ARC Review: Infinite Betrayal by Robyn Mackenzie and Gayle Donnelly

 Infinite Betrayal

by Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie
(Infinity # 1)

Mina Roarke is in mourning over the loss of her mother, her only family member. Having been brought up in the Pacific Northwest believing she had no one left but her friend Chloe she is distraught. When she finds letters written from her presumed dead father to her mother, she is stunned enough to travel to Germany to attempt to find something out about the man who took no part in her life. At Chloe's coaxing, Mina takes the journey. What she discovers on her travels rocks her very existence.

When Mathias, a very tall dark and sexy shifter of a race called the Coteri, is sent by Roderick, Mina's father and King of the secret shifter Coteri race, to protect her, sparks fly between the bodyguard and his charge. As Roderick's trusted General, Mathias is entrusted with protecting Mina with his own life if necessary, but protecting her means staying close to her and that proves dangerous. Aside from the Coteri being unknown to the human race, they have enemies, namely a former Coteri , Valencia and her demented son Luca, who belong to the Valta, the nemesis of the Coteri who's ultimate goal is to rule over humanity, not co-exist with it as the Coteri do.

Regardless of Coteri law forbidding a shifter to fraternize with humans, Mathias is so drawn to Mina he cannot help himself and one kiss has him ignite a fire deep inside She in turn is completely taken with him before she finds out about the Coteri and being a half breed herself. Mathias struggles with the budding relationship, knowing that his King would probably kill him for touching his daughter. Ultimately what the pair feel for each other creates fireworks and trouble taking the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotion. When Mina discovers the mystery of her birth she is confused and shaken. Will Mina comes to terms with the fact other races exist and she belongs to one? Will the dominant Mathias succeed in his quest to shelter Mina from the danger that is very much on her tail? Once again.. you're going to have to read to find out.

I loved INFINITE BETRAYAL! The creation of this shifter race by Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie has shaken things up. I find myself imagining all the awesome tales to come from these amazing shifters. You feel the passion that Matthias and Mina have for each other, you become part of their world. The secondary characters only add to the drama with hunky shifters Talon and Tre, who pick on each other adding a bit of laughter and the super intelligent Isla who holds the Coteri history and knowledge dear. This story runs the gamut of emotions with the passion and desire to horror and disdain. I cannot wait for the second installment of this series hoping there are plans for several more! I highly recommend INFINITE BETRAYAL to all, it does not disappoint!

*ARC provided by author

 You can find more of Kimberly's reviews at Book Obsessed Chicks.

Review: Edge of Oblivion by J.T. Geissinger

Edge of Oblivion

by J.T. Geissinger

(Night Prowler # 2) 

The second installment in the Night Prowler series , J.T Geissinger has left me of the edge of my seat with this one. Ok so I love a good shifter book like many of you but PANTHERS...YES!! From the first page I was hooked, I read this book in two days, might have been one if I didn't have to work. I swear work gets in the way of my reading time LOL.

I love how Geissinger portrayed her shifters. Each shifter has his or her own unique talent. With just one touch Morgan can persuade anyone to do anything she tells them. Now Xanders talent is COOL, he can turn into vapor. Yes, that's right, vapor! And he can walk through solid objects.

Morgan Montgomery is awaiting her verdict. In the Ikati, an ancient tribe of shape-shifters, law states any member who betrays the pack is sentenced to death. With one chance to prove herself innocent to the tribe Morgan takes it.  If she can track down the headquarters of the Expurgari then she will be allowed to live. The only problem is the Expurgari have been hidden successfully for centuries. With the help of Xander Luna, the tribes most feared enforcer, if Morgan doesn't succeed Xander has to kill her. 

The chemistry between these two characters was HOT, from the first touch you could tell they were hooked on one another.

The secondary characters were interesting as well and I hope that we get to see more of them in the next book. I really enjoyed Edge of Oblivion and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for action, with lots of romance.

*Review copy provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane

 

Mr. Real

by Carolyn Crane

Code of Shadows #1

 



Everyone knows that Alix is a good time gal who just wants to have fun and doesn't take anything seriously, so when loads an occult computer programme on to laptop that materialises anything you click on in 24 hours time, she decides to do a little shopping....a nice new necklace, a new outfit and a new man! Sir Kendall, a super spy from a liquer advert is just what she needs, someone to take charge and bonk her brains out and who just happens to look like the man she has a huge crush on. Paul Reinhardt has the sudden urge to go on a road trip to Minnesota, however, when he gets there he sees the woman he loves with the character he despises: Sir Kendall, his childhood tormentor. But what has Alix unleashed? Eachday Sir Kendall seems to get stronger and more dangerous and has plans for Paul and Alix....

