October 31, 2014 by Tina Williams

BRUTAL ~ Prequel to FATAL, by T. A. Brock (includes giveaway)

Halloween Post

Brutal by T.A. Brock:

Zombies take over the world!

We are so excited to announce the release of Brutal, a prequel novella to the zombie romance, Fatal, by T.A. Brock! We get some juicy backstory for Leiv, and Grayson’s mysterious origin story. If you are new to the Fatal Series, this is a great place to jump in!

We have a fantastic zombie-filled giveaway on the rafflecopter, including swag and a signed copy of Tera Shanley’s Love In The Time of The Dead! Check it out!

Brutal Synopsis:

No matter how brutal, the law must be kept…

Leiv Patch was killed, turned, and left to his own devices. With nothing more than an ancient tome to educate him in the zombie ways, he’s eked out a lonely—and sometimes miserable—fifty years of undead existence. When he meets raven-haired Iraina Lukin on a 911 call, he begins to realize that being a riser doesn’t mean he has to go it alone. Having a Save means anything is possible. Love, family, a future. The only problem? A union between a riser and a human is against the Oracles’ law…and Iraina doesn’t want to be turned.

Conner Grayson lives as a street kid in the Windy City after his father is locked away for murder and his mother overdoses on drugs. Street savvy, he becomes extremely good at surviving. Never make friends—that’s the key, then nobody can screw you over and you never owe a soul. It works. Until he meets Leather. She’s quiet and sad, but something about her draws Conner in. He looks for her every morning in the shelter lines and before long, they’re inseparable. But Leather is not as she seems, and soon his friend is making him an offer he can’t refuse: she can make all of his brutal heartache and struggle to survive go away. All he has to do is say yes.

Brutal on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22734912-brutal?from_search=true

T.A. Brock on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/TA-Brock/e/B00BGV70AU/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1414419975&sr=8-1

Purchase links:

Amazon UK Amazon US

Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

October 31, 2014 by Caroline Barker

Review That Risen Snow: A Scary Tale of Snow White & Zombies by Rob E. Boley

That Risen Snow has a twist on the Snow White fairytale and is to be read as a sequel to the original, albeit adult readers only (17yrs+). Complete with Snow White, the seven dwarves, the prince and the evil Queen it is a quirky horror story that will certainly be a treat for Halloween!! This is Rob Boley’s debut novel, published earlier in 2014 by StoneGate Ink. And the first in The Scary Tales series.

BLURB: The zombie sequel to Snow White begins where the classic fairy tale ends, with the Prince’s kiss waking Snow from her cursed slumber. Snow wakes up, but she doesn’t wake up right.

Now a deranged zombie, Snow infects both the Prince and the seven dwarfs’ leader. That leaves the young dwarf Grouchy, who is secretly in love with Snow, to find a cure for her malicious curse. So begins an epic journey that pits the lovesick Grouchy against dwarf-hating human soldiers, Snow’s ever-growing zombie horde, and his own bad temper. But when Grouchy and his motley crew of survivors escape Snow’s clutches and seek refuge in a nearby human village, he soon finds that her affliction has spread faster and further then he ever could have imagined. Snow is hell-bent on spreading her horrid curse across the land, and it’s up to Grouchy to stop her before it’s too late.

So begins THE SCARY TALES, a dark fantasy series featuring mash-ups of traditional fairy tale characters and classic horror monsters.

REVIEW

Trick or treat? That Risen Snow is a brilliant combination of horror, quirkiness and fairytale, although certainly for the adult reader! It is definitely a ‘treat’ in my opinion. I imagined the dwarves to be scared for their life in a truly dark, life threatening and terrifying horror, filled with blood, guts and gore. Although this was a part of the story, what really surprised me was the fun and humour content as well as the heart-warming feelings that Grouchy has for Snow White.

The dwarves are like you have never imagined, with bad language and sarcasm, but these moments add another element. They are not typical of the dwarves we are familiar with, but in fact have characteristics of real people, which I loved. Even Snow White wasn’t as graceful and elegant as one would think!

The layout of the story is interesting too, with chapters written from the different character’s perspectives. The reader learns what is happening with each character which keeps the reader informed and able to see where the author is going, and suspense can be built-up from this. Another area of the story which fascinated me were the flashbacks. The flashbacks were mostly Grouchy’s personal thoughts and feelings towards Snow since she came to their cottage. The reader feels the growth of affection that Grouchy has for Snow and begins to understand why he wants to find a cure for her curse, rather than just be rid of her and the undead.

