Monday, October 29, 2012

Author Guest Post & Giveaway: Andris Bear...


Thank you so much, Mariann, for letting me take over control visit your blog today!

Hello, my fellow romance lover lovelies.

It’s that spooky time of year again. The time for bonfires on a crisp, autumn night, telling scary stories to the little ones as you roast marshmallows over the flames.

The time for setting candy on the porch, then hiding behind a bush and jumping out at the trick or treaters! Wait—you don’t do that?

Oh. Me neither.

Halloween never fails to put me in a good mood. There’s crispness in the air, a breath of
anticipation for all things dark and dangerous to come out and play. Not for real, of course, that would have me piddling my skirts and yowling like a black cat with its tail under the rocker.

But I do like to be frightened. Love it. When my police officer hubby works nights, I like nothing better than to douse the lights and put on a scary movie. Alone. All month long! October is my scare-yourself-stupid free pass. Why?

Well, who doesn’t like imagining something dark and sinister creeping up behind you in the night, making your heart pound so hard you fear it’ll rip from your chest and flop to the floor?!

Not you? Well, okay. Moving on.

Candy! Let’s not forget CANDY!

The sweets you pass out at Halloween tell me a lot about your personality, even your romance choices. How, you ask? Well, I’ve done this super, in depth, scientific study. It’s called the internet. And I like to make crap up. See? Totally legit.

Here are your choices. No, you can’t have more. Just follow the honking list.

SKITTLES-you love rainbows and Happily Ever Afters. You’re charmed by the dashing hero with the loyal steed and giant…sword. He’ll sweep you off your feet and ride you (Ahem. No pun intended.) off into the sunset because everything is stardust and moonbeams for you, my little dreamer. Sicko.
 


SMARTIES-they’re the universal treat. No one likes a dumb moose for their hero, no sir. But those of you who pass these out to kidlets, prefer an intelligent hero, maybe even a little cunning, a scoundrel. Someone who wins the heroine not with his drool-on-your-shoes good looks (although I’m totally fine with a hottie, ya’ll), but one who woos with cleverness and savvy. Rowr. Hopefully, he’s not uglier than the back end of a rhino.
 


SNICKERS (or other candy bars)-Oh, you fall for the pretty package, don’t you? You like ‘em smooth and tempting with a little unexpected surprise inside. Your hero isn’t quite what he seems, is he? I support this choice. Women love surprises, especially pretty ones. Carry on.
 


SOUR PATCH KIDS (or balls, or worms, or whatever)-You don’t know what the hell you want because you want it all. Pick a side, you greedy little hobgoblin. Sweet or sour. You can’t have both. You’re probably into BDSM with all that pleasure/pain mixing you’re throwing around.
 


DOVE DARK CHOCOLATE-This. Mine. We dark choco lovers want our heroes like our indulgences; smooth, decadent, and bad for us in a good, good way. My perfect hero is dark, a little bitter, one who rides the fence on good and evil. He’s a near villain, teetering on the edge of ruin, saved only by the heroine against his will. Le sigh.
 


TOOTSIE POPS-Into challenges, are we? He’s cold, stoic, and a little off putting. If you’re looking for a chewy morsel, go elsewhere. It takes a lot of patience to crack his hard outer shell and still, he won’t show his gooey center to just any heroine.
 


CANDY CORN-You’re the devil. No one likes candy corn. You shall roast over your own Hell pit for passing it out. Now, go sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done. Sadist.
 

Now, I like many flavors of hero. In fact, I like them all. From the cold and stoic to the dapper and charming. And every delicious one in between.

In my paranormal romance, Angel Unborn, I give you a hot twofer, spinning my hero from a
Snickers and a Tootsie Pop. Yeah, that sounds kinda gross, doesn’t it? I’ll let you decide for yourself what flavor he is.
 
Click HERE For My Review Of Angel Unborn
Hell has literally come to Earth for one mortal and what’s worse, she is expected to leave behind all hope for a family of her own to stand in defense of humanity against the darkest forces of Hell. But when Satan offers her the normal life she covets, Joey must decide if the price of mankind’s salvation is worth her own damnation.
Strong-willed Joey Benton is the half-mortal child of an angel with heavenly powers. She has no knowledge of her heritage or the power running through her veins until she meets a handsome stranger who forces her to question her life and the world around her. And she quickly becomes a key player in a battle that will define a victory for Heaven or Hell.
Ursus, a sexy Archangel, doesn’t want the responsibility of another charge, especially when Joey is so defiant. Protecting her from Hell might very well be the biggest challenge of his immortal life. But when his feelings for Joey get in the way of his duty, it’s a challenge he refuses to lose.

