Rabid Reads

Finally! A Mercy story—saved the best for last.

So here’s the deal . . .

I think everyone knows that I read YA. I’m pretty sure most people know that I like romance in my books as well. Generally speaking, there are distinct differences between what is allowed in YA and in adult books . . . b/c come on . . . I know I can’t be the only one who sees “romance” in this connotation as a polite euphemism for SEX.

BUT . . . despite those distinct differences, I don’t really have trouble transitioning from YA romance to adult romance.

There are several reasons for this:

1. I’m very picky about the YA I read, and as a result, the YA I read is much more mature than typical YA. I don’t read the kind of YA that’s filled with insta-love or lost puppy antics and typical high school-ness.

And a lot of the YA I do read straight up has sex in it. It might not happen explicitly, or even on page, but it does happen. It’s part of the more adult culture that takes place in the fantasy or futuristic/post apocalyptic worlds I prefer in my YA—if a 17 year old is responsible not only for his or her self, but frequently for other people as well, ALL of his or her relationships are going to be more adult.

2. When reading adult, yes, I still like my books to have an element of romance in them, but it’s more important that they have likable characters and a good plot. The romance is secondary, and I don’t necessarily need it to include lots of descriptive and imaginative sex.

For example, in one of my favorite UF series, two characters had been dancing around the romance issue for years (<——book release-wise, in their world it was probably only six months). There was an obvious attraction, but it didn’t progress beyond that until a couple of installments ago, and that progression was simply a kiss . . . and it was one of the hottest kisses I’ve ever experienced in print (and YES, it was an experience). Then for two more installments, lots of sexual tension and longing looks, but too many obstacles, blah blah, and FINALLY in the latest book they had the sex.

And I can joke about it, and refer to it as “having the sex,” b/c it was really awkward, not even remotely HOT sex. The kiss from three books ago was infinitely more satisfying.

3. On the rare occasion that I do read an adult book full of sexy times, it’s a deliberate veering away from my standard set of preferences—an exception, not the rule.

So no . . . I don’t have a hard time transitioning, b/c it’s not much of one. Not for me, anyway. But what about you?

I was expecting more werewolf shorts...

Immortal Beloved
Series: Immortal Beloved #1
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published on: September 7 2010
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: 416 pages, Hardcover
Provided by: Purchased

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Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy.

Have you ever discovered a new book, by a new author, and absolutely LOVED it, so you go out and immediately buy the next book the author writes, and it’s not quite as good as the first one, but it’s still pretty good, so the next time a new book is released by that same author, again, you go out and buy it immediately, only this time it’s not very good at all, and you start to think maybe the author is a one hit wonder?<——that’s a REALLY long, yet (mostly?) grammatically correct, sentence.

That’s also really NOT what happened here. In fact, it was pretty much the reverse.

I discovered Tiernan’s Sweep series probably 10 years and inhaled it (all 15 installments) . It was okay, but the most I can say about it is that it was entertaining. Then I found her Balefire series, which was thankfully much shorter (only 4 installments) and it blew Sweep out the water.

So when I stumbled across Immortal Beloved, I was like, “Ooohhh . . . that looks interesting.”

And it was fantastic.

Nastasya, Nasty to her friends, is an immortal. No one is sure where the first immortal came from, but they can be found among every race and nationality. As is usually the case, they are not truly immortal—if you cut off their heads, burn their bodies, and scatter their ashes, they will not survive, but that’s a rather specific set of circumstances, so I don’t begrudge them their “immortal” status.

They also have the ability to learn and use magic.

If you know anything about Tiernan, then this is not a surprise. Tiernan excels at writing all things witchy, and Immortal Beloved is no exception. But Nasty avoids her magic, b/c she learned at a very young age how dangerous it was for her to let others learn of her abilities.

Why is it dangerous . . . ? I think you know where I’m going with this—READ THE BOOK *winks*

But Nastasya can no longer avoid her magic when she leaves the life she’s been living in London, and the friends she’s been living it with for the last hundred years, behind.

This book . . . is a very emotional story to read. Nasty has money and beauty and immortality and a collection of friends who have all of those things as well, and . . . they’re pretty damn awful to tell the truth. Nasty leaves without a word after Incy, her best friend, uses magic to break the back of a rude cabbie . . . b/c he can. B/c he was angry that the cabbie dared to call them out for their juvenile behavior. So he . . . broke the poor man’s back . . . left him in a puddle on the street beside his cab . . . used magic again to prevent the man from calling out for help . . . and then went clubbing.

YEP. Incy’s kind of a bastard.

And while Nasty is shocked and horrified by Incy’s behavior—she had no idea he could use magic that way—she allows herself to be steered towards the bar that the rest of her crew are headed for, starts drinking, and does not one thing to help the man.

The next day, she wakes up hungover and completely disgusted with herself, and decides that something has to change. She has no idea how she became the person she currently is, but she’s terrified of what it might mean for the rest of her very long life.

So she runs to the states.

She’d met a women about 80 years ago, you see, who told her simply to come if she decided she wanted more out of life.

So she does.

From there she enters a kind of rehab for immortals. It’s hard and it hurts, but Nastasya has reached a place where no matter how bad it is with River and the other immortals at the retreat, she can’t stand the thought of being anywhere else either . . . so she stays.

This book would be an excellent story even without the paranormal elements. Nasty doesn’t need to be an immortal or capable of magic for her story to draw you in, make you feel her agony and despair and determination to change, be better, be MORE. But she is . . . and that only makes things more interesting . . .

And then there’s Reyn . . . the Viking GOD. Well, okay fine, he’s not really a god, but he’s several inches over six feet of blond Viking warrior, and that’s good enough for me.

And they HATE each other. It’s fantastic. Nastasya and Reyn achieve the kind of slow burn combustibility that’s only possible when legitimate dislike is present, and it’s HOT.

So the characters are awesome. And despite what I said earlier about no one really knowing where immortals came from, the world-building in this series is VERY cool. It’s a mix of mythology and paganism, and I loved it. AND b/c even the youngest characters are as old or older than your grandparents, and no part of this story takes place on a high school campus, this is one of those YA novels that even readers 10+ years out of high school can enjoy. Immortal Beloved is an excellent first installment to this excellent trilogy. I recommend it to anyone who likes witchy UF and hot Viking gods.

Immortal Beloved series:

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Hello Stompers and Rompers! I’m so happy to be here! Huge thanks to Carmel for inviting me!

I’m all about the stomp today. And my stomping is served up with a side of chemistry. You see, the heroine in my debut paranormal romance, Veiled Target, is an ass-kicking chick who packs heat and assassinates for a living. Much to Tess’s dismay, though, her next target turns out to be her hot-as-hell blind date. And when that date turns deadly and they’re forced to team up, let’s just say more than the action heats up. Here’s a peek…

“You’re not scared,” he said, running a hand through his hair.

“I don’t scare easily.” Why oh why did he have to stir something warm and hopeful inside her?

