Tuesday 30 September 2014

September 2014 Recap


Books read in August but reviewed in September:
(Links will take you to my reviews)
  1. Darkness Rising - Keri Arthur (read in June, review coming soon)
  2. Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell (read in June, reviewed in September)
  3. Branded by Fire - Nalini Singh (read in July, reviewed in September)
  4. Necessary Force - D.D. Ayres (Novella) (read in July, reviewed in September)
  5. The Glass Republic - Tom Pollock (read in July, reviewed in September)
  6. Fairies in the Fireplace - R.L. Naquin (read in July, reviewed in September)
  7. Red Glove - Holly Black (read in July, reviewed in September)
  8. Masters of Seduction - Anthology (read in July, review coming soon)
  9. Misled - Sylvia Day (Novella) (read in July, review coming soon)
  10. Beyond Addiction - Kit Rocha (read in August, review coming soon)
  11. The Training Session - Joey W. Hill (Novella / Serialised Novel) (read in August, review coming soon)
  12. The Dream Hunter - Sherrilyn Kenyon (read in August, reviewed in September)
  13. On the Scent - Angela Campbell (read in August, reviewed in September)
  14. Archangel's Shadows - Nalini Singh (read in August, review coming soon)
  15. Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson - Patricia Briggs (read in August, reviewed in September)
  16. The Assassin's Blade - Sarah J Maas (read in August, reviewed in September)
  17. Rescue My Heart - Jill Shalvis (read in August, reviewed in September)
  18. Rock Addiction - Nalini Singh (read in August, reviewed in September)
  19. Melt for Him - Lauren Blakely (read in August, reviewed in September)
Books read in September:
(Links will take you to my reviews)
  1. A Cursed Bloodline - Cecy Robson (review coming soon)
  2. Biting Bad - Chloe Neill (review coming soon)
  3. A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness (review coming soon)
  4. The Gifted Dead - Jenna Black (review coming soon)
  5. Irresistible Force - D.D. Ayres (review coming soon)
  6. Something Wicked - Angela Campbell (review coming soon)
  7. Sabriel - Garth Nix (review coming soon)
  8. Heir of Fire - Sarah J Maas (review coming soon)
  9. Daimon - Jennifer L. Armentrout (Novella) (review coming soon)
  10. Rock Courtship - Nalini Singh (Novella) (review coming soon)
  11. Half-Blood - Jennifer L. Armentrout (review coming soon)
  12. The King - Tiffany Reisz (review coming soon)
  13. Blaze of Memory - Nalini Singh (review coming soon)
  14. Dangerous Destiny - Suzanne Brockmann & Melanie Brockmann (Novella) (review coming soon)
  15. Enigma - Moira Rogers (review coming soon)
  16. Storm Glass - Maria V. Snyder (review coming soon)
  17. Power Study - Maria V. Snyder (Short Story) (review coming soon)
  18. Ice Study - Maria V. Snyder (Short Story) (review coming soon)
  19. Bonds of Justice - Nalini Singh (review coming soon)
  20. Dark Needs at Night's Edge - Kresley Cole (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
  21. The Last Good Knight - Tiffany Reisz (Novella) (review coming soon)
  22. Hard Knocks - Lori Foster (Novella) (review coming soon)
  23. Targeted - Katie Reus (review coming soon)
    (Choices are made from books reviewed this month and the links will take you to my reviews)

    My top YA read in September:


    The Glass Republic by Tom Pollock (read my review here)

    My top NA read in September:


    Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh (read my review here)

    My top adult reads in September:


    Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh (read my review here)
    Fairies in My Fireplace by R.L. Naquin (read my review here)

    2014 British Books Challenge:


    I'm very happy to continue hosting the British Books Challenge for 2014, the sign up pages are already live and I really hope that everyone taking part in 2013 will sign up again for next year. It would be great to see some new participants too though so even if you've never taken part before you can still join the fun!
    • To sign up for the challenge CLICK HERE
    • For Frequently Asked Questions about the challenge CLICK HERE
    Don't forget to link your reviews each month to be in with a chance of winning the monthly prize packs:
    My Challenge Updates:

    Here are the challenges I've joined for 2014

    2014 Read 100 Books in a Year Challenge - Read 180/200
    2014 British Books Challenge - Read 44/50
    2014 New Author Challenge - Read 42/50
    2014 Contemporary Romance Challenge - Read 67/100
    2014 Urban Fantasy  Paranormal Romance Challenge - Read 69/100

    Which challenges are you taking part in this year? I hope you've at least signed up for the British Books Challenge - if you haven't already it's not too late!

    Wednesday 24 September 2014

    Book Trailer: Night Sky - Suzanne & Melanie Brockmann (+ Giveaway)

    On the 7th of October you'll be able to purchase Night Sky, the first book in a new YA series written by mother and daughter writing team Suzanne and Melanie Brockmann. This sounds like a fabulous action packed series so I'm excited to share the cover and book trailer here today, There is also a prequel novella called Dangerous Destiny that is already available and currently free to download on Amazon (I'm not sure if this price will change so you might want to grab it while you can!)

    About Dangerous Destiny:
    See how it all begins . . .

    In this pulse-pounding prequel to the Night Sky series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann and her daughter Melanie Brockmann, Skylar has her first brush with Destiny. She's about to meet a boy who will change her life—and a girl who wants to end it.