EXCERPT:
His chest vibrated with a laugh, but the good humor didn’t reach his eyes. “Michael wouldn’t reassign me even if I wanted him to.” He pushed in close, menace pulsating the air around him. “Do you really think to send me slinking off into the night? That I wouldn’t fight to keep you?”

“The thought crossed my mind?” I asked hesitantly.

He bared his teeth. “I suggest you rethink it.”

The violence in his tone raised my brows. I’d approached this with logic, putting myself aside for his safety. How to send away the one I needed to keep close?

“Are you daft or deaf? We are a no go, capiche? I can’t….” lose you again. I twisted my fingers in my hair and tugged the tufts with annoyance. At this rate, I’d be bald by the end of the day.

My frustration bounced right off my knight-in-shining-wings. He regarded me as if I’d announced myself an all-you-can-eat-buffet. And then hung an open sign above my head.

I inched along the wall in desperate search of refuge. He caught me about the waist, and dragged me back before him. “Going somewhere?”

I couldn’t decide who he resembled more—the cat with its canary, or the big bad wolf. He definitely had the predator in him and it made me nervous. And hotter than a lit match in Hell.

“You’re crowding me,” I said. Where did the Marilyn Monroe voice come from?

“I know.” He pressed closer and lowered his head to the crook of my neck. “I like it.”

So tell me, my romancies, who is your favorite hero?

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT we would love to see the flavor of hero you choose. Thanks!


Giveaway: Andris is generously giving away an e~book copy of Angel Unborn to 
1 lucky commenter. So please be sure to leave a comment. Giveaway runs from 10/30/12 through 11/5/12. Thanks so much and Good Luck!!! :) (Winner to be chosen by random.org.)

Meet Andris
 I blame my mother for my fascination with books.  Growing up in northern Indiana there wasn’t much to do and I’d often complained of my boredom.  My mom handed me a book and told me to shush.  I’ve been obsessed ever since.  Though I spent most of my time in between the pages, fantasizing of other worlds, I didn’t write my first book until I’d had three children—just in time to have not a moment to myself.  In an attempt to keep my sanity, I write.  My favorite stories contain strong heroes and heroines, fighting an attraction stronger than both of them.
I live in eastern North Carolina with my hero and our three mini villains in chaotic bliss.
Andris is all over the place:

Twitter / Goodreads / Website and Blog / Facebook


LOL...I had such a fun time with this post and I can't wait to see what flavors of hero others choose. My flavor of hero choice was actually a tough one and I think that it is a mixture of all six!!!  I have to admit that I love Candy Corn!! lol ;p  I wanted to thank Andris so much for doing this AWESOME guest post and giveaway and also for contacting me about reviewing Angel Unborn.  She is so funny and snarky and I instantly wanted to be her BFF!!! lol :) It was my absolute pleasure to have her on my blog and I hope that she will be back again soon!!  I wanted to thank Marquita Valentine also, for giving Andris my info to contact me. :) 


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Lusting For Covers: Gone Country by Lorelei James...

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.  

Choose your own book cover that you've fallen in "lust" with in the past week. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! If you find a cover that catches your eye, then showcase it on your blog, and let others see the pretty covers out there. 

(OPTIONAL): Besides posting the picture of the book cover you chose, it's nice to provide the book summary, title, author, or a website link for the book. It's not required, but it can help you readers' to add more books to their own list! A brief "Why I choose this cover" is also appreciated, but not required. 
                  This meme is hosted by TBQ @ TBQ's Book Palace.

