Category Archives: Paranormal Romance

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The First Alpha

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The First Alpha

The First Alpha

I gave this 3 stars but I feel more like 2.5 stars. I can’t really decide where I should go with this. I liked the premise of the story and it did move along at a nice pace, but still it was lacking in some ways. I would have liked if the characters were fleshed out more, particularly the character of Lucius. We are told he is a cruel and sadistic guy but we don’t really get to see enough of him to get to explore that. Then there is Megan who is there one minute and gone the next but seems to have an important role in what is going on, no development of who she is or why she did what she did.

The idea behind the story is good and I did enjoy it. Adam has wandered for 3000 years looking for his mate and has not found her in all those years. Cassie is 23 years old and has been given to the cruel 500-year-old Alpha Lucius by her mother to cement a treaty which would save their tribe from disappearing. When Adam and Cassie meet they know they are fated for each other, but the question is can they get away from what has been planned for Cassie since she was a child?

Cassie seems like a weak, whiny wolf with no common sense but then morphs into this strong woman all of a sudden and there should have been more. Adam is way older than Lucius but does not really seem as dominant as you would expect from a wolf of his age, though he is said to feel like an Alpha. This has introduced them and I would like to see more to see if the characters can be brought more to the front and made more interesting.

A quick read with a nice story that may pique your interest.

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Before The Moon Rises

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Before The Moon Rises (Ritter Werewolves, #1)

Before The Moon Rises (Ritter Werewolves #1)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would and it has piqued my interest in other books by this author. I can say that I would have liked it to have been a little longer because I was really into it just as started getting to the end. This was a fast paced story that managed to introduce the characters in a way that made them real and give you the entire run-down on what was going on in their world. While the romance was almost instantaneous, it gave meaning to the males need to protect. Not to mention the fact that shifters always seem to fall in love/lust immediately.

Max Ritter is found in the middle of Los Angeles naked and unconscious, he is taken to the hospital and meets Janet O’Brien, the nurse taking care of him. Also at the hospital is Gorman, the werewolf he has been following. When he sees that Gorman has set his sights on Janet what else can he do but try to protect her. Though they have an instant attraction Janet has no idea what Max is and he does not enlighten her even though he knows the danger that stalks her. The Ritter’s are a family of werewolves who are sworn to protect people from being killed or turned but can they do it when it’s most important to them and Max.

This was a really good story about the good and evil that can be found within the werewolf community with a villain who was evil and had plans for everything and everyone. Our good guy was rich, handsome, and almost to good to be true. Then there is the nurse, Janet, who has found herself between two adversaries without knowing the real cost to her.

Fast, sexy, brutal, and engrossing!

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Gabriel’s Hope

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Gabriel's Hope by Lizzy Ford    Gabriel’s Hope (Rhyn Eternal, #1)
by Lizzy Ford

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Though it did not make me immediately interested it did catch me after the first 3 chapters. The plot is interesting when you realize that what you are dealing with are immortals, and not just any immortals but those who have been a part of our mythology for generations. Death, Fate, Demons, and the Devil are all here and vying for our attention.

Gabriel has just been appointed as Death and he has no idea how to handle his elevated status. He has been a hired hand for countless years and now he is expected to take the reins and make sure that all souls are collected as they should be. When he is sent out by Fate to collect a soul he runs into someone who may change his life in unexpected ways, Deidre, she has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor and has only months to live. While Gabriel tries to fix the problems in the underworld he finds that his heart is being effected by a human who he does not want to lose.

This story was entertaining but could have been so much more. While I liked Deidre, she was so conflicted at times that all I wanted to do was hit her. She started as a strong woman and then became this frail little then went back to being strong. I get that she needed a range of emotions but sometimes less is more.

There is a cliff hanger ending and if nothing else that makes me want to read the next entry because now I want to know what happens next.

 

 

 

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Growl

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Growl

Growl (Lacey Hannigan Trilogy #1)

 

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
I liked it but it was not that grab you and entrance you type read. Don’t get me wrong though, there is plenty to like here and make you want to continue. The story has a slow build but then goes straight to action, which is refreshing since most of the time you have to wait several chapters before anything of note happens. I did want to find out more as I read and was not tempted to just skim, which is a good thing because sometimes things can get bogged down in the details. So it flowed well enough for me to keep track of what was important to the story.

Lacey Hannigan has a power, she can move things with her, not great for a seventeen year old who just wants to be normal. Her father left when was 4 unable to deal with a child so different, her mother was afraid of her, and her step-father wanted to her. So, Lacey runs away to the big city and lands in a situation she could not have anticipated. Her first night in town she becomes the target of a hunting pack and only her ability saves her, but it also peaks the interest of the Alpha and he wants her at any costs.

