Escape Publishing's Birthday ~ Paranormal & Historical Romance Giveaway (2 winners)

On the 14th November ESCAPE PUBLISHING, a digital division of Harlequin Enterprises Australia celebrated their 1st birthday. Here at The Eclectic Reader we're excited to help them mark the occasion with a month long giveaway party to spread the word about their internationally available eBooks.  Aren't they good gift givers :)

Up for grabs this week .. PARANORMAL & HISTORICAL ROMANCE BUNDLE

PARANORMAL: 

 RED MOON 

by M.A. Grant

Release Date: 08/2013

eBook Pages: 227

Dark, moving and original, a story of family, survival, and getting on with life...

Flynn Sinclair understands pack loyalty — for years as his Alpha father’s enforcer, he has done things in the name of duty that he can’t ever forget. But the vast expanse of Alaska offers him a peace he’s never known. Alone, removed from pack life, he can focus on his research and try to forget his life before.

But duty has a way of inviting itself in, and Flynn finds himself doing two reckless things in one week: leaving the safety of Alaska to save his brother Connor’s life, and unwittingly falling in love with Evie Thompson, a woman who doesn’t deserve to be drawn into his terrifying world.

Connor carries news of their father’s descent into madness, and it looks like neither geography nor Flynn’s attempts at disengagement will put off a confrontation. Flynn had finally begun to believe that he might deserve something good in his life — something like Evie — but to move forward in the light, he must first reconcile with the dark.

A WARLORD'S LADY 

by Nicola E. Sheridan

Release Date: 11/2013

eBook Pages: 232

Magic, murder and mayhem collide when an ordinary woman meets a powerful warlord — and writes a bestselling, tell-all book... 

It's got to be Stockholm Syndrome...

Eighteen fateful months ago, Sabra was kidnapped by the infamous magician warlord Cain Dath, and her body just won't let her forget. Hidden in the humid depths of the Laos jungle, she shared everything with him, but he never shared his heart.

In his position of power, Cain cannot show weakness. He must lead his people to freedom and no one — not even the woman he's fast becoming obsessed with — can stand in his way. 

Then Sabra sells her story of love slavery in a tell-all exposé and brings fame, fortune, and every one of his enemies down upon them both. Now, she is open to attack on all fronts, and he can no longer stay away. The man who enslaved her may well be the only man who can save her.

BITTER FRUITS 

by Sarah Daltry

Release Date: 12/2013

eBook Pages: 186

For fans of dark urban fantasy comes a novel that questions why forbidden fruit is always the most tempting...

A vampire-themed masquerade party isn’t really her scene, but Nora is sick of frat parties and bars. When she meets Alec, the appeal suddenly becomes clear. It’s obvious that they’ve been struck by the same intense mutual attraction, but Alec keeps his distance. Intrigued despite herself, Nora pushes a little deeper — and discovers Alec’s unimaginable secret...

Nora is not afraid of following Alec into the darkness, but the choice is soon taken from her. Someone is hunting her — someone tied to the secret and desperate to see it play out. But when Nora finally meets her aggressor, she finds herself hopelessly drawn to him. She needs to make a choice between the two men, but can she save them both, knowing one is destined to die?

SECRET REFLECTION 

by Jennifer Brassel

Release Date: 04/2013

eBook Pages: 202

A modern gothic romance about skepticism, secrets, and seeing what’s in front of your eyes. 

Kelly Reid doesn't believe in ghosts, even when one appears in front of her. She’s sure the man in her bedroom mirror is a hoax, all she has to do is prove it. But it’s hard to concentrate on hidden cameras and tiny microphones when he seems so real, so engaging, so sad. 

Accused of a heinous crime, John Tarrant has been trapped in the mirror for 140 years, neither living nor dead. His only chance at escape is convincing the skeptical woman in front of him that he’s real and desperately needs her help.

Working together to solve a centuries-old crime, Kelly and John race to find the key to his release – and fear what will happen if they succeed. Will their unlikely relationship finally have a chance, or will John’s spirit vanish forever?

FAST FORWARD 

by Juliet Madison

Release Date: 02/2013

eBook Pages: 218

Aspiring supermodel, Kelli Crawford seems destined to marry her hotshot boyfriend, but on her twenty-fifth birthday she wakes in the future as a fifty-year-old suburban housewife married to the now middle-aged high school nerd.

Trapped in the opposite life of the one she wanted, Kelli is forced to re-evaluate her life and discover what is really important to her. Will she overcome the hilarious and heartbreaking challenges presented to her and get back to the body of her younger self? Or will she be stuck in the nightmare of hot flushes, demanding children, raunchy advances from her husband and hideous support underwear forever?

HISTORICAL:

A WORLD APART 

by Peter McAra

Release Date: 10/2013

eBook Pages: 256

 A sweeping Australian historical saga that crosses oceans to prove love conquers all…

April, 1820. As children, they shared a schoolroom, but no education can remove the stain of being peasant-born. So when Eliza Downing begins to blossom into womanhood and the future Viscount de Havilland notices, his family steps in to intervene.