    I know her.
    Know her from inside the dreams. Inside those terrible, murderous, bloody dreams. I've heard her-screaming, her voice mixing in an awful chorus with all those other girls. Little girls.

    Please, God.
    That's what one of the little girls keeps saying, in the dream that is not just a dream. Please, God.
    But I know better. There's no escaping this fate. This is destiny.
    I must kill Skylar.

    Skylar Reid is the new girl at school. Her mom just moved them to Florida—aka The Land of the Living Dead where the average age of her new neighbors was seventy-five—to start over. Skylar is not a fan of the change or her total lack of friends. Until she meets Calvin, a funny, sarcastic boy who doesn't let being in a wheelchair stop him from verbally shredding their preppy classmates. Skylar's just about to decide her new school's not a total loss when an odd girl wearing an oversized trench coat in the murderous Southern heat declares, "You're one of us." And then tries to kill her.

    About Night Sky:
    Sixteen-year-old Skylar Reid is thrown into a strange world when she discovers that she has unique telekinetic and telepathic powers. After Sasha, the child she babysits, is kidnapped and believed to be murdered, Sky and her best friend Calvin are approached by Dana, a mysterious girl who has super-abilities similar to Sky’s. With the help of Dana and her sidekick Milo, the four teens embark on a quest to discover who killed Sasha, and to bring the killers to justice.

    With Dana as Skylar’s surly and life-toughened mentor, Sky attempts to harness her powers to aid them in their quest. Complicating an already complex relationship with the older girl, Skystarts to fall for the dangerously handsome and enigmatic Milo – and begins to suspect that the attraction is mutual. But then Sky realizes that Sasha might still be alive, and the unlikely foursome’s mission becomes one of search and rescue, pitting the heroic teens against a very deadly enemy.

    Find Dangerous Destiny (Kindle) & Night Sky (Hardback / Kindle) on Amazon:
    Don't forget that Dangerous Destiny is currently free!



    About the authors:
    Suzanne Brockmann, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author, has won 2 RITA awards, numerous RT Reviewers’ Choice, and RWA’s #1 Favorite Book of the Year three years running. She has written over 50 books, and is widely recognized as a “superstar of romantic suspense” (USA Today). Suzanne and her daughter, Melanie Brockmann, have been creative partners, on and off, for many years. Their first project was an impromptu musical duet, when then-six-month-old Melanie surprised and delighted Suz by matching her pitch and singing back to her. Suzanne splits her time between Florida and Massachusetts while Mel lives in Sarasota, Florida. NIGHT SKY is Mel’s debut and Suzanne’s 55th book. Visit Suzanne at www.SuzanneBrockmann.com

    Night Sky book trailer:



    Giveaway:

    To celebrate the upcoming release of Night Sky the authors are holding a fabulous giveaway for a pack of YA books written by some fabulous authors. You can enter using the form below. The winner will be announced via Rafflecopter and contacted directly by the authors so that they can arrange to send out your prize.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Sunday 21 September 2014

    Review: Necessary Force - D.D. Ayres

    It was supposed to be a sexy calendar shoot to raise money for K-9 service dogs. Photographer Georgie Flynn never expected to break all her personal rules and jump into bed with one of the hunky men posing. And after their steamy night together, she certainly never expected to see him again…despite their powerful connection.

    When she's targeted by a stalker and possible bomber, Georgie finds that her gorgeous one-night stand is the only one who can help.

    Brad Lawson, an FBI operative, and his K-9 bomb sniffing partner are assigned to protect the pretty photographer--and this time, he’s determined to keep things professional. He just didn't count on their explosive connection rekindling. But with a deadly threat on the horizon, will he be able to keep his body’s demands in check and complete his mission?

    K-9 Rescue Series:
    Necessary Force (Novella)
    Irresistible Force
    Force of Attraction
    Primal Force
    Rival Forces (2016)

    Visit D.D. Ayres' website for more information.

    Review:
    Necessary Force is a prequel novella that introduces readers to D.D. Ayres' new K-9 Rescue series. As a fan of romantic suspense and an animal lover of course this series immediately caught my attention & I couldn't resist requesting a review copy on Netgalley.

    Photographer Georgie first meets Brad when he is one of the models posing for the photos she is taking for a charity calender. After an incredibly hot one night stand she never expected to see him again and it isn't until several months later when their paths cross. Unfortunately they only meet again because Georgie is being targeted by a stalker and when they do meet she realises that everything he told her before was a lie. Now he's supposed to be protecting her but Georgie isn't sure whether she can trust him.

    I think the main reason I didn't love this novella as much as I expected to was because of the lies that Brad had told when he first met Georgie. I didn't really think he had a plausible excuse for those lies and that made it hard for me to forgive him. Obviously in a novella the romance has to move fairly quickly but because I wasn't impressed with the way Brad had behaved I found it harder to accept that Georgie forgave him so quickly and was willing to jump into bed with him. I just think that if they'd had a simple one night stand with no awkward drama then I would have found it easier to believe that they could fall in love later down the line when they met again. That would have meant the story could have had a stronger focus on the suspense side of the story rather than the awkwardness between the two of them. The suspense side was a little on the lacking side because it was pretty obvious for a long time who the stalker was.

