April 15, 2013 by Caroline Barker

Living on Empty by Jordan Aubry Robison

Looking for something new, different and from a brand new author? Well, why not try ‘Living on Empty’ by Jordan Aubry Robison! This novel is an alternative fiction than most of us are used to reading. We all want to live the dream but with current economies not doing too good, businesses not recruiting, or folding completely, living the dream seems to be only as it reads: a dream!

It is very easy to connect to the main character, Jimmy, due to the realistic nature of his problems and the reader follows Jimmy through his average life in the beginning right through to the adventure and action that he goes through as he tries to make his life a little more exciting. To begin with Jimmy’s only release from his dead end job, debt and boredom is visiting The Fish Bowl bar with his best friend, Norm, and taking part in the karaoke and mixing with others in similar situations. As the story continues Jimmy begins to hit rock bottom and begins talking to the likes of Clint Eastwood, gets involved with a busty bartender and as his imagination begins to run wild, in reality he finds himself deeper and deeper in trouble!

There is a great sense of realism in some aspects of the beginning of the book and it came as no surprise that Jimmy is based on Jordan Aubry Robison’s real experience in regard to his career. Jimmy is trapped in a dead end job that he is over-qualified for. However, jobs are very few and far between and every active job seeker is applying for these vacancies, making it almost impossible to be in with a chance of being offered the position. ‘Living on Empty’ is written from Jimmy’s point of view and the reader feels a true sense of the desperation Jimmy feels to be someone, to gain acknowledgement and to belong to someone. He is very lost and he doesn’t receive much help from his older pal, Norm, who has pretty much missed his chance of a decent life.

Written with wit, cynicism, quirkiness and sarcasm, this dry humour made me laugh throughout the novel. Regardless of how desperate the situation there are some surreal moments and surreal characters that make ‘Living on Empty’ a fun and adventurous book to read. One of my favourite supporting characters is Joe, a colleague of Jimmy’s, who tends to just sleep. A lot. He’s late for work, he sleeps through shifts, etc. I just found his character hilarious.

I felt that the pace of the book to begin with was slow on and off in the first few chapters, however this emphasizes the boredom and desperation in Jimmy’s life and pushes him to want to do something with his life. The comedic moments are aplenty though and enlighten the mood. As the story opens up it becomes more eventful but also more serious and dramatic, making for a great story.

No matter how real a scene seemed to be, there were always elements throughout the novel that were quite surreal and complete fantasy. I enjoyed the contrast of this and I particularly liked the idea of having legendary people, i.e. Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen and Elvis Presley, speaking and offering their advice in Jimmy’s imagination whenever he was bored. I particularly like Clint Eastwood and could visualise him with the Jimmy character of this novel. I did find some of the fantasy scenes a little confusing at times and was trying to work out what was happening for real and what was in Jimmy’s mind.

One of my favourite characters, aside from Jimmy, is Emilio as he is full of surprises. Even though in many ways he is a shady character I would like to find out more about him. We see two different sides to Emilio – there is the more friendly, pally side and a more menacing streak.

Jimmy’s lustful desire centres on the busty bartender, Jasmine and if he admits it to himself he could easily fall for her charms any day. However, Jasmine is very good at playing the boys against each other and does not suffer fools gladly. She is very sexy, strong and smart and the biggest question is ‘can she be trusted?’ Every time Jimmy falls for her he seems to get into more trouble. Is she a victim in all of this too, or is she part of the cause?

Jimmy’s life certainly isn’t dull by the end of the novel, even if some events were bad. I feel that Jimmy almost had the life he was seeking, however, Jordan Aubry Robison has left it open for a sequel. What is to become of Jimmy? Will it end as a happy every after or will there be plenty more trouble to come. Or is this the end for the reader to make up their own mind? I really hope for there to be a sequel as there really are some great characters in this novel.

‘Living on Empty’ was received gratefully from Jordan Aubry Robison in return for an honest and fair review.

Below are the Facebook page links for Jordan Aubry Robison and the novel, ‘Living on Empty’ :
https://www.facebook.com/therealjordanaubryrobison

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-on-Empty/241393369338195

Cover art by Jordan Aubry Robison

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

April 14, 2013 by Tina Williams

Update from Tina

I truly had a ball this week reading books by Samantha Holt and Eve Rabi and also welcoming Samantha to our blog to share her thoughts on being an author. We were also very happy to receive an author post from M. C. Lavocat, author of Control (The Soul of Voodoo #1), which Caroline reviewed. Also thank you to everyone who commented this last week.

My Reads this Week

Whether it is due to the rise in the temperature (it reached the heady heights of 11 degrees celsius today), but the heat level in the books I have chosen to read this week seems to have increased!

