May 23, 2013 by Tina Williams

Help us with a Werewolf Wish List to enter our Giveaway

A Werewolf Themed Wish List

To put together a wishlist of werewolf themed paranormal romances and other great werewolf themed books, we would like your help . If you have a recommendation of any werewolf themed books that you would like to offer up, either because you have read it and thought it was a great read or have heard how good it is, please let us know by commenting below, between 24th May – 29th May. On 30th May we will randomly select one response and that person will will a £5 Amazon voucher (or equivalent currency). Entry is through the comments box on our WordPress blog site and only one entry per person.

We look forward to your suggestions!

Tina and Caroline 🙂

May 23, 2013 by Tina Williams

Recommended Paranormal Romance Books featuring Werewolves

Our werewolf themed ‘Lycanthrope Love-In’ gave us an excuse to read some more books featuring a host of yummy wolf shapeshifters. We’ve put together a list of some paranormal romance books featuring werewolves, which we recommend. The list includes those we have read and enjoyed during the ‘Love-In’ and others we have read in the past. Click on the links to take you to the relevant Goodreads page or the link to a review on ARR Blog if you want to find out more.

A Hunger Like No Other, Kresley Cole – This novel was the first that Tina read in Kresley Cole’s iconic Immortals After Dark series and after reading it she was so hooked that she swiftly devoured as many books in the series that she could get her hands on. This story pairs a dominant werewolf Lachlain MacReive with timid half vampire/half valkyrie Emmaline Troy, who find out that they are predestined life mates. This sounds fine perhaps until we find out that Laichlain hates vampires with every fibre of his being and for good reasons. Cue a great sexy story, full of passion and humour!

Books in the Psy/Changeling series, Nalini Singh – Some of these books feature wolf shifters as the hero/heroine. Kiss of Snow, which pairs the young, but dangerously powerful, Psy Sienna Lauren with Hawke, the alpha of the Snowdancer pack is one of my favourite (Tina). Hawke lost the woman destined to be his mate a long time ago, but is drawn to Sienna, whose volatile powers threaten to destroy her and those around her.

From Out of the Shadows, Linda Mooney – Tina loves this book! In it the heroine Tora is thrown into a dungeon by the henchmen of an evil baron. Not long after the henchmen return and badly beat up what appears to be a man. Tora is a sensitive (empath) and uses her powers to heal what she discovers is a half man half wolf, a Lupan named Croat. She is shocked to learn that he has been put in the dungeon to break him so that he will acquiesce to the baron’s evil requests. Tora has been put there to tempt him, for if Croat is not fed, his Lupan side will come to the fore and he will be compelled to kill and devour her to survive. It is a dark and erotic fairytale and for adults only. Click her for Tina’s review.

The Mating (Law of the Lycans #1), Nicky Charles – This pairs wolf shifter Elise with a complete stranger, an alpha, to forge an alliance between packs. Marriage of convenience wolf- shifter style and the start of a great series.

Blood Moon Rising Trilogy (erotic), Karin Tabke – Blood Law #1 and Bloodright #2 – A sexy and erotic love triangle between a girl on the run, who has abilities she does not understand and two alpha wolf shifters, Raphael and Lucien. Falon’s life is initially on the line as she is a pawn in a blood feud between the brothers. She finds herself attracted to both of them and a key player in the survival of the wolves against their arch enemy the Slayers. Tina has yet to read Blood Vow #3, but her reviews of Blood Law and Bloodright can be found by clicking on the links.

The Heat (The Big Bad Wolf Series #1), Heather Killough-Walden – Wow a great book and there is still the rest of the series to read! Lily St Claire moves back to her hometown in Louisiana and finds herself being fought over by two very different alpha werewolves who both want her as their mate. Lily did not even know such a race existed. Oh, and there is also the small matter of a serial killer who has his sights on her too! Click here for our review.

And last but not least, we have a short story by Caroline Hanson, Bewitching the Werewolf, if you are looking for a short and fun werewolf paranormal romance! We hope you enjoy!