This is almost a coming of age story just with telekinesis and wolves. Lacey is a lost little girl who has been hurt by the people who should have loved and protected her. And while she thinks that she is able to take care of herself, she still needs the comfort of a family and friends. I liked Lacey most of the time but she was so much like most female characters, wishy-washy when it came to her love interest. The whole which one will it be thing.

The characters are believable but could have been fleshed out more, particularly those that are central to the story. The dialogue is appropriate but a little stiff in places, mostly when Lacey and Jesse are interacting. But as I have said, an enjoyable story which does make you want to continue the series in the end. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a wolf shifter with a little twist. This has violence, a little romance,and family dysfunction.

 

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The Nightlife New York

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The Nightlife: New York (The Nightlife, #1)

The Nightlife: New York (The Nightlife #1)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
When I started reading this I was not sure what to expect. All I knew for sure was that it was going to involve Vampires and I love Vampires. Well, after reading it through I can say without a doubt that I really, really liked this. It didn’t snatch me into the story but drew me in slowly as I started to get an idea about the characters and what they were like. I like this this new style vampire who are part of the world and not at the same time. This was a getting to know you kind of thing for me and the story was just what I would have wanted to get me in the right place.

Aaron Pilan is a nineteen year old who seems to be drifting through life, working as a waiter and hanging out with his friends. Then one night he happens upon a beautiful woman being hassled by the police and tries to step in to help, not a good idea. The lady can take care of herself and he gets a hole in his chest for his trouble. Michelle is beautiful, french, and a vampire, she is also alone. When she sees the boy shot she takes him with her and tries to help, but the only thing she can do is make him like her. What ensues is a story of two people, one already in love and another who does not believe it is possible for her to love.

I liked Michelle even though she seemed a bit psychotic at first, the reasons were justified for all the actions she took. Aaron has his own issues but is like any boy of his age you might meet, an attractive woman can make things seem just fine.I think I would have liked to see him more anguished or even angry about becoming a vampire but that was just a small thing. Overall I enjoyed the story so much that one thing could not detract from the rest. It didn’t hurt that they had some great chemistry as well. 🙂

I will definitely be reading the next installment because I think there is a lot more to both of them and I want to see it unfold. This offers hot romance, corrupt police, and a flawed vampire. This is well worth the read and once you start I think you will not put it down until the final page has been turned.

 

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Rocky

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Rocky by Bianca D'Arc   Rocky (Tales of The Were, #4)
by Bianca D’Arc

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

A solid 4.5 stars for being a good fast read that made me like the characters within the first 20 pages and giving me a grizzly bear shifter. I have found another author and series of books that I really want to read. The writing is tight and concise, the characters are well fleshed out, and they seem real in how they react with each other.

Rocky Garibaldi, Maggie , and Antonio Fernandez grew up together and in the end only one could get the girl. Tony and Maggie were married and Rocky moved away because though he was happy for them he could never have the girl he loved. Years later Maggie shows up Rocky’s doorstep in labor with twin male cubs and the news that Tony has been killed by a mage and she has been running from him for the past eight months. Rocky is shocked at the news since his best friend and clan brother was also a powerful Shaman and whoever killed him would have to be as powerful or more. He is happy still to have Maggie come to him and vows to keep her and her children safe. Will she let him be more than a protector however?

There was not a lot of action here but you do have a few hot scenes, cute baby grizzlies, sweet love story, and a great vanquish. This may not be for everyone, but I’m a sucker for a long lost love story. Plus it has a guy shifting into a big bear!

 

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The Departed

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The Departed by Shiloh Walker   The Departed (FBI Psychics, #2)
by Shiloh Walker

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Taylor Jones gets 4.5 stars from me because I like my men broody. I
really, really liked this! All the elements I love in a story were here,
we have a mystery, murder, betrayal, love, sex, and ghosts. This is the
kind of story that makes you sit up all night because all you want is
to make sure that things turn out the way they should.

Taylor
Jones is in charge of a special unit within the FBI which employees
psychics with varied abilities. These special people are able to solve
crimes which might otherwise go unsolved for years if not forever.
Desiree ‘Dez’ Lincoln has the ability to speak to and see ghosts, this
ability had overwhelmed her in the past, before she met Jones. Being
able to help those lost souls has helped her maintain her sanity.

When
Dez shows up a crime scene and insists on going in Taylor goes with her
but things do not turn out well. Dez is injured and Taylor takes it
very hard and demands that she take time off from her job, something she
cannot do without losing herself to the ghosts. She quits and goes out
on her own which takes a toll on her because she cannot forget about
Taylor and the ghosts have become more insistent. She finds herself
being called to French Lick, Indiana a small town where a ghost wants
her to make things right for him. It also happens to be the hometown of
Taylor who just happens to arrive there while she is in town. What is
going on in this small town is more than either of them could ever
imagine. Can they patch up their differences and stop the evil that
dwells there?

