Rare Find by Dale Mayer ~ Review

Title: Rare Find (Psychic Visions #6)
Author: Dale Mayer
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Length: 292 pages
Publisher: Valley Publishing
Release Date: April 11, 2014
Source: Purchased
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

When people need help or are injured, they call out for their friends and family. When an animal needs help or is injured, it calls out for…anyone…that can help them… 

One person hears them… 

Tabitha is determined to bury her aching heart in the service of her animals at Exotic Landscape. Until she’s yanked out of her cozy retreat to help someone in need…and she gets more than she bargained for. 
Detective Ronin Chandler understands secrets. He’s got a few of his own. But when the woman he loves gets into trouble – the kind that stretches even his belief system – he struggles to understand…and to help…before he loses her. Maybe forever. 
As the danger escalates, Tabitha and Ronin need to find out who they can trust…and who they can’t…and who wants them dead…before it’s too late. 

**********

Psychic Visions is one of my favorite paranormal romance series. They are stand-alone enough that I can enjoy each one individually, but there's enough crossover that you get to know the world and how it works. The world isn't so different than ours, it just has a variety of psychic powers.

Rare Find went a little to far into the psychic abilities for my personal tastes though. We actually meet Tabitha in book 5. A lover of animals, she has a special connection. That special connection is her ability to feel what they are thinking and find out what they need and want to be happy and healthy. This I can believe. But the next step in her psychic development just was a little too much - just barely.

Detective Ronin is a great guy - even if he is afraid of cats - like panic attack afraid. But he's fiercely protective and crazy smart and it's just what Tabitha is going to need. Their romance is an odd one because Tabitha isn't actually  present in the real sense throughout part of the book. But this dangerous situation only cements Ronon's feelings for her and insticts to protect her at all costs.

Rare Find was one of the more exciting additions to the series - with a good dose of action compared to some of the others. It was a real page turner that was a good step along the path of the series. I think what really stood out to me in this one was a gathering of characters and ideas from past books that seem to be coming together into something really big coming up.

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Review: Ghostly Paws (Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery #1) by Leighann Dobbs

Title: Ghostly Paws (Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery #1)
Author: Leighann Dobbs
Source: Self-Purchased
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Length: Novel
Release Date: March 12, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 1

Middle age can be murder ...


At least that’s how it seems to former crime journalist, Wilhelmina Chance, whose near-fatal accident has given her a strange side effect ... she sees ghosts.

After a messy divorce sends her fleeing back to her hometown of Mystic Notch, nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Willa finds herself haunted by the tenacious ghost of the town librarian who insists Willa solve her murder.

Luckily, she has lots of help, including a quirky cast of small-town characters, the cat she’s inherited from her grandmother, and her best friend, Pepper, who claims her herbal teas can work magic.

But just when Willa thinks she’s discovered who the killer is, she finds out that things are not what they seem in Mystic Notch, and the case takes a strange turn that has Willa adding even some of her long-time friends to her suspect list.

Can Willa find the real killer in time to keep the magical balance in Mystic Notch on the side of good, or will evil prevail?

This was a really great cozy mystery.  The main character, Willa, is an ex-crime journalist that has returned home to run her grandmother's book store.  She has a hard time keeping her nose out of investigations and likes to know what's going on.  When she finds the local librarian dead - it doesn't look like an accident and the librarian's ghost confirms it.  Knowing the ghost won't give her any peace until the murderer is found, she dives right in.

Now Mystic Notch is a special place, with some very special people and animals.  The cats in particular are a special variety.  They help keep evil from taking over the town and were a really great addition to the story.  Pandora helps out whenever she can and I loved her personality.  The mystery seemed to be a simple one at first, especially with some inside information from the ghost.

The mystery takes some interesting turns though and Willa finds she may be the next target.  She needs to work with Officer Handsome and her sister, the Sheriff, to figure out what's going on.  I was surprised several times at the turn of events the story took - and that's always a great thing in a mystery.  The only downfall was right at the very beginning.  The writing style took me a bit to get used to - at times it seemed almost like the author was taking down to me.  Once I got used to it, it didn't bother me at all.  It was just not what I was expecting going right into it.

Other Reviews of Ghostly Paws:

Laurie's Review

Book Links:

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ARC Review When the Duke Was Wicked by Lorraine Heath

Title: When the Duke Was Wicked (Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, #1)
Author: Lorraine Heath
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: Novel
Reviewed by: CaroleDee

Rating- 4
Sexual- 3

They are England’s most eligible bachelors, with the most scandalous

reputations. But for the right woman, even an unrepentant rogue may mend his ways…

Lady Grace Mabry’s ample inheritance has made it impossible for her to tell whether a suitor is in love with her—or enamored of her riches. Who better to distinguish beau from blackguard than her notorious childhood friend, the Duke of Lovingdon?