Betrayed, by Christina Phillips, an erotic historical romance, set in Roman Britain. In 51 A.D., Druid priestess Nimue is enslaved by the hated Roman Legions. Although drawn to her captor, she’s determined to escape and complete her mission for the Briton king and her duty to Arianrhod, the goddess she is bound to. I was lucky enough to win this book last month and have already read the first two books in this series, Forbidden and Captive, which were both great reads. Click for Christina Phillips’ website.

Dragons’ Mate, by Beverly Ovalle – An erotic romance, containing two dragon shifters and one very lucky woman who they have decided to claim as their mate! Click for Beverly Ovalle’s blog.

Tortured Hero Blog Hop

A Readers’ Review will be participating in its very first blog hop – some of you may have noticed the button below on our sidebar.

It takes place on 25-28th April. Caroline and I will be posting on what we like about tortured heroes and we will be inviting comments from readers. At the end of the hop one commenter will be drawn at random, to win a £5 book voucher (or equivalent currency). Each commenter will also be put into the draw to win a grand prize offered by the blog hop. You can also hop across to others blogs to have a look at their thoughts on tortured heroes and participate in any giveaways they may be running and leave further comments to increase your chances of winning the grand prize draw. More details on the 25th April.

Purchases this week

Shield, New World #1, by S.L. Scholey – An erotic sci-fi romance featuring a human Grace, whose shuttle crashes on the planet Ulsy and who meets a massive fanged and ebony warrior Rask, who is very intrigued by her……… Whiskey Creek Press has 25% off all of S.L Scholey’s books this month in celebration of the fact that she is their author of the year. I have not read any of her books yet, but I could not resist this!

Wolfkeeper’s Woman, by Lisa Day – After Cassie’s husband is murdered, Native American Wolfkeeper takes Cassie’s child for his brother and sister-in-law to raise, as they have no children of their own. He brings Cassie along to ensure that her child lives during the journey. Thrown into an unfamiliar lifestyle and unable to communicate she must learn how to stay alive for her son and how to adjust to life which is so different to her own. I had to buy this as I love romances where the hero and heroine come from different worlds, cultures or social classes, as it increases the conflict and the tension in the plot. Lisa Day’s website

Coming Soon

Looking ahead we have a werewolf theme coming up and I will also be posting reviews on the first two books in Regan Walker’s Regency romance trilogy, Agents of the Crown. More on these very soon. Regan Walker’s website

Enjoy your week and your reading!

Tina 🙂

April 12, 2013 by Tina Williams

Gringa: In the Clutches of a Ruthless Drug Lord, books1-4 by Eve Rabi

Hold onto your sombreros for a wild ride!

I was completely bowled over by Gringa. It put me through the emotional wringer, but oh what a truly amazing love story! I understand why it was an Amazon best seller last year. Although it contains violence, some of it sexual, murder, drug references and profanities, it also has laugh out loud humour, tender scenes and characters I grew to love, despite their faults. It is a compelling and unforgettable read.

In Gringa, Payton, a young American, is vacationing in Mexico when she is mistaken for a spy and shot by Diablo, the local drug lord and then, to ensure that she does not survive, he throws her over a cliff into the sea. However, Payton survives, nursed back to health by two locals. She returns to the village to ensure that her family is safe, intending to return to the US. Unfortunately Diablo reappears, threatening the villagers with death if she does not agree to become ‘his woman.’ Payton agrees to his blackmail to save innocent lives and returns with him to his home.

Many have likened Gringa to Beauty and the Beast, but it also has elements of Alice falling down the rabbit hole and entering an alternative reality of larger than life characters: Diablo, the terrifying, tattooed and pierced drug lord; Christa, his sadistic mother; his sister Santana, with whom he appears to have improper relations, and a posse of violent outlaws. There is also Payton’s own dysfunctional family, comprising her bitchy and selfish stepmother Elaine and step-sister Paris, her weak father, Austin her brother-in-law, whom Paris stole from Payton, and baby Liam, her nephew.

Diablo subjects Payton to physical abuse, including rape and she also witnesses violence, drunken behaviour, drug taking and profanities. Christa and Santana resent and despise her, although fortunately Payton benefits from Diablo’s protection. Servants Rosa and Maria become her confidants as she struggles to accept her situation. Even at this stage in the tale,however, there is still humour in the madness, much of it dark, such as Payton’s thoughts when Diablo makes his nocturnal visits, but some of it light, such as the chattering and antics of the Maria and Rosa.

