Early Review: Raven Calls (Walker Papers, #7)

By C.E Murphy

Releases February 28, 2012
Source: Review copy provided by NetGalley for review.

Oh ya Gary is back in all his charming glory! After going away for the weekend in the last book, Spirit Dances, he was not going to miss all the action this time so he flys all the way to Ireland to join Joanne on this next big adventure. And what an adventure it is.

Literally, none stop. I did miss the other characters, Billy, Morrison, the other officers, and the daily life stuff that was in the other books. Because this book was set in Ireland there was really none of the mundane, it was all gods, goddess, and evil to fight continuiously.

The big highlight was Morrison and Joanne can finally have a real relationship. In typical Joanne fashion she to save the world and leaves to go to Ireland. Now at first I wanted more of Morrison in the book than the short to the point phone calls but I think I like how it wasn’t an instinst in-your-face-were-together-thing. It gave me time to get used to the idea after so many books were Morrison and Joanne could not be together that now they could. Next book they can be fully together.

 I enjoyed Joanne’s mother’s niece Caitriona who is nineteen year old and mets Joanne again in Ireland and joins in the adventure. She adds the eye rolls and heavy sighs. I also enjoyed the roll Joanne’s mother played in this story. Joanne gets answers she needs to heal old emotional wounds and will help her continue to grow.

Favorite Quote:
“You went back in time,” he repeated, “and you expect his cell phone to work?”
“Well, no, I just, I mean, I came back and he hasn’t! Shouldn’t he have?”
Morrison, very steadily, said, “Were you together?”
“No! I just said he went to fight the Morrigan!”
“I see.” There was a pause. “The man is seventy-four years old, Joanie. He can take care of himself. If you were,” a great and patient pause filled the line before he went on, “time traveling. If you were time traveling and got separated, then I can’t think of any reason he would necessarily come back to the present at the same time you did.”
“Except I was the focal point, it was my fault, it --!”
“Joanne. Siobhan. Siobhan Grainne MacNamarra Walkingstick.”
I didn’t think anybody had ever said my name like that before. I gulped down a hysterical sob and whispered, “Yeah?”
Morrison, with gentle emphasis, said, “I love you. Now pull yourself together and go find the bad guy,” and hung up.

Something wicked this way comes…

Suddenly, being bitten by a werewolf is the least of Joanne Walker’s problems.

Her personal life in turmoil, her job as a cop over, she’s been called to Ireland by the magic within her. And though Joanne’s skills have grown by leaps and bounds, Ireland’s magic is old and very powerful…

  In fact, this is a case of unfinished business. Because the woman Joanne has come to Ireland to rescue is the woman who sacrificed everything for Joanne—the woman who died a year ago. Now, through a slip in time, she’s in thrall to a dark power and Joanne must battle darkness, time and the gods themselves to save her.

The Walker Papers Series:
1. Urban Shaman
2. Winter Moon
3. Thunderbird Falls
4. Coyote Dreams
5. Walking Dead
6. Demon Hunts
7. Spirit Dances
8. Raven Calls (Releases February 28, 2012)

Review: Angels of Darkness

I pickup Angels of Darkness for Nalini Singh's story for it is #4.5 in the Guild Hunter series and Ilona Andrews in one of my favorite authors so I have to read her story and she did not disappoint. Sharon Shinn is a new author for me and I will be reading more of hers now.

Tales of alpha angels...from four alpha authors.

They soar through the night, unearthly creatures of legends and lore. Four masters of urban fantasy and paranormal romance explore the rapture of the heavens above, and the darkness below in four all-new stories of angels and guardians, and good and evil.

"Angel's Wolf" by Nalini Singh is from her Guild Hunter series. Noel is one of Raphael's vampire who he reassigns to Louisanna. We met Noel in Archangel's Kiss where he was injured. He is now healed physically but not fully emotionally. The head angel Nimra needs protection from someone in her court who unsuccessfully tried to kill her. Both need to trust each other and learn to grow and heal. I really enjoyed this story eventhough none of the main characters of the Guild Hunter series is in it, only Raphael's name mentioned.

"Alphas: Origins" by Ilona Andrews is a new world where everyone seems like monsters to Karina and her daughter Emily who are taken to live with some very scary monsters. Karina is what the monsters in this world call a donor. Lucas, one of the monsters needs to feed off donors to live unfortunely for Karina. Henry and Daniel are two other monsters Karina needs to live with and ends up cooking for them.