    It isn't all bad though and there are a lot of things I liked about the story. The writing is good, the sex scenes were hot and I did like both of the characters (if I ignored Brad's lies!). I think the problems with the lack of suspense and the rushed feeling romance will probably be significantly reduced in the next book which is a full length novel so will allow the author to expand on the elements that were missing slightly here. In spite of the problems Necessary Force is a quick and enjoyable read and it has definitely caught my interest enough to make me want to pick up Irresistible Force.

    Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Kindle:

    Saturday 20 September 2014

    Review: The Dream-Hunter - Sherrilyn Kenyon

    In the ethereal world of dreams there are champions who fight to protect the dreamer and there are demons who prey on them. Arik is such a predator. Condemned by the gods to live for eternity without emotions, Arik can only feel when he's in the dreams of others. Now, after thousands of years, he's finally found a dreamer whose vivid mind can fill his emptiness.

    Dr Megeara Kafieri made a reluctant promise to her dying father that she would salvage his reputation by proving his life-long belief that Atlantis is real. But frustration and bad luck dog her every step. Especially the day they find a stranger floating in the sea. His is a face she's seen many times - in her dreams. What she doesn't know is that Arik has made a pact with the god Hades: in exchange for two weeks as a mortal man, he must return to Olympus with a human soul. Megeara's soul.

    The Dark-Hunters Series:
    The Beginning (Short Story)
    Fantasy Lover
    Dragonswan (Novella) (Were-Hunter 0.5)
    Night Pleasures
    Night Embrace
    Dance with the Devil
    Kiss of the Night
    Night Play (Were-Hunter 1)
    Seize the Night
    Sins of the Night
    Unleash the Night (Were-Hunter 2)
    Dark Side of the Moon (Were-Hunter 3)
    The Dream-Hunter (Dream-Hunter 1)
    Fear the Darkness (Short Story)
    Devil May Cry
    Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunter 2)
    Dream Chaser (Dream-Hunter 3)
    Acheron
    One Silent Night
    Dream Warrior (Dream-Hunter 4)
    Bad Moon Rising (Hellchaser 1, Were-Hunter 4)
    Dark-Hunter: An Insider's Guide (Hellchaser 2)
    No Mercy (Were-Hunter 5)
    Retribution
    The Guardian (Dream-Hunter 5, Were-Hunter 6, Hellchaser 3)
    Time Untime (Were-Hunter 7, Hellchaser 4)
    Styxx
    Dark Bites (Short Story Anthology)
    Son of No One (Were-Hunter 8, Hellchaser 5)
    Dragonbane (Were-Hunter 9, Hellchaser 6)
    Dragonmark (2016)

    Chronicles of Nick Series:
    (This is a YA spin off from Sherrilyn Kenyon's adult Dark-Hunters series)
    Infinity
    Invincible
    Infamous
    Inferno
    Illusion
    Instinct
    Invasion (2016)
    Intensity (2017)

    Visit Sherrilyn Kenyon's website for more information

    Review:
    I'm a huge fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon and the Dark-Hunters series but unfortunately this was my least favourite book in the series so far. Having said that it's probably still better than a lot of paranormal romance stories out there but I have high expectations when I pick up a book by this author and for some reason The Dream-Hunter didn't quite live up to them.

    I did really enjoy finding out about the Dream Hunters and learning about their abilities but I was put off Arik because of his initial attitude towards Geary. He thought nothing of signing away her soul if it meant he got to spend 2 weeks as a human living with her and being able to experience real emotions and I find that kind of thing hard to forgive in my heroes. Admittedly Arik does change his mind and I was glad that he was willing to risk so much to keep her safe once he started to have feelings for her but by that point I wasn't as head over heels in love with him as I have been with all of SK's other heroes.

    I liked Geary and I enjoyed finding out about her family's history and their search for Atlantis but I found her hard to connect to and I had a hard time buying into her relationship with Arik. The connection between them seemed to be more about their chemistry than any deeper emotional bond. I think I was actually more interested in the various side plots than I was in the main romance which is disappointing. I still enjoy this author's writing style, I love the richly developed and diverse world of the Dark-Hunters, she never seems to run out of new mythology to pull into the series and that side of things is just as fascinating as ever. The Dream-Hunter may not have been my favourite book but it hasn't put be off continuing the series and I have high hopes that Fear the Darkness will be as good or better than the earlier books.

    Source: Received from Piatkus in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Paperback / Kindle:

    Thursday 18 September 2014

    Review: Rescue My Heart - Jill Shalvis

    She never wants a hero . . .

    After a tragic stint in the National Guards, Adam Connelly returns to his animal shelter in Sunshine, Idaho, just wanting to be alone. Then he opens the door to the woman whose heart he once broke - still gorgeous, still tough-as-nails, yet this time, unusually vulnerable.

    Adam is the last man Holly wants to see. But with her father missing, he is the only one she can count on to find him.

    For Holly and Adam, each with their ghosts, a search this desperate, this unpredictable and this intimate, will have its share of risks - including opening their hearts one more time.

    Animal Magnetism Series:
    Animal Magnetism
    Animal Attraction
    Rescue My Heart
    Rumour Has It
    Then Came You
    Still the One
    All I Want

    Visit Jill Shalvis' website for more information.

