Feeling Fictional: July 2017

Monday 31 July 2017

Release Day Blitz: For 100 Reasons - Lara Adrian

New York Times Bestselling Author Lara Adrian's FOR 100 REASONS, the conclusion to the sexy, suspenseful 100 series is releasing today and we couldn't be more excited to share this title with you.

Love takes no prisoners…

Billionaire Dominic Baine stepped into Avery Ross’s life when it was at its lowest. Obsessed with the beautiful, struggling artist, Nick was determined to have her. What began as a scorching seduction soon burned out of control, exploding into a white-hot passion neither of them could deny.

Yet Nick and Avery are two damaged people, both haunted by dark secrets with the power to destroy them. And for Nick, the ugly past that shaped him cannot compare to the unforgivable deception that drives Avery from his arms, from his life. Now the man accustomed to having everything he desires must find a way to redeem himself to the only woman he has ever loved.

Avery Ross has known heartbreak. She has known betrayal and loss, but nothing like the pain that loving Dominic Baine has brought into her life. Reeling from the aftermath of his devastating revelation, instead of allowing despair to break her, she builds herself into something stronger—the fearless woman and artist Nick’s passion has taught her to be. Yet her heart is in pieces, and despite everything she has, the one thing she needs is the man whose possessive desires and consuming love holds the power to either save them both or shatter her forever…

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See where it all started with FOR 100 DAYS and FOR 100 NIGHTS

FOR 100 DAYS

Pleasure has a price…

Struggling artist Avery Ross is barely scraping by. Bartending at a trendy New York City restaurant for an overbearing boss and two weeks away from losing her apartment to a condo developer, she’s desperate for a break. So when she’s offered a temporary housesitting job, she takes it.

Living at one of the poshest addresses in Manhattan is like entering a new world—one that catapults her into the orbit of billionaire Dominic Baine, the darkly handsome, arrogantly alpha resident of the building’s penthouse. What begins as a powerful attraction soon explodes into a white-hot passion neither can deny.

Yet as scorching as they need for each other is, Avery doesn’t expect Nick’s interest in her to last. Nor does she dare to dream that the desire she feels for this scarred, emotionally remote man could deepen into something real. For Avery has secrets of her own—and a past that could destroy her…and shatter everything she and Nick share.

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FOR 100 NIGHTS

Passion knows no bounds…

Avery Ross is living a dream. After struggling all of her life to make ends meet, a change encounter with a powerful, darkly handsome man has catapulted her into a dazzling new world of penthouse luxury, elegant parties, and a wild, consuming passion with her billionaire love, Dominic Baine. Nothing is out of his reach in business or in pleasure, yet the only woman he wants is her. Nick sweeps her to sensual heights she has never dared explore, commanding her body the same way he commands her heat. Yet Avery knows the fantasy she’s living cannot last.

With dark secrets and a dangerous enemy haunting her past, Avery must find a way to trust Nick with the truth before it destroys everything they share. But Nick is harboring secrets of his own as well. And when they come to light, Avery will be forced to decide if the love she feels for Nick is strong enough to endure a betrayal she may never be able to forgive.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LARA ADRIAN is a New York Times and #1 international bestselling author with nearly 4 million books in print and digital worldwide and translations licensed in more than 20 countries. Her upcoming release is FOR 100 REASONS, the third book in a contemporary romance series that reviewers are calling "phenomenal" and "one of the hottest series of the year." Learn more about the author and her books at LaraAdrian.com.

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July 2017 Recap

Books read in previous months but reviewed in July:

(Links will take you to my reviews)

Wildfire - Ilona Andrews (Read in April & May, reviewed in July)
Bronze Gods - A.A. Aguirre (Read in May, reviewed in July)
Lonely Planet Pocket Berlin - Andrea Schulte-Peevers (Travel Guide) (Read in May, reviewed in July)
Way Down Deep - Charlotte Stein & Cara McKenna (Read in May, reviewed in July)
Last Dance - Jeffe Kennedy (Read in June, review coming soon)
Beyond Doubt - Kit Rocha (Novella) (Read in June, review coming soon)
Destined to Live: One Woman's War, Life, Loves Remembered - Sabina van Der Linden-Wolanski with Diana Bagnall (Read in June, review coming soon)
The Black Lily - Juliette Cross (Read in June, review coming soon)
Paradise Found - Vivian Arend (Read in June, review coming soon)
Masquerade - Laura Lam (Read in June, reviewed in July)
The Dragon's Playlist - Laura Bickle (Read in June, review coming soon)
Silver Silence - Nalini Singh (Read in June, reviewed in July)
The Raven King - Maggie Stiefvater (Read in June, reviewed in July)
Cursed - Sue Tingey (Read in June, reviewed in July)
The Alchemists of Loom - Elise Kova (Read in June, review coming soon)
Turned by a Tiger - Felicity Heaton (Read in June, reviewed in July)
Overtaken - K.F. Breene (Read in June, review coming soon)