After reading this you will certainly feel that you know the dwarves more personally than ever before. From the past thoughts and dialogue between the dwarves we are made aware that they have all been having private discussions with their leader, Bones. Each dwarf has their own problem and obstacle that they need to overcome and Bones was helping them with this. Merry’s story was one that touched me, as we learn that he longed to be trusted and respected by the others. Bones gave him tasks to do to make him feel worthy and needed, but once their life changes and they are being chased by the undead Grouchy tells Merry how it really is. It is then up to Merry to either pity himself or do something about it.

Battson, a dwarf-hating human soldier working with the Prince, is, initially, an unlikeable character who would prefer to see the dwarves harmed in a typical encounter. Yet, as the story unfolds and continues into a survival story, the war between human soldiers and dwarves is swept aside as they begin to work together to keep the remaining survivors alive and hopefully find a cure for this disease that their friends are suffering from. Battson does begin to slowly show a quiet, heroic side which changes the readers opinion into respecting and admiring him for his new-found quality.

Although an extremely trying time of desperation, hardship and fear, the reader does not be given many opportunities to feel the tragedy and terror due to the humour and fun way in which it That Risen Snow is written. However, as the story continues, and more dwarves and soldiers are turning, it does become a little more serious and desperate for the remaining survivors. The reader is left on a hanger at the end, and I for one really want to know the outcome in the sequel, That Wicked Apple! Grouchy has come so far, and for the reader to walk away at this point would be like leaving him there for the curse to take him too!!

A copy of That Risen Snow: A Scary Tale of Snow White & Zombies was provided by the author, Rob E. Boley, for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

You can check out our SPOLIGHT for That Risen Snow with author bio for Rob E. Boley, along with extracts of more reviews here.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

October 30, 2014 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ Afraid to Hope, #3 in the Secrets and Seducution series by M. J. Nightingale

Sexy and Heartrending Read

Erotic Contemporary Romance 18+

Book Blurb

Louisa Sears is ready to start over. Escaping her small town where prejudice, long memories, and old fashioned values haunt her, Louisa embarks on her dream of finding love, and a man who can warm up her bed at night. Pregnant at sixteen, divorced from an abusive husband at twenty, and raising a daughter alone, Louisa is now ready to live. She wants what every woman wants. A rock hard man, who knows how to love. Will Florida be the place where her dreams come true?

Jay Russell is battle scarred. A past filled with horrors from childhood, the war in Iraq, and the most devastating event of his life that occurred when he returned home, he is definitely not looking for love. When he first meets Louisa Sears, the bombshell with the fantastic body, he wants one thing, and one thing only, her body underneath him. The hot little ticket that walks by his t-shirt shop, meets all his requirements for a night of passion.

The scars in them run deep though, and they both have secrets. Can two people so deeply wounded by the past learn to trust each other enough to share those secrets? And if they do, will they be able to get past them and learn to hope again?

My Review

Sexy and Heartrending Read

Afraid to Hope is #3 in MJ Nightingale’s Secrets and Seduction series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Let me say from the off that it is a sexy and heartrending read which digs deep into the psyche of both the hero and the heroine. It contains some smoking hot scenes yet both Louisa and Jay need to overcome secrets from their past to find the HEA they both hanker after and deserve.

I loved Louisa. She is a strong and sassy woman who has dedicated her adult life to bringing up her daughter. I admired her for this and for her gumption in taking charge of her destiny and moving to Florida to open a new chapter in her life. When she meets the motorcycle riding hottie called Jay, she is literally swept off her feet. He is just what she needs, introducing her to fun and carefree times and to pleasures she only dreamt about. Despite their growing connection, she senses that Jay is pulling back from her and one episode in particular makes her question their whole relationship and whether she can trust him.

Jay is a drop dead gorgeous tortured alpha hero and I adored his single mindedness in his pursuit and seduction of Louisa. The dialogue between them is a real scream as Jay always says exactly what he thinks, which although often inappropriate is often highly amusing! Jay wants to enjoy Louisa’s body and give her a good time, but they become ever closer and Jay gets drawn into Louisa’s circle of friends and her life. Yet Jay bears many emotional scars from his past, including profound guilt he harbours from an event that her blames himself for and this means he finds it almost impossible to move on with the relationship. When an incident compels him to reveal his scarred emotions to Louisa, he fears he may lose her for good. Will she forgive him and give him a second chance, especially given her own haunted past?

This novel is an erotic romance which gets right to the heart of what good strong relationships are about – mutual trust and sharing and coming to terms with each other’s past and above all our own demons. It is also an in depth examination of the causes and possible effects of PTSD. I strongly recommend it to romance readers.

A copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Amazon UK Amazon US

Goodreads

https://www.facebook.com/mj.nightingale.9

October 29, 2014 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY x 2 After the Haze (full length novel) by Gary Richardson

Blood curdling, bones breaking and boisterous biting!

