4 STARS | Behind My Mask by Holland Kohl

Title: Behind My Mask
Series: Blood and Envy #1
Author: Holland Kohl
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, MC
Publisher: Holland Kohl
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B01AZG02HO
Published: January 22nd, 2016
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Events: Review Request
Rating: ★★★★

Envy
Haunted by her past, Envy Harris lives each day under the facade of an assumed life. She is Anna Wharton, the dutiful wife of a star professor, arm-candy, and hostess. To outsiders, she has it all. But when the parties end and the guests leave, Envy is left alone with nothing but memories of her Father’s death and the demons that are still searching for her. Envy has nowhere to go and nobody she can trust, but that all changes the moment she meets Lorne.

Lorne
Lorne Beringer wants nothing more than to start over and leave his criminal ties behind him along with the Hell’s Demons MC. He worked his ass off to get accepted into a prestigious program at an Ivy League school and won’t jeopardize it for anything, that is until he meets Envy. She’s everything he could want in a woman. Only she’s not the woman he thinks she is.

The past has a way of catching up to you. It will either drag you down into the murky depths of despair or be a catalyst for revenge. Entangled in more ways than they know, Lorne and Envy need to face their pasts before they can have a future.

Please note: This book contains profanity and deals with serious themes including violence and murder.

Both Envy and Lorne have had their lives destroyed by the Hell's Demons MC. As children, Envy was the daughter of the MC's President and loved by all, whereas Lorne the son of one of the club brothers, who lived with his mother most of the time, was disliked by many. Except Envy. But when two separate events that changed their lives forever, Envy leaves the MC she loves and becomes Anna and Lorne joins the MC he hates and becomes Blood. Years later, they meet again, but don't remember each other. They fall fast and hard for each other, but there are circumstances on both sides that could destroy what they have forever.

I really liked Behind My Mask. The circumstances that change Envy and Lorne's lives are so tragic. The first past remembrance scene that we read from Envy's POV is so heartbreaking. Then we learn what happened to Lorne and it just makes you really feel for these two. As children, they both had wanted to make something more of themselves than what the MC could offer, but with two tragic events, their lives were completely derailed.

Their lives are so entwined with the MC that it looks impossible, no matter how hard they try, to get free of it. I wanted so desperately for them to be able to just get away and have the life they always wanted, together if that were possible. Envy and Lorne are like two sides of the same coin. And I think that even after what happened at the end of this book, that there isn't going to be a way for them to separate from each other. No matter how much Envy may want that now.

I was so angry with Lorne at the end of this book and the cliffhanger makes me want the next book right now, so that I can see if he kept his promise and is able to fix what he did. For such a short book, it took me on a huge emotional roller coaster. I just really need to know what happens next.

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Holland lives in New York City. For fun, she likes to explore beautiful Brownstone Brooklyn and frequent vegan eateries.

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3.5 STARS | The Dearhart Clan Series by Eri Nelson

Title: The Call from Within
Series: Dearhart Clan #1
Author: Eri Nelson
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Erotica, Romance
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: EAN
Format: PDF
ASIN: B005FYSXI2
Published: August 3rd, 2011
Source: Bewitching Books Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★

From the unorthodox author Eri Nelson comes an introduction into the dark primal world of the DHC (Dearhart Clan Series). Where an adult tale creates the foundation for untamed passions no longer bound by humanity but unleashed under the push of extinction.

An unknowing waitress by the name of Kristen Still slips of to sleep with her illusions of normality. Only to be awoken by heated dreams for an unknown traveler's face who had visited the diner in which she works. Although as the dream subsides her reality is disrupted by a wolfly protector unmasking a deadly mistake in which held Kristen against her will.

Under uncontrollable duress the wolf unfurls to, Owen, the man from her dreams. With fear and doubt discarded under their hastily following pursuers, Kristen flees with Owen's guidance only to learn more than she had ever bargained for let alone the desires she and Owen create.