"Nocturne" by Sharon Shinn is a good story where a too curious cook who works at the Gabriel school wants to get into the Headmistress's house where she is not aloud to go. That doesn't stop her. She knows there is an Angel in the house and she is determined to find out his story. It makes a very interesting story. (Sharon Shinn's website says it takes places 80 years after her novel Archangel which I haven't read but still enjoyed the story and didn't feel lost).

Cover Love: City of Lost Souls

Cassandra Clare has revealed her cover of the fifth book in the Mortal Instruements Series:

City of Lost Souls. It is due to be released May 8th 2012! I love the light coming out of their skin and that Clary and Jace finally get a cover together!

Summary from Goodreads "In Book 5: City of Lost Souls, the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling."

Team Outcast!!!

What team are you choosing: Outcast vs. Trucker? I am going with the very interesting, kick-ass OUTCAST. I would love have Hailey as my wingchick on a date. It would save a lot of time not dating losers and Trip well I love me a hacker. That takes serious skill.

Hailey: Hailey's mother could summon demons. Her father was demon-spawn. She's one of the first generation of hybrids, humans with strong demon and summoner blood mixing in their veins to create magical ability. Or, in her case, psychic ability. Hailey knows if you've been bad or good, and will make you regret it if you try to lie to her.

Trip: Being mostly human doesn't make you powerless–not when you're a world class hacker in a network-dependent world. Whether it's security, communication or entertainment, he's the final word on computing in virtual reality among the outcasts. If you're really nice to him, he might share his stash of pre-apocalypse music and movies, too.

What team are you picking?

Disclaimer: This post is part of Moira Rogers's Post-Apocalyptic Trucker vs Outcast Showdown. A comment on this post will enter you to win your choice of a NOOK Simple Touch, or a Kindle Touch or Kobo Touch with special offers. For rules, details on more ways to enter or information on how to pick your own side, visit the contest page at Moira Rogers's website.

Winners of Happy Holidays From Harlequin

Congrats! We have three winners of  the Harlequin Bundle Pack. Those lucky winners are:

1. Barbara Elness
2. Martha Lawson
3. Lisa Richards

I sent an email to the winners send me your snail mail address to me and hopefully it will get to you for Christmas.

Happy Holidays From Harlequin Giveaway!!

This is a HAPPY HOLIDAY FROM HARLEQUIN giveaway. I have 4 book bundles to giveaway to brighten up your holidays. It is the best season of the year so here is my way to make it even better. The four books that are in this bundle are:

 

Smoking’ Six-Shooter by B.J Daniels

Russell Corbett was all cowboy and wasn't about to let a lady lasso him! But Dulcie Hughes had him tied up in knots from the moment she nearly collided with his combine. She rode into town with her fancy rental car and city clothes to claim her secret inheritance. And neither tall tale nor handsome rancher would deter her from exposing a years-old cover-up at the Beaumont property. She expected to find answers, not fall in love. But like the threatening thunderhead on the horizon, the truth would come fast and fierce, and there would be no escaping the consequences.

The Billionaire’s Unexpected Heir by Kathie Denosky

Becoming the new owner of Hickory Hills Thoroughbred farm was not in billionaire Jake Garnier's plans. Becoming a father was even more unimaginable. For his new business came with one Heather McGwire, ranch manager…and mother to Jake's secret child.

After barely surviving his own father's desertion, Jake knew he couldn't walk away from his responsibilities. Marriage seemed the only solution. Yet Heather wouldn't settle for simple sweet talk and seduction. If Jake wanted a real family, he'd have to saddle up for the long ride.

Dakota Child by Linda Ford

Trapped in a North Dakota blizzard, single mother Vivian Halliday's prayer for herself and her child is answered. Rescue comes in the seemingly terrifying form of Billy Black, the hulk of a man feared by all the townsfolk. Yet in the home he shares with his ailing mother, the handsome, gentle giant warms her baby's bottles and sings sweet lullabies that lull even Vivian to peaceful sleep. When the storm abates, will she still seek the life that led her back to the village?

The Best Laid Plans by Sarah Mayberry

Boundaries. The key to how corporate lawyer Alexandra Knight manages her busy life. However, lately all her precisely drawn lines are getting blurred. Blame it on her out-of-control biological clock that is ignoring her single status…and on Ethan Stone.

Because her sexy, no-strings colleague has posed an outrageous solution to her dilemma—he'll be her baby daddy. This from the guy who avoids all commitment? Okay, so they're attracted to each other. Really, really attracted. But crossing the line from coworker to co-parent with Ethan could ruin Alex for all other men. After all, when you've had the best…

Giveaway: I have 4 bundles of 4 books to giveaway thanks to Harlequin. The winners will be announced when I come back from my Disney vacation December 11th.. I am very excited to see the Happiest place on Earth is its winter splendor.

1. Leave a comment (If you could visit anywhere for the Holidays where would you go?)

2. Be a follower

3. Just leave an email address

4. US only

The Hunger Games Official Trailer!!!

Yesterday on Good Morning America they released the official trailer for The Hunger Games. I am absolutely speechless. My birthday month can't come fast enough now. March 23, 2012 it comes out on the big screen.

Early Review: Rocky Mountain Haven (6 Pack Ranch #2)

By Vivian Arend

Re-Releases January 10, 2012

Source: Review copy provided by Vivian Arend for review.

Rocky Mountain Haven is a truly great addition to the 6 Pack Ranch series. The opening scene where Beth and Daniel meet in a bar and have instant chemistry was fabulous but I really liked how Vivian did not make it too easy for the relationship to start. Beth gave Daniel a disconnected number before leaving the bar.

She moved in to a new town where she has a new job with the hope to make a new life for herself and her three boys. After a blessing in disguise Beth ends up moving into a house on Daniel’s family’s ranch. I like how Vivian did not have them meet right away. After a few weeks, Beth is at a town celebration with her boys and run into some of the other Colemans and the handsome stranger she met in the bar months ago. It was a great tension-filled scene.

I was worried about who Daniel would find to love him after learning in Rocky Mountain Heat that his last girlfriend Sierra dumped him because he was shooting blanks. Sierra may have been an idiot but it works out because Beth is perfect for him since she already has three boys. Of course, there is more to their story that makes this book great to read.

I also loved how Daniel stood up for what he wanted in the relationship that Beth and Daniel are trying to have. Beth thinks all she wants is someone hot in the sheets. Most guys would jump at sex with no strings but I was happy Daniel didn’t. He wants a friendship with Beth too and he wasn’t going to let her pull his chain like a dog. I think it made there relationship stronger as it grew that both were very honest with each other. I like how there relationship changed and grew deeper over months they spent with the two of them and the boys. Nathan, Robbie and Lance are truly lovable kids that all play important parts in this book.

The Coleman’s are a great family. I liked that Vivian wrote from Gabe’s point of view a few times for it made the story have more dimensions. I also was glad with what happened for Matt even though he might not agree at this point but I am sure Vivian has plans for him. I would recommend this book and can’t wait to read more of the series.


It’s the quiet ones that take you by surprise.

Beth Danube’s emotionally abusive husband is dead and buried. So is her heart. It’s no big deal, she has all she wants: her three little boys and a fresh start in a small Alberta town. What she doesn’t want is another man in her life—not now, maybe not ever.

After ten years of unsatisfactory, missionary-position sex, she never expected her libido to reawaken. One look at sex-in-boots Daniel Coleman in a Calgary bar, though, blows the dust off her sexuality.
Sensing an edge of desperation, even fear, beneath Beth’s come-on, Daniel finds himself giving in to the powerful urge to let his normally subdued desires run wild. The lady wants non-judgemental, non-vanilla sex? She’s got it—in and out of the bedroom.

At first, friends with blazing-hot benefits is more then enough. Then she realizes Daniel is burning away the protective fortress around her heart…and the guilty secret she dare not reveal.

Warning: One woman determined to retake control of her life, a man with the single-minded purpose of offering her—and her body—everything she needs. Inappropriate behaviour in barns, change rooms, and oh-my-gawd phone sex with a cowboy.

Check out an excerpt on Vivian’s website here

Six Pack Ranch Series

-Rocky Mountain Heat (Releases November 15, 2011)

-Rocky Mountain Haven (Releases January 10, 2012)

-Rocky Mountain Desire (Releases March 5, 2012)

Review: Rocky Mountain Heat (6 Pack Ranch #1)

By Vivian Arend
Re-Releases November 15, 2011

Source: Review copy provided by Vivian Arend for review.

 

What a fabulously fun-filled story. I want to join the Coleman family too. Jaxi is the luckiest girl in the world to have six very good looking boys just next door to flirt and mess with anytime she wants. I am super jealous of her.

