Review Destiny's Flower by Linda Harley

Title: Destiny's Flower (Saldiora, #1)
Author: Linda Harley
Source: Author
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Length: Novel (312 pgs)
Reviewed by CaroleDee



Doctor Lynn Davis is kidnapped by handsome Lord Kyle von Talion and taken to a far off planet, Saldiora. As she finds herself in this unfamiliar culture, she must learn to fight with a sword, ride a talking horse, and endure the politics of a royal court if she is to survive. 

Kyle has his hands full keeping Lynn from making cultural blunders and ensuring her safety. The Juntu's are plotting to take over Saldiora and consider Lynn to be a threat to their success. 

Will Lynn live long enough to fulfill her destiny and save the kingdom of Saldiora?
 

Alright, Sci-Fi and Fantasy lovers out there have I got a treat for you. Destiny's Flower is like the love child of Star Trek and Game of Thrones.  Sounds like an odd mix, right? Well, it works and I couldn't seem to put it down! (Definitely a family starver. You know, one of those books that you can't seem to get away from, even to make dinner! Thank goodness my husband indulges my book obsession ;)

What starts off as a normal day for Lynn Davis quickly turns into an episode from the Twilight Zone. She's lecturing her class when two men (who she assumes are government types) bust in and start questioning her identity. Before she knows it she finds herself on a spaceship, training for a competition that hasn't even been explained to her. Talk about a crazy week!

Soon she finds herself on the planet of  Saldiora. (This is where we go from Star Trek to medieval times with a technologically advanced twist.) Lynn learns to train in sword combat, horse riding, and aristocracy traditions all so she win the competition (along with it the hand of the Prince) she has unknowingly been prophesied to win.

Sound like a wild ride? Well, I haven't even mentioned that there's a radical faction of Saldorians (The Jutus) that will stop at nothing to ensure Lynn never becomes queen!

The romance is light in this installment of the Saldiora series, but there is tons of action, adventure, and character development. For unforgettable characters and a wild be sure to check out Destiny's Flower. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Because Destiny's Flower ends on, somewhat of, a cliffhanger, I had a mini Q and A with the author to get a few answers. 

Any ideas on a release date of the second book in the Saldiora saga? 

It is currently in the draft stages, and my goal is to have it published around the December time frame.

Do you know yet how many books you plan on the series being? Will future books revolve only around Lynn's adventures?

These two questions really go together.  I've got 3 books planned for Lynn's story which will make up the Saldiora series. They will all focus on Lynn.  

 

If you look at my website, there is also the Nuelda series, which plays of decades before the Saldiora series, and focuses on a girl called Anna McKlendle.  Lynn actually meets her in Book 2 of Saldiora series.  The Nuelda series will be an ongoing series of short stories, and I've got several season planned, and may one day compile it into one book.  For now it is meant to be something that all my fans across the world can enjoy for free.  

 

There are a few other stories I have in mind that are begging to be told, but like any artist I'm struggling between keeping back to the same world or the excitement of trying my hand on something completely new.  But for the moment I can push those tendencies aside as I focus on getting Saldiora done.

And this might seem like an odd one, but will there be any love scenes in future installments?

If by love scenes you mean sex, than absolutely not, there will be nothing graphical or erotic and in fact not even suggestions of sex.  The reason being, I'm writing this book for all ages. I want my 10 year old niece and my 73 year old mom to enjoy the book without having to blush. So, my stories will always be "g" rated. However, there will be some hand holding, a little bit of kissing, hugging, and a lot of falling in and out of love occurring.

Thanks to Linda Harley for indulging my curiosity. I can't wait to see what happens next!

About the author
 

Linda Harley was born in Durban, South Africa and at the age of 7 developed a love for music and writing. She received her BS and MS in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA in 2002 and 2004, respectively and in 2011 she received her PhD in Applied Physiology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Linda loves to travel and see the world. Experiencing new cultures and immersing herself into these cultures is a daily adventure for her.

Connect with Linda:
Website | Facebook | Amazon Author Page

For extra’s, excerpts and interesting facts about the world of Saldiora be sure to check out Linda's blog HERE

Guest author Poppy Dennison

An Immortal Soul

By Poppy Dennison

Mind. Body. Soul. There’s something magical in those three words, a yearning for balance that hides deep with us all. Or, if you’re one of my readers, it means that you can finally get your hands on the final book of my Triad trilogy, Soul Magic.

I knew from the get-go that Soul Magic would be the hardest book for me to write. How to really delve into the magic of the soul? I created a world where all three types of magic are pivotal, but Soul Magic…man, I’ve got to tell you I was biting my nails as I told this final story.  This book features Cormac, a centuries old vampire as he comes to terms with his past—a past which has come back to haunt him.

When I first created the Triad world, I looked at other famous vampires as inspiration. What stood out to me the most was the duality of their natures. The romantic hero vampires we all know and love (Angel, Eric Northman, the Salvatore brothers from The Vampire Diaries) all seem to have this good side/bad side that really draws me in as a viewer and a reader.

