Review: The Gravedigger's Brawl by Abigail Roux

Title: The Gravedigger's Brawl
Author: Abigail Roux
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Paranormal M/M Romance
Length: Novel (250 pgs) 
Release Date: October 15, 2012
Reviwed by: Kris

Dr. Wyatt Case is never happier than when he's walking the halls of his history museum. But Wyatt needs to draw a younger crowd, and he needs a big idea to do it. When his best friend, Noah, drags him out to play wingman at Gravedigger's Tavern, Wyatt is thrown even further out of his comfort zone by the eccentric bartender.

Ash Lucroix is everything Wyatt doesn't understand: Exuberant, quirky, and elbow deep in a Gaslight lifestyle that weaves history into everyday life. He coordinates his suspenders with his tongue rings. Within hours of meeting, Wyatt and Ash realize that attraction needs no explanation. But their meeting sparks a series of events that has everyone at Gravedigger's wondering if they're seeing ghosts, or just going crazy. The answer to that question could end more than just Wyatt and Ash’s fragile relationship—it might also end their lives.

Cover Reveal - Gabrielle's Cauldron by Ann Gimpel

Cover & Excerpt Reveal

Gabrielle's Cauldron
By Ann Gimpel

Gabrielle McCallaghan just lost her job. Seeing the writing on the wall, she quit to spare her uncle the embarrassment of having to fire her. With her bond fairy on her shoulder, she strides through a crowded neighborhood contemplating her options.

Out of nowhere, a gorgeous, full blood magic wielder appears and makes a beeline right for her. Gabby knows her hybrid witch magic is no match for his, so she tries to evade him. The fairy does her best to help, but the contest is laughable. Even in his human form, the wolf-man is still stronger than she ever dreamed of being.

It doesn’t take long before Gabby is drawn into a deadly game of intrigue that started over a thousand years before. The stakes are high and the timing abysmal, but she finds herself falling in love in spite of herself. Can she and her full blood lover make a life for themselves? Or will the long-running battle between full bloods and hybrids pound the fragile bond between them to dust?

Release Date: 12/31/2012
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Review: Dark Embrace by Brenda Joyce

Title: Dark Embrace
Author: Brenda Joyce
Source: Self Purchased
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: September 17, 2012
Reviewer: Jasmyn

Aidan, the Wolf of Awe, has abandoned the Brotherhood and forsaken his vows.  Feared by all and trusted by none, he hunts alone, seeking vengeance against the evil that destroyed his son.  He has not saved an Innocent in sixty-six years - until he hears Brianna Rose's scream of terror across centuries, and leaps to modern-day Manhattan to rescue her...

Brie is a gifted empath who spends her time fighting evil from the safety of her laptop - and fantasizing about the medieval Highlander she met just once.  Still, her life is pretty ordinary - until she awakens one night consumed with Aidan's pain and rage.  When Aidan suddenly  appears and takes her hostage, Brie cannot believe how dark and dangerous he has become.  She knows she should be afraid, but instead, she will fight across time for his redemption...and his love.

We need your votes!

Critters Writers Workshop has their voting polls up again.  Our site was nominated last year but I'm didn't ask anyone except for my reviewers to vote. I'm one that always thought it was tacky to ask for things like this. Yeah, I know I am nuts LOL. I notice other site ask their followers, so I'm coming out of my comfort zone and ask for help voting this year.  

I appreciate your support and I'm honored for any vote that gets us to that number one spot.

 How to vote? All you have to do is click on the site below. Make sure you add your email and validate code before you submit your vote. 


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Let's Celebrate with a/Giveaway!

A winner has been chosen:  bn100.  An email has been sent.

Thank you everyone for stopping by.  Look for more giveaways soon.  Just because I like to share my love of reading!

                                             --------------------------------------------


Just because Christmas Day has passed doesn't mean there aren't reasons to celebrate.  Look at a few of the holidays listed for today that gives us reason to

P-A-R-T-E-E-E-Y!

• The first day of Junkanoo street parade (the Bahamas)
• The second day of Christmas
• St. Stephen's Day 
• The first day of Kwanzaa (United States)
• Boxing Day
• Wren Day (Ireland and the Isle of Man)

Were you naughty or nice this past year?  What did Santa Baby leave in your stocking?  Were the Christmas festivities fantabulous or are you happy that they are behind you?  Come on spill. 

Did you get the newest video game you were dreaming of?  What about the latest electronic gadget?  A new flogger to add to your collection of toys?  Or the coveted gift card to add more delicious reading material to add to your TBR? 

The giveaway starts December 26, 2012, and ends at midnight December 30, 2012.  One lucky commenter will win print copies (gently used, like new) of the following books:  HOLIDAYS ARE HELL, A SEDUCTION AT CHRISTMAS, and WICKED WONDERLAND.  Please be sure to leave your email address in the comments.  The giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada.