WARNING!! This book gives you FALSE expectations! I have been clicking and clicking on pictures of Captain Mal Reynolds aka the sexy Nathan Fillion, and what do I have NOTHING but a slighty achy index finger, a bucket load of horny and a bumper pack of condoms (safe sex people!)....


*clicks picture of Cap'n Reynolds...you never know*

But despite my ruthlessly smashed hopes of sexual bliss I loved this book! it was funny, touching, full of complex characters and an interesting storyline. It was also such a medley of genres, suspense, paranormal, romance, spy, thriller that it felt fresh and completely unique.

What Ms Crane seems to do best is create characters that you wouldn't normally expect; Alix at the beginning of the book, although likable and fun, was also a bit ditsy and used sex to reinforce her self esteem but throughout Mr Real she grew into something so much more and Sir Kendall, who was a two dimensional, cheesy super spy from an advert became interesting and dangerous, and it is sad but fascinating to watch him questioning his own existence as he realises something isn't quite right.

*clicks again and peeks out window*

As well as great characters this book also drew you in with its humour and the sweet 'n sexy romance going on between Alix and Paul. Paul was so adorable and I loved that everything that Sir Kendall thought was horrid about Alix Paul seemed to love, the way she dressed, the way she joked it really came through that everything about Alix made Paul love her more and more and brought him happiness, even if he didn't want it to.

*clicks frantically on PDF of Mal accidently knocking the condoms on the floor*

This was a great book with a winning combination of romance, fun and great storytelling, Carolyn Crane has once again come up with a quirky and strangely moving series and I can't wait to see what the next book brings.

*ARGH! Damn you Carolyn Crane *shakes first*....wait what was that noise....*

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: The Fangover by Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love

The Fangover

by Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love

Better start off being honest.  I knew about this book, mainly because Erin McCarthy is part of the duo writing it and I happen to love her work.  Was I terribly interested in reading it, though?  Well, it was probably one of those "Oh yeah I gotta get to that someday".  Of course, I also thought this had two separate novellas.  Then I happen to win an ARC of this at RAW and my grabby hands had to read it right away.  Well, I was so pleasantly surprised!

Call me whatever you want but I didn't co-relate the fact that the book is called "The Fangover" with the movie "The Hangover".  Yeah, that joke went right over my head (see what happens when you're not paying attention?).  And that is exactly how I can possibly describe this book.

Vampire rocker kills himself (meets the sun) and his friends are throwing him a funeral "party".  They get a little tipsy and somehow they all wake up the next day without recollection of how that night ended or what happened.  All they know is that a human was turned and got married to one of the band members (vampire), the dead vamps sister is stuck in bat form, another band member is missing a fang and oh yeah, there's a passed out human priest in the bath tub.  And let's not forget about the parrot!  Now they just have to backtrack and try to figure out what went down.

So, there are actually two main couples throughout this story.  One is Stella and Wyatt.  Stella is Johnny's sister (dead vamp).  Wyatt has been a member of the band for a while and has had a crush on Stella for just about that long.  This was just the perfect opportunity for him to show her that he would be there for her and that they can be good together.  I liked the fact that their romance started before the drunken behavior night and that we are given glimpses into their past.  Even though Stella got on my nerves a bit at times, Wyatt made up for being extra sweet and caring while still being hot.

Then there's Cort and Katie.  I actually enjoyed them a bit more.  Katie used to be human and was part of the day band.  Cort has had a crush on her for a while but humans have always been off limits so he stayed away.  Now, not only did he turn her but he married her.  I thought their romance was cuter even though I also wanted to pull my hair at their lack of communication and misunderstandings.

In the end, this book was a fun parody, not meant to showcase deep emotions but to make you laugh and it definitely achieved that in my opinion.  A little bit of comic relief while throwing in some sexy vamps who are just not all there.

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Lord's Fall by Thea Harrison

4.5 Feathers

Lord's Fall

by Thea Harrison

(Elder Races # 5)

LORD'S FALL is a great love story with a hint of Hunger Games element with some Civil War action. As usual, Thea Harrison did not disappoint. She has given her readers a chance to peak beyond Pia and Dragos’ Happy-Ever-After (HEA) and a glance at what’s up and up with the Wyr Demesne.

It has been 7 months since Pia and Dragos have mated. If you have been following the Elder Races series, you know that Pia and Dragos are expecting Peanut and she is now taking on the role of Dragos’ mate. Her first mission is to repair the Wyr and Elves demesne’s relationship. Turns out that she’ll be doing more than just fixing a demesne quarrels, she’ll also be in the middle of a civil war between the Elves and their Ancients. Unfortunately, she will be doing this mission on her own and away from her mate. It's something both she and Dragos must overcome.

Meanwhile, at The Callubre Towers, Dragos’ Seven Sentinels are down to five. His top two, Tiago has mated with the Dark Fae Queen, Nininane aka Trix and Rune has mated with Carling, the Vampyre Queen. The need to replace them was inevitable so Dragos held the Sentinel Games. That’s right boys and girls, there will be new characters to look forward to. The Sentinel Games are pretty awesome and watching Dragos do his public appearance without Pia was pretty cute. I like that Thea keeps his character at a constant. He’s still very powerful, rich, sexy, overprotective but very sweet to his mate. He is the reason I am addicted to this series.

It was brilliant how Ms. Harrison brought Dragos and Pia back even after their HEA in Dragon Bound. This just shows you, even in our fantasy world, an HEA still needs a lot of work to keep going. There are also a few new relationships that are rekindled, few that are obviously brewing to be something more and new friendships were formed. This hopefully ensures us more of this world. If you have not read Dragon Bound, I highly suggest you do so. Pia and Dragos' characters and relationship building started there and it’s a shame to miss their courtship. 

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Midnight's Seduction by Donna Grant

Midnight's Seduction

(Dark Warriors #3)

by Donna Grant

Coveted greatly because of the fact that she is a Seer – a true rarity in the Druid world, many would do anything in order to have Saffron Fletcher in their possession. However, Camdyn MacKenna has had his nights on Saffron for some time now. His desire for her is barely leashed...

Saffron has recently got her life back. Three years ago, she suffered from a tragedy where true evil blinded her. Living life without sight became a setback for Saffron, yet she still remained strong and independent. Now, with the power of magic, the veil has been lifted from Saffron and she has gained her sight back. However, the world around her doesn’t look the way it did before. As she acclimates to these sudden changes, she notices that there is one Warrior that captures her eye.

Camdyn and Saffron are a great match for each other. Though I thought that the romance was slow to begin with, so much other stuff occurs that you hardly notice it. This is understandable because Camdyn isn’t a forceful suitor. He’s much more laid back, however, this desire for Saffron grows by the minute as he sees how much more beautiful and strong she is in times of dire need. As Saffron deals with her personal problems with her mother, Camdyn slowly gains her trust in a way that bloom wonderfully.

I have to say that Saffron has become one of my favorite heroines in this series. Danielle and Ian are my favorite couple, but Saffron and Camdyn are in second place. I just adore it when authors have a character, whether the hero or heroine, come back from a particular setback bigger and better than before. And Saffron’s transformation in this book is an amazing one. She really became the best thing about this book, and the fact that Camdyn is her support makes this book turn from good to great! As I said earlier, Grant makes some major leaps and bounds in MIDNIGHT’S SEDUCTION. This is definitely not a book to be missed. Everything that readers have been waiting for comes down to this one moment where the Warriors can truly prevail over Declan and Deirdre. However, will their plan backfire before it even begins?

MIDNIGHT’S SEDUCTION is another fantastic addition to the Dark Warrior series that melds sexy paranormal with a touch of historical making it a darkly magical tale to remember.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Forbidden by Jacquelyn Frank

Forbidden
by Jacquelyn Frank
The World of the Nightwalkers #1

When Docia Waverley wakes up alive from her plummet from certain death she begins to realize that life will never be the same again. She is now apart of the Nightwalkers world; a Bodywalker who now contains the soul of an ancient Egyptian queen. Ram is bound by loyalty to seek out his newly reincarnated queen and his best friend and Pharaohs soulmate, but he didn't expect to feel the heat and longing when he sees Docia. In all his long years he has never felt this comsuming desire for his queen and he is torn between his loyalty to his friend and King and his love for Docia.

I am never to sure when I open a Jacquelyn Frank book whether I am going to really like it or I am going to have to resist the urge to throw it across the room. With Forbidden I didn't really have either reaction. I liked some aspects of this book, where as others I found a little tiresome.

What I consistently like about Ms Frank's book is the Nighterwalker world, it has a whole host of interesting paranormal races that you don't see anywhere else. The Bodywalkers who were introduced in this book were no exception, they are two souls in one body that blend together. Although I was left with a few questions regarding the process of the two souls Blending, it was still a fascinating idea.

However, as interesting as the introduction to the Bodywalkers was, I thought the book was very slow, it never seemed to get started, even the romance was a bit lacklustre. I didn't feel the connection between Ram and Docia, they told us, right at the end that they were loved up but I never feel it was shown very well through out the book, maybe this was because so much of the book was devoted to world building.

I do have good feelings about the next book in the series, Forever, featuring Docia's brother Jackson. Ms Frank has set it up really well in Forbidden, so much so that I was more excited about Jackson and Marissa then I was about Ram and Docia.

The world has been set up nicely, and I can't wait to see more romance blossoming in the next installment.   

Purchase Links: Amazon