September 5, 2014 by Caroline Barker

Soul Rebel by C.J. Pinard REVIEW

Blurb: When 21-year-old Nolan Bishop meets a seductive woman named Eva at a dark club in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana, little does he know his soul will be gone as soon as she is. Realizing she’s taken something from him, he finds out he has a very limited time to destroy her before he turns into something sinister and inhuman. In a race against all that is holy, Nolan has to find Eva and get his soul back while trying not to fall in love with Charity, the twin sister of the succubus who took his soul – all in 7 days.

Review

Wow! What a read! I have to say Soul Rebel is probably my favourite C.J. Pinard novel to date. From beginning to end there is action, suspense and romance. Not to mention some great characters in Nolan, Eva and Charity.

From the beginning Nolan’s character drew me in. He is a real gentleman, polite and kind, with the ability to fall in love wholly and easily with the girl that pulls at his heart strings. However, after being left broken hearted early in the novel, C.J. Pinard has created a vulnerable, lovable victim of love that many females would find hard to resist! And with many reads these days focusing on lead female victims-come-heroes (at least the books I have been reading!), it was interesting to see a fallen guy be the main focus.

To make matters worse, whilst Nolan is coming to terms with being single again, he then has to deal with his disbelief that a redhead woman whom he met in a nightclub, Eva, is actually a female vampire, a succubus, who stole his soul after a passionate kiss! Little does he realise to begin with that he only has 7 days before he turns into a vampire himself unless he can get his soul back.

What will it take to make Nolan believe what Eva is? Although reluctant to believe, despite a warning, Nolan soon realises he has a mission on his hands. It probably feels to Nolan like he has been kicked when he’s already down. The reader really feels for this guy and constantly roots for him to find his feet and take back what is his.

Soul Rebel is so much more than a regular paranormal story with a vampire bite and then the human turning. I love the idea of souls being taken. It gives the novel more edge and heaps more darkness. And, to add to the tension is the time frame in which Nolan has before he turns – just 7 days. That’s 7 days for Nolan to realise and believe what has happened to him as well as try to get his soul returned.

Extra suspense is also included when Charity, Eva’s human twin sister, turns up in Nolan’s life. Charity has the same sexual attraction as Eva, and over time as they search for Eva together, Nolan and Charity begin to grow closer and have feelings for each other. Not only does this cause confusion with Nolan, after all she is the enemy’s sister and he’s already been given grief twice by females, but it also causes conflict within Charity.

Charity knows her sister has done wrong, but it’s the only way Eva survives (from taking good souls). Charity knows Eva needs to meet her end in order for Nolan to have his soul back but can she stand the thought of Nolan killing her sister?

As well as the thrill of the drama and adventure there is also a great moody and gothic atmosphere during some scenes, especially the evening scenes and when Eva is mentioned due to where she is living. Eva lives out of town in a Victorian style mansion and its Victorian style and when Nolan and Charity are trying to find her and take her by surprise there are some eerie moments and the reader can feel the fear and intensity as these scenes are written at a steady pace with the reader having no idea what the outcome will be.

Soul Rebel is definitely one for any paranormal fan to read. Due to the pace throughout it makes for a fairly quick read and yet has so much to offer. The reader can feel how Nolan becomes stronger throughout the novel. It is so gradual which makes it all the more real. The reader is certainly taken on a ride of all emotions of despair, anger and love. There is nothing obvious with this story. There are constant surprises throughout this novel. And fans of C.J. Pinard may enjoy a small overlap with her Enchanted Immortals series! I’ll say no more. But I would love to be reading a sequel in the not too distant future!

A copy of Soul Rebel was provided by the author, C.J. Pinard in return for an honest and fair review.

Soul Rebel is available on Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

September 3, 2014 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW & GIVEAWAY ~ Hunter Betrayed,Wild Hunt, Book 1, by Nancy Corrigan

Seductive and Erotic!

Tainted from birth, Harley lives a life cloaked in darkness and temptation. She resists the lure of her evil legacy by holding the memory of her ghostly savior close. Every night without him is agony. She fantasizes about him and yearns for his body, but he’s not the protector or lover she’s envisioned. He’s a Hunter bred to eliminate her kind. He’s also her only hope of salvation.

Calan, the leader of the Wild Hunt, was created to protect mankind from the Unseelie Court. For a millennium, he’s sacrificed to ensure the horrid creatures remain in the Underworld, but his strength wanes. He must rely on his enemy’s daughter to save him, but he doesn’t expect the intensity of their lust or love. Her touch calms his wild nature and ignites his carnal desires. He’ll risk all to save her, but doing so forces him to make the ultimate sacrifice, one that’ll damn him to suffer forever in his own living hell.