And since I'm writing this before Jolly Ole' St. Nick visits, I may have to share what the fat elf did or didn't bring this year!

Cheers,
Artemis

Review: Tempted by the Pack by Anne Marsh (Blue Moon Brides)

Title: Tempted by the Pack
Author: Anne Marsh
Source: Author Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: October 26, 2012
Reviewer: Jasmyn

Once in a blue moon...
For Rafer Breaux, life in the Louisiana Bayou is harsh, violent - and deeply sensual.  The Cajun werewolf lives for his Pack and he'll do whatever it takes to keep his brothers safe.  The longer a wolf lives without a mate, the harder it becomes for that wolf to shift back.  The remember that he is a man - and not a monster.  And those mates can only be found during a blue moon.  When a blue moon finally rises, Rafer will need every weapon in his sensual arsenal to tempt one special woman into his arms and the heart of the Pack.

The pack hunts for mates
Fighting to keep her family farm, Lark Andrews isn't looking for love.  Even if the very sexy Breaux brothers make her dream of hot bayou nights spent in their arms.  When the blue moon leads Rafer to her door, however, Rafer has her rethinging her position on all work and no play.  Now, the bayou nights are heating up as Rafer fights to convince her, one sensual touch at a time,, to give love and passion a chance.  But Rafer isn't a one wolf deal.  Is there room in Lark's heart - and bed - for Rafer and his Pack?

Adult-Style Night Before Christmas

ADULT-STYLE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS


'Twas the night before Christmas, and God it was neat
The kids were both gone, and my wife was in heat
The doors were all bolted, and the phone off the hook
It was time for some nooky, by hook or by crook.

Momma in her teddy, and I in the nude
Had just hit the bedroom and reached for the lube
When out on the lawn there arose such a cry,
That I lost my boner and poor Momma went dry.

ARC Review: Trick of Time by J.L. Merrow

Title: Trick of Time
Author: J.L. Merrow
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Length: Novella (84 pgs) Release Date: Jan 28 2013

 

When Ted Ennis steps out the doors of the Criterion Theatre for a cigarette and finds himself in Victorian London, he begins to doubt his sanity. At first he thinks it's all a film set, and is sure that the strikingly handsome young man leaning against a lamppost must be the leading man…
What starts as a sordid transaction with a beautiful rent boy quickly turns into something much deeper, drawing him back again and again as he gets to know Jem and craves meaningful encounters with him.
But Ted doesn't understand the exact conditions necessary for his trips through time—and for Jem, time may actually be running out. Now Ted has one last shot to get back to Jem and save their relationship, before it's too late…

Review - Cursed by Blood Saga - Marianne Morea

Title: Cursed by Blood Saga (2 books)
Author: Marianne Morea
Source: Self Purchase
Genre: Slightly Erotic paranormal romance/thriller
Length: Book 1 Long Novella (174 pgs)/Book2 Novel (318 pgs)
Reviewed by Douglas C. Meeks

Cursed by Blood Saga by Marianne Morea

These are the first 2 books in this series so far and while I am not sure when book 3 will be released these two comprise the complete opening story so there is no requirement to read more but I am sure I will but the books so far are :
Hunter's Blood Special Edition (Cursed by Blood Saga)
Twice Cursed (Cursed by Blood Saga)

ARC review: Gates of Rapture by Caris Roane

Gates of Rapture (The World of Ascension #6)
Author: Caris Roane 

Source: Netgalley 
Genre: Paranormal romance
Length: Novel
Read in series order: Yes
Reviewed: by Laurie 

Blurb

Gates of Rapture

As a vampire and a warrior, Leto Distra is deadly. But after years of being forced to drink dying blood, he is now part beast—a wild savage thing lurking beneath the surface.  With war on the horizon, Leto is determined to help the Guardians of Ascension destroy the enemy who turned him into a monster. And there’s only one woman who can help him.

Grace Albion is certain that she’s meant to be with Leto, but their future may be cut short by the impending battle. Now Grace must embrace her obsidian flame powers—and bind her powers with Leto’s—if they’re ever going to survive.  With the fate of the world at stake, they must tap into powers they never knew they had…and unlock their deepest passions.

Review: O Come All Ye Kinky Anthology

Title: O Come All Ye Kinky
Author: Joey W. Hill, Ava March, Alexa Snow, Elyan Smith, Jane Davitt, Katie Porter, Kim Dare, L.A. Witt
Source:NetGalley
Publisher: Riptide
Genre: Erotic Romance with Heavy BDSM
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 3, 2012
Reviewer: Kris

Christmas is a time of love and joy, and the New Year is a time of renewal. But they are also times of stress and strife, family drama, pressure and heartache—a potent mix of high expectations and conflicted emotions. Add in power exchange relationships, kinky gift swaps, and unconventional love in a sometimes unforgiving world, and you have a formula for a sizzling anthology of stories that tug at your heart.