He took a few steps closer before reaching out and wiping a drop of perspiration from her forehead with the pad of his thumb. “Glad to hear it.”

She batted his hand away, terrified that she didn’t hate wolfen as much as she used to. “Keep your hands to your—”

He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her snug against his body. The contact sent tingles she should not be feeling straight to between her legs. Before she could protest—not that she really wanted to—he dropped them both to the floor.

Something smelling worse than a skunk-spray-cow-dung cocktail flew past their heads and landed with a splat on the wall behind them. Hugh’s arms cushioned their fall so her backside landed gently on the concrete floor. His rock hard body remained over hers and she tried not to think about her breasts pressed against his chest.

“These hands come in handy sometimes. You might want to remember that.” He jumped to his feet and extended one of those very fine hands to help her up.

She took it with secret gratitude. The instant she was vertical again, another stink bomb whizzed past them, sparing her from saying thank you. “What is that?”

“Poison to you, a pain in the ass to me. Let’s go.” He released her and ran in between the heavy-duty shelving units lining the warehouse.

She followed right on his heels. “I guess the Banoth found a way in.”

“Yeah, and it won’t stop until it sticks its fangs into one of us.”

“Us? I think it’s after you, big guy. I’m hardly the type to interest a big hairy beast like that. You must have ticked off its mother or something.” She felt a grin flank her face. Her juices were flowing, her body was pumped. Hands down, this was one of the best romps she’d had in a long time.

A piercing cry—like fingers scraping on chalkboard magnified times ten—echoed through the warehouse. The noise sent a chill over her lips and down the back of her legs, eliminating some of the excitement pumping through her veins.

“That doesn’t sound good,” she said as they turned down another aisle, this one darker and narrower.

Hugh slowed and then stopped, allowing a few seconds to pass before he spoke. “It means there’s more than one of them.”

“Don’t tell me they travel in pairs.”

“Okay. I won’t tell you.” He stood only inches away, his nearness good and bad. She could see the wheels turning in his head, and noticed he seemed to be assessing the situation like he was clairvoyant. Which he kind of was.

“So with these killer senses of yours, you can smell and hear him even though we can’t see him?” She relaxed against the shelf, glad for the chance to catch her breath, and really happy to be on an adventure.

Her mind spun when he hesitated to answer. She could tell from the look on his handsome face that he was more concerned for her than himself. The regard caused something to shift inside her, like a vine twisting its way through her veins, awakening nerve endings she’d shut off. But feelings were something she couldn’t afford. She had a job to do. And if she discovered information about Hugh that justified his elimination, she’d follow through. Her life depended on it.

***
So what makes a fighting partnership especially unique? I think it’s three things:

Authenticity—it’s hard to be something you’re not when you’re struggling to stay alive.
Courage—creative risks, grace, grit, fearlessness, all combine in an attractive package that ups the stakes.
Vulnerability—admitting two is better than one and allowing some emotion to show makes a stomping even more satisfying in the end.

Go Team STOMP!

 

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Author Bio
USA Today Bestselling Author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and crazy-cute mini Labradoodle, Harry. When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also likes to run, hike, eat cupcakes, and dip her toes in the ocean. Filled with wanderlust, she longs to visit many different places and fulfill her curiosity. She wouldn’t mind indulging her sweet tooth in every location either. She’s a lover of sticky notes, cable television shows and coffee drinks. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real.

She writes contemporary and paranormal romance and loves to connect with readers. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter on her website. She can also be found online here:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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“Never take Fate along on a date. The kiss goodnight could be deadly. “

Tracking down Veilers-non humans-is only a sideline for Tess Damon. Vengeance for her fiance’s murder is her reason for living. But with two botched jobs on her record, if she fails to eliminate her next mark, she’s dead.

She’s not afraid to die, but not before she gets even. Too bad fate has a really bad sense of humor.

Hugh Langston, a wolfen half shifter, lives to keep both humans and his pack safe. But when rogue humans kidnap his apprentice, his rescue mission is compromised by a hot-as-hell, kick-ass woman who makes him think only one thing: “mine.”

Tess tries to ignore her feelings, but temptation trips her up. Especially when Hugh figures out he’s her next target and forces her into an inconvenient alliance that tests all the laws “against” their attraction.

Now, with the line between good and evil getting blurrier by the minute, it becomes clear Tess’s only hope of living to see another day-and finding a murderer-lies with the one man she’s supposed to kill.

Warning: Contains one obscenely hot alpha and the woman who wants to love him before she kills him. Look out for a blind date, scorching sex, humor, lies, and untamable attraction.

Visit The Book Nympho to read today’s ROMP post by Sara Humphreys, then VOTE for your fav!

A lot of my favourite paranormal romance series have fizzled over time, but Callihan's just keeps getting better and better! Full review to follow.

Five Weeks
Series: Seven #3
Author: Dannika Dark
Publisher: Indie
Published on: July 27 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Werewolves
Format: 314 pages, eBook
Provided by: Purchased

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Paranormal Romance, Book 3 by USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Rock Star Shifter Romance. Destiny will find you.

Izzy has always loved the freedom and adventure of life on the road, but she's recently decided to settle down--as much as a rogue wolf can. When her boyfriend gets her a job working at a hot Shifter bar, she runs into the last person on earth she expected to see again.

Jericho isn't the famous rock star he once was, though he still plays in a local band and loves to party. Beautiful women come and go, but music is his only passion--until a sassy redhead named Isabelle Monroe shows up unexpectedly.

Fate reunites two former friends living with one foot in the present and the other in the past. But will they have a future when one of them is forced to choose between life and death? Old habits die hard, and sometimes the toughest addictions to shake are the ones that control our hearts.

17+
Cliffhanger-free
HEA

In this third installment of Dannika Dark’s Seven Years series, we get Jericho’s story. Jericho is a singer in a rock band and is a wolf shifter. I was on the fence about him previous to this book, as he wasn’t my favorite from the pack of brothers. This was unusual for me, because my guilty pleasure is rock star books. After reading this, I have changed my mind in every way about Jericho. Since this is by Dannika Dark, I should have known I would.

Izzy is pretty much alone in the world when she hooks up with another shifter named Hawk and moves in with him. As a wolf that was born as the only wolf to a wolf father, and cat mother, she has been on her own for a long time. No way was she going to be bullied the rest of her life by her cat siblings. She takes a job as a waitress at a shifter bar. She is shocked to discover that Jericho’s band is playing at the same bar. Twenty years before(yes, these shifters live a really long time, and age really slow), Jericho was the man she loved, but was only her best friend. They traveled together while he toured for five years, but all she could do was watch as he had a different woman every night. Jericho is equally shocked, as Izzy was the only woman he ever loved. Of course neither knows how the other one feels.

If I thought the previous books in this series were full of action, this one beats all of them. I don’t want to tell spoilers, so I will just say that this book is full of bad guy shifters and humans, drug dealers, kidnapping, attempted murders, justified killings, and the list goes on. At it’s heart though, is the romance between Izzy and Jericho. It was a really hot, but sweet romance. Since Izzy isn’t single, things are never boring during this book to say the least. It doesn’t help that the pack has problems with Izzy, and that is something that I didn’t like, but was realistic in this instance.

