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Clear As Day by Babette James
4.0
You will find my review posted on Urban Girl Reader on Monday, May 14 (http://www.urbangirlreader.com).
A Blood Seduction by Pamela Palmer
3.0
Book 1 in the “Vamp City” series
Quinn Lennox is seen working at the lab in the National Institutes of Health located in Bethesda, Maryland. She's got some strange things happening to her but she wants to keep it quiet. She has her younger brother, Zach, living with her. Something happens and they seem to find themselves in a parallel universe. Zack is a total geek. Instead of wondering about the situation, he wants to make a computer game.
Pamela always surprises me by what she comes up with and “A Blood Seduction” is no exception. At the beginning I couldn’t wait to turn the page. Pamela has made her vampires slightly different from others and that’s what makes them interesting. Then brother and sister get separated.
The Master, Arturo Mazza, desires Quinn but something just doesn’t seem right. It will be interesting to see as I read what that is. Pamela does a great job of making us think we are watching a Sci-Fi Channel movie. She also makes her heroine as tough as they come. I would want her around if I ever got into trouble.
There were times when I found that the story was a little slow. It may be because that we are given so many plot twists. Pamela also gives the reader a lot of information about the alternate vampire world. This could be because this is the first book in the series. I’m hoping that the second book will not seem as slow.
This alternate world is both dark and violent. Not a world you would want to visit. Usually vampires are romanticized in romance novels but this is more of a paranormal story and less on the romantic side. You will have to decide if Arturo is the romantic hero or not. I had 50 pages to go and I still hadn’t figured it out for myself.
I’m down to the last 30 pages and I finally see Arturo do something nice with Quinn’s feelings in mind. But I found it to be a case of “a little too late”. In a way you will be surprised by the ending but in other ways you shouldn’t be.
If you like your stories dark, you will probably love this book. If you love alternate universes, you will probably love this book. If you love Pamela’s Feral Warriors series, you will find this new series to be totally different. I found that I liked the book and am not giving up on the series. I will add the next book to my TBR list. It is expected to hit the shelves on June 25, 2013.
Quinn Lennox is seen working at the lab in the National Institutes of Health located in Bethesda, Maryland. She's got some strange things happening to her but she wants to keep it quiet. She has her younger brother, Zach, living with her. Something happens and they seem to find themselves in a parallel universe. Zack is a total geek. Instead of wondering about the situation, he wants to make a computer game.
Pamela always surprises me by what she comes up with and “A Blood Seduction” is no exception. At the beginning I couldn’t wait to turn the page. Pamela has made her vampires slightly different from others and that’s what makes them interesting. Then brother and sister get separated.
The Master, Arturo Mazza, desires Quinn but something just doesn’t seem right. It will be interesting to see as I read what that is. Pamela does a great job of making us think we are watching a Sci-Fi Channel movie. She also makes her heroine as tough as they come. I would want her around if I ever got into trouble.
There were times when I found that the story was a little slow. It may be because that we are given so many plot twists. Pamela also gives the reader a lot of information about the alternate vampire world. This could be because this is the first book in the series. I’m hoping that the second book will not seem as slow.
This alternate world is both dark and violent. Not a world you would want to visit. Usually vampires are romanticized in romance novels but this is more of a paranormal story and less on the romantic side. You will have to decide if Arturo is the romantic hero or not. I had 50 pages to go and I still hadn’t figured it out for myself.
I’m down to the last 30 pages and I finally see Arturo do something nice with Quinn’s feelings in mind. But I found it to be a case of “a little too late”. In a way you will be surprised by the ending but in other ways you shouldn’t be.
If you like your stories dark, you will probably love this book. If you love alternate universes, you will probably love this book. If you love Pamela’s Feral Warriors series, you will find this new series to be totally different. I found that I liked the book and am not giving up on the series. I will add the next book to my TBR list. It is expected to hit the shelves on June 25, 2013.
Wicked Allure by Shirley Holden Ferdinand, Leslie C. Ferdinand
4.0
Zachary Steele likes his coke – and I don’t mean the soda. And he’s mixed it with scotch. Madigan is next to him in bed. Madigan DeLeon is an exotic looking beauty. At one point, Zach hurt her and pushed her away. In his drug induced mind, he doesn’t know what is real and what isn’t. He thinks Madi is a fantasy. And later on they will learn that there are always consequences for their actions.
Madi’s sisters end up in the room and one of them gives the hint that someone else may have been the one to keep her and Zach apart. She has a great job – she’s a junior vice president of development at a multimedia company. Madi’s mother, Karolyn, seems like a controlling bitch. Besides controlling her daughters, she also took controlling interest in Zach’s company.
And then Karolyn springs a surprise on Madi. This leaves Madi questioning what she should do. Even her sisters get involved in her life. I guess I should be grateful that I only have brothers. They wouldn’t dare sticking their noses in where they don’t belong. Karolyn also likes to torture those around her.
Leslie and Shirley do a great job of creating Karolyn’s character – she’s pure evil on two legs. They also make Madi sound like pure sex in stiletto knee-high boots. Karolyn seems to be the puppeteer and she holds all the strings. I can definitely say that she is one of my least favorite characters. But isn’t that what Leslie and Shirley want? It means you are involved in what is going on in the book.
One reoccurring theme is the past between Zach and Madi. I understand it made them who they are now but I have to wonder how many times it will keep coming up. Do we really need to hear about it over and over? That was my only negative thing about the whole story. Although that is also what brings them back together.
We then find out how the book got its title. If our writing team ever decide to make this the start of a series, I hope we will hear more about the business that Madi and Zach start. I’d love to know more about what people do there.
I found it funny that while reading a scene where Zach is at the business, the song “The Cheater” http://youtu.be/zToZZOTmeXo sung by Bob Kuban came on. It was then followed up by “Tears on my pillow” http://youtu.be/8HXugnXK8Js by Little Anthony and the Imperials. It couldn’t have been planned any better.
At the beginning of this story, upon meeting Zach’s brother Dakota I didn’t think he was all that smart. But then there is a point where the two of them have a serious discussion and he gives Zach some very sound advice – I was very impressed. And I can say the same about this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the love story of Zach and Madi. And I was also impressed that our mother and daughter writing team didn’t change the mother character. She was a bitch at the beginning of the story and she was that same at the end. Bravo ladies!
This may have some explicit language in it but not enough to offend anyone. And the sex scenes – hot! You now have a choice to make. Which would you prefer, paperback or e-book copy - tough choice.
Madi’s sisters end up in the room and one of them gives the hint that someone else may have been the one to keep her and Zach apart. She has a great job – she’s a junior vice president of development at a multimedia company. Madi’s mother, Karolyn, seems like a controlling bitch. Besides controlling her daughters, she also took controlling interest in Zach’s company.
And then Karolyn springs a surprise on Madi. This leaves Madi questioning what she should do. Even her sisters get involved in her life. I guess I should be grateful that I only have brothers. They wouldn’t dare sticking their noses in where they don’t belong. Karolyn also likes to torture those around her.
Leslie and Shirley do a great job of creating Karolyn’s character – she’s pure evil on two legs. They also make Madi sound like pure sex in stiletto knee-high boots. Karolyn seems to be the puppeteer and she holds all the strings. I can definitely say that she is one of my least favorite characters. But isn’t that what Leslie and Shirley want? It means you are involved in what is going on in the book.
One reoccurring theme is the past between Zach and Madi. I understand it made them who they are now but I have to wonder how many times it will keep coming up. Do we really need to hear about it over and over? That was my only negative thing about the whole story. Although that is also what brings them back together.
We then find out how the book got its title. If our writing team ever decide to make this the start of a series, I hope we will hear more about the business that Madi and Zach start. I’d love to know more about what people do there.
I found it funny that while reading a scene where Zach is at the business, the song “The Cheater” http://youtu.be/zToZZOTmeXo sung by Bob Kuban came on. It was then followed up by “Tears on my pillow” http://youtu.be/8HXugnXK8Js by Little Anthony and the Imperials. It couldn’t have been planned any better.
At the beginning of this story, upon meeting Zach’s brother Dakota I didn’t think he was all that smart. But then there is a point where the two of them have a serious discussion and he gives Zach some very sound advice – I was very impressed. And I can say the same about this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the love story of Zach and Madi. And I was also impressed that our mother and daughter writing team didn’t change the mother character. She was a bitch at the beginning of the story and she was that same at the end. Bravo ladies!
This may have some explicit language in it but not enough to offend anyone. And the sex scenes – hot! You now have a choice to make. Which would you prefer, paperback or e-book copy - tough choice.
Tidal Whispers by Jocelyn Adams
4.0
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Hearts Desire by Julie Reece
Tessa Morgan is under the water swimming. Is it a dream or is it real? She seems to be swimming toward an underwater city. It was interesting to see this underwater world through Tessa’s eyes. Almost made you wish that it actually existed. Then the phone rings.
That phone call gives her quite a shock. When Tessa was fourteen she was at her family’s vacation retreat. She met a young man named Cameron. When she last saw him he gave her a beautiful ring. Now she’s all grown up and back at the vacation retreat. She’s starting to have dreams and He is coming for her.
Julie could have put a lot of sex in her short story but she didn’t. I was glad that she didn’t because I think it would have ruined the lovely story. Innuendo works – it gets our imaginations going. She shows us what someone will do for the one they love. What would you do? This was over way too quickly – I wanted to read more.
The Sweetest Song by Claire Gillian
Poseidon is very disappointed with Circe. She’s one of his sirens that lure ships to their doom. She has until the next new moon to get her job done.
Otis has a one bedroom apartment in Homer, Alaska. He thinks of himself as being defective. And, he’s also the captain of the Calypso – Circe’s current job. Circe has come to spy on him. Then she finds out why she has never succeeded with Otis.
Claire is just like the siren in her story. She pulls us into the story just like Circe pulls people in with her songs. I found that I loved this story but just like Julie’s it was over too quickly. I wanted to see what happens next for Circe and Otis.
Pearl of Pau’maa by Kelly Said
Harmon is seen going after his mother’s heirloom pearl. To do that he must pay his brother Creeb’s debt. Miki is a pearl diver and trap setter for her village. Kelly’s story is a little different because she uses actual sea creatures in her story. They’re just a little different.
The pearl has traveled close to where Miki is and that is when Harmon sees her. Harmon is not quite human so Miki doesn’t believe what she’s seeing. Harmon has helped her and now she’s starting to change.
Kelly’s story has greedy humans and even greedy sea creatures. It also shows that true love does exist even for two people that are total opposites. I would love to see what Kelly has in store for Creeb – he needs someone to bring him to task.
The Undergarden by Jocelyn Adams
Nixie is swimming toward a secluded bay – her favorite spot. She thinks of us as pink creatures. She mentally tries to connect with Wyatt to find out why he’s so sad. They meet when he was only nine years old. They quickly become friends. But then something happens and Wyatt can’t come to the bay anymore.
But life goes on and people change and grow. Wyatt then returns as a young man. We see how feelings can change from a child to a young person. Nixie is very innocent of our human world and that innocence can make things hurt when a misunderstanding happens.
Jocelyn’s tale was very sweet but actually brought tears to my eyes. It shows us just how short life is and that we can’t waste time thinking we are doing the right thing. If there is a misunderstanding between two people, you need to work it out and not wait until it may be too late.
This anthology was great. There is nothing bad that I can say about any of the stories other than that they were over too quickly. I was just getting to know the characters in each of the stories and then it was over. I can always hope that the authors will either carry the story over into a full length book or bring in a new character to carry on their story.