Tina and Caroline 🙂

Post image: Minerva Studio/Shutterstock.com

May 22, 2013 by Caroline Barker

New True Crime book review page

Hi readers,

I hope you have been enjoying our blog, our reviews and our recent Werewolf theme which will come to a close in the next few weeks! I have been reading an epic adventure full of fun, fantasy and magic in Mere Enchantment and Rings of Enchantment by Alicia Rivoli. The books themselves read beautifully as a Part One and Part Two and therefore I have decided to review both together. Hopefully my review will be ready for the weekend!

However, in the mean time I have also been preparing a new page for our blog based on True Crime. I realise many of you guys read to escape, however there are also readers out there that do take an interest in True Crime books. I have posted these on a separate page and therefore the individual reviews will not appear on our Home page but if you click on the True Crime link on our menu it will take you to the page. Any future True Crime book reviews will be mentioned in our regular updates as and when they are added to keep you posted! I do hope that you enjoy the reviews but please be aware that they are my personal opinions at the time of reading and although some opinions may be controversial it is not my intention to offend. Any comments will be welcomed.

The following books have been added to our True Crime page:-

Kathy’s Story: A Childhood Hell Inside the Magdalen Laundries by Kathy O’Beirne

The Cutter by Michael Litchfield

Madeleine: Our Daughter’s Disappearance and the Continuing Search for Her by Kate McCann

When Kids Kill by Jonathan Paul

Killing for Company: The Case of Dennis Nilsen

I would also like to thank my co-blogger, Tina Williams, for spending so much time on the blog whilst I haven’t been feeling quite right!

Happy reading, guys and gals 🙂

Caroline

May 20, 2013 by Tina Williams

Update from Tina

This week hot on the heels of my review of Eve Rabi’s Burn’s World, I reviewed her new release You Will Pay – She Left Her Abusive Husband, He Took Revenge. I can’t get enough of this author’s novels at the moment and could not resist reading this, which is currently free on Smashwords.

I found it to be a a somewhat darker read than Burn’s World and even Gringa. The main focus of the novel is how a sociopathic man seeks revenge on his wife who leaves him after he subjects her to emotional and physical abuse. The book has elements of a thriller, although it does contain some sweet romance.

I reviewed Nalini Singh’s Archangel’s Storm , which is another awesome read in her Guild Hunter Series. In it Jason, Archangel Raphael’s spymaster, is sent to the court of Archangel Neha to discover who has murdered her consort. To complete his mission, Jason is compelled to tie himself to the princess Mahiya, via a blood bond. Cue for a suspenseful and sensual plot!

I have read Charades, by Ann Logan, a romantic suspense, where an innocent young woman finds herself in a web of deceit, where no one is who they seem, least of all the hero. I found this to be an entertaining read and I will be posting a joint review with Caroline soon.

Coming Soon

I have just started to read The Silk Romance, by Helena Fairfax, which is her first novel, published by Muse It Up Publishing. It is a sweet contemporary romance, with a Frenchman as the alpha hero and is set in the romantic city of Lyon. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this and I will be posting a review on May 24th. Helena has also kindly submitted an intriguing author post entitled ‘Romantic Lyon and Teenage Crushes.’

In the next few days we plan to post our recommendations of werewolf themed books we have read and we will also share with you those we have on our wish list! Caroline plans to post her reviews of Mere Enchantment by Alicia Rivoli (followed closely by the sequel Rings of Enchantment).

In my usual fashion I am sure to be tempted by other reads which beckon me with their siren call!

Happy reading and have a great week.

Tina 🙂

Cover art for The Silk Romance by Charlotte Volnek

May 17, 2013 by Tina Williams

You Will Pay – She Left Her Abusive Husband, He Took Revenge, by Eve Rabi

A Dark and Intense Journey

This is not one of those tales where the hero seeks revenge on the heroine, falls in love with her and seeks redemption. Instead, the plot, which is a cracking good read, has elements of a thriller, although it does contain some sweet romance. The main focus of the novel is how a sociopathic man seeks revenge on his wife who leaves him after he subjects her to emotional and physical abuse.