From Ava March’s forbidden Regency love among men, to Katie Porter’s scorching hot contemporary tale of two women discovering holiday happiness, everyone will find a favorite here. Pervertible toys abound: Lambda Literary Award finalist L.A. Witt’s candy cane, Jane Davitt’s wrapping paper and tape, and Alexa Snow’s Christmas candles all please and delight. Newcomer Elyan Smith and fan favorite Kim Dare both celebrate New Year’s Eve with romantic flair and kinky fireworks, while bestselling author Joey W. Hill’s poignant story of love lost and regained will lead you home.

Whatever your desires, we invite you to explore new fantasies and old with these eight kinky tales of holiday happy endings.
20% of all proceeds from O Come All Ye Kinky will be donated to the Domestic Violence Project of the National Leather Association–International.

Review: A Wizard for Christmas (The Protectors)

Title: A Wizard for Christmas (The Protectors)
Author: Dorothy McFalls
Source: Self-Purchased
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: December 12, 2011
Reviewer: Jasmyn

In this novella, Holly desperately wants a perfect Christmas, and she's perfectly willing to make herself miserable getting one. Unfortunately, there are mystical forces at play that threaten more than her holidays...her life is in danger.  And the only one who seems to know what's going on is a darkly handsome, but mysterious, wizard who makes her want to add "romance" to this year's Christmas wish list.

Interview with romance author Deborah Court

Please welcome romance author Deborah Court! 

Laurie: Hello Deborah, I’m happy to be able to do this interview with you. Would you mind telling us a bit about yourself?

Deborah: Thank you for inviting me to your blog again, Laurie! I write Fantasy/Paranormal Romance, Erotic Romance, and YA Mystery. I've also been working as a translator, editor and published author over the last years. At some point I decided to write my own stories. It's what I've always wanted to do. Apart from that, I am a pharmacist, and a mother of two children, aged 6 and 7, whom I like to call "Lil' Devil" and "Lil Plague".  I currently live in Germany.

Laurie: I know you’re coming to the Indie Romance Convention next October 2013. Will this be your first time attending a convention?

Deborah: Heck, yes! I am so excited about this. First, it's my first convention as an attending author, and second, I feel it's a big thing to be a part of this. The Indie community has been growing rapidly over the last years, and I can't wait to meet some of my readers.

Laurie: What are you looking forward to doing at the convention?

Deborah: Most of all, talking to my readers. I'm also looking forward to meeting you, of course, and all my fellow authors and bloggers who will be attending, too. It's such a great opportunity.

Review - Moon Island by JR Rain

Title: Moon Island (A Vampire for Hire Novel #7)
Author: J.R. Rain
Source: Purchase
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy mix (Vampire/werewolf/other)
Lenght: Short Novel
Reviewed by: Douglas C. Meeks

Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire.

Now in MOON ISLAND (Vampire for Hire #7), Samantha Moon is hired to look into the mysterious drowning of a super-rich hotel tycoon. The death occurred exactly one year ago, at the family’s annual retreat on a private island in the Pacific Northwest. Now, as the family gathers again, Samantha Moon is asked to find a ruthless killer—all while a massive storm bears down upon the small island.

But there’s another storm brewing upon Skull Island, a storm of the supernatural kind. Sam is about to come face-to-face with evil incarnate...a monster who will stop at nothing to possess her completely—mind, body and soul—and destroy all that she loves.

Review Last Chance Christmas by Hope Ramsay

Title: Last Chance Christmas
Author: Hope Ramsay
Source: Review Request
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Lenght: Novel, 313 pages
Reviewed by: Emi



Dear Reader,
    I've been wishing for a miracle for my oldest boy, Stone, and this Christmas my prayers might just be answered! 

Her name is Lark, and she's here in Last Chance, looking into her father's past-and stirring up a whole mess of trouble without meaning to. As the chief of police, Stone sure has his hands full trying to keep up with her. Ever since his wife died, Stone's put everything into raising his daughters and dodging the Christ Church Ladies' Auxiliary matchmakers. And it's clear Lark has been through some trouble and could use a place to finally call home. I only hope Stone can let go of the past soon enough to keep her . . . 
Goodness, I need to stop talking and finish up Jane's highlights so we can make the town tree-lighting. You come back by because the Cut 'n' Curl's got hot rollers, free coffee, fresh-baked Christmas cookies-and the best gossip in town.

See you real soon, Ruby Rhodes

Special guest post by Gabrielle Bisset

Please welcome Gabrielle Bisset. I asked her to write a post about series reading. 

Thanks to Laurie here at Bitten By Paranormal Romance for asking me here today to talk about series. As an author and reader, I know the idea of a series can mean different things to many people. To some, it means a group of books that can be read in any order but all have something in common. My Victorian Erotic Romance Trilogy is like that. All three novellas are set in the Victorian period, but that's the only thing that binds them together. One is paranormal, another is BDSM, and the third is a regular historical.