Here's my candidate for the week:
December 11, 2012
Gone Country (Rough Riders, #14)
Rough Riders Series Book #14


Why this cover??
OMG...I cannot stop staring at this cover!!! I think this has to be one of the best covers out there and definitely the best Rough Riders cover. I will be looking for the paperback release of this one!!  I think I want to have babies with this cover!! LOL ;p This guy is smoking hot and I know that Wickedly Delicious Book Blog has to be loving up on this cover also!! lol ;p Seriously, this is one of my favorite series, although I have fallen behind and need to catch up. I love Lorelei James~such a great writer!!  There is no blurb for this book yet, but I do know that it's about Gavin. 

Now it's your turn!! What cover are you currently lusting for? 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Lusting for Covers post, or share your ‘lust’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). I would love to see the cover you choose. Thanks!

Lorelei James Website / Blog
Goodreads
Rough Riders Series Order on Goodreads

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Reviewed: Blindfolded Innocence by Alessandra Torre 5 out of 5 rating...


Sexy New Cover 
Brad De Luca is incorrigible. The premier divorce attorney in town, he is a forty-year old walking hunk of sex, bedding half the town, including his own clients. Brad is used to getting whatever, and whomever, he wants, and when the newest intern arrives - Julia Campbell, a pre-law student fresh off a failed engagement - he embraces the challenge. Only, happy in her new independence, the last thing Julia wants, or needs, is an older man who could destroy her job prospects, and possibly her innocence.Julia is confident in her sexuality, and her effect on men. But she is far out of her league. Before she knows it, Brad is stretching her boundaries and opening up a forbidden world of sensual and sexual exploration.
This is such a hard review for me to write because this book brought out such strong emotions in me that I find myself having trouble putting them into words.

When Alessandra Torre contacted me about reviewing Blindfolded Innocence, I accepted not truly knowing what a wild ride I was in for. Wow...I am so glad that she did, I would have missed out on such an AWESOME book and a truly gifted writer. So thank you, Alessandra!! :)

Original Cover
Blindfolded Innocence (Innocence, #1)Now, the book cover....I'm not such a fan of the "vajayjay" cover. LOL  If there was a naked man on the cover in the same position, I would be all over it, but this one, not so much!!  But it certainly accomplishes what a great book cover is supposed to do by drawing attention to the book!! (This was the original cover but Alessandra's publisher has since changed the cover to the one shown at the top of my review~you may still see this cover until updated. I have to say that I LOVE the new cover!! ;p)

I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED Blindfolded Innocence!!  The writing was so smooth that the story flowed on with the assistance of such well developed albeit dysfunctional characters. LOL  Alessandra has such a gift with her ability to tell a story. I was immediately pulled into the story and so invested in Brad and Julia's journey towards a HEA.  The hardest part of this book for me was having to accept that Brad and Julia would not be getting the usual HEA,  but one that was suited specifically for them and their situation.  Blindfolded Innocence ended in what could best be called a HFN ending and I cannot wait for the next book!!

I had such a LOVE/HATE relationship with Brad. I just could not help but love him even when I didn't want to. *sigh* He had me yelling at my Kindle on more than one occasion and especially at one certain part and if he hadn't handled the situation the way he did later on and with Julia's easy acceptance, I would have really struggled with his character and I am not sure that I could have gotten passed it. I am not sure that I have ever read a character like his before and I have a feeling that even though the book ended the way it did, Alessandra is going to push my limits with Brad!! lol

I LOVED Julia right from the start!! She was such a great character and even though she was young she didn't act immature or ditsy.  I loved the way she was able to handle Brad and not let him steam roll over her. 

Blindfolded Innocence was filled with romance, laughter, tears, angst, sexual tension, HOT HOT sex scenes, NO NO NO moments and a HFN with the promise of a HEA!!!

Brad *sigh*

Such an awesome book that I was so happy to have the pleasure to read. Definitely going into my keeper pile to be reread (except I will surely skip that one scene with Brad!! lol ;p).  Looking for more from Alessandra Torre~she has quickly won me over with Blindfolded Innocence and I am definitely a BIG fan. 5 out of 5 rating. 