We are excited to post zombie horror, After the Haze, for a gritty, scary and suspenseful Halloween treat. Not only that but we have 2 SIGNED copies to giveaway to some lucky winners! All you need to do is add your name in the comments below or on our Facebook Page, and we will randomly select the winners on Friday 7th November 2014! Tina & Caroline 🙂

Synopsis: The haze ravaged everything. Human life as we know it is over. Those who survived the haze awoke to find themselves in a new nightmare, as the dead returned with the insatiable desire to hunt down and feed on the remaining humans. Yvonne thought she had escaped her nightmare. Safely aboard the HMS Lancaster, Martin, Mike and herself believed they had found salvation with their military saviours. Things change when a devastating realisation is made. Humans no longer control the Earth. With this in mind, Yvonne has no choice but to assist in the operation to take back control of the UK and bring together all the survivors, but she soon learns that there are bigger threats to mankind than the living dead…

REVIEW

After reading the first book, The Purple Haze, I couldn’t wait to read After the Haze. Whereas the first book takes the reader from a bank robbery scene (put me in the mind of tv series, The Sweeney) to an escape scene, where the living had to constantly duck and dive from the undead and begin to leave loved ones behind and use violence to survive, the sequel begins once the initial haze has started to diminish and many are dead or undead!

The opening chapter is fantastic. The reader is introduced to Alan who is spending quality time with his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter at his home. Everything appears normal, until the Purple Haze hits. Once Alan comes round it isn’t long until he realises he needs to protect his granddaughter. The journey that he has is so heart-breaking. This opening is easy to relate to and yet builds up for the horror to come – if you have already read The Purple Haze you will prepare yourselves a little easier. This is certainly not for the faint-hearted with some shocking moments and great horror. Fans of The Walking Dead will definitely love this series.

If you haven’t read The Purple Haze – no problem – as Gary Richardson has written the introduction to the main characters, Mike, Martin and Yvonne, from where they left off in the last story. Richardson also delves into some scenes from the first story which either recaps the reader, or informs the new reader just where these characters have come from and what they have been through. In this manner, After the Haze could be read as a stand alone. However, I would STRONGLY recommend that The Purple Haze be read first for the reader to feel the full effect of the beginning of the horror!

The story follows Yvonne’s character mostly, as she is faced with venturing back to the mainland where she had left the mayhem and horror behind. Seeing the undead brings the fear, tension and panic back. Albeit, at least this time she has trained marines to help protect her. The reader can really understand Yvonne’s reluctance to face these monsters again – she’s been through it once and survived. This must truly be a psychological challenge for her. And, although the marines accompanying her are equipped and trained they have not faced the zombies themselves. You can imagine the shock and surprise that they feel when they do.

The mission is to check three villages and ascertain any survivors in order to create some areas human zones, if possible. The idea is that these human zones could be set up to help keep the survivors and human race alive, with the hope to repopulate the area, country and possibly the world, depending on the situation. There are moments of quiet, eeriness and some action during the initial searches and these help build up suspense for what is to come a little later on!

When the team come face to face with the zombies there is plenty of action, violence and gore. Some scenes are quite horrific physically and painful emotionally as some of the undead are familiar to their killer. It is gritty, dark and the reader will be quite tense and stunned at times with some of the surprises that are waiting!

Another side to After the Haze explores how some survivors can become cruel, evil and wickedly selfish. They want to take what they want, at the same time as try to instil control and fear over the remaining survivors. The readers will certainly have a level of threat and violence to deal with, aside from the undead themselves! This makes some characters those that you love to hate and you long for them to receive a little of what they are dishing out. There is the need for justice and maybe revenge, which makes for a deeper storyline.

The ending is wrapped up beautifully, providing the reader (or at least myself) with an obvious hero and favourite character of the story. If you love zombie stories, horror, violence, survival stories, and even emotional ties, then After the Haze will prove to be a favourite!

After the Haze by Gary Richardson is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US. But don’t forget to enter our GIVEAWAY for the chance to win one of two signed copies! Add your name in the comments box below or on our Facebook page. CLOSING DATE: FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2014!

Good luck, guys!

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

October 28, 2014 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Amethyst’s Incredible Journey by Lisa Bland

Fantasy adventure

For ages 11yrs+

Synopsis: Amethyst is a witch with extremely evil and powerful parents. Amethyst is terrified that if she don’t stop her parents soon it will be too late, and they will gain control of Golden Dragon City and the Fountain of Magic. Amethyst knows that she has only got until her next birthday to stop them!.Amethyst has to travel through different realms to collect the blood red rubies that she needs to stop them.

REVIEW

Amethyst’s Incredible Journey is a magical fantasy that will enchant the younger reader. Children will love the magic, spells, witches, dragons and worlds that Amethyst encounters.The author has great imagination that allows the reader to escape, with Amethyst, to all of the magical realms she visits.

