December 27, 2016 by Caroline Barker

Release Day Review KOVAH: Soul Seeker (A Rebel Riders Novel) by C.J. Pinard

KOVAH: THE SOUL SEEKER is released today!! From author, C.J. Pinard (The Rebel Riders, The Beautiful Immortals) comes the paranormal, fantasy romance that fans have been waiting for. After following Nolan Bishop (the Rebel Riders trilogy) almost losing his soul from being bitten by a succubus, it is now time to hear Kovah’s story; the hybrid, half-human/half-vamp, who hates and hunts vampires, slaying them, and feeling despair and angry for what he has become. But, when he begins to have a purpose, friends and emotions he never thought he’d feel again, will he be able to admit it to himself that his existence maybe not so bad afterall?

Title: Kovah: Soul Seeker (A Rebel Riders Novel)

Author: C.J. Pinard

Genre: Paranormal fantasy, paranormal romance, urban fantasy

Release date: December 27th 2016

Length: 255 pages

Buy Links: Amazon US & Amazon UK

Blurb: The night Dominic DeLuca meets a succubus, his life of all-night partying and college classes is over in an instant. Fundamentally transformed inside and out after killing her, he exists much differently for the next 10 years than he had before. When his freakish eyes and lack of aging become too much to explain, he leaves Dominic and New York behind and becomes Kovah Sanagra, the foul-mouthed, angry vampire-hunting hybrid who literally has nothing left to lose.

His new life takes him to New Orleans, where he finds pleasure in the large variety of vampires he has to choose from when he wants to kill something. But when a female vampire who had helped him in the past shows up during his hunt, he realizes he has some unresolved feelings he’d rather not deal with. Upon meeting Archie and the Rebel Riders, Kovah feels as if his life might have some purpose; some direction. But still, the female vampire keeps showing up… and when a time comes that she needs Kovah’s help, is he going to repay her for how she saved him so many years ago, or will his hatred for the vampire race override what he knows he feels for her in his hardened heart?

Kovah: Soul Seeker is a Rebel Riders novel intended for readers 18 and older.

REVIEW ***** (5* rating)

This deliciously dark, fantasy paranormal romance is the perfect escapism. After being introduced to the strong, stand-out character of Kovah in the Rebel Riders series, fans (myself included) have been eagerly awaiting this stand out novel, Kovah. A hybrid, half-vamp/half-human, turned after losing his soul to a succubus, Kovah now spends his evenings with his motorcycle friends, the Rebel Riders, eliminating vampires and, his favourites, succubae.

Kovah’s character is dark, mysterious, stand-offish to most and particularly aggressive to vamps, but he is an incredibly exciting character. He may be a survivor but he has lost his life as he once knew it. He has given in to the understanding that he’ll never age, and most probably never have the long term love that many enjoy. He acts the tough guy, and is often one, but deep down he knows nobody would cope easily with his experiences, and the nightmares he has are constant reminders of what happened to him.

Like PTSD, he relives the events over and over, which ultimately leave him with a peed off attitude. He has an exhilarating, dangerous past that overwhelms him. And, although a badass with aggressive tendencies, there are moments when his emotions have led to him crying in despair, in shock, for what he has done and what he has become.

However, Kovah is not as alone as he thinks. He has Archie, his boss at the motorcycle garage and leader of the Rebel Riders, along with his new companion, Nolan Bishop. After his first suspicious instincts, there becomes a growing respect and friendship between these two. To fully appreciate how Kovah and Nolan become so close it is highly recommended that the Rebel Riders trilogy (Nolan’s story) be read as it details encounters between the two more intricately. And, lastly, there is Violet; the female vampire that saves him in his darkest moment, and years later comes back in his life.

To relieve his aggression, just for kicks, he has been seeing Janice, a kinky vamp that provides him with the release he needs. However, in contrast to her are his growing feelings for Violet. It is interesting to see how this situation unfolds, how Kovah deals with his feelings, especially as his strong dislike for vamps won’t allow him to get too involved with one. They can’t be trusted. Or, can they?

A member of the BSI (Bureau of Supernatural Investigation), Violet, has been made aware of a vamp motorcycle gang and approaches Kovah for help. His capabilities, being a hybrid, may allow him to get close and find out more. But, will Kovah get in too deep, and will he really be willing to help Violet out?

Kovah is a very suspenseful read that is complete with action, surprises, romance and fun. It is a quick read due to the pace of the story, with some excellent characters to follow, both new and old. The author has written Kovah in first person, which I enjoy as a reader simply because it allows the reader to get inside the head of the main character, understanding their thought processes, and in turn their actions/reactions.

It is a great read that fans of the series will absolutely love. As mentioned before, I strongly recommend that the whole Rebel Riders series be read to fully appreciate Kovah’s character, how he stands out in the series, and to see his relationship with Nolan blossom and become a great bromance!

An Advanced Reader’s Copy was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

You can find my reviews of C.J. Pinard’s Soul Rebel (Rebel Riders #1) here, Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2) here, and Soul Release (Rebel Riders #3) here.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

October 11, 2016 by Caroline Barker

Summer Review Round-Up 2016

Dear readers,

It may be Autumn, but we’re still clinging on to the end of Summer with our Summer reads from June, July and August recapped for you to check out. We hope you all had some great hols and had the chance to read a book or two!

One of the perfect summer reads for me was Alison Brodie’s THE DOUBLE, where the setting on a luxury yacht on the Côte d’Azur really grabbed me. A perfect read even if not on holiday as it certainly makes you feel like you are!

And, with many of our reads being dark, paranormal, sci-fi and HOT erotic, they’ll be perfect for warming up your evenings for the following months.

For more info on each book and our full reviews please click on the titles.

Happy Autumn, everyone!

Caroline & Tina 🙂 ❤

Angelis Vampire Series by Shane North, fantasy, paranormal romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

SHANNON (book 1) Blurb: Shannon’s life is happy except for her nightmares, but when she watches her mom and dad being murdered by the monsters in her dreams, her life falls apart. Her best friend turns out to be a werewolf, the man she thinks of as her other father is the alpha male, and her long lost uncle is a vampire lord from Angelis. Angelis is in another time dimension, a world ruled by Royals, a pureblooded line of vampires with powers never seen in this time dimension. Angelis is a medieval world of castles, and ancient magic that her mother and uncle were forced to leave to save their lives.

Shannon’s journey leads her to follow her destiny and meet the love of her life. Destiny and her uncle lead her to find out what she really is, where she came from, and to become the strongest immortal to live. Shannon learns to kill quickly, and to love like there’s no tomorrow when she meets her mate from her dreams. Simon, an eight-hundred year old Viking has searched the world for his true love when he meets Shannon. What will Shannon’s uncle, Simon’s maker, have to say about this? A young woman from South beach, destined to overthrow the vampire council and rule the immortal race with the help of the ancient Shaman Neeb.

SHANNON’S REVENGE (book 2) Blurb: My name is Shannon O’Callaghan and I’m immortal. I live in an amazing world of time travel and magic, where vampires and werewolves are normal and I call them family A family some would say are monsters, but they love me unconditionally and it’s the life I was meant to live. My father was Connor O’Callaghan, a visionary that led the wolves to peace and prosperity. My mother was Callidora Angelis, a Royal vampire from another time dimension. Their love and life together are what made my life possible, but, it is also what caused their death. And, it’s their death that fuels my journey of revenge on those who stole my life.

This immortal word is controlled by The Vampire Assembly. The Assembly is an evil group of twelve who decides the fate of its followers. They are devils dressed like mortal men who kill with pleasure and live off of blood slaves they keep in their dungeons. They are evil, they are responsible for my parents’ death, and I will see them dead. My day for revenge is finally coming and The Assembly is mine to kill. Then and only then will I rule this land as their queen.

REAGAN’S DESTINY (book 3) Blurb: Death has arrived in earth’s time dimension. A foul stench filled Shannon’s nose, a smell of sulfur and death. This might have been a vision, but her power spiked as she sensed the source and moved towards it. Her life force surrounded her as her swords appeared in her hands. She gripped them tightly and stepped through a massive oak door. Before her stood a giant of a man.