****ARC provided by Alessandra Torre~Thank you so much~my absolute pleasure to read!! :)

Some Of My Favorites:
Phone to his ear, his knuckles were still rapping the glass when my eyes met his. He pointed one finger at me and then motioned for me to come, turning his back and pacing away without waiting for a response. Uh-oh. (Julia about Brad)

Whoa. It was as if every ounce of extra air left the room in that instant, squeezing all of the space out with it and putting me front and center in his laser beam. Damn. We locked eyes, and neither one of us moved. (Julia and Brad)

He turned on some powerful, magical force, and it was like he radiated with intense sexual heat. I almost swooned, but caught myself. (Julia about Brad)

The man was like no one I'd ever met. I could see why divorcing wives would throw apart their legs and beg him for more than lawyerly duties. The man was walking, breathing sex. I had never found bodybuilders or large men attractive. I had pined and worshiped the rail-thin, pretty look of male models. This man was built like a god, but with the deposition of Satan. (Julia about Brad)

Good lord. Someone needs to take this man out back and shoot him. (Julia about Brad)

Alessandra Torre Website
Goodreads

Reviewed: Provoked by Rebecca Zanetti 5 out of 5 rating...

Provoked (Dark Protectors, #5)
A TIME FOR WAR…
A casualty of the war between the demons and the vampires, Jase Kayrs has been missing for six long years. His older brothers want answers—but they’re going to have to get them from an unlikely source. For when Kane Kayrs tracks down Amber Freebird, what he finds is a blonde, vegan pacifist who has no intention of using her skills in his war…
A TIME FOR LOVE…
Amber enjoys her life of chaotic freedom and has no intention of falling in line just because a sexy-as-sin vampire insists on order. Unfortunately, he discovers she may be the only hope they have of finding his brother, and there’s no way he’s going to let her go—even if it means mating her to gain her cooperation. The two are as different as can be, yet when the dominant Kane and the untamed Amber finally unite to rescue Jase, they just may find that opposites really do attract…“Hot and fast from beginning to end.”
I am such a HUGE fan of the Dark Protectors series. From the very first book, Fated, this series has held me captive with the intelligent, entertaining writing and the interesting characters. I wait non-to-patiently for each new release. Provoked did so not disappoint!!! 

With each new book, Rebecca has gifted my with the ability to return to this world. I continue to be immediately drawn in through great heroes and their heroines. And also, with stories that are filled with equal amounts of love and romance along with action and nail-biting moments. There is also laughter mixed in with a few tears. 

I always look forward to reading about Dage and Emma, Talen and Cara, Max and Sarah, Conn and Moira, Jordan and Katie. And I can't wait to see what happens with Terran and Maggie and of course Jase. Oh, Jase......Rebecca is killing me with his story!! Hopefully she will guide Jase to his HEA. After all that he has been through, he definitely deserves it.

Rebecca has been teasing me with the whole Kalin/Janie/Zane story line and it was worse in this book. This trio has had me talking to my Kindle since they were first introduced!! lol  I have been trying to figure out how they are going to affect each other and the building story. I just love how she writes them and how they continue to meet and interact with each other. Oh....the scene with Kalin and Jane and then the three of them in the epilogue....I cannot wait!! Zane is coming for her!!! Woo~Hoo!! lol 

I have been waiting for Kane to meet his mate since I first read about him. He has always been one of my favorites and I just loved him paired with Amber. Total opposites but their relationship works~they were perfect for each other. I love how they met!! I was instantly pulled into their story and rooting for their HEA. I didn't want it to end. Oh...how could I forget their HOT sex scenes with an unexpected bossy ALPHA Kane!! lol ;) So good!!

Such a great story and another great addition to an already AWESOME series. Looking forward to the next book.  Definitely a keeper!!  5 out of 5 rating. 

***ARC provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books~Thank you so much!! :)



Saturday Reads: My Kind Of Christmas by Robyn Carr...

Saturday reads is a Meme hosted here on Scorching Book Reviews. Here we tell readers the book we have read this week that has captured our hearts the most. It could be a new read, an old read or one not out just yet.

