Review: Spellbinder (Moonshadow #2)

Spellbinder (Moonshadow #2)

by Thea Harrison 

Blurb:

Kidnapped while on tour, musician Sidonie Martel is transported to the mystical land of Avalon. A human without magical ability, she is completely vulnerable to the deadly forces surrounding her.

When she defies her captors and refuses to share her music, an act of violent cruelty leaves her broken, her ability to play silenced, maybe forever. Her only hope is a whisper in the dark, gentle hands that offer healing, and a man who refuses to show her his face yet who offers advice she dare not ignore.

One of the most feared and powerful sorcerers in history, Morgan le Fae serves a Queen he despises, Isabeau of the Light Court. Once a famous bard and an advisor to kings, Morgan has been enslaved to Isabeau for hundreds of years, acting as enforcer and the commander of her deadly Hounds.

Sidonie’s music touches Morgan in places he had abandoned centuries ago, and her fiery spirit resurrects feelings he had believed long dead. For Sidonie, trapped in captivity, passion offers a comfort she cannot resist.

But Isabeau holds Morgan bound in magical chains that only Death can break. And in the court of a cruel, jealous Queen, the only thing that burns hotter than love is revenge…

Themes: Paranormal, Fae, and Magick

Rating: 4.75 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

The second story in the Moonshadow series, a spin-off of the Elder Races series by Ms. Harrison, takes us to a dark world and into the dark nature of a character that we took to be a villain but is truly just a man trapped as much as the woman he hopes to free from a prison she does not belong in.  Harrison has always had a  truly deft hand at taking the traditional myths we all know and twisting them just enough to make them her own, and this story set in the Avalon of myth and touching the characters we all know and love from stories of Camelot, is no exception to her skill.  When first we met this Morgan of the Fae, in the first story of this series, we see a villain out to destroy a race of fae that is opposing his mistress,  Isabeau of the light fae, and there is no way we will ever come to see him as the hero.  But as always Thea challenges us to look deeper and find the motivation and understanding of a character's actions. Morgan has found a way to escape Isabeau for a little while and he travels to the mortal realm, losing himself in the pleasures of our world which are more often than not denied him, and slowly we come to understand that he isn’t a villain so much as a weapon that has been forced into the service of a bigoted and sociopathic ruler.  When Morgan comes across the beautiful musician Sidonie on his short release, he is instantly drawn not just to her music but also to the light that shines through her very skin and warms him.  But as always the spies that surround him set out to destroy his chance at happiness and steal Sidonie from her world and attempt to smother that light for all time.  Sidonie has no map to navigating this new and terrifying world of magic and sadistic rulers, but she is on the very brink of losing her soul when a voice whispers to her and brings her back.  But can two prisoners find a way to escape a world full of political intrigue and sedition in order to be together?  Morgan turns out to be one of my favorite characters in this series once he finally comes to understand his true worth and purpose in the world.  The love he showers on Sidonie and the way he overcomes his own fears and trauma in order to keep her safe and sane shows him for the true hero that always was beneath the years of defeat and service to an evil and hateful bitch. Sidonie might not understand the world she finds herself in, but she understands the way her heart continuously reaches for that hand in the dark and the way her gut tells her that she can trust Morgan when she finally comes face to face with him.  I LOVED this story and might just reread it now that I am reliving everything writing this review.  Morgan and Sidonie were one of my favorite couples from Ms. Harrison’s stories, and I am looking forward to seeing more of them in the coming stories in this series.  The passion and draw that these two share is one for the history books and perfect for the legendary magician of a world long lost to the mists of time.  If you are looking for a light and fluffy love story, Spellbinder isn’t for you, but if you want a story about the true healing and freeing power of love between two individuals seemingly trapped forever in the dark and their emergence back into the light… you can’t go wrong with this book! Please hurry with the next story Thea!