A Romantica® Paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

18+ Excerpt

A long moment passed where they watched each other, two strangers on the verge of becoming so much more. The full impact hit her, left her a little shaky inside but not anxious. No, excitement sped her pulse.

She licked her lips, already envisioning what they’d do together. “So, am I right?”

He slid his hungry gaze to her breasts. The points stood erect and the sheen to her skin betrayed how hot she’d gotten from touching herself.
“Oh yes, I’ll fuck you, my Harley. Sometimes hard and fast. Other times so damn slowly you’ll beg me to fill you up.” He met her eyes. “I’ll take you so often and in so many ways you’ll want me to be the center of your world as you are now mine.”

He released her wrists and covered one breast with his hand. The hard point pushed against his calloused skin and a jolt of electricity raced down her spine. He captured the tip she’d teased minutes ago. The small pinch arched her back.

“You like?”

She flicked her gaze from his long fingers holding her nipple to his face and nodded. “Do it again.”

One corner of his mouth rose. He rolled the tip. She gasped. Another tug clenched her core.

“You please me, Harley. I can’t wait to watch that look pass over your face when I fill your…” The smile giving him a roguish look turned wicked. “When I fill your sheath.”

The low growl to his last word tightened her inner muscles. She whimpered.

“You do want me to ram my cock inside you and make you convulse over my rigid length,” he ran the tip of his tongue over his upper lip, “don’t you?”

My Review

Seductive and Erotic Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

I soon devoured Nancy Corrigan’s Hunter Betrayed #1 in her Wild Hunt series. It has all the elements of a scintillating erotic paranormal read: a drop-dead gorgeous alpha hero and a strong but vulnerable heroine who are fated mates; good versus evil, curses and magic and sizzling lovemaking scenes!

After a battle with Dahn, the dark Fairy Prince of the Unseelie court goes awry, Calan, leader of the Wild Hunt and his siblings are imprisoned in the Fairy realm. They are cursed to suffer unimaginable torment and suffering, their pain feeding the magic that is designed to keep the barrier that separates the dark world of the Unseelie and the human world apart. Yet after a millennium the barrier is weakening as the Huntsmen struggle to withstand the fate meant for their enemies, the Unseelie.

Calan needs to persuade one of Dahn’s children to release him to allow the Wild Hunt to run again. This seems an impossible task, until Calan finds Harley, whose purity has enabled her to resist the darkness of her Unseelie blood, and visits her in his non corporal form, intent on persuading her to free him. Calan senses something special about Harley and is drawn to her. Yet Harley is tainted by Dahn’s blood, the blood of his enemy.

As Calan seeks to persuade Harley to release him he has to balance his desire to protect her, his fated mate, and perform his duty to destroy the Unsreeie and keep the barrier closed. It is a fine line and Nancy Corrigan weaves a fantastic tale that kept me on the edge of my seat as Calan and Harley struggle to protect their growing bond, whilst striving to do what is right. Throw in the vagaries of the ancient curse, super charged lovemaking as only immortals can manage and the machinations of others and you have a top read!

Harley is a strong but vulnerable heroine, for whom I had a lot of respect. She is innocent of her father’s sins and strives to master the taint within her. When Calan visits her in his ghostly form at first she believes that he is a figment of her fevered imagination. However, she realises that he is very real and works with him to defeat the evil that stalks them and fight for a future that seems increasingly out of their grasp. Their capacity for love and self-sacrifice makes for a great read. The lovemaking scenes are both passionate and pull at the readers’ heart strings and I felt that their love for each other was very tangible.

I loved that the book gave a new twist on the myths and legends of the Huntsmen of the Wild Hunt and I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of them in battle mode atop their steeds and also the descriptions of the dark fairies and the underworld. There are a number of supporting characters in the novel who piqued my interest, namely Rhys and Tegan, Calan’s siblings, and Ian, Harley’s brother, and I look forward to reading other books in the series which will no doubt feature them in more detail.

I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a fast paced, passionate and downright HOT paranormal/fantasy read.

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

Purchase Links

Amazon – US B&N Ellora’s Cave Amazon-CA Amazon-UK Amazon-AU

Add to your Goodreads TBR list! Hunter Betrayed

Author Bio

Nancy Corrigan believes in unending love and epic tales with a paranormal flare. She enjoys transcending the boundaries of reality to take her readers on an erotic, emotional and romantic journey.
She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and three children. When she’s not weaving sizzling fantasies, she works as a chemist in a pharmaceutical lab.

Social Media Links

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Contest

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• An eBook copy of one Royal Pride book (TWO Winners-winner’s choice selections can be found: http://www.nancycorriganauthor.com/royal-pride.html)
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September 2, 2014 by Caroline Barker

Desired (True Alpha #1) (short story) by Alisa Woods REVIEW

A VERY HOT AND INTENSE READ!

