Thursday 28 January 2016

Release Blitz: Hidden Threat - Sherri Hayes


Hidden Threat (Hidden Threat #1) by Sherri Hayes
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 28, 2016


Book Summary

Cali Stanton has one goal in life, being a doctor. She has spent the last two years helping the less fortunate in Africa. It’s a job she loves and intends to do for the foreseeable future. That is until she receives a call from her father saying he’s been injured and needs her back in Chicago. Less than a week later she finds herself behind her father’s desk at Stanton Enterprises, running the family business . . . something she never wanted to do. But how could she say no to her father when he insists that she is the only one he can trust?

Matthew Andersen and his brother, Jason, have spent the last two years managing security at Stanton Enterprises. However, someone is determined to take down the company and with it its acting CEO, Cali Stanton.

Cali and Matthew must work together to find out who is behind the threats to not only the company but to Cali herself while they fight their growing attraction for each other. Can they figure out the hidden threat before it’s too late?


Amazon | B&N | iBooks

Excerpt

“Thank you for coming with me. I don’t know if I would have been able to do what you did.” Matthew smirked, trying to lighten the mood. “At least, not with the same results.”

Cali blushed and Matthew almost lost it. He wanted to touch her, to crush her body against his and kiss her within an inch of her life.

Instead, he backed toward the elevators. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She grinned and began walking to her car.

He hesitated, then shook his head and continued toward the elevator.

As he waited for the elevator to reach him, he heard an engine rev. A small smile pulled at his lips as he thought of Cali heading home.

The elevator dinged right as a squeal of tires caught his attention. He whirled around in time to see a dark blue sedan he didn’t recognize speed up the exit ramp.

His heart pounded in his chest as he took off at a full-out run.

Cali.



Author Bio

Sherri spent most of her childhood detesting English class. It was one of her least favorite subjects because she never seemed to fit into the standard mold. She wasn't good at spelling, or following grammar rules, and outlines made her head spin. For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an author.

At the age of thirty, all of that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternate ending, and give the characters their happily ever after. By the time the story finished, it was one of the top ten read stories on the site, and her readers were encouraging her to write more.

Nearly eight years later, Sherri is the author of eight full-length novels, and two short stories. Writing has become a creative outlet that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. You can find a current list of all of Sherri’s books and sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.sherrihayesauthor.com.

Sherri’s Other Books

Welcome to Serpent's Kiss (Serpent's Kiss 0.5)
Download for FREE.

After losing her husband unexpectedly, Katrina Mayer decided to open Serpent’s Kiss. She wanted it to be a place where she and her fellow kinksters could play and socialize.

Five years after the doors opened, the club is everything she’d hoped it would be. On Friday and Saturday nights, Serpent’s Kiss is filled with men and women who share a similar desire to explore the pleasures BDSM has to offer. The club has continued to grow, and over the years, many of its members have become friends.

The one thing Katrina didn’t expect when she’d decided to open a club was the human drama that came with it. Learning to balance her life as the club mistress has taken some getting used to, but she wouldn’t change a thing.

Burning for Her Kiss (Serpent's Kiss 1)

Beth Davenport has no interest in getting involved with another man for the foreseeable future. To say her last relationship ended in disaster would be a colossal understatement. The only reason she agrees to put in an appearance at Serpent’s Kiss, a private kink club in downtown St. Louis, is because her best friend, Nicole, won’t quit nagging her. When she walks in the door that night, the last thing she expects to do is meet a man who will have her reconsidering her ban on men.

As a captain with the St. Louis Fire Department, Drew Parker is used to being in charge. His crew relies on him to make sure they know what they’re doing and return home to their families after every shift. It isn’t, however, what he wants in a relationship. Drew decides to join Serpent’s Kiss to see if what appeals to him in fantasy is something he wants to explore in the real world. He’s also hoping that he’ll be lucky enough to meet a woman with whom he can explore his desires. The night Beth walks into the club, he is intrigued. Drew has to get to know her better.

After what happened to her, Beth is reluctant to get involved with Drew. It doesn’t matter that he is sweet and charming. She’s been burned before and Beth doesn’t think she can survive having her heart crushed again. Drew, however, won’t take no for an answer. He wants a relationship and is determined to chip away at her defenses until she relents. Will she give him a chance, or did her ex leave her with scars too deep to heal?

Finding Anna Series


or download all 4 books together


Daniels Brothers Series

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Cover Reveal: The Map of Bones - Francesca Haig (#mapofbones)

I absolutely loved Francesca Haig's debut novel The Fire Sermon when I read it last year (you can read my review HERE) so I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of the upcoming sequel, The Map of Bones, which will be published by HarperCollins in the UK on the 7th of April.

I have a bit more information about the book for you but first check out this fantastic cover:


Isn't it gorgeous! It's going to look beautiful on my shelves next to The Fire Sermon!

Blurb:

The map of Bones is the second book in a speculative trilogy set in a future where all children are born twins: one perfect and one deformed. A stunning exploration of human sacrifice and joint destiny.

Zach and Cass have defied the odds and survived the failed uprising of the Omegas, even if it has cost the life of Cass’s fellow rebel Kip.