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Physical Forces (K-9 Rescue #6)

Physical Forces (K-9 Rescue #6)

by D.D. Ayres 

Blurb:

Macayla Burkett is no ordinary private eye. She’s a pet detective, dedicated to tracking down missing dogs and cats. When two famous racing greyhounds disappear and turn up dead, Macayla finds herself in the midst of a much more serious case. And when the thieves target her and threaten her life, she realizes she’s in grave danger—until a ridiculously handsome stranger enters the picture …

Oliver Kelly may look like a male stripper, but his muscles aren’t just for show. The gorgeous Australian is co-owner of a K-9 Search and Rescue service dedicated to saving those in danger. When he and his K-9 partner, an Australian shepherd named Jackeroo, rescue the fiery detective from trouble, the sparks begin to fly. And when they join forces to stop a widespread case of animal theft, it unleashes a torrent of passion that’s impossible to tame…

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

So a series about one of my personal favorite combination—dogs and sexy heroes—could never be truly disappointing, but while I can say I liked this book and got a couple laughs out of these two’s antics, this story lacked a bit of the magic I got with the previous novels in the series. Set in an area I am more than a little familiar with and starring my kind of lady, I was happy to give Macayla and Oliver a chance, but there were just some moments that left me scratching my head and wondering what the hell was happening.  Macayla has run into some hard times professionally and personally, but being mistaken for a homeless person eating from the trash is not something she planned for her day, but when the sexy Aussie and his partner come across her in a compromising situation the day begins to devolve into even more problems, if you can imagine it actually getting worse from there.  Oliver is enjoying some downtime before he has to present to a group of his peers about the company he co-owns and certainly not looking for a distraction the size of Macayla and her troubles, but there is no denying she is interesting.  He is intrigued enough to offer his assistance and soon finds himself wrapped up in her investigations, but at the end of the day he knows he’s not going to find a way to make her trust him with her secrets so quickly.  But when she comes onto his turf and saves his ass in a big way, there is no way he’s going to let her get away from him. I liked Oliver, quite a bit, but there was not much of a personal connection for me;   I know he is much more mature and serious than his laid-back Aussie attitude portrays, but maybe I was just missing that little something that would make him into a true hero for me.  Macayla has a strong will and a certainty that her life will never be what it once was, which honestly made me a bit sad because she surely didn’t deserve the problems she was dealing with.  There was just enough heat between them that I was able to believe that their love developed naturally, so that was a good thing.  Overall this story, and the previous one, in this series was not up to the standards of the first few in the series, but hopefully soon we will get that magic back with whatever comes next.  An enjoyable evening read for a cold winter night while a sexy Australian dog lover enjoys his beach time and finds himself falling in love with a crazy sexy pet detective.

Also not to be neglected was the sweet and beautiful Australian shepherd that was partnered with Oliver.  Aptly named Jackeroo, this sweet and loving dog made the story even more memorable and lived up to his breed and his name. 

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Did-Not-Finish: Her Survivor (Black Eagle Ops #1)

Her Survivor (Black Eagle Ops #1)

by Vonnie Davis 

Blurb:

Vonnie Davis welcomes readers to Wounded Warrior Falls! In this sizzling contemporary series, broken heroes meet women worth fighting for—and discover the healing power of love.

Navy SEAL Dustin Frank can handle physical pain; it's his soul that needs mending. After losing part of his leg in an explosion, the panic triggered by his PTSD nearly drives him over the edge. So Dustin retreats to the Eagle Ridge Ranch, a charming hideaway tucked into the Hill Country of Texas. There he finds solace in the arms of a shy beauty who reawakens desires he thought he'd lost forever—and who makes him want to lose control, just when he needs it most.

Kelcee Todd sees beyond Dustin's scars to the real man beneath: fiercely protective, strong yet tender. She wants nothing more than to feel his battle-hardened hands on her body. However, Kelcee is not the ordinary small-town girl she appears to be. Her brother is a killer with ties to the Russian mob, and after her testimony put him in prison, he's out and eager for revenge. Now Dustin is her best defense, even if it could cost him everything. Kelcee could never ask him to make that sacrifice . . . but she can't stop him, either.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: .5  stars

Heat Rating:  n/a

Review:

While I really wanted to like this new series by an author I have enjoyed in the past, I was not able to finish the story.  There didn’t seem to be any chemistry between Dustin and Kelcee.  Also the story seemed to jump around entirely too much for my liking.  Possibly it just wasn’t the right time to read this one, so I might give it a shot again in the future.  But for now, I have to give this one a failing grade and mark it Did-Not-Finish after about 30% of the book.  I enjoyed the bear-shifter series by Ms. Davis in the past, and wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but it just didn’t click for me.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)

Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)

by Rebecca Zanetti 

Blurb:

As she hunts for a drug lord killing her fellow witches, all Nessa Lansa’s instincts point to the Grizzly motorcycle club. That might be because their leader, Bear, is the strong, silent shifter type: warm brown eyes and more muscle and alpha male than any woman can ignore. Which makes Nessa’s plan to seduce and betray him all the more dangerous . . .