However, to others a series is a group of books that is meant to be read in a particular order, first to last. My Sons of Navarus series is like that. For a reader to come in on Blood Spirit, the third book in the series, means they'll be confused because the series begins with Blood Avenged and then builds on that book in Blood Betrayed. By the time the reader gets to Blood Spirit, there are references to events, characters, and details from the earlier books that are integral to understanding the story.

It's quite popular now, especially in indie published books, to have a series that can be read in any particular order because each book is essentially a stand alone. There's nothing wrong with an author making this choice, in my opinion. My guess is that it's a marketing choice rather than a writing choice, but it certainly can be because an author may not want to get tied down to a continuous storyline throughout as many as seven or eight books. I can attest to the fact that it's a lot of work to keep a series storyline going while making each book focus on a particular couple, as I have to in my erotic paranormal romance series. The author must have the entire series mapped out when he or she begins, and the non-romantic plot (in my case) must be parsed out carefully in each book so as to not give away too much before the culmination of the plot. At the same time, the author must juggle that storyline with the individual one for each book. And when I say juggle, I mean it in every sense of the word.

I like to explain the idea of the series this way: if there's a number after the title of the book, then the series is supposed to be read in a particular order. For example, my Sons series always has a number in the title, such as Blood Avenged (Sons of Navarus #1) and the Harry Potter books on my bookshelves have numbers identifying them as to be read in a particular order.

However, if an author indicates clearly that a series can be read as a group of stand alone books, then readers should feel free to jump around. What's important to remember is that as authors, we have a vision for our stories and series, and if we make sure we let readers know the order of that vision, the experience with our books will be a far more enjoyable one.

Review A Taste for Revenge by Patrice Michelle

Title: A Taste for Revenge
Author: Patrice Michelle
Source: Review Request:
Genre: Paranormal Romace
Lenght: Novel, 400 pages 
Reviewed by: Emi

Revenge is a dish best served cold. No one knows this better than Jacqueline (Jax) Markson. Ever since she can remember, her father has spoken of revenge-revenge against all vampires. When his wife died after giving birth to Jax, John Markson blamed the vampire who’d bitten his pregnant wife for his loss and he dedicated his life to ridding the world of all vampires. After Jax’s vampire-hunter father is viciously killed, she takes up the reins where he left off. Her first order of business: take out the vampire who killed her father.

Ian (The Enforcer) Mordoor has a job to do. Before he can take over the Ruean vampire clan’s leadership position, Ian vows to hunt down Drace, the rogue vampire who brutally killed a human vampire hunter named John Markson. What Ian doesn’t expect to find during his quest is his mate in a human vampire hunter named Jax–-a woman who’d rather kill him than kiss him.

Cover Reveal - Jessica's Wolves by Becca Jameson

Cover & Excerpt Reveal

Jessica's Wolves
The Wolf Masters Series - Book 3

By Becca Jameson

Jessica Murphy has been living a lie. A childhood trauma has caused her to deny her true self, and she has no intention of ever revealing who she really is. As a first-year teacher making her way in life, the last thing she expects or desires is for two hunky men to walk into her school and insist she is their mate.

Charles Masters has been sowing his wild oats in Texas with his best friend, Reese Becker. When the two return home to Oregon for the holidays, they arrive with a young woman in tow who carries her own bundle of secrets. Caught between two females, Reese and Charles must juggle the woman they are destined to claim and the promises they've made to the desperate younger female wolf.

A complex web of secrecy and denial unfolds as Jessica accepts her mates … and herself. Will the mysterious past uniting Jessica to her new extended family prove to be more than she is willing to handle?

Review: What's A Witch to Do? by Jennifer Harlow

Title: What's A Witch To Do?
Author: Jennifer Harlow
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Paranormal romance- M/F
Length: Novel
Reviewed by: Douglas C. Meeks

A suspenseful brew with a dash of passion

High Priestess might sound like a ’80s hair band, but its Mona McGregor’s life. She runs the Midnight Magic shop in Goodnight, Virginia, and leads a large coven. She’s also raising two nieces and hasn't been with a man for fifteen years…until a handsome doctor takes an interest in her. But Mona’s life really heats up when Adam Blue, a sexy werewolf, arrives at her door. Adam informs her that someone wants her dead and he is there to protect her. Hell’s bells! When a demon begins stalking her, Mona has to suspect her coven members, and even her family.

With two handsome men and a determined demon after her, Mona teams up with Adam to find out who really wants her dead . . . and who really wants her.

Review Jungle Freakn' Bride by Eve Langlais

Title: Jungle Freakn' Bride (Freakn' Shifters #3.5) 

Author: Eve Langlais 

Source: Author request

Genre: Erotic paranormal romance- M/F/M 

Length: Novel

Reviewed by: Laurie 

Warning: Hot, steamy threesomes, chauvinism and more are running wild in the jungle. Can you handle the heat?