Will Eric change his wicked ways for Sookie or will he always have his bite first, think later attitude (In Eric’s case, I’m voting for the second…he is a sexy bad guy, don’t you think??) I love watching Damon Salvatore smirk his way through an episode as he watches his brother struggle with his vampirism.

I approached Cormac’s character in a similar way. Much like Eric Northman, Cormac’s been around for a couple centuries. In my world, his immortality is connected to the Soul Magic he receives after being turned into a vampire. But Cormac is different—he started life with the Mind Magic of the mages and the remnants of that magic still reside inside him.

Review and Giveaway The Earl With the Dragon Tattoo by Teresa Wilde

Title: The Earl With the Dragon Tattoo
Author: Teresa Wilde
Source: Author
Genre: Regency Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel (256 pgs)
Reviewed by CaroleDee

Dark times have fallen over England. The war with France is taking its toll on the Calend, the hidden society of magic users devoted to keeping the country safe from magical and human threats.Maeve Llwyd has spent her life trying to escape her mother's scandalous reputation, teaching at a magical academy for young ladies, obeying every strict rule in the hopes of being accepted in the Calend world. When she receives a prophetic warning that a dark power is gathering the pieces of a weapon that has been lost for a thousand years to bring down never ending darkness on England, her every fear becomes reality—she is called on to sacrifice her reputation in order to gain the power she needs to fight, ensuring that she will lose her position at her beloved school and be rejected by the Calend. But nothing is more desperate than finding the ancient weapons before the enemy—a shadow druid who craves using them to bring England to its knees.

Constantine Armitage, Earl of Evengate, lives his life at the bottom of a bottle, punishing himself for the death of his cousin. But one dark night, he is thrown into Maeve's life. The lovely witch lives in a strange world of spells and threats, driven to protect those around her, even though they will never thank her for it, or even know. Though she resents his interference and rejects his aid, he wants nothing more than to help her, and if he kills himself in the process, so much the better...

Wow, what an absolutely fantastic read. You can always tell when I love a book because I'm at a loss for words. You would think it would be the other way around and I would be able to go on and on. It's just so hard when I liked something so much to try to get just the right words down! So, bare with me while I try to convey how much I loved The Earl With the Dragon Tattoo.

You get an entire magical world filled with witches, druids and other magical creatures right underneath, seemingly, normal London. The war in France has taken a lot of the witches away from the shores of England, but the safety of it's citizens still need to be upheld by someone. Leaving Maeve, the leader of a young coven of witches, to stop evil from trying to take over.  

Maeve is a strong female character made that way from a less than pristine lineage. The daughter of a promiscuous actress she's made it her goal to never fill the sullied shoes her mother left behind. Unfortunately, to gain more power she's told she must make a sacrifice, and it's one that just might throw her in the shoes that she never wanted to wear.

Constantine is a complex character. Since the death of his uncle and cousin he's lived as a shell of a man. Helping Maeve in her goals give him a purpose, but he still struggles to make more of his life. What starts as a clandestine meeting in Vauxhall gardens quickly turns into a relationship, but a very complicated one. 

Con and Maeve had me in a tailspin. One minute I would laugh about their mutual hard-headedness, and the next I just wanted to shake them and scream for them to just suck it and be happy together! And when two characters have me that invested, you know you have a winner ;)

For those of you looking for something more than a romance, know that The Earl also has a very action driven plot. The magic in this book is used, and not just as an interesting skill a few of the characters have. Just think of it as an Urban Fantasy set in Regency England, heavy on the romance. (Easy enough, right? LOL) 

I sincerely hope that Teresa Wilde makes this into the series. There were so many characters that I grew curious about and I can't wait to find out what their future hold! 

I loved this book so much that I want to get the word out. 

I'm offering a giveaway for a digital copy of The Earl With the Dragon Tattoo.  

*To be delivered through Amazon's Kindle or Barnes and Nobles Nook gift giving program*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Blood of Isis By: Elizabeth Otto

Title: Blood of Isis
Author: Elizabeth Otto
Source: Review Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 361 pages 
Reviewed by: Emi

When a designer drug rocks the small town of New Brighton and makes junkies spontaneously combust, Paramedic Jayda Swenson suspects the super-methamphetamine her husband created before his death has resurfaced. She’s worked hard to create a safe, tidy life and put her meth-ravaged past behind her. Jayda has a secret to keep and her new life is the perfect cover. But when tourists start disappearing and charred body remains crop up, Jayda learns the hard way that this drug doesn't just fry people’s minds—it also fuels demons.

Luckily, the sexy new medic, Ben Tierney, is a demon-hunter in disguise, except his demon-busting powers don’t work so well anymore. Until he realizes Jayda’s touch can refuel the energy he’s lost—a touch she’s not so willing to dish out. Now Jayda finds herself wedged between an ancient demon that knows her past and her secret, and Ben, who has plenty of secrets of his own. Fighting to hold onto her carefully controlled life, Jayda must decide if she’ll let Ben help her defeat the demons who threaten to infect the town by the 4th of July—even if it means exposing her true self and losing everything. Again.

