ARC Review: Between Bloode and Water (Between the Shadows #3)

Between Bloode and Water (Between the Shadows #3)

by Marie Harte

Blurb:

Powerful sea witch bewitching a vampire for power. Check. Freeing said vampire from your crazy mother? Check—and mate—when the spell backfires and now he thinks he loves you.

Kaia has had it with her mother. Talk about touchy. Offend the sea witch and pay the price. Oy. Granted, Kaia’s last boyfriend had been an idiot, but nearly sacrificing him to a dark god had been totally unnecessary. And those deals her mother keeps making with demons to obtain more power? Not a healthy way to achieve balance.

To stop her mother from sacrificing some other poor schlub, she sneaks into her mother’s lair and finds more intended sacrifices. But one of them has fangs.

Needing to get to safety before her mother returns and loses her mind, Kaia, a sea nymph, swims away with the guy and soon learns he’s under a spell.

In order to cure him, she overrides her mother’s magic with her own, weak though it may be. But now this male—a freakin’ vryko, a vampire who can swim like the merfolk—thinks he loves her. Curing Orion of the enchantment should have ended their association, but he’s still obsessed with her.

And for some reason, she’s intrigued by him as well. But the dark one to whom her mother promised a soul doesn’t care where it comes from. And since her mother has reneged on Orion, the dark one decides Kaia will do nicely in his place.

Themes:  Paranormal, Vampires, Witches

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Ok wow so the plot thickens big time in this newest installment of the intriguing and fascinating new paranormal series by Marie Harte. This series is one that I had a little trouble getting into with book one, not going to lie, but the second and third books really took off for me and I have found myself more in love as time goes by.  Being a wiccan myself with a special connection to water and earth this story really hit me in the heart and I found myself connecting with Kaia and feeling her fears and pain directly, as she dealt with the issues of her neglectful and ultimately evil mother and the jerk she gave her heart to. The story picks up right where Duncan and Macy’s book ended (Between Bloode and Craft) as Orion is sent on a mission to investigate a strangely disappearing island in the sound and disappears himself for several days while on mission.  Kaia is a Sea Nymph that never really came into the powerful magic her mother, the White Sea Witch, hoped she would, but then again she also hasn’t embraced the pure evil her mother seems to relish in either, so there’s that.  When she gets a “feeling” her mother might be up to something, Kaia goes to investigate but never thought to find that her psychotic mother had bespelled a vampire, putting not just her life but pretty much the entire world at jeopardy of war.  Determined to free the vampire, Kaia overrides her mother’s magic but accidentally partially binds Orion to her own magic and now he is calling her his mate and shit just gets more complicated when she realizes he’s one of the Night Bloode.  With the help of a few friends she works to unbind Orion, but in the meantime the sweetness he shows to her makes her fall deeper and deeper under HIS spell, leaving her heartbroken when they are separated and he rails at her for something far beyond her control.  Can Orion get over himself and his fears in time to understand their true connection or will the true evil stalking them take away his mate forever before he ever has a chance to realize the depth of his feelings for her?

Honestly I loved this story, even as we could see the trauma coming for Kaia like a train coming down a tunnel and just knew it was going to hurt.  Kaia is obviously very inexperienced with men in general, but definitely with vampires, and Orion is just beyond her in so many ways.  She wants to do good and I loved her gentleness even in the face of his nastiness in a lot of the moments when he was being a total dick to her, because it was obvious she knew he needed her love. But the important thing to note is that while she is gentle and loving, much like the ocean’s embrace can offer peace, she is also deadly and dangerous to her enemies and has a strength and steadiness that perfectly balances the craziness that is Orion. Orion has been one of my favorite assholes in this series for sure, crazy in the best of ways, but I never realized he would be a total jerk when the time came. But I suppose lashing out because of his irrational fears his a male trait no matter the species.  When he was under Kaia’s inadvertent magic he was sweet, loving, caring, and attentive to his mate, and it is entirely possible that he would have chosen to be so on his own, but we can also see that his rage and outlandishness was missing.  Once he is totally free from compulsion though I found myself wanting to slap him more than once (which means that Marie did her job as author a little too well) as he repeatedly broke Kaia’s heart and pulled at her emotions.  I am glad that they both finally found their balance and the truth of their connection before it was too late and that by using that connection they realized they were the only ones that could really stop the evil her mother was trying to bring into the realm.  The passionate connection between these two was apparent from the very beginning, and while sweet during the time he was bespelled, just fired up exponentially when Orion was finally himself and became the feral vampire he truly is.  I have really connected with this series now and cannot wait for the next one where Orion’s best friend Kraft will finally feel the whammy of love and get his comeuppance when he is faced with the mate he never thought he wanted and the others can torment him, like he has done with them.  Marie Harte has another magical masterpiece on her hands and though this series obviously has a limited number of stories already built in (due to the nature of the Night Bloode Clan) I hope for many future spin-off series!