This weeks pick is.....
AMAZON
My Kind of Christmas  (Virgin River, #20)
Virgin River Series Book #20
PATRICK RIORDAN ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT NOTHING COULD MATCH THE ADRENALINE RUSH HE GETS FROM HIS JOB. BUT THIS CHRISTMAS, PATRICK’S PULSE IS REALLY RACING...
The Riordan brothers may have a reputation for being rough-and tumble, but Patrick has always been the gentle, sweet-natured one. These days, his easygoing manner is being tested by his high-octane career as a navy pilot. But for the Riordan brothers, when the going gets tough…the tough find the love of a good woman.  Except the woman who has caught Patrick’s attention is Jack Sheridan’s very attractive niece.
Angie LeCroix comes to Virgin River to spend Christmas relaxing, away from her well-intentioned but hovering mother. Yet instead of freedom, she gets Jack Sheridan. If her uncle had his way, she’d never go out again. And certainly not with rugged, handsome Patrick Riordan. But Angie has her own idea of the kind of Christmas she wants—and the kind of man!
Patrick and Angie thought they wanted to be left alone this Christmas—until they meet each other. Then they want to be left alone together. But the Sheridan and Riordan families have different plans for Patrick and Angie—and for Christmas, Virgin River–style!

I am a HUGE fan of Robyn Carr. This is one of my favorite series that I have reread so many times and will continue to do so. This series is one of my comfort reads and this book was a great addition. Patrick and Angie *sigh*.  I hope that she continues to add to the Virgin River series,  as I am not ready to leave these lovable characters and this special world that Robyn has created!! Love the cover!! :)

Now it's your turn!! What book this week has captured your heart? 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Saturday Reads post, or share your ‘read’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). I would love to see the cover you choose. Thanks!


My Review for My Kind Of Christmas
Robyn Carr Website
Goodreads
Virgin River Series Order On Goodreads

Friday, October 26, 2012

Author Guest Post: Shelly Holt...

Tasting Fire is an unusual paranormal romance to say in the least. When I sat down last March and decided to try my hand at writing my first romance novel, I knew I would have to do something really different to compete against thousands of other talented authors out there. Readers only have so much free time and disposable income at their discretion and deserved my best effort. It was why I decided to write a non-magical, paranormal romance, which is a complete contradiction of terms I know. I decided to create a world that would answer a literary question I myself have had for many years.

Why have cultures thousands of mile apart and in some cases completely isolated from each other, managed to create very similar shape-shifting legends of humans who could transform themselves into animals. Examples range from Japanese kitsune to Native American legends of skin walkers. These are cultures that until the modern era had no contact, yet created legends of shape-shifters that interacted with humans in all manner of ways, some quite intimate.


I decided to treat the issue as if it occurred here in the real world. I created a plot in which a heat loving bacteria lived only in hot springs scattered across the planet. This bacteria infected ancient nomads over twenty thousand years ago. This particular little bug was pretty nasty, but instead of making you sick, it did something much more insidious than that. If you were infected and then came into contact with an animal while the bacteria was still in your system, the bacteria would allow a second DNA code to become attached to the original human one. Over time, the offspring of these infected individuals had two sets of DNA coding that impacted their lives and created physical, social and economic problems that would impact their descendants for generations to come.


Tasting Fire is the story of Kai Tenzin, a man whose ancestor's DNA was mixed with that of an Asian Snow Leopard and Dr. Rae Hales, the human scientist he hires to help hide his race from medical science. Together, they race against the clock to find a way to hide the Pari people (snow leopard shape-shifters) from humanity and fall in love in the process.


Tasting Fire has strong spiritual overtones and extraordinarily well developed secondary plots that involve personal growth and fully defined characters. All of these well designed aspects make for a truly unique paranormal romance. I will warn readers at this point, if you want a book where the hero and heroine fall into bed within the first two minutes of meeting and have mindless sex, this is not the book for you! If you are looking for a rich, textured romance, full of world building and character development, and if you want to lose yourself in an original, intelligent, romantic, sexy, adventure, this is your book!


My thanks to Belle's Book Bag for inviting me on the blog today.


Tasting Fire
Shape-shifters have always walked the earth. Shrouded in myth and folklore,
hiding in the shadows, watching and waiting. Advances in modern science are
now about to reveal them to the world. Kai Tenzin is the self appointed leader
of the Pari people. He and his kind evolved from the most reclusive predators
on earth, the Asian Snow Leopard. They live and hunt in the most fearsome and
rugged terrain known to man, the Himalayas. As a young man, Kai left his small
village where the mountain touches the heavens, determined to do anything to
protect his people. When he is forced to enlist the aid of the beautiful American
scientist Dr. Rae Hales, the last thing he expects to find is a woman who will
ensnare his heart and endanger them all. Their action-packed adventure will take
them around the world to discover the truth behind the legends and reveal the
future of humanity.

Excerpt:
Rae took an admiring look at the vista below as she dropped her heavy pack on 
the ground. The mountains in the distance looked purple and the desert brush spread out below them like a master oil painting. It was awe inspiring to human eyes. Rae wondered what would it look like to a snow leopard. She suddenly realized many a biologist would sell their very soul for the opportunity she had at that moment. Rae turned to Kai who had been sitting on the ground with his pack and fishing around for lunch and asked him “what is it like when you're in your 
Shan form out in country like this?” Kai rewarded Rae with the most brilliant smile she had yet seen to grace the handsome shape-shifter's face. He seemed truly delighted to discuss the subject with her. Kai stood up to answer Rae's question. 
He addressed the human scientist. “It's like nothing you can imagine Rae. Every sense is in tune with the planet. See that tree over there” he pointed a few yards away at an ancient gnarled pinyon. “Yes” Rae replied. Kai walked up behind Rae and put his hands on her shoulders and directed her to look even closer at the 
tree. He whispered intimately in her ear as if they were in a church or another sacred space “when you look at that tree with your limited human vision, the average person can certainly appreciate its form and color. A biologist like 
yourself would ask what type of  tree is it and how old it is. A philosopher might 
ask who may have sat underneath it in the past or who might sit underneath it in 
the future. All of you might even wonder when will it die. That's the limit of your human perception. When you're in Shan form every single leaf will bid you a glorious greeting as you walk up to the tree for the first time. Every drop of sap 
tells you the history of the tree's life like an intimate biography written in the utterly sensual language of scent. The tree itself will tell you if it's healthy or sick. You 
can smell if the water that nourishes it is bitter or sweet. If you deeply pay
attention you can smell every animal that has ever been there.” Kai looked to Rae like he was experiencing a spiritual moment and Rae suddenly realized he was. The enthralled shape-shifter continued to explain to Rae the nuances of the animal world “when you are ready to move on to another place you reach up with your powerful claws and dig deep into the bark to mark the tree with your scent. It's added harmoniously to the scent of hundreds of other animals. You do this not just to
mark your hunting territory, but to tell every animal after you have left this world that you lived and breathed here at one time in the great mystery that is life. That is your only immortality in the animal world. There are no monuments to mark a man's ego, or family albums for a mother to remember her children by, but neither is there hate, nor fear of the future or regret of the past. You are fully alive in each and every moment. It's a wonderfully free existence. I wish I could truly share it with you... words, words pale in comparison.” Kai looked so happy at that moment. Rae was so moved by what he had just shared with her that all she could do was reach out and touch his wrist. “Thank you!” she whispered. Kai nodded at her in acknowledgment, but he was too emotional to even speak.

BIO
My name is Shelly Holt and I live in the middle of the harsh and unforgiving
Mojave desert. I write my stories looking out of a window that shows sweeping
desert views. Outside is a barren and severe landscape, yet inside my head lives
a world filled with exotic shape-shifters come to life, pulled from the pages of
myth and legend, ready to entice and seduce any reader brave enough to take
them on.

Links:


Shelly Holt is a new-to-me author and I wanted to thank her so much for contacting me and doing this guest post.  I look forward to reading Tasting Fire.  :)

Reviewed: Enforcer's Redemption by Carrie Ann Ryan 4 out of 5 rating...


October 30, 2012 
Enforcer's Redemption (Redwood Pack, #4)
Redwood Pack Series Book #4
Click HERE To Read An Excerpt
Adam Jamenson has suffered through the worst loss known to man. The only reason he lives day-to-day is to ensure the safety of his Pack. As the Enforcer of the Redwood Pack, it is his job to protect all in his path, though he was unable to protect the ones he held dear. The war with the Centrals is heating up and Adam must try and grit through it in order to survive. Though the broken man inside of him may not want to…
Bay Milton is a werewolf with a past. And a secret. She’s met the Redwood’s Enforcer only once, but it left a lasting effect. Now she needs to find him or everything he had thought he lost, may be lost again.
Together, they must struggle and find a way to fight their pasts and present in order to protect their future. But the Centrals have a plan that might make their path one of loss and destruction.
This is the first book that I have read in the Redwood Pack series, even though it is book #4. I hate reading books in a series out of order, but the blurb and the cover caught my attention and I had to read. I cannot resist a broken hero and his heroine trying to heal him!!  I definitely think that I would have got more out of the story and the characters if I had read the series in order, but I never felt lost or was unable to follow along while reading. 

