Book Blitz & Giveaway - QUEEN OF ROSES by Briar Boleyn

Queen of Roses
Briar Boleyn
(The Once and Future Morgan Le Fay, #1)
Publication date: April 15th 2023
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

A doomed love, a dangerous mission, and a kingdom on the brink of war…
A cast-off princess…

Born into a life of duty and sacrifice, Morgan Pendragon’s destiny has never been her own. Rumored to carry the tainted blood of the fae in her veins, her birthright is stolen from her when she is a mere child. Growing up in the shadow of her brother the king, she has been promised to the goddesses when she comes of age. So, when her brother commands that she seek out a fae weapon of legendary power, Morgan seizes the chance to break free from the chains of her fate.

A dangerous temptation…

As she travels, Morgan finds herself drawn into a strange group of outcasts, led by a dark and enigmatic warrior whose sharp wit and fierce beauty set her heart ablaze. But while Morgan struggles to reconcile her desires with her duty, she and her new comrades discover dangers that await them beyond anything in their wildest nightmares.

A slumbering kingdom awoken by blood…

Believed to have vanished generations ago, a fae kingdom dreaded by mortals is ascending once more, bound to reclaim what was lost by violence and bloodshed. As the fae world, with its intricate web of lies and mysteries, is slowly revealed to Morgan, she is led to the terrible realization that the secrets she carries in her blood make her a greater threat than she could ever have imagined.

The first in an action-packed new series brimming with magic, danger, and spellbinding slow-burn romance, Queen of Roses is perfect for fans of Holly Black, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Sarah J. Maas.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“Please–” I tried to say, but the knife tightened, cutting into the soft skin of my throat. I felt something warm trickle down my chest. Blood. My blood.

“She’s bleeding, you fool,” Baudwin exclaimed. “You’re hurting her.”

“Hurting the Pendragon fae-blooded bitch? The tainted heir?” The man holding me gave a nasty chuckle. “And you expect me to care when—”

Abruptly, his words ceased.

The knife against my throat slid swiftly away, nearly cutting me again as it fell to the ground still clutched in the man’s hand.

I turned to see my would-be-captor lying on the ground with an arrow through his chest and blood spilling from his still-open mouth.

Behind me, Baudwin and the other man were shouting to one another in confusion.

I didn’t know whether to face them, join them, or run out of the alley. Before I could finish deciding, I heard the sound of pounding hooves, then caught a glimmer of steel flashing past me.

I fell back against the wall of the alley as a stallion sped past me. I glimpsed a man in the uniform of a Royal Guard sitting tall and upright in the saddle, his weapon drawn and ready.

The shouts behind me rapidly became screams.

By the time I had stood up again, it was already too late. Baudwin and the cloaked man were crumpled on the ground, blood pooling around them.

I stared at their bodies, horrified.

The guard on the horse dismounted quickly and strode towards me, gripping me by the shoulders.

“Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”

I recognized the voice. I forced myself to focus.

The white linen and black leather of the guard’s uniform. The glint of a silver ring in his ear. Dark hair falling over his brow.

I pulled away from Kairos Draven as hard as I could, stepping backwards until I hit the wall.

“You,” I said in disbelief. “You’ve killed them all. Why? Why did you do that?”

Author Bio:

Briar Boleyn is the fantasy romance pen name of USA TODAY bestselling author Fenna Edgewood. Briar rules over a kingdom of feral wildling children with a dark fae prince as her consort. When she isn't busy bringing new worlds to life, she can be found playing RPG video games, watching the birds at her bird feeder and pretending she's Snow White, or being sucked into a captivating book. Her favorite stories are the ones full of danger, magic, and true love.

Website / Goodreads / Bookbub / Instagram

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Cover Reveal! DANCE OF WINGS (Dragon Portal Series - Book 6) by Jamie A. Waters

Dance of Wings
Jamie A. Waters
(The Dragon Portal Series, #5)
Publication date: August 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Death awaits those who fly too close to the sun…

Something’s wrong with Sabine’s magic.

The portal seals have begun to fracture, poisoning the magic of their world, and endangering those dependent upon it. Time is running out for Sabine and her companions to find the last artifact.

A cryptic clue found in the underworld is their only lead. But the magical race entrusted with the relic’s safekeeping was annihilated by the dragons centuries earlier.

Determined to find any trace of the mysterious artifact, Sabine agrees to face down the dragons in their own den.

Can love withstand dragonfire?

