Feeling Fictional

Friday, 21 October 2016

Review: Of Flame and Light - Cecy Robson

Taran Wird holds the unique ability to conjure fire and lightning. She is mated to Gemini, Second in Command to the Squaw Valley Pack of the Lake Tahoe Region, and the sole werewolf to possess the ability to split into two wolves. And although they are mates, Taran's insecurities have driven them apart.

Devastated by an injury that left her with a zombie-like limb, Taran struggles to regain command over her magic. But when her arm and her power turn against her, lashing out on those she most loves, she knows she can no longer carry this burden alone. Not that she likes the alternative.

The only way to regain control of her magic is to align and learn from the local coven of witches―the very ones who sought to banish her when she and her three unique sisters first moved to the mystical region. But although Taran is trying, the teachings don't come easy, and the tasks leave her weak and emotionally shattered.

Yet Taran must learn and learn fast. Time is running out. The fire she once mastered so easily has become her greatest adversary and is now slowly burning her alive . . .

Weird Girls Series:
Gone Hunting
A Curse Awakened (Novella)
The Weird Girls (Novella)
Sealed with a Curse
A Cursed Embrace
A Cursed Moon (Novella)
Cursed by Destiny
A Cursed Bloodline
A Curse Unbroken
Of Flame and Promise
Of Flame and Light
Of Flame and Fate
Of Flame and Fury

Visit Cecy Robson's website for more information.

Review:
Taran isn't in a great place right now, she lost her arm in a vicious werewolf attack and although she has been given a magical replacement it's causing her a lot of problems. The magic of her new arm isn't connecting well with the magical abilities she already had and now she's completely lost control of her powers. Her flame is burning her up from the inside out and if she doesn't find a way to get back control then her life is at risk. As if her internal struggles weren't enough she's also in a really bad place with her mate, Gemini is sending all kinds of mixed signals but two things are very clear - he pushes her away every time he catches a glimpse of her new arm and he's spending far too much time with a certain head witch that has always had her eye on him. Taran knows she's going to have to accept Genevieve's help if she wants a chance of re-learning to control her power but the last thing she wants to do is watch the witch cozy up to Gemini so it's going to be an extremely difficult situation for her.

I have to admit I was a little confused when I first started reading this book, mainly because at the end of Of Flame and Promise it seemed like Taran and Gemini had sorted out their problems but at the start of Of Flame and Light they aren't even talking to each other and appear to have been apart for several months. It just wasn't what I was expecting and it threw me a little but it's because Taran's first book started midway through Cursed by Destiny in the series timeline and now this second book catches us up to where she's at by the end of A Curse Unbroken. There's a gap of several months in her story but we're already familiar with what happened to her and how she lost her arm so it's not an issue.

I've always loved Taran's feisty personality, she's not got much of a filter so she comes out with the most outrageous comments but she has a heart of gold inside. Woe betide anyone who gets on her wrong side though and if you go up against one of her sisters then you'll be in for a whole world of hurt when Taran catches up with you. Taran has been through so much in the last few books though and it's obviously affected her confidence big time. On the face of it she still comes across as her smartalec self but when you look a bit closer it's easy to see that she's putting on an act to try and hide how terrified she is of what is happening to her. Her life has spiraled completely out of control, the power she's always been able to rely on to protect herself and her sisters is backfiring badly which is putting the people she is closest to in danger and the mate that she loves with all her heart has walked away and appears to be moving on with someone else. It's heartbreaking to see how much she's struggling and that not even her sisters are able to help her.

I've always loved Gemini before this book but if I was one of Taran's sister's I would have kicked his butt for the way he acts here because he badly deserved it. The way he kept blowing hot and cold made me so angry and even though I'd guessed at why he seemed to be rejecting her new arm (and it was kind of an understandable reason) I find it really hard to forgive the way he acted around Genevieve. There was no cheating involved (thankfully because that's something that would have ended my love for his character permanently) but he lets Taran think there is even though he can see how much it is hurting her. I was so angry with him for causing her more pain when she's already been through so much. It was time for him to step up to the plate and be there for her when she really needed him but he completely failed her and I'm still kind of bitter about it so he's going to have to work hard in the next book for me to love him as much as I did before.