Books read in July:

(Links will take you to my reviews)

Nevernight - Jay Kristoff (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Foundation - Ann Aguirre (Short Story)
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood (review coming soon)
Endurance - Ann Aguirre (Novella)
Godsgrave - Jay Kristoff (review coming soon)
Harry Potter: Magical Film Projections: Patronus Charm (Activity Book)
The Red - Tiffany Reisz
Blackwing - Ed McDonald
Wildfire - Ilona Andrews (read 3 times this year!)
Protecting Their Mate: Part 1 - Moira Rogers (Novella / Serialised Novel)
Outpost - Ann Aguirre
Rosemary and Rue - Seanan McGuire (review coming soon)
Eyes on You (Blasphemy book 2.5) - Laura Kaye (Novella)
Serpent's Game - Pippa DaCosta
The Mechanical Minotaur - Laura Lam (Short Story)
Rapture in Death - J.D. Robb (review coming soon)
Glory - Ana Jolene
Protecting Their Mate: Part 2 - Moira Rogers (Novella / Serialised Novel) (review coming soon)
Daughter of the Burning City - Amanda Foody (review coming soon)
Northern Lights - Philip Pullman (review coming soon)
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition - J.C. Daniels
The Good, The Bad and The Undead - Kim Harrison (review coming soon)
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo - F.C. Lee (review coming soon)
Game of Thrones Mask: House Lannister Lion - Steve Wintercroft (review coming soon)
Bound - Sue Tingey (review coming soon)
Origin - Ana Jolene (review coming soon)
Restoration - Ann Aguirre (Short Story) (review coming soon)
Horde - Ann Aguirre (review coming soon)

Other July Posts

July Books of the Month:

(Choices are made from books reviewed this month and the links will take you to my reviews)

My top YA read in July:

Outpost by Ann Aguirre (read my review here)

My top NA read in July:

I didn't read any NA books this month

My top adult read in July:

Wildfire by Ilona Andrews (read my review here)
Silver Silence by Nalini Singh (read my review here)
Serpent's Game by Pippa DaCosta (read my review here)

My Challenge Updates:

Here are the 2017 challenges I've signed up for:
2017 Read 100 Books in a Year Challenge - Read 130/200
2017 British Books Challenge - Read 20/20 - DONE
2017 New Author Challenge - Read 21/50
2017 Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Challenge - 50/100
2017 Contemporary Romance Challenge - 18/20
2017 Retellings Reading Challenge - 4/12

Sunday 30 July 2017

Review: Outpost - Ann Aguirre

Deuce’s whole world has changed.

Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn't fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Everything is different now that Deuce and the others have arrived at Salvation and she's finding it hard to fit in. She's not comfortable with the way they expect girls to dress nicely and learn useful skills like cooking and sewing and the town just don't know what to make of her tomboyish ways. It's also hard being treated like a child and expected to go to school when she's spent so many years fending for herself and helping to protect others in her role as a hunter. Things start to look up when she proves she has the skills to be one of the town guards and is given a job helping to protect the farmers during the summer harvest but as the Freaks continue to get smarter and prove a far greater danger than ever before she's going to have her work cut out for her.

I'm so glad I've finally made a start on this series, it's one I'm really enjoying and I loved seeing how much Deuce grew as a character in this book. What I love about her is that she accepts that she doesn't know everything and she's willing to ask questions and learn what she needs to. She also knows where her strengths are though and she refuses to let anyone put her in a box just because of her gender. I had to admire her for standing up for what she wanted when it would have been so much easier to go along with the town folk's expectations for her. I felt sorry for her as she struggled to find her place though, Tegan found it so much easier to fit in and preferred to spend time with new friends because Deuce and the others reminded her of a difficult time, Fade is still jealous and is also keeping his distance so the only one it seems like she can really rely on is Stalker.