RELEASED TODAY, September 2nd 2014, I am proud to present the first of six New Adult paranormal romance short stories in the TRUE ALPHA series. The first episode, DESIRED, is 80 pages or 20,000 words.

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.

Mia is just a college girl trying to earn her business degree and dig out of the poverty she was born into—being a shifter is something she hides, hoping her secret won’t sabotage her dreams.

Lucas is a broken alpha, a wolf who lost his mate, his pack, and almost himself—he wasn’t looking to rescue a girl or start a pack war. But now he has to keep her safe or it won’t just be her life, but his whole family at risk… only his inner wolf can’t seem to keep its paws off a girl who has secrets of her own.

REVIEW

Desired (True Alpha #1) is a fantastic opening to a series. From the very first scene I was hooked as it was full of action and attraction between the two main characters, Mia and Lucas. Mia is about to be attacked by a pack of wolves and she is very much in fear of what they will do to her.

The violence and sexual tension rises dramatically and yet Mia still longs to hide the fact that she is a shifter herself. However, the tension, fear and heightened levels of emotion are bringing her to the edge, to the point where the wolf inside her could turn loose at any time!

This scene alone is gripping and intense. The reader will not be able to put this short story down! And then comes Lucas……

With Mia needing protection from the Red Pack and Lucas finding himself being the one protecting her, the intensity reminded me a little of the introduction to J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Dark Lover, with Wrath and Beth. Albeit, shifter instead of vamp!

Bear in mind that this is just the first scene! The sexual attraction and tension continues between these two characters when Mia begins her work experience the following week and the company is owned by the pack in which Lucas belongs.

Working so closely causes conflict within Lucas. He wants Mia just about as bad as you can possibly imagine and yet the only one for him, his mate, has been deceased for some time and he never believed that he would feel these feelings again. Maybe he even feels like he is betraying his mate? His reactions confuse Mia at times and can bring a little fear. At the same time she tries to conceal her inner wolf and yet her feelings are just as strong as Lucas’.

You find your heart pounding and blood boiling during the scenes of protection and the intensity of Lucas sets you on fire. It warms you at the same time as making your hairs stand on end as you feel the temptation and fear from Mia.

Desired is a fantastic way to start a series and gain some pretty hardcore fans. There is a brilliant storyline and amount of description packed into a full short story. It wraps up perfectly but leaving the reader wanting more. I cannot wait for the second episode!!

A copy of Desired (True Alpha #1) was provided by the author, Alisa Woods, for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

Desired (True Alpha #1) by Alisa Woods is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

August 31, 2014 by Tina Williams

REVIEW of Primary Fault ~ Book #1 in The Schattenreich Series, by Sharon Kae Reamer

A Suspenseful Blend of Science, Romance and the Supernatural!

Book Blurb

Caitlin Schwarzbach has left home. For good.

Separated from her beloved brother Gus at age seven, Caitlin exchanges small-town Texas for Cologne, Germany to be with him. But upon her arrival, a man resembling her brother attempts to kidnap her.

At a university reception, Caitlin feels intimidated by one of her brother’s former colleagues, only to have the conversation interrupted by a dangerously attractive man, Hagen von der Lahn. She learns her seismologist brother Gus has included her in a research project with the amateur archeologist and stylish aristocrat. When Gus is called away to his institute by an earthquake, the deranged Gus doppelgänger again tries to drag her away. Hagen rescues Caitlin and secures her in his castle near the Rhine.

Gus vanishes, sought by the Cologne police for multiple sexual assaults. As Hagen and Caitlin begin the investigation into her brother’s disappearance, her feelings for Hagen grow. But before she can follow up on a promising lead, a blow to the head lands Caitlin in the hospital. An unwanted visitor appears by her bed; someone she feared since childhood, the being she thinks of as Death. His appearance can only mean one thing: her brother is in mortal danger.

A novel of supernatural suspense, Primary Fault is a delightful mixture of science meets magic set amidst a backdrop of Celto-Germanic Otherworld.

My Review

Absorbing and Original Fantasy Romance

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this clever and original read which merges mythology and magic with a heady mixture of romance, science and suspense. It is full of mystery and secrets with a complex plot and superbly well drawn characters, which drew me inform the off. Primary Fault (awarded a B.R.A.G. medallion*) is book #1 in the Schattenreich Series by Sharon Kae Reamer. Other books in the series include Shaky Ground #2, Double Couple #3 and Shadow Zone #4 is to be released soon.