But with Zach on the opposing side, and steadily rising through the political ranks of the Alphas, the divide between the twins is growing. Just how far will the Alphas go to suppress the Omegas for their own survival?

With the resistance movement nearly decimated, the Omega’s must find the strength to stand against the Alpha tide.

A few interesting facts about the series:

Even the ashes of the past cannot hide the truth forever…

• The Fire Sermon was in the top twenty debuts of 2015
• Sold in 24 countries around the world
• Dreamworks have already optioned the film, and the team behind Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY are working with Francesca on the screenplay

Praise for The Fire Sermon:

‘This book is a thought-provoking whirlwind of a story, with a fab lead character, grisly politics and brave adventure. I loved it!’ Jessie Burton

‘Set in a vividly realised world of elite Alphas and their ‘weaker’ Omega twins, it holds a mirror up to our obsession with perfection’ The Guardian

‘This terrific set-up spools out into a high tension tale of mistrust and dependency, injustice and optimism, told with poetic intensity’ Daily Mail

About the author:

Francesca Haig is a novelist, poet and academic. The Fire Sermon, her debut novel (2015), is the first in a post-apocalyptic trilogy. Rights for the series have sold in more than twenty countries, and the second novel, The Map of Bones, will be published in April 2016. Her poetry has been published in literary journals in both Australia and England, and her first collection of poetry, Bodies of Water, was published in 2006. Francesca grew up in Tasmania, gained her PhD from the University of Melbourne, and was a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Chester. In 2010 she was awarded a Hawthornden Fellowship.

Connect with the author: website / twitter

So who else is as excited about this book as I am? What do you think of the new cover?

Monday 25 January 2016

My Ten Most Anticipated Contemporary Romances for the First Half of 2016


The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by Gone with the Words and Love at First Page. As part of the challenge they are setting a different topic every month that participants can choose to join in with which I think is a brilliant idea so you can expect a post like this to appear at random most months throughout the year.

The January Prompt is:
Ten Most Anticipated Contemporary Romances for the First Half of 2016
(Links below will take you to the book's Goodreads Page)

  1. Sweet Little Lies - Jill Shalvis
  2. Hard Ever After - Laura Kaye
  3. One With You - Sylvia Day
  4. Emergency Engagement - Samanthe Beck
  5. All Chained Up - Sophie Jordan
  6. Naked - Gina Gordon
  7. Submissive Seductions - Christine d'Abo
  8. Against the Wall - Jill Sorenson
  9. Listen to Me - Kristen Proby
  10. After Love - Kathy Clark

Are any of these books on your list? Which other contemporary romances should I be adding to my wish lists?

Books Read in 2015

~0-9~
30 Days - Christine d'Abo

~A~
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR book 1) - Sarah J Maas
A Curse Unbroken (Weird Girls book 5) - Cecy Robson
A Darker Shade of Magic (ADSOM book 1) - V.E. Schwab
A Fistful of Evil (Madison Fox, Illuminant Enforcer book 1) - Rebecca Chastain
A Fistful of Fire (Madison Fox, Illuminant Enforcer book 2) - Rebecca Chastain
A Questionable Client (Kate Daniels book 0.5) - Ilona Andrews (Short Story) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
A Summer to Remember (Bedwyn Saga book 0.6) - Mary Balogh
A Thousand Nights - E.K. Johnston
Abhorsen (Old Kingdom book 3) - Garth Nix
About a Dragon (Dragon Kin book 2) - G.A. Aiken
Acheron (Dream-Hunters book 15) - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles book 1) - Gena Showalter (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Alice Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles book 2) - Gena Showalter
Alien in Chief (Katherine "Kitty" Katt book 12) - Gini Koch
Alien Separation (Katherine "Kitty" Katt book 11) - Gini Koch
All of the Above - James Dawson
Alpha (Shifters book 6) - Rachel Vincent (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Alpha & Omega (Alpha & Omega book 0.5) - Patricia Briggs (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
An Ember in the Ashes (Ember in the Ashes book 1) - Sabaa Tahir
Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days book 1) - Susan Ee (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Anything but Broken (Hurricane Creek book 1) - Joelle Knox
Archangel's Enigma (Guild Hunter book 8) - Nalini Singh
Ascension (Guardians of Ascension book 1) - Caris Roane
Ash & Bramble - Sarah Prineas
Asking For It - Louise O'Neill
Asking for It (Asking for It book 1) - Lilah Pace
Azagoth (Demonica book 10.5) - Larissa Ione (Novella)

~B~
Bayou Moon (Edge book 2) - Ilona Andrews
Before I Fall (Falling book 1) - Jessica Scott
Betting on Fate (Serve book 4) - Katee Robert
Beyond Innocence (Beyond book 6) - Kit Rocha
Beyond the Veil (Veil book 1) - Pippa DaCosta
Bitten by a Hellcat (Eternal Mates book 6) - Felicity Heaton
Blameless (Parasol Protectorate book 3) - Gail Carriger
Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson book 2) - Patricia Briggs (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Blood Games (Chicagoland Vampires book 10) - Chloe Neill
Bloodfever (Fever book 2) - Karen Marie Moning (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Bound to Darkness (Midnight Breed book 13) - Lara Adrian
Breaking Nova (Nova book 1) - Jessica Sorensen
Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits book 1.5) - Katie McGarry
Broken Honor (HORNET book 3) - Tonya Burrows
Brooke (Under the Never Sky book 2.5) - Veronica Rossi (Novella)

