Review: Love Me by Belle Andre

Title: Love Me (Take Me #3)
Author: Belle Andre
Source: Old Amazon Freebie
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: June 28, 2012
Reviewer: Jasmyn

It's been five years since Lily and Travis fell in love in Take Me....now it's finally time for Janica and Luke to get their very own happy ending.

If there's one thing that Janica Ellis is absolutely certain of, it's that she and Luke Carson are totally wrong for each other.  She's a wild, artistic and outspoken fashion designer.  He's a type A, workaholic trauma surgeon (who just happens to be sizzling hot and her brother-in-law!).  But Janica is about to be proven wrong when opposites attracti...inthe sexiest possible way.

After a life-changing night in the ER, Luke is desperate for escape- and relief from his personal demons.  For five years he has faught his attraction to his sister-in-law, but when he's pushed too far, he can't fight it another second.  He needs her.  Desperately.  He's spent his whole life doing the right thing.  For one night, he's going to follow desire instead.  Straight into Janica's arms.

Janica can't believe Luke is finally at her front door...and that he's kissing he rlik ehe's been waiting his whole life for her.  But even as their sensual connection deepens with every touch of skin on skin - and the man she always thought was such a good boy turns out to be sinfully, toe-curlingly bad between the sheets - Janica soon realizes she wants more than Luke's body.  She wants his heart too.  But what will Luke do when one night of extreme passion turns into an all or nothing proposition?

I've heard from many people how wonderful Belle Andre's books are and I finally got around to trying one out.  I have to admit that based on what I saw in Love Me, all the people are correct.  The book was fun, engaging, and very romantic.  The couple was perfect from the get go and just needed some not so gentle prodding from life to get them moving in the right direction.  This is a shorter novel (or longer novella), and I sped through it.  Without any slow spots, it was very difficult to put down at the end of the day.

There was a litte too much denial on the part of Luke, I would have liked to see him come to his senses a little sooner, or it would have been 5 stars all the way.

ARC Review: Hero's Redemption by Georgie Lee

Title: Hero's Redemption
Author: Georgie Lee
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: Novella
Reviewer: CaroleDee
Pub Date: July 29, 2013 by Carina Press

 London, 1817

Devon, the Earl of Malton, is a hero for his deeds at the Battle of Waterloo. But he suffers terrible nightmares, and drinks himself to sleep most nights. A habit he vows to break when he awakes one morning to find a woman sharing his bed, no memory of how she got there, and her angry brother at his door.

Cathleen is mortified when her wastrel brother and his greedy wife propose a blackmail scheme involving the earl, but as a penniless war widow she's at their mercy. She goes along with the plan and sneaks into Devon's bed one night, and ends up comforting him through a night terror.

Charmed by her beauty and kindness, Devon determines that rather than pay the blackmail, he will offer his hand in marriage to Cathleen. Although she is deeply attracted to the stoic earl, Cathleen cannot understand why Devon would want to marry her. What she doesn't know is that Devon owes her a debt that can never fully be repaid…

 
Great novella when you're in the mood for a fantastic historical romance but short on time.

Yes, the PTSD thing has been played out in historical romances before, but I love it and you can't change my mind :P 
The thought of being able to help a hero through a trauma appeals to me. The heroines don't have to be bad-asses with a swords or pistols; They just have offer support, love, and understanding. If the heroine can come through the journey with some issues of her own resolved it makes it that much sweeter :)  Hero's Redemption gave me all of those things and I loved it. There was a pretty big coincidence that was a little hard to believe, but who am I to question fate. lol

In all; a great read for historical romance lovers. You get all of the intrigue, romance, and redemption of a full length novel compacted down for people that need a quicker read. And unlike some novellas I didn't feel like I missed a thing :)

Find out more about the author Georgie Lee at her:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Review: Marly's Choice by Lora Leigh

Title: Marly's Choice
Author: Lora Leigh
Souce: Self Purchased (Old Amazon Freebie)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 2003
Reviewer: Jasmyn