After her life in the USA turns sour following the death of her mother, her own long recovery after a road accident and being dumped by her boyfriend, Caitlin Schwazbach travels to Germany, where she hopes to make a permanent home alongside her brother Gus, a renowned seismologist. Rather than the peace she craves, Caitlin walks into a nightmare scenario: she herself is assaulted by a mysterious man, who bears a striking resemblance to Gus and Gus disappears, suspected of a series of heinous crimes, deeds she knows that the brother she loved would never commit.

Caitlin’s own life is full of danger as she seeks to find Gus and prove his innocence. At the same time she falls for the handsome and mysterious Hagen, a business partner of her brother and a rich and renowned aristocratic playboy, whose actions towards her blow hot and cold. Her problems do not stop there as she experiences strange dizzy spells and visions which seem to be increasing in intensity. She is particularly terrified by the appearance of the figure she refers to as Death. Caitlin must unearth who is out to discredit/destroy her brother whilst protecting both her heart and her sanity.

We are treated to many forays into the Schattenreich, the shadowy ‘otherworld,’ where the author draws on a rich combination of both Celtic and Germanic mythology. I found this aspect of the novel truly fascinating as it added dark and mysterious depths to an already thrilling and suspenseful read.

Caitlin is mature enough to be a confident woman, not afraid to act on her own despite the possible dangers and she also has an air of vulnerability about her. I found that I was rooting for her from the off. I applauded her determination to get to the bottom of finding out who is trying to discredit her brother and why and above all secure his safety. The power struggles at her brother’s institute mask something far darker and dangerous than she can ever begin to understand. Caitlin finds that she has to rely on the help of Hagen, whom she feels is well out of her league. Hagen, a character whom I adored, is a strong, sexy and powerful hero with a mysterious past and a connection to Caitlin which this instalment only hints at. I cannot wait to find out more!

There are many characters in this book aside from the main ones, some who straddle both the human world and the world beyond into which the book increasingly refers. They all have an important role to play in the evolving tale, and a number of different players are pulling different strings for reasons that we only begin to comprehend in this book. In terms of the romance the book ends on a Happy For Now but there are still many unanswered questions and I am impatient to read the next book in the series, Shaky Ground.

I recommend this book to readers who like strong heroines and heroes, with lashings of suspense and a plot which draws on myth and magic.

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

* Book Readers Appreciation Group

Purchase Links

Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon CA Amazon AU

Kobo B&N iTunes All Romance

Connect with the Author

Author’s Blog

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August 16, 2014 by Tina Williams

Unlovable (The Case Files of Dr. Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist), by Cynthia St. Aubin

Just what the Good Doc Ordered!

Book Blurb

It isn’t every day a sexy demigod throws a pissed-off Cupid onto psychologist Matilda Schmidt’s couch and informs her the fate of the world depends on her ability to get him off his diapered ass and back to helping people fall in love. Just when Matilda convinces herself she’s not hallucinating, in walks a Vegas hit man with a big gun and a bigger threat: pay back the million dollars she owes a notorious casino mogul, or wind up as fish food in Lake Mead.Rocketing across country with a gun to her head, Matilda has a dysfunctional love-god in her laptop bag, a million dollar debt she has no knowledge of, and must convince the seductive hit man he’s snatched the wrong woman before he convinces her he might be the right man—for a night. Can Matilda stay alive long enough to keep love from becoming history?

My Review

A Panty-Wetting, Laugh-out-Loud Read!

Unlovable is the first instalment of The Case Files of Dr Matilda Schmidt Paranormal Psychologist, other instalments of which are available and include Unlucky, Unhoppy and Unbearable (see below for link to author’s Amazon page for more info).

I recently read in the press that medical professionals are being encouraged to prescribe books to their patients, alongside or instead of conventional prescriptions. Well, if you are in need of a tonic, Cynthia St. Aubin’s rollicking, panty-wetting read Unlovable, is just what the good doc ordered!

This read contains a love-sick Cupid, a sex obsessed demigod, in the form of Crixus and a dark and dangerous hit-man cum kidnapper, with his own psychological issues. All three burst into the well-ordered life of Dr Matlda Schmidt, a sexually repressed/control loving kinda girl and chaos reigns big-time!

Matllda is faced with the seemingly impossible tasks of saving the world by counselling a love sick Cupid and saving her own ass from the mobster whom the hit man is contracted to deliver her to. She is also fighting the temptation presented by said hit man who is giving her some serious signs that he wants to get her naked. Suffice to say that Matilda is not the same woman at the end of the read as she is at the beginning………

I enjoyed getting to know Matilda, and how her life gets shaken AND stirred and I’m looking forward to reading about her further adventures in the subsequent instalments. I recommend Unlovable to readers of contemporary and paranormal romps who like their reads to contain plenty of humour and snark with some smexy scenes.