It's the sign of a great book that I was so invested in the characters though and I really do love all of the Wird sisters so it was great to see how the others are getting on. Celia and Aric seem to be finally getting the happily ever after that they deserve and I loved the little hints dropped about Emme and a certain werewolf. Of Flame and Light has plenty of other things going on apart from the stress between Taran and Gemini, not only is Taran having to cope with the whole coven of witches that tried to destroy herself and her sisters when they first arrived in the area but she's also trying to help locate an out of control witch who is set on raising an army of zombies to attack her sisters. There are some truly creepy scenes involving the army of the dead and there's definitely plenty of action going on so this was a fast paced read that I absolutely whizzed through. I love the world Cecy Robson has created and I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

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:

Spotlight: Of Flame and Light - Cecy Robson (Excerpt & Giveaway)

The fire she once mastered so easily has become her greatest adversary and is now slowly burning her alive . . .

OF FLAME AND LIGHT

Weird Girls #7

Cecy Robson

Releasing Oct 18th, 2016

Add to your shelf on Goodreads

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Excerpt:

I hurry forward when I realize I’m just standing there, gaping at them.

I don’t think I take more than a few steps when something crunches beneath the sole of my left boot. I think it’s a stick, but the sound seems off, especially since the ground is so moist. I lift my foot only to jump away.

“T, you coming?” Shayna calls when I don’t move.

“T?” she asks again.

I swallow hard, hoping I’m imagining things as they run back to me.

“What’s wrong?” Emme asks. Unlike Shayna who’s fired up for all the action about to go down, I can sense the worry in her voice.

“Bren . . .” I begin, pointing to the spot near my feet. “Is that a, um, toe?”

He cocks his head. “Nah.”

Emme places her hand over her heart and sighs. “Oh, good—”

“It’s a thumb,” he answers. He sniffs the air. “Right hand, male, and the poor bastard’s been dead a long time.” He looks ahead. “Yeah, this shit’s not good. Call it in, Shayna, but type it. Don’t use voice-to text.”

“Why, dude?” Shayna asks, reaching for her phone in her back pocket.

“Because I’m not sure how well this bitch can hear, or if she has other things listening for her,” he responds.

He motions ahead to a crow. It squawks twice in our direction and flutters away.

Shayna lifts her phone to show us the blank screen. “Phone’s dead, kids.” She quickly pockets it and places a handful of toothpicks in her palm. “I wouldn’t bother, Emme,” she adds when Emme reaches for her phone. I doubt any of our phones are working.”

“She’s right,” Bren says. He shoves his phone into the backpack Emme is carrying and peels off his white T-shirt.

“This keeps getting better and better,” I mutter.

Bren strips out of his jeans, leaving only his underwear and shit-kickers on. “Em, stay behind me,” he tells her. “Shayna, you’ve got the rear.”

Which leaves me in front of Shayna and the most protected. I’ll be honest, this helpless damsel in distress role does nothing for my morale.

I march ahead, forcing myself to snap out of the shock of finding some guy’s thumb, push aside my fear, and tap into my inner diva. I remember a little too late that my inner diva is louder and usually sashays in platform stilettos. I slow my steps, careful not to disturb the creepy things hiding in the bushes.

Let me be the first to tell you, woods are bullshit and top of the scales of the scary meter, second only to graveyards. It’s the reason so many horror movies are based here, and why I’m watching out for psychos with machetes lurking behind trees. But given our past experiences, where danger lurks, so do the dark ones. I’ve had my fill of alleyways, construction sites, abandoned structures, but especially these damn eerie woods!

