Category Archives: Paranormal Romance

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Bear Naked for Christmas

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I have read only one other book by this author, which was also a delightful holiday-themed novel centered around Valentine’s Day. I truly enjoyed that story, so I was excited to dive into another of their works. From the very first page, this book managed to draw me in completely, holding my attention throughout the entire reading experience. I started late in the evening, and when I eventually had to put it down, I found myself eagerly anticipating the moment I could return to the story. Even though it’s a short story, I was so invested in the characters and their journey that I wished it could continue, just to learn more about this captivating couple.

While the main characters were engaging, I did feel that some of the supporting characters were somewhat underdeveloped. They still piqued my interest, and I could easily envision more depth and backstory that could be explored further. Additionally, I encountered a few issues with the writing, particularly concerning sentence structure. There were instances of awkward word placements, as well as some missing or incorrect words, which occasionally disrupted the flow of the narrative.

The protagonist, Katie, is a dedicated doctor who arrives at Scarfell Mountain for her family’s annual holiday gathering, fully embracing a tradition that brings them all together. After a particularly challenging year, marked by the heartbreak of a recent breakup with her fiancé, Katie is looking forward to reconnecting with their cherished neighbor, a wonderfully sweet older gentleman known for his warmth and kindness. However, she is taken by surprise when she discovers that the neighbor has been replaced by a strikingly handsome young man. Their initial encounter sparks a surprising interest within her, but just as she begins to entertain the possibilities, the complications of her past begin to resurface in the form of her ex, creating a tangled web of emotions and drama.

Overall, this charming Christmas story encapsulates the essence of the holiday season, offering a blend of romance, laughter, and a touch of nostalgia. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming read that has all the elements to make your holiday season a little brighter.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Valley of the Shadow

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I have been a devoted reader of this series since its inception with the Elemental Mysteries, and each new release from any of its various offshoots continues to bring me joy and excitement. The characters within this expansive universe are masterfully crafted, each one intricately developed and brought to life with a vibrancy that makes them feel almost real. This dynamic cast not only enhances the storytelling but also makes for an engaging and enjoyable reading experience. The setting itself is a remarkable blend of the familiar world and fantastical elements, allowing readers to easily recognize aspects of reality while still being immersed in a rich, imaginative landscape. The author’s writing is nothing short of exceptional, consistently drawing me back for more adventures and stories.

In this particular book, we are treated to a heartwarming reunion of many beloved couples from previous installments, as they come together to celebrate the holiday season while also rallying for a significant occasion. Among them, we get an in-depth look at the lives of Baojia and Natalie, one of the series’ most cherished couples.

For eight years, Baojia and Natalie have endeavored to lead as normal a life as possible within the complexities of an immortal existence. Their focus on nurturing family ties, advancing their careers, maintaining friendships, and deepening their love for one another has largely been successful. However, reality is about to intrude in a significant way, confronting them with challenges they believed they had ample time to prepare for. As is often the case, the situation grows increasingly complicated, presenting unforeseen obstacles that test their resilience.

What stands out in this narrative is the powerful theme of support and chosen family. Despite the impending trials, Baojia and Natalie are not alone; they are surrounded by a supportive network of both human and vampire friends who come together to offer comfort and assistance. This sense of community adds layers to the story and highlights the strength found in relationships.

The serious themes tackled in this book could have easily been mishandled, but the author navigates them with remarkable sensitivity and understanding. There is a perfect balance of humor interwoven with the more somber moments, showcasing the courage required to confront life-altering situations. This blend elevates the story, making it both emotionally resonant and uplifting.

I absolutely adored this installment and, although it is intended to be a finale for Baojia and Natalie, I sincerely hope we will see more of them in future works set in this vivid universe. I highly recommend this book to anyone who hasn’t yet experienced its magic; it’s truly a must-read!

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Omens and Artifacts

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Although I adore the characters, they seemed somewhat underdeveloped in this instance. I missed the usual action associated with Ben and Tenzin as they strive to establish their business. The new characters didn’t excite me, but there’s always potential for growth if they reappear.

In the Elemental world, reputation is crucial, yet it’s a double-edged sword. Benjamin Vecchio is venturing into the world of antiquities hunting and is in dire need of clients. His uncle’s notoriety as a legendary fire vampire assassin has generated much intrigue but hasn’t translated into job offers. Benjamin needs a significant find to earn the recognition and prestige he seeks. If he can recover Brennus the Celt’s lost sword, he believes it could be his breakthrough. All he needs is for a descendant of Brennus to employ him for the search.

Securing his reputation might also endanger his life, but that’s par for the course in the perilous realm of ancient vampires.

It remains an excellent choice for fans of the series.