I'll admit I was worried in the first book that it might turn into a dreaded love triangle but I'm convinced now it's not going to happen. Stalker is obviously interested in Deuce but it's very clear she only has feelings for Fade and I can't imagine that changing any time soon. I wasn't at all keen on Stalker's character in the first book - let's face it he's done some horrific and pretty unforgivable things! - but he actually really grew on me in this book. At least he's willing to admit the things he did wrong and he wants to make amends for them and who knows how we would have acted if we'd been born in his shoes. I think one of the things I like most about Deuce is how self aware she is, she recognises that she acts in certain ways because of the way she was raised but she wants to learn and do better and she recognises a similar quality in Stalker. As much as Stalker has grown on me I'm still 100% on team Fade though! I was irritated with him for pushing Deuce away at the beginning of Outpost but he's been through a lot and his insecurities were showing. When it comes down to it he always has Deuce's back when she needs him the most and I love seeing them fight alongside each other.

This series is quite brutal and it doesn't shy away from the violence of post-apocalyptic life which makes it feel very believable. There is always plenty of action and I've flown through both books so far so this series certainly didn't suffer with second book syndrome. Ann Aguirre has kept the pacing tight and it's clear she has a solid plan on where the series is going from here. After that ending I'm very interested to see what happens to all the characters next and I'm very glad that I don't have to wait a year for the next book to release before I can read it!

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.

Hardback / Paperback / Kindle:

Saturday 29 July 2017

Review: Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition - J.C. Daniels

Special Anniversary Edition

Includes the short story DAMON and never-before-released deleted scenes and more.

Kit Colbana--half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades--has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.

So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters--especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.

Or maybe it's all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she's gotten in over her head. Or maybe it's because if she fails--she's dead.

If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she'll even live long to collect her fee...

Included:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck
Bladed Magic
Damon
Blade Song
Proceed with Caution - A Collection of Deleted Shorts & Scenes

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
This is a special anniversary edition of Blade Song that doesn't just include the first book in the Colbana Files but also has several short stories, novellas and deleted scenes too. A Stroke of Dumb Luck and Bladed Magic are both available to purchase separately but this is the first (and currently only) opportunity fans have to purchase the novella Damon (a Damon POV story) outside of J.C. Daniel's (AKA Shiloh Walker) Patreon campaign and the deleted scenes and shorts gathered together with the title Proceed with Caution are unavailable anywhere else.

I already reviewed nearly all of the stories included in this collection so I've just copied my reviews here to make it easier for you. I literally bought this ebook for the deleted scenes at the end but if you've not read the short stories or the first book then this is a great price to get you started on the Colbana Files series.

A Stroke of Dumb Luck:

Fans of the Colbana Files are going to really enjoy this little short story prequel that can be read for free on the Tor website. The story is also available to download from Amazon for the Kindle but you have to pay a small amount for that version. I have to say that although I'm happy to have read it for free I think I'd have been disappointed if I'd spent money on it (it's very short at around 20 pages). Please note that while A Stroke of Dumb Luck is published on Amazon with the author's correct name, Shiloh Walker, but the rest of the series has been published under her pen name, J.C. Daniels. I think that is a little confusing - especially to anyone who hasn't come across the series before - so I wanted to point it out for anyone who is unaware.

This story will have much more meaning to people who have already started reading the series and who know the characters involved. I've read the first two books (Blade Song & Night Blade) so I'm already invested in this world and it was really nice to get a glimpse into Kit's past. We get to see one of her earliest meetings with vampire Jude and we also get to see a bit more of the background of her friendship with Colleen. If you're new to the series then this story is a nice introduction but it doesn't show the full complexity of the world Shiloh Walker / J.C. Daniels has created, it's a nice taster to whet your appetite but there is only so much you can show in 20 pages. I would highly recommend the series though, it is fast becoming one of my favourite urban fantasy series and I think it will appeal to fans of authors like Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs.

Bladed Magic:

Bladed Magic is a short story prequel to the Colbana Files series by J.C. Daniels so you can start with this story even if you're new to the series. If you're a series reading order nut like me then it technically fits into the timeline after A Stroke of Dumb Luck (another short story) and before the first book Blade Song.

For people who are new to the series this is a nice introduction to the main character Kit Colbana, you'll learn a little about her history and discover some of her magical abilities but obviously as this is a short story it won't go into a huge amount of detail. I think it does a good job of showing what a kickass character she can be though and this is a great way to test the waters if you're not sure whether to start the series or not. I do think it's worth pointing out that Justin isn't the love interest for these books so even though he and Kit have some chemistry you shouldn't read too much into that - I'd hate for anyone to be disappointed when they go on to read Blade Song.