Abducted by a pair of hunky, tribal warriors, Carlie doesn’t think things can get any stranger until the first time she purrs.

Everyone’s heard of the mysterious Moon Ghost Jaguars, supposed shapeshifting men who steal women as their brides. What they forgot to mention was that half naked, ripped and oh so delicious, they always came as a pair – and turned into really big freakn’ cats! But Carlie’s not about to let these furry Tarzan’s dictate her future, even if they seem to have conquered her body.

Acat didn’t think he wanted a mate until he came across the outspoken American with golden hair. Making her his bride is only part of the battle. With the help of his best friend, Chaob, can he find a way to convince this strong willed woman to follow the traditions of his tribe? Or will this reluctant jungle bride get her lovers to accept the fact she’ll never be a classic barefoot and pregnant mate?

Review: Hunk for the Holidays by Katie Lane

Title: Hunk for the Holidays
Author: Katie Lane
Source: Publisher request
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length : 352 pages, paperback
Published: September 25th 2012, by Forever

Always putting business before pleasure, Cassie McPherson works hard for her family's construction business. That might explain why she doesn't have a date for the company Christmas party. But it doesn't quite explain why she's crazy enough to hire an escort for the event or - crazier still - why she's dying to unwrap him like a present . . .
With whiskey-colored eyes and a killer smile, James is one gorgeous hunk who really knows how to fill out a tuxedo. He charms everyone, including Cassie. And when the night ends, the party doesn't stop. As Cassie falls, literally, into his bed, James falls head over heels in love. Now he has to figure out a way to tell her the truth: he's not an escort. He's her family's fiercest business rival. But all he wants for Christmas is her . . .

Guest Post/giveaway by paranromal romance author Sondrae Bennett

Please welcome Sondrae Bennett! 

Guest Post by Sondrae Bennett

Today, I’m interviewing Amber and Danny, stars of the recently released Covert Desires. So tell us how you two met.

(Amber and Danny exchange a long, speaking glance.)

Amber: That’s a funny story, really. Well, maybe funny is the wrong word. It all started when there were some riots in the area. They attracted some attention because no one could figure out why the riots came about, or what people were rioting against. So, I was sent here to gather information. Only, Danny and his family found out I was coming, and was tasked with distracting me in order to assure I didn’t learn too much about him and his pack of wolf shifters.

Who sent you, Amber?

Amber: The government. FBI, to be specific. I’d just gotten out of a…difficult assignment. (A low growl rumbles from Danny. Amber grabs his hand and entwines her fingers through his.) He gets a little possessive when I bring that up. (She pats their joined hands with her free one.) Anyway, the Bureau thought this would be a nice, simple assignment to ease me back into undercover work.

How’d that work out for them?

Danny: She’s never going back, so not so good.

Is that true, Amber?

Amber: Why would I go back? I have everything I could ever want right here.

Danny: And I’m going to make sure it stays that way. (Amber leans in and kisses Danny’s cheek.)

So what happened when you first met? Was it love at first site?

Amber: He brought me cookies. (Amber purses her lips as Danny groans and hides his face in his free hand.) At least, I think they were cookies. Really, they were just black circular chunks on a plate, burnt beyond recognition.

Danny: I believe you said it was the thought that counts.

Amber: It was. Is. (She turns back to us) It was sweet. Of course, I still didn’t trust him. Any criminal can bake something, or attempt to, and my trust in other people had taken a beating. But it didn’t take me long to realize Danny was a stand-up guy with a heart of gold.

So after that it was happily ever after?

(Both Danny and Amber start laughing)

New Release - Dragon Moon by Nulli Para Ora

Cover & Excerpt Reveal

Dragon Moon
By Nulli Para Ora

David Johnson and Angelique Meadows are colleagues on a business trip to China. They've worked together for years, but neither has been able to admit their true feelings for the other. This business trip represents a landmark deal in their careers and an opportunity to reveal the truth of their hearts. Just as love blooms, disaster strikes.

The man they're meeting with is Yuen Gao, CEO of a multi-million dollar company. The world sees him as a successful business man. His pack sees him as their Alpha. Rogues, secret experiments, and the undeniable pull of his mate force him to reveal his secret. Is his love strong enough to overcome the pain of loss?

Hearts unite and break as trusted friends become enemies behind the scenes. Love longed for is lost to be replaced by a bond deeper than words. Loyalties are tested as ghosts of the past step into the present.

Can true love survive when forbidden hearts are reconnected?