Sabine may have fallen for the charismatic dragon who captured her heart, but his people are harboring a deadly secret.

The dragons have no intention of allowing Sabine to imprison them ever again.

No matter the cost.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Author Bio:

Jamie A. Waters is an award-winning fantasy romance author and dragon enthusiast. Weaving together magic, intrigue, and some delicious romance, she creates memorable and immersive worlds that provide the perfect escape. Her books feature strong, capable heroines and their swoon-worthy heroes who will stop at nothing to save the day.

Jamie currently resides in Florida with two neurotic dogs who enjoy stealing socks. When she's not pursuing her passion of writing, she's usually trying to learn new and interesting random things (like how to pick locks or use the self-cleaning feature of the oven without setting off the fire alarm). In her downtime, she enjoys reading, playing computer games, painting, or acting as a referee between the dragons and fairies currently at war inside her closet.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - SHADOW CASTER by Debbie Cassidy

Shadow Caster
Debbie Cassidy
(The Nightwatch Academy #1)
Publication date: September 10th 2019
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Murdering humans is a huge no-no and comes with an off-with-your-head sentence. Doesn’t matter if you don’t remember doing the crime.
I killed a human, and no, it wasn’t on purpose, but that shit doesn’t matter to the council. I’m facing death. So, when I’m offered a deal to avoid execution, I’d be a fool not to take it, even if it means leaving the human world and urban life behind to enroll in the Nightwatch Academy – a gothic monstrosity hidden from human eyes, located way too close to the largest tear in the fabric of our reality.
It would be fun if I had any inclination of becoming a member of the Watch or supporting the shadow knights at keeping the Formorian threat at bay. But heck, the monsters beyond the mist aren’t my problem. I have personal demons to deal with.
Once I’m out, the Watch can shove it.
But one sip from the ceremonial goblet and my plans to coast are out of the window as my powers spark to life.
I’m an anomaly, one the Watch won’t be letting walk any time soon.
My only comfort is a man who prides himself on his ability to harness pain. Battle scarred and formidable, he’s my tutor, my mentor, and the object of some super saucy dreams. He’s completely off limits and my only hope of surviving my first test.
I’ll need to harness my powers fast.
There can be no distractions.
But when my fellow cadets start going missing then returning with no memory of who they used to be and my best friend is taken, turning a blind eye is no longer an option.
Allies are limited when you’re a freak. Luckily, I don’t need a cheer squad to get shit done. Whoever is responsible better watch out. I’m coming for them, and I’ll be bringing the pain.
The Vampire Academy meets Game of Thrones in this kick-ass, supernatural academy, Urban Fantasy Romance.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“Wake up, Indie.”
A hand landed on my shoulder and had the audacity to give it a shake.
Fuck off was the desired response, but the word that came out was harrumph.
“Indie, come on. You promised you wouldn’t miss today.”
Today? Oh, yeah, the team exercise, as in there is no I in team, as in I didn’t give a shit. But the exam was the last lesson of the evening, and my bio clock told me the sun had only just set.
Still, Minnie’s shadow loomed over me, and the heat of her gorgon glare burned holes in the back of my head.
“The whole day, Indie. You promised to do a whole day.” She reminded me with that stern edge to her tone, which told me that ten-inch-thick steel would break before she would.
Me and my big mouth. Maybe if I faked sickness, she’d piss off and leave me be. Going to shitty classes was the last thing I wanted to do tonight.
I coughed and made a gagging sound.
“Nah-uh,” she said. “The whole frickin’ day and the exam. You skip the test, and we all get a fail. And you don’t want me to fail, do you?”
Urgh. Emotional blackmail, which coming from anyone else I’d be immune to. I rolled onto my back and stared at the pixie-cute woman looking down at me. Her crimson bob grazed her delicate jaw as she leaned over me, and her wide jade eyes were hard with determination.
Over the last two months, I’d learned three things about Minnie Faraday. First, that she wasn’t a stuck-up arsehole like the rest of the Faraday family. Second, she had a soft spot for kittens, and anything small and furry, and third—the most important—that she did not take no for an answer.
Trust me, I’d tried to keep her at a distance. I mean, sharing a room with her didn’t mean we had to be friends. I didn’t need or want any friends here. But Minnie had decided that’s exactly what we were going to be, and she’d pursued me unrelentingly until she’d worn me down.
So, here we were. Two friends in a glare off. One I knew I was about to lose, because yeah, I’d promised not to skip out on the simulation today. Team exercises were graded based on team performance, if one member was a no show, the whole team suffered.
I closed my eyes and blew out a breath. “Fine. Give me five minutes, and I’ll meet you in the lobby.
“Five.” She narrowed her eyes. “I’ll be back to get you if you don’t show.”
I flashed my teeth at her. “Have I ever let you down, pixie -boo?”
“Do not call me that.” She crossed her arms. “You know I hate it.” She sniffed.
“Riiight. So, you just wrote it in the back of your notebook and decorated it with tiny flowers for no reason then?”
She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times and then took a deep breath. “Five minutes.”
She grabbed her book bag and headed out of the room.
The door didn’t slam behind her.
Not too pissed off then.