    Review:
    When I'm looking for a fun, light hearted romance that is full of humour Jill Shalvis is one of my go to authors because I know that's exactly what she'll deliver. Rescue My Heart is a perfect example of that and I enjoyed every minute of Adam and Holly's story. I'm a huge fan of the Lucky Harbor series but I think I might have to say I'm enjoying this one even more, I think it's the cute animals and their crazy antics that add that little extra something but that wouldn't work without the fantastic characters or super hot romance. Although each of the stories in this series work as a stand alone I'd recommend reading them in order because the characters do appear throughout the entire series.

    If you've read the first two books you'll already know that Adam is the brother of the previous heroes Brady and Dell. You'll also know that since returning home from the war he has been suffering from PTSD and he has pretty much closed himself off from the world trying to lose himself in his work and avoid contact with people wherever possible. Adam owns the animal clinic alongside his brothers but he focuses on the Search and Rescue side of the business training S&R dogs and their handlers. He used to be active on S&R calls in the local area but ever since he returned home he suffered with panic attacks and had to take a more inactive role running the command centre. Adam and Holly were a couple when they were teenagers but Adam broke her heart when he left her behind to enlist in the army. When her father goes missing Adam is the last person she wants to ask for help but at the same time he is the only one she trusts to help her find him. Spending time together brings back all the old feelings that they used to have for each other and the chemistry between them is hotter than ever but can Adam get past his fear of relationships or will he break Holly's heart for a second time?

    I absolutely loved seeing Adam and Holly spend time together, they are so hot for each other from the very first moment but there is a lot of history between them which makes it hard for Holly to trust him again. They're constantly verbally sparring and bantering with each other and although they've both changed a lot since they were dating they still have that connection that's only really there with someone you've known for a very long time. I loved that Adam doesn't judge Holly for the mistakes she's made and is proud of her for the way she has handled her problems and I loved that Holly sees Adam for the incredibly strong man that he is and refuses to let him walk away from her a second time. They both realise that they have changed in the years that they've been apart but they like what they see in each other now and they fit together even better than they did before.

    Rescue My Heart has some truly funny moments, it will melt your heart, make you swoon and have you fanning yourself after the fantastic sex scenes! It was great to catch up with the previous couples and I laughed a lot at Adam's brothers and the way they were constantly trying to get the gossip about him and Holly. I also really enjoyed the glimpses we got to see of the couple from the next book, Rumour Has It. I have a feeling I'm going to love Holly's brother Griffin and her best friend Kate!

    Source: Received from Headline Eternal in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Paperback / Kindle:

    Wednesday 17 September 2014

    Cover Reveal: Fractured Lines - Jen McLaughlin (+ International Giveaway)

    I'm a huge fan of Diane Alberts / Jen McLaughlin so I'm very excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for her new novel Fractured Lines today. Fractured Lines is the new instalment in her Out of Line series and it's a book I can't wait to get my hands on! The book is released on the 14th of October so you still have some time to catch up with the series and make sure you're ready for it.


    Blurb:

    The lines we once crossed so easily have widened and torn us apart . . .

    Once upon a time I thought Finn and I would live happily ever after, but real life doesn't always have a happy ending. He's testing my trust, and I'm losing faith in the man I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with, and there’s nothing I do can stop it. He’s the one I trusted to keep me safe, but now he’s the source of my greatest pain . . .

    Forgiveness is fragile, and some fractures never fully heal . . .

    One mistake—a slip in a moment of weakness—might cost me everything I've worked so hard for. The thing about trust is that it's a lot easier to lose than it is to build. Just as I'm about to give up and surrender to the demons from my past, an unexpected threat reminds me what I'm best at: protecting the woman I love. Whether or not she wants me, I will fight for Carrie and our daughter, and I will keep them safe—no matter the cost.

    Even if I have to put my life and my heart on the line.


    Pre-Order Sale:

    Fractured Lines is already up on Amazon for pre-order for a bargain price of just $0.99 (only £0.77 in the UK Kindle store!). This price is only for a limited time so order now to make sure you don't miss it!

    Find it here:
    Amazon.com
    Amazon.co.uk

    Special Goodreads Content:

    Add Fractured Lines to Goodreads and help release the first pages of the book!

    - Once the book gets 500 adds, Jen will release the first 5 pages.
    - Once the book gets 1000 adds, Jen will release the first 10 pages.

    Click Here to add Fractured Lines to Goodreads

    Teaser:


    Author Information:

    Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

    Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

    Website: http://dianealberts.com/
    Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts
    Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin

    Giveaway:

    To celebrate the release of Fractured Lines Jen is giving away an ebook set of the entire Out of Lines series to one lucky winner. The giveaway is open internationally and you can enter using the Rafflecopter form below. The winner will be announced via Rafflecopter and they will be contacted directly by Jen so she can arrange sending out the prize.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Monday 15 September 2014

    Cover Reveal & Excerpt: Her Avenging Angel - Felicity Heaton

    I love Felicity Heaton's Her Angel series so I'm incredibly excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for the next book Her Avenging Angel which is being released in October. It seems like I've been waiting a long time for this one so I can't wait to start reading it and I have to say that this cover only makes me want it even more LOL.


    Blurb:
    Once a proud angel of Heaven, Nevar is now a servant of Hell, bound to a new master—the King of Demons. Consumed by darkness and driven to seek revenge, he set in motion a series of events that awakened the Great Destroyer, a force that will bring about the apocalypse. Now, he is the creature’s master and the fate of our world rests in the hands of an angel with only darkness in his heart.

