Category Archives: Paranormal Romance

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Shadows of Bourbon Street

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I continue to enjoy these books because I like the characters and the setting. They are not deep and sometimes you can figure out what’s going on very quickly but they are nonetheless entertaining and that is all I want. I have found that listening and reading are both great fun with this series. The narrator, Traci Odem, is fantastic as she gives depth to the characters through her vocalizations of them. You cannot be bored when you know the backdrop is New Orleans, though I would be happy with more about mardi gras if it going to be used as a device. This was a quick read that held my interest and kept me wanting to continue to the next book.

Jade and Kane are about to say ‘I do’ when the High Angel interrupts the nuptials to give them their first assignment as Shadow Walkers. A witch is in trouble and only Jade and Kane can save her. But of course, there is more going on than meets the eye and this couple falls into it.

With three plots running it could become hard to figure out what is going on but that is not the case. Each crisis has a start, a middle, and an ending that is satisfying. One gripe is that every book has someone in Jade’s circle gaining some type of power or gift. That can get a bit monotonous. But the books are fun and fast reads so it is worth it.

My rating: ✭✭✭✭ of 5

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Angels of Bourbon Street

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Angels of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I enjoy these books and I like most of the characters because they have been able to grow as the series has moved forward, then there are some I could do without sometimes. Being set in New Orleans makes this work perfectly for the way things seem to go for everyone here. I have never been but every time I read one of these books I can imagine that I am visiting the French Quarter or the Garden District because of the vivid descriptions of the locales. I chose to listen and read because it does make it so much easier to keep the story going when I am on the go. I can listen in my office at work while still being productive and relaxed.

Jade has been left with only half her soul because of circumstances beyond her control, even though she was doing the right thing. But she decides that nothing is going to stop her from marrying the man of her dreams, Kane. Well, things never go smoothly for Jade no matter how much she wants it to.

Jade is possessed by the ghost residing in Kane’s family home while making arrangements for her wedding. Though they are able to save her once it becomes clear that in her weakened state she is easy prey. Now she will have to live with the person who has the other half of her soul in order to keep her safe, but that does not help her friends.

The narrator, Traci Odom, does a great job of bringing the characters to life, both male and female. If you have enjoyed the first three books in this series then you will enjoy the continued adventures of this new to her craft witch.


“Everyone in this room knows I’m going to say yes, but I’m not willing to let the realm have complete control over us. If we were to become slaves to you, our lives would hardly be worth living anyway. So my offer to you is this: the pair of us will accept your condition of becoming shadowwalkers, but we want to be compensated as a low-level angel would. We also want all the benefits and rights that they have under your laws. There will be no exceptions because we are humans.”
― Deanna Chase, Angels of Bourbon Street


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Veiled

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I have been waiting for this book since Experiment in Terror ended with an HEA for two of my favorite characters to date. I loved the character of ADA because she was so outspoken for a teenager and it is good to see her a little more grown up here though affected by what had happened. This is a standalone which will be great if there are no other books, though I am hoping for more. The story is good though I still felt like it could have been better. It felt a little thin because I never understood why things were happening the way they were.

Ada knows what her sister Perry can do, she also knows that her grandmother Pippa had some of the same talents, so why does she try to deny her own. Ada wants to be normal but it is kind of hard to do that when you see ghosts. Ada has also been dreaming about a man, one she believes she met at Perry and Dex’s wedding but they do not seem to remember him. Is he real or a ghost?

When a new couple moves in next door and it turns out that one of the people renting a room from them is the guy from her dreams Ada has to stop and take notice. From the day she speaks to Jay her life will never be the same again.

If you have never read the EIT series this will work for you because you don’t need to know a lot and some of the back story is given to you. If you are a fan of EIT but have not read the final two books then this one will spoil them, so do not read. But if you are a fan and have read all the books this will take you on a new journey with familiar characters.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 of 5

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Vampire for Christmas

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Vampire for Christmas

by Felicity Heaton

I liked this book a lot more by the end of it because it did not really start off very strongly. The characters started off doing a lot of internal monologues even though they were together and you really did not get a sense of who they were. The story moves fairly well though there is not a lot of action involved. I was really happy with the fact that Christmas was a fairly important part of the story and not just in the title.