I loved the characters of Izzy and Jericho. Izzy is a beautiful, fun, people person, who actually enjoys her job. Jericho is the epitome of a rocker, a good looking man, one that lives for his music and of course his pack. We also get to see all the characters from the previous books and that is always one of the best parts of a series for me.

I have always enjoyed this authors world building. As with any paranormal series, she has her own view of what is involved in the Breed world, or as in this case, the shifter world. This series and her Mageri Series, take place in the same Breed world, although not in the same part of the country. I will leave the world specifics for the reader to find out, as I don’t want to tell the whole story!

There’s never a cliffhanger with any of this author’s work, and I have learned to really appreciate that in a series. As I have read everything by this author, I can’t stress enough how good a storyteller she is.

So we have lots of action, a great romance, memorable characters, good world building, and I totally loved it, and as with anything by this author, I couldn’t stop reading. I will be really interested to see which brother from the pack will be featured next. Or even if the next one is about another of the characters featured-totally possible as I know lots of readers are interested in other side characters, as I am too.

I honestly can’t recommend this series or the author’s Mageri series enough. Read either one, and I know you will enjoy.

Urban Fantasy:

	Under the Final Moon (Underworld Detection Agency #6) by Hannah Jayne Urban Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description It’s not the end of the world–until it is. Sophie Lawson may be a mere human with no special abilities except a strong immunity to magic. But the havoc she’s wreaked on the supernaturals who come up against the Underworld Detection Agency have earned her plenty of enemies. Still, a girl can’t freak out every time a horribly barbecued corpse is found with her business card in its hand. Or see a sudden glut of earthquakes, wildfires and three-headed dogs as just another day in California. But Alex Grace, her favorite fallen angel, is concerned–or saying he is to see more of her. Getting Sophie to see all the signs of the Apocalypse is an interesting way to heat things up. Or maybe what’s making everyone hot under the collar is the fact that all Hell is about to break loose. . .

	Blood Games (Chicagoland Vampires #10) by Chloe Neill Urban Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description While Merit didn’t choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and its Master, and she’s managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet… A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn’t been able to track the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren’t on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

	Wickedly Magical (Baba Yaga #0.5) by Deborah Blake Urban Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description Known as the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales, Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather a title carried by a chosen few. They keep the balance of nature and guard the borders of our world, but don’t make the mistake of crossing one… Barbara Yager loves being one of the most powerful witches in the world, but sometimes she’d rather kick back in her enchanted Airstream with a beer in her hand than work out how to grant the requests of the worthy few who seek her out. But when a man appears with the token of a family debt of honor, Barbara must drop everything to satisfy the promise owed by her predecessor—and she isn’t above being a little wicked to make sure the debt is paid in full…

	Revenant (Greywalker #9) by Kat Richardson Urban Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description Harper Blaine was your average small-time PI until she died—for two minutes. Now Harper is a Greywalker, treading the thin line between the living world and the paranormal realm. And these abilities are landing her all sorts of “strange” cases…. Turmoil, sickness, and destruction are sweeping through Europe—and its effects are being felt all the way across the world in Seattle. Harper Blaine and her lover, Quinton, suspect that Quinton’s father, James Purlis—and his terrifying Ghost Division—are involved. Following a dark trail of grotesque crimes and black magic across the Old World, the pair slowly draws closer to their quarry. But finding and dismantling the Ghost Division won’t be enough to stop the horror that Purlis has unwittingly set in motion. An ancient and forgotten cult has allied with Quinton’s mad father. And their goals are far more nightmarish than Harper and Quinton—or even Purlis—could ever imagine. The pursuit leads to Portugal, where the desecrated tomb of a sleeping king and a temple built of bones recall Harper’s very first paranormal case and hold clues to the cult’s true intentions. Harper and Quinton will need all the help they can get to avert a necromantic cataclysm that could lay waste to Europe and drag the rest of the world to the brink of war.

	Broken Souls (Eric Carter #2) by Stephen Blackmoore Urban Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description Sister murdered, best friend dead, married to the patron saint of death, Santa Muerte. Necromancer Eric Carter’s return to Los Angeles hasn’t gone well, and it’s about to get even worse. His link to the Aztec death goddess is changing his powers, changing him, and he’s not sure how far it will go. He’s starting to question his own sanity, wonder if he’s losing his mind. No mean feat for a guy who talks to the dead on a regular basis. While searching for a way to break Santa Muerte’s hold over him, Carter finds himself the target of a psychopath who can steal anyone’s form, powers, and memories. Identity theft is one thing, but this guy does it by killing his victims and wearing their skins like a suit. He can be anyone. He can be anywhere. Now Carter has to change the game — go from hunted to hunter. All he has for help is a Skid Row bruja and a ghost who’s either his dead friend Alex or the manifestation of Carter’s own guilt-fueled psychotic break. Everything is trying to kill him. Nothing is as it seems. If all his plans go perfectly, he might survive the week. He’s hoping that’s a good thing.

	Downfall (Cal Leandros #9) by Rob Thurman Urban Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description I let it go—all of it. Everything I’d been saving up all my life, building and growing inside me, too much to hold in one half-human body. It pushed and fought to be free with a force that turned me into a bomb with a timer vibrating on zero. I was free. But so was everything I’d fought so hard not to be… Brothers Cal and Niko Leandros know trouble when they see it—and then proceed to wipe the floor with it. But now it seems their whole world is falling to pieces. Cal’s nightmarish monster side is growing ever stronger, changing Cal physically as well as mentally. Which is exactly what Grimm—Cal’s savage doppelgänger—wants. And when a covert supernatural organization decides that it’s time to put Cal down before he threatens pretty much everything else in existence, the brothers find themselves in a fight they actually might lose. But the dark temptations Cal has denied all his life may prove to be exactly what can save them. Even if he must fall forever…

	Dark Sacrifice (Dark Paradise #2) by Angie Sandro Urban Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description A GIFT AND A CURSE Mala LaCroix sees dead people—really. After using her psychic gifts to catch a killer, she’s locked in a psych ward and must strike a deal with the devil to secure her release. Apprenticed to a dark arts practitioner, Mala vows to free herself and save her loved ones from danger. But she doesn’t know who to turn to when her crush on Landry Prince turns into something more serious. A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH Landry has sacrificed everything to protect Mala. A near-death experience changes him forever, and now he, too, possesses supernatural powers he doesn’t understand. Mala and Landry must band together to defeat the dark forces—both human and otherworldly—who would use their abilities for evil. Even as they fall for each other, they must prepare to battle for their very souls . . .