In You Will Pay, Arena, a young South African woman, is married to Tom, a rich Australian. Tom likes to control every aspect of her life and Tom’s needs and desires come first. Arena is vulnerable, her confidence has been eroded, and she is far from her family, with a young baby to cope with and no means to support herself. When this abuse turns more physical and Tom actually hits her, she resolves to leave him. However she is shocked to find out that she is again pregnant and for a time is compelled to remain with him.

Once Arena’s baby girl is born the abuse intensifies and Arena carefully plots to safely escape Tom’s clutches and file for divorce, on grounds of abuse. The plan works and despite Tom’s chilling words that he will hurt her in such a way that she will never recover and she will suffer every day, she finds a modest apartment of her own and gets her life back. She makes friends, socialises and even finds a new man. Tom appears to have backed off and is cooperative over the split. Yet it all appears too easy…….

One day Arena finds herself in a nightmare situation and is again rendered powerless and vulnerable. She is sure that Tom is behind it, yet she has no proof. She suffers greatly for something she suspects that he is responsible for and must remain strong if she is to get her revenge and outwit a man who has all the cards stacked in his favour.

This tale contains violence, domestic and child abuse and I found it to be an intense read, with some really dark moments. However, there are scenes of hope, such as when Arena flees Tom and gets her life back together. There are also some moments of happiness and humour, from her relationship with the new man in her life, Bear, and from her new friend Soong. I liked the way Arena carefully plots and executes her escape, showing that she is a strong woman, despite Tom’s efforts to subjugate her. I was with her all the way through the dark times in the book and was satisfied with the outcome which is told in Eve Rabi’s unique and indomitable style!

Tom is a truly evil man and to elaborate any further on his deeds would ruin the story for those of you who want to read it. With the character of Tom, the author gets into the psyche of many abusers. Tom clearly relishes the control he wields over Arena and enjoys her pain, physical and emotional, a mark of a true sociopath. Bear, Arena’s new man, is an adorable character, who clearly loves her and shows it in some tender and romantic scenes. He has secrets of his own and it is those secrets that come into their own as the plot unravels. Soong, the young mother and Arena’s neighbour, also proves to be a loyal friend. Both Bear and Soong inject some humour and lightness into the plot.

Overall You Will Pay is an engrossing read, which I stayed up until the early hours to finish, holding my breath at the awesome ending. This read was a lot darker than Burn’s World and even Gringa, the other books I have read by the author. It contains what I am beginning to recognise as Eve Rabi’s trademarks: strong heroines who find the resources to cope with what life throws at them; characters and plots which stray into activities that are not always within the law and dark themes and (sometimes) humour. I recommend it to readers who enjoy an intense and unique emotional ride that will stay with you a long time after you have read it.

This book is currently free on Smashwords (click on the link) as it hasn’t been professionally edited as yet. Once it’s edited, the price will be $2.99.

Eve Rabi’s website

May 15, 2013 by Tina Williams

Archangel’s Storm, by Nalini Singh

Sensual Tale of Love and Vengeance

Nalini Singh is one of my automatic ‘go to’ paranormal authors, where I know that I can be guaranteed an awesome read. I have been following her series of Guild Hunter Novels and also her Psy/Changeling Series for some time now and they are both amongst my favourite paranormal series. The Guild Hunter Series novels, the first of which was Angels’ Blood, take place on an earth where the Cadre of Ten Archangels, supported by vampires, rule across the various continents. These angels however, are far from angelic. They are thousands of years old and have become jaded in their immortality, indulging in great power games to stave off their boredom and trying to avoid the madness that can overcome them.