His essence was black as coal, and his soul had long been lost to his dark side. His ancient leather armor looked old and battled; it smelled musty from the dried blood and looked dry and brittle. This had to be Kyran. Evil always had a dirty, unkempt appearance, and his aura was encircled with death. She could sense his blood was similar to Damon’s, and she knew she would take great pleasure in killing him someday. But what happens when Kyran is taken to earth’s time dimension by Neeb’s evil brother, seeking to kill the remaining royal Angelian family and end their bloodline forever.

In this riveting spin off from Shane North’s Angelis Vampire Series, an unknown Angelian is faced with death, her new life and the destiny the fates have planned for her.

Figs by Tabitha Rayne, erotic lesbian menage/romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: Two girls, some fruit and an office perv—what could possibly go wrong?

When Mae finally confronts the office perv, Rory, by taking part in one of his suggestive pranks with a fig, she starts a journey that changes the way she thinks and feels about her current partner, Janey. Janey lost her sight just before they met and Mae realizes she has been keeping Janey like a prisoner in her own home—safe, protected and unseen. After the scene with Rory, Mae decides to take Janey out and show her off to the world—something she should have done a long time ago…

Little does she know what a hellraiser her girlfriend can be.

Sex Hell: A Love Story by Joe Canzano, comic fantasy, humour, paranormal romance (reviewed by Caroline Barker)

Blurb: When Debbie de La Fontaine tries to spice up her love life by supernaturally tampering with her sex life, she is cursed to spend every future encounter in a magical place called “Sex Hell,” where the sex is ludicrous and amazing–but the romance is scarce.

Her only chance for escape is through the stingy clues supplied by a laughing demon, and the only way to obtain the clues is by returning to Sex Hell again and again to have outrageous sexcapades with the man she most wants to avoid–or does she?

Sex Hell is an absurd comic fantasy about the confusion of relationships. How is love related to sex, and how is sex related to love–and do love and sex need to be related at all?

*This book contains profanity and adult situations

All That Glisters by C. J. Fallowfield, contemporary erotic romance, humour (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: The spin off to the best-selling humorous erotic romance standalone, The Temptress.

Hunter Donovan. He was everything I openly loathed, but everything I secretly desired.

Cocky, arrogant, and crude. When Hunter wanted something, he pursued, relentlessly, until he got it. And right now, I was his prey. The trouble was, I didn’t want to be added to his endless list of conquests.

Gorgeous, masculine, with a body made for sin. The most perfect specimen of male I’d ever set eyes on, and he knew it. The trouble was, I saw the pain he was trying to hide, and I wanted to heal him.

He wanted my body, but I wanted his heart.

Coco Barella. She was everything I openly desired, but everything I’d convinced myself I didn’t need.

Beautiful, sexy, and sassy, all of the qualities that I wanted in my bed. Compassionate, loving, and perfect, all of the qualities I didn’t need in my life.

I needed to pull her to me, but at the same time I wanted to push her away.

When the sexual magnetism between two people is so hot, that it can scorch everything around it to ash, who will emerge from the flames victorious?

A standalone erotic romance novel, which contains adult content and is only suitable for the over 18’s

A Most Demanding Mistress (Fashionably Impure #2) by Natasha Blackthorne, historical, erotic regency romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: Scorching Hot Historical Romance

Miss Miranda Jones is indisputably the most beautiful, elegant and sought after courtesan in all of London. She hides a past full of pain and rejection beneath an exterior of pride. She knows that noblemen put their own fickle interests first and cannot be trusted. Scorned by ducal father, she never needed or expected anything from a man, except his financial support. Luxurious living makes a soothing balm against the sting of the ultimate rejection.

Now she’s madly in love with a nobleman who cannot afford to keep her in such extravagant style. And she wonders if a courtesan can ever afford to indulge her own passions? Can she really gamble so capriciously on her own future and put the happiness of the moment above future security? Will her gentleman prove himself no better than any other nobleman that she has known?

Adrian Sutherland, the Earl of Danvers, has seen the men of his family destroyed through their obsessive need to possess beautiful women. He’d always thought himself immune to such unworthy drives. Now he’s fallen under the spell of Miss Miranda Jones.

Miss Jones’ high standards and past reputation foretells that she’ll be a most demanding mistress. Despite his relative lack of funds, Adrian is determined to work hard to protect and provide for her. Passion led this skeptical gentleman to declare himself in love. Yet as they enter a protector and mistress relationship, Adrian finds himself consumed with possessiveness. And he can’t help but wonder if is it true love that motivates him? Or is it the need to own her stunning beauty? He must find the answer before their tempestuous romance breaks both of their hearts.

A Most Demanding Mistress is part of the Fashionably Impure Series and is best read after Miranda’s Dilemma.

Reader advisory: This story contains frank sexual language and general bedchamber naughtiness. Abuse issues are alluded to in the backstory.

The General’s Daughter & Stolen Melody (Snow and Ash, books 1 & 2) by Heather Knight, post-apocalyptic, dark erotic romance suspense (reviewed by Tina Williams)

THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER (book 1) Blurb: Eighteen year-old Ilsa’s father, General Balenchuk, is one of the few men with balls enough to build a tiny island of civilization after a global catastrophe sends humanity to near extinction. He runs Bluefield Mountain with an iron fist, and he’s even more controlling when it comes to his daughter. Ilsa’s been dead inside for years—that is, until the person who hates her most takes her hostage.

When twenty-two year-old Talon Heinesman kidnaps Ilsa Balenchuk, it’s not just because the leader of a rival territory ordered him to capture the general’s daughter. Four years ago, her selfishness set into motion a series of events that resulted in his mother’s and sister’s murders. He’s buried his rage for four years, and now it’s time to mete out the punishment she deserves.

Their story sets Ilsa and Talon on a steamy, turbulent path full of danger, incendiary passion, and a bond so deep it could kill.

This romantic suspense novel contains dark, mature situations and sensitive subject matter, and contains triggers some readers may find discomforting. It is a work of fiction and is intended for adult readers.

STOLEN MELODY (book 2) Blurb: The rest of the world knew her as Melody, the beautiful young siren who rose to the top of the music scene just before a volcano blew and wiped out most of civilization. For the past three years, nineteen year-old “Imogen” has been living under the protection of a small town pastor, and no one else in this increasingly righteous parish knows her infamous history. The whole The rest of the world knew her as Melody, the beautiful young siren who rose to the top of the music scene just before a volcano blew and wiped out most of civilization. For the past three years, nineteen year-old “Imogen” has been living under the protection of a small town pastor, and no one else in this increasingly righteous parish knows her infamous history. The whole persona of Melody was a corporate fabrication, and Imogen would like to forget that part of her past.

Ex-felon Axel Diehl is scouting ahead for a well-organized gang when he spots his fantasy girl. There’s no mistaking the small scar on her hand, those full lips, or that kick-ass figure. It’s too good to be true, and when the gang takes control of Sadie’s Bend he publicly claims Melody for his own.

Can sweet Imogen become the sexy Melody of Axel’s dreams? Can Axel give his poster girl the love she craves? Or will the violence of this new, post-apocalyptic world tear them apart?

This dark romance novel contains mature situations and sensitive subject matter, and contains triggers some readers may find discomforting. It is a work of fiction and is intended for adult readers.

The Double by Alison Brodie, romance, mystery, chicklit (reviewed by Caroline Barker)

Blurb: A night she can’t remember. A week she won’t forget.

Beth is mistaken for rock star Sonita La Cruz, and ends up on a billionaire-dollar yacht. As a shift-worker in Glasgow, Beth has only known hardship. Now she’s in a world of uniformed stewards, delicious French food and rows of gorgeous designer clothes. Beth keeps quiet about the mix-up, determined to wear every outfit in her wardrobe before she’s sent home. What’s wrong with a little play-acting? Beth takes to the role of rock diva like a duck takes to water.

Aleksandr, the captain, arrives and is astonished to see a beautiful raven-haired girl lying on deck issuing orders through a loud-hailer. After talking to Beth, Aleksandr realises what has happened. His smuggling buddies, knowing Aleksandr needs to speak to Sonita about a kid’s crisis, grabbed Beth by mistake. Aleksandr is desperate. To save those children, he needs money, but Sonita has disappeared.

