Romance review of Happily Ever After, Again by D.F. Jones

Title: Happily Ever After, Again
Author: D.F. Jones 
Source: Author Request
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Length: Novel
Rating: 4
Sexual rating: 2
Reviewed by Laurie 

Happily Ever After, Again is electrifying, heart-pounding romance suspense melding sensuality, danger, and intrigue in this fast-paced page-turner.

Who killed Bratten Drake?

Bratten’s murder leaves Lauren grief-stricken while questioning the motives of his partner, his assistant, and his best friend.

Against Ever-After protocol, Bratten’s ghost mysteriously appears to help Lauren solve the murder, but places her in danger.

Will Lauren live Happily Ever After, Again?

If you like mystery, paranormal and romance this book is for you.

As a mystery lover, I was totally surprised as I kept turning the pages to try to find out who done it.

Lauren and Alex's romance is very different, you see, Lauren just lost her husband in death and Alex was her husband’s best friend. These two quickly find romantic connections with each other as they are forced together to find out who killed Bratten’s. Oh, and Bratten also comes to help them, hint, the paranormal elements in the story. The romance between these two starts rather quickly, but I have to say it’s done tastefully considering the turn of events that happens rather fast. 

Inquisition by Jennifer Carole Lewis ~ Cover Reveal and Giveaway

Inquisition
Jennifer Carole Lewis
(The Lalassu, #3)
Publication date: March 8th 2017
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Police detective Joe Cabrera used to have a pretty good life. Promising career, plenty of flirtations, and he never once needed to question the nature of his reality. All of that changed when he discovered the truth of the lalassu. Suddenly, he fell deep into a rabbit hole of paranormal powers, shadowy conspiracies and millennia-old secrets. 

Now, his old no-nonsense approach to his job just doesn’t work any longer. If he wants to stop his old enemy, André Dalhard, from hurting anyone else, Joe will need to find a more flexible option. 

A master of disguise, Cali has assumed so many identities over the years that remembering who she was born to be is impossible. Abandoned on the streets as a child, she was rescued by André Dalhard. 

She’s served him loyally for many years, using her shape-shifting abilities to take on new personas in the blink of an eye, such as Boomerang, the master thief. To save Mr. Dalhard from prison, she becomes Colleen Avila, a meek and mild personal secretary. 

Joe initially planned to use Colleen as a confidential informant, but wasn’t prepared for the intensity of his feelings for her. When he meets the arrogant and brash Boomerang and the determined and fearless Cali, he finds himself torn between the three women. For Cali, she knows she must inevitably either break Joe’s heart or turn against the man who saved her from a life of uncertainty and poverty. 

As Joe and Cali work together, they discover an even greater threat to the lalassu, one that could send everyone tumbling down into a new rabbit hole. If their fears are realized, neither their friends nor their enemies will be able to escape.

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Previous books in the series:

Grab book 1 – Revelations – for only 99¢!

Author Bio:
Jennifer Carole Lewis is a full-time mom, a full-time administrator and a full-time writer, which means she is very much interested in speaking to anyone who comes up with any form of functional time-travel devices or practical cloning methods. Meanwhile, she spends her most of her time alternating between organizing and typing. 

She is a devoted comic book geek and Marvel movie enthusiast. She spends far too much of her precious free time watching TV, especially police procedural dramas. Her enthusiasm outstrips her talent in karaoke, cross-stitch and jigsaw puzzles. She is a voracious reader of a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction and always enjoys seeking out new suggestions. 

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Fearless by Rachel Van Dyken ~ Review

Title: Fearless (Ruin #2.5)

Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Length:100 pages
Publisher: Indie
Release Date: March 9, 2014
Source: Self-Purchased
Rating: 2
Heat Rating: 2
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

When I met Kiersten, time stood still. It was as if every cell in my body screamed HER. I couldn't look away, I couldn't walk away, I couldn't even move. My other half, my soul mate, was staring right at me. I had to have her. I had to make her mine. But I felt selfish doing that--knowing that I may not have endless amounts of time to give her...and even now that every things' over with and I've been given that time back.

Nothing is ever certain in this life.

Which is why I'm about to do something crazy, impulsive, daring.
After all, what type of person would I be if I didn't take my own advice?
I'm jumping off the cliff, I'm living fearlessly.

This is the continuation of Wes and Kiersten's story.

This one didn't cut it for me. There was just a bit too much that I couldn't quite believe or see these guys doing. Kiersten in particular just seemed quite out of character several times, and I just didn't like her as much.

Towards the end, the author starts to set up Lisa's story - which is fine - but I don't really like how she did it. I think it should have just been left to her own book so we can experience it all at once. This was a little novella that just didn't seem to fit very well.

