4.5 STARS | Descent of Blood by Elizabeth Marx

Title: Descent of Blood
Series: Red Veil #0.5
Author: Elizabeth Marx
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Historical
Elements: Vampires
Publisher: Elizabeth Marx
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B009YN23K4
Published: October 26th, 2012
Source: FMB Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★.5

When times are darkest, some vampires desire more than blood …

England, 1465. Mortal men clash in the War of the Roses for the English crown, while vampire warriors’ move undetected among their ranks, savoring the flow of blood that battlefields provide.

Vampire prince, Severian Pearce, fears the revelation of the immortal clans to humankind should King Henry fall from power. While in pursuit of Henry’s enemies, Severian comes to the aid of Meridian Neville, a human woman he craves—and not for the scent of her blood … Meridian is torn between honoring her father’s dying wish and her unexplainable yearning for Lord Severian. But as Severian and Meridian work together to protect a relic hunted by mortals and immortals alike, the red veil descends over them. This all-consuming attraction can drive immortals to the brink of madness. Will the existence of this powerful bond between a human and a vampire be enough to unite the immortal clans or is the red veil a scourge set on destroying any chance they might have of happiness?

When all hope is lost, one vampire will fight unto death for his forbidden love.

I loved Descent of Blood! It was cool how it took place during the War of the Roses and the unique take on the war was very intriguing. I loved the two main characters, Severian and Meridian. Their personalities clash in some instances and mesh so well in others. For a prequel to the Red Veil series, I thought that Descent of Blood did a great job setting up the main story that will start in Ascent of Blood.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Windy City writer, Elizabeth Marx, brings cosmopolitan life alive in her fiction—a blend of romance, fast-paced Chicago living, and a sprinkle of magical realism. Elizabeth resides with her husband, girls, and two cats who’ve spelled everyone into believing they’re really dogs. She grew up in the city, has traveled extensively, and still says there’s no town like Chi-Town.





Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

5 STARS | Angel Bait by Tricia Skinner

Title: Angel Bait
Series: Angel Assassins # 1
Author: Tricia Skinner
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Angels, Fallen Angels, Nephilim, Elves, Deities, Vampires, Shapeshifters, Werewolves, Fae
Setting Location: Detroit, Michigan
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Format: PDF
ASIN: B00ON4KC8O
Published: February 18th, 2013
Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★★

Saved by the angel sent to kill them, four half-angel boys are trained and employed as Heaven’s assassins. Jarrid and his nephilim brothers are raised as members of The Eternal Order, and must enforce Heaven’s laws by hunting down those who defy the Directorate.

His only shot at freedom is Ascension, but his employers won’t permit the ancient ritual. Then Jarrid learns a Renegade angel is in Detroit. Such a high-level take­down is the answer to his prayers—all the leverage he needs to Ascend.

For freedom, Jarrid is willing to do anything to lure his elusive enemy out of hiding.

Even use an innocent woman as bait.

News reporter Ionie Gifford has no clue an angel outlaw wants her dead. She agrees to help Jarrid, the enigmatic nephilim with penetrating silver eyes and a worship-worthy body, but only because he accepts her terms. He’s her all-access pass into the city’s supernatural underworld where she hopes to locate her mother’s killer.

Blind­sided by Ionie's beauty and tenacity, Jarrid soon finds the eternity-old glacier around his heart thawing. With duty and desire at war within him, he’s forced to make a choice—either save Ionie from the trap he snared and stay chained to Heaven, or allow her to become collateral damage.

This is definitely a must read. There is a whole array of supernatural characters, and humans know about them. So it's not a secret that there are beings who are "more" out there. I really liked the story of the Nephilim and each one of them was a very likeable character. Angel Bait is the story of how Jarrid uses Ionie as bait to catch a Renegade (fallen angel) in the hopes that the Directorate will take the limiter off of the Nephilim's Grace. What he didn't expect was to fall in love with her. What I liked about Jarrid and Ionie's relationship is that it can be pretty steamy, but there is an element of innocence to it too. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the Angel Assassins series.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

After spending several years as a newspaper reporter and corporate communications director, Tricia Skinner cast off traditional journalism for the freedom of novel writing. ANGEL BAIT is her urban fantasy romance debut. Her reading tastes are all over the place, but she’s mainly drawn to fantasy (and its sub genres), paranormal, sci-fi, and history.