    Lost in the mortal realm without any recollection of how she came to be there, Lysia is only aware that she has survived a great battle. When she stumbles into a demon bar, she finds more than a chance to discover what happened to her—she finds a dark and deadly angel warrior who stirs fire in her veins and awakens soul-searing passion she cannot deny.

    With the mounting threat of the Great Destroyer, the forces of Heaven and Hell against him, and a band of dangerous angels intent on capturing Lysia on his heels, can Nevar protect the beautiful woman who is light to his darkness and find the strength to save the world?

    Her Angel Series:
    (Links will take you to my reviews)
    Her Dark Angel
    Her Fallen Angel
    Her Warrior Angel
    Her Guardian Angel
    Her Demonic Angel
    Her Wicked Angel
    Her Avenging Angel (October 2014)

    Read on for a sneak preview of Her Avenging Angel!

    ********************

    Excerpt:
    Lysia hovered by the entrance of the inn, unsure whether to enter or leave. Her stomach gurgled again, making her decision for her. She had to stay. There were colourful glass bottles lining the wall to her right and demons there were serving drinks to people who lined a long black bar. If they had mead and other liquids then perhaps they had food for her.

    She moved deeper into the room and everyone turned to stare at her, their eyes wide. She frowned at them all. Why did they stare? She thought them all strange but she wasn’t being rude by staring at them. If she hadn’t been so hungry, she would have asked them, or forced them to tell her the reason.

    She pushed through a group of male demons, all of which were wearing their human forms, and they turned on her. Their growls died as their eyes fell on her and they parted, staring as she passed.

    Lysia leaned against the tacky black bar top.

    A man walked over to her, tossed a rag over his shoulder, and smiled.

    “What’ll it be?”

    “I require sustenance.”

    He frowned, a puzzled edge to his dark eyes, and shook his head.

    Lysia tried again. “I must eat.”

    He waved his right hand and another man joined him, a blond with pale eyes.

    “Problem?” the blond said.

    “Not getting this one,” the brunet responded.

    The blond raked his eyes over her, his right brow quirking. “Taking things a bit far, aren’t we? You want something?”

    She nodded. “I need sustenance.”

    He looked at his friend and shrugged. “I don’t understand her.”

    What was there to understand? She only wanted food.

    Blood.

    The two men walked away, serving others who seemed to have no problem ordering what they desired and receiving it. She cursed them and everyone who communicated with them with ease. While she could understand many languages, she could write and speak only one. Without being able to speak to the serving staff, she had no chance of getting blood.

    A woman beside her cast a glance her way, looked down at herself, and slipped off her seat and walked away, disappearing into the heavy crowd.

    Lysia sighed, perched herself on the seat, and leaned on the bar with her forehead resting on her arms. She was warmer inside this noisy inn but still hungry, and still tired. She needed to feed. How?

    A male stopped to her left.

    She turned her head towards him and ran her eyes up from the waist of his impeccable crisp black suit to his shoulders and then his face. Vampire. She knew his kind and could see through his façade to the wretched monster beneath. He smiled, his fangs on show to her and his pale blue eyes swirling with ill intentions.

    “Having trouble?” The dark-haired vampire leaned his left elbow on the bar beside her and she sat up.

    She nodded. “I need to order blood.”

    He frowned at her and her heart sank. He didn’t understand her either.

    “What language is that? I’m afraid I’m not familiar with it. Can you mime what you want?” He shifted closer and she focused hard on every word he said, listening closely so she could grasp the words he used and use them too.

    He smiled a little wider, and shifted a little closer. His gaze drifted down to her chest and back up again.

    “Mime?” He made a show of using his hands to make shapes.

    She was about to do as he asked when he danced his fingers over her left shoulder.

    A cold shiver ran over her flesh and skated down her spine.

    Lysia flicked her right wrist and hurled him across the room, scattering the crowd and ripping a few shocked gasps from them.

    A male further along the bar looked her way.

    She froze as her eyes met his, heat pulsing through her, a visceral throb that reached right down to her bones.

    The male was handsome, but darkness clung to him, danger that called to her and lured her to him. There was evil in him.

    He would know her tongue.

    He raised a glass filled with green liquid and tipped his head, causing threads of his silver-white hair to fall and brush his brow. He swept them back and she caught a brief glimpse of tiny horns above his ears. Her belly flipped and heated.

    “Kudos for giving Villandry hell,” he said above the thumping music, his deep rumbling voice doing funny things to her insides and turning her knees to rubber.

    She presumed Villandry was the name of the vampire now picking himself up off the floor across the busy room. She wasn’t sure what kudos meant though.

    Lysia swallowed her trembling heart, slipped off her seat and approached the pale-haired male with all the confidence she could muster when he was staring at her, his jade eyes burning into her body and setting her aflame.

    Rousing strange feelings within her.

    She halted beside him.

    He swivelled to face her, set his drink down on the bar but kept his left hand on the stem of the elegant glass, and raised an eyebrow.

    “Why are you naked?”

    He held his right hand out and black material appeared in it. He offered it to her.

    Lysia took it and stared at it, unsure what to do with it.