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New Releases in Romance - Week of February 7, 2016

Paranormal

Contemporary

Suspense

New Adult

Romance and different romance sub-genres

Romance

A Romance story main focus is on the characters development of a love affair with each other during the book. The story can have a sub-plot that may not relate to the character love interest. The character must have a “happily ever after” at the ending. If your couple is not happily in love and together at the end of your book, it’s not romance. Romance offers a wide verity of sex heat levels.

Standalone Romance

Standalone romance are the exact same as above. These are novels or novellas that are not part of a series they can be read alone. These book tend to be harder to find because the majority of authors will write books as a series.

Series Romance

Serial romance is the exact same as the first paragraph. These are books in a series meaning the author will write several books with side characters that will eventually find their true love in their own book. These stories can carry cliffhangers with the side characters, never the main hero and heroine. You’ll find some kind of denominator that connects each book in a series be it a location, relationship, family or something that connects each book.  You can find serial romance in just about every sub-genre including erotic romance. Series romance can be novels or novellas.

Serialized Romance

Serialized Romance has the basic bones of a romance as the above section states.  You have the main focus of a romance development of the characters falling in love and a sub-plot line, but you won’t find a traditional “Happy Ever After” at the end. The love story and love affair will be continued through as many books as the author wants to write and they tend to be shorter novellas not your typical novels. The story may end with an optimistic ending or a cliffhanger. These types of books are for readers who would like a change from the traditional HEA.  The author can label them as Serialized Romance part 1, part 2, or part 3, etc.

Erotic Romance

Erotic Romance is the same as the first Romance section above including the “Happy Ever After” at the ending. The major difference here is the way the love affair is written. There might be more than one couple that is having a love affair, meaning a threesome or more. You’ll see more hard core language being use and more taboo sex like BDSM, M/F/M, F/F, M/F. Dark romance that contains rape and or abuse can also be included here is this section. 

Erotic romance is often times confused with the genre called erotica and it should not be because they are not the same.

Erotica

Erotica does not offer a development of a love affair relationship, nor does it offer “Happy Ever After’s.” These are stories of a character sexual journey. Romance meaning a love affair is not the focus in erotica stories. The basic definition is soft porn.

Paranormal Romance

Paranormal Romance often blends a mix of other sub-genres like mystery, or suspense etc. Their settings can take place in historical, modern, or futuristic times and in the city. Since Romance is the main genre, the stories must have a Happy Ever After ending and the main focus has to be on the romance building between the hero and heroine throughout the book, this focus has to stay above large storyline plots or large world building. The paranormal comes in with character and world building with a mix of either or vampires, shifter, witches, time travel, fay, gods and goddess, mermaids, ghost and the list can go on and on with the different paranormal creatures. 

More to come.... 

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.

Cover Reveal: An Arrangement of Love by Kenya Wright

An Arrangement of Love by Kenya Wright
(Chasing Love #1)
Publication date: February 1, 2014
Genres: Erotica, Romance
Designed by: Najla Qamber Designs

He kissed me.  And not just any kiss.  He kissed me like  he owned me, as if he bought me last night and my orgasm was the payment.  His tongue didn't explore my mouth instead it taunted me, gliding in and out between my lips in a rhythm that reminded me of hot sex.  He shifted his hand to the back of my head and trapped me to him.  My bag and its contents dropped to the flor...

What would you do for six figures?

Billionaire Chase Stone offers Jasmine a sixx-figure job that requires a full-time commitment in his office as well as his bed.  If only she knew that before she agreed, then life would've been easier.  It's not that he's unattractive.  Jasmine just didn't graduate from Harvard with honors so she could be some rich guy's over paid mistress.  What's even more repulsing is that he lives with three women and wants her to be the fourth.

Not going to happen!

But Chase won't give up, and Jasmine won't give in.  Someone's going to have to change because the more they meet, the more something thick, hot, and electric bridges between them, until neither can breather or think.

Goodreads

Author Bio:
Kenya Wright always knew she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sang the Michael Jackson thriller song in her bathroom mirror.  She has tried her hand at many things from enlisting in the Navy for six years as a Persian-Farsi linguist to being a nude model at an art university.

However writing has been the only constant love in her life.  Will she succeed?  Of course.

For she has been coined The Urban Fantasy Queen, the Super Iconic Writer of this Age, They Lyrical Genius of our Generation.  Granted, these are all terms coined by her, within the private walls of her bathroom as she still sings the Michael Jackson thriller song.

Kenya Wright currently resides in Miami with her three amazing, overactive children, a supportive, gorgeous husband, and three cool black cats that refuse to stop sleeping on Kenya's head at night.