Marly's love for Cade has spanned her teenage years, and survived strong and intact into womanhood.  Her fantasies and daydreams have sustained her, but she's no longer content with nerely imagining the touch of his hands, the taste of his kiss.  It's time to seduce the tough, sexy cowboy.  She's heard the rumors for years, the tales of his sexual preferences.  She's prepared herself to accept his desires.  Prepared her body for his touch.  But she wasn't prepared for the choice to come ... Cade's dark desires, his sexual excessed are based in the past.  In a time when pain, shame, and blood stains his very soul.  He carries a secret shared only with his brothers.  A secret that has scarred the bond, the ability to be a brother or accept the love of the men he was raised with.  He knows the only way to prove his loyalty, his love for those brothers and marly will be the key.  She has a choice.  She can surrender to Cade's needs, his sould deep desires, or she can walk away.  A choice only Marly can make.  A choice that will change her life forever.

Marly's choice has a great premise.  Marly has grown up with three brothers (older than she is), and as she grew up she developed a huge crush on the oldest, Cade, which later turned into a deep love.  The problem with this scenario, is that Cade still refers to her as his "niece" even though he is very very sexually attracted to her and is quickly falling in love as well.  While they aren't actually related, the references to the "family relationship" at the beginning kind of rubbed me the wrong way.  You can't try to think of someone you want to have sex with as your niece - it's just creepy.

After we get over that, we run into problems with the force Cade tends to use, and that he doesn't take no for an answer.  Not that he rapes her by any means, but one scene in particular comes a little too close for comfort.

On the other hand, the story behind the scenes was really really good.  Marly has a stalker and he will do anything to get his hands on her.  He is a constant presence in the background of the entire story and takes center stage a little more than half way through.  Watching the family rally behind Marly was great and really showed how much the loved her.

Review: Witch Hearts By: Liz Long

Title: Witch Hearts 
Author: Liz Long 
Source: Review Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Length: 297 pages PDF
Reviewed by: Emi 

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

About the book: 

How does a witch stay safe if a killer can get through her protection spells?

Witches like Ruby and Courtney can take care of themselves. So when Courtney is murdered, Ruby’s world crashes to a halt. The only thing keeping her grounded is the return of Courtney’s brother, Cooper. He seeks revenge, but Ruby wants to help other witches stay alive. To do that, she’ll have to reunite with her old coven’s High Priest, who also happens to be her cheating ex-boyfriend.

If that wasn't awkward enough, when the killer gets too close, Cooper temporarily moves into Ruby’s place while a police officer tails her every move. Cooper’s presence distracts Ruby as they fight their desire against their need to stay safe. Then Courtney begins to haunt Ruby’s dreams and secrets are spilled, things from Cooper’s past that could get them both killed. The killer continues to stalk Ruby and the more she discovers, the more she fears she won’t be able to keep her heart in her chest.

Ruby's best friend was murdered, but not by your average psycho, but someone who is targeting witches. She finds out that the killer is also taking their hearts so he can perform a ritual to become more powerful, they have to stop him before he has everything he needs.  When her best friend's brother comes back in town, to get revenge for what happened to his sister, all of the feelings that they always had for each other but kept hidden, come to the surface. As they work together, along with her ex Michael and his coven, they start to develop their relationship as well. Though Michael is definitely not happy about that. As Ruby & Cooper start to dig deeper into the murders, Courtney starts to haunt her dreams to help her along, and the killer starts to taunt her as well. 

Loved it! Witch Hearts is more like a Paranormal Romance murder mystery or thriller. It was like watching a tv show, I was trying to guess who the killer was the whole time, lol. Every time I thought I had the murdered pegged, someone else would stir my suspicion. It was a page turner and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  

About the Author: 

Liz Long is lucky enough to have a dream career in magazine publishing as an editor and writer, yet still have time to create adventures on the side. If you catch her staring off into space or talking to herself, don’t worry – it’s just her imagination at work.

Liz graduated from Longwood University with a BA in English, though her professors might be disappointed to hear she reads more fantasy fiction than literary novels. She also loves action and thriller genres. Her books probably won’t change your life, but she hopes they steal you away from reality for a while. 