Cover Reveal Tour and Giveaway: Imprints by Natalie Acres

Imprints (MFM) by Natalie Acres

(Dominate Wolves, Submissive Mates 1)

Menage Amour: Erotic Paranormal Western Consensual BDSM Menage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, werewolves, spanking, wax play, sex toys, HEA

Two pack masters discover an unyielding love in one woman by altering customs and forming new traditions destined to change the Wyoming Territory forever.  Imprinting upon and sharing a lover, the Alphas realize their packs much join together, but they will face great opposition when their chosen mate is confronted with a wrenching decision.

Pack masters Frank Smith and Jock Corrigan aren't enemies, but they aren't exactly friends.  Still, their similar fates have been altered by an unusual union they cannot deny.  Their relationship with Carla Cassidy forces several wolves to make their independent choices.  One will stand with the newly formed pack, but another will fall victim to his own selfish needs and motives.  A  group of new shifters will emerge and change the course of history, but not before the expanding pack's goals are tested and tried.

Buy Links:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Imprints-Dominant-Submissive-Publishing-ebook/dp/B00CIVXVQE

Natalie Acres Profile Page

Amazon Profile: http://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Acres/e/B002T575KC/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review Dragon Moon by Nulli Para Ora

Title: Dragon Moon (Dragon Moon #1) 

Author: Nulli Para Ora

Source: Author request

Genre: PNR Wolf shifter

Length: Novel

Reviewed by Laurie 

A business trip to China. A fight for their lives. Will Angelique and David become pawns in a werewolf war or does fate have something else in store?

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 businessman. 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?

ARC Review for Breath of Fire by Liliana Hart

Title: Breath of Fire
Author: Liliana Hart
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Reviewer: Cerridwen

"Born to be mates destined to be enemies. "

A "Rena Drake" Novel

Since the Banishment, Rena has become the Drakan Enforcer, cleaning up the messes her dragon brethren make in order to keep their presence in the human world hidden.

When a group of rogue Drakan begins killing dragons who refuse to join the army of the Destroyer the dragon they believe will become their true king Rena has no choice but to take action.

Special Agent Noah Ford appears, seemingly out of nowhere, to offer his assistance and protection. Protection, from a human? Hell, no. But something about him draws her hypnotically, erotically close. Some secret he refuses to reveal.

Every clue Rena uncovers indicates Julian, leader of one of the five clans, is the Destroyer. But when she confronts Julian, the blue mating fire a phenomenon that hasn t been seen since the Banishment engulfs them both.

Burning with need for two very different men, Rena must choose to kill the one destined to be her mate. Or see her people s dreams of home turned to a pile of ashes.

Warning: This novel contains high-speed car chases, crackling thighs, magic duels, naughty words, and sex on ceilings, tables, high in a tower, in the shower and you get the drift.

Indie Romance Convention Spotlight with Author Donna McDonald

Tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to become a writer.

I have always been a writer.  I just haven't always written for myself or written what I wanted to write.  I started that in 2011 when I put up the first two books in the Never Too Late Series and this began my romance writing career.  I surprised myself last year when I finished my first Scifi/Fantasy romance in the Forced to Serve series.  Initially I was inspired by the need to tell stories.  Now I'm inspired by the readers who write to me after they read one of my books.  I love hearing that I made readers laugh or cry or get excited over a plot.  This is the best job I have ever had.

What type of romance do you write and why?

I write contemporary romances or what I usually describe as "romantic comedies".  They are humorous and not exactly mainstream with their older characters.  Those meet one need.  But I also write SciFi, Fantasy, and Paranormal romance.  I get to experiment, write fight scenes, and generally play with the fantastic versus the realistic.  I find I need both to be a happy author.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on a Contemporary called "Covered in Paint" which is Book 5 of the Art Of Love series  I'm also working on "The Demon's Change" which is Book 5 of the Forced to Serve series.  Writing is going more slowly for me this year, but I hope to finish both these by the beginning of summer.

Who would you pick if you could have "Breakfast With the Author"?

Wow.  Tough question.  At this time, I would pick Eve Langlais or Evangeline Anderson probably.  They both write their SciFi/Fantasy romances a bit more erotically than I do and I love their aliens.  I'd love to hear how they came up with their alien story lines.  Creating a entire make-believe world is not easy.  Incredibly fun maybe, but not easy.  I have great admiration for those who do it.

Just for fun - which do you prefer:
Cats or dogs?
I am a dog person and prefer big breeds.
Wake up early or stay up late?
I am a night person, but often wish I was a morning person.
Blonds or brunettes?
For what? Hmmm...can I say both?
Hot weather or cold?
Hot weather, I hate the cold

Donna's book, The Demon of Synar is currently free at ebook retailers.

