Romance Book Review: Maddie Barone's Ellie's Wolf

Author: Maddie Barone

Series Connection: After the Crash

ISBN: 978-1-62210-029-3 

Genre: Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Futuristic, Erotic Romance

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Purchase Link: Liquid Silver | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

In continuation of the After the Crash series, author Maddie Barone moves the series five years into the future. Ellie Overdahl, Taye human cousin, has gone off and married her fiance and moved far away from her family with her husband to start a new life. She's had a baby and all seems well, until her husband dies and her husband's boss wants to sell her to woman traders. 

What Ellie never knew this who time is that she has a wolf mate, who stepped aside when he found her because she was already taken, but when Quill finds out that Ellie's husband is dead and she has been sold to traders who intend to sell her in a bride fight, Quill has to rush to save her. 

Once he wins her, the journey is far getting home and it isn't safe on the tough roads in the future when every man seems to be out to find a woman and either make a buck or have her for his own. 

The wolves are a tough bunch though and protect their own. 

In this story the author also introduces two other new couples that will find themselves in an anthology in the future. Both of those two couples seem to have exciting stories already forming. 

This is an interesting series with a twist from the normal paranormal wolf story introducing the sci-fi/futuristic element of a totally changed earth after a war breaks out in 2014, changing the future drastically, with elements of the old west coming to life. Everywhere one turns is danger and women need to be protected. 

Description:

In a post-apocalyptic world where women are rare and valuable, Ellie Overdahl is a widow far from home at the mercy of strangers. Sold to be a prize in a Bride Fight, she manages to send word to her cousin, begging for rescue.

For six years, Quill Wolfe has mourned the loss of the woman his wolf chose to be his mate. When word comes that Ellie is widowed and about to be forced into an unwanted marriage, he races to enter the Bride Fight. He has waited long enough to claim his mate, and no fighter is good enough to keep him from her. But claiming Ellie is only the beginning. It’s not just the journey home that is dangerous and uncertain.

Romance Book Review: Angie Fox's Immortally Embraced

Author: Angie Fox

Series Connection: MASH

ISBN: 978-0312546670

Genre: Paranormal/ Shapeshifter/ Gods and Demons/ Dragon Shifters

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Kudos go out to Angie Fox and her world building skills in the second in the MASH series. Immorally Embraced tells the story of Dr. Petra Robichaud, a supernatural doctor with a penchant for communicating with ghosts. 

In the first book in the series, Petra learns she is part of a prophecy that predicts the how the war between the Gods will turn out. The predictions never tell the whole story, and it is up to Petra and the current man in her life to figure out the answers. 

In book two, Petra is reunited with her first love, whom she thinks has been dead for over 10 years. She mourned his death for all those years, just finally meeting a man and losing him recently. When she hears the latest prophecy, she realizes right away it is about her, but doesn't understand what it means. Enter Marc. 

Marc went off to war and decided that unlike the regular army, the gods never let anyone go. He thought Petra was better off without him and fakes his death. When he enters her life again he tells her he needs her help to speak to a ghost. The only problem is Marc's on the enemies side and so is the ghost and Petra needs to go AWOL to help.

Petra soon realizes that Marc isn't the same man she remembers. He's cold and living for the moment. She reaches with her heart and she can't go through what she did before fearing the situation is hopeless for the two of them. The couple soon learns that the fate of the humans are in their hands and they need to do whatever they can to help. Can Petra do that and spend time with Marc without losing her heart to him again?

This is the first Angie Fox book I've read. I like her strong female lead character. She's not perfect, she got a smartass mouth and she's a bit impulsive. The sexy Marc has a few flaws of his own, but there is no doubt of his feelings for the heroine. 

For me a romance is a true romance when a character stays true to her partner, and although I didn't get to read the first book in the series, I was a little disappointed when Galen just disappears in the first chapter to leave room for the new man in Petra's life. The whole scene with Medusa is pretty fun and perhaps the only really funny part in the book.

Description:

IN THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES…
Even during a truce, Dr. Petra Robichaud has her hands full as the M*A*S*H surgeon to an army of warring gods—especially when Medusa herself turns up pregnant. Petra has no idea what to expect when a gorgon’s expecting, but she won’t let it turn her to stone. As the healer-hero of an ancient prophesy, it’s Petra’s job to keep the peace. But as the lover to a warrior demi-god, she knows how impossible some jobs can be…

IT’S EVERY GOD FOR HIMSELF.
Commander Galen is sexy, strong, and sworn to lead his team to hell and back. But when he announces to Petra that he can no longer risk her life for his love, the doctor is on her own…Until a mysterious new entity—in the form of a hot-blooded male—enters the picture. Can he be trusted? Can he be resisted? Meanwhile, an oracle delivers another prophesy that places Petra back on the frontlines with the man she may be bound to for eternity—in love, or in war…

Romance Book Review: Becca Jameson's Kara's Wolves

Author: Becca Jameson

Series Connection: Wolf Masters

ISBN: 9781595788894

Genre: Paranormal/ Shapeshifter/ Werewolves/ Menage/ Suspense

Publisher: Liquid Silver

Purchase Link 

Justin and Trevor have been friends forever, sharing a special bond that few have. Over the years they have shared quite a few women, but they never thought they would get to share their mate. As wolf shifters it is rare for two wolves to have the same mate, so they are pleasantly surprised when Kara turns out to be the one for them. 