 Bear doesn’t trust the curvy, blue-eyed witch. But Nessa can heal the injuries that sap his strength. And since he can’t stop thinking of her lush body and teasing smile, her plan to mate him to reclaim her own power is highly tempting. Just one problem. Once a desire this wild is loose, no one will ever control it . .

Themes:  Paranormal, Witches, Shifters, Demons, and Vampires (yup it’s all in this one)

Rating:  4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 This series has taken us through some interesting political intrigues, battles and family squabbles, but I am sad to say I think it might be coming to a conclusion.  That being said Wicked Bite is one of my favorite stories for sure, with a sassy and deadly witch finding her mate with a sexy and strong bear -(plus more) shifter.  The story begins with an offer that Bear is willing to refuse for a few reasons, mainly that the offer comes from a sneaky and too-sexy-for-his-own-good witch that he knows has some ulterior motives for her offer. But once they are thrown into a battle for their lives and the future of their world Bear and Nessa begin to understand that all of their knowledge of one another has been stretched from the beginning. Bear has been a favorite of mine for a couple books now, I mean who can beat a sexy-as-hell biker, who also happens to be able to shift into a bear—and a little something else that I won’t mention for spoiler purposes—that also happens to love his half-sister enough to risk his life in order to keep her safe and happy? Certainly not this Romance Witch. That being said getting to know him on a deeper level made me love him even more as a hero, especially when someone threatens the woman he has come to love. Nessa however is keeping a LOT of secrets.  She has determined that only she can crack the case of the assholes that are threatening the lives of all witches with their dangerous drug and she just knows that Bear’s biker gang is behind it all.  Willing to sacrifice anything for her people, Nessa determines that the only way to get to the truth is to investigate Bear herself, but soon her plan backfires and she finds herself falling in love with the beast.  Nessa was a conundrum to me until the full story of her past and position in the witch government comes to light, but then we could understand all the little things that made her not so lovable through the story.  Together they have to find a way to stop a war, save a race, and prevent their world from being exposed to the mortals, all while falling in love and finding a path to the future they both now desperately want together.  The heat between these two is off the charts, even for a Zanetti novel, but that made it an even more believable passion in my mind.  I will be sad to see this series end, but hope that if this is the final book, we will be getting something new in this world of crazy witches, deadly demons, sexy shifters, and fascinating vampires. Zanetti once again shows why she is one of the Queens of Romance and will forever leave her footprint on the world with her amazing work.  Thanks for the adventure Rebecca!

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Tempting Fate (Colorado High Country #4)

Tempting Fate (Colorado High Country #4)

by Pamela Clare 

Blurb:

A woman with no roots…

Naomi fled the cult-like nightmare of her childhood and learned to rely on one person—herself. Her resourcefulness keeps her alive during a catastrophe in the mountains, but it’s no help at all when it comes to Chaska Belcourt, the sexy EMT who saves her life. Raised to feel shame about her body and sex, she is putty in Chaska’s hands as he strips away her armor, exposing the vulnerable woman beneath, awakening desires in her that she’d been taught to ignore.

A kiss that changes everything…

Chaska Belcourt grew up on the reservation, the son of a hereditary Sun Dance chief. He left all of that behind for a new life in Colorado as an engineer with an aerospace firm and a member of the elite Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. He doesn’t share his sister’s belief that fate led him to find Naomi. But from the first moment their lips touch, he can’t get enough of her.