If you are looking for a sweet fantasy, a paranormal romance, and no explicit sex this is for you. If you only like a book for the sex, I’m hoping you will change your mind with this anthology. If you want to fill in the blanks for yourself, that is what we have an imagination for. These four ladies will not disappoint. You will not be disappointed if you add this anthology to your collection. You may even want to try something else that they have written.
Hearts Desire by Julie Reece
Tessa Morgan is under the water swimming. Is it a dream or is it real? She seems to be swimming toward an underwater city. It was interesting to see this underwater world through Tessa’s eyes. Almost made you wish that it actually existed. Then the phone rings.
That phone call gives her quite a shock. When Tessa was fourteen she was at her family’s vacation retreat. She met a young man named Cameron. When she last saw him he gave her a beautiful ring. Now she’s all grown up and back at the vacation retreat. She’s starting to have dreams and He is coming for her.
Julie could have put a lot of sex in her short story but she didn’t. I was glad that she didn’t because I think it would have ruined the lovely story. Innuendo works – it gets our imaginations going. She shows us what someone will do for the one they love. What would you do? This was over way too quickly – I wanted to read more.
The Sweetest Song by Claire Gillian
Poseidon is very disappointed with Circe. She’s one of his sirens that lure ships to their doom. She has until the next new moon to get her job done.
Otis has a one bedroom apartment in Homer, Alaska. He thinks of himself as being defective. And, he’s also the captain of the Calypso – Circe’s current job. Circe has come to spy on him. Then she finds out why she has never succeeded with Otis.
Claire is just like the siren in her story. She pulls us into the story just like Circe pulls people in with her songs. I found that I loved this story but just like Julie’s it was over too quickly. I wanted to see what happens next for Circe and Otis.
Pearl of Pau’maa by Kelly Said
Harmon is seen going after his mother’s heirloom pearl. To do that he must pay his brother Creeb’s debt. Miki is a pearl diver and trap setter for her village. Kelly’s story is a little different because she uses actual sea creatures in her story. They’re just a little different.
The pearl has traveled close to where Miki is and that is when Harmon sees her. Harmon is not quite human so Miki doesn’t believe what she’s seeing. Harmon has helped her and now she’s starting to change.
Kelly’s story has greedy humans and even greedy sea creatures. It also shows that true love does exist even for two people that are total opposites. I would love to see what Kelly has in store for Creeb – he needs someone to bring him to task.
The Undergarden by Jocelyn Adams
Nixie is swimming toward a secluded bay – her favorite spot. She thinks of us as pink creatures. She mentally tries to connect with Wyatt to find out why he’s so sad. They meet when he was only nine years old. They quickly become friends. But then something happens and Wyatt can’t come to the bay anymore.
But life goes on and people change and grow. Wyatt then returns as a young man. We see how feelings can change from a child to a young person. Nixie is very innocent of our human world and that innocence can make things hurt when a misunderstanding happens.
Jocelyn’s tale was very sweet but actually brought tears to my eyes. It shows us just how short life is and that we can’t waste time thinking we are doing the right thing. If there is a misunderstanding between two people, you need to work it out and not wait until it may be too late.
This anthology was great. There is nothing bad that I can say about any of the stories other than that they were over too quickly. I was just getting to know the characters in each of the stories and then it was over. I can always hope that the authors will either carry the story over into a full length book or bring in a new character to carry on their story.
If you are looking for a sweet fantasy, a paranormal romance, and no explicit sex this is for you. If you only like a book for the sex, I’m hoping you will change your mind with this anthology. If you want to fill in the blanks for yourself, that is what we have an imagination for. These four ladies will not disappoint. You will not be disappointed if you add this anthology to your collection. You may even want to try something else that they have written.
Eternal by J.A. Belfield
4.0
Jem Stonehouse is seen having sex with Sean Holloway up against a tree – what a way to start a book. That certainly grabs the reader’s attention. Sean is an alpha making love to his mate. Giles has his orders from his alpha and that is to protect Jem.
