NEW RELEASE: Unbridled Magic (Elemental Magic 4)

Hey, guys. I know I haven’t been posting lately. Things have been crazy busy for me, but I wanted to let you know about this awesome new release.

I’ve been following Angela’s work since shortly after she put out her first book and have enjoyed everything she’s written. This is the fourth book in her series and would be best read after her other three books, but you should definitely check it out if you enjoy urban fantasy!

Amazon Purchase link:  Unbridled Magic

Angela Wallace, Author

Well it’s about time, wouldn’t you say? I’ve been holding onto this book for too long. So without further ado, I give you the fourth book of the Elemental Magic series:

Once again, Spittyfish Designs did a fantastic job on the cover!

Book Description:

Nita Young couldn’t be happier: she’s getting ready to marry her soul mate, Keenan Donovan, in the company of close friends and family. Everything is perfect…until a major earthquake crashes the party.

As the only elementals in the area, Nita and her friends are sent to investigate a local volcano as the cause. Instead, they find an archaeology team has unearthed an ancient artifact buried deep in the mountain. After Keenan touches the relic and gets jolted with magical energies, he starts developing some unsettling new powers.

Messing with alchemist magic is dangerous, especially when shadow hounds emerge from the volcano seeking the artifact and those…

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Spotlight on “Beyond the Veil” by Pippa DaCosta w/giveaway

Today I’ve got a new urban fantasy novel for you all, Beyond the Veil, by Pippa DaCosta.  It just released last month and looks like a good one.  Check out all the details below, including an excerpt.  As a bonus, the author is conducting a tour-wide giveaway for three paperback copies of the novel.  Be sure to click on the Rafflecopter link for your chance to win.

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www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f590

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BEYOND THE VEIL

by Pippa DaCosta

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BLURB:

“They say I’m half demon, but I like to think of myself as half human, especially as the demons want me dead.”

Charlie Henderson is living a lie. Her real name is Muse and her attempt at a normal life is about to go up in smoke.

When a half-demon assassin walks into her life, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, Muse must return to the one man she hoped never to see again and ask for help. The Prince of Greed isn’t known for his charity. The price is high, but the cost could tear her apart.

Trapped between the malevolent intentions of a Prince of Hell, an assassin with ulterior motives, and all of demon-kind, Muse must embrace the lure of chaos at her core; the demon inside her, in order to survive.

When your ex is the Prince of Greed, you’d better be ready to raise hell.

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Beyond The Veil
The Veil Series
Book 1
Pippa DaCosta

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Date of Publication: 7th Feb 2014

ISBN: 1494242354
ASIN: B00IA3S97K
Number of pages: 250
Word Count: 70,000

Cover Artist: Celairen Art

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PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US     Amazon UK

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EXCERPT:

I should have known he’d be trouble as soon as he walked into my workshop, but I couldn’t have known he’d be the death of me. He wore a three-quarter length red leather coat, had platinum blond hair long enough to sweep back out of his eyes, and sported scuffed Timberland boots, but if the goose bumps shivering across my skin were anything to go by, he clearly was not as human as his appearance had me believe.
At first, I tried to ignore him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me hesitate. A quick glance at my dusty clock told me it was late, past midnight, and I’d be damned if I was going to drop everything just because he’d invited himself in. I continued to work on the sword resting on the anvil before me. I hammered out imperfections in the blade’s surface with renewed vigor, metal singing at each blow. Behind me, the coal forge roared. Rolling waves of heat branded my back. I told myself it was sweltering temperatures sprinkling perspiration across my face and back, making my scruffy tank top cling to me, but in truth, it was fear.
Picking up the unfinished sword with gloved hands, I turned and plunged the blade into the glowing coals before facing my uninvited guest. He’d given himself the tour of my cramped workshop, seeming to admire the various swords on display, some unfinished, some as close to art as I was ever going to get. Shame I couldn’t wield them as well as I could craft them.
“Well?” I managed to instil some genuine irritation in my words in the hope it would disguise the anxiety building inside me. I tried to flick my hair out of my face but a few strands stubbornly clung to my sweaty cheek.
“Impressive.” He nodded once and turned arctic-blue eyes on me before flashing what he probably thought was a knee-weakening smile.
If my guest expected me to gush and swoon, he was in for a shock. “Who are you, and what the hell do you want?” It was late. I was tired. He wasn’t human. I figured I was within my rights to be blunt.
His expression tightened. “You’re Muse, right?” He tossed a gesture at the stuffy workshop. “I was expecting something…else.”
I hadn’t heard that nickname in years. Muse was a tag left over from dark days I didn’t wish to revisit.
Approaching me, he reached inside his coat. I caught a flicker of light slide over a handgun tucked into his waistband and tensed. An unusual motif, like entwined scorpions, adorned the grip. But he didn’t reach for the gun. He withdrew a sword and rested it on my anvil. “I want you to read this.”
I tugged off my glove and skipped my fingers over the smooth surface of the blade. The metal burned cold against my insolent touch, as though the sword resented my presence. It was a wonderful piece of workmanship. The ripple – or hamon – below the surface of the carbon-steel blade hinted at Japanese origins, and the tempered edge was sharp enough to slice through flesh with little effort. An intricate hand-forged guard and leather-wrapped hilt betrayed the sword as functional but with a flair for the dramatic, and yet it was clearly a weapon meant for combat, not ceremony.
A thin snap of power danced up my fingers, and with a small hiss, I snatched my hand back. This sword would not easily give up its secrets. “What’s in it for me?”
“What do you want?”
Now there was a loaded question. I didn’t know what or who he was, and had no idea how much he could afford or what the stakes involved. “It depends on what I’m going to find. If we’re talking murder, then I want danger money. If it’s just a lovers’ tiff you’re interested in, a few hundred should do it. I’m assuming you want recent information. If you need me to go back more than five years, it’ll be another two hundred.”
“Or I could walk out of here now and tell the world where you are. I know there are a few unsavoury characters from your checkered past who’d be very grateful for the heads-up on your whereabouts.” His smooth voice and slight smile belied the threat in his words.
I smiled tightly, my first smile since his arrival. “Now, there, you see? We were having a civilized conversation, and you just had to go and spoil it by threatening me.”
“Why don’t you just read the blade, and I can leave you to get on with your–” he cast a glance about him, “–work?”
And now he’d insulted me. “I’m not telling you anything until you give me more to go on.” Who did he think he was talking to? Some back alley half-human woman who would fall over her own feet to do his bidding? He might know my name, but he obviously didn’t know me.
He blinked, before turning back on the charm, as if I could be bought by a handsome face. “You’re right. I’m sorry. A few hundred, was it?” He dug deep into his coat pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. Without counting it, he tossed it onto the anvil. “That should cover it.”
I tugged my glove back on, pinching the heatproof fabric between each finger. “I think you should leave.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Just read the sword, Muse.”
I didn’t have time to humor assholes, especially those of the demon persuasion. “Get out.”
He pulled his distinctive gun on me, finger resting firmly on the trigger, aim rigid. “You will do this for me.” It wasn’t an order. It was fact–at least as far as he was concerned.
“Go back to hell,” I sneered, before reaching around and snatching the blade from the forge, flinging both the half-finished sword and some hot coals at him. He recoiled, cursing as the embers bounced off his coat. I dashed for the doors. My hand was on the handle, when he slammed into me, knocking the breath from my lungs.
He thrust the gun under my chin, freezing me rigid. “Why do you have to be so difficult?”
I really didn’t want this to escalate. Bad shit happens when she comes out to play. The darkness slumbering at my core began to unfurl, opening like the petals of a flower, but its intent was far from delicate. The trickling touch of power spilled into my muscles. Heat flooded through my body. The warmth of my element embraced me, threading itself through every part of me, the lure of chaos undeniable.
He abruptly released me and took a few steps back, gun up. His narrow glare measured me.
I pressed my back against the workshop door. Power dripped from my fingertips. I couldn’t see it—the human part of me was blind to the energy—but he could. His arctic eyes blazed with a promise of conflict.
He appeared to consider his next move and then, quite unexpectedly, laughed and lowered the gun, tucking it back into the holster inside his coat. “You’re right. This isn’t worth it.” With his hands up, as if in surrender, he turned and retrieved the sword in question before weaving his way back around workbenches toward me.
“I’ll leave you in peace.”
“What?” His sudden change in mood completely disarmed me.
“Step aside. I’m leaving.”
Surprised by his abrupt surrender, I did as he asked and watched him slide the door open and step out into the night. A sharp winter breeze invaded the heat of my workshop, rousing me from my muddled stupor. Confused and somewhat disappointed, I followed him out into the alley. The raw energy he’d aroused began to fizzle out. Its departure left me with a sickly chill and bitter sense of loss.
He climbed into the driver’s side of an old Dodge Charger with rust-bruised red paint. I had no idea who he was, where he’d come from, how he’d found me, or what lay hidden in that damn sword. And he was leaving. That couldn’t be right. Didn’t I deserve some sort of explanation?
“Hey!” I ventured further into the street.
Headlights bathed me in twin beams, forcing me to shield my eyes. He gunned the engine, jammed the box into reverse, and swung the car backward into a J-turn before speeding off, fat tires squealing on wet asphalt.
I stood in the street, hand on hip, head tilted to one side and breathed the crisp night air, clearing my lungs of forge-dust. Then the shockwave hit me. The explosion lashed across my back. I must have briefly lost consciousness, but the furious pain in my back quickly summoned me from the depths. A whine drilled into my skull. Alarms sounded from the industrial units around me.
I turned my head toward the heat, grit digging into my cheek as I peered into the smoke bellowing from the hollow gap between two buildings.
My workshop had gone and with it, my attempt at a normal life.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Born in Tonbridge, Kent in 1979, Pippa’s family moved to the South West of England where she grew up amongst the dramatic moorland and sweeping coastlands of Devon & Cornwall. With a family history brimming with intrigue, complete with Gypsy angst on one side and Jewish survivors on another, she has the ability to draw from a patchwork of ancestry and use it as the inspiration for her writing. Happily married and the Mother of two little girls, she resides on the Devon & Cornwall border.