Once full of possibilities, Eliza’s life spirals into shame and degradation, culminating finally in a false conviction and transport to Botany Bay. Through shipwreck, exile, secrets, and scandals, Eliza holds fast to the belief that Harry will come for her — but he doesn’t come soon enough, and Eliza must learn to recognise her own value and become the heroine of her own story.

SWIFT RUNS THE HEART 

by Mary Brock Jones

Release Date: 09/2013

eBook Pages: 139

Both Geraldine MacKenny and Bas Deverill escaped to the goldfields in search of something — for him, a fortune; for her, independence; for both, freedom. Neither expected the fields to yield so much more. 

1860s, Otago, New Zealand

Geraldine finds the life of a wealthy runholder's daughter stiff and constraining. On the goldfields, she has the opportunity to be so much more: independent, responsible, strong. But her freedom is short-lived when she is noticed by notorious bandit Black Jack MacRae — a man who is used to getting what he wants and who never takes no for an answer. 

Cheerful, casual, uncommitted — that's the way Bas likes his life on the goldfields. He may be of aristocratic blood, but he thrives on the challenges of commerce and the freedom of the colonies. Rescuing a beautiful girl from the grasp of Black Jack MacRae, however, throws his whole life into turmoil. Geraldine seems to be a magnet for trouble, and the goldfields are a long way from civilisation. Taking her under his wing only makes sense, but Bas has no intention of letting her get any further under his skin. He might want to bed her, but that is no reason to risk falling to the prison bars of respectability — is it?

THE WICKED CONFESSIONS OF LADY CECELIA STANTON (novella)

by Viveka Portman

Release Date: 12/2013

eBook Pages: 75

 When faced with a rakish, lusty husband, what is a proper English wife to do but educate herself in the art of bedplay?

“Marriages are strange things, none stranger perhaps than this betwixt me and my lord husband.”

Lady Cecelia is married to the dashing and philandering Lord William Stanton, a situation that would distress even the most composed and refined gently-born lady. However, Cecelia has a secret balm to her dissatisfaction: her maid, Bess Miller.

Cecelia’s inexperience and William’s insatiable appetites fuel her desire to learn, and Bess is a willing teacher. Then, when Cecelia blossoms into pregnancy and can no longer accommodate William’s needs, he distances himself, and Bess becomes her only solace and comfort — and the channel for her most intimate desires. As Cecelia struggles to understand her own feelings, gossip begins to spread. William starts asking questions, and wicked confessions must be made...

THE CHIEFTAN'S CURSE 

by Frances Housden

Release Date: 02/2013

eBook Pages: 274

Euan McArthur is a chieftain in need of an heir.

While still a young a warrior, Euan incites the fury of a witch. She retaliates with a curse that no wife will ever bear him an heir. As he buries his third wife and yet another bonnie stillborn son, Euan can no longer cast her words aside.

Morag Farquhar is a woman in need of sanctuary. With a young relative in tow, Morag flees the only home she has ever known to escape her brother, Baron of Wolfsdale, and find sanctuary in the MacArthur stronghold. Pronounced barren by a midwife, Morag is of little value to her family, but a Godsend to Euan, a lover he can’t kill by getting with child.

Years ago, chance drew them together, and tangled their lives in ways they could never have imagined. This time their destiny lies in their own hands, but it will take courage and strong hearts to see it through to the end.

DANCING ON AIR 

by Nicole Hurley-Moore

Release Date: 11/2013

eBook Pages: 175

Cinderella meets Swan Lake in this Victorian-era set story about a ballet dancer, an aristocrat, and their class-crossing romance...

Lisette yearns for freedom, security and love, but none are offered on the run-down stage of The Imperial Theatre. Instead she has hard work, a tyrannical aunt, and the hope of one day becoming a prima ballerina. Dancing on the stage she catches the attention of two powerful men: Lord Gainsworth and Lord De Vale. 

Lord Evander Gainswith never expected to fall in love, let alone with a woman so wholly unacceptable to his family and his peers. The sinister Lord De Vale covets Lisette's youth and strength, and is willing to pay well for it. Lisette may dance roles in fairy tales and fantasies, but the real world is about to intrude, bringing with it the harsh realities of life for a young girl with dreams of rising above the demimonde.

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GIVEAWAY: 

To enter the giveaway, you know the drill ... just leave a comment telling me if you're entering the Paranormal or Historical Romance Bundle giveaway. Or Christmas is coming ... throw your hat in the ring for both :) 

And don't forget to ensure you're easily contactable. 2 winners; one for Paranormal bundle and one for historical bundle and yes it's International!! 

Extra Entries:

+ 2 tweet giveaway and leave a link

Giveaway ends 10th December. Winners will be drawn via Random.org and announced on my blog. Good luck everyone!

The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Series: Fairwick Chronicles #1
Release Date: 27th December 2011
Pages: 416
Book Source: Random House Publishing & NetGalley

Synopsis: I gasped . . . or tried to. My mouth opened, but I couldn’t draw breath. . . . His lips, pearly wet, parted and he blew into my mouth. My lungs expanded beneath his weight. When I exhaled he sucked in my breath and his weight turned from cold marble into warm living flesh.

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature - which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover - an incubus - and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart.

My Thoughts:

Besides being a sucker for the gorgeous cover, I loved the gothic tone, the sexual tension, the sinister undercurrent and the fairytale-esque quality.

Callie's new home, Honeysuckle House is described with such vivid detail it's almost a living, breathing entity. Shrouded in mystery, oozing folklore and magic, the town of Fairwick and the woods are particularly atmospheric and I loved how the author conveyed this.

Callie McFay I just didn't connect with, I didn't like her or dislike her, she was just 'meh'. However I was completely taken with Callie's familiar, the adorable mouse, Ralph (he was one of my favourite characters and I don't even like mice LOL.)

I was actually more emotionally invested in the incubus' character. He's both fascinating and frightening and his backstory intriguing but I can't say anymore without getting spoilerish.

Feeling very little for the main character, some pacing issues and plot confusion had me leaning towards the 3 rating but being the shallow girl I am ... the sit under a fan sex scenes bumped up the rating a little. Juliet Dark writes HOT sex dreams ... if you can forget the sex just happens to be with a kind-of-creepy life-sucking incubus.

The Demon Lover is the first of a three book series; the second installment, The Water Witch will apparently be released some time in 2012. I want to know the fate of the incubus  so despite some reservations I'll be reading the Water Witch.

Note: Juliet Dark is the pseudonym for Carol Goodman & The Demon Lover is published in the UK under the title Incubus ... confused much??

Visit Juliet Dark's website to find out more.

Witch Fire by Anya Bast

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Elemental Witches Book 1

Copyright: 2007

Pages: 278

After a chaotic marriage and a rough divorce, all Mira Hoskins wants is stability and normality. But when sexy Jack McAllister enters her life, she discovers that what you want isn't always what you need.

Jack is a powerful witch with the ability to command fire and is anything but normal. As the head of a security detail for The Coven, a national organization that governs national witches, Jack has been assigned to watch over Mira. She is a natural born witch with the ability to call the air. And although she is unaware of her talent, a group of renegade witches has discovered her existence and are determined to steal her power--and her life.

Witch Fire is one passionate read; hot, scorching hot, third degree burns HOT. Is it possible to have too much of a good thing ... hmm, ask me after I've  had a cold shower. The elemental magick theme and good vs evil storyline was really enjoyable but I would have liked to see a bit more plot development to balance out the sex, sex, sex.

The system of magick in Witch Fire is fascinating, each witch whether Coven (good) or Duskoff (evil) has an affinity with an element; air, fire, earth or water and their power is harnessed from that element. In order to protect Mira from the Duskoff Cabal, Jack, a powerful fire witch must train Mira to recognise and draw on her powers as an air witch. When things heat up, demon summoning, secrets and witchcraft politics get added to the mix of sex and magic ... and did I mention sex.

Mira and Jack's relationship is intense, plenty of sexual tension but not a lot happens in the first half of the book that isn't horizontal. The sex scenes are very well writtten, which is just as well since there are many, but don't worry, nothing tacky or cliched here. Just your everyday 'inferno' ... we all know that air fans and 'excites' fire *grin.* 

Try Witch Fire if you like a fun, sexy read, sure to raise your temperature.

Remaining books in the Elemental Witches quartet:

Witch Blood

Witch Heart

Witch Fury

Visit Anya Bast's website for news, blog, contests and free e-books.

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Iron King OR Ecstasy Unveiled OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

The Twilight Before Christmas by Christine Feehan

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Drake Sisters Book 2
Copyright: 2003
Pages: 284
Book Source: Own purchase

Seven sisters...and a legacy of magical secrets.

Bestselling novelist Kate Drake is one of seven sisters gifted with amazing powers of witchcraft. Returning home in time for her northern California town's annual Christmas pageant, Kate catches the spirit of the season and decides to open a bookstore in a charming but run-down historic mill. Decorated former U.S. Army Ranger Matt Granite, now a local contractor, doesn't mind working in the undeniably eerie house -- not if it means getting closer to Kate. There's something about the quiet, sensual woman that powerfully attracts him.

When an earthquake cracks the mill's foundation and reveals a burial crypt, Kate senses that a centuries-old evil has been unleashed and that it's coming after her. Though Matt vows to guard her from dusk till dawn, Kate knows she will have to summon all of her and her sisters' powers to battle the darkness threatening to destroy both Christmas and the gift of soul-searing passion her hometown hero wants her to keep forever.... 

The Twilight Before Christmas will be fondly remembered as the 1st book read on my kindle so that in itself gives this one bonus points. It was a delightful read but not nearly as enchanting as the first book in the series Magic In The Wind. Maybe that's because I like the heroine to have a few faults and Kate, the second eldest of the magical Drake sisters is almost saccharine sweet.

Kate's gift is a lovely one, she weaves magic with her voice, calming and soothing emotions. Matt is a very likeable heroine, strong, protective, sexy and I had no problems connecting with him :-) His long standing adoration of Kate is endearing and whilst the two of them have insecurities that they hold close, once they realise they're right for each other, things really heat up in the 'romance' department!

The story focuses not only on Kate and Matt's relationship but the history of Christmas in Sea Haven and the evil entity trying to destroy this peaceful town. And of course it's up to the seven Drake sisters to protect the town from the malevolent spirit. Christine Feehan has ten sisters & three brothers, inspiring her to write this series about the magic of sisters and I can assure you this magic is evident in her writing. I adored reading about the relationships between the Drake sisters, not only their special pyschic bond but the love and support they show each other.

Magic, romance, and suspense, woven together with an eerie undercurrent make this an easy, entertaining read. I can't wait to find out more about the other Drake sisters and their love interests. Next up is Abigail's story in Oceans of Fire.

See my review for book 1, Magic in the Wind.

To learn more about Christine Feehan and the Drake Sister series visit Christine's website.

To celebrate blogging friendships & my birthday two lucky readers can take their pick from a choice of 6 books in my Dec/Jan giveaway. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks

Series: Love at Stake - Book Four

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Copyright: 2008

Pages: 384
Book Source: Own purchase

 
Three signs that something is very different with your new man:

1. He sleeps all day . . . which would be annoying except he's so attentive at night.

2. He's attacked by sword-wielding assailants, yet insists he can handle it on his own.

3. He never seems to age.

Heather Westfield has always lived a quiet life, but that all changes when she helps a very handsome, very mysterious stranger. There's something not quite right about Jean-Luc, but still, she's never been with a man so charming, so attractive . . . so wonderful. Now if only a murderous villain wasn't after them, they might get their happily-ever-after.

This is my first Kerrelyn Sparks novel and while it's the 4th book in the Love At Stake series, it's a great stand alone novel. Coming after Halfway to the Grave, comparisons are very unfair, but this is a little like getting on the ferris wheel after the rollercoaster ride. Loads of fun but not quite the same thrill. So, on approaching The Undead Next Door from the pure entertainment angle, it's definitely a winner. Believable characters, well-paced story line, lots of romance and top marks in the fun stakes.

Hunky vampire Jean-Luc Echarpe is head of the European coven and a famous fashion designer. Unfortunately not aging in over 30 years has become something of a problem, you can only use the 'great cosmetic surgeon' excuse for so long when you've dressed Marilyn Monroe. Jean Luc decides to host a fashion show in the small town of Schnitzelberg, Texas before going into hiding and re-emerging as his own son. Evil vampire Lui has only one thing on his mind, killing Jean-Luc and anyone else who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time!

Which brings us to the heroine, Heather, who I absolutely adored. She's a divorced mother of a 4 year old girl and a very refreshing curvaceous size 12 unlike the size 0 models she's surrounded by. Heather's independent, down-to-earth, creative and she says exactly what she thinks ...

“My point, exactly. Those poor women are so malnourished, they can’t think straight. Take my friend Sasha. Her idea of a three-course meal is a celery stick, a cherry tomato, and a laxative. She’s killing herself to fit into these clothes. Women like me can’t dress like that.”

 Heather's daughter Bethany is delightful and the gun-toting, tarot card reading housekeeper Fidelia is an absolute hoot. Add Jean-Luc's vampire security detail friends to the mix and this is an endearing cast of characters. Well, apart from 'baddie' Lui and Heather's obnoxious ex-husband who gets what he's due in a very creative way that's bound to ensure a giggle!

The romance in The Undead Next Door is really entertaining, Heather & Jean-Luc don't jump each other with the first smouldering glance but there is quite a bit of sexual tension, some steamy kissage, and lots of sweet romantic gestures. If you want steam without too much sizzle this is definitely one to try, I'll be hunting down more from Kerrelyn Sparks.

About the Author:
"Kerrelyn Sparks’ first paranormal romance, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire, zoomed out of the bat cave so fast it became Borders bestselling debut romance of 2005. Each book in the Love at Stake series has become a USAToday bestseller. When the fourth book, The Undead Next Door, landed on the New York Times bestseller list, even the Undead sat up and took notice, which made Kerrelyn a bit nervous. She lives in the Greater Houston area with her husband, children, and a house full of garlic. So far, there are no vampires in her family. Werewolves are another matter entirely." http://www.kerrelynsparks.com/
 
 

This month on The Eclectic Reader you could win Fire by Kristen Cashore OR Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick OR Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dark Hunter #4

Copyright: 2005

Pages: 416

Sherrilyn Kenyon has a wonderful ability to weave ancient history and mythology in a modern storyline and the story of Dark Hunter Talon of the Morrigantes and Sunshine, a quirky, absentminded artist is now a favourite. Talan is an ancient Celtic warrior, cursed by the God Camulus, his history is tragic, much like Julian's story in Fantasy Lover and Kyrian's story in Night Pleasures but it's the journey into Talon's past that captures your heart and has you yearning for a happy ending.