My rating: ✭彡✭彡✭彡

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My Ghostly Valentine

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I began this series with the final installment and now find myself compelled to return to the outset, drawn by the allure of the characters, despite making their acquaintance belatedly. This title has lingered on my To-Be-Read list for some time, and I deemed now an opportune moment to delve in. Although initially slow to engage me, once captivated, I was unable to set it aside until the very end. The town’s idiosyncratic charm, populated by a bevy of eccentric inhabitants, beckons one to delve deeper.

After completing her education, Patricia O’Dare departed her hometown to carve out a niche in Manhattan’s culinary scene. Post-culinary school, she returns, armed with a degree and nursing a broken heart. Her aspirations were unfulfilled then, but now she seizes an opportunity to realize her dreams anew—if only she can acquire Rosemoor and transform it into more than a mere local bakery.

Zach Franco, once a celebrated guitarist and vocalist reveling in the itinerant musician’s lifestyle, faces a life-altering accident that halts his career. He retreats to his roots, assuming control of his family’s pizzeria and steering it toward success. Yet, he aspires to broaden his horizons, and Rosemoor represents the ideal venue for expansion. However, he discovers that his dear friend Patricia harbors similar ambitions.

Complicating matters is the ghost inhabiting Rosemoor, who takes umbrage at their respective visions for her domain. Amidst these tumultuous dynamics, can romance flourish—particularly one unforeseen?

Banshee Creek claims the title of America’s most haunted town, yet its denizens have ingeniously capitalized on this notoriety. I hold each one dear! This narrative is an enchanting blend of humor and romance—a lighthearted tale devoid of scandal. A delightful read that I believe would resonate with many.

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

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Bear Naked Valentine’s

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I was completely drawn into this story right from the beginning and I thoroughly enjoyed it till the very end. I loved the characters and the way they interacted with one another. It felt like I knew them since the start, even though I was just meeting them. The story has a light tone with a touch of fun, a little bit of angst, and a whole lot of romance. This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and since I started near the end, I plan to read the other books in this series.

Lucy is a police officer, but she finds it hard to meet men due to her profession. Men are either intimidated by her or have a creepy interest in her handcuffs. During her latest blind date, things go worse than usual when her date realizes she is a cop. He turns out to be a bad guy, and he takes off running, forcing Lucy to chase and arrest him. After this disastrous date, Lucy almost gives up on dating altogether. However, her best friend has other plans and introduces her to a new dating app.

Chris is the owner of a bar in a town that is being developed to accommodate shifters from all over the country who are interested in relocating there. Although he tells himself that he is not interested in finding a mate, he feels envious of his friends who have found love. When they ask him to beta test a dating app, he is initially hesitant, but he decides to give it a try. Chris thinks that if the app doesn’t work out, he can always go back to his mundane life. However, the app works better than he ever could have imagined.

This was a wonderful story with a few dark moments to provide balance. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

My rating: ✧✧✧✧✧

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A Stone Kissed Sea

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I enjoyed getting a chance to really get to know Doctor Lucien Thrax after having met him in earlier novels. This revealed a great deal about him as an individual while also giving us the chance to meet his Sire, Saba, and the other ancients who have made cursory appearances since the original Elemental Mystery novels. The characters have all become more textured and nuanced as the series has progressed giving more depth and life to the world they inhabit. Knowing that this is the last novel set in this particular world made it bittersweet.

Lucien has been working on a cure for Elixir for the past three years without any luck, though he has had a few breakthroughs in detecting usage. The elimination of Elixir is very personal to him due to a loss he suffered because of it, it has also caused him to build a wall around his heart. Dr. Makeda Abel is a human under the aegis of Katya who has been funding the work of Lucien into the Elixir problem. Katya has also been funding the research of Makeda into human blood diseases and their possible cures.

Katya decides that even though Lucien has been working very hard and is making her money he could use some help. Makeda is sent to collaborate with Lucien, even though he would prefer to work alone. Lucien for his part does not take it well and does everything he can to make things difficult for Makeda, and because she would prefer not to be there she does not immediately fall in line. Though both of them are brilliant they cannot see what is right in front of them.

Power, Passion, and Politics. These are three things which drive the vampires as well as the humans in all our stories. You get a healthy dose of all three here as things go from good to bad to worse and back to good again. There is some good action along with a few steamy scenes that are fairly tame, though still hot enough for most. I believe fans will be more than happy with how things play out here.

** I listened to this for my second go with this as I have for the previous books in the series. It is just as compelling when listened to as when you read it. The narrator is fantastic and gives voice and life to all the characters. Enjoy this both ways.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Ravaged

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I enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed reading each book in this series. I love meeting new characters and also getting updates on the characters from earlier novels, but unfortunately, rarely any of the mates. Every time I start reading a book, I get pulled into the story and find it hard to put down until I finish, but I have to stop often because sleep and work get in the way. The world they inhabit is like ours but with a subtle twist.