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Decker's Dilemma (Knights & Dragons MC #1)

Decker's Dilemma (Knights & Dragons MC #1)
by Chantal Fernando

Blurb:

Wind Dragon princess Cara and ex-cop Decker will have to cross every line to be together—including the law.

At a Turning Point

It was a typical PI gig: track down the client’s newly discovered half sister. For ex-cop Seth Decker, finding Cara Ward was the easy part. Walking away from the sexy schoolteacher is going to be a whole different story.

 At a Crossroads

Cara thought she had the road ahead all mapped out—she’d be a biker’s old lady, straddling a Harley behind the man she fell for in her teens. But she’s all grown up. And while the Wind Dragons will always be family, Cara wants something more, something for herself. Decker may not be a biker, but that means his woman will always come first.

 Caught in the Cross Fire

Once an MC princess, always an MC princess, though. When Cara’s connection to the Wind Dragons puts her in the line of fire from a gang out for revenge, Decker realizes the safest place for her is by his side. After all, there’s nothing he won’t do to protect the woman he loves. Even if it means crossing the line of the law he once swore to uphold.

Themes:  Contemporary, MC

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I just love when an author crosses over into a new series but brings beloved character from previous series with her and Ms. Fernando has given us that twice over with her new Knights & Dragons MC series! I picked up Chantal Fernando’s Wind Dragon series by chance when I first got into the whole MC craze and loved it so much that I devoured the entire series and then the spinoff series of the Knights of Fury that came after.  Now we get to enjoy a whole new generation of the Wind Dragons as the kids we met in those books find themselves in some serious jams and falling in love at the same time. Cara is an MC Princess, the beloved step-daughter of one of the OG Wind Dragons and she has had it with the direction her life is taking.  A long-term relationship with the crowned-prince of the MC has gone nowhere fast and she is ready for some changes in her life when the sudden appearance of a sexy PI changes everything for her. Seth Decker has finally taken his life by the horns, quitting his old job as a cop when he became disillusioned and becoming a private investigator, when his first solo client asks him to find her long-lost half-sister.  The job should have been simple, but when Decker finds the sexy Cara and learns of their connections, feels the pull to the sweet and sensual woman, he has to decide just how deep into her life he wants to be drawn.  When Cara let’s her old life go, moving to Decker’s hometown and deciding to give a new life a chance, Decker decides there is nothing holding him back from making this woman his, even though he has never wanted to do that with any other woman.  But Cara has a new enemy that could very well end any chance of them having any future at all if Decker and Cara’s family and friends can’t keep her safe and end the threat in time.  This story was fast-paced, sexy as hell, and filled with the life or death drama that leads people into bonding hard and fast. Cara was a woman at her wits' end in the relationship department for sure in the beginning of this story, having been with the same man all of her adult life, but once she realized they were never meant to be her decisiveness and stubbornness were awesome to watch.  She was sweet, but sexy, stubborn and outspoken, leaving no one with any doubt what she wanted from her life once she made a decision.  I loved watching her find her true path and where she belonged, not just following what others had expected of her all her life, but what she wanted for herself.  She made Decker see that he could be so much more than he was giving himself credit for too, pulling the best out of him even as she grew into a better and more whole personality.  Decker had a bit of growing up to do to finally find himself in this story, finally getting where he needed to be professionally and then just needing to meet the right woman to learn his direction for his personal needs.  Watching him with the women in his life, be it his sister, his partner, or Cara was an eye-opener because really there just aren’t that many true gentlemen left in the world, especially ones that are also alpha badasses. His best attributes had to have been how he made sure that no matter what, even if he knew it would cause personal trouble for himself, he did whatever he thought was needed to protect Cara and defeat her enemies for her.  Passion was not a problem for these two, even when the danger was at defcon levels, and obviously the heat will never die as it hasn’t for any of these sexy matches.  The Dragons and Knights are all leading us on a merry chase in love and I CANNOT wait for the next story to see what trouble our crowned-prince Rhett gets himself into and the woman that finally fully captures him heart and soul.  Chantal you astonish me as usual, you are a goddess!