In Night Embrace the dark hunter family expands when Acheron calls in reinforcements to protect humans during Mardi Gras & we are also introduced to were-hunters. Of the new Dark Hunters, Zarek grabbed my attention; dark, conflicted, sarcastic & bitter, definitely want to know more about this bad boy. I loved seeing familiar characters in Night Embrace, Eros, Psyche, Artemis, squire Nick Gautier and of course the scrumptious Acheron, leader of the Dark Hunters. I kind of like the dark, twisted family reunion stuff and hope there's more in the next books! The interactions between the dark hunters was a highlight in this book, akin to OD'ing on testosterone, I loved it and I laughed ... A LOT!

"You know Talon, killing a soul sucking daemon without a good fight is like sex without foreplay.

A total waste of time and completely ... unsatisfying" And the interactions between Talon and Sunshine were many, varied, ('the backgammon table, the couch, the kitchen counter, the floor, the coffee table') & sizzling but I'll let Sunshine's conversation with Salena fill you in on that ...

"Tell me you're joking about this?"

"Nope, not a bit. I'm telling you Salena, forget the energizer bunny, this guy had it all."

... "it's so not like me but I couldn't help myself, it was just like that weird magnetic force that grabs me when I'm walking past the Frostbite Cafe and makes me swerve in to get a triple sccop of Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey."

That was her one major vice, Sunshine had never been able to pass up Chunky Monkey.

"The power of temptation was just too much Salena, I couldn't resist it. He was a Chunky Monkey container and all I could think was ... someone give me a spoon!"

This one was a winner for me, a lot of laughs, a tug at the heart strings, some steamy horizontal action, celtic mythology & just enough good vs evil, yep I'm hooked! Bring on bad boy Zarek's story in Dance With The Devil.

Visit Sherrilyn Kenyon's website for the reading order of the Dark Hunter series.

This month on The Eclectic Reader you could win Blood Promise by Richelle Mead OR Destined For An Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost OR The Other Tudors by Philippa Jones. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Dark Desire by Christine Feehan

Dark Series # 2 Copyright: 1999 Pages: 369 Genre: Paranormal Romance Dark Desire is book 2 in the Carpathian, Dark Series & this is Jacques and Shea's story. Jacques Dubrinsky was betrayed to a group of human vampire hunters by a vampire referred to as The Vulture. He has been cruelly tortured and buried in the Carpathian Mountains. After seven years of suffering, Jacques is teetering on the brink of insanity but he has formed a mind link with his lifemate Shea, a psychic human and surgeon in San Francisco. This book is very dark and emotionally intense, the torture descriptions are quite graphic and reminded me a lot of Kyrian's story in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Night Pleasures. But I admit to being a bit of a ghoul, I do like the whole 'tortured' hero theme but at the same time the 'sensitive' side of me finds it distressing (but not enough to stop reading lol.) So, gotta love it, another dominating but severely damaged Carpathian male and an equally engaging heroine. Shea is no weak, simpering female. She's strong, independent, a gifted surgeon and healer, and she's spent years researching the rare blood disorder she believes she suffers from. This leads to some fascinating reading about Shea's complicated past. Mikhail, Raven, and Gregori from Dark Prince, return in this book and are an integral part of the continuing Carpathian tale and the battle to save their race. My only complaint; the language does become a little repetitive but Carpathian males are extremely compelling so I'm looking forward to Dark Gold & Aidan's story.

Christine Feehan's website has an excellent Carpathian Guide section where you can get some cool info on the Carpathian Family Tree, and the Carpathian language & chants.

This month on The Eclectic Reader you could win Blood Promise by Richelle Mead OR Destined For An Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost OR The Other Tudors by Philippa Jones. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dark Hunter #3 Published: 2002 Pages: 336 "Just because you can doesn't mean you should." - Acheron Parthenopaeus She is Amanda Deveraux, a conservative accountant yearning for normality in a family of witches and psychics, with a twin sister who hunts vampires. Amanda finds herself the target of an attack meant for her twin, and wakes handcuffed to a sexy, blonde stranger. He is Kyrian of Thrace; a Dark-Hunter, an immortal warrior who traded his soul for vengeance upon his enemies. Kyrian spends his eternal days hunting vampires and daimons, his current target is the sinister & deadly daimon Desiderius. And this is their story ... Amanda - "Oh God, I just kissed a vampire!" Kyrian - "Oh Gods, I just kissed a human!" What I love most about these books is the weaving of Greek mythology into the story. Ok the sexcapades are great but I find the mythology completely captivating. The story of Kyrian's tortured past is heartwrenching, as was Julian of Macedon's story in Fantasy Lover. In Night Pleasures we get to re-visit Julian and Grace and their growing family, and Grace's best friend, Selena from book 1 is one of Amanda's sisters. I love tortured heroes, and Kyrian certainly fits the bill and while I didn't have the same emotional connection with Amanda (I found her a bit ditzy and annoying), the chemistry between the two is hot enough to melt an entire polar icecap . I also really liked Nick, Kyrian's squire & of course Acheron, the leader of the Dark-Hunters. The selfless sacrifices Acheron makes for the Dark Hunters has me intrigued and I'm dying to know more about his mysterious relationship with Artemis. Night Pleasures isn't quite up there with Fantasy Lover, the epilogue is terribly cheesy but Sherrilyn Kenyon certainly ramps up the danger elements in this book, and I'm very keen to get to Night Embrace; Talon's story. While this is listed as the 3rd book in the series, it's the 2nd full-length book (Dragonswan, book 2, is a novella of 86 pages which doesn't appear to have much, if any influence on the series). Sherrilyn Kenyon is an international phenomenon and one of the founding authors of the current paranormal craze. Writing as Kinley MacGregor and Sherrilyn Kenyon, if you'd like to read more about this wonderful author, visit her amazing website. I particularly enjoyed reading about how the Dark Hunter series came about. Sherrilyn was researching vampirism for an article, when "she realized that the oldest tales for it went back to ancient Greece. In that instant, she remembered that Apollo was the god of the sun and of plagues and that Artemis, his twin sister, was the goddess of the moon. The entire concept of Dark-Hunter was born and it would be forever tied to ancient Greece." See my review of book 1 - Fantasy Lover