Their ‘relationship’ gets to a point where Payton very publically tells Diablo some home truths about his qualities as a lover. It is then that Diablo begins his metamorphosis and courts Payton in regular boy-girl romance style. This makes for some deeply romantic and hilarious scenes and we begin to see a different side to Diablo. Payton learns of his horrific past experiences and begins to understand him. She also makes him question his behaviour and he decides to reform. However, their relationship is under threat, not only from Diablo’s family, but from those who want Payton to betray him. Payton’s deranged family also play a major role in the evolution of the tale, as they too go a little loco under the Mexican sun.

I was so emotionally invested in Payton and Diablo’s romance. Payton is a great heroine. She has balls, standing up to Diablo, his family and eventually her own, as she grows in strength. I really felt for her when she was recovering from her injuries and when Diablo did his worst, but especially with her conflicted emotions over Diablo when faced with those determined to take him down.

Diablo I loved him! He is attracted to Payton because she has the guts to stand up to him and her effervescent personality soon breaks through his bad-ass exterior. When we find out his childhood experiences, I, like Payton came to empathise with him. It is clear that he wants to change, but is it too late, will he be condemned for his past actions and will the couple find their HEA? You will have to read the series to find this out, and the story has so many twists and turns that I could not predict the outcome.

I adored the sheer inventiveness of the author and the way her words led me to experience a whole range of emotions, from disgust, fear, incredulity through to excitement, laughter and tears. It would make a super movie, but I cannot think of an actor or actress who could measure up to Diablo or Payton! I recommend this book to romance readers who can embrace a challenging plot and sometimes flawed characters within it and who want to experience a wild, unforgettable and above all romantic ride.

Eve Rabi’s website

Gringa on Goodreads, Amazon UK, Amazon US and Smashwords

April 10, 2013 by Tina Williams

Author Interview: Samantha Holt, Medieval Romance Author

Today we welcome Romance author Samantha Holt to A Reader’s Review. I first read one of Samantha’s novels, The Crimson Castle, not long before we began this blog and have recently read The Angel’s Assassin, which I reviewed last month. If you like your historical romances full of tortured alpha males and strong heroines deserving of their love, I strongly recommend them to you!

Samantha’s latest novel, Borderland Bride has recently been published and she has kindly agreed to tell us about it and also share with us her experiences of being the writer of such romantic tales. For my review of Borderland Bride please scroll down after reading the interview. Tina 🙂

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Hi Samantha. Can you tell us about yourself? Thanks for having me and for taking the time to read my books! It’s really appreciated. I am a full-time writer and author of medieval romances. I have gorgeous twin girls who turned seven recently and occasionally a husband, who works abroad nine months out of the year. His long absences definitely inspire me to write romance!

Please tell us about Borderland Bride, your new release. Borderland Bride takes place in Northumbria in the 14th Century, not long after the plague. The hero, Jake, comes across Isabel on his brother’s lands and takes her back to Thornewall Keep. It turns out Isabel has lost the use of her voice and hearing in a vicious attack. A romance builds between the pair but Isabel has a secret and Jake is wary of women after being hurt in the past. His flirtatious brother doesn’t help much either so all is not plain sailing!

What inspired you to write it?I wanted to create a love story with a language barrier. I don’t know enough of other languages to create a story around two different cultures so I decided my poor heroine should lose her voice and hearing! I was also fascinated with the history of the borderlands so I wanted Jake and Isabel’s story to be set there.

How much research did you have to carry out for this book? My knowledge of the medieval era is fairly extensive, although there’s always more to learn, but I’d never written anything set in the 14th Century before and because the era spans hundreds of years, naturally things change so I can’t rely just on my basic knowledge. Clothing, castles, weaponry etc. all changes and takes researching. I also had to dig up as much information as I could on border reivers, the criminals that ransacked the borderlands on both sides for hundreds of years.

How does your writing process work? Do you plan the plot in advance for example, or does it evolve? I’m not much of a planner – which is surprising to those how know me because my daily life is very organised – most of the plot goes on in my head. Usually it stems from one idea and then evolves. Sometimes I’ll have a beginning and an end and will start writing before I’ve figured out what happens in between!

What about the personalities of your characters – are they always fixed in your head before you start writing or do they develop a will of their own? Again, I have a vague idea and usually have certain traits figured out but often certain things come out that I never expected. Jake from Borderland Bride was always going to be brooding but he ended up with more of a chip on his shoulder than I’d anticipated as his back story developed. Occasionally traits crop out of nowhere. I remember writing a love scene in one of my first stories – it was the first scene I wrote for that book – and the hero was going to be calmly confident, but he turned out to be very passionate and quite commanding when he and my heroine came together, which I never expected! So, yes, very often they do their own thing!