~C~
Captive - A.J. Grainger
Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky (Lunar Chronicles book 3.1) - Marissa Meyer (Short Story)
Changing His Game (Gamers book 1) - Megan Erickson
Changeless (Parasol Protectorate book 2) - Gail Carriger
Chosen (Warrior Chronicles book 1) - K.F. Breene
City of Fae (London Fae book 1) - Pippa DaCosta
Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles book 1) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Closed Doors (Beyond book 6.5) - Kit Rocha (Short Story)
Come Home to Me (Homefront book 0.5) - Jessica Scott (Novella)
Conspiracy Girl - Sarah Alderson
Consumed by You (Fighting Fire book 3) - Lauren Blakely
Craved by an Alpha (Eternal Mates book 5) - Felicity Heaton
Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega book 1) - Patricia Briggs (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)

~D~
Dark Debt (Chicagoland Vampires book 11) - Chloe Neill
Darkest Before Dawn (Veil book 3) - Pippa DaCosta
Darkfever (Fever book 1) - Karen Marie Moning (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Darkness Falls (Dark Angel book 7) - Keri Arthur
Darkness Splintered (Dark Angel book 6) - Keri Arthur
Darkness Unmasked (Dark Angel book 5) - Keri Arthur
Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega book 4) - Patricia Briggs (review coming soon)
Dead of Winter (Arcana Chronicles book 3) - Kresley Cole
Demon's in my Driveway (Monster Haven book 5) - R.L. Naquin
Devil May Care (Veil book 2) - Pippa DaCosta
Devil's Luck (Disillusionists book 3.5) - Carolyn Crane (Novella)
Discount Armageddon (Incryptid book 1) - Seanan McGuire
Double Cross (Disillusionists book 2) - Carolyn Crane
Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin book 1) - G.A. Aiken
Dream Chaser (Dark-Hunters book 14) - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dreamer's Pool (Blackthorn & Grim book 1) - Juliet Marillier
Dreamfever (Fever book 4) - Karen Marie Moning (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Driven by Fate (Serve book 5) - Tessa Bailey
Drowning in the Dark (Veil book 4) - Pippa DaCosta

~E~
Ecstasy Unbound (Guardians of the Realms book 1) - Setta Jay
Edged Blade (Colbana Files book 4) - J.C. Daniels
Ember - Bettie Sharpe (Novella)
End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days book 3) - Susan Ee
Equal Rites (Discworld book 3) - Terry Pratchett
Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues (White Trash Zombie book 2) - Diana Rowland
Everlasting Bad Boys - Anthology
Extreme Exposure (I-Team book 1) - Pamela Clare

~F~
Faefever (Fever book 3) - Karen Marie Moning (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Fairest (Lunar Chronicles book 3.5) - Marissa Meyer
Falling for His Best Friend (Out of Uniform book 2) - Katee Robert
Fans of the Impossible Life - Kate Scelsa
Fate's Edge (Edge book 3) - Ilona Andrews
Final Protocol - J.C. Daniels
Firewalker (Worldwalker book 2) - Josephine Angelini
Force of Attraction (K-9 Rescue book 2) - D.D. Ayres
Forsaken (Fallen Siren book 2.5) - S.J. Harper (Novella)
Fortune's Pawn (Paradox book 1) - Rachel Bach
Frail Human Heart (Name of the Blade book 3) - Zoe Marriott
Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles book 2) - Melina Marchetta

~G~
Girl From Above: Betrayal (1000 Revolution book 1) - Pippa DaCosta
Girl From Above: Escape (1000 Revolution book 2) - Pippa DaCosta
Girl From Above: Trapped (1000 Revolution book 3) - Pippa DaCosta
Golden Son (Red Rising book 2) - Pierce Brown
Grave Matters (Demon Trappers book 4.5) - Jana Oliver
Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels book 5.5) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)