In Archangel’s Storm, Jason, the taciturn spymaster for Archangel Raphael, is sent on a mission to the court of Archangel Neha. Neha’s consort Eris has been murdered and her rage threatens cataclysmic devastation unless Jason uses all his skills to unearth the killer. Neha, like many of the Cadre’s Ten, is deadly and capricious and to earn her trust necessary to complete his mission, Jason is compelled to tie himself to her bloodline through a blood bond to the princess Mahiya. Jason believes that Mahija will pose no threat to his investigations. However, Mahija has secrets and an agenda of her own and neither she nor Jason is willing to trust each other. Neha’s court is dangerous however, and there is a great deal more than politics at play as the body count continues to rise. As Jason and Mahija are thrown together they are blindsided by an unexpected passion they feel for one another. Yet can Jason, who has kept his emotions tightly controlled after a horrific childhood experience, find it within himself to let Mahija in, and will Mahija survive the machinations of the Archangel and her court and other dark forces that are at play?

Mahija and Jason, like all of the author’s heroines and heroes are a great couple. Mahija has been abused both physically and mentally by Neha, her aunt. Her crime being that she was born out of a liaison between Neha’s sister Nivriti and Neha’s consort Eris. Neha murdered Nivriti as soon as she birthed Mahija, who has paid for her mother’s sin on many occasions. Despite her tortured past, she has not allowed her aunt to poison her mind. Indeed, she has an inner strength and optimism, despite her outward facade of compliance, which many see as weakness. Jason soon sees through this outward show however and connects with the strong but vulnerable woman within.

Such was the extent of Jason’s childhood trauma, that he has closed his mind to any close emotional attachments. He tells Mahija that he can never offer her a long term relationship. However, I loved that Mahija little by little, through her acceptance of what Jason was willing to give, managed to break down the barriers that he had put up for his own protection. It was beautiful to watch how the relationship developed between them and there were plenty of sensual and erotic lovemaking scenes, which the author excels in.

I also enjoyed the character of the Archangel Neha, who we meet in previous books. Although not at all likable, she is complex and unpredictable, with her own code of honour, which Jason and Mahija must play on to survive. It was also gratifying to meet other characters integral to the Guild Hunter world, such as Archangel Raphael and his consort Elena, the vampire Dmitri and his new wife, the Guild Hunter Honor and other characters such as the vampire Venom.

Nalini Singh has a fantastic ability to create a beautiful love story at the heart of each of her Guild Hunter novels, setting them within the framework of the overall story arc, neither of which detracts from the other. Her novels also contain vivid and beautiful descriptions of the magical world she creates. In this novel, for example, many of the buildings comprising Neha’s court she has based on forts in Rajasthan, India. This beauty contrasts vividly with the violence which she does not shy away from featuring in great detail. Her descriptions of broken bones, blood and internal organs ripped from body cavities is not for the squeamish, but reflect events which can occur in the world she has created.

I recommend this novel for lovers of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Whilst I feel that it could be read as a ‘standalone’, the reader would gain maximum enjoyment by reading the Guild Hunter Series novels in sequence.

Cover art by kind permission of Patrick Knowles

Author Nalini Singh’s website

www.orionbooks.co.uk

www.gollancz.co.uk

May 13, 2013 by Tina Williams

Update from Tina

Latest Reviews

This week I reviewed Eve Rabi’s Burn’s World, which describes a love triangle between a mixed race girl called Burn, an all American guy called Brody and badass Trojan, who wants what Brody has had a taste of…… It is a great read full of humour, mayhem and emotional highs and lows, which I found to be compulsive.

I also started to read Charades, by Ann Logan, a romantic suspense, which sees a shy young woman, Mercedes Fuentes, take the opportunity to pay off much of her student debt by posing as girlfriend to Wulf Rheinhart. Wulf needs a fake fiancée for a week to close a business deal. But is the over-worked oil tycoon really what he seems or are more sinister forces at play?

For our werewolf theme I reblogged a review of Linda Mooney’s From Out of the Shadows, from our Sizzle and Burn site. We also examined Werewolves in Paranormal Romance and Caroline posted a reiew of A Night of Howling Dogs, by Henri Bauhaus.

Coming Soon

Next week we hope to post our joint review of Ann Logan’s Charades and we will be recommending werewolf themed books we have read and sharing with you those we have on our wishlist!

The following books are at the top of my ‘to read’ pile for the next few weeks: Archangel’s Storm, by Nalini Singh; Minutes Before Sunset; by Shannon Thompson and The Silk Romance, by Helena Fairfax. Caroline plans to read Mere Enchantment by Alicia Rivoli (followed closely by the sequel Rings of Enchantment).