Paranormal Romance:

	Hero of a Highland Wolf (Heart of the Wolf #14) by Terry Spear Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description She’s ready for change… Colleen Playfair has never been to Scotland, but when she discovers she must spend a year and a day overseas learning to manage her newly inherited estate, she’s ready for the challenge. She even has some ideas for improvements-if she can get past the sexy werewolf who seems convinced he’s the one in charge. But he’s digging in his claws… Grant MacQuarrie and his clan have been managing Farraige Castle for three centuries. The last thing he wants is a meddling American heiress trying to change the way things have always been done. He’s more than willing to fight the she-wolf every step of the way, using every tool at his disposal. And if that means taking the lass to bed, well…all the better. Locked in a battle of wills, caught in an attraction they can’t escape, Colleen and Grant must find a way to work together…or face losing it all.

	Moon Kissed by Aline Hunter Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description Claiming your mate can be murder… Bitter memories have kept Wolfe Trevlian away from New Orleans, but an alpha’s call for help has him reluctantly returning to the Big Easy. His tasks sound simple: Keep an eye on things, and initiate a truce with the pack’s enemies by killing a local pest. His target turns out to be the last creature on earth who should be his mate. His instincts insist otherwise, even after she fills his hide with silver and warns him to leave her alone. Arden Moran looked into the mind of her dying friend and saw the face of a killer. Vengeance has brought this half human, half vampire to New Orleans. Nothing will stop her from nailing her target, including the bossy, sexy werewolf who stirs both fear and desire within her. Wolfe’s never been one to back down from a challenge, but saving, and then claiming, his female is easier said than done. Particularly with a mate who’s pissed off every supernatural creature on the planet—and is walking around with a price on her head. Warning: Contains a reluctant substitute alpha who didn’t sign up for complications, a wary half-breed vampire who’d love to take “no” for an answer—especially since it’s her “no”—and friends who refuse to interfere, figuring it’s more fun to sit back and watch the fur fly.

	Shadow Hunter (Execution Underground #0.5) by Kait Ballenger Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description See where it all began in this exciting prequel to The Execution Underground, Kait Ballenger’s sexy paranormal series about the men who hunt evil and the women who love them. Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s first assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family—and she works solo. But when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf, the line between good and evil blurs as they must decide between their lifelong beliefs…and their newfound desires.

	Dark Skye (Immortals After Dark #14) by Kresley Cole Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description In this highly anticipated novel in the Immortals After Dark series, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole spins a sultry tale of a mighty warrior scarred inside and out and the beguiling sorceress with the power to heal him – or vanquish him forever. Eternal Obsession As a boy, Thronos, Lord of Skye Hall, loved Lanthe, a mischievous Sorceri girl who made him question everything about his Vrekener clan. But when the two got caught in the middle of their families’ war, tragedy struck, leaving Thronos and Lanthe bitter enemies. Though centuries have passed, nothing can cool his seething need for the beautiful enchantress who scarred his body – and left an even deeper impression on his soul. Endless Yearning Lanthe, a once-formidable sorceress struggling to reclaim her gifts, searches for love and acceptance with all the wrong immortal suitors. But she’s never forgotten Thronos, the magnificent silver-eyed boy who protected her until she was ripped from the shelter of his arms. One harrowing night changed everything between them. Now he’s a notorious warlord with a blood vendetta against Lanthe, hunting her relentlessly. Can the heat of desire burn brighter than vengeance? With their families locked in conflict and battles raging all around them, will Thronos and Lanthe succumb to the brutal chaos that threatens everything they cherish? Or will the fragile bond they formed so long ago spark a passion strong enough to withstand even the darkest doubts?

	Crave The Night (Midnight Breed #12) by Lara Adrian Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description With the acclaimed Midnight Breed series, New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian has written thrilling novels of electrifying romance and heart-pounding suspense—page-turners in which humans and vampires live tenuously side by side. In Crave the Night, Adrian brings the Breed and its world to the brink of war, where even the deepest passion can shatter into violence. Born and raised to be an emotionless killing machine, Nathan is one of the most lethal Breed vampires in existence. A key member of the Order—an elite group of warriors charged with protecting both mortals and vampires—Nathan executes each mission with flawless precision and a total lack of mercy. Now he must pursue a powerful, hidden enemy. But Nathan’s hard discipline and training are no match for the fierce pull he feels toward a young woman he has no right to desire—a woman of wealth and high social standing who has long been promised to another Breed male, and who may also prove to be the key to rooting out Nathan’s elusive quarry. Jordana lives a life of glittering privilege as a member of a prominent Breed family in Boston. Surrounded by fine things and fawning admirers, Jordana wants for nothing—until she crosses paths with a dark, intense warrior from the Order and finds herself swept into an impulsive, sizzling kiss that neither of them will forget. As much as she tries to deny her deep feelings for Nathan, Jordana cannot resist the craving to be near him, to break through his forbidding walls and see the man he truly is. But getting close to Nathan will thrust Jordana into a treacherous new world, forcing her to risk all she has and all she knows about herself and her past. And loving this seductive man could be the most dangerous temptation of all.

	Guarded (Tidewater #2) by Mary Behre Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description She’s given up on finding love… Veterinarian Shelley Morgan has always preferred animals to humans, and not simply because she can communicate with them psychically. Unlike most people she’s known, animals have never broken her heart. But after six months in her new town, some of her favorite four-legged companions begin disappearing from the local zoo. Determined to track down the animals and their thief, the telepathic vet decides to investigate, unknowingly delving into a deadly mystery… He’s ready to make her heart go wild… Although his bear-like physique has been an advantage in the Tidewater Police Department, Dev Jones’s size often intimidates people. Only Shelley has seen past his massive build to the intelligent man inside, but that was years ago. So when she contacts him requesting his help to solve a series of animal kidnappings, he’s eager to reconnect with her. But the thefts escalate to murder and all the evidence points to Shelley as the killer, and Dev faces a devastating choice: forsake his career or risk losing the woman he’s grown to love…

	Dark Wolf Returning (Bloodrunners #6) by Rhyannon Byrd Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description When werewolf Eli Drake is banished from his pack, he leaves a devastated and heartbroken Carla Reyes behind. Three torturous years later, she tracks him down to a hole-in-the-wall Texas bar—the pack is in trouble and war is on the horizon. Carla needs Eli’s help, but wants nothing more to do with him—even though he’s as ruthless, domineering and sexy as ever…. Eli hasn’t forgotten Carla. And the partial bite he gave her their last night together has had him lying awake nights imagining her sumptuous curves and supple lips. But Carla wants their bond broken, no matter the cost. Now, as they join forces, dare Eli hope that he can claim a future he never dreamed possible?

	Loyal Wolf (Alpha Force #6) by Linda O. Johnston Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description An alpha male meets his match… Feisty, fearless deputy sheriff Kathlene Baylor is not the submissive type. When she detects suspicious behavior on the outskirts of her Montana town, she’s first to investigate. And when her own department refuses to take the anarchist threat seriously, she calls in the military. Little does she know the team assigned to her is not your average task force. Shapeshifter Jock Larabey is part of the top secret Alpha Force dispatched to the scene. He’s also the sexiest man Kathlene has ever laid eyes on. And when she catches him shifting, she finds herself more aroused than scared. Jock feels the same way, and can’t control it for much longer. As the danger escalates, so does their desire….