~H~
Hades (Demonica book 11.5) - Larissa Ione (Novella)
Hard as Steel (Hard Ink book 4.5) - Laura Kaye (Novella)
Hard as You Can (Hard Ink book 2) - Laura Kaye
Hard Evidence (I-Team book 2) - Pamela Clare
Hard to Be Good (Hard Ink book 3.5) - Laura Kaye (Novella)
Hard to Come By (Hard Ink book 3) - Laura Kaye
Hard to Hold on To (Hard Ink book 2.5) - Laura Kaye (Novella)
Hard to Let Go (Hard Ink book 4) - Laura Kaye
Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone: Illustrated Edition (Harry Potter book 1) - J.K. Rowling & Jim Kay
Head Rush (Disillusionists book 3) - Carolyn Crane (Novella)
Heap House (Iremonger book 1) - Edward Carey
Heartless (Parasol Protectorate book 4) - Gail Carriger
Hearts in Darkness (Hearts in Darkness book 1) - Laura Kaye
Heaven Can't Wait (I-Team book 1.5) - Pamela Clare (Novella)
Her Sinful Angel (Her Angel book 8) - Felicity Heaton
Hero - Samantha Young
Hex Appeal - Anthology
Hidden Ecstasy (Guardians of the Realms book 0.5) - Setta Jay (Short Story)
His Lover to Protect (Out of Uniform book 3) - Katee Robert
His to Keep (Out of Uniform book 1.5) - Katee Robert (Novella)
Homefront (Homefront book 1) - Jessica Scott
Hunt (Shifters book 6.5) - Rachel Vincent (Novella)
Hunted (Warrior Chronicles book 2) - K.F. Breene
Hunted by a Jaguar (Eternal Mates book 4) - Felicity Heaton
Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega book 2) - Patricia Briggs (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)

~I~
Ice Study (Chronicles of Ixia book 3.6) - Maria V. Snyder (Short Story) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Illuminae (Illuminae Files book 1) - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
In Bed with Mr. Wrong (Out of Uniform book 1) - Katee Robert
In the Air Tonight (Sisters of the Craft book 1) - Lori Handeland
Inside HBO's Game of Thrones: Seasons 3 & 4 - C.A. Taylor
Inside Out (Insiders book 1) - Maria V. Snyder
Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky book 3) - Veronica Rossi
Invasion (Warrior Chronicles book 4) - K.F. Breene
Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson book 3) - Patricia Briggs (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)

~J~


~K~
Kitten-Tiger and the Monk (Disillusionists book 2.5) - Carolyn Crane (Novella)
Kittens - Pet Friendly: Understanding and Caring for Your Pet - Claire Horton-Bussey (Non-Fiction)

~L~
Laird Wolf (Takhini Shifters book 2) - Vivian Arend (Novella)
Let it Ride (Thompson & Sons book 3) - Vivian Arend
Linesman (Linesman book 1) - S.K. Dunstall
Lion's Share (Wildcats book 1) - Rachel Vincent
Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood book 9) - J.R. Ward
Lucky Break (Chicagoland Vampires book 10.5) - Chloe Neill (Novella)
Lucky Charms (SPI Files book 0.5) - Lisa Shearin (Novella in the Night Shift anthology) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)

~M~
Magic Bites (Kate Daniels book 1) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels book 4) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels book 7) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Burns (Kate Daniels book 2) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Dreams (Kate Daniels book 4.5) - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Gifts (Kate Daniels book 5.4) - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Mourns (Kate Daniels book 3.5) - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Rises (Kate Daniels book 6) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels book 8) - Ilona Andrews
Magic Slays (Kate Daniels book 5) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Stars (Kate Daniels book 8.5) - Ilona Andrews (Novella)
Magic Steals (Kate Daniels book 6.5) - Ilona Andrews (Novella in the Night Shift anthology) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels book 3) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Tests (Kate Daniels book 5.3) - Ilona Andrews (Novella in the An Apple for the Creature anthology) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Marked (Soulseer Chronicles book 1) - Susan Tingey
Marked by an Assassin (Eternal Mates book 8) - Felicity Heaton
Master of the Opera - Jeffe Kennedy (Serialised Novel)
Masters of Seduction Volume 2 - Anthology
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl - Jesse Andrews
Mechanica - Betsy Cornwell
Menagerie (Menagerie book 1) - Rachel Vincent
Mind Games (Disillusionists book 1) - Carolyn Crane
Misery's Way (Colbana Files book 4.5) - J.C. Daniels (Short Story)
Mog's Christmas Calamity - Judith Kerr (Children's Picture Book)
Moon Called (Mercy Thompson book 1) - Patricia Briggs (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Mort (Discworld book 4) - Terry Pratchett
My Life as a White Trash Zombie (White Trash Zombie book 1) - Diana Rowland

~N~


~O~
Of Swine and Roses (Hidden Legacy book 0.5) - Ilona Andrews (Short Story)
On the Edge (Edge book 1) - Ilona Andrews
Once Kissed (O'Brien Family book 1) - Cecy Robson
Once Loved (Shattered Past book 2) - Cecy Robson
Once Pure (Shattered Past book 3) - Cecy Robson
One - Sarah Crossan (Verse Novel)
One for Sorrow (Veil book 5.5) - Pippa DaCosta (Novella)
One for the Money (Stephanie Plum book 1) - Janet Evanovich (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
One Night for Love (Bedwyn Saga book 0.5) - Mary Balogh
One Night of Scandal (After Hours book 2) - Elle Kennedy
One Night of Sin (After Hours book 1) - Elle Kennedy
One Night of Trouble (After Hours book 3) - Elle Kennedy
Outside In (Insiders book 2) - Maria V. Snyder
Over the Top (Maverick Montana book 4) - Rebecca Zanetti