Author Bio:
Debbie Cassidy lives in England, Bedfordshire, with her three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuits are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Obsessed with building new worlds and reading about them, she spends her spare time daydreaming and conversing with the characters in her head - in a totally non psychotic way of course. She writes Urban Fantasy, Fantasy and Reverse Harem Fantasy. All her books contain plenty of action, romance and twisty plots.

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Audible Book Review - TINK'S NEVERLAND (Cosmos' Gateway Book 1) by S E Smith

Title: Tink's Neverland (Cosmos' Gateway, Book 1)
Author: S E Smith
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Montana Publishing
Release Date: March 31, 2012

About the Book:

She touched his hand, and everything changed....

Jasmine “Tinker” Bell has always had a love for life, looking forward to any new adventure that happens to come along, but when a friend’s experiment creates a portal to another world, she finds herself immersed in far more adventure than she ever dreamed.

J’kar ’Tag Krell Manok had given up hope of ever finding his bond mate. Then a pint-size female unlike anything he has ever seen suddenly appears on his spaceship to save the life of his brother, and disappears just as suddenly. He will do anything, follow her anywhere, to get her back - and he just might be able to do that, because she left a very important piece of technology behind...

Discover new worlds, new species, and the hilarity that can ensue when Tink, an eternally optimistic, quirky, small town mechanic meets J’kar, a serious Prime warrior from a far-off galaxy who is used to being in control!

Internationally acclaimed S.E. Smith presents a new action-packed story full of adventure and romance. Brimming with her signature humor, vivid scenes, and beloved characters, this book is sure to be another fan favorite!

Buy Links: Amazon 
Buyer's Note:  Such a great deal!  If you read on Kindle, this book is currently free on Kindle Unlimited, and if you are a member of Audible Escape (formerly known as Audible's Romance Package) you can get it free there as well!

My Review:

If you are a fan of S. E. Smith's Dragon Lords of Valdier series, you are going to love TINK'S NEVERLAND and the Cosmos' Gateway series!  The plot line is somewhat similar, but with a new world and a very real hunky alien man (not a dragon).  

Ms. Smith's books are so much fun to listen to on Audible. Her characters are strong and feisty with an adorable soft side as well. And they are hot. I mean, really, really HOT. Another book that is not for the kiddies. This one is very adult, but with a lot of humor. I mean, a LOT of humor. I couldn't help smiling as I listened.

The story was a bit slow to start, with a lot of background being brought out, but once the story got going, I could not put it down!  Loved all the Sci-Fi stuff, especially RITA. There was a bit of a cliffhanger, or unfinished business, but that's okay. It was a truly fun book to listen to. Can't wait to read more in this series!    

My Rating:

About the Author:

Don't miss out on free ebooks and Audiobooks by visiting http://sesmithfl.com! 

~The true magic of a story is one that gives you the power to believe that you are in control of your destiny. ~ S.E. Smith

The biggest responses from readers are how much they enjoy rereading my stories and the connection they have with the characters. Family, friends, loyalty, and true romance wrapped in vivid, believable worlds create stories you can connect with and leave you feeling empowered! If you are looking for a new type of reading experience, step into the Worlds of S.E. Smith and discover the magic!

S.E. Smith is a New York Times, USA TODAY, International and Award-winning Bestselling author of Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Western Time Travel, and Paranormal Romance. Her addictive story lines bring action, adventure, and suspense-filled tales mixed with humor and romance to readers around the world. 

She has also written emotionally charged, action-packed stories for Young Adults and children that will take them on a journey they will never forget. Her stories cross a variety of genres and she is proud to share these amazing adventures with readers. 