Blurb for The Demon of Synar: Forced to Serve Book One

Being captain of his own rescue ship is the kind of life Captain Liam Synar always dreamed of living.  Being a master of his family's hereditary demon was never in his plans because his brother had been trained for the purpose.  Yet what choice did his father have when Conor's evil came to light?  Reluctant or not, Liam is the only Synar left to rule Malachi.  Now his exiled brother hunts him to capture the demon while Liam stays on the run and saves Peace Alliance ambassadors in his spare time.  As if that isn't enough trouble to handle, his mate, Ambassador Ania Looren, now unknowingly hosts his family's demon inside her body.  Liam sent Malachi there to save her life after Conor's men almost killed her.  And though Liam hadn't wanted to, there had been no choice but to abandon her two years ago.  His plan of keeping both her and the demon safe from Conor had worked, but his success at hiding what he'd done has finally reached an end.  His next rescue has to be his estranged mate before Conor finally figures out the truth.

After accepting only one mate in her long life, Ambassador Ania Looren is now wishing the number had remained at zero forever.  Mating Captain Liam Synar is turning out to be the worst mistake she ever made.  Something happened after Liam abandoned her, something more than just the pain of losing her chosen male from her life.  Something about his absence has stripped away the peaceful enlightenment she struggled years to achieve.  Now she can't meditate, can't pray, and her compassion of other creatures seems to be dying.  She is becoming again the kind of person she's spent her existence trying not to be.  On top of that, she's been accused of murdering three males who attacked her and her family  She doesn't even remember what happened that day.  Now Liam is back and demanding she go with him to his ship.  What choice does she have?  Ania reluctantly agrees because it's a better fate than being arrested and put through social reconditioning on her planet.  The half life she's been living for two years is no more worth keeping that her mating commitment to a male who obviously hadn't wanted her after all.

Exerpt:

“Did my brother Conor send you to kill me?” Synar demanded. “I warn you, your death means nothing to me now, so you might as well try to redeem yourself before the Creators receive you.”

“Yes. Conor sent us. He wants you and the demon. He said to take you alive, but kill everyone else that got in our way. The stun was meant only to wound, not to kill you. I swear it.”

“If my mate dies, you will die. If she lives, you will take a message back to my brother and tell him that killing Malachi’s host bodies won’t gain him anything. Your inept group left plenty more bodies for the demon to inhabit.”

Synar turned from the nodding male to look at Dorian. “Take this coward out of my sight and send medical help to look after Ania.”

“Indeed,” Dorian said, grabbing the male by his arm and dragging him out of the room.

Synar went back to his mate, kneeling down to cradle her again. “Ania? Can you hear me?”

“I don’t know why I did not see this coming, Liam. I’m sorry. I guess all I could think about today was you.” Ania tried to reassure her worried mate with a smile, but her eyes closed and the blackness she drifted in claimed her once more.

“Malachi, come out now and do no harm,” Synar called, his voice heavy. In his concern for Ania’s impending death, he forgot not to speak. Despite his natural Norblade calm, the pressure inside him to scream was barely restrained. He couldn’t let Ania die when he had the power to stop it from happening. He just couldn’t.

“Damn me if you must—but I don’t care if this is right or wrong,” Synar said, sending the words to the Creators of All. He looked then at the demon mist floating in front of him. For a single moment he paused, but when he finally spoke, all hesitation was gone. “Malachi. Demon of Synar. Enter this female’s body and lend her your life. Ania Looren is your new host.”

But Liam—you can’t mean to put me in a female. Malachi’s vibrations wavered as he protested the gender with both disdain—and shock.

“You will go into the host body I have chosen and do all I ask. You will repair Ania’s physical form and take no more from her than what is necessary for your survival. She is never to know you inhabit her. She is to remain just as she was before you,” Synar ordered. “Enter the female and heal her. I am your master. As I command, you will obey.”

This is a mistake, Liam, Malachi chastised. I am to be put into warriors and used to fight evil armies. Why do you dishonor the sacred contract? There is no redemption for me in this enlightened female.

“It’s either go into Ania Looren, or into the amulet, demon. If Ania dies, I will lock you away and drop the amulet into the volcanoes on Terris One. Your spirit will not die, but you will never live in a host again either. You can truly spend eternity in a fiery pit like many beings fear doing.”

Malachi hovered, flexed, but finally acquiesced. His tie to the Synar family exceeded his power to deny his current master. Cursing the Creators of All once more, he resigned himself to a dreary existence in the female for a while. He pulled his mist form together more tightly. I hear and will do all that you command, he vowed, disappearing quickly into the body of the female while Liam turned his head away until it was done.

Moments later, Ania’s eyes fluttered open and Synar let out a ragged breath of relief that he hadn’t been too late. “Ania—are you still with me? Help is on the way.”

“What happened, Liam? Jonas. . .”

“Rest. . .don’t try to talk. We were attacked by an enemy, Ania. Fortunately, the weapon was not set to kill instantly. You are severely wounded, but I believe you will survive.”