If, like me, you're up to date with the series then I'm sure you'll love this chance to see how Kit met her ex Justin. This story shows just how Kit was persuaded out of her hiding place in TJ's bar and how she ended up working as a private investigator. It was Justin's encouragement that helped her get past her anxiety to start taking control of her life again and I enjoyed seeing how instrumental he is in helping her discover more about her abilities.

The Colbana Files has quickly become one of my favourite urban fantasy series since I discovered it so it's one I'd highly recommend. If you're a fan of Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews then I'm sure you'll enjoy J.C. Daniels just as much!

Damon:

Damon is a short story set in the Colbana Files world and its only available to Shiloh Walker's (aka J.C. Daniels) supporters on Patreon. You can sign up for as little as a dollar so it doesn't cost a fortune but it's a great way to help out an author you love and you only pay per story so you're always getting something for your money.

If you're a fan of the Colbana Files then you're going to love this novella, it's set just before Blade Song (although I think you'll enjoy it more if you're already familiar with the characters so I'd recommend reading it after that book) and gives us the chance to see what Damon's life was like before he met Kit. We get to find out why nobody worries when Doyle first goes missing, see more of the friendship between Damon and Chang as well as visit Alisdair and the wolf pack.

I enjoyed seeing certain things from Damon's point of view and this was a nice little teaser that's left me even more eager to read the next book in the series.

Blade Song:

Kit is half human and half Aneira (think Amazon warrior), she was trained by her family to become an assassin and thief but instead she has opened a PI firm and is struggling to make ends meet on her own. There has been a distinct lack of cases recently so when she is approached by the enforcer for the alpha of the local pack of cat shifters she reluctantly accepts the job. Working for the cats is madness - everyone knows the alpha is insane - but finding out that the job is to locate a missing teenage boy tugs at her heartstrings and she just can't say no. When she finds out that the penalty for failure is her death she realises that she may come to regret that decision, especially since it also means working in close contact with pack enforcer Damon. The job won't be an easy one but if anyone has the skills needed to get it done then it's Kit, she just needs to do it fast enough to keep the alpha happy.

I love urban fantasy so as soon as I heard about Blade Song I wanted to get my hands on a copy, thankfully I was approved for an advanced copy via Netgalley and I couldn't wait to get started. This is a fantastic start to a new series and I think it will appeal to fans of authors like Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs. I love the fact that Kit brings something new to the table in a genre that is crowded with vampires and shapeshifters. She is descended from a race of warriors and although she isn't the most physically powerful amongst the supernatural races she has a unique skill set and a special affinity with weapons that mean she isn't someone to be taken lightly. She had a difficult past with her family which has made her wary of trusting others but she is strong enough to stand on her own two feet. If anything she can be a bit too independent and needs to learn to rely on her friends to help her more, I'm sure that is something that we will see her learn to do as the series continues though. There aren't many Aneira left and most of the supernatural community have never even heard of them so Kit is often mistaken for a human and her adversaries have a tendency to underestimate her which comes in quite handy and allows her to take them by surprise.

When it comes to enforcer Damon I have to admit it took me a while to warm to him. I do love Alpha heroes, especially when I'm reading paranormal books, but Damon takes it to the extreme and has a really bad attitude towards Kit at the beginning of the book. One particular action of his was almost unforgivable but you get to see how much he regrets what happened and Kit doesn't let him off easily. As we get to know him we see a much nicer side to his character and it was at that point I really started to see his appeal. There is some great snarky banter between the pair of them and although I felt they moved their relationship forward a bit too quickly I still find that preferable to a series where the protagonists have that will they or won't they thing going on for multiple books. I like a bit of teasing but you can have too much of a good thing!

Alongside Kit and Damon we are introduced to some interesting side characters that I'm looking forward to getting to know better. The witches in particular have a lot of potential as allies for future books and it would be interesting to learn more about the covens. I have a feeling we're going to be finding out a lot more about Kit's family as the series continues and I also think that Damon still has some secrets up his sleeve. I'd recommend Blade Song for any urban fantasy fan, there is plenty of action, the story is fast moving, Kit is a strong heroine with unusual and interesting abilities and Damon is a hero who will grow on you the more time you spend with him. I'm already looking forward to the next instalment.

Proceed with Caution - A Collection of Deleted Shorts & Scenes:

Proceed with Caution is a collection of 4 short stories and deleted scenes that haven't been published before. These haven't been fully edited (it openly states that in the book) so there are some errors but not enough to stop me enjoying reading them.

1. Damon POV from beginning of Blade Song - get to see Kit and Damon's first meeting from his point of view. It was really interesting to see inside his head during that first meeting so I definitely enjoyed this short. My only complaint is that I wanted it to be longer.