Her newest release, Witch Hearts, and her first book, Gifted, a Donovan Circus Novel, are also available for paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

How to get in touch with Liz: 

Author Links:

Website: http://lizclong.com/

Twitter: (Handle: @LizCLong) https://twitter.com/#!/LizCLong

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/lizclongauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LizLong

WITCH HEARTS LINKS:

Amazon (ebook): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIKKEV0

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17616067-witch-hearts

GIFTED LINKS:

Amazon (ebook):  http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Donovan-Circus-Novel-ebook/dp/B007VT34J2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336675611&sr=8-2

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13601567-gifted

  

Review The Wolf Ring by Meg Harris

 Title: The Wolf Ring (Wolf Ring #1) 

Author: Meg Harris

Source: Kindle freebie

Genre: PNR- shifter

Length: Novelette

Reviewed by Laurie 

When Conner gives his girlfriend an antique ring, things between them get unexpectedly... wild.

Warnings: Explicit sex, blunt language

Length: Short story (7200 words)

Read the sequel, The Wolf Hunger

EXCERPT:

Faelan sat huddled on the bed in her apartment, scratching irritably at her skin. Ever since she'd put that damn ring on, she'd been itching like crazy. At first the itching had been confined to her right hand, but now it was starting to spread everywhere.

And it wasn't a normal itch, like she got from poison ivy or bug bites. It was a weird tingling sensation that she couldn't begin to describe. All she knew was, it was bothering the hell out of her. It made her want to get up and run at top speed around the room until she somehow outdistanced it.

She grumbled to herself. Damn Conner, she thought with annoyance, not for the first time. Other guys gave their girlfriends nice normal diamond rings in gold or platinum settings. But Conner being Conner, he just had to give her something unusual.

And it just figured that she was apparently allergic to silver.

Not a good omen, really. She was allergic to the first ring he’d ever given her. Maybe that was fate’s way of letting her know they weren’t meant to be together after all.

She shrugged that thought aside, because she just couldn't believe that. She was way too much in love with Conner to believe it. Conner was far and away the best thing that had ever happened to her.

But even so, she didn't have much choice but to remove the damn thing. The itching, tingling sensation ran over her skin in ever-increasing waves, making her squirm uncomfortably, making her want to whimper. It was slowly morphing from a sensation of itchiness to one of...

She wiggled uncomfortably, rubbing her thighs together. The tingling sensation was still all over her skin, every inch of it, but it seemed most intense right between her legs.

The truth was, she was starting to feel kind of... horny.

Review: Pierced by J.C. Mells

Title: Pierced (Pierced #1)

Author: J.C. Mells
Source: Author Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance*
Length: Novel
Release Date: April 9, 2013
Reviewer: Jasmyn

Image the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets Betty Crocker.

That's Pierce in a nutshell.

Pierce has been on the run for two years from the man who held her captive in a vampire compund for almost a decade.  Life on the run would be a lot simpler if she didn't suffer from several social disorders and 'quirks', have a ten-year-old brat in tow, as well as have two characters from a 1945 classic film living in her head and guiding her at every turn.

*This novel borders on "New Adult" and does not have a traditional HEA for the book - although it appears there will be one for the series.

I had a hard time deciding whether or not this book fit within our guidelines for paranormal romance, or just romance in general.  After looking through some of the descriptions for upcoming books in the series, I decided to go ahead and post it (with the warning above) because I felt it deserved a bit of a chance.

Pierce was a phenomenal characters.  J.C. Mells nailed her personality and 'quirks' perfectly.  Showing just how different she was without making her seem too freakish to the reader.  For Pierce, these are everyday occurances and just a part of her life, the reader feels that with her.  Pierce is on the run from the man that abused her as a child, and has his 10 year old daughter with her - trying to protect her from what she experienced.  They receive help unexpectedly in the form of our "hero" (I can't say his name or I ruin a surprise) - who has a few secrets of his own that I don't want to give away.

"Hero" and Pierce make the most unlikely couple I have ever seen - but they have potential to be something really great and we see a little bit of it really starting to come out at the end.  I hope to see the two of them really cement their relationship in future books in the series.

Review Vampire Thirst by Ella J. Phoenix

Title:Vampire Thirst (Book 2 of the Dragon Heat series) 
Author: Ella J. Phoenix 
Genre: PNR
Source: Author Request
Length 
Reviewed by: Laurie 

Sometimes life takes you down a completely different path from the one you had originally planned.