Release Date: 12/17/2012
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

ARC Review: The League of Ilusion: Legacy by Vivi Anna

Title: The League of Illusion: Legacy
Author : Vivi Anna
Genre: Paranormal Steam Punk Romance
Source: NetGalley
Expected Publish date:  December 31st 2012 by Carina Press
Reviewer: Cerridwen

Former thief Jovan Davenport is the black sheep in a family of powerful sorcerers. But when his dying father—head of the League of Illusion—reaches out for help, Jovan has no choice but to accept. He must find his missing brother Sebastian and stop the power-hungry Hawthorne family from taking control of the council. If only they’d appointed someone other than Skylar Vanguard to help him in his quest.

Skylar, a druid and accomplished tracker, has spent three years trying to forget her past, especially Jovan Davenport. Once in love, she left Jovan when she discovered his betrayal. She wants nothing to do with him or his family, but must obey the council’s will by accompanying Jovan and reporting back on his progress.

Forced to work alongside each other, neither of them expects their passion to return so quickly. But as the conspiracy deepens in a steam-powered world of dirigibles and mechanical golems, will their secrets stand in the way of their mission…and their love?

Review: Thrones of Desire: Erotic Tales of Swords, Mist and Fire

Title: Thrones of Desire: Erotic Tales of Swords, Mist and Fire
Author: Various authors
Editor: Mitzi Szereto
Publisher: Cleis Press
Length: 256 pages
Reviewed by: Twigs

Thrones of Desire is a place where lust and legend abound, and adventure, passion and danger entwine.
Think mystical lands and creatures, kings and queens, knights and renegades, heroes and villains, warlords, maidens and princesses.

Think battles and danger, honor and dishonor, good and evil. Most of all, think hearts filled with passion and secret desire.

This is a place where romantic chivalry is alive and well, but so too is romantic wickedness. This is a place where the good do not always win, and the bad are often more captivating and desirable than their altruistic counterparts. In these lush and timeless landscapes, the battle for flesh can be as important as the battle for power. Intrigue, sorcery, revenge, lawlessness, dark secrets and mysterious elixirs; entanglements with supernatural beings — everything is possible in these magical mythical landscapes. Inspired by Game of Thrones these imaginative steamy tales transport the reader to fantastical realms.

Review: Kiss of the Phantom by Julie Leto

Title: Kiss of the Phantom
Author: Julie Leto
Source: Self-Purchased
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: June 2, 2009
Reviewer: Jasmyn

After rogue archeologist Mariah Hunter dumps a cache of ancient Mayan coins in the Mexican jungle, she ends up with a bounty on her head and needs a quick cash infusion to cover the debt. So when she hears that a priceless stone is up for grabs in a remote region of Germany, she scrambles to reach it before her rivals.

Nearly three hundred years ago, in a futile attempt to rescue his family from a mercenary horde, Rafe Forsyth springs an evil trap that keeps him captive within a hidden stone. Alone with his grief and rage for centuries, he is unprepared for the rush of attraction he feels for the beautiful adventurer who liberates his body…but can she save his soul?

Together, Rafe and Mariah race against time to recover the stolen coins and discover the means to free Rafe from the curse’s evil magic. Because until the curse is broken, the Gypsy’s kiss is the truest danger of all…

Review - Aris Returns: A Vampire Love Story by Devin Morgan

Title: Aris Returns
Author: Devin Morgan

Psychologist Sarah Hagan thought she had her life under control. She pulled herself together after a painful (and unexpected) divorce. She’s currently dating a successful but neglectful attorney—a relationship that is adequate, if not totally satisfying. She has a few good friends, lives in a beautiful condo in the heart of Chicago, and loves her work as a therapist. From the outside, it looks like her life is almost perfect.

It only takes one patient -- a handsome younger man named Carlos who is on parole for car theft -- to put her well-ordered life into a tailspin. As she regresses him with hypnotherapy, she discovers an unusual presence. Is this some elaborate alter ego that Carlos has created or is something much stranger going on? In Sarah’s attempt to help Carlos deal with his issues of anger and a troubled past, she is captivated by the persona she uncovers through hypnosis – Aris. Aris reveals that he is a vampire whose story begins in the time of Alexander the Great. His retelling of his lives, involvement and apparent demise in the court of Henry VIII keep her spellbound and hungry for more.

On top of grappling with a phantom vampire, Sarah begins to have the most disturbing (and sensual) dreams. They awake the emotion, passion and vulnerability that she thought she had buried for good. The dreams both terrify and excite her as she struggles to make sense out of her world turned upside down. Sarah genuinely cares about Carlos as a patient and wants to help him find his way to a better life, but he has brought chaos, confusion and danger into her neatly buttoned-up reality. And if that’s not enough to deal with, she is inexplicably drawn to Aris in a way she can’t begin to rationalize. Can Sarah possibly love this vampire “ghost” or will he destroy everything she treasures?

Review: Temping is Hell by Cathy Yardley

Title: Temping is Hell
Author: Cathy Yardley
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Source: Publisher Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 15, 2012
Reviewer: Jasmyn

WORST. JOB. EVER.