I noticed that you are working on a fantasy novella. Can you tell us anything about this? I am close to finished (I hope!) so I can tell you a fair bit. It takes place in a medievally world, with castles and dramatic landscapes, but it is very much fantasy. In my fictional world, the God’s frequently visit humans in answer to their prayers. My heroine, Eden, receives a visit from the Fire God, Tyondric, who is curious about the beautiful woman. Eden turns out to be essential to the salvation of the world and Tyondric takes it upon himself to protect her and help her fulfil her role. It’s been nice not to have to worry about research and just make stuff up!

I have a thing about book covers – the ones on your books I find particularly attractive and it’s fairly obvious why, with all of those stunning examples of the male physique! How involved are you when it comes to commissioning the design of your covers? For Borderland Bride, I didn’t connect directly with the cover designer, Valerie Tibbs, but filled out a cover art form which is usually pretty specific, asking for themes and examples as well as what you DON’T want on a cover. I just said ‘nothing pink and too girly!’ And it was perfect! My other ones, I liaised directly with the cover artist although I gave very vague instructions and she just interpreted it for me, usually coming back with something I loved.

What do you love the most about being a writer? Is there anything that you do not enjoy? I love being able to escape into a fantasy world. And knowing I can drag someone else into it for a while brings me a lot of pleasure. I don’t expect to set the world on fire with my writing but romance is such a rewarding genre to read and I love it when I’m smiling after a happy ending. I like the thought of doing that for someone else.

I don’t consider myself a particularly emotional person – I tend to be quite happy – but since writing for a living, I’ve noticed I get slumps more often, because my happiness tends to be directly linked to how I’m doing writing-wise. So if I’m struggling to write, I’m very frustrated. The emotional highs and lows can be exhausting.

What type of books do you like to read? Have you any favourite authors? Romance, romance and more romance. I love medieval romance (obviously) and I also enjoy modern romantic suspense. I used to read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy but I’m quite busy so I find it much easier to sit down with a romance novel. Having said that, Sue Grafton, who writes the Kinsey Millhone mysteries, is one of my favourites and I will always take time out to read her books.

Have you any advice to give to aspiring authors? Heed advice but don’t let it bog you down. Don’t take yourself too seriously either. Write what you love, not what others think you should write. Don’t get disheartened by criticism either as it usually only helps you hone your writing. But mostly keep writing! The more you do it, the better you’ll get.

And finally, have you a message for readers? I have so many things that I’d love to say but really just thank you for taking the time to read! I have some amazingly supportive fans and it still blows me away that people buy and read my books.

Thank you for giving your time to answer these questions for us. We wish you best of luck with Borderland Bride and your future work. Please scroll down or click here for Tina’s review of Borderland Bride.

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More information on Samantha and her books can be found on her website http://www.samanthaholt.org.uk/

Alternatively you can connect with her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/romanticfiction

You can purchase Borderland Bride at http://jupitergardenspress.com/shop/borderlands-bride-the-borderland-legacy-book-1/

April 10, 2013 by Tina Williams

Borderland Bride (The Borderland Legacy # 1), by Samantha Holt

Medieval Romance Borderlands Style

Samantha Holt has written yet another winner with this stirring medieval romance in Borderland Bride, set in the wilds of Northumbria. Secrets and intrigue abound in this tale of love, which features not just one, but two gorgeous men, a strong heroine and a villain out for revenge. I have in the past by-passed the Borderlands, but after reading this novel and finding out how chivalrous the men can be, I feel I need to visit and do a little exploration of my own…

In the tale Lady Isabel, who has been set on by outlaws, is rescued by Jake, a brooding knight and taken back to the home of his enigmatic brother Dominic, where she slowly recovers from her injuries. There is an instant connection forged between Isabel and Jake, despite the fact that her injuries mean that she has lost her hearing and her ability to speak. Jake takes a strong interest in Isabel’s recovery. He is very protective and the passages where the couple succeed in communicating, despite her injuries, are both romantic and touching.

Jake’s younger half-brother, Dominic, is lord of Thornewall Keep, but Jake often resides there to assist with his affairs and protect the keep and the local people from border reivers, the criminals who prey on the Borderlands. Dominic is a consummate flirt. He quickly notices Jake’s attachment to Isabel and takes every opportunity to tease and torment him as only a brother can. Jake is a widower, scarred physically and emotionally from the relationship with his wife, who died in tragic circumstances. Usually uncomfortable around women, he feels a growing attachment towards Isabel. However, he is tortured by his past and his emotions are conflicted, for whilst he does not feel worthy of Isabel, at the same time he finds it hard to trust another woman and has no wish to marry. He also has a strong temper, which he finds difficult to control.