Kara is a human about to graduate from college. She knows nothing about shifters, but she does know two handsome men when she sees them. Her friends betting her ask Justin to dance at a bar one night, will change her life forever. 

Everything couldn't go better, there's just one problem...someone else wants Kara for his own and her new mates dead.

Strong female lead, with two sexy alpha males create sizzling love scenes only add to the suspense to the first book in the Wolf Masters' series.

Description: 

Kara Shepherd is about to compete in her last gymnastics meet and graduate from college. A week before graduation, her roommates drag her out to a country bar to live a little before entering the real world. She has no idea the course her future is on is about to take a sharp turn.

Justin Masters and his lifelong friend, Trevor Shields, share everything from their home to their women. At twenty-eight years old, neither has met their mate, nor are they in a hurry to find a woman who will end their long-standing arrangement with each other. Their dairy farm, a few miles outside of town, allows them the luxury of shifting to their wolf form any time they want in relative seclusion.

Justin’s world tips when Kara walks into the bar on a random Friday night. Immediately recognizing her scent as that of his mate, he is drawn to her by forces beyond his control. Nervous about sharing the news with Trevor, Justin is relieved to realize Kara is also his best friend’s mate. Now all they have to do is convince Kara she belongs in a permanent ménage and track down a stalker who seems hellbent on taking Kara for himself

Romance Book Review: Lizzie Lynn Lee's Dragon Hunts

Author: Lizzie Lynn Lee

ISBN: 978-0-85715-919-9

Genre: Erotic Romance/ Shifter Romance/ Dragons

Publisher: Total- E - Bound

Purchase Link

Jessica/Eliza is on the run from her mob boyfriend with her young son. Lucky to find a job as a secretary to a younger man that pays well, she has no idea what he has in mind when he takes her on a business trip.

Declan is ready to settle down when he meets Jessica and hires her as his secretary. He decides that Jessica is the one for him. Taking her away for a week seems like a good idea to get her used to the idea. 

While away Jessica gets a call from her son that her ex has found them, not knowing what else to do so that Declan doesn't get hurt, she takes her son and runs. 

But there are some things she doesn't know about Declan and she isn't going to get too far.

Excellent world building and descriptive pose gets the reader involved in this dragon shifter story. Who wouldn't want a sexy guy like Declan coming to their rescue, even if he does get a little scaly sometimes?

Description:

Hot boss turns into a dragon? Jessica thinks she’s bitten off more than she can chew...

In ancient times, when a dragon needed a mate, he could just swoop down on a village and kidnap a maiden. In modern times, this has proven to be a dilemma. Declan, the eldest of the Cairne brothers, is due to claim a bride. As a Harvard graduate, CEO of a trading company and Versace-clad executive, he can’t just shift to his true form and kidnap a woman to claim her as his. A perfect woman is hard to find, since Declan thinks dating is overrated.

Plump single mother Jessica Knapp is running away from her past. Between struggling to make ends meet and keeping herself and her son under the radar of her deranged mafia ex, dating is the last thing ever to cross her mind. So when her new boss Declan sets his sights on her, Jessie thinks his attention is nothing but flattery.

But Declan is a determined dragon. He swears he will have her even if it means he has to show her his scales, wings, and talons.

The hunt is on...

Romance Book Review: Crissy Smith's The Favour

Author: Crissy Smith

Series Connection: Book one in the Corporate Wolves Series

ISBN: 978-1-907280-23-8
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance/ M-F-M/ M-M/ Ménage à Trois

Publisher: Total -E - Bound

Purchase Link

Annebelle has been attracted to her boss and his vice president since she started working for the company a year ago. When the two men ask her to spend the weekend working with them on an important project, she doesn't know how she'll be able to handle it. She bites the bullet and decides to go ahead and do a favor for her bosses. 

Mac and Trevor have known that Annebelle is their mate and now they are finally going to do something about it. The only problem is will she accept what they have to offer. Not only are they asking her to be in a Ménage à Trois relationship, they are also asking her to accept their other side when they turn into large furry wolves.

Not a bad story, but very wrapped around the erotic theme. Would have been better if the novel explored a little more of the relationship between Mac and Trevor as well as Annebelle's background a little more. 