Beth rises to the challenge. She looks like Sonita, so why not BE Sonita? Beth does a magazine interview for one million dollars, and ransoms herself for another million. Beth saves the kids … but can she save herself? Too late, Beth discovers why Sonita disappeared.

A love story set against the backdrop of a luxury yacht on the Côte d’Azur, a civil war in the Eastern Bloc, and a Glasgow housing estate.

November Rain (Bad Bloods #1) by Shannon A. Thompson, sci-fi dystopian, paranormal, urban fantasy (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: Seventeen-year-old Serena isn’t human. She is a bad blood, and in the city of Vendona, bad bloods are executed. In the last moments before she faces imminent death, a prison guard aids her escape and sparks a revolt. Back on the streets determined to destroy her kind, Serena is spared by a fellow bad blood named Daniel. His past tragedies are as equally mysterious as her connection to them.

Unbeknownst to the two, this connection is the key to winning the election for bad bloods’ rights to be seen as human again. But Serena is the only one who can secure Vendona’s vote. Now, Daniel must unite with her before all hope is lost and bad bloods are eradicated, even if it means exposing secrets worse than death itself. United or not, a city will fight, rain will fall, and all will be threatened by star-crossed love and political corruption.

Beneath Broken (Imperfect Heroes #2) by C.J. Pinard, contemporary, military romance, chicklit (reviewed by Caroline Barker)

Blurb: He’s a clean-cut cop who loves a good challenge.
She’s a smart executive with no interest in falling in love.
It won’t take long for the flames of desire to scorch them both, forcing them to either douse the blaze, or succumb to the fire.

MASON
I don’t give up easily. My personality and training taught me that failure is not an option, and getting the attention of the beautiful executive president Harper Mathis is going to be my biggest challenge yet. But first I’ve got to find out why she’s so withdrawn. A woman that stunning must have secrets and I’m going to find out what’s hiding behind those baby blue eyes of hers. She’ll quickly see how much I love a good game of chase.

HARPER
I’ve gone through hell and am not ashamed to admit that I’m broken. Damaged goods. Used up and empty. I want nothing to do with men or love, especially not a cop and a veteran – one who puts his life in danger every day. I’ve been there, done that, and my heart has no interest in someone like Detective Mason Oliver. Even if he’s the hottest thing I’ve laid eyes on in a very long time. I get the feeling Mason always gets what he wants, though. Well, he hasn’t seen my stubborn side.

Beneath Broken is book 2 in the IMPERFECT HEROES series and is for readers 18+.

The Scottish Diamond (novella) by Helena Fairfax, contemporary romantic suspense, mystery, drama (reviewed by Caroline Barker)

Blurb: A powerful, intense and dramatic Scottish romance novella – one that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page…

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair…” When Lizzie Smith starts rehearsing Macbeth with her theatre group in Edinburgh, she’s convinced the witches’ spells are the cause of a run of terrible luck. Lizzie’s boyfriend, Léon – a former bodyguard – is mysteriously turned down for every job he applies for, until he’s finally offered the job of guarding “The Scottish Diamond,” a fabulous jewel from the country of Montverrier.

But the diamond’s previous guard has disappeared in mysterious circumstances. The people of Montverrier are known for double-dealing and skulduggery, and the Scottish Diamond has a history of intrigue and bloody murder. Lizzie is plagued by nightmares in which Macbeth’s witches are warning her of danger.

Then Lizzie discovers she’s being followed through the streets of Edinburgh, and it seems her worst fears are about to be realised!!!!

The Scottish Diamond is a standalone story. Lizzie and Léon first met in the romantic suspense novella Palace of Deception, which is set in the Mediterranean country of Montverrier.

All That We Are (Trust #1) by Holly J. Gill, contemporary erotic romantic suspense, chicklit (reviewed by Caroline Barker)

Blurb: Holly knows that sitting behind her computer isn’t going to bring one of her romance heroes to life. And despite her matchmaking friend’s attempts, she’s still lonely, looking for her Mr. Perfect. Fairytales happen, right?

As a bestselling author, Ashton Noir doesn’t need anyone or anything in his life other than his imagination. That is until he comes across Holly’s Promotional Services’ website. Further exposure for his books can’t hurt.

Communicating through the Internet and then phone calls, professional interests turn personal. Realising they lack trust and confidence in different ways, can they have a future as a couple? Or are their dreams forever going to be their safe haven?

Caught by Lolita London, historical, erotic romance, erotica (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: A Lonely Doctor

His treatment for female hysteria calms his patients, and heats Dr. Thomas Winterbourne’s blood like nothing else. Unwed, and desperately lonely, he’s rejected the idea of marriage due to his singular desires.

A Thief

Jenny Marks feels no pity for the wealthy doctor who has more comfort than she has ever found in her nineteen years. She takes a job as his maid, intending on taking anything of value from him and any other upper class people that she can.

Caught

When Dr. Winterbourne finds her pilfering his mother’s jewels, he decides upon punishing her in the most scandalous of manners, unknowingly tying their fate together.

Mean Girls by Lucy Felthouse, erotic romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: Adele Blackthorne is a big girl. She knows it, and she’s been picked on all her life because of it. But she’s gotten to the stage where she doesn’t care. She may be Rubenesque, but she’s healthy, too. Much healthier than the mean girls at the leisure center that point and stare and say spiteful things about her. Adele rises above it all, and enjoys her secretive glances at the center’s hunky lifeguard, Oliver.

As the bullying of Adele becomes worse, Oliver finds it increasingly difficult not to intervene. He doesn’t want to get into trouble with work, but equally he can’t stand to see Adele treated in such a horrible way. Especially since he doesn’t agree that she’s fat and unattractive. He thinks she’s a seriously sexy woman, and would like to get to know her better.

How to Capture a Duke (Matchmaking for Wallflowers #1) by Bianca Blythe, regency historical romance (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: One reclusive bluestocking…

Fiona Amberly is more intrigued by the Roman ruins near her manor house than she is by balls. When her dying Grandmother worries about Fiona’s future, Fiona stammers that she’s secretly engaged. Soon she finds herself promising that she will introduce her husband-to-be by Christmas.

One dutiful duke…

Percival Carmichael, new Duke of Alfriston, is in a hurry. He’s off to propose to London’s most eligible debutante. After nearly dying at Waterloo, he’s vowed to spend the rest of his life living up to the ton’s expectations.

One fallen tree…

When Fiona tries to warn a passing coach about a tree in the road, the driver mistakes her for a highwaywoman. Evidently he’s not used to seeing women attired in clothes only suitable for archaeology waving knives. After the driver flees, Fiona decides she may as well borrow the handsome passenger…

The Virgin of the Wind Rose (A Christopher Columbus Mystery – Thriller) by Glen Craney, mystery, thriller (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: While investigating the murder of an American missionary in Ethiopia, rookie State Department lawyer Jaqueline Quartermane becomes obsessed with a magical word square found inside an underground church guarding the tomb of the biblical Adam.

Drawn into a web of esoteric intrigue, she and a roguish antiquities thief named Elymas must race an elusive and taunting mastermind to find the one relic needed to resurrect Solomon’s Temple. A trail of cabalistic clues leads them to the catacombs of Rome, the crypt below Chartres Cathedral, a Masonic shaft in Nova Scotia, a Portuguese shipwreck off Sumatra, and the caverns under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Intertwined with this modern mystery-thriller, a parallel duel is waged:

The year is 1452. One of the most secretive societies in history, Portugal’s Order of Christ, is led by a reclusive visionary, Prince Henry the Navigator. He and his medieval version of NASA merged with the CIA scheme to foil their archenemies, the Inquisitor Torquemada and Queen Isabella of Castile, who plan to bring back Christ for the Last Judgment by ridding the world of Jews, heretics, and unbelievers.

Separated by half a millennium, two conspiracies to usher in the Tribulations promised by the Book of Revelation dovetail in this fast-paced thriller to expose the world’s most explosive secret: The true identity of Christopher Columbus and the explorer’s connection to those now trying to spark the End of Days.

The Image of Her by Lorna Peel, romantic suspense (reviewed by Tina Williams)

Blurb: Rachel Harris had been abandoned as a baby on the steps of a church-run children’s home in England, then later adopted. Who was her birth mother and what were the circumstances which led her to give up her baby?

