Reading the Paranormal: Genre: Anthology

Showing posts with label Genre: Anthology. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Loved in Space Anthology [Review]

Loved in Space Anthology
Format: ebook
Source: purchased

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 17, 2020

Purchase Links: Kindle

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Six BRAND new stories of love and romance among the stars by NYT & USA Today Bestsellers Mina Carter, Eve Langlais, Cara Bristol, Donna McDonald, Susan Hayes and J Thompson.

Woken by a kiss, she didn’t expect her prince to be a handsome alien warrior. Kissed by the Alien Mercenary: Warriors of the Lathar by Mina Carter.

Clarabelle isn’t about to take orders from anyone. Not even the alien hottie who has a disturbing tendency of shifting into a giant lizardman. Mate Abduction by Eve Langlais.

When a dating agency claims to match Earth women with extraterrestrials, fraud investigator Cyan Blue goes undercover as a client to expose the scam. She’s not interested in finding love and certainly not with a pretend alien! KRASH: Dakonian Alien Mail Order Brides by Cara Bristol.

No risk. No reward. When time runs out, she’ll have to make a choice that will change her life forever… Chance of a Lifetime by Susan Hayes.

Bethany Walker lost everything the day she watched her husband die. Trapped in a bitter cycle of loneliness and grief, the arrival of a gorgeous cyborg with a familiar face changes everything. Betraying Ko’ran by J Thompson.

She was searching for her cyborg husband and found an alien instead. Ashland 297 by Donna McDonald.

Thoughts on Loved in Space: Overall, a very satisfying read. Five shorts from series I've read before and one new-to-me author.

Alien Mercenary: I do love fairy tales in space and the Sleeping Beauty vibe here rocked my socks off. Lizzie awakens on a strange new world with her sister and mom happily mated to aliens (which is already kind of a big shock). And the one alien she likes spending time around is the one her bro-in-law warns her away from (which, frankly, was pretty much a jerk move on his part). Things end up working out, but not before some danger and some sisterly solidarity.

Mate Abduction: An orphan raised by Amazonian aliens, Clarabelle wants some normalcy is her life (and potential boyfriend). What she got was a sexy alien man and a couple of meddling gods. Fun, a little crazy, and with some familiar purple aliens popping in to make me laugh.

KRASH: A broken-hearted Dakonian who DOES NOT want a mate or to stay on Earth meets a human woman determined to prove the extraterrestrial dating agency she just joined is a massive scam. Turns out it's not a scam and Cyan and Krash connect nicely. You know, except for that thing where he's not looking for a mate and she's only meeting him to expose a fraud. GOOD TIMES!

Chance of a Lifetime: Well, well, well. A cyborg who isn't the typical type of cyborg found in the Drift and the human security for the Nova Club. Chance isn't quick to trust (for reasons) and it almost lands her in hot water when things go sideways. The Drift cyborg family continues to expand and I'm digging that.

Ashland 297: Now that I'm thinking about it, this isn't a new to me series. I've read a previous story about these cyborgs and...man, they had it tough. Dia's held onto the hope she'll figure out what happened to her husband through the years and when she finally finds out the truth...well, it's nothing like she expected. (PS: Her boss-friend deserved everything that happened to him. And probably more.)

Betraying Ko'ran: Not my favorite of the anthology, mostly because I felt like Bethany's feelings about cyborgs (going from hating them for killing her husband to jumping into a relationship with one who looked like said dead husband) did a weird turnaround without much warning. Admittedly, I could have missed something, but from actively hating an entire group of beings to shacking up with one in the course of a few meetings didn't quite work for me. Still, growly cyborgs are always fun.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Pets in Space 5 Anthology [Review]

Pets in Space 5 Anthology
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 1, 2020

Pets in Space Anthologies
1. Cats, Dogs, and Other Worldy Creatures
2. Embrace the Romance
3. Embrace the Passion
4. Pets in Space 4
5. Pets in Space 5 - Kindle

Authors
S.E. Smith
Regine Abel
Cassandra Chandler
Leslie Chase
Michele Diener
Laurie A. Green
Kyndra Hatch
JC Hay
Pauline Baird Jones
Alexis Glynn Latner
Carol Van Natta
Veronica Scott

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Are you ready? Pets in Space® 5 is back for the fifth amazing year!

Twelve of today’s top Science Fiction Romance authors have written 12 original, never-before-released stories filled with action, adventure, suspense, humor, and romance that will take you out of this world.

The giving doesn’t stop there.

For the fifth year, Pets in Space® will be donating a portion of the first month proceeds to Hero-Dogs.org, a non-profit charity that supports our veterans and First Responders. Pets in Space® has donated over $15,000 in the past four years. Together, we can make a difference! Grab your copy today!

Thoughts on Pets in Space 5: I have to say, I'm always thrilled with the stories presented in this antho. I get to revisit old favorites and meet both new-to-me characters and authors and I'm an 100% down with that!

The big draws (on this first pass) this time around were Veronica Scott's Star Cruise: Return Voyage and Regine Abel's Reaper.

The story of what happened to the Nebula Dream was my first introduction to the Veronica Scott's Special Forces world and it was SO FUN to revisit both one of the characters who survived that disaster and get to see her come to terms with how it shaped her life. Gianna got a little closure and Trevor had a terrible wrong righted and YESSSSSS. Just so much yes. So much.

Reaper takes us back to the world of the Xian Warriors and their brother Dragons, who broke ranks and rose up against the terrible aliens who were causing such widespread destruction in the universe. Reaper finds his special someone and Janelle gets to...well, live, really. Because her future before Reaper and the others broke into the secret base she was trapped in was looking pretty bleak. I will freely admit I have THE BIGGEST soft spot for hidden bases on the verge of falling down completely and I really REALLY liked how Janelle made things work for such a long time despite the awful situation she was in.