With no interest in marriage, Lovingdon has long lived only for pleasure. He sees little harm in helping Grace find a proper match. After all, he’s familiar with all the ploys a scoundrel uses to gain a woman’s favor. He simply has to teach the lovely innocent how to distinguish honest emotions from false ones. How better than by demonstrating his wicked ways. But as lessons lead to torrid passion and Grace becomes ensnared in another man’s marriage plot, Lovingdon must wage a desperate gamble: Open his heart fully—or risk losing the woman he adores…

Review-

Lorraine Heath is one of my favorite Historical romance writers. She's a master at the 'scarred and tortured hero/heroine'  While I found When the Duke was Wicked to be fun, it wasn't an all time favorite. I felt like the friend that became the tutor, that became the lover story has been overly done. Although, Heath did throw in an interesting twist when it came to Grace's reasons for needing to find a man that would love her for her personality and not her money or body. And, boy, what a twist it was! (Yes, I cried)

Seeing the kiddos of the Scoundrels of St. James crew was fun. I look forward to reading more about them. Hopefully the next one in the series will be something a bit more fresh for me.

Review: Grace Felt the Heat by Kimberly Long

Title: Grace Felt the Heat (When Honey Got Married Novella)
Author: Kimberly Long
Source: Entangled - Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: February 7, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

A When Honey Got Married... Novella A wedding planner should never mix business and
pleasure, but Grace couldn’t resist breaking rule number one for a hot night with her high school crush!

I think sometimes books are just supposed to be fun.  This was one of those really fun reads.  Grace left town after High School vowing not to return - but of course something drags her back to confront all her teenage demons.  One of those is Beau - a crush that broke her heart.

With lots of apologies for silly mistakes and misunderstood words all around (not just from our two leads either), this was the perfect beginning to a wedding story, even if the characters aren't actually "in" the wedding.  And I can't help but love a man that cooks.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Mr Virile and the Girl Next Door by Gwen Hayes

Title: Mr. Virile and the Girl Next Door
Author: Gwen Hayes
Source: Entangled - Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: January 13, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

Online virile.com dating columnist Dane Martin has no plans to give up his reign as bachelor
extraordinaire. He has a reputation to uphold, especially with the upcoming release of his book Coming on Strong.

Holly Winters, everyone’s favorite girl next door, thanks to her blog of the same name, gives advice, but she doesn’t always take it. When she meets Dane Martin, every fiber of her being warns her to turn tail and run. Instead, she risks her future as an authority on relationships, jeopardizing her upcoming self-help book for women struggling to find commitment among the Virile sycophants.

Has the Girl Next Door tamed the most Virile man alive, or is she just another notch on the bedpost?

This book is probably one of the most clever I have read in awhile.  Both are characters are romance advice bloggers, but from different sides of the coin.  The snippets or their writing that were spread throughout the book were great.  They really gave some extra insight into the characters are where they were at in their lives.  A perfect example of opposites attract, Holly and Dane seem to be heading in two separate directions.  When an odd blind date goes a little wrong, they decide to milk the publicity for awhile.  But, or course, one thing leads to another and now they need to decide if they were right about each other all along, of if maybe they were wrong and were meant to be together.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: A Bandit's Betrayed Heart by Michelle McLean

Title: A Bandit's Betrayed Heart (Blood Blade Sisters #3)
Author: Michelle McLean
Source: Entangled - Scandalous
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: January 6, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

Not your typical Southern belle . . .
Lucy Richardson’s bandit sisters may have taught her to sling a gun and pick a stubborn lock, but nothing prepared her for the agony of her first heartbreak. Her sisters taught her to fight like hell for what she wants…and she wants Finn.

Not your proper Southern gentleman…
Finn Taggart is bad news. His dark and tortured past always catches up to him, and Lucy deserves better than to be tainted by his touch. He couldn’t have her years ago, and he can’t have her now, no matter how enticing she is. If only he can convince her of that before the danger that follows him brings them both down.

Not your classic love story…
Danger doesn’t exactly scare a girl like Lucy, and she knows how to use all kinds of weapons…including her feminine wiles. Finn doesn’t stand a chance. And if they need backup…the Blood Blade Sisters are never far away…

This is the third book in the series, and while it stands alone as a story, I did feel like a missed a lot.  It refers several times to incidents that I assume occured in previous books.  It didn't take away from the story, but it did leave me feeling like I missed out on something.

Lucy and her sisters are not your typical women of the time.  As ex-bandits, they have much more spunk and aren't afraid to say what they want and stand up for themselves.  Lucy shows this perfectly when she leaves town for the south to find the love of her life, Finn.  She hasn't seen him since before the Civil War, at least seven years has gone by.  Finn ran from Lucy not because he didn't love her, but because he didn't want her involved with the bad people he was associated with.