In those rare moments when she’s not writing, Tricia is a newbie “green” practitioner, a fitness procrastinator, and a technology geek. She is a mother and a wife. Her family includes two Great Danes.

Tricia stays active in various writing communities. She’s the Web Editor for Pony Express(ions), the online literary journal of the Masters of Liberal Studies Program at Southern Methodist University; a volunteer with SMU’s The Writers Path; the Newsletter Editor and a Mud Puddle Critique Group moderator for the Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Chapter of Romance Writers of America. . In December 2012 she received a master’s degree with a Creative Writing focus from SMU.

She welcomes correspondence from readers.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

4.5 STARS | Dark Nebula by W.J. May

Title: Dark Nebula
Series: The Chronicles of Kerrigan #2
Author: W.J. May
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Mystery
Setting Location: English Countryside
Publisher: W.J. May
Format: PDF
ASIN: B00B46UWNO
Published: January 21st, 2013
Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★.5
Series Reviews: Rae of Hope

Nothing is as it seems anymore.

Leery from the horrifying incident at the end of her first year at Guilder Boarding School, Rae Kerrigan is determined to learn more about her new tattoo. Her expectations are high, an easy senior year and a happy reunion with Devon, the boy she’s not supposed to date. All hopes of happiness turn into shattered dreams the moment she steps back on campus.

Lies and secrets are everywhere, and a betrayal cuts Rae deeply. Among her conflicts and enemies, it appears as if her father is reaching out from beyond the grave to ruin her life. With no one to trust, Rae doesn’t know where or who to turn to for help.

Has her destiny been written? Or will she become the one thing she hates the most—her father’s prodigy.

I loved Dark Nebula! It was great seeing all my favorite characters again, plus some new ones. I was shocked at some revelations that I won't speak of, so I don't give anything away, but I was definitely not expecting what was revealed about a certain new student. Rae is always getting beaten up! I was cringing with each hit she took. I mean, is she ever going to get a break? And I hated how Devon's father kept judging her because of her father. And the ending left me excited for the next book. I can't wait!

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Wanita May grew up in the fruit belt of Ontario - St.Catharines. Crazy-happy childhood, she always has had a vivid imagination and loads of energy.

The youngest of six -- four older brothers, and a sister -- taught her at a young age to be competitive in all aspects of life.

At sixteen, she began competing in athletics (track and field) and before she turned seventeen, she was representing Canada in high jump. She continued to compete, breaking Canada's JR High Jump record (1.92m - 6' 3 1/2" for those metric-ly challenged). She attented University of Toronto, and Kansas State University - winning CIAU's and becoming All-American 6x - NCAA Indoors Runner Up + more.

Life continued with her husband (a distance runner from Liverpool, UK, who she met at KSU) and then their first, then second and finally third child. Their house became full of more imagination and stories.

After her father passed away in 2009, from a six-year battle with cancer (which she still believes he won the fight against), she began to write again. A passion she'd loved for years, but realized life was too short to keep putting it off.

Her first book, Rae of Hope - from the Chronicles of Kerrigan - will be available October 2011 by kNight Romance Publishing.

She is currently represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Wanita is a writer of Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction and where ever else her little muses take her.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

3 STARS | Open Heart by Emlyn Chand

Title: Open Heart
Series: Farsighted #2
Author: Emlyn Chand
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance
Elements: Psychic Abilities, Ghosts
Setting Location: Midwestern Town of Grandon
Publisher: Blue Crown Press
Format: PDF
ISBN-13: 978-0983930846
Published: May 25th, 2012
Source: Good Choice Reading Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★
Series Reviews: Farsighted

Simmi Shergill's life is a mess. Her powers of psychic feeling are on the fritz, and Grandon Township's sudden population boom has brought quite a few unsavory characters to town. She also looks like an over-blown balloon in her size 14 pants, but not even starving herself seems to be helping.

At least she has Alex, the boyfriend who loves her so much he'd do anything for her. Last summer, he even risked his life to protect her from the mysterious boy everyone was convinced wanted to kill her.

Just one problem: she's not so sure she feels the same way. Is Alex really the man of her dreams? Why can't she stop fixating on her would-be killer, Dax? Part of her wants to run screaming in the other direction whenever Dax is around, while the other part longs to run into his embrace, no matter whom she'd hurt or what she'd risk.

Simmi's loyalty is on the line. Whom will she choose—the blind seer who loves her, or the charming telekinetic with "bad idea" written all over him? Emotions run high in the tension-packed book two of the Farsighted series.