Magic In The Wind by Christine Feehan

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Drake Sisters # 1
Copyright: 2003
Pages: 103

"Sarah's coming home." Ever since Damon Wilder sought refuge in Sea Haven, he's heard the same breathless rumor pass the lips of nearly every local in the sleepy coastal town. Even the wind seems to whisper her name - a reverie so powerfully suggestive that it carries the curious Damon to Sarah's clifftop home, and seeks to shelter him there. But Damon has not arrived alone. Two men have tracked him to Sea Haven, and into the shadows of Drake House, where Sarah hides her own secrets. And danger- as well as a desire more urgent than either has ever known- is just a whisper away... book cover

I must admit I had concerns that this little book, at only 103 pages would fail to deliver but Magic in the Wind packs a powerful punch! The story really does live up to its title, a magical tale, beautifully written. Suspense, romance and mysticism; what more could you want? Hmm ... more pages.

This is the story of Sarah, the eldest of the extraordinary Drake sisters. There are seven sisters in the Drake family, each gifted with magical powers; Sarah, Kate, Abigail, Libby, Hannah, Joley, and Elle. It is also a story of love and tolerance, not only between the sisters but also the quirky residents of Sea Haven. A wonderful combination, love and magic but the whole 'prophecy' had me hooked from the start.

Sarah is such a fascinating character as is her love interest, Damon Wilder, that they deserved their own, full sized novel. This one did leave me wanting more, but I still really enjoyed reading it and at least I have the rest of the series to look forward to -

The Twilight Before Christmas
Oceans of Fire
Dangerous Tides
Safe Harbor
Turbulent Sea
Hidden Currents (coming June 30, 2009)

Captivating & enchanting, I think I'm going to fall in love with this series.

Christine Feehan has ten sisters & three brothers and couldn't resist writing a book about the magic of sisters.

To learn more about this author and the Drake Sister series visit Christine Feehan's website

The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston

Published: 2007 Pages: 391 My Rating: 3.5 stars The Mane Event is a two-novella book, consisting of the linked stories Christmas Pride & Shaw's Tail. I had high expectations for this one after thoroughly enjoying Shelly Laurenston's Pack Challenge but unfortunately it fell a little short. A fun read, but disappointing in the lack of substance to go with the sizzle! In Christmas Pride we meet up with Desiree, 'Dez' MacDermot & Mace Llewellyn, childhood buddies whose lives diverged for twenty years. Mace, former Navy SEAL, & sexy specimen of lion shapeshifting perfection, is under pressure to resume responsibilities within his Pride. Dez is a 'kick ass' NY cop & when these two meet again during an investigation into the murder of one of Mace's pride members, the chemistry sizzles. The murder is a weak sub-plot; most of the action in the book is in the bedroom (or the shower, the stairs, the kitchen ... get the picture), with a brief but interesting 'Turf War' altercation between Lion, Wolf & Hyena species. In Shaw's Tail, we catch up again with Brendon Shaw, a lion shifter injured at the end of Christmas Pride. Ronnie Lee Read is a wolf from the Smith wolf pack, asked to care for Brendon during his 'fever' & recovery. It's a sexy, fun ride as we follow free-spirited Ronnie as she ditches her committment issues & wild lifestyle & moves from lust to LOVE with self professed King of the Jungle, Brendon. "Look at that. Your heart can stop in your chest but you keep on breathing." page 299 *Sigh* Admittedly all the action is once again of the horizontal variety (actually that may be a little bit of an understatement, I'm sure this couple tried horizontal, vertical & every which way in between.) We also take a hilarious look at all the irritating & fascinating facets of family. The scene where Brendon's brother, Mitch, puts Ronnie's wolf brothers to bed after an evening of moonshine, had me in stitches. Shaw's Tale outshone Christmas Pride in character development & smoothness of plot, & I really enjoyed Laurenston's take on pride and pack dynamics in the 2nd story; for me it was just a far more enjoyable story. There is plenty of Laurenston's trademark amusing banter, hilarity & comedic situations & at the risk of stating the obvious, plenty of sex in both novellas. Sex with sizzle & even though boy gets girl, if you're looking for a romantic love story this one probably isn't for you.