S.E. Smith Awards

New York Times Bestselling Author https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2015/04/19/e-book-fiction
USA TODAY Bestselling Author
International and Award winning Bestselling Author
2017 Library Journal Best Book Top 5 Pick
2016/2017 Wishing Shelf Book Award Winner and Finalist for Young Adult
2016 Library Journal Best Book Top 5 Pick
2016 SFR Galaxy Award Winner for Best Antho and Best Menagerie Scifi 
2014 & 2015 RomCon Reader Crown Award Winner
Indie Reader Top 10 Author
2014 International TKH Science Fiction Writer of the Year Award Winner
2014 SFR Galaxy Award Winner Best New SFR Series
2014 IRC Nominated Best Author

Book Review - Bound to the Bear (Grizzlies Gone Wild, Book 5) by Kathy Lyons

Title:  Bound to the Bear (Grizzlies Gone Wild, Book 5)
Author:  Kathy Lyons
Genre:  Fantasy, Romance, Shifters, Multicultural
Release Date:  September 11, 2018

About the Book:

From USA Today bestselling author Kathy Lyons comes a sexy new enemies-to-lovers shifter romance.Hard-bodied and military-trained shifter Hank Coleman will always do what's best for the clan. With a mysterious virus ravaging the city and transforming anyone with shifter DNA into dangerously unstable hybrids, that means asking a human scientist for help. Hank knows that getting Dr. Cecilia Lu involved will mean exposing the shifter world and his black bear self, but it's the animal attraction that sparks between them that could be the real danger.

Cecilia trusts data and what she can see with her own two eyes. So when the hottest man she's ever met transforms into a bear right in front of her, she has no choice but to accept that shifters are real. And with hybrids attacking humans and shifters turning on their own kind, Hank and Cecilia have zero time to fight the desire that's burning hotter by the minute. But war is brewing between the shifters, and Cecilia will be forced to choose between the world of men . . . and the world of her sexy beast.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

I do not tend to get excited about shifter stories, but I like this author and decided to give Bound to the Bear a shot when I saw it was available on NetGalley.  What I did not notice was that it was Book 5 in the series, but quite frankly, it didn't matter.  Kathy Lyons was able to provide enough background information, without making it tedious, to make the book flow.  It may possibly have been even better if I had read the previous books, and I may go back to do that now that I have read this one.

What I truly liked about this book, as compared to other books of this type, was that the author took us deep into the thoughts and emotions of the shifter.  Hank really did not want to kidnap Dr. Cecilia Lu, but he knew it was necessary.  Then, when his need for Cecilia became strong, he fought an inward battle to slow down his need to bond with her.  Wow! Talk about sexual tension! I also loved Cecilia's personality. What a great character!

The fight scenes between the werewolves, hybrids and shifters was totally awesome!

My Rating:

About the Author:

Kathy Lyons is the fun, contemporary side of USA TODAY bestselling author Jade Lee. She loves sassy romance with lots of laughter and sex. Spice is the variety of life, right? Okay, so maybe two kids, two cats, two pennames, and writing over 50 books has messed with her mind, but she still keeps having fun.

Or hang out with her sexy historical half, Jade Lee. Titled heroes with dark secrets are Jade's passion. Especially when they fall for women who add more than just spice to their lives. 

Find them at www.KathyLyons.com Facebook: KathyLyonsBooks Twitter: KathyLyonsAuth Instagram: KathyLyonsAuthor

Special Note:  If you would like to meet Kathy Lyons/Jade Lee in person, you can find her at the Coastal Magic Convention in Daytona Beach, February 28th thru March 3rd, 2019. For more information about Coastal Magic, go to https://coastalmagicconvention.com/
And be sure to check out my interview with Kathy Lyons next month here on The Novel Lady!
#CMCon19

#BookReview - Scavenger Girl by Jennifer Arntson

Title:  Scavenger Girl:  Season of Atchem
Author:  Jennifer Arntson
Genre:  Dystopian, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Release Date:  October 20, 2017

About the Book:

Stripped of their birthright and shunned by the people of Ashlund, Una and her family are forced to live on the fringe of society as Scavengers. There is no question that her family's bond is strong, but the law of the Authority is stronger...and soon it will come to collect her. After all, the family is on borrowed time already. 

When a night of torment and truth reveals well kept secrets, Una takes new freedoms - free from the Authority, her family, and possibly her fate. Pulled between the life she's always known and a world where status and rituals are everything, Una struggles to understand a culture that has rejected all she holds dear. As Atchem comes to an end and she learns who she really is, will Una find the courage to do what it takes to ensure her family's survival, or will she find the faith to follow her heart?