Ever since Aiden stopped aging, he has been struggling with his dark impulses. Unlike his brothers who only had to deal with one dark impulse, Aiden is fighting against multiple ones such as bloodlust, sex, violence, and death. His work with Ronan has helped him to keep the darkness at bay, but he’s starting to lose the battle. He hopes someone will take him out before he gives in.

Maggie Doe had a difficult upbringing and always dreamed of having things she never had especially her own home. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when Aiden is rushed into her ambulance. Aiden has lost all hope for his future, but Maggie’s arrival brings a glimmer of hope back into his life.

This book has a good balance of mature themes, including sex, violence, and gore. It can be enjoyed as a standalone or as part of the larger series. I am excited for more young readers to experience it.

I found this book just as engaging as the others in the series. Tavia Gilbert’s narration is excellent and she brings each character to life, regardless of gender. I highly recommend it.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Fractured

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I just finished reading a book that continued the story from the previous one. Although it was short, it felt just right for the established and new characters involved. The characters were all well-developed, even the ones who only appeared briefly. The stories were engaging and helped to advance the plot lines.

Mia was freed when Abby and her family came to find Vicky and found her and other purebred vampires being held captive. While the other captives have all moved on she and Vicky remain at the training center for similar reasons, both feeling that they cannot move forward just yet. David wants nothing more than to help Mia get past her anxiety over being held captive. He has feelings for her that could be more than she can handle.

Just as Mia starts to think things can really be better a past she does not remember comes back to tear her newfound happiness apart.

I was so happy to see one of the Stooges finally in a position to get a little real romance. They have been a part of the family and got to see it happen so often it is only fair one of them gets a chance. This was a wonderful story that was a little heartbreaking. You could not help but feel for Mia and all that she had gone through but she proved to be a fighter. This is definitely for a mature audience with some seriously hot sex scenes. Enjoy!

My rating: ✩✩✩✩✩

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Savage Possession

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I really enjoy this book series, but it has become too predictable for me. The characters are still fantastic, and I love how they are depicted, but the plot is becoming a bit repetitive. The main couple always has to struggle to stay together due to some external force trying to keep them apart. This theme has been consistent since the first book, and while it was enjoyable initially, it has become tedious. It would be nice to see the characters dealing with different situations, or perhaps even have another couple in the pack face romantic challenges.

Darcy always knew that her life wouldn’t be easy. She expected to face various challenges and make hard decisions. Therefore, when she is faced with death, she makes an almost immediate decision that she will do anything to stay with her love, Mason. Zane suggests that she takes on vampire nature to replace her witch nature, and Darcy agrees without considering the consequences. However, after surviving the conversion, everyone is pleased, but they sense something different and dark about Darcy.

I already have the next book in the series but I’m unsure if I want to read it right now. I already know what’s going to happen since we’ve already had a showdown with the same villain before. Do I really need to waste my time? I do like the series, but it’s time for things to move forward. It feels like we’re always in the same place.

My rating: ✭✭✭✭

https://www.amazon.com/Savage-Possession-5-Mystic-Wolves-ebook/

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Blind Date With a Vampire

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I have read quite a few novels by this author and always enjoy the story she weaves. This was no exception as I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and was reluctant to stop before the end. The main characters are well-fleshed and established in a short time so that you can decide how you feel about them for better or worse. The peripheral characters come clearer as the story progresses though some remain a little murky until the end. The setting is contemporary so there is no particular world-building other than to establish the quirks of these vampires.

Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Glover was an investment banker who came home from the Korean War with a case of PTSD, though they did not call it that then. In 1955 he was coping the best way he could without medication or a doctor with the help of his best friend who took him out for the evening. He gets much more than he wanted when he and his friend are turned by two women they meet. Because he cannot cope with his new life he decides to take a fifty-five-year nap and wakes in 2010 where he likes the technology but finds the women a bit forward.

Samantha Blythe was in an abusive relationship for a number of years, but she is now finally done with it. She just wants to meet a nice guy and her best friend, Pinky gets her on a dating site where she meets who she thinks maybe that nice guy. The only hitch is that he turns out to be a vampire but still a nice guy.

Sam and Nate hit it off but her ex is not done with her and he finds that he has some unfinished business with his maker that could mean the end of any relationship with Sam. Then there is the fact that his friend has kept him so in the dark that he does not even know how to be a vampire.

This was a little more than just a blind date, so the title does not seem accurate, but it was definitely a couple of good ones. There is some good action, with a sweet romance and steamy sex scenes. I would say it is a good recommendation.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