    The male huffed, released his drink and stood, managing to tower over her despite the fact she was taller than the other females present. He moved closer to her and took the material back, but she didn’t notice it leaving her hands. The heat radiating from his big body washed over her, cocooning her in warmth and strengthening the feelings stirring in the pit of her belly.

    She stared down at the strip of cut, hard muscles visible between the armoured plates around his hips and his breastplate. A warrior. Her heart accelerated. Her breathing quickened. She dragged her eyes back up to his face and found he wasn’t looking at her. He busied himself with slipping her arms into the garment he had made for her and she busied herself with memorising every sculpted plane of his face, from his straight nose and strong jaw, to his firm lips as they compressed into a mulish line.

    She inched her gaze up higher, to the stunning jade eyes that were focused on their work with an intensity that made her ache inside with a desire to have them locked on hers with the same ferocity.

    They shifted to meet hers and then dropped, a fascinating glimmer of shyness in them that lasted only a heartbeat before coldness swept in to wash it away.

    He tugged the material closed over her front and tied a belt around her waist, fastening the garment in place.

    “There,” he murmured, “now people will stop looking at you funnily, and you can stop looking at me funnily.”

    He stepped back, a scowl darkening his striking eyes. She hadn’t been looking at him strangely. She was merely fascinated by him. Now that she was close to him, she could sense the depth of the darkness within him but something else countered it, something she could only describe as good. There was more to the male before her than she had anticipated, and it made the pull she felt towards him grow stronger.

    She looked herself over. The sleeves were too long, concealing her hands, and the material reached her ankles. The garment covered all of her, leaving nothing on show. Had that been his intention?

    “What do you want?” he said, bringing her focus back to him.

    She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Blood.”

    He back peddled, almost falling over his seat, a flicker of something dark crossing his handsome face. His eyes shone pure violet.

    He had eyes like hers.

    And he understood her.

    “Leave me alone,” he barked and snatched up his drink with a shaky hand. He downed it, slammed the glass back onto the bar top, and shoved it forwards, away from him. “I’m not interested.”

    Lysia frowned and shrank back. Why was he rejecting her company? He had given her something to wear, had seemed concerned about her, and now he was pushing her away. She clutched the robe over her chest in both hands and risked a step closer to him instead.

    “I only desire blood… but I cannot order it.”

    His violet gaze darted to her and away again. A shadow settled on his troubled features, turning them grim. He looked down into her eyes for long seconds, stealing all of her attention, sucking it away from the room and her surroundings.

    He raised his hand and she flinched away, anticipating the strike.

    It didn’t happen.

    She squinted, remaining held away from him, and looked up into his eyes.

    He cocked a single pale eyebrow and waved his left hand. The brunet male behind the bar came to them. He had been signalling the serving staff.

    Lysia grimaced.

    She had much to learn about this realm.

    “Blood, straight up,” the white-haired male said.

    The servant’s expression turned wary and he shifted foot to foot. “I’m not allowed to serve you blood, remember? You made me promise.”

    He had? She canted her head, studying both men. Why had the man asked the servant not to give him blood? Did he drink it as she did?

    The pale-haired warrior scrubbed a hand down his face and sighed. He pressed both hands into the bar, digging his black claws into the wood, and leaned forwards, closer to the man.

    “It is not for me. It is for the woman.”

    The brunet shrugged. “She has to order it then.”

    The warrior tipped his head back, screwed his eyes shut and sighed, and she felt he was searching for calm. He drew several slow deep breaths before opening his eyes again and fixing them back on the barman.

    “I do not think she knows how,” he said.

    “I tried, but the man didn’t understand me.” That brought his gaze back to her and she shivered under the intensity of it.

    “That would be because you are speaking a language this man doesn’t know… one I don’t have a fucking clue about either but for some godforsaken reason I can understand you.” He shoved his fingers through his hair, clawing it back until it tugged at his forehead, smoothing the skin, and ground his teeth. He released his head, dropped his hands to his sides, and huffed as he leaned over, bringing his face close to hers. “Repeat after me if you desire… blood.”

    She nodded, noting that it had taken a lot of effort for him to speak that final word. Why?

    She leaned closer to him, trying to shut out the noise of the room so she could hear every syllable that left his lips.

    She watched how they moved as he spoke. How his tongue moved. How his teeth moved.

    Her focus shattered.

    He had fangs.

    Made for drinking blood.

    Yet he had asked the man not to serve it to him.

    And she had asked him to speak of it, something which had evidently pained him.

    She stepped back and his pale eyebrows dipped low above his now-green eyes.

    “I’m sorry. I have troubled you with my request.” She went to turn away but he caught her arm in a vice-like grip, holding her firm. She looked down at his black fingers around her and the claws that blended into the robe he had given her, and then up into his eyes.

    He shook his head and spoke again, slower this time. “A glass of blood, please.”

    Lysia swallowed to wet her parched throat and spoke the sounds he had made, repeating them several times over and growing in confidence when he smiled, making her heart flutter in her chest. He nodded and jerked his head towards the brunet behind the bar.

    She turned to face him. “A glass of blood, puh-leeese.”

    “We’ll work on that last bit,” the warrior muttered beside her, a touch of warmth in his deep voice.

    The man nodded. “That’s ten quid.”

    Ten quid?

    What was a quid and where did she find ten of them?