Isabel has her own secrets. Despite her noble bearing, the brothers do not recognise her as belonging to one of the local families and she refuses to reveal to them her true identity or why she was alone in the Northumbrian countryside. Isabel is a strong and feisty woman, who is sometimes wilful, but is very grateful for her rescue and the protection offered to her by Dominic and Jake. She is attracted to Jake and their relationship becomes very physical. However, before matters progress further and Isabel can reveal her secrets, people from her past appear and Jake feels betrayed. Isabel is forced into making a life changing decision to protect the two brothers she cares about, but which does not reflect her heart’s desire. There is also a villain waiting in the wings to complicate the plot further before a HEA can be found.

This is the third book that I have read by Samantha Holt and I love the way that she writes her romances. Much of the focus is on the interaction between the hero and the heroine and how their relationship develops and this is how I feel it should be in a romance novel. The sensual scenes in the novel are beautifully written and paced to reflect the growing attraction and passion between the main couple. Isabel is certainly no shrinking violet and I loved her passionate character and the way she often took control, as her confidence grows. I also liked how the author did not immediately reveal Isabel’s past and why she was alone in the wilderness, keeping the reader, as well as the brothers, guessing. This created a strong element of intrigue, which not only acted as a good counterpoint to the developing romance, but drove the plot forward.

The interaction between Jake and Dominic when faced with Isabel in their midst was fascinating, as were the differences in their characters. Jake being more serious and brooding, with a quick temper and Dominic, the flirt, who is more even tempered but whose facade hides a complex character. There was often a great deal of humour in their banter, which I enjoyed.

I recommend this book to all lovers of romance, especially those who enjoy reading sensuous medieval romance. I am looking forward to reading more instalments of The Borderland Legacy and other books by Samantha Holt. If you’d like to read an interview with Samantha, please scroll up to the post above this one.

Find Borderland Bride at Jupiter Gardens Press

Cover art by Valerie Tibbs

Samantha Holt’s website

Please click on the link for A Reader’s Review Blog’s review of Samantha Holt’s The Angel’s Assassin.

April 9, 2013 by Caroline Barker

AUTHOR POST – M.C. Lavocat, author of ‘Control (The Soul of Voodoo #1)’

If you’ve read my Author’s Bio, you are well aware of my stubborn refusal to be normal. Don’t get me wrong, normal has its place…I have to be mostly normal when I attend school activities and functions with my little ones, although we frequently get odd looks from other parents. It might have something to do with the fact that you can hear the bass thumping as we jam to old-school rap in the Pimpin’ Mini. Wait…I’m getting ahead of myself. I’m trying to keep a tight rein on my normal, albeit generally, abnormal thought process.

Maybe I should just start from the beginning:

Me, looking properly wistful and sincere…

I am the youngest of three children and the only girl. Oh, please don’t get the impression that I was coddled, I don’t think my brothers ever realized I was a girl until a few of their friends did. Naturally…just as things started to get fun. I have an incredibly large and close-knit extended family (Seriously large…I’m talking around fifty first cousins, here), and I’m pretty sure my sense of humor is genetic.

So, that’s me…it might look as if the photographer caught me at a particularly pensive moment, maybe you are wondering what I was thinking. Well, the photographer was me, this was my first self-portrait as a matter of fact. As to what I was thinking; I was hoping that I nailed the focus (I did), and I was thinking how much I hate the feel of makeup.

Yes, I really hate makeup. However, I just celebrated my fortieth birthday and I would rather suffer through a bit of war-paint than look like an old hag. Pfft…old hag, my ass! I look damn good, although I can’t take all of the credit, the photographer is very talented. Do you see what I did there? Heeheehee.

Alright, now you know I’m a photographer as well as a writer! This is starting to get a little easier as I go along. Who knows, by the end of this post, I might be telling you what size bra I wear, or where my husband and I went on our first date. Hey, maybe we can all be total BFFs, we can have sleepovers and braid each other’s hair. Probably not, but if you like to cook , I can give you some pretty amazing recipes. What, don’t you believe me? Well, try this on for size:

Chicken Enchilada Cupcake

Not too shabby, huh? I am sad to say that I haven’t added any new recipes in almost a year, but in my defense, I have been a little busy. After all, I did write a book, take a few photos here and there, and I am married with four children.

Oh, have I not mentioned that? You want to know why? I saved the best for last, of course!

I have been married for twelve years to the man who made me think of forever. He is my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, and he has the uncanny ability to make me laugh even when I want to pinch his head off! It’s all good though, because I make him laugh too. When we first met, we hung out as friends for several months. Then, one golden morning, as we sat on a New Orleans balcony nursing a hangover with a steaming hot cup of coffee; we fell in love.

Ironically, we weren’t sure if we wanted kids, but fate intervened. Obviously, since we now have four! After our oldest was born, it took us about three months to realize that we wanted a few more and we have been blessed with three precious boys and one beautiful girl.

Whew! That was cathartic!

You now know a little about me, how about I tell you a little about Control, the first book in The Soul of Voodoo Series.