Author Info

Cecy Robson is an award-winning author of magical realms, to-die-for Alpha heroes, and young adult adventure. A double RITA® 2016 finalist for Once Pure and Once Kissed, and published author of more than fifteen titles, you can typically find her on her laptop or stumbling blindly in search of caffeine.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

To celebrate the Of Flame and Light release Cecy Robson is giving away an ultimate Weird Girls Prize Pack, including a Coach® purse stuffed with an autographed copy of Sealed with a Curse, an audiobook of A Cursed Embrace, t-shirts, a water bottle, magnets, signed postcards, pins, and bookmarks.

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Thursday, 20 October 2016

Excerpt Reveal: Ride Rough - Laura Kaye

Laura Kaye’s RIDE HARD, the first novel in Laura’s Raven Riders Series, is on sale for a very limited time for only $1.99! Be sure you grab it and pre-order RIDE ROUGH, the second novel in the Raven Riders Series releasing April 25, 2017! A sexy romantic suspense, you might’ve first met the Ravens in the Hard Ink world, but this series stands on its own and is even sexier, edgier, and grittier! The Raven Riders Series takes you on a new adventure and kicks it into overdrive!

Get Ready for RIDE ROUGH with an exclusive excerpt AND a Sale on RIDE HARD!

A NOTE FROM LAURA KAYE:

OMG you guys! I’m so excited! Because the first book in my new Raven Riders series is on sale for the first time AND I’ve got an advance excerpt from the second book here for you to enjoy! The Raven Riders is a new sexy contemporary romance series, and a spin-off from my Hard Ink world, about a different kind of a motorcycle club with a protective mission. Ride Hard tells the story of a naïve woman on the run who’s been rescued by the jaded and tormented president of the Raven Riders, who learns that she’s strong enough to save herself and the man she loves, too. Ride Rough is a second-chance love story that is so hot and emotional that I absolutely adored writing it! I hope you’ll check both out!

Now, enjoy this delicious tease from Ride Rough, coming 4/25/17, and grab your copies of BOTH! Thanks for reading! ~ Laura Kaye

From Ride Rough:

It was one of Maverick’s favorite dreams.

He and Alexa had gone up to Swallow Falls in Western Maryland for a weekend getaway and were staying in one of the mini cabins at the state park. After a day of hiking and swimming and picnicking outside, they’d come back to their cabin tired and ready to crash, but getting naked for showers had sidetracked them for hours. And even once they finally fell asleep, Maverick was hard and ready every time he woke up, and he took her again and again, falling asleep still buried inside her . . .

And fuck if he wasn’t ready right now.

He burrowed his face in Alexa’s soft hair and banded his arm around her stomach. His hand filled with the soft mound of her breast. He pulled her back against his chest and ground his erection against the swell of her ass.

“Maverick,” she moaned.

Hell, yeah. He nuzzled her neck, kissed her there, tasting and nipping and sucking. God, he needed in her. “Fuck, Alexa,” he whispered.

Her hand gripped his. “Maverick.”

He rolled her under him and crawled on top of her, his body falling into the cradle of her spread thighs.

“Uh, Maverick.”

He frowned and kissed her jaw, her cheek, her mouth.

It was the kiss that did it. Something wasn’t right. The memory playing out in his sleep-fogged mind didn’t feel like the reality confronting his physical senses. His eyes blinked open.

And he found himself lying on top of Alexa. Not in the cabin at Swallow Falls years before. In the gray morning light of his house. Her wide hazel eyes stared up at him.

He reared off of her in an instant. “Fuck,” he said, coming to stand by the couch. Alexa looked stunned—and so fucking sexy that Maverick barely resisted crawling back on top of her. She lay on her back in his clothes, on his couch, her knees drawn up and falling out, her hair sleep-mussed and sexy. Jesus. He adjusted himself, unable to hide his raging hard-on, and scrubbed at his face. “Goddamn dream. I’m sorry, Alexa. I didn’t mean to do that.”