Shannon is a demon hunter who wants to be transferred away from her current partner, who happens to be a vampire. Rafe is a vampire doing time with the agency for misdeeds in his past. He and Shannon have been partnered for two years and are going on their last mission before they are to be split up. Rafe wants to convince her that they should stay together.

When a demon threatens Christmas, the season of peace and goodwill, its the chance Rafe needs to show Shannon what is real.

Rafe is a little bit of a stalker, Shannon is a bit of a bi**h a good deal of the time, but they have a serious chemistry. This is a nice read for the holiday.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“The demon began to bubble and melt into a big pile of ooze. Rafe looked confused, but he was staring at her, not the demon. “I saw you stick your fingers in its eye,” she said and ran her hands down her chest and legs, squeezing some of the slime out of her clothes. “That was disgusting.” He smiled and shrugged. “It was the only weapon at my disposal, and it weakened it enough for you to kill it.” Shannon frowned. “What do you mean by that? That I couldn’t kill it without your help?” He shrugged easily again. “I could have killed it… although, your distracting it by letting it play with you like a ragdoll was appreciated.” She smiled and then it fell away when she caught a flashback of how violently the demon had tossed Rafe around. “You okay?” He”

― Felicity Heaton, Vampire for Christmas

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All the King’s Men: The Beginning

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All the King’s Men: The Beginning
(All The King’s Men #6)
by Donya Lynne

This started from the beginning, though not from the very beginning with the Dacians, but after they had been ousted. It gave a background for all the things that are alluded to by other characters. It also gives a fuller more thorough background on what caused the hostilities between the Drecks and Vampires. It flowed perfectly and having read the previous books in the series it gave some good insight into what was happening outside of the pages we read earlier.King Bain is of course featured as the person who has most of the truth of things in his hands. We also get to meet his wife who understands how to handle him.

This is a novella which answers most if not all of the questions you may have after the first 5 books. It actually leads directly into the first book, The Rise of the Fallen. This series is really great and I think anyone who enjoys vampires and action will enjoy this.

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

“I’m not stupid, Malek,” he said softly. “I know I’m in trouble. Big trouble. Jackson…” He closed his eyes and took a heavy breath before continuing. “Mating Jackson has awakened everything I felt for Kat after she died. It’s like I’m feeling it all over again.” He slowly swirled his drink, making the ice clink the sides of the glass. “And he doesn’t love me. He never did. I can hear his thoughts and know there’s someone else. I see what they do with one another, but there’s nothing I can do to stop him, and yet I can’t walk away.” He lifted his gaze to Malek’s and saw complete and total understanding reflected back at him. Like any other male of their species, Malek knew Micah was between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Micah looked back down into his glass. “It’s just a matter of time, Malek.” A matter of time before his mental faculties short-circuited and tossed him like a rag doll into suffering so intense he’d be lucky to remember his own name when the end came. Malek’s”
― Donya Lynne, All the King’s Men: The Beginning

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Return of the Assassin

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Return of the Assassin
(All The King’s Men #5)
by Donya Lynne

This is the story of Malek and Gina.
This was one of the more densely packed books of the series, with the introduction of new characters and new plot lines. I was immediately pulled into the story partially because I had liked the characters from earlier books and partially because the story was a little darker than usual. The characters are so compelling and real for me as I read that I cannot stop even when I should because I need to follow where they are going.

Malek did not expect or want to ever find another mate after the death of Carmen centuries ago, but in walks Gina and he is immediately bonded to her. Gina was also mated once before and her mate Armand was a sadistic male who abused and broke her down so that she no longer fully trusts there are good males out there. The fates bring together these two lost and broken souls to heal each other, but first they have to get past all the baggage from their respective pasts.