The story opens up well and the reader is given a clear picture on Amethyst’s father, Andrew Shadow’s background. This allows the reader to understand how he thinks and why he does the things he does. Amethyst grows up in Forest Falls, where her parents have gained control of most of the magic that others previously possessed. Their aim is to take the magic from all and gain control of Golden Dragon City and the Fountain of Magic. This will make them the most powerful people in the realm and they can then take full control. Anyone who gets in their way is killed or harmed.

Amethyst, being born into this, knows no different. Although she does have a best friend and as she grows older, she soon realises to what lengths her parents will go. It all comes to a head for Amethyst when her father has her best friend killed. This she cannot forgive and decides to leave Forest Falls, after she realises that if she can collect the four red rubies and add a drop of her father’s blood, at Dead Witch Mountain, her father will be wiped of all his power and will no longer be able to control the power of others.

Lisa Bland demonstrates how strong Amethyst really is, to go against her own parents. She certainly has her morals in check, but will she be able to complete her mission before her parents catch up with her? To help her on her journey she meets up with, Grog (also able to use magic), who quickly becomes a friend to her and travels with her to help.

As well as providing a story of escape, Amethyst’s Incredible Journey also provides some realism and a chance for the reader to relate to Amethyst as she is flawed, as are many of the characters and the relationships they have. It is a nice reflection on reality that connects to the reader. For example, despite how close Amethyst and Grog are they still have their disagreements.

Although the storyline and characters are a pleasure to read, there are many issues with the punctuation, grammar and sentence structure. Whilst I understand that this story is self-published it would really benefit with a proof-reader and/or editor. The first page alone has punctuation errors. That said, I did finish the book and found myself reading through the story fairly well as it was easy to follow. And again, the magical lands that the author has created, as well as the characters and the main storyline is super. I will be giving Amethyst’s Incredible Journey 3 stars on Goodreads and Amazon, however once edited to a more readable level I would give this a 4 star.

A copy of Amethyst’s Incredible Journey was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

Available at Amazon UK and Amazon US. (Please note that this book is showing as currently unavailable, possibly due to editing. We do hope that it is available as soon as possible.)

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

October 28, 2014 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Claimed (True Alpha #6 series finale) short story by Alisa Woods

Hot! Hot! Hot!

I have been completely absorbed with this series. Each short story has been completely full of action, passion and emotion! Below is my review of this fantastic series. And what’s more – as from TODAY the True Alpha BOX SET is available at Amazon (links below), so you can enjoy reading the whole series back-to-back!! Go grab it!!

New Adult Paranormal Romance serial – LAST IN SERIES

Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.

Mia has found her way free of the dark wolves, but what price will her friends pay? And will she finally be able to find a place among their packs?

Claimed (True Alpha 6) is 65 pages or 16,000 words. It’s the final of six episodes in the True Alpha serial.

Adult content. Ages 18+.

REVIEW

Claimed was already going to be a brilliant read in my eyes, judging from the suspense and build-up of the first five short stories of the series, and Alisa Woods’ fantastic writing style. This is a series finale that was so much more than I expected and one that will be remembered and re-read. The reader won’t want to put this one down at all!

Now that Mia has been saved from the Red Pack her thoughts have been filled with how much she wants to belong and be a part of the Sparks’ pack. They have cared for her as if she was one of them already, she has become fond of many of them and felt the attraction of some of them. No matter what happens romantically this is where she belongs. But she does want to be mated so badly. Her inner wolf has strong feelings about this.

Lucas is always at her core and in her thoughts. He is the one that she is in love with. And, although he clearly cares for her a great deal and there is a deep, sensual attraction between them, he hasn’t been ready to mate again due to his heartache and pain following the death of his first mate, Tila. He just can’t go down that road again, especially if anything ever happened to Mia.

Over the last few stories, Colin, a strong wolf with alpha qualities from the Sparks’ pack, has been quite attracted to Mia. And he hasn’t tried to hide it! This has got Lucas’ back up on a few occasions. But Colin is HOT and so protective. Alisa Woods has written moments with Colin which shows he is such a powerful wolf but with caring and affectionate qualities. Especially towards Mia. The audience needs to know just how close he feels he is to Mia and how Mia has seriously thought about becoming his mate. To love him, and belong to the pack. Oh, I am a fan of Colin!

Although Mia is seriously considering to submit herself, she still has apprehensions since she was compelled to submit to Mace, leader of the Red pack, when she was kidnapped by them. Her whole experience of this has left her worried and concerned. She had no choice but to submit to Mace, despite her human state wanting nothing to do with him. It was a wolf thing that held her, like she was spellbound regardless of what she wanted. She now fears that whenever she does submit to someone in the future that these bad and negative feelings will return. She lives in hope that the next experience of submission will not be the same!