Title: Double Call from Desire
Series: Dearhart Clan #2
Author: Eri Nelson
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Erotica, Romance
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: EAN
Format: PDF
ASIN: B006GV7Z50
Published: November 30th, 2011
Source: Bewitching Books Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★

From the unorthodox author Eri Nelson comes the second look into the dark primal world of the DHC (Dearhart Clan Series). An adult tale that continues with the moon's induced passions that surpass humanity's logic in favor of not meeting a beckoning demise.

As Kristen and Owen come to grips with a chosen destiny gifted by the moon, a scout is ushered off in search of a rogue wolf. Thomas chosen by Owen to survey for a troublesome wolf discovers a howly formed desirable temptation that he had never wish to unearth.

Not long after Thomas leaves on his scouting mission, Owen himself is persuaded by his highest of confidants to go in search of Kristen's past. Since she is their hopeful future, Owen is forced to depart only to find that soon after he is gone a misstep by Kristen finds her griped by a revenging hand's fury.

Title: Heated Calls from Change
Series: Dearhart Clan #3
Author: Eri Nelson
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Erotica, Romance
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: EAN
Format: PDF
ASIN: B00BYAKU4Q
Published: December 10th, 2012
Source: Bewitching Books Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★

From the unorthodox author Eri Nelson comes a third glimpse into the dark primal world of the DHC (Dearhart Clan Series). With an adult laced premise, this dark tale once again leaves humanity's reasoning aside in support of fast-paced desires that imprint their futures against a looming extinction.

With maddening revenge toward his creator, Wash holds the kidnapped key to Owen's heart. However, her forced captivity is just a small obstacle to Kristen finding her way back to Owen.

Waging the war of inner turmoil Owen travels back to the pack where Kristen was last seen. Although he is not the only one who seeks the home of the clan, for four others travel now as well. Along with Thomas who brings his unwanted imprinted, Bry invades the wolfly space with an Ink that not only writes an ancient prophecy but leaves the clans alpha in peril.

I thought that the first book, The Call from Within, was missing something. Maybe it was just the length of the book, but I thought that we learned more about Wash than the two main characters, Owen and Kristen. Although when I read the second book, Double Call from Desire, it all started to make more sense to me. I also really liked how there were more characters add, mostly Thomas and Julia. It all comes to a head in Heated Calls from Change, where the members of the Dearhart pack come together and the danger is higher than ever. I liked how through each book, the threat of extinction for the pack and well as werewolves in general, just steadily rose higher and higher. And you have no idea what's going to happen until it does. As a whole, the Dearhart series was a really enjoyable read.

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Eri Nelson born Erica Walcott is a Indie Author and the youngest of three in a family of five. Erica became Eri (airy) from her mother who called her that for as long as she could remember. The short take on her name took on a more solid base with the love of her life and husband, Jeff Nelson.

Together they have been for the past twenty years. Within that time they were able to raise one daughter and endless amount of pets.

Eri Nelson is a nontraditional indie author who manages all areas of her fiction, fantasy, paranormal, action, adventure and sometimes-erotic writing. Eri handles all the groundwork of her books, even the editing. Because of this Eri strives to improve her abilities along with trying to explain to readers her far from traditional sentence structures. However, she will openly admit that typos follow her.

Writing is a passion for her and an abundance of never ending joy. Only one thing tops that for Eri... and that is when a reader enjoys the read......

Join Eri and her shadowy side of writing as she takes you along to explore new desire hunger filled worlds where your mind can share in the heat of the read.


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

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5 STARS | Savage Smoke by Kay Dee Royal

Title: Savage Smoke
Series: Lycan International Investigation Agency (LIIA) #2
Author: Kay Dee Royal
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal
Elements: Werewolves, Vampires, Shifters
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Format: PDF
ASIN: B00DIGGBYW
Published: June 19th, 2013
Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★★
Series Reviews: Staring Into the Eyes of Chance

Chance and his LIIA pack of agents search for rogue Lycan mastermind, Smoke, kidnapper of Lindsey and fifteen other human women he plans to use for procreating his own army.

Trevor, Chance’s right-hand Lycan, wants his mate back, but believes she’s fallen for her captor. Lindsey loves Trevor but believes he’s given up on her.

Will Trevor come around in time to rescue Lindsey and save her from shifting into Smoke’s pack, and will she even want back with Trevor after spending so long apart?