Kate O'Hara can't wait until this temp assignment is over.  The woman who hired her is a psychotic pageant queen, her coworkers are convicts-turned-clerks, and it's so boringly corporate it makers her skin crawl.  Even her sexy-as-sin boss, fames billionaire Thomas Kestral, isn't enticement enough to keep her there.  Once she makes enough to pay off her bills, she's out.  Or so she thinks...

WHAT THE HELL?

Next thing she knows, she's accidentally signed over her soul.  Literally.  And she's discovered Thomas's real mission: to kill thirteen bad guys in one year, in order to get his - now his and Kate's - souls back.

IT'S NOT JUST A JOB.  IT'S A MISADVENTURE

From learning to boost the morale of some paper-pushing demons to navigating her way through blood-red tape, Kate has to work closely with her super-hot supervisor to get her flaky act together, before somebody clocks her out - permanently!

Guest author Lindsay Avalon

Please welcome Lindsay Avalon! 

What is it about mythology that’s so fascinating? For me, it’s the impossible walking side by side with the ordinary. Men who are also half beast. Magic so commonplace, it seems as natural as tying your shoes. Tales of extraordinary creatures with amazing powers interacting with mere mortals.

But it’s more than all of that to me. How can cultures separated by vast distances and existing hundreds or thousands of years apart share similar tales? Take the dragon for instance. You’ll find stories of dragons in Asian, Greek, European, Indian, Persian, Jewish, and countless other locations. Why would so many different civilizations all write about a similar creature? I suppose it could have traveled by word of mouth among traders, and the general masses found the legends entertaining so they continued to be passed down through the generations.

Or, what if dragons really had existed millennia ago? I know which theory I find the most intriguing.

Let me get one thing straight, I’m not saying every piece of mythology is fact, but you’ve got to admit it’s much more fun to imagine a world where magic and fantastical creatures walk among humans. I’m a dreamer by nature, and this inherent desire to believe that there is more beyond our world. Even in our modern times, people claim to witness the supernatural, citing evidence that everything from elves to fairies to bigfoot exist.

Review: Anything for you: Erotica for Kinky Couples by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Title: Anything for You: Erotica for Kinky Couples
Author: Various authors
Edited by: Rachel Kramer Bussel
Publisher: Cleis Press
Length: 244 pages
Reviewed by: Twigs


Rachel Kramer Bussel is at the top of her game in BDSM erotica and now shares the pleasure in a one-of-a-kind book, custom-made for couples. Anything for You is stimulating reading, both for experienced players and those just discovering the joy of tying up your lover or bending over for the one you love These explicit stories of obsessive desire unlock the door to a world of obsessive desires, the passion that lies just beneath the skin. Bondage is the stuff of fantasy for a shockingly large segment of the population and true happiness is discovering what makes your partner tick. In this case, it might well be the tickle of rope on naked skin, or a firm paddling. Rachel Kramer Bussel's is a guidebook to great sex, told story by delicious story of uninhibited, adventurous sex sure to keep the home fires burning Each boldly wrought tale shared with your lover is another door opened into the erotic mindscape.

Grave Intentions by Lori Sjoberg - PNR Extraordinaire

Grave Intentions
by
Lori Sjoberg

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars





Summary:

Review Destructive Embrace by Robyn M. Pierce

Title: Destructive Embrace (The Lanistter Chronicles, #2)
Author: Robyn M. Pierce
Source: Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Mystery
Length: Novel (approx 250 pgs)


The castle is shaken after the attempt by Tywin to take over Reid's life.

After all that happened, Elyssa wants nothing more than to run away from Lanistter Castle -- and away from Zeke as well. A spell makes her unable to go, however, and she learns that running away was never the best option; especially when she finds herself bound to the Lanistters in another way.

Dmitri has always been afraid of his oldest brother. With a Mate and a strong new friend, everything seems to be getting better. But his relationship begins to fall apart in the wake of tragedy, and he is left to try to find himself in all of the destruction.

Zeke has always made himself believe that what he has been doing has been for the good of his family and his world. After Tywin's scheme, though, he is left to wonder if he really has been helping his family; it seems more broken than ever. With a new eye for the world, Zeke finds a companion and tries to make amends.

The whole castle is recovering from the after-effects of Tywin's plot. As they begin to think that everything is going to be okay, they notice things that make them suspect that Tywin may not be gone after all...

Winter Warmer Deals from Felicity Heaton

Winter Warmer Deals from Felicity Heaton / F E Heaton – Paranormal Romances with Passion

Between now and 15th January 2012, you can get your hands on some of Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton’s hot heroes at bargain prices or even for FREE! What better way to pass a chilly winter or relax in the sunshine if you're down under, than curled up in the arms of some paranormal heroes, letting yourself be swept along in their romance and adventures?