“Good. Is everyone safe now?” Ania asked, moaning at the pain.

“Yes, but I fear this is not the end of it. I must leave you and go seek those that did this to make sure they will not do so again,” Synar said sadly. “You will be safe with your family. I will come back for you when I am done.”

“Take me with you. I’ll heal on the ship,” Ania demanded.

“No. I can’t put a high-level Peace Alliance ambassador at so much risk. Heal while I am gone. Let your family care for you. Serve your planet until I return from my task.” 

If you want to see more about Donna or follow what she's up to (which includes a soon to be release audio book of Demon of Synar), then check her out on the web:

Donna's website: http://www.donnamcdonaldauthor.com

Donna's blog:  http://http://donnamcdonald.blogspot.com/

Indie Convention Spotlight with Author Caris Roane

Embrace the Dark (The Blood Rose)

Enter a world of blood-starved mastyr vampires and the rare women who can satisfy their deepest needs…

How can he resist his blood rose…
Gerrod, mastyr vampire of the Merhaine Realm, never thought to have his blood-needs satisfied by a mere human. But Abigail is no ordinary woman. She stuns him with her telepathy as well as the richness of her blood. However, her human DNA makes her an unacceptable mate. Yet how can Gerrod turn her away when she alone has satisfied his blood-starvation for the first time in a hundred-and-fifty-years?

Will she fall to temptation and give herself to a vampire…
When the dreaded enemy of all realm-folk, the Invictus, attacks at a fae wedding, Abigail’s simple human life gets turned upside down. She doesn’t know if she has the courage to pursue a path that means giving herself body and soul to a mastyr vampire. Will she return to her normal existence in Flagstaff, Arizona? Or will she embrace the dark…

Embrace the Dark is the first in The Blood Rose Series

And don't miss Caris Roane's  Gaurdians of Ascension series!

Vampire. Warrior. Legend. Lover.

Discover a secret, sensual world of winged vampire warriors and the women they crave—in an epic battle between unearthly longing and immortal love...

On The Wings Of Desire

Alison Wells is no ordinary woman. Born with supernatural powers, she can never make love to a man without putting him in grave danger. But when her special vision reveals a glorious muscled man soaring overhead on mighty wings, she feels an overwhelming attraction she cannot resist—even as he tells her: "I have come for you. Your blood belongs to me."

In The Heat Of Passion

Kerrick is a vampire and a warrior who has fought his hunger for a woman's love for the past two hundred years. As a Guardian of Ascension, he is sworn to protect Alison from the death vamp armies who crave her blood and her power. But Kerrick has cravings of his own—a forbidden longing to open his heart and veins to Alison. To share his blood...satisfy his thirst...and seal their fates forever.
See more at Caris Roane website!! http://www.carisroane.com/

Review: The Demon's Song, Hearts of the Fallen: Book One By: Kendra Leigh Castle

Title: The Demon's Song, Hearts of the Fallen: Book One
Author: Kendra Leigh Castle
Source: Review Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 242 pages

Reviewed by: Emi 

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. At least, that's how it seems to Sofia Rivera when her attempt to help a friend ends in a blood-soaked confrontation with creatures that aren't even supposed to exist. With a group of rogue vampires determined not to leave a single witness to their violence hot on her heels, Sofia finds herself saddled with an immortal bodyguard—Phenex, the fallen Angel of Song.

While the vampire king roots out the corruption threatening to take down his underworld kingdom, Sofia will have to deal with a fallen angel whose dark beauty is often at odds with his ornery nature. Slowly, Sofia and Phenex give in to the strange attraction neither can deny. And as the darkness closes in around them, Phenex begins to wonder whether even the wickedest Fallen might find his own happy ending...and his heart.

Eve Langlais is offering Delicate Freakn’ Flower, for free at most online stores.

Below is copied from Eve's blog. http://evelanglais.com/excerpt/DFF.htm#.UYPuD7Wzfzw

Kindle/Amazon Now Offering Delicate Freakn’ Flower Free for a Limited Time!

Copied from Eve's blog

For a limited time, Delicate Freakn’ Flower, book one in the Freakn’ Shifters series, is free at most online stores.
Here are the links to the stores offering the free copy:

• Amazon (Kindle)
• B & N (Nook)
• Apple
• Kobo
• AllRomance
• Smashwords
• Bookstrand

What are you waiting for? Download your free copy and prepare to giggle, and fan yourself, as the stubborn heroine tries to fight fate–and the amorous attention of two male shifters determined to claim her.

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?

Interview with author Mary Ellen Taylor

Mary Ellen Taylor interview

Hello Mary, I’m so happy to have you here with us today. After reading your book I fell in love with the whole setting, the character and the bakery itself. Would you please tell everyone your inspiration for writing The Union Street Bakery?

Adoption is very near and dear to my heart.  My youngest child is adopted and I couldn’t help but notice that adoptees have lots of joys but also worries and concerns about family.  Seemed natural to take these emotions and work them into a character.