I am totally in love with this series! Savage Smoke brings us a resolution to Lindsey and Trevor's separation, and we also meet a number of new characters. To be honest, I was kind of disappointed with how things happened with Smoke, BUT I have a feeling this isn't the last we've seen of him. I mean, hundreds of years of hate can't just disappear. If we don't see Smoke again, then I'll be extremely disappointed. Two characters that we meet in Savage Smoke, Kodiak-weres Zander and Rynd, were really entertaining (in many ways *winks*). I'm really looking forward to seeing more of them in the next arc of the series. I was really happy with the little surprise that was awaiting Chance and Olivia. I just hope everything works out for them. And what's going to happen with Jase and the vampire Ria? I just really want the next book!

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Kay Dee Royal writes paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary erotic romance—maybe because it's also her favorite genres to read! She pens tales with wild, rugged heroes and strong, intelligent heroines. She'll give them both a few shadowy secrets, making her stories intriguing and fun. She resides in Southern Michigan with her family (her dogs, her cats, her caged husband... you get the idea). You can reach her at her blog and find the latest on her titles from her publisher, MuseItHot.


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

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3 STARS | Marcie by Carly M. Duncan

Title: Marcie
Author: Carly M. Duncan
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Contemporary
Publisher: Carly M. Duncan
Format: PDF
ASIN: B00CQ3BPTO
Published: May 9th, 2013
Source: Release Day Diva
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★

When Kate's mother, Marcie, dies mysteriously she is forever tormented by the many questions surrounding her mother's death. In Marcie's absence Kate clings to her mother's husbands, searching for solace.

As family secrets are revealed Kate works to build her own life and family, but the mystery of her mother's death sidetracks her until she finally gets the answer she's always hoped for.

I honestly don't know what to say. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. I really liked how Kate was able to build the life she always wanted as a child for her daughter. She's able to give her daughter the love she never felt from her mother. And she has an amazing husband that loves her deeply. There are only two things that kind of bothered me: 1.) we are never told Kate's daughter's name, and 2.) the ending was kind of anti-climatic. I was kind of like, "Oh, really?" Otherwise, I enjoyed reading this book and I liked how the story would be told from the present but then flashback to the past.

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Carly Duncan is a television producer by day and a writer whenever there is time. She lives with her husband, two daughters and beloved Westie in Brooklyn, New York.








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

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3 STARS | The Blind Cupid by Karyn Gerrard

Title: The Blind Cupid
Series: The Edge #56, The Blind Cupid #1
Author: Karyn Gerrard
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Historical, Erotica, Romance
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Format: PDF
ASIN: B00ANEKKOE
Published: December 12th, 2012
Source: FMB Promotions
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★
Series Reviews: The Edge: Night Music | Hypnotist | Friends with Benefits | Treason and Treacle

Was Cupid blind?

Anne Sommer, a spinster firmly on the shelf, does the unthinkable. She hires a man to give her pleasure for one night. Anne wants the erotic memories to keep her company in the lonely years ahead. She did not expect the young man who showed up at her door to move her in ways she never imagined.

Desmond Glover gives pleasure---for a price. An orphan whose childhood was mired in scandal and poverty, Desmond has learned to close off his emotions with regard to his occupation. He did not count on a lonely spinster to awaken his hidden passion.

Not only do the years separate them, but their social standings. Can Anne and Desmond cross such a chasm and find mutual desire---or love?

I really liked The Blind Cupid. When it looked like Anne and Desmond weren't going to work out, I was chanting over and over, "They have to be together, they have to be together." Their story was actually pretty sweet, and I couldn't help but love Desmond. I really liked his show a vulnerability at points, it showed that he wasn't as unfeeling as he lets on. I can't wait to read the next books in this series.

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Living in a small town in a corner of Ontario, Canada, I wile away my spare time writing and reading romance. As long as I can avoid being hit by a runaway moose here in this wilderness paradise, I assume everything is golden. Originally from the east coast of Canada.

I've been happily married for a long time to my own hero. His encouragement keeps me moving forward.


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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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