2. The Tree - this is a short story featuring Kit, Justin and another witch called Tate (who I can't remember if we've come across in the series before or not). They are working a case and have been asked to investigate a haunted tree but it quickly becomes clear that there is much more going on that a simple ghost. I really enjoyed this story but it ended a little abruptly which was a major disappointment, it didn't feel like a finished story & was almost like the final chapter hadn't been included.

3. Damon POV from the end of Night Blade - This contains spoilers for Night Blade so if you've not read that far in the series please hold off on this Damon POV. If you have read Night Blade then you'll probably find it pretty heartbreaking reading about his side of Kit's rescue (I know I did) but I'm always happy to get the chance to see more of his side of the story.

4. Damon's Valentine POV set sometime after Edged Blade - this is a cute little slice of life snippet set after Edged Blade, it probably contains mild spoilers but doesn't go into much detail about what has happened to Kit so you're probably safe to read it before the book. It's all about Damon trying to put a smile on Kit's face one Valentine's Day and I really enjoyed seeing them having fun together.

Also included at the end of this edition is an excerpt from Hidden Blade, the next book in the series which will be publishing sometime in the next few months. If you're new to the Colbana Files this is a perfect collection to get you started as it includes the first book and all the prequel short stories, but even if you're already familiar with the series you'll probably find it worth buying just for the additional extras that aren't available elsewhere.

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.

Kindle:

Friday 28 July 2017

Excerpt Release: For 100 Reasons - Lara Adrian

Today we are so excited to be sharing an exclusive excerpt from New York Times Bestselling Author Lara Adrian's FOR 100 REASONS, the conclusion to the sexy, suspenseful 100 series.

Love takes no prisoners…

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

AMAZON / iBOOKS / B&N / KOBO

Excerpt

I close the door and lean against it with a heavy sigh after Nick returns to his car.

What does it say about me that I can spend two hours looking after my terminally ill friend yet come home feeling sorry for myself when Nick practically ditches me at my front door? I feel adrift in my own house, left alone with just my thoughts and my worry for the friend I already feel slipping away from me.

It’s too late at night to call Tasha or my mom, and when I phoned Lita from Kathryn’s to update her on the situation, she informed me that she’d caught a cab home from the auction and was headed to bed.

That’s where I should be heading too. That is, if I had any hope of going to bed and not lying there for the next several hours thinking about Nick.

Wanting him.

Needing the kind of contentment and comfort I’ve only ever felt in his arms.

I pick up my phone, my fingers itching with the urge to dial his number. I could ask him to come back. I know he would. I also know that if I’d invited him into my home tonight, into my bed, we’d be crossing a threshold with no turning back.

If we try to return to each other again and fail, it will be for the last time. For my own sake, for my sanity, it would have to be.

As much as I wish I had Nick’s strength to lean on, I’m not sure I’m ready to face that much finality in one night.

Instead I head upstairs to take a shower and try to relax. A few minutes under the hot water soothes my tired muscles. It washes away the tears I refused to let fall in front of Kathryn.

What it doesn’t soothe or wash away are my thoughts of Nick.

My longing to be with him.

Those feelings cling to me as I wrap myself in a short silk kimono and pad across my bedroom rug to draw the blinds. It’s still pouring outside, rain pelting wetly against the windows and sweeping in waves over the street below.

The street where Nick’s black BMW still sits parked at my curb.

“What the hell?”

He’s here? When did he come back? Or did he ever go at all?

It doesn’t matter. He’s here. I step back from the window in surprise, swamped by a selfish elation I can’t deny.

Then I’m racing down the stairs and out the front door, barefoot. Breathless.

Puddles on the pavement slosh against my feet as I round the front of the car to the driver’s side. I pound the flat of my hand against the window, a single knock that brings Nick’s head up sharply.

Our eyes meet through the water-streaked glass. He’s sitting in the darkened car, the engine turned off. He scowls, his lips parting on a silent curse as currents of rain sluice off my nose and chin.

The door pops open. I step aside as he climbs out of the car, an apology in his gaze. “I couldn’t leave. Damn it, I tried to, but--”

I don’t give him the chance to finish. With my hands holding his face, I drag him down to meet my kiss. His answering groan is animal, filled with the same yearning that’s coursing wildly through me.

We’re drenched in seconds. His white dress shirt plasters against his broad shoulders and chest. My thin kimono practically melts around me. Neither of us seems notice or care. Nothing can cool the urgency of our kiss.