Oh...I loved Bay and was so shocked when she got out of the car to see Adam. I hadn't been expecting that. lol  Ugh...Adam was such an ass~hat, even though I did understand the reason for his conflicting feelings for Bay.  Definitely thought she should have kicked him in his junk on more than one occasion!! lol Loved Maddox and can't wait to read what is happening with him, North, and Ellie. I'm also interested to see what the situation is with Hannah, Reed, and Josh that caused Adam to be concerned~he mentioned more than once about the sadness that surrounded them.  OMG...I couldn't believe what Carrie did to Adam's character~I had to go back and reread that part just to have it sink in~Jeez...hadn't the man suffered enough!!! (evil little author!! lol) 

Great story that kept me entertained till the end and left me wanting more. Adam and Bay's struggle to get their HEA was well worth the journey. I loved the secondary characters (especially Adam's brothers and sister) and I am definitely going to go back and read books #1 through #3.5.  4 out of 5 rating. Love this cover!!

***ARC provided by Carrie Ann Ryan ~ Thank you so much-it was my pleasure to read!!! :)

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Reviewed: My Kind Of Christmas by Robyn Carr BEST OF THE BEST Rating...

My Kind of Christmas  (Virgin River, #20)
Virgin River Series Book #20
Click HERE to read an Excerpt
PATRICK RIORDAN ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT NOTHING COULD MATCH THE ADRENALINE RUSH HE GETS FROM HIS JOB. BUT THIS CHRISTMAS, PATRICK’S PULSE IS REALLY RACING...The Riordan brothers may have a reputation for being rough-and tumble, but Patrick has always been the gentle, sweet-natured one. These days, his easygoing manner is being tested by his high-octane career as a navy pilot. But for the Riordan brothers, when the going gets tough…the tough find the love of a good woman.
Except the woman who has caught Patrick’s attention is Jack Sheridan’s very attractive niece.
Angie LeCroix comes to Virgin River to spend Christmas relaxing, away from her well-intentioned but hovering mother. Yet instead of freedom, she gets Jack Sheridan. If her uncle had his way, she’d never go out again. And certainly not with rugged, handsome Patrick Riordan. But Angie has her own idea of the kind of Christmas she wants—and the kind of man!
Patrick and Angie thought they wanted to be left alone this Christmas—until they meet each other. Then they want to be left alone together. But the Sheridan and Riordan families have different plans for Patrick and Angie—and for Christmas, Virgin River–style!
I am a HUGE fan of Robyn Carr and the Virgin River series. It is one of my absolute favorites and I anxiously await each new release. Every time I start a new book in the series, it makes me want to go back and reread the series from the beginning. It is like visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. I just love to wrap myself up in the comfort of these stories. I have reread the Virgin River series more times than I can count and will continue to do so. 

I was so not disappoint in My Kind Of Christmas. It was everything that I look forward to and love about this series. I don't think that I have gotten through a book in this series without being emotionally affected~in some way~by the struggle of such wonderful and lovable characters and their journey towards a HEA.  

Oh...Patrick *sigh* I just loved him and Angie so much right from the beginning. They were perfect for each other and captured my heart. I loved how each of them gave the other exactly what they needed.  Patrick was able to find the peace he so desperately needed in Angie and she was able to find the strength and confidence she was lacking in Patrick. I was so rooting for their HEA!!!  

The Riordan brothers are so funny and loving and dysfunctional. I love how they interact with each other and especially with their mother. 

Each book in the Virgin River series continues to be fresh and new and I will never get tired of reading them or looking forward to more. As with every other book in this series, I was able to lose myself in the story and I wasn't ready to leave Patrick and Angie and look forward to reading more about them through out the series. 