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Review: Hell's Knights (The MC Sinners #1) By: Bella Jewel

Title: Hell's Knights (The MC Sinners #1) 
Author: Bella Jewel
Source: Purchased 
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Reviewer: Emi 

Sex. Who really knows sex? I mean, we've all had sex, great sex even but when you get down to the details, how many of us actually see sex for the raw, primal act that it is?

I thought I knew sex. I've had sex. Heck, I've felt lust. Once, I've even felt love. I thought I knew exactly what sex was. 

Until I met Cade.

He's the meaning of sex. 

He's a biker.

He's dangerous.

He's powerful.

He's dominant.

He wants me.

My world is about to change, for the better? I don't know. But here's my story, I hope you're ready for it because it's not the beautiful, heart wrenching story most people have to tell. It's passionate, forbidden, morally incorrect and downright, fucking beautiful.

Loved it!! I love foul mouth, dirty talking, bad a** characters!

Addison has had a rough life, I couldn't imagine how anyone could deal with that kind of pain. I hate to say but even though this is a work of fiction, we all know that crap like that happens everyday in real life. But she comes out of it, she survives but is now on the run, so she seeks help from the only other family she has, even though she hasn't seen him since she was four. When Addison goes to her father's MC for help, she meets Cade, and well who wouldn't be in lust at first sight, lol. But as things start look up for Addison, her past catches up with her and sh*t gets crazy from there. 

I loved it! I devoured it in a few hours, I literally had to force myself to put it down so my bladder wouldn't burst lol. If you love hot bikers, foul language, and crazy sex, then you will loooooooove Hell's Knights. 

I cannot wait to read about Spike!!

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Review: What the Heart Wants (Soulmate #1) by: Kelli McCracken

Title: What The Heart Wants (Soulmate #1)
Author: Kelli McCracken
Source: Review Request
Genre: Romance with Paranormal Influence 
Length: 294 pages
Reviewed by: Emi

Do dreams foretell the future? Are there soul connections that go deeper than love?

He can sense her emotions at any place and time. Their bond is powerful but a mystery. One thing he does know: She's plagued his dreams for months. Maybe even longer.

Being involved with a celebrity is the last things she imagined...or wanted. Can she forget the pain from the past? Can he let go of his fears?

Review: Caught Between by Alexis Noor

Title: Caught Between
Author: Alexis Noor
Source: review request
Genre: Romance
Lenght: 121 pages
Reviewed by: Emi

***A virgin torn between two worlds…and two very sexy men.***

Marya Helwe is twenty-one, but she's never had a boyfriend. She's never been past second base for that matter. Her over-protective Syrian parents have ensured she's stayed as sheltered as possible, despite the fact Marya is American born and raised. But Marya manages to convince her parents to let her go on an archeological dig in Jordan, and she's determined to make the most of her first taste of independence.Almost instantly, Marya finds herself drawn to two very different men: Ash, a wealthy and dashing Jordanian, is exactly the kind of guy Marya's parents would have hand-picked for her; and Luke, an American archaeologist with a "bad boy" streak and a mysterious link to the ongoing Arab Spring. Ash pursues her, while Luke tries to avoid her, and as Marya untangles her feelings about both men, as well as herself, she catches the fever for freedom.

Review Haute Persuit by Stephanie L Spann

Title: Haute Pursuit
Author: Stephanie L Spann
Source: Author request
Genre: Paranormal romance
Length: Novel
Reviewed by: Carin


There are a ton of upsides to living in San Francisco. Sparring with your friends, annoying your brat little sister, and hospitable weather, if you don't mind the fog.

There's only one DownSide.

All of the deranged, mutated freaks live there on the polar opposite side below the City. Not that Zev Ruzik, Chief of San Francisco's Paranormal Bureau, has ever been there. Twenty years ago, the portals had been welded shut and Zev became a poster boy for Division and Separation of Enhanced People. Today, he's the last male of his kind: heavy dose of werewolf blended with a breed best left unmentioned.

Lyra Methelle is the yin to his yang. Heavy on the 'other' stirred with a moderate helping of werewolf, also last of her kind. Perfect mate for Zev, or so an ancient religion says, but that excludes the fact that she's a DownSide Control agent who just broke a dozen laws to storm through a portal onto his side of the Golden Gate. Lyra is a Tracker with one goal: hunting down her arch nemesis before it locates its target.

Zev is ready to throw Lyra back through the portal, even though all intercity communications are nonfunctional, preventing transport. That is, until he discovers that Lyra's prey is searching for his little sister.

Now, all bets are off and Zev is forced into an uneasy partnership that has him striving to stay focused on their mission and to keep hot and heavy thoughts about Lyra's lush, diamond dipped curves out of mind.