I loved how you entwined the paranormal, history and mystery all together. But what I really enjoyed was how the mystery and history seemed to unravel as I was reading. So, my question is how hard was it to keep up with the history and mystery during your writing process?

ARC Review Kalindra by Sondrae Bennett

Title: Kalindra 

Author: Sondrae Bennett 

Source: Author request

Genre: PRN

Length: Novella

Reviewed by Laurie 

Release date May 6, 2013

Harpy Kalindra stumbles upon three human corpses who’ve mysteriously

crossed from Earth into Outremer through the portal she guards. A human prisoner with two traveling vampires seems her only clue. She captures the man, and brings him back to her lair to discover the truth–not only why he came to Outremer, but how he got past the defenses of the gate. She expects answers. What she doesn’t expect is the intense attraction she feels for him…attraction he seems to share.

Cameron has a secret. For years, he’s used a shard of the gateway to cross worlds without detection–for his own gain. When the gatekeeper saves him from the clutches of vampires who want the shard, he learns she’s not just another monster from Outremer. He can’t resist his attraction to her human form, and before long he’s feeling more than simple lust for her.

Kalindra’s gateway comes under constant attack from creatures who want what Cameron has. The assaults are his fault, but he can’t hand over the shard, which is a family legacy. He must convince Kalindra he can help defend the gate…but how?

Book promo/giveaway Duality by ER Pierce

Blurb:

Cordelia Kelly is running from her past and her destiny. She is a dual-natured empath – meaning she is receptive to the emotional aura, positive and negative, of those around her. Cordelia struggles to create harmony between the light and dark sides of her existence. She's also an elemental, but her inherent powers are slowly manifesting with age and time. The scales of good versus evil are tilting in the wrong the direction.

Will she succumb or evolve to fulfill her destiny?

Sol Winterborn is not your typical hero, if anything he’s an anti-hero. Moral indecision riddle his path to redemption, but the undeniable truth he holds onto is his search for his lighthouse – his soul mate. When fate throws Cordelia in his path, he's unprepared but can't stay away. Her siren call sings a song he can't ignore. He sees in her a kindred spirit, and possibly the one he’s searched long nights to find. Will Cordelia be the key to unlock his heart?

When his own dark past catches up with him, will he risk his life for love?

Buy Links: 

US - http://www.amazon.com/Duality-ebook/dp/B00CH5BELK

UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duality-ebook/dp/B00CH5BELK

Author ~ ER Pierce

ER Pierce Website
Personal Facebook Profile
FaceBook Author Page
Goodreads Author Page
Amazon Author Page

Giveaway is for two ebook copies - open internationally. Choice of format. To enter please fill out the Rafflecopter 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review and Trailer: Apocalyptic Moon by Eva Gordon

Title: Apocalyptic Moon
Author: Eva Gordon
Source: Author Request
Genre: Dystopian Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: May 10, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Dr. Dora Adler's life has been in disarray since the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, but when she gets bitten by one of the undead, her whole world is turned upside down.  Held captive in a secret underground lab, the tall, muscular hunk in the next cell is her only hope for salvation.  Unfortunately, he claims to be a werewolf.  Yeah, and she's supposedly a witch.

Dirk Gunderson is an alpha Arbor pack werewolf.  Captured and collared, he's sold to the zombie lab in hopes his blood serum can create a vaccine.  He needs to escape, but not without the hot little brunette witch.

In the midst of enemy werewolves and the hordes of undead, Dirk and Dora's sexual tension ignites a blaze hotter than the desert highway.  Along their journey, they battle the inevitable: a werewolf must never take a witch as a mate.

Yes, you read the genre correctly.  I consider this a dystopian story - one with zombies taking over the world and civilization crumbling.  But that doesn't mean that a werewolf can't meet a witch in a super secret underground medical lab trying to find a cure.  And it doesn't mean that even though they are both prisoners, that they can't fall in love and in happily every after.....right?

Of course there is the ban against werewolves mating with witches, the massive hordes of zombies waiting to eat them, and the general chaos that one would expect at the end of the world.  But that doesn't stop Dirk and Dora from giving everything they can to make it work - screw the rest, they'll deal with it later.

Dora has become one of my favorite heroines, her snarky attitude and determined mindset were a perfect fit for this story.  Loaded with all the action you could ask for, and plenty of hot werewolf all along the way, I finished hoping for more - and I hear there's a second in the works and I can't wait!

Cover Reveal and Excerpt: Eternal Nights by V.S. Nelson

Title: Eternal Nights - Sekhmet's Guardians #2

Author: V.S. Nelson
Publisher: Createspace
Release Date: May 1, 2013

With each passing day Jessica’s consciousness grew stronger. For twenty years she was content to remain as she was—trapped inside another. The life she led came to an abrupt end the moment she laid eyes on Raphael. At first she suspected they were destined to be together--his gentle touch confirmed it. Although he didn’t know it, he ignited waves of a fiery passion that burned deep into her soul. It became brighter every day, giving her the strength she needed. Somehow she would find a way to free herself from her grandmother’s powerful magic.