“You . . . you were dreaming. Of me?” she whispered.

His gaze narrowed. “Don’t ask a question you don’t want the answer to.”

She swallowed and licked her lips. “What if I do want it? The answer,” she added.

Years of need and longing roared through Maverick like a drug he’d mainlined. His thoughts spilled out unfiltered. “Damnit, Al. You’re laying there in my clothes in my house with your thighs spread after I’ve just woken up holding you. My skin smells like you. And I’m sporting an erection because of you. Don’t fuck with me.” The words came out harsher than he intended, but she couldn’t play with him. Not on this. Not when he cared so much. Not when he wanted so much.

Her mouth dropped open and her chest rose and fell a little quicker. “I’m not playing a game. I want to know.”

Planting his hands on his hips, Maverick studied her. Her beautiful, languid body. Her pretty, open face. Her eyes, honest and free of pretense. He felt pulled in a million directions. Between wrong and right, between taking advantage and taking care, between giving in and opening himself up to a world of hurt. “I was dreaming of you. Of us. Up at Swallow Falls.”

“That night we—”

“Yes,” he growled.

“Maverick—”

“Fuck.” He dropped his chin to his chest and closed his eyes. Trying to be bigger than his base needs. Trying to put her before himself. “Whatever is about to come out of your mouth is not a good idea.”

“Mav—”

“I mean it, Al—”

“Maverick!” she nearly yelled. “Listen to me.”

His gaze cut up to hers in time to see her sit up a little and take off her shirt. Well, his shirt. Then she laid back again, her eyes on him, drinking him in, inviting him in. “What if I do want it?” she whispered.

Something inside him snapped.

He was on her in a second. Body covering hers. Hands going to her warm skin. Mouth tasting her everywhere—her shoulder, her throat, her cheek. His chest pressed against her breasts, her hard nipples evident, her excitement palpable. And then his mouth found hers. On a triumphant groan, he claimed her, his lips sucking, his tongue penetrating. His big hand found her breast and kneaded at the soft mound.

And Alexa was right there with him. Moaning, kissing him, clutching on to him. Her thighs wrapped around his hips and her fingers twisted in his hair.

Bad idea bad idea such a fucking bad idea.

Why did bad ideas have to feel so good?

About Ride Hard (Raven Riders #1)

Now on sale for $1.99 for the first time & for a limited time!

Brotherhood. Club. Family.

They live and ride by their own rules.

These are the Raven Riders…

Raven Riders Motorcycle Club President Dare Kenyon rides hard and values loyalty above all else. He’ll do anything to protect the brotherhood of bikers—the only family he’s got—as well as those who can’t defend themselves. So when mistrustful Haven Randall lands on the club’s doorstep scared that she’s being hunted, Dare takes her in, swears to keep her safe, and pushes to learn the secrets overshadowing her pretty smile.

Haven fled from years of abuse at the hands of her criminal father and is suspicious of any man’s promises, including those of the darkly sexy and overwhelmingly intense Ravens’ leader. But as the powerful attraction between them flares to life, Dare pushes her boundaries and tempts her to want things she never thought she could.

The past never dies without a fight, but Dare Kenyon’s never backed down before…

Order on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Add to your Goodreads

About Ride Rough (Raven Riders #2, 4/25/17)

Maverick Rylan won’t apologize for who he is—the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club Vice-President, a sought-after custom bike builder, and a man dedicated to protecting those he loves. So when he learns that the only woman who has ever held his heart is in trouble, he’ll move heaven and earth to save her.

Alexa Harmon thought she had it all—the security of a good job, a beautiful home, and a powerful, charming fiancé who offered the life she never had growing up. But when her dream quickly turns into a nightmare, Alexa realizes she’s fallen for a façade she can’t escape—until sexy, dangerous Maverick offers her a way out.