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www.pippadacosta.com

www.theveilseries.co.uk

www.facebook.com/theveilseries

www.twitter.com/pippadacosta

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20776238-beyond-the-veil

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Spotlight on “The Submission Gift” by Solace Ames

I’ve got an erotic romance for you all, The Submission Gift, by Solace Ames.   It just released today!  I’ve already started reading it and I’m really enjoying it so far.  Expect a review of it soon on this blog.  In the meantime, check out all the details about the book below.  As a bonus, the author is conducting a tour-wide giveaway of the following items:

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1 bracelet with three heart charms

2 copies of The Dom Project, LA Doms Book #1

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For your chance to win, be sure to click on the Rafflecopter link!

www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f561

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THE SUBMISSION GIFT

by Solace Ames

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BLURB:

Newlyweds Jay and Adriana had a happy marriage and a spectacular sex life—until tragedy struck. Wounded in a car accident, Jay spent a year recuperating while Adriana worked overtime as a chef to pay their bills. Though he’s made nearly a full recovery, some aspects of their intimate play will never be the same. It’s a small price to pay, all things considered.

But when a long struggle with the insurance company results in an overdue payout, Jay has a plan. He’ll take some of it and hire a high-end rent boy who specializes in sexual dominance. Not for him, but as a gift for Adriana, for taking care of him for the past twelve months.

Paul is the handsome stranger they choose…and the one who changes everything. What starts out as a onetime session to fulfill a fantasy turns into something bigger than all of them. But when the money runs out and Paul’s dangerous past resurfaces, the sacrifices required to stay together may end up tearing them apart…

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The Submission Gift
LA Doms
Book 2 (stand-alone)
Solace Ames

Genre: Erotic Romance, Ménage
Publisher: Carina Press
Date of Publication: March 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4268-9828-0.
ASIN: B00GKBIPLY

Number of pages: 254
Word Count: 100,000
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PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon     B&N     ARe     Kobo     Google Play     iTunes

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AUTHOR BIO:

Solace Ames has roots in the Southeast US, although her heart lives somewhere along the Pacific coast of Mexico. She’s worked in restaurants, strip clubs, academia and the corporate world and studied everything from the philosophy of science to queer theory to medieval Spanish literature. Rejecting neat categories, her writing sprawls across genres and genders and swings from high art to low art, marching with the erotic avant-garde, tongue sometimes in cheek and at other times… well. Along with writing, education and political activism are her passions. Family takes up most of her time, but she loves to keep learning.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/solacewrites

Facebook: www.facebook.com/solace.ames

Website and Blog: www.solaceames.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/solaceames

Author interview with Simone Beaudelaire

Today I’ve got an interview for you all with Simone Beaudelaire.  She writes in several genres including romance and paranormal.  Her latest book, The Naphil’s Kiss, just released earlier this year.  This one looks good and I’m planning on reading it myself!  Check out her interview below, along with the details on her novel.

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INTERVIEW:

*Note- my responses to the author’s answers are in italics.

Tell us something dark about yourself.

Vampires are sexy.

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Oh, yes.  So long as they remember to wipe their mouth after drinking 🙂

You are on a deserted island and can only choose one beverage to have besides water.  What would it be?

On a deserted island? That would be hot. How about chilled champagne

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Whatever floats your boat!

If you had to choose between a bullwhip, cat o’ nine tails, or a crop, which would you pick?

Um, I’m a wimp. Can I take none? Okay, crop.

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Who said it had to be used on you?  lol

What mythical creature would you be and why?

If I could choose a mythical creature it would be a siren. I like to sing. I don’t think I’d actually succeed in luring anyone to his doom, but I’d enjoy a captive audience.

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I’d love a job luring men to their doom…

What first inspired you to write your book?

This book came about as a conversation with a fellow author. We wrote the first third together, just writing two separate storylines and twining them together. But then he decided to take his in a different direction, so I collected my parts and wrote them into a solo novel.

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At least it worked out in the end!

How long did it take to research/write it?

This one took a while because of the back-and-forth part at the beginning, a long period of silence, and then me finishing it. We started tossing around ideas in July and I finished writing around Christmas.

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That’s still pretty fast, all things considered.

Give one unique fact about your novel that makes it different from the others in its genre.

The Nephilim are the good guys.

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Those poor guys are just so misunderstood.

What other books do you plan to publish in the future?

I have the writing bug. I can’t imagine not writing. I’m currently working on three projects. I’m writing a solo contemporary romantic thriller called Baylee Breaking, an urban fantasy romance with my friend Sandra Martinez, and a really fun top-secret project with the incomparable Edwin Stark. I don’t want to give away too much, but there are Mayans in it.
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You are one busy writer!

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Thanks to Simone for being here today and for participating in this interview. I really appreciate her stopping by!  For everyone else, please check out all the information about her and her book below.

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BLURB:

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days- and also afterward- when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were heroes of old, men of great renown.
Genesis 6: 4

And to this day, they remain: the Nephilim. Half human, half angel. They hide in the light; eternal, chaste, and beautiful. They protect the children of men from the Succubae, daughters of Lilith. Dangerous demonesses who prey on men leaving them worse than dead.
Until the day one Naphil, Lucien, first encountered the succubus Sarahi. That day a creature of darkness, sick of the shadows, dared lift her face towards heaven and discovered something she never dreamed she would find… love.
But their love is overshadowed as the long-foretold war between angels and demons threatens to break over the land. For prophecy states that from the mingling of these races will come a warrior who holds the key to victory… or utter destruction.

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PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US     Amazon UK

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EXCERPT:

Sarahi regarded the Naphil, confused. “You say you are trained to know us. Surely you must know why we do what we do.”

“Yes. To gain power. To threaten Heaven.”