Description:

Doing a favour for her two bosses will turn out to be the most erotic experience of her life.

Annebelle Scott has lusted over her bosses for some time. When they ask a favour of her, she agrees. All she has to do is accompany them to their weekend house to work on a file that must be completed before Monday. Oh, and manage to hide her desire for them for a couple days. How hard can that be?

Matt McCoy and Trevor King have put their plan in motion to add Annabelle to their family. They concoct a story to get her to go away with them for the weekend. In the safety of their weekend house and family territory, they will not only claim her as a mate, but introduce her to the world of shape-shifters.

Romance Book Review: Lora Leigh's Jacob's Faith

Author: Lora Leigh
Series Connection: Breeds/ Wolf Breeds
ISBN: 978-1843607489
Genre: Science Fiction/ Futurist/ Erotic Romance/ Paranormal/ Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing 

Purchase Link

Haven't had my Breed fix lately, so I decided to pull up one of the old books from the popular Lora Leigh series. While these books are best read in order the older books are easy to keep up with, without having to read pervious editions. 

Jacob's Faith is the second in the wolf breed books. The story features Jacob, the pack's enforcer, and Faith Aiden's blood sister and the pack liaison Jacob and Faith were forced together in the labs when Faith was just 18 years old and Jacob was afraid he hurt her then, even though he was wildly attracted to her. Since years had passed and they began understanding such things, Jacob realizes now that Faith is his mate. He's done everything up until now to keep her comfortable, except for giving her himself. He has been waiting for her to stop being afraid of him.

Wolfe, her pack leader, has sent Faith on an infuriating mission. She is to find Jacob in South America and give him some information. She's been search for two months without finding him. When she finally does, she really isn't all that happy to see him. All she wants to do is give him the message and get back to her life and away from him. That isn't possible. Wolfe has his own plans and that is finally get the two together, or lose Faith all together. 

Now the two are forced to go through mating heat and get to know if they can make it together. That could be difficult especially if Faith doesn't get her coffee and beer fix. Jacob knows that both are the worst things she could have if they all are going to stay sane.

This book follows suit with all of Lora Leigh's very erotic books that she wrote under the Ellora's Cave name. Erotic is however one of her strong suits, so be prepared for a lot of sex and frolicking. Jacob's Faith goes into a lot more detail than the short Wolfe's Hope before hand and explores more of the mate issues involved in the series. Fans of the later books will enjoy meeting the earlier characters who are so fondly mentioned in the newer books. 

Description:

They are a new breed, a new race. Engineered rather than born, trained rather than raised, and their unique genetics have created more than one surprise…

Jacob left Faith six years before, unaware that the mark he left on her also left her in an agony of sexual heat that never dimmed. Now Jacob and Faith are together again, but surprises lurk around every corner and dangers as dark and deadly as their very creation surround them in more ways than one.

Romance Byte: Zoe Winter's Life Cycle

Author: Zoe Winters
Series Connection: Preternaturals Series
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: IncuBooks

Purchase the book here

Description:

Immortality can be a bitch…

Tamara has lived nearly two thousand years, trapped by a spell of her own creation. Hunted by her enemy and former lover, she knows there is only one man strong enough to release her from the curse. But will Cain honor her death wish, or keep her for himself, whatever the cost?

Two ancient souls. Two weary fighters, torn between love and hate, forced to decide if the other could be worth living for.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Though Life Cycle is book 4 in the Preternaturals series, it can be read out of order with no problem.

Romance Book Review: Brynna Curry's Fire's Ice

Author: Brynna Curry
Series Connection: Elemental Magic
ISBN: 9781616503956
Genre: Romance/ Paranormal/ Magic

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Purchase this book here

In the final Elemental Magic book the story finally tells of the connection between Devin and Arianna, the witch that is locked in the circle.  In order to be free from the circle the curse tells her that love will set her free. Neither Arianna or Devin will accept anything less.

Both Arianna and Devin are stubborn and for the last thousand years have been walking in circles around each other.

The story brings readers several years later from the last when Devin has finally finished building his castle in Scotland, he goes back to find that his cousin's daughter is hight with fever and he can't help her, but he knows who can.

When Devin goes to Arianna for help she can't refuse, not just because she will be freed from the circle but for so much more.

This was a nice ending to the series. The love story is solid and the final crisis is actually one of the most interesting in the series. While this series has come to a close the author keeps the door open for more to come with the children of those featured in the Elemental Magic series.

Description:
Ultimate power, or endless love?

Born the son of a Scottish laird a thousand years ago, but now trapped by his cousin's spell, Devin McLoch has seen countless battles and death. The erstwhile thief has turned away from darker pursuits to lead a life of peace, protecting those he loves and considers part of his clan. However, there is one woman he can never forget, who must be given a chance to change, to accept her heart and his.

