurrected and I’ve been salivating for it since; especially after the events in the end of Soul Enslaved.

Imprisoned in a cold basement and stripped of her powers, desperate for escape. Ava knows there may not be a way out. Injected with the deadly Sang virus for a sick experiment of a madman, this may be the price she pays for betraying the man she loves. But she won’t stop fighting. She’ll do anything to escape. She needs to make things right. She needs to beg for forgiveness. Even if she may not survive at the end of it.

Calix never stopped searching for the woman that stole his heart. Even if she betrayed him and his brothers in the worst possible way and they may never forgive her, he can’t stop thinking about her. Starved, half crazed, he can’t accept the touch of any other woman but her. With no clues as to her whereabouts, he’s about to give into the madness of a starved Incubus demon.

When Ava appears in the Wrath mansion, Calix knows that her betrayal is not enough to make him stay away. With everything on the line, he’ll fight for the woman he loves, even if she’s convinced that her fate is already sealed.

There’s so much that happens in this book. If you’ve been missing Xander like I have, you’ll be thrilled with the pieces you get of him in this book. Then there’s Ferno. Oh dear god, my poor broken Ferno. Keri dangles one hell of a carrot in this book; I think he finally meets his potential heroine here. And let me just tell you, that was one heck of a doozy. Talk about your broken souls. DAMN.

Then there’s Zeke and Zayne, Xander, and more Zeke and Zayne. GAH! I couldn’t get enough. I love the way that Keri expertly adds in additional POVs without taking anything away from the main couple and their romance.

I have to admit, Calix was the brother I was probably the least interested in with everything going on with the others, but he completely stole my heart in this book. There was such an emotional punch to this story with everything he and Ava go through. I loved these two together. I loved how equally balanced they are; the sacrifices they make for each other and their love. It was darkly beautiful.

Keri is truly a master of her craft and creates an addicting world that you can’t help but get fully immersed in. Every time I pick up a book in this series, it’s like coming back home. I’m addicted to these characters. It’s not your typical PNR. It’s dark and gritty with the perfect amount of sexy added in. I simply can’t recommend it enough.

Keri Lake is a dark romance writer who specializes in demon wrangling, vengeance dealing and wicked twists. Her stories are gritty, with antiheroes that walk the line of good and bad, and feisty heroines who bring them to their knees. When not penning books, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, and their rebellious Labrador (who doesn’t retrieve a damn thing). She runs on strong coffee and alternative music, loves a good red wine, and has a slight addiction to dark chocolate.
Keep up with Keri Lake’s new releases, exclusive extras and more by signing up to her VIP Email List: VIP EMAIL SIGN UP
Become a Vigilante Vixen by joining her reading group: VIGILANTE VIXENS

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THE SONS OF WRATH SERIES

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Geri’s Review & Excerpt: Silver Silence by @NaliniSingh

June 13, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

SILVER SILENCE
Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Nalini Singh
Release Date: June 13, 2017

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh introduces a bold new chapter in her extraordinary paranormal romance saga with the Psy-Changeling Trinity series. Wild passion will encounter the darkest of betrayal…

Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life.

But that’s exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater Bears, brings with him.

Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence—her mind clear of all emotion—Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That’s what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her.

But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious…and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.

Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed…

AMAZON

I’ve got strong hands, and I promise to be a gentleman unless you ask me to tear off your clothes and kiss every delectable inch of you.”

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Oh my gah, Valentin. *melts into a puddle of goo*

This Changeling alpha bear stole my heart from the get go and he almost ALMOST replaced Hawke as my favorite Nalini Singh hero ever! No small feat coz duh, Hawke is Hawke but oh man, Valentin is right up there.

Silver Silence is the first book out of the second chapter of Nalini Singh’s sprawling Psy-Changeling series called Psy-Changeling Trinity. Silence has fallen and a new peace accord has been signed by the three groups: the Human Alliance, the Psy’s and the Changelings. But a new group threatens to unravel the fragile bonds of peace that the Trinity has forged. Just when you thought this series couldn’t get any better, it does. It really does.

Silver didn’t know how to love, but she knew how to hold on to her people.