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

Purchase Links

Amazon US Amazon UK

Connect with the Author and find out more about her books

http://www.cynthiastaubin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.saintaubin

August 16, 2014 by Tina Williams

COVER REVEAL ~ Death Design (The Daughters of Darkness #3), by N. L. Hoffman

Today, we are happy to share the cover for N.L. Hoffmann’s upcoming novel, Death Design (The Daughters of the Darkness #3). Tina ❤

Stay tuned for a special sneak peek!

Death Design

Series: The Daughters of Darkness #3

N.L. Hoffmann

Genre: Paranormal/Suspense

Release Date: December 2014

Sneak Peek

Her name is Sinise, but goes by Sin. She is a reaper, Death.

She is the sister of the President of the United States, also his personal assassin.

She’s the last piece of the puzzle to destroy Nick with her two sisters.

********

Blood Slaves (The Daughters of the Darkness #1)

Goodreads

Blake Noble is assigned by her superior, of the Supernatural Crime Division, to investigate the disappearance of his niece and to take down the Covert, a several hundred year old vampire organization known for abducting their victims off the streets. Things begin to go south when she begins to uncover truths about the people she loves.

After finding out she is the daughter of Lucifer and a famous vampire mother, she begins to use her newly appearing abilities to survive through the investigation. Between demon lessons from her father and falling for the Deputy Director of the Michigan, she attempts a nail biting journey to shut down the biggest secret in vampire history.

********

Shadow Cursed (The Daughters of the Darkness #2)

Goodreads

U.S. Marshal, Jacey Noble, has just taken a well-deserved vacation when one of her fugitives ends up murdered. Detective Trent Vinolva is less than enthusiastic to take on a new partner, especially the hot-blooded Jacey. When they encounter a werewolf at the scene, Jacey is thrust into a new world of supernatural beings and high-stakes encounters with no one else to turn to but Trent.

Jacey discovers that she’s a Shadow, one of an order of powerful beings that are able to manipulate darkness. Amidst the whirlwind of discovering her newly activated powers, Jacey must solve the murder while battling sexual tension with Detective Vinolva. Things get interesting when the pair is led to Jacey’s demon father and her flame throwing sister. Finding herself in a new world on the brink of supernatural war, Jacey doesn’t know who to trust. She must rely on instinct to traverse the unknown.

With the Supernatural Council and Trent, Jacey attempts to accomplish the impossible: evade the Shadows who are on her tail and solve a murder. The only assurance in Shadow Cursed is uncertainty. Jacey must journey down a trail of mystery, destruction, and romance.

About the Author

N.L Hoffmann is a new paranormal romance author; she recently published her first book entitled Blood Slaves, Book One to the Daughters of Darkness Series. She is currently working on the second book to the collection.

Hoffmann was born in Germany to her German native mother and her American soldier father. The family moved home to the states, where she grew up in a rural farm town in Michigan with her parents and two younger brothers. There, in her pre-teens, is when she began writing and developed her love for literature.

Today, Hoffmann resides in Missouri with her husband and three children, where she published her first book Blood Slaves in January 2014 and is currently working on Book Two to the Daughters of Darkness Series. When Hoffmann isn’t busy putting words on the page she enjoys reading, drawing, playing loving pranks on her husband, and spending time with her family.

August 2, 2014 by Tina Williams

Cover Reveal and Contest for ~HUNTER BETRAYED, Wild Hunt #1~ by Nancy Corrigan

An Erotic Paranormal Romance 18+

A HUGE welcome to Nancy Corrigan and her new novel Hunter Betrayed: Wild Hunt 1, which releases on September 3 from Ellora’s Cave. The novel is an erotic paranormal romance based on of the myth of the Wild Hunt — a tale of spectral hounds and horsemen riding across the night sky. Nancy is sharing the cover, blurb and the links with us today as part of her celebration!

Book Blurb

A Romantica® Paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Excerpt

“I’ve fantasized about you for years and this…” She pressed her fingertips to his cheek. “This face is more captivating than any I could’ve imagined.”

The rightness he’d experienced nine years ago returned, stronger than before. He wanted Harley and he’d have her. “Kiss me.”

She shook her head.

“Harley.” He waited until she met his gaze. “Kiss me.”

Hesitantly, she pressed her mouth to his. He nudged at the seam of her lips with his tongue. She parted them and he slipped inside. Her flavor hit him. She tasted of candy, a delectable treat he could easily become addicted to. He moaned and kissed her harder. After a long moment where he led her into passion, she dug her fingers into his hair, grabbing sections of the short strands and tugging him closer.