A love that transforms…

As the passion between them turns into something more, Chaska is forced to admit that his sister is right. There’s no other way to explain the depth of his feelings for Naomi—or the fact that he and his people might hold the key to unraveling the mysteries of her past. But she will have to learn to trust again before the two of them can find the answers she needs—and claim this once-in-a-lifetime love.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Pamela Clare strikes again and reminds me why I love her writing so much.  When she began this new series about the sexy group of individuals dedicating their lives to rescuing those in need, while enjoying the rugged and adrenaline packed lifestyles of rock climbers, I was skeptical that she would make me love it.  Honestly I have a crazy fear of heights and would never go anywhere near a rock climbing gym much less actually climbing those freaking deadly mountains, but she has made me a believer once again.  I LOVE this series.  This fourth installment also hit close to home because I have always wanted a chance to learn more about my native American heritage, but with such a physical and emotional distance for me, I just have to enjoy that adventure through stories and author’s like Pamela, so obviously devoted to authenticity and research, remind me why I fight so hard to make people understand the greatness of this genre. Chaska and Naomi meet under interesting circumstances, but the connection between them is instant and deep, leaving them both floundering a bit at the intensity.  Soon though there is no denying that they are made for one another.  I loved seeing Chaska fall in love with Naomi, sacrificing for her happiness, while always keeping in mind his duty to his team and his people.  He is the perfect hero and I would love to have a chance to meet a man just like him… Hmmm maybe it’s time for a trip to Colorado, even though I am so not climbing anything… but I digress.  Naomi was the perfect match for Chaska.  While she has had a pretty shitty past, she maintains her fighting spirit, determined to make her own way in the world, but when she meets Chaska and his sister the draw is irresistible.  Once he finds a way to not only steal her heart but discover the truth of her heritage and give her back her true family, I thought for sure she would destroy him, but the love she has is just too big to leave him wanting.  Pamela as always finds a way to bring two people, that might never have found one another, together under amazing conditions, twining their pasts together and giving them a chance at a future that will give them true happiness and fulfillment.  There is also the outstanding level of heat and passion between Chaska and Naomi that is a trademark of any Clare novel, but in my opinion this story went even higher with the connection between the H/h.  I am dying for the next story in this amazing series and am definitely spreading the word that this series is one of the best romances out there and that if you’re not reading them then you’re not truly a Romance Junkie!

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Maybe This Love (Colorado Ice #2)

Maybe This Love (Colorado Ice #2)

by Jennifer Snow

Blurb:

 THE GAME OF HIS LIFE

Hockey player Ben Westmore has some serious skills---on and off the ice---and he's not above indulging in the many perks of NHL stardom. When a night in Vegas ends in disaster, he realizes two things: 1) it's time to lie low for a while, and 2) he needs a lawyer---fast. But the smoking-hot woman who walks into his office immediately tests all his good intentions.

Olivia Davis doesn't need anyone derailing her career---or her dreams of starting a family---least of all a skirt-chasing player like Ben. But soon he's unleashing a full-court press to convince her that he's the real deal. She's slowly falling for his sweet, rugged charm, but with so much on the line, Olivia has to decide whether Ben can truly change---or if he's just playing the game.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I have slowly fallen in love with this series, revolving around about the only sport I enjoy watching, and I am enjoying getting to know each of these couples and their friends and family as well.  Set mostly in the small town of Glenwood Falls, Colorado, this town seems to be filled with hockey royalty, sexy as hell athletes and sensual and loving women that can steal their hearts. We watched Ben’s younger brother Jackson fall in love in the previous novel and now Ben finds himself in the most crucial time of his life and unprepared for the woman that comes into it.  I really enjoyed this story, even if I was a bit standoffish on the premise to begin with, mainly due to the way that Olivia comes to know Ben, but Jennifer handles it so smoothly and with enough honor that I don’t find myself having an issue with it after all.  Ben is a good guy that has had some shitty moments in his past which left him guarded and scared to fall in love.  The pull he feels to Olivia terrifies him, but it’s so strong and rare that he knows he can’t resist it, so when his divorce finally goes through there is nothing to stop him from going after the woman that has clouded his mind and intrigued his heart from the first time he laid eyes on her. Olivia knows what she wants out of life and will go for those things, even if she has to use an unusual method.  Just when she has given up hope of finding a man to truly love her, Ben crashes into her life and there is no way she can deny the pull she feels.  But he is just the type of egocentric player that she has always avoided…except he’s a lot more than just ego and flirt after all.  It was fascinating to see these two circling one another as adversaries and then when they are free finally giving in to the draw between them, making magic and showing one another the true measure of themselves. Ben was definitely an alpha male, but underneath he is everything we all look for in a man—sweet, loving to his family, honorable, strong, brave and willing to fight for what he wants.  I loved getting to see him courting Olivia and showing her that there was more to him than she originally thought.  Olivia is a woman that knows what she wants, and I respect that, even if I don’t truly get the baby craziness.  But, that said, I could see that Olivia was a woman I could be friends with quite easily.   Her intelligence, sass, sweetness, and vulnerability make her the perfect collection of opposites and give her the depth and range that all heroines a good romance should have.  I was thrilled that they finally found a way to overcome their pasts and hang-ups and share their love, but I was kind of disappointed by the ending.  Thankfully I know another book is already out and I look forward to seeing the relationship between Ben and Olivia bloom in the coming stories, as well as seeing Ash  find his love along with anyone else Jennifer throws into the mix.  A fun, sweet, and enjoyable read with the emotional traumas that make our everyday lives such a challenge, Maybe This Love is the type of story that everyone should read at least once so they can learn more about themselves in order to share their lives and love.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: The Unyielding (Call of Crows #3)