She laughed, and the sound was bitter to her own ears. “No, Sir Naphil, you are misinformed. We seduce men, not to gain control of them, but to feed. The energy produced by the act is our only source of nourishment.”

He looked aghast at the very thought. “You feed on men?”

“It is in my nature to do so, and yet…”

“Yet?”

“Yet I would prefer to eat bread and drink wine like everyone else. This is a cursed existence.”

“What if you fed on only one; a husband or lover?”

Sarahi’s breath caught. She could feel her lip trembling. “No man would survive it long. A few months at most. My last…” she trailed off and turned away.

A warm hand closed on her shoulder. Her gown was held shut by a clip, and around it, his fingers touched her bare skin. “I am sorry. I did not realize.”

She turned back to face him, her eyes swimming. “Don’t judge what you don’t understand, Naphil. Your kind doesn’t know everything about mine.”

“Lucien.” No longer aggressive, his tender tone flowed over her like honey, warm and sweet. She was too caught up in his voice to comprehend his meaning.

“What?”

“My name is Lucien.”

She smiled. “How apt. Well, Lucien, I haven’t fed in ages. If I don’t eat soon, I’m likely to lose control, and then you’ll have to slay me. Do you wish to slay me, light bearer?”

He looked at her in silence for an endless moment, and then said, “No, Succubus. I do not wish to slay you.”

“I am called Sarahi.”

“I will remember. I do apologize for… everything.”

“Accepted. Now please go elsewhere. Save innocent victims. I don’t want to waste my strength trying to do the impossible.”

“Which would be what?”

“Feed on you.”

He scoffed. “You couldn’t.”

“Only if I could seduce you. But if I could…” She twirled a strand of hair around her fingertip.

“Then?” His challenging tone was contradicted by the visible movement of his Adam’s apple. It bobbed in the ebony column of his throat.

“Then I think you’d make the tastiest meal I’ve ever eaten.”
She walked up to him, pressing her body against his, sliding her arms around his neck, pulling his mouth down and kissing him.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Simone Beaudelaire is the pseudonym for a mild-mannered high school French teacher.
Mme Beaudelaire lives with her husband, three children, and one fat tabby cat in Texas.
In her spare time, she reads romances as fast as she can get her hands on them, and when she isn’t reading them, she’s writing them!
Published works: Watching Over the Watcher, Keeping Katerina, High Plains Holiday, When the Music Ends, When the Words are Spoken, Beautiful Rose, Pacific Fire, Tears of Blood, and several others, but more are in the works.

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Social media

Web site: simonebeaudelaireauthor.weebly.com
Email: simonebeaudelaireauthor@hotmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/simone.beaudelaire.5
Twitter: www.facebook.com/simone.beaudelaire.5

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Review of “Blood Mate” by Kitty Thomas

Today I’m reviewing an erotica novel with paranormal elements.  This one has some serious psychological twists, so don’t expect it to be your run-of-the-mill story.  I really enjoyed it and think most fans of the genre will too.

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BLURB:

Blood Mate, a dark fairy tale…

Nicole has been happily married to big shot attorney, Dominic Rose for ten years, but soon after their anniversary he grows cold–as if she doesn’t exist. Meanwhile, another man has been pursuing her far too intently for comfort.

August Corinth is a six-hundred-year-old vampire, cursed to kill and suffer the pain of his victims each night until he can find the one woman who can resist his thrall, his blood mate. Once he’s found her, there are no lines he won’t cross to claim the promised salvation even if it means taking away everything and everyone she loves.

Warning: Blood Mate is a story about love, betrayal, redemption, sacrifice, and sanity. This is a dark emotional/psychological journey. This is not a vampire romance or vampire erotica. It is a dark fairy tale. This work steps a little outside what the author typically writes, but still contains many of the psychological and mindf**k elements her readers have come to enjoy.

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MY REVIEW:

I’ve read several other books by Kitty Thomas, so when the opportunity came to review this one I jumped on it.  Her writing isn’t for everyone and that should be understood from the beginning.  There’s a very strong psychological element that will leave you thinking of the story long after you’ve finished.  They don’t follow the rules and characters will make decisions readers won’t necessarily agree with, but that’s what I love about them.  The “what if” factor and wondering what I’d do if I was in a similar situation.

Much like most of her books, the so called hero(s) in Blood Mate are not what most would consider ideal.  This is particularly true of August, the vampire of the story.  August is driven to ease the curse that has been on him for more than six centuries.  He’ll do anything to get what he wants.  In this case, it would be Nicole.  She is the first woman he’s ever met who has the potential to make his quality of life better.  Though he has moments of violence and cruelty, I actually ended up liking him the most by the end of the book.  I understood him and felt for his situation.

Nicole was relatable in her own way, but also rather selfish.  For much of the book she is looking out for herself more than anyone else.  If innocent people die because of her choices, so be it.  She feels bad, but not enough to sacrifice herself.  Despite this, I found her to be realistic.  A lot of people will put their own well-being and happiness ahead of others.  There has to be a good reason to sacrifice themselves and not many will do it for strangers or anyone they don’t care about.  Her character stayed pretty consistent throughout the story, but I really got into seeing her thought processes as she tried to figure out what she really wanted out of her future.

The overall story is one that keeps you guessing.  You’re never quite sure how things are going to turn out and I honestly didn’t predict the ending.  Kitty Thomas isn’t one to do nice, happy endings with everything tied up in a neat bow.  If that is what you’re looking for, this novel is not for you.  Blood Mate isn’t really a romance.  It’s more of a psychological journey exploring romantic possibilities that go well outside of normal boundaries, if that makes sense.  You do get a sense of closure, though, and she leaves a little room for you to decide how things might go from there.

To sum it up, I really enjoyed this novel.  It had plenty of twists and turns, pulled at a range of my emotions, and felt realistic to how a woman might really react under such circumstances.  I’d definitely recommend it to erotica readers who enjoy a little more depth in books they pick up.  Five whips for Blood Mate!
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Note- I was provided a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

Spotlight on “Touched by Lightening” by Danica Avet

I have an erotic paranormal romance for you all today.  Touched by Lightening just released last month through Ellora’s Cave and it looks like a good one.  Check out all the details about it below, including a short excerpt.  The author is also conducting a tour-wide giveaway for the following items:

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2 $25 gift card (Amazon or B&N)

2 limited edition Order of Themis cold/hot travel mug-open to US Shipping

2 sets of Danica Avet swag (shot glass, compact mirror, sewing kit)- open to US Shipping

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Be sure to click on the Rafflecopter link for your chance to win!

www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f567

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TOUCHED BY LIGHTENING

by Danica Avet

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BLURB:

When empath Gyda St. Germaine is rescued from a sex-trafficking ring, she vows vengeance on her tormentors. Aided by two distinct personalities who bolster her powers, she becomes a vigilante, hungry for revenge. Her path of retribution tosses her into the arms of an Order of Themis Siphon and her world is turned upside down. Fighting her past takes a backseat to her all-consuming desire for the man whose honor and sense of justice go against everything she believes.

The moment electricity manipulator Brit Harper stumbled across a feral woman with a bloody knife, his life changed. Black and white becomes gray as the scales of justice tip. Fascinated by her strength and the darkness in her eyes, he vows to teach her the true meaning of justice, and help her explore the passion sizzling between them. But when the evil haunting Gyda’s dreams returns in the flesh, he’ll have to choose between his beliefs and the woman he loves.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/U22LHnllx8A

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Touched by Lightning
Love’s Defenders Series
Book 1
Danica Avet

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Date of Publication: February 14, 2014

ISBN: 9781419990564
Word Count: 74,000
Cover Artist: Ellora’s Cave Art department
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PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon     B&N

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EXCERPT:

He sighed and took his hat off to run his fingers through his hair, his frustration with her silence obvious. “Look, I’m sorry…” He looked at her and away, his cheeks turning even darker. His Adams apple bobbed as he gulped, but he brought his gaze back around to meet her gaze again, hungry resolve in his eyes. “I’m sorry for what I did to you in the woods.” He cleared his throat and settled his hat back on his head. She wasn’t staring at his biceps that bulged and flexed with the movement and the warmth in her belly had absolutely nothing to do with attraction. “There’s some powerful chemistry between us, sweetheart,” he finally said on a near growl. “And it just got the better of me. I swear I won’t touch you again until you want me to.”
With each word he spoke, her jaw dropped a little more until she was gaping at him, her brain firing on all cylinders as she processed his belief in his attractions. Okay, he was hot. He had that power thing mingling with some country-boy charm, which she found extremely sexy despite her natural repulsion of all things male. He knew how to ply his electricity in such a way that it made a woman cream with want. His body… The man had a body to die for and those tattoos just begged her to explore them with her fingers and tongue.
Even his confidence was sexy to an extent. Her brain rejected that thought. He was assuming she’d just fall into his lap like some slut. Because you totally did twice before, idiot, Sixteen reminded her with a satisfied chuckle. All that man has to do is lay a kiss on you and you’re a goner.
Her cheeks flushed at the reminder because it was true. He’d kissed her twice and both times she’d fallen prey to his power and that fucking chemistry she wasn’t prepared to defend herself against. It wasn’t as though it was something she’d come into contact with before. Sixteen was the sexual one, the one who discovered the men who wanted to be dominated by a woman. Gyda just let her have her way and pretended it never happened. So yeah, she had no idea how to fight attraction like this.
And he planned to use it against her. Holy shit.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Danica Avet was born and raised in the wilds of South Louisiana (that would be somewhere around Houma) where mosquitoes are big enough to carry off small children and there are only two seasons: hot and hotter. With a BA in History, she figured there were enough fry cooks in the world and decided to try her hand at writing.

Danica is the lucky pet of a compulsively needy dog and two cats. The pitter-patter of little feet has been known to make her break out into a cold sweat.

Writing is how she gives the voices in her head a way out. When she isn’t writing, working or contemplating the complexities of the universe, she spends time gathering inspiration from her insane family, reads far more than any sane person would want to, and watches hot burly men chase an oblong ball all over a field.

Website: www.danicaavet.com

Blog: www.danicaavet.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danica.avet

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4702737.Danica_Avet

Twitter: @DanicaAvet

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Book review for “Captured by the Pirate Laird” by Amy Jarecki

As I promised in my previous post on Thursday, I’m posting my review for Captured by the Pirate Laird by Amy Jarecki.  I’ll re-post the cover (linked to Amazon) and plot below for a refresher, but after that you can read all about what I thought of the novel.  Let me just say now, though, that this has got to be one of my favorite books for 2014 so far.  If you enjoy historical romance, then you’ve absolutely have to pick this one up.  It’s fantastic!