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

ARC Mini-Review: The Poisoned Forest (Hedge Dragon #1)

The Poisoned Forest (Hedge Dragon #1)

by Yasmine Galenorn

Blurb:

To the rakshasa who enslaved my sister: you just made the worst mistake you’ll ever make in your life.

Yes, I’m a hedge dragon. An abomination, or so they call my kind. I’m a loner, but I’m also loyal to my sister. Turns out, the rest of the family couldn’t care less. I’m the only one willing to go after her when she vanishes.

She’s being held in Owlanvine, a city in the desert. To reach her, I must travel through the Poisoned Forest, one of the darkest, deadliest places in Wildemoone. But the Lord of the Hunt and his Lady take pity on me and offer me help.

Now, together with a small band of allies who I swear are more trouble than they’re worth, I’m out to save my sister before she’s lost forever, and before the forest does all of us in.

Themes:  Paranormal, Dragons, Fae

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

An all new world is opened for us in this new spin-off series by one of my favorite authors and I find myself giddy with excitement to lose myself in the world of Storm and her new friends.  The Hedge Drago Series begins with the story of Storm, a hybrid of the Dragons that we saw unleashed in the Wild Hunt series that were taking over Earth.  Storm has lived a difficult life, but now that the gates to the Forgotten Kingdom have been opened, releasing the dragons, her life is about to become even more complicated.  Yasmine begins the series with a bit of overlap for those of us that finished out the Wild Hunt series with the novella of Ember and Herne’s wedding.  I was especially glad she did this because even with that background we’d have missed out on a lot if we jumped right into Storm story after the Wedding. Storm’s story really begins when she leaves her home on a rescue mission, searching for her sister that has been sold to slavers, but her inexperience with the other realms leads her down a very dangerous and incorrect path.  Thankfully she runs into some familiar and friendly faces that offer her the assistance she needs in the form of some new friends that can help her and teach her all she needs to rescue her sister.  With her new Allies she sets out through the dangerous new—but correct this time—terrain that will take her to her sister. But the dangers just keep mounting and even if she can rescue her sister can they all get back home safely afterward.  Only time, and maybe with a little help from an unexpected ally and some divine intervention, will tell if they succeed. But it's safe to say that either way Storm’s simple life will never be the same again.

This story was definitely filled with a lot of the typical first-in-a-series issues, a lot of world building, character introduction and development, and setup for future storylines and the overall series, but despite that the story moves quickly and it was beyond enjoyable.  Storm was a unique, facetious, witty, and intriguing character to watch as she moved through the world with a chip on her shoulder but the ability to trust when she spotted good people. There’s no doubting that she has lived a rough life, but she hasn’t hardened her heart to the plight of others, and it’s obvious she makes connections easily.  It was great to meet her new team and watch them begin to develop a connection and bond that you can see will lead to many future interactions both good and bad.  Of course, when we see her find lust (love?) for the first time as well, we have hope that a bright future is in store for her there despite the obstacles.  Seeing many of our favorite characters from the Wild Hunt was wonderful and knowing that Storm and her team have that support as they go forward in their battles means they will hopefully be better equipped to handle what will be coming their way.  I am dying for the next story in this story to say the least because there were so many questions left at the end of the story, though not really cliffhangers, that were there to set up the next story and lead us into the series.  Yasmine for sure has another hit on her hands and should be immensely proud of her storm of success😉. Even if you haven’t read the Wild Hunt series, jump into the Hedge Dragons with both feet and I can promise you won’t regret a moment of the adventure you’ll get to enjoy with the rest of us.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Last Duke Standing (A Royal Match #1)

Last Duke Standing (A Royal Match #1)

by Julia London

Blurb:

When Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria is sent to England to learn the ropes of royalty, she falls under the tutelage of none other than Queen Victoria herself. Justine’s also in the market for a proper husband—one fit to marry the future queen of Wesloria.

Because he knows simply everyone, William, Lord Douglas (the notoriously rakish heir to the Duke of Hamilton seat in Scotland, and decidedly not husband material), is on hand as an escort of sorts. William has been recruited to keep an eye on the royal matchmaker for the Weslorian prime minister, tasked to ensure the princess is matched with a man of quality…and one who will be sympathetic to the prime minister’s views. As William and Justine are forced to scrutinize an endless parade of England’s best bachelors, they become friends. But when the crowd of potential grooms is steadily culled, what if William is the last bachelor standing?

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

A new series begins for fans of Julia London and we get to experience the love of two people that are obviously so opposite of one another and once had a very public fight discover that love can come in the most unlikely of faces.  For readers of Julia London’s historical romances this series will be a return to some interesting faces, because although it is a new series, several of the characters are carried over from past series and it feels more like a continuation of other series as we get to delve into the lives of what were once minor character in other novels.  Justine and William were both much younger when they first met, but time has changed them both in ways they never imagined and meeting again will force them to come to terms with those changes.  This story is one that will lead you down a path of political intrigue, royal duty, and the unexpected love of two people that just don’t realize that sometimes the flipside of hate is love. I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to the rest of this new series as we see the rest of the Royal’s find a match, possibly seeing more characters as their lives have progressed.  Julia London never lets me down in her historical romances and Last Duke Standing is no less than another wonderful foray into the past and love.

Justine is the Crown Princess of Wesloria, a small country in Eastern Europe, and the time has come for her to step up and take a more central role in her government as her father’s health begins to decline.   However her mother, the Queen, has serious doubts about her ability to lead after a recent salacious incident and feels Justine might be best served to spend some time in England under the tutelage of Queen Victoria.  Forced into a country she never wanted to return to, with chaperones she can’t stand and only her sister as her ally, Justine never imagined she would have the added insult of dealing with the one man she once has a crush on that disrespected her so grandly in a public forum. Lord William Douglas knows that he has a fight ahead of him dealing with the little witch of a Princess that he once battled, but when he sees her again for the first time he realizes she has grown up a lot in the past decade and has become a beautiful—and desirable—woman, which makes his job as chaperone/spy even more difficult. As they spend ever-increasing amounts of time together, trying to find a match for Justine, they find themselves drawn more to one another, and their friendship slowly becomes something so much more.  But William has a secret, one that could tear them apart and prevent them from ever having their happy ending, unless their friends can help them untangle the mess of his past and free him, but they are fast running out of time and hope.

These two lovers were amazingly matched—much like the perfect partners in a fencing match.  Justine has grown into a woman that has only the best interest of her people at heart, but her fears keep her from becoming the Queen she is fully capable of being.  I felt so bad for her as she admitted and then slowly found ways to manage her fears, though some are NOT recommended, but she slowly found her voice and her ability to share it beautifully with William’s help and encouragement.  She was brave, sweet, persistent, and strong enough to withstand the disasters she faced again and again, but she never lost sight of the fun she could have in the little moments with William or her sister.  Once she realized what she truly wanted from her life she didn’t let anything stand in her way and even when she almost lost hope, bringing a tear or two to my eye, she still kept her heart with the man she’d given her love.  William was a rogue of the first order to be sure, but I loved watching his playfulness bounce against Justine’s solemnity until her façade would crack and she too could find the lightness.   He has made mistakes in the past too be sure, but he owns up to them and he is a good man, his honor and integrity something he holds with great importance even when others question it, as long as those he loves know the real man.  It was fun watching him as he devised schemes to forestall matches, win little games, and ultimately win Justine’s heart once she stole his.  I loved that he knew, once he was hers, that earning Justine’s heart and the right to call her his, was more important than anything else in his life.  The heat between these two was apparent even in previous novels, though it was fostered as hate, and once it blossoms into a new kind of passion there is no forbidding the love between them.