Nick’s mouth moves hungrily over mine, our faces wet from the rain, our lips fused and fevered. His large hands hold me close to him, one palm splayed at my back, the other cradling my nape beneath the sodden tangle of my hair. His muscles flex, then in an instant he’s pivoted, turning me around so that I’m pinned between the closed door of the BMW and the firm heat of his body. He crowds in closer, still kissing me madly, our bodies crushed together everywhere they can, melding my soft curves to his hard planes.

I moan with the need for deeper contact. There’s no use trying to deny what he does to me. Just one kiss and I’m his for the taking already.

Again.

Always.

See where it all started with FOR 100 DAYS and FOR 100 NIGHTS

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Thursday 27 July 2017

Review: Blackwing - Ed McDonald

The republic faces annihilation, despite the vigilance of Galharrow's Blackwings. When a raven tattoo rips itself from his arm to deliver a desperate message, Galharrow and a mysterious noblewoman must investigate a long dead sorcerer's legacy. But there is a conspiracy within the citadel: traitors, flesh-eaters and the ghosts of the wastelands seek to destroy them, but if they cannot solve the ancient wizard's paradox, the Deep Kings will walk the earth again, and all will be lost.

The war with the Eastern Empire ended in stalemate some eighty years ago, thanks to Nall's 'Engine', a wizard-crafted weapon so powerful even the Deep Kings feared it. The strike of the Engine created the Misery - a wasteland full of ghosts and corrupted magic that now forms a No Mans Land along the frontier. But when Galharrow investigates a frontier fortress, he discovers complacency bordering on treason: then the walls are stormed, and the Engine fails to launch. Galharrow only escapes because of the preternatural magical power of the noblewoman he was supposed to be protecting. Together, they race to the capital to unmask the traitors and restore the republic's defences. Far across the Misery a vast army is on the move, as the Empire prepares to call the republic's bluff.

Blackwing is a gritty epic fantasy for fans of Mark Lawrence, Scott Lynch and Daniel Polansky.

Raven's Mark Series:
Blackwing

Visit Ed McDonald's website for more information

Review:
Blackwing is an absolutely fantastic debut from Ed McDonald, he's created a dark and gritty world with the perfect anti-hero that readers will find equal parts frustrating and loveable. Captain Ryhalt Galharrow is a member of the Blackwings which means he's above the law and has complete authority to do whatever is required to keep the kingdom safe from the Deep Kings, powerful enemies who want to destroy the world as Ryhalt knows it. The only thing stopping the Deep Kings from rising is a powerful war engine, one that has only been used once before and was so destructive that it created the Misery, a no-man's land full of ghosts and monsters, that separates the republic from the Eastern Empire ruled by the Deep Kings.

Unfortunately for Ryhalt something strange is happening, creatures under the control of the Deep Kings are venturing closer to the republic than ever before and towns that were believed to be safe are now fighting for survival. The big question is why are the Deep Kings no longer afraid of Nall's war engine and it's up to Ryhalt to figure out the answer. When he's tasked with protecting a mysterious noblewoman from the Deep King's monsters the last thing Ryhalt expects is to meet up with his childhood sweetheart. He hasn't seen Ezabeth for years but she has become a powerful magician in that time and she has a worrying theory about the war engine. She needs more information to either prove or disprove her theory but there is a conspiracy across the kingdom and enemies are working against her at every turn.

There are so many reasons to rave about this book, not only is the world building wonderful with a fast paced plot and plenty of twists but you have a whole group of brilliant characters to get to know. Ryhalt is a hardened soldier, someone who has seen and done a lot of dark things and who spends a lot of his time drinking to forget his past experiences. He's also fiercely loyal to the people he cares about and determined to protect his world from the Deep Kings. He's not always the most likeable character but he's definitely human and he has as many good qualities as he does bad ones.

I love the banter between Ryhalt and his crew members, particularly Nenn who is a fierce warrior woman and Tnota, their slightly older but less jaded navigator. Nenn can be quite caustic at times but she's as loyal to Ryhalt as he is to her and she's definitely not someone you'd want to go up against in battle but Tnota is the member of the crew who has the most heart and he's the one who can always lighten the mood when the others are getting too gloomy. Ezabeth is another great character but I'd rather let her stay a mystery so readers can make up their own mind about her.

Blackwing is Ed McDonald's first offering and that makes me incredibly excited to see where he goes from here, I have a feeling he's going to be an author to watch out for and one with a hugely successful career ahead of him.

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

Other reviews of this book:
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.

