Review: Darkness Rising by Katie Reus

 

Darkness Rising by Katie Reus

Darkness Rising by Katie Reusf

5 Stars

Superbly written, unforgettable characters, and masterful world building.

I couldn’t put this book down. From beginning to end the story unfolds introducing new characters, both good and bad. Intertwining with all the different supernatural factions and reuniting us with beloved and somewhat quirky characters from previous books in this series. Don’t worry if this is your first book read in this series, as it stands alone just fine. Although, like me, you might want to go back a catch the first ten books or so. I’m telling you the players in this engrossing tale are dynamic as the well crafted storyline.

Reaper is an ancient dragon warrior fresh out of hibernation. Awakened by the call of blood and fire. What he doesn’t expect to see upon arrising is the beautiful dragonsclan healer. Who’s beauty and scent change everything for him. His dragon says, “MIne!” and Reaper is in full agreement.

Greer sees a arrogant warrior who pulses with power and other things she wishes she could ignore. Such as his glorious naked self that puts delious pictures in her head she knows she shouldn’t act on. He’s temptation and trouble all wrapped up in a scrumptious package of — just say no.

These two made me laugh, cry, sizzle, and smile. They jumped off the pages straight into my heart.

I highly recommend not only this book but the whole series to anyone who enjoys a good paranormal romance with action, intriguje, betrayal, love, lust, and loyalty.

Get it on Amazon

Review – Cuffed & Claimed Box Set

Cuffed & Claimed

Featuring stories by: Caitlyn O’Leary, Daisy Philips, Elle Boon, Fiona Archer, Holly Roberts, Jenika Snow, Lori King, Lynne St. James, Sherri Hayes, and Sydney Lea

Ten hot law enforcement erotic romance novellas that will have you panting.

 

A wonderful collection of law enforcement romance stories.  From slightly steamy to scorching.  I’ve rated the different novellas from 3.5 to 5 stars.  Which translates, “I liked it” up to “I loved it”, with an overall average score of 4.4 stars.  Meaning I loved more books than I liked and they were all worth reading.  I definitely recommend this book to romance readers who like a little  heat wrapped up in a uniform.

 

Delta Rogue by: Elle Boon

Great dynamic between Hailey (Hellion) Ashley and Maddox (Mad) Lopez.  This one has heart and steam in all the right places.  (5 Stars)

SYNOPSIS
Hailey’s tired of seeing men she considers her brothers nearly killed. The Navy was the one place she considered home, until now.

Maddox is used to playing cat and mouse, his job is to keep the United States safe from terrorists. However, the ends always outweighed his own needs. Only this time, with Hailey’s life hanging in the balance it wasn’t the same.

As threats escalate, and Hailey is placed under his care 24/7 will he be able to keep things professional? Or will it all fall apart as secrets are uncovered and the threats are closer than either thought?

 

Arresting Submission by: Daisy Philips

Good story, but it dragged a bit, but worth the read. (3.5 stars)

SYNOPSIS
Cat Conroy had fallen for a bad boy before and it hadn’t ended well. Scott Weston was trouble with a capital T. He claimed to be a CPA but in Cat’s experience, accountants rarely carried guns to work.

Undercover FBI agent Scott loved Cat from the moment he met her. Unfortunately, the lies he had to tell were driving them apart. Would she be able to forgive him when the truth finally came out?

 

In His Custody by: Fiona Archer

Enjoyed this story immensely.  Great suspense and the chemistry between Mercy and Aidan was off the charts. (4.5 stars)  

SYNOPSIS
English teacher Mercy Jones has sworn off men, especially the edgy ones. So why does the new substitute history teacher have to be dangerous, raw, and challenging—on every level? His uncompromising masculinity and questioning mind captivate Mercy, tempting her to risk her heart.

Detective Aidan Shaw is a cynical bastard. But when working undercover to eradicate a high school drug network, Aidan meets an intelligent, feisty blonde. Mercy’s warmth and generous spirit awaken a part of him buried deep for too long.

But as he closes in on the criminals manipulating innocents for profit, the stakes grow ever higher.

 

Street Justice by: Holly Roberts

I loved this story.  It made me smile, laugh, and sigh.  Well written, and paced.  I HAVE to read more in this series.  (5 stars)

SYNOPSIS
Street Justice combines a sexy alpha cop, a bohemian woman with a heart of gold, and a half-Shepard half-Poodle mix with a leg-humping need to prove who’s top dog in the neighborhood. With suspense, humor, and steamy romance Street Justice will have your alpha-cop fantasies on full alert.

 

Yes, Sir by: Jenika Snow

This was a good story, and I really liked the Law came to realize that he needed to change his way of treating Brittin.  I didn’t care to much for the sex scenes.  They were too rough for my tastes.  But that is just me, and the writing itself was very good and the storyline itself kept me reading.  (3.5 stars)

SYNOPSIS
Brittin
I had no choice but to come back. I knew I’d run into Law, my bear-shifting ex, and the man I still loved. I thought I could move on.I was wrong.

Law
Brittin is the only woman I will ever love. She is it for me, even if she broke it off. I screwed up when I lost her, and I spent the next two years regretting it. Now she’s back, and it’s my chance to show her I can be the man she deserves.

 

The Lawman’s Lover by Lori King

LOVED THIS STORY.  Riveting.  I was enthralled from beginning to end. Great characters, and chemistry.  You can’t help but want more. (5 plus stars)

SYNOPSIS
A divorcee whose broken dreams are buried so deep she can’t remember where she put them.

A Deputy Sheriff with a mountain of responsibilities weighing him down.

A fling. No strings attached. No plans for the future.

Until someone’s heart gets broken.

Find out how Deputy Colby Bricker and waitress Elizabeth Newcomer take their shared past and build a new future, in this sister story to the Crawley Creek Ranch Series.

 

House Arrest (A Willow Haven Novella Bk 1) by: Lynne St James

I really enjoyed the give and take of this story and the characters.  I thought the author did a great job on Anna and unfolding some of her hang ups, and how she needs to work past them to be truly happy. (4.5 stars)

SYNOPSIS
Ethan Price thought a job as a small-town police detective in Willow Haven would be easy after five years as a pilot in the Air Force. Then a rash of break-ins puts the entire department on alert and the woman he loves at risk.

Anna Taggart is smart, stubborn, independent, and doesn’t think she needs anyone. Having her heart broken before, she refuses to give in to her feelings for Ethan no matter how hard he pursues her.

Will Ethan be able to convince Anna life is too short not to love?

 

Seducing the Detective by: Sherri Hayes

Great writing and character interaction, but I felt this was more of an intro into their story then a whole story in and of itself.  I would really like to see more.  Like them catching or at discovering who the bad guy is. (4 stars)

SYNOPSIS
When Detective Janey Davis is sent to the small town of Liberty to consult on a recently discovered John Doe, she’s paired up with Deputy Kyle Reed. She’s run into his type before—handsome, overly confident, and he has the ladies fawning all over him. It should be easy to resist her attraction to him. If only someone would tell that to her heart.

 

Dirty Liars by: Sydney Lea

I really enjoyed this story, and both Nikolai and Harper’s characters.  The storyline was good, with  a few twists I definitely wasn’t expecting.  I felt it was a little choppy is spots, but then it was really late when I read this one.  So it could have been me. (4 stars)

SYNOPSIS
Undercover FBI agent Nikolai has been treading a fine line between right and wrong for the last few years and everything he has worked for is thrown into utter chaos the moment he risks it all to save Harper. Harper’s life has just been turned upside down, and now she must rely on the one man who has been lying to her from the moment they met.

Can they overcome all the dirty lies told between them?

 

Her Hearts Protector by: Caitlyn O’Leary

Very well written, smooth read, and great character interaction. LOVED this story and the characters. (5 stars)

SYNOPSIS
It’s the worst case scenario for David Sloane as a Military Policeman. An earthquake has rocked Las Flores, leaving devastation in its wake. The local government leans heavily on David to lead the manhunt to recapture the escaped convicts.

In the midst of the chaos, former army nurse Sarah Kyle arrives with the International Aid Workers. As David comes face to face with the woman he’s never forgotten, danger continues to escalate as the desperate prisoners do anything they can to leave the island.

When conditions deteriorate will these former lovers survive, let alone have the happily ever after they deserve?

I was given this boxed set in exchange for an honest review.

Review – Midnight Shift Episode One by Renee George

 

☕☕☕☕☕ = Better than 5 starsMidnightShiftE1

Unique New Story Line with Lots of Heat and Intrigue.

Brilliant beginning for what promises to be an outstanding new paranormal ménage? The first episode only hints that Benie, Ian, and maybe Trace will be a trio. Either way this book rocks and I can’t wait to read Episode Two. Since it’s out. I’m off to read it now! 🙂

Intriguing story. Benie kick’s butt and changes colors to match her surroundings. How cool is that! Ian is the sexy, genius childhood friend/lover, and Trace. Is luscious on a stick. He reads minds and has a way with swords.

MidnightShiftV

 

One Sexy Slayer. Two Alpha Werewolves. A Dangerously Hot Romance.

(This is a serialized novel — see Author Note at bottom of blurb)
Benie Dilian hunts supernatural bad guys. Her ability to shift like a chameleon, to hide in plain sight, as well as her enhanced senses, makes her the ultimate killing machine. The only person in her life that she remotely trusts is her genius best friend—Ian Arent.

After a dangerous supernatural tracker attacks Ian, turning the human into a shapeshifter, Benie must not only find out who is behind the attack that nearly killed her best friend, but also find a way to help Ian deal with his new reality. She enlists the help of telepathic werewolf Trace Calder, a supe who specializes in mediation with the “other worlders.”

As Benie fights her intense attraction to both men, she knows she has more to worry about than losing her heart and soul. Soon, she finds out that the attack on Ian is only the beginning of a journey fraught with danger and dark truths—and a prophecy that promises Benie a destiny she never wanted.

***Authors Note: Please be aware that Midnight Shift (Episode One) is the first episode in a hot new Shapeshifter/ Paranormal Romance Ménage serialized novel. This is part ONE of a FIVE part serialized story. In other words, it is episodic, contains cliff hangers, and is not a stand-alone story. It is meant to be read in order of its parts. It does contain explicit M/F/M scenes and is intended for an adult audience.

The Rock Star of Dark Fantasy Dark Secrets by Madeline Pryce

Dark Secrets

Book #2 of the Dark Series

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We have triumphed!  It seemed like everyone and thing in the world was against me reading this book.  But even with the constant interruptions we persevered, me in not giving up and the author in writing a story so compelling, that even with my atrocious memory I had no problem getting right back into the thick of things.  And the thick of things is normally where I found myself.  Ella and Micah went from one adventure to another.  Talk about intense, you best sit on your hands if you don’t want to bite your nails, and the sexual tension is a five alarm fire with no rescue in sight.  Fans and ice cold drinks are a definite must.

I went back and reread Dark Cravings and Dark Innocence which I highly recommend reading before reading Dark Secrets.  I absolutely enjoyed the experience and was reminded why I fell in love with Madeline Pryce’s writing.  I did wonder how she was going to top Dark Innocence, since that was my all time favorite book ever written.  Yes, that was past tense, because she did it!  I didn’t think it was possible.  I didn’t think she could come close to the emotions she evoked in me with Dark Innocence, but not only did she succeed, she surpassed.  Now here is my dilemma, I wanted to give her six stars of five for Dark Innocence.   How do I rate Dark Secrets?  Seven stars?  We are going to have to change the rating system.

Micah and Ella are once again thrown into turmoil, fighting to keep their family together and safe.  To protect each other and understand the love and mate bond they have for each other.  Is it the bond or is it real?  Would the other be there without the bond?  This is just one of the questions Micah and Ella must answer.  They must deal with growing powers and responsibilities, and of course the ever growing amount of people and things that want either want them dead or want to control them.

I laughed, I cried, I think I cussed a time or two. I know I definitely cheered, I might have swooned, I certainly drooled.  But most of all I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I bow to Madeline for an awesome read and for dethroning Dark Innocence.  I didn’t think it was possible.

I was given this book free of charge by the publisher for an honest review.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22464543-dark-secrets

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1lQObUe
Kobo – http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dark-secrets-23
Ellora’s Cave – http://www.ellorascave.com/dark-secrets.html
Int’l Links!
Amazon Ca – http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00LMADNXS
Amazon UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LMADNXS
Amazon AU – http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00LMADNXS
Amazon DE – http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00LMADNXS
Dark Series Reading Order
Dark Cravings (#1 Ella/Micah) – http://amzn.to/1fv0zYd
Dark Innocence (#1.5 Hannah) – http://amzn.to/1fv4hAZ

 

Dark Innocence

Book #1.5 of the Dark Series

Dark Innocence

Awesome, Spectacular, Tremendous!  This book has totally surpassed my expectations and they were high as I rated Dark Cravings 5 stars.  Dark Innocence was even better.  This book is so well written the author is able to draw you in from the very first page and keeps you turning the page till the last.  I was so engross we could have had an earthquake and I would have just taken my tablet and moved under a doorway and kept on reading.  The interacting between the main character sizzles, but it also makes your heart catch.  Some of the supporting characters bring some very interesting scenes to this book that will make you laugh and stand up and cheer.

Micah has been dethroned and Dante has been crowned king.  He is the ultimate in male heroes.  Just thinking about him makes me sigh and not just from his looks.  The way he treats Hannah is enough to make me weep with jealously.  Then there’s Hannah she’s not the brilliant, insecure, air head from the first book.   Unable to forget one second of the pain and torture she’s endured she’s on a downward spiral of drugs, booze, and meaningless sex.  Dante is the one to give her the desire to find the strength within herself to pull out of it.

All in all I give this book a six because it was beyond amazing.

Written 7/21/2014

Buy Links

Amazon US – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HYZ06ZI

Amazon Ca – http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00HYZ06ZI

Amazon UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HYZ06ZI

Amazon AU – http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00HYZ06ZI

BN (Nookie!) – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-innocence-madeline-pryce/1118637763?ean=9781419990885

Kobo – http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dark-innocence-1

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20320126-dark-innocence

 

Dark Cravings

Book #1.0 of the Dark Series

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This book was awesome. I just finished it earlier this evening. Wow, talk about smoking. I think the fire alarm went off. I am on pins and needles waiting for Dark Innocence, (Hannah and Dante’s story). The excerpts and summary of Dark Carvings did not prepare me for how blown away I was with this book. It was beyond awesome

Ella Grey a half/vampire and Micah MacGregor her Shadow hunter partner are hit with a lust spell by a Succubus.  These two previously hostile partners spend the next four days having hot, hot sex.  The only problem is this pesky little prophecy about the two of them getting together causing the destruction of all.  Ella is beautiful, tough, yet loyal.  And Micah is hot, shoulders to die for, mysterious, and just as loyal.  The supporting characters are just as loveable, except maybe the bad guys, Micah and Eli’s dad, and the vampire Queen to name a few.  This is a definite must read.

Written January 15, 2014

Buy Links

Amazon US – http://amzn.com/B00HDGXLGO

Amazon Ca – http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00HDGXLGO

Amazon UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HDGXLGO

Amazon AU – http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00HDGXLGO

BN (Nookie!) – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-cravings-madeline-pryce/1117793743?ean=9781419949548

Kobo – http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dark-cravings

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20340221-dark-cravings