	Devil’s Bargain by Christine Warren Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description First released in the HUNTRESS anthology, get caught up in the magic and sensuality of bestselling author Christine Warren’s erotic paranormal short story “Devil’s Bargain.” Now available for the first time ever as a standalone e-book. It takes a real man to satisfy the powers and passions of this supernatural huntress. Supernatural bounty hunter Lilli Corbin made a pact with the Prince of Hell: She agreed to recover a book of prophecies. When she learns it could trigger the apocalypse, Lilli is forced to make the ultimate choice: save her soul, or the man she loves?

	Kissed by the Wave (The Forbidden Realm #1) by Serena Gilley Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description Beyond the limits of sight, magical beings live in the Forbidden Realm. The two worlds were once connected, but the desires of man forced their separation. Now, desire may bring them back together . . . Aliya is a mermaid with an obsession. Though contact with humans is strictly forbidden, she can’t seem to stay away from the incredibly handsome Devin, who visits her lake night after night. Her body and soul have never been drawn to anyone like this before. Deciding that her longing for Devin is worth the risk, she goes to him. As their lust for each other deepens, Aliya grows to need his touch as much as she needs water. Devin believed Aliya was a perfect fantasy his mind created-until the breathtaking mermaid swims to shore. Courtesy of a magical wish, Aliya is newly human, and she and Devin give in to their passion again and again. But Aliya’s mortal form is only temporary. If they don’t have the strength to part ways when the time comes, their illicit love could rock the balance between the realms forever . . .

	One Bite Per Night (Scandals with Bite #2) by Brooklyn Ann Paranormal Romance Amazon GoodReads
Book Description He wanted her off his hands… Vincent Tremayne, the reclusive “Devil Earl,” has been manipulated into taking rambunctious Lydia Price as his ward. As Lord Vampire of Cornwall, Vincent has better things to do than bring out an unruly debutante. Now he’ll do anything to hold on forever American-born Lydia Price doesn’t care for the stuffy strictures of the ton, and is unimpressed with her foppish suitors. She dreams of studying with the talented but scandalous British portrait painter, Sir Thomas Lawrence. But just when it seems her dreams will come true, Lydia is plunged into Vincent’s dark world and finds herself caught between the life she’s known and a future she never could have imagined.

Fantasy:

	The House of the Four Winds (One Dozen Daughters #1) by Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description Mercedes Lackey is the New York Times bestselling author of the Valdemar series and romantic fantasies like Beauty and the Werewolf and The Fairy Godmother. James Mallory and Lackey have collaborated on six novels. Now, these New York Times and USA Today bestselling collaborators bring romance to the fore with The House of Four Winds. The rulers of tiny, impoverished Swansgaard have twelve daughters and one son. While the prince’s future is assured, his twelve sisters must find their own fortunes. Disguising herself as Clarence, a sailor, Princess Clarice intends to work her way to the New World. When the crew rebels, Clarice/Clarence, an expert with rapier and dagger, sides with the handsome navigator, Dominick, and kills the cruel captain. Dominick leads the now-outlawed crew in search of treasure in the secret pirate haven known as The House of Four Winds. They encounter the sorceress Shamal, who claims Dominick for her own—but Clarice has fallen hard for Dominick and won’t give him up without a fight. Full of swashbuckling adventure, buoyant magic, and irrepressible charm, The House of the Four Winds is a lighthearted fantasy romp by a pair of bestselling writers.

	Severed Souls (Sword of Truth #14) by Terry Goodkind Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description From the far reaches of the D’Haran Empire, Bishop Hannis Arc and the ancient Emperor Sulachan lead a vast horde of Shun-Tuk and other depraved “half-people” into the Empire’s heart, raising an army of the dead in order to threaten the world of the living. Meanwhile, far from home, Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell must defend themselves and their followers from a series of terrifying threats, despite a magical sickness that depletes their strength and which, if not cured, will take their lives…sooner rather than later. “Richard saw the point of a sword blade sticking out from between the man’s shoulder blades. He spun back toward Richard after throwing the woman out of the opening, ready to attack. It seemed impossible, but the man looked unaffected by the blade that had impaled him through the chest. It was then, in the weak light from the fire pit off to the side, that Richard got his first good look at the killer. Three knives were buried up to their brass cross-guards in the man’s chest. Only the handles were showing. Richard saw, too, the broken end of a sword blade jutting out from the center of the man’s chest. The point of that same blade stuck out from the man’s back. Richard recognized the knife handles. All three were the style carried by the men of the First File. He looked from those blades that should have killed the big man, up into his face. That was when he realized the true horror of the situation, and the reason for the unbearable stench of death.” From Terry Goodkind, author of the Sword of Truth series, comes a sweeping new novel of Richard Rahl, Kahlan Amnell, and their world.

	The Magician’s Land (The Magicians, #3) by Lev Grossman Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description The stunning conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy. Quentin Coldwater has lost everything. He has been cast out of Fillory, the secret magical land of his childhood dreams that he once ruled. Everything he had fought so hard for, not to mention his closest friends, is sealed away in a land Quentin may never again visit. With nothing left to lose he returns to where his story began, the Brakebills Preparatory College of Magic. But he can’t hide from his past, and it’s not long before it comes looking for him. Meanwhile, the magical barriers that keep Fillory safe are failing, and barbarians from the north have invaded. Eliot and Janet, the rulers of Fillory, embark on a final quest to save their beloved world, only to discover a situation far more complex—and far more dire—than anyone had envisioned. Along with Plum, a brilliant young magician with a dark secret of her own, Quentin sets out on a crooked path through a magical demimonde of gray magic and desperate characters. His new life takes him back to old haunts, like Antarctica and the Neitherlands, and old friends he thought were lost forever. He uncovers buried secrets and hidden evils and ultimately the key to a sorcerous masterwork, a spell that could create a magical utopia. But all roads lead back to Fillory, where Quentin must face his fears and put things right or die trying. The Magician’s Land is an intricate and fantastical thriller, and an epic of love and redemption that brings the Magicians trilogy to a magnificent conclusion, confirming it as one of the great achievements in modern fantasy. It’s the story of a boy becoming a man, an apprentice becoming a master, and a broken land finally becoming whole.

	The Widow’s House (The Dagger and the Coin #4) by Daniel Abraham Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description THE RISE OF THE DRAGON AND THE FALL OF KINGS. Lord Regent Geder Palliako’s war has led his nation and the priests of the spider goddess to victory after victory. No power has withstood him, except for the heart of the one woman he desires. As the violence builds and the cracks in his rule begin to show, he will risk everything to gain her love or else her destruction. Clara Kalliam, the loyal traitor, is torn between the woman she once was and the woman she has become. With her sons on all sides of the conflict, her house cannot stand, but there is a power in choosing when and how to fall. And in Porte Oliva, banker Cithrin bel Sarcour and Captain Marcus Wester learn the terrible truth that links this war to the fall of the dragons millennia before, and that to save the world, Cithrin must conquer it.

	Dust and Light (The Sanctuary Duet #1) by Carol Berg Fantasy Amazon GoodReads
Book Description National bestselling author Carol Berg returns to the world of her award-winning Flesh and Spirit and Breath and Bone with an all-new tale of magic, mystery, and corruption…. How much must one pay for an hour of youthful folly? The Pureblood Registry accused Lucian de Remeni-Masson of “unseemly involvement with ordinaries,” which meant only that he spoke with a young woman not of his own kind, allowed her to see his face unmasked, worked a bit of magic for her….After that one mistake, Lucian’s grandsire excised half his magic and savage Harrowers massacred his family. Now the Registry has contracted his art to a common coroner. His extraordinary gift for portraiture is restricted to dead ordinaries—beggars or starvelings hauled from the streets. But sketching the truth of dead men’s souls brings unforeseen consequences. Sensations not his own. Truths he cannot possibly know and dares not believe. The coroner calls him a cheat and says he is trying to weasel out of a humiliating contract. The Registry will call him mad—and mad sorcerers are very dangerous….

Young Adult:

	Mortal Danger (Immortal Game #1) by Ann Aguirre Young Adult Amazon GoodReads
Book Description Revenge is a dish best served cold. Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn’t imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She’s not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he’s impossible to forget. In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly… bad things are happening. It’s a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil’s bargains, she isn’t sure who—or what–she can trust. Not even her own mind…

	Opposition (Lux #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout Young Adult Amazon GoodReads
Book Description Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came. She can’t believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all. Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal. They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind. War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

	Gates of Thread and Stone (Gates of Thread and Stone #1) by Lori M. Lee Young Adult Amazon GoodReads
Book Description In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe. In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her. Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

	Of Metal and Wishes (Of Metal and Wishes #1) by Sarah Fine Young Adult Amazon GoodReads
Book Description This love story for the ages, set in a reimagined industrial Asia, is a little dark, a bit breathless, and completely compelling. Sixteen-year-old Wen assists her father in his medical clinic, housed in a slaughterhouse staffed by the Noor, men hired as cheap factory labor. Wen often hears the whisper of a ghost in the slaughterhouse, a ghost who grants wishes to those who need them most. And after one of the Noor humiliates Wen, the ghost grants an impulsive wish of hers—brutally. Guilt-ridden, Wen befriends the Noor, including the outspoken leader, a young man named Melik. At the same time, she is lured by the mystery of the ghost. As deadly accidents fuel tensions within the factory, Wen is torn between her growing feelings for Melik, who is enraged at the sadistic factory bosses and the prejudice faced by his people at the hand of Wen’s, and her need to appease the ghost, who is determined to protect her against any threat—real or imagined. Will she determine whom to trust before the factory explodes, taking her down with it?

	Servants of the Storm by Delilah S. Dawson Young Adult Amazon GoodReads
Book Description Dovey learns that demons lurk in places other than the dark corners of her mind in this southern gothic fantasy from the author of the Blud series. A year ago, Hurricane Josephine swept through Savannah, Georgia, leaving behind nothing but death and destruction—and taking the life of Dovey’s best friend, Carly. Since that night, Dovey has been in a medicated haze, numb to everything around her. But recently she’s started to believe she’s seeing things that can’t be real…including Carly at their favorite café. Determined to learn the truth, Dovey stops taking her pills. And the world that opens up to her is unlike anything she could have imagined. As Dovey slips deeper into the shadowy corners of Savannah—where the dark and horrifying secrets lurk—she learns that the storm that destroyed her city and stole her friend was much more than a force of nature. And now the sinister beings truly responsible are out to finish what they started.

	The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco Young Adult Amazon GoodReads
Book Description I am where dead children go. Okiku is a lonely soul. She has wandered the world for centuries, freeing the spirits of the murdered-dead. Once a victim herself, she now takes the lives of killers with the vengeance they’re due. But releasing innocent ghosts from their ethereal tethers does not bring Okiku peace. Still she drifts on. Such is her existence, until she meets Tark. Evil writhes beneath the moody teen’s skin, trapped by a series of intricate tattoos. While his neighbors fear him, Okiku knows the boy is not a monster. Tark needs to be freed from the malevolence that clings to him. There’s just one problem: if the demon dies, so does its host.

	Greta and the Glass Kingdom (Mylena Chronicles #2) by Chloe Jacobs Young Adult Amazon GoodReads
Book Description The sequel to the Hansel & Gretel retelling Greta and the Goblin King ups the stakes of danger and romance. As conflict surges across Mylena, the tough Greta struggles to save those she loves. Against all odds, Greta and the Goblin King miraculously survived the battle against the evil Agramon. Greta should be happy to be alive and ready to claim her place in Mylena by Isaac’s side. Yet nothing is the way she thought it would be. The battle against Agramon left a dark magick inside Greta that will eventually kill her. Isaac hasn’t been the same since he almost went Lost. And there are whispers of a rebellion brewing throughout Mylena… Determined to save Mylena from a bitter civil war, they travel to the mysterious Glass Kingdom to form an uneasy alliance with the deadly Faerie race. But when an unexpected disaster tears Greta and Isaac apart, she must make the journey on her own. Along the way, she discovers a conspiracy stretching back to events she never thought she would have to revisit, betrayal from allies whose loyalty she never questioned, and an enemy vying to control all of Mylena. Follow Greta into unexpected romance, explosive secrets, and shocking betrayals that will leave her and all of Mylena forever changed in the stunning second installment of The Mylena Chronicles.

	The Islands at the End of the World by Austin Aslan Young Adult Amazon GoodReads
Book Description In this fast-paced survival story set in Hawaii, electronics fail worldwide, the islands become completely isolated, and a strange starscape fills the sky. Leilani and her father embark on a nightmare odyssey from Oahu to their home on the Big Island. Leilani’s epilepsy holds a clue to the disaster, if only they can survive as the islands revert to earlier ways. A powerful story enriched by fascinating elements of Hawaiian ecology, culture, and warfare, this captivating and dramatic debut from Austin Aslan is the first of two novels. The author has a master’s degree in tropical conservation biology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

I’m thrilled to be kicking off the first week of Stomp vs Romp by asking one of my favourite Urban Fantasy authors, Jennifer Estep, a few action related questions. The latest book in her ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN series, POISON PROMISE, was just released on July 22nd, and the twelfth installment is due out before the end of 2014.

1- What’s your secret to making your 11th installment as action packed as your first?

2- Gin’s weapon of choice are her silverstone knives which pretty much guarantees at least one hand-to-hand fight in each book. Is that why you picked them as opposed to say a gun? How accurate are these sequences? Did you research blade combat, watch samurai movies, or take-up sword play beforehand?

3- What are some of the challenges of writing action scenes as opposed to romantic ones?

4- There are some really high octave scenes in POISON PROMISE, I especially loved the Aston Martin battering ram chapter. Do you live vicariously through your characters, or do you have a go-to ‘violent’ release (i.e. gun range, bumper cars, boxing, etc)?