A big thumbs up all around for these fantastic stories (and the entire anthology)!

Get it here: petsinspaceantho.com

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BRiWxU

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pets-in-space-5

Apple Books: https://apple.co/30maDUg

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pets-in-space-5-s-e-smith/1137421518?ean=2940162669395

GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/SE_Smith_Pets_in_Space_5?id=AGH0DwAAQBAJ&hl=en

Friday, October 11, 2019

Pets in Space 4 Anthology [Review]

Pets in Space 4 Anthology
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 5, 2019

Pets in Space Anthologies
1. Cats, Dogs, and Other Worldy Creatures
2. Embrace the Romance
3. Embrace the Passion
4. Pets in Space 4 - Kindle

5. Pets in Space 5

Authors
S.E. Smith
Anna Hackett
Tiffany Roberts
Veronica Scott
Pauline Baird Jones
Laurie A. Green
Donna McDonald
Regine Abel
Alexis Glynn Latner
JC Hay
E.D. Walker
Kyndra Hatch
Cassandra Chandler

Synopsis (Goodreads):

For a limited time only! Pets in Space® 4 is proud to present 13 amazing, original new stories! Join the adventures as today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors take you on a journey to another world. Pets in Space® proudly supports Hero-Dogs.org, a non-profit charity that provides service animals to veterans and first responders in need. Join New York Times, USA TODAY and Award-winning Bestselling authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Tiffany Roberts, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie Green, Donna McDonald, Regine Abel, Alexis Glynn Latner, JC Hay, E.D. Walker, Kyndra Hatch, and Cassandra Chandler for another exciting Pets in Space® anthology. Get the stories before they are gone!

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space® authors have donated over $7,100 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Pets in Space® 4 today!

Thoughts on Pets in Space 4: A darn good collection that let me revisit favored worlds AND jump into new adventures.

Anna Hackett's Dark Guard gave us cyborgs (CYBORGS!) and I LOVE those metal men. Tiffany Roberts' Entwined Fate is a sad/sweet second chance romance that doesn't let the cosmic distance between the stars stop two people who always should have been together find their way. Veronica Scott drops us back on the interstellar cruise ship that's seen its share of craziness since it started its run with Idol's Curse. We got to go back to the beginning of the Kryptid invasion of Earth in Regine Abel's Doom and watch the big alien warrior fall for his very human mate.

These were great additions to the series I'm already invested in PLUS a whole slew of other stories set on distant worlds (or distant star ships!).

Friday, December 7, 2018

When He Was Bad by Shelly Laurenston, Cynthia Eden [Review]

A scorching after-dark anthology featuring Alpha males so hot, so wild, and so bad, they may just be the best you've ever had...

Shelly Laurenston
Miss Congeniality

I'm young, good looking, and one day I'll be Alpha Male of my family's Pack. But Professor Irene Conridge acts like I don't even exist. Now she's got enemies coming out of the woodwork and I have to protect her. Of course, it doesn't hurt that while I work to secure her safety, she'll be hanging out at my house--right where I want her.

Cynthia Eden
Wicked Ways

When I hear my sexy new neighbor scream one night, the absolute last thing I expect to see is Miranda Shaw--star of my hottest fantasies--being attacked by a vampire. Too bad for him I'm a badass shifter ready to fight for my fantasies. And Miranda, well, she's so busy watching out for him that she won't see me closing in on her. .

Thoughts on When He Was Bad: I honestly can't resist Shelly Laurenston's shifters. They're like furry crack to me. No, wait. That sounds wrong.

Anyway.

Miss Congeniality - Oh, MAN. Going back to before Van was the Alpha of the Van Holtz pack and before he and Irene had mated was HILARIOUS. Mostly because Irene was so wonderfully pragmatic about everything. Literally everything. Sex. Her looks. People who can turn into animals at will. The lady is logical and blunt to a fault and I LOVED her for it. Plus, she's brutally efficient when she needs to be. When surrounded by predators that's not a bad thing to be. At all.

The men are relentless. The women hold their own. The sex is smokin'. This story was everything I've come to expect from Shelly Laurenston's shifters.

Wicked Ways - Miranda and Cain. The human who accidentally gets tangled up with a sadistic vampire and the shifter who takes it on himself to keep her safe. Given that Cain has a deep, deep craving for Miss Miranda, you can probably see how things progress. To be fair, Cain does try to control himself. It's just, you know, hard when the lady of your dreams is teasing your senses.

A nasty vampire, a hot-blooded shifter, and the lady who suddenly finds herself smack dab in the middle of a hidden supernatural world. *thumbs up*

Friday, October 12, 2018

In the Mood Fur Love by Eve Langlais, Milly Taiden, Kate Baxter [Review]

Three hot stories about sexy shifters from a trio of today's hottest paranormal romance authors, headlined by bestselling authors Eve Langlais and Milly Taiden!

Bearing His Touch by Eve Langlais
When Becka manages to escape her kidnapper, she finds herself asking help of the man with the nice brown eyes. Stavros can’t say no, not when he knows Becka is his mate, but he does have one dilemma when it comes to claiming her. He'll have to find a way for her to bear his touch.

Fake Mated to the Wolf by Milly Taiden
Looking for a mate to bring to a party? Wedding? Holiday gathering? Mates Fur Hire is right for you? But what happens when your fake mate ends up being your real one, from New York Times bestselling author Milly Taiden!

The Witch, The Werewolf and The Waitress by Kate Baxter
For centuries, Lowman, Idaho has been Ellie Curtis's prison. A vengeful witch cursed her with immortality and locked her within the confines of Lowman's borders, sealing Ellie off from most of civilization for eternity. She's learned to make the most of it. But when she meets a cocky werewolf who's part of the elite supernatural law enforcement group, all bets are off...

Colin instantly knew that Ellie was his mate, but when he discovers her secret, he's determined to help set her free. But in doing so, he might just lose the one thing he knows he can't live without...

Thoughts on In the Mood Fur Love: Shapeshifters, man. I have SUCH a soft spot for them.

Bearing His Touch - Stavros's story and BOY does he have a good one. And by good, I mean he gets a chance to kick bad guy butt and be a furry rock (so to speak) for his special lady friend. On the other hand, while Stavros wades merrily into battle, Becka has to dig deep for the strength to find herself again. You know, after being abducted and used for nefarious purposes. Bad guys are jerks, man. Jerks. Bears, on the other hand, are just crazy.

Fake Mated to the Wolf - Hawke Hawke and Shawna are up this time around. She's sort of antagonistic toward him (despite the fact he owns the company she works for) and he's...I dunno. Clueless about all things women or something. Also, for a wolf who prides himself on being involved with his company and all the people in it, Hawke certainly didn't know what was going on in the department where Shawna worked. Which is unfortunate because him not knowing what was going on put her and all the people she cares about at risk. On the plus side, things worked out in the end. BUT STILL.

The Witch, the Werewolf, and the Waitress - Okay. I'm digging these wolves. They're kinda trigger happy when they come across their mates, but they're FUN! I definitely feel for Ellie and the situation she was forced into, but, you know, if she hadn't been cursed she and Colin never would have happened. And that would have been a crying shame. CRYIN'!

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

The Big Alpha in Town by Eve Langlais, Milly Taiden, Kate Baxter [Review]

Three hot stories about three sexy shifters from a trio of today's hottest paranormal romance authors, headlined by bestselling authors Eve Langlais and Milly Taiden!

Bearing His Name
Meeting his mate should have been cause for celebration. There’s just one teeny tiny problem. Jade thinks Ark might have impregnated her sister. He didn’t, but convincing Jade is going to take a bit of honey.

Owned by the Lion
Keir’s been told to stop playing the field and settle down—difficult advice for a hard and hot man with a lion’s heart to follow. But his sights have always been set on Ally. She’s his mate, plain and simple. With her sweet and delicious curves, she’s nothing but sugar and trouble all rolled into one. But he’s known her and sparred with her for years. She’s his best friend’s little sister, and it’s going to take a whole new level of convincing that he’s the mate for her.

No Need Fur Love
Moving with his pack to the tiny town of Stanley, Idaho has Owen Courtney a little on edge. With literally no women in sight, Owen will be lucky to find a date, let alone his true mate. But you know the saying about a werewolf walking into a bar…
Gorgeous wood nymph Mia Oliver is on a mission: Find a suitable male to get her good ‘n pregnant and provide her with an heir. But when Mia decides to pick up a gorgeous and oh-so willing werewolf at the bar, she realizes she might be in over her head. …

Thoughts on The Big Alpha in Town: SHIFTER LOVE! Yep, I do enjoy feisty, butt-kicking shifters!

Bearing His Name - HA! Fated mates, an accidental pregnancy, and a bear with a one-track mind. LOVE IT. Honestly, Ark's family is INSANE in the best way and I dug them. Plus, he met his match in Jade. Even when there was a slight possibility he'd knocked up her sister, she was still drawn to him. Naturally, she fought it every step of the way. But when fate bites, you eventually just have to accept it, right?

Owned by the Lion - I had a REALLY hard time suspending disbelief that someone who knew Ally's mother as well as he did had NO CLUE she had another daughter. That kinda threw me. Plus, I was a little confused on some of the relationships between the characters. Maybe that's me, though. Because, you know, there was that whole "why didn't anybody tell me Arlene had another daughter?" thing.

No Need Fur Love - I'm always down with a werewolf finding love in unconventional places. Like with a nymph. A nymph who doesn't really understand the specifics of a werewolf's mate bond or how it will affect her in the long run. A nymph who has some sticky family dynamics she needs to deal with. What can I say? I like surly wolves and oversexed nymphs.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Thanks Fur Last Night by Eve Langlais, Milly Taiden, Kate Baxter [Review]

Enter a world of smoldering shifters in this scintillating anthology headlined by New York Times bestselling authors Eve Langlais and Milly Taiden with brand-new, never published novellas!

Bearing His Sin

Cole should have killed Anja the moment he realized she was his mate. Instead, he let her live and now they’re on the hunt, chasing the morons who think they can force her to marry another man. Like hell. And while this shapeshifting bear might have his share of sins, he’s not going to let little things like murder and mayhem prevent him from having the woman meant to be the keeper of his heart.

Bought by the Bear
Josilyn Martinez just needed the money to help raise her nephew. That's it. There's no other reason she would take a job posing as a shifter's mate so he can assure his grandmother he's settled down. There's no reason to stay at his place so they learn "more about each other." And there's definitely no good reason she should get involved with the hard, hot, and handsome shifter that's hired her.

Xander just needs a fake mate for a week to get his grandmother off his back. But what's a bear shifter to do when the impostor mate he hired turns out to be his actual mate? All sweet, luscious curves and a heart of gold, Xander's not going to let his mate get away. Now all he has to do is show her that they belong together, one kiss and touch at a time...

The Alpha and I
Devon Kincaid is happy with her new life in Lowman, Idaho. Her little bar on the outskirts of the tiny, isolated town is doing well, and she’s not even interested in finding a man. But when she finds a bleeding man—a hot, hard, handsome, naked bleeding man—in the snow one night, Devon brings him home to care for him. He’s definitely not like any man she’s ever met before, but what she doesn’t realize is that he’s not just a man…

Liam Murphy isn't simply a werewolf. He's the Alpha. In a heated battle with a deadly bear shifter, he's moved his pack to the Sawtooth Wilderness in order to draw danger from them. He was hoping to escape his problems—but the last thing he expects to find in the isolated Idaho wilderness was his mate. Fragile and unfamiliar with the violent supernatural world, the only way he can protect Devon is to make her what he is: a werewolf. He only hopes that in the process convincing her to enter fully into his world, that he doesn’t drive away the one woman he can’t live without.

Thoughts on Thanks Fur Last Night: Shifters! I love 'em and I get a kick out of watching them fall all over themselves when they find their special someone.

Bearing His Sin - I'm a big Eve Langlais fan, so Cole and Anja's story was a hit with me. Both of them are a little feral, a little crazed, and a little bloodthirsty. Well, more than a little on that last part. They fight. They flirt while fighting (heck, often while fighting with one another). They aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. I have to say, I liked them!

Bought by the Bear - Well. By contrast, this story felt disjointed. While Xander and Josie weren't exactly unlikable, things happened that made no sense to me. Sudden attacks by random shifters (how'd they come into contact with the person who set them on their path, anyway?), followed up by the revelation someone was playing a VERY long con. Everything was tied up TOO nicely with some of the reveals and I had a hard time following along with some of the choices the characters made.

The Alpha and I - Sexy shifters in the snow. Yep, I have a weakness for those guys. Liam certainly hits all those buttons. Devon, meanwhile, takes the sudden revelation that there's a whole lot more than humans out there pretty well. What can I say? I liked these two. Sexy times in an isolated cabin do it for me.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Amid the Winter Snow Anthology [Review]

Amid the Winter Snow Anthology
Format: ebook
Source: provided by the author for review

As the snows fall and hearths burn, four stories of Midwinter beginnings prove that love can fight its way through the darkest night…

THE DARKEST MIDNIGHT, by Grace Draven
The mark Jahna Ulfrida was born with has made her a target of the cruel and idle all her life. During the long, crowded festivities of Deyalda, there’s nowhere to escape. Until a handsome stranger promises to teach her to save herself…

THE CHOSEN, by Thea Harrison
In her visions, Lily sees two men fighting for her tiny country’s allegiance: the wolf and the tiger, each deadly, each cunning. One will bring Ys chaos and death, one a gentler path—but she’s destined to love whichever she chooses. The Midwinter masque is upon them, and the wolf is at her door…

THE STORM, by Elizabeth Hunter
When her soul mate died in a massacre of the half-angelic Irin people, Renata thought she’d never feel happiness again. She’s retreated to her childhood home in the snowy Dolomites to hide and remember the hurt—until determined, irrepressible Maxim arrives to insist on joy, too. And before she can throw him out, they discover a secret the Irin have to know…

THE SNOWS OF WINDROVEN, by Jeffe Kennedy
As a blizzard batters the mountain keep of Windroven, Ami, Queen of Avondligh of the Twelve Kingdoms, and her unofficial consort Ash face their own storm. Ash knows a scarred, jumpy ex-convict isn’t the companion his queen needs. But when a surprise attack confines them together in their isolated sanctuary, the feast of Midwinter might tempt even Ash into childlike hope…

Thoughts on Amid the Winter Snow: I came for the Elder Races and got sucked into all of them.

The Darkest Midnight: Oh, man. Jahna and Radimar had the most wonderful slow burn romance. Part of this is because Jahna is young when they first meet and she needs to grow into herself, and part of it is because Radimar is trying to convince himself his lifestyle isn't the type that takes a wife. Yet, he still has decidedly non-brotherly thoughts about Jahna even when he's trying to think of her in that way. It was, in a word, perfect.

The Chosen: I'm a HUGE Elder Races fan, so it should come as no surprise that I absolutely ADORED Lily and Wulf's story. Lily was just so sweet and mindful that every choice she makes will have an impact on her people. And Wulf...Wulf is everything I love about Elder Races heroes. He's crafty and forceful, but he sees that too heavy a hand will send Lily running. So he takes his time with her and it was FANTASTIC. I guess you could say Lily's sweetness brought out his lighter side. Honestly, Wulf needed that lightness. With everything he's had to deal with lately, he's buried under a cloud and the idea that he was heading to war wears on him.

I just... <3 <3 <3

The Storm: Renata and Max. The whole soul mate dying thing was rough. Renata was so broken after. Even when she wasn't broken-broken, she was still hanging onto her heartache so tightly she couldn't see how much Max meant to her. Finding the secret in the caverns helps her in more ways than one. Facing her pain ends up making her stronger. That said, I'm pretty sure Max would stand by her whether she was still lost or not.

The Snows of Windroven: Okay. So I have the BIGGEST soft spot for damaged heroes who can't see how heroic they really are. Ash TOTALLY checks off all those boxes. The guy has a lot of baggage and his sense of self-worth is pretty tarnished after his years in prison, but he's a good one. His biggest flaw is probably his lack of communication. But, again, those years in prison can mess with a man. Good thing Ami is the sort to force a confrontation. It takes a while to drag his fears out of him, but she perseveres and gets the big guy talking and it's FANTASTIC.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Wild by Eve Langlais, Kate Douglas, and A.C. Arthur [Review]

In Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais, Broderick has a job to do—audit the books of a gentleman’s club. Sounds simple, except his company wants him to find dirt linking to the mob, his secret mob employer wants someone to pin the blame on, and the bar manager at the heart of the controversy doesn’t want him—even though she’s his mate.