Forced together to keep Alexa safe, their powerful attraction reignites and Maverick determines to do whatever it takes to earn a second chance—one Alexa is tempted to give. But her ex-fiancé isn’t going to let her go without a fight, one that will threaten everything they both hold dear.

Order on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Add to your Goodreads

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Winner: Black Knights Inc. Series - Julie Ann Walker

I'm excited to announce the winner of my latest giveaway today with the help of Rafflecopter.

Angela you've won a signed set of the whole Black Knights Inc. Series by Julie Ann Walker (I'm still very jealous of this prize pack so I hope you love it!):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations Angela! I've sent you an email asking for your address so as soon as I have the information I can pass it on to Julie Ann Walker's assistant so she can get the books in the post for you.

Thanks so much to Julie Ann Walker for sponsoring these giveaway & thanks to everyone who entered. I'm sorry if you didn't win but I'll have more giveaways coming up soon so make sure you check back for another chance to win prizes.

Wednesday, 19 October 2016

Review: Full Metal Magic - Anthology

9 NY Times, USA Today, and International Bestselling Authors
9 original all-new tales of magic, mayhem, mystery, and adventure you can't get anywhere else.
The ULTIMATE Urban Fantasy Boxed Set!
Yours for an insanely low price.

This Urban Fantasy collection contains 9 EXCLUSIVE stories that will bring you face to face with unique characters, alternate worlds where magic is commonplace, and things that really do go bump in the night.

Journey from Las Vegas to Wales and everywhere in between to face off against witches, shapeshifters, mercenaries, bounty hunters, zombies, and even a few gods.

For more information about any of these authors click on their names below to visit their websites:
J.A. Cipriano
Domino Finn
Sonya Bateman
Ambrose Ibsen
Al K. Line
Rob Cornell
James A. Hunter
Craig Schaefer
Pippa DaCosta

Review:
Anthologies like Full Metal Magic can be a great way to try out a whole bunch of new authors and potentially add a huge number of books to your to read pile (you'll probably find yourself hooked on 9 new series by the end of this one so be warned LOL!). My main reason for wanting to read this anthology was for the Soul Eater short story by Pippa DaCosta, she's the only one of the authors that I'd read before and I'm a huge fan of her work so I'd recommend this book for that story alone but I was excited to have the chance to try out so many new authors too.

Overall this anthology includes a great mix of different supernatural creatures and magical abilities, the stories are varied and fun and it's ideal to dip in and out of because you can easily finish each one in a single sitting even if you don't have much time free. At the current price (£0.99/$0.99) it's a total bargain and a great way to test out a whole bunch of authors to decide which series you're interested in continuing.

I'm including the official blurb for each short story below followed by my thoughts about them all just to give you a bit more information about what to expect from the anthology:

THE BULL DEMON KING by J.A. Cipriano - Mac Brennan just wanted to take his girlfriend to the fair, but the Bull Demon King had other plans...

This is part of the Thrice Cursed Mage series but I'm not sure where it fits into the timeline. This is a fast paced short story with plenty of action but I have to admit I didn't love Mac's voice. He goes on and on about how hot is girlfriend Ricky is but seems to think the fact that she's a werewolf who is the alpha of the entire state is hardly worth mentioning. The banter between them was missing something and I'm not sure if they're in a new relationship but they hardly seem to know each other and I didn't really feel the chemistry between them. This wasn't bad for a short story and I'll still try the series at some point (especially since I already own the first book) but it didn't leave me desperate for more.

THE BLACK DOOR by Domino Finn - Cisco Suarez is dragged to the depths of the underground Miami nightlife, where seekers of arcane knowledge may just get their wish.

Part of the Black Magic Outlaw series, again no idea where it fits in the timeline. I enjoyed this story much more than the first one, mainly because I really liked Cisco's voice. This story was cleverly plotted with a nice twist that I didn't see coming (it may have been more obvious if I was familiar with the series but it was still cleverly done) and it definitely left me wanting to read more in this world.