Last Duke Standing is the story not of a woman deciding to marry the last man in the world available to her, like you might think from the title, but is truly the story of a woman that understands her Duke is the last man she ever imagines would be perfect for her all along.   Justine is so sure that she hates William, for past mistakes and offenses that she doesn’t realize he is truly a good man and the one meant to be hers. William has a lot to answer for in order to earn the right to claim a Crown Princess, much less one that truly owns his heart, a good woman that has sacrificed a lot and will continue to do so as Queen of a country, but being by her side is all he wants.  Justine has a heavy burden in her future, but once she knows that having a true partner by her side, one like William, will make her life bearable there is no way that she will let a few petty grievances stand in their way.  I absolutely loved how these two and their friends came together, again and again, to laugh, love, and find ways to overcome every obstacle in their paths.  This series looks like it will be another one filled with wit, laughter, tears, and devotion leaving me with no choice but to strap in and enjoy the ride.  London’s newest series, a true continuation of her world, takes us back into the monarchy of the small imaginary country of Wesloria then into Victorian England so that we can learn the one lesson we all need to know—Love conquers all.

*eARC provided by author (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Silent Protector (Verona Bay #3)

Silent Protector (Verona Bay #3)

by Katie Reus

Blurb:

Some secrets keep you safe…

Adeline Rodriguez left her violent past behind, buried her secrets and started over in Verona Bay. Now a successful co-owner in a local pet grooming business, she’s made a life for herself in this idyllic community, and has real friends. Thanks to her past, the only thing she hasn’t mastered yet is a real relationship. And when circumstances lead her to finally let her guard down with sexy Mac Collins, he completely ghosts her. Her first instinct is to close herself off again, but she decides to confront him instead—and that fateful decision puts her directly in the crosshairs of a killer.

Others can destroy you…

Mac has wanted Adeline since the moment they met, but she made it clear that she didn’t want a relationship. So he kept his distance. When they’re trapped together in a remote cabin, things change between them. But Mac’s past has come back to haunt him, so he pushes her away to protect her. Unfortunately, it’s already too late. Adeline is now a target too. To save her, Mac has no choice except to end the threat. Only then can he try to win over the woman he can’t live without. But winning over the feisty Adeline might prove to be harder than stopping a killer.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