Silver Mercant rose from being Kaleb Krychek’s top aide to become the head of the Em-Net, the worldwide emergency response network. Silence has fallen but despite this Silver still chooses to live under it. She has a good reason to and her reason isn’t clear to other characters in the book as well as the readers until it was revealed. The Mercants is one of the most powerful Psy family in the world, and the most secretive. So when an attempt was made on Silver’s life, the Mercants did what they had to do their way.

Fortunately for Silver, Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater Bears offered his home and his protection while her family tried to get to the bottom of who wanted Silver killed. 

The StoneWater Bears are a strong predator changeling group out of Moscow who went through a very traumatic rift which threatens to tear them part. And Valentin being the Alpha has his hands full with keeping his family safe and strong as they navigate the new changes brought about by the Trinity Accord. But Silver has always fascinated Valentin. The man and his bear recognized their mate in Silver and despite her Silence, Valentin goes above and beyond in trying to win her trust and her heart. And we know what happens when you put a determined alpha bear together with a reluctant Silent Psy in one place, right?

This was my favorite part of the book for me. Yes, this book does have multiple POVs. It has intrigued and a dash of suspense. But the romance…the ROMANCE was top-notch swoonworthy.

Explain what’s happening.”  

 “We’re happening.”

Valentin, like most changeling Alpha, is determined. Gah! His devotion and patience as the pursues Silver “sneaky like a cat” was everything. He was funny as hell and he respects Silver and treats her as his equal. He totally won me over and Silver didn’t stand a chance. He was one determined bear.

I loved how Ms. Singh took time to develop not just their romance but each of their character arcs. Silver went from being Silent to the kind of person that was perfect fit for Valentin, who has always worn his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Silver. I loved how the StoneWater Bears Denhome was explored in the book. The vivid imagery of their cave as well as the relationships between Valentin and his sisters, as well as his lieutenants added an interesting layer to the story and to the romance.

A few familiar characters from the first chapter of the Psy-Changeling series made some appearances but not all. Lots of names were dropped though which made me so happy because yes, I knew these characters. Their presence were felt but not too much that it became distracting. This book is definitely all about these new characters, specifically, the StoneWater bears and the BlackEdge wolves, which I am already in love with.

I’ll be beary good,” he promised, his face lit from within.

She had the sense of playing with a wild thing. “Now you’re just beyond bearing.”

Silver Silence did not disappoint. It’s tautly written with fascinating characters and an intricate plot that holds your interest from beginning until the end.  There were a lot of plot threads that were left open and I for one, am intrigued.  I’m definitely looking forward to more Psy-Changeling Trinity.