Jaxi is a great example of the girl next door who has the boys wrapped around her little finger. She is sweet and innocence one minute then feisty and sexy the next. She has a great personality and good looks that make a nice package for the Colemans. She however only wants one Coleman, Blake. Blake being the oldest has a set of ideas being right and wrong. Being attracted to the girl next door who is ten years younger who she be seen as a little sister is a major hang up for him. Why do boys have to be so stupid at times? Well, Jaxi is having none of that. She knows what she wants and nothing will get in here way.

I love the whole Coleman family. They are all intertwined in each other lives like a big family should. Mommy and Daddy Coleman are such a strong pair together that still love each other so much it warms the heart. The twins, Joel and Jesse, have some of the funniest scenes and the hottest. I would love to play some pool with them. It could get very steamy. Then there is Daniel and Matt who love at Jaxi as the little sister she is. Matt has some relationship issues that needs some fixing. Travis has some secrets only Jaxi knows that I hope we learn more about later in the series. And of course Blake the responsible, very strong Coleman who needs Jaxi’s determination to help him realize he can have want he wants….her. It is an awesome story. I can’t wait for more.

I also really enjoyed the bonus chapter, The Beginnings. In the story Blake and Jaxi refer to there first meeting when they were children. It was a delight to read.

He’s the one who taught her to ride. Now all he wants is to ride her.

Blake Coleman is old enough to know that acting on impulse causes nothing but a heap of trouble. But when trouble’s a western-hat-wearing blonde with slim legs that go on forever, what’s a man to do? Wanting the sweet girl next door is just wrong. The responsible thing to do is keep his hands off.
Jaxi has other plans for Blake’s hands, and his heart. She may have once considered him a big brother, but that was a long time ago. She’s all grown up now and ready to convince him that she’s perfect for him. Except he can’t seem to see past the big “don’t touch” sign that’s apparently still hanging around her neck.

When Jaxi ends up living right under Blake’s nose, the undeniable heat between them slides off simmer and leaps up to barn-burning levels. However, a few of the younger six-pack Colemans have decided Jaxi’s brand of trouble is worth risking a few busted bones.

That is, if Blake’s finally ready to let go the reins and fight for what he wants…

Warning: Sexy cowboys seducing and being seduced in trucks, pool halls and barns. Droolworthy country charm, a little double-teaming, a few secrets and a whole lot of brothers to look forward to. Anyone wanna go for a ride?

Check out an excerpt on Vivian’s website here

Six Pack Ranch Series

• Rocky Mountain Heat (Releases November 15, 2011)
• Rocky Mountain Haven (Releases January 10, 2012)
• Rocky Mountain Desire (Releases March 5, 2012)

Review: Lord of the Vampires (Royal House of Shadows, #1)

By Gena Showalter
Releases August 30, 2011
Source: Review copy provided by NetGalley for review.

Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with a need for vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.

Nicolai the Vampire is renowned for his virility, but in a cruel twist of fate “The Dark Seducer” has become a sex slave in the kingdom of Delfina—stripped of his precious timepiece and his memory. All that remains is a primal need for freedom, revenge—and the only woman who can help him.

When the wanton vampire summons Jane Parker, she is helpless to obey. She's drawn to his dark sexuality and into his magical realm. But for this human, all is not a fairy tale. For saving Nicolai could mean losing the only man she's ever craved... In the beginning I was a little lost because so much was happening without much background information, but once I got to the end I realized why. The characters are just as confused as the reader and as Nicolai gets his stolen memories back we learn the back story.

I thought it was an interesting world and that in our human world we know very little about this world but people like Jane are researching the paradox. Jane has guilt about that once she is in the other paranormal world with magic, witches, and vampires. However, Nicolai and Jane’s connection is strong and loving that they can get through anything. Jane really likes how he keeps saying “Mine” like its her nickname.

I really liked the flashbacks Nicolai has. They were the comic relief for me. The scenes with his mom, father, and little brother Micah make me want more scenes with Nicolai’s family. I can’t wait to see what the other fabulous authors do with there siblings in their books.

Royal House of Shadows
1. Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter
2. Lord of Rage by Jill Monroe (Releases October 2011)
3. Lord of the Wolfyn by Jessica Andersen (Releases November 2011)
4. Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh (Releases December 2011)
All you want to know can be found at the Royal House of Shadows Website.