This is a book about fighting for who you love and what you want.  I loved Lucy - expecially when she had a shotgun in her hands.  She seemed fearless - but deep inside she knew that she really needed Finn to complete her.  But her push to bring Finn back in only drags her deeper into the realm he was trying to keep her from to begin with.  There were a few times I wasn't sure if Lucy would be about to get out of the trouble she found herself in.  This book wrapped quite an adventure into the romance and it meshed very well.

Review: Sweet Southern Betrayal by Robin Covington

Title: Sweet Southern Betrayal (The Boys Are Back in Town #3)

Author: Robin Covington
Source: Entangled - Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: January 13, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

Privileged and ambitious attorney Teague Elliott is on the fast-track to getting everything he
wants. All he has to do is stay on the straight and narrow and a high-profile political career is his for the taking. Until he wakes up naked with a Vegas showgirl...

Risa Clay has worked hard to put her showgirl past behind her and start fresh. But she owes ten grand to the wrong people, and to pay off her debt, she agrees to betray a stranger. . .but she ends up with a husband and guilty conscience.

Savvy and determined, she double-crosses the mob, goes on the run, and turns up on Teague’s doorstep armed with a dangerous secret, a marriage license, and the power to ruin his well-planed future. She thought using Teague again would be easy, but the passion that exploded between them in Vegas didn’t stay in Sin City and betrayal is the last thing on her mind.

Now Teague has to choose between the future he’s planned for all his life, or the one with Risa that he can’t turn away from.

 Sweet Southern Betrayal has just a bit of suspense mixed in - it's hard not to when you have a Vegas dancer making deals with a mobster who is trying to get some dirt on a DC lawyer - sounds a bit like something you'd see on a TV crime drama.  I'm glad that Robin Covington didn't overdo this aspect of the story, but just let it hang in the background and linger while Teague and Risa figure out thier life - together or not.  These two characters really shone through for me.  Risa was who she was and she didn't care if you approved or not.  Her small business venture led to quite a few humorous scenes as well, it's great when a book can make you grin or chuckle.

Having not read the previous books in the series I can say this does well as a stand alone, but it does make me want to go back and read the others to see what I may have missed.  The few side characters that really stood out were a bit stereotyped, but I think that helped make them who they were as well.  After all, how many ways are there to write about a creepy Vegas mob boss.  With a really sweet ending straight out of my one of my favorite classics, this one was really close to getting a fifth star.

Review: Reforming the Playboy by Inara Scott

Title: Reforming the Playboy (Passion Creek #1)

Author: Inara Scott
Source: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: January 13, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

Five years ago, she left without a word…

Internationally-renowned artist Max Estin is as well known for his million dollar commissions as he is his partying and clubbing. But Max is hiding a secret—for almost a year he’s been completely blocked. Unable to paint. And to unlock his art, and save his career, he’s going to need the one woman he never wanted to see again.

Now, he’s determined to make her pay…

Kira Estin never told Max exactly why she left, or what secrets forced her to return home to Passion Creek so abruptly. So when a chance reunion turns to seduction, Kira is more than a little suspicious. She knows better than to trust Max, but can’t fight the fire that he lights in her body—or her heart. But when everyone is hiding a secret, can even the hottest passion survive?

The characters in the novella really shined for me.  And not just the two leading roles - Inara Scott has created a town that is a family with even the clerks at the store coming alive with personality.   This created such a great atmosphere that it was hard not to absolutely love Max and Kira as much as everyone else did.  Max and Kira are both great artists in their own way - and both have the tortured soul and history to go along with it, but the good thing is that while that was part of them, it wasn't all of them.  They both had a depth that I love and I've found that Inara Scott is great at delivering.

While I'm normally not a huge fan of the "I love him/her, but I just can't be with them" storyline, this one really saved itself when they realized just how stupid they were being about it.  The story centered more on the two of them exploring their history and realizing just who they were and why they were so great together (with some really hot sex thrown in to keep it all super interesting).  This was a fantastic and emotional read with a good dose of humor to mix it up.

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Historical Romance Review: Twelve Days of Christmas Past

Title: Twelve Days of Christmas Past

Authors: Susanna Fraser, Rebecca Thomas, Emily Larkin
Source: Entangled - Flirt
Genre: Historical Romance, Anthology
Length: Novellas
Release Date: December 30, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

The Countess’s Groom by Emily Larkin
Rose, the Countess Malmstoke, is trapped in a marriage from hell. Escape seems impossible—until her horse groom Will Fenmore offers to help her find a way out.

Will has loved Rose since she was brought to Creed Hall as a new bride, but their relationship has only ever been that of mistress and servant. Born worlds apart, Will knows he could never be her husband, but maybe he can be her salvation.