The craziness of this small town in FL just keeps getting worse and I can tell you I would never want to move to Verona Bay.  Katie Reus’s newest romantic suspense series is set in a small but idyllic Florida town that seems to be filled with folks hiding from their pasts and attracting psychotic killers to them. The newest is the story of Adeline and Mac who both have secrets they have hidden and because of it they have pushed one another away despite wanting one another intensely. Adeline Rodriguez moved to the small town of Verona Bay to escape her rocky past and has made her life into something to treasure, opening her business and living a quiet life, but she can’t seem to resist the draw of sexy Mac Collins.  Mac has wanted Adeline since he first met her and when he finally gets her to let her guard down enough to agree to a date he is beyond enthusiastic, until his past comes back to haunt him.  Mac knows that pushing Adeline away this time will mean he is giving up his shot at the only woman he has ever wanted this much.  Adeline however refuses to let him push her away again after she finally lets him in and instead forces her way into the situation he finds himself in, putting her directly into the crosshairs of a dangerous killer. Now not only does Mac have to protect himself and his family, he had to keep Adeline from being hurt as they are forced to hide together.  The more time they spend together though the harder it is to deny they their hearts are entwined and they are meant to be together.  But the killer is not to be denied and the only thing that will stop him from winning is Adeline and Mac coming together to defeat the bastard. Adeline was an interesting mix of bravery, fear, and steadfastness as she fought hard for her place in Mac’s life and even though it put her in danger she refused to back down and leave him to fight alone.  Her kindness and courage made her a perfect mate for Mac and a great addition to his family, a lover and partner that could stand beside him and take some of his burdens. Mac was the typical alpha warrior, trying to push Adeline away in order to protect her, but once he accepted that she wasn’t walking away, despite the danger, he kept her close and showed her the determination and resilience that made him a great man. I loved seeing him interacting with his brothers and the love between them, even when he was being stubborn about trying to take everything on him instead of working as a team.  Once he realized he couldn’t do it all himself and started opening up more he became an even better character.  The passion between these two was a mix of push and pull and really fun to watch them work out, but once they finally gave in the heat was extraordinary to experience. I really am relishing this series as it progresses and am looking forward to even more suspenseful romance in this little town full of crazies as Reus continues to take us on a ride through their stories.  Reus has a sadistic and terrifying skill to bring her readers into the minds of her antagonists and take us into the darkness of their world even as we root for the lovers to succeed in defeating them.  I just love this series and hope it continues a long time into the future.

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

Review: Hunter's Hope (Vampire Motorcycle Club #2)

Hunter's Hope (Vampire Motorcycle Club #2)

by Alyssa Day 

Blurb:

Hunter Evans risked his life again and again as a firefighter until the night he died saving a child...only to be reborn as a vampire. Now the man who lived his life as the quintessential “nice guy” must find a way to conquer the deadly urges that threaten to turn him feral. When his own actions put a beautiful woman in danger, he vows to protect her…even from himself.

Alice Darlington has a secret of her own: she sees ghosts. She thought she’d done a good job of keeping it under wraps—until now. A terrible threat from her past is hunting her down in order to use her power for dark purposes. Now she’s on the run and doesn't know who to trust or where to go.

When Hunter and Alice team up to battle the dangers coming at them from all sides, they’re forced to rely on each other. But Hunter doesn’t know how long he can keep the beast inside him away from the woman it craves…

Themes:  Paranormal, Vampires

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