Author News

Drummer Girl, by Bridget Tyler

We were lucky to receive a proof of Bridget Tyler’s novel, Drummer Girl to review from Templar Publishing – click on the link to see our reviews. The novel describes a coming of age story for a group of five London schoolgirls that wins the semi-final of an international talent contest. When the band lands in Hollywood for the big final, things are not quite as they seem. The lead singer, Harper, just wants to use sex, drugs and rock and roll, not to mention the band itself, to win back her bad-news ex-boyfriend and the other girls, including Lucy, the Drummer Girl of the title, have to cope with all of the temptations that Hollywood and fame have to offer. Drummer Girl has now been released and has a special website (click on the link) dedicated to it. The Drummer Girl blog tour is also happening this week, with author interviews and giveaway and Drummer Girl is also the skin on http://www.sugarscape.com/bookclub for the week.

The Genie Ignites by Kelly Ann Zuzulo

Author Kelly Ann Zuzulo’s book, The Genie Ignites – click to see review, has been recommended among the top three in the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal category of The Abalone Awards, which recognize “outstanding ethno-cultural romance.” While Zubis is a jinni and Bethany is a human, the cultural issue in The Genie Ignites is the divide between her Western world and his Eastern view. But true love sees no color, sees no difference in how the heart loves. The winner will be announced at the Romance Writers of America (RWA) National Conference in July and we wish Kelly Ann the best of luck. For more details of the book and the award see Kelly Ann Zuzulo’s site.

Special Offers on Books

If you are tempted to read the Captured Series, by Erica Stevens, now is a good time to buy it as the first three books in the series are on offer on Smashwords for $3.99. I have reviewed the first two books, Captured and Renegade and they were excellent and I recommend them if you like to read vampire romances. I’ll be reviewing book 3, Refugee soon and June will see the release of Salvation the fourth book in the series.

Happy reading!

Tina 🙂

Drummer Girl – Cover art by Will Steele

Image of man and the moon: Minerva Studio/Shutterstock.com

May 11, 2013 by Tina Williams

From out of the Shadows, by Linda Mooney

This is a great novel to read if you like to read werewolf romances. This is a little on the erotic side, so for those aged 18+. However, it is a very romantic and sweet romance too. The author Linda Mooney has, to my mind, created a very unique and believable take on the werewolf myths. I reviewed this a while ago on our Sizzle and Burn Book Reviews site, but thought that you may enjoy it! Tina 🙂

May 11, 2013 by Tina Williams

Werewolves in Paranormal Romance

The paranormal romance genre has generally been more sympathetic in its treatment of werewolves, often portraying them as the hero, rather than an evil entity, for example Jacob in Twilight. Twilight was not the first paranormal romance book to portray werewolves in a positive light however, Kresley Cole doing an excellent job in her Immortals After Dark series as does Nalini Singh in her Psy-Changeling Series. There are no doubt many more examples, but these are the ones that are most familiar to me!

The positive traits which paranormal romance authors sometimes emphasize include: heightened sensitivity; superhuman speed and strength; synergy with nature/environmentalism; loyalty to the pack and their mate; longevity and of course heightened sexual desire, which leaves the reader panting for more!

Werewolves are often portrayed as extremely attractive in their human form, with mesmerising eyes and having an innate ability to sense their true mate. Mating rituals often play a key role in werewolf paranormal romance, as does the ‘turning’ of the future mate into a werewolf. Of course authors do not shy away from referencing the more bestial side of the werewolf, the duality of the werewolf nature often playing a key role in the plot and providing a rich font to draw on when developing werewolf villains.

Authors typically have their own take on werewolf culture within their novels, including some or all of the above elements and many from their own imagination and this makes the genre so interesting to read.

Let us know which of the traits identified here are your favourite, or if there are any traits we have not included.

Many thanks!

Tina and Caroline 🙂

Post image: Minerva Studio/Shutterstock.com

May 9, 2013 by Tina Williams

Burn’s World, by Eve Rabi

Crazy and Compelling Love Story!

