Review: Hope Flames by Jaci Burton

Title: Hope Flames
Series: Hope #1
Author: Jaci Burton
Published: January 7, 2013 - Berkley
Format: Egalley - Thank you!

Thirty-two and finally setting up her veterinary practice in the town she once called home, Emma Burnett is on her own and loving it. Independent and driven, she's not letting any man get in the way of her dreams. Not again.

That's fine with Luke McCormack. Divorced and hardly lacking in female company when he needs it, he's devoted to the only faithful companion in his life--his police dog. Still, there's something about Emma he can't shake.

When a series of local break-ins leaves Emma vulnerable, she seeks help from the first man to spark her desire in years. And now they're giving each other something they thought they'd lost forever...hope

This was my first book by Jaci Burton, and I enjoyed it. I didn’t quite love it though. Overall, though, it felt a bit predictable and it just felt like déjà vu. I liked the characters, and the storyline…but it just didn’t excite me as much as I had hoped it would.

Review: Sweet Revenge by Rebecca Zanetti

Title: Sweet Revenge
Series: Sins Brothers, #2
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Published: December 3, Forever (Grand Central)
Format: Galley (NetGalley) Thank you Grand Central!

The One Man She Can't Have

Matt Dean was born to fight…and kill. A member of a secret black-ops military unit, he and his brothers were genetically engineered by the government to be the perfect soldiers with an expiration date. Now, with time running out, he's gone rogue in a relentless quest for the one person who can save them. His mission leads him to Charmed, Idaho…and to a beautiful woman with eyes like emeralds and a body made for pleasure.

The One Woman He Can't Resist

Laney Jacobs knows the mysterious, handsome stranger is trouble from the moment he walks into her bar, looking for a job. She's spent years running from her own past—the last thing she needs is a romantic entanglement. But Matt's strong arms offer her protection, and his gentle touch promises passion unlike anything she's ever known. As lethal forces surround them, revealing explosive secrets about Matt's past and putting everything—and everyone—he holds dear in danger, can he save them all before time runs out?

Whew. Ok. First – I want to send Rebecca Zanetti roses or something. I am so in love with this series I could do a cartwheel or a squeal, or something really cool lol. In the first book, Forgotten Sins, I was all about Shane. LOVED Shane. Still do. I loved everything about that book. It was mysterious and emotional and torturous – all things I love.

Sweet Revenge was pretty darn great. Like, if Forgotten Sins scored a 100 on my scale, then Sweet Revenge would be at like, 95. Sweet Revenge is all about Matt, the oldest of the gray brothers. Matt Dean. Holy hell on a stick, the man is something special. He’s fierce and loyal and has such a deep-rooted sense of loyalty to his brothers, you can’t help but love him.

But he’s in trouble. They all are. They have those pesky chips in them that will spell certain doom if they don’t get them out – like now. So Matt is on the search for a surgeon from the Commander’s team. And he think he has a lead on her in a small town named Charmed.

Charmed is small town Americana. Everyone knows everyone, and nearly everyone grew up there. It’s a nice place to live, and well, Matt thinks it’s a good place for the surgeon, Dr. Peters to hide out. And as luck would have it, right away Matter meets Laney, who runs the bar. Temporary cover as a bouncer and free room come with the job, it would seem everything is lining up for Matt.

Yeah. It would seem that way. Except then it all goes to Hell. Hell, it goes further than Hell, but I don’t know where that would be. But its that bad.

This story was fabulous in so many ways. It poured on the mystery and the drama. Excitement and tension were at all time high levels. Sexual chemistry and that spark we all crave in our favorite books were present and at the forefront.

As for Laney? I liked her. I seem to be lucky these days, finding a lot of heroines that I just really like. And Laney is definitely among them. She’s in Charmed building a new life for herself after an abusive boyfriend. She’s absolutely smart, and she is a woman in charge of her life. I really love that. But as the book goes on, you see how incredibly caring she is. She doesn’t just care for herself, or Matt, but she also takes care of nearly everyone she knows in some capacity. I love her capacity to just give of herself for the joy, safety, and well-being of others.

She arched against him and whispered his name.

The sound of her soft voice would stay with him. Through whatever the future held, he’d carry the moment. This woman should be savored, and there was no way he could keep her at arm’s length. She’d slid right into his heart, and instinct told him she’d always live there. For the short time he had left, she’d be with him. Even if he moved across the world from her.

This book has a lot of heart in it. This romance will leave you giggling, weeping, fearful, and hot. You want Matt and Laney to find happiness together. In Sweet Revenge there are definitely twists and turns. There are dead people. There are quite a few people who you know you just can’t quite trust, but you aren’t sure why just yet. You even get a few moments where you are on the edge of your seat.  But you have the ready and steady Matt there to guide you through the whole ordeal, so you know you are in good hands. In terms of romantic suspense, this book is top notch, and I would definitely say the Sins Brothers series is absolutely among my favorites.

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Review - Under The Covers

Review - Forgotten Sins

Review: Sweet Revenge by Rebecca Zanetti

Title: Sweet Revenge
Series: Sins Brothers, #2
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Published: December 3, Forever (Grand Central)
Format: Galley (NetGalley) Thank you Grand Central!

The One Man She Can't Have

Matt Dean was born to fight…and kill. A member of a secret black-ops military unit, he and his brothers were genetically engineered by the government to be the perfect soldiers with an expiration date. Now, with time running out, he's gone rogue in a relentless quest for the one person who can save them. His mission leads him to Charmed, Idaho…and to a beautiful woman with eyes like emeralds and a body made for pleasure.

The One Woman He Can't Resist

Laney Jacobs knows the mysterious, handsome stranger is trouble from the moment he walks into her bar, looking for a job. She's spent years running from her own past—the last thing she needs is a romantic entanglement. But Matt's strong arms offer her protection, and his gentle touch promises passion unlike anything she's ever known. As lethal forces surround them, revealing explosive secrets about Matt's past and putting everything—and everyone—he holds dear in danger, can he save them all before time runs out?

Whew. Ok. First – I want to send Rebecca Zanetti roses or something. I am so in love with this series I could do a cartwheel or a squeal, or something really cool lol. In the first book, Forgotten Sins, I was all about Shane. LOVED Shane. Still do. I loved everything about that book. It was mysterious and emotional and torturous – all things I love.

Review: Sweet by Erin McCarthy

Title: Sweet
Series: True Believers #2
Author: Erin McCarthy
Published: October 15, InterMix
Format: Galley provided by NetGalley and Penguin/Berkely NAL - Thank you!

Jessica Sweet thought going away to college would finally make her free of her parents’ constant judgments and insistence she play chastity club role model for their church events, but if anything, the freedom has made her realize she can’t go home and be a hypocrite anymore. Tired of dodging their questions, she stays at school over the summer and lands in an unexpected crash pad: Riley Mann’s house.

Sarcastic, cocky, and full of opinions, Riley is also sexy personified with tattoos and biceps earned from working as a roofer all day. Not the right guy for her even if Jessica was looking for a relationship, which she is definitely not. But Jessica knows that Riley hides the burden of having to raise his younger brothers behind that grin and as she helps him get his house in order for a custody hearing, they begin to fall hard for each other, and she is forced to question what she’s hiding herself.

Jessica has never had a problem getting naked with a guy, but when it comes to showing Riley how she truly feels inside, her fear of rejection may just ruin the best thing—the best guy—to ever happen to her…

Sweet was awesome! This was my first book from Erin McCarthy, and I found her writing to be engaging with a nice smooth flow. I easily found myself absorbed into the story of Jessica and Riley. I haven’t read the first book in this series – yet. But I didn’t find myself lost in this world at all. Each book focuses on a different couple, so it is really easy to pick up anywhere in the series.


Alright, let’s start with the characters. First we have Jessica. When I think of Jessica I want to do one of those low whistles that shows “whew, this girl has a lot of issues!” She has issues with control, and giving up control. She’s a bit naïve at only twenty years old, but I think that worked in her favor. Jessica has a strict religious upbringing, and she has HAD it. She wants some “me time” and she creates this lie to tell her family so that she can stay in town, work, and just live the life that she wants to live. While there were moments that Jessica got on my nerves, ultimately I really liked this girl. She’s like a cinnamon jawbreaker candy. On the outside she’s hot and she can make you a bit uncomfortable, but on the inside she’s got this sweet center that makes you think you need more.

And that brings me to Riley. Come on ladies, you KNOW I loved Riley. As the oldest of the children in his family, he gave up his path to care for his younger brothers once his parents were gone. Kind of like The Outsiders with a modern twist. Yep, so instantly I’m in love with him. And of course he is tattooed and built, and pretty much personifies sex on a stick. But wait, there’s more! Riley has emotions! And there are times in this book when he is heartbroken and scared, and it just really fleshed this man out for me. He’s got a smart mouth and a platinum heart, he’s a protector. And really, that’s all you really need to know about him. To me, he kind of felt like a young Henry Rollins. Smart, sexy, a bit mysterious. Yeah, I was digging him.

Jessica and Riley have this awesome banter back and forth, but when they first meet up they aren’t romantically attracted. Heck, I’m not even sure they were friends. But Riley does Jessica a solid and gives her a place to stay for a short period of time, and of course that is going to lead to some sparks. They way these two interact with each other just had me weak in the knees. There is the banter, but there is also this deniability that they both have. Neither wants to admit to themselves or the other that there is something growing. The whole thing is a major turn on.

Sweet really packs a punch. There are underlying issues with Riley’s family. His brothers don’t have an easy life, and Child Protective Services is in the mix. Jessica has her own issues with her family. And let me just say right here, I don’t like ANY of her family. They can all suck it. The other people from this series are in the book, but they don’t really play any major parts.

By the end of Sweet I was just really enamored with the whole thing. I love Riley’s approach to sex, it was a nice change of pace to not just jump into bed and do the naked noodle dance. This turned out to be one of those stories that I loved so much, I didn’t even bother to write many notes or quotes. I think fans of the New Adult genre will really love this book. It’s got passion and heart, and tons of drama. I am definitely anxiously waiting the next book in the series!

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Review: Sweet by Erin McCarthy

Title: Sweet
Series: True Believers #2
Author: Erin McCarthy
Published: October 15, InterMix
Format: Galley provided by NetGalley and Penguin/Berkely NAL - Thank you!

Jessica Sweet thought going away to college would finally make her free of her parents’ constant judgments and insistence she play chastity club role model for their church events, but if anything, the freedom has made her realize she can’t go home and be a hypocrite anymore. Tired of dodging their questions, she stays at school over the summer and lands in an unexpected crash pad: Riley Mann’s house.

Sarcastic, cocky, and full of opinions, Riley is also sexy personified with tattoos and biceps earned from working as a roofer all day. Not the right guy for her even if Jessica was looking for a relationship, which she is definitely not. But Jessica knows that Riley hides the burden of having to raise his younger brothers behind that grin and as she helps him get his house in order for a custody hearing, they begin to fall hard for each other, and she is forced to question what she’s hiding herself.

Jessica has never had a problem getting naked with a guy, but when it comes to showing Riley how she truly feels inside, her fear of rejection may just ruin the best thing—the best guy—to ever happen to her…

Sweet was awesome! This was my first book from Erin McCarthy, and I found her writing to be engaging with a nice smooth flow. I easily found myself absorbed into the story of Jessica and Riley. I haven’t read the first book in this series – yet. But I didn’t find myself lost in this world at all. Each book focuses on a different couple, so it is really easy to pick up anywhere in the series.

Review: Day One by Nate Kenyon

Title: Day One
Series: No
Author: Nate Kenyon
Published: October 1, 2013
Format: Galley from NetGalley & St Martins Press

Cloverfield meets The Terminator in this story of one man's escape from New York City as technology becomes sentient

Scandal-plagued hacker journalist John Hawke is hot on the trail of the explosive story that might save his career. James Weller, the former CEO of giant technology company Eclipse, has founded a new start-up, and he’s agreed to let Hawke do a profile on him. Hawke knows something very big is in the works at Eclipse---and he wants to use the profile as a foot in the door to find out more.

After he arrives in Weller’s office in New York City, a seemingly normal day quickly turns into a nightmare as anything with an Internet connection begins to malfunction. Hawke receives a call from his frantic wife just before the phones go dead. Soon he and a small band of survivors are struggling for their very lives as they find themselves thrust into the middle of a war zone---with no obvious enemy in sight.

The bridges and tunnels have been destroyed. New York City is under attack from a deadly and brilliant enemy that can be anywhere and can occupy anything with a computer chip. Somehow Hawke must find a way back to his pregnant wife and young son. Their lives depend upon it . . . and so does the rest of the human race.

*sigh* What do I say about this book? Man, I really really really wanted to like it. I was so excited for it, Day One sounded like an ideal read for me. But I didn’t like it, I just couldn’t get into it.
The main character, Hawke, was pretty interesting. He is a hacker turned hacker journalist, so he’s had a pretty interesting past. The problem for me is that his present just wasn’t all that exciting for me. He’s married to Robin, who is seemingly above him in social status, but they loved each other. They have one child and one on the way, and she is possibly having some health issues regarding pregnancy. The book starts with them not really getting along, and then he leaves for work and the shit hits the fan that same day.

My greater issue was with things like the coffee pot exploding of its own volition and office machinery on the “attack”. Really? Things like that happened early on, and I was unable to get past them. I tried for a bit, I was really into the escape from the corporate building that John Hawke was in. But some of the characters just didn’t click well with me. Weller, for instance. I can’t really think of anything I liked about this man in the short time I knew him.

There was one character I was interested in seeing more of – Hawke’s creepy neighbor. This guy really seems like a creeper in the biggest sense of the word. But I didn’t make it far enough to see his appearance in the story.

Maybe it was a timing issue. I’m not totally against picking this book up again later, to see if it fits better. If there are people who are into this type of book, I would definitely still recommend it to them. It’s getting five star ratings across the board. But for me? Ehh, it just wasn’t for me.

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Review: Day One by Nate Kenyon

Title: Day One
Series: No
Author: Nate Kenyon
Published: October 1, 2013
Format: Galley from NetGalley & St Martins Press

Cloverfield meets The Terminator in this story of one man's escape from New York City as technology becomes sentient

Scandal-plagued hacker journalist John Hawke is hot on the trail of the explosive story that might save his career. James Weller, the former CEO of giant technology company Eclipse, has founded a new start-up, and he’s agreed to let Hawke do a profile on him. Hawke knows something very big is in the works at Eclipse---and he wants to use the profile as a foot in the door to find out more.

After he arrives in Weller’s office in New York City, a seemingly normal day quickly turns into a nightmare as anything with an Internet connection begins to malfunction. Hawke receives a call from his frantic wife just before the phones go dead. Soon he and a small band of survivors are struggling for their very lives as they find themselves thrust into the middle of a war zone---with no obvious enemy in sight.

The bridges and tunnels have been destroyed. New York City is under attack from a deadly and brilliant enemy that can be anywhere and can occupy anything with a computer chip. Somehow Hawke must find a way back to his pregnant wife and young son. Their lives depend upon it . . . and so does the rest of the human race.

*sigh* What do I say about this book? Man, I really really really wanted to like it. I was so excited for it, Day One sounded like an ideal read for me. But I didn’t like it, I just couldn’t get into it.

Review: Everything For Us by M Leighton

Title: Everything For Us
Series: Bad Boys #3
Author: M. Leighton
Published: To be released Sept 3, 2013 - Penguin
Format: Ebook provided by Penguin & NetGalley - Thank  you!!!!!

When it comes to passion this hot, it’s all or nothing.

Olivia Townsend’s wealthy cousin Marissa had everything a girl could ask for—a great job, a privileged life, and all the friends she wanted. Or, at least, all the friends money could buy. But one case of mistaken identity has turned her privileged world upside down.

An abduction gone wrong lands her right in the lap of the sexiest, most dangerous man she’s ever met. To Marissa, he’s an enigma, but one to whom she’s irresistibly, inexplicably drawn.

With him comes a new world of freedom and passion, of dark shadows and dangerous secrets, a world where nothing is what it seems—except for the blind passion that Marissa can’t escape—or maybe even survive.

A while ago Naomi from Nomi’s Paranormal Palace turned me on to M Leighton and her Bad Boys series. I devoured the first two books! I mean seriously, they consumed me – I couldn’t get enough. And then I got wind of the third book, Everything For Us, and I began hunting down leads so I could get in early on this. I was that eager, I definitely didn’t think I could wait until it was released. Luckily, the reading fates were shining down on me. Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley, I was able to review a copy. And you know what? This book was just as amazing as the first two.

First – let me say this and let me be crystal clear – if you don’t want to ruin the surprise do not read beyond this point. I’ll even put the page break in here so newsletter subscribers don’t get spoiled. The first two books are imperative!! If you don't mind some minor talk, then please read on!

Review: White Trash Beautiful by Teresa Mummert

Title: White Trash Beautiful
Series: White Trash Trilogy, Book 1
Author: Teresa Mummert
Published:  July 2013
Format: Galley

Cass Daniels isn’t waiting for her knight in shining armor. She knows that girls like her don’t get a happily ever after. Not if you live in a trailer with your mom, work at a greasy spoon diner, and get leered at by old men. Maybe that’s why she puts up with Jackson—her poor excuse for a boyfriend, who treats her like dirt. Cass has learned to accept her lot in life. That is, until he walks into her diner. . . .

His name is Tucker White, and he’s different from any man Cass has ever known. Tall, tattooed, and bad-ass gorgeous, he’s the lead singer of the rock band Damaged. From the moment they meet, Tucker sees something in Cass he just can’t shake. Something beautiful. Something haunted. Something special. And he’s determined to find out what it is—if only he can get her to open up and let him in. . . .

I picked up White Trash Beautiful as a galley, and I am so glad I did! I don’t know if this was one of my very favorite reads, but it certainly was a great read!  I found it to be an emotional story full of hope, love, fear, and despair.

Wicked Road To Hell - Juliana Stone

Title: Wicked Road to Hell
Author: Juliana Stone

Format: ebook requested from Edelweiss

With the legions of the underworld gathering and chaos close at hand, Sorcerer Declan O’Hara’s deadly skills will be tested. But nothing will sway him from his duty, not even her…


Rescued from eternal darkness, vampire Ana DeLacrux owes her life to a mysterious stranger who asks for only one thing—her absolute allegiance. She serves this master without question until Declan, the one man who can make her forget her vow, returns. His magic is stronger, darker…more compelling than ever. His blood awakens a hunger she must resist, or risk deadly consequences.


As Ana and Declan join forces, the streets of New Orleans become a dangerous place for both humans and the otherworld. And the most dangerous place of all is a road Declan’s traveled before…the wicked road to hell.

In Wicked Road to Hell we meet Declan (awesome name, btw!), who is a sorcerer who has just been rescued from the third level of hell by Bill, a Seraph.  Yes, Bill the angel.  Awesome! In return for plucking Declan out of Lilith’s hell Declan is basically in servitude to Bill.  Declan’s current task is to find someone and bring him back.  He doesn’t know who, but of course that eventually comes to light.

Then we meet Ana.  Ana is a centuries old vampire; a royal vampire at that.  Declan and Ana have it bad for eachother, always have.  But they both think the other is dead.  Ana was brought back to life by….. Bill!  That Bill, he’s a helluva guy.  Ana’s task is to protect a young boy named Kaden, who appears to be a sorcerer.

This is a new author to me, and I must say I was totally enthralled with this entire world.  I hear there are other books, a Jaguar series to be precise.  I think I am definitely going to have to look those up and get a little bit more history on Declan and Ana.  Not to mention there is a jaguar in this story, Declan’s friend, Nico.  Nico sounds just like the type of jaguar I’d like to meet (insert evil grin here). But I digress…

                “Ana Delacrux was a fearless, tough operative.  To see her in such a vulnerable state did something to his insides.  It twisted them into all kinds of want and need and filled him with desire to protect what was his.”

Oh, how I love them alpha type males! There is a really good romantic and frustrating tension between Declan and Ana.  I couldn’t wait for them to finally get together and realize that everything is mutual.  Every turn page was agony waiting for it to happen!

Luckily for me there was a lot of other stuff happening to hold me over until that happened.  This book had werewolves that were all kinds of cool.  Demon lords…who doesn’t love a good demon lord?  And Lilith… well, Lilith’s world kind of felt like a demented version of Alice In Wonderland, so I absolutely loved that.  Sides must come together for a common goal.  What’s that saying?  The enemy of my enemy is my friend.  That definitely applies here for this story. 

I found the world the author built to be vibrant and exciting.  The characters were interesting and captivating.  This was a book that I really enjoyed, and I really look forward to seeing what’s next in the series.

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A Vampire For Christmas - Anthology

Title: A Vampire for Christmas
Authors: 

Michele Hauf's Website : click here

Laurie London's Website : click here

Alexis Morgan's Website : click here

Caridad Pineiro's Website : click here

Format read: Galley


From Goodreads:
All they want for Christmas is you… 

It's the time of year for twinkling lights on trees and kisses under the mistletoe. Yet the passing of another year means nothing to the stunning immortals who lurk in the shadows of the new-fallen snow. 

And they don't care if you've been naughty or nice. 

Let four fanged lovers open your eyes to a passion you never dared to imagine. After all, there's no place like home for the holidays—and these dazzling vampires can't wait for an invitation

Ok, I’m going to lay it out here.  I picked this book and requested it from NetGalley for a couple reasons.  

1) The cover.  The vampire on the cover reminds me of Ian Somerhalder (aka Damon from The Vampire Diaries).  Yes, I know he wasn’t in this book, but we can’t see a book without seeing the cover first.  Was that a little superficial?  Maybe.  But it’s the truth.

2) Vampire Anthology.  Keyword: Anthology.  I needed a change of pace.  I’ve been reading back to back to back to back, and I needed a change. 

3) Christmas stories.  It’s December, Christmastime.  Sure, this book was published in October.  But I hadn’t requested it then. I actually received it in late November.

So I don’t know a whole lot about any of these authors.  I’d heard of a couple, and read a tiny bit of another. 

I’m going to review 2 of these stories.  That’s the gamble with an anthology.  You probably won’t like all the stories.  Two of these I rather enjoyed, one I am on the fence with, and one I read about halfway before deciding it just wasn’t for me.

Enchanted By Blood – Laurie London

Apparently this story is part of a Sweetblood series.  I’m thinking I may have to check that out, although I am disappointed the stories aren’t about the lead characters in Enchanted By Blood.  I mean Trace.  The rest of the characters in this story paled in comparison to him, even Charlotte.  He stole the show. 

Trace was a Guardian, a peace keeping vampire.  Now he is in position for a seat on the council.  He puts his sense of duty and familial loyalty ahead of his own happiness. 

And then he finds happiness.  And she finds out his secret.  And then he has to meddle in her memories.  That’s the backstory.  What happens in Enchanted by Blood is when Trace and Charlotte find their way back into each other’s lives.

Right away this story caught my eye, I was excited to get into it.  The author has great attention to detail without losing sight of what’s happening with the character.  There is a scene with Charlotte outside a club, walking back to her car.  You are transported through the pages (or e-ink in my case) and you are walking with her. 

I loved the story, from beginning to end.  I only have one complaint, and its more a complaint about alpha men/paranormal men in general… They are so frustrating!!! Why do they have to be so damn stubborn?  Hello!?? The woman loves you, she wants you… don’t erase her memories!!!

All I Want For Christmas – Alexis Morgan

I really enjoyed this story.  It could have stood alone – but then I would have definitely been screaming for more. Or at least insisting in a mildly loud manner.

This story is about Eagan, a vampire cop that is undercover in a neighborhood trying to find out who is behind some mysterious deaths that seem vampire related.  And then we have Della, the sweet as can be diner owner who is just as loving a person as you could hope for.  She tries to help everyone, not just people she knows.  I would love to know more of her backstory.  Heck, I would like to know more of Eagan’s, too.

These two are drawn together.  He’s seemingly the stereotypical vampire.  He doesn’t need anyone, he can take care of himself! And she is the “chronic do-gooder”, in his words.  An unlikely pair.  But as soon as they are face to face the sparks are palpable. 

I really liked how the situation brings them together.  The author did a great job of building up anticipation, even though the story was rather short.

One thing about this book… It instantly reminded me to update my shopping list.  Must buy mistletoe…  That kiss?  Woooohooooo!  Hot!  I loved it. 

Eagan is really quite capable of a lot of love, and opening his heart.  When he was about to leave her bed, and well… what he does… that is just so romantic, and you don’t see a lot of that in stories anymore.  The protective yet caring and thoughtful  alpha male.  I’d like to see more of him. He could quickly rise in ranks to be my next favorite vampire. 

And then trouble comes, and you see that not everyone is who you (or Della) thinks they are.  Of course we know there is a wolf, but two?  And some fae??  I would love love love to see this made into a full length book. 

The problem with short stories and my job (ok, my pleasure) of reviewing them is that it is really super difficult to say what you think without giving the whole story away.  But I recommend this book.  I’ve read a few different reviews on it, and we’ve all had different takes on the stories.   But these two were my favorite.  And these two authors have just gotten another reader, cause I am definitely going to look them up.

Merry Christmas!  I hope you find your vampire! 

How to Worship a Goddess - Stephanie Julian

Title: How To Worship a Goddess

Author: Stephanie Julian

Format: Netgalley ebook, release date December 2011

From Goodreads:

He's exactly what she's always wanted. And she unleases him like a force of nature... 
Lucy was once the beloved Goddess of the Moon, and she could have any man she wanted. But these days, the goddesses of the Etruscan pantheon are all but forgotten. The only rituals she enjoys now are the local hockey games, whereone ferociously handsome player still inflames her divine blood... 
Brandon Stevenson is one hundred percent focused on the game, until he looks up and sees a celestial beauty sitting in the third row. A man could surely fall hard for a distraction like that..

“Wow.  Just… Wow.”  To steal a line from the book, that sums it up for me.  I read this book in two evenings, that’s how much I loved it.

How To Worship a Goddess, a Goddess named Lucy, actually.  Even more exact, Lusna Etrucian Goddess of the Moon.  Lucy is one of the Forgotten Goddesses, Goddesses mainly in name and diminishing power.  She’s worshiped by some still, namely the Lucani (skin shifters, werewolves).   Lucy has been feeling obsolete since her powers have been dwindling.

In walks Brandon Stevenson, Brand for short.  He’s a hockey player for the minor league, Railers.  He’s in his mid thirties and also feeling like his career on the ice is coming to an end soon.    Then he starts noticing a beautiful woman at every home game in the same seat.   And she is definitely noticing him.

When these two finally meet up there is no denying the instant and electric chemistry.  And oh my goodness, the sexy scenes are hot enough to singe the sun!  Seriously, if you want to read a very well written sexual scene that doesn’t just use words for the sake of using them, then this book is for you.

I really loved the way that Brand and Lucy interacted together.  Instant chemistry, love at first sight, call it what you will.  You know they are in it together.  Even a mind erase couldn’t keep them apart!

Dreaming of the Wolf - Terry Spear

Title: Dreaming of the Wolf
Author: Terry Spear

Publish Date: December 2011
Format: Galley, NetGalley.com

From Goodreads:
Terry Spear's debut Heart of the Wolf was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. Known for her research into how wolves live in nature, Spear writes her werewolves as they would behave realistically, including pack dynamics, mating behavior, and hierarchies.

Werewolf pack leader Jake Silver is an acclaimed photographer. He sees a beautiful woman at the art gallery where his photos are on display, and his intrigue turns into wolfish protectiveness. Alicia Greiston has never met anyone like Jake-he's sexy, alpha, and totally irresistible, and he calls to something primal in her soul.

*sigh*  A man, an alpha male, a werewolf.  Could it get any better?  For years and years I was team vampire, there was nothing else of any importance.  However, I think the tides are turning and I am team werewolf.  How could you not be?  I have yet to read a story about a werewolf that is some wimpy little cowardly pup.  No way.  They are these big hulking alpha male men, ready to defend and protect their women and their pack at all costs.  *swoon*

And now I get to add Jake Silver to my list of favorite.  This book is #8 it the Heart of the Wolf series.  Which, embarrassingly, I didn’t realize when I requested the book from NetGalley.  Then looking through my kindle, I see I also have #5!! Whew!  Anyhow, this book easily read as a stand alone book.  There was no point that I felt lost in this world.  Everyone was described and everything fit.

This story’s heroine is Alicia Greiston.  Her mother was murdered six months ago, and she is out to avenge her mothers death.  She doesn’t want to kill the guy who did it, she just wants justice and wants him in prison where he belongs.  So she goes through training, she becomes a bounty hunter.  She may look like this petite little thing, but the girl can pack a punch and uses her feminine appearance to her advantage.  Usually she deals with female criminals, but now she has finally been handed the case she really wants.  Mario and his henchmen – mob guys.

Then we meet the hero male lead of the story, Jake Silver. Va va va voom, this guy has it all (as I’ve already noted haha).  Oh, did I forget to mention he takes stunning photographs?  The man is the whole package.  He sees Alicia, and instantly wants her – a human!

I really enjoyed this book, and all of its twists and turns.  There was a lot of action, and the picture was painted very clearly.  I kept finding myself waiting for my next free moment, itching to turn on my kindle and see what happens next.  Poor Alicia keeps finding herself in trouble, time after time.  These guys are proving harder to catch than she had anticipated!

And the love scenes were hot, and plentiful enough that I didn’t feel like the book was just about these two hooking up or, on the opposite hand, that they didn’t feel “it” for each other. They were hot together.  And the dreaming was an addition I really enjoyed to this story.

The author did a fantastic job dealing with the wolves in their wolf form.  I really felt like I was looking through the eyes of a wolf.  The great thing about shifter stories is you get this whole other layer of the characters. Sure, you get to know them as humans, but then you get to really know them – the true person – as their shifter self.  And in this book particularly, the way wolves interacted with each other and their surroundings really lent a realistic feel to the book.

I am definitely going to read the rest of this series, starting with book one.  Terry Spear has a new fan, and I can’t wait to start!

Available for purchase at: Amazon & Barnes & Noble