The Unyielding (Call of Crows #3)

by Shelly Laurenston

Blurb:

Stieg Engstrom, Angriest Viking Ever, has got big problems. The human Viking Clans of earth are in danger of being obliterated—along with the rest of the world—and the only one who may be able to save them is a super pain-in-the-ass Crow. Most people annoy Stieg, but this is the one woman he really can’t stand…

Erin Amsel loves being a Crow! Why wouldn’t she when the other Viking Clans are so hilariously arrogant and humorless? She’s not about to let all that come to an end! She just didn’t expect to be shoulder to shoulder in battle with Stieg. Then again, he’s so easy to torment—and also kind of cute.

With the future of the world riding on them, Stieg knows he’ll have to put aside his desperate need to kiss the smirk right off Erin’s face. Wait. What? He didn’t mean that—did he? No! They have one goal: To conquer the idiots. Because nothing bugs Stieg more than when idiots win. If only he can keep himself from suddenly acting like one…

Themes: Paranormal, Norse Mythology

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

So, Laurenston fans have another amazingly crazy group of people to fall in love with in this newest series by Shelly, revolving around the Norse Gods and the modern warriors that are serving them.  While most stories of Vikings and Norse gods are set in the past, Shelly’s refreshing take on these warriors existing in secret in the modern world gives everything a bright shiny newness that makes the series even better.  Those of us that have read any Laurenston novel understand the craziness of her characters and love them just the way they are… whacked out and homicidal though they might be.  For readers of contemporary or even more mainstream paranormal works, Shelly’s writing style and characters might come as a bit of a shock, but the sass, sarcasm, and homicidal tendencies hide the true sweetness and strength of her heroes and heroines.  Erin is about as crazy as they come, bringing to mind that nutso friend in high school that was always the one asking “I wonder what will happen if we do this…” right before they get the whole group into trouble.  But let’s be honest without those fun troublemakers in our lives most of us would become staid and boring as hell.  So I can say that I LOVED Erin and her story of heroism and falling in love with Stieg was wonderfully zany and lighthearted enough to make my evenings after a long day of work enjoyable.  Stieg has his own speed and style for sure, but he handles Erin beautifully, when she’s not driving him to violence.  While their love might not be as obvious or soft as a lot of people like, sometimes that bizarre passion and wild enjoyment of life is enough to bring two people together that we might not think belong.  The story behind the romance led to some interesting battles and sneaking in lots more fun references to Norse mythology as the warriors of the Nine Clans worked together to defeat their enemy and prevent Ragnarök from being set in motion.  I LOVE everything Shelly writes, but being pagan myself and having lots of firsthand knowledge of these myths makes the stories even more fun.  I mean honestly who wouldn’t fall in love with a woman that could write about the Allfather in such an irreverent way?!?  Cannot wait to see what comes next after that ending, too, because no way does she leave us hanging on that craziness.  Keep the outrageous awesomeness coming, Shelly, and I will continue adding recruits to your fan clubs.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.