After successfully rescuing the daughter of a draconian senator and other innocent women from a vampire psychopath, Sam and fellow warriors, Zoricah and Yara, have to trade sunny New York for gloomy London. Time is running out on their unfinished mission. More innocent people will die if they don’t catch the person behind the attacks in New York. But something is making Sam lose control of her powers. Something or someone. Ever since her first - and quite heated - encounter with Hikuro, her energies had gone haywire. The vampire king’s second in command affected her in a way no one had ever before. Her torment, however, is bound to get worse, with Hikuro’s unexpected arrival in London.

Ever since she set foot on vampire territory, Sam had turned Hikuro’s carefully controlled life upside down. He doesn’t trust her, but some strange force pulled him toward her; an inexplicable attraction that defies centuries of training. But if Hikuro is to keep his king safe, he must keep a close eye on Sam, even if he loses his sanity and his heart in the process.

Review: Midnight Caller By: NJ Cole

Title: Midnight Caller
Author: NJ Cole
Source: Review Request 
Genre: Erotic BDSM Romance with Sci Fi Influence
Length: 399 pages PDF 
Reviewed by: Emi 

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Rebecca Summers enjoys pleasing herself with the curtains open. That is, until a mysterious man calls to tell her that he is watching. Her fantasy becomes reality as she begins to perform for this stranger, following his instructions over the phone while he watches from afar. Rebecca’s world is turned upside down when finally they meet and she enters into a D/s relationship with her Midnight Caller.

*Warning, Midnight Caller is mostly M/F, but there is mention about M/M, and anal penetration*

OMG! Hot! Hot! Hot! 

I love reading mostly all genres and I thoroughly enjoy erotica, Midnight Caller was the absolute definition of erotica. It was non stop sex and that is how the connection between Butterfly and Sir grows. I say SciFi influence because I feel as though the story itself is about the relationship between Sir and his Butterfly, rather than focus on the fact that Sir is Bocaj or events surrounding the Bocaj in general. It is just what they are, not what the story is about. 

Rebecca never imagined that someone could actually see in her apartment and would watch her nightly routine of pleasuring herself until she gets a phone call from a mysterious man and tells her how beautiful it was to watch. At first she gets a little freaked out, but the more she thinks about it, the more she actually enjoys it. So she starts to perform for him every night, and as time goes on their relationship becomes more than just watching. 

Oliver is a Bocaj and from another planet, he's been on Earth for centuries and is a Dom. His subs are usually other Bocaj, since their toxin is lethal to humans. He does interact with humans occasionally as subs, but never on a physical level. Then he sees his Butterfly perform and he just has to have her. There is something about her that pulls him to her that he can't really explain. As their relationship grows from observer to physical, Sir teaches Butterfly how to be a sub, specifically his. 

I thought Midnight caller was a good read, it's certainly a sexy scenario. At first I was a little skeptical in Rebecca's trust in a stranger to move forward with the physical part of their relationship but I have to admit, it was adventurous and sexy, so then I thought better of it, lol.  

If you looking for a hot sex filled story, this is the one for you. 

Enjoy!! 

Where to buy Midnight Caller

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/midnight-caller-nj-cole/1115423740?ean=2940016791296

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Caller-NJ-Cole/dp/1484880846/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1373907571&sr=8-4&keywords=midnight+caller

Where to find the author: 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7077804.N_J_Cole

ARC Review: Never Deal with Dragons by Lorenda Christensen

Title: Never Deal with Dragons
Author: Lorenda Christensen
Source: Netgalley
Genre: UF/Sci-Fi Romance (Dragon shifters)
Length: Novel
Reviewer: CaroleDee
Pub Date: July 22, 2013 by Carina Press

Consoling a sobbing dragon and serving pig buffets are just part of the job for Myrna Banks. Working for a mediation firm, it's her job to get humans compensated for damages caused by the dragons who now rule. But her "typical" day is interrupted by Trian Chobardan, an old flame who sneaked out of her bed two years ago, taking her heart and a handful of classified documents with him.

Myrna would love to show Trian the door, but he's been sent by North America's reigning dragon lord for help negotiating a truce with a powerful rival to avert war. Myrna agrees to help, even though she'll be stuck with Trian as a partner.