    “Money,” the brunet said.

    She looked down at herself. As the warrior had clearly mentioned, and this man knew, she had come here naked. She had no coin.

    The warrior huffed and slammed two pieces of reddish paper down on the bar top. “It’s on me. Plus my usual.”

    The bartender looked displeased and Lysia feared he wouldn’t give her the blood because the warrior was paying for it, and had requested this man not serve him blood.

    She bared her fangs and growled at the brunet, preparing to attack.

    “Down girl.” The white-haired warrior caught hold of her arm again, wrapping long fingers around it, and heat blazed through her.

    She looked across at him, her eyes wide. He glared at the bartender.

    The man heaved a sigh, swiped the money off the bar, and walked away. A sharp spear shot through her heart and she tried to pull away from the warrior to follow the man, afraid he wouldn’t return.

    The warrior’s grip on her arm tightened and he pulled her closer, until her backside bumped against his thighs. An achy shiver bolted through her and she spun to face him, catching the shock in his eyes before he covered it. He had felt it too.

    “He will be back with your drink and then you can leave me alone,” he said in a gruff tone, released her and sat back on his seat, turning his profile to her.

    Lysia’s heartbeat began to climb, awareness of the people around her creeping back in. The vampire was on his feet again and glaring at her. Others stared her way too. Some of them not mortal. She didn’t like how they watched her, not when she was weak.

    Only the warrior felt as if he wasn’t a threat to her and that he would protect her rather than seek to harm her.

    She didn’t want to leave his side.

    The brunet returned as the warrior had said, bringing an elegant glass of green liquid for him and one filled with dark liquid. He set that one down in front of her and moved off to serve another patron.

    The warrior eyed her expectantly.

    He wanted her to leave.

    Lysia sucked down a breath for courage and reminded herself that she was a warrior too and as powerful as any of these beings on her best day. Today was not her best day though and it was wreaking havoc on her courage, leaving her feeling vulnerable. She was injured, starving, and everything around her felt so alien and unfamiliar.

    Except for him.

    He made her feel safe.

    She made sure she had all of his attention before she whispered, “Allow me to stay. The men here mean me harm.”

    His face darkened, his jade eyes swirling into blazing violet, and he slid his deadly gaze towards those staring at her.

    She felt their eyes leave her.

    “Sit,” he growled, more a command than a request, and she obeyed.

    She took the stool beside him, swivelled to face the bar and picked up her glass. She sipped the blood, her gums itching and fangs aching to descend. She wanted to gulp it down but it was such a small quantity and she didn’t think the warrior would buy her more.

    It wasn’t enough to appease her hunger. It would only take the edge off it.

    She would need more and her heart said she knew where she wanted her next meal to come from.

    Her gaze slid to the warrior, settling on his strong neck and the pulse hammering there, powerful and steady, a beat that called to her.

    She wanted to bite him.

    ********************

    Her Avenging Angel is due for release in ebook and paperback on October 11th 2014 and will be available from all major online book retailers. Pre-order links available soon at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/her-avenging-angel-romance-book.php

    Join Felicity’s mailing list to receive a notification when Her Avenging Angel is released, PLUS a sneak preview of the first 6 chapters of the book and chances to WIN a signed paperback copy: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/newsletter.php

    Add the book to your Goodreads shelf at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20940849-her-avenging-angel

    Books in the Her Angel paranormal romance series:
    Book 1: Her Dark Angel – FREE in ebook at selected retailers
    Book 2: Her Fallen Angel
    Book 3: Her Warrior Angel
    Book 4: Her Guardian Angel
    Book 5: Her Demonic Angel
    Book 6: Her Wicked Angel
    Book 7: Her Avenging Angel

    About Felicity Heaton:
    Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

    If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

    If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:
    Website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk
    Blog: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/blog/
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton
    Twitter: http://twitter.com/felicityheaton
    Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton

    Sunday 14 September 2014

    Cover Reveal: Rock Courtship - Nalini Singh

    I absolutely loved the first book in Nalini Singh's new Rock Kiss series, Rock Addiction (you can read my review here) and I already love David and Thea, the main characters in the next story Rock Courtship, so obviously I'm incredibly excited to start reading their novella! This cover was officially revealed on the 12th of September so you may have already seen it on another blog but I couldn't post it then because I was on holiday and I wanted to share it here for anyone who hasn't already see it.


    Blurb:
    What happens when the Gentleman of Rock decides to play dirty?

    A drummer for the hottest rock band on the planet, David has a single, powerful weakness: Thea, the band’s publicist and the woman who steals his breath away with her every move.

    Only problem is, Thea doesn’t date clients—or musicians. Emotionally scarred by a cheating ex, she’s not about to risk her heart with a man who has groupies buzzing around him like flies. Even if his sexy smile ties her up in knots.

    What she doesn’t know is that David is a one-woman man...and he’s madly in love with her. David’s determined to prove he’s worth the risk, and willing to court her, step by exquisite step. Thea’s about to discover just how long and hard this handsome drummer can play.

    Meet the author:
    NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about a hot and wickedly tempting rock star. If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

    Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Once Rock Addiction is out, swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the book.

    STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


    ********************

    What do you think? Are you as excited for David and Thea's story as I am? Have you already read Rock Addiction? If so what did you think of it?