5- What traits help make Gin Blanco such a badass heroine, and proficient killing machine?

6- In your own words (or those of a character, fav motto, book quote, etc), why is action better than romance?

 

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Author Bio

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin adult urban fantasy series for Pocket, the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington, and is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. Excerpts, free short stories, and more information on Jennifer’s books can be found at

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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I specialize in making death wishes come true.

Pop quiz. Which do you think is deadlier: Burn, the nastiest drug ever to hit the mean streets of Ashland, or me, Gin Blanco, the assassin known as the Spider? Answer: Me—because I don’t kill you slowly.

Normally, drug dealers aren’t my department. But I’m turning up the heat on some relentless Burn-pushing thugs who won’t leave my friends alone. Pushers who have my cop sister beside herself with rage, so I’m stepping up to keep her from doing something stupid and getting herself killed. Once I’m in, I’m in, and these folks have picked their poison: the Spider’s venom. But even bad guys have their good days, and sometimes even my Ice and Stone magic isn’t enough. For behind the drug is a vicious vampire with a scientific eye for results. And behind him… trouble like I haven’t seen since I took down my legendary nemesis, Mab Monroe.

Elemental Assassin Series:
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Visit The Book Nympho to read today’s ROMP post by Michelle M. Pillow, then VOTE for your fav!

Blood Games
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #10
Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: NAL
Published on: August 5, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: 352 pages, eARC
Provided by: NetGalley

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While Merit didn’t choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and its Master, and she’s managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet...

A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn’t been able to track the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren’t on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

*** Review contains minor spoilers from previous books in this series. ***

There are two main plot threads in Chloe Neill’s latest CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES installment, but in all honesty I only had eyes for one. The Tarot murder mystery was interesting enough in itself; I liked seeing Merit & Mallory finally getting back on track, and I enjoyed deciphering the riddles left behind by the killer. However, after the way WILD THINGS ended, my focus was entirely on Ethan’s GP candidacy, and given the title of this book I was a little surprised that the author didn’t concentrate more on the latter and less on the former. That point aside, in BLOOD GAMES readers get to meet Amit Patel (the most powerful vampire in the world!), discover Neill’s version of THE HUNGER GAMES, and no CV novel would be complete without… Sullivan acting like a douche.

I really liked the way that the GP plot line played out; from Darius’ fall from grace, to the trials, to the unexpected end result. Nicole Heart, Ethan’s American competition, does kind of come out of left field though. Perhaps I missed it, but I think some reference should have been made to her before now. I also wish that The Sentinels Games would have evolved past the intimidation stage. That being said, I loved the psych and phys tests that the candidates had to undertake because vampires are an all-or-nothing kind of supe, meaning the BLOOD GAMES were to the death. The physical trial was nail bitingly spectacular with burning buildings, trolls and unforeseen duplicity. I won’t pretend to understand how the GP tallies points, but the winner will leave you wondering.

No CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES review would be complete without a mini Ethan rant, so here it comes! After an attempt is made on his life, the master of Cargodan House receives a note that he refuses to share with Merit because for some inexplicable reason he thinks that lying to her somehow qualifies as protection. Yes, THIS AGAIN. So, of course they end up at odds, seeds of doubt are planted, and the happy couple goes from mock proposals to butting heads. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again; will this 400+ year old vampire never learn!? At least their tiff does lead to some light being shed on Ethan’s past with Balthasar, and after Merit proves once again that she’s in it for the long haul some genuinely tender moments ensue. I loved them together in the later chapters, but couldn’t help feeling a little frustrated by the fact that the 28 year old novitiate continues to be the more mature one in this relationship.

The author stays true to her Chicago roots by making the city’s famous food and landmarks integral parts of the story. I liked the correlations between the locations and the Tarot murders, and the Ombuddies were amazing as usual. The ending was a bit of a head-scratcher followed by a startling cliff hanger, but all of this just goes to prove that Chloe Neill’s still got it! BLOOD GAMES is a high octave read peppered with awesome fights, heartfelt moments, and developments that shake the very core of the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES universe.

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Trial by Fire
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy #1
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published on: September 2 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: 384 pages, ARC
Provided by: Won

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This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the savior of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

*All quotes are from an ARC and may differ from the final version*

Oh. My. Goodness. This book had SO much going on, in a good way! I’m so happy I won this book through GoodReads. Books about witches are my favorite and this one definitely did not disappoint.

Lily had never believed in magic, not even when she’d first found herself transported to this alternate universe, but she believed in it now. Like it or not, she’d just felt magic in her bones.

Lily Proctor lives in our normal world. She’s had life altering allergies since she was little and no doctor can figure out whats wrong with her. Her mother is on medicine to keep her sane, because she talks about alternate universes and everyone thinks she’s going crazy. Lily’s dad left them after her mom started acting this way and doesn’t keep in contact with them. She has an older sister, Juliet, who helps out with her mom a lot. Lily and Tristan have been best friends for a long time. Most of the kids at school make fun of her for all her allergies and Tristan has always stood up for her. He’s also known around school as a “player”. And now Lily is starting to have more intimate feelings for Tristan. Tristan takes Lily to her first party. She’s never been to one before because all the smoke from cigarettes just hurts her. Things don’t go as well as Lily had hoped. Tristan does something that betrays her trust and the night ends badly. She’s been hearing this voice in her head, and since it sounds just like her, she thinks she’s just going crazy, but really its Lillian. Lillian is her identical self in another universe and she’s trying to take Lily from her universe.

If there were an infinite number of universes, didn’t that mean that one of them had to be perfect? And if one of them was a paradise, then did that mean that another had to be hell? Lily wondered how many versions of the world were better than this. And how many were worse.

When Lily finds herself in this new universe, she realizes she’s still in the city she lives in, Salem Massachusetts, but it’s very different. The people dress differently and there is a huge castle. The guards think she is Lillian, the Witch in charge of everything in this Salem, and escort her back into the castle. But this Lillian has been very sick and when Lily meets her, she tells her there is a reason she brought her here. In this universe Lily doesn’t have her horrible allergies and she is a very powerful witch. There is also a version of Juliet in this world. Lily tries to run from Lillian because she wants nothing to do with what she’s saying and she just wants to be back home. Rowan spots her running through town and captures her, because he thinks she’s Lillian. Lillian and Rowan have a long past and they used to be best friends and then lovers and then something changed in Lillian. She turned evil and did horrible things to Rowan so he’s hated her ever since. He takes Lily into the woods where the Outlanders live (thousands and thousands of people who hate Lillian and are trying to rebel against her). He is also an Outlander. The Outlanders don’t believe in magic, they believe in science and Lillian hates them for that.

She splashed water on her face repeatedly, trying to rinse away the memory of sharing his skin. She shouldn’t want to wear Rowan like a pair of pants, or swallow him like mouthful of chocolate. It just wasn’t right.