Unfortunately, I didn't like Open Heart as much as I liked Farsighted. It felt like most of the book was about Simmi feeling bad for herself, and I'm not a big fan of main characters that are having a pity party the entire book. It also didn't feel like Open Heart was leading up to anything like Farsighted lead up to the trip to New York to confront Dax. So I was kind of disappointed with this book. I didn't feel all the excitement I felt while I was reading Farsighted.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Emlyn Chand emerged from the womb with a fountain pen clutched in her left hand (true story). When she's not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm Novel Publicity Best known for her Young Adult novels, she is also developing a small, but devoted, following to her children's book series and is beginning to dabble in other genres as well. Emlyn enjoys connecting with readers and is available via almost every social media site in existence. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don't forget to say "hi" to her sun conure Ducky!

Emlyn also writes romance under the pen name, Darby Davenport.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blog, A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

3 STARS | Treacle and Treason by JoAnne Kenrick

Title: Treacle and Treason
Series: The Edge #52, Tales from the Coffin #4
Author: JoAnne Kenrick
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Erotica, Romance, Paranormal
Elements: Vampires, Zombies, Ghosts
Setting Location: York, England
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Format: PDF
ASIN: B009WGJ2OI
Published: October 24th, 2012
Source: FMB Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★
Series Reviews: The Edge: Night Music | Hypnotist | Friends with Benefits

It’s Bonfire Night, but the fireworks in Estella’s boudoir are more impressive than any rocket or sparkler. She has more pressing things on her mind than trivial traditions like burning the Guy and crunching her canines on treacle toffee. A spot of unrequited love, and her little deady bear’s rotting body.

What better way to distract herself than to entertain you with a ghostly retelling of the infamous Guy Fawkes and the Fifth of November legend.

In York, England—new job, new life—Tansy finds herself both fascinated and scared by the haunted history this cobbled-street city has to offer. Determined not to let her fears chase her back to her small home town, she spends the night in the birth place of Guy Fawkes on the anniversary of his arrest. When she comes face to face with the spirit of Britain’s most notorious conspirer, he kisses her oh so scandalously. The ghost of his lover joins the interlude, and takes over Tansy’s body. Possessed by Marie, she is powerless to interrupt the passion exploding between them. Not that she’d want to. Pleasure abound, their story is unraveled…

…and it’s nothing like the history books depict.

I'm not really sure what to write. I think I would have liked Treacle and Treason a bit more if I had read the other books in the Tales from the Coffin series first. I was kind of lost as to what was actually going on. I did like the story that Estella tells of Guy Fawkes and the Fifth of November, though. So I would say that for readers to really understand this book, they need to read the others that came before it.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter

Born n bred Brit, JoAnne Kenrick grew up in a wee sea-side town in North Wales and has enjoyed a variety of vocations such as holistic healer, window dresser, and ghost tour guide. Having lived in Wales, England, and Scotland with her dear family, she finally escaped the dull British summers to reside in sunny Australia. After two years, they moved to the States where she endured three harsh winters in Minnesota. She now lives in North Carolina with her husband, two kids and two puddy cats. When they aren't demanding her attention, or jumping on her head, she strums away on the keys of her little laptop, creating worlds and adventures she could only ever dream of.

Come across the pond and faraway....with JoAnne Kenrick! Get exclusive sneak peeks at her new and upcoming releases by signing up to her quarterly newsletter here: http://tinyletter.com/joannekenrick.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

5 STARS | Desert Flower by Angela Scott

Title: Desert Flower
Series: Desert #2
Author: Angela Scott
Age Group: New Adult
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Setting Location: Arizona
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
Format: PDF
ASIN: B00B0QNQF4
Published: January 24th, 2013
Source: Reading Addiction Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★★

Bodies have a canny way of finding Samantha Jean Haggert. The first, the dead body of her mama. The second, a naked man in the middle of the Arizona desert. For Sam, dealing with one dead body in her lifetime is more than unfair. Two, is downright cruel.

Seven years after running from West Virginia, Sam's now a young woman of nineteen, trying to put the pieces of her life together with the help of her family—Jacob, Boone, and Laura. But the naked man in the desert spirals her world out of control, resurfacing past hurts, revealing old secrets, and pitting her between two men who via for her heart. Carson, her friend, her first kiss, and the one man who knows everything about her past and loves her despite it. And Turner, the stranger who knows nothing, but who excites and frustrates her all at once.