    Saturday 13 September 2014

    Review: Branded by Fire - Nalini Singh

    Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she savagely resists when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, tries to possess her. The problem is not simply that he pushes her buttons; the problem is that he's a wolf, she's a cat, and they're both used to being on top.

    But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young man - before his shadowy captors decide he's no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it could leave them both branded by fire . . .

    Psy-Changeling Series:
    (Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
    Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
    Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
    Slave to Sensation
    Visions of Heat
    Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
    Caressed by Ice
    Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
    Mine to Possess
    Hostage to Pleasure
    Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
    Branded by Fire
    Blaze of Memory
    Bonds of Justice
    Play of Passion
    Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
    Kiss of Snow
    Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
    Tangle of Need
    Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
    Heart of Obsidian
    Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
    Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift Anthology)
    Shield of Winter
    Shards of Hope
    Allegiance of Honour

    Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
    (Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
    Silver Silence
    Ocean Light
    Wolf Rain

    Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

    Review:
    I've loved all of the books in the Psy-Changeling series so far but I actually think Branded by Fire might be my new favourite. As much as I enjoy seeing the Psy characters thaw their cold and emotionless shells to experience passion for the first time there was something special about this Changeling / Changeling match up. Mercy and Riley are both dominant characters who know exactly what they want both in and out of the bedroom and I loved seeing them sparring together to see who would come out on top.

    Mercy would love to find a mate but it isn't easy for a dominant female alpha to find a man her cat will accept as worthy, none of the unmated guys in her pack are strong enough to take her on so she's resigned to staying single. The only man who really gets her blood pumping is Riley but there is one major problem - he's a wolf which makes him completely unacceptable. The pair are both high up members of their respective packs and they often end up working together when it comes to pack security. Riley makes no secret of the fact that he wants to claim Mercy, he knows just how tough and special she is and he is willing to work at earning her respect. The pair of them have off the charts chemistry, I really do think that this is the hottest book in the series so far, and I love the way they're constantly battling each other for control. They each take it in turn to dominate the other and I loved that push and pull between them.

    As well as a fantastic, incredibly hot, romance between Mercy and Riley we also get to catch up with the previous couples in the series and there are some fantastic scenes with some of them that really made my heart melt. I'm also falling a little more in love with Hawke with every new book and I can't wait to read his story! These books really do get better with every instalment and although Mercy and Riley are currently my favourite couple I won't be too surprised if that changes when I read Blaze of Memory. I'm not normally this quick to switch teams but Nalini Singh manages to make me fall in love every single time & I'm definitely not complaining about that!

    Source: Purchased

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Paperback / Kindle:

    Friday 12 September 2014

    Review: On the Scent - Angela Campbell

    Hannah Dawson has a big problem: she’s just become the unexpected owner of a snarky cat, a loveable but not-so-bright dog . . . and their $10 million fortune!

    Which would be awesome if it hadn’t made her the target of every wacko in the metro Atlanta area. Now Hannah and her famous pets need protecting and there’s only one man who can help them . . .

    Enter Zachary Collins: ex-TV star of ‘The Psychic Detective’ and street-wise private investigator – all 6 foot blue-eyed gorgeousness!

    Only Zach’s got secrets of his own – not least that he finds his new client irresistibly hot. The more time he spends keeping Hannah out of harm’s way, the more he’s tempted to give in to the attraction . . . even if it means breaking all his own rules.

    Psychic Detectives Series:
    On the Scent
    Something Wicked
    Spirited Away

    Visit Angela Campbell's website for more information.

    Review:
    When Hannah's inherits a cat and dog, Abbott and Costello, she also finds herself the new executor of their $10 million fortune. She never expected to have such an enormous amount of money at her disposal and quite frankly she isn't sure it's worth the trouble, especially since it's turned her into a target. Hannah needs help and the only person she can think of to turn to is psychic detective Zach. Zach has always had one major rule - no mixing business with pleasure - but he's finding that extremely hard to stick to when it comes to his beautiful new client. Before he can even consider pursuing a relationship with her he needs to discover exactly who is trying to steal Abbott and Costello's fortune though.

    On the Scent is such a fun read and I lost count of the number of times I found myself giggling as I read it. The antics of the animals in particular were hilarious and Angela Campbell made me completely believe that Zach was able to hear Abbott and Costello's thoughts. Abbott is a typical cat, he thinks he's the boss and expects everyone to cater to his every whim, he's also incredibly intelligent and has a very sarcastic sense of humour. Costello on the other hand is a very playful, happy character, he may not be the brightest but he is certainly easy to please and he loves the humans in his life with all his heart. If you've ever owned a dog or a cat I'm sure you will be able to completely relate to the conversations that Zach has with the pair of them!

    Both of the main characters are very easy to like. Hannah is incredibly down to earth and despite having a huge amount of money at her disposal she would rather live her life as normal. She is happy to live a modest life and doesn't need a huge house or a designer wardrobe to be content. Zach has a major secret and I'll admit that I was a little nervous when I found out what it was but he's actually a really nice guy who was in a tricky situation and doing his best to survive. I was a little irritated that it took him so long to come clean with Hannah but I was glad that the author didn't use the secret to create unnecessary drama between the couple.

    On the Scent is a perfect light hearted and humorous romance with a dash of suspense and it's a story I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm excited to continue reading the rest of the series!

    Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Paperback / Kindle:

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