What I find myself loving about Robyn's writing and why I continue to come back to this series is the hope. In each of the books the hero and/or heroine are struggling with some tragedy/trauma in their lives and hoping to come to Virgin River to find healing and peace. What they find, usually pretty quickly, is the love of their life and so much more. That in this little tiny town, they find everything that they didn't even know they needed. Love this!! :)  I want Virgin River and these characters to be real and even as I say good~bye at the end of each book, I do so knowing that I will be returning. Thank you, Robyn,  so much for that!! :)

Obviously,  My Kind Of Christmas is going into my keeper pile alongside the rest of this series to be reread. BEST OF THE BEST rating. 

****ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA~Thank you so much!!! :)


Monday, October 22, 2012

Reviewed: Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson 5 out of 5 Rating...

Full Blooded
Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared. After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.
But not everyone is on board. The werewolf Rights of Laws is missing text and the superstitious werewolves think that Jessica means an end to their race. It doesn’t help when Jessica begins to realize she’s more. She can change partway and hold her form, and speak directly to her wolf. But the biggest complication by far is that her alpha father can't control her like he can the rest of his wolves.
When a mercenary who’s been hired by the vampires shows up to extract information about the newly turned werewolf only days after her change, they find themselves smack in the middle of a war and there's no choice but to run together. When it’s up to Jessica to negotiate her release against her father’s direct orders, she chooses to take an offer for help instead. In exchange, Jessica must now swear an oath she may end up repaying with her life.
Blooded was the first book that I read from Amanda Carlson and I knew that she had me before I was even finished that prequel novella. But I was still unprepared for how totally hooked I would be with Full Blooded.

It never fails to surprise me when I read a book from a new-to-me author and it blows me away. I love when a writer is able to capture me through the story and characters. Especially when I get so engrossed in a story that several hours pass without me being aware.  Full Blooded is definitely one of those book!!  

What a story....I loved every single thing about this book from the entertaining story to the intelligent writing to the interesting characters. I did not want to leave this world created by Amanda and cannot wait to return to it in the next book!!

WOW....Full Blooded was filled with some serious male sexiness, both Alpha and Beta shifter sexiness~Rourke *sigh* James *sigh* Tyler *sigh* Danny *sigh* Nick *sigh* and let's not forget Callum *sigh*   I am so looking forward to learning more about these characters and I hope to continue to read about them through out this series.  I am totally invested in Rourke and Jessica's HEA. I cannot wait to see where Amanda leads them,  especially after that ending.  Jessica is such a great character and I instantly loved her. Oh...that sex scene was HOT.. HOT..HOT..!! ;) 

I do understand why some readers felt that this book read more like a set~up to Book #2, but I personally didn't get that feeling while reading the book. It definitely kept me on the edge and there are still many questions left unanswered, but I really enjoyed how the story played out. I was left wanting more and greatly anticipating the next book.  Which I think shows that this book was a great start to an AWESOME series. 

Definitely going into my TBR pile to be reread. 5 out of 5 rating. 

Normally, at this point, I would list some of my favorite quotes from the book~but for Full Blooded~I decided to do something different. At the end of the book there was an interview with Amanda Carlson and I loved the answers she gave to these questions:   

*****May contain SPOILERS*****
Rourke is a powerful character and so gorgeous. But so is James. Why did you pick Rourke for Jessica's mate?   I love James. There are no two ways about it. But Jessica demanded something different. The standard issue Pack member, even a strong, capable one, wasn't going to suffice. She's a one of a kind wolf who needed an original mate. Rourke is amazing and sexy, and he's completely devoted to her. Jessica hasn't gotten to explore him....yet, but when she does, there will be no question in the reader's mind of why he's The One. 

Will we ever find out what Rourke is? Absolutely! But don't get your hopes up too soon. 

What's next for Jessica and Rourke?  Jessica and Rourke are in for some extreme adventures together. But first Jessica has to fight an evil Goddess to get him back, and if that's not bad enough, trouble manifests itself in a whole new form~one that Jess and Rourke had no idea was coming. 

This is an additional question from an interview posted at The Bookaholic Cat blog. Click HERE for the full interview.
How many books are planned for the Jessica McClain series? Right now I'm contracted for three, but have a rough story arc for at least three more. I'd also love to write some spinoff books with characters (I'm hoping!) you fall in love with. I love this world and I'm so excited to show Jessica and her family to the world.

****ARC provided by NetGalley~Thank you so much!! :)