All short stories are available at Amazon UK and Amazon US individually. BUT, as from TODAY the TRUE ALPHA FULL SEASON is available to order!!

AMAZON UK link to TRUE ALPHA BOX SET

AMAZON US link to TRUE ALPHA BOX SET

You can check out my reviews for the first five books of the series below.

Desired (True Alpha #1) – short story

Guarded (True Alpha #2) – short story

Hunted (True Alpha #3) – short story

Captured (True Alpha #4) – short story

Sacrificed (True Alpha #5) – short story

Claimed (True Alpha #6) by Alisa Woods was received gratefully in return for an honest and fair review.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

October 28, 2014 by Tina Williams

REVIEW Distant Love, by Layla Merritt

Sweet, Sexy and Suspenseful!

Erotic Contemporary Romance

Book Blurb

Kate Braxton has fallen into the role most women do by putting someone else’s needs above her own. In reality, she lives day to day unable to overcome the scars of her past to allow herself to move on with her life. Her divorce and a new job just might open the door to a brighter future for her.

Brayden Bennett is sexy and successful in the marketing firm he works for, but has been used and discarded by women, leaving him hurt and guarded. The beautiful new hire in Atlanta captures his attention in ways he didn’t think possible and he can’t help but wonder if she holds the key to his caged heart.

Kate is taking care of her ill father in Atlanta and Brayden’s son ties him to Chicago. Can they dare to dream of a future together? Can Kate survive the freak accidents that keep occurring, or will their relationship end in tragedy before they can figure out a way to be together?

My Review

Sweet, Sexy and Suspenseful!

Erotic Contemporary Romance

I highly recommend Layla Merritt’s Distant Love, which will charm you with the beautiful romance between Brayden and Kate, the hero and heroine and heat up your Kindle! It is both sexy and suspenseful and has some heartrending scenes as the hero and heroine struggle to develop and maintain their new found love for one another across the miles, against all the odds. They not only have their own strong family ties to factor into their relationship, but have a jealous ex-girlfriend and their own emotional baggage to deal with, not to mention a series of unexplained accidents that begin to befall Kate….

Yet this novel is far from doom and gloom. It contains many erotic and sensual scenes, as Brayden and Kate take full advantage of their mutual desire when they find themselves in each others’ arms. Braydon is a real hottie with a true heart who certainly knows how to treat a woman in and out of the bedroom. He is bowled over by the sweet and sassy Kate when he encounters her in the course of their work.

It is a while before they meet in the flesh, having to content themselves with modern means of communication. The sexual tension therefore builds to a crescendo so that when they eventually meet the flames soon ignite in some scorching and achingly sweet scenes. Kate is juggling a new job with caring for her seriously ill father and has had her own share of tragedies and Brayden takes his responsibilities to his son very seriously, despite his ex-wife having custody.

The connection between the couple is strong physically and emotionally. Yet fate and certain individuals conspire against their HEA. Will ‘amor vincit omnia’ or will the distance, the actions of others and events outside their control shatter their chances of a future together?

There is a hugely satisfying ending, but there is clearly potential for a subsequent book. I strongly recommend Distant Love to romance readers who like sweet, sexy and suspenseful romance with erotic love making scenes between a couple deeply in love.

A copy of this novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of a far and honest review.

Goodreads

Amazon US Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Layla-Merritt/1395144594078095?fref=ts

October 27, 2014 by Caroline Barker

Review Round-Up – October 2014

Welcome to this month’s review round-up. Tina and myself have been extremely excited with all that has been posted recently, such as the HALLOWEEN ZOMBIE TAKE OVER TOUR. This is an ongoing tour throughout this month that has been hosting many books and GIVEAWAYS. Be sure to check all of those out!

Plus, we have had:-

Interview with espionage thriller, The Damascus Cover, author Howard Kaplan (whose book is being made into a movie, and starring no other than Homeland’s Abu Nazir, actor Navid Negahban)

Interview with author Saylor Storm for her mystery/romance book, Sue’s Seduction

Interview with Caroline (A Reader’s Review Blog) re blogging and reviewing

Whilst we have been working on many Halloween related posts and reads, we thought we would remind you of some of our other recent reviews.

We hope that you enjoy and that there is something for everyone! Have a fab week and a super HALLOWEEN!

Caroline & Tina 🙂

(Please click on titles for review)

Trail of Dead (The Incarnate series #2) by Cristy Rey, urban fantasy, paranormal romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: The Pastophori of Iset has set a trap for the Incarnate…only she doesn’t know it.