Arianne Farrell is just as dangerous and intoxicating as her power. Imprisoned in an ancient stone dance more than a thousand years ago, her only chance at freedom from the spell is through love--a love she denied. When Devin asks for her aid to save another from imminent death, she realizes there is more at stake than just her freedom or her heart.

WARNING: Two stubborn sexy wizards using magic with no bounds, scorching love scenes, and happy ever after. Ever play with fire? 

Romance Book Review: Shawn Dalton-Smith's Life After

Author: Shawn Dalton-Smith
ISBN: 9781603108225
Genre: Fantasy/ Contemporary Romance/ Paranormal Romance/ Supernatural Ghosts
Publisher: eRedSage.com

Purchase this book here

In Shawn Dalton-Smith's Life After offers a different take on the world of ghost.

At a time when everything is going her way Kalyste is killed. When she wakes up some time later she finds herself in a beautiful room and a comfortable bed, only to find that she has died. Now she has to come to terms with not only that she's dead and lost everything, but who is responsible for her death. If she can't she might turn rogue and have to live with the consequences.

Jude is the reason why Kalyste is dead. To pay for his sins he has been tasked with counseling Kalyste and helping her deal with her future. He never expected to fall in love along the way and somehow he needs to tell her the role he played in the end of her life.

Well written imaginative story line, except for some predictable parts. I can see this world the author has created turning into an interesting series.


Description:
Kalyste Spradlin had it all. By the time she was thirty, her women’s magazine was about to go international. She had money, beauty, youth, happiness, and about to marry the man of her dreams. Until the night before her wedding, she was killed by a drunk driver, her best friend Chantal. When she wakes up in Haven, and told she has to embrace her new life after death, she is hell-bent on revenge.

Jude has been a counselor in Haven for the past thirty-two years when he gets his first tough assignment. A woman who had everything to live for and wants revenge. Jude must help her embrace her new life in Haven. If she doesn’t, and decides to seek revenge on the woman who killed her, he will be duty bound to hunt her down once she re-enters the human realm, and kill her. Jude never expected to fall in love with Kalyste, but it will all come crashing down on him. The woman who killed her is his daughter, Chantal.

Reader Alert!  What Kalyste didn't learn in life, is taught to her after death. Jude is a man who knows how to make love to a woman from the top her head to the tips of her toes. Literally!

Romance Book Review: Big Bad Beast

Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series Connection: Pride Stories
ISBN: 978-0758231703
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Kensington Brava

Purchase this book here

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

In Shelly Laurenston's new book Big Bad Beast she continues with the story line of her previous book bringing back several of the reoccurring characters. Since the first book of the Pride Stories, Dee Ann Smith, Bobby Ray's former Marine cousin, has been a secondary character in the books, taking care of whatever trouble comes along.

She the scary cousin with the father and everyone thinks is crazy.

In Big Bad Beast, Dee Ann is the main character. Readers first meet her when she's a child with her father is meeting with Niles Van Holtz and is first getting involved in the Group. I love the first meeting and how she first is introduced to Ric Van Holtz. The two next meet years later and Ric is instantly in love with Dee.

Dee Ann's attracted to Ric, but he's her boss. Ric knows that it won't be easy to get Dee Ann as his mate, but he's willing to work hard to get the wolf he wants.

Meanwhile, there are other story lines being explored in the story. Ric's young cousin Stein comes back asking for forgiveness. Readers get to meet two young hybrid shifters and they make a big impact. There are also lots of chance to see some of the former characters in the series.

While this book didn't have the laughs of some of the other stories in the series, I liked the action scenes and the fact that Shelly found a match that could take on Dee Ann.


Description:
When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee-Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz insists on helping out. And his crazy-like-a-fox smarts and charming persistence are making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe...

Ric can't believe his luck. He's wanted this fiercely-independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected teamwork as explosive as this. And now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn't some in-your-face Alpha male-but a wily, resourceful wolf who'll always have her back in a fight…and between the sheets.

Romance Book Review: Rapture Untamed

Author: Pamela Palmer
Series Connection: Book 4 in the Feral Warriors series
ISBN-13: 978-0061794704
Genre: Paranormal/ Shifter/ Mage/ Demon
Publisher: Avon

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Purchase Rapture Untamed here

For those who are fans of Pamela Palmer's Feral Warriors, she's back with a story about Jag. The only word for Jag so far in the series has been "combative". He's the first to instigate fights with his fellow Feral Warriors and offer up rude commentary. In Rapture Untamed fans finally get to see the man behind Feral.

Each of the Feral have long histories, living sometimes three to four centuries, and have been through a lot in that amount of time. Jag is not different.