Gina has tried to stay away from Malek and Chicago but when she blows an assassination of Dacian vampires it becomes a matter of survival. She and Trevor are being hunted and she decides to head to Chicago to stop Micah from emailing her and hopefully throw off the Dacian’s for a while. Bishop is still plotting even after losing his lab and best lab rat. The Dacian vampires decide to kill two birds with one stone since they are in Chicago and make a run on King Bain and the throne, and get Gina and Trevor.

There are a lot of emotional moments while reading this book and while a lot center around Malek and Gina, there are other characters who bring on a big emotional feeling. I will say that I actually cried at a few points, which made my son uncomfortable, but I told him that this is what you want from a good book. Something that makes you such a part of it that you cannot help but participate in whatever is happening. This can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend you start from the top and get here. Recommended to everyone!

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“That’s Trevor. And he was about to tell us how it is he hitched a ride back here with Gina.” Micah settled into his chair, leaned back, and steepled his fingers in front of his chest. “And I’m practically creaming myself to hear this story.” “Look, it’s my—” Gina’s voice cut off when Micah’s hand jutted out, palm toward her. “No, I want to hear from Trevor,” Micah said, keeping his eyes on the strange male. “What brings you to my world, Trev. You don’t mind if I call you Trev, do you?” “What if I do?” “I’d tell you to get over it.” “Are you always like this?” “Only to my friends.” The two locked gazes for several seconds until Trevor chuckled and looked away. “I’m not sure whether I like you or hate your guts.” Micah grinned. “I get that a lot.”
― Donya Lynne, Return of the Assassin

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Midnight Rising

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Midnight Rising
(Midnight Breed #4)
by Lara Adrian (Goodreads Author)

This is finally Rio’s story. Rio was betrayed by the one person he would never see it coming from and it left him completely devastated. I was feeling so much for Rio from the time he got injured and all through his rehab that I was so happy to see him seeming to come out of his funk.

This is another great entry in the saga of the Breed Warriors and the mates who find them when they need them most. The story takes up a short time after the end of Midnight Awakening and continues in a way that makes it perfectly clear what is happening. The language is just what is expected from the varied characters as they have been introduced. The story is told from multiple points of view allowing you to get the full picture without wondering how the information came to be. Most of the characters are already well established with personalities that let you know who they are right away. The new characters also come out of the gate with full blown personalities which make it easy to see who they are and what they will be to the overall story line.

Rio stays in Prague after the other Breed Warriors return to Boston telling them he will destroy the cave which had been used as a stasis chamber. But months later and it still stands and he has become to weak to do anything. Dylan is on vacation with friends of her mother when she sees the ghost of a woman who leads her to Rio and asks for her help to save him. A new villain rises to take the place of the one thwarted and he has plans that will devastate not only the world of the Breed but that of the humans who have no idea what lies just outside their safe world.

There is some good action scenes along with a romance that is hard fought to exist.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

He had let Eva down and he knew it. But she had paid him back in spades. Her betrayal had rattled him on a soul-deep level. It had made him question everything, including why the hell he should be taking up precious space in this world.

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Untamed Magick

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Untamed Magick
(Pentacles of Magick #1)
by Eliza Gayle

Having never read this author before I was pleasantly surprised that it was as good as I had hoped. This was a very quick and enjoyable read that caught my attention from the first page. I found the characters to be interesting and able to elicit emotion for their plight even while making this very hot. The way they interacted with each other was perfect for what was going on in their world, though there should have been more conflict. Once I started, I could not put it down and read it right through the night.

Anger,greed, and lust, all luring them to the evil potential of their magick.

The Scott family has lived under a curse/prophesy for centuries which tells of the destruction of the entire family. Two sets of twins each holding a magick which could corrupt and kill them all, they can never stay together for any extended period of time. It is said that a woman will be their eventual downfall and every man is wary any new woman coming into their lives.