Laughing at the cubs’ antics, Valentin jogged down the slight incline and waded into what had to be ice-cold water after kicking off his boots and socks. He splashed the cubs, laughed when they splashed him back. Running so they could chase him, he turned abruptly and chased them back, to their unhidden joy.
Silver took a seat on the grass. When the female bear looked her way, she inclined her head in a silent greeting. The bear did the same, then they both watched an alpha bear play with two energetic cubs, his hands holding rough care for their small bodies.
By the time Valentin made his way back to her, he was drenched and his eyes weren’t human in any way. When he spoke, his already deep voice was so low it felt like thunder against her skin. “Couldn’t resist,” he said, pushing back his wet hair with one big hand. “If you weren’t in recovery and if I wasn’t in terror of Nova’s wrath, I’d have invited you. The small monsters wanted to play with you.”
Silver didn’t get to her feet. “Can we stay here a little longer?” It was patent that Valentin had an extremely high tolerance for the cold, but he might want to dry off.
“Sure,” he said, and, moving away several feet, shook off the wet.
Fine droplets settled on the skin of her cheek, but she didn’t flinch at the unintentional tactile contact. She also controlled her urge to reach up and touch the water where it lay against her skin. There was no reason to do that, and Silver was alive because she only did things that were rational.
Settling beside her, Valentin waved at the cubs as their guardian led their tired forms toward a path in the trees that was at the same level as the stream. “Gentler climb,” Valentin told her.
“They seem too exhausted to make it to Denhome.”
“It’s all an act—they’re hoping for a ride on their aunt’s back.” His tone held the same fond affection she’d heard when he spoke of Dima. “It’d take more than a few minutes’ play in the water to wipe out those two.”
The cubs had played with Valentin for almost a half hour. “They’re hyperactive?”
“They’re baby bears.”
Silver watched as those baby bears turned toward her and rose up on their back paws, as if in challenge. A stern sound from their caretaker, and they dropped down and scrambled to catch up with her. Their bodies disappeared into the trees as dusk began to turn from orange to shadowy gray.
Beside her, Valentin sprawled out, bracing himself on his elbows. His drenched T-shirt clung to the ridged muscles of his abdomen, pulled tight across his pectoral muscles, shaped itself over his shoulders. His jeans weren’t much better, outlining the raw muscle of his thighs.
Valentin Nikolaev was a man of violent physical strength even in human form. Yet he clearly had iron control over it; when he’d played with the children, they’d displayed zero fear of their alpha.
“You thought about where you’re going to live when you escape the bears who’ve kidnapped you?”
When she raised an eyebrow at him, he grinned. “Fringe netter with his own Internet channel sent out a breaking report last night. Pasha—who obviously needs more work duties—made up a fake account and posted a comment swearing to have seen you being pulled into a black van by six burly bears in bear form.”
“You don’t seem too concerned.” Amber eyes and deep voice, he remained very much a bear in human form.
“Well, according to this ‘eyewitness,’ the getaway driver was in bear form, too. Must’ve been tough for him to steer with one paw since he was drinking a beer at the same time.”
“Bears,” Silver said, making Valentin throw his head back and laugh that huge laugh that wrapped around her.
“I’ve got strong hands, and I promise to be a gentleman unless you ask me to tear off your clothes and kiss every delectable inch of you.”

NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about a hot and wickedly tempting rock star. If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Once Rock Addiction is out, swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the book.

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Review & Excerpt Tour: Razr by @larissaione

April 19, 2017 by · 1 Comment

RAZR
Series: Demonica #11.8 | 1,001 Dark Nights
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Larissa Ione
Release Date: April 11, 2017

 

New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione returns to the Demonica Underworld…

A fallen angel with a secret.

An otherworldly elf with an insatiable hunger she doesn’t understand.

An enchanted gem.

Meet mortal enemies Razr and Jedda…and the priceless diamond that threatens to destroy them both even as it bonds them together with sizzling passion.

Welcome back to the Demonica Underworld, where enemies find love…if they’re strong enough to survive.

 Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Paperback

Shivering, she went back inside and fetched the med kit from the bathroom. Razr was still passed out cold, so gently and carefully she stripped off his slacks.He didn’t wear underwear. Oh, my.

Her mouth went as dry as the sand forest in her elven homeland as she took in his magnificent body. Everything began to burn, parts of her she’d all but forgotten she had in the five years since she’d last been with a man. The fallen angel was about as perfect as anything she’d ever seen. Made sense, she supposed—she’d never thought angels would be anything less than perfection. But seeing one naked and up close? No one could blame her for wanting to take pictures and post to all her friends on Instagram, right?

Cursing her ethics, she arranged him on his belly to allow access to his shredded back. Shame at the fact that she’d just ogled him shrank her skin. Gods, he must have been in so much pain. She’d nearly passed out herself during the beating, unable to stomach the sight of muscle and bone exposed by the deep lacerations.

Making matters worse, Shrike had reveled in the gore, growing angrier with each strike, as if he’d been taking some deep inner pain out on Razr. When it was over, he’d thrown down the cat and fled the office without a word, leaving her to gather Razr’s unconscious body and find her way out of the castle.

At least the wounds had stopped bleeding and were already starting to heal. Still, this was one of the times she wished she’d chosen the garnet Gem of Enoch instead of the diamond. Jedda and her sisters hadn’t known what power each of the gems had possessed at the time they’d chosen and assimilated them, but neither Jedda nor Reina had been completely happy with the outcomes. Manda had embraced the killing power of her stone, but Reina had no desire to heal and had been furious. And while Jedda’s gem had given her an ability to violently repel demons that she actually used sometimes, being able to help now and then would have been cool too.