~P~
Paper Dandy's Horrorgami - Marc Hagan-Guirey (Craft Book)
Phoenix in my Fortune (Monster Haven book 6) - R.L. Naquin
Play Me: The Complete Story - Tracy Wolff (Serialised Novel)
Playing for her Heart (Gamers book 2) - Megan Erickson
Poppy In the Field (Poppy book 2) - Mary Hooper
Prey (Shifters book 4) -Rachel Vincent (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Pride (Shifters book 3) - Rachel Vincent (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Protecting Fate (Serve book 6) - Katee Robert
Pure (Covenant book 2) - Jennifer L Armentrout

~Q~
Queen of Shadows (Thone of Glass book 4) - Sarah J Maas

~R~
Recipe for Temptation (Madewood Brothers book 4) - Gina Gordon
Reckoning (Fallen Siren book 2) - S.J. Harper
Red - Alyxandra Harvey
Red Rising (Red Rising book 1) - Pierce Brown (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Revenant (Demonica book 11) - Larissa Ione
Risking it All (Crossing the Lines book 1) - Tessa Bailey
Rivers of London (Peter Grant book 1) - Ben Aaronovitch
Roar and Liv (Under the Never Sky book 0.5) - Veronica Rossi (Novella)
Rock Hard (Rock Kiss book 2) - Nalini Singh
Rock Redemption (Rock Kiss book 3) - Nalini Singh
Rogue (Shifters book 2) - Rachel Vincent (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Rules of Seduction (Serve book 7) - Joya Ryan
Running Wilde (Wilde Security book 4) - Tonya Burrows

~S~
Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen
Salvation (Nashville Nights book 2) - Robin Covington
Seduced in Secret - Shiloh Walker
Shadowfever (Fever book 5) - Karen Marie Moning (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Shadow Lands (Warrior Chronicles book 3) - K.F. Breene
Shadow Study (Chronicles of Ixia book 7) - Maria V. Snyder
Shards of Hope (Psy-Changeling book 14) - Nalini Singh
Shift (Shifters book 5) - Rachel Vincent (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Simon's Cat in Kitten Chaos (Simon's Cat book 3) - Simon Tofield (Coffee Table Book)
Six of Crows (Six of Crows book 2) - Leigh Bardugo
Slightly Married (Bedwyn Saga book 1) - Mary Balogh
Smiler's Fair (Hollow Gods book 1) - Rebecca Levene
Soulless (Parasol Protectorate book 1) - Gail Carriger (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Star Trek Pop-Ups - Courtney Watson McCarthy (Coffee Table Book)
Steel's Edge (The Edge book 4) - Ilona Andrews
Stray (Shifters book 1) - Rachel Vincent (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Stroke of Midnight (Midnight Breed book 13.5) - Lara Adrian (Novella)
Stung (Young Detective Agency book 2) - Joss Stirling
Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles book 2) - Ilona Andrews

~T~
Taken by a Dragon (Eternal Mates book 7) - Felicity Heaton
Tempted by Midnight (Midnight Breed 12.5) - Lara Adrian (Novella)
Tempting the Best Man (Gamble Brothers book 1) - Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Catalyst - Helena Coggan
The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't, the Mummy That Was, and the Cat in the Jar (Parasol Protectorate book 0.5) - Gail Carriger (Short Story)
The Deepest Poison (Clockwork Dagger book 0.5) - Beth Cato (Short Story)
The Dragon Conspiracy (SPI Files book 2) - Lisa Shearin
The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden book 2) - Julie Kagawa
The Falconer (Falconer book 1) - Elizabeth May (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
The Fire Sermon (Fire Sermon book 1) - Francesca Haig
The Great Zoo of China - Matthew Reilly
The Grendel Affair (SPI Files book 1) - Lisa Shearin
The Last True Vampire (Last True Vampire book 1) - Kate Baxter
The Little Android (Lunar chronicles book 0.6) - Marissa Meyer (Short Story)
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Becky Chambers
The Martian - Andy Weir
The Novice (Summoner book 1) - Taran Matharu
The Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles book 3) - Gena Showalter
The Shepherd's Crown (Discworld book 41) - Terry Pratchett
The Sleeper and the Spindle - Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell (Graphic Novel)
The Square Root of Summer - Harriet Reuter Hapgood (Review will be posted in May)
The Stars Never Rise (Stars Never Rise book 1) - Rachel Vincent
The Thing About Wolves (Mystwalker book 2) - Leigh Evans
The Veil (Devil's Isle book 1) - Chloe Neill
The Wanderers - Kate Ormand
Then Came You (Animal Magnetism book 5) - Jill Shalvis
These Broken Stars (Starbound book 1) - Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
These Shallow Graves - Jennifer Donnelly
This is One Moment (Come Back to Me book 2) - Mila Gray
This Night So Dark (Starbound book 1.5) - Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (Novella)
This Shattered World (Starbound book 2) - Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky book 2) - Veronica Rossi
Tied to Trouble (Gamers book 3) - Megan Erickson
Ties That Bind (Veil book 5) - Pippa DaCosta
'Til the World Ends - Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre & Karen Duvall
Timeless (Parasol Protectorate book 5) - Gail Carriger
Tower of Thorns (Blackthorn & Grim book 2) - Juliet Marillier
Transmonstrified (Short Story Collection) - R.L. Naquin
Truckers (Bromeliad book 1) - Terry Pratchett
Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum book 2) - Janet Evanovich

~U~
Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky book 1) - Veronica Rossi (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Unforgotten (Unremembered book 2) - Jessica Brody
Unlawful Contact (I-Team book 3) - Pamela Clare
Unremembered (Unremembered book 1) - Jessica Brody (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Upon the Midnight Clear (Dark-Hunters book 13) - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Uprooted - Naomi Novik

~V~
Valentine (Brotherhood of Fallen Angels book 1) - Heather Grothaus
Valentine (On Dublin Street book 5.5) - Samantha Young (Novella)
Vampire Seeker (Samantha Carter book 1) - Tim O'Rourke
Vicious (Vicious book 1) - V.E. Schwab

~W~
Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School book 3) - Gail Carrier
Warm Up (Vicious book 0.5) - V.E. Schwab (Short Story)
What a Dragon Should Know (Dragon Kin book 3) - G.A. Aiken
What Caroline Wants (Pushing the Boundaries book 1) - Amanda Abbott
What Emma Craves (Pushing the Boundaries book 3) - Amanda Abbott
What If - Rebecca Donovan
What Piper Needs (Pushing the Boundaries book 2) - Amanda Abbott
Where's the Wookie? A Search & Find Activity Book (Activity Book)
Wicked Wild Fantasies - Shiloh Walker
Wickedly Magical (Baba Yaga book 0.5) - Deborah Blake (Novella)
Wild Things (Chicagoland Vampires book 9) - Chloe Neill
Wilde at Heart (Wilde Security book 3) - Tonya Burrows
Wings of Hope (Veil book 0.5) - Pippa DaCosta (Novella)
Winter (Lunar Chronicles book 4) - Marissa Meyer
World After (Penryn & the End of Days book 2) - Susan Ee (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)

~X~


~Y~


~Z~


2015 Totals:
Novels read = 241
Rereads (Novels, Novellas & Short Stories) = 43
Novellas read = 32
Short Stories read = 11
Verse Novel  = 1
Graphic Novels/Cartoons/Illustrated Novels = 3
Craft Books read = 1
Children's Picture / Activity Books = 2
Non-Fiction = 2

Sunday 24 January 2016

Review: Base Instincts - Larissa Ione

As a Seminus demon, Raze’s life literally depends on having sex with females. The problem is that he doesn’t desire females, and it’s physically impossible for him to be with males. Thankfully, he and his best friend, Fayle, have an arrangement that keeps him alive . . . if lonely. He finds some solace in his work as a medic at Thirst, a vampire club known for its rough clientele. But his carefully structured world turns upside down when he meets a mysterious male who makes him want what he can never have.

Slake is an assassin used to getting what he wants, and what he wants is Raze. But he also wants to earn back the soul he sold when he was a much different demon. All he has to do is capture a runaway succubus named Fayle and hand her over to her family. What he doesn’t count on is being caught himself by a web of lies—and his attraction to Raze.

Raze and Slake must navigate a dangerous world to be together. But as Fayle’s jealousy of their relationship turns deadly, they find themselves embroiled in a battle not only for their love, but their lives and souls.

The Demonica Series:
Pleasure Unbound
Desire Unchained
Passion Unleashed
Eternity Embraced (Novella)
Ecstasy Unveiled
Sin Undone
Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 1)
Vampire Fight Club (Novella in the Supernatural anthology or as a separate ebook)
Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 2)
Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 3)
Rogue Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 4)
Reaver
Azagoth (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 1)
Revenant
Hades (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 2)
Base Instincts (Novella)
Z (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 3)
Razr (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 4)
Hawkyn (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 5)
Her Guardian Angel (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 6, also part of the Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection)
Dining with Angels: Bits & Bites from the Demonica Universe (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book, Demonica Underworld book 7)
Cipher (Demonica Underworld book 8)
Reaper (Demonica Underworld book 9)

For more information visit Larissa Ione's website

Review:
Raze is a seminus demon who literally has to have sex with women just to survive so even though he's only really attracted to men he can never have an exclusive relationship with a guy. He likes the healing abilities that his seminus side gives him and loves his job working as a paramedic but he has come to accept that he will never be happy in his personal life. Rather than constantly having to find random women to hook up with, like most Seminus demons do before they're mated, Raze has come to an arrangement with his friend Fayle who is a succubus so also has feed off of sex to survive. They have a strong friendship but neither of them are looking for more than that so their relationship has always worked for them both, even though Fayle's possessiveness has become more than a little awkward.

Slake bartered with his soul for protection from his family, agreeing to work as an assassin and finder for a demon owned law firm for a limited contract and forfeiting his soul if he fails. If he can complete just one more job for them he will earn back his freedom and all he has to do is capture Fayle and bring her back to her family. Unfortunately for him the job is a lot more complicated because of his attraction to Raze, especially when he realises how important Fayle is for Raze's survival.