Searching for someone who doesn’t want to be found seems a hopeless task, until Rachel meets Matthew Williams, a Church of England clergyman.

Then anonymous and increasingly frightening incidents begin and threaten to end their relationship. Are these actions connected to the mysterious events surrounding Rachel’s abandonment?

July 26, 2016 by Caroline Barker

Book Blitz Girl from Jussara (Werelock Evolution Series Prequel) by Hettie Ivers

Title: Girl from Jussara (Werelock Evolution Series Prequel)

Author: Hettie Ivers

Genre: Urban fantasy, paranormal romance

Release date: July 16th

Length: 103 pages

Blurb: What if your “soul mate” was a monster? Would you embrace your destiny? Or chop his head off in his sleep?

After escaping the supernatural beast who claimed to be her fated mate, a pregnant, 16-year-old Lupe finds refuge with the Reinoso werelock pack, forging a complicated love-friendship with both the pack’s charming, former Alpha, Alcaeus, and the dark and enigmatic pack doctor, Kai.

This is the story of Lupe and of how she managed to get Alcaeus and the rest of the Reinoso male werelocks so well wrapped around her little finger.

Prequel to “Slip of Fate.” May be read as a standalone or as part of the Werelock Evolution series.

**Mature Content Warning** – This story contains violence, dark subject matter, strong language, and sexual situations and is intended for adult readers.

Author bio

Hettie Ivers loves to tell stories—the more twisty, darkly humorous and smutty, the better! A workaholic insomniac with an overly active imagination, Hettie began writing as a distraction from the real life corporate mergers that were giving her nightmares.

As a dog lover and lover of hot men, she thought it’d be fun to write about both—combined into one paranormal package. Hettie favors stories in which realistic, relatable characters must navigate fantastical, larger-than-life circumstances. She’s a sucker for sexy antiheroes, underdogs, and flawed protagonists, and she enjoys fresh spins on classic tropes with a sprinkling of satire.

https://www.facebook.com/hettieivers/
https://twitter.com/hettie_ivers

http://www.hettieivers.com/

On Amazon: http://amzn.to/29H0SmT

August 26, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Release day & REVIEW SOUL RELEASE (Rebel Riders #3) by C.J. Pinard

C.J. Pinard has triumphed again with this fantastic fantasy paranormal romance series, Rebel Riders. Soul Release is the third and final instalment of this brilliant urban fantasy, and is released today! I am sorry to see the end of this series as it had me gripped from the beginning to end. The way it is written, the atmosphere created, the flawed characters and general adventure, with mystery, suspense and romance, has certainly made this a 5* read that I hope many of you will enjoy!

Title: Soul Release (Rebel Riders #3)

Author: C.J. Pinard

Genre: Paranormal romance, urban fantasy

Release date: August 26th, 2015

Length: 163 pages

Blurb: His heart wants love. His mind craves revenge. His soul needs peace.

Faced with the horrible reality that he’s been tricked by Eva, Nolan sets off in a mad rage to find the evil red-haired succubus and end her once and for all. When the search for her falls flat, he turns to Kovah and the Rebel Riders for help. Not only fueled by wrath, a now sudden fear and sadness has also overtaken his heart: Where is his love, Charity?

With Joel Reichert searching deep for what the Justice Department knows about the supernatural of New Orleans, he’s not going to be of any help to Nolan – especially once Nolan finds out what Kovah and the Riders are planning for Joel and his hotel of vampires.

Can they all work together to find Charity and rid Louisiana of her evil succubus sister once and for all? Or will pride, egos, and longstanding feuds and hatred tear them all apart before she can be found?

Find out in this third and final instalment of the Rebel Riders Series.

Buy links:

Amazon US: http://goo.gl/8hoLao
Amazon UK: http://goo.gl/oNr0kq
iTunes: https://goo.gl/B45bkd
Kobo: https://goo.gl/cn1LCK
Google Play Books: https://goo.gl/9k9XI8

REVIEW 5* rating

Wow! What a ride of adventure, mystery and action has C.J. Pinard taken us on? The Rebel Riders series has been one of the most gripping urban fantasies I have read in a long time! The atmosphere created in all three books is amazing. I love the darkness, the eeriness, the mystery and suspense as we hope that there is a way for Nolan to end the life of the red-headed succubus twin sister of his girlfriend, who has taken his soul and left him neither human or vamp, but somewhere in between the two.

The series has become darker still, with Eva, the succubus, kidnapping her twin sister, Charity, and then pretending to be Charity, trying it on with Nolan in order to completely take his whole soul for good. The reader’s suspense will grow to a great height during these early scenes of the story, as we all hope that Nolan can see through Eva’s treachery.

The opening paragraphs of the very first chapter are very informative as we follow an old vampire businessman, Joel Reichert, as he tries to find out more about the Justice Department’s BSI (Bureau of Supernatural Investigation). Joel has been around a long time, but has only now learned of the department’s existence after talking with Nolan. These paragraphs also are a great way to recap readers of the previous books, and I love how the author does this at the same time as moving the story forward. This is just the onset for a suspenseful first chapter!

“After his meeting with succubus victims, Nolan and Kovah, he (Joel) had learned that the federal government had their very own branch of the Justice Department whose sole purpose was to monitor people like him – vampires – along with the other supernaturals in the world.

The fact that not only had Nolan survived a succubus’s attempt at stealing his soul, combined with his friend Kovah surviving the same assault, Joel’s eyes had been opened very wide in the past week. Living as long as he had, he thought he knew everything there was to know about the world of vampires, succubae, and whatever else there was out there. But the knowledge he’d gained of new things recently had both excited and frightened him. How much more was out there that he didn’t know about? His mind was simultaneously exhilarated and terrified.”

As the story moves on and Nolan realises that Charity is missing, his gut tells him that she has been taken by Eva. The last time he spoke to Charity she had been annoyed with him for going off to New Orleans. Now all he wants to do is find her and tell her how sorry he is for leaving her, even if she is still mad at him. He just wants her to be safe.

Likewise, Charity is hoping so badly that Eva hasn’t killed Nolan. She wants to make things right between them. But, how will she ever get to deal with any of that being tied to the bed in the desolate mansion, in the middle of nowhere. Despite both of their fears, and love they have for each other, they are both at the point were they feel complete hatred for Eva, with both of them visualising her being killed. Charity wonders about leaving Eva out in the sun, or maybe killing her with a stake. While Nolan thinks about stabbing her whilst watching the blood squirt from her chest. This shows his slight vampire tendency here, especially with the choice of words that the author uses. He not only enjoys this thought in a vengeful manner, but contemplates how her blood will leave her body.

There is also a dark fairy-tale element, with Eva (the bad witch) locking Charity (the princess) upstairs in the old, swampy mansion (tower). Of course, Nolan is the hero-to-be that we all hope for in releasing Charity and killing Eva. I love this fantastic simile. It is one that grabs the attention of most, it simplifies an otherwise very dark and more mature read, drawing attention to a wider audience, at the same time as provide the reader with hope.

“She (Charity) got up and walked to the window, her right arm stretched as far as possible so she could peer out of the small window again. She gazed out over the swamps that surrounded the side of the house where her prison was, as if it was some makeshift moat and she was a princess trapped high in a castle’s tower. But she was no princess and that was no moat.”

Even Kovah refers to Nolan as a hero when giving him a pep talk.

“… We go to their place, get back your girl, you’re the hero, happily ever after. Easy.”

But, is it really going to be that easy? Nolan could do with all the help he can get. Bringing in Kovah, the Rebel Riders, and even Joel Reichert could mean all the difference for him to save Charity and be rid of Eva once and for all. However, behind the scenes the Rebel Riders are always going to be out to kill any vamp they can get their hands on, believing them all to be monsters and a danger to all humans. Surely it is best to be rid of them all? Joel is in a vulnerable position, without realising it.

And, with a disagreement at a bar with Kovah, Nolan leaves by himself. Will he be able to take Eva’s group down alone? Will he get to Charity? Or, will Eva manage to get her hands on him again?

