Monday, December 23, 2013

Blog Tour Review and #Giveaway: Christmas Fantasy by @SirenAllen







Christmas Fantasy by Siren Allen

Description:



One bite was all it took…
It’s that time of year again. Alyssa Blakely is busy writing in her fantasy diary, filling it with all her forbidden, sexual fantasies. The star: her very sexy boss, Devin Jordan. Too bad for her, he’s never given her a second glance.

Or so she thought…

After a steamy kiss under the mistletoe and a night of wild sex, Alyssa has the bite to prove just how wrong she was.

Devin Jordan has found his mate. The only problem: she’s human. He’s not. Can he prove to her that his inner beast can be both naughty and nice? Or will her fear of the unknown keep him from claiming her?



You can add Christmas Fantasies to your to-read list on Goodreads: HERE!


Review:

My Rating:  4 of 5 stars

CHRISTMAS FANTASY is  a paranormal short about an ordinary woman who is lucky enough to have her most sensual fantasies come true, and I have to tell you, this novella definitely made me want to be a little naughty for Christmas.

Alyssa has been writing her fantasies down for a while, but she’s never been able to make them come true.  Most recently, her fantasies have been centered around her sexy as all get out boss, Devin. What Alyssa doesn’t know is that Devin has been having some fantasies about her as well.

Devin knows that he needs to leave Alyssa alone because she’s way too sweet for him. Being a half vampire/half succubus means that he has certain needs that he’s sure she can’t take.  But when his need for her threatens to unleash the beast he holds inside, he decides to make Alyssa his own.

Unfortunately, it’s not a simple as that. And when Alyssa finds out Devin’s secret, it’s uncertain whether Alyssa can accept all of him.

I thought this was a cute one.  It was really short, so I wasn’t expecting a long drawn out story.  I thought the author did a great job of fleshing out the story with the limited amount of time.

Alyssa and Devin were adorable.  Both of them had feelings for the other but had no idea.    Once they had that first kiss, I knew it was over for both of them.  Their attraction was undeniable.  And boy, oh boy were the two of them combustible. Whew!  Devin and his beast were smokin’ hot!

CHRISTMAS FANTASY really piqued my curiosity because it has a unique premise with the vampire/succubus hybrid.  It wasn’t something I’d seen before and made the overall story more interesting.

My only complaint was that some of the progression of the plot went to quickly.  On one page, Alyssa was screaming her head off at Devin telling him to go away because she’s scared to death of him, but then, the next thing we know she’s saying that she will marry him.  I’m ok with insta-love in paranormal romance because of the whole mating thing, but I thought the change was too sudden to go from fear to marriage.


Overall, though, I thought CHRISTMAS FANTASY was an enjoyable read.  I give it four stars because it kept me interested, had lots of hot lovin’, and had a unique plot.  I was happy to see that author Siren Allen gave our couple a nice HEA but also left an opening for a more books in the future featuring Alyssa’s sisters.  I hope we get to see something with that soon (hint, hint)!

✳✳ Reviewed on  Bookie Nookie Reviews by Guest Reviewer, Sassafrass.

Enter to Win! 

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Christmas Fantasies.
These are the prizes:

- 2 10$ amazon gift cards
- 2 e-copies of Christmas Fantasies
- 1 e-copy of Yours, for Now by Siren Allen
- 1 e-copy of The Makeover, by Monica Garry-Allen

- 1 e-copy of Lovers Unchained by Siren Allen

a Rafflecopter giveaway


About the Author:

Hi, my name is Siren Allen. I’m a writer and lover of all things erotic and romantic. I reside in southern Mississippi where I write steamy romances that are guaranteed to make you blush. When I’m not listening to the characters in my head and jotting down their adventures, I am busy working as a Clinical Laboratory Technician.


I love to travel, preferably with my husband, so he can do all of the driving. I enjoy time with my family, who are just as silly as I am. I have no children…yet, wish me luck! My hobbies are reading, writing and shopping, though I hate trying on clothing. If I wasn’t a writer or a Laboratory Professional, I would probably be a Secret Agent. But that’s the beauty of being a writer; you can create your own world and be whoever you want to be. In my imaginary world, I am Queen and my siblings are my minions.

Social Links:  

Website  Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads 

Buy Links:

Amazon 

This post contains Affiliate Links.

Blog Tour Review and #Giveaway: The Grace in Darkness by Melissa Andrea



The Grace in Darkness by Melissa Andrea

Description:


Every part of me yearns for Ryland and there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I don’t question if I made the right decision. Adjusting is something I should be used to by now but how can I do that when life has other plans?

When darkness consumes you, only true light can free you

Remembering how I existed before Araya came into my life and turned everything upside down has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I can’t stand to be round anyone and the feeling is mutual. But I’m ready to take back what’s mine. I’m ready to be whole again. But every decision has a choice and every choice has a consequence.

To find the grace in darkness, you must 
Dare to be BRAVE 
Dare to be STRONG 
Dare to be ALIVE

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Review:

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, after that mean prologue had me on pins and needles for the entire book, I should really consider lowering my… Who am I kidding? Melissa Andrea just threw me all over the place and turned me into a wreck and I’m still going to give her 5 stars and ask her for more. Perhaps a book about Araya’s friend, Makayla??? Or Sebastian??? Or Makayla AND Sebastian? Just call me a glutton for punishment! I loved it all. In entirety. Exactly the way it was.

Here’s where I talk about the book in detail so if you haven’t read THE EDGE OF DARKNESS, do not read this review.  You can read my review of THE EDGE OF DARKNESS instead and then start with that book.

THE EDGE OF DARKNESS ended with Ryland finding Araya but not revealing himself because he wants to give her the space she requested to prove she can be independent. But the ever-scheming J.D. can’t leave well enough alone and arranges for Ryland and Araya to run into each other in the hopes that Ryland will be forced to let Araya go once and for all. Luckily, Ryland and Araya don’t give him that satisfaction and their reunion is passionate, heated, and everything I needed it to be.

What I love about the way Melissa Andrea wrote the Darkness Duet is that even though you know there’s going to be turmoil and obstacles, she doesn’t use any of the twists you’d expect. I’d assume something was going to happen and she’d do something entirely different which left me constantly guessing. But in addition to keeping me on my toes, she kept Ryland and Araya out of it—meaning there was a lot of drama but it usually wasn’t either of them causing it. Ryland didn’t throw unnecessary fits and storm off and Araya didn’t play the wounded girlfriend card. I could rely on Ryland to be the constant, amazing guy Araya deserved and Araya didn’t just throw tantrums to get Ryland’s attention. She was open and she communicated her feelings and they were never in the dark with each other, they always knew where the other stood. I loved that. It can get so tiresome to feel like I’m reading the same fight with different characters. I like knowing that for once the bad guy isn’t going to be able to get to the main characters simply because they didn’t say what they were really thinking and he wormed his way in while they let misunderstandings separate them.

J.D. proved in THE GRACE IN DARKNESS that there were no lines he wouldn’t cross to get his way and he really pushed Ryland and Araya to the limits. He really didn’t care who he ruined but because Ryland and Araya never lost focus of who their enemy was, they always had the united front that could save them in the end. Their love story was beautiful and heartwarming and everything I hoped it would be and I loved every second of it! Melissa Andrea has earned herself a new fan and I’ll definitely be checking out anything else she writes!

**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

**Reviewed by preppea on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews.


Excerpt:

His fingers wrapped around the back of my neck, pulling me hard against his
body. I knew what he was attempting to do, but his plan was backfiring.
My body sighed at the contact, and every curve molded against him;
desperate to feel all of him.
“If I feel you beneath me, I won’t
be able to stop Araya. I want you too damn much! I want you, all of you.
I want to be buried so deep inside of you, you won’t know where I end
and you begin.” His breath showered my lips with warmth.
“I won’t want you to stop Ryland. I need you, all of you, now and forever.”
“And the rest?”
His
eyes move over my face, flushing my skin with the intensity of his
gaze. The rhythm of my heart increased, because I know what he wants me
to say.
“Say it.” He growls against my lips.


Enter to Win! 
About the Author:

I find it hard to sum up my life in a paragraph, but I’ll try.

I am the author of Flutter, The Discover Series! Reading has always been a passion for me, and writing as instinctive as breathing.

Every inhale is an idea; every exhale a creation. The only thing I do better than writing you ask? Making beautiful girls. My daughter’s will always be my greatest accomplishment.

I was born in Denver, Colorado–but I will always think of sunny Arizona as my home. I don’t have a big family, but I’m close with my sister, brother

& my mom. My mom is my hero, my inspiration, and I couldn’t have asked for a more amazing person to be raised by.

4 things you should know about me: I’m very girly, but I can get down and dirty with the best of them. I adore the color pink and things that sparkle (including vampires), I am a firm believer that chocolate cures ALL and I like even numbers (hence 4 things about me, not 5) Okay, maybe I cheated a little with my list, shhhh.



Social Links:  
Blog  Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon ● Amazon CA  ● Amazon UK  ● Barnes & Noble  


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Sunday, December 22, 2013

Review: Community Service


Community Service
Community Service by Dakota Madison

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A love triangle which seems to have a clear choice, but when the “perfect” guy is in a wheelchair you are bound to have second thoughts.

Maggie Mitchell is stunned when her high school crush, Sawyer Reed, is her new lab partner and he’s still as hot as she remembers; only now he’s in a wheelchair and seems to have a crush on her too. When she is assigned to do community service at the local theater she meets Jude Marino, the sexy playboy actor from an influential family. He’s cocky and arrogant and to make things a little more complicated he has a past with Sawyer.

“What I felt for Jude permeated my body but what I felt for Sawyer permeated my heart and soul.”

Sawyer is clearly the choice for Maggie. Maybe that’s my biased opinion, but Jude is transparent in his motives and will only use her and break her. The pressure from others gets to Maggie. Her own mother calls Sawyer a half of a man and others are entirely uncomfortable in his presence. Maggie is disgusted with her mother’s feelings towards Sawyer and rightfully so, but when Maggie is defending Sawyer she realizes how she feels for him. I loved Sawyer! He was cute and sincere and obviously became a better person due to his accident. Though I thought Sawyer was perfect for Maggie, I can honestly say I don’t know how I would deal with having feelings with someone in a wheelchair. I have never in my adult life known someone who couldn’t walk and I could understand if there was hesitation. It’s the fear of the unknown. Maggie knew right away she was still attracted to Sawyer despite the wheelchair and only when others began to question her relationship with him did she really think about the possibilities.

COMMUNITY SERVICE made me consider situations I have never thought about before. I found myself seriously questioning what I would have done had I been in Maggie’s shoes. When you throw Jude into the mix, I can see how she was confused. Even though Jude was completely wrong for her, physically she was attracted to him in a way she couldn’t even control. Ugh, Jude. Couldn’t she see what he was about? It was fun to hate him though.

There were some things about the story that didn’t play out for me. I wish I could have read more about the evolution of relationships between Maggie, Jude, and Sawyer. There was something missing in the conflict between characters. I would’ve loved to delve deeper into the characters and felt more about each relationship, especially the relationship between Sawyer and Jude. Those two have a lot of emotions to work through and more of their drama would have really added depth to the characters and story.

COMMUNITY SERVICE is a good, light read for someone just looking for a feel good story. Though there is not much depth, Dakota Madison wrote a lovely story for those looking for the happy ending.

✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews by Tickled Pink for Book Ink



BUY IT NOW! - Amazon

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Review: The Edge of Darkness by Melissa Andrea


The Edge of Darkness by Melissa Andrea

Review:


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t believe in love at first sight. With people, anyway. Books, now that’s another story. With books, I feel like I can pick out a 5 star read within the first chapter. There’s just a feeling, a chemistry, a way the author has of reeling you in and before you even know what the story is about you know you’re in for the long haul. That’s what THE EDGE OF DARKNESS did to me. I didn’t even know what had happened to Araya, what made her different but I knew I wanted to find out, knew I had to follow her around and see what happened.

Araya had an amazing life ahead of her, she’d been accepted into Julliard at a young age and the sky was the limit. All that changed when a terrible accident killed her mom and left her with scars that changed everything and stole her dancing career. She was forced to live with a heartless aunt who despised her and kept her trapped in their home, making her feel like she was worthless and a burden. All that changed the day she met Ryland. Ryland didn’t see her weaknesses; he saw her strengths.

A boy from a privileged but cold and ruthless home, he has his own demons to bear but despite his aversion to any kind of commitment, he never wavered in his consideration for Araya. I LOVED that from the very beginning he was always thinking of what would benefit her in the long run, how he should treat her that would help her versus hinder her. He never went for the easier path or the faster one; he just walked beside her and encouraged her. I thought he showed amazing wisdom and heart for such a young man and especially one with the childhood he’d had.

I was on pins and needles for every second of this book, partially I think because I knew there was a sequel so I knew it couldn’t just have a happily ever after and partially because it was just that perfect combination of light and darkness in the book that had me exuberant and aching all at once. I loved every dark, sad, hopeful second of THE EDGE OF DARKNESS and I’m jumping immediately into THE GRACE IN DARKNESS to see what happens to Ryland and Araya next. I’d recommend this heart-wrenching and beautiful book to absolutely everyone but trust me when I say be prepared to read the books back-to-back; your sanity won’t have it any other way!

**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

BUY IT NOW! - Amazon

You can read my review of the sequel, The Grace in Darkness, on December 23rd as part of The Grace in Darkness blog tour.