DANCE OF THE DEAD by Sonya Bateman - Halloween in Manhattan gets weirder than usual for Gideon Black, who finds himself up against a powerful necromancer looking to raise a lot more than the dead.

This is part of the DeathSpeaker Codex and takes place just after events in book 1, Wrong Side of Hell. Gideon is fairly new to the supernatural world, he only found out about his half-fae heritage recently and is still learning to use his rare ability as a DeathSpeaker but he puts it to good use in this short story when he comes up against a necromancer. This was a fun Halloween themed story and it added another series to my wish list.

HARD ROW by Ambrose Ibsen - Demon-hearted brawler Lucian Colt prepares to trace a human trafficking operation to its fountainhead. But will he and his teammates prove a match for what awaits them in the seedy stretch of Hard Row?

Part of the Demon-Hearted series but where it fits into the timeline is unknown. This was another story I enjoyed enough to want to carry on reading the series (this anthology really was bad for my poor to be read mountain!). Lucian was an interesting character, he was given a demon heart in a transplant after being attacked by witches and it's given him some unusual abilities that he puts to use working for a supernatural type of police agency. This story sees him go up against werewolves who have been trafficking children to the underworld.

ANGRY SPARK by Al K. Line - When an old vampire "buddy" calls you in the middle of the night, and asks for a favor, hang up on the them and stay the hell in bed. I was stupid. I got dressed, and nearly got dead soon after.

Part of the Dark Magic Enforcer series but again I'm not sure where it fits into the timeline. Unfortunately this was my least favourite story in the anthology, it's probably a personal thing but I just really didn't like the fat-shaming that was going on. The main character Faz gets a call from an old friend who is in some kind of trouble, from the beginning we're told how fat his friend is and how weird that is for a vampire since they normally look after themselves. Then we get a lot of awful descriptions of the friend's floppy skin because he's lost a lot of weight in a short space of time (thanks to being cursed) and finally the friend recovers and we're supposed to be amused that he's now ginormous again. Like I said that's probably a personal issue that might not bother other readers as much but frankly I found it offensive and it doesn't leave me with much interest in reading more from this author.

FAMILY BUSINESS by Rob Cornell - Sorcerer Sebastian Light expects his first day as a demon hunter to go off without a hitch, but sometimes family issues are harder to slay than even the surliest of goblins.

This is part of the Unturned series, I think it's a prequel but I can't be 100% certain of that. Sebastian is a sorcerer who has only just got his demon hunting license but his first day on the job definitely doesn't go to plan when he realises his target might not be guilty of committing all the crimes he has been accused of. The real question is should Sebastian just blindly follow orders or should he trust his gut and go with his instincts? I think this was probably the funniest story in the anthology and it definitely left me wanting more.

VALENTINE BLUES by James A. Hunter - As violence breaks out and people start dying, only Yancy Lazarus--bluesman, gambler, mage, and former wet-works man--can put things right. Well, he can try...

Part of the Yancy Lazarus series but I'm not sure where it fits into the timeline. This was a retelling of the Pied Piper which was unusual and made it memorable. It wasn't quite long enough for me to get to know the main character very well but I like what I've seen so far and wouldn't mind carrying on with the series.

A DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY by Craig Schaefer - For Daniel Faust, driving a condemned man to his death dredges up old memories and old ghosts. You can't outrun the past.

Part of the Daniel Faust series but I'm not sure where it fits into the timeline. I have a lot of friends who love this series so apart from Pippa's story this was probably the one I was most interested in reading. I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype and I'm happy to say that it did and it's made me more eager than ever to read the rest of the series. I have a feeling I'm going to love Daniel, I definitely loved the story he told here and the way he got his revenge on someone from his past.

CHASE THE DARK by Pippa DaCosta - New York's sewers are infested with gators. As Ace Dante investigates, it becomes clear there's something far worse beneath the streets, and it's out for revenge.