As the two work together, Myrna finds Trian to be surprisingly supportive—and still irresistibly attractive. Though her brain tells her not to forget his betrayal, her body feels differently. When they learn the enemy dragon lord is planning something no one could have imagined, Myrna has to learn who she can trust before she loses not only her heart, but her life.

Ahh, I'm a little confused. Usually stories with misunderstandings drive me absolutely batty. Add the fact that one conversation probably could have fixed 90% of Myrna and Trian's problems and I would usually be pulling my hair out. So why, oh why did I love this book so much? I think it was a mixture of being completely original, pretty darn funny, and it had tons of realistic action.

What do I mean by realistic action? Well, our heroine isn't a trained bad-ass, so while she gets her knocks in (like most heroines in UFs) it's not because she's turned into a ninja master overnight ;) She even uses a few non-conventional weapons along the way. *Don't mess with Myrna. She's deadly with a pen. lol*

Trian, the hero, is all mystery. He sort of pissed me off at the beginning, but you quickly realize that there's more going on with him than meets the eye. Is he the perfect hero at first? Nope. BUT his growth and eventual honesty with Myrna makes their final HEA that much more satisfying.

Never Deal with Dragons is as pretty nifty mix of UF Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and dystopia with a romantic twist. Since there are Dragons some people might want to label it as PNR. BUT there is a very science based beginning for these dragons. Sorry folks, no magic here. I think that the use of Science Fiction as a beginning of our dragons is one of the main things that kept the story fresh. Definitely not something I've read before and thank goodness for that! 

If you're looking for something fantastically outside the box pick up Never Deal with Dragons.

About the Author
A native of Eastern Oklahoma, Lorenda lives with her husband and two sons in a house that feels far too small during the stay-inside winter months. Lorenda loves chocolate, hates snakes, and despite living two years in Bangalore next-door to a native preparer of Indian cuisine, cannot cook anything but ground beef. She is a recovering nail biter, and is currently celebrating five years bite- free.

Lorenda is the 2012 recipient of the Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® award in the Paranormal category for her debut novel, Never Deal with Dragons.

Connect with Lorenda on her

Website | Facebook | Amazon Author Page| Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest 

Review: Don't Bite the Bridesmaid, A Sons of Kane Novel #1 by: Tiffany Allee

Title: Don't Bite the Bridesmaid, A Sons of Kane Novel #1
Author: Tiffany Allee 
Source: Review Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance M/F 
Length: 209 pages PDF
Reviewed by: Emi

**I received a copy of this book for an honest review**

Alice Shepard needs one thing: a date for her sister's wedding. And not just any date. A hunk who will make her fiancé rue the day he left her for her best friend. Her drop-dead gorgeous neighbor fits the bill—even if he is a bit quirky and never comes out during the day—and Alice has downed just enough appletinis to ask him. But she makes it quite clear that there will be no funny business. 

Spending a week on a cruise ship full of humans while sleeping close to his sexy next-door neighbor sounds like a helluva bad idea to vampire Noah Thorpe. But his friends need time to get him out of a shotgun wedding—a vampire bonding that will tie his fate to a female vampire he's never met. And Alice's offer comes at just the right time. 

What could possibly go wrong?

 

I thought this was a sweet read, it actually felt like watching a romantic comedy, very chick flicky. I have to say that Alice and Noah, are better than me, because if I was stuck on a cruise ship with my ex who cheated on me with my best friend, I'd be oh so spiteful, lol. What would you do if you were in the same situation? Would you be good or bad? lol  

Naoh and Alice both need each other's help, she to use him as a stand in boyfriend on her sister's wedding cruise, and he to get away from his pre-arranged bonding with a stranger while his blood brother Charles figures out a way to stop it. 

Noah tries to resist Alice at every turn, but he's really been pining after her since he first laid eyes on her. But the fact that they are too different and what she might think of him holds him back. Meanwhile Alice feels the same way, she's attracted to him but insecurities from her past relationship are stopping her from initiating anything with him. But once they get together, sparks fly and they can't get enough of each other. And all I have to say is bathroom & kitchen scenes, seeeeeeexy! I will never think of lasagna the same way, lol. 