I don’t know if other writers have had the same amount of trouble describing their book as I have, but I’ll be honest, the synopsis totally sucks! The thing about this series, is that even though the story is dramatic, the telling is comedic. If you’re confused upon reading that, then just imagine how I feel trying to explain it to potential readers! After struggling to make it fit in with other Paranormal Romance books, I threw in the metaphorical towel and created a brand spankin’ new genre for it: Paranormal Romantic Comedy.

Pretty soon, PRC books are going to be the hottest thing…you heard it here first!

The fact that it has a comedic component, however, isn’t the only thing that makes it difficult to summarize for potential readers. The plot is subtly woven through the book in such a way that the reader may not be completely aware of what happened until it is revealed. I’m tricky like that. 🙂 Therefore, I can’t go into too much detail about the story without giving away spoilers. I worked way too hard on that plot to spoil it with a careless sentence or two!

You know what? You just need to read it for yourself…then maybe you can help me come up with a good way to summarize it for everyone else! Oh yeah, the second book is starting off with a bang and it is going to be loaded with more fun, action, and hot monkey sex…never forget about the hot monkey sex.

M.C. Lavocat

A Reader’s Review Blog would like to thank M.C. Lavocat for taking the time and effort for writing an author post for us.

Please scroll down or click here for Caroline Barker’s review of ‘Control (The Soul of Voodoo #1)’

April 9, 2013 by Caroline Barker

‘Control (The Soul of Voodoo #1)’ by M.C. Lavocat

Control (The Soul of Voodoo, #1) If you like to be up close and personal to the characters in a saucy sort of way, as well as have the added bonus of some fun, quirky comedy and dark paranormal goings on, then this is definitely a great book for you! Things are not always as they seem at the beginning of ‘Control’, as the reader and the characters become more and more drawn to darker sides – leaving us baffled, scared and tense. ‘Control’ is packed with romance, fun and horror as it opens up to reveal a deep, dark paranormal entity. Due to the passion and horror I would recommend this novel as a more adult read, possibly 16 years+.

The main focus is on Cecelia Milonas. Studying neuroscience for her doctoral program, Cecilia also revelled in a social life and yet was still able to maintain good grades. Many were jealous of her and she had just about had enough of studying and dealing with her fellow students and so decided to leave. However, there is more to Cecilia as she is a ‘Foxy Lady’ as Jimi Hendrix would say. She has curves in all the right places that any woman would be jealous of and any man would admire.

It isn’t too long after leaving her doctoral program that Cecilia begins a hot and saucy, lustful relationship with her landlord, boss and panty-melter, Andre St. Clair. This is a guy she has yearned for but has never thought that anything would become of her feelings for him. Andre was her friend but he didn’t date anyone. His mind was in his business. As their relationship grows it becomes more and more intense and passionate and Andre in particular is becoming addicted and obsessed with Cecilia – he is burning for her. It is the intensity and passion here that reminded me a little of Fifty Shades of Grey! Hot! Hot! Hot!

And then there is Lance Bradley. Aside from Cecilia, Lance is my favourite character. Whether it be destiny or a curse, Lance is drawn to Cecilia in ways that he cannot explain. His first introduction with her was so slight and yet he couldn’t remove her from his mind and had to follow his instinct to find a way to be with her. He would not force the issue but he was around enough to remind her of him to the point that at times she could not forget about him. (Whereas Andre is the tall, dark handsome type, who appears quite slick and smooth, Lance is very masculine and rugged with an athletic/muscular body.)

James is Cecilia’s best friend and in many ways he reminds me of the character Lafayette in True Blood. His character provides a great deal of the comedy, especially when mixed with Cecilia and/or Lance. James could quite easily be your best friend as he is very jovial. He knows how to lighten the mood and creates a good vibe. His friendship with Cecilia is so close that he is aware of her emotions and can sense the atmosphere/mood she is in and when something is up with her. However, these senses become a much deeper aspect the further the story goes on.

The story is written from Cecilia’s point of view and from Lance’s. I love this as the reader can connect to both characters from early on and understand their feelings and decisions. The relationship of Cecilia and Lance is magnetic and whether they want to or not it is almost inevitable that something could possibly happen between them. However, Cecilia is with Andre and even though their relationship can be tense at times she still wants to make it work with him, after all he is the panty-melter and the guy she has been wanting for three whole years.

In many ways the first part of ‘Control’ can appear to be a romantic love triangle situation but as the reader gets sucked in too, by the spell, we realise that it is so much more; where lives are at stake, time is not as it seems and people’s destiny’s are affected! There is nothing we can do to prevent it – or so it seems – but we have to find a way! A curse, a spell, voodoo even is considered when darker events take place and the ‘control’ or lack of it goes to a complete extreme. This is a must-read for those that love dark, paranormal horror, mixed with comedy and romance!