As they plan her escape to the American colonies, Rose learns to trust Will with her life and her heart, but trusting him with her body is another matter. Can she conquer her fear of the marriage bed? Is the future she dreams of—being Will’s wife—possible?

The Blacksmith's Son by Rebecca Thomas
Captain Quentin Drake returns home after his Naval commission ends to find a young groom being beaten in the village stables. Weary from his travels, Quentin only wants a good night's sleep, but refuses to turn a blind eye to the lad's mistreatment. He intervenes, taking the lad to his room, only to discover a woman masquerading as a boy.After Ally Lockwood's family dies, she supports herself by assisting the local blacksmith with his horses. She's not allowed to do the work as a woman, so she dresses as a boy, but her ruse is up when, due to injury, she's disrobed by a handsome stranger. What starts as a shared supper, leads to so much more...

The Earl's Christmas Colt by Rebecca Thomas
Lady Arabella Sutton is stunned to learn her brother has betrothed her to a stranger. Although she is the first to admit no man would suit, since she a marriage of convenience, the last thing she wants is to become a brood mare to a stuffy old earl. In her anger, she rides into the countryside but her mare is injured, forcing her to seek shelter at a nearby coaching inn.

Oliver Westwyck, the Earl of Marsdale, canother better. But she claims noblemen are egotistical, conceited, and arrogant and he wonders how hely hope a colt as her Christmas gift willearn him her forgiveness.

Christmas Past by Susanna Fraser
Time-traveling PhD student Sydney Dahlquists first mission sounded simple enoughspend two weeks in December 1810 collecting blood samples from the sick and wounded of Wellingtons army, then go home to modern-day Seattle and Christmas with her family. But when her time machine breaks, stranding her in the past, she must decide whether to sacrifice herself to protect the timeline or to build a new lifeand embrace a new lovetwo centuries before her time.Rifle captain Miles Griffin has been fascinated by the tall, beautiful Mrs. Sydney from the day he met her caring for wounded soldiers. When he stumbles upon her time travel secret on Christmas Eve, he vows to do whatever it takes to seduce her into making her home in his presentby his side.

The Countess's Groom:
Rose and Will come from two different worlds.  Rose is a lady and Will is a lowly groom, but they unite in their love of animals and in their efforts to save Rose from her incredibly abusive husband.  Unfortunately, I didn't end up liking Rose as much as I should have.  She was overly formal, even after her and Will became close.  It had a very swet ending though.

The Blacksmith's Son:
This was a great one.  Ally has been hiding out as a boy in order to escape from the false accusations of theft from her former employer.  When Captain Quentin Drake finds out that she is actually a girl, he decides to find out why she is hiding.  Their dialog and interactions were great.  The only bad spot was a little of the beginning where things worked out a little too perfectly.

The Earl's Christmas Colt:
This was such a cute story.  I loved the emotion Rebecca Thomas was able to explore in such a small novella.  Lady Arabella isn't your typical noblewoman, she would rather be out riding her horse than try to find a husband.  It's a good thing that Oliver Westwyck, her betrothed, ends up being just as much a horse lover.  They meet for the first time and they don't know who the other is at first.  Arabella mistakes him for a horse breeder.

I'm not a big fan of intential mistaken identity storylines, but the way this one plays out is quite humorous.  It was a great Christmas story.

Christmas Past:
Christmas Past is a sweet time travel romance.  When Sydney finds herself stuck in 1810 after her time machine breaks, she must make a tough decision on what to do next.  Unfortunately (or maybe on the bright side) Miles has found her secret.  He takes her under his wing and talks her into waiting until after Christmas to make a final decision on her fate.

Of course the romance follows very quickly and it is a very sweet one.  A very feel good style of romance with one really good explosion (literally).  I also liked how the author handled the issues of multiple time lines and changing the future.  She had a lot figured out for such a short novella.

Review: Beg Me to Slay by Lisa Kessler

Title: Beg Me to Slay

Author: Lisa Kessler
Source: Entangled: Covet
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 30, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

He’ll slay her demons, but it may cost her heart…

Four years ago Tegan Ashton was attacked. Determined never to be a victim again, she devotes her life to martial arts and self-defense. When her assailant returns to finish what he started, only one person can help her.

Gabe is a private investigator by day and demon slayer by night. After losing loved ones, he vows to defend people from a threat they don’t realize exists.

The relationship is supposed to be strictly business, but fighting demons together stirs up emotions they never expected. Turns out demon slaying is a breeze compared to facing their scarred pasts and even worse - hearts.

Demons can be fun to read about - especially when they are unique.  Lisa Kessler has some very unique demons in her world (I really liked Lago) that the demon slayer, Gabe, has to deal with.  When the very cute Tegan shows up asking for his help, he knows that he won't be able to turn her down.  But when he starts to fall for her, he's afraid that history will repeat itself and she'll end up getting hurt because of him.  Tegan, on the other hand, is bound and determined to make the most of her life (finally) - and that includes killing the demon that attacked her and finding what might be between her and Gabe.

I loved the fact that they were both totally kick ass - but at the same time needed to have each other's back to defeat the demons.  The demons were varied in the attacks and vulnerabilities, and some were even informants for the good guys.  It was fantastic.  Kessler introduced a lot of Welsh lore and I would have liked to see a little more of the history than the little stippets we got.

Contemporary Romance Review: Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis

Title: Christmas in Lucky Harbor (Lucky Harbor #1 & #2)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Source: Review Request
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 2 Novels and 2 Short Stories
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating:  4 - Really liked it.  Don't pass it up.
Sexual: 3 - Flames. Sexy hot with details.

Love awaits you in Lucky Harbor . . .

Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor #1)
After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs...

The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor #2)
Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered, and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and decide what she really wants.

Kissing Santa Claus (Lucky Harbor #2.5)
NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another Christmas alone?

Under the Mistletoe (Lucky Harbor #6.5)
There's no place like home for the holidays. And the Lucky Harbor Bed & Breakfast is bursting with festive lights and good cheer. But for Mia, Christmas is turning out to be anything other than merry and bright. Her recent break-up with her boyfriend Nick has made her return bittersweet. But then a surprise arrives, when Nick follows her to town bearing gifts - and asking for forgiveness.

My Review:
I have always loved Jill Shalvis and jumped at the chance to start her Lucky Harbor series.  This is a great book to get started in it as well since it includes books 1, 2, and 2.5 - but the final short story (#6.5) jumped way out in the future a couple years and didn't quite fit with the flow of it all.

In book one, Simply Irresistible, we meet the three sisters that kick off the series, Maddie, Chloe, and Tara.  While they may all share the same mother, they grew up very different lives and haven't really connected with each other in a very long time.  When they show up at the inn that has been left to them after their mother's death, they all have different ideas on what to do with it.  Maddie alone wants to keep it and make a new life - create a new family with her sisters.  But she will have an uphill battle in this one - as Tara and Chloe both want to sell, but they do agree to a trial run.  Enter Jax, the sure hot contractor/bartender/jack of all trades.  When the sparks fly between him and Maddie they will both need to overcome some heavy personal obstacles to make things work.  This was a wonderful introduction to Lucky Harbor, the sisters, and the many unique characters that live along side them.

In book two, The Sweetest Thing, Tara gets her spotlight with an old flame.  Tara is my favorite sister so far.  Known as the "Steel Magnolia" she prides herself in keeping her control no matter what, but when she's around Ford things never seem to stay calm at all.  Their attraction is impossible for her to resist to matter how hard she tries.  But in this case, they have a history together along with lots of baggage they've built up since the last time they saw each other.  This was a very heart-felt story and my favorite in the bundle.

The short story, Kissing Santa Claus, wraps up a few loose ends from book two, and we get to see the man not chosen find his love.  It was a cute wrap up with a very nice Christmas theme - just perfect for this time of year.  The second short story is the only one that didn't really fit for me.  It was also a Christmas story, but it happens several years in the future.  It references things that I didn't know had happened yet in between books 2 and 6.  It was cute, but hard to follow sometimes.

Review: C791 by Eve Langlais

Title: C791 (Cyborgs: More Than Machines #1)
Author: Eve Langais
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Length: Novella
Reviewed by: Jasmyn
Rating: 4 - Really liked it. Don't pass it up.
Sexual: 3 - Sexy hot with details

Machines aren't supposed to feel, but this cyborg can't help falling in love.Assigned as a
specimen collector for a captured cyborg, Chloe is intrigued by the machine disguised as a man. Kidnapped during his daring escape, he shows her that despite the chip in his brain, his humanity is not completely lost.Formerly known as unit X109GI, Joe is on a quest to discover his origin. While he doesn't find the answers he's looking for, he does discover that affection and lust aren't just for humans. But when it comes to a battle between logic and love, which side will the cybernetic organism-once a man-choose?Evaluating his feelings will have to wait though because the military isn't done with Joe. But their threats against him pale in comparison before the shocking discovery of project C791, the revelation of which stuns the rebel cyborgs-and ignites a fury for vengeance..

My review:

I was one of those nerds that always thought Data from Star Trek was cute - I loved his struggle with emotions vs. logic, and Eve Langlais's cyborg series seems to hit that science fiction bug inside me just right.  That, combined with her snarky humor and amazing characters made this one close to a home run.  X109GI, Joe (hahaha...I just got that), is one of the first cyborgs to break free of his programming and rebel against the humans that controlled him.  He and his brothers are on a mission to find out more about how they are created and if they can create more like them.  Joe's struggle with the emotions and thoughts that he encounters along this journey are great.  His internal debates about what is logical and what isn't were well thought out.

On the other hand, I wish I could have seen more about Chloe earlier on.  I can't say too much about her here because there's a really big secret involving her.  Where Joe was very dynamic - especially considering he's part machine - Chloe didn't strike me as a very great character until almost the very end.  Other than being cute, I didn't quite see what Joe saw in her at first.

C791 was an amazing start to the series, and laid the groundwork for a lot more action and sexiness to come.  The world is very well written - especially for a novella where there isn't always a lot of time to develop the surroundings.  My inner sci-fi geek is feeling quite well treated after this one.

Review: Shadow of an Immortal Heart by Kita Bell

Title: Shadow of an Immortal Heart (Immortal Heart Series #2)
Author: Kita Bell
Source: Author Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance (Shifter)
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Reviewer: Jasmyn

Joshua Elisaie’s life spins on a crash course when he saves a sassy whiskey-eyed waitress from a drive-by shooting. Turns out, Kenzie Baines is more than his good deed for the night – she is Joshua’s amati. Which, in Kaspian terms, means that Kenzie is Joshua’s immortal mate.

Not that it will be smooth sailing for the two shapechanging blood tigers. Joshua’s past is cloaked in shadows, and Kenzie has already learned just how unreliable an immortal’s promises of “forever” can be. She is determined not to fall for those promises again, not even when it is the handsome Joshua Elisaie making them to her.

But more is afoot in Boston than a stubborn romance: the local Gens has vanished, and it is Joshua’s job to find them. Which means that Joshua will be digging through Kenzie’s past. As Kenzie reluctantly helps, she begins to realize that there just might be more to Joshua’s promises of “forever” than the desire for a one-night stand. And Joshua comes to realize that Kenzie isn’t just his long-awaited amati. 

No, Kenzie just might be the light of his far-too-lonely life.

Review: Diana by the Moon by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Title: Diana by the Moon
Author: Tracey Cooper-Posey
Source: Author Request
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: November 12, 2013
Reviewer: Jasmyn

He is Arthur’s man. His duty is his life. She fears and mistrusts him. The only way they will survive is to work together.

Britain, 469 A.D.:  Shortly after the Roman legions returned to Rome, leaving Britain open to Saxon attacks, Diana's abusive parents die during a Saxon raid on their villa farm, the same day her brother takes most of the male slaves and servants to join the rebel Celt, Arthur.

Diana, who no longer trusts anyone, must find a way for the women in her household to survive after the enemy has stolen everything. They struggle to eke out a living from the meager provisions remaining.

Alaric, proud Celtic warrior and trusted lieutenant to the upstart British leader, Arthur, has been sent by him to establish and maintain a line of signal beacons — one of which must be built on a strategic hill on Diana's property.

His mission is critical to the security of Britain.  Alaric must overcome his hatred of Romans if he is to fulfill Arthur’s ambitions in the north.  He forces Diana to agree in return for the protection of Alaric and his men.  Diana is pulled into a deadly political net, when Roman British enemies, including the Bishop of Eboracum, take exception to her new Celtic allies.

A haunting tale of two lives touched by the coming of King Arthur, and two hearts and souls struggling to come together against odds as great as those against Britain itself. Only together will they survive, or else be sundered…forever.

Diana by the Moon is part of the Jewels of Tomorrow series.

Review: Wildfire by Mina Khan

Title: Wildfire
Author: Mina Khan
Source: Author Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Reviewer: Jasmyn

Lynn Hana Alexander is a 25-year-old Japanese American shape-shifter haunted by guilt. She’s been questioning herself and her dragon abilities ever since she failed to save her grandmother. 

When her best friend is threatened by mysterious fires burning up acres of West Texas, Lynn rushes to the rescue determined not to fail again. However, with a tempting firefighter, a flirty city developer and dragon pheromones distracting her, how is she going to find the arsonist?

And worse: is her primary suspect a malicious rogue dragon or the love of her life?

*** Author's Note: Wildfire is a paranormal mystery with romantic elements. It is not a traditional romance. I hope y'all enjoy the read!***

As a bit time lover of old school fantasy stories, I always love when I see dragons and magic brought into more contemporary story lines.  Mina Khan does the wonderfully with her dragon-shifter, Lynn Alexander.  She's not some little petite dragon - she's the real deal and could probably eat you whole if she got angry enough.  After experience a series of somewhat prophetic dreams she flies off to check on her friend Jen and finds her house about to go up in flames.  When she senses the presence of a powerful male dragon in the area she wonders if he might be the cause of the blaze, which is just one in a string of what looks like arson.