I enjoyed Don't Bite the Bridesmaid, it was a great introduction to the series and am looking forward to the next one, I'm hoping Charles has a starring role in it ;)  

Review: Eternal Bonds by: Susan Hayes

Title: Eternal Bonds
Author: Susan Hayes
Source: Review Request
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance M/F/M
Length: 169 pages PDF
Reviewed by: Emi 

**I received a copy of this book for an honest review**

Duncan Masterson lives apart from his vampire brethren and has vowed to never bring another mortal into his dark world. Only his fiercely loyal human guardian, Jared Evans, knows the truth about who and what he is.

For nearly a century, Duncan has held fast to his vow, until the day he finds the beautiful Tabitha Blacke lying dazed and bleeding after a rogue vampire attack. Duncan realizes he must break his vows in order to protect her from the evil that is prowling his territory.

When both Duncan and Jared find themselves falling for their lovely house guest, they decide to claim her together, forging bonds that will change all of their lives forever.

As trouble draws near, their bond will be tested and sacrifices will be demanded of them all. The two men know they'll do whatever it takes to keep their beloved Tabi safe, but will their love be enough to see them through?

So, what happens when you get attacked by a crazed vampire bent on revenge? You get to shack up with the steamy doctor you've had a crush on and as an added bonus, get his sexy cowboy guardian too.  I thought Eternal Bonds was a fun read, Tabi was witty and temperamental and when the time comes, fierce and loyal. Duncan and Jared are just too funny, I do enjoy when characters are witty and the back and forth banter shows a sense of connection and comradery. When Tabi is attacked in the hospital parking lot, Duncan finds her and assumes it is a personal attack on his territory. Little did he know that his crazy ex and her minion would be behind it. As Jared and Duncan are figuring out a plan of attack, Jared is taken. Duncan and Tabi do what they must in order to save Jared but will they be too late?? 

I enjoyed Eternal Bonds and definitely recommend it, and all of Susan Haye's work if you haven't yet.

 Here is her Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6444700.Susan_Hayes

Review: Cruz by Moira Rogers

Title: Crux (Southern Arcana #1)
Author: Moira Rogers
Source: Self Purchased
Length: Novel
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Reviewer: Jasmyn

Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States.  He and his partners have never met a case they couldn't crack...until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker.  After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose.  But crazy doesn't explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.

With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past - and her destiny.

This book contains devious schemes, epic battles, forbidden love between a shapeshifter and a spellcaster, nosy secondary characters, furniture-endangering sex and a woman fighting to choose her own destiny.

This book was such a fun book to read!  I loved all the characters - even the bad guys (but in a bad way).  Moira is full of spunk and determination to live her own life away from the crazy man claiming to be her destiny.  Unfortunately, he may just be telling the truth (or at least one version of it).  Her boss and the PI's in New Orleans know that she's not human - she's something else, but she doesn't have a clue herself.

When Mackenzie finds out the paranormal world is all too real, she decides she has to trust Jackson to help her figure out what is going on (she's a very confused lady).  But what the uncover is far from pretty - it's an ugly horrible scheme that rocks the entire paranormal world, and Mackenzie is in the center of it all.

The only thing I disliked about this story was just a little pet peeve of mine that kept coming up, otherwise it would have received 5 stars.  Also, the sexual rating was a little tough on this one.  While there isn't a lot of it or anything really unusual - there is some broken furniture or it would have received a 1 sexual rating.

Review: Intaglio The Collector's Edition by: Danika Stone

Title: Intaglio The Collector's Edition Volumes 1&2 
Author: Danika Stone 
Source: Review Request
Genre: Romance with Paranormal Influence
Length: 445 pages Paperback
Review by: Emi 

**I received a copy of this book for an honest review**

Blurb for Volume 1

Set against the backdrop of the modern art scene, Intaglio: The Snake and the Coins follows Ava Brooks, art student and graffiti artist, as she begins a wildfire relationship with fellow student, sculptor Cole Thomas. Their sudden connection results in a passionate affair which sparks a series of increasingly vivid dreams. In them, Ava finds herself drawn into a memory of another life: one that she and Cole shared. As each dream brings the memory of her past closer, the two of them must unravel the events that once tore them apart, or risk repeating the same mistakes all over again. 