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

Nooooo!  I was soooo getting into this book!  And then it ended without a conclusion!  Yes, a lot of questions were answered... but not the big one!  And we have no idea how the situation is going to play out!  And now.... I have to wait for the next book to come out!

Jennifer Arntson had me hooked from the first chapter with a world of totally different societies, each with their own beliefs, customs and lifestyles.  The characters were well developed and very likeable, each tugging at your heart.  

Without giving away spoilers, there was a certain creep factor that involved brotherly love, but you soon discover that all is not what it seems.  

Una and her family are Scavengers.  Their place in society has been stripped to the lowest level possible, unable to work to obtain money or purchase items from the shops.  In order to survive they must keep to the shadows, heads bowed, and reclaim those items that Citizens no longer want.  Upon coming of age, the boys are hunted and the girls are sold to become slaves or surrogates.  When an opportunity presents itself, Una must choose between saving her family or being with the one she loves.

This book had a bit of everything.  Romance was sweet but there were a couple of scenes that may be a bit much for some Young Adult readers.  I thought they were well written, but as you know some readers may be put off by a bit.

Disclosure:  A complimentary ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Inspired by great authors that tend to blur the lines of mainstream genres, Jennifer Arntson weaves together elements of fantasy fiction, romance and speculative fiction with undertones mythology, dystopian culture, and the coming of age struggles of strong characters in unimaginable situations. As the curious observer of world cultures and social issues, Arntson creates a world everyone can relate to without conforming to "previously formulaic and sometimes predictable genres."

Arntson lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children, who support her compulsion to write.

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - The Last Dragon Rider by Errin Krystal

The Last Dragon Rider
Errin Krystal
(The Wild Realms of Véneanár, #1)
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication date: August 9th 2017
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Trained as an elite warrior from childhood, the elven crown prince Flintathriël fights to bring a stop to a war that began before he was born. With the aid of his betrothed Sairalindë, a skilled mage and dragon rider in her own right, they must find the Book of Souls – an ancient and mysterious tome rumored to have belonged to the god Hath’Raal.
When the missing book turns up in the hands of Mnuvae, the bastard child of the dead king, Flintathriël finds himself fighting to not only save his people from this new threat but also trying to keep Sairalindë safe when Mnuvae takes over the dragons in her attempt to win back the kingdom she believes is rightfully hers.
The love Flintathriël and Sairalindë share shines pure and true, but when the smoke of the battle clears, will their hearts survive the aftermath of war or will their love become a casualty that cannot be revived?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

—

EXCERPT:

She began wrapping the cloth tightly about her, binding her breasts firmly, criss-crossing the gauzy fabric around her torso and across her stomach, tying it off at her hip. She shimmied into a pair of leather leggings and reached for her foot wraps. To other races—like the dwarves and humans—the elves lack of footwear was strange. The elven people had strong ties to the lands, their magic and mystique were inexplicably linked. Even those who did not practice magic felt the connection to nature, and the elven people had maintained the practice throughout their long history.
After binding her feet and leaving only her toes exposed, she tossed an olive green tunic over her head before quickly weaving her tresses into a thick braid.
Sivath was waiting, and Flintathriël was late. Again.
She was reaching for her leather jerkin when he finally appeared in her doorway.
Arms akimbo, he slouched against the frame, all lean muscle and sharp angles beneath his leathers. Silver-white hair fell across his forehead, hiding the dark arches of his brows as he gazed at her with silvery blue eyes. The mop of hair barely touching his shoulders. His coloring typical of the royal family.
Her gaze traced his tattoos. Sweeping vines encompassed runic symbols, curling downward from his bottom lip, winding and weaving their way down his chin and neck. She knew every line that twisted and spread across his shoulders, and across his back. Etchings that disappeared beneath his tunic and reappeared along his arms. She still remembered the day he received the markings, branding him Nuvian. The day she first gave herself to him, the day she truly became his.

Author Bio:
Errin Krystal is a fantasy romance writer who has been writing since she was a small child. Her head has always been full of stories. She began work on her first novel when she was sixteen.
She lives with her family in regional Victoria, Australia, and works as a chef. In her quieter moments, she loves to indulge her passion for storytelling, basking in the joy that comes from creating vibrant characters, fantastical worlds and all manner of magical creatures. Dragons and elves, mages and warriors, troubled princes and beautiful princesses, romance, magic, and adventure can all be found in her writing.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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#BookReview - Dead Ice (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter) by Laurell K. Hamilton

Title:  Dead Ice (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 24)
Author:  Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher:  Berkley, Penguin Group LLC
Release Date:  June 9, 2015

From the Back Cover:

Anita Blake has the highest kill count of any vampire executioner in the country. She’s a U.S. Marshal who can raise zombies with the best of them. But ever since she and master vampire Jean-Claude went public with their engagement, all she is to anyone and everyone is Jean-Claude’s fiancée.