Very carefully, she cleaned Razr’s wounds and applied bandages, each one drawing an elven curse from her. Such a perfect body, torn to shreds on a regular basis. He had no scars—at least, none that were visible. She’d heard there were species of demons that could see scars no one else could, and she wondered what one of those demons would see if they looked at Razr.

Jedda saw a very fit, very toned male

Twisting, she looked over her shoulder at him, and in the glow of the nightlight from the bathroom, he was incredible. Passion and raw hunger lurked in his half-lidded eyes, his full lips parted on panting breaths, and she suddenly wanted that mouth on her body. Tasting her. Licking her. Kissing her

Have I mentioned how much I love Larissa Ione and her writing? Because man do I. SO HARD. Her world building is incredible. Her stories unfold in front of your eyes with the most stunning of visuals and I can never get enough. I’ve devoured her entire backlist and I love that she keeps giving us a taste of her Demonica world with these novellas.

And while this a somewhat short read at just around 120 pages, it’s as satisfying as a full novel. I don’t know how the woman is able to pack so much into those pages; the romance, the action, the mystery, the character development, all of it, but she does. And she does it WELL. I was hooked from the very first page.

Razr may say he’s a fallen angel, but he hides a secret. A big one. He may be in Azagoth’s service in the underworld, but he’s also a man on the mission. He mistake in his past that cost him everything and the reason for his years of punishment is not just a haunting memory for him. It’s a mistake that he continues to pay for and his salvation seems to be out of his grasp…until it isn’t. Now he just needs to convince a female that may hold a deeper secret than him to help him locate it.

Jedda has a gift for finding precious gems. But her gift isn’t one of luck; as a gem elf, it’s essentially her life calling. When her gift lands her in some hot water with a fallen angel, trusting another one doesn’t seem very smart…but there’s just something about Razr that runs deeper than attraction.

Fans of this series are in for a treat with this one! Ione delivers her signature witty banter and steamy passion all wrapped around a totally addictive story line that’s action packed from beginning to end. I loved the slow sizzle and burn between Razr and Jedda. I love Ione’s heroines, because while having their weaknesses, these are not wilting wallflowers and Jedda was no exception. It was ridiculously cool to get a peek into the elfin world because that’s not a species yet introduced in this super rich world building that the author has crafted. But as always, reading another installment has only whet my appetite and I already can’t wait for more!

 

Larissa Ione - author imageLarissa Ione is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. An Air Force veteran, she traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | 1001 Dark Nights

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Review: Redemption by Karin Tabke

January 18, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

REDEMPTION
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Karin Tabke
Release Date: January 9, 2017

A bad boy cop bargains his way out of hell—and back into his ex-fiance’s heart—in Redemption, a novella from international bestselling author Karin Tabke.

After a fatal car crash, bad boy cop Zach Garret’s descent into hell is interrupted by an unusual deal for redemption. All Zach has to do is return to earth as a warrior sworn to defend his ex-fiancée Danica Keller, the unknowing keeper of a power coveted by the forces of darkness. But even harder than keeping Danica alive that long is convincing her to give a second chance to the man who once betrayed her.

AMAZON

 

God, she tasted sweet. His body ached for more, his heart for all. But he had nothing to give in return. He was a cold-blooded killer, and every time she looked at him he could see the horror of his deeds reflected in her eyes.

I’m a sucker for a second chance romance. There’s just something about it that does it for me every single time. Maybe it’s the angst. Maybe it’s the groveling? Whatever the case may be, I can’t get enough of it.

As a long time fan of Karin Tabke’s I was thrilled to see she has a new book coming out. And as a huge fan of PNR, I was even more thrilled when I read the synopsis. With an abundance of vampire and shifter books out there, I find myself craving something different in my PNR at times and this book definitely delivered on that end. The world building is an intriguing mix that I haven’t read before.

Zach was a hero you couldn’t help but love, even his broken pieces, and the man had plenty of them. He hadn’t exactly been a saint in his life or his career. He’s made his share of bad decisions and wrong choices, but none haunt him as much as what happened between him and his ex-fiancee, Danica.