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dark Hunter #1
Published: 2002
Pages: 337
My Rating: 4.5 stars

"Blessed by Aphrodite's divine touch, he [Julian of Macedon] grew into such a man that no woman could deny him her body. For when it came to the Art of Love, he knew no equal - his stamina far beyond that of any mere mortal man. His desires hot and wild, he could never be tamed. "

Even a chocolate lover can have too much of a good thing. This was a highly sensual, sweet read, best taken in small tasty morsels, not devoured in one mouthful. Be warned, if gutsed you risk implosion!! Well now that I mention it, death by orgasm doesn't sound all that bad ;-)

In spite of earning status as Athena's greatest general, Julian has led a tragic life. Abandoned by his mother Aphrodite, & cursed by his half brother Priapus, Julian's essence is held captive in an ancient tome, cursed to spend all eternity pleasing women. When he is summoned by a woman chanting his name 3 times during a full moon he must spend the next month satisfying her every desire, only to disappear back into the book at the next full moon.

"Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn’t. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior’s day..." Julian of Macedon.

Grace Alexander is a tender-hearted sex therapist, mourning the deaths of her parents. When her best friend Serena decides Grace needs a little help in the romance department, Julian is summoned & actually appears, much to their amazement. To Julian's amazement, this is unlike any other summoning but you'll have to read this one yourself to find out why.

I totally adored the main characters, Grace & Julian & the secondary characters were not overlooked, Aphrodite, Eros, Priapus & Psyche were well developed & an intrical part of the story. The scenes involving Eros tickled my funny bone & any cheesy, kitsch moments managed to amuse rather than annoy. Tears welled as both Grace & Julian share the story of the loss of their loved ones, their unselfish love made my little heart do flip flops.

A breathtaking blend of romance & mythology, I was completely enthralled with my visit to the Ancient Greek Pantheon. All there is left to say is "Julian of Macedon, Julian of Macedon, Julian of Macedon."

Sherrilyn Kenyon is an international phenomenon and one of the founding authors of the current paranormal craze. Writing as Kinley MacGregor and Sherrilyn Kenyon, if you'd like to read more about this wonderful author, visit her amazing website.

Dark Prince by Christine Feehan

My Rating: 5 stars Dark Series #1 Copyright: 1999 Pages: 308 Call me old fashioned, call me a sucker, call me a soft touch, I just loved this paranormal love story and I fell in love (& lust) with the Carpathian males. Mikhail Dubrinsky, Prince of the Carpathians, impossibly arrogant but tempered with a vulnerability that had me emotionally invested in his story. Raven Whitney, human, gifted telepath and emotionally & physically depleted from tracking the twisted mental paths of serial killers. Raven has escaped to the Carpathian mountains to heal, unaware her life is about to change forever - she is Mikhail's lifemate, she just doesn't know it yet. Carpathians are an ancient race, gifted with immense strength, heightened senses, longevity, & they have the ability to shapeshift, control the minds of humans & command the earth & weather. They also use gifts from the earth to heal themselves. Whilst they need to feed on human blood for their strength and powers, a true Carpathian would never harm a human by doing so. Carpathian males must find their one true lifemate or darkness seeps into their soul, slowly consuming them. Without feminine light to offset their darkness, males eventually choose to meet the dawn or embrace the darkness & turn vampire. "We have to find our one mate, our other half, the light to our darkness. You are my light, Raven, my very life."

"I claim you as my life mate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give to you my protection, my allegiance, my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time. You are my life mate, bound to me for all eternity and always in my care."

Waiting for the next installment in the Dark Series to arrive is a bit like waiting for Santa as a child ~ I'm definitely looking forward to reading more about the Carpathian males, particularly Jacques & Gregori.

Forbidden Magic by Cheyenne McCray

My Rating: 2.5 stars Published: 2005 Pages: 440 The story begins with an interesting premise. Silver Ashcroft is a D’Anu Witch practising grey magic in the San Francisco coven, a coven sworn to use only white magic. When underworld demons Fomorii appear in the city, summoned by Darkwolf, leader of the Balorite warlock clan, an ancient battle of good vs evil ensues. The Formorii attack Silver's coven taking many of them prisoner & Silver does the forbidden, summoning help from the Tuatha D'Danann, Fae warriors from the Otherworld. Hawk, one such winged warrior answers her call & prepares to defend civilisation against this ancient evil. Sound good?? As I said the premise was interesting, even exciting but the train, after leaving the station at breakneck speed, promptly derailed! Poor writing, glaring inconsistencies & crudely rendered sex. I was so sure this author was going to be my next paranormal fave that I bought the first three in this "romance" series before reading the first book. Yeah I know, 'Big Mistake' and did I mention the romance classification, surely that must have been a mistake! This book should have had a 'seriously kinky sex' warning or at the very least an erotica classification, we are talking threesomes and foursomes. I could have dealt with the amount of sex (of which there was plenty) but crude euphemisms for genitalia - 'poking her channel' really did make me want to gag. I've read some very enjoyable erotic fiction but I draw the line at sex scenes that sound like they have been pulled off the pages of a bad porn magazine.

Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston

My Rating: 4.5 stars Published: 2006 Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance Pages: 213 Pack Challenge is a wicked, hilarious, sarcastic, raunchy romp of a read. It's the first book in a trilogy & the first Shelly Laurenston that I've read & believe me, I will definitely be reading more. Sara works at a chopper shop, chills with her outrageous & slightly psychotic pals Angie & Miki & is completely unaware of her unusual heritage. She is a slightly damaged, very aggressive, antagonistic girl who has no idea how attractive she is to just the right male. Zach is a hot shapeshifting wolf, soon to be Alpha of his pack, the pack that Sara's parents used to belong to. Zach arrives in Texas with his pack to protect Sara from the pride of shapeshifting mountain lions that killed her parents. The plot is simple but well drawn & effectively developed for such a short read. The pace is just right, the dialogue is wicked, especially between the three friends, sarcastic, humouress & bitchy & the banter between Sara & Zach also had me laughing out loud. At one point Zach informs Sara that "there's an array of shifters" so Sara enquires about bunny shifters. The conversation then goes like this Zach - "It is not possible!" Sara - "How do you know? Just because there's no proof to prove it, there's no proof to disprove it either." Zach - You're trying to make me crazy aren't you?" Sara - "Not at all. I'm just saying there could be bunny shifters." Zach - THERE ARE NO BUNNY SHIFTERS! Sara - "You're a bunny bigot" The sex is incredibly hot and steamy and the language while realistic for the characters, is rude & crude so delicate readers consider yourself warned. If you like this review vote for it on Goodreads

Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars Genre: Paranormal Romance Pages: 344 Read: January 2009 Visions of Heat, the 2nd book in the Psy-Changeling series is less intense than Slave to Sensation, like the contrast between a roller coaster ride and a spin on the ferris wheel. Faith Nightstar, an F-Psy is a powerful, carefully protected & constantly monitored foreseer. She has been isolated from the age of 3, predicting with such uncanny accuracy that her forecasts are worth millions. Jaguar changeling Vaughn D'Angelo is a sentinel in the DarkRiver leopard pack & offsider to pack Alpha Lucas Duncan. Vaughn is a solitary character and his animal is very close to the surface. When Faith starts having visions of darkness, blood and murder she seeks out Sascha, mate to Lucas and an E-Psy who defected from the PsyNet. Faith's relationship with Vaughn and her progress as she breaks conditioning is the main focus in this story, the attempt to identify the murderer is more of a background sub-plot. While Faith & Vaughn's coupling does sizzle, I was a little disappointed I didn't feel the same connection to these characters, I didn't become immersed in their story as I did with Lucas & Sascha. Sascha's quick bond with Lucas seemed far more plausible, being an E-Psy who dealt with hiding her emotions for a long time, where as Faith has been completely isolated for the majority of her life and manages to proceed from seizures to an intimate response at Vaughn's touch within days. I loved the introduction & descriptions of NetMind, the NetMind 'feels' giving a sense of hope to the Psy who have defected. Faith communicates with NetMind in images and I found this a beautiful concept, sunshine, bouquets of flowers, rain. I thoroughly enjoyed Singh's continued building of the Psy-Changeling world and the direction she is taking with the series. Obviously we are going to see some changes with the protocol 'Silence' & the corrupt Psy Council & PsyNet. Overall enjoyable but not as captivating as Slave to Sensation. If you like this review vote for it on Goodreads

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Psy-Changeling #1
Publication Date: 
Pages: 345
Book Source: Own purchase

Synopsis: Nalini Singh dives into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind-and none of the heart.

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabilitation" - the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was...

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion - and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities - or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation...

My Thoughts:

This book seriously blew me away - a paranormal suspense/romance with a kick-butt edge to it (and if you could possibly want more, a serial killer) - my recipe for a perfect book. 

Nalini Singh has come up with an innovative plot, creative & complex without being complicated. I loved getting to know the fascinating psy/changeling world. 

The Psy population have supposedly been conditioned to feel no emotion, through the use of a program called 'Silence', however this does not prove to be true for all Psy. With powers including telepathy, telekinesis & foresight the Psy consider themselves far superior to Changelings. 

The PsyNet is the network that connects all Psy, provides Psy feedback and ensures their survival. The changelings are both animal & human with traits of both and in 'Slave to Sensation' leopard packs & wolf packs are the predominant changelings. 

The characters are marvellously developed, Sascha Duncan is a powerful Psy cardinal and Lucas Hunter is panther Changeling, the Alpha of the DarkRiver leopard pack. The relationship between these two develops around the hunt for a serial killer; a Psy murderer who is slaying Changeling women. Sascha is drawn to the warmth & affection of the pack and truly believes that not only is she flawed but because she is 'feeling' her slide into insanity is escalating. 

The chemistry between Sascha and Lucas is sizzling and this reader certainly appreciated the HOT scenes and the HOT male characters. 

I want my very own panther with 'skin privileges' but I guess I'll just have to settle for reading the next in Nalini Singh's series 'Visions of Heat'