In Wild Passions by Kate Douglas, six women—friends closer than sisters—head off to an exclusive mountain resort for a week-long bachelorette getaway, where most of the women just wants to know if there are any good men left in the world. There are, and they’re the men of Feral Passions, a unique resort located on a private wolf preserve, owned and run by a pack of sexy werewolves who use it as their own personal hunting ground for mates.

In Her Perfect Mates by A.C. Arthur, Malec Zenta was part of a loving lycan family until his twin brother’s suicide took a piece of his soul. Channing Verdi never knew his parents, but that was fine because at the age of sixteen on the night of the full moon, he realized his purpose. The only pleasure these two betas have managed to find in their life was in the bed with the women they shared. Now, a human woman has entered their lives...a woman who sets their primal instincts on fire, a woman they can’t help but stake their claim on...and give her the ultimate pleasure of being with two shifters at once.

Thoughts on Wild: Shapeshifters, man. They make me happy.

Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais: The situations Eve Langlais puts her characters in always gives me a giggle. Well, wait. It might be the characters themselves who make me laugh. Either way, I always end up enjoying the sassy women and determined men who populate her books.

Lulu and Brody certainly fit the bill as far as sassy and determined go. They both have secrets that could end up destroying their budding relationship. You know, if the other can't get past those secrets. Plus, there's plenty of opportunity for danger and mayhem. Naturally, they do what any other couple would do when faced with potential bloodshed and/or death: they get nekkid.

(To be fair, Brody does that WAY more than Lulu does. SHIFTERS, MAN! YOU GOTTA LOVE 'EM!)

Fun and sexy, with a side of smartass. I LIKE!

Wild Passions by Kate Douglas: Enjoyable, but with 4 different women dealing with relationships there was a lot of story being told. I was going back and forth on whether I wanted Meg to end up with one of the wolves in the beginning. I got a weird vibe off her fiance at first and wasn't sure if he was all in or using her for some nefarious scheme. Then everything became clear and there was much rejoicing. I ended up liking Elle and Tuck the best out of the group. Probably because I have a soft spot for men who turn into wolves who happen to have funky names. That's just me, though.

Her Perfect Mates by A.C. Arthur: I don't know if I exactly *liked* Carolyn and Malec. No, I liked Malec. Broody, tormented werewolves do it for me. But I never really clicked into Carolyn's head. She was weirdly off-putting. I don't even know why. Or maybe I do. Maybe it was because she was fighting so hard against what she wanted it made it tough to imagine her enjoying herself with two wolves. I did like Channing. Heck, I like most werewolves, so I guess that's a given. Still, I'm kinda going back and forth on how I feel about this book. I like the different take on werewolf mythology, I wasn't in love with Carolyn. Huh.

Friday, January 13, 2017

Curved Lines Anthology [Review]

Curved Lines Anthology
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 30, 2016

Purchase links: Kindle

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Get k(ink)y with ten sizzling hot book boyfriends! These sexy, curve-loving, tattooed bad boys will steal your hearts and more in this all-new novella collection brought to you by USA Today and bestselling authors.

Thoughts on Curved Lines: Reviewing in the order I read them (with the exception of Kinky Curves because Kinky Chronicles books get their own review. *finger guns*)...

Kinky Curves – Jodi Redford - The queen of dirty talk. The king of grind. Love is about to get real filthy. - Review found HERE.

Dirty Deeds – Allie Cooke - Four days, a million dollars, the performance of a lifetime…but what happens when they stop faking it? Dirty Deeds ain't always dirt cheap. - Interesting idea, but I wanted a little more resolution. Admittedly, Jeff's guilt over the transgression that drove him to this point was intriguing. I just wanted a more solid ending between the two characters.

Another Man’s Treasure – Dee Tenorio - A widowed actor and single dad pulls out all the stops to show a single mom just how well a woman can be treasured. - HOO-BOY! I liked this one. Tonio was domineering without being a jerk and he was SOOOOO careful with Ari. The care he took in showing her she was special made me a little teary.

Pretty In Ink – Merryn Dexter - Sexy, sweet Aubrey Jensen is everything a semi-reformed bad boy could want – but sometimes getting what you want doesn’t give you what you need. - I liked this one, but wouldn't have minded it being a little longer. Aubrey and Garrett were cute enough I would have liked to see the nuances of their relationship in a little more detail.

Acquired Taste – Dee Carney - When celebrity chef August Jaeger mixes it up with a curvy food blogger, they both realize what they want isn’t on any menu. - Sexy times with food. *thumbs up*

Scorched Desire -- Lexxie Couper - When a Harley-riding hunk literally sweeps her off her feet, Jilly Parker finds herself transported to a world of dragon shifters, carnal lust, and fated love. - Draaaagons, man! I dig them. And I'm all for fated love and mating fevers so this one TOTALLY hit the spot.

Hot Tamale – Tilly Greene - Derek Schrizer is a retired Marine looking to get a new tattoo, not reconnect with his first love, the curvy sexy Cat. - Had a hard time connecting with both the characters and the story line in this one.

Like a Boss – Quinn - Proving she’s more than a smart mouth and sexy curves would be a hell of a lot easier if she wasn’t so distracted by her sexy new boss. - I liked this one even though I wasn't thrilled with Theo's way of dealing with his and Talia's relationship while on the job. However, he did redeem himself at the end, so YAY!

Marked By Ice – Dawn Montgomery - His only job is to protect her at all costs, but who will protect the big bad wolf’s heart once he gets a taste of her sweet lips? - Growly, naked werewolves are my eternal weakness. Ice certainly lived up to both of those standards. *slow thumbs up*

Waking Up – Kathryn Lively - A chance encounter forces a plus-sized woman with dormant dreams to wake up and find her own Happily Ever After. - Blair wasn't an easy character to like at first. She's so entrenched in her routine, she's barely living. Having someone step into her orbit who's outside of what she's used to shakes her up and makes her see everything she's NOT doing.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Quickie Reviews: Blood Deep, A Cold Winter's Bite, Dangerous Distraction, Breaking the Stag

Blood Deep (Vegas Vampires #1) by Jessa Slade
Format: ebook
Source: purchased as part of the Kiss of Christmas Magic anthology
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 17, 2015

Jessa Slade
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Avery Hill reluctantly writes about alien abductions and bat-headed babies while she searches for her mother who went missing one Christmas Eve long ago. Now Avery finds herself in Las Vegas for the holiday, caught in a battle between light and dark fey armies.

Only Hugo de Grava, a 700-year-old, soul-wounded warrior cursed with eternal life, can save her—before his own time runs out.

But the dangerous magic that made her fear for her sanity and made him a vampire isn’t done with them yet, and long-lost worlds are on a collision course on the deepest night of the year…

Thoughts on Blood Deep: Oh, my goodness, I liked this one. (Please read that with a dramatic Southern drawl as I press my hand to my bosom and swoon convincingly toward a fainting couch.) (For the record, that scenario has nothing to do with the book, but it's how I said it was I wrote it.) (Yeah, I don't know where I was going with that either.)

Soooo... fey, vampires, were-critters, normal folk caught in the middle. I liked it all. I liked the mythology and the backstory. I liked that Avery gave up so much to try to find the truth. I like that she walked the edge between believing in the unbelievable because of what she'd seen as a child and telling herself she was going bonkers.

And I never say no to a sexy vampire with loads of self-restraint.

Win/win all around!

A Cold Winter's Bite by Dawn Michelle
Format: ebook
Source: purchased as part of the Kiss of Christmas Magic anthology
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 18, 2015

Dawn Metcalf
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Synopsis:

December meant more to Hunter Wynn than holidays and time off from a stressful job as the owner of a law firm. It meant the annual getaway he and his partners lived for. A trip to the cold forests of Canada for a winter hunt. Alone and isolated, anything could— and did— happen.

This year it was Hunter’s turn to bring the guest of honor, and he’d just met the perfect girl for it. Pretty, intelligent, and lacking any close friends or relatives. The only question left is whether Hunter can sink his teeth in her before she sets her claws in him.

Thoughts on A Cold Winter's Bite: I really don't know how I feel about this story. I genuinely didn't like Hunter for the bulk of the book. The way he viewed women and his search for prey to bring on his hunting trip was very off-putting. Not to mention the sexual goings-on between him and the receptionist. Seeing as how there was only weird flirting and come-ons between them, was hard to categorize. I just... didn't like that he was in a relationship with one woman while looking at another in a very sexual manner.

Yeah, I totally don't know how I feel about this one.

Dangerous Distraction by Lola St. Vil
Format: ebook
Source: purchased as part of the Kiss of Christmas Magic anthology
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 18, 2015

Lola St. Vil
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

Bellamy is on the hunt to capture Knight; a dangerous fallen angel. But when she finds him she also finds something she thought she'd never find--love.

Thoughts on Dangerous Distraction: I genuinely don't know if the title of this book is Dangerous Distraction or Distractions. The cover says one thing, the title page another. Which is unfortunate because now I'm going into the story with questions about how well the continuity will flow if one simple letter like that slipped through.

That said, the story was... okay. No gaping plot holes, but I'm not a fan of characters being in a relationship and then going out and banging the man of their dreams who doesn't happen to be the aforementioned relationship guy. Honestly, relationship guy was kinda a dud, but she'd still committed to him and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

No matter how you swing it, it's cheating. I don't really enjoy reading about that.

Breaking the Stag by Jessica Ryan
Format: ebook
Source: purchased as part of the Kiss of Christmas Magic anthology
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 18, 2015

Jessica Ryan
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

Celeste's life is falling apart around her, but she may just find the comfort she needs in a sexy stranger that has been watching over her her entire life.

Thoughts on Breaking the Stag: I liked this one. Celeste's easy acceptance of Bray's dual nature was... well, it was easy. But, I liked that we were given non-standard weres and that Celeste and Bray had a history before they hooked up.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Quickie Reviews: A Ghostly Gift, Love Singer, and Lord of Misrule

A Ghostly Gift (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries) by Angie Fox
Format: ebook
Source: purchased as part of the Kiss of Christmas Magic anthology
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 15, 2015

Angie Fox
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

One simple mistake…
It really didn’t look that much like an urn.

Of a girl who is about to lose her family home…
So she dumped it out onto the rose bushes, and rinsed it with the hose.

...releases the ghost of a long dead gangster.
He really didn’t have to be so rude about it.

And open’s Verity Long’s eyes to a whole new world…
Verity Long doesn’t want to see ghosts, and she’d rather not let anyone know her little secret, either. But when a restless spirit stirs up trouble in her friend’s holiday shop, Verity and her very new, very dead gangster friend decide to take a peek.

There they discover a mystery a eight decades in the making and are tasked with reuniting a pair of war–torn lovers before they are doomed to spend eternity apart.

Thoughts on A Ghostly Gift: Okay. I liked this one. I like ghosts. I like love that endures through the ages. I like gangsters who might have a soft side under their bullet holes. There's backstory and a little family bonding (well, if you consider it bonding when one sister tries mightily to take care of the other when she's down and out. Which I do.) and more than a few ghosts.

I'd be interested in seeing how Verity's story started,

Love Singer by Mimi Strong
Format: ebook
Source: purchased as part of the Kiss of Christmas Magic anthology
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 15, 2015

Mimi Strong
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A struggling musician discovers she's a witch who can cast spells with her songs. Or at least that's what her sexy professor says.

Thoughts on Love Singer: I enjoy Mimi Strong's writing. It tends to be light and flirty and sometimes that's exactly what you need. That said, this isn't one of my favorites. I liked the idea of a school for witches, but I was kinda put off by how their heritage was kept from so many of them until they grew up. I mean, how do you keep that from someone? Like, "Welp, it's coven night. We'll just tell the kids we're going to play dirty charades with the neighbors instead of admitting the truth." *scrunchy face*

Anywho. Dog prom and magical singing did distract me from the lemon face I was making, but just barely.

Lord of Misrule vol 1 by J.S. Hope
Format: ebook
Source: purchased as part of the Kiss of Christmas Magic anthology
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 16, 2015

J.S. Hope
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

From New York Times and USA Today bestseller J.S. Hope comes a brand new five-part tale of passion and intrigue!

Reporter Alessandra "Alex" Donati is in Venice chasing the story of her career. While the city prepares for the Christmas festivities, Alex is hot on the trail of a group that celebrates a much older - and much darker - festival, one that offers sex and sacrifice in exchange for power and wealth.

Alex's first move is to try and get close to billionaire tycoon and suspected cult member, Paolo Galvan. In order to do that, she'd going to have to entice him with something money can't buy, something that's both outside his experience and outside his control...herself.

Thoughts on Lord of Misrule vol 1: I almost DNFed this one. The writing was a little more detail-y than I like. I honestly don't need to know every single move the characters make. I find it more distracting than anything and unfortunately every action/scene seemed to have unnecessary detail in it.

Meanwhile, since this is the first of a five part serial, I'm really not sure what's going on at this point. I assume Alex is on the trail of something that will turn out to be supernatural, but I got caught up in wading through how she unclasped her dress and let it slither down her body to puddle at her feet and let him look his fill before she moved in for the kill. The kill being her mouth on his dude parts. Which I'm okay with.

It's all the extraneous detail I got distracted by.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Darknest: A Dark Fantasy Anthology [Review]

Darknest: A Dark Fantasy Anthology
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 30, 2014

Amazon: | Kindle |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Darknest Fantasy Erotica presents a collection from seven erotic authors sure to push you to the limits of your psyche.

In the darkest corners of your fantasies, these stories lurk. Waiting to tease and please, these shorts are darkly erotic, and will make you lust for orcs, shifters, demons and more!

Hunted by the Beast by Cerys du Lys: When the beast-cursed man of legends comes for her, desiring her as his mate, can Danya tame his savage ways and show him love, or will she unwittingly become some plaything for a monster, existing solely for his pleasure?

Too Perfect by J.M. Keep: In the future, women are a commodity to be traded and programmed for a single purpose. Andrea has been scientifically modified to be the perfect woman, but when she's gifted to a young man by his father, he recognizes her: His unrequited crush.

A Heaven of Hell by A. Vivian Vane: Can a holy angel of Heaven tempt one of Lucifer's fallen back to righteousness? Even if it were possible, hot and heavy pegging probably wouldn't be the way to go about it...but that won't stop one angelic beauty from trying in this sinful short!

A Different Prince Charming by Maria N. Lang: A collision between a victorious elven general and a human princess whose father has just lost a battle – and with it, her innocence.

The Master by Kaye Skellington: When one visits the Orc General's court, all eyes are on the delicate elven face of his wife. They search her expression keenly, but do they know her? Does anyone?

The Dressmaker's Doll by Leona D. Reish: Fresh out of college, the opportunity to work under the reclusive bachelor – mysterious and renowned tailor Julian Landon – in his secluded villa felt like a fairy tale for young Amy. As the days pass, Amy is reminded that those fairy tales were once much darker things, as circumstance see her fall helplessly into a world of darker passion and submission to the man training her in far more powerful and sensual ways than she could have ever imagined.

The Backwater Look by P.B. Tae: It’s 1925 and Charles and Rebecca are midway through their honeymoon tour of New England. Unfortunately for the two newlyweds, they didn’t count on the local residents and their dark, twisted secrets. Not to mention the things that lurk in the night and skulk out of the ocean depths to visit the world above. Charles and Rebecca are certainly due to discover exactly what the backwater look really is.
**These stories are dark erotica and contain graphic violence, strong sexual content and explicit language and are meant for adults.**

Thoughts on Darknest: A lot dark, a lot sexy, and very intriguing. Not for the faint of heart.

Hunted by the Beast by Cerys du Lys - I liked this one. Dark, sexy, and with a heroine who isn't ashamed of using sex to get what she wants. Or needs. She's just not ashamed of sex. I like that in characters. I like that a lot.

Too Perfect by J.M. Keep - A wonderfully creepy, dark look at love and engineered lust in the future. I liked the divide between Andrea's and Rick's thoughts as their tryst progresses. She's bent on serving, he's looking for the bright girl he once knew.

A Heaven of Hell by A. Vivian Vane -Whoa. Holy hot angels, Batman. I'm totally down with this dirty, sexy, smoldering tale of one angel trying to bring a Fallen back into the fold.

A Different Prince Charming by Maria N. Lang - An unexpected twist left me LIKING this one. Submission and dominance, victor and victim are explored, yet it's that twist that had me reading feverishly to the end. LIKE.

The Master by Kaye Skellington - Aww. The Orc General is unexpectedly romantic. He loves his slave wife and listens when she advises him. I like that in an Orc.

The Dressmaker's Doll by Leona D. Reish -Dark, dark story of love and ... err, other creepy things. Gonna be honest, I did like the darkness. It was just the right amount of creepy and sexy.

The Backwater Look by P.B. Tae - The thing I took from this story is to never stop in a rundown town or you might lose yourself to the locals. And the thing the locals worship. A dark, creepy, sexy good time.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Shadows and Light by Melissa Haag [Review]

Three paranormal novellas

Reap the Shadow, Slay the Light
I don’t know what I am, but I’m not human...and neither are the creatures that killed my mom. Running will only carry me so far because there’s a darkness within me, ready to destroy me, and a burning light, begging for escape. It’s the light that screams to my pursuers and works them into a frenzy. Though the darkness might kill me, releasing the light might kill us all...

WarWolf: Half breed
Ema fights to suppress her werewolf emotions and deny her warlock powers. It isn’t easy being a half-breed, but she is determined to slide through life unnoticed by either group. When the warlock leaders team up with humans to force paranormal registration, Ema believes she must choose between her two unwanted worlds. An unexpected companion shows her not all emotions are bad, and power has its benefits.

Moved
“Werewolves are real but the legends are wrong...”
It’s the secret Gillian’s father has tried to keep from her and the reason he’s so overprotective. But, he goes too far when he exiles Gillian to a house in the middle of nowhere. Her new landlord, Racer, is more like a cute jailer who has strict orders to keep her safely trapped.
Battle lines between independence and obligation are drawn as Gillian decides just how far she’s willing to go to win back her freedom. And Racer needs to decide what he’s willing to endure to keep her close.

Thoughts on Shadows and Light: I thoroughly enjoyed all three of these stories. While I'm admittedly a sucker for the werewolves (WEREWOLVES!), I got a kick out of the whole set.

Reap the Shadow, Slay the Light: A different take on the eternal battle between good and evil and one I found intriguing. Phoebe's panic and pain over what she experienced is compounded by all the things she doesn't know about herself and what she is. Loved Willam's restraint and his desire to be there for her. *thumbs up*

WarWolf: Half Breed: A sweet, little story about a half-breed who is determined to deny both supernatural sides of herself and the werewolf who shows her that being her isn't bad. I kinda loved Declan. From his first slightly loopy appearance to that moment when he stands beside Ema no matter what. Which isn't to say Ema wasn't fun (watching the stranglehold she kept on her emotions crumble under Declan's relentless presence was a hoot), but Declan made the story for me. I like werewolves, okay! I LIKE WEREWOLVES!

Moved: Not going to lie, Racer and Gillian had a hilariously sexy thing going on. You know, as she attempted to drive him batshit crazy with her antics. Poor Racer had no idea what he was getting into when he took her on as a new tenant. Again, I LIKE WEREWOLVES!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Dead After Dark by Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward, Susan Squires, Dianna Love [Review]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312947984/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0312947984&linkCode=as2&tag=ufya-paranormalreviews-20

Shadow of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Angelia has fought her entire life to make herself strong. Now, with her patria under fire, she has to protect her people from Fury and his werewolf clan. Vowing to bring him to justice, Angelia sets out alone… until the hunter becomes the hunted, and the only way for her to survive is to trust the very wolf she's sworn to kill.

The Story of Son by J.R. Ward
Claire Stroughton is a beautiful lawyer who would rather spend the night with a legal brief than the man of her dreams. Then a routine client meeting turns dangerous—and deeply sensual—when she is held captive by a gorgeous man with an unworldly hunger…

Beyond the Night by Susan Squires
When Drew Carlowe returns home to win back a lost love, he is quick to dismiss rumors that his estate is haunted by a stunning young ghost…until one passionate encounter leaves him mystified—and aching for more.

Midnight Kiss Goodbye by Dianna Love
Trey McCree possesses an insatiable desire for Sasha Armand—and supernatural powers that could endanger her life as a human. But when they team up to stop an evil warlord, Trey discovers that Sasha can do way more than drive men wild…

Thoughts on Dead After Dark: I picked up this book when I realized it had both a Were-Hunter and BDB story in it. *makes grabby hands*

Shadow of the Moon (Were-Hunter #4.5) - Aww.... Fury. He's one of those guys so relentlessly abrasive that you can't help but like him. And I do. Between his awful childhood and the way he was treated when it was revealed he was a wolf, it's no wonder he does everything he can to push people away. Including his family. While I understand that Angelia was misled and kept in the dark as to what the Katagaria are capable of, she's darn lucky Fury has a thing for her and was able to forgive her. I loved seeing Vane and Fang and the Peltier clan again. *thumbs up*

The Story of Son (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6.6) - OMG. This is the type of story I've come to adore from J.R. Ward. It's painful and beautiful and I would LOVE to see more of Michael and Claire. I honestly adored this one. It's all the violent awesomeness of the BDB without the Lessers. *thumbs up*

Beyond the Night (Companion #6.5) - I really liked this one. I haven't read anything in this series previously but I had no problem jumping in and figuring out what was what. Freya and Drew were interesting together, although it was Freya's plight that intrigued me more. That she was willing to cast off her persona as a ghost to save Drew got me. Not to mention, as a woman in that time, she didn't have a lot of options. She did what she had to do to give herself time to heal. *thumbs up*

Midnight Kiss Goodbye (Belador) - I really didn't know what I was reading for most of this one. It seems like there's some interesting world building but I never quite fell into the characters' heads. This one might have been better off having some familiarity with the world and issues.

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