When bad choices made as a child leads to more bad choices as a young adult, Sam finds herself at a crossroads and is forced to face her demons head on if she plans to have any future at all—with Carson, with Turner, or with anyone. But fixing the wrongs of the past takes time, and learning to forgive herself is damn near impossible.

This is one powerful book! It's real. It's honest. It's heartbreaking. It has everything. There were even part of Desert Flower that were difficult for me to read. I had to stop at moments to collect myself before continuing. This is a book that I highly recommend!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

I hear voices. Tiny fictional people sit on my shoulders and whisper their stories in my ear. Instead of medicating myself, I decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. I’m not crazy. I’m an author. For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.

I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. I can’t spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.

As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I’ve been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I’ve pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.

You can subscribe and follow me on my website, where I blog obsessively about my writing process and post updates on my current works. I’m also on Twitter and Facebook, but be forewarned, I tweet and post more than a normal person.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

4 STARS | SILVER: Acheron (A River of Pain) by Keira Michelle Telford

Title: SILVER: Acheron (A River of Pain)
Series: The Amaranthe Chronicles #1
Author: Keira Michelle Telford
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopian
Publisher: Venatic Press
Format: PDF
ASIN: B0067YBYU8
Published: November 30th, 2011
Source: FMB Promotions
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★

2342 CE

Dishonorably discharged from the Hunter Division and banished for crimes she did not commit, Silver struggles to come to terms with her new prison-like surroundings: a segregated area of the city called the Fringe District, populated by murderers, thieves and rapists.

Starving, and desperate for money, she reluctantly accepts the Police Division's invitation to enroll in a covert Bounty Hunter program: an initiative devised to infiltrate the criminal underworld of the Fringers, and to force the very worst warrant dodging law-breakers to meet their fate--death.

Unfortunately, Silver doesn't realize that the Police Division is about to up the ante. They need more than little snippets of information and arrests--they need someone to pull the trigger. They need an executioner.

SILVER: Acheron is the first book (a 40,000 word novella) in a 10-book series featuring the character of Ella 'Silver' Cross. Set more than 300yrs in the future, the Silver Series takes place in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world where humans are a species on the brink of extinction. No longer at the top of the food chain, humans are preyed upon by the Chimera--genetic mutants that outnumber humankind 25:1.

***Content advisory: Contains graphic language and violence.***

I really liked the world of SILVER: Acheron. It's very interesting, with the society setup and how it shows the differences in life between those in the Sentinel District and the Fringe District. I was very intrigued by Alice. Who is she? What is she? And Silver is a heroine that I really liked. She's tough, but she's also thrust into circumstances that begin chipping away at her and we see a fragility to her. This is a great read and I can't wait to read the next book.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Keira Michelle Telford was born and raised in the UK. She spent the early part of her childhood in Worcestershire, before the family moved to Wales where she lived for most of her teenage years. In 2006, she moved to Canada. She currently resides in beautiful British Columbia, where she lives with her husband and 9 guinea pigs.






Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blog, A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

4 STARS | Wounded by Jasinda Wilder

Title: Wounded
Author: Jasinda Wilder
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Military, Erotica, Dark
Setting Location: Iraq | United States
Publisher: Jasinda Wilder
Format: PDF
ASIN: B00APLND3A
Published: December 16th, 2012
Source: Good Choice Reading Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★

War has taken everything from me. My family. My home. My innocence. In a country blasted by war and wracked by economic hardship, a young orphan girl like me has very few options when it comes to survival. Thus, I do what I must to live, to eat, and I try very hard to not consider the cost to my soul. My heart is empty, and my existence brutal.

The one impossibility in my life is love.

And then I meet HIM.

War is hell. It takes a chunk out of a man's very soul to do the kinds of things war demands of you. You live with fear, you live with guilt, and you live with nightmares. If you haven't been through it, there's no understanding it. War leaves no room for love, no room for tenderness or softness. You gotta be hard, closed off, and ready to fight every moment of every day. Lose focus for a split second, and you're dead.

Now the only thing that can save me is HER.

I was blown away. I absolutely loved reading Wounded. It was definitely a new experience for me and I liked how real the story felt. Rania and Hunter had my heart melting. I really wish that there were more to read, maybe a book from Derek's point of view?

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. When she's not writing, she's probably shopping, baking, or reading.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →