Bitten by Paranormal Romance

We're Smitten with Em Petrova and a giveaway

2012-02-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

Crashinto Me

ByEm Petrova

Stimulating moments and music seem to gohand-in-hand. I think we’ve all heard that one song on the radio that sends usback in time to a school dance, when we swayed in the arms of a boy we crushedon. ( If I tell you mine, it will give away my age.) Or we hear a song wedanced to at our weddings and the warmth of the day spreads through us.

For me, as an erotic romance writer, I also usesongs as my muse. One of my FAVORITE songs to write sex scenes to is Crash into Me by Dave Matthews Band.

Okay, so disregard the video elements because no onereally understands videos anyway, right? But listen to those lyrics—it justscreams tortured hero, doesn’t it? A man who longs for a woman so much he canthink of little else. He sleeps, eats, dreams, and breathes her.

Also, the song has the perfect rhythm to make loveto—hips bumping, lips meeting, clothes peeling off, skin caressed… You can seehow this song inspires a love scene every time!

What are your favorite love songs? I’d love to hear your choices! And please read on for a special excerpt from my latest release Outlaws of Love.

Blurb:

Upon traveling west to marry, Annabelle Stephenslonged to leave her nickname of Sweetheart Annie and the strict rules of Bostonsociety behind, but the taboo freedom she faces wasn’t exactly what she had inmind. When a sexy outlaw storms into her rented room and kidnaps her, she’sembroiled in a dangerous game with not one man, but two.

Until now Xander Hollis wanted one thing—or maybetwo—to stop the Southern Gorge Railroad from stealing the homesteaders’ land,and to act on his desires with his partner in crime James. Like Robin Hoods ofthe old west, he and James embark on a mission to rob from the rich and give tothe poor. When he refuses to let go of the woman who could identify him, hefinds he’s in true danger. Danger of losing his heart to the heiress of thevery railroad corporation he struggles to bring down.

EXCERPTRATED PG-

Witha shiver of apprehension, Annabelle sank into the hip bath that was filled withtepid water. She glared at the wooden plank door of her rented room, daringanyone to come through it uninvited. What kind of place was this? She’d heardthe West was uncivilized, but had never dreamed that there wouldn’t be locks onthe doors. What was she going to do tonight?

Shecast a glance around the small, dingy space, hoping to see a piece of furnituresubstantial enough to stop an intruder but light enough she could shift on herown. Her gaze lighted on the single set of drawers -- tall and as broad as aman. Well, she mused. Not any man. She’d seen her fair share of stout,pasty men on her travels across the country by stagecoach. Knowing she now hadthe freedom to look at whomever she chose without the intrusive gazes ofsociety on her sent a thrill through her.

Ofcourse, there was the small matter of her escort, a newly married couple whowere friends of her father. But they were often too caught up in each other tonotice where her gaze landed. Now the Clarks were on the other side of thehotel, and she couldn’t help but wonder if they’d gotten a room with a lock.

Shewished she had thought of the unlocked door before slipping into the bath. Sheshould have moved that chest of drawers first. But the heated depths had calledto her. After her dusty travels, she wanted nothing more than to peel off hergrungy clothes and enjoy a soak. It wasn’t until she had gotten into the waterthat the problem occurred to her. After all, she didn’t need a lock to batheback in Boston.

I’llhurry.

Quickly,she lifted the linen cloth she’d brought all the way from home and began washing.At one time the cloth had been white as a dove and scented with lavender. Nowit was stained from the road dust that had caked her skin daily for the pastmonth. But it was the cleanest she had.

Shehastily swirled the cloth in the water and ran it over her sticky throat anddown her shoulders. Just as she reached the crest of her breasts, the doorburst inward.

Ashrill scream bubbled up her throat. Before she could let it out, a huge bruteof a man stomped across the room and clamped a hand over her mouth. Shestruggled beneath his steely grip, tasting the salt of his flesh and drowningin the musky scent of male mingled with leather and horses.

Shejackknifed into a ball instinctively, curling up like a possum as she tried tohide her soft, womanly parts from this monster’s gaze -- and worse -- histouch.

Again,she opened her mouth to scream.

Heleveled his gaze on her, the depths of his eyes speaking to her loud and clear.

Ifshe wasn’t quiet, he’d kill her.

Sheswallowed the cry, staring over his fingers with horror as he one-handedlyunbuttoned his shirt and tore it off. The thick cloth hit the floor in a cloudof dust. And then he was stepping into the tub with her, lifting her andplopping her smack dab across his hard thighs to claim her mouth.

Herheart drummed nearly out of her chest. What was he going to do to her? At thispoint, death seemed a better alternative to being violated by this man. She’dbe soiled forever -- and her fiancé wouldn’t accept her.

Asquawk escaped her, and her attacker sealed his mouth more securely over hers,cutting off all noise and air.

Atthat moment, the door burst open again. A whoosh of cool breeze washed over herbare shoulders and back. Help me! Before she could utter a sound, theman restrained her further by slipping his fingers around her throat.

Toan outsider, it might have seemed a loving gesture, but any thought of escapefled as his rough fingertip settled over her pulse. His thumb pressed thehollow of her throat. If she dared to move, he could choke the breath from her.Or snap her neck. Judging from the hard muscles beneath her, she knew a flickof his wrist would break her neck.

“Oh!Sorry, madam.” A man gulped a breath of air from the doorway. “I mean nodisrespect. I was looking for a criminal.”

Theman in the tub with her kept on kissing her like they were alone, angling hishead and plunging his tongue deep into her mouth until she was dizzy for air.

Em Petrova

~where wordsmean so much more~

BUY OUTLAWS OF LOVE

Ms. Petrova is graciously offering one digital title from her BACKLIST to one of today's commenters. Please answer her question and be sure to leave your email address in the comments. (WOW!!! Did you take a look at that backlist - smokin'!!!) The giveaway runs through February 17, 2012 and is open to residents of the US only.

Getting Smitten with Suzanne Rock and Her Leading Men with a Giveaway

2012-02-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

Top Five Most Romantic (and Sexy) Leading Men In the Movies

Hi everyone! With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, people turn to all things romantic, and that includes romantic movies. I don’t know about any of you, but when I think of romantic movies, I always think of the sexy leading men. These guys charge onto the silver screen and sweep the heroine off her feet. They sweep *us* off our feet as well. So for this blog, I thought I’d list my top five most romantic leading men. Do you agree with me? Let’s see…

#5 – Patrick Swayze – Dirty Dancing This was a tough call for me, since I loved him in “Ghost” too, but since Dirty Dancing ended up on a more upbeat note, I went with that. ;)

Favorite Line – “Nobody Leaves Baby in the Corner”

He’s the tough yet sexy dancer who loves Baby for who she is and gives her the self-confidence to stand up for what she believes in. What’s not to like?

#4 – Collin Firth – Bridget Jones’ Diary

Favorite Line – “No, I like you very much. Just as you are.”

He’s shy, he’s a little self-deprecating, and he had me as soon as I saw him in that ridiculous Christmas sweater.

#3 – Richard Gere – Pretty Woman

Favorite line – "You and I are such similar creatures Vivian. We both screw people for money”

A rich businessman sweeps a girl off her feet and gives her everything she desires? Sign me up!

#2 – Humphrey Bogart - Cassablanca

Favorite Line – “Here’s looking at You, kid.”

Perhaps my favorite movie of all time. Who doesn’t fall in love with Ricky and his bar? It’s so romantic, so tragic, so beautiful. Truly a classic.

#1 – Michael Douglas – Romancing the Stone

Favorite line – “You’re the best time I’ve ever had.”

Hey – I’m a romance author, how could this NOT make the top of the list? I think almost every romance author points to this movie as one of their favorites. Perhaps we all have a little Kathleen Turner in us, and we all hope that Michael Douglas will come in and sweep us off our feet. ;)

So there you have it – my favorite top five romantic movies. Do you agree? Is there a movie I left off the list? Tell me about it!

Velvet Steel

Genres: Contemporary, erotic m/m/f

ISBN: 978-1-61118-737-3

Length: Category

Buy Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Velvet-Steel.aspx

Shane and Noah set out to seduce Kitty Velvet intoselling them her family’s struggling steel company on their terms. They plan aweekend of deception and sexual adventure to convince her to give up thebusiness she had spent her life keeping afloat. As they begin their passionategetaway, things don’t go as planned. Instead of putting their rival out ofbusiness, they gain deeper feelings for the feisty blond – and for each other.With their world upside down, Shane and Noah must now decide if businessambitions are worth losing a chance at something bigger than money, and moreprecious than owning a steel empire.

Kitty has worked hard to keep Velvet Steel afloat, butchanging technologies and the growth of their rivals have made the company’scontinued viability almost impossible. As she embarks on an erotic weekend todistress and regroup, she develops feelings for two strangers who turn out tobe the very men who had made her life a living hell for the past year. Issaving her family business worth losing her only chance at love?

Excerpt:

“Well,Ms. Kitty, would you like to dance?” Shane asked.

“Don’tbe silly, Shane, of course the lady would like to dance.” Noah stood, blockingher view of the dance floor. “She wouldn’t be here otherwise, would she?”

Kittyagreed. “You want me to dance with both of you?”

“Wouldyou prefer only one of us?” Shane’s eyes twinkled with mischief.

“I--” She shifted her gaze between the men. While Shane was broad and rugged,Noah was long and lean. Black hair, cut on the short side, curled around hisears and gave him a scholarly appearance. There was nothing scholarly about hisbody, however. Hard and chiseled, Noah looked like one of those internationalsoccer players she liked to watch during the World Cup.

“I’veheard dancing with two men can be more…stimulating.” Noah’s voice trickled overher like a caress. “Isn’t that right, Shane?”

Kittynoticed how Noah’s voice hardened on his friend’s name and stifled a wince. Howcould she be such an idiot? She had probably offended them. “I’m sorry. Ididn’t mean to --”

Shaneglanced at his friend and frowned. “No, we are the ones who are sorry.” Heremoved his fingers from her thigh and smiled. “A beautiful lass like youprobably has a man waiting for her.”

“No,no man.”

“Good.”Shane’s features softened as he brushed her cheek with his knuckle. “Then youhave no excuse not to dance” -- he flicked his gaze to Noah -- “with both ofus.” He returned his attention to her. “Come on.” He stood and held out hishand.

Thiswas so sudden. Kitty had a ritual. First she’d have her martini and evaluatethe crowd; then she’d pick out someone who seemed nonthreatening. Then she’dapproach him and offer to buy him a drink.

“Comeon.” Shane winked and tugged her to her feet. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

Kittystared at Shane’s back as the men led her away from the table. This whole thingseemed surreal. Taboo was infamous for its sexually charged atmosphere.Stepping on the dance floor was like taking part in an orgy without actuallyhaving sex. No, sex was saved for the reserved areas and VIP rooms upstairs. The dance floor was fordisplaying a person’s sexual prowess and for capturing a lover for the evening.

Soonshe would be joining the erotic fray -- with two dance partners. The thought ofthe three of them pressed close together caused her skin to tingle withanticipation. It would be different. Exciting. Just what she needed to forgetabout her father and Velvet Steel.

Shanedropped her hand and started to move. Kitty stood, stunned at the large man’sgracefulness. Shane seemed like he had been born on the dance floor.

Noahstepped up from behind and touched her shoulder. “Go on, don’t be shy.”

Kittyclosed her eyes and concentrated on the techno beat, letting it infuse herbody. Gradually the weight of the world fell away, and she became light-headed.She tilted her head back and lifted her arms in silent salutation to the strobelights above.

Firstshe swayed her hips. When she found the rhythm, she swished her arms in time tothe music. It was divine. She let the music lift her spirit up into the raftersand blank her mind to all but the steady thrum of the beat.

Shanesnaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close. She could tell it wasShane because his broad chest surrounded her in heat and sexual energy. Noah’sthinner frame could never pull off such a feat. She felt good in Shane’s arms.Safe. Her position as the CEO’s daughter had forced her to have atough-as-nails attitude, but now, with these men close to her, Kitty feltherself letting go, becoming more malleable, submissive. She wanted to leaninto all that hard muscle and cocoon herself away from the world, if only for alittle while. Kitty molded her body against his and let herself become lost inthe music.

Shane’sgrip tightened. “You smell like cherries.” He slipped his knee between herlegs.

“Myshampoo.” What made her say that? It didn’t matter. She pressed her breastsharder against his chest. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest. It feltso intimate. Their hips began to move as one. Heat poured through her body asshe rubbed her thighs against the rough fabric of his jeans. She imaginedherself, legs spread, his hard cock thrusting deep inside her body. Would he begentle like the man she’d found the last time she was in the club? She hopednot. All week Kitty had had to make tough decisions for work. Tonight shewanted to be controlled and dominated. She didn’t want to have to think.

Shaneleaned forward and traced the rim of her earlobe with his tongue. “You tastegood enough to eat.”

Anotherhard body pressed against her back. “Let me try, Shane.” Noah kissed the baseof her neck. Kitty moaned as liquid heat shot through her center and settledbetween her thighs. How did these men know just what she wanted? Kitty's skintingled as every inch came into contact with hard, male muscle. She felt as ifshe were drowning in testosterone, and God help her, she loved it.

“You’reright. She is sweet.” Noah repeatedthe kiss, this time letting his tongue linger on her skin. “She purrs just likea kitten too.”

Kitty’slower abdomen clenched, and her thighs became damp with need. She closed hereyes and bit back a groan as Noah’s lips once again brushed her skin.

“Howinteresting.” Shane inched his hand down until it rested on her hip. “I wonderif you can make her purr louder so I can hear it better over the music.”

“It would be my pleasure.” Noahwrapped his hand around her middle and slid his fingers under her top.

Kitty opened her eyes in surprise.His touch felt warm, much warmer than she'd expected in the air-conditionedclub. She held her breath as Noah eased his hand under her bra.

"Oh, Shane, you need tofeel this," he said.

Shane arched his brow and leanedback to study her face. "Too much for you, lass?"

Kitty slowly shook her head. Itwasn't too much to have these two men surrounding her. In fact, it felt justright.

Shane smiled. "Good,because Noah and I are just beginning."

~~~Suzanne Rock~~~

Love Immortalized,Destinies Fulfilled

Bio:

After overa decade in the scientific world, Suzanne needed a creative outlet. She triedscrap booking, cooking, crocheting, painting, and piano, none of which held herinterest for very long. Then one of her friends suggested writing. Thrilled withthe idea of creating her own worlds, she opened up her lap top and never lookedback.

WhenSuzanne’s not writing, she can be found playing with her two daughters, testingher husband’s latest kitchen creations, or curled up with her favorite romancenovel in her central Massachusetts home.

Website: www.SuzanneRock.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SuzanneRockAuthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Suzanne_Rock

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/suzanne-rock/39/832/9a4

Online Writing classes: http://suzannerock.com/?page_id=64

Books on Writing (with Em Petrova): http://smolderingheat.wordpress.com/

Free Reads: http://suzannerock.com/?page_id=626

Kyron Pack Series (werewolf): http://suzannerock.com/?page_id=100

Unholy Series (demons): http://suzannerock.com/?page_id=858

Immortal Ream Series (a little bit of everythingparanormal): http://suzannerock.com/?page_id=139

Suzanne has graciously offered one digital copy of DARK DECEPTION, Book One of the Immortal Realms, to one reader of BBPR. To enter the giveaway, answer Suzanne's question in your comments along with leaving your email address. Giveaway runs through February 17, 2012 and is open to the residents of the US only.

Review The Sands of Time (The Witching Pen Novellas #2) by Dianna Hardy

2012-02-11T03:49:00.000-05:00

Title: The Sands of Time (The Witching Pen Novellas #2)
Author: Dianna Hardy
Source: Author request
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Length: novella/short novel at approx 40,000 words

Seven days ago, Elizabeth May tried to commit suicide. She was found by Paul, her husband, who took her under his wing and back to their home. But the attempted suicide is not Elizabeth's main problem -- Elizabeth can't remember who she is, or a single thing about her life beyond the past week.

Plagued by nightmares about a familiar black panther, and a terrifying snow leopard, she is convinced that the dreams are trying to show her something important, and is determined to regain her memories, one way or another.

Meanwhile, Pueblo -- the demon blood-bonded to the witch, Amy -- is going insane trying to find her. Amy disappeared one week ago, and it seems not even their bond is strong enough to penetrate whatever magic hides her.

As Pueblo enlists the help of angels and demons alike, Elizabeth begins to piece together parts of her forgotten life. But what she uncovers may just have her wanting to turn away from who she really is ... for good.

The second installment in the Witching Pen Trilogy was wonderful. It was passionate,entertaining and ,truly, a joy to read.

Picking up a week after the last novella, Pueblo is searching tirelessly for Amy who disappeared after the big showdown at the end of the last book. He accidentally blood bonded with her and his inner beast is going crazy without her.

Amy wakes with no memory of who or where she is. She's told her name is Elizabeth but it just doesn't seem right. All she knows for sure is that there's something (or someone) missing from her life. It's only when she dreams that she feels truly whole, because he is there.

I really enjoyed this read. Dianna Hardy does a fantastic job creating a world where demons aren't all bad and the power of a bond can prevail against even the strongest magic. I usually try to stay away from novellas and short novels because I'm afraid there won't be enough time for character or world development but not in this little gem. Not only was I surprised to find an in-depth plot but wonderfully established characters. I cannot recommend this series enough. I'm highly looking forward to the next installment (The Demon Bride) to be released in the summer :)

Vampires for Valentines giveaway hop

2012-02-10T08:01:00.000-05:00

Vampires for Valentines giveaway hosted by Felicity Heaton

I have two brand new Sarah McCarthy Shadows Wrangler books, paper trade size. Please over look my bad picture, I knew I should have gotten my daughter to take it LOL Anyhoo, if you want a couple of hot cowboy vamps fill out the raffecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Smitten with Katie Reus and ALPHA INSTINCT with giveaway

2012-02-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

Awright - Let's get this party started!!! Please welcome Ms. Katie Reus for the kick-off of BBPR Smitten with Film and Music. What yummy does she have in store for us..........

Katie Reus

Thanks so much for letting me bloghere during Smitten with Film and Music!

Music is a formof poetry and while I’m not a huge fan of poetry, I love music. It has the power to change my mood, which is often agood thing. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of nursery rhymes (new baby inthe house!) but in the mornings I usually go for a jog/walk and I ALWAYS bringmy iPod along. On my current play list you’ll find artists such as Foster thePeople, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Fitz and the Tantrums, Macy Gray, BreakingBenjamin…and I could go on forever. I like to have a mix of everything, butwhen walking I usually keep it upbeat until that final stretch where I’mwarming down.

Music, just likereading/books, is so subjective. And thank God for that. What one person mightconsider the sexiest song alive might be like fingernails on a chalkboard tosomeone else. When Artemis let me know that the theme for the next couple ofdays was Smitten with Film & Music, I knew music would be my topic ofchoice.

When I think ofsexy music, there is one man that immediately comes to mind. Marvin Gaye. I’mcompletely smitten with his voice. It’s like pure sex and if I could bottle itup, I totally would. Let’s Get It On is one of my all-time favorite songs.There is nothing subtle about thatsong. The lyrics are so in-your-face sex and when I hear it, I can’t help butwant to dance just a little (or a lot). With lyrics like: ‘Let's love, baby,Let's get it on, sugar’, ‘I'm askin' you, baby to get it on with me’, and ‘Ifthe spirit moves you, let me groove you good’ that song is just plain sexiness.It’s an older song, but to me it will always be a classic.

I tried to find agood video with Marvin Gaye but could only find one with the lyrics. Andreally, all I’m interested in is the lyrics and his voice anyway!

While Marvin Gayehas a voice I’m absolutely smitten with, there are two other men who havevoices with the ability to make me melt. They’re not musicians (that I know of)but Mike Rowe & Sean Connery also have delicious voices. Yum!

What about you?What song when you hear it makes you want to melt? Or, ahem, ‘dance’? One reader who comments on the blog today willbe randomly selected to win a print copy of Alpha Instinct (US eligible only), the first book in my new paranormal series.Good luck and thanks so much for stopping by!

Alpha Instinct official blurb:

Fear has a scent. So doesdesire…

Ana Cordona has been a strongleader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of thefemales in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with noAlpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants toclaim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes backinto her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Anaforget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer tomate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again,it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries outfor it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of theircomplicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyondhis burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determinednot to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack arenot their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Theirplan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entirepack…

A little aboutme: I’ve been reading romance since a young age—ever since I discovered mymom’s hidden stash. Luckily the addiction stayed with me into adulthood. Iwrite paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense for Carina Press, Harlequin Nocturne, and NAL/Signet Eclipse. To learn more about me please visit my website, my blog, facebook orfind me on twitter @katiereus.

Thanks again forletting me blog here today!

To enter the giveaway be sure to answer Katie's question and leave your email address in the comments. Giveaway runs through February 17, 2012 - US only.

Review Death Wish by Danielle Blanchard Benson

2012-02-09T04:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Death Wish (The Vamp Saga #1)
Author: Danielle Blanchard Benson
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook 304 pgs
Release Date: November 2, 2011
Eight years into the future...

Vampires not only exist, they control the Pharmaceutical Industry, the Global Six, the Gaming Industry and the world.

Manon Mourey, a Let It Ride card dealer at Transylvania Hotel, Spa & Casino in Summerlin, is nothing special when Mikkel Damgaard enters her life.

Fortunately for Manon, she holds the key to turn not only herself but Mikkel into Day Walkers, the elite who will replace vampires at the top of the food chain. Their superior position causes a war which could consume not only the International Vampire Council but the world entire because Day Walkers don't share the same taste for mortal blood as their predecessors...

Rating:	Sexual:
~~ 3.5 ~~

My Review:

3.5 Stars!! Vampires, werewolves, warlocks and the like are out in the open and running many of the companies and the infrastructure. There is a new world order in 2020 and the author, gratefully, included a who's who in her world in the front of the story to alleviate confusion about her world.

This is Manon's story set in Vegas. She's called into work on her day off because the owner, a vamp, wants to play the game only she deals at her table. After a playing a few hours, he tells her she is the one he's been waiting for -- for more than 1300 years. Did I mention Manon's not the least bit fond of vampires? She is courted by Mikkel but almost immediately she begins to accept him and the situation, of course this is after being told the alternative is death. I guess I would either run or accept too.

Mikkel is a gorgeous and powerful vamp on the IVC (the ruling council) with vacillating and mercurial emotions.

She is basically disowned by her twin brother, her only remaining family, when she makes the decision to stay with Mikkel even though he is hiding some stuff from her himself.

With her change, Manon becomes a rather ruthless and bloodthirsty hybrid. What happened to the little self-conscious mouse with self-esteem issues? She becomes a new kind of vampire and Mikkel does as well after drinking from her.

Most of the sex takes place 'off screen'. With all the angst and underlying betrayal Manon finds herself falling in love with Mikkel.

The story starts off really good but then gets bogged down in several places by a bunch of long winded speeches made by characters. There is too much dialog and too little action.

The reasons I didn't rate this higher are: Manon's acceptance of Mikkel and her situation is done a little to blithely and quickly for my taste. But this is supposed to be fiction, right?
Mikkel comes off as an egotistical ass and has done some things that should have pissed Manon off but doesn't. Good looks only go so far and then he opens his mouth.
She's okay with a lot of the forced changes in her life because she feels like she's known him for forever but this is never really explored or explained for the reader.
She doesn't get pissed at her brother for not telling her many of the things he knows that he should have told her.
A council meeting is called for a specific reason but most of the entire time is taken up by an issue that is totally beside the point.

I did like this story and hope the series gets better and better with each new book. This has the potential to become a very interesting series but is more urban fantasy than paranormal romance.

Includes sneak peeks at Better Off Dead the sequel to this and The Beginning, the first book in The Plague series.

Review Can I Keep You by Candy Nicks

2012-02-09T02:30:00.002-05:00

Title: Can I Keep You
Author: Candy Nicks
Source: Self purchase
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel

When Kane picks up a runaway on the streets of Victorian England his only thought is to have a few days of amusement and a decent meal. He is a vampire, after all – it's what he does.

Laura has to be the most unconvincing whore he's ever met. She soon finds out that there are ways other than brute force and strength to bring a vampire to his knees.

As they fall in love, she becomes the catalyst for his astonishing journey of redemption, bringing back all-too-painful memories of Harry, the gentle man he once was. It's not an easy road. Along the way they encounter forces of evil that have other plans for Laura and Kane. And the question neither of them really wants to answer hovers in the background. Does he turn her into a vampire like himself and risk losing her? Or will a human lifetime together be enough?

OMG OMG. I know I sound like a 12 year old girl, but I LOVED this book. Kane's character is so dynamic. He is a mix between the demon that now resides in him and the earnest young man, Harry, that he used to be. It's one of the most original takes on vampirism I've ever read. Laura is a lost soul. When Kane first sees her he knows she's something different.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when Kane tries to describe what he sees when he looks at Laura,

"You have a different kind of strength. Yours isn't physical, it comes from inside.." "You still have the capacity to love and inspire love."

And inspire love is just what she does. It may be an unconventional, but nothing less than fantastic.
If you adore vampires, stories of redemption, powerful sex scenes, and extreme devotion between two people I highly recommend this title.

Review Midnight Reckoning by Kendra Leigh Castle + Giveaway

2012-02-08T05:00:00.005-05:00

Title: Midnight Reckoning

Series: Dark Dynasties #2

Author: Kendra Leigh Castle

Source: Publisher Request

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format: Mass Market Paperback
Length: 334 pages

Release Date: January 1, 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two separate worlds ...
One passion that binds them

Wild and passionate by nature, Lyra Black is not just any werewolf. She's the future leader of the powerful pack of the Thorn - if she can stay alive long enough to inherit the title.

One of the Cait Sith bloodline of vampire cat-shifters, Jaden Harrison has no interest in the wars plaguing the world of night. But when he rescues Lyra from a violent attack, they're both captured by an insatiable desire that threatens to overwhelm them and bind them together for eternity... just as ancient enemies prepare to strike. And when they do, the Thorn and the Cait Sith - and Lyra and Jaden's love - may never recover from the deadly blow...

Rating:	Sexual:

My Review:

I loved Dark Awakening, the first book in this series, so I had very high hopes for this story. Castle didn't disappoint me with this sequel.

Betrayal, forbidden desire, shattered dreams and an unlikely romance come together to make this a not to be missed read. I couldn't put it down and was so involved in the story I was surprised to reach the end so soon. I definitely want to read more about the characters in, and visit, Castle's Dark Dynasties world again soon.

It is not necessary to have read the first story in the series to understand what is going on but you should if only to understand Jaden better as well as the vampires of Castle's world.

This time it is Jaden's turn to find his special someone. Jaden is a vampire cat shifter. Lyra is a werewolf and pack alpha contender, hopefully. Who said dogs and cats can't play nice together?

Jaden had thought his sudden desire for her when they first met at the safe house in the first book, which didn't go too well, had just been an adrenalin induced, sick "fluke". But there'd been the sexy dreams. He was "appalled" to think he could actual want a werewolf.

They are both struggling to not give into their desires. It is forbidden -- especially from the wolves' point of view. For the vamps -- it simply isn't done. She could lose everything she's ever known, worked toward and loved if she gives into her desires for Jaden.

She is stunned when her dad hires Jaden to teach her to fight the bigger males, to give her a fighting chance to stay alive.

Includes a sneak peak at Shadow Rising, the third book in the series, and an excerpt from the first book in the series, Dark Awakening.

I am eagerly awaiting the third book in the series, Shadow Rising. Paranormal romance, vampire, and shifter fans, even urban fantasy fans, will enjoy this one. Put it on your wish list today.

Where To Find Kendra: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(ppbk) | Kindle | B&N (ppbk) | Nook
Book Extras: A Guide to the Dynasties

GIVEAWAY

Giveaway and Contest Policy

Feb 8 (5:00 am EST) - 11 (11:59 pm EST), 2011

Open to US only, sorry

Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, is giving away a print copy of Midnight Reckoning to three lucky winners.

No P.O. boxes are allowed, only one prize per household and the books will be sent to the winners directly from the publisher.

To enter, follow the directions in the Rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review Unclean Spirits by M.L.N. Hanover

2012-02-08T04:30:00.004-05:00

Title: Unclean Spirits (The Black Sun's Daughter #1)
Author: M.L.N. Hanover
Source: Publisher Request
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback, 357 pages
Release Date: December 2nd 2008

In a world where magic walks and demons ride, you can't always play by the rules.

Jayné Heller thinks of herself as a realist, until she discovers reality isn't quite what she thought it was. When her uncle Eric is murdered, Jayné travels to Denver to settle his estate, only to learn that it's all hers -- and vaster than she ever imagined. And along with properties across the world and an inexhaustible fortune, Eric left her a legacy of a different kind: his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.

Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination. Jayné finds it difficult to believe magic and demons can even exist, let alone be responsible for the death of her uncle. But Coin sees Eric's heir as a threat to be eliminated by any means -- magical or mundane -- so Jayné had better start believing in something to save her own life.

Aided in her mission by a group of unlikely companions -- Aubrey, Eric's devastatingly attractive assistant; Ex, a former Jesuit with a lethal agenda; Midian, a two-hundred-year-old man who claims to be under a curse from Randolph Coin himself; and Chogyi Jake, a self-styled Buddhist with mystical abilities -- Jayné finds that her new reality is not only unexpected, but often unexplainable. And if she hopes to survive, she'll have to learn the new rules fast -- or break them completely....

Rating:	Sexual:

My Review:

(We don't usually review urban fantasy here at Bitten but when given the chance to read the whole four book series at one time, WildAboutBones jumped at the chance.)

Good, evil, a kickass heroine, humor, a little bit of romance ... oh, and the vamps and werewolves here aren't the kind you'd like to snuggle up to even if they can be funny and decent for a little while.

Hanover has created an entirely different mythos for the vamps, werewolves, demons and other beasties found in his world.

There's killing, betrayal, huge evil to battle and more for a small band of misfits, some of who are not what they seem and are hiding secrets. Action filled and fast paced, before you know it, you're immersed in Hanover's world and you're halfway through the book. The next time you look up, you've reached the end.

Eric Heller was killed just as the plan was coming together. His twenty-three year old niece, Jayne' Heller is stunned to learn her favorite uncle has left everything to her -- and there is a lot. It seems he was very, very wealthy.

When she decides to check out one of his properties and finds a corpse lying on the bed, she nearly faints. When it opens its eyes and says, "You aren't Eric.", she screams, understandably, but manages to keep it together and have a conversation with it. Turns out the corpse's name is Midian and he was born "the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and eighty motherfucking nine."

For a gal with trust issues, all the secrets are like a one-two punch and the hurts just keep on coming. But then again, she has a power she wasn't aware of coming on line she's not versed in how to use.

After reading this book, I don't understand why the series is named the Black Sun's Daughter yet. There is a single reference to a Black Sun but that's it. This is not a criticism, just an observation.

A great urban fantasy read. Looking forward to reading the sequel. Broaden your horizons, paranormal fans, and come over to the dark side for a little while and hang out with the bad boys.

Review Darker Angels by M.L.N. Hanover

2012-02-08T04:15:00.001-05:00

Title: Darker Angels (The Black Sun's Daughter #2)
Author: M.L.N. Hanover
Source: Publisher Request
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 360 pgs
Release Date: September 29, 2009

In the battle between good and evil, there's no such thing as a fair fight.

When Jayné Heller's uncle Eric died, she inherited a fortune beyond all her expectations -- and a dangerous mission in a world she never knew existed. Reining in demons and supernatural foes is a formidable task, but thankfully Jayné has vast resources and loyal allies to rely on. She'll need both to tackle a bodyswitching serial killer who's taken up residence in New Orleans, a city rich in voodoo lore and dark magic.

Working alongside Karen Black, a highly confident and enigmatic ex-FBI agent, Jayné races to track down the demon's next intended host. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems. When shocking secrets come to light, and jealousy and betrayal turn trusted friends into adversaries, Jayné will soon come face-to-face with an enemy that knows her all too well, and won't rest until it has destroyed everything she loves most...

Rating:	Sexual:

My Review:

(We don't usually review urban fantasy here at Bitten but when given the chance to read the whole four book series at one time, WildAboutBones jumped at the chance.)

This is the second in the Black Sun's Daughter series and takes place about a year after Eric's death. This time the action moves to New Orleans and Voodoo's Loas are the riders du jour.

Hanover uses a lot of foreshadowing to ramp up the tension. There is a little more romance and a little heartbreak in this one as another attraction begins to show itself more clearly. There is non-stop action and Jayne' gets damn near beat to death several times but she's growing into her role.

Readers are introduced to Karen Black, an FBI agent who's been on the trail of a rider for quite some time. And yet she is not what she seems to be. I missed the character of Midian in this one.

Jayne' is having a rough time this go round. I must say I kinda like the heroine not having all the answers, not making all the right decisions and being vulnerable but at the same time can still bust some ass even if she gets seriously hurt at the same time.

I am still not sure as of the end of this book why the series has been named Black Sun's Daughter. There is only one reference to Soleil Noir which is Black Sun in french.

This was written to be able to stand by itself but I recommend reading this series in order.

I do like this series and am looking forward to reading the third in the series.

Lucy in the Sky by Barbara Elsborg

2012-02-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Lucy in the Sky
Author: Barbara Elsborg
Source: Self purchase
Genre: Sci/Fi/Romance/Erotic
Length: Novel

When you find a spaceship in your backyard, what do you do? Choose from three:

Phone the police.

Scream.

Go yell at the alien for wrecking your garden.

Lucy confronts the inept pilot and the last option turns out to be both the right and wrong choice. She’s torn between fury that gorgeous alien hunk Three has decapitated her statue of Eros, and a longing that he enliven her boring life and whisk her to the stars. Three doesn’t give her a choice when he throws her over his shoulder and takes her into space. Lucy soon finds herself exploring alien territory in ways she never imagined.

Three’s efforts to hide and protect her on the mother ship are stymied by his inability to keep his hands off the luscious Lucy. But Three and Lucy are being observed. Three’s friend Hyll has been in unrequited lust with Three for years. And he wants what Lucy’s getting. When lust turns to love, it comes from a most unexpected quarter.

After reading, and loving Elsborg's Power of Love I had to see what else she had out there. I found Lucy in the Sky and the blurb seemed right up my ally. Unfortunately I was a bit let down. There wasn't enough background information about the alien culture that Lucy was introduced to, and Three's character seemed underdeveloped. The ramblings of Lucy were hilarious and the sex scenes were pretty darn hot, but I was expecting more. If you're looking for a book to make you giggle and get you hot without a whole lot of plot this is for you. I have days when I'm looking for books like this, but I guess yesterday just wasn't one of them.

Disclaimer: There are M/M scenes.

2012-02-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

Please welcome Donna Grant

Magic– Do you believe?

Itseems in every culture throughout history there has been mention of magic. Some would say it doesn’t exist, some wouldargue it does. How can something sowidely spoken about not be real? And ifit is real, how do you prove it?

Thewonderful thing about writing fiction is that I can include all kinds ofparanormal elements in my worlds. Theworld in my Dark Sword series is most definitely filled with magic. Both my heroines and heroes hold magic,though in different ways.

Myheroes are warriors with primeval gods inside them giving them immortality aswell as enhanced senses and the ability to control something be it water,people’s minds, or the very air you breathe. The gods also transform my Warriors. Each god favors a color, so when unleashed, the heroes turn the color oftheir god. They also have fangs andclaws, and some even have horns and wings. It has been fun matching heroes to their powers.

Myheroines are Druids, blessed with certain magical abilities that will aid theheroes in defeating the evil spreading over their world. There are two sects of Druids in the series –the mie, or pure Druids, who practice healing and using their magic forgood. Then there are the droughswho go through a ritual that binds their souls with evil to create black magic.

InDARKEST HIGHLANDER (Jan 31, 2012) the heroine, Sonya, is a Druid. Sonyais able to use her magic to heal, but she also holds very rare magic in beingable to communicate with the trees. Oneof her greatest fears, however, is that her magic will fail her when she needsit most. She will have to look deepinside herself, to the magic that is leaving her in order to save the one manwho holds her heart in his hands from the evil they’ve been fighting.

Inthe acclaimed Dark Sword series, the darkest, fiercest warriors of Scottishlegend finally meet their match—in the brave, fiery hearts of the women theycherish…

HE IS HER SALVATION

Foryears, Broc has watched over her, protected her—and hidden his love for her.But when his beautiful Sonya finds herself in a hopeless situation, theHighlander flies to her side to save her. Unfortunately, before the Druidesscan thank him, Broc is captured by his enemy and destined for eternal pain…

SHE IS HIS DESTINY

Sonyavows to help her noble warrior, though he is imprisoned in a mountain of pureevil—bound in chains of the darkest magic. With Sonya’s own magic fading, shemust summon the greatest power of all to save the man she loves. But even ifthese two hearts are united, will they be strong enough to defeat the heart ofdarkness? Or will their undying love doom them for all eternity…?

My question is: If you could haveany kind of power, what kind would you have?

I’llbe giving away a signed copy of SHADOW HIGHLANDER to a commenter so talkto me. J

Tofind out more about me, read more about the Dark Sword series, see pics of theWarriors, take the quiz, download wallpaper, read excerpts, search characters,or watch the book trailers please visit my website at www.donnagrant.com.

HappyReading!

Hugs,

Review Unholy Pursuits by Suzanne Rock

2012-02-07T00:15:00.001-05:00

Title: Unholy Pursuits
Author: Suzanne Rock
Source: Author Request
Format: eBook
Release Date: October 12, 2011

Darien let his guard down once, and Arianne stole the demon stone from under his nose. Now he has to get it back, no matter what the cost. It doesn't matter that the feisty redhead calms the voices in his head, or that her body tempts him beyond reason. Only the stone will ensure his survival. He decides to appeal to her feminine side and use gentle seduction to get it back. As he begins, something inside him changes and the voices in his head compel him to use pain to heighten desire.

As Darien's touch turns dark, Arianne's lust escalates and a connection forms between them. Yet despite her need, she can't let the sexy FBI agent have what he wants. If placed in the wrong hands, the stone would release an unholy force intent on destroying everything she loves-including Darien.

If only he wasn't so persuasive . . .

Rating

Sexual

Review
Darien is an FBI agent, working for a special unit that is aware of paranormal activity such as Deamhans and portals to Hell. He is determined to cross into Hell to destroy Bathin before he can send any more of his minions to earth to kill humans. Arianne is an Iatros Guard responsible for guarding the portal and protecting Earth from the Deamhans. Arianne has been watching Darien for a year, learning his every move because she knows his plans and she is determined to stop him. Crossing into Hell means death for him and his team. Though she tries, Darien still manages to cross over, unaware he has walked right into a trap.

Six months pass and somehow Darien is able to get back across the portal to Earth, but he has changed. He is now part Deamhan and is struggling to control it. He also stole a very important sword with a magical stone from Bathin and knows he must find a way to destroy it so Bathin will not have the power to cross the portal as well. Arianne wants the sword as well and hopes by finding a way to destroy the stone she can prove to her people she is worthy of her position and not a failure.

When Darien goes after Arianne to get the sword back, things really heat up. He intends to force her to give him the sword and answers to his questions, but soon realizes she soothes his inner Deamhan and both of them enjoy pain with their pleasure. While the story of the stone and Bathin is interesting, I never felt it was the focus of this book. The true focus is on the relationship between Darien and Arianne. Arianne soon realizes they are spirit mates and she is the only one who can help Darien prevent the Deamhan from taking over completely. She is determined to save him and he is determined not to hurt her. I really enjoyed watching their relationship evolve. They discover the magic they release when they have sex may just be the answer to all their problems, even destroying the stone. Why can't steamy, hot sex be the answer to all my problems?

Definitely worth a read, but be warned the sex scenes do involve mutual infliction of pain, in case that is not your thing.

Review Power of Love by Barbara Elsborg

2012-02-06T04:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Power of Love
Author: Barbara Elsborg
Source: Self purchase
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel

Joe is a lost soul.

When Joe is killed in the line of duty, the result of a blunder by his girlfriend Poppy, he ends up stuck between worlds, not quite in heaven, not quite in hell. Heaven is Poppy lying in his arms, hearing the sound of his name on her lips as he makes love to her, again and again. Hell is the knowledge that to save Poppy, he must convince her to let him go.

Poppy is a soul lost.

Joe was Poppy’s heart, her soul, and since he died she’s lost it all, including her sanity. Everywhere she looks, he’s there—talking to her, touching her, sharing ice cream, showers and making love to her like there’s no tomorrow. But tomorrow does come, and letting go of Joe could destroy her.

Sometimes love lasts a lifetime. Sometimes love reaches beyond death. Sometimes…love lasts forever.

Got a box of tissues? Good... you're going to need it.
Don't get me wrong there was plenty of humor in this story to have me grinning from ear to ear, but a tragic love story always gets my tear ducts flowing.

After an unfortunate event took the life of Poppy's boyfriend, Joe, she lets her guilt consume her to the point that she imagines he's still with her. When he actually shows up with a new set of wings she doesn't know whether she's finally gone off the deep end or if it's a miracle.

Wow, who would have thought angel sexin' could be so hot? The connection between Poppy and Joe, on a physical and emotional level, was so awesome that I thought my nook might burn up. Poppy's struggle with guilt over his death and Joe's battle with expressing his emotions make this such a wonderful story. The HEA was so amazing I even choked up a little at the end. It was just the thing I needed on a dreary, snowy day to bring a smile to my face :)

Review of Under the Covers (Red, Hot & Blue #3.5) by Cat Johnson

2012-02-06T00:05:00.001-05:00

Title: Under the Covers (Red, Hot & Blue #3.5)
Author: Cat Johnson
Source: Own Copy - Free Read
Genre: Erotic Romance - Older Woman/Younger Man
Author's Website

A free book offered from the author's website
Billy Bob (BB) Dalton thought he left his career as an underwear model behind when he became a Task Force Zeta special operative. Now they want him to be the military’s new poster boy. Will the older woman assigned to manage the campaign take BB from working undercover to under the covers

Rating -

Sexual -

My Review -

This was a very short novella which I finished in an hour but it was an hour of fun. BB is one hot and sexy 27 year old Special Ops who is also modest, brave and knows what he wants and goes for it, in this case Katie. Katie is almost 40 and she has many doubts in her head regarding a relationship with BB, especially all she can picture in her mind is him being with some 20-something who could bear his children in the future.

Loved the sexually energy between these two I just wishes it was much longer and we could see the relationship develop and see some more, detailed hot actions. I could really see the potential for this book being a full-length novel because of the development of the characters.

A fun read that had me laughing at some points during my train ride to work that made the other commuters wonder "what the hell is she reading?" LOL if they only knew.

Review Darkest Embrace (The Lanistter Chronicles, #1) by Robyn M. Pierce

2012-02-05T03:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Darkest Embrace (The Lanistter Chronicles, #1)
Author: Robyn M. Pierce
Source: Requested Review (Available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel (304 pgs)

While running away to escape the actions of her deceased father, Elyssa Smith is caught in the worst storm that Lanistter Isle has ever seen, forcing her to seek shelter in the only place nearby -- Lanistter Castle. Soon, however, it's made clear that the inhabitants of the castle are the ones she's running away from in the first place.

Zeke Lanistter is the head of the European Lanistter branch -- and a sadist through and through. He has bloody plans for Elyssa, and will stop at nothing to get rid of her.

Reid Lanistter is known by many for his womanizing. But when Elyssa enters the castle, he does all he can to protect her from Zeke, unexpectedly morphing into a one-woman man.

In a sinister turn of events, Reid becomes the danger to Elyssa's life, and it’s Zeke who finds himself doing whatever he can to protect Elyssa..

A blood contract, a prophecy, and a possession; what can it mean? A darn enthralling story.

Elyssa's your typical clumsy, late teen living life in a small town UNTIL she finds out that her dad traded his life for hers. When Elyssa finds out she's in danger of losing her freedom she tries to flee. Unfortunately, she runs straight to the worst possible place, the home of the vampire who now "owns" her. There she meets an interesting cast of characters. Zeke the crazy, blood loving eldest brother. Dmitri, the pushover with a tainted past. Wyatt, the clueless scientist. And Reid the womanizing bad boy. Not to mention a few mysterious ladies that have also found their way to Lanistter Castle. Along the way she makes friends with most of the residents of the castle and even finds love. Unfortunately, things find a way of turning sour. Feelings are hurt, an unexpected love rears it's head, and a hard decision must be made.

I really enjoyed this story and it's larger than life characters. It's written in the first person, each chapter jumps from the perspective of Elyssa, Zeke, and Reid. I thought it was a great way to get more out of the story. There have been many times, reading a book, I've wondered what the heck was going in a characters mind when he/she does something ridiculous. In this book you actually get to find out. The end is definitely open-ended but only leaves you wanting more!

As much as I loved the story the 3.5 stars is because there are some editorial problems that bugged me. At times the story seemed a little muddled and there are a few inconsistencies with minor details that were somehow overlooked. I absolutely believe if the author can find a good editor to help smooth some of the rough edges this series will be very successful.

Disclaimer: There are some short scenes of torture

Chapter 1 is available for viewing here

2012 Paranormal romance reading challenge

2012-02-05T03:00:00.000-05:00

Just a little over a month in the year and we have one reader done with their paranormal romance challenge! Congrats to Katie for devouring her books LOL.

Check out her books with the link below. You never do know you might find something you want to read.

Curse of the Bibliophil e

Maggie's Secret Wish (1 Night Stand #14) by Starla Kaye

2012-02-05T00:05:00.005-05:00

Title: Maggie's Secret Wish (1 Night Stand #14)
Author: Starla Kaye
Source: Own Copy
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary, BDSM
Release Date: June 9th 2011
Author's Website

Have you ever had a secret fantasy? Maggie Malone has and she is ready to try to satisfy that urge, thanks to some help from Madame Eve and the 1 Night Stand Dating Agency.

Maggie’s boring workaholic life and focus on her obnoxious ex is grinding her down. A friend’s advice sends her to Madame Evangeline’s high-end dating service 1 Night Stand. She hopes to find some fun, a date, and va-va-voom sex…not necessarily in that order. At least she will get out of her apartment for one hot night! Because, yes, she is just that desperate for a change, and there is that secret fantasy she’s been wanting to try out….

As Ian turns forty, his day job as writer of steamy erotica and night job as part-time Dom has him worried he will never have a “normal” relationship. With his particular kinky quirks, what woman would consider him husband material? Madame Eve is pretty good at her own job, are these two a match in a million or just a one night flash in the pan?

Maggie has always picked out losers when it came to boyfriends. Her last one left her after a night of sex and made her doubt her own worth. Her best friend encourages her to send an email to Madame Eve to get back on the dating horse, but Maggie has been having a fantasy that she only shares with Madame Eve…and Madame Eve finds the perfect man to make it happen.

Ian MacDonald is a dashing Scottish man with a darling accent who is able to make any woman swoon. He writes erotica novels for a living and services women as a Dom part time. Jaded with his life, he takes his friend up on the suggestion to apply with Madame Eve and 1 Night Stand Dating Agency for a hot night with no commitments.

Rating -

Sexual -

My Review -

Another book from the 1NightStand series and as the title of the series indicate this is about two people having their sexual needs and fantasies met for one night. In this particular story we have Maggie who is alone and lonely, busy with her business, but feeling unfulfilled with her life. With her friend's coaching she signs up for a special one night encounter with a stranger to fulfill her sexual fantasy that deals with some some bondage and having a Dom taking control of her in the bedroom. What she does not expect is Ian, an forty year old Scottish Dom who feels he can never be someone's husband.