I loved Lynn.  She was just the right mixture of tough and timid, confidant and unsure, all at the same time.  Just when she thinks she has everything finally figured out, a series of events changes everything putting her friends, both new and old, in great danger.  She will need to learn to trust and balance the dragon in her in order to save everyone.

Through all this mystery and detective work, she meets a few eligible bachelors - all of which could be the bad guy.  When her heart settles on the one that looks the most guilty, she resolves herself to finding proof and living with her broken heart.  I think the only small part I didn't like about this was at times her best friend, Jen, got a little on my nerves.  This is a great story for lovers of crime drama, romance, or fantasy.

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Review: The Wicked Wallflower by Maya Rodale

Title: The Wicked Wallflower (Wicked Wallflowers, #1)
Author: Maya Rodale
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: Novel (384pgs)
Reviewer: CaroleDee

Maya Rodale’s captivating new series introduces London’s Least Likely—three wallflowers who are about to become the toast of the ton…

Lady Emma Avery has accidentally announced her engagement—to the most eligible man in England. As soon as it’s discovered that Emma has never actually met the infamously attractive Duke of Ashbrooke, she’ll no longer be a wallflower; she’ll be a laughingstock. And then Ashbrooke does something Emma never expected. He plays along with her charade.

A temporary betrothal to the irreproachable Lady Avery could be just the thing to repair Ashbrooke’s tattered reputation. Seducing her is simply a bonus. And then Emma does what he never expected: she refuses his advances. It’s unprecedented. Inconceivable. Quite damnably alluring.

London’s Least Likely to Misbehave has aroused the curiosity—among other things—of London’s most notorious rogue. Now nothing will suffice but to uncover Emma’s wanton side and prove there’s nothing so satisfying as two perfect strangers…being perfectly scandalous together.

The Wicked Wallflower was a light hearted and humorous read. Perhaps not the most historically accurate, but lovers of comedic chic-lit will be happy with Emma's quick wit and Blake's transformation from rogue to hero.

With a bevy of hilarious situations and over the top characters anyone that likes laughing their butt of while getting a *sigh* worthy happily ever will enjoy this one. I look forward to seeing how the rest of Emma's wallflower friends fare in future installments.

Review: Moonlight by Victoria Danann

Title: Moonlight (Order of the Black Swan #4)
Author: Victoria Danann
Source: Author Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: May 22, 2013
Reviewer: Jasmyn

WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR LOVE?

The story continues to touch on the live of former B Team members and their families while new characters and situations are introduced.

THE NEWSLETTER: Ram and Elora move into temporary quarters at Jefferson Unit to protect mother and baby.  Storm gives a surprising answer when he's tapped by Sol to replace him as Jefferson Unit Sovereign.  Litha solicits her father to help Black Swan.

THE SURPRISE: B Team learns the shocking truth about the origin of the vampire virus.  Monq races to develop a defense system to repel invasion by Stasnare terrorists and assassins.

THE ADVENTURE: Desperation drives Stalkson Grey to embark on an adventure beyond his wildest dreams in a bid to save the Elk Mountain werewolves from extinction.

THE ROMANCE: In the process of migrating the Elk Mountain werewolves to a new home, Grey learns that true love can find you in the strangest places, even when you're far, far from home.

Stalkson Grey was on of my favorite side characters - briefly mentioned in a previous book.  His verbal sparring with Elora is classic and had me chuckling every time.  It was great to see a book with a large portion of the story dedicated to him and his werewolf tribe.  His dying tribe - dying because there are not enough females for the young males to mate with and reproduce to keep a healthy population - are desperate to try anything that may save them and help them all find their true mate.  The plan to save them comes from the strangest of places - but it's a good one.  Stalkson is shocked when along the way he finds a mate of his very own - but he's not sure if he will every be able to have her.  It was so sweet watching the hard ass werewolf fall for someone and get all emotional.

The rest of the story keeps us up to date with the B Team members I love to hear about and the search for a way to prevent trans-dimensional invasions.  We get to see a lot more of Glen, who is also becoming a favorite of mine.  (Is it possible for every character to be my favorite?)  With big changes coming up for Jefferson Unit, there's lots to look forward to in the next book.

One Lucky Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Title: One Lucky Vampire (Argeneu, #19)
Author: Lynsay Sands
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel (386pgs)
Reviewer: CaroleDee

Luck be a vampire tonight . . .

When Nicole Phillips agreed to hire a housekeeper, she pictured someone a little frumpy and almost certainly female. Instead, she gets gorgeous, unmistakably male Jake Colson. The man is proving indispensable in the kitchen—and everywhere else. Except Jake might not be a mortal man at all.

. . . and every night

Who wouldn't want to be a tall, dark, powerful vampire? Jake, for one. He's barely had time to adjust to his new state before he's roped into a family favor. Still, secretly playing bodyguard to sweet, sexy Nicole is turning out to be the wildest ride of his life. First he'll put a stop to whoever's targeting her. Then he'll prove that this kind of love, and luck, happens only once in an eternity.