Burned out from being on the road again, a directionless Sunday finds herself inexplicably drawn to Salt Lake City. There she finds herself in a curious state. For the first time in her life, Sunday feels normal. She can walk around free of anxiety that she will be set-off by her inhuman sensitivity. She can be intimate without overheating. Are the days of the Incarnate finally behind her?

Cyrus has not handled losing Sunday well. For eight months, the werewolf has been a shadow of himself. His pack is concerned and his closest friend, Marcus, believes that Cyrus is in danger of being lost to his humanity. When their Alpha confesses that the Pastophori of Iset has set a trap for Sunday, Cyrus goes into full-gear trying to get her out of it…but he has to find her first.

The Red Wolf’s Prize (Medieval Warriors #1) by Regan Walker, Historical romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: Sir Renaud de Pierrepont, the Norman knight known as the Red Wolf for the beast he slayed with his bare hands, hoped to gain lands with his sword. A year after the Conquest, King William rewards his favored knight with Talisand, the lands of an English thegn slain at Hastings, and orders him to wed the heiress that goes with them, Lady Serena.

SHE WOULD LOVE HIM AGAINST HER WILL

Serena wants nothing to do with the fierce warrior to whom she has been unwillingly given, the knight who may have killed her father. When she learns the Red Wolf is coming to claim her, she dyes her flaxen hair brown and flees, disguised as a servant, determined to one day regain her lands. But her escape goes awry and she is brought back to live among her people, though not unnoticed by the new Norman lord.

Deprived of his promised bride, the Red Wolf turns his attention to the comely servant girl hoping to woo her to his bed. But the wench resists, claiming she hates all Normans.

As the passion between them rises, Serena wonders, can she deny the Norman her body? Or her heart?

The Prince’s Ex by Nadine Seiters, Contemporary romance, chick-lit (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: Amelia Radley thought she had it all when she met a man in a bar and he ended up being royalty. Their love affair was anything but boring, and yet he dumped her almost exactly a year after asking her out to their first dinner date. While the wound was deep and fresh thirty days after their separation, she picked up the morning paper only to see that the man she thought she loved had already become engaged to another woman.

Her best friend, Tina, suggests the only thing she knows would make her feel better. Amelia should start dating any man she meets that she likes so that she can get over her ex. The idea is ludicrous, and yet Amelia agrees to a date with a man she has never met before. All the while, she considers herself nothing more than the prince’s ex, a woman who could not hold the affections of every woman’s dream.

When she finds love in an unexpected place, it’s challenged by the past and the future looks rocky. Amelia’s insecurities might get in the way of her finding true love, in more ways than one.

Devil’s Return (Allan’s Miscellany #4) by Sandra Schwab, Historical romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: Seven years ago Fran and Alex were very much in love. Yet because Alex was only a younger son with no prospects to speak of, Fran’s family pressured her into breaking the engagement and marrying a rich, titled man instead. Filled with bitterness, Alex left England for the New World.

Now he is back, more dangerous and more cynical than ever before. He has found fame and fortune as an adventurer, traveling the world from America to the Near East and writing about his travels for Allan’s Miscellany. He has come to London to drum up interest for his friend’s archeological excavations. Soon, he finds himself the darling of London society, admired by men, wooed by women.

Fate has not been so kind to Fran. After a disastrous marriage, which has left her with deep emotional and physical scars, she is widowed and now lives in genteel poverty.

By chance, Alex and Fran’s paths cross again. They have both changed so much, and past betrayals and past hurts still divide them. So surely there can be no second chance for their love…

Hunted (True Alpha #3) and Captured (True Alpha #4) (short stories) by Alisa Woods, paranormal romance (reviewed by Caroline Barker)

Hunted blurb: Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.

Now that Mia understands what happened to Lucas’s dead mate, she questions whether he’s truly the mate for her. Meanwhile, Lucas wrestles between keeping her close and letting her go… but he can’t resist when she asks him to teach her more about being a wolf.

Hunted (True Alpha 3) is 75 pages or 18,000 words. It’s the third of six episodes in the True Alpha serial.

Captured blurb: Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.

Lucas and Mia’s story continues as she tries to free Jupiter from the Red pack and he tries to save them both.

Captured (True Alpha 4) is 70 pages or 17,000 words. It’s the fourth of six episodes in the True Alpha serial.

Adult content. Ages 18+.

Lady Beauchamp’s Proposal by Amy Rose Bennett, Erotic historical romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: A runaway countess finds love when she least expects it…but she can’t hide from her past forever.

Elizabeth, Lady Beauchamp, fears for her life. When she discovers her dissolute and long-estranged husband has syphilis—and he wants to beget an heir no matter the cost—she flees to a remote part of Scotland to begin a new life as the widowed governess, Mrs. Beth Eliott at Eilean Tor Castle.