I have been a huge fan of Alyssa Day since I stumbled onto the Atlantis warriors series by chance in a random used bookstore and was thrilled when she decided to try her hand at a new series, especially one that combined two of my favorite tropes—you just can’t go wrong with vampire bikers.  This series is one with a lot of interesting characters, mythos, and interactions with other paranormal creatures that keep things not just interesting but filled with fun little side stories.  Book one was a little slow just because there was a lot of world building but the characters and the love story were fascinating and I was dying to read the next book.  Hunter’s story picks up shortly after book one, with him recovered from his turn to vampire, but still getting control over his new instincts and skills.  Almost dying in a fire trying to save innocent, Hunter was given the choice to turn and though he had some doubts decided it was worth a shot, but now he is having a lot of problems with his new desires.  When he runs into the delectable Alice Darlington while roaming around town he is beyond fascinated with her and finds himself following her home to figure out why.  Alice is the local ghost whisperer but her dream is to just help the animals that she loves, but when she runs into the strange and sexy Hunter her life changes forever.  Little do either of them know that they have a shared enemy and they are right at Alice’s front door, ready to kill or capture her and only Hunter and his new family can keep her safe.  Alice has to come to terms with the hidden world of vampires, shifters and so much more that she never knew existed and at the same time deal with the draw she feels to the sexy vampire who is taking over her mind and heart. Because if she doesn’t trust her new allies, the enemy that has been after her since she was a child will win and that will be disaster for all paranormals. I beyond loved this story, it was literally impossible to put down and stop reading. Alice was hilarious, naïve, sweet, and compassionate, but at the same time she stood up for what she believed in, fought for her freedom, and once she offered her trust and love she went all in and never backed down. I loved watching her interactions with her animal friends, especially Charlie, and the ghosts were fun too, but the way she handles Hunter as they get to know one another had me in tears from laughing so hard.  Alice has a personality that is beyond unique but that I could see making her one of my best friends; she is just one of those women that would draw everyone to her and if she judges you as worthy of her attention you’d feel special. Hunter was one of the most honorable and confused heroes I’ve read in a while.  Being a true hero in his human life and then finding himself suddenly thinking of those he once protected as prey now is seriously messing with his head, but the worst part is his fear that he is turning into a monster.  When he meets Alice he knows that he wants her ferociously, but he also fears that he will bring her harm, even though there is no way he can resist getting to know her.  Slowly he comes to terms with his new nature and instincts with the help of his acquired family and Alice herself, but there are some close calls and more than a few moments of intensity as his drives lead him astray.  The battle he fought with himself showed his integrity, his sweetness toward Alice even in their intense moments, and the way he protected her as he helped her grown made him a great match for her.  The passion between these two was a fire that had moments where it was banked, but it certainly burned hot when they fed it with their willingness to give into one another. This series is one that tackles some fun issues, brings in interesting storylines and overall epic battles, while still focusing on the love of two people that should never work together but ultimately do.  I am dying for the next book which has been building for a while, even though I fear it might be the series finale, but either way I am sure Ms. Day will amaze and astound us with the next one since it has a lot riding on its shoulders with the lovers we have been waiting for. If you are looking for a story that will keep you roped in with laughs, drama, suspense, and sensuality you can’t go wrong with Hunter’s Hope and the sexy Vampire MC that has taken over Savannah!