I've been a fan of this series from the beginning so of course I jumped at the chance of reading Base Instincts. I love that Larissa Ione has included an MM story in the series and I was rooting for Raze and Slake from the beginning. I thought I had a pretty good idea of how things would play out when I picked this up but it wasn't at all what I expected and the resolution to Raze's problem was a really creative one. I'm not going to say more because I don't want to give spoilers but it just goes to prove that there is someone out there for everyone no matter what issues you may have!

Even though this isn't a full length novel Larissa Ione did a great job of making me care about the characters involved, Raze and Slake have both been through a lot in their pasts and there were some nice messages in here about being yourself and not letting other people put you down because they don't agree with your choices. There was perhaps a little less tension than in some of the other books in the series but I didn't have a problem with that and I loved the little cameo appearances from some of the previous characters. Reading Base Instincts reminded me how much I love the seminus siblings and really made me want to go back and start rereading the series from the beginning which to me is the sign of a very good story.

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

Other Reviews:
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Review: Hades - Larissa Ione

A fallen angel with a mean streak and a mohawk, Hades has spent thousands of years serving as Jailor of the Underworld. The souls he guards are as evil as they come, but few dare to cross him. All of that changes when a sexy fallen angel infiltrates his prison and unintentionally starts a riot. It’s easy enough to quell an uprising, but for the first time, Hades is torn between delivering justice — bestowing or mercy — on the beautiful female who could be his salvation . . . or his undoing.

Thanks to her unwitting participation in another angel’s plot to start Armageddon, Cataclysm was kicked out of Heaven and is now a fallen angel in service of Hades’s boss, Azagoth. All she wants is to redeem herself and get back where she belongs. But when she gets trapped in Hades’s prison domain with only the cocky but irresistible Hades to help her, Cat finds that where she belongs might be in the place she least expected . . .

The Demonica Series:
Pleasure Unbound
Desire Unchained
Passion Unleashed
Eternity Embraced (Novella)
Ecstasy Unveiled
Sin Undone
Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 1)
Vampire Fight Club (Novella in the Supernatural anthology or as a separate ebook)
Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 2)
Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 3)
Rogue Rider (Lords of Deliverance book 4)
Reaver
Azagoth (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 1)
Revenant
Hades (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 2)
Base Instincts (Novella)
Z (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 3)
Razr (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 4)
Hawkyn (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 5)
Her Guardian Angel (Novella) (Demonica Underworld book 6, also part of the Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection)
Dining with Angels: Bits & Bites from the Demonica Universe (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book, Demonica Underworld book 7)
Cipher (Demonica Underworld book 8)
Reaper (Demonica Underworld book 9)

For more information visit Larissa Ione's website

Review:
I absolutely love Larissa Ione's Demonica series and I really miss the world and the characters so I'm thrilled that she's still writing the occasional novella for fans to dive into. Hades has made appearances throughout the series but he's never been a central character, mainly because Azagoth has kept him pretty much confined to Sheol-gra as punishment for something he did thousands of years ago.

Anyway, I was really excited to get to spend some time with Hades and I loved Larissa Ione's take on him, she's very, very good at showing her bad guy's softer side and she did this perfectly here. All Hades really wants is to be allowed to live his life in peace, he doesn't like being trapped in Sheol-gra but he knows he plays an important role and he would just like to be able to leave occasionally for a change of scenery. Unfortunately Azagoth is not someone who forgives easily and he's nowhere near done with Hades' punishment.

We've also met fallen angel Cataclysm in previous books, she was one of the angels who was tricked into helping Gethel, almost bringing about the apocalypse, and it cost her everything. Cat is currently living and working in Azagoth's home but she's desperate to win back her wings and will do whatever it takes to become an angel again. Unfortunately Cat's name suits her and she is a walking disaster area, pretty much everything she touches leads to trouble and no matter how good her intentions are she always ends up making things worse.

This novella was hilarious, Cat causes so much trouble for poor Hades even though all she's trying to do is help him. Azagoth was about ready to have a fit because of it and I think it's only down to Liliana's influence that both Cat and Hades even survived to the end of the book. The couple have fantastic chemistry, their relationship develops fairly quickly but I expect that in a novella and it never felt overly rushed in any case. My only complaint was that the uprising in Sheol-gra was dealt with a little too quickly and easily but that's a really minor issue that didn't bother me a great deal.

I miss this series so much and will happily take any opportunity to revisit it so I'm excited that I have a couple of novellas to go and I'm still hoping that Larissa Ione may decide to give us a few more full length novels too.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Saturday 23 January 2016

Review: Linesman - S.K. Dunstall

First in a brand new thought-provoking science fiction series.

The lines. No ship can traverse the void without them. Only linesmen can work with them. But only Ean Lambert hears their song. And everyone thinks he’s crazy . . .

Most slum kids never go far, certainly not becoming a level-ten linesman like Ean. Even if he’s part of a small, and unethical, cartel, and the other linesmen disdain his self-taught methods, he’s certified and working.

Then a mysterious alien ship is discovered at the edges of the galaxy. Each of the major galactic powers is desperate to be the first to uncover the ship’s secrets, but all they’ve learned is that it has the familiar lines of energy—and a defense system that, once triggered, annihilates everything in a 200 kilometer radius.