It’s wreaking havoc with her reputation as a hard ass—to some extent. Luckily, in professional circles, she’s still the go-to expert for zombie issues. And right now, the FBI is having one hell of a zombie issue.

Someone is producing zombie porn. Anita has seen her share of freaky undead fetishes, so this shouldn’t bother her. But the women being victimized aren’t just mindless, rotting corpses. Their souls are trapped behind their eyes, signaling voodoo of the blackest kind.

It’s the sort of case that can leave a mark on a person. And Anita’s own soul may not survive unscathed . . .

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes 

My Review:

I almost labeled this book as DNF (Did Not Finish), but I'm glad I didn't. My biggest problem with this book was that the actual plot of the story doesn't really start until about 40% in. Seriously. That's almost half the book that was essentially a bunch of emotional and angst-filled conversations that served absolutely no purpose except to recap all 23 books.

I wanted to steal one of Anita's guns and shoot most of the characters.

After the 40% mark, the action picked up and moved along quite nicely. The plot was fairly predictable, especially if you've read the earlier books. Even so, I enjoyed it and it was kind of cool to revisit with some of the older characters. Anita had a few super badass moments that were freaking awesome and reminded me about why I fell in love with this series. We also got to see a little bit more of that vulnerability and uncertainty that makes Anita such a terrific character.

My biggest complaint about this book was the infodump at the beginning. I really wish the author would stop rehashing everything from the earlier books and cut a lot of the redundancy and repetition. We're 24 books into the series now. These aren't standalone books and shouldn't be marketed as such.

Series Review (so far):

I've been a fan of Laurell K. Hamilton's books for years. I first read her Meredith Gentry series (Fey princess series), and when I finished all of those... I turned to these. I was expecting the Anita Blake series to be similar in style to Merry Gentry, but it wasn't.

The Anita Blake books were written before Merry Gentry... and the main characters are vastly different. In the beginning books, Anita Blake struggles with reconciling her religious Christian faith with the fact that she's an animator (or necromancer) and a vampire killer. This conflict was fascinating to me, and one of the reasons I fell in love with the character. She was also fairly conservative in keeping with her strict religious upbringing and avoiding casual sex. The sexual tension was high, but not fulfilled in the early books. There was more of a focus on the action-packed story line.

I don't want to spoil anything for people who haven't read these books before, but it's important to explain a little in terms of a review. We're now over twenty books into the series, and Anita Blake's character has undergone incredible growth and change (which makes sense over the lifetime of the books). However, many readers who fell in love with the earlier books have objected strongly to these changes because it's vastly different than what they loved originally.

I get it. I really do. Characters cannot remain stagnant. They have to evolve. However, Anita Blake's evolution is just a little too dramatic. It's affecting the realism of the character and the series. What once was an action-packed and suspenseful urban fantasy with elements of horror has turned into a vampire-shifter reverse-harem orgy with a bit of a plot twist thrown in.

Do I still enjoy the series? Somewhat. One of the things that bothers me most about the later books is the infodump. I've read all the books in the series, so I keep finding myself skimming over the same old rehashing of the first 23 books. I understand that the author's trying to either remind audiences about what happened previously or not alienate potential new readers... but come on. The story is there, but it's carefully hidden and woven through pages and pages of backstory.

Also, these books have become exhausting to read. The emotional baggage of each and every character is just overwhelming. I either want to smack some of them, or hope that the author's going to kill some of them off. There are a LOT of characters... and a lot of relationships. Almost every character is supposedly in therapy (which they desperately need), but it seems like instead of talking to their therapist off-page, every conversation and interaction is wrought with all the woes of each character's tragic past. It makes me want to grab one of Anita's guns and shoot them.

There's a lot of sex, and this isn't vanilla-style sex. Nope. I don't think our former conservative Anita knows how to even have vanilla sex. The later books in the series have lots of partners (think reverse harem and even full-scale orgy), some BDSM (topping, bottoming, choking, pain, etc.), and even some "rape" type scenes and shifter/human sex (shifter in animal form getting it on with Anita), and let's not forget almost bleeding your partner to death because vampire bites can sometimes be orgasmic.

And now in this book... we've got zombie porn.

That's right. Necrophilia. Rape. All tied up in one book.

This series is not for the faint of heart. It's dark, it's edgy, it's all the no-no's that most publishers like to avoid. But the thing that makes me crack up laughing each and every time... the author's terminology for having an orgasm. She doesn't ever use the word "come" or "getting off" or anything similar. It's always "brought/bring them" or "go". It's really strange and I've never seen any other author do this, especially when the rest of the language is so frank and unfiltered. It actually kind of ruins the really hot sex scenes for me because I keep giggling at the author's avoidance of those words.

So do I recommend this series? Yes and no. I really enjoyed the earlier books (up through Narcissus in Chains, Book 10). But it's after Book 10 that Anita Blake's character dramatically shifts and we hit the crazy sex stuff. I don't shy away from the sex in books, but it's a little hard to believe that the ultra-religious and conservative Anita Blake has changed so dramatically...and in such a short period of time. It just doesn't fit. In part, I suspect that's why the Merry Gentry books (Fey princess) were born. For Merry Gentry, the heavy sex and multiple partners works... it even helps carry the plot. I don't know if it's because the author was working on both books at the same time (they were both released in the same year) or if it was the author's muse that led the way, but I sort of wish that Anita Blake had retained more of her original flavor. Some of the later books in the series tries to recapture that former glory, but at this point, it almost feels like it's too little, too late.

So if you're a fan of the later Anita Blake books, then yes. I recommend giving this one a shot. If you haven't read any of these, I suggest you start with the first one in the series. You could try to pick up this book and read it as a standalone, but you'll miss out on so much. I still think Books 1-10 were the best, and most of the Merry Gentry books are awesome. But most of the later Anita Blake books don't have the same flair that the earlier books possessed.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Laurell K. Hamilton is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two series that mix mystery, fantasy, magic, horror and romance. Her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels from Berkley Books began with GUILTY PLEASURES (now a hugely successful graphic novel from Marvel - the first sexy paranormal comic ever!) and continues with the SKIN TRADE, number seventeen in the series, in which Anita's complex personal and professional relationships with a master vampire and an alpha werewolf continue to evolve. There are now more than 6 million copies of Anita in print worldwide, in 16 languages. Hamilton's Ballantine series features Fey princess and private investigator, Merry Gentry and there are now six novels exceeding one million copies in print. Divine Misdemeanors, the eighth in the series will debut October 29, 2009. She lives in St. Louis County Missouri with her husband Jonathon Green, daughter, one pug dog and one boxer/pug dog.

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#BookReview - Fur Fox's Sake (Shifters Undercover Book 2) by Milly Taiden

Title:  Fur Fox's Sake (Shifters Undercover Book 2)
Author:  Milly Taiden
Genre:  Fantasy, Romance
Release Date:  April 25, 2015

About the Book:

In the second novel from bestselling author Milly Taiden’s Shifters Undercover series, two shifters must work together to unravel a gripping mystery while fighting their fierce passion…

Marika Paters has an energy coursing through her that others can’t explain. Maybe it’s the curious fox that lies within that gives Marika joy in her work as a geneticist for the only forensic laboratory for animals. But while her research unravels mysteries—like startling new data that threatens to dismantle everything science knows about shifters—Marika has always felt incomplete, just another lonely shifter looking for her mate.

Following a family tragedy, Fellowship Agent Devin Sonder believes he will never find love. But the panther inside knows his mate is out there somewhere—and he can’t give up. When the bodies of a senator and a mysterious dead wolf lead Devin to kind, playful Marika, he feels a powerful, magnetic attraction…even though their personalities clash.

With more dead wolves found, Marika makes a revolutionary discovery about the origin of the beasts. Together with Devin, she races to find out who could be creating shifters—and why. But can the fierce alpha panther and the fiery, driven fox put their carnal desire aside to hunt down the mastermind before more shifters die?

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

AAACK!  Now I have to wait for the next book in this series!

After reading Milly Taiden's first book in Shifters Undercover, BEARLY IN CONTROL, I was anxious to read this next, just released, book to get some answers to my many unanswered questions.  I not only got my answers, I also got a better understanding of the characters involved.  But  now I have new questions. (sigh)  Please Milly... do not make me wait too long for the next book!

