Review: Breaking the Storm (Credence Curse #1) by Sedona Venez

Title: Breaking the Storm (Credence Curse #1)
Author: Sedona Venez
Source: Self-Purchased
Genre: Paranormal Romance, New Adult
Length: Novel
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 2
Sexual - 4

I wanted Knox. There was no need to deny that fact.


Knox was the type of guy you gravitated to, who stood out in the crowd. It wasn't just his classically good-looking features and perpetual five o’clock shadow. It was his raw energy that entranced me, that made me feel like a giggly, fumbling high school girl, happy to be in his presence.

Yes, there’s no denying it, front man Knox Gunner was a sexy badass.

It didn't matter that he initially thought I was some bored, rich girl trying to live out some wild fantasy of being with a starving musician. It was uncomplicated and that's what we both wanted. At least that's what I convinced myself. I wasn't ready to admit to myself that my feelings for Knox were getting dangerously deep—waiting to lay siege on my heart. I was falling for him… and this was dangerous. The rules were clear: falling in love would obligate me to expose what I truly was, setting in motion his slow march to death.

This book was just a little too harsh for my taste.  It started out very well, but that ended up being just one chapter to introduce us to the curse and an ancestor.  Both Knox and Storm refused to trust each other - and I never really understood the reasons why.  We get a glimpse of them near the end, but it wasn't soon enough.  It someone had just thought to open their mouth (preferable Knox) then things wouldn't have had a chance to turn into a story, but by starting things this way, it really tainted the story for me as well.

All the characters were a little too hard as well.  They weren't just tough and resilient, they were hard in a way that made it difficult to get to know them and to fall for them as the leading characters.  Even the side characters were overly tough - there wasn't any gentleness to balance it all out.

The concept behind the story and the history of the Credence family was well thought out and I enjoyed learning about it.  I have a copy of book two, so I'm hoping that I can enjoy the character more in the next one.

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Review: Witchlight (Magic Born #2) by Sonya Clark

Title: Witchlight (Magic Born #2)
Author: Sonya Clark
Source: Contest Win
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: June 30, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

In 2066, the Magic Born are segregated in urban reservations. The laws do not protect them, or their allies.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Marsden is a powerful player in New Corinth politics, but a closely guarded secret could destroy her life—she's a hidden Magic Born. Her family has gone to great lengths to erase all her magic-related records, until a trancehacking outlaw discovers the last remaining one…

Vadim Bazarov smuggles Magic Borns through the underground railroad and threatens to reveal Elizabeth's secret unless she helps him access blank ID cards. Elizabeth wants to hate him for having a stranglehold on her life, but can't help being attracted to someone so sure of who and what he is.

Vadim initially sees her as a political ice queen, but is intrigued by her suppressed magical abilities. He trains Elizabeth to use her magic, and before long finds himself falling for her. But their newfound love may be shortlived; an anti-magic ordinance forces one of them to make a choice that will change both their lives for good.

This was a great book two.  I got to see a lot of my favorite people from the first book, and the overall story arc really progressed in a great new way.  As the government begins to try and limit the rights of the Magic Born even further, Elizabeth Marsden does everything she can to stand up for them and prevent the change from happening.  But, her reasons aren't what everyone thinks they are.  As a Magic Born living as a Normal, her lifestyle is in constant jeopardy of being uprooted and seeing her sent to Freak Town.

Vadim is a big secondary character in book one, and I really liked a chance to get to know him better.  I just wish I had liked him a bit more.  He has a really good side to him, but we saw most of it in the first book, and in the second we see other sides, but I didn't always like where it went.  He's a bit of a tortured soul - and those are really hit and miss for me.  I did enjoy a glimpse of his trickster younger self when he magics the Christmas ornaments though.

Elizabeth seemed a bit like a sacrificial lamb at times.  She was an amazing character with some really fantastic motivation behind everything she does.  Watching her cope with her untrained magic was so sad, but it all made sense.  I really loved her, and I didn't quite see what she fell in love with in Vadim.  She is really the center of the story though, so I got to see a lot of her.  I can't wait to see what happens next in the world as the Magic Born become more restless and the Normals become more willing to forgive their past transgressions.  It looks to be very exciting.