On a whimper, she linked her legs around his waist. Her heat pressed against his stomach. He automatically arched his back to line his erection to her sex. Her small stature and his tight bonds prevented him from experiencing her tempting warmth along the length of his shaft. It didn’t dim the lust consuming him. The scent of her arousal and her squirming body intensified it.

He took control of the kiss, needing her wild. She’d beg for his manhood to fill her dripping center. He wouldn’t settle for anything else. Their teeth banged as the melding of their mouths grew wicked. He swallowed her moans and fed her his. Quicker, deeper he stroked his tongue with hers. She tightened her grip on his hair. Her nails bit into his scalp. The sting pushed his lusts higher.

More. By the gods, more. He nipped at her lips. Blood flavored the kiss, blood that held the tang of pure chaos. It was her taint, a curse from her father and the reason she was turning into a monster.

He turned his head, breaking the kiss. The evidence of the stain working its way through her body and soul, infecting her slowly and steadily, killed his runaway desire.

She eased back. The weight of her stare forced his lids open. Tears welled in her eyes, yet her expression remained neutral. “You can taste it, can’t you? It’s not just me.”

Pre-Order Links (Releases SEPTEMBER 3, 2014)

Add to your Goodreads TBR list! Hunter Betrayed

Author Bio

Nancy Corrigan believes in unending love and epic tales with a paranormal flare. She enjoys transcending the boundaries of reality to take her readers on an erotic, emotional and romantic journey.

She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and three children. When she’s not weaving sizzling fantasies, she works as a chemist in a pharmaceutical lab.

Social Media links

CONTEST!

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July 30, 2014 by Tina Williams

~SNOW IN JULY~ by Kim Iverson Headlee ~ Excerpt, Spotlight and Giveaways!

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Snow in July
AUTHOR – Kim Iverson Headlee
GENRE – Young Adult Paranormal Historical Romance
PUBLICATION DATE – July 2014
LENTH (Pages/# Words) – 386 pages/94K words
PUBLISHER – Pendragon Cove Press
COVER DESIGNER – Natasha Brown

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre has been granted what every man wants: a rich English estate in exchange for his valiant service at the Battle of Hastings. To claim this reward, the Norman knight must wed the estate’s Saxon heiress. Most men would leap at such an opportunity, but for Alain, who broke his vow to his dying mother by failing to protect his youngest brother in battle, it means facing more easily broken vows. But when rumors of rampant thievery, dangerous beasts, and sorcery plaguing a neighboring estate reach his ears, nothing will make him shirk duty to king and country when people’s lives stand at risk. He assumes the guise of a squire to scout the land, its problems, and its lady.

Lady Kendra of Edgarburh has been granted what no woman wants: a forced marriage to an enemy who may be kith or kin to the man who murdered her beloved brother. Compounding her anguish is her failure to awaken the miraculous healing gift bequeathed by their late mother in time to save his life. Although with his dying breath, he made her promise to seek happiness above all, Kendra vows that she shall find neither comfort nor love in the arms of a Norman…unless it snows in July.

Alain is smitten by Lady Kendra from the first moment of their meeting; Kendra feels the forbidden allure of the handsome and courtly Norman “squire.” But a growing evil overshadows everyone, invoking dark forces and ensnaring Kendra in a plot to overthrow the king Alain is oath-bound to serve. Kendra and Alain face a battle unlike any other as their honor, their love, their lives, and even their very souls lie in the balance.

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON KINDLE CA – AMAZON KINDLE UK
AMAZON PAPERBACK – BARNES & NOBLES NOOK – BARNES & NOBLES PAPERBACK
SMASHWORDS – ITUNES – GOODREADS
SHELFARI

EXCERPT

FIFTEEN THOUSAND MEN and horses writhed across the valley below, appearing as toys in a children’s game.

Many might consider war a game, but Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre, knight of Normandy bound to the service of Duke William and commander of a unit in the cavalry reserves, did not number among their ranks.

Edward the Confessor, King of England via his Saxon father but Norman by his mother, was dead. This battle, raging near the coastal hamlet called Hastings, would decide the right of one man to wear the English crown: William the Norman, acknowledged by Pope Alexander to be Edward’s lawful successor; or Harold the Saxon, brother of Edward’s wife, the man alleged to be Edward’s deathbed choice.

Stroking his war horse’s glossy charcoal neck to calm her, Alain pondered Harold’s claim. It had to be true. This many men would not sacrifice their lives for a lie. Yet the vast majority of Harold’s supporters were Saxons harboring no wish to bear the Norman yoke. Perhaps such men might be desperate enough to fight for a lie that promised to restore Saxon rule.

A trumpet blared. He signaled his men forward, couched his lance, and spurred Chou to send her careening into the melee.