Soul Eater Series:
Hidden Blade
Witches' Bane
Chase the Dark (Short story in the Full Metal Magic anthology)
See No Evil
Scorpion Trap
Serpent's Game
Edge of Forever

Part of the Soul Eaters series, will work well as an introduction to the series but technically fits into the timeline after the second book, Witches' Bane. Obviously this story was the whole reason I wanted to read the Full Metal Magic anthology. I absolutely love this series, it's full of crazy Egyptian Gods roaming modern day New York and causing mayhem for poor Ace wherever they go. This story introduces us to Sobek, the Egyptian God of Crocodiles (among other things) and he's been rather busy in the sewer system underneath Manhattan creating a hoard of mutant crocodiles that he's planning to unleash aboveground. It's up to Ace, and his trusty demon sidekick Shu, to try and stop him but Sobek and Ace have history and things are about to get complicated. Another fantastic story from Pippa, definitely my favourite of the anthology (no surprise there!) and it's left me eagerly waiting for the next instalment of the Soul Eaters series.

Source: Received from Pippa DaCosta 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:

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

Review: Midnight Untamed - Lara Adrian

The mission was supposed to be simple. Infiltrate an enemy’s stronghold outside Rome and eliminate its leader. For a Breed warrior as lethal as Ettore Selvaggio, AKA “Savage”, stealth assassinations are only one of his many cold-hearted specialties. But the last thing Savage expects to find behind enemy lines—in his target’s bed—is a woman he once adored.

It’s been years since Savage last saw beautiful Arabella Genova. Years he’s strived to banish to his past, along with the fierce desire he once felt toward Bella . . . and the irresistible calling of her blood that stirs in him even now, despite the fact that she belongs to another male.

But when fate throws Savage and Bella together again in a race for their lives, will his long-lost love prove to be the one woman he can’t live without, or the perfect weapon to destroy him?

The Midnight Breed Series:
A Touch of Midnight (Novella included in The Midnight Breed Series Companion, now also available separately)
Kiss of Midnight
Kiss of Crimson
Midnight Awakening
Midnight Rising
Veil of Midnight
Ashes of Midnight
Shades of Midnight
Taken by Midnight
Deeper than Midnight
A Taste of Midnight (Novella)
Darker After Midnight
The Midnight Breed Series Companion
Edge of Dawn
Marked by Midnight (Novella)
Crave the Night
Tempted by Midnight (Novella)
Bound to Darkness
Stroke of Midnight (Novella)
Defy the Dawn
Midnight Untamed (Novella)
Midnight Unbound (Novella)
Midnight Unleashed (Novella)
Claimed in Shadows
Break the Day

Hunter Legacy Series:
(A series of standalone romances set in the Midnight Breed world)
Born of Darkness
Hour of Darkness
Edge of Darkness

Visit Lara Adrian's website for more information about the Midnight Breed series you will find excerpts from each of the books. Lara can also be found on Facebook & Twitter where she posts regular updates or you can join other fans to chat about the books over at the LAMB (Lara Adrian Midnight Breed) Forum

Review:
With the help of Vito Massioni Opus Nostrum have been spreading their reach out across Europe and they're now starting to import larger quantities of the dangerous new drug, Red Dragon. Just one hit of the drug turns members of the Breed into blood-addicted Rogues who are completely unable to control their appetites and we've all seen how that usually ends in a very public bloodbath. Lazaro Archer's team has been tasked with eliminating Massioni and the key members of his gang and Ettore "Savage" Selvaggio is on a solo mission to blow up his mansion in the middle of a large gang meeting.

Savage is all set to complete his task when he spots a familiar face inside the building, a blast from the past and the one woman he's never quite been able to get over. He has no idea how Arabella could be involved with Massioni but there's no way he's going to let her get hurt, even if it means going against the order and failing at his mission. Arabella had her heart broken when Savage left her ten years ago, she never understood why he walked away and her life has gone downhill fast since he did thanks to her gambolling addict brother. She's in an impossible situation and hasn't been able to find a way out but perhaps with Savage's help she might be able to fight her way to freedom.