Burn’s World (books 1-4) describes a compulsive and addictive love triangle. Once again Eve Rabi has created a unique plot full of humour, mayhem and emotional highs and lows. The tale is also peppered with hilarious observations of the human condition. This is the second book that I have read by the author, the first being Gringa – In the Clutches of a Ruthless Drug Lord (click for review). Once again I could not stop reading until I had finished it as I was so enthralled. Although more light hearted than Gringa, it does contain profanities, racial slurs, drug taking and some violence and is therefore suited to those aged 18 and over.

In Burn’s World, we witness the trials and tribulations of Burn, an American of mixed race, from her teenage to her adult years. Her main source of both joy and heartbreak is the love she develops for two men who are polar opposites, thus creating the classic love triangle. She also has to grapple with a ‘special gift’ she has inherited, giving the story a paranormal twist.

When the tale begins, Burn and her little sister Angel are living with their aunt Carlene and her two daughters Daisy and Lanie, where they have lived since the death of her parents. Carlene is a tramp and her daughters are lazy and selfish and all three are happy to let Burn keep house and hold down a part-time job on top of her school work. Burn does all this so that Angel, the sister she adores, does not go without.

At school Burn is the butt of many a racist remark, especially from a group of white boys led by Bud McGraw. She meets Brody McGraw, the school heartthrob and all American boy and they fall in love. Brody is Burn’s first boyfriend and she is ecstatic. However, their love is doomed as Brody’s parents do not approve of a girl of mixed race. Heartbroken, Burn walks away, realising that she will never be good enough for Brody’s family. Brody and Burn however, still have strong feelings for each other, which manfest in some memorable scenes throughout the tale. At this point badass Trojan moves in on Burn, wanting what the ‘white boy’ has. His gang has had a run in with Brody and his cousins and Burn fears that Brody is Trojan’s next target. In return for leaving Brody untouched, Burn allows Trojan to ‘date’ her. Trojan does so and tones down his bad boy image and he supports her through some rough times. They form a strong attachment and become a couple.

However, how will Burn react when Brody once again walks into her life? Is her future with Brody or Trojan, who has given up so much for her? The road to love is a rocky one for Burn as she leaves her teenage years and enters adulthood and there are many unexpected plot twists, where Burn is forced to examine her feelings for Trojan and Brody. The tale is both tragic and heart warming. Where will it all end? Will Burn’s ‘special gift’ endanger her as it exposes her to those who have secrets to keep? There is resolution to the love triangle but it is a tale that had me hooked from start to finish and made me laugh, cry and feel every emotion in between.

Burn is a great heroine, sassy and strong, with an inner goodness that shines through. I really felt for her when she was faced with the open hostility of Brody’s racist parents and I empathised with how she could love two men. Although I thought that Brody stayed under the influence of his parents for too long, I was pleased with how his character turned out and that when Burn faced some difficult situations he did step in to help. Unlike Brody, Trojan has had to fight to survive. He has a heart of gold and is very protective of her and those she cares for. Yes he is violent on occasion, but he does change for Burn and this was endearing. I really felt the love that the two guys had for Burn and the love making scenes between Burn and Brody and Burn and Trojan ranged from sweet to downright hot and I loved them!

There is a great cast of supporting characters, from Burn’s skanky aunt, to her cousins, friends and co-workers. Of special mention are Hawk and Erro, who are connected with Burn’s special gift. I love Eve Rabi’s characters, as they embrace all types of human strengths and frailties and the plot highlights these traits in the extreme, making for an entertaining and insightful read. Her characters are not perfect, they do not always make the right decisions or act within the law, but they are all the more believable and lovable because of it.

I recommend this series to those who like an emotional and sometimes hilarious read, full of romance, mayhem and vibrant characters.

A copy of the Burn’s World series was given to me by the author for the purpose of providing an honest and fair review.

Eve Rabi’s website

Burn’s World on Goodreads, Amazon UK, Amazon US and Smashwords , where there is also a great video promo of the series.