When Mrs. Eliott unexpectedly arrives on his doorstep, the reclusive and recently widowed Marquess of Rothsburgh is both irritated and intrigued. No longer in need of a governess—his young daughter now resides with his sister’s family in Edinburgh—he proposes the beautiful widow fill a position of a different kind…

Torn between staying true to her marriage vows and her wanton attraction to the devilishly handsome marquess, Elizabeth struggles against the temptation to become his mistress. But living a lie is not easy when you have fallen in love. And secrets always have a way of coming out…

By the Sea By the Sea (novelette) by Katherine McIntyre, Fantasy paranormal romance (reviewed by Caroline Barker)

Blurb: Most kids had imaginary friends, but most weren’t like Megan’s friend Niall. There were rules: only at night and only by the sea. She could’ve sworn he was real, but when someone vanishes without a trace, what else can you believe?

All that was seven years ago, buried in the past until Niall shows up in town with his tight swimmer’s body and easy smile. For Megan, just the sight of him is enough to tear open a scar that never fully healed. However, their reunion only elicits more questions. Niall’s keeping secrets, unbelievable ones, and as Megan delves into the supernatural depths of who he really is, she’s sure he’ll vanish again.

Megan’s not stupid—she knows how bad it’ll hurt if she gets involved. The first time Niall disappeared, she never thought she’d recover. But the moment they lock eyes, it’s too late—because Megan will go to any length to see that boy smile.

Sick Day by Morgan Parker, Contemporary romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: Hope and Cameron made a five-year promise before college. Years pass and they never see each other again. But then one month before his planned wedding to Riley, Cameron looks outside and sees Hope in the pouring rain, watching him.

Now, three years later, Cam has one day – a sick day on this last Friday of summer – to convince the one woman whose very existence breaths life into his lungs, that sometimes love like theirs actually does exist, and it’s that kind of love that lives forever, no matter how hard you fight to forget about it and move on.

From the author of non friction and Hope, Sick Day follows one man’s day-long attempt to persuade the love of his life that sometimes it’s okay to break promises if it means keeping the ones that count.

Moonshine (The Moon Trilogy #3) by Tim O’Rourke, paranormal horror (reviewed by Caroline Barker)

Blurb: Weak and still not yet a true vampire, Winnie McCall heads north toward Scotland in the company of the last of the werewolves, Thaddeus Blake. Hunted relentlessly by two police officers, Thaddeus and Winnie must find the Moonshine, a prism that when matched with the Moonbeam, will destroy the vampires.

When two ancient enemies go head to head, the body count soon starts to rise, but who is it leaving a trail of dead bodies along the path that Thaddeus and Winnie are taking? And what is the terrible secret from Winnie’s past that is preventing her friend Ruby Little from staying dead?

With terrifying consequences, Winnie discovers how far she and the man she loves, Thaddeus Blake, will go to survive and remain the last of their species.

A shock ending that will leave you stunned, ‘Moonshine’ is the final book in ‘The Moon Trilogy’ by bestselling author, Tim O’Rourke.

Review for Moonlight (The Moon Trilogy #1)

Review for Moonbeam (The Moon Trilogy #2)

Sacrificed (True Alpha #5) (short story) by Alisa Woods, paranormal romance (reviewed by Caroline Barker)

Blurb: Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.
Sacrificed (True Alpha 5) – New Adult Paranormal Romance

Even with Jak’s help, Mia finds escaping Mace’s grasp isn’t easy… in fact, it may require a sacrifice neither she nor Lucas want her to make.

Sacrificed (True Alpha 5) is 50 pages or 12,000 words. It’s the fifth of six episodes in the True Alpha serial.

Your Cottage Awaits by Derek A Barrass, paranormal suspense (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: A couple in their late fifties planning to retire to the countryside discover what they believe to be their dream cottage. They return to finalise the details and to arrange to purchase the property, only to find all was not as they’d imagined. The property has completely changed, from being a rustic, rose covered pretty little cottage, to a tumbledown wreck of a building. Thinking it was just their imagination playing tricks on them they go ahead, despite their reservations when a number of strange and frightening experiences occur. A local witch is behind what is going on and she has plans for them within her coven.

October 27, 2014 by Tina Williams

Halloween Zombie Takeover* ~ Guest post by Author T. A. Brock (includes super giveaway)

We are continuing with the Zombie Takeover theme. A BIG, BIG thank you to author Tera Shanley and friends! Today we extend a warm welcome to T.A. Brock who is not only sharing a SUPER teaser from her zombie romance Brutal, but also Gram’s Cinnamon Roll Recipe.

I LOVE the aroma and taste of cinnamon and it is without doubt my favourite spice, so I am very tempted to whip up this recipe! Don’t forget to enter the super rafflecopter giveaway at the end of this post where a $5 Amazon gift card is up for grabs, a signed copy of Tera Shanley’s Love in the Time of the Dead and e-books by Tera Shanley and T.A. Brock. Tina ❤

A Sweet Proposal and Gram’s Secret Cinnamon Roll Recipe

In Brutal, there is one especially unique marriage proposal. Our loveable, irresponsible zombie, Leiv, decides to break Riser Law and marry a human. If she’ll have him, that is. Armed with a cinnamon roll (which she is especially fond of) and a diamond ring, he attempts to convince Iraina Lukin to spend the rest of her human life with him:

Now, since Iraina’s love for cinnamon rolls came from her experiences with her beloved Gram’s, I’ve included the top secret recipe. See for yourself if Iraina’s claims that Grams’ cinnamon rolls have the “power to move mountains” is true!

Gram Lukin’s Cinnamon Rolls

Dough Ingredients:
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup butter
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 envelope instant or ‘rapid rise’ yeast (approx. 2 1/4 tsp)
1 egg

Cinnamon-Sugar Filling Ingredients:

1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
4 Tbsp. butter, (completely) softened
Icing Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp. milk

To Make The Dough & Filling:

Combine milk and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 1 minute, then remove and stir. Continue heating in 20 second intervals, pausing after each to stir, until the butter is melted and the milk is warm to the touch but not hot. If needed, let the milk mixture sit for a few minutes until it is warm but not hot.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, sugar, and salt until combined. In the bowl of a stand mixer (*see note below for an alternative method of making this by hand*) fitted with the dough hook attachment, add yeast and lukewarm milk mixture and stir by hand to combine. Add the flour mixture and egg, and beat on medium-low speed until combined. If the dough is sticking to the sides of the bowl, add the remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough begins to form a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Continue beating for 5 minutes on medium-low speed. Remove the dough hook and cover the bowl with a damp towel and let rest for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, make your filling by whisking together sugars and cinnamon in a bowl until combined.

When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured work surface. Then use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 14 x 9 inches in size. Spread the softened 1/2 cup of butter out evenly over the entire surface of the dough. Then sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Beginning at the 14-inch edge, tightly roll up the dough. And then give the final seam a little pinch so that it seals. Cut the dough into 11 or 12 equal pieces. (11 rolls seem to fit in a pie plate, while 12 rolls fit in a rectangular pan.)

Place each of the cut cinnamon rolls into a greased pie plate or 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Then cover again with a damp towel, and leave the dish in a warm place to rise for 25 minutes.

While the dough is rising, make the icing (instructions below). When the rolls have risen, uncover the dish. Then place on the center rack of the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden and cooked through. Remove and let cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes. Drizzle with icing and serve.

Make Icing:

Whisk together butter, vanilla and powdered sugar until combined. If the icing is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of milk to thin. If the icing is too thin, add a tablespoon or two of powdered sugar to thicken.

**If you do not have an electric stand mixer with a dough attachment, you can simply stir the ingredients together, and then knead by hand for 5-7 minutes.

Love At The End of Days:

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Days-Dead-Rapture-Book-ebook/dp/B00OGUXAL6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414264496&sr=8-1&keywords=love+at+the+end+of+days

Fatal:

http://www.amazon.com/Fatal-TA-Brock-ebook/dp/B00NO13DM4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414264539&sr=8-1&keywords=fatal+ta+brock

Super Giveaway

Up for grabs are a $5 Amazon gift card, a signed copy of Tera Shanley’s Love in the Time of the Dead and e-books of Love in the Time of the Dead and Love at the End of Days by Tera Shanley and Fatal and Brutal by T.A. Brock.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

October 27, 2014 by Tina Williams

Zombie Takeover to celebrate ~ Love At The End of Days by Tera Shanley (includes super giveaway)

The Halloween Zombie Takeover continues!!!! In this week’s super giveaway a copy of the book Love in the Time of the Dead, by Tera Shanley, swag, and ebooks from both Tera and T.A. Brock are up for grabs! Also don’t forget to download Tera Shanley’s zombie themed romance Love at the End of Days – purchase link below. Tina ❤

Week Five: Zombies take over the world!

BRAIIIINNNS! It’s our final week of Halloween takeovers to celebrate Love At The End of Days by Tera Shanley, and this week we have bone-chilling swag and eerily amazing zombie books! Check out the Rafflecopter and enter to win!

Love At The End of Days is LIVE!

One Click it over on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Days-Dead-Rapture-Book-ebook/dp/B00OGUXAL6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413480453&sr=8-1&keywords=love+at+the+end+of+days