The second novel of the series, ‘Power’ will be released in the near future and as ‘Control’ has left me on tenterhooks at the edge of my seat, I simply need to know how the story can move forward.

For more information on M.C. Lavocat and/or ‘The Soul of Voodoo series please visit www.soulofvoodoo.wordpress.com

Cover artwork by Sugar Magnolia Photography

‘Control (The Soul of Voodoo #1)’ was received by myself gratefully, from M.C. Lavocat, in return for an honest and fair review.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

April 6, 2013 by Tina Williams

Update from Tina

It has been a strange week – the coldest March in fifty years, followed by an April which so far is not shaping up much better. We still have a huge block of ice in our back garden, all that is left of a snowman we built two weeks ago, which has yet to melt! With the Easter break and children in full swing I am a little behind with my reading. However, I have a cunning plan to find a suitable spot to hide in and settle down with my Kindle!

This coming week I plan to travel back in time to the wilds of Medieval Northumbria with Samantha Holt’s latest release, Borderland Bride (The Borderland Legacy Book 1). The book tells the tale of Lady Isabel, who after a brutal attack, which results in her losing her voice and hearing, is rescued by Jake, a brooding knight and taken back to the home of his charismatic brother Dominic. With secrets and intrigue afoot, it promises to be a sensuous tale that I am looking forward to reading.

I also plan to read Eve Rabi’s Gringa – In the Clutches of a Ruthless Drug Lord, which was an Amazon bestseller last year. The tale, comprising books 1-4, tells of Peyton, a young American, who is blackmailed into becoming the woman of a Mexican drug lord Diablo, and is compelled to go and live with him and his madcap family. This is a book for mature readers only and the book blurb implies that is not a sweet romance. The excerpt that I have read also contained a great deal of humour and I am intrigued as to how the tale will pan out. I like an alpha hero and I sometimes like my heroes to be a little bit mean, or maybe even anti-heroes, so I am drawn to this book, which I think will take me on a wild ride!

We are always very interested in what our readers are reading too. If you want to tell us of any good books you have read recently or ones that you are looking forward to we’d really welcome your thoughts.

Happy reading!

Tina 🙂

April 5, 2013 by Caroline Barker

C.J. Pinard – Author Post

My name is Carolyn, but I’ve often been called C.J. throughout my life so I answer to that, too. I was born and raised in Northern California, but moved to Colorado as a young adult and spent about ten years there. About three years ago, I moved to Northwest Florida, so I kind of feel like I’ve lived everywhere! I’ll always be a West Coast gal at heart.

I am the granddaughter of a published writer, and my great-grandfather was the chief editor for the San Francisco Chronicle for many years. My mother also writes, but is yet to publish anything – but she will be soon, since I keep pushing her : ) My 9-year-old daughter also shows promise, and has written several very short stories. So you could say writing is in our blood.

I got my first (and only – ha!) Kindle for Mother’s Day in 2011 and began to see a huge trend in typos in self-published books. I decided to start my own editing business and quickly landed a little author named Tim O’Rourke. I’m still his editor, but more than that, we have become great friends, and I hope to skip across the pond to the UK one day to meet him and his family. I’ve edited several other self-published books and they’ve all been great fun. I have never edited a book I hated, or found boring. It’s truly a blessing to get paid to read!

Believe it or not, I still hold-down a fulltime job (in Corrections), that I probably won’t leave until retirement. My husband also works at the same place. I love telling people we met in prison and seeing their face.

My first book, Enchanted Immortals, was born in early 2012. It took me six months to write it, because I kept getting angry at the book and would slam the laptop closed and not look at the document for several weeks. Then one day while sitting in church (oops!) I had an epiphany of sorts and the rest of the book wrote itself in a couple of weeks’ time. I released the book around Halloween 2012. Since then, I have written two sequels, and am working on the 4th and final book in the series. I wrote a short story for St. Patrick’s Day in 2013 with two other awesome authors, LR Potter and Kristen Middleton, and had such a good time, we have something planned for the July 4th holiday, but I am bound to secrecy on that!

I’m open to emails, I love to hear from people and what they think. I know my type of writing isn’t for everyone, and you know what? That’s okay. To each his own. I just hope my stories help people escape reality for just a little while, the way they do for me when I’m writing them.

A little fun trivia fact about me: I’ve never been to Portland, or even the state of Oregon. I’m saving for a trip to Oregon so I can visit the Oregon Vortex. Yes, it’s a real place!

To e-mail C.J. Pinard, you can reach her at: cjpinardauthor@gmail.com

Please check out A Readers’ Review Blog’s review on ‘Enchanted Immortals 3: The Vampyre’ below! A Reader’s Review Blog would also like to take this opportunity to thank C.J. for her time and effort into writing her author post and for her support. Thank you, C.J. 🙂

April 5, 2013 by Caroline Barker

Enchanted Immortals 3: The Vampyre by C.J. Pinard

Enchanted Immortals 3: The Vampyre

For those of you that love a great fantasy/paranormal novel to read, ‘Enchanted Immortals 3: The Vampyre’ is a must-read! It is absolutely full, from beginning to end, of great characters with meaningful stories, action and adventure, romance, horror and flashbacks. I love the different types of species here; the Immortals, the vampires, the shapeshifters, the sylphs and the humans. The chemistry between the Immortals and the sylphs is beautiful, whilst the vampires and the shapeshifters are troublesome and dark.

In the first book of the series, ‘Enchanted Immortals’, we are introduced to Thomas O’Malley – a human until turned into an Immortal. In the sequel, ‘Enchanted Immortals 2: The Vortex’, we follow the story of Jonathan Murphy, also an Immortal, partner and close friend to Thomas. In book 3, ‘The Vampyre’, we follow the history of vampire Pascal Theroux, how he was as a human, how he became a vampire and his life since. The reader also has little insights into Angel’s mind – Angel being Pascal’s mate for the past thirty years.

I was amazed at how I found Pascal’s story to be quite touching in parts and there were times when I really liked him. C.J. Pinard has a way of allowing the reader to take in all aspects of the character and the reader can connect to Pascal as we follow him from his human form right through to when he becomes a vampire. However, there was a turning point in which the reader meets a different side to Pascal – the cold, evil side. I felt that it was a shame for someone likeable to have such a bad streak in him.

Throughout his vampire life, Pascal has tried to find a mate. He is charming and generous and over time he does turn several women into a vampire, thinking they could be his long term mate. However, these women soon realised the other side to Pascal and left. Until Angel came along, he probably felt that no woman would be the one.

Pascal also wanted to find a way to walk in the sun and over time he found a way to make sun-resistant vampires. He would then use these as his ‘foot-soldiers’ during the day to carry out the tasks that he wanted doing. But with Pascal’s attention focusing on his bigger plans, does he lose touch with his new vampires and his mate, Angel?

I feel for Angel in many ways. She has had quite a lonely life as a human, with little family, and Pascal did change that. He provides for her, he is her mate and the one she has belonged to for so long. She remains by his side after all this time, however there are moments, quite understandably when Pascal’s cold side is showing, when she needs out. I am looking forward to reading more on Angel as the series progresses.

Meanwhile, romance is in the air with Thomas and Malina about to marry and some lust (or is it love?) igniting again between Jonathan and Kathryn. There are some really nice sexy and romantic scenes in this novel and we realise how deeply these characters really care about each other. I find it fascinating as regardless of their physical relationship they are always so close in all other aspects of their life.

Shapeshifters, Seth and Malachi, are still imprisoned on The Island, awaiting trial for the crimes they committed in abducting the sylph, Serina, and extortion. And although they are not the focus of this novel they do bring up a shocking and powerful revelation!

Also, the BSI are back. Jason Swift from the Bureau of Supernatural Investigations turns up to speak to Jonathan and Thomas with some news and throughout the novel they work very closely together. I absolutely love the BSI, as you may know from reading my previous reviews of the series. They are like the X-File section of the FBI in ‘The X-Files’ and there is even a reference to this in ‘Enchanted Immortals 3: The Vampire’. This is excellent stuff!

I am a big fan of supporting characters and this novel does not disappoint. I love the character of Aiden, a boss and friend to Sebastian. Without revealing too much, he cares for Sebastian, taking him in and providing for him, with his lovely wife, Elaine. In my minds eye, I imagine Aiden to be a larger than life character, burly and funny with plenty of charisma but also a heart of gold. I really have no idea where C.J. finds all of these great characters.

All characters have been cleverly incorporated into this series in such a way that they all have their own tale to tell – linked to the past as well as the present day. (This is when the flashbacks take place. It is a fun read and quick-paced as it never loses momentum. The series weaves through the different characters’ past and present and yet it is written in such a way that it is easy to follow the story. Each book is a great stand-alone read, however for the details of each characters’ story I would read the series as a whole, beginning with ‘Enchanted Immortals‘ which is now available at Amazon UK for 77p or Amazon US for $1.15.

Enchanted Immortals 4: The Vixen‘ is due out in May 2013 so not too long to wait for another enchanting read!!!

Please note that ‘Enchanted Immortals 3: The Vampyre’ was received gratefully from the author, C.J. Pinard, in return for an honest and fair review.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker