Happy New Year's Eve

So do you have big plans for the evening? Me, not really; I'm planning to  hang out at home with my husband and kids.  We  have a bottle of champagne to pop open at midnight...though in all honesty we'll probably open it earlier...otherwise I'll be drinking it all by myself. o.O

...WINNERS.... CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR .... WINNERS....!!!!!

Congratulations to Leagh , TerryF, Linda Henderson , and Harlie Reader!!! 

I hope you enjoy CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR as much as I did.

Review: SWITCHBLADE GODDESS by Lucy A. Snyder

Jessie Shimmer #3 Sci-Fi
Del Rey

Picking right up where SHOTGUN SORCERESS ended, Jessie and Pal are off to save Cooper from the goddess Miko, who is still pissed that Jessie refused to join her. Jessie has her work cut out for her, as she and Pal are still healing from exhaustion and their injuries. Can they save Cooper ...and the world or will Miko triumph?

*****

Wow, what an awesome ride Lucy A. Snyder took me on with, SWITCHBLADE GODDESS, a twisted erotic tale that took Jessie to some very dark places, as we learned more about what made Miko tick, and watched Miko drag Jessie into some of those very spots. Jessie's only concern was to save Cooper, but in the process she had to face some very messed up crap.

If you read SHOTGUN SORCERESS (I hope you have, or a lot of this wouldn't make much sense) you will remember that Miko started screwing with Jessie, Cooper and the Warlock's minds, twisting their relationships into something dark and difficult to come to grips with. Well Miko did NOT let up at all. She continued to take Jessie on a distortedly erotic journey, throwing in plenty of horror, action, and finally some tender relief to bring the story to a satisfactory end.

I loved this latest installment to the Jessie Shimmer series and am absolutely thrilled to hear that there could be more to come!!!!

Rating: 4.5

Guest Post and Contest with author Donna Grant : New Years Resolutions

Bestselling author Donna Grant writes historical paranormal romances for St. Martin’s Press. She lives in Texas with her husband and two kids.

Towards the end of one year I always look to the next and think of things that I’d like to do. Some call them resolutions. I try not to since that usually means they don’t last more than a month.

So, I make goals. Sometimes its as simple as excising three times a week. I always slack off during the holidays, so I make this one of my top goals.

I also try to be realistic in my goal setting. I’d love to add getting to see more readers via conferences or book signings, but I know what my schedule is next year, and I’m barely going to have time for a family vacation. So, I know that one is pretty low on the list and will probably hold off until the next year.

Since I know I won’t be getting to readers in person as much as I want, I’ll make other ways to reach them. One is my Virtual Signings. This is when a reader buys the book and pays for postage from my website, the books are ordered, sent to me, and I sign them and get them sent out to the reader on release day.

I did my first Virtual Signing last year and it was a great success, and something I plan on continuing as long as readers want it.

Another of my goals for next year is taking more time for me. I always forget to schedule that into my time. lol. My hubby and kiddos often remind me of it, so I’m going to make it a priority for next year.

So, tell me what is/are your resolutions (goals) for the coming new year?

**I’ll be giving away an ebook copy of ECHOES OF MAGIC, the second in the Sisters of Magic trilogy to one lucky commenter!**

Here’s the blurb and cover for DANGEROUS MAGIC that just released!

.

Dangerous Magic

Never tempt magic…

With the darkness holding firmly onto his soul, Cade knows he’s destined for Hell. Men like him don’t perform the deeds he has, regardless if they came by order of the king, and not elude the darkness…

A loner, Cade takes what the land provides and vows to keep the two men he thought of as brothers alive from the great evil after them. He knows his time is short and the evil is looking for him, but there is just enough humanity left in him to aid his friends. When the flame-haired witch finds him, Cade is instantly spellbound by her beauty. He can either forget her – or give in to the reckless, impossible love that could destroy her…

ISBN-13: 978-1600883996

Ebook Only

Sisters of Magic #3

December 27, 2011 Rerelease

To learn more about the Sisters of Magic trilogy or my other series, see book trailers, and sign up for my newsletter please visit me at www.DonnaGrant.com.

Hugs,

D

Thank you so much for visiting us here on Rambling Reads today, and don't for get to comment for a chance to win!

Review: HOLD ME IF YOU CAN by Stephanie Rowe

SoulFire #3

Paranormal

Sourcebooks Casablanca

After spending more than a century held prisoner in the Den of Womanly Pursuits, Nigel Aquarian has found a sense of peace by sketching, but now it seems to be the one most dangerous pursuit he could follow. Whomever he draws is being pulled back into the Den. There is only one person who can help him, the delectable chocolatier, Natalie. 

 

After surviving a deadly deedub bite, Natalie Fleming has a new lease on life. But that doesn't mean she's going crazy and living it up. She refuses to lose control ever again, because the last time she lost control she nearly died. As she is readying her shop Scrumptious, for the reviewers of Michelin-O, the premier judges of fine foods, she realizes that she has lost her mojo. Her sensuous magic is not working AT ALL. Then she discovers that she is the newest attraction on the deedub tour as the only Sweet to have ever survived there bite, oh and to just top everything off, she finds out that she is being used as a vessel to receive the residual smut from Mari's dark magic, making Natalie turn into the one demon she most despises, a deedub.

Can Nigel convince Natalie that what she really needs to do is to let loose of a little of that control, to find release, and reopen her magic for herself and to help him rescue his fellow warriors from the Mari and the Den. 

 

*****

Stephanie Rowe takes us back to her slap-stick SoulFire world with her latest addition to the series, HOLD ME IF YOU CAN. I really enjoyed the humorous roller-coaster of a story she penned. There was enough action and adventure thrown in with the silly to keep the story moving. Not to mention the delicious sexual tension between Nigel and Natalie. I loved that while they really wanted to indulge, they held back. I know that most of it was because of Natalie's fears of losing control, but I think it helped to keep the story moving, to show that not everything can be answered by a romp in the sack...though it sure didn't hurt anything.

I look forward to visiting the SoulFire series again in the future, just to see how these guys are going t o continue to heal...and to see what else the Den of Womanly pursuits may hold. 

Rating: 3.5

SQUEEEEEEEE

I just received this:

in my mail box!!! I'm so excited, that as soon as I catch up my emails I'm going to find a place to hide in my house so that I can read this. ( I'm thinking my safest spot will be locked in my bathroom in the bathtub!)

Don't forget that I'm still running a contest to win a copy of CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR, where we first meet Sam, the hero of RAINSHADOW ROAD.

*~*~*~*~*~*ho ho ho*~*~*~*~*

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with blessings and many many great reads!

Lookie what I just found!!!! I WANT :)

Set on the gritty streets of Baltimore, You Belong to Me kept readers “on the edges of their seats.” Now, Karen Rose returns to the world of Baltimore’s cops and prosecutors with a new tale of danger and desire…

 

A car crashes in front of rookie PI Paige Holden’s home. And suddenly, she finds one of her pro bono clients dying in her arms—from a gunshot wound. With her last breath, the woman whispers cryptic words into her ear and hands her a blood-smeared flash drive.

Five years ago, State’s Attorney Grayson Smith put a murderer behind bars. But when Paige Holden shares the flash drive with him, its contents cast doubts on the conviction—and lead him and Paige into a world of blackmail, dark secrets, and a decades-long string of murders. An investigation they’ll survive only by trusting each other—and the truth.

Karen Rose is one of my favorite authors, so I'm thrilled she has something new coming out...just sucks that we have to wait until June. :(

A chance to win a copy of Lisa Kleypas's CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR

Entrusted with the guardianship of his orphaned niece Holly, Mark Nolan plans to marry his longtime girlfriend Shelby. But an unwelcome and tantalizing distraction appears in the form of Maggie Conroy, a young widow who has recently opened a toy shop at Friday Harbor. Mark is a cynic and a realist, but Maggie is a dreamer who hopes to make him believe in magic . . .

I've got 4 copies of CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR that I'm offering up for grabs!!!!! 

We'll keep it easy...just comment to win, and I'll pick 4 winners.

(due to my limited funds, I can only offer this to US residents)

Easy Christmas junk food!!!! *~*~WHITE CHOCOLATE POPCORN~*~*

This is soooo good, and so easy to mix...and put it in the right packaging and you have a cute delicious gift.

WHITE CHOCOLATE POPCORN

• 2 squares almond bark or white chocolate
• 1 tsp oil
• 2 bags microwave popcorn OR 8 cups air popped popcorn
• sprinkles for color

Slowly melt the almond bark and oil, either in a double boiler or in the microwave, be careful not to burn. Coat the popcorn and add sprinkles.  Lay out until chocolate has hardend.

There is never any left-overs around...as a matter of fact if you see it, you better eat it then, because it won't be there when you come back. :-)

Get it while it's HOT HOT HOT!!!!!!

 

Amazon / nook / Sony / kobo 

If you haven't yet ventured into Lisa Renee Jones's Zodius series NOW is the time to start!  For a very limited time (December 20 - January 3rd) you can get the first book, THE LEGEND OF MICHAEL for only $1.99. 

Review: DAYBREAK by Ellen Connor

Dark Age Dawning #3
Post-Apocalyptic / Sci-Fi / Paranormal / Romance
Berkley Sensation

Penelope “Pen” Sheehan was determined to stop General O'Malley and his followers from their tyrannical rule. When her latest mission is thwarted, she is startled by the realization that she knows her “rescuer”.

Tru Daugherty is a loner whose only goal is to disrupt O'Malley as much as possible. He takes pleasure when he can with no strings attached, and he is not above using a little hero worship as he trolls for gratification.

Pen and Tru survived the beginning of the new dark ages together with the guidance of Jenna and Mason who did their best to raise and protect them, until Tru decided it was time to strike out on his own. It's been years since they've seen one another, yet they both remember the connection they shared as kids.

In the years since they've last met, much has changed. Tru learned to embrace skinwalking in his lion form, and he loved and lost big. Pen is determined to ignore her powers, afraid that if she embraces them she may lose her mind. Both are leery of any attachment, scared of the pain caused by a loss, yet Pen takes the fear of commitment to a higher level, while Tru recognizes that love is not something to be wasted.

*****

I LOVE this series, so it should come to no great surprise that I was thrilled with Pen and Tru's story. Their intense chemistry, along with the energetic plot kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed their banter and their struggles as they learned that each other was a strong person with their own life goals. And their passions sizzled up the pages as they couldn't deny what their bodies wanted.


I love how I was able to not only be sucked into Pen and Tru's storyline, but I also connected with the other characters, who were all well fleshed-out. I liked meeting Finn and his island. It was cool to see that Pen's “imaginary” childhood friend was an actual person, one who could help change their new world with some nudges in the correct direction.

I would love to see Jenna, Mason, Chris, Rosa, Pen and Tru all able to meet up. I was concerned by a few comments Pen made as to Jenna and Mason's safety-- a few times she seemed to allude to them not surviving, yet in other places she talked about wanting to be closer to them, so I was a bit confused. I loved this series so much that I really hope that the writing team that makes up Ellen Connor (Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty) decides to continue in this world.

Rating: 4.5

More Christmas yummies ~*~*Magic Cookie Bars*~*~

These are soooo easy to make...and so delicious!

MAGIC COOKIE BARS

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 pkg chocolate chips*
• 1 cup flaked cocunt
• 1 cup nuts

Mix graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Melt butter in 9x13 inch pan. Press crumb mix into pan to form a crust. Top with remaining ingredients; pat down. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes. Cool before cutting...or you'll have an ooey-gooey mess!

*I've substituted Heath bar chips before and it was awesome...so really any sort will work, play with the recipe and see what is your favorite variation!

Christmas Goodies...the edible kind *~*Hawaiian Kielbasa*~*

With Christmas fast approaching I thought I would share some of my favorite recipes for the holiday gatherings! Since I'm a bookworm and am always babbling about what I've read, this first recipe is the only thing I've ever written that has been published! :)  I submitted it to Gooseberry Patch a few years ago, and they published it in their 101 Slow-Cooker Recipes

HAWAIIAN KIELBASA

• 3 packages (3 lbs) kielbasa, sliced into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices (which ever you prefer...I usually cut them a bit on the smaller side)
• 1 can (15.25oz) crushed pineapple
• 18 oz bottle barbeque sauce (I prefer Sweet Baby Ray's)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 Tbs. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder 

 Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Mix well, cover and cook on high for about 2 hours, or until warmed all the way through.

This is my go-to dish to take to any potluck.  I usually don't bring anything home...and am always sharing the recipe, because so many people ask for it. 

The Friday 56 ...something fun...

 My husband's book was sitting closest to me. :)

"Everyone clapped and gave me a send-off."

from SEAL TEAM SIX Memoirs of an Elite Navy Seal Sniper by Howard E Wasdin and Stephen Templin.

ABOUT THE FRIDAY 56

• Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
• Turn to page 56.
• Find the fifth sentence.
• Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog...or in the comment section here if you don't have a blog
• Post a link, along with your post back to this blog.
• Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

I got this from  Shiloh Walker's blog today. :)

Review: TO WED A WILD LORD by Sabrina Jeffries

Hellions of Halstead Hall #4 Historical Romance (Regency)
Pocket Books

Lord Gabriel Sharpe, a/k/a the Angel of Death, is known for his reckless attitude. Infamous for having caused the death of his best friend while “threading the needle” Gabe has learned to show the world a devil-may-care attitude, little do they know how wrong they really are.

Virginia Waverly detest Gabe, blaming him solely for the death of her brother. She challenges him to a race. But is unprepared for his rejoinder. 

In an effort to convince his grandmother to give up on her ridiculous ultimatum to him and his siblings, he is determined to marry the delectable Virginia, though first he must prove that he's not as detestable as she believes. How can she love the man responsible for her brother's fatal accident?

*****

Sabrina Jeffries has once again entranced me into the Hellions of Halstead Hall's storyline. I think that Gabe has been my favorite sibling so far...though there is some real potential for Celia and Pinter! I loved the verbal play between Virginia and Gabe, as the sparks flew between them, leading to much steamier emotions, as they fell in love with each other.

Gabe was so sweet, he's lived these last years mourning his friend, and thinks that he's found a perfect way to honor him, and to save his own sister. He feels responsible for Virginia, and as he gets to know her, he knows that she is the one for him. I also like how how he didn't want his sister Celia to be forced into a marriage like him and his siblings...even if they all ended well. 

Virginia has a harder shell to crack. She has hated Gabe for years, she wasn't going to just forget her past feelings. I like how hard Gabe worked to win her and her Grandfather over. And I liked her stubbornness, I felt that she got a bit ridiculous with her challenging, but it flowed with her character.

There were also some great side-story lines going on. The romance between Hetty Plumbtree and the Genreal was amusing. And I like that we were brought closer to finding the answer to Oliver, Jared, Minerva, Gab and Celia's parents' murder. I can't wait to see how Celia and Pinter unravel the rest of that mystery and fall in love with each other. Seeing Celia fight her emotions should be fun, I wonder how long she will hold up against Pinter? I'm sure he will have some surprising things up his sleeve.

Rating: 4

Review: THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER by Sandra Hill

Viking I #10
Historical (Viking)
Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins

Sidroc Guntersson almost wooed Princess Drifa into marrying him 5 years ago. When Drifa learned his motive to court her, she let her temper get a hold of her and (accidentally) nearly killed him. Sidroc never forgave her for her actions. 
When they meet again in Byzantium, Drifa finds herself in danger, yet when she sees her guard, she knows that she is not exactly safe, for what will Sidroc demand in return for his protection.

*****

THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER was one of my favorite Sandra Hill books. She successfully weaved comedy and drama without missing a beat or making the story stumble.

Sidroc and Drifa both had good reason to be upset with one another, and Ms. Hill made me root for both of them. Having knowledge of Sidroc's background with his despicable father made it easy for me to understand him and his motives. He had good reason (or so he thought) to hate Drifa. Yet he couldn't deny the passion and chemistry that sparked between them.

Drifa tried to explain and apologize, for her actions (which I didn't feel to be at all out of line--she didn't mean to almost kill him. o.O) but of course, it's never that easy. I was pleased that their angst didn't go to the extent that the turn around from hating each other to loving each other wasn't so far out of the realm of believability. And I especially loved how the story played out in the end because it was such an “awww that's so sweet” moment.

Ms. Hill is one of my favorite authors to read and reread, and I will be rereading THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER. If you are looking for a laugh, along with some somber moments to get to the happily ever after, this is not to be missed.

Rating: 5

Getting into Christmas

I'm trying to get into the spirit of the holiday, but it's just not hitting me.  I hoped putting the tree and decorations up would help.   

Review: HELL TO PAY by Wendy Corsi Staub

Serial Killer Series #3

Suspense

Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins

Jeremy Cavalon and Lucy Walsh are survivors. Brought together by the unspeakable horrors of a serial killer when they were younger, they are now married and anticipating the birth of their first child. Then tragedy strikes again, as an evil from the past escapes to seek vengeance. 

 

*****

Wendy Corsi Staub has created a sinister thriller in HELL TO PAY. The villain was the perfect combination of religious zealot and insane lunatic. I was a bit disappointed that I figured out who the bad guy was so early on in the story, but Ms. Staub wove a gripping tale that kept me turning the pages through the twists and turns of the killer's insane mind. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next and how it would all play out in the end. I was NOT disappointed.

Jeremy and Lucy have been through so much, that I couldn't help but want the best for them. You could see where Jeremy still had a long way to go to heal from his past, first and for most he needed to get the secret he has been holding for years off his chest, as his guilt was holding him back from completely connecting with Lucy, who was unbelievably sweet. After all she had been through she was able to keep a mostly positive attitude in life, she was Jeremy's opposite. 

I would (and have) recommend HELL TO PAY to anyone who enjoys a good suspense. I didn't read the first 2 books in this series LIVE TO TELL and SCARED TO DEATH, but felt the book read decently as a stand alone.

Rating: 4

Happy Turkey Day!!!!!

Sterling WINNERS!!!!

Congratulations Barbara and Chrisbails!

Interview and Contest with Lisa Renee Jones, author of THE STORM THAT IS STERLING

Two random commenters will win a copy!

It's my pleasure today to welcome Lisa Renee Jones, author of the recently released THE STORM THAT IS STERLING, book #2 in her Zodius series to Rambling Reads.

Hi Lisa, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. 

• THE STORM THAT IS STERLING is the second book in your Zodius series. What inspired you to create these Super Soldiers and the world that they live in?

A love for Vegas, and interest in Area 51, and an ex-father in law, no deceased, who was a part of some government operations he told us about right before his passing, after keeping them secrets all his life.

• Describe Sterling in three words.

Tormented, funny, sincere

• Sterling has a warped sense of humor, and I have a feeling he would be hard to control.  Was he difficult to write or did his personality just flow onto the pages? 

Sterling really flowed for me. I just knew him on some level from the minute I met him in Michael’s book. He was such a perfect contrast to Michael but so like him in the pain that drives him.

• We know Sterling is a soldier, but what us Becca's occupation?

She is an Astrobioligist

• What is your favorite scene in this book?

That’s a hard question. There are so many scenes in each book I like for different reasons. The scene I like the most is in a bar near the end of the book. I can’t say what happens without giving away something big but it’s a big emotional break through.

• How do you usually come up your with your characters and/or plot? Do you adhere to a routine when you write? 

Characters tend to just come to me as I plot a series. I keep a notebook with each character having a page with their history, traits, likes and dislikes. I write 7 days a week or I lose focus, even if it’s only a couple hundred words.

• Have you ever been in the middle of writing a book where you had to stop because another story would speak louder in your head? If so, were you able to finish both?

Because of deadlines I don’t really have the ability to stop in the middle of a story and I don’t even read other people’s work while intensely in the middle of a book because I need to stay focused. However, when authors contract books they usually write a proposal and then don’t go back to that book for months and months to finish writing it while their editor reads the proposal. It can be hard to end one book and just jump into the book that was started months before and get the groove going again.

Now it's our turn to learn something more about YOU, Lisa. :)

• If you had to pick one book to take with you to a deserted island, which one would you choose? Has this author influenced your style?

Different authors have inspired me at different times of my life. My mom loved Victoria Holt so as a kid I used to read her books. So I’d say she inspired a love of books. I love Lori Foster’s men, and Suzanne Brockmann’s action, and Karen Moning’s heroines. If I was on a deserted island I’d probably want Galean Foley’s books. She has several series I’ve read over and over. I don’t write historical and I love the escape they give me and she writes brilliantly.

• What is your favorite television series?

I’m a tv addict. I love Supernautral, and Nurse Jackie, and House. I love Entourage and Californication and Weeds. The list goes on. I use to love Monk for a light, fun escape.

• What is your favorite fairy tale?

Oh Cinderella. I’m a romance writer.

• What is your favorite song?

That changes. I am a gymaholic and I spend so much time there that music is a way to get through the torture. That means I overplay a  lot and get tired of it and then come back to it. Lately Kid Rock has gotten me through a  lot workouts, and Kenny Chesney has helped me get words on the page. Janet Jackson is a forever favorite but I love Beyonce as well.

• What is your favorite indulgence?

Chocolate and Marconi and Cheese preferably in the same meal

OMG isn't Damion's cover GORGEOUS?!




• What is your favorite genre to read?

I sort of beat you to the punch on that one. I love all genres and it’s  a mood thing. I don’t read much YA though.

•  What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas. I love the holiday and the feeling it brings for weeks and weeks before it arrives.

• Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?

I have HOT VAMPIRE TOUCH releasing this month which is the third book in my Vampire Wardens trilogy and introduces a werewolf in WICKED WEREWOLF NIGHT out December 13^th.  I have a lot going on next year. 

 May THE DANGER THAT IS DAMION - Zodius #3.

 August VEGAS HEAT a spice brief

 October-December A Blaze trilogy 

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP DANCER

I have a number of indies planned as well 

• What is the best way for readers to contact you?

lisarenjones@gmail.com and I love to hear from readers!

 

Thank you so much for visiting with us today.TWO random commenters will win a copy of STERLING!!!

Thank you Veterans!!!

Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served and those still serving, and remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

If you like your freedom thank a veteran every time you see one, especially today! Freedom is NOT free!! 

***BTW, to those who may not know, a veteran does NOT have to have been to war in a foreign land to be considered a veteran, ANYONE who has served deserves your thanks!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want!!!! Lisa Kleypas has a new book out in February

 Lucy Marinn, a glass artist who lives on San Juan Island, has just been dumped by her boyfriend Kevin. Needing some privacy and time to think, she goes to a nearby beach and meets a dark-haired stranger . . . 

Click to read an excerpt.

What a fantastic cover!  February can't come soon enough.

I am one of "Lisa's Divas" - a group of select fans who share info & content related to Lisa's novels and get sneak peeks & swag in return..

Review: MIDNIGHT by Ellen Connor

Dark Age Dawning #2

Post-Apocalyptic / Shape Shifter

Berkley Sensation

Having caused nothing but grief to those who close to him, Chris Welsh has become content with being alone. He has been roaming the stark countryside since shortly after the Change. Civilization as he once knew it is gone. There are pockets of groups banning together, yet nothing like what he stumbles on in Valle de Bravo.

Rosa Cortez has struggled to get to the top, and that is where she plans to stay. She has created a loyal society in Valle de Bravo, a civilization willing to fight to expand their meager existence. 
 

Rosa doesn't trust the seductive stranger, but if he plans to stay, she wants him to swear loyalty. Chris has no plans on staying, but when a gang of desert pirates strike, he vows to help the sexy commander. 
 

*****

Ellen Connor has once again sucked me into the post-Apocalyptic civilization trying to regain it's footing in a world that has slipped back to the dark ages, with an added twist of magic and skinwalkers (shape-shifters) to liven things up. I find it fascinating to imagine how people react in in such a situation, and I think Ms. Connor has struck the right balance of good vs. evil as their characters try to retain their humanity and sense of society.

Rosa and Chris both had lived through great pain since the change. Each had chosen different paths to cope, yet really they weren't that different from each other. Rosa had awesome leadership qualities that made people want to be better and to prove to her they were. I enjoyed Chris and Rosa's verbal sparing as neither was willing to blindly follow the others commands. I loved how Chris didn't want to diminish Rosa's authority, and was willing to show his loyalty, yet he was never portrayed as weak, as the reader I saw him as an equal to Rosa.

I liked that they were both forced to face their biggest fears and were allowed to overcome them without losing themselves. Rosa had to face her acceptance that not all skinwalkers were bad, that most where like other humans, struggling to survive in the harsh landscape of the Change. Rosa inspired Chris to want to work at a relationship, and to not run scared of emotional attachment.

Holy cats, the chemistry between Chris and Rosa was combustible. They fought their attraction, but eventually gave into a sizzling passion that singed the pages. I loved their journey of emotional growth, as each had suffered so much before, they had closed themselves off to others, and found they could not do the same with each other.

Rating: 5

Author Website 

Review: ENGAGED IN SIN by Sharon Page

Erotic Historical Romance

Dell, an imprint of Random House

Turned out of a loving home at a young age, Anne Beddington has been forced to do things for survival that she is not proud of. Now she is on the run from a crime that she was forced to commit. When she overhears that the Duke of March is in need of a mistress, she decides that just may be the perfect chance for her to escape.

Devon Audley, the Duke of March, has become reclusive since he was forced to return home from the Peninsula. He suffers more than blindness from his grievous war injury, he's also carrying the guilt and nightmares of being a survivor. He'd rather drowned his sorrows in alcohol than human companionship.

Can these two injured souls find fulfillment, love and happiness together after so much tragedy? 

 

*****

Sharon Page has created an erotic and very emotional tale of two people struggling to find their place in the world. Both Anne and Devon were truly wounded characters, who had a lot of healing to do before they could understand and value of themselves again, much less allow someone else to love them. Each had their own reasons for wanting to seclude themselves away, yet the other argued why they needed come out of hiding, and would do whatever was needed to help them.

The pages sizzled as first Anne seduced Devon, who in return truly made her learn to feel the full impact of their mutual passion. Neither of them had an easy task in front of them. Anne had been sequestered in a whorehouse for the last few years, where she had conditioned herself to turn off both emotional and physical feelings. While Devon had suffered such tragedy, that he refused to acknowledge the love of his family or friends around him, much less an emotional connection to a woman he's only met so recently.

When Anne forced herself into his life, Devon found himself wanting to feel once again, yet he was scared to. Anne had her work cut out and a few devious plans to bring him back into the folds of his family. 

 

Devon had more work than he anticipated as he tried to clear Anne's name, bring her into Society, and to make her feel worthy of his love. She was scared for her life, and he needed to prove that she would be truly safe and loved. She also knew that it would be impossible to reject her former life. How could she ever be respected with her illustrious background? Devon did a great job of making everything happen for Anne.

Ms. Page was able to bring everything satisfactorily together. I look forward to her next book...hopefully the Earl of Ashton gets his Happily Ever After.

Rating: 4

Author's Website

And the WINNER is...

Commenter #12, Jean P!!!!! Congrats on winning a bag of goodies and books from Lisa Renee Jones's Halloween Blog Hop and Contest

An awesome...and EASY way to support the memory of an awesome kid

When Bonnie asked me to help spread the word  about this awesome fundraiser, I couldn't help but say yes.  Young Harry Moseley brought back memories of another brave soul who touched my life so closely, Alethea "Allie" Neummann. She too lost her battle to an inoperable brain tumor at the young age of 11.


Authors Helping Harry is a group of writers who've collaborated to raise money in memory of Harry Moseley, a true inspiration to all.  11 year old Harry recently lost his battle with cancer, but he left a legacy with his Help Others Help Harry

"Britain's Kindest Kid", Harry Moseley, is more than a nice kid with a big heart; he’s a real life hero. An eleven-year old hero with an inoperable brain tumor who has raised over £500,000.00 ($777,000.00) for Cancer Research UK.

Joining Harry in his quest for research funds, are an amazing group of 19 romance writers, along with a wonderful cover artist/graphic designer, who have come together to support Harry, and his charity: Cancer Research UK.
 

"Author Moments" is a collection of essays written by these talented writers. As a bonus, each author has included an excerpt from one of their current, or upcoming, releases.

From the New York Times bestselling lists to the writer who is just beginning their quest, you will find this anthology filled with generous writing advice and anecdotes. It won’t matter where you are on your road to publication or even in your life journey, Author Moments will fill you with love, laughter and a renewed hope that all things are possible when you care enough to come together and make a difference.  Like real life hero, Harry Moseley.

The Authors Helping Harry invite you to pitch in and help Harry find a cure simply by purchasing a copy of this wonderful anthology. All proceeds going to Harry's charity of choice - Cancer Research UK - in his memory. 

Amazon or Smashwords

Harry Moseley

Halloween Blog Hop and contest with author Lisa Renee Jones "What's your favorite hotness--Vampires or Werewolves?"

Click to follow Lisa on her Halloween Blog tour.

It’s almost Halloween and what better time to talk about Vampires! Ironically I never thought I liked vampires. I never read them. I never watched scary movies. A friend told me I HAD to read Feehan and finally I tried one. I gobble up all of them in a month. ALL of them. Then I met my fiance and that's when I tumbled into paranormal bliss. He loves scary stuff and I found a new world. I really am glad I found it too. Supernatural – oh how would I live without my Sam and Dean?! 

 

So it’s no surprise that I have now written a vampire series. DH is freaking insanely crazy about Vampires. In December I have a werewolf story coming out too – WICKED WEREWOLF NIGHT .

HOT VAMPIRE KISS

Book one, Evan’s story

The werewolf population is entrenched in a century long civil war, and now they are plagued by a virus that is turning wolves into killers. The Brooks brothers pursue one such rogue werewolf to Temple, Texas. It is in Temple that Evan encounters a beautiful nurse named Marissa who instantly melts the hundred years of ice running through his veins. When she is brutally attacked by the wolf, he breaks the rules of the Vampire Council and uses his blood to save her. Now, if he doesn’t kill the wolf by the next full moon, Marissa will become a killer wolf, and he will be sentenced to death.

HOT VAMPIRE SEDUCTION

Book two, Aiden's story

The underground vampire population of Austin, Texas has taken to hosting orgies with human women who've been forced to indulge in a new aphrodisiac.The drug, Blood Red, is a mixture of a rare type of werewolf blood and that of a vampire. Blood Red creates an insatiable desire for sex in the user to the point of pain in the absence of pleasure. Sometimes that pain leads to death. 
Vampire Warden, Aiden Brooks, has spent more than a hundred years enforcing the laws of his race, and life has taught him that anyone that he allows into his world ends up dead. Despite knowing this all too well, having painfully loved and lost in his past, when his search for the creator of Blood Red places coroner Kelly Riggs directly in both his path, and that of a dangerous clan of vampires, his desire for her goes well beyond offering her protection. He's drawn to her bravery, seduced by her feisty spirit and beauty, but he is determined to resist her, fearing he will put her in harms way. But Kelly is already on the radar of the enemy, and when she gets too close to the evil vampire clan's secrets, she is given Blood Red. Now Aiden's hunger for her might be the only thing that can keep her alive but who will save her from him? 

HOT VAMPIRE SEDUCTION will be out in November!

To win a goodie bag filled with fun stuff and books --NAME YOUR FAVORITE HOTNESS!  VAMPIRES OR WEREWOLVES?

Review: IF YOU HEAR HER by Shiloh Walker

Ash Trilogy, Book 1

Romantic Suspense

Ballantine Books

A scream in the dark.

A brutalized body found.

Can a killer be caught before he strikes again?

Lena Riddle never let blindness hold her back in any way. She has worked hard to maintain her self-reliance and takes nothing for granted. 

 

Ezra King, a Kentucky State Police detective, is healing from a gunshot wound and the betrayal of his partner. Seeking only to find peace in Ash, he is amazed to find himself drawn to Lena.

When Lena hears a woman cry out for help in the middle of the night, she finds herself exposed to the dark and twisted mind of a killer. Ezra is determined to keep her safe. With no body or evidence of any foul play found, police are skeptical of her story. But when a body is discovered, Lena and Ezra find themselves drawn into the psychotic world of a murderer.

 ***

Shiloh Walker continues to wow me with her latest book, CAN YOU HEAR HER, an electrifying tale that kept me on the edge of my seat as I followed all the twists and turns this story took. There was never a mundane moment in the entire story, as I tried to piece together the great mystery of who the killer was. 

The chemistry between Lena and Ezra positively sizzled from the moment they first met. They both had their vulnerabilities that made me root all the more for their HEA (happily ever after). I loved how Lena strove to keep her independence and admired Ezra for not taking anything away from her, sure there were a few times he was tempted to, but he was smart enough to know when and where the line was drawn.

I enjoyed following the twisted mind of the killer, as I tried, but didn't succeed in figuring out who he was. I felt that the side characters were equally fleshed out, giving great depth to the story.  I was curious of their stories and can't wait to find out more.  I kept trying to figure out with one could be our killer, and struck a few off of my list.

*~*~*~*SPOILER ALERT*~*~*~*

 I finished the book still not knowing WHO the killer is.  Ms. Walker has left me dangling at the the edge of my seat with her CLIFFHANGER ending. I hate hate hate having to wait to find the answers to all the questions that are fresh in my mind. I will be gobbling up IF YOU SEE HER (release date 1/31/12) and IF YOU KNOW HER (release date 2/28/12) as soon as I can to find the answers I need!  I have NO idea if it's someone we've already been introduced to, someone who was discussed or if the killers name wasn't mentioned at all.  I can't wait to read the next books in the series, and am especially eager to see what other complications shall arise for our couples as they seek a killer.

 

Rating: 5

Author's Website 

 

psssst....don't forget to check out Shiloh Walker, Jaci Burton, and Lisa Renee Jones' Thrills & Chills contest to win a Nook Color....just click the button on my sidebar!

Review: THINGS WE DIDN'T SAY by Kristina Riggle

Fiction 
William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins

When a boy goes missing, it's time for a couple to re-evaluate their relationship. Will it bring them closer together or tear them apart for good?

Casey has a carefully guarded secret that she feels will drive her fiance Michael away. When his daughter threatens to expose it, she feels there is no choice for her but to leave. Then his son disappears, complicating things even more. She can't go away when there is already so much confusion. When the ex-wife steps in, trying to regain what she lost, Casey wonders if what she and Michael had is really worth fighting for.

*****

THINGS WE DIDN'T SAY grabbed my attention from the very start and didn't let go. I commend Ms. Riggle for writing a fascinating story with such a tangled storyline and keeping it from getting disorienting. Honestly I first picked up this book because I saw Ms. Riggle was a Michigan author...I don't usually pick my books like that, but since it did push me towards the author, which I did not regret.

Casey had a lot going on in her life and I was perplexed with her decision to keep her past a secret, especially as she and Michael grew closer together and were attempting to establish a future together, to me it showed that she wasn't really ready for the next step. Nothing positive ever comes from secrets and lies.

Michael exhibited the typical guy attitude of the fact that he know something was wrong, but didn't really know how to confront it, so he was just waiting until the issue was forced to a head.  Then his ex-wife, Mallory, became a complication that Casey wasn't prepared to deal with . I couldn't help but think that Casey was gulled a bit to easily by her. I felt that as cynical as Casey was, she should have seen through her rather obvious ploy. 

 

Dylan was a dumb kid, but I felt sympathy for him and it brought forth a very realistic problem for parents these days. But as a parent, I had a hard time accepting Casey's privacy issues when it came to Dylan's computer. As a parent, I have my teenager's passwords to his accounts, I don't always check up on him, but he knows that I can and also knows that if there is an issue I will shut him down, but I still respect his privacy, to the point of his safety. I had to remind myself that Casey was trying to establish her self as a step-parent, because of that I could see her point in keeping the privacy, but when it became apparent he was missing, she really should have stepped up then, it was a SAFETY issue not a privacy issue then.

Angel reminded me why I was so happy to be blessed with boys and not teenage girls! Yikes, that girl would push me over the edge I think. And I really felt bad for the youngest, Jewel. She didn't understand quite what was going on.

It was a struggle watching Michael and Casey try to work together with all the added emotional baggage. But by the end of the book I was satisfied with how it turned out. Maybe now without all the deception, their relationship may actually have a chance.

Rating: 4

Author's website