The vessel threatens any linesman who dares to approach it, except Ean. His unique talents may be the key to understanding this alarming new force—and reconfiguring the relationship between humans and the ships that serve them, forever.

Linesman Series:
Linesman
Alliance

Visit S.K. Dunstall's website for more information

Review:
Linesman came highly recommended by Ilona Andrews (one of my favourite authors) so add that to the fact that I've been obsessed with stories set in space recently and of course I HAD to read it. I didn't know a huge amount about the story going in but what I found was unique and refreshing and I enjoyed every minute of it.

After discovering an alien technology humans have been able to adapt it to allow long distance space travel. Space ships access the 10 different lines and each of these lines is used for a different ship function, we don't know what all of the lines do but there is one for communications, one for travelling through the void, another controls the engines and a fourth keeps the ship's gravity in check. One thing all the lines have in common is that they need frequent attention and fine tuning to stay functional and there are only a small number of humans who have the ability to work them. As a level 10 linesman Ean is one of the top tier but his eccentricities have made him a bit of an outcast amongst his peers. Other linesmen tune the lines using their mental abilities but Ean finds he has to sing to them to make them do what he needs. Since Ean grew up in the slums and was initially self trained the others feel he is beneath them and they don't believe he is as powerful as they are.

When a mysterious anomaly is discovered in deep space most of the other level 10 linesmen are sent to investigate but Ean is kept home by his boss and instead forced to take over the day to day upkeep of the entire fleet. Ean initially sees this as another black mark against him but once the captains start to realise how skilled he is he soon finds himself in high demand. Then his contract is purchased by a wealthy and secretive business woman and Ean gets much closer to the Confluence than he ever dreamed possible.

I absolutely loved Linesman, Ean was a great character, someone with very little self confidence who suddenly finds himself amidst some of the universe's most influential people and even stranger they're actually listening to what he has to say. He's totally out of his element and has no interested in the political games that are playing out around him, all he really wants is a chance to study the lines and to use his skills to fix them. Ean really steps up when he's needed and I loved seeing how much his character grew throughout the story. There are lots of interesting side characters, some with questionable motives but also some who are surprisingly supportive of Ean. He's made some powerful allies but that has also gained him some equally powerful enemies and he's now walking a very fine line between both sides of a brewing war.

This story had me captivated from beginning to end, I couldn't wait to see how it played out and I was left desperate to get my hands on the sequel. This is a really strong debut from writing duo Sherylyn and Karen Dunstall and I'll be eagerly waiting to see where they take Ean's journey next.

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

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Review: Fortune's Pawn - Rachel Bach

Fans of Firefly and Elizabeth Moon will lap up this action-packed military science fiction series. Welcome to the start of a thrilling new space adventure, starring female mercenary Deviana Morris . . .

Deviana Morris isn't your average mercenary. She has plans. Big ones. And a ton of ambition. One of those is going to get her killed one day - but not just yet.

Not when she just got a job on a tiny trade ship with a nasty reputation for surprises. The Glorious Fool isn't misnamed: it likes to get into trouble. And with a reputation for bad luck that makes one year as security detail on this ship equal to five years everywhere else - Devi knows she's found the perfect way to get the jump on the next part of her Plan. But the Fool doesn't give up its secrets without a fight, and one year might be more than even Devi can handle.

Paradox Series:
Fortune's Pawn
Honor's Knight
Heaven's Queen

Visit Rachel Bach's website for more information

Review:
Devi is a mercenary, she has trained hard and is one of the best at what she does but her goal has always been to become a Devastator, one of the elite band who guard the king. She has the skills but what she is lacking is years of experience in the field and now she's looking for a way to get accepted faster. When a friend tips her off that spending a year guarding The Glorious Fool will automatically qualify her dream role she jumps at the chance. Surely looking after one tiny trade ship will be a walk in the park for someone like her? It quickly becomes clear that all is not what it seems on The Glorious Fool though and it's not just her career on the line but also her life.

It took me a while to warm up to Devi, there is no doubt that she's a fierce warrior who is incredibly skilled with her weapons but she knows it and that makes her quite arrogant and full of herself. She isn't the easiest person to like in the beginning and I initially worried that she'd be an all talk and no action kind of girl but happily she proved me completely wrong on many occasions and she has all the skill she brags about and then some. Seeing her in action was quite something but it was slowly seeing her start to relax and warm up around the crew that I really liked. She has a nicer side it's just one she keeps hidden deep.

The crew of The Glorious Fool is quite an eccentric mix of humans and different types of alien species. Everyone seems to be keeping their own secrets and they all have very different strengths and abilities. Some are more trustworthy than others but you get the feeling all along that there is a lot going on under the surface and we're only just starting to dig into that. Rachel Bach has created a detailed society with a lot of different alien races, each with complex rules and customs. The story moves at a fairly fast pace and it definitely kept me interested from beginning to end. My main complaint was that the romance felt a little rushed and unbelievable, I liked the character that Devi was involved with but I think their relationship could have done with a slower burn. The ending more than made up for that though and I have a feeling that this series is going to go from strength to strength.

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:

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