Graelen Scott is rich, handsome, and a witch, he hides in his house wondering if he will ever be able to save himself and his brothers from the prophesy. Every day he fights the pull of the dark magick within him and he can feel himself weakening. Rena Gallagher is a researcher and historian at the Museum of Art History in San Diego, she also happens to be an empath. Rena has come into possession of Tarot cards which have been in the Scott family for generations and has come to Graelen to get answers she cannot find on her own, what she does not know is that they were stolen. Though she may hold his destruction Graelen is instantly drawn to Rena and she to him, and maybe the prophesy was wrong and she can be his salvation.

This book contains untamed desire, untamed rage, and of course untamed magick. Loved it and will be going on in this series.

* I listened to this for my second reading and it was a nice experience. Though I found the narrator to be good at giving voice to the characters she sometimes came off as just sounding like she was going for sultry. Still well worth the time.

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Four male witches born every other generation. Two sets of twins bound to carry The Power through the family line, if they could avoid the seductive call of the darkness every time they used their powers. The combined power of the four would be unlike any other, but the cravings created from using their magick would darken their souls piece by piece until the ability to tell right from wrong would disappear, and the magick would quickly destroy their life forces.

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Moon Child

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Moon Child
(Vampire for Hire #4)
by J.R. Rain





Samantha Moon and her family and friends just continue to keep my attention no matter what they are doing. The story continues from the point it ended in the last book seamlessly.The characters are continuing to grow and become more well defined as to who they are and where they stand within this world. The locations are familiar and allow you to feel like you are truly a part of things as they happen.

Samantha has a hard decision to make and is not sure how she should move forward. Her seven year old son is dying and there is nothing the doctors can do, but she may be able to save him. If she does she is able to she may be giving up her own chance at becoming mortal again. What she finds out soon is that someone else wants her artifact in order to end their own immortality and he will do anything to get it.

Definitely recommend to fans of Samantha Moon series and anyone looking for something a little light with bite.



My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Danny was there, sleeping. He was sitting in one of the wooden chairs at the foot of the bed. His head had flopped back and he was snoring loudly up at the heavens. Probably irritating the hell out of God. One thing I didn’t miss from living with the man was all his damn snoring. Well, that and the cheating.


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Undone

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Undone
(Vampire Awakenings #5)
by Brenda K. Davies

I have been reading this series since the first book and have loved every one of them. This one literally grabbed me with the first sentence and I could not put it down until I had gotten to the end. I am not even sure what it was about this that had me so captivated but it was something that I want to experience again. The characters were so vivid and alive that I could see what was happening to them every step of the way. The situations were plausible and did not seem so fantastic that they were totally unbelievable. It flowed perfectly and kept you engrossed and sunk into the world that was being built around you.

Abby Byrne has been warned about Brian Foley by her family, saying he is dangerous and a monster. But when they find themselves in trouble and need someone who knows how to kill they call on him. Well this time Abby needs his help and does not want to tell her family what is going on. Her twin sister, Vicky, has gone missing and she needs someone who can help find her without alarming her parents or siblings.

There is another thing between her and Brian that she had hoped to avoid for a few more years if at all possible. The first and only time she had seen him was in a hotel room when she was fifteen and he was saving her and her sister from a killer, that he had led to her family. But after that night she could not get him out of her mind and dreamed about him for years. She really hopes that it doesn’t mean what she fears it might.

This was a story that will be really enjoyed by those who have read the previous stories, especially since you do get to check in with some of the other family members. I highly recommend this series and this book. There is some violence, sex, mutilations, and drug use.

**Tavia Gilbert is a great narrator who continues to bring the characters in these novels to life.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Humans know they face death every day, yet they bravely go out into the world. They smile, laugh, and love all while knowing it could be over in the next instant. We’re immortal and yet they’re a far more resilient species. I mean, how is it possible to live so much while knowing death is the only end they will have?”