Since her birth she learned vicariously from observing others of her kind and until now she was satisfied with the life she led. She had everything one would need to live a meaningful life without the stress the human world inflicts on its inhabitants. With each passing day her obsession to be more than she was, intensified. Jessica knew she was gifted with her race's abilities to communicate with others but until now she had never used them. They say practice makes perfect and she was at a point now where she could make her presence known—at least to him. 

Excerpt from Eternal Nights 

Chapter Forty Two

Jennifer couldn’t help herself; she burst out laughing picturing her oversized, muscle bound 5,000 year old immortal struggling with what normal folks did everyday.

“Jennifer, that’s not fair. Give a man a break, will ya?”

Her attempt to smother her laughter failed miserably.

“I know, but it’s just so damn funny. I know you probably haven’t had to fix yourself something to eat in what, a couple hundred years? …  Oh God, I think I’m so tired, I’m getting slap happy.”

More laughter erupted over the phone line.

“Glad I could bring a little sunshine into your life… and it’s been more like a couple of thousand years… Thank you very much… Now you want to tell me where I can find a couple of plates.”

“Try the cabinet above where you found the knife.”

He opened the cabinet she directed him to.

”Smart ass! I’m feeling rather stupid here and you’re not helping matters.”

“I’m sorry. So tell me something, why didn’t you call Harold and have him make you something? Or go back over to the Bunkhouse to eat?”

“Because I thought I could do it myself! Crap, I didn’t know I was going to need a God damn road map to find where everything was in your kitchen. Do you know how many damn drawers and cabinet are in this place?”

“You’re the one who had the house built… remember?”

“Yeah, don’t remind me. At this point I’m ready to blow up the damn thing… well at least the kitchen.”

“Hey, don’t you go doing anything to my kitchen. I like it just fine the way it is.”

“Too late.”

“What do you mean too late?”

Silence

“Gabriel, answer me… What did you do?”

“You know the center drawer on the china hutch--well it kind of had a little accident.”

“What do you mean it kind of had an accident, what happened?”

“Ah… a… the handle came off in my hand.”

“Not a big deal. When I get home, I’ll have the repair man come over and put it back on.”

“Ah… Honey… I don’t think it’s fixable.”

“Why not, it’s just a knob… the repairman can put it back on.”

“No, he can’t… Trust me on this one, ok?”

“Gabriel, tell me the truth, what happened?”

“Well, when the thing came off in my hand, the drawer fell onto the floor. I tried to pick it up and put it back together but I was already frustrated trying to find the damn knife and I guess the anger got the best of me…”

“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED IN HERE… Did a bomb go off?”

 Raphael’s loud voice echoed over the phone line. She heard her husband try and quiet Raphael by shushing him.

“Is that Jennifer?” Raphael asked, “If it is, you better not tell her… better yet, let me talk to her… Give me that phone.”

She could hear the little tug a war going on between the two. Raphael finally managed to get on the line.

“Hello, Jen… ah… ah… you’re still at the main house, right? …Good… because I don’t think you want to come home anytime soon… No, no, he’s ok… it’s your kitchen that has met with the destructive force of a hurricane…yeah, no problem… Un-huh… yeah, I’ll call a repairman… OK, here he is.”

Raphael handed the phone to Gabriel. “Here, she wants to talk to you.”

“Honey, as I was trying to explain, I just had a little accident with the china hutch… well hold on… I’m getting to that part… I was holding the knob in my hand when the drawer fell out then I guess I crushed it… and then I got mad because I knew you would be upset and I kicked the drawer... It kind of exploded into a hundred pieces… and the window broke… yes, I know… Yes, I should be more careful… Un-huh… not much else… I couldn’t figure out how to open the dishwasher… Yes, Dear… anyway… it kind of fell off its hinges too… not much else… except your oven isn’t working right. I tried to make some pasta and the door flew open and my pasta ended up… ok, here he is… I love you… Honey, I’m really sorry… ok, here he is”

Gabriel handed the phone back to Raphael who just stood looking at the disaster zone that was once been a kitchen, shaking his head.

“Yes, Jen, I’m here…Yeah, it’s pretty bad… No, it wasn’t the oven… It was the microwave…. Yes… No… I think it can all be repaired… Yes, Jen, I’ll make sure… Ok, I’ll talk to you later… Have a great day… Bye.”

Raphael shook his head at Gabriel then burst out laughing at his friend’s pathetic face.  He knew he had taken a tongue lashing from Jennifer and was definitely in the dog house.

“Didn’t you even think about asking for help?”

“Not until it was too late… It’s your fault anyway!”

“What the hell is that suppose to mean? I wasn’t even here… I was asleep!”

“Exactly… I came in here to fix us both something to eat… If you had been awake, you could have helped.”

“Oh, no, I’m not going there with you, buddy… This is your mess and your doing. I know better than to cross a woman, especially Jennifer. She’d have both of us skinned alive if I had been involved.”

