The Unleashing by Shelly Laurenston (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Kera Watson never expected to face death behind a Los Angeles coffee shop. Not after surviving two tours lugging an M16 around the Middle East. If it wasn’t for her hot Viking customer showing up too late to help, nobody would even see her die.

In uncountable years of service to the Allfather Odin, Ludvig “Vig” Rundstöm has never seen anyone kick ass with quite as much style as Kera. He knows one way to save her life—but she might not like it. Signing up with the Crows will get Kera a new set of battle buddies: cackling, gossiping, squabbling, party-hearty women. With wings. So not the Marines.

But Vig can’t give up on someone as special as Kera. With a storm of oh-crap magic speeding straight for L.A., survival will depend on combining their strengths: Kera’s discipline, Vig’s loyalty… and the Crows’ sheer love of battle. Boy, are they in trouble."

My Thoughts:

I've been meaning to read this book for awhile now but it was hearing about it on the Smart Podcast, Trashy Books podcast that helped me to make it my next read.  I was in the mood for a fun romance and this book definitely fit the bill.  It is probably one of the most unique beginnings to a paranormal romance series that I've ever read.  Kera wakes up to find herself to have become a crow - basically she is now part of this group of strong females that have special strengths and abilities.  They are almost like warriors for a god - at least that's the best way that I can describe them.  How wonderful to find a book that focuses on female relationships like this one does!  That being said - my one and only complaint with this book was that at times it was hard to keep track of all of the characters.  There are just so many of them!  I'm sure that as the series goes on I will become more and more familiar with all of the characters but I did find it a bit overwhelming at times.  Enough on that though!  I absolutely breezed through the pages of this book!  It was such a fun read and it had me giggling at times.  Especially at the beginning where Kera explains more of how she first met/what she first thought of Vig.  It's pretty great but I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say any more than that.  I found that I especially enjoyed the relationship between Kera and Vig.  He helped her in so many different ways to adjust to her new life and I adored him for that alone.  Plus there are some nice steamy scenes between the two of them and I couldn't help but root for their happy ever after!  This book was very fast paced and I raced through the ending because I couldn't stop reading.  We don't get full closure since this is just the beginning of this series but it was wrapped up enough to feel satisfying.  I'll still be reading the second book sooner rather than later though!

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this book and am excited to have finally given this author a try.  I was bummed at first to see that there are currently only three books in this series but Laurenston has other series and books that I can read as well.  I just enjoyed this book so much so I want tons more just like it!  I also really appreciated that the crows are all women of mixed heritages and races!  Yet another thing that I just loved about this book.  I'm so eager to read more in this series because of all of this.  There are just so many great things about this book that have me so excited to read more in this series.  I would highly recommend this book to other readers of romance, paranormal romance, and even urban fantasy.  I will be picking up that second book as soon as possible!  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  I thought that this was a really great beginning to this unique paranormal romance series!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.         

Moonglow by Kristen Callihan (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

My Thoughts:

Why did I wait so long to read this book?  I adored Firelight which is the first book in this series but then I never moved on to this one until now.  Well actually last year to be exact as this is a book that I read months back and am just now sharing my thoughts on (definitely a different discussion for a later date but my lack of blogging in 2016 is to blame).  Moonglow was just as good as I hoped that it would be overall.  Once again I found myself swept away by the romance that was brewing, this time between Daisy and Ian.  What made this book even better for me was that there was a bit of mystery involved as well.  A romance and mystery combined?  I'm so in!  I loved the relationship that developed between Daisy and Ian...but I especially liked Daisy's character.  There is just something about the female characters that Callihan writes that I can't get enough of.

What else can I tell you?  The author does an amazing job with the world that she is creating.  I loved that there is some paranormal aspects mixed in with the historical romance feel.  It is a winning combination in my opinion and different from so much out there.  My one and only complaint with this book was the ending.  This may just be my personal preference but I didn't care for the way the book ended.  I obviously can't say much more than that without spoiling anything.  I didn't hate the ending by any means but it just wasn't my favorite.  The thing is I thought about it for a really long time and I can't see how it would have worked any other way either.  So take my opinion with a grain of salt as overall the book is really great!

All in all, I found that this book cemented my love of this series!  I really, really need to try and read the third book sooner rather than later.  I love how different these books are from what's out there in the romance genre.  I also love the gorgeous covers!  I just plain really love these books and can't say enough good things about this series.  I can easily recommend to other romance readers!  And the best part is that you really don't need to have read the first book to read this one.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  Another great addition to this series that is fast becoming a favorite of mine!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book for review thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

The Darkest Night and The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member -- a man trapped in a hell of his own.

Neither can resist the instant hunger than calms their torments... and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction -- and a soul-shattering test of love...
Though they carry an eternal curse, the Lords of the Underworld are irresistibly seductive -- and unimaginably powerful..."

My Thoughts:

Be still my paranormal loving heart!  A few years back (six to be exact) I read this book and I remember enjoying it.  Sadly this is about all I remembered when I tried to think back on it.  I do know that I also meant to continue on with this series but that never happened (along with writing up my thoughts on this one. Go figure!).  When I was given the chance to read a book in this series I was eager to reread this one because I remembered so little of it.  Now I am wondering how in the heck I ever forgot this one because this book was HOT!  Don't mind me over here just fanning myself.  LOL!  Seriously though, this is such a great and unique beginning to this paranormal romance series!  Fallen warriors with actual demons living inside them?  Gods and curses along with other hints of the supernatural?  I found myself instantly sucked into this complex and dark world where falling in love is the last thing that any of the warriors thought could ever happen to them.  Sigh!

I learned very early on that I remembered next to nothing about this book.  This worked out really well for me as I was sucked into this book and the world that the author had created once again.  I loved every minute of it!  It is one of those books that you just cannot set down and read as fast as you possibly can.  The chemistry between Maddox and Ashlyn is so scorchingly hot that it also made me want to read even faster.  Basically I devoured this book and that is all you really need to know.  It is funny considering that this was a reread so you would think that it would have been less suspenseful for me.  That wasn't the case in the slightest, and I had forgotten how this author isn't afraid of putting her characters through the wringer which just adds to the tension more.  The world that Showalter has created  is both dark and intense which is such a great combination.  Add to it these fallen warriors trying to keep the demons living inside them under control and you have a winning read in my opinion.  I couldn't help but want to see Maddox find his happy ever after with Ashlyn.  I loved them together almost instantly because she brought out a different side to him that I just adored.  Plus the chemistry between them was both electrifying and such fun to read about!  The ending of this book was even more intense than I remembered which left me frantically reading when I got to the last fifty pages or so.  It was worth it and I finished this one totally satisfied!  Overall, this was a really great reread and left me really pumped to continue on with this series!

Bottom Line:  I adored this book and know that I will end up rereading it again at some point.  So good!

Summary from Goodreads:

"Though she has lived for centuries, Anya, goddess of Anarchy, has never known pleasure. Until Lucien, the incarnation of death--a warrior eternally doomed to take souls to the hereafter. He draws her like no other. And Anya will risk anything to have him.

But when the merciless Lord of the Underworld is ordered by the gods to claim Anya herself, their uncontrollable attraction becomes an anguished pursuit. Now they must defeat the unconquerable forces that control them, before their thirst for one another demands a sacrifice of love beyond imagining..."

My Thoughts:

These books!  I just can't seem to get enough of these books and these fallen warriors!  After finishing The Darkest Night I was super pumped to read this one and I wasn't disappointed.  Basically when I go to read book three I need to make sure that I have nothing planned because I am completely useless while reading these.  I spent an entire Saturday afternoon curled up in a chair finishing this book- it was completely worth it!  This book was just as readable as the first book and just as hard to put down.  I find myself so completely sucked into these books from the very beginning page.  The author is just that good!  

What I loved about this second book is that we are learning more about the world that these warriors used to be a part of.  A world filled with gods and goddesses and artifacts with magical properties.  It is all so unique and interesting and fun to read about.  Plus, it is all very dark and intriguing as well which is something that I am just a sucker for in world building.  Anya and Lucien's relationship was just as hot as I had hoped that it would be which makes it all the more fun to read about.  With this book, Anya has a curse that really affected her ability to have a relationship with a man (I don't want to say more and spoil it so I will leave it at that).  This curse was something that Lucien and Anya were forced to deal with but I really loved the way that it was handled.  I also enjoyed that we learned more about some of the other warriors and the demons that they are dealing with.  The bonus scenes in this book were when we got to see Ashlyn and Maddox a bit more although the focus wasn't on them at all.  I just loved their happy ever after so it was great to see it continue on in this book.  My only complaint with this book was the ending.  After all that build up for the first 3/4ths of the book I felt like the ending didn't quite live up to my expectations.  It just wasn't as intense as I expected it to be.  It was good and I wasn't upset with it by any means but it just felt a bit flat in comparison to the rest of the book.  If that is my only complaint though....well, I can live with that!

Overall, I have become a huge fan of this series thanks to these two books.  I am so eager to continue on with this series and get my hands on book three.  I'm thinking though that I will need books three and four nearby though so I can continue on this paranormal romance binge.  These books are so steamy and such page turners.  I can't emphasize that enough!  I am loving my time in this world and am so very excited to continue on.  Highly recommended to romance and paranormal romance fans!

Bottom Line:  Another great read that left me pining for more!  I love this series!

Disclosure:  I received both of these books thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC Book Tour. 

Firelight by Kristen Callihan (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask."

My Thoughts:

This is one of the best paranormal romances that I have read in a long time!  I am super excited about this series even though I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read it.  Why do I do this to myself?  I actually have the answer to that question though: because now I have a bunch of great books in this series to look forward to!  2016 is going to be the year that I focus on catching up with this series and read the rest of these books because I loved this one so much.  It was just so unique and different from many of the books out there!  I found this to be one of those books that just pulls you in as the reader and doesn't let you go.  I couldn't help but love this world that the author was creating.  It was a throwback similar to a historical romance with something "other" thrown in.  It was the paranormal aspect that really made this book stand out for me and honestly I just couldn't get enough of  this book!  

In this book, Archer hides behind masks and keeps to himself to hide his true nature from others.  He cannot resist taking Miranda as his bride though and the chemistry between them was instantaneous.  Oh my goodness but I loved the relationship that developed between these two.  They are both keeping secrets from each other from much of the book and it added a layer of suspense to the reading of the story.  I couldn't help but read faster so that I would be able to see how everything was going to play out.  One of the things that I love most in a romance book is when it takes time for the two characters to come together.  I'm not a huge fan of insta-love or anything similar to it.  I loved how Archer and Miranda's trust took time to build between the two of them.  It just made the ending all the sweeter because of it.  I also really, really loved Miranda's unique abilities.  It made her into such a strong main character and I always appreciate that but in especially in a romance read.  This book was just so completely readable for me and I found myself curled up on the couch with it for hours.  I especially loved the ending but I won't say more than that since I don't want to spoil anything.  I was left very excited about this series and ready to begin reading the second book as soon as possible!

All in all, this was one of the best romance reads that I read in 2015 and just barely missed being on my top reads list.  It was just so good and such a treat to read!  I'm super excited to continue on with this series and hopefully read ALL of the books in this series over the course of the year.  I have high hopes that each book after will be just as good as this one!  Romance fans should definitely give this one a try!  I highly recommend it!

Bottom Line:  Such a unique and refreshing romance!  Loved it!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I also ended up buying a copy from the used book store which is the one I read.    

Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is picked for an assignment with the Department of Covert Affairs, he’s stunned to find his new partner is a beautiful woman who looks like she couldn’t hurt a fly, much less take down a terrorist.

Ivy Halliwell isn’t your average covert op. Her feline DNA means she can literally bring out the claws when things get dicey. She isn’t thrilled to be paired with yet another military grunt, but Landon is different. He doesn’t think she’s a freak and he’s smokin’ hot.

Soon they find themselves facing a threat even greater than anyone imagines...and an animal magnetism impossible to ignore."

My Thoughts:

I can honestly say that I waited way too long to start this series because I really enjoyed this one!  Fast-paced and filled with suspense, I couldn't and didn't set my kindle down hardly at all while reading it.  I say this a lot with romantic suspense but I really don't read enough from this genre.  What I liked about this book was that it was romantic suspense combined with paranormal romance.  And what a combination it was!  From the very beginning I found myself caught up within the pages of this book and that didn't end until the very last page.  I found myself reading as fast as I could because the suspense at times just wouldn't let up.  And then add in that chemistry between Ivy and Landon and you will know why I had such a hard time putting this book down.

One of the things that I liked best about this book was the fact that Ivy had paranormal abilities while Landon didn't.  This gave Ivy an edge over Landon when it came to her abilities and that isn't something you always see in romance books but especially in romantic suspense. That isn't to say that Landon couldn't hold his own but it was in a different way and I just really appreciated that Ivy was the one with the special skills.  This book was one of those books that was just so completely readable and I flew thru the pages.  While it was the action scenes that caused me to read as fast as I could, it was the developing relationship between Ivy and Landon that I loved the most.  I liked that it wasn't instantaneous but the chemistry between the two was hot!  I couldn't help but get behind hoping for their happy ever after.  The ending left me intrigued as although this ended nicely there was enough left open to leave me very excited to get started on the next book!  Which I couldn't help but go ahead and load on to my kindle.

Overall, this was a great beginning to this new romantic suspense/paranormal romance series (I really don't know how to classify it) and left me eager for more!  I love books that pull me in so easily that I just don't want to stop reading and that is exactly what this book did to me.  The tension and chemistry were both well done.  I really can't complain at all other than to say I want more!  I want more books just like this that cause me to lose track of time and just read.  Easily recommended!

Bottom Line:  A nicely done romantic paranormal suspense that left this reader unable to set it down!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley.  Thoughts are my own!

Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.

Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.

Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world."

My Thoughts:

 I absolutely loved everything about this book from the first page to the last.  Burn For Me was such a refreshingly great beginning to a new paranormal romance series and really left me excited about this series in general!  The characters, world that this author has created, and even all of the secondary characters are so original compared to other books out there in this genre.  Nevada's grandma works on armored vehicles for instance....how great is that??  I just couldn't get enough and didn't want to see this book end.  Nevada and Rogan are both such great main characters.  Rogan is dark, dangerous, and filled with all of this powerful magic inside of him.  Nevada is young, much lighter personality wise, and filled with all of this untapped potential.  They are just such a perfect match in my opinion!  The world that Andrews has created is filled with magic users with different abilities and levels of magic.  It is a dark, gritty world where powerful magical families rule, and I loved everything about it!

Sometimes I find that the books I love the most are the hardest to share my thoughts on.  All I want to say are things like "READ IT NOW!!!" and "No seriously, I really loved it!!!!" which works but only to a certain extent.  Why did I love it so much?  Because it was so different from many of the other paranormal books that I have read.  Because it has two amazingly great main characters who have this great romantic tension thing going on between them.  Because it was fast paced, hard to put down, and left me wanting the second book instantly upon finishing.  These are just a few of the reasons why I loved this book so much!

Obviously I loved this one and can't say enough good things about it.  I'm anxiously awaiting the second book (heck even the cover will be exciting at this point) and will be picking it as soon as it is available.  As this if officially one of my favorite authors I cannot recommend this book enough.  Don't be put off by the paranormal romance label if that isn't quite your thing.  Really to me this one reads much more like an urban fantasy and I think fans of both genres will enjoy.  Highly, highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A top ten read for 2014.  Enough said :)

Disclosure:  I checked out a copy of this book from my local library.  Thoughts are my own.

Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"When Nina Linden is hired to landscape a private island off the New England coast, she sees it as her chance to rebuild her failing business after being cheated by her unscrupulous ex. She never expects that her new client, software mogul Deacon Whitney, would see more in her than just a talented gardener. Deacon has paid top dollar to the crews he’s hired to renovate the desolate Whitney estate—he had to, because the bumps, thumps, and unexplained sightings of ghostly figures in nineteenth-century dress are driving workers away faster than he can say “Boo.”

But Nina shows no signs of being scared away, even as she experiences some unnerving apparitions herself. And as the two of them work closely together to restore the mansion’s faded glory, Deacon realizes that he’s found someone who doesn’t seem to like his fortune more than himself—while Nina may have finally found the one man she can trust with her bruised and battered heart.

But something on the island doesn’t believe in true love…and if Nina and Deacon can’t figure out how to put these angry spirits to rest, their own love doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance."

My Thoughts:

I'm having a hard time writing up my thoughts on this one as I enjoyed it....but.  There were a few things that kept me from fully connecting to this book which is why it only ended up being a good read for me rather than great.  Let's start off with everything I enjoyed though, shall we?  First of all this book was way spookier than I expected.  Set on a remote island believed to be haunted, the author did an amazing job of really creating this eerie setting where it felt like something evil was just lurking around the corner.  And there were some really spooky moments throughout the book that really reinforced this!  My favorite thing about this book though was all the references to Scooby Doo that the author threw in here and there.  I adored that cartoon as a kid and still love watching old episodes with my kids.  So fun and a pleasure to find another Scooby Doo fan!  The mystery portion of this book was done really well and had me guessing for the majority of the book.  I had a few parts of the book figured out but it wasn't until the very end that I realized that I was right.  This book was a fast, easy read that kept my attention throughout.  Overall, I really enjoyed it.

The issues that I had with it though really had to do with the relationship that developed between Nina and Deacon.  It felt like they just came together all too easily and I never really connected to their relationship.  While I absolutely adored all of the other relationships in this book between the characters, this one just fell short for me.  Maybe because I went into this book expecting more of a focus on the romance than what there really was.  For me, this felt more like a mystery with a romance thrown in.  I liked both Nina and Deacon's characters, liked that they found each other, but overall their chemistry just fell a bit flat for me.  

When all was said and done, I did really enjoy this book even if I had a few issues with it.  It was a fun read, and I was left ready to read more by this author.  I am curious to see if this author has any more books with scary settings as she did that portion of this book extremely well!  Plus, any author that uses Scooby Doo references is an author that I will be reading more of!  Recommended but as a mystery rather than romance!

Bottom Line:  A fun and creepy read but one that didn't quite knock my socks off.

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book for review thanks to the publisher.  Thoughts are my own! 

Dark Skye by Kresley Cole (thoughts)

I'm going to start my review on this book with my final thoughts:  I absolutely don't read enough paranormal romance!  And this book made me wonder why as I just gobbled it up!  This book was one of those perfect reads where you read it at exactly the right time.  I had been in the mood for a good romance (but haven't read that many this year so far) and liked the sound of this one.  Two families that hate each other with an intense history of violence?  A hero and heroine who once shared a secret relationship when they were younger but now cannot stand one another?  Yes please!  I knew that this was going to be my kind of romance and it certainly was!

In this book, Melanthe and Thronos had a secret friendship when they were very young.  A violent past though tore their relationship apart and caused them both to hate the other in every way possible.  The fact that Thronos knows that Melanthe is his fated mate means that he cannot leave her alone even if he hates her for all that she has done to him.  Melanthe's childhood experiences have caused her to despise all Vrekeners but especially her ex-childhood friend Thronos.  When they are thrown together and forced to survive in different worlds, they will begin to rediscover some of their past history finding that everything that they both believed in might not be the truth.  Will love find a way to reunite them??? 

Okay so I've got to admit that I was easily rooting for these two from the very beginning of this book.  I am such a sucker for a romance where the hero/heroine hate each other.  I love the slow build up to where that hate turns to passion.  I especially like when they resist each other for some time....it comes across more believable then when one just rolls over and falls madly in love for no reason.  Give me a book like this anytime and I will be hooked!  I thought the author did a really great job of setting all of these different obstacles between them especially with their shared history.  I also appreciated that their relationship slowly began to build and simmer.  It made it that much more steamier when it finally happened in my opinion :)  And this was definitely one of those books that I couldn't set down.  I found myself skimming at times just so that I could see what was going to happen next.  Then I would go back and reread just to make sure that I hadn't missed anything.  This is my first book by this author which means that I started yet again in the middle of a long standing series.  It didn't matter in the slightest.  I really appreciated that this book felt like a stand-alone novel even though now I know I have lots of good books to look forward to!  My only complaint with this book is in regards to the ending.  I feel like it wrapped up a little too fast and left more open than I would have liked.  Does this mean that we will have another book featuring Thronos and Lanthe?  I don't know but I do know that I would really like it if we did.  Overall though, even though I was left wanting more it didn't really detract from my reading experience all that much. 

This book has me eager to start at the beginning of this fourteen plus book series!  If they are all this good then I will certainly be in for a treat.  I really loved this book!  The connection between Thronos and Lanthe was something that I couldn't get enough of.  The best thing about finally trying this author's books though is just knowing that I have so many more to look forward to.  I can't wait!  And like I said before, I'm eager to try some new paranormal romance series out just to see what else I have been missing.  What other paranormal romance series are out there that you can't get enough of??  Please share as I need more books like this in my life!  Highly recommended but especially to romance fans and fans of the paranormal. 

Bottom Line:  A slow building romance led up to a GREAT read for me!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher.  Thoughts are my own!

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts (thoughts)

Iona Sheehan comes to Ireland looking for both family and something more.  She has lived her life up until now feeling vaguely dissatisfied as if she was missing out on something important.  It isn't until she meets her cousins Branna and Connor O' Dwyer that she realizes the missing piece might by her heritage and recently discovered powers.  It will be up to Iona though to really find herself and let her powers as a witch awaken before she comes to battle a centuries old evil named Cabhan.  Because if she isn't able to do this, it may destroy her new found love and family.

As soon as I heard that Nora Roberts was coming out with a new paranormal trilogy, I wanted to read it.  Simple as that to be honest.  I loved her Key trilogy and Three Sisters trilogy enough that I have read them multiple times each.  And although I hate to make comparisons, this first book was very reminiscent at times of some of those books.  For me, I went into this book expecting something similar because what she writes works.  I literally gobbled up all of those other books in a matter of days.  Couldn't get enough.  This one was good but not as good as those other two trilogies and I'm not honestly sure what the difference was.  I think for me it was a slight lack of connection to both of the characters.  I am huge on connecting with a book and for me this is why I liked but didn't love this one. 

Iona comes into the book looking for family as her own family never really cared for her the way that she needed them to.  She doesn't realize it but she is looking for love.  Enter Boyle, her new gruff boss that doesn't really share his feelings with anyone.  From those descriptions, you would think that their chemistry would really click but for me it just didn't quite do it.  I wanted to see them get over all of their emotional obstacles to find a happy ever after, but I wasn't connected enough to the story to really want it.  It is hard to explain other than that.  This book sets everything up perfectly for what is to come in the next two books but it didn't do it in a way that left me emotionally invested.  I just needed a little bit more to make this book a great read.  All of that being said, I did find this one to be a page turner.  The storyline may be a bit similar to others that she has written but it was different enough that I was intrigued.  I really liked both of her cousin's characters.  I'm eager to see if I click with their stories more than I did with this one.  And I have to reiterate that I liked this book.  I just feel like I expected a bit more and was  harder on it since I have loved some of her other books so much.

Overall, this was a good beginning to a new trilogy even if I had a few issues connecting to the characters.  I have high hopes that I will enjoy the next two books even more as they will be focusing on her cousins Branna and Connor.  It was an easy book to sink into and I found myself flying through the pages.  I just wanted a bit more so maybe I will get that with the next book.  Recommended but with a few hesitations as there are other of her books that are better and I enjoyed more (if interested definitely try the Three Sisters and Key trilogies). 

Bottom Line:  A good read but one that just left me on the edge of finding it to be a great read.

Disclosure:  I checked this one out from my local library.  Thoughts are my own.

Forbidden and Forever by Jacquelyn Frank (thoughts)

Docia Waverley is walking along the side of a bridge when a car sideswipes her knocking her over and into the rough water below.  Docia has a near death experience where she is given a choice to either live or die.  When she chooses life, she awakens to find that her life has changed forever thanks to the decision that she has made.  Because now two souls reside in her body, the soul of Docia and the soul of the bodywalker who has chosen to live within her.  As Docia tries to adjust to her new life, she finds that more has changed than she expected.  Now her life is in danger from some very evil creatures including other bodywalkers like herself.  It will take her trust in Ram and others to help her survive.

I've never read a series like this one.  The idea of the nightwalkers was so completely unique that I couldn't help but find it fascinating.  The Nightwalkers are the souls of former Egyptian pharaohs and queens who thanks to their mummification processes and afterlife rituals cannot die.  Instead, they reside in either the ether or take up residence inside of another person entwining the two souls.  The author set out a difficult task for herself as Docia had to deal with her past life (for example her brother) while also dealing with her new life.  I loved how the story managed to make it work for both of these lives in a way that actually worked quite well.  I wasn't sure how it was all going to work out but then it just did.  And it really fit together in a way that left me ready to read more.  My only complaint with this book was that it suffered from information overload at times.  It definitely slowed the pace of the book down for me at certain points but I think a lot of that was due to the fact that this is the first book in this series.  The ending on the other hand was much more intense and left me racing to finish.  Plus, I thought that the author did a really nice job of wrapping this book up while leaving room for the next book.

Overall, I thought that this book was a good read bordering on very good.  It definitely suffered from detail overload at times but in the end the uniqueness of the book really won out.  I loved the Egyptian details and descriptions.  It really made me want to brush up on my history of that time period.  This was a fun paranormal romance read and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it!

Bottom Line:  A pretty good beginning to this paranormal romance series!

Forever takes up right where Forbidden left off as the king of the Nightwalkers, Menes, returns.  And that is all I'm going to tell you since it will spoil the first book if you haven't read it.

This book was even better than Forbidden as the book really focuses on the relationship between Menes and Marissa.  I loved seeing them grow together and to learn to really trust one another.  I just could not wait to see their happy after!  I also really enjoyed some of the plot twists that came about in this book.  It set up some dark times for future books in this series, and I am really anxious to see what will happen.  I continued to enjoy all of the different details in regards to the characters.  We continued to see Docia and Ram's relationship grow which was really nice.  I loved that there are other types of nightwalkers including gargoyles.  I'm curious as to what other types there are because in this book we found out that there are multiple types that they don't even know about.  The ending of this book once again tied everything together in a way that left me completely satisfied.  We know that there is a war brewing and an evil that will need defeated yet, but I still was happy with the ending. 

This book was even better than the first book which left me eager to continue on with this series.  I think that the author has done an amazing job of creating a series unlike any others out there.  It really has made me excited about these books and even this genre.  I will definitely be reading this author's other books....but not until I finish with this series first!  I would highly recommend this series but you definitely need to begin with Forbidden.

Bottom Line:  One of the most unique series that I have come across!

Disclosure:  I received both of these books thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  Thoughts on them are my own.

Dragon Awakened by Jaime Rush (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Ruby Salazaar wants answers…and revenge. Her uncle has just been murdered before her eyes and the name he utters with his final breath—Cyntag—leads Ruby into a world beyond her wildest imaginings. She soon learns that the dark, sexy Cyntag Valeron knows more about her than she does herself."

My Thoughts:

Dragon Awakened is one of those books that I wanted to read based on the premise alone.  Dragon shapeshifters?  Hell yeah!  I've only read a few books featuring dragons and they really worked for me so I couldn't resist jumping at the chance to read this.  I'm glad that I did because this book was actually really good.  

This book jumped into the action from the very beginning and didn't let up until the last page.  It made for an intense reading experience because everything happens so fast that I just couldn't keep up.  I loved it!  I read this book in a matter of days because it was just so easy to keep going and I didn't want to set it down.  Ruby is a pretty cool main character.  She takes everything new that she is learning about this new world of hers  with a healthy dose of suspicion and resistance...but she also adjusts to in a manner that came across realistically.  Well, as realistically as can be when you are talking dragon shapeshifters.  LOL!  I also really appreciated the fact that it took time for her to fully trust Cyntag.  She didn't just fall into his arms and do whatever he said.  She thought for herself and acted based on her own instincts.  You don't always see that in some books in this genre.  

Overall, I ended up really enjoying this one.  If I had any complaints it would be that I was surprised to hear that the second book in this series will be about new characters.  I actually would like to read more about Ruby and Cyntag because I feel like we just grazed the surface on them as a couple.  But hopefully the next book will also involve them a little bit.  I'm definitely eager to continue on with this series, and am looking forward to reading more by this author.  If you are a fan of paranormal romance or even urban fantasy then I would definitely give this book a try.  For me it was easily a good read bordering on very good.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A gripping beginning to this paranormal romance series, and one that I had a hard time setting down!

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher for review.  Thoughts on it are my own.

P.S. - If you were wondering about the other dragon paranormal romances that I loved check out Kendra Leigh Castle's MacInne's Werewolf Trilogy.  The romance features werewolves but dragon shapeshifters are also involved. Highly, highly recommended!

Three Sister's Island Trilogy (Thoughts on a Reread)

Pre-blogging days I used to read many, many books by Nora Roberts.  Now that blogging has expanded my reading horizons a bit (and led me to a truckload of new authors) I find that I don't read as many of her books any more.  Besides her In Death series under the pseudonym of J.D. Robb there are no books that I enjoy more by her than these three books.  It has been years since I indulged in a reread so I decided that now was a great time to dive back into some of my old favorites and revisit this amazing trilogy.  I can easily say that these books are just as amazing as I remembered them but obviously I'm a bit impartial.  Because of this I thought I would share my thoughts on these with some mini reviews. 

Dance Upon the Air is the first book in this trilogy and by far my favorite.  Nell has done the impossible by faking her own death and leaving her abusive husband.  She comes to Three Sister's Island on an impulse and finds so much more than she could have ever expected.  The problem is that her past is getting ready to come back to haunt her.

Just thinking about this book makes me want to read it again!  I love Nell's character and how we get to see her blossom as a person throughout the book.  Robert's does an amazing job of creating this bond between the three women that are the focus of this trilogy from the very beginning.  The romance that Nell and Zach find is both sweet and believable.  Basically, the book just pulls you in and doesn't let you go until you are wishing that you had the chance to experience life on Three Sister's Island.  I love the fact that there is a paranormal bent to these books without it being the focus.  Instead, the focus of this book is on Nell's growth and finding the courage to stand up for herself.  I love it and loved rereading it!

Heaven and Earth is the second book in this trilogy but it definitely doesn't disappoint!  In this one, Ripley has seen everything that Nell went through to save herself and is forced to come to terms with the fact that she is a witch.  After years of forcing herself to be normal, she struggles with the idea that she might have to use those powers in order to save the island that she loves so much.  Can she overcome her fears and do her part to help save the island??

What I love about this book is the chemistry between Ripley and Mac!  They are by far my favorite couple because they are so mismatched that they just work.  I love seeing their relationship develop as they get to know one another.  For just this fact alone I would reread this book again right now!  But it is also enjoyable to see Ripley begin to reconnect with Mia and begin to use her powers once again.  Ripley is a prickly character whom I just can't help but like especially because she is so stubborn headed.  It is fun to see her and Mia clash with each other but it is even better to see her and Mac clash.  HOT!  Once again Roberts does an amazing job of setting up the ending for this trilogy without making it seem like there wasn't closure with this book.  The ending of this book wasn't as heart pounding as the first book but it still pretty damn good!  Another enjoyable reread!

Last but certainly not least is Face the Fire by Nora Roberts.  By the time I get to this book I am so head over heels hooked on this series that I NEVER want it to end!  Of course it must but usually by this time I'm in denial. 

In Face the Fire, Mia Devlin faces her past when the boy she loved with all of her heart comes back into town.  She may have gotten over her broken heart from years ago but she knows that her destiny may still be tied up in her feelings towards the man that he has become.  But she has an even bigger worry to deal with as the evil that has been haunting the island is ready to make its' final stand against the three sisters.  It is going to take everything that she has to beat the legend and save the island.

I love this book for so many reasons but honestly it is because by now I have become attached to all of the characters.  I usually read these books back to back and all I want is to see how it all ends and make sure that they all get their happily ever after.  I love Mia's character because she is so strong and independent.  And the relationship between her and Sam is both enchanting and dreamy.  I love the way that they have to learn who the other one is now as a person instead of the younger teenage version that they remember.  It makes the ending so much more powerful as the reader is allowed to see everything from each book tie together into an epic finale!

Gosh I love these books!  They are the ultimate comfort reads and reading them again was such a delight.  I could read them over and over again (and I'm actually sure that I will).  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them at all and in fact usually recommend them over and over to fellow readers. 

Bottom Line:  These books are books that I plan to read again and again.  They are some of my favorites!

Disclosure:  All three of these were checked out from my local library which is a shame because I need to own these...looks like I will be getting my own copies the next time I am ready for a reread!

Wicked As She Wants by Delilah S. Dawson (thoughts)

Wicked As She Wants was a delight to read and such a strong follow-up to the first book that it managed to cement my love for this series!  It was up against a tall order too because although I enjoyed Wicked As They Come it was only a good read for me, and I wasn't completely positive that I would continue on with the series.  Wicked As She Wants blew the first book out of the water though and I most definitely will be reading more in this series!!

In this book we get to know Ahnastasia, a blud Princess from the land of Muscovy, that Casper finds nearly dead locked up in a suitcase.  Ahna has no idea how she got in there nor does she have any idea who has killed her parents or why.  But she does know that it is her duty to return to her homeland and take her rightful place as the Queen.  Ahna manages to convince Casper to help her on this whirlwind adventure filled with blud pirates, danger, and even a little bit of desire.  But it will take everything that both Casper and Ahna have to overthrow the "new" Queen of Muscovy that has taken over while Ahna has been gone.  Can the spoiled princess become a real Queen?

This book had everything that you can ask for: passion, adventure, mystery, and even a dash of humor.  I loved it so much and found myself easily caught within the pages from the very beginning.  The chemistry between Ahna and Casper is almost instantaneous and I loved watching their relationship develop.  It was also nice to get to know Casper's character more as he plays a semi-important role in the first book.  I wish I could tell you exactly what worked better for me with this book compared to the first but it isn't one certain thing.  I think that I just really connected with the characters more in this book!  The adventure that Ahna and Casper found themselves on was such a whirlwind and it kept me turning the pages as fast as I could!  I especially loved the scene when Ahna is boarding the airship...I couldn't help but laugh even though I'm terrified of heights myself.  I wasn't sure how the book was going to end but the author did an amazing job with it!  I sincerely hope that we get to see a bit more of Ahna and Casper in future books because this one book just wasn't enough!  And before I forget it was also a nice touch in my opinion the way the author managed to fit Tish and Criminy in without making it an issue if you haven't read the first book.  I just can't wait to read more of this series!

All in all, this book was everything that I hoped it would be and so much more!  It has me super excited to see where this author takes this series next.  From the teaser I read at the back of the book, it looks like I will be in for a treat.  Now I'm just going to have to be patient and wait for that next book to come out.  I sure hate the waiting part!  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one but especially for fans of both paranormal romance and steampunk!

Bottom Line:  Such a good read!  I can't wait for more!

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book for review from the publisher.  Actually two by accident.  One came from NetGalley and one was a surprise I found in my mailbox.  I love those!

Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle (thoughts)

Dark Awakening was an enjoyable way to revisit one of my favorite paranormal romance authors.  Tynan MacGillivray is on the hunt for a special "Seer" that can help secure victory for the vampire clan that he works for.  Although he is considered to be an outcast among the vampires that he lives around and works for, he has a hope that finding this seer will make life better for him and his kind.  Until he meets Lily Quinn and his entire life changes...

There is nothing better than a good paranormal romance especially one written by this author.  I was completely enchanted with this book from the first page until the last.  Tynan is one of those tortured heroes that you can't help but love and root for.  I wanted to see him happy and in love, and Lily Quinn was the perfect match for him.  The chemistry between these two easily heated up the pages and had me cheering for them as a couple.  The storyline was fresh and original and I especially enjoyed the idea of Lucy being a Seer.  It was interesting to see some of the skills that she possessed and I'm guessing that we will see her develop more in future books in this series.  I'm just hoping that each book has a couple with a hot relationship like these two did.  Another thing that I appreciated with this book was the different "castes" or groups of vampires.  Tynan was a part of a group that was considered to be below other vampires which is one of the reasons that he was trying to make things better for his kind.  I really liked that about it him, it just endeared him to me all the more.  I found the ending of the book to be a strong finish even though it is part of a series which I really appreciated!  I get frustrated sometimes when authors leave too much open for the next book but luckily that didn't happen here.

What else to say about this book other than I loved it?  It was a fast paced read, I didn't want to set it down, and I wanted to read more about the characters after I was finished.    I'm eager to see what happens in the next book of this series.  In fact, I've already got it loaded onto my Kindle ready to go.  I'm a huge fan of this author and would definitely recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance.  If you haven't tried this author yet I would also recommend her MacInnes Werewolf trilogy.   

Bottom Line:  A must read author in my opinion!  And this book just serves to reinforce that!

Disclosure:  I checked this book out from my local library!

Wicked As They Come by Delilah S. Dawson (thoughts)

Wicked As They Come tells the tale of Criminy Stain and his enchanted locket that brings Tish into his world. A world that is only available to her when she sleeps but is like something that she has never experienced before. Criminy is like no one that she has ever met especially when he claims that they are meant for each other. And when she finds herself unable to return to her own world, she sets out on an adventure with Criminy that she will never forget.

Wicked As They Come was a fresh and original story filled with a world that brought about new reading experiences for me as a reader. I went into reading this book with high hopes as every review that I had seen was mostly/extremely positive. And while the world that the author created was extremely fascinating, I never managed to connect with the characters. It left me feeling a bit shaky about my overall experience with the book.

One of the things that I liked about the book was the circus atmosphere and the world that Criminy lived in. It was both unique and engrossing and I found myself wondering what the author would come up with next. The book was filled with killer "blud" animals and all of the humans lived walled up in a city that was supposed to protect them from the "bludmen". This was all very different than anything I had ever read before. The author also used different plays on names of countries and continents to tie the world that she had created to our actual world. It made it fun to read and find those references. Everything about Criminy's world I enjoyed and the world building was my favorite part of the book. That being said, I was never able to connect to either of the main characters in the story. Tish and Criminy's relationship was precarious from the start for me and I spent a good portion of the book trying to figure out how it would work. It was clear from the beginning that Tish was going to have to choose between her world or Criminy's and I didn't like either choice by itself (sorry if that is a bit spoiler-ey). I also felt that the relationship that developed between them went too fast for me to really root for them as a couple. I just never connected, plain and simple, which left me wanting more.

All in all, I can understand why so many others have loved this book way more than I did. And you probably should check out some of those reviews if you are on the fence about this book at all because my opinion seems to be in the minority. I just didn't love this book like I hoped that I would. I liked it enough though to give the second book a try at some point when it comes out. Hopefully, another dip into Criminy's world will allow for me to connect and love the world like so many others. And if not, then that's okay too :)

Bottom Line: Just an okay read for me.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for review from the publisher. Obviously, my thoughts on it are my own.

In other news, does anyone else have a hard time writing negative or even semi-negative reviews? I swear this took me over an hour to write and even then I'm not sure if I expressed everything that I wanted to. Ugh! If only we loved every book that we read :) I seem to have broken through my HUGE reviewing slump though and considering that I am now 12 reviews behind...it couldn't have come sooner. I need a review-a-thon or something. Happy Sunday!

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood."

My Thoughts:

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs was a fun beginning to this paranormal romance series, and I'm eager for more! Jane is an unlucky librarian who wakes up as a vampire after going on a drunk bender. She's at a crossroads in her life when she becomes a vampire which makes her dealing with all of her new vampire traits that much more interesting. Jane has to deal with how to tell her family that she is part of the undead, finding a job that will fit her new lifestyle, and so much more. And the entire time she does it with both spunk and wit which I really enjoyed. Everything didn't come easily to her and I really appreciated that the author made her work for the things that she wanted. The relationship that develops between her sire, Gabriel, and her is both steamy and fun at the same time. I liked that they were basically dating and taking the time to get to know each other rather than just diving into bed right away. In fact, I think that one of the things I liked most about this book is that the author wasn't afraid to take her time with building this series. Things happened slowly at times but I have a feeling that it is all leading up to the next book in this series which is happily already sitting on my shelves. The mystery part of this book was interesting but a bit obvious. I didn't care though as I was more interested in watching Jane adjust to her new life as a vampire. And I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

Overall, I found this to be a solid beginning to this series! It had everything that I look for in a good paranormal romance including fun, well-developed main characters, a storyline with a bit of a twist, and of course a steamy romance :) This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. I'm looking forward to continuing on with this series but I'm also hoping to begin her other series at some point. Definitely recommended to fans of romance!

Bottom Line: A paranormal romance with spunk and character. I want more!

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for review from the publisher. My thoughts are my own :)

Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite."

My Thoughts:

Kiss of Midnight was a fun paranormal romance and I will absolutely be coming back for more! What I liked about this book was how dark and moody it was. Gabrielle wasn't your cookie cutter damsel in distress...instead she was a well-fleshed out main character that was dealing with her own issues and past. Lucan enters her life and her entire world is basically turned upside down. The relationship that develops between the two of them is filled with heat and passion almost instantaneously. I loved the constant tension that there was between them (it was HOT!) I found the storyline to be quite engrossing as well and I am anxious to read the 2nd book to see what happens next. This book left a lot open and I'm guessing that we will continue to learn more in each book of the series. So hopefully all of my unanswered questions will be answered :)

All in all, this was a solid beginning to this paranormal romance series! It was exactly what I was in the mood for at the time while I was reading it, and I couldn't ask for more. I will admit to having a few quibbles here and there but overall I really liked it. I enjoyed the ride that the author took me on, and found myself eager to continue on with the series. All good things which means I would recommend this one!

Bottom Line: A steamy paranormal romance and most certainly worth reading!

Disclosure: Checked out from my local library...I want to say that I picked up this book based off of Christine from The Happily Ever After...'s recommendation or reviews of this series. I'm sure glad that I did!

A Demon Does it Better by Linda Wisdom (thoughts)

A Demon Does it Better was a fun read that left me wanting more. Set in a hospital for all things paranormal, Linda Wisdom creates a spooky and dark setting where something is amiss. Lili comes to work at the hospital in search of answers for her friend that has gone missing with no trace. Instead she finds even more questions as she is brought to the underground, dungeon-like part of the hospital where the mentally insane are kept. There she meets Jared who is a demon that she just can't seem to resist. And soon Lili finds herself drawn not only to Jared but also to the secrets that the hospital seems to hold close. Because everything isn't as it seems...

How spooky does that sound??? I loved the setting that the author created with this book. It filled the book with atmosphere at times that was both creepy and dark. Lili was quite the opposite which fit really nice as she was filled with light and goodness. The atmosphere of the story contrasted nicely with Lili's character which really worked well in the book. The chemistry between Lili and Jared was almost immediate which caused me to instantly root for them. I would have liked to seen Jared's character explored a bit more though...I didn't feel like we got to fully know him like we did Lili. In the end it didn't matter, as I was just waiting to see that they got their happy ending :) The plot kept my attention throughout the story as Lili searched for answers to the various goings on at the hospital. And although the ending was a bit faster than I would have liked, I felt that it tied everything up quite nicely.

All in all, this was another solid read by this author! I'm looking forward to whatever she decides to write next as she is on my auto-buy list. And I really, really like the darker turn that her last two books have taken. I just can't wait for more! If you haven't tried this author yet, the great thing about these books is that you don't have to read them in any particular order. Characters from previous books are mentioned but it won't affect your enjoyment of each individual book. (I'd start at the beginning and read them all though if I were you :) Definitely recommended!

Bottom Line: Another must read from this author!

Disclosure: I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of this book from the publisher. My thanks!

Here is the link to my thoughts on Demon's Are a Girl's Best Friend if you are interested and my thoughts on Wicked By Any Other Name as well as Hex Appeal. I think I have one more book of this author's that I haven't read yet...and I'm definitely going to be remedying that soon :)

Under The Moon by Natalie J. Damschroder (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father's bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

But someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target. With the world thinking Nick has gone rogue (whatever that means) and that Quinn is influenced by "family ties" she didn't know she had, keeping themselves safe while working to find the enemy proves harder each day."

My Thoughts:

Under the Moon is the beginning to a new paranormal romance series featuring goddesses and their protectors. Quinn is a goddess who derives her powers and abilities from the moon. It gives her great abilities during the full moon when her powers are the strongest and leaves her almost completely normal afterwards. I found this to be an interesting concept as it left Quinn very vulnerable at times. One of the things that was really unique about this book was the idea of goddesses and the fact that the goddesses got their powers from different things. Rain, oceans, and crystals were just some of the things that the different goddesses used to enhance their abilities. The book itself was very interesting as Quinn finds herself caught up in a mystery where her fellow goddesses are being drained of their powers. She soon comes to realize that the "leech" has something to do with her and the family that she knows little about. This made for an interesting storyline, and I found myself immersed in the mystery that was surrounding Quinn. Plus, there was a nice little chemistry going on between Nick and Quinn that really added to the book in my opinion. The only problem that I had was that I think I expected a little more focus on the romance. Instead, I found the book to be more plot oriented which worked out fine in the end once I adjusted my expectations. I also didn't entirely care for the triangle that was present between Sam, Quinn, and Nick. But I have a feeling that Sam may show up in later books which would be a good thing :)

All in all, I found this to be a good read with lots of potential! I'm looking forward to reading more in this series in the future. This was my first read on my Kindle Fire and it was a great experience (although I do think I will always prefer an actual book). Recommended to fans of paranormal romance!

Bottom Line: An interesting beginning to a new series....

Disclosure: I read this book on my Kindle courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher.

Embrace the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney (thoughts)

From Goodreads:

"Cody MacBain let the woman of his destiny slip away. A member of an ancient clan of Scottish warriors, he grew up beside Shay Logan as her secret protector, but his heart compelled him to become more. Until Shay’s true identity was revealed, and the fated pair’s chance was gone…

But danger will drive them back into each other’s arms…

Shay fell for the boy next door, suspecting nothing of the ancient secrets he guarded. After a stinging betrayal, she’s determined to banish the memories of her first love forever. But the past can’t let go, and the boy she once loved has returned to her a warrior determined to protect her from the unspeakable evil fate has planned…"

My Thoughts:

Embrace the Highland Warrior was a fun read and an interesting take on the paranormal genre. Shay has lived a life filled with secrets which helped to drive a wedge between her and her childhood friend Cody. The chemistry between these two was instant and unrelenting. I started rooting for them to have a happy ever after from the very beginning of the book. I thought that the author took the paranormal genre and gave it a fresh twist with demons, highland warriors (of course), and even vampires. There was a lot of references to an ancient book that made me wonder if it will play a big part in the next book of the series. Shay was an awesome main character as she was both headstrong and tender at different times. She was surrounded for most of her life by both lies and secrets which came into play in the middle of the story. We got to see that she has some special abilities that hopefully we will learn more about as this series goes on. My only problem with this book was that there were so many characters that we didn't get to learn a lot about. I think that if I had read the first book in the series, this book would have been better for me and I would have enjoyed it more.

All in all, I did think that this was a good read that kept me entertained. I wish that I would have started with the first book, but I think that I'll go back and read it before continuing on with this series. That way I'll get the chance to get a better feel for some of the secondary characters. I would recommend this books to fans of paranormal romance but make sure that you start with Awaken the Highland Warrior!

Bottom Line: A good read and a series that I want to read more of.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for review from the publisher for review.