Hardback / Kindle:

Don't forget to check out the rest of the stops on the Blackwing Blog Tour:

Wednesday 26 July 2017

Review: Eyes on You - Laura Kaye

She wants to explore her true desires, and he wants to watch…

When a sexy stranger asks Wolf Henrikson to rescue her from a bad date, he never expected to want the woman for himself. But their playful conversation turns into a scorching one-night stand that reveals the shy beauty gets off on the idea of being seen, even if she’s a little scared of it, too. And Wolf loves to watch.

In the wake of discovering her fiancé’s infidelity, florist Olivia Foster never expected to find someone who not only understood her wildest, darkest fantasies, but would bring them to life. As Wolf introduces her to his world at the play club, Blasphemy, Liv finds herself tempted to explore submission and exhibitionism with the hard-bodied Dom even as she’s scared to trust again.

But Wolf is a master of getting what he wants—and he’s got his eyes set on her…

Hard Ink Series:
Hard as It Gets
Hard as You Can
Hard to Hold on to (Novella)
Hard to Come By
Hard to Be Good (Novella)
Hard to Let Go
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Raven Riders MC crossover novella)
Hard Ever After (Novella)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Blasphemy crossover novella)

Raven Riders MC Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Ride Dirty (Novella)

Blasphemy Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Bound to Submit
Mastering Her Senses
Eyes on You (Novella)
Theirs to Take (Crossover with Reveal Me by Jennifer Probst)
On His Knees
Switching for Her (April 2018)

Visit Laura Kaye's website for more information

Review:
When Wolf rescues Liv in the middle of a the first date from hell neither of them are expecting the intense attraction that immediately flares between them. A one night stand quickly turns into a whole weekend as the pair realise that they have a shared kink. Wolf is one of the Masters at Club Blasphemy but he's found himself getting bored by the things he used to love and wishing for a connection like the ones some of his fellow Masters have started to build with their long term subs. Liv has always had a desire to watch and be watched but when she dared to share her fantasies with her ex he made her feel like a freak. Now she's finally met a man who is not only willing to play along but actually thrives on it, Wolf will push her to her very limit but she's going to enjoy every minute of it.

I'm a huge fan of Laura Kaye, she's been an auto-buy author for me for years now and I've followed her across genres from contemporary & paranormal romance to romantic suspense and now into erotic romance with the Blasphemy series. She hasn't written a book that I've not enjoyed so when I tell you that this series has now become my favourite you'll understand that's very high praise indeed. The Blasphemy series is just out of this world hot, each of the Masters we've met have a different kink and it's obvious that Laura has done a huge amount of research to make sure that the BDSM element is both realistic and also safe for all participants.

Eyes on You is probably my favourite book in the series so far, Wolf is just so incredibly sexy and I really love a guy who is all about giving his woman what she wants and needs. Liv has spent so long feeling ashamed of her desires but Wolf is the first man who shows her that there is nothing wrong with her. Wolf is not just willing to play out her fantasies he gets off on them as much as she does and the scenes they played out were incredibly sexy. This series isn't all about the sex though, the characters all have genuine emotional connections and Wolf and Liv's romance was actually really sweet too. There wasn't anything about this book that I didn't enjoy and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books in this 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:

Blog Tour: Eyes on You - Laura Kaye

From New York Times Bestselling author Laura Kaye, comes EYES ON YOU, a new novella in her Blasphemy Series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure to grab your copy today!

About EYES ON YOU (Blasphemy #3):

She wants to explore her true desires, and he wants to watch…

When a sexy stranger asks Wolf Henrikson to rescue her from a bad date, he never expected to want the woman for himself. But their playful conversation turns into a scorching one-night stand that reveals the shy beauty gets off on the idea of being seen, even if she’s a little scared of it, too. And Wolf loves to watch.

In the wake of discovering her fiancé’s infidelity, florist Olivia Foster never expected to find someone who not only understood her wildest, darkest fantasies, but would bring them to life. As Wolf introduces her to his world at the play club, Blasphemy, Liv finds herself tempted to explore submission and exhibitionism with the hard-bodied Dom even as she’s scared to trust again.

But Wolf is a master of getting what he wants—and he’s got his eyes set on her…

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Excerpt:

Oh, nope. Nopenopenope. A thousand, million times, nope.

She shoved up out of her chair, and the napkin tumbled from her lap to the floor.

As stunned as she was, she wasn’t sure which happened first—Jerry asking where she was going or Wolf appearing at her side.

“God, Liv. It really is you,” Wolf said. “I worried I’d never see you again.”