Shiloh Walker has crafted a world with hero’s and villains that are very real. As you get to know them you can’t help but root for them. Each story gives you more background into them as individuals. This is a wonderful series and should not be missed.

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How to Date a Vampire

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How to Date a Vampire by Rose Pressey   How to Date a Vampire (Rylie Cruz #2)
by Rose Pressey

 

This is a 3.5 star read. Rylie Cruz is a great character and I love her to death but she can be so out there sometimes. With that said, I do like the story here. It’s a fun quick run through the streets of New Orleans as Rylie faces yet another obstacle in her quest to finally get close to Jack.

When last we saw Rylie she was getting ready to rush to her parents house along with Jack. Well apparently when they arrive they end up in a fight with the vampires who have come looking for her Uncle Ernie. During the fight Jack is bitten and while Rylie hopes for the best, based on movie transformations, she knows that she may now be dating a vampire. Things only take a turn for the worse, as if things could get any worse, when the vampires comes and want to take Jack away for an unknown reason.

Also getting in on the action are Rylie’s best friend and roommate Jennifer Matthews, who is human along with Lily the crazy client and werewolf who will not go away. With various vampires who all seem to have varying agendas, Rylie has no idea who to turn to for help.

If you are in the mood for a light read with characters that are appealing and fun, then this is for you. I found myself actually laughing out loud at times and that means it definitely has merit.

Be aware however that it does contain some spelling errors, extra words, and missing words throughout. I know that can bother some, but does not detract from the story itself.

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Blood and Sand

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Blood and Sand by Elizabeth Hunter      Blood and Sand (Elemental World, #2)
by Elizabeth Hunter

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

While I have loved all the books in this series, this one has to be my favorite. The reason is that we get a chance to really get to know a character who has been in the background for a while. Baojia was first introduced in the Elemental Mysteries series as a member of the family of Don Ernesto as well as his head of security. The character is well fleshed out and the writing is impeccable. The tone and pace and just right for the story which is being told.

Baojia has been exiled from Los Angeles and is currently residing in San Diego, he expected to be there only a short time but it has been over 2 years and he is bored. When one night Natalie Ellis, a reporter walks into his club and turns his world upside down. Natalie got his name from a mutual friend, who did not inform her what he was, but she is investigating a story which has ramifications she could not possibly fathom. All she knows is that women are dying in large numbers and she wants to find out who is doing it and bring them to justice.

For his part, Baojia is glad to have something to do besides look at numbers. He does want the human out the way though and that could get sticky. This installment also brings together many of the characters we have met before in past novels. Beatrice and Giovanni, Ben, Tenzin, Carwyn and Brigid, as well as Desiree and Matt all become involved in this situation and are willing to help even though they do not all get along with Baojia. If you know about the Elixir, then you know it is still a major part of the story and why.

These books are well written, entertaining, and hot! The action is great too!!

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Waterlocked

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English: The City of London skyline as viewed ...

English: The City of London skyline as viewed toward the north-west from the top floor viewing platform of London City Hall on the southern side of the Thames. In the foreground: Dixie Queen and Millennium Time at Tower Millennium Pier. This is a 5 segment panoramic image taken by myself with a Canon 5D and 24-105mm f/4L IS lens. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Waterlocked by Elizabeth Hunter  
Waterlocked (Elemental World, #1.5)

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Elizabeth Hunter

 

 

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

I only gave this 4 stars because I really would have liked to have had
more. This is a novella however and not a stand alone novel. It is a
part of the Elemental World series and gives us a more background on the
character and characters of Terry and Gemma.

Terry is a bit of
con-man and rogue in his own way. He originally wanted to align with
Gemma because of her connections and who her family was but as time went
on he found himself wanting more. Gemma is the daughter of Carwyn ap
Bryn and a force to be reckoned with, his family has a lot of influence
in Ireland and around the world.

While Terry is in charge of
London, he runs things with the help of Gemma. There have been
challenges to the authority of many heads of cities around Europe and
they are bracing to see from which direction a challenge will come to
them. But while they wait Terry has decided that it is time for them to
marry since they have been engaged for ten (10) years. The couple move
forward and the shady characters in the background make their moves,
which could prove deadly.

If you have not done so by all means
read the Elemental Mysteries series before moving on to Elemental World.
You cannot follow along if you do not know the players and the
background of the action which continues here.

If you didn’t
notice I love this series of books. The author has a great balance of
characters and I love the take on vampires as elemental’s making them a
part of nature and not outside it.

 

 

 

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