In book 2, Soul Redemption, we were introduced to a brilliant character in Kovah. He was so similar to Nolan, but against him for the same reasons. They overcame their differences and became friends. It would be a shame for that to be thrown away over a stupid argument! Now, in Soul Release, the reader is subjected to another new character in Janice. Janice is a super character, who also adds a little fun and ‘relief’ to the otherwise dark story content, albeit still a mature read.

“The walls were blood red and he could see some type of swing made of leather hanging from the ceiling. There was also a wall of medieval-looking weapons and torture devices that took up the entire east wall….

… Nolan decided he had seen enough…

… She gently grabbed his arm and smiled.

‘Don’t be scared. I only use these things to play with other vampires. I don’t use them on humans.'”

This series is very addictive. C.J. Pinard has gone from strength to strength, and the Rebel Riders is certainly my favourite series yet. Lovers of her work will surely be calling out for more from this author, and hopefully it won’t be too long before we can read more from her again!

An Advanced Reader’s Copy was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2) by C.J. Pinard is available at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

You can also find my review of C.J. Pinard’s Soul Rebel (Rebel Riders #1) here, and Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2) here.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

Other reviews for C.J. Pinard:-

Enchanted Immortals (Enchanted Immortals Book 1)

Enchanted Immortals: The Vortex (Enchanted Immortals Book 2)

Enchanted Immortals: The Vampyre (Enchanted Immortals Book 3)

Enchanted Immortals: The Vixen (Enchanted Immortals Book 4)

BSI: Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (an Enchanted Immortals novella)

Patriotic Duty (Duty & Desire, Book 1)

Tour of Duty (Duty & Desire, Book 2)

Boots Beneath My Bed (Miranda’s Story) (Duty & Desire #3)

Playing the Field (Duty & Desire #4)

Unscathed (written with Tim O’Rourke)

Author bio & links

C.J. is a west coast native who has lived on both coasts and now lives near the middle, in Colorado! Coming from a family of writers and editors, she feels writing is in her blood and hopes people will lose themselves for a little while in the fantasy and fun of her stories. She also loves sweet red wine, the SF 49ers, and unlike most authors, doesn’t have any cats (allergies!). When she’s not writing, she can be found chasing around her kids or working at her day job, which she totally feels interferes with life, but it also gives her inspiration for her books, since reality is sometimes way more interesting than fiction.

She also loves getting notifications that people have sent her an email, added her on Facebook, or on Twitter. So stop by and say hi – don’t be shy! She’s not! 🙂

Email me: cjpinardauthor@gmail.com

Find me: http://cjpinard.com/

Like me: https://www.facebook.com/CJPinardAuthor

Friend me: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007822338176

Follow me: https://twitter.com/CJPinard

Add me: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6565787.C_J_Pinard

July 27, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Blog Tour/Spotlight Midnight Burning by Karissa Laurel

Author: Karissa Laurel

Title: Midnight Burning

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Release date: July 7th, 2015

Released by: Red Adept Publishing

Length: 288 pages

Blurb: Solina Mundy lives a quiet life, running the family bakery in her small North Carolina hometown. But one night, she suffers a vivid nightmare in which a wolfish beast is devouring her twin brother, who lives in Alaska. The next morning, police notify her that Mani is dead. Drivento learn the truth, Solina heads for the Land of the Midnight Sun. Once there, she begins to suspect Mani’s friends know more about his death than they’ve let on. Skyla, an ex‐Marine, is the only one willing to help her.

As Solina and Skyla delve into the mystery surrounding Mani’s death, Solina is stunned to learn that her own life is tied to Mani’s friends, his death, and the fate of the entire world. If she can’t learn to control her newfound gifts and keep her friends safe, a long‐lost dominion over mortals will rise again, and everything she knows will fall into darkness.

BUY LINK: Amazon

About the Author

Karissa Laurel always dabbled in writing, but she also wanted to be a chef when she grew up. So she did. After years of working nights, weekends, and holidays, she burnt out and said, “Now what do I do?” She tried a bunch of other things, the most steady of those being a paralegal for state government, but nothing makes her as happy as writing. She has published several short stories and reads “slush” for a couple of short-story markets.

Karissa lives in North Carolina with her kid, her husband, the occasional in-law, and a very hairy husky. She loves to read and has a sweet tooth for speculative fiction. Sometimes her husband convinces her to put down the books and take the motorcycles out for a spin. When it snows, you’ll find her on the slopes.

Karissa also paints and draws and harbors a grand delusion that she might finish a graphic novel someday.

Follow Karissa Online:

Web page: http://www.karissalaurel.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/karissalaurel

Twitter: @karissalaurel

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KarissaLaurel

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/karissalaurel

Youtube Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0YLj4g3Di0

July 2, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Review Round-Up June ’15

Dear readers, Welcome to a our Review Round-Up for June. It has been a scorcher here in the UK over the last few days, and I do believe that many of us will welcome some rain to break up the humidity. That’s not to say that we want to turn down the heat in the books we are reviewing! This month in particular is dominated by romance, mostly dark and erotic, with Skye Warren’s Better When It Hurts (Stripped #2) and two titles from Christina Phillips’ contemporary erotic romances. For a little erotic fun, we also have Tied to the Kitchen Sink by Kay Jaybee.

However, for those of you that are looking for a paranormal fantasy, we can certainly recommend C.J. Pinard’s Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2) and Tim O’Rourke’s Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals, series 1, part 6), the final part of series one. For a deeper psychological thriller/horror there is also the growing success of Lynda O’Rourke’s Dwell (The Kassidy Bell trilogy, #2), which has it’s first book of the trilogy, Drug, reach the no. 1 spot on the Amazon Young Adult horror charts!

Lastly, there is also the amazing The Medea Complex by Rachel Florence Roberts, a dark historical psychological thriller that explores the state of a mind of a woman in the late 1800’s who has postnatal depression, yet at the time it was believed she was possibly mad. Influenced by her own personal experience, Rachel has explored this subject and set it in a time when very little was understood of mental states. It is one woman’s battle to realise her terrible truth and understand why. A very moving piece that has now been published by Penguin books in early June, and has been re-worked. Our review is of the original self-published version.

As always, we hope that our reviews influence your reading and that you enjoy them. (Please click on titles for our full review posts.)

Happy reading!

Caroline & Tina 🙂

Hold Me Until Midnight (Grayson Brothers #1) by Christina Phillips, contemporary erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Scarlett Ashford needs a date for her father’s wedding. Only she doesn’t just need a guy in a suit—she needs a bodyguard. The only problem is that Jackson Grayson is big and gorgeous and way too sexy. So much so that Scarlett’s tempted to let this hot bad boy ruin her oh-so-good reputation…

Jackson doesn’t do relationships and he certainly doesn’t sleep with clients. Yet he can’t fight their inconvenient attraction, or how badly he wants Scarlett’s warm and wicked curves against his body. He wants her. Now. Even if it’s just for one night, and even if walking away the next morning isn’t as easy as he thought.

Besides, one hot and incredibly intense night between a bad boy and a pampered princess could never turn into something real…could it?

Interviewing Wade (Executive Decisions #4) by Grace Marshall, contemporary romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: The Executive Decision Trilogy may be over, but the story continues in this addictively sexy fourth instalment by the best-selling Grace Marshall. Ambitious reporter Carla Flannery has been waiting to make her name – and when she gets the chance to interview Wade Crittenden, the mysterious genius behind Pneuma, Inc, she can’t believe her luck. However, Carla has made a lot of enemies in her work, and when Wade discovers she’s being stalked, he is determined to keep her safe, spurred on by his confusing feelings towards her. As situations turn deadly and dark secrets threaten to reveal themselves, lives and hearts are on the line as the interview starts to reveal far more about them than either ever expected …

Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2) by C.J. Pinard, paranormal/urban fantasy, paranormal romance (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: Faced with unthinkable changes, Nolan Bishop seeks to come to grips with his new version of mortality. While his relationship with Charity Sheridan was already rocky, he’s now facing a whole new set of challenges as they continue to try to find a balance to the love that has just begun to blossom between them. Meanwhile, her twin Eva has violent vengeance on the mind, and the succubus won’t settle for anything less than Nolan’s ultimate demise. Heading back to New Orleans at the request of the BSI, Nolan will have to face Joel Reichert, the old vampire whose oldest friend is now dead because of him. But is Joel really an enemy?

A new, young friend in the Rebel Riders group gives Nolan a much needed reprieve from the stress of his new way of life. While Archie and the Riders don’t really know the full extent of Nolan’s new problems, he continues to hide the horrific things he has to do in order to stay alive. Will Nolan come out better than he was before Eva tried to take his soul, or will he crack and break under the pressure once he realizes what the succubus has really done to him?

Mist Revealed (Elemental Desire #1) (re-edit of Mist Unveiled) by Nancy Corrigan, erotic paranormal romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: A woman seeking answers…

Cat, a renowned scientist, embarks on a quest to uncover the source of the unknown deadly virus that claimed her sister’s life. What she finds is a man shrouded in mystery who manages the impossible—swaying her devotion from logic to passion. But Rune isn’t simply a lover. He’s a weapon, one that has the potential to save her or destroy her.

A man searching for treasure…

Rune, a child of the mist, awakens into a world hovering on the verge of destruction. Ragnarok is coming. His enemies have been released from their prison. And he’s discovered the one woman who can thaw his frozen heart. But the race to stop the final battle isn’t the time to fall in love. Or is it?

A discovery that will change everything…

Life evolves, and what was lost can be recovered. But the truth revealed isn’t the one Cat or Rune expects. The impossible has become reality. And two lovers must make a choice—adapt or die.

Author’s note: Mist Revealed was previously released as Mist Unveiled and has been reedited.

Better When It Hurts (Stripped #2) by Skye Warren, dark erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Five years ago we lived in the same house. He was the ultimate bad boy. And my foster brother.

Now he’s back. Tougher, harder, meaner. All of it aimed at me, because I was the one who sent him away. It’s payback time. He wants his pound of flesh, and I am helpless to say no.

The Medea Complex (re-released/new edition) by Rachel Florence Roberts, dark historical psychological thriller (original review by Caroline)

Blurb: A deep and riveting psychological thriller inspired by true events of the Victorian era, The Medea Complex explores the nature of the human psyche: what possesses us, what drives us, and how love, passion, and hope for the future can drive us to insanity.

1885. Anne Stanbury wakes up in a strange bed, having been kidnapped from her home. As the panic settles in, she realizes she has been committed to a lunatic asylum, deemed insane and therefore unfit to stand trial for an unspeakable crime. But all is not as it seems….

Edgar Stanbury, her husband as well as a grieving father, is torn between helping his confined wife recover her sanity and seeking revenge for his ruined life. But Anne’s future rests wholly in the hands of Dr. George Savage, chief medical officer of Bethlem Royal Hospital.

The Medea Complex is the darkly compelling story of a lunatic, a lie, and a shocking revelation that elucidates the difference between madness and evil….

Tiara’s Golden Submission & Veiled Romance by Evelise Archer, erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb (Tiara’s Golden Submission): On the cusp of turning fifty, Tiara, a submissive without a Dom or husband, desired to return to the lifestyle. Placing her destiny in the hands of Madame Eve and the 1Night Stand Service, will Tiara find all that she seeks? Or will a past love interfere with her future plans?

Blurb (Veiled Romance): Shane Wise is a Dom and part owner of a popular BDSM club in Rittenhouse Square, Club Rebellion. A tumultuous past has led him to an almost perfect present, except Shane has a secret. A secret that could destroy his reputation in the world in which he loves to live-BDSM.

Deacon Archer is also a Dom and part owner of Club Rebellion and he is in love with Shane Wise. Together Shane and Deacon must decide if the love they feel can withstand the scrutiny they fear, if their relationship is revealed.

Can two dominants truly forge a relationship? Will secret desires open up a new world and allow Shane to be the man he was intended to be or will veiled dominance get in the way?

Dwell (The Kassidy Bell trilogy #2) by Lynda O’Rourke, psychological thriller/horror (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: Running from the shadows of Cruor Pharma, Kassidy Bell soon discovers that it’s not just the cleaners and police that are after her. With the drug VA20 slowly working its way through her veins, Kassidy has become an irresistible target to all those looking for somewhere to dwell.

Desperate to find a place of safety and somewhere to rest, Kassidy and the other volunteers set off in search of the Bishop’s house – the last place they know of that Max’s brother, Robert, may have headed for.

But who can Kassidy trust? Can she even trust her own decisions and feelings, especially when it comes to Doctor Ben Fletcher?

‘DWELL’ – Book 2 in the #1 bestselling paranormal thriller series by Lynda O’Rourke.

Tied to the Kitchen Sink by Kay Jaybee, erotic (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Will can hardly believe his eyes when he receives the ultimate in birthday gifts. Karen, the girl of his fantasies, has been left tied to his kitchen sink’s taps, ready to be played with exactly as he chooses. Meanwhile, Becky is having a spank-filled first day in her new job, and a BDSM-curious male allows himself to be lured into a dominatrix’s lair by the tempting lyrics of a truly bad poem. Whether bound in ropes or handcuffs, as they are shackled to the bed, kitchen sink, or within the confines of a fetishist’s supply cupboard, the willing victims of Tied to the Kitchen Sink’s kinky S&M and BDSM action find their darkest and sexiest dreams coming true.

Daisy’s Dilemma by Anne Stenhouse, regency historical romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Lady Daisy should be ecstatic when her brother, the earl, allows Mr. John Brent to propose. She’s been plotting their marriage for two years. However, she is surprised to find herself underwhelmed and blames their distant cousin, Reuben, for unsettling her.

Reuben Longreach wonders whether the earl understands the first thing about Daisy’s nature and her need for a life with more drama than the Season allows. It’s abundantly clear to him that Daisy and John are not suited, but the minx accepts his proposal nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Daisy hatches a plan to attach Reuben to her beautiful, beleaguered Scots cousin, Elspeth. Little does she know that Elspeth is the focus of a more sinister plot that threatens Daisy too.

Will Reuben be able to thwart the forces surrounding Daisy before she is irretrievably tied to John? Will Daisy find the maturity to recognise her dilemma may be of her own making before it’s too late?

Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals, series one, part 6) by Tim O’Rourke, paranormal fantasy (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: From Tim O’Rourke #1 bestselling author of ‘The Kiera Hudson Series’ comes ‘Werewolves of Shade’ a werewolf romance with a twist.

When the entire population of Shade go missing, investigative reporter Mila Watson knows this could be the big break she has been waiting for. Setting off into the mountains to the village of Shade, Mila soon learns that the village isn’t as deserted as she first believed it to be and that creatures lurk in the shades…

‘Werewolves of Shade’ (Part Six)

Note: This ends in a cliff-hanger. Part Seven will be published within the next few weeks.

For readers 16+

Relinquish by M.N. Forgy, dark erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: ***WARNING*** This novel contains explicit language, sex, drugs, violence, and sexual situations that some might find offensive. This book is intended for adults 18+ years of age.

In my world, there is no such thing as love. It is just a lie we whisper into our client’s ear. Love is foreign and hazardous. What I did not expect was to bare my soul to a man who is as egotistical as he is dangerous.

His name is Landon. Despite his blackened soul, he tried to save me, but what he didn’t expect was my torturous fate to catch up with me.

To your father, I’m the escort.

To your mother, I’m the whore.

To the legal system, I’m the prostitute.

In the end, I’m just the other woman.

I have no idea if I will continue to survive, if I will ever find my path aside from the gritty streets I know so well. There is a good chance I will wind up in the ditch like most women in my position. Surrendering to my fate is the only choice I have. I must relinquish it all.

Indulgence Anthology by Various Authors, dark erotic romances (reviewed by Tina)

Amity Cross, Royal Blood (Royal Blood #1) A hitman and a woman with an explosive secret collide in this thrilling romance. Will love be enough? Or are they doomed from the start?

Audrey Carlan, Angel Falling (Falling, #1) Socialite Aspen Reynolds is saved from death by country boy, Hank Jensen, who makes it clear he wants her in his life and his bed.

Cat Mason, Escaping Me (Shaft on Tour #1) Temptations, betrayal, and lies are all mixed with booze, tattoos, sex, laughs, and love as the Shaft takes stage after stage. Making friends along the way, Daisy must stop escaping herself. She must stop hiding behind a list and come to terms with what she really wants in life. Emotions and secrets unravel all around as Daisy learns to live the rough and rowdy life of taking Shaft on tour.

Cynthia Sax, Releasing Rage Joan sees the darkness in Rage, the sexy cyborg she’s been assigned to maintain. He’s big, angry, violent… and exactly the warrior she needs.

Deanndra Hall, My Last Dom A submissive who’s addicted to pain runs headlong into a Dominant determined to save her. But her ghosts could ruin their chances for happiness.

Jamie Salisbury, Perpetual Love Albert and Anne meet on his family’s ranch. Cupid’s arrow does it’s thing. The pair become inseparable. Anne’s father meanwhile has his own agenda.

JM Witt, Letting Go (Anchored Hearts #1) What happens when the girl who’s only read about BDSM meets a flawed Dom? Will their tortured souls find love amidst pleasure and pain?

Kelley Grealis, The Descendant (The Descendant Vampire Series, #1) Mortal death or eternal damnation? If those were your choices, which would you choose? Discover the vampire’s origin in The Descendant – A Vampire Tale of Biblical Proportions!

Laura Harner, Rescued (Three’s Allowed Book 2) With Elizabeth’s abusive ex intent on murder, Sheriff Graeme and security-mogul Michael join forces—but who will rescue them? One woman, two men, deadly serious.

Liz Crowe, Man On (Black Jack Gentlemen, #1) All eyes are on the fledgling Black Jack Detroit soccer team in its debut season. They must make a good showing in the league and with new fans. But player drama, club dynamics, and misplaced priorities may tear it apart before it even begins.

Nina Levine, Relent (Sydney Storm MC, #1) Will Evie relent in this second chance romance or has Kick left it too long to go after the woman who’s owned his heart forever?

Sandy Sullivan, Make Mine a Cowboy (Cowboy Dreamin’, #1) She writes fantasy cowboys for a living, but she never expected to find her own on the back roads of Hill Country, Texas.

Sharon Hamilton, SEAL Under Covers (Seal Brotherhood #3) Navy SEAL Armando Guzman is trying to help his sister clean up her life, but he is unprepared for the chemical attraction of his sister’s new best friend who he doesn’t know is an undercover cop.

Skye Callahan, Irrevocable (Irrevocable, #1) They stripped me of my life but never my will to survive. Descending into their darkness and making it my own became my only escape.

Theresa Troutman, A Special Connection Three friends who are as close as can be, in a moment of despair, share an experience that will forever change their lives.

May 27, 2015 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW SOUL REDEMPTION (Rebel Riders #2) by C.J. Pinard

We welcome the second instalment of the paranormal fantasy/romance series, Rebel Riders, by C.J. Pinard, in SOUL REDEMPTION. Readers will love the dark atmosphere of this series, with some very flawed but fantastic characters, plenty of mystery, and a great deal going on. There are elements of the novel that reminded me of a cross between The X-Files, Sons of Anarchy and True Blood! Follow the adventure of Nolan Bishop as he tries to find answers on symptoms of him being turned, and yet not full vamp or without a soul. Will he turn? Will he eventually lose his soul?

Title: Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2)

Author: C.J. Pinard

Genre: Paranormal, urban fantasy

Release date: May 15th, 2015

Length: 143 pages

REVIEW

After having his soul taken by the beautiful-but-evil succubus, Eva, Nolan Bishop is left in a strange state. It appears that the blood from his new love Charity, Eva’s human twin sister, has prevented his soul to be taken for good. However, he still has some symptoms of being a possible vampire, i.e. sharper senses, discomfort in the sun, back pain from a previous accident has subsided, he is pale, and he has a curiosity about blood!

Soul Redemption carries on from Soul Rebel (book 1) nicely by moving on with the story at the same time as recapping readers in the early chapters. With Nolan working at Archie’s Garage, restoring motorcycles, we are reminded of Archie and his motorcycle club, the Rebel Riders, who hunt down vamps at night and kill the ones who kill and feed off humans. Now Archie is hoping for Nolan to join them. Little does he know of Nolan’s possibility of being a vampire himself!

One member of the Rebel Riders who becomes acquainted with Nolan is Kovah. Kovah is completely against all vampires killing and feeding from humans. He believes that they should all be killed. He comes across to the reader as quite extreme with his viewpoint, and makes the reader question if he will attempt to kill Nolan when he sees the blood hunger in Nolan’s eyes. Then again, Nolan discovers that he has more in common with Kovah than he initially thought. Will there be conflict between them, or will they become great friends? Either way, Kovah is a brilliant character to add to the many others of this series – with some hanging in the balance of good and bad!

“… Do you feel like she still has your soul?”

“… No. I knew the moment she took it, and I knew the moment I got it back… Do you think I should still kill her?”

“… Absolutely. And I want to watch. Crazy b**** needs to be put down. She’s dangerous.”

Nolan wants answers as to exactly who or what he is. Prepared to help the BSI (Bureau of Supernatural Investigation – also a part of C.J. Pinard’s ‘Enchanted Immortals’ series) with their knowledge of the paranormal, and wanting the answers for himself, Nolan agrees to go to New Orleans with Agent Nelson and subjects himself to blood tests, scans and many questions.

While in New Orleans he decides to face old vampire, Joel Reichert. Nolan knows that he will also have answers, but he also knows that there is a great chance that he will want revenge for Nolan killing his oldest vampire friend, Ansel. This could be a very brave or a very stupid move for Nolan. But something he feels he has to do.

“… He was an old vampire who deserved strength and respect. A man who Nolan needed to make an ally of, not an enemy.”

Meanwhile, Charity is not impressed. Although she is aware of what he has been through, she doesn’t fully know of his symptoms and curiosity. Throughout the novel there are times of Nolan keeping busy, whether it be to go to New Orleans or ride around with the Rebel Riders to hunt vampires. With Charity being stood up by him she begins to get annoyed with him. What she doesn’t realise is that he has started to love her but wants to protect her from the supernatural and the changes that he is facing.

Charity’s situation is left increasingly more complex when her twin sister, Eva, and her vampire friend, Brad, pay her a visit. Eva is aware that Nolan is different and that his soul is not hers. This is frustrating for her and so she seeks revenge and wants to get her hands on Nolan. She’d figured that the best way to find him would be through her sister. Eva becomes increasingly impatient and trickery is just one side of her evil that she can use to get her sister’s, and ultimately Nolan’s, attention!

The plotline and characters of the Rebel Riders series are excellent. The reads are thrilling and gripping, making for a fast read due to the action and excitement. Not only this, but the author also draws the reader in by creating a brilliant, dark atmosphere. This, mixed with Nolan’s curiosity, brings plenty of mystery to the fore and the reader just knows that there is a great deal more to be revealed.

Soul Redemption is a mesmerising read of the paranormal and romance that you won’t want to leave! Be warned: there is a brilliant cliff hanger at the end where Eva’s evil trickery does not disappoint!

An Advanced Reader’s Copy was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2) by C.J. Pinard is available at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

You can also find my review of C.J. Pinard’s Soul Rebel (Rebel Riders #1) here.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

Other reviews for C.J. Pinard:-

Enchanted Immortals (Enchanted Immortals Book 1)

Enchanted Immortals: The Vortex (Enchanted Immortals Book 2)

Enchanted Immortals: The Vampyre (Enchanted Immortals Book 3)

Enchanted Immortals: The Vixen (Enchanted Immortals Book 4)

BSI: Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (an Enchanted Immortals novella)

Patriotic Duty (Duty & Desire, Book 1)

Tour of Duty (Duty & Desire, Book 2)

Boots Beneath My Bed (Miranda’s Story) (Duty & Desire #3)

Playing the Field (Duty & Desire #4)

Unscathed (written with Tim O’Rourke)

March 30, 2015 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Dead Ever After: A True Blood Novel (Sookie Stackhouse #13) by Charlaine Harris

After having a clean break from the wrapped-up True Blood tv series, as well as the book series, almost two years on from the release of the book I finally found a moment to read the final Sookie Stackhouse story: Dead Ever After. Read as a one-off book, I found it to be refreshing, with plenty going on in the paranormal world and magic that surrounds Sookie Stackhouse. It’s certainly sad to see the end of the journey we have all shared with Sookie!