When a choice after his death is to fall into hell or become the guardian for a woman that quite literary holds the fate of the world in her hands, it’s really no choice at all. But unfortunately for Zach, the woman also happens to be his ex-fiance whose heart he didn’t just break, but he destroyed her life. She wants nothing to do with him and now he has to prove to her that she needs him just as much as he’s always known he’s needed her.

For a novella, there was quite a lot of character development and plot expertly packed in. There are a couple secondary characters that piqued my interest quite a bit. So much so, I’m hoping this will be the start of a new series. The romance was equally satisfying, though I didn’t have quite enough time to truly get invested in it, hence my lower rating. I liked Danica’s strength. This is no damsel in distress, and I appreciate that in my books.

All in all, I enjoyed this one quite a bit and hoping there’s more to come in this intriguing new world.

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Review: Force of Temptation by Suzanne Wright

December 31, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

FORCE OF TEMPTATION
Series: The Mercury Pack #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Suzanne Wright
Release Date: December 13, 2016

Harley Vincent is resigned to life in the human world. Sure, being a margay shifter is half her nature, but life among humans gives her the freedom to roam and do as she pleases. That is, until anti-shifter extremists target her, putting her life in immediate danger.

When an old acquaintance and onetime fling, Jesse Dalton, shows up to offer the protection of his pack, Harley hesitates. She may have feelings for Jesse that go beyond their one-night stand, but life among shifters means giving over her independence to the needs of pack. Plus Mercury Pack has its own threat to face: a rich half-shifter is determined to claim their territory at any cost.

Jesse, who lost his true mate as a child, has wanted Harley since their night together, and he’s not letting her go again. They may not be destined for each other, but he knows she belongs to him and with his pack. Even if he can convince her to join him now, can he convince her to stay?

AMAZON

Tell me who you belong to, Harley. Fucking tell me or I swear to God I’ll pull out and come all over you!”
With a resigned growl, she ground out, “I’m yours, you motherfucking, pushy bastard!”
“Never forget it.”

…
…
Oh wait…did you need more than that quote to convince you to read this book? Oh c’mon! *gives you a stink eye*

Sheesh. Fine. Demanding people.

Force of Temptation brings more of Suzanne Wright awesome. A sassy heroine, a badass possessive hero, the whole gang of awesome secondary characters that I’ve grown to love, and a whole lot of sexy times!

I’ll admit, I barely registered Jesse in the previous book but boy did he have my attention here. The man was possessive, protective, and exudes so much sexual potency I honestly broke a sweat reading.

Harley Vincent is exactly the sort of heroine I love to read about; strong, independent, and with one hell of a smart mouth on her. Being the daughter of the man currently serving a murder sentence and being suspected of being the mastermind behind The Movement makes her a bit of a persona non grata with shifters. Never truly having a pack of her own, she’s been living in the human world. She’s always liked Jesse. They grew up in the same pack, but she believed that he blamed her for his druggie sister’s death like the rest of his pack did. So she left and hasn’t seen him since. But when her life is in danger, Jesse is done with watching her from afar and waiting for her to be ready. He may have lost his true mate as a young boy, but he’s not about to let the woman he loves get away.

Full of humor, sexy times, great characters and all wrapped around a fantastic story that I enjoyed from beginning to finish.

DON’T MISS THE FIRST BOOK IN THIS SERIES!

SPIRAL OF NEED
AMAZON | MY REVIEW

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Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: ★Allegiance of Honor★ by Nalini Singh

June 15, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

review- Allegiance of honorALLEGIANCE OF HONOR
Series: Psy-Changeling #15
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Nalini Singh
Release Date: June 14, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

Allegiance of Honor_Medium

The “unparalleled romantic adventure”* of Nalini Singh’s New York Times bestselling series continues as a new dawn begins for the Psy-Changeling world… 

The Psy-Changeling world has undergone a staggering transformation and now stands at a crossroads. The Trinity Accord promises a new era of cooperation between disparate races and groups. It is a beacon of hope held together by many hands: Old enemies. New allies. Wary loners.

But a century of distrust and suspicion can’t be so easily forgotten and threatens to shatter Trinity from within at any moment. As rival members vie for dominance, chaos and evil gather in the shadows and a kidnapped woman’s cry for help washes up in San Francisco, while the Consortium turns its murderous gaze toward a child who is the embodiment of change, of love, of piercing hope: A child who is both Psy…and changeling.