Rowan figures out that Lily is not Lillian and he helps train her to be a witch. There is so, so much that happens in this book and I really don’t want to spoil it for everyone. Lily finds a love she never expected to find and a true sister in this version of Juliet. She learns so many things about herself and what she truly wants. People try to use her for her power and she learns who she can and can’t trust. This book will leave you wanting to know more after every chapter and you will not want to put it down. I loved all the characters so much and the trials they face together help them grow so much through out the story. I will be waiting patiently for the next book in the series and I will be buying Josephine’s other series, Starcrossed as soon as possible!

Marked by Midnight
Series: Midnight Breed #11.5
Author: Lara Adrian
Publisher: Indie
Published on: June 30, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: 100 pages, eBook
Provided by: Purchased

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A special treat for Midnight Breed vampire romance fans and new readers alike, New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian presents Marked by Midnight, a seductive new novella of paranormal romance and high-stakes action in the acclaimed, international hit series!

MARKED BY MIDNIGHT (A Midnight Breed Novella)
Midnight Breed Series: Book 11.5

Determined to solve a string of brutal slayings in London, vampire warrior Mathias Rowan is forced to seek the help of Nova, a fiery tattoo artist who ignites an unexpected, yet undeniable, passion in the grim Order enforcer.

Nova’s shadowy connections and dark talents may be Mathias’s best hope of unmasking a treacherous enemy . . . but falling for a woman with her dangerous past will risk both their hearts and their lives.

When I started reading paranormal books again, after veering away from them for years, the series that was recommended to me to read was Black Dagger Brotherhood. And then I found the Midnight Breed books for myself. To me, while I still love the BDB books, the Midnight Breed books are superior to them. So when I found this novella a couple of days ago, I was super excited to read it. The story didn’t disappoint, but something else did.

Mathias is the head of the Order in London. The Order is a group of highly trained vampire warriors. They police other vampires(known as Breed) and generally keep the peace among the Breed. Someone is killing humans with a tattoo of a scarab on their hands, and then dumping them into the river. When Mathias gets involved in the case, he investigates a tattoo parlor where a young woman named Nova works. Even though she denies knowing anything about the deaths, Mathias knows better due to his psychic ability to feel when violence has taken place somewhere. It’s not long before he realizes that Nova has more then one secret.

Since this is a novella that takes place after eleven previous books, the reader that hasn’t read the previous books might be a bit lost as far as the world building, however, Adrian does explain enough so this could be a stand alone. This series is rich in world building and actually is one of the reasons that makes it better to me, then BDB. My stance is, if this is the only Midnight Breed book(novella)you read, then by all means read it. True, it is but a sample of the Midnight Breed world, but it does give the reader a feel for what they will get if you read this series. What you get with this series is a urban fantasy/paranormal romance that is always a wonderful romance, along with hot vampire warriors, their breedmates, and plenty of action.

There was one thing that bothered me about this novella. It is billed at 100 pages but it actually ends at 83 percent in. The rest of the book is advertising other books by Lara Adrian. So while I was wishing for at least 100 pages of one of my favorite series, what I got was a much shorter story. That was a disappointment for me. So keep in mind, this is just a novella, but I would recommend not only reading this short story, but starting at the beginning with Kiss of Midnight. If you like UF or Paranormal romance, and haven’t read this series yet, I don’t think you will be disappointed in the least.

Veiled Target
Series: Veilers #1
Author: Robin Bielman
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Published on: July 22, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Werewolves
Format: 275 pages, eARC
Provided by: Author

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Never take Fate along on a date. The kiss goodnight could be deadly.

Tracking down Veilers—non humans—is only a sideline for Tess Damon. Vengeance for her fiancé’s murder is her reason for living. But with two botched jobs on her record, if she fails to eliminate her next mark, she’s dead.

She’s not afraid to die, but not before she gets even. Too bad fate has a really bad sense of humor.

Hugh Langston, a wolfen half shifter, lives to keep both humans and his pack safe. But when rogue humans kidnap his apprentice, his rescue mission is compromised by a hot-as-hell, kick-ass woman who makes him think only one thing: mine.

Tess tries to ignore her feelings, but temptation trips her up. Especially when Hugh figures out he’s her next target and forces her into an inconvenient alliance that tests all the laws against their attraction.

Now, with the line between good and evil getting blurrier by the minute, it becomes clear Tess’s only hope of living to see another day—and finding a murderer—lies with the one man she’s supposed to kill.

Warning: Contains one obscenely hot alpha and the woman who wants to love him before she kills him. Look out for a blind date, scorching sex, humor, lies, and untamable attraction.

When starting a new book, I can usually tell pretty early on whether I’m going to like it or not, and after reading the opening scene of VEILED TARGET, I knew that Robin Bielman’s brand of action was for me. Chapter one begins with Tess in a face-off against a vampire on an airplane, and ends with her kicking butt and sky diving to safety—I mean, talk about an intro! The main heroine is an adrenaline junkie, and the alpha male is hotter than the fires of Hades, so right off the bat you have all the makings of an excellent Paranormal series. The only thing that slowed this story down was the relationship building, but other than that this novel is a thrill seekers’ dream.

The plot weaves a gripping tale of multi-layered double crosses which makes each character’s motivations difficult to pinpoint. Tess and Hugh both have their own agenda, but so do the supporting sidekicks who really helped transform this book into a complicated game of ‘he said, she said.’ And, just when you think that you’ve got it all figured out, the ending comes out of nowhere and catches you completely by surprise. I love a good guessing game, and VEILED TARGET delivered a whopper on that front. As for the paranormal mythology, it was straight forward and easy enough to grasp. I wish the author would have expanded a bit more on the different qualities of her various supes, and the reasons behind the Night Runners vs. Wolf Seekers war, but I think I got the gist of it.

My first impression of Tess was a good one, and sparks were definitely flying during her initial meeting with Hugh, but after that her personality began to take-on a stalker-ish quality that had me second guessing my original opinion. Langston had to bail on their date early after getting a lead on his kidnapped apprentice’s location, and Tess flat out refused to say goodbye. She offers to help and Hugh declines (multiple times), but instead of calling it a night she tails him. The girl’s got mad skills as an Eliminator, I’m not disputing that, and the events that ensue resulted in an off the wall first date, BUT she does come off as kind of batty in the earlier chapters.

Hugh was everything that I’ve come to expect from an alpha male; a loyal protector of his pack, unwaveringly brave, and as smexy as they come. I liked that no matter how hard Tess tried to find the evil in him to justify her kill orders; he constantly proved her wrong without even trying thanks to his inherent goodness. I was also happy that Langston didn’t try to coddle Damon and instead almost immediately accepted her as his equal; I loved their dialogue exchanges, and the bedroom scenes were extra steamy. Tess even saves his furry hide with a hot and heavy make-out session after an unfortunate encounter with a Banoth. She counteracts the beast’s toxic saliva with her own—now that must have been one heck of a first kiss!

VEILED TARGET is stunning in all of the right places; Robin Bielman’s writing is new to me, but not for long because I’m adding her to my ‘authors to stalk’ list!

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