Title: Dead Ever After: A True Blood Novel (Sookie Stackhouse #13)

Author: Charlaine Harris

Genre: Fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy

Release date: May 7th, 2013

Released by: Gollancz

Length: 352 pages

Blurb: Sookie Stackhouse has one last adventure in store.

Life has taken her from a waitress in Merlotte’s Bar, Bon Temps, to part owner; from social outcast to the heart of her community; from a vampire’s girlfriend to the wife of one of the most powerful vampires in the state.

She has survived explosions, revolutions and attempts on her life. Sookie has endured betrayal, heartbreak and grief… and she has emerged a little stronger, and little wiser, every time.

But with life comes new trials…

The question is, in the end: who will love, who will live, and who will be dead ever after?

There are secrets in the town of Bon Temps, ones that threaten those closest to Sookie—and could destroy her heart…

Sookie Stackhouse finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.

Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.

But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough…

REVIEW

Almost two years has passed since the release of Dead Ever After, but after not being completely bowled over by Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12), I was reluctant to read it. However, I couldn’t read a whole series and then miss out the last book! And, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with this final story! Amazingly, I have also been able to avoid reading any other reviews of the book and so have read Dead Ever After with a fresh approach.

Throughout the story Sookie has many worries. To begin with, after raising Sam from the dead, using her magic from the cluviel dor (which could only be used once), she noticed a clear coldness from Eric. Is he annoyed with her for using her magic on Sam and not saving it for him? Well, that’s just tough luck for Eric as there was no way she’d let Sam die! Not only has she to worry about Eric, but Sam seems to have changed after his experience too.

Sam seems really quiet and a little off with her, or maybe he is shaken up from the whole coming-back-to-life episode. Sam has been through a lot and, when Sookie sees Sam next, he has forgotten a great deal. Sookie then reminds him of everything, even the events he probably doesn’t want to remember, as she knows it’s in his best interests for him to face up to them. This is also a great way for Charlaine Harris to recap the last story, and provides the reader with enough detail to understand what has happened, but doesn’t bore the regular reader of the series either.

As the story moves forward Sookie is in for some more surprises. First, Arlene, an ex-friend and colleague, has been released from prison and approaches Sookie at Merlotte’s bar asking for her old job back. Now a part-owner of Merlotte’s, Sookie clearly stands her ground and refuses. She can’t believe the nerve of her after Arlene had tried to have her killed. Shortly after, Arlene’s body is found in the dumpster behind Merlotte’s, and you can just imagine who will be accused. Yes, poor Sookie!

And then, there’s Eric. After everything that has happened, Eric has almost abandoned Sookie for reasons that Sookie and the readers are not sure of. It appears to us that he may be a little irked after the incident with Sam. And yet, there is more going on in the vamp world that he needs to attend to and this will have a definite impact on Sookie. The ever-practical Eric has to do not just what is in his best interests, but also what is expected of him.

Will Sookie be cleared of a murder she didn’t commit? Will her and Sam be able to return to a their comfortable friendship? And, will Eric deal with his vamp problem and return to Sookie? Or, will Sookie rekindle her love with her first love, Bill? This final instalment certainly has many questions to answer. And the reader will find out the answers to all as it all wraps up.

Although fairly well written, with plenty more going on, I found it didn’t grip me with intensity. However, the storyline itself was good. Sookie’s love interests were not present too much in the book and I know many won’t be too happy with the ending. But, I was fairly happy. As long as Sookie ended up with either Bill, Eric or Sam I was going to be happy as I have come to appreciate all three characters over the course of the book series, as well as tv series.

It is very difficult to read this after seeing the tv series, though, as it is hard to differentiate between the, sometimes very different, storylines but with the same characters. In hindsight, I do wish I had read all of the books first, before watching the tv series. That said, I do like how the book series has gone in terms of keeping more with the telepaths and witches. This certainly adds to the magic of the story, as well as remind us that our focus is Sookie, even though we can all get carried away with the strong male characters.

All-in-all, the book series is a great read, and I would encourage anyone, whether read the series before or not, to start at the beginning and read each book in order to remind ourselves of Sookie’s journey, and what Charlaine Harris wanted us to get from the series.

Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse #13) by Charlaine Harris is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

March 15, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Spotlight with Super Giveaway Magno Girl by Joe Canzano

Title: Magno Girl

Author: Joe Canzano

Genre: Comic urban fantasy

Release date: January 15th, 2015

Released by: Happy Joe Control

Length: 308 pages (paperback)

Buy links: Amazon US, Amazon UK

Blurb: When a Manhattan pizza maker is found dead in his own dough, Magno Girl enlists the aid of her biker ninja boyfriend to help solve the crime – and quickly discovers there’s more to the pie than meets the eye, including a sinister plot that spans the globe.

Magno Girl leaps into action. After all, she can fly, she can fight, and she can use her fearsome superpower, the “Gaze of the Guilt,” to bring a hardened criminal to his knees. But the road ahead is hard. The city’s other superheroes despise her, and the cops don’t want her around, and her own mom won’t stop spitting out advice about marrying a “respectable guy” and trading in her crime-fighting career for a baby carriage—but is she attracted to “respectable guys”? And is she interested in emotional commitment? And will finding real love be her biggest challenge of all?

Welcome to the world of Magno Girl, a wild and absurd place filled with humor, action, and romance.

Author Bio

Joe Canzano’s interest in stories started at the age of three, when his mother read him Peter Rabbit. Unfortunately, his grandfather shot Peter and shoved him into a pot, convincing Joe at a young age to never write a story about a fuzzy animal.

Through his school days, English was the only subject that didn’t put him to sleep. He has a BA in English from Rutgers University.

Joe once wrote a 10,000 line epic poem about an upscale madam and the secret agent who falls in love with her. He figured this would take the literary world by storm since there was nothing like it on the bestseller lists. He soon discovered there was good reason for this. As one editor said, “Epic poetry ain’t what it used to be.” Well, crap. Joe decided to write something else.

Joe’s hero is Wile E. Coyote because he keeps on trying, no matter how many times a big rock falls on his head.

Joe’s short stories have been published in the following places: Akashic Books Online, Happy Magazine, The Chrysalis Reader, The Wisconsin Review, Studio One, Pearl, Schuylkill Valley Journal, Quercus Review

Joe is a rock and roll singer, songwriter, and guitar player, and his stories and style are influenced as much by the Ramones and Lou Reed as they are by Kurt Vonnegut, Mark Twain, Elmore Leonard, Christopher Moore, and Tom Robbins.

Joe’s publishing company, Happy Joe Control, has several other novels to be released in the near future.

Links:

www.happyjoe.net

www.facebook.com/happyjoecanzano

www.twitter.com/happyjoecanzano

amazon.com/author/joecanzano

goodreads.com/joecanzano

GIVEAWAY!!

The author is also hosting a giveaway for a 20 lucky winners to receive a Magno Girl Prize Pack each – Each pack will have a signed copy of Magno Girl, a Magno Girl Magnet, and a Magno Girl button!. To enter, check out the rafflecopter:-

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Magno Girl is also on sale at the time of this post, and is currently 99 cents!!! Don’t miss out!

December 18, 2014 by Caroline Barker

Book Tour Spring Blessings (From the Files of the Department of the Arcane #1) by S.C. Houff

Title: Spring Blessings

Series: First Book in the From the Files of the Department of the Arcane Series

Author: S.C. Houff

Release date: February 10th, 2014

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Blurb: Asher Stone didn’t want to be a hero. After spending two years recovering from an isolating drug habit, his life was getting on track. He had a girlfriend who he loved very much. He was holding down a job and had a repaired relationship with his mother. One day, Asher was attacked by a manticore that escaped the clutches an order of magi and his world gets turned upside down. Now, Asher is dealing with old temptations and new problems and a destiny that he has to embrace or the fate of the world will crash down on him. The only thing Asher can hope is that Blessings and Hope do spring eternal in this first book in a series.

Author Bio

S.C. Houff was born in the backwoods of Southwestern Virginia to a small town lawyer and a recovering radical. She has been a telemarketer, a part-time educator and occasional bodyguard but now is working on writing. She has started working on her very first novel which is fun for everyone. When she is not writing she’s perusing her other love which is history. She also is an avid fan all things nerdy and fun.