A stranger has come to town. It will be interesting to see what he’s all about. Also, to find out why he thinks he’s so special. What is he looking for? What is his agenda?
J. A. has created this prequel for her Holloway Pack series. It shows us some of the history of the pack. We also get our HEA ending but it leaves us wondering what J.A. has in store for the Holloway Pack next. If you have never read any of the Holloway Pack series before this may be a good book for you to start with.
You will find the rest of my review posted at UrbanGirl Reader, http://www.urbangirlreader.com/, on July 3. And then if you stop back on July 9, there will be a character interview.
A stranger has come to town. It will be interesting to see what he’s all about. Also, to find out why he thinks he’s so special. What is he looking for? What is his agenda?
J. A. has created this prequel for her Holloway Pack series. It shows us some of the history of the pack. We also get our HEA ending but it leaves us wondering what J.A. has in store for the Holloway Pack next. If you have never read any of the Holloway Pack series before this may be a good book for you to start with.
You will find the rest of my review posted at UrbanGirl Reader, http://www.urbangirlreader.com/, on July 3. And then if you stop back on July 9, there will be a character interview.
The Wolf Within by Sondrae Bennett
4.0
Book 3 in the “Alpine Woods Shifters” Series
Rating: 4 ½ stars
Brendan is a wolf shifter. Someone’s finally come home and he couldn’t be happier. He’s a very possessive man – a total alpha. He lives in a town called Alpine Woods.
Julie’s family is there to welcome her home. She’s had years of misunderstanding that needs to be fixed. Her sister Laurie owns a bookstore with her called “Books and Crannies”. It makes me think of the old-time bookstores.
Julie seems to have self-worth issues. She’s different from the rest of her family and sees that as a big problem. But isn’t that what makes each of us unique. Brendan has his work cut out for himself – especially when someone else is added into the picture.
As with all shifters, protection of mates is very important. What a way to show your love for someone. The only problem is that women are more independent these days and have something to say when a male gets too protective.
The only complaint I have is that this story was over too quickly. I just wanted it to go on a little longer. The only good thing is that I know this is a series and that book four “Worth Waiting For” just came out in May. Paranormal stories are great in that anything is possible. “The sky’s the limit”. Nothing is out of bounds. The world of the paranormal doesn’t exist – or does it? Only you can decide. You can also stop by Sondrae’s Corner, http://sondraebennett.blogspot.com/, to find out what is also going on with her.
Rating: 4 ½ stars
Brendan is a wolf shifter. Someone’s finally come home and he couldn’t be happier. He’s a very possessive man – a total alpha. He lives in a town called Alpine Woods.
Julie’s family is there to welcome her home. She’s had years of misunderstanding that needs to be fixed. Her sister Laurie owns a bookstore with her called “Books and Crannies”. It makes me think of the old-time bookstores.
Julie seems to have self-worth issues. She’s different from the rest of her family and sees that as a big problem. But isn’t that what makes each of us unique. Brendan has his work cut out for himself – especially when someone else is added into the picture.
As with all shifters, protection of mates is very important. What a way to show your love for someone. The only problem is that women are more independent these days and have something to say when a male gets too protective.
The only complaint I have is that this story was over too quickly. I just wanted it to go on a little longer. The only good thing is that I know this is a series and that book four “Worth Waiting For” just came out in May. Paranormal stories are great in that anything is possible. “The sky’s the limit”. Nothing is out of bounds. The world of the paranormal doesn’t exist – or does it? Only you can decide. You can also stop by Sondrae’s Corner, http://sondraebennett.blogspot.com/, to find out what is also going on with her.
West of Want by Laura Kaye
5.0
Please watch for my review to appear on Urban Girl Reader at http://www.urbangirlreader.com/
North of Need by Laura Kaye
4.0
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Please find my review at Urban Girl Reader http://www.urbangirlreader.com/
Please find my review at Urban Girl Reader http://www.urbangirlreader.com/