There are plenty of fantastic reads to choose from, all priced between FREE and $3.99 and in a range of lengths between novella and long novels, and a variety of paranormal romance sub-genres including sinful angels, sexy vampires, seductive werewolves, and even a super-hot demon and sassy witch pairing.

You can snap up the first book in Felicity Heaton’s best selling angel romance series, HER DARK ANGEL, for FREE. Or indulge your wicked side by picking up a FREE copy of the first book in her oh-so-naughty Vampire Erotic Theatre series, COVET.

If you like longer vampire romance novels packed with action, twists and emotion, then why not check out the first book in her Vampires Realm series that she writes as F E Heaton? And yes, PROPHECY: CHILD OF LIGHT, is also absolutely FREE!

You can also grab yourselves some of her stand alone paranormal romance novels or snatch some more books in her Vampires Realm series for only $2.99 or $3.99, including her award nominated vampire romance novels Forbidden Blood and Heart of Darkness.

These great deals are available at Amazon Kindle Stores, Apple iBookstore and Kobo Books! Don’t worry if you’re a Nook or Sony Reader user. You can download the FREE EBOOKS at Kobo Books and use the epub file on your device without any problems.

So snap these up quick to avoid disappointment! FREE EBOOKS end on December 31st 2012 and the prices of discounted books will change back on 15th January 2013.

Find out more about the books and these great offers at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/paranormal-romance-ebook-offers.php

Every Breath She Takes by Nora Wilson

Every Breath She Takes
by
Nora Wilson

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars












Summary:

Guest author Jes Young

Daddy Issues

By Jes Young

Have you ever noticed that the parents in fairy tales are either negligent, wicked, or dead? There are a few exceptions, but by and large this is a group of people who Child Services really should have been keeping an eye on.  I mean, Belle’s father’s life of bad business decisions and petty theft is the cause of her imprisonment. The phrase “wicked stepmother” was coined to describe Snow White’s uber-competitive new mommy. Don’t get me started on a list of dead fairy tale parents—that thing could take days to assemble. The point is, parents aren’t always shown in the best light in your average fairy tale. I don’t want to point any fingers, but I think maybe Mother and Father Grimm were monsters. As an aside, my parents are great. In all my 37 years, they’ve never abandoned me in the woods. Not even once.

Anyway, this long standing tradition of fairy tale princesses with parental issues is one I continue in my urban fantasy romance series, the Princess of Twilight & Dawn. In the first book, Tab Bennett and the Inbetween, we learn about Tab’s relationship with her mother which manages to be incredibly complicated even though her mother is dead and they’ve never met. In Underneath, Tab, who’s been raised in away from any contact with the Elvish world, takes a dangerous journey to finally meet her father, Daniel, the dark king of the Underneath. Once she's there, Tab is forced to confront the seductive nature of Darkness and her own potential to truly become her father’s daughter.

Recent Release - A Time for Everything by Ann Gimpel

Cover & Excerpt Reveal

A Time for Everything
by Ann Gimpel

Siobhan Macquire’s fortune has attracted a string of men who are out to drain her for everything they can get. Her last boyfriend was no exception. Furious at being used—again—she goes for a walk in the Highlands.

With the weather worsening, she wanders alone for hours. She’s soaking wet and starting to get scared when someone calls out to her. A striking-looking man emerges from the mist. Except there’s something wrong. His kilt is way too long and he talks with an archaic accent. Siobhan soon finds herself not only lost in the countryside but also in time.

Selena Blake Fangs, Fur and Mistletoe Tour/giveaway

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

Photo by: Muffet

When was the last time you received a hand written letter out of the blue? Not for a birthday, holiday or anniversary...just a good old "here's what I've been up to, how have you been?" kind of letter.

I'm sorry to say I cannot remember the last time I opened the mailbox to find such a treasure.

Recently, I posted an infographic on my blog about long distance romance. Let's face it, we now live in a time where you can communicate in half a dozen ways without getting out of bed. Long distance romance has never been more 'do-able.'

But the question is, what does the relationship lose when you converse via text message and email rather than physically, via voice, or hand written letters?

One of my readers emailed me to say that she still likes getting physical notes from her fella.

I wrote back:

I think note writing is becoming a lost art. At this point, I’d settle for a love note written on a post-it and stuck to my monitor. I think there’s something extra special about seeing your honey’s hand writing.

I really do feel like there's a more personal connection via the written word. Ink and paper. The possibility of smudges.

You've seen movies where the heroine gets a letter from her love and she cries and the ink runs. Right? How is that possible when printers now have smear proof/smudge proof ink? Where's the romance in that? The reminder of the heartache involved in love?

And what about tears of happiness? Such joy should be remembered through runny ink, I think.

So here's the point. Get out a piece of paper. It's time to write a note. Find yourself a pen and get to it.

Give the note to someone you love. Husband, boyfriend, wife, girlfriend, mother, brother, father, sister, best friend. Doesn't matter. Just spread the love.

Write a letter.