To find the lost, protect the vulnerable—and save Trinity—no one can stand alone. This is a time of loyalty across divisions, of bonds woven into the heart and the soul, of heroes known and unknown standing back to back and holding the line. But is an allegiance of honor even possible with traitors lurking in their midst?

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO

Nalini Singh on the future of the Psy-Changeling series

Is Allegiance of Honor the end of the Psy-Changeling series?

No, it’s not. 🙂 I ADORE this world and the characters and I have so many Psy-Changeling stories yet to tell. (I’ve often joked that I’ll be writing this series until I’m ninety-eight!)

Where do you see the Psy-Changeling world going from here?  Who is the next book about?

(Slightly spoilery answer to follow if you’re just starting the series).

Allegiance of Honor sets up a lot of possibilities for the future. There are many avenues I could take. However, for me, this arc is all about what happens not just to the Psy, but to the world, now that Silence has fallen and all the rules have changed.

We’ve had the immediate aftermath books, both of which focused on the Psy race (Shield of Winter & Shards of Hope), but what about the wider long-term future? Because Silence existed for a reason. The Psy still have these incredible abilities that have the potential to drive them murderously insane, and the world is still a fractured triumvirate. And there are players about whom we know very little, like the falcons and BlackSea.

As for who’s book is next, I’m not ready to announce it yet because I want to be certain this character is ready – but I think you’ll be pleased. 😉

Excerpt

Lucas had had to chase Naya around the aerie at bedtime last night—her walk might still be a little shaky, but she was a rocket when it came to crawling. Dressed only in a diaper, she’d laughed uproariously and said a loud, firm “No” each time Lucas caught her and put her in her crib.After which she’d clamber out—she’d figured out how to escape a month earlier—and the game would begin again. Of course, since Lucas was a cat, he’d been having just as much fun as their daughter. Sascha, meanwhile, had sat in the living room with a cup of hot chocolate and just indulged in the sight of her mate playing with their cub.

She’d had to pretend to be stern when Naya ran over and pleaded her case with loud sounds and wild gesticulations of her hands. “No, Naya,” she’d said, biting her tongue in an effort not to laugh. “It’s time for bed. Go with Papa.”

At which point, Naya had growled at her, eyes sparkling with mischief.

And Sascha had cracked, laughing so hard she’d had to put down her hot chocolate before she spilled it. Lucas had shaken his head as Naya plopped down on her diaper-covered butt and joined in, clapping her hands at having made her mommy laugh. “No discipline.” Lucas had mock-growled at her before picking up their misbehaving baby. “And you”—a growly nuzzle that made Naya laugh harder and pat his stubbled cheek—“time for bed.”

He’d finally got her to sleep—by walking around with her pressed up against his bare chest.

Today, their cub was playing in the living area just outside the kitchen nook. Sascha had locked the aerie door to ensure Naya wouldn’t undo the latch and go out onto the balcony, and Lucas had childproofed the entire main area of the aerie, so Naya was free to roam as she liked. A lot of the time she practiced her walking skills. And no matter how often she fell down, she started back up again after a little break.

Stubborn, determined baby.

Peeking out from the kitchen, Sascha found her concentrating on stacking the colored alphabet blocks Faith and Vaughn had given her as a gift. Beside her sat a more than slightly ragged wolf plush toy, aka “The Toy That Shall Not Be Named.” Hawke had given that to Naya when she was a newborn, and it remained her favorite snuggle toy, much to her father’s despair.

Though Lucas did enjoy it when Naya went leopard on the toy, growling and “fighting” with the wolf. Then he’d smile and say, “That’s my girl.”

 

Posted by arrangement with Berkley Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Nalini Singh, 2016.

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Review4 stars

I still remember the first time I picked up a Nalini Singh book. I was at the library and looking for more PNR to binge on (I was going through a huge PNR phase). And then I spot a series of books that looked like the covers belonged on a bad 80’s action movie. My inner cover wh*re cringed a little but I will forever be grateful I picked up that first book because that turned into what I now refer to as the PNR binge of 2010. When someone asks me what my favorite PNR series is to date, it’s without a doubt Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. And now 15 books into the series, I can continue to hold true to that statement.