Blurb for Volume 2

Ava Brooks and Cole Thomas share a connection: one forged from the memories of another life. The unraveling web of secrets continues as Ava finds herself caught in a growing conflict between Cole and Kip. In the wake of this, revelations emerge about the death of Cole's sister, but the dark stories hidden in the Thomas household hint at a life marred tragedy. As each new dream brings this other life closer, Ava and Cole must unravel the events that once tore them apart, or risk repeating the same mistakes all over again.

Ok so even though this book didn't have everything I love in a story, it was certainly still an excellent read and well deserving of a 5 star rating. For those of you have seen some of my other reviews, you know that I love action and adventure with a whole lot of hotness, but Intaglio was just a different kind of adventure. It felt so real and relatable that I felt like I was more than just reading the story but  I was there along with them on their journey. Ava & Cole are two art students that when their paths finally cross, they feel a  certain connection that neither one of them can figure out, but are willing to explore. They both have these dreams that they can't really decipher their meanings, but eventually come to understand that it is past lives they are experiencing. And that is where the feeling of having already known each other and this connection comes from.  Both Ava & Cole have a deep rooted anger that is linked to their past and each one expresses or releases their anger in different ways.  While Ava finds her outlet artistically, Cole finds it in drinking and bar fights. We all deal with our issues in different ways and I can see how both outlets can be used. Ava has some struggles with her anger but no where near as difficult as Cole. Cole has been holding it all in for so long, and when he gets to that point where his rage is overtaking him, he releases the only way he knows how, until Ava. She helps him with his anger and hurt and eventually he finds another outlet for release and confronts the people causing it all. And while all of these personal "current" issues are going on between them, they are both still having these dreams of their past lives, and their artwork brings that to life. Ava & Cole finally get through their toughest moments with a little help from friends, therapy, and the love they have for each other. 

Intaglio was a very  intense and heart rending read. I loved  it because it wasn't all happy and sappy. The characters had some deep and very emotional issues to work through, that a lot of people don't always recover from. They transform their darkness into art, which is pretty amazing. And I have to say even though the "romantic" scenes weren't explicit they were pretty heavy and emotional, like angry passionate make up sex, that sometimes you want to start a fight just to have it,  lol. 

It was a great and heavy read and highly recommend it.  

Review Ultimate Sacrifice by Pauline Holyoak

Title:Ultimate Sacrifice (Merryweather Lodge Book #3)  
Author: Pauline Holyoak 
Source: Author request
Genre: Paranormal, Thriller, Horror and Romance
Length: Novel
Reviewed by Laurie 

Four years have passed since that dreadful event in the cellar. Belinda gave birth to a baby girl nine months after Emily witnessed the creature raping Jonathan. The child appeared normal, but looks can be deceiving. For four years, there has been no paranormal activity at the cottage or reports of suicides or murders in the area. Merryweather Lodge is the fairytale kingdom Emily always dreamt it would be—or so it seems. In just one week, Emily is going to marry the man of her dreams, her literal soul mate. Will her unearthly adversary allow the wedding to take place? Come to the West Country in England and experience the final act at Merryweather Lodge.

Merryweather Lodge is a trilogy that borders a lot of different genres, from thriller to romance. From the first book we have followed Emily down a scary road of battling her evil ancestor the Druid priestess Merhia, we thought it was over with in the second book but nope, Merhia is still demanding on getting her revenge.

Ultimate Sacrifice is another edge of your seat read. My only downside was the use of the child Abby, I just can’t hack a child being used by any evil spirit. Other than that the story was great, it held my attention in many ways. I loved the characters and I loved that I got to follow Emily from teen to adult. I also have to give kudos to the author because Emily is very young when this series started out so the author had to write this character as she grew. I think she did an awesome job because you can really tell the changes in her character in each book. 

This time around Emily finds out a lot more about the past of her Auntie when Skye offers to put Auntie Em under hypnosis. I’ll just say this hypnosis gives a lot of insight and it really ties everything together. As things unravel from the past things are starting to heat up as Marhia, is yet again preparing to stake claim to Jonathan.
I recommend this series to anyone who loves a good edge of your seat thriller with the addition of paranormal.

A good ending for a great trilogy. 

Reading suggestion-  trilogy should be read in order. 

Please spay and neuter your pets.

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/