Harold’s shield wall, which had seemed impregnable, began to crumble under the onslaught of Alain’s unit, hastened by the desertion of men who no doubt decided they weren’t quite so willing to die. Their lord stood exposed just long enough for a Norman archer to sight his mark. Harold fell, screaming and clutching an arrow that protruded from one eye.

Harold’s supporters closed ranks around him, blocking Alain’s view and giving him more than enough to do as the Saxons redoubled their efforts to guard their lord’s body.

A familiar whirl of colors caught Alain’s attention. The saffron leopard prowling on a green field—Étienne! A Saxon knight, with a blue arm and fist blazing defiance across his gray shield, bore down upon Étienne with leveled lance. Étienne tumbled from his horse. He scrambled to his feet and retrieved his sword, putting it to good use on the Saxons surrounding him, although the knight who’d unhorsed him had already ridden in search of other targets.

Lance long since discarded and sword now rising and falling with fatal precision, Alain surged to reach his brother’s side. Protection of her youngest son had been their dying mother’s wish, and he had sworn on his own life to keep Étienne safe.

Before he could close the distance, another Saxon knight fought past Étienne’s guard to thrust a war-knife into his throat. Through the visor the knight’s eyes gleamed with startling, fathomless malice. Alain could only watch in stunned disbelief as he laid his hand upon Étienne’s chest for a few moments. Uttering a soul-freezing howl, the Saxon yanked out his seax and disappeared into the press with Étienne’s shield, denying Alain vengeance.

Shame and grief rent his heart asunder.

He had failed the two he loved most; failed them so utterly that he could never beg their forgiveness in this lifetime.

Pain slammed into his shoulder, toppling him from the saddle. Étienne’s body broke his fall. He tried to roll clear, but a spear through his chest pinned him to Étienne. His gut convulsed, and bile burned his throat. Blinding agony killed his struggle to free himself. Death’s stench invaded his nostrils.

He closed his eyes and waited for his final journey to begin.

Snow in July - Book Spine

AUTHOR BIO

Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, and assorted wildlife. People & creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins — the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-20th century — seem to be sticking around for a while yet.

Kim is a Seattle native (when she used to live in the Metro DC area, she loved telling people she was from “the other Washington”) and a direct descendent of 20th-century Russian nobility. Her grandmother was a childhood friend of the doomed Grand Duchess Anastasia, and the romantic yet tragic story of how Lydia escaped Communist Russia with the aid of her American husband will most certainly one day fuel one of Kim’s novels. Another novel in the queue will involve her husband’s ancestor, the 7th-century proto-Viking king of the Swedish colony in Russia.

For the time being, however, Kim has plenty of work to do in creating her projected 8-book Arthurian series, The Dragon’s Dove Chronicles, and other novels under her new imprint, Pendragon Cove Press. She also writes romantic historical fiction under the pseudonym “Kimberly Iverson.”

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Video Interview

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July 23, 2014 by Caroline Barker

Heart of Eternity by N. Jay REVIEW

Blurb: When you are invited to dance with the muse of love, when you are driven to the edge by the pain of the past, when you hold the remedy for what ails you in your arms you will find yourself in the heart of eternity.

Set in the Blue Mountain’s town of Blackheath in New South Wales, Australia, the novel Heart of Eternity introduces two very different characters, Jay and Naida, who encounter each other at a challenging time in each of their lives. Their individual expressions of the feelings they provoke in each other give rise to a turmoil that could ultimately claim their lives. When two people understand so deeply the pain each other has faced will it force them into the abyss of darkness or will their combined need for healing allow love to enter both their hearts?

REVIEW

Heart of Eternity is a profound and interesting fantasy story, exploring the demons and inner light within two main characters in Jay and Naida. The narrative is beautifully written with the use of powerful and descriptive language. There is dark and there is light. But when they meet, will they really be whole? That is the key question and mystery of this short story.

From early on in the story the reader discovers the first of Naida’s conflicts. Being a sufferer of cancer she longs to exorcise her mind and spirit, instead of using more conventional methods, to make it easier and give herself more time. It’s almost like she feels that faith, hope and a positive mind will play an important role in her well-being. However, the conflict lies when her own father, an atheist, has long lost his faith and longs for her to seek out the medical and practical methods at hospital.

Meanwhile, Jay on the other hand behaves like one of the lads, encouraging dares, drinking, racing, being leary and flirting with many. He is a typical bad boy, with the good looks and the carefree attitude with nerve and a cheekiness about him. But Jay’s characters also holds an inner demon inside of him after suffering many bad and tragic ordeals. He has reached a point in his life where nothing matters and so he does as he pleases.