In this story, Maggie and Ian don't jump into bed immediately but alot of sexual tension develops between the two and they find that they are attracted to each other on more then a physical level. Both secretly wonder if the other could possibly want more then a one night stand and if it is crazy to feel this way.

In the end both realize that despite the impossibility of their feelings, that without acknowledging them, they are feeling miserable without each other.

Again and another quick, fun read to get lost in and escape from reality.

Review of Night Mission (1 Night Stand #19) by Desiree Holt

2012-02-04T00:05:00.001-05:00

Title: Night Mission (1 Night Stand #19)
Author: Desiree Holt
Source: Own Copy
Genre: Erotic Romance - Contemporary/Older Woman/Younger Man
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Author's Website

Navy SEAL Gabriel Walker didn’t think he was asking too much, just a hot woman with some brains who made his down time between missions pleasant. And maybe a little bit more.

Forty-something Maggie Fitzpatrick wanted a younger man with a sex drive to match her own and even smarts to hold a conversation. And maybe a little bit more.

When Madame Evangeline paired them for the one night stand, neither of them expected the explosive chemistry, the very hot sex…and a little bit more.

Rating -

Sexual -

My Review -

This was a very quick read and does the job if you are looking just for some hot, sexy fun without any in-depth storyline then this book will satisfy your needs.

What more can you say about a book with a forty-something year old woman who needs a young stud to satisfy her sexual needs and a Navy SEAL who wants some action during his leave. It was just right off the bat pure fun and both characters enjoyed the pleasure that they got from each other. What they probably didn't expect was developing intense feelings for each other after their sexual marathon and realizing they were the perfect fit for each other.

Yes I know a little bit unbelievable. Mad, crazy, kinky sex and the realization that this is the person you have been wanting for but hey that is why it is fantasy and why we read it. Sometimes we need to read the unbelievable just to help us escape from reality.

Hmmm makes think anything is possible. LOL

Authors After Dark spotlight interview with author Rosalie Lario

2012-02-03T13:17:00.000-05:00

Please welcome author Rosalie Lario

Would you tell everyone a little about yourself? My name is Rosalie Lario and I’m the author of two separate paranormal romance series: the Demons of Infernum, featuring half-demon brothers who work as interdimensional bounty hunters, and The Fallen Warriors, featuring fallen angels on a mission to save Earth. I live in the sunny (and oft oppressively hot) locale of Florida.

What sub-genre do you write? I write sexy paranormal romance.

Who/what is your writing muse? And in what environment or conditions do you write? I’m a very visual person, so when I’m imagining a character I have to find someone who embodies that character in my mind. That person will then act as my muse. For example, my inspiration for Cresso in Heart of the Incubus (a novella in my Demons of Infernum series), was Beiron Andersson. As for environment, I usually write at my desk at home, but every once in awhile I’ll mix it up by heading to a bookstore or café. 

What are you working on at this time? I’m currently writing Call of the Siren, #4 in my Demons of Infernum series. This story features Dagan, the youngest Meyers brother, who is half demon, half siren.

Fun questions of what you prefer
1. Dog or Cat? Ferret! I’ve had 13 of them over the years. 
2. Comfy or Formal? Most of the time comfy. But formal dress is nice every now and again.
3. Denim or Leather? Ooh, I love the thought of leather...especially on a hot guy.
4. Wine or Beer? Either, depending on the occasion.
5. Mountaintop or Oceanside? Ocean. There’s something magical about it.
6. Boxers, briefs or commando for your hero? Commando!

I ask each Authors After Dark author to pick one of their books to highlight. Below you'll find one for Rosalie.

HEART OF THE INCUBUS
Demons of Infernum - Book Four - Rosalie Lario

Blurb: Biochemist Cresso Taylor lives the sort of lifestyle most men would envy—he has wealth, natural incubus charm, and more women than he can handle. But it’s not enough anymore. Not after meeting Genevieve Russell, the sexy scientist who works with him at Elcorp Laboratory. And she wants absolutely nothing to do with him.
After her fiancé broke her heart, Genevieve has had enough of womanizers. She’s determined to steer clear of sexy-as-sin Dr. Taylor, despite the fact that his incubus allure makes her want to rip his clothes off. But when a secret admirer’s affection turns to the macabre with threatening notes and grisly gifts, Cresso appoints himself her protector. As she and Cresso hunt her stalker, she discovers there’s a lot more to the sensual incubus than she ever imagined.

Excerpt:

“Don’t go,” she whispered.

His eyes darkened and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “I have to feed.”

“Then”—she gave a nervous lick of her lips—“feed from me.”

His whole body went stiff. “Don’t tease me.”

Genevieve took a shaky breath. “I’m not.”

Cresso’s eyes widened and he slowly closed his hands over her arms. “Gen.” Her name sounded like a prayer on his lips.

She leaned into him. “Yes.”

He muttered a curse and crushed her to him, closing his mouth on hers. His tongue slipped between her lips, leading her in a sultry, erotic dance. At the same time, his allure unfurled around them, pummeling her flesh with a cacophony of sensations. She wound her arms around his neck and tugged him down closer. When his leg slipped in between her thighs, rubbing the silky fabric of her bottoms against her sensitive flesh, she moaned into his mouth.
His chest heaved and his hands cupped her ass, lifting and fitting her to his hardened heat. Lord, he felt enormous pressed to her body like that.

He tore his mouth from hers to hit her with his searing gaze. “I don’t know how long I can hold back.”

Why the hell would he do that? She wanted him nearly as desperately as he wanted her. “Then don’t.”

A soft sound escaped him and he slanted his lips over hers, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth. He staggered forward until her bottom made contact with a hard surface. He set her down on it, and when he broke away, she saw it was the chest that held the silver pitcher. Good enough. Closer than either of the bedrooms, at any rate. He shoved the pitcher to the side and scooted her farther onto the chest.

When she started to take off her glasses, he stopped her. His eyes flashed with undeniable desire. “Leave them on.”

A-ha. So he had a thing for her glasses. Surprising…and good to know. She gave him a flirty smile as she grasped the hem of his sweater and tugged it upward. Rearing back, he helped her pull it over his head, leaving his chest blessedly bare. When he moved forward again, she said, “Wait.”
He froze and she reached out her fingers, running them over the taut, smooth ridges of his chest. His pecs pulsed at her touch, and his stomach muscles contracted, giving her a tantalizing peek at the thin trail of hair that led from below his belly button down into his pants. “I can’t even believe how gorgeous you are.”

He groaned, his eyes husky with desire, and caught her fingers, the heat of his allure caressing her body. “You’re killing me.”

“Please…let me touch you.” She knew even as she said the words that they were tantamount to torture, but she couldn’t help herself. This might be the only time they ever made love. After it was over he might very well decide she wasn’t worth the trouble. If so, she wanted to carry the memory of this moment with her for the rest of her life. The look, the feel, and the taste of him. She wanted to remember.

His breath caught, but he nodded, and so she brought her fingers to his stomach, traced the hard planes of his abs. Then up to his shoulder and down his arm. Every inch of skin her fingers made contact with pulsed, as if her touch was electric. The man was perfection, pure and simple.
Finally, she could take it no more. She undid his belt buckle and the fly of his slacks, slowly tugging the zipper. “Oh my…”

He wore no underwear, and when she slid the fabric farther down, she saw her earlier impression hadn’t been exaggerated. The man was huge, way bigger than Jeffrey. Unable to hold herself back, she closed her fingers around his thick girth.

“Gen.” He groaned and rested his forehead on her shoulder.
The muscles in his arms bulged as he gripped the sides of the desk tightly, holding himself still for her perusal.

“You are amazing,” she whispered. When her hand experimentally moved up and down his length, he made a pained sound and closed his hand over hers, stopping her movement.
“You need the vaccine,” he said, his voice guttural.

She had almost forgotten about that. “I…I already took it. Earlier today.”
He stiffened and raised his head to look her in the eyes. “You did?”
Heart rose to her cheeks and she nodded.
A shocked puff of air escaped his lips. For a moment they did nothing but stare at each other. But then, the dam broke in his self-control. His allure pulsed the air as he closed the distance between them, fitting their lower bodies close together. His mouth claimed hers in a deep, primal kiss, and the heat from his erection seared her flesh even through the fabric of her pajama bottoms.

“Clothes. Off,” she managed to pant. He obeyed rather effectively when he ripped her top open. She gasped as the buttons went flying, but then he yanked it completely off and closed his mouth over one breast, and any glimmer of fear fled.
His tongue laved her breast, sucking her nipple into his mouth. The density of his allure tugged against her, and he nipped her with his teeth before moving to the other breast and lavishing it with the same attention. “You taste so delicious. Like honey and flowers, with the promise of sex.”

Hell, right now even his voice made her want to come. “Please, Cresso.”

He lifted her behind off the chest long enough to remove her pajama bottoms, then set her back down and knelt in front of her in one smooth motion. Before she could even process it, his tongue speared her moist flesh, bringing with it a flood of allure that coaxed her loins into a spasm. The chest wobbled when she bucked upward, and for a moment she feared it wouldn't hold her weight.

A second later the worry floated away, along with the rising tide of her climax. She cried out and curled her fingers in his hair as she came apart under his touch, the intensity of her orgasm making her vision blur and her ears ring.

Once the last of her spasms died down, he rose to his feet and slid the fabric of his slacks down to his thighs. The jutting head of his erection pointed to her womb, and his hand trembled as he closed it around his cock and fitted himself to her, spreading her thighs wider. She leaned her head back against the wall.

“Oh, God.” She couldn’t believe this was happening. She was about to have sex with an incubus.

Places to find Rosalie
Website: www.rosalielario.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RosalieLario
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RosalieLario
Blog: www.rosalielario.com/blog

Review of A Little Harmless Submission (Harmless #6) by Melissa Schroeder

2012-02-03T00:05:00.002-05:00

Title: A Little Harmless Submission (Harmless #6)
Author: Melissa Schroeder
Source: Own Copy
Genre: Erotic Romance - Light BDSM
Format: ebook - 352 pages
Release Date: October 25th 2011
Author's Website

For a tough as nails Dom hunting a sadistic serial killer is nothing compared to losing his heart.

Rome Carino is hunting a predator. One who likes to hurt submissives and the most popular BDSM club’s patrons are being targeted. With each fresh kill, he gets more brazen. Rome knows he just needs one little break, but before he can make headway, the FBI shows up. Worse, the uptight, buttoned-down Special Agent Maria Callahan suggests a plan that is dangerous, but worth it because it might just catch the killer. If Rome can keep his mind on the case and off the beautiful FBI agent, he'll be just fine.

Maria is still trying to step out of her legendary father's shadow and knows just how to do it. Luring the killer by posing as Rome's new sub seems like a good idea. That is, until undercover becomes real life and she finds herself tangled up with a man who amazes and scares her at the same time. Her growing attraction to the Honolulu Police Detective is a little too much to handle. Even knowing that, she can't help falling in love with the tough Dom and losing herself in the games they play in the bedroom.

Rome is overwhelmed by his need for Maria. He has never had a sub respond to him the way she does and no matter what he does, he feels himself slipping off that cliff into love. As their relationship starts to unfold, he realizes that he will do anything to win her heart, to convince her to become his sub for a lifetime. But before he can do anything, the killer turns his attention on Rome and the one thing he holds dear: Maria.

WARNING: The following book contains: A Dom who thinks he can do no wrong, a new sub who is about to teach him he can, palm trees, a trip or two to Rough ‘n Ready, a flirty Aussie Dom with questionable motives, old friends, and a new enemy. Yeah, it might be called Harmless, but you Addicts know it’s anything but.

Rating -

Sexual -

My Review -

Mmmm nice hot book to start the New Year. A nice combination of a hot, sexy detective who is a member of a BDSM club and an FBI agent sent out to Hawaii to follow a serial killer that is targeting submissives from the local BDSM club.

Maria has come up with the idea to use herself as bait to sniff the killer out and Rome to be her Dom. However, what turns out to be a undercover assignments turns out to be much more.

WOW talk about heat coming off the pages. Rome is one HOT Dom and he plans on teaching Maria what it means to be a sub for real. Maria doesn't mind mixing business with pleasure and seems to be up to the task engaging in her curiosity and takes up Rome's offer.

When these two hit the bedroom it was unrestrained passion. Rome couldn't wait to show Maria some of his toys and Maria didn't mind him using them on her. The sheer intensity will make you want to put the book down and take a cold shower or find your own Dom to help you release your own pent up tension. :)

I couldn't put this book down not only because I loved the intensities of the scenes, but also because of the "who-done-it" mystery. There is a twist in the story and what results is both Rome and Maria facing danger that can mean the end of they relationship in more ways then one.

I enjoyed the emotional development of the characters as both Rome and Maria have closed themselves off to others believing that because of who they are they are incapable of sharing emotions and allowing others in.

In the end they discover that there connection is more then physical but they are both unsure if they can allow the other into their lives and into their heart.

After my introduction to the other members of the BDSM club, who were secondary characters in the book, I plan on reading the rest of this series.

Review Driving Mr. Dead by Molly Haper

2012-02-02T04:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Driving Mr. Dead (spinoff of Jane Jameson series)
Author: Molly Harper
Source: Self purchase (ebook version)
Genre: Paranormal romance/humor
Length: Short Story (146 pgs)

HELL ON WHEELS

After failing as a magician's assistant, a photographer, and most recently, a bride, Miranda Puckett takes a position as a driver for Beeline, Half-Moon Hollow's premiere vampire concierge service.

Miranda's assignment? Driving Collin Sutherland, the world's most fastidious vampire from Washington to Kentucky, so he can deliver a mysterious black case to Council official Ophelia Lambert.

Collin, a paranoid, aristocratic vampire with a debilitating fear of flying, refuses to let the case out of his sight. Miranda needs this time on the road to decide whether to permanently cut her ties with the fiance that had an "emotional affair" with a childhood pal, but Collin’s neatnik tendencies are driving her around the bend. The man acts as if leaving a fast food wrapped on the passenger seat is reason for a full-on CDC de-contamination scrub-down of the car. All she can do is promise to stop intentionally doing the things that make his stiff upper lip twitch with irritation.

As more and more mishaps occur on the road trip from hell, Miranda and Collin work together to meet his delivery deadline. Hotel rooms are destroyed. Beloved cars are defiled. And somewhere along the line, client-driver hostilities become snarky flirtation.

Will Collin and Miranda make it to the Hollow in one piece? And if they do, will Miranda leave old, safe relationships behind for something new and well, just plain weird?

Be forewarned I am a Molly Harper fan girl. That being said; Driving Mr. Dead was fantastic! It was everything I've come to expect. Her sense of humor is so outrageously funny I found myself laughing out loud at least every five minutes. Thanks Mrs. Harper, my husband thinks I have officially lost it :) Miranda and Colin's cross country hi-jinx was reminiscent of National Lampoon's Vacation, one hilarious event after another. Driving Mr. Dead was just the thing to hold me over until the next installment of the Jane Jameson series is released on February 28th.

If you love never ending humor and some awesome vampire love you should absolutely check out this series.

Reading order
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever
Driving Mr. Dead (short story spin-off. Can be read with series, but not mandatory to understand story)
Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors (expected release Feb 28 2012)

Review of Timeless Heart by Karyn Gerrard

2012-02-02T00:05:00.000-05:00

Title: Timeless Heart
Author: Karyn Gerrard
Source: Bought copy
Genre: Erotica/Time Travel/Romance
Release Date: May 2011
Author's Website

Sandra Cranston, an elementary teacher on leave, discovers an abandoned carriage deep in the woods. Inside is a man, Jerrod Ross, who fuels all of her wicked Regency dreams and fantasies.

Ross has been torn from the only world he has ever known—1821 Cornwall, England. How will he adjust to the future and his growing desire for the lovely lady who found him? More importantly, how will he ever return to his time?

Rating -

Sexual -

My Review -

This was a quick read and I enjoyed every moment of it. What probably made this book so interesting is I really didn't know what was going to happen at the end. I didn't know whether Jerrod was going to stay or go or if Sandra was going to follow him or not. I enjoyed that because it made the moments that they shared more intense. LOL when I mean intense I mean sexual marathons (Hmmm I wonder how many men really could go on and on like Jerrod did LOL).

Jerrod is transported from 1821 to 2011 when his carriage is struck by lightening and is found in the woods by Sandra out having a picnic and trying to relax and forget about her dark thoughts.

When she see him she can't believe her eyes. Not only is he dressed in some period costume, but is drop dead gorgeous and she can't help herself from appreciating how well-endowed he seems to be (LOL at least she is honest about where her eyes tended to linger).

She takes Jerrod back to her home where he finds her world strange and fascinating at the same time, but he knows in his heart he has to return to his time. The problem is they both feel a strong attraction to each other that they have never felt for anyone before. They end up finding themselves engaged in endless sexy times that are mind-blowing for both of them. LOL Jerrod seems to have a very high libido because the moment they were done he is ready to go again.

However, Jerrod knows that staying in 2011 he is a nobody, stuck to rely on Sandra for everything that goes completely against his upbringing and his status.

What sounds like from the pages of "Back to the Future" (this was actually mentioned in the book) they believe that if it was lightening that brought him here then lightening is probably the way to get back, but at what cost. Either way both will lose what each of them discovered, a love that they never had and will never have again.

Pick up a copy of this book you will definitely enjoy it and you will love the way Jerrod talks.

ARC Review Deliever Me from Darkness by Tes Hilaire

2012-02-01T04:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Deliver Me from Darkness (Paladin Warriors #1)
Author: Tes Hilaire
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel (352 pgs)
Release Date : 02/07/2012

A STRANGER IN THE NIGHT...

He had once been a warrior of the Light, one of the revered Paladin. A protector. But now he lives in darkness, and the shadows are his sanctuary. Every day is a struggle to overcome the bloodlust. Especially the day Karissa shows up at his doorstep.

COMES KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

She is light and bright and everything beautiful—despite her scratches and torn clothes. Every creature of the night is after her. So is every male Paladin. Because Karissa is the last female of their kind. But she is his. He may not have a soul, but he can't deny his heart.

Roland is our hero. Poor guy had some messed up stuff happen 94 years ago that resulted in his transformation from one of God's chosen Paladins into a vampire. Thanks to Logan, his best friend and 'brother' Paladin, Roland overcomes his vampire cravings for blood and lust but still feels that because of his transformation he is soulless.
Karissa Donovan is on the run. After a few close calls she finds herself under the protection of Roland. They both feel there is a connection, but Roland doesn't understand how they can be soul mates if he no longer possesses a soul.

I did like this book. The beginning was a little slow, but like any series starter time was needed to build up the new world the author has created. The reason for 3.5 stars comes simply down to a plot that I feel I've read too many times before. The tortured hero, the clueless/reluctant heroine, the destined soul mates that just can't seem to figure it out. At times I was more interested in what was going on with the supporting characters rather than Roland and Karissa. Because of my curiosity of the supporting characters I am anxious to read the second in the series. Thanks to the strong foundation laid out in Deliver Me from Darkness I have a feeling that this will turn into a wonderful series :)

Review Lothaire by Kresley Cole

2012-02-01T03:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #12)
Author: Kresley Cole
Source:Self purchase
Genre: Paranormal romance
Length: Novel

Blurb

ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLDDriven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness— until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HERGrowing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTEREDElizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Rating -

Lothaire, The Enemy of Old's story gets told! And let me tell you, it was amazing. Everything I look for in a book was nicely packaged in this one. Tormented Alpha hero? CHECK. Smart, headstrong heroine? CHECK. Kresley Cole's glorious sense of humor? CHECK! Not to mention some wonderful lovin' :)

Yes, Lothaire is a crazy, manipulative guy. But after reading the heart aching prologue you get an idea of why he is so darn hateful and why he cares so much about his 'end game' of exacting his revenge against two vampire factions. Elizabeth Pierce is a down home kind of gal. Living in the mountains of Appalachia with her loving family she gets sucked into a whole world of weird when she is possessed by Saroya (crazy, murdering, ex-goddess). To make matters worse for poor Ellie, he stumbles on her when she is in full possession and he becomes blooded. (For those not familiar with The Immortals After Dark Series when a vampire becomes blooded by a female it essential means he has found his soul mate) Of course the Enemy of Old could not possibly be destined to spend eternity with an uncultured hillbilly, so he assumes that it must be Saroya that blooded him. Which leads us to the main story. Lothaire must search for a way to get rid of Ellie's soul for good, so Saroya can take up permanent residency in her body. As the days of searching pass and he spends more time with Ellie things become less straight forward. He starts to question his quick judgement about who, exactly, is his destined love. And if Ellie is actually his 'Bride' how will it affect his endgame?

The reason for only 4.5 stars is it can become tedious how hateful he treats Elizabeth. Although, you will cheer/shed a tear when she finally gets her revenge. I sure did :)

Disclaimer: If you are squeamish about 'love bites' on certain parts of the male anatomy you may be in for a shock.

Review of The Bond That Ties Us (Eternal Bond #1) by Christine d'Abo

2012-02-01T00:10:00.003-05:00

Title: The Bond That Ties Us (Eternal Bond #1)
Author: Christine d'Abo
Source: Own Copy
Genre: Sci-Fi Erotica
Format: ebook - 173 pages
Release Date: July 20th 1997
Author's Website

Haylie knows her life is about to change the moment she sets foot on the Eurus colony. What she didn't count on was her instant, overwhelming sexual desire for the seven-foot-tall, sexy as hell alien ambassador. He's in her every thought and dream, teasing and taunting her body into a sexual frenzy.

Kamran has waited his whole life to find his bonded mate. When she arrives in the form of a slender human with brilliant eyes, he can't stop his all-consuming need to possess her. If their bond is discovered, they will be forced by Briel law to leave the colony, giving up the lives they've worked so hard to build.

While Haylie and Kamran fight their growing desire, their colony is threatened by an unseen enemy. When the colony comes under attack by a brutal alien force, can Haylie and Kamran keep their bond a secret and stop the invasion in time to save everyone?

Rating -

Sexual -

My Review -

WOW! This book really surprised me on so many different levels. First of all I'm not into sci-fi romance stories but this one convinced me that I am missing out on some very good books out there.

This book not only had an incredibly HOT romance going on but a mystery plotline that keep me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next and who was involved in the murders and sabotage on the colony.

Where to begin with this review. The book starts off with Haylie arriving at the colony and immediately she starts feeling hot and bothered and is ready to have an orgasm just by being near the Briel ambassador Kamran. Now I love how the author describes this hunky alien describing him as a 7 foot Greek God hung like a stallion (LOL I'm not exaggerating she describes exactly how large he is. LOL yes I know I'm a perv). :)

Before they know it they are drawn to each other like moths to a flame due to the biological ways Briels find their mate and engage in some very intense lovemaking that has them trying to catch their breath. As time passes they find they can't keep their hands off each other and out of each others' mind literally. Due to their bond they can feel what the other is feeling and are able to communicate with each other telepathically. However, that bond has somehow allowed for an evil force to invade their dreams as well that are real and able to inflict deadly results.

There were several surprises in the book that gripped me and made me feel the pain and anguish that Haylie and Kamram were going through at times that made the book more appealing. Not only is it able to get you all hot and bothered, but allows you to develop an emotional connection to the characters and their plight.

I highly recommend this book to anyone you wants a hot, erotic romance that actually has a romance as well as an intriguing mystery to keep the reader on their toes. This is the first book in the Eternal Bond series and now I am hooked and plan to read the rest of the books in this series.

P.S. I LOVE the book cover SO HOT! Makes me want to know who is the guy? :)

2012-01-31T03:00:00.000-05:00

Review Reawakening by Charlotte Stein

Title: Reawakening (Forever Dead, #1)
Author: Charlotte Stein
Source: Self purchase
Genre: Erotic/Horror
Length: Novel

Blurb
June has spent the last two years of her life trying to avoid death at the hands of murderous psychopaths and ravening zombies. So when Jamie turns up on the scene, careless, still whole and promising her safety on a little paradise island, she isn’t quite sure she can trust him. Especially when he tells her that it’s just him, and his equally big, burly, handsome friend Blake.

But Jamie and Blake are even better than her wildest dreams—sweet and funny and charming. And worst of all: sexy as hell. Though they're trying to be gentlemanly with her, all she can think about is how much she wants to get tangled up in them, and forget the nightmare the world has become. She's waiting for her reawakening—back to life and happiness and love.

And they seem like just the right sort of men to wake her—body and soul.

Rating -

Erotic horror, you say? How does that happen? Well, let me enlighten you. The world has gone Zombie apocalypse crazy. There are a few theories on how it happened, but theories mean nothing when you're trying to survive. June is our heroine and she's no weakling. Two years of surviving will do that to a gal, I suppose. After being rescued by two gorgeous, but very different men she's taken to their safe-haven. At first she's emotionally numb, but gradually comes out of her shell and gets to know Jaime and Blake better. All three have some post traumatic problems, but honestly who wouldn't after the world has essentially ended? Think Dawn of the Dead/28 Days Later. Things progress and June starts seeing her guys as more than just friends (thanks to some highly erotic dreams). Feelings of survivor's guilt prolongs their eventual "coming together," but once it happens it is HOT.

One of the great things about this book is that, unlike a lot of menage stories, there are feelings of awkwardness and jealousy. Sometimes when I'm reading menage it's unbelievable how quickly it happens and how A-okay everyone feels about it. June, Blake, and Jamie are believable characters with believable flaws. It does have a HEA, but was a bit rushed. I would have loved an epilogue, but it does leave it open for a sequel which I will devour within hours of it's release, I'm sure :)

Favorite quote
"Everything was awake and alive again--not dead and empty, like the world beyond--because they were here, together, on this island, with each other."

Disclaimer : Zombies = death and blood, so if you're not into that scene it's not for you. Also, this is a menage so expect some anal play.

Review of Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3) by E.L. James

2012-01-31T00:05:00.012-05:00

Title: Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3)
Author: E.L. James
Source: Bought copy from Amazon
Genre: Erotic Romance - Light BDSM
Format: ebook - 456 pages
Release Date: January 19th 2012
Author's Website

When unworldly student Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and ultimately repelled by Christian’s singular sexual tastes, Ana demanded a deeper commitment; determined to keep her, Christian agreed.

Now, together, they have more – love, passion, intimacy, and a world of infinite possibilities. But Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy, and being together poses challenges neither of them ever anticipated. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity, identity or independence; Christian must somehow overcome his compulsion to control, and lay to rest the horrors that blighted his past and haunt his present.

Just when it seems that together their love can conquer any obstacle, misfortune, malice and fate combine to make Ana’s worst nightmares come true. Alone and desperate, she must face down the poisoned legacy of Christian’s past.

Seductive, shocking, sad and funny, Fifty Shades Freed is the compelling final volume in the Fifty Shades trilogy.

Rating -

Sexual -

My Review -

This was the final installment in the Fifty Shades trilogy and I was so sad to know that it was the end so I purposely took my time to read it and savour every scene and I'm glad I did. It allowed me to really feel that I was part of the scenes, but not only that, it allowed me to FEEL the conflicting feelings that both Cristian/Fifty and Ana had at times during conflicts and to fully to get into their psyche.

As with the previous books Fifty still is quite possessive and controlling at times and Ana has her insecurities, but with both I see tremendous growth not only with their own personal demons but with each other.

I was surprised at how much happened in this book. Most books I have read usually have no more then 3 main events occurring in the storyline, but in Fifty Shades Freed I could easily count 10 situations and in each it focused on the struggles that Christian/Fifty and Ana had to overcome.

As always Fifty Shades Freed did not disappoint with Christian/Fifty's taste for kinky f**kery. Some of the scenes were very hot and all I can say is I loved Fifty's "punishment f**k" and I think many would love to experience it with Fifty. :) The intense passion and tenderness that Christian/Fifty was able to demonstrate with Ana made my heart swoon and made me hot and bothered that I wished I had Fifty all to myself, but I had to deal with a cold shower instead. :)

I found my heart breaking at points in the book as miscommunication and misunderstandings tore at the bonds that they developed and threatened their sense of security and trust with each other. Internal and external forces once again tried to interfere with Christian and Ana's happiness as Christian's past once again came back to haunt them and tried to tear them apart forever.

There were many surprises that occurred in the book and I refuse to mention them as you have to read the book to discover them yourself, but all I can say is that Ana does use the safe word and they both have to face their biggest fears head on. I found it so painful to read at times when it happened.

Again without giving anything away the epilogue was absolutely beautiful, heartwarming and touching and the little extras that the author gave the readers at the end was the cherry on top that I feel like crying just thinking about it.

I have to truly say I am emotionally drained after reading this book. I have never read a book series that has affected me so deeply. I find myself so happy for how everything turned out for the characters but so sad that I will never see Fifty again. I am truly hoping that E.L. James does decides to continue with Fifty somewhere in the near future and I will be wishing and hoping that with Christian/Fifty "that's all ... for now."

The Fifty Shades series is a masterpiece that will be cherished and treasured by many in the years to come and I want to thank E.L. James for sharing this beautiful story with us all.

Special guest post with self-published author Tina Folsom

2012-01-30T05:00:00.004-05:00

I wanted to give a bit of encouragement to those of you new self published authors out there. When Tina first came to me for a review she was just starting out and it wasn't long before I watched before my eyes that she hit Bestselling Author, but it was a lot of hard work I know. So, I hope you find something in this post that will encouraging you to start or keep going. Laurie

How I became a Bestselling Romance Author

By Tina Folsom

If you haven’t heard of me, let me briefly give you the statistics: including my latest release, I’ve self-published 8 full length novels, 3 novellas, and 3 short stories, so 14 titles in total (plus 3 in foreign languages so far). In the last twelve months, I’ve sold over 300,000 copies of my books, and that excludes any freebies. My novels generally cost around $4.99 - $5.99, my novellas $2.99 and my short stories 99 cents. The majority of those 300,000 units sold is attributed to my novels, particularly my Scanguards Vampires series, which makes up more than 65% of all my sales. So, for me it hasn’t been the cheap stuff that’s been selling.

Several of my books have been offered as free titles on Amazon over the last year. Of those about 100,000 free copies were downloaded. That’s a lot of exposure for an indie author.

So, how did I become a Bestselling Romance Author?

In a few words: it was hard work, timing, luck, pricing, and team work.

Timing – I was one of the first romance authors to self-publish in early 2010. When I got into the field, it was much less crowded. Many people hadn’t figured out yet how to self-publish, so the few that did, had the advantage of positioning themselves better than the newcomers. I’m not sure that with the amount of authors now self-publishing both front and backlist titles, I would get the same result today.

Hard Work – As soon as I published one book, I was off writing the next one. I also realized very quickly that writing a series was a good way to tap into reader loyalty and hook them. I built my list very quickly, and that’s one of the main reasons for my success: I have three series going, Scanguards Vampires, Out of Olympus, and Venice Vampyr. That’s a lot of books readers can choose from. They won’t have to wait long for the next one to come out, and that helps keeping a reader interested in your brand.

I was relentless in promoting my books. I asked to be reviewed on blogs. At the beginning very few were willing to review a self-published book. Luckily, that has changed now. I did interviews and giveaways, and not just giveaways of books. In January 2011 I raffled off a Nook Color, in December 2011, I gave away a Kindle Fire.

I also made sure that each of my books was promoting another one. What do I mean by that? In the back of each e-book I had an excerpt of one of my other books to entice readers to try a different series or the next book in this series. I also asked for reviews, just reminding readers to leave a review if they enjoyed the book. Sometimes, I’d have promotions to garner more reviews: I would offer a few e-book if a reader left a review on Amazon.

Pricing – I experimented a lot with different prices for my books to see what worked best. Occasionally, I drop the first book in a series to either 99 cents or try to get Amazon to offer it for free in order to attract more new readers. I know that this occasionally upsets readers who’ve previously paid for the book, but there’s not much I can do about that. I need to use the tools that are available to me. Having a book for free on Amazon has never hurt me. It always resulted in high sales of my other books. But it only works if you have other books for sale, and it works best if the others are from the same series.

Team Work – I exchange marketing and other ideas with two other authors who self-publish. Together we always come up with great ideas that we can then test out. It helps a lot, knowing what others do and what worked or what didn’t. I suggest to any author who wants to self-publish to assemble a little team to bounce ideas off. Nobody knows everything, but if you put three or four minds together, it’s amazing what you can come up with.

I also have a team of independent contractors who help me with the things I’m not good at: cover design, editing, proofreading, translations, foreign editing etc. At the beginning, I didn’t have money to farm out all these things, so this might be difficult for people just starting out. A professional cover is probably the first thing that I would invest in. When I got my covers redesigned (after doing them on the cheap myself since I had no money for them), my sales increased immediately, and I recovered the cost within a very short time.

Luck – And how do people find me on Amazon and other retailers? Luck, word of mouth? I wish I knew. I’m sure it’s a bit of both. I make sure to always respond to readers when they email me. I have a facebook page where I interact with readers, and I tweet. I have a blog, but it’s not very active. I never spam people: I have a newsletter, but I only send one out every two months or so. And I keep it brief and to the point, telling them what I want them to know: new release, contest, etc. Nobody has time to read long newsletters.

If I had to tell you what the most important trait is a self-published author has to possess, then I’d pick this one: you have to be a hard worker. Nothing will happen without you. Since I started writing full time in February 2010 (a year before I made any real money from it), I’ve worked longer hours than anybody I know. Being a self-published author isn’t for somebody who wants to write a few hours a day and spend the rest of it going for lunch with their friends or shopping in the city. This is a hard business, but the rewards are endless. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Author Interview and Giveaway with Keri Lake

2012-01-30T00:15:00.003-05:00

Please give a big welcome to Keri Lake, author of Somnium.

Would you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a married mother of two living in Michigan. I graduated from Michigan State University with two degrees in science. Like many writers, I’ve been making up stories for a long time. Mine started out as poetry and eventually evolved into the very first novel I wrote in 2008. Somnium is my first published work.

Do you have a process in your writing routine?

Actually not so much of a process – I pretty much write when I can. Sometimes it means getting up at three in the morning to do that. All I need is coffee and my iPod…and I’m ready to go. I have a pretty eager muse that never fails me. Editing is another issue. I need silence and typically something sweet nearby. Swedish Fish or dark chocolate M&M’s usually help stave off mental blocks.

In your book Somnium, Allie has an unfortunate dinner involving wicked lobster. What was the inspiration behind this scene?

Well the book is actually based on my youngest sister. She moved out of state while I was writing Somnium and to keep in touch, she’d send pics and texts. I remember her posting a bunch of pics after she’d ordered fresh Maine lobster for the first time. I cracked up when I saw the picture of a lobster with a napkin folded over its eyes.

Can you tell us what you are working on next?

Currently, I’m working on Requiem, book 2 of the Halos trilogy. I’ve also been working on a novella and some short stories written from the POV of different Halos characters.

Fun Questions:

Do you have a favorite food or place to eat?

My favorite food is chips & salsa, thanks to my best friend. That’s pretty much all we ate our freshman year of college. However, my favorite place to eat is probably PF Changs.

Do you have any pets?

Yep. Two fish. Although, we’re considering a puppy now that my kids are a little older.

Keri is giving away one autographed copy of Somnium. To enter, leave a comment below along with your email. Open Internationally.

For more information on Keri Lake, please check out the following links:

Website: http://www.kerilake.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kerilake

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keri-Lake/179797882071933

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5335601.Keri_Lake

Somnium (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Somnium-Halos-1-ebook/dp/B006LXBC5M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327058297&sr=8-2

Somnium (Nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/somnium-keri-lake/1108115782?ean=2940032938705&itm=11&usri=somnium

Review A Devil Named Desire by Terri Garey

2012-01-28T03:00:00.004-05:00

Title: A Devil Named Desire (The Devil's Bargain #2)

Author: Terri Garey

Source Netgalley
Genre: Paranormal romance
Length: Novel

Forbidden fruit is always the sweetest...

...and no one knows that better than Sammy Divine, High Prince of Darkness. Once an angel, now cast down, Sammy's out to prove he's not the only angel who can be led into temptation...

Hope Henderson's sister has disappeared without a trace, and Hope will do anything to find her--even make a deal with the Devil. An ancient text holds the key to unspeakable power, and it's the Archangel Gabriel's job to make sure it stays hidden, even if he has to become human to do it. Lives, love and the fate of the world hang in the balance, as Hope and Gabriel learn that when passion's involved, it may be impossible to withstand a devil named desire.

Rating 2 1/2

I hate being late on this review but I really struggled reading this book. I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn’t hit the spot for me as the first in the series. Sad, I know but I have to be honest.

Gabriel and Hope just didn’t carry that spark I needed for a couple to really connect. I also didn’t feel that Gabriel and Hope got enough storyline between everything else going on. I needed to read more on them instead of Sammy and so much of his life. As for Hope, I didn’t care for why she killed herself. I know it’s just me, but it wasn’t a big enough reason for her to just go out right suicidal.

I did like the storyline with Sammy and I liked his son added into the story. One thing about Sammy he knows how to twist things to his advantage which makes the story more interesting.

Review Vessel (Children of the Sidhe) by J.R. Pearse Nelson

2012-01-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Vessel (Children of the Sidhe)
Author: J.R. Pearse Nelson
Source: Authors request
Genre: Paranormal romance
Length: Novella

Eddie Drake, notorious agent of the Sidhe Authority, has always been a womanizer. So he’s as surprised as anyone when he can’t get a certain black-haired witch out of his mind. When Alise Rodgers wakes up in Otherworld, a mysterious connection to the place haunts her. And then there’s a more immediate concern – she would never have expected to find Drake sitting vigil for her. While she’s grateful, she’s not at all interested in his bedroom eyes. They’ve always clashed. But they must work together after Alise discovers a rebellious plot brewing among the Sidhe, and puts her life on the line in the bargain.

Vessel is the second novella in the Children of the Sidhe series.

This is the second book in Children of the Sidhe series. As the first book in the series the author brings another great romance and story for a short novella. This book takes you a bit deeper into the Sidhe story so you get a bit more feel of what’s going on with the characters and story. I hope one day she can write a full length novel for one of her hot Sidhe’s.

For a novella I felt the heat and connection I needed between the hero and heroine. At first I got the impression that Eddie is a womanizer, but I fell for him quick because he’s nothing like what he seems and that’s what I like most. Alise, I loved right off the bat, she’s witty and strong. I really liked the addition of The Morrigan being added to the storyline, it brought more magic and action into the story.

This is a novella so I recommend this to readers that love a quick romantic magical story.

Free read from romance author Claudy Conn!

2012-01-27T02:00:00.000-05:00

Blurb
Seventy thousand years is a long time to live without true love.

As queen of the Seelie Fae, Aaibhe led her people to a new world when their own had been destroyed by war. She accepted the responsibility of maintaining the magic-built walls that imprisoned the evil Dark Fae. She kept the Seelie Hallows safe. And though she enjoyed the companionship of an occasional Fae lover, she never took a royal Fae as her king or a non-royal as her consort.

Conall is a Druid high priest from the MacTalbots, one of the families chosen by Aaibhe centuries before to perform the rituals needed to strengthen the Unseelie prison walls. Though a skilled and loyal Druid priest, he is but a mortal human, not a fit match for a powerful, formidable, immortal ruler.

And yet… she wants him. In all her seventy thousand years, she has never been blasted with such desire—and need. She has never before laughed with total abandon, loved with all her essence.

In Conall’s arms, Aaibhe discovers she can be both a queen and a woman, but jealousy, pride, and bitterness threaten the love that is at last within her grasp.

Here are the links so you can pick your potion!
Happy Reading!!

amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Aaibhe-Shee-Queen-Legend-ebook/dp/B006R5SB2Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327591713&sr=1-1

Barnes: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aaibhe-shee-queen-claudy-conn/1108022040?ean=2940032918042&itm=1&usri=aaibhe+shee+queen

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/110252
All Romance:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-aaibhesheequeen-649925-161.html

Guest roamnce author Xandra James giveaway

2012-01-26T06:58:00.003-05:00

Please welcome romance author Xandra James!

Thanks so much for having me here today!

For my latest book, Shadow Justice, I had to add another sex scene into it. Not that I was complaining as I loved writing the quickie in the car ;) lol. But that in itself brought on a few problems. Logistics mainly. What body part goes where? Is the driver going to get an eyeful and crash the car? See where I'm going here?

I guess it made me think about things I'd never had to think about before (for the record, I will neither confirm nor deny, having sex in a car for research). How has being a romance writer, changed me? What am I now thinking about as I do the washing up?

Three things I've recently found out…

1) I've had to think about sex. A lot. So, okay, this wasn't so bad. You know they say a man thinks about sex every seven seconds? Well, that was me. When I'm writing a story (and especially when I'm just about to make them 'get in on'), I'm thinking about men and women getting nekkid. Over and over again (because the first time is never quite perfect in my mind). I'm thinking about how they have a talented tongue. I'm thinking about bulging muscles and six packs and perky boobs that don't have a mind of their own. And sometimes all at the same time! It's all in a day's work. I know, it tough life.

2) I actually had to write about sex. Following on from above, I couldn't just think about the multitude of ways my heroine's legs could wrap around my hero's head, I had to get it down on paper. That's something I've never really done before. And it's difficult to write about it without missing stuff out. In your mind, you're seeing it but your fingers aren't co-operating and they've just skipped right past the action and made a nice cup of tea. When they finally do get the job done and they're all worn out after keeping up with your dirty mind, you have to read it back without blushing, gagging or falling asleep. That's a surprisingly hard thing to do. Hard thing to do…hehehe… when I'm talking sex, these lines just roll off the tongue! And yes, I am 12, ;)

3) I had to think about paranormal creatures. And sex. You can't make a paranormal creature too, well, scary or ugly looking. If he's too slimy, scaly, or looks like Jabba the Hutt, he's gonna find it hard to get laid (and let's face it, do you really want to imagine THAT sex scene?). He needs to have just enough scary about him without distracting from his hot sexiness. And yes, you need to think about whether he's got horns on his forehead and if they're going to poke into the heroine's thighs. Just sayin'.

And that's what I've learnt about me. I think it proves I've actually got sex on the brain but we'll ignore that little point.

Writing romance books isn't just about sex, of course. It's a lot about sex, in one way or another, but without a beautiful love story, it's nothing. Household chores may never be as boring again to me, as long as I can create romance books and escape into my own little world. There's nothing like the spin of the washing machine to get you in the mood for luuurve!

Shadow Justice

Blurb:

Luka was a bounty hunter who just wanted to do his job and get paid. Being a banished Shadow, he'd learnt the bitter lesson long ago that he was alone, after he was expelled from his home world by his own blood. Now, he needed to understand why he was wanted dead whilst his desire for the fiery haired witch erupted, out of control.

As a rare moon-witch, all she'd ever known was a life of misery under the oppressive Fae-Guard. Nine years ago Cerys escaped the Meta-World after regretting the forced banishment of a Shadow. Now, she leads a normal life without her abilities and all she wants is to blend in. When a bounty hunter wants to take her back for a crime she didn't commit, she's willing to take a chance on her future by trusting the man who had no idea she'd wronged him years before.

To Buy: http://www.bookstrand.com/xandra-james And soon to be at Amazon and other online retailers.

Bio:

Xandra has always wanted to write romance books. Even when she was sneaking peaks at the hot bits, too young to fully appreciate them, she dreamt of writing her own.

Now, older and wiser, she's got the opportunity to project her slightly dark and wacky, British sense of humour onto others, whilst still writing the hot bits - bonus!

When not writing, Xandra is thinking of excuses as to why she shouldn't be doing the housework, looking after a husband and cats that refuse to pick up after themselves and climbing the mountain in her house that's affectionately called her tbr pile.

She currently holds the crown for Queen Procrastinator – something she's very proud of – so you can usually find her online, somewhere, when she really should be writing.

Where you can find her:

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads

Adult Excerpt:

Cerys sighed and dunked her head under the water then reached for the small unopened bottle of cheap shampoo. She caught sight of her reflection in the low, dirty mirror on the back of the door and stopped still. Red hair suited her more than her given black, and her pale skin was a good contrast. She wouldn’t have called herself pretty as such, but she could call on her feminine wiles when she needed to.

Lathering up her hair, Cerys wondered what Luka was doing right now. He’d run her a bath after she’d woken and ushered her into the bathroom, barely looking at her. She dunked her head again and used the shower head attached to the tap to thoroughly rinse it through.

She couldn’t work him out. And she wasn’t sure she completely wanted to, either. Maybe it was for the best that he was still an enigma to her because, if she actually started to know the man behind the sexy, stubbled chin, she knew she’d be in rough waters. Not that she didn’t feel she was taking a trip on the Titanic as it was, of course.

Luka hovered on the outskirts of her mind as the water beat down her hair and face. She found everything about him tantalising. That was the issue. Even his large shoulders and heavy-looking biceps called out to her core. And right now, all she wanted to do was glue herself to him.

She let the water from the shower head run over her hair then her neck soothing her weariness. The sharp, needle-like intensity of the water brought awareness to her skin, and she sighed and dipped the shower head lower, rinsing soap off her breasts.

Nipples pebbled as her body relaxed, but knowing she was mere feet away from the man who’d looked at her with heat in his eyes, made her heart beat faster.

She hadn’t even realised where her hand was until she tweaked her nipple, pulling at it in pleasure, allowing the shower head to dip lower over her belly and hit the soapy bath water before disappearing beneath. A tiny bit of guilt tugged at her as her pleasure slowly increased. Getting herself off was probably the last thing she should be doing, but her body had crossed the line and was now fully in control of where her hands travelled.

Cerys opened her thighs in anticipation of the powerful water spray slowly slipping lower and lower until it grazed the lips of her pussy.

“Mmm...”

Cerys pulled at her nipples once more, eyes closed, and she felt the pink nubs grow and harden between her fingers before tracing her fingers down over the silken wetness of her breast.

Cerys’ mind raced as her body heated in the barely warm water, and thoughts of Luka bombarded her now. She imagined his hands on hers as her fingers explored her nakedness, heading down toward the streaming water. Breaths came in short gasps as the sensation, the purely wonderful vibration, took her to the edge of an orgasm very quickly.

Fingers slipped inside her pussy lips and stroked at her clitoris as her ultimate goal was clear in her mind. Edging closer every moment, she shifted in the water and opened her legs wider, pushing her fingers deep inside herself. Luka on her mind, wishing he was on her body, deep inside her.

The shower head and her fingers weren’t fast enough in giving her the climax she craved as feverishly she worked to attain it, writhing in near ecstasy.

She was almost there, and Cerys imagined Luka poised between her legs, his cock poised to thrust into her at any second...

“Everything okay in there?” Cerys surged upward in the tub, her legs falling from their perch on the side of the tub to splash back in the water, and the shower sprayed water straight up into the air. She scrambled to grab the shower head, and water splashed over the side.

“Bugger.”

“Cerys?” Luka knocked on the door, and her body shivered with unfulfilled desire, and the chill in the air finally caught up with her.

“Ye-ah, I’m okay. Just coming—” She cringed at her choice of words as her breath began to slow down. The shower head floated in front of her, water now off, tempting her to return to her task.

Ignoring it, she grabbed a towel from the rack, stood up and stepped out, water cascading down her body, hair already drying. The rough towel didn’t help her overly sensitive body. Her clit was swollen with desire, her nipples dark and engorged. Wetness still pooled in between her legs, and it would only take a few moments to bring herself off.

Cerys looked up to see her reflection once more in the long mirror on the back of the door. Her hands seemed to move of their own volition, rubbing over the shaven area of her pussy. Her full body shudder buckled her legs, and she grabbed the sink to stay upright. A glass tumbled into the sink and shattered, jolting her from her decadent thoughts. She growled her frustration and looked at the pieces of glass glittering at her in the white sink.

“Cerys, I’m coming in.” Concern laced his tone. There was no time for her to do anything but pull the towel over her front.

The door shot open, and there stood Luka, whose eyes devoured her almost naked state.

“I was just...” Memories of what she’d imagined him doing to her just moments before heated her skin.

Xandra is giving away one eBook ecopy of Shadow Justice. To enter please fill out the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bitten’s She-Wolf Pack Thursday Review for January 2012 – DESTINY UNCHAINED by Leia Shaw

2012-01-26T03:00:00.000-05:00

DESTINY UNCHAINED (Shadows ofDestiny #3)

Leia Shaw

Published November 29, 2011

ISBN: 9781465929945

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Length: Novel

Author requested review

They call her The Huntress. A vampire with lethal focus, Natalia huntsrogue werewolves and kills them without mercy. She buried her heart centuriesago. Now she lives only for revenge. But when she’s forced to team up with thealpha of the northwest werewolf pack to catch a werewolf serial killer, hercarefully controlled world is shattered by the passionate Cristian.

Cristian can’t help be intrigued by the icy Natalia. He hasn’t beenattracted to a female since his mate died decades ago. But now he vows to breakthat hard shell she wears and find the warm, nurturing woman inside.

Will Natalia accept Cristian’s claim on her heart even if it meanssacrificing a part of who she is?

Bitten'sShe-Wolf Pack's Ratings and Reviews

WildAboutBones' Review

Rating: 5 - An Alpha Howl

Sexual: 3 – Hot!

Another great story in the Shaw's Shadows of Destiny series! Thesestories just seem to get better and better. Vampires, werewolves, a reluctantromance and sarcastic humor ... oh yeah!

Hilarious. "But nothingscared her. Especially not some barely out of the cave Cro-Magnon that sproutedfur and fangs once in a while." And lines like "Nothing more disturbing than seeing a pointyweapon lodged in your chest" had me laughing out loud.

I love the heroine Natalia, a kick butt, badass vampire with anattitude full of sarcastic humor. Unfortunately she hates werewolves. She hasjust a little baggage where they are concerned. Natalia doesn't understand herreaction to Cristian. He has "a wildlook about him that [makes] her heart flutter." Natalia reminds me alittle of Kate Beckinsale's character Selene in the Underworld movies.

Cristian is a tall 6 ft 6 in blond werewolf with an awesome body andone blue eye and one brown eye. He is witty, a park ranger and the pack alpha.Cristian is stunned to find himself thinking of Natalia "almost affectionately." She's theenemy. He is so adorable. I just love him and his personality.

The second in this series, DestinyUnited, was good but this one is much better and no, you don't have to readthem in order but do read them. I have got to get my hands on the first one, Destiny Divided, now.

This was a quick read and I read it in one sitting. The hot and steamychemistry and sex is good, too.

This includes a sneak peek at DestinyBewitched coming in Summer 2012.

Ollie’s Review

Rating: 5 - An Alpha Howl

Sexual: 3 - Hot

Pain, isolation, and loneliness is what Natalia has endured for thepast 800 years, forced to live an existence where only death and revenge areher driving life force. After so much time has passed it may take a tall,muscular, alpha werewolf to throw her off track and make her take a closer lookat what it means to live an immortal life.

Natalia is known as The Huntress and has become notorious for herability to kill her targets in the supernatural world that there is even abounty on her head. Despite all the centuries of killing it has not been ableto help heal her heart at the past wrongs that have been inflicted upon her.Since her turning she has keep herself isolated because of shame and fear ofwhat she had become until she allowed her heart to open up to another. Thebetrayal that she suffered made her promise to never allow another into herheart until Cristian.

Cristian didn't know what to expect when he captures the beautifulvampire that has him intrigued and has captured his heart. This alpha werewolf,also a park ranger, finds himself curious about this vampire and before heknows it he has partnered himself with her to hunt a serial killer in theirmidst.

I really enjoyed this book not only for the hot, steamy scenes (whocould resist a gorgeous 6'6” alpha werewolf built like a Greek God) but alsofor the emotional connection that the two developed despite their differences.Both have endured traumatic past events and it is Cristian who is able to moveon, but Natalia cannot seem to let go. I love how Cristian felt the attractionfor Natalia and didn't let the fact she is a vampire from stopping him. Thebanter that occurred between them and Natalia's refusal to give into herfeelings made me laugh out loud at times and at the same time want to smack heracross her head for being so stubborn.

I have read the other books in this series and this has been the bestone to date. Paranormal romance readers who definitely have a thing for hunkywerewolves will enjoy this one. I am looking forward to reading the next one inthe series that comes out, Destiny Bewitched.

Kris’s Review

Rating: 5 - An Alpha Howl

Sexual: 4 - Four Alarm Fire#@!%$

I loved this story!! Natalia is an awesome heroine. She has her soft side,but she is also a very strong person - both physically & mentally. Cristianwas the perfect alpha. Together they made such a great team. He was so amazingwith her. Lots of great dialogue, romance, sex, and suspenseful action.

Nookmom's Review

Rating: 4 - A Pack Howl

Sexual: 3 - Hot

Natalia is a jaded vampire assassin out to kill a rogue wolf serial killer. After 800 years and a terrible past with a mate, she wants nothing more than to hunt her target and seek revenge on her ex lover. She has no plans to fall for an alpha male and be vulnerable again. Enter Cristian. He is immediately captivated by Natalia. She is strong, intelligent and a true equal to him. She's everything he has ever wanted in a partner, except she is a vampire.

I enjoyed watching Natalia struggle with her attraction to Cristian and her need to keep herself distant and unfeeling. Cristian is a great hero. He may be an alpha, but he truly cares about Natalia and wants her realize revenge will not bring her the peace and happiness she seeks. He knows she needs to learn to feel again. At times he was so playful and other times he really opened up and put his heart on the line. Cristian is definitely a swoon worthy male, especially when he speaks of love. When Natalia realizes she cannot give up her life and special gifts to be with Cristian, I understood her fear, but was crushed just the same.

It was a nice twist seeing the female be the one who has to battle her inner demons to accept love instead of it always being the male. While the story starts out following Natalia seeking to end the serial killer, the story is really about her accepting her past and letting go in order to be able to have a future.

Artemis' Review

Rating: 5 - An Alpha Howl

Sexual: 3 - Hot

I was a bit hesitant to read DESTINYUNCHAINED because I didn’t read the first book, and the second book in theseries didn’t appeal to me very much. WOW – am I glad I decided to go ahead and turn the page. The explosive combination of one very, veryalpha Werewolf, an insidious Vampire, and a “beautiful” adversary make for an electric read.

The dialog between Cristian and Natalia is fabulous. It is engaging and snappy. This is one of my favorites:

What was with werewolves and their damned territory? “For fuck’s sake,” she said with anexasperated sigh. “You must’ve missed aspot when you pissed around the border. I didn’t realize you owned the whole damned state.”

What I liked the best about both of the characters is that they didn’tapologize for what they did or the actions they took. Cristian’s 100% Alpha didn’t make any excusesfor his behavior or his need to protect the exasperating Vampire. In the same vein, Natalia has a job to do andwon’t let anything like a measly werewolf stand in her way. I especially enjoyed watching as Cristianchipped away at Natalia’s barriers little by little. It’s that final blow when Natalia realizeswhat sacrifice really is.

Valentine's Day Fun - We're Smitten. . . .

2012-01-25T05:00:00.002-05:00

Join us Valentine's Day Weekend as we explore the wild, wicked, and wanton world of love in music and film.

Each day beginning on Friday, February 10, and running through Tuesday, February 14, we'll be hosting an author, the She-Wolf Pack or me. We're putting a different spin on "The Day" this year by taking a look at love in music and film. It may not be your typical lovey-dovey, gooey, mushy.....hmmm, I'm not quite sure what to expect. Stop on by, you'll be glad you did!

January Flavor

2012-01-24T04:00:00.001-05:00

A few months ago, Laurie and I were discussing life in general, this, that and the other, when she mentioned the blog needed an infusion of "something". Not knowing exactly what that "something" was, we bandied about a few ideas until one of us came up with, "Well, what about a Flavor of The Month?" Laurie loved the idea and immediately handed me the reigns. HUH?? Well...okay now. *rubbing hands together wickedly* I don't know what direction monthly flavor will take, but I plan to have fun with it. Let's begin, I give you....

The January Flavor of the Month

Jason Aldean

Nope, this ain't your Momma's country music.

Not by a long shot.

Smoky guitar riffs

Tight jeans

A bit of rap

Pouty lips

Many of his songs are typical of country music: lost love and small towns.

Don’t you wanna stay here a little while,

Don’t you wanna hold each other tight,

Don’t you wanna fall asleep with me tonight.

Don’t you wanna stay here a little while,

We can make forever feel this way,

Don’t you wanna stay.

Let’s take it slow I don’t wanna move too fast,

I don’t wanna just make love

I wanna make love last.

I'll leave you with one last video. One of my favorites off of his latest album My Kinda Party. If I didn't know this was a country tune, no way would I call this country music!!!

Baby if you’re in the mood and

You can settle for a one night rodeo,

If you can be my tan legged Juliet

I’ll be your redneck Romeo.

And where do I sign up for that.............

It doesn't help matters that Hubs and I saw him and Luke Byran in concert Friday. Music was absolutely fantabulous!!!. Hmmm, Luke Bryan, a flavor for another day~~~

Book promo giveaway House of Pleasure by Deborah Court

2012-01-24T03:00:00.001-05:00

Genre
Erotic Romance

Blurb:

When Jane Eden inherits an old Victorian mansion on the outskirts of Boston, she has no idea what secrets it harbors. She soon discovers that it's a magic house, fulfilling all the sexual fantasies of its female residents. Losing herself in sensual dreams that take her to exotic places and delightful historical eras, she never considers what will happen if she ever loses her heart.

Luke Thomas is Hollywood's most celebrated action-hero, used to swooning fans falling all over him. One day he meets a beautiful woman in a park who doesn't seem to be interested in him at all. It's a challenge he just can't resist. His desire to see her again transports him to Jane's house, and he gets lost in the arms of a lover who drives him into a frenzy of boundless pleasure. But will he gain her love when the prize is higher than she's willing to pay?

Excerpt:

Night fell quickly in the Sultan's realm. One minute the sunlight had warmed the room, bathing it in a golden glow, the next it seemed to grow darker rapidly while the muezzin sang the evening prayer, his beautiful voice creating a magical atmosphere. When he finished, the city seemed to fall into a deep slumber, all the noise and shouting from the streets and the bazaar gone. Only the night birds sang their sweet, seductive songs from a branch near the open windows.

Jane followed Aamir the chief eunuch to the huge bathing pool on the other side of the chamber, secretly admiring his broad back and sculptured muscles while he lit the candles. He had discarded his turban and revealed long, dark hair that reached over his shoulders; she had the inexplicable wish to entwine her fingers in the glossy waves. Jane couldn't believe that he was not a real man anymore. But had he told her the truth?

His deep voice and the unveiled desire in his eyes clearly spoke against it, although this only occurred when he thought she was not looking at him. The slave led her to the marble steps leading into the water and told her to undress. Jane looked around, but there was nothing with which to shield her body from Aamir's eyes. She shrugged, quickly removed her clothing and stood naked before him. Her body was fully exposed to his sight and although he stood behind her, she felt his eyes examining her body, doubtless deciding if she was beautiful enough to please the Sultan.

"I will bathe you now," she heard his deep voice before he took her hand and led her deeper into the warm water. The flowers on its surface made her dizzy with their exotic perfume. Then, his large hands were all over her body, washing her with a soap that was scented like orchids and something earthy, ambra perhaps. It made her skin tingle and left it soft like velvet. He washed her hair, neck and back, moving his hands in circles until he reached her breasts. Jane gasped, but he continued mercilessly, gently kneading her and rubbing her sensitive peaks with his palms until they stood upright. Aamir laughed, a pleased look on his proud, handsome face. It was the face of a noble prince, not a slave, she thought.

"Oh yes, you will be well-prepared for the Sultan once I am finished with you," he said. "The Sultan likes his concubines ready and willing once he visits them in the harem. He is not a very patient man. When he joins your bed and takes you, he'll expect you to be aroused. So relax, My Lady. I know that although I'm not a whole man, women usually like my touch for I'm not unpleasant to their eyes - at least this is what I have been told. If you let me do my work it will be better for both of us, I promise. Just let it happen."

Jane still thought about a possible answer but cried out with surprise when he sat her down on a low marble column that rose slightly out of the water, then parted her quivering thighs with his strong hands ...

http://www.amazon.com/House-of-Pleasure-ebook/dp/B006RYZ4U4/ref=sr_1_63?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325423327&sr=1-63
http://www.deborahcourt.com
http://deborahcourt.blogspot.com

Midalah review of House of Pleasure

Deborah is giving away 3 eBook copies of House of Pleasure so fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Authors After Dark Author Spotlight with Stephanie Julian

2012-01-23T05:00:00.001-05:00

Stephanie Julian

Would you tell everyone a little about yourself?

Hi, I’m Stephanie Julian. I love to write, the hotter the better. I love to read, the hotter the better. I have a husband I adore and two teenage sons I love when I don’t want to throttle them.

What sub-genre do you write?

I write erotic paranormals, including the Forgotten Goddesses, Magical Seduction, Lucani Lovers, Darkly Enchanted and the Fringe series. And I just released my first straight contemporary (very light on romantic suspense), SEX, LIES & SURVEILLANCE.

Who/what is your writing muse? And in what environment or conditions do you write?

I write in my office, which is painted bright red with a purple carpet and bright yellow chair. It’s so vibrant, it makes me happy whenever I’m in it. I live with my husband and sons, so the rest of the house has a lot of testosterone floating around but this is totally my space. Most of my books are here and I have a huge bulletin board of inspiration, i.e. hot guy pix, on the wall.

What are you working on at this time?

A couple of things. I’m editing the next story in my new series, DeMarco Investigations. This is Nic and Annie’s story. I’m also working on a very short story featuring Cat that I hope to release before GODDESS IN THE MIDDLE, Book 3 in the Forgotten Goddesses series, goes on sale in July. I’m also awaiting word on the next Fringe story, featuring Andy, from my editor. Hoping for a February or March release for that one.

Fun questions of what you prefer

Dog or Cat?

Cats, definitely. I have two. They spend all day in my office with me and keep me company.

Comfy or Formal?

Definitely comfy but I love dressing up, especially for special events like masquerades and balls at reader events. Then it’s so much fun.

Denim or Leather?

Am I wearing it? Then it’s definitely denim. Denim is a little more concealing. Leather shows all the faults. Now if we’re talking hot guys, they definitely need a little black leather.

Wine or Beer?

Ooh, neither. Wine gives me a headache and beer tastes gross. Give me a fuzzy navel or a whiskey sour or a mojito and we’re good.

Mountaintop or Oceanside?

Oceanside. Actually, more like Gulf of Mexico-side. My grandmother lived in Florida for many years and I spent several summers on the beach at Pass-a-grille.

Boxers, briefs or commando for your hero?

Commando, baby.

HOW TO WORSHIP A GODDESS:

He’s exactly what she’s always wanted...

Lucy was once the beloved Goddess of the Moon. These days the goddesses of the Etruscan pantheon are all but forgotten. The only rituals she enjoys now are the local hockey games, where one ferociously handsome player inflames her divine blood...

And she unleashes him like a force of nature...

Brandon Stevenson is one hundred percent focused on the game, until he looks up and sees a celestial beauty sitting in the third row. A man could fall hard for a distraction like that...

Excerpt: 18@ over below please

As he coaxed open her lips with his tongue, he let one hand begin a slow exploration of the skin of her neck. Soft, warm. He wanted to lick her but he didn’t want to give up her mouth just yet.

Her taste seeped into him like a drug, making his dick hard and his heart pound against his ribs. Fuck it. Slow wasn’t gonna happen. Not this time, at least. He slid his hand into the neckline of her dress, wanting to touch her skin. The material gave way— And a second later, it wasn’t there at all.

He opened his eyes and lifted his head just enough to see her now-naked breasts. Her dress had vanished, leaving her completely naked beneath him.

His mouth hung open for a few, brief seconds before he lifted his gaze to hers and shook his head. “Now, there’s a skill you don’t see every day.”

“It comes in handy.” She watched him with deceptively half-lidded eyes. She didn’t miss a damn thing. “Would you like me to help you with your clothes?”

She was asking him much more than that. She was asking for his trust. For his belief. She wanted to watch his reaction to her magic. At the moment, he didn’t give a flying fuck about her magic. If it got his clothes off faster, he was all for it.

“Please do.” The faster he got naked, the better. Naked meant sex. Naked meant no more thinking.

Something brushed against his skin. It felt like electricity but different. He didn’t know how to explain it. And he just didn’t care.

One second, he was dressed. The next, his clothes were gone and he knelt between her legs naked with a hard-on that stood at full mast. As her gaze dipped, his cock throbbed. He swore the damn thing strained toward her.

It took him a few seconds to get past the Holy-shit-that-really-happened feeling. But he was a champion compartmentalizer. Lucy lay naked in front of him and he had a massive erection. Everything else could wait.

He thought about simply falling over her and fucking her until they both lost consciousness. Then he figured that might seem a little desperate.

But he couldn’t shake the feeling that his time with her was borrowed.

Well, fuck that.

Leaning back until he sat on his heels, he inched his knees forward, spreading her legs farther apart. If he let his gaze fall, he’d see her sex spread open, beckoning him. But he kept his eyes on hers, watching her reactions.

She didn’t disappoint him. Her lips parted as she drew in a deep breath. Good. She wasn’t as composed as she pretended.

“Damn, you have a fucking beautiful body.”

He wanted to take the words back as soon as they’d escaped. Not that he didn’t mean them. But, Christ, he could’ve phrased it better. He wasn’t a twenty-year-old horndog anymore. She deserved better from him.

He expected to see another one of her cool smiles and was surprised when her lips curved in a sweet grin that lit his blood on fire.

“I’m glad you think so.”

Okay, maybe his beautiful goddess enjoyed things a little dirty. Dirty he could do.

He let his gaze fall to her breasts, the dusky nipples quivering slightly with each increasingly unsteady breath. He lifted a hand and tweaked one. Hard. And watched her skin flush. “Do you want me to suck on your nipples or bite them?”

She didn’t answer as he kept up the rough caress, rolling the pebbled tip between his fingers until it had hardened into a firm peak. Then he switched sides. His cock continued to thicken, the blood beating in his veins like an insistent drum.

When he had both nipples as hard as stone, he took a breast in each hand and kneaded them with a firm grasp, loving the feel of her soft flesh. “So fucking soft. I could suck on these all night.”

“Then put your mouth on me, Brandon.”

“I’m not sure you’re ready for that yet. You’re not begging for it.”

“Goddesses don’t beg. For anything.”

Did he hear a note of regret under that haughty tone? He leaned forward, almost until their noses touched. He thought about kissing those gorgeous lips but forced himself to hold back. He really wanted her to beg.

Her breath whispered against his cheek, hot and sweet. When she drew in a deep breath, he thought, Now. Now she’ll ask for it.

But she only leaned forward and nipped at his bottom lip. With her teeth. Hard enough to make a tiny, sharp pain knife through him. It faded immediately but now he could barely breathe. Not with the surging lust in his body.

He wanted her to use those teeth all over him. On his neck, on his nipples, on his thighs. Hell, he’d beg to feel them scraping along his dick.

Not hard. Just enough to catch the skin and make him want more.

“Come on, baby. You can do better than that. I’m not going to break.”

He heard her breath stop for a few seconds. Easing back just a little, he caught that hint of yearning in her expression again.

Where the hell was that coming from? What did she want?

“Lucy, baby, I’m gonna fuck you so hard, you’re gonna scream. Do you think you can handle it?”

Brand swore a wave of heat rose from her body and covered him. Heat and lust and… Holy hell, he had to get inside her.

Review of Amazon Heat

2012-01-23T03:30:00.004-05:00

Title: Amazon Heat
Author: Rayna Vause and Melinda Leigh
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Novella
Release Date: January 9, 2012

2 years ago...

Driven by grief to find a cure

for cancer, Elizabeth DeMarco left Logan Spencer to accept a position on

a research expedition to the Amazon rainforest. Kidnapped by

guerrillas, she was saved by a secret all-female civilization, the last of the ancient Amazons. But Elizabeth discovers she's traded one form of

captivity for another.

Today...

Logan

never stopped searching for Elizabeth. While consulting in the remote Brazilian interior near where she was kidnapped, Logan suffers what should be a fatal fall. Near death, he's collected by the Amazons and magically healed. Elizabeth is the first person he sees as he wakes. But

there's no time for a joyful reunion. The Amazons' mystical medicine is rapidly changing Logan. They want his DNA and plan to take it—and then

kill him. Logan and Elizabeth must escape before dawn or Logan—and their

second chance at happiness—is doomed.

Rating:

Sexual:

Review:

This story is action packed from the very beginning. It opens with Elizabeth being hustled through the jungle where she was abducted. Soon after making camp the captors are attacked by the Amazons. A tribe of woman that have a deep connection to the land they protect. In trade for letting Elizabeth live they start to use her to find a cure for a disease that is plaguing their tribe.

Soon enters our hero Logan. For the last two years Logan has searched and searched for the woman that he let walk out of his door. After coming across a pile of bodies in the jungle, he gets chased away from the site. While escaping he falls off a cliff, where the Amazons rescue him. He is immediately brought to Elizabeth, who had given up any hope of ever seeing him again.

The chemistry between the characters is instantaneous and blazing. Soon they realize that they have one shot to escape or its the end for them both.

I really enjoyed this novella. It was a great quick read. Full of action and never a dull moment. I can't wait for the rest of the series to be released.

Review House of Pleasure by Deborah Court

2012-01-22T01:30:00.001-05:00

Title: House of Pleasure
Author: Deborah Court
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Novella
Release date: December 31, 2011

When Jane Eden inherits an old Victorian mansion on the outskirts of Boston, she has no idea what secrets it harbors. She soon discovers that it's a magic house, fulfilling all the sexual fantasies of its female residents. Losing herself in sensual dreams that take her to exotic places and delightful historical eras, she never considers what will happen if she ever loses her heart.

Luke Thomas is Hollywood's most celebrated action-hero, used to swooning fans falling all over him. One day he meets a beautiful woman in a park who doesn't seem to be interested in him at all. It's a challenge he just can't resist. His desire to see her again transports him to Jane's house, and he gets lost in the arms of a lover who drives him into a frenzy of boundless pleasure. But will he gain her love when the prize is higher than she's willing to pay?

Rating-

Sexual-

My review-

Hot. Hot. Hot. What else can you say about this book?

To start with, we are introduced to Jane who has just inherited a rather lovely Victorian mansion that is a family heirloom. Nothing too out of the ordinary, right? That is until you discover the mansion's secrets: it magically grants every sexual fantasy of its female owner. How can any woman resist?

From here we are thrust into a sexual foray of fantasies any woman, or man, would want to take on. There's a little something for anyone, from light bondage to a menage a trois. Each scene is even hotter than the one before it, leaving you with the faint curiosity on what the next scenario will bring.

If you enjoyed Deborah Court's first book that I reviewed, "Bound to the Prince", then you will most definitely enjoy this novella. If this is your first time reading her work, sit back and enjoy the ride. And don't be surprised that you'll want to pick up more of what she's written after you're done.

Laurie's Top Picks for 2011

2012-01-21T03:00:00.012-05:00

2011 Top Picks

Laurie’s picks

2011 Top Picks

Laurie’s picks

I want to thank all the authors that have sent request, guest post, interview and giveaways. We each here at Bitten by Paranormal Romance appreciate the work you put into your writing!

I’m also really excited on the total request we received in 2011. The grand total was 305 author and publisher request. Netgalley was 24. I have to give a HUGE THANK YOU to my co-reviewers because there was no way I could ever do this alone. Ladies you’re the best!! The total on guest post and interviews was 205. And by the way it’s coming in so far this year is just going to keep growing. So sit back and enjoy finding new reads from some fabulous authors.

Top pick are books that we here at Bitten by Paranormal Romance have read and feel gets our top pick for that year. We don’t vote or talk about this to each other. This is our honest opinion on books we reviewed or read during this 2011 year. I believe two of my co reviewers have posted theirs. I know Wild about bones will be right behind me, so please be on the lookout for hers.

I want to apologize on how late I am at getting mine out. I’ve been so sick and well I really needed a small break after 2 years of day in and day out reading and working the blog. So now after hours on hours of playing my new Need for Speed game I am back in the saddle. At least until I feel the need to sneaking in a bit of racing;) LOL. Anyhoo, here are my 2011 Top Picks.....

Paranormal romance

This one is a tie. I loved both book and just couldn't pick between them.

Yvette's Haven (Scanguards Vampires #4) by Tina Folsom

After being kidnapped by a vampire hunter, vampire bodyguard Yvette's first instinct is to kill the bastard. But before she gets the chance, she realizes that he was double-crossed by the witch he was working for and now is in as much danger as she is.

To get his brother out of trouble, bounty hunter / vampire slayer Haven has to deliver the young actress Kimberly to a witch. Unfortunately, she's protected by the very creature he hates most: a vampire.

As Yvette and Haven try to escape their prison and rescue the actress and Haven's brother, will their natural hatred for each other keep them apart or is the passion that bubbles up between them strong enough for them to dare risk their lives to defeat the witch from harnessing the greatest power of all?

Changeling Dawn (Changeling #3) by Dani Harper

RUN

Shadow and moonlight merge beneath her bare feet,

the forest floor blurring as she flees the dogs and torches. Werewolf, monster -- those are the names given her kind by the humans who hate them.

HUNT

Kenzie Macleod has spent her whole life hiding what she is, and she’s not about to open up to any man, even one as powerfully attractive as wildlife expert Josh Talarkoteen. But legend says that a Changeling cannot escape the call of her true mate, even in the wilderness of backcountry Alaska.

MATE

An isolated archeological site, a terrified Changeling cub, a secretive research center -- as Kenzie and Josh face the ultimate betrayal, his obsidian eyes promise untold pleasure and hint at dark secrets of his own

Erotic paranormal romance

How to Worship a Goddess (Forgotten Goddesses #2) By Stephanie Julian

Lucy was once the beloved Goddess of the Moon, and she could have any man she wanted. But these days, the goddesses of the Etruscan pantheon are all but forgotten. The only rituals she enjoys now are the local hockey games, whereon ferociously handsome player still inflames her divine blood...

Brandon Stevenson is one hundred percent focused on the game, until he looks up and sees a celestial beauty sitting in the third row. A man could surely fall hard for a distraction like that...

Best paranormal romance series

The World of Ascension by Caris Roane

Ascension

Burning Skies

Brink of Eternity

Wings of Fire

Best villain- Amon

Stolen Destiny by Gabrielle Bisset
Amon is one hot dangerous villain. My hat goes off to you on writing Amon, Gabrielle. I’ll never forget him.

Released from prison to find a murderer, a prison-hardened Varek Leale is convinced no woman deserves the man he's become, but his Aeveren destiny makes him succumb to sweet and sexy Callia Reynolds. To catch a murderer, he and Callia must find an Aeveren with the power to control time. But Amon Kalins isn't a man to trifle with, and when he wants something, he'll use his powers, devastating charm, and good looks to get it. When Amon manipulates time and seduces her away, Varek must turn to the people who set him free for help to get her back. But the Council doesn't do anything without requiring something in return, and what they want is Amon Kalins, one of the most powerful Aeveren ever. Varek will do what he must to capture Amon and find Callia. If he doesn't, she'll be lost to him for untold lifetimes. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

Suspense

Deadly Lies (Deadly #3) by Cynthia Eden

She wants to hide the past

FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is haunted by memories of the serial killer who abducted her. To keep the darkness at bay, she pretends to be a different, more confident woman. This Samantha doesn't fear every unknown face. So she throws caution to the wind and shares a night of unbridled passion with a handsome stranger.

He needs to uncover the truth

One night isn't enough for successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway. He wants more of the sexy, smart, mysterious woman who slipped away before dawn. When they meet again, their attraction is undeniable-until his stepbrother goes missing, and Max realizes that Samantha isn't who she seems. But they must trust each other to trap a ring of bloodthirsty kidnappers before the nightmares that terrorize Sam become irrevocably real.

As a merciless criminal spins a web of . . .

DEADLY LIES

True Crime

Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti

"Wicked Wives" is based on the true story of the 1938 Philadelphia murder scandals in which seventeen wives were arrested for murdering their husbands. Mastermind conspirer Giorgio DiSipio, a stunning lothario and local tailor who preys upon disenchanted and unfaithful wives, convinces twelve of them to kill their spouses for insurance money. The murder conspiracy is very successful until one lone assistant D.A., Tom Rossi, uncovers the plot and brings the perpetrators to justice. "Wicked Wives" is a story made for Hollywood, combining murder, corruption, treachery, love, lust and phenomenal detail as it vividly captures Depression-era Philadelphia.

Paranormal romance novella

Shifting Hearts (Wiccan Haus, #1) by Dominique Eastwick

The last of his kind…

Rekkus is the last of the great Black Tiger weres and he is happy to stay that way. Working as security for the Wiccan Haus, a magical spa for inner healing, he has enough danger – and women – to keep him busy. Unfortunately, the Fates are not content with him being comfortable.

Alone and discouraged…

Dana has walked away from all she has known, her fiancé, family, apartment, and job. Now, having a ticket to the Wiccan Haus may be the only way she can move on. But what she finds isn’t what she expects, nor is it what she thought she was looking for.

Meet the unusual residents of the Wiccan Haus. The staff can get a little hairy and not all of the guests eat what’s served in the dining hall. But the proprietors always do what they can to make the resort into a place of healing and peace, using all of their years of practice. At the Haus, where humans and Paras reside side-by-side, everyone in need of the Rowan siblings’ services are welcome.

WELCOME TO THE WICCAN HAUS.

Historical paranormal romance

Cat O' Nine Tails by Patricia Leever

When Orrin and his brother Kale are hired by Queen Winifred to hunt down Aeron and her band of miscreants, Orrin never dreamed he’d fall in love with the beautiful she pirate, or the kind, accepting people of her island hideaway. As they grow closer, Aeron reveals her jaded past with Queen Winifred to Orrin; he doesn’t hesitate to offer his help to bring Winifred’s evil reign to an end. Aeron and Orrin soon discover that the strongest weapon in their combined arsenal is the love they have for each other.

Historical romance

The Many Sins of Lord Cameron (Highland Pleasures #3) by Jennifer Ashley

He is a man of simple tastes - and complex pleasures...

Cameron Mackenzie is a man who loves only horses and women - in that order - or so his mistresses say.

Ainsley Douglas is a woman with a strong sense of justice and the desire to help others - even if that means sneaking around a rakish man's bedchamber.

Which is exactly where Cam finds her - six years after he caught her the first time. Only then, she convinced Cam she was seeking a liaison, but couldn't go through with it because of her husband. Now a widow, she's on a mission to retrieve letters that could prove embarrassing to the queen. Cam has no interest in Ainsley's subterfuge, but he vows to finish what they started those many years ago. One game, one kiss at a time, he plans to seduce her. And what starts out as a lusty diversion may break Cam's own rules - and heal the scars of a dark and damaging past...

BDSM romance

All She Wants for Christmas is Her Dom (1 Night Stand #60) by Stacey Kennedy

All She Wants for Christmas is Her Dom (1 Night Stand #60) by Stacey Kennedy

Madame Eve’s 1NightStand service has brought together Blake and Taryn on a cold Christmas Eve at the Castillo Lodge. The two will set out on an adventure of pain and pleasure surrounded by Alaskan snow-capped mountains and nestled in a warm country lodge. But as the night develops, Taryn discovers it’s not Christmas presents that will surprise her but instead the very man who mastered her through a night of intense BDSM.

WARNING — this book has intense BDSM that some might find objectionable. If you don’t enjoy some serious spanking, rough play, and the use of floggers, among other toys, this story is not for you.

Thriller romance

Malevolent Spirit (Merryweather Lodge #2) by Pauline Holyoak

It’s Christmastime at Merryweather Lodge. Emily has returned to the cottage from her home in Canada; after the untimely death of someone she loved. Will she be able to celebrate a traditional English Christmas in her aunts enchanting little cottage or will she be tormented by the hideous creature, again? Was Emily’s attempt to banish her unearthly adversary successful? Will her aunt disclose the secrets she has been concealing for so many years? What will happen when Emily’s best friend comes to visit her? What secrets will she reveal? Will Emily ever get to make love to the man of her dreams? A chilling tale of love, passion, sorcery and sacrifice; laced with mystery and tied with humor. Inspired by the authors own experiences in a remote little cottage near Stonehenge

New upcoming authors that really give me that WOW!

Karen Nichols

Mina Kahn

Cookbook

Junior's Dessert Cookbook: 65 Recipes for Cheesecakes, Pies, Cookies, Cakes, and More by Alan Rosen, Beth Allen

What would life be without dessert? With this book, you’ll never have to find out. Junior’s Restaurants, the landmark chain with four locations on the East Coast, are nationally known for their award-winning cheesecakes. But Junior’s has perfected other confections, too; here, more than 30 full-page, four-color photographs showcase 65 fabulous desserts. Authors Alan Rosen and Beth Allen present scaled-down kitchen-tested recipes so bakers can create their own restaurant-worthy delights. Never-before-published recipes include sundaes, ice cream sodas, pies, black ‘n whites, cheesecakes, layer cakes, and cookies. A chapter on slimmed-down sweets will appeal to calorie-counters. Along with entertaining family tidbits, sidebars on “The Junior’s Way” help bakers achieve great results, making Junior’s best-loved recipes feel right at home in any kitchen.

Now, to every author that didn't make someones list I want to think you for your hard work. It takes guts to publish or self publish your heart.

Guest romance author Em Petrova

2012-01-20T05:00:00.003-05:00

Please welcome romance author Em Petrova

A New Kind of Immortal

By Em Petrova

Last year when I began writing my Immortal Series with Red Sage, I set out to create a different breed of immortals. I’d read vampires, shifters, fairies, and demons. I wanted something a little more human, with human traits and normal lives, but with the added complication that these characters didn’t die. I get a lot of questions about my immortals. So today, I’d like to introduce them to you.

Making: An immortal shares his/her blood with the dying. Not through fangs, but by conventional means of cutting. My immortals have been known to run onto crash scenes armed with pocket knives to rescue victims. They’ve also used shards of glass to slice the flesh of themselves and a mortal, pouring their blood into their veins.

Immortals can die at the hands of other immortals. If they lost their footing and fell off a cliff, they wouldn’t die, but if another immortal pushed them—delivering the death blow, so to speak—they would perish. Only with other immortals are their lives challenged, which sometimes makes for a volatile situation if a new immortal comes into their midst.

In my latest release, TREFOIL, the heroine Lillian has mortal frailties, which can happen if something is done incorrectly during Making. But that’s all I’m going to tell you. No spoilers!

Immortal Tattoos: At the moment the immortal blood is shared, a tattoo blossoms on the new immortal. These tattoos are inky blue and vary in location. The art is individual to the person, and often reflects their gifts or personality traits. For instance, in RUNES, the hero Will is a mathematical genius. He sports a tattoo of small, cramped numbers on his lower abdomen that almost appear to be a graphic art piece. His heroine has runes and tiny stars curling from her shoulder, up her throat, and ending in a spattering of stars at the corner of her eye. One of the minor characters (who will get his own book, I assure you!) is the dashing Spaniard Dante. He’s an ancient immortal who was part of Columbus’s crew bringing men to a new world. As ship captain, his tattoo is a wave pattern.

For the heroine of TREFOIL, her tattoo appeared before she discovered her talent. The inky lines of vines and flowers climbing her spine were a mystery to her, until one day, she found a piece of property that inspired her to garden.

The Calling: My immortals are also subject to a phenomenon which links them to their mates known as the Calling. An immortal doesn’t choose who their mate is. Fate links them. The female Calls to the male through a telepathic link, opened by a gasp. They experience Visions of lovemaking that drive them insane with want. When the man receives the Call, he begins his search immediately. Once the link is opened, the couple must complete their bond as soon as possible or risk madness. They’ll experience debilitating tremors and insatiable need for their mate until their blood is shared in the bonding, which I’ll discuss in a minute.

From the time they are Called, they can speak into one another’s minds, opening the mind link by using their mate’s name. At times the Calling presents major issues. The immortal might have another lover, for instance. No matter who that person loves, the Calling cannot be ignored.

Sometimes immortals who have Called to one another aren’t compatible. When they attempt to bond, their blood doesn’t mesh and the female dies. If this happens, the male is relegated to a life of madness and often begs for death. In my first book RUNES, this happened to the villain.

Bonding: To complete the bond, the couple must share their blood and bodies simultaneously—a very erotic moment. Once they are linked as immortal mates, their telepathic connection strengthens until they can even view their mate’s sleeping dreams.

Once the bonding is finished, a blood red medallion appears on the woman’s left breast, over her heart. This is a tattoo of their mate’s blood, which runs in her veins. Usually the tattoo is a combination of their immortal tattoos. In RUNES, the heroine’s blood medallion is a circle of stars and miniature numbers (her tattoo is runes and stars, and hero’s are numbers).

In this world, immortals Walk amongst mortals without detection. Only another immortal can see the “glow.” Not sparkles like vampires, people! Just an inner beauty, although sometimes mortals notice a difference if they are smitten. In RUNES, the other hero Sean is in love with the heroine Evangeline. He sees something different about her, and is drawn to her immortal tattoo with a fierce passion. He can’t keep his hands—or mouth—off it.

Along with a glow which reveals them as immortals, they can “see” into each other’s souls. Looking deeply into one another’s eyes, they can see who Made the immortal, although that person never knows his Maker until they meet face to face. They can also see the person they’ve been Called to. Both instances occur in my Immortal Series.

I’ve loved creating this new world. The clashes that occur between immortals and mortals are endless. Every time I write another book for this series, a new plot bobs into my mind. The stories stand alone, although some of the same characters appear in all four. I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring this realm with me. I’d love to hear from you!

Em Petrova

~where words mean so much more~

http://www.empetrova.com

Runes: http://tiny.cc/rh5yl

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