Whereas BEARLY IN CONTROL focused on Charli and Barry, FUR FOX'S SAKE focused on Devin and Mari.  And the romance was just as hot with a continuation of the same intriguing plot!  I love these characters and the humorous banter along with the tingly attraction as they discover they are true mates.

New information about Barry and his involvement with Klamin, military involvement, and even aliens are introduced in this second book of this series.  This book has humor, suspense, intrigue, action and hot romance... very hot romance.  The main plot has many, many twists and turns and will leave the reader wanting desperately to find out what is going to happen next.

As I said in my review of BEARLY IN CONTROL, this is definitely an adult book.  If you're easily offended by intense language and sex in a book you may want to skip this.  But if you are open to all things wild, this is a great series to follow.

Right now, this book is available free on Kindle Unlimited with the audio version added for only $1.99.  Not sure how long that deal will last. 

My Rating:

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

Hi! I’m Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romance with action, humor, suspense and happily ever afters. 

I live in Florida with my hubby, our boys, and our fur children “Needy Speedy” and “Stormy.” Yes, I am aware I’m bossy, and I am seriously addicted to iced caramel lattes. 

I love to meet new readers, so come sign up for my newsletter and check out my Facebook page. We always have lots of fun stuff going on there. 

SIGN UP FOR Milly's NEWSLETTER FOR LATEST NEWS! Just copy and paste the following link into your web browser: http://eepurl.com/pt9q1

Website: millytaiden.comFacebook: facebook.com/millytaidenpage

Book Review: Immortal Matchmakers, Inc. by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Title:  Immortal Matchmakers, Inc. (Immortal Matchmakers, Inc. series, Book 1)
Author:  Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
Genre:  Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Mimi Boutique - P&S, Inc.
Release Date:  August 21, 2015

From the Back Cover:

Because dysfunctional immortals need love, too...From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff (STANDALONE STORY w/ teaser for next book) 

SEVEN DAYS TO GO FROM LETHAL IMMORTAL ASSASSIN TO PRINCE CHARMING. DOES HE STAND A CHANCE?

Demigod Andrus Gray may look like every woman’s dream, but when it comes to charm, he sees no point in pretending: He has none and makes no apologies for it. Behaving nicely hasn’t made him the deadly assassin he is today. But is that really the reason he’s still single? 

The Goddess Cimil—owner of Immortal Matchmakers, Inc.—thinks yes. So when she foresees a mate in Andrus’s near future, she’s determined to make the match happen. That means hiring aspiring actress Sadie Townsend to help the barbarian “act” a little more civilized. 

But are seven days really enough? And why does he suddenly have the urge to throw away an eternity of love for just one night with Sadie?

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Review:

Mimi Jean Pamfiloff is well known for crafting humorous paranormal/fantasy romance books with all sorts of bizarre and often outrageous characters (invisible slobbery unicorns, Goddesses with an addiction to garage sales, etc.). 

I had previously read a few of Mimi Jean's Pamfiloff's books, but it's been a couple of years since I picked one up. I chose this book because it was the start to a new series and a great way to get back into her books. However, the fact that it's a new series a little bit misleading because it's set in the same world with many of the same characters as the last set of books.

Although technically this is a standalone book, I strongly suggest you begin reading these books in order (starting with Accidentally Yours). Since it had been so long since I read her first books, it took me a while to remember some of the characters. Without some background, you might not enjoy this book quite as much (and become a little daunted by the sheer number of characters).

The main character, Sadie was very likable. Although, it was hard to get to know her very well with the fast-pace of the book. Her personality didn't really stand out very much. The hero, Andrus, is boorish and abrasive... and lacking any sort of social skills. In all honesty, I was surprised Sadie took such a liking to him immediately. 

Overall, this is another decent addition to the Immortal world books with an interesting twist at the end. One thing I enjoy about Mimi Jean's books is that there's usually some sort of weird twist that you just weren't expecting. I love that unpredictability.

Immortal Matchmakers, Inc. is a fast, light, quirky, and fun read that many readers will enjoy. Personally, I enjoyed the first books in the series far more and I'd like to see the author branch out into a new direction, rather than recycle many of the supporting cast from the first books. This book wasn't as memorable with the main plot, but it was fun seeing some of the characters from the previous books. I probably won't be following this series, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for anything else this author has brewing...

My Rating:

About the Author:

San Francisco native MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling romance author. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dream. Mimi lives with her Latin Lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and the rat terrier duo, Snowflake and Mini Me, in Arizona. She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.

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