Pure unadulterated romance where one of the characters just happens to be a vampire.

It seems like it's becoming harder and harder to find PNR that revolve around the hero/heroine's relationship building and ultimate HEA rather than 'taking out a faction of evil'. One Lucky Vampire kept things clean and easy in the sense that the majority of the book is about Nicole and Jake and the crazy thing that is falling in love. Yes there is a foe trying to cause Nicole harm, but it's used as a plot device to strengthen the h and H's relationship rather than dragging them into impossible situations with a lot of over the top drama.

Sometimes I want outrageous situations and sometimes I want sweet romance. This entry into the Argenau series definitley falls into the latter category. If you're looking for a sweet romance, with typically hot Lynsay Sands sex scenes then you're going to be happy with this one. I'm taking off one point solely because of the few ridiculous chapters when Jake/Stephano's HUGE family comes to help out with a situation. True to other Argeneau titles there were just too many family members barging into a situation where only one or two people would have been helpful. All those characters just seem to jumble the story. 
Don't let that keep you away, though, it's still good fun ;) 

Review: Once Upon A Wallflower by Wendy Lyn Watson

Title: Once Upon A Wallflower
Author: Wendy Lyn Watson
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Mystery/Historical Romance
Length: Novel (250 pgs)
Reviewer: CaroleDee

A Perennial Wallflower…

When Mira Fitzhenry’s guardian arranges her engagement to one of the most scandalous, yet devastatingly handsome lords to ever grace the peerage, all of society is abuzz. After all, the man has left a trio of dead young women in his wake, including his first fiancée.

A Gothic Villain…

Expecting to scare the chit away within five minutes of meeting him, scarred and brooding Nicholas, the Viscount Ashfield, is intrigued by the unfashionably lovely Mira, but his family’s dark secret means he must fight his attractions. No matter what his heart wants.

As the wedding approaches, Nicholas and Mira grow ever closer, yet so does the very real danger. Will the truth bring Nicholas and Mira together or tear their love apart?

I just love the downtrodden heroine that finds love, acceptance of herself, and becomes successful!
I got all that and more from Once Upon A Wallflower

Nicholas was a great hero. He's just the right mix of dangerous, dashing, and lovable.
Mira throws caution to the wind a couple of times too many and displays some definite TSTL moments, but I think her overall personality made up for any DUH moments.

The mystery was a little predictable, but that was fine with me, because I usually can't stand a mystery that goes on until the last page of a book.

I recommend this one for lovers of the scarred hero and rags to riches troupe. (two of my favorites!)

Review: How to Lose a Bride in One NIght by Sophie Jordan

Title: How to Lose a Bride in One Night (Forgotten Princesses #3)
Author: Sophie Jordan
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: Novel (370pgs)
Reviewer: CaroleDee

He saved her life...

When Annalise Hadley is tossed over the side of her honeymoon barge, the newly-minted duchess knows she's been left for dead -- for her husband's only interest is in her vast dowry, not her muddied lineage. However, she didn't count on a savior. Especially not an honorable, sinfully intriguing earl who will tempt her to risk everything—again.

Now he will seduce her heart and soul

A man with his own demons, Owen Crawford, the reclusive Earl of McDowell, is enchanted by the mysterious, courageous woman he rescued. He will help her heal, teach her to protect herself, and then send her away—so that she’ll never see he’s far from the hero she believes him to be.

But days and nights alone prove that some secrets are meant to be discovered...some desires are too powerful to resist…and some wounds can only be healed by love.

 "That was all she ever wanted.  Acceptance. Belonging. Love."

That quote just about sums up the emotional punch of How to Lose a Bride in One Night.

Two emotionally traumatized people coming together to create a happy future is one of my favorite story lines and Sophie Jordan does it well in this one.

What Annalise goes through is terrible. She thought she was finally getting the chance at the fairy tale life she could only previously dream about; Only to have it ripped away in an act of pure malice. My heart broke for the poor girl :(

Thankfully Owen Crawford is there to help pick up the pieces. He's your typically brooding, war hero.

The overall story was one that I enjoyed. Annalise and Owen helped each other grow and reconcile with their pasts. The one fault I found were Annalise's lies. I'm not a big fan of lying heroes or heroines and she really took the cake in this one. For the majority of the book she cries 'amnesia' to Owen about how she came to be injured and washed ashore. At first it worked. Of course she doesn't know the man, so I can understand her hesitancy to admit her past and what happened to her. But as their relationship grew I couldn't understand why she kept up the lies. It drove me a little crazy.
Don't get me wrong, it's still a wonderfully heartfelt book, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if she had just spit out the truth sooner.