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Book Summary:

Wed by proxy to a baron old enough to be her grandfather, Lady Anne trudges up the gangway of a galleon that will deliver her into the arms of a tyrant. Crestfallen, she believes her disastrous life cannot get worse—until she awakes to the blasts of cannon fire.

Facing certain death, Anne trembles in her stateroom while swords clash and the chilling screams of battle rage on the deck above. When a rugged Highlander kicks in her door, she prays for a swift end.

But Laird Calum MacLeod has a reason for plundering the ship—and it’s not a stunning English lass. With no other choice, he takes Anne to his crumbling keep on the isle of Raasay and sends a letter of ransom to her husband. In time, Anne grows to understand MacLeod’s plight and finds it increasingly difficult to resist Calum’s unsettling charm—until the baron sends a reply agreeing to terms.

Ripped from passion that will be forever seared into their souls, will Anne and Calum risk everything for love?

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MY REVIEW:

Some books take me awhile to get into, but not this one.  From the start it grabbed my attention and kept it throughout. This is such a great story of a man and woman who should be at complete odds with each other, but once they meet there’s no ignoring their attraction.  No matter what they feel, though, they have duties and responsibilities that they know will force them apart in the end.  The reader is taken through a story with adventure, humor, and heartache.  Every moment you’re wondering how things can possibly work out.  I fell in love with this couple even as they fell for each other.

Anne’s young and innocent personality totally fit the time period, but she’s got that spark of bravery that I really enjoy seeing in a heroine.  She doesn’t just sit by and let things happen to her.  She defends herself, even if there’s no chance she can win.  I also liked her kindness and generosity.  This is one character that I couldn’t fault for her personality.  She wasn’t perfect, but she was definitely easy to like and relatable.

Calum might be a Scottish laird and pirate, but I wouldn’t call him a bad boy.  He’s a man who does whatever it takes to help and protect his people.  He’s strong and honorable.  I normally like my heroes a little more dark and damaged, but Calum was such a refreshing change of pace.  He’s the kind of man a woman would dream of meeting and marrying.  I could truly feel his conflict as he fought his attraction to Anne, knowing giving into it could risk his clan’s lives.  Maybe he doesn’t make the right decisions every time, but he always does things with the right intentions.

This was truly an amazing love story that kept me in suspense throughout.  Not only that, the author did an impressive job of including a lot of little details to fit it into the time and place.  I have no doubt she must have spent countless hours researching to make the setting so vivid.  Some historical romance authors skimp in this area, but I can honestly say Ms. Jarecki is not one of them.  She also knows how to write intense action scenes, create unique characters, and pull the reader’s emotions at just the right times.  I am most impressed with this author and will definitely be following her future work.  Five whips for Captured by the Pirate Laird!

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Note- I received a free ecopy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Blog tour for “Too Consumed” by Skyla Madi

I have a hot contemporary romance for you all today, Too Consumed, by Skyla Madi.  I loved the first novel in this series, Consumed, and was excited when I heard the sequel had been released.  It’s definitely a nice follow-up to the first book.  If you enjoy romances with cage fighting and plenty of steamy scenes, than you should definitely check this one out!  All the details about the book are below, including my review at the end.

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He wants to be with me forever… I love Seth and I can’t really picture my life without him, and he loves me too, God knows he says it enough, but I didn’t know he’s actually thinking about forever…is he even capable of forever?

“Too Consumed” is book #2 of the Consumed Series.

“Consumed” is book #1 of the Consumed Series.

**Mature Content Warning** Recommended for ages 17+ due to language and sexual content.

Olivia did the impossible…

She tamed the over-confident Casanova, Seth Marc, turning him into a one woman Romeo.

With Seth’s first professional fight coming up, she does her best to keep him focused and driven…even if that means withholding sex from him.

As sexual tensions rise, so do past discrepancies the couple thought buried, putting extra stress on both their romantic and professional lives.

Stuck in the center of the action, Olivia and Seth fight for air as they collide face first with the tough world of professional MMA.

Also Available, Consumed (Book #1)…

Coming Soon… Forever Consumed

Skyla Madi

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MY REVIEW:

I must admit I wondered how the author was going to keep Seth and Olivia’s relationship as intense as the first book.  Once a couple admits their love and commits to each other, it’s tough to keep up the excitement for the reader.  Luckily there were still elements of their backgrounds/personalities to explore.  I really felt I got to know them and their family/friends even better in this book.  It was also nice to see how things were going for Seth now that he’d hit the professional level with the MMAC.

The first part of this novel was a bit slower going for me than the one before it.  It seemed to concentrate more on solidifying the couple’s relationship, as well as dealing with a whole lot of sexual tension, because once again Seth’s trainer forbid him from getting hot with Olivia.  Sometimes, I admit, that got to be almost too much for me, but I’m one who likes the action and romance mixed in equal proportions.  Not to worry, though.  Close to the half-way mark things really started to take off and I got exactly what I wanted.  The intensity picked up and I was clinging to the pages.  The last half was a hurdle of ups and downs that made me laugh, scream obscenities I probably shouldn’t repeat, and have my “awww” moments.  It was great.

Though this book doesn’t end on a major cliffhanger, and even has the sweetest epilogue, you’re definitely going to want a certain something resolved and hopefully all of its teeth kicked in (plus some other bits smashed if I had my way).  I definitely didn’t see the twist coming near the end.  I’ve grown attached to these characters and have come to care about them.  Can’t wait to see how the final book in this trilogy goes because this one did an excellent job of keeping up my interest!  Four whips for “Too Consumed”!

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Note- I received a free ecopy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Captured by the Pirate Laird by Amy Jarecki w/giveaway

Today I have a historical romance for you all, Captured by the Pirate Laird, by Amy Jarecki.  I had intended to include a review with this tour post, but was unable to get to the book in time.  Despite that, I did start reading the novel last night and can tell you the intro has me hooked!  From the moment Calum and Anne meet the sparks fly.  They might be at odds with each other, but the way they match wits is absolutely fun to read.  I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here!  Expect that I will be posting a full review over the weekend after I’ve finished.  In the meantime, but sure to check out all the book details in this post.

Also, as part of a tour-wide giveaway, the author is offering 10 ebook copies of the novel, 2 signed print copies (US only), and 4 swag packets including a $5 Amazon gift card (US only).  Don’t miss your chance to enter and click on the Rafflecopter link below:

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www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f556

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CAPTURED BY THE PIRATE LAIRD

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BLURB:

Wed by proxy to a baron old enough to be her grandfather, Lady Anne trudges up the gangway of a galleon that will deliver her into the arms of a tyrant. Crestfallen, she believes her disastrous life cannot get worse—until she awakes to the blasts of cannon fire.

Facing certain death, Anne trembles in her stateroom while swords clash and the chilling screams of battle rage on the deck above. When a rugged Highlander kicks in her door, she prays for a swift end.

But Laird Calum MacLeod has a reason for plundering the ship—and it’s not a stunning English lass. With no other choice, he takes Anne to his crumbling keep on the isle of Raasay and sends a letter of ransom to her husband. In time, Anne grows to understand MacLeod’s plight and finds it increasingly difficult to resist Calum’s unsettling charm—until the baron sends a reply agreeing to terms.

Ripped from passion that will be forever seared into their souls, will Anne and Calum risk everything for love?
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Captured by the Pirate Laird
Highland Force
Book One
Amy Jarecki

Genre: Scottish Historical Romance

Date of Publication:  2/17/14
Number of pages: 342
Word Count: 96,600
Cover Artist: Kim Killion
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EXCERPT:

She turned and caught him staring. He bowed and his heart melted when she smiled—a smile with dimples that could light up the horizon. He half expected Anne to turn up her pert little nose and head the other way.
Before he could persuade himself otherwise, Calum pattered down the steps and stood beside her. She watched the sunset and her warmth pulled him close like a magnet.
“’Tis beautiful,” she said when the sky shone with orange and pink, highlighted against the strips of clouds that sailed toward the ship.
He inhaled. Her scent ever so feminine, Calum inclined his head to capture more of it. “Aye, milady.”
She placed her hand on the rail. Again his reflexes took over and he rested his palm atop it. Calum expected her to snatch it away, but she did not. Her fingers were cold and he held his much warmer hand there as a comfort. They stood in silence as the sun glowed orange-red on the horizon. He wanted to stand there forever—touching her. Barely breathing, he watched the sun disappear and held his hand still, unwilling to move it.
The sun was replaced by darkness. Lady Anne slipped her hand out from under his and the dark of the evening took up residence inside him. She was not his to lust after. “May I walk you to your stateroom?”
“Yes.” Her voice sounded husky. Had she felt the connection too? Of course not.
Calum offered his arm and that same small, cold hand grasped it. “We’ll arrive at Raasay in the morning.”
“Our destination?”
“Aye.”
“Bran told me.”
Secrets were impossible to keep on a ship. “I will send a letter of ransom to yer husband upon our arrival.” He didn’t like how that sounded—ye are my prisoner until Lord Wharton pays for your release. But that’s how it had to be. If he sailed up the mouth of the River Aln, he would incite yet another war between Scotland and England—and this time his countrymen might side with the enemy.
When they stepped into the corridor, warm air relaxed the tension in his shoulders.
Anne stopped outside her cabin door, breasts straining against her bodice with every breath. “I’ve never met him.”
Calum forced himself to concentrate on her face. “Who?”
“Lord Wharton.”
“What? How?”
“We were wed by proxy. My uncle made the arrangements.”
Ah Jesus. Calum understood the way of highborn marriages, arranged for the trade of lands and riches. “Ye ken he’s old enough to be your father?”
“He’s three times my age plus one year to be exact. His children are older than I.”
A hundred questions flooded his mind. “Why?” he clipped with shocked disbelief.
Anne nodded as if fully understanding his monosyllabic inquiry. “I’m told the Baron fancied me from across Westminster Abbey during the Queen’s coronation.”
“No.” She doesn’t even know the bastard. That’s why she wears no ring.
“Yes. My uncle said he kissed my hand, yet so many lords greeted me on that trip to London, I’m at a loss to place him.”
The despair in her lovely eyes twisted around his heart. “Mayhap ye will remember if we playact it.” With a halfcocked grin, Calum reached for her hand. His mouth went dry when her silken skin met the rough pads of his fingertips. Though a grown woman, her fingers were fine and delicate.
When she didn’t pull away, he moistened his lips and bowed. Hovering above her hand, the soft scent of honeysuckle mixed with her—the unmistakable scent of woman now more captivating than it had been on the deck—ignited his insides as if she stood naked before him. Closing his eyes, he touched his lips to the back of her hand and kissed. Anne’s sharp inhale made his skin shiver with gooseflesh. She did not try to pull away but remained so still, her pulse beat a fierce rhythm beneath.
Calum held his lips there longer than necessary. He wanted this moment to linger. He wanted a memory he could cherish long after she was gone. His eyes locked with hers as he straightened. Her lips parted slightly, almost as if asking him to kiss her mouth, but he knew she wouldn’t want that.
He stood for a moment not saying a word. She did too.
“Any recollection?” His voice rasped.
“No.” Her voice low, she then blinked as if snapping back to the present. “You mustn’t ever do that again.”
“Apologies, milady.” Grinning, he opened her door and bowed, though he did not regret her lack of recall.
Anne stepped into her stateroom. Calum could not pull his gaze away until the door closed and blocked the bewilderment reflected in her sapphire eyes. Calum waited a moment and stared at the hardwood door—the same one he had kicked in five nights ago. What the hell was he doing?
He ground his teeth and headed back to the quarterdeck. He needed to get the lady out of his life. She was not his to care for. Worst of all, she had wed the enemy.
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AUTHOR BIO:

Amy has won multiple writing awards and lives in Utah with her husband, Bob. She writes contemporary romance and Scottish historical romance. For fun, she hikes, bikes and plays a mean game of golf. Born in California, Amy holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Web site: http://www.amyjarecki.com/

Blog: http://amyjarecki.blogspot.com

Twitter: @amyjarecki

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjarecki

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5306959.Amy_Jarecki

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Blog tour for “Catching Heat” by Alison Packard w/review

I have a contemporary romance, Catching Heat, for you all today.  This is a nice read and I really enjoyed it.  Check out all the details about the novel below, including my review.  As a bonus, the author is conducting a tour-wide giveaway for two $25 Amazon gift cards.  Be sure to click on the Rafflecopter link for your chance to win!

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http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f544

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CATCHING HEAT

by Alison Packard

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BLURB:

Life has taught Angie DeMarco that all baseball players are womanizers, and her incredible one-night stand with sexy San Francisco Blaze back-up catcher J.T. Sawyer seemed to prove it. Determined not to give in to their sizzling chemistry a second time, she’s kept her distance ever since, focusing on her accounting job with the team. But now she’s laid off…and pregnant.

J.T. was hurt by Angie’s rejection, but with one more year with the Blaze, he has no time for love. He needs to spend the off season training hard so he can negotiate a better contract with a new team at the end of the year. But when Angie shows up on his doorstep, he‘s overwhelmed by wanting to not just do right by her but pursue a relationship with her. Hoping for a second chance, he proposes.

Angie agrees to marry J.T. on one condition: the marriage will be purely a business arrangement. But as Angie spends time with him and his family, and J.T. neglects his training to spend time with her, what begins as a union in name only slowly grows into something more—something that looks a whole lot like love and friendship.
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Catching Heat
Book 3
Alison Packard

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Carina Press
ISBN: 9781426897788
ASIN: B00GKBHITE

Number of pages: 267
Word Count: 87,000

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PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon     B&N     iBooks     Kobo

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AUTHOR BIO:

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alison now lives in Southern Nevada where she’s still getting used to the blistering summers and slot machines in every grocery store.

When not working at the day job that pays the bills, keeps a roof over her head, and supports her book and chocolate habits, she spends most of her free time writing. But when she takes a break, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.

Website: http://alisonpackard.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alleyfics

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alison-Packard-Author/368976796492227

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6537405.Alison_Packard

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/alisonpackard/

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MY REVIEW:

I found Catching Heat to be a heart-warming romance novel.  Yes, it is about a man and woman who discover they’re going to have a baby together after a one night stand.  They had no relationship prior to that, but I loved the journey they took to make things work.  Each of them had their hang-ups, though I’d say Angie’s were the more difficult ones to overcome.  Yet they were both enjoyable characters whose flaws didn’t go over the top like in some books.

J.T. was a real sweetheart.  For most of the book (except one part toward the end) I admired the way he worked so hard to build a more permanent and stable relationship.  He’s just the kind of dream man most women would love to settle down with and he had such a great family too.  This isn’t a guy with a dark and tortured past, but actually a very positive one.  That doesn’t mean he didn’t have some hot qualities, though!

The pacing isn’t very fast.  The author took a lot of time to explore all the characters and included lots of little tidbits about their backgrounds.  Each of them were developed to feel unique and different.  J.T.’s brothers were especially interesting and I could see them getting their own stories.  Angie’s family didn’t get as much face time, but you learn a lot from her thoughts and memories of them.  I definitely grew to not like her mother very much.  I was a bit disappointed the issue with her didn’t get resolved at the end.  The same went for Justin, the only one of J.T.’s brothers who didn’t like Angie.  Life isn’t perfect, though, and there will always be troublesome relatives.  I just tend to prefer love stories get wrapped up with all the loose ends out of the way.

Otherwise, I enjoyed this book a lot.  There was nothing too dramatic or angsty about it.  I usually gravitate to darker romances, but this was a nice change of pace and well worth the read.  I’d definitely recommend it to those who enjoy contemporary romance.  And not to worry, there are some steamy scenes in there for those who enjoy them.  Four whips for Catching Heat!

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Note- I received a free digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.