While the mage threaten to bring back the feared Satanan, the Ferals do their best to stop them. They've called in reinforcements from the Therian British Guard. Leader of the guard, Olivia, has interested Jag since he first met her. He's desperate to have her for his own, but Olivia has a secret and if any of the Ferals or the guard find out it will mean her life. So while it is important to keep up with her goal to rid the world of Daemons and the possessed mage, she also must stay below the radar. That is going to be hard to do when she has a Feral on her tail.

I wasn't sure I was going to like the book on Jag. Frankly he wasn't a character I appreciated in the past, but Pamela Palmer has done an excellent job to bringing out the character and explaining why he acts the way he does and letting the heroine, Olivia, help to change him. By the end of the book I just wanted to continue reading, but unfortunately we're all going to have to wait until Febuarary when the next novel comes out.

Description:
The most combative - and tormented - of all the Ferals, Jag is a predator who hunts alone - until daemons terrorize the human population. To stop them, he partners with Olivia, a flame-haired Therian temptress as strong as she is beautiful. But Olivia is no ordinary immortal. The survivor of a vicious supernatural attack, she possesses a deadly and forbidden skill - one that must remain hidden, especially from the powerful Feral Warriors.

As Jag and Olivia's sensual dance of dominance and seduction gets wilder and hotter, a dark force sets its sights on Olivia, threatening to destroy everything she has vowed to protect. And the only one who can save her soul is the arrogant jaguar shifter she lusts for but dares not love.

Romance Book Review: Roan's Fall

Author: Marisa Chenery
Series Connection: Wulf's Den/ Roxie's Protectors
ISBN 978-1-59578-625-8
Genre: Paranormal/Werewolf
Publisher: Liquid Silver

Purchase Roan's Fall here


♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Roan's Fall is a novella that goes along with the Wulf's Den series. After doing several of the Wulf's Den series, Marisa Chenery changed over to Roxie's Protectors, still using several of the same characters from the Wulf's Den series and adding a few more.

In Wulf's Den you meets Roxie, the "chosen one" who is now in charge of all the packs. Roan and his brothers and sister in arms have trained for 1,000 years to protect Roxie. In Roan's Fall, Roan finds his mate when he is protecting Roxie. Roxie, going about her routine, goes to the hairstylist to get her hair done. When Roan sees Ansley, Roxie's hairstylist, he knows he has meet his mate.

Like the other werewolves around him, Roan doesn't know how to tell Ansley he is a werewolf. What will happen when she finds out.

This series really should be read completely. Marisa Chenery is still working on this series. The next one is due out next month and is called Jager's Mate.

Description:
As a hair stylist, Ansley has seen and cut a lot of people's hair, but when Roxie shows up for her appointment with a very large, gorgeous man, Ansley can't take her eyes off him. Nor can she stop her body's reaction to Roan when Roxie asks her to cut his hair as well. But things seem to go steadily downhill when Ansley's curse, her ability to say the first thing that comes to mind when around a man she is attracted to, rears its ugly head. When Roan growls at her to hurry up, Ansley knows her mouth has done it to her again.

Even through the harsh chemical smells in the hair salon, Ansley's scent is like a punch in the gut to Roan. Knowing she is his mate, and a mortal, has him fighting the urge to claim her as his own. Hoping to ease into telling her he is a werewolf, Roan prays he has the control to take things slow. But when it comes to Ansley, he must fight the wolf inside him or risk scaring away the one woman that was meant for him.

Romance Book Review: The Wolf's Heart

Author: Jenna Leigh
ISBN: 1-59998-770-8
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publish: Samhain Publishing

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Purchase this book here

Sometimes there are great finds at local library book sales. I just happened to find this one by author Jenna Leigh. Since this was one of my favorite genres I decided to pick it up, and really how could I go wrong for a dollar.

The plot features a mad scientist who is kidnapping women to make them into breeders for werewolves. When Lanie's college roommate is kidnapped by a nightmare of Lanie's past, Lanie uses her reporters instincts to find out what is going on.

Her search takes her to her childhood sweetheart, Marcus, for help. When Lanie and Marcus come back together all of their feelings from the past rush back to them. Lanie knows that Marcus can help her get into a society party and help her find answers. But Lanie doesn't really know the truth of her past with Marcus and what exactly she is getting into.

Marcus is a werewolf and leader of his pack. His father had hopes of making Lanie his own mate, but with the intervention of another werewolf, Lanie actually becomes Marcus' mate instead. Marcus can't keep his hands off of Lanie. He also can't help but be protective over her, but is it really love or merely the workings of his mad scientist father.

In The Wolf's Heart readers are shown the good and evil in the Were world. I liked the playful, sexy side of strong alpha Marcus and the definitely feisty side of Lanie's personality. Both characters are perfect for each other. Even in the height of what should be a horrifying situation, Lanie can keep her sense of humor and her wits about her. Just my kind of character.