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

More From Sonya Clark

Jasmyn's Review of Trancehack (Magic Born #1)

Best of 2013: Review of Soul Awakened (Key to the Cursed Book II) by Jean Murray

Title: Review of Soul Awakened (Key to the Cursed Book II)
Author: Jean Murray
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: January 15th 2013
Reviewed by: Ollie

Rating - 5
Sexual - 4

LOVE FOR BLOOD OR HONOR

Kendra, an Egyptologist and demi-god in waiting, is the key to unlocking Bakari, the Egyptian God of Death, from his cursed slumber. Desperate to free him, she inadvertently binds herself to the god with a spell that only death will undo. To save Bakari from himself, she may have to sacrifice her innocence, and possibly her soul, before he becomes his family’s worst enemy.

HAUNTED BY SINS OF THE PAST

Bakari awakens to a world at war and a beautiful woman who has tethered his soul to hers. In the wake of his self-destruction Kendra is his only hope of salvation, but another has vowed to keep Bakari from the one thing he craves most-- his Parvana. His butterfly.

I have to first start off by saying I have been waiting for this book for what seems like ages, every since I was left hanging at the end of book 1 wondering what was going to happen next based on the set up. I don't know where to begin to describe the absolutely marvelous job that the author does in not only creating a wonderful world with so much depth and detail, but a story line the has the mystery and intrigue that will keep you glued to the the pages. I can attest to that as this book had me up into the wee morning hours as I couldn't put it down. Thank goodness it was the holidays otherwise I would have been going into work very exhausted and bleary-eyed.

Book 2 continues on where it left off with Asar's son, Bakari, imprisoned in a sarcophagus for five years tricked by the evil goddess Kepi, tormented and tortured during those years in the dark both physically and mentally. Kendra, the youngest Carrigan sister, is driven to find way to break the spell that has kept him imprisoned and as a result ends up breaking more then the spell.

What happens next is a wonderful story not only dealing with lies, deceptions, and retribution, but also focuses on compassion, love, forgiveness and redemption. As Bakari deals with trying to regain control over himself and come to terms with his past, Kendra discovers that love can hit you like a bolt of lightening. Even though Kendra has been bonded to Bakari by the spell she feels that their link goes beyond the physical. As times passes and her sweet and gently way penetrates into Bakari's soul soon Kendra realizes that she wants more if only Bakari will let her in.

I have to say there were moments where it was an emotional rollercoaster ride for me as it pained me to see Bakari's suffering and his self-depreciating outlook and also seeing honorable Bomani's world turned upside down.

I highly recommend this book not only for the amazing storyline, but because of the depth that the author goes into developing the complicated characters and their relationships with each other. This book will have your heart aching for Bakari, Bomani and Kendra, wondering who is behind the betrayal and deception among the Gods and Goddesses, and loving the tender moments in the book.

Now I can't wait for book 3 to come out which should feature the last Carrigan sister, Kit and based on her no-nonsense attitude there should some very fun and teasing moments between her and her future beau.

Review: A Demon and Her Scot by Eve Langlais

Title: A Demon and Her Scot (Welcome to Hell, #3)
Author: Eve Langlais
Source: Author
Genre: Comedic, Paranormal Romance (vamp, demon)
Length: Short novel (150pgs)
Reviewer: CaroleDee

An unlikely duo, the golfing match from Hell, and a devil determined to win, even if he has to cheat. 

Lucifer’s up to his matchmaking mischief again in this fast-paced, humorous jaunt into the bowels of the pit. Think you can handle the heat? 

“Fetch me a Scot,” Lucifer commands. Sounds simple, except the skirt-wearing jerk won’t cooperate. But Aella isn’t one to give up. Willing or not, she delivers her target to the Lord of Sin. In retaliation, the much-too-sexy Scot has Aella assigned as his bodyguard for the golfing match from Hell.