Liv blinked, swallowed, and played along as she stared up at that handsome Nordic face, all dark-blond and sharp-jawed good looks. “Wolf. Wow. I can’t believe it’s you.”

He stepped closer. “I see you’re in the middle of something here…”

“Yes, she is,” Jerry said. “If you’ll excuse us.”

Wolf ignored him. “…but after the way we last parted, I promised myself if I ever saw you again, I wasn’t going to let you get away twice.”

Liv was nearly breathless. Was he role-playing or talking about their brief encounter? Either way, her response was the same. “I don’t want you to let me get away.”

She felt out of her element, outside the bounds of propriety, out of control. She had no idea what she was doing here, what she was maybe getting into with this man who was, except for an intense five-minute conversation, a total stranger. She had no idea…except that her head said How could it be worse than my date? And her instincts said Go with Wolf, go with Wolf, go with Wolf. And her body said And climb him while you’re at it.

“Damn, I hoped you’d say that,” Wolf said, green eyes flashing. And then he took her into his arms and kissed her. Right there. In the middle of the bar of a fancy steakhouse. In front of Jerry, who was babbling in outrage that Liv couldn’t hear.

Because Wolf dominated every other sense. His hard chest crushing her breasts and his big hands cupping her jaw and sliding into her hair. His cool tongue licking across her lips. His shower-clean scent adding to the Prosecco to make her head swim. Liv stood frozen and still for long seconds, not because she didn’t like the kiss, but because she did. Oh, man, she really freaking did.

Laura Kaye’s EYES ON YOU – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

July 19^th

Booked All Night – Review & Excerpt

EDGy Reviews – Review & Excerpt

JordansBookReviews – Review & Excerpt

My Girlfriends Couch – Review & Excerpt

Only One More Page – Review & Excerpt

Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

July 20^th

Bad boys and bedtime stories book blog – Review

Four Chicks Flipping Pages – Review & Excerpt

Krista's Dust Jacket – Review & Excerpt

Lightning City Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Mybookarcsblogspot – Review

Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads – Review & Excerpt

Thoughts of a Blonde – Review

July 21^st

Beneath The Covers Blog – Excerpt

Books Need TLC – Review

DC Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt

Novel Addiction – Review

Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt

Ripe For Reader – Review

Two Girls with Books – Review

July 22^nd

Brittany's Book Blog – Excerpt

Evermore Books – Review & Excerpt

Knotty Girl Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Lynn's Romance Enthusiasm – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Susan’s Books I Like – Excerpt

The Reading Cafe – Review & Excerpt

July 23^rd

Bookgasms Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Dog-Eared Daydreams – Review & Excerpt

Lovinghotbooks – Review & Excerpt

Reads & Reviews – Review

Renee Entress's Blog – Review & Excerpt

Shellby – Excerpt

Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt

July 24^th

Bobo's Book Bank – Review & Excerpt

Deluged with Books Cafe – Review & Excerpt

Lit. 4 Ladies – Review & Excerpt

MammieBabbie – Review & Excerpt

Obsessive Reading Disorder – Excerpt

Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt

Sofia Loves Books – Review & Excerpt

Wickedcoolflight – Review & Excerpt

July 25^th

Becky on Books – Review & Excerpt

Literary Gossip – Excerpt

Nice Ladies, Naughty Books – Excerpt

Pardon My Blurb – Review & Excerpt

Roxs Reads – Review & Excerpt

Wicked Babes Blog Reviews – Review & Excerpt

July 26^th

Amo& Sarah's Book Corner - Review

Books According to Abby – Review & Excerpt

Cara's Book Boudoir – Review & Excerpt

Feeling Fictional – Review & Excerpt

Jax's Book Magic – Excerpt

Romancing the Readers – Review

Tanya the book obsessed momma – Review & Excerpt

July 27^th

A geordielass honest blog on reviews – Review

Cocktails and Books – Review

Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog – Excerpt

Provocative Pages – Review

Spoons, Hooks, and Books – Review & Excerpt

The Romance Reviews – Review

WickedGoodReads – Review

July 28^th

A Naughty Girl's Novel World – Review & Excerpt

Kdrbck – Review

Kick Back & Review – Review

Love Drug Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Love Notes Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Romance Reviews and More – Review & Excerpt

True Story Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Wicked Reads – Review & Excerpt

About Laura Kaye:

New York Times and USA Today bestseller Laura Kaye is the author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Laura grew up amid family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Laura is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Maryland Romance Writers, and she is past president of the RWA-Contemporary Romance Writers.

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