There were some confusing points in the plot and since there doesn't seem to be any continuations to the cliffhanger endings I was a little disappointed, but all and all a good read.

Description:
When a nosy reporter reunites with a werewolf in tycoon’s clothing, sparks fly and passions ignite. The burning question is, who’s taming who?

Investigative Reporter Elaine Westerbrook is determined to find the answers to the questions that haunt her. Plagued all her life by dreams of creatures that can’t possibly exist, she’ll do anything to get the information she needs, up to and including reigniting a fire with the deliciously mysterious Marcus Bei—a fire she thought extinguished long ago.

Marcus Bei fought tooth and claw to be an Alpha in the corporate world but it’s nothing compared to being Alpha of his pack. It’s lonely at the top as the Lupin of the Arizona werewolf pack, but that’s the price he’ll pay to keep his pack safe from his father and others like him. So when childhood sweetheart Elaine walks back into his life, his first instinct is to shove her right back out again. But Marcus can’t find the strength to push away the very thing his other half has been waiting for so long—his mate.

Together, Marcus and Elaine search for the truth and find out if they have a future in spite of a past threatening to tear them apart. Will Elaine run when she discovers what Marcus really is, or will she accept The Wolf’s Heart?

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, violence.

Romance Book Review: Jinx and Her Werewolf

Author: Marisa Chenery
Series Connection: Strange Hollow
ISBN: 978-1-59578-659-3
Genre: Paranormal/ Shapeshifter
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

[Excerpt]

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Strange Hollow is a town where supernatural who has a few quicks come live in a safely and without judgment.

Daken is an alpha werewolf whose wolf half doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body. All that Daken's wolf wants to do is play. Forced to leave his pack and his chance as alpha, Daken moves to Strange Hollow forced to live out his long live alone. At least that was what he thought until one day he finds his mate is having car trouble right outside his door.

Thora is used to being jinxed so when her car breaks down in Strange Hollow she decides that this town is just as good as any other to relocate in, especially when she gets a look at the man who comes to help her fix her car. As much as Thora wants to fall in love with Daken and live happily ever after in Strange Hollow she know that the curse that has her jinxed, also has other worse features that could hurt Daken.

Strange Hollow is a new series of books by different authors Liquid Silver Books. This book and Wary Wolf are the first installments to the series. The love story between Daken and Thora is so sweet. I especially love Daken's playful wolf. The love scenes throughout the book are definitely hot. This is a great start for what promises to be a fun series.

Description:
As a jinx, Thora has had to move around a lot. When her car breaks down stranding her in Strange Hollow, she figures the town is as good a place as any to stay for a while. When she meets Daker, he is just one more reason for her to stay.

A werewolf, Daker knows Thora is his mate, but her being a mortal just adds one more reason to take things slow with her. Not only does he have to find a way to tell her he is a werewolf, and she is his mate, he has to explain that the residents of Strange Hollow aren't exactly what they seem.

After Daker claims Thora as his mate, Thora knows they can never be, not with her curse hanging over her head. She may be cursed to be a jinx for the rest of her life, but she's also destined to kill the man she gives her heart to. Not wanting to be the cause of Daker's death, she has to fight her feelings for him or watch the man she loves die.

About the author from her Website:
I always loved to read, but once my kids started coming the number of books I read a week increased. The books varied from science fiction to historical fiction. After reading a historical romance novel I found myself hooked. I couldn't get enough of them. My love of historical romances soon evolved into wanting to write one of my own. Along with historicals I've tried my hand at paranormals, my latest obsession.

I live in Ontario, Canada with my husband and four children. Between looking after my kids and going to the gym a couple times a week I write about passionate women and the compelling men who love them. l

Romance Byte: Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs

Author: Gerry Bartlett
Series: Real Vampires book 5
ISBN: 978-0425232231
Genre: Paranormal/ Vampire
Publisher: Berkley Trade

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Description:

REAL VAMPIRES HATE THEIR THIGHS, book 5 in the REAL VAMPIRES series, sends Glory St. Clair to Hollywood for the Grammy awards show with rock star Israel Caine. Here's her chance to walk the red carpet and be on national TV.

When she meets a vamp diet guru who promises he can help her finally shed those extra pounds she's been carrying for over four hundred years, she's all for it. But he's longtime lover Jeremy Blade's ancient enemy. Could this guy have a hidden agenda? And can vamps really lose their curves?

When the diet drugs begin having strange side effects a vamp war threatens to break out. Just what or who is Glory willing to sacrifice for her dream of being thin?

Check out the Glory St. Clair fansite here.

Romance Book Review: Preja Vu

Author: Alanna Coca
ISBN 978-1-59578-601-2
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Paranormal
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

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Interesting surprise ending twist in this story keeps readers guessing throughout the novel.

Ryann Phillips has nightly premonition dreams. Most of the time she tries to ignore them trying not to get involved in strangers lives, but something about the dream she had last night is different from the others. In her premonition she sees the murder of a stranger.

Seeing the woman in her dreams in a local coffee shop Ryann can't help but go after the woman and warn her of the coming danger.

Trevor Kearney can't bring himself to believe the beautiful woman's premonition. The attorney is a black and white thinker. If he can't see proof it didn't happen, but slowly he begins to realize that Ryann believes what she is saying so that is enough for him to keep an eye out.

Not only that, but the victim in Ryann's dream, his client, wants him to find out what he can about the premonition. So he finds Ryann and tries to stop the murder of his client. In the meantime he isn't opposed to getting to know Ryann a little better.

I just loved Ryann and Trevor's as the heroine and hero of this book. Ryann is intelligent and well spoken. She isn't some psychic or tarot card reader off the street. She has no idea where the dreams come from and she does the best she can under the circumstances. Trevor isn't presented as some shark lawyer. He isn't even really a divorce lawyer most of the time, but just doing a favor for a fellow lawyer and handling her divorce. He's completely taken with Ryann and isn't afraid to show it.

This is a good read for those who like mystery, suspense with great romance and bedroom scenes.

Description:
You know the feeling, something vaguely familiar … but what if it isn’t something you’ve experienced before, but a prelude to an upcoming event?

Ryann Phillips has it all together. She's a successful architect with her own home and true friends. What she also has, are nightly dreams that eventually come true. Little snapshots into the lives of people she doesn't know.

She's used to them.

Attorney Trevor Kearney finds it hard to believe that his current client is the subject of Ryann’s latest vision, that of a violent murder. He reluctantly agrees to help Ryann prevent this one premonition from taking place. What he doesn’t count on is this particular psychic’s ability to make some of his own dreams come true.

Romance Book Review: Dragon Actually

Author: G.A. Aiken
Series Connection: Book 1 in the Dragon Kin series
ISBN: 978-1420103731
Genre: Paranormal/ shifter
Publisher: Zebra

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Hearing that Annwyl the Bloody and Fearghus the Destroyer are the names of the hero and heroine in this story should be your first clue that Dragon Actually isn't a silly little romance, but actually a no holds bar story line. G.A. Aiken's normal brash and hysterical style runs through this book as it does when she writes under her Shelly Laurenston name.

Dragon Actually tells the story of Annwyl, a warrior who is working to up seat her brother as king. She almost meets her end when Fearghus finds her in his dragon form. Taking her in and caring for her Fearghus learns that there is more the Annwrl than just an insane warrior.

Fearghus has his own reputation to live down. He doesn't mind as it keeps everyone far away from him. When he meets Annwyl his is completely bedazzled by her and doesn't have any idea why he would set out to help a human of all things. By day in his human form and by night as a dragon, Fearghus gets to see all side of the very complicated Annwyl.

Annwly has no idea that the knight she trains with and the dragon she is coming adore are one and the same. She desires the knight, but really isn't sure she likes him at all. He pushes her while helping to train her to control her anger so she can defeat her brother. The dragon soothes her, but can she actually love a dragon.

Fearghus fears what will happen when Annwyl learns the truth. He should, because he has seen what Annwyl is like in a rage and how she earned her name. There is lots of blood and gore and a lot of laughs through this brash, but action filled novel. This novel was previously written as a short for Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication in November 2008 under the name of To Challenge a Dragon.

The end of this book also has a short story about how Fearghus's mother and father met in Flames and Chains.

Description:
It's not always easy being a female warrior with a nickname like Annwyl the Bloody. Men tend to either cower in fear-a lot-or else salute. It's true that Annwyl has a knack for decapitating legions of her ruthless brother's soldiers without pausing for breath. But just once it would be nice to be able to really talk to a man, the way she can talk to Fearghus the Destroyer.

Too bad that Fearghus is a dragon, of the large, scaly, and deadly type. With him, Annwyl feels safe-a far cry from the feelings aroused by the hard-bodied, arrogant knight Fearghus has arranged to help train her for battle. With her days spent fighting a man who fills her with fierce, heady desire, and her nights spent in the company of a magical creature who could smite a village just by exhaling, Annwyl is sure life couldn't get any stranger.

She's wrong...

[And just wait until you meet the rest of the family...]

Romance Book Review: In Plain Sight

Author: Marie Harte
Series Connection: Cougar Falls
ISBN: 978-1-60504-579-5
Genre: Paranormal/ Shifter

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Cougar Falls is a special place where shifters can live undetected by the humans. Sarah Duncan is a golden eagle shifter. For years she has been harassed by fellow clans members because of a former relationship with another member of the clan. She is tired of being the brunt of her fellow clan members abuse and one day strikes out against them. Feeling she has had enough of Cougar Falls, Sarah decides to leave the only home she's ever known.