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

Review: Her Renegade Cowboy (Moving Violations #3)

Her Renegade Cowboy (Moving Violations #3)

by Lora Leigh

Blurb:

He will risk his life…

The oh-so-proper school teacher, Lily Donovan has learned, the hard way, that men are not to be trusted. Period. Until Levi Roberts, the new cowboy working at her cousin's ranch, tempts her carefully-built resolve and awakens an all-consuming passion she thought lay dormant. But when she discovers his deadly secret, and her own secrets come to light, Lily unwittingly joins the lethal cat and mouse race between Levi and the man he’s been hunting for weeks.

To save her heart…

Former Ranger Levi Roberts has seen his fair share of deadly trouble during his years as a tough-as-nails operative. The ultimate expert in undercover investigations, he’s been tasked to find a man with a dangerous agenda in town. Routine work has been boring…until he runs into Lily, the prickly school teacher who tempts him like no other. Getting under her skin has been deliciously satisfying for his red-hot desire, but when Lily lands in the hands of the very man he’s been investigating, Levi will have to fight with every ounce of his heart and soul to save her—and to heal the heart he broke.

Themes:  Contemporary, Cowboys

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Continuing right along with the cowboy badasses this latest installment of Lora Leigh’s Moving Violations series kicks off with a great story of two people that both have trust issues being pulled into a relationship at truly the worst possible time.  I must admit that when I began this series I was skeptical that I would enjoy it, and the first story didn’t truly light my fire, but as the series progresses I am enjoying them increasingly more.  Lily and Levi’s story is filled with tears, trauma, betrayal, forgiveness, and love and I adored every moment of watching these two circle and finally come together. Lily Donovan has returned to her small hometown bruised but not truly broken after a tragedy, one that she has kept from almost everyone and one that has placed her directly into the sightline of an extremely dangerous man—who is now on the loose and headed straight for her. Levi Roberts is on her cousin’s ranch for one reason, to keep Lily safe from the psycho after her, but if he happens to catch the bastard too all the better.  The minute he sees Lily though everything shifts for him and his priorities change.  Determined now to not only protect her but to claim her and have her in his bed, Levi embarks on a treacherous mission to convince Lily to trust him with her heart and ultimately her secrets.  Once the truth comes out, Lily is faced with the betrayal and Levi will have to work five times as hard to get her back and to protect her.  Because danger is right on her doorstep and Lily is done hiding and putting her family and friends at risk, even if it costs her own life and she is determined to bring the bastard that ruined her to justice, one way or another.  Levi might be too late to protect the woman that has stolen his heart if he doesn’t earn back her trust in time.  This story was by far my favorite of the series so far, even though I knew that it was going to blow up in Levi’s face as soon as he started building a relationship on a foundation of lies.  Levi was an fascinating character, one with a true mission but that quickly begins to cross lines once he loses his heart and mind to the love of a woman in  a way he never imagined he could. He was a hardcore badass to be sure, alpha, bossy, and extremely intense in all he did, but at the same time he was protective, loving and passionate giving Lily just what she needed to remind herself she wasn’t truly broken or a weak woman. I loved how he fought so hard to redeem himself in Lily’s eyes once his lies were uncovered and then put it all out here, begging for forgiveness and forcing Lily to admit her feelings for him and convincing her to take him back. Lily was definitely my favorite heroine of the series so far; she believed herself to be broken and unable to ever trust a man again but she instinctively knows that Levi is a good man and will never truly harm her, and though he ends up being a little shady, she wasn’t wrong about him.  Her attitude and snark was awesome to watch as she butted heads with Levi, but when she finally let him in and showed her sweet, compassionate and loving side, there was no way that Levi couldn’t have fallen for her.  Her bravery and willingness to defend her loved ones, even at the risk of her own life, showed that she was never truly broken by the bastard after her and the anger over Levi’s duplicity was just the catalyst she needed to find her backbone again. The FIRE (caps intended) between these two is off the charts from the second they lay eyes on one another, and as with most of these lovers, they burn up the pages a lot, but that’s the fun of a romance.  In the end, this story of two people coming together in a common fight against the evil of humanity is one that will leave you with tears, fears, and laughs as well as the ability to understand forgiveness and true connection as Lily and Levi fall in lust then love even though they are hiding secrets.  I am looking forward to more in this series and seeing more of these characters again in future novels and hope the series only continues to get better.

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

ARC mini-Review: My Fiery Valentine (Dark Kings #18.8)

My Fiery Valentine (Dark Kings #18.8)

by Donna Grant

Blurb:

Their love makes them strong.

Their road to happiness wasn’t easy, but love and magic gave them what they always wanted. Now, with things changing at Dreagan once again, it’s time for them to focus on each other—and their future.

Valentine’s Day is the ideal time to tell the one you love how much they matter. And V and Claire have the perfect plans. Surprises that will show them each how much they mean to the other. With the help of their family, it will be a night that neither will forget—their first step into their new life, surrounded by nothing but love.

Themes:  Paranormal, Holiday vignette

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

There truly is no better holiday for romance readers that Valentine’s Day and Donna Grant celebrates that this year with a sweet and sexy vignette returning to the world of the Dragon Kings.  Long-time readers will be thrilled to see this glimpse into the happy lives of the newly-returned-to-earth Vlad and Claire, having returned from Zora after the perilous and successful birth of their Daughter, Pearl.  Being new parents is always difficult for a couple, even apparently when one of them is a millennia old Dragon King, and when Valentine’s Day rolls around they both decide it is time for some special baby-free time.  Luckily for them they have the beautiful and supportive family at Dreagan to help them reignite the passion and rekindle their commitment to their relationship. Pearl is obviously the greatest treasure any of the Kings or their mates have ever seen—giving many of them hope for a family of their own—and they are all eager to offer babysitting services of course, but the love and assistance they offer V and Claire as they work to pull off Valentine’s day surprises for one another is truly endearing, though certainly not surprising.  This story was filled with moment of sweetness, love, laughter, and the deep and abiding passion we’ve come to expect from the Kings for their mates and vice versa. I enjoyed every moment of the story and am so glad that V and Claire managed to find their permanent HEA despite the evil that tried to ruin everything for them and that their little family of three will forever be surrounded by and a part of the larger family of Dreagan.  I cannot wait to see more of the future for these couples and their fellow Kings as they also find love in the spin-off Dragon Kings series which is still fully ongoing.  Donna Grant as always keeps us intrigued with her wit, sass, and understanding of all kinds of love and celebrates it all in this story, reminding us all that there is truly nothing more important in this world than love.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.