“Well shit! How about you help me finish fixing these sandwiches then we’ll call in a repair man after we eat?”

“I’ve got a better plan. You let me make the sandwiches and you call the entire repair team over here. It’s going to take more than one man to put this kitchen back in order.”

Raphael waded through the debris to get to the counter that held the supplies to make the sandwiches. Gabriel took out his cell and called the service department.

Gabriel and Raphael waded their way back into the living room to eat the sandwiches Raphael made. About half way through his second sandwich Gabriel looked over at Raphael.

“You know it really is Jennifer’s fault… If she had hired a cook, none of this would have happened.”

“Gabe, quit trying to put the blame on someone else and man up, will ya?”

Pouting, he asked Raphael if he thought Jennifer was going to forgive him.

“Yeah, I think so…she loves you even if you did destroy her kitchen… Look on the bright side, with any luck at all, she’ll be stuck in that house for a couple more days and the repairmen will have the kitchen remodeled by the time she gets to come home.”

“I’d rather she walk right through the door now and face her wrath than have to be without her another night.”

Gabriel hung his head and finished his sandwich.

If you want to learn more about V.S. Nelson and her new book or follow what she's up to, check her out online:

Author's website: http://www.authorvsnelson.com/

Author's blog: http://authorvsnelson.com/blog/

Author's twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorVSNelson

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6887735.V_S_Nelson?auto_login_attempted=true

Author's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SekhmetsGuardians

Review: A Surefire Way by J.T. Bock

Title: A Surefire Way
Author: J. T. Bock
Source: Author Request
Genre: Science Fiction / Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: April 1, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

UltraAgent Surefire's plan is simple: Capture the transhuman thief Raven.  Win back the respect of her father.  Get a raise.

Easy, right?

Except Surefire just broke the number one rule of her employer, UltraSecurity, a niche security firm that solves crimes committed by genetically enhanced humans like Raven.  She trailed Raven into a warehouse without any backup.  And something more powerful than any transhuman is waiting inside.

Raven's plan is simple: Atone for his past crimes.  Return stolen spiritual artifacts to restore the world's balance.  Don't get caught by UltraSecurity.

Easy, right?

Until a spunky UltraSecurity agent is suddenly on his tail, although Raven wishes she was on ... well, never mind ... he can't get distracted from his mission.  Because she's followed him into a warehouse filled with his reclaimed relics, and Raven's ex-partner is crime is about to unleash a supernatural-sized complication into his plan.

His old partner has accidentally summoned an Aztec god who will destroy the world unless Raven stops this spirit with a superiority complex.  To do this, Raven must team up with Surefire and reveal the truth about his powers, exposing her to a force that can either save the world or destroy them both.

Following Raven into that warehouse throws Surefire into a surreal world filled with moody gods, day-glo skulls, dizzying dimensional portals, maniacal half-roach magicians, and a sexy thief who is more than he appears under his snug t-shirt.  Is Raven a criminal, or is he working for a higher power?  Surefire needs to be certain, because if she joins him on this mission, she's have to surrender everything she believed in for a surefire way to save the world, discover her destiny and find true love.

ARC Review: Wicked as She Wants by Delilah S. Dawson

Title: Wicked as She Wants (Blud, #2)
Author: Delilah S. Dawson
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Paranormal romance (steam-punk)
Length: Novel (384 pgs)
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Reviewed by: CaroleDee


When Blud princess Ahnastasia wakes up, drained and starving in a suitcase, she’s not sure which calls to her more: the sound of music or the scent of blood. The source of both sensations is a handsome and mysterious man named Casper Sterling. Once the most celebrated musician in London, Sangland, he’s fallen on hard times. Now, much to Ahna’s frustration, the debauched and reckless human is her only ticket back home to the snow-rimmed and magical land of Freesia.

Together with Casper’s prickly charge, a scrappy orphan named Keen, they seek passage to Ahna’s homeland, where a power-hungry sorceress named Ravenna holds the royal family in thrall. Traveling from the back alleys of London to the sparkling minarets of Muscovy, Ahna discovers that Freesia holds new perils and dangerous foes. Back in her country, she is forced to choose between the heart she never knew she had and the land that she was born to rule. But with Casper’s help, Ahna may find a way to have it all…


The second book in the darkly tempting Blud series, featuring a vampire princess who embarks upon a dangerous journey to claim what is rightfully hers.

Review of Bewitching Hour by Catharina Shields

Title: Bewitching Hour
Author: Catharina Shields
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Paranormal Romance - Witches, Warlocks, Druids
Release Date: November 13th 2012
Reviewed by Ollie

In 12th century Britain, an unfortunate young man, born with frightening deformities, is forced to live his life in the shadows of his father's great manse.

Terrifying all who would look upon him, he is destined to lead a life of loneliness and exile, hidden away from the world while dreaming of love. Born during the magical bewitching hour, can magic be his salvation and change his unfortunate fate?