I love the Midnight Breed novellas, obviously the romances move much faster than in the full length books but they're just perfect for when you're in the mood for a fast, fun read that you can finish in one sitting. Lara Adrian always does a brilliant job of making the romances believable even when she's working to a relatively small page count and Midnight Untamed is no exception. I love second chance romances and getting to know about Savage and Arabella's background helps to make the speed they reconnect at much more believable. They have unfinished business and it's very quickly obvious that the attraction the felt 10 years ago has only grown stronger while they were apart.

I liked that the story continued the Opus Nostrum story line from the main books in the series, it meant we got a nice amount of action without needing too much new background information. I'm also enjoying getting to see more of the Rome based members of the order and hope we're going to get a story about Trygg soon. What I REALLY want is more about Scythe though, his character is introduced here and I can't wait to learn more about what happened to him in the past and meet the rest of his brothers!

Source: I received an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review but I also purchased a print copy for my favourites shelf!

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Spotlight: Midnight Untamed - Lara Adrian

We are thrilled to bring you the Review & Excerpt Tour for MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian, a novella in her Midnight Breed Series brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. Grab your copy of this sexy novella today!

Exclusive Excerpt:

Arabella knew better than to keep Massioni waiting. He’d sent her away to fetch her scrying bowl while he entertained his boot-licking cronies in the grand salon. They were gloating over a large payout from a shipment of Red Dragon to the States and the United Kingdom—a narcotic that destroyed the minds of their own kind, the Breed, creating blood-addicted monsters from just the smallest dose. They didn’t care that their sudden windfall came at the expense of both Breed and human lives. She had learned a long time ago that Vito Massioni’s greed knew no bounds.

Nor did his violence.

That her gift had helped him amass his growing fortune, and the power that came with it, made Arabella want to retch.

How often had she thought about giving him a false reading from her scrying bowl?

How many times had she dreaded that her visions would one day prove incorrect?

But she hadn’t deceived him, not once.

And, thankfully, her visions had never been wrong.

Either of those failings would come at the cost of innocent lives. Not her own, but the people she cared about most in the world. The only family she had left now.

It was those precious lives she held close in her heart as she walked over to the cabinet across the room and retrieved the hammered gold bowl she would need for her reading downstairs. In reality, her gift would awaken when she peered into any standing pool of liquid, but Massioni insisted she use the ridiculous carnival fortune-teller’s style bowl for dramatic effect whenever she performed a public reading.

Cradling the shallow bowl in her palms, she drew the empty vessel out of the cabinet. Her own face stared back at her in the reflection on the polished gold basin—but that wasn’t all.

Behind her stood the ominous shape of someone else.

A man.

Tall, immense.

An intruder dressed entirely in black tactical gear.

Bella sucked in a startled breath.

Fear streaked through her, but before her shriek could rip up the back of her throat, a broad palm came up to cover her mouth.

Oh, God.

Direct Link: https://video214.com/play/8l51MQrU143hd56W0kagqw/s/dark

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About Lara Adrian:

Lara Adrian is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 internationally bestselling author of the Midnight Breed vampire romance series and seven award-winning, historical romances, previously released under the pen name Tina St. John.

Lara’s Midnight Breed series is available in hardcover, mass market paperback and e-book through Random House, and in limited edition through Doubleday Book Club, Rhapsody Book Club, Book of The Month, and the Science Fiction Book Club. Unabridged audio editions are available through Tantor Media, Random House Audio, Amazon, iTunes, etc. Lara’s new releases regularly appear on all of the key bestseller lists including the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Indiebound, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc. There are more than 2 million copies of the Midnight Breed novels in print in the United States.

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