Where am I going with this? I’m getting there, mkay?

I wasn’t sure about reading this book, because as far as ensemble books go, they’re a bit of a gray area for me; meaning they’ll either really work for me or they really won’t. Look, I have the attention span of a rodent, and when you have that many POVs my mind tends to wonder. Don’t judge me. So by now you want me to get to my point, right? Alright.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, Allegiance of Honor is an ensemble cast book. It’s completely different from any other book in this series in absolutely everything. There’s no central romance, no main couple, but there’s very much a central plot. Singh is a pure genius when it comes to weaving together multiple POVs but not making it be chaotic. Yes, there are multiple characters from previous books that make an appearance here and you get to catch up with all your favorites, but of course the alpha that started it all is the one that gets the most page time. Lucas and Sascha obviously get the most story because it seems that their child is going to be pivotal in the books to come.

Allegiance of Honor is essentially a bridge book that closes the chapter on “Season One” story arc and introduces all the ingredients of Season Two that the readers will be looking forward to. I won’t lie, when I realized I wasn’t going to be getting a central couple, I wondered why this wasn’t a novella instead. A 478 page ensemble book? But here’s the thing, there’s A LOT that happens here. This series is not meant to be read out of order, and if you’ve been keeping up, you’ll be very interested to know what happens.

There’s the Trinity Accord and the brewing tension with the rise of The Consortium. We knew that when silence fell, it wouldn’t be the end and this book basically sets up the story line for the next books flawlessly. You get to see all your past favorites; a much need HEA for Riaz and Adria, which I was desperately hoping for, and even a bonus story of Father Xavier.

Even with all the multiple POVs there’s a lot of meat to the story. There’s a lot that happens, and fans of this series will find this book to be pivotal for what’s to come.

This could have easily been a 5 star read for me, but unfortunately in parts of the story I did find all the POVs to be slightly cumbersome. While many of the POVs weaved together to drive the plot forward, some of them felt more like a bonus. And while it was nice to have, considering the length of the book, it did make it drag a little for me. I would have rather had them as bonus novellas but this is entirely a personal preference. Many readers may really appreciate these little bonus POVs. I tend to  get sidetracked when a book is too long and I find other POVs to be distracting.

I’ll also admit that it took me some time to finish this. I felt like the first half took me forever to get through, but then when you really started getting deeper into this new story arc, I was hooked. Well and truly hooked. I finished the final half in one sitting.

Nalini Singh is a brilliant author that created an incredible rich world filled with multifaceted characters. The world building in her Psy-Changeling series is unlike any I’ve read before. It’s phenomenal. What’s even more incredible is while this book has quite a few POVs and should almost feel like an extended epilogue, it wasn’t. All the POVs, all the little subplots, everything tied together and drove the plot forward. I have to tip my hat off to that, because that is no small feat and I honestly can’t think of any other author that would be able to pull off something like that.

And while I can’t say this book was my favorite in the series, I can tell you that it is not to be missed. There’s so many hints dropped here and amazing set ups for the next generation of Psy-Changeling, that I’m practically vibrating with excitement for it right now.

PSY-CHANGELING SERIES

SLAVE TO SENSATION (Psy-Changeling #1)
VISIONS OF HEAT (Psy-Changeling #2)
CARESSED BY ICE (Psy-Changeling #3)
MINE TO POSSESS (Psy-Changeling #4)
HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE (Psy-Changeling #5)
BRANDED BY FIRE (Psy-Changeling #6)
BLAZE OF MEMORY (Psy-Changeling #7)
BONDS OF JUSTICE (Psy-Changeling #8)
PLAY OF PASSION (Psy-Changeling #9)
KISS OF SNOW (Psy-Changeling #10)
TANGLE OF NEED (Psy-Changeling #11)
HEART OF OBSIDIAN (Psy-Changeling #12)
SHIELD OF WINTER (Psy-Changeling #13)
SHARDS OF HOPE (Psy-Changeling #14)

Giveaway

Want to win the hardcover of ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR? Enter the giveaway on my Facebook page HERE

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