The story is told from the perspectives of both Naida and Jay, making the reader aware of both of their circumstances, feelings and their own esteem. I love this as the reader can gain an understanding of their thoughts and actions. Because of this there is a nice build up to the meeting of these two souls, albeit it is mysterious considering Naida’s vision of a shadowy figure, green eyes – without knowing who they belong to.

It’s obvious that they both have this deep connection and as they realise each other’s inner souls the reader longs for them to reveal all and, where possible, use it to help the other. Will Jay face his demon? If so, who will win? And will Naida deal with her cancer in a positive manner?

Naida’s Uncle Zachriel is a great supporting character with the patience and understanding to help Naida, and later Jay. He is the one who helps Naida look further and further into her soul where she finds a darkness within her. Without swaying her decisions either way he guides her and yet allows her to be independent and make her own decisions. He trusts her judgement and reasoning. Zachriel also encourages her to make more progress each time they sit and look within, once Naida had decided that this was the way for her.

Although a beautiful story I felt that the characters could have explored each other more. To really beef the story up it would have benefited from more romantic suspense and a physical love scene in order to allow the reader to really feel the depth of their feelings for each other. This would have made for a more emotive ending.

However, I did feel that as I continued reading the intensity and emotion did build up, crescendo-like (albeit gradually), until the very end. It is also at this point when I realised just how meaningful the title of the book is! Of course I’m not to spoil the story but the latter chapters were amazing to read and I thoroughly enjoyed them. It is great fantasy writing, especially the tension and conflict between Jay and his demon.

I would certainly recommend this read to young adults and over of whom are particularly interested in fantasy, but be prepared for a little paranormal.

A copy of Heart of Eternity was provided by the author, N. Jay, for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

Heart of Eternity by N. Jay can be found at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

July 16, 2014 by Tina Williams

Review of ~CRIMSON SINS~ by Madeline Pryce

Deliciously Dark and Decadent – A MUST READ!

Erotic Paranormal Romance – 18+ read – contains violence, gore, mention of rape, torture, images of past abuse, spanking.

Book Blurb

Created in Darkness and born of Death, three brothers carry a deadly secret.

One lethal enough to have the dead outnumber the living. Necromancer. Biohazard. Zombie. The abomination inside Bastian Hale demanded constant payment—fresh blood. Without it, he’d rot from the inside out and become little more than a mindless monster. Some called him a living vampire, others considered him contaminated. One woman would call him hers.

Morgan Cross never understood the innate necromancer power running through her veins or why ghosts and zombies sought to ruin her life. When someone’s deadly obsession throws her into Bastian’s arms, their pasts come back to haunt them and she must avoid the one thing she was born to do—claim him as hers.

WARNINGS: violence, gore, mention of rape, torture, images of past abuse, spanking.

My Review

Deliciously Dark and Decadent

Erotic Paranormal Romance 18+read

Crimson Sins is a deliciously dark and decadent erotic paranormal read – utterly compelling and original. It introduces us to a world of magic, necromancers, zombies, ghosts, and more and contains a heady and combustible mix of smokin’ hot romance and scenes of horror. It is without doubt one of my top reads of 2014.

I ADORED the hero Bastian, a tortured alpha hottie who is immediately drawn to Morgan, the heroine. He wants to protect her, not only from his father Ronan, but also from himself as he believes that he is not worthy of a woman’s love. Morgan’s own life has not been easy as she has struggled to cope with her ability to see spirits and has been grossly misunderstood. She is shocked to realise that she is a powerful necromancer and despite her independence welcomes Bastian’s help in protecting her from his father, who desires her for his own evil ends. I LOVED how Morgan’s powers grew throughout the novel and how the couple united in battling Ronan.

Ronan is a formidable adversary and will stop at nothing to achieve his ends, including his evil sorcerer’s magic. Can Bastian open his heart to trust a female necromancer whose own magic could enslave him just as his father’s had?

The lovemaking scenes between Bastian and Morgan are sublime – graphic, scorching hot and emotionally intense and left me in no doubt that the couple are destined to be together. These scenes contrast with the bloody and visceral scenes of horror and violence which illustrate the evil that is Ronan, Bastian’s father.

The enduring bond between the three brothers, Bastian, Rory and Nathan, who had shared so much pain and abuse in the past was also a feature of the read which I enjoyed. Although this book focuses on Bastian we are afforded an insight into what makes his equally tortured and hot siblings tick and I seriously hope that Madeline Pryce will be penning their own books soon!

The pacing of the book and the balance between the scenes of magic and action and horror with the romance and lovemaking scenes were perfect. If you like erotic paranormal romances, with strong references to horror you will love this book too. Go forth and buy Cimson Sins now! You will not be disappointed!

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