One shot ruined Niall’s life. A second shot could help him regain it. Niall sold his soul once to win a lady’s heart only to end up betrayed. Does he dare take a risk and give love a second chance?

Another hit from Eve. I just can't get enough of her evilly delicious characters and the outrageous circumstances they find themselves in.

Aella is a gopher for Luicifer. He says jump, and she asks how high. She might sound like a pushover, but when the Lord of the underworld is your boss you might kiss a little butt too ;)
Don't get me wrong, they have a playful relationship, so she gets her digs in. When he asks her to go to the outer rings of hell (i.e the slums) to pick up a golf-pro-vamp to help him win a match with his big bro (God) she takes her ax and heads out to get another job done.

Niall swore off playing golf years ago. To him, one golf match was the catalyst to everything bad that happened to him. He's decided that spending eternity drinking his woes away and ignoring everything is the best way to deal. Which is exactly how Aella finds him. Drunk, in a run down bar, with centuries of neglect altering his appearance. (I'd love to know what a few centuries of beard growth would look like. lol) 

After a bit of a scrub, a hair cut, and a HUGE amount of sexual tension Aella finds herself attracted to the outrageous Scot. Niall feels the same way, but can a vamp living in the past have a future with a sexy independent demon?  OF COURSE! And the journey to get there is hilarious.

Stick this one at the top of your to-read pile, because no matter what mood you're in A Demon and Her Scot will fulfill your need ;)

18+ Excerpt after the jump:

Review: Memory of an Immortal Heart by Kita Bell

Title: Memory of an Immortal Heart
Author: Kita Bell
Source: Author Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: May 5, 2013
Reviewer: Jasmyn

One night, driving on an abandoned road in rural Vermont, Brand Kade's deepest instincts stir when he finds a beautiful silver-eyed female lying naked in the snow.

Like Brand, Eva is a Kaspian - an immortal shape-shifting blood tiger.  And like Brand, Eva is haunted by her past.  When it becomes apparent that the ruthless woman who kidnapper and tortured Eva wants her back, Brand knows he must protect her.

Eva may be immortal, but in her short life she's learned that forever doesn't last - especially when it comes to those she loves.  All Eva has left is her sister, who she must return to.  But for once, Eva hesitates: for she is not certain she can leave so easily.  Not when it is Brand she is leaving behind.

And Brand has a secret of his own he is keeping from Eva, a secret that draws on all his memories of the past: Eva is his amati.  Eva is Brand's "forever".

When their desire explodes, neither Brand nor Eva are prepared for passions that drive them beyond all the wildest expectations of the immortal heart.

Review: Phantom's Touch by Julie Leto

Title: Phantom's Touch
Author: Julie Leto
Source: Self Purchased
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date : December 11, 2011
Reviewer: Jasmyn

Two centuries ago, Aiden Forsyth stormed a gypsy camp to save his sister, only to fall victim to a powerful spell. But now, when modern-day actress Lauren Cole grasps the hilt of an antique sword, she is shocked to see the ancient warrior materialize before her. Not only has she released Aiden from the curse that bound him, but she has put herself in the path of an incredible danger.

In Phantom's Touch we get to meet the another Forsyth brother - once cursed inside an object, this time a magical sword, Aiden is released by Lauren Cole, an actress (quite a scandalous profession in Aiden's time).  Aiden is quite an entertaining character, and I dare say I may have liked the second book even more than the first.  Lauren Cole is another strong leading woman that isn't going to let some silly thing - oh say, like a man suddenly appearing out of thin air - slow her down.  She has goals and she will see them finished - mainly completing her last movie with her ex-husband as the producer.  Aiden's goals are far different.  Number one is to get out of the sword permanently, and then go find his family.

Once the K'vr get wind that a powerful magical artifact has turned up, they close in quickly and stop at nothing to get their hands on the sword.  Aiden and Lauren must put aside their own goals to save each other.