On her way out of town she is ambushed and nearly killed until the one golden eagle shifter she never thought would help steps in. Cullen Whitefeather isn't the easiest man to get along with. He would rather be a loner than part of the clan, but that isn't the way of his people. One day he steps into a local diner and see Sarah, his mate. Over time he tries to speak with her, but he can't get two sentences out. When he witnesses a confrontation between Sarah and his fellow clan members, Cullen steps in and takes care of her the only way he knows how.

Sarah doesn't know what else to do but leave Cougar Falls. Can Cullen convince her otherwise before he loses his mate for good?

This is a well written novella with strong characters and a good story. Cullen's character is played consistent to the end. He is blunt and at time insensitive, but he really is trying to make an effort with Sarah. Sarah is a strong woman who is just trying to make her way in the world. The two together work well as a couple. Cullen's family as a supporting cast is an added bonus and would make interesting future stories.

Description:
In a choice between fight or flight, love makes the final decision.

A Cougar Falls story.

Cullen Whitefeather is Ac-taw –a fierce golden eagle shapeshifter. The ultimate predator, he doesn’t shy away from confrontation…unless it involves one tempting, smart-mouthed woman. The woman destined to be his mate. The woman who doesn’t even know he’s alive.

Sarah Duncan made one mistake years ago and hasn’t stopped paying for it since. Tired of the town’s treatment, she finally tells the truth about what really happened and pays a hard price. Her clan wants to silence her. Permanently.

Rescue comes from a completely unexpected source—Cullen, a man who can barely seem to string two sentences together. Yet his fierce protectiveness, compassion, and bewitching touch are worth more than a thousand words.

With Sarah so close, Cullen is losing his mind—and his heart. She says she wants to leave, and the raptors want her gone. But if there’s one thing Cullen’s good at, it’s a fight. And he’s not letting her go without one.

Warning: this book contains explicit sex, a woman done wrong, birds of prey, sexy men who can’t talk to women, and red hot lovin’ that’ll make you wish you could fly.

Romance Byte: Street Magic

Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Series Connection: Black London
ISBN: 978-0312943615
Genre: Paranormal

Description:
Her name is Pete Caldecort. She was just sixteen when she met Jack Winter, a gorgeous, larger than life mage who thrilled her with his witchcraft. Then a spirit Jack summoned killed him before Pete's eyes—or so she thought. Now a detective, Pete is investigating the kidnapping of a young girl from the streets of London...a case that brings her face to face with Jack.

Strung out on heroin, Jack is a shadow of his former self. But he's able to tell Pete exactly where Bridget's kidnappers are hiding: in the supper-natural shadow-world of the fey. Pete follows Jack into the fey underworld, where she hopes to discover the truth about what happened to Bridget—and what happened to Jack on that dark day so long ago...

Romance Book Review: Object of Desire

Author: Calista Fox
ISBN: 9781603100038
Genre: Paranormal, Romance

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Fast action, fast paced Indy Jones type story about a woman treasure hunter with a soft heart. Laurel Blackwood seeks out treasures and then uses the treasure or the money she makes off her finds for good. She is also a spy trying to right the wrongs of the world.

Devon Mallory is also a treasure hunter, but he hunts for the love of hunting and to keep the prize. In some ways these two adventurers couldn't be more different. The one thing that keeps them coming back together is their love and attraction for each other.

The whole spy angle added an extra something to the book that made it more exciting. The relationship between the hero and the heroine was funny at times and very sensual at others. I liked Laurel's independence and her compassion and I liked that Devon didn't feel he needed to step in and fight all of Laurel's battles.

Description:
When treasure hunter and spy Laurel Blackwood raids Victoria Peak in Belize to recover a rare Mexican fire opal rumored to evoke dark desires and passions, she unwittingly sets off a sequence of dangerous events--and finds herself in the midst of a battle between good and evil… and lust and love. Being chased through the Yucatan jungle is perilous enough, but Laurel must also keep the opal from falling into the hands of a deadly terrorist cell, a greedy Belizean dignitary, and one particularly hot and scandalous treasure hunter named Devon Mallory.

For ten years, Devon has had his eye on the thirty-million-dollar prized opal and his heart set on winning Laurel for keeps. But her web of secrecy and now her betrayal over recovering the legendary stone without him has Devon hell-bent on stealing the opal from her and collecting on the massive pay-out. Unfortunately for Devon, there is much more to Laurel Blackwood than she lets on. And soon, he’s caught in the eye of the storm—falling under her sensuous spell, willing to put his own life on the line to help her protect the mystical jewel.
But Devon will eventually have to decide which gem is his true object of desire…