REVIEW - IMMORTAL BECOMING

"He never expected to meet Jess Reed. A female living amongst humanity completely unaware that she is a human/Elven hybrid race of Volaticus, or that she is on the cusp of Becoming into her Elven traits. Shane should turn Jess over to the Symbiosis of Species Council."

Author: Wendy S. Hales
Published: Self Published on March 2012
Pages: 261 Pages
Form: E-book (from a tour for an honest review)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: The Enlightened Species #1
Amazon: Buy / $3.99 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see US price )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $3.99 (Nook)
Smashwords: Buy / $3.99 (Ebook)
Excerpt: Teaser

"Shane Einar is a five hundred year old Volaticus Elven warrior, sworn to duty and honor. His species has inhabited the earth since the beginning of time. The sources of vampire, elf and fairy myths, Volaticus are in reality something altogether different.

He never expected to meet Jess Reed. A female living amongst humanity completely unaware that she is Hulven, a human/Elven hybrid race of Volaticus, or that she is on the cusp of Becoming into her Elven traits. Shane should turn Jess over to the Symbiosis of Species Council, SOSC. His attraction to her along with her ability to enrapture him with a smile bars him from it. He rightly suspects that this female is his bloodmate.

Jess had always been psychic, a painful and confusing fact of her life. With Shane’s loving support she learns to control her abilities and discovers the psychically enlightened species that share this world.

Together they sacrifice the power of their bloodmating in the battle to save females from breeding cages under the control of an Elven rogue."

Wonderful new world, unique setting, believable characters and romantic action, this novel was a pleasant surprise! I literally couldn't stop reading this novel until I was done, it's addictive. Hales does a great job in hooking the reader with a fresh paranormal world, new species and twist of all things old a legend - loved it!

Jess and Shane worked so well together, all that yummy tension turned to entertaining reading! Jess was lovely, kind but had a really good attitude at times when she needed it - compliments of juvie and being a foster kid. And I have to give props for her not being a stupid heroine, you know the kind who makes dumb choices under stress... well not Jess, it's nice to see that. Shane was cocky, funny, arrogant and I loved it, he was also sexy as hell in 6 foot 2, dark, handsome and did I mention arrogant and witty... so sexy!

The plot I liked a lot, the decision Shane has to make, the world Jess has to face, aunt Moira, the rogue Elven, the council this book was filled with interesting scene after scene. If you're a fan of paranormal romance then this is a must read for you!

Now what could be improved: the blurb, it's an info load it doesn't have to be, I'd remove words like Volaticus Elven, Hulven and SOSC, and it needs some work to make it clearer, there are changes of tone, and mood. It needs a rewrite to truly draw a reader in ( see below the review ). The cover is gorgeous and the girl reminds me of Kendra ( anyone else? ).

Rating :

"Shane Einar is a five hundred year old warrior, sworn to duty and honor. His species has inhabited the earth since the beginning of time. The source of vampire, elf and fairy myths, Volaticus are in reality something complitely different.

Shane never expected to meet Jess Reed, a female living amongst humanity completely unaware that she is  a human/Elven hybrid race of Volaticus, or that she is on the throws of Becoming into her Elven traits. Shane should turn Jess over to the Symbiosis of Species Council, but his attraction to her along with her ability to enrapture him with a smile holds him back, and his suspicion that Jess is his bloodmate doesn't help the matter.

Jess had always been psychic, a painful and confusing fact of her life, but with Shane’s support she learns to control her abilities and discovers the psychically enlightened species that share her world. Together they sacrifice the power of their bloodmating in the battle to save Elven females from the control of an Elven rogue."

Come check out Jess & Shane Fun Character Interview!

( See what Jess and Shane think are each other's sexiest article of clothing? 

And what's Shane's guilty pleasure... err... treat! ;) )

CROSSFIRE OF LOVE - REVIEW AND GUEST BLOG

"Lorenzo wants nothing to do with his father's shady side of business, and to protect Gabriella's heart he marries her to save her father, not that his motives are all innocent, he's had his eyes on Gabby for three years and now that he has a chance to have her he's not too ashamed to take it..."

Author: Ella Jade
Published: Beachwalk Press on March 2012
Pages: 85 Pages
Form: E-book (from a tour for an honest review)
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Suspense
Amazon: Buy / $8.04 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see US price )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $4.99 (Nook)
Beachwalk Press: Buy / $4.99 (Ebook)
Excerpt: Arranged marriage...

An arranged marriage to Lorenzo Martinez, a mobster's son, might be worse for Gabriella if she hadn't live in Carlo Martinez's compound with her father most her life - and if she hadn't fallen in love with Lo since setting her eyes on a boy seven years her senior.

Still she fights tooth and nail in being married and even when Lorenzo begins to make her feel cared for she still puts up a fight, she will be no one’s charity case. She's wanted Lo all her life but she refuses to have him in a loveless marriage.

Lorenzo wants nothing to do with his father's shady side of business, and to protect Gabriella's heart he marries her to save her father, not that his motives are all innocent, he's had his eyes on Gabby for three years and now that he has a chance to have her he's not too ashamed to take it - and now that he has Gabby he has all the time he needs to make her feel something for him too.

Ella Jade writes intense, passionate and temptation filled romance! Have a you ever wondered what it would be like to be loved by a mafia king's son, the danger, the seduction, the temptation... oh yes, I've been waiting to read a romance like this! We girls love the element of danger, but we also want security, loyalty and passion and Crossfire of Love has them all! Exciting read with all the marshmallow softie emotional cuteness and the sexy as hell seduction of a woman who can't bring herself to resist.

I totally loved Gabby and Lo together, they had sizzling hot chemistry when together, and all that temptation and seduction was delicious to read. I loved Lorenzo's jealous streak too, he wanted to take care of Gabby protect her and love her and when Gabby's FBI friend Andy got in the picture it was yummy to see his temper flare. I absolutely got flutters in the bottom of my tummy with his line on their marriage not being an open one. Talk about burning hot!

I really enjoyed the plot, the suspense and threat of it - Carlos' rivaling family picked up the heat, and made things dangerous for all involved with the Martinez family, and that gave the romance and extra kick. The book was a nice mix between contemporary romance and romantic suspense - all about the romance but with a twist of danger.

With that said if you like watching arrange marriage turn from threat to lust then this is for you, and if you like your heroine's seduced slowly, passionately to love then this really is for you!

Don't miss the Guest Blog "Why I owe my erotic fiction career to my grandmother…" below from the author, Ella Jade!

Rating :

Why I owe my erotic fiction career to my grandmother…

Yes, you read that right. I owe it all to a woman named Stella. A little history to set the stage...

Let's go back to 1981 when Ella Jade was only eight years old. What was she doing on a typical Friday night? She was camped out on her grandparent's family room floor watching Dallas and Falcon Crest. Her parents worked in the restaurant industry, and so she and her brother spent the weekends with her grandparents. They didn't have multiple TV's in every room, no Nickelodeon or Disney Channel and definitely not a DVR to be found. They didn't have VCR's yet! And, let's not even talk about the lack of internet access or Xbox.  So, while her brother played legos, she watched soap operas.

***

It became our Friday night ritual for many years. I couldn't wait for the weekend. I was always so consumed with what J.R. Ewing was going to do next. How was he going to outsmart poor Cliff Barnes? Oh, and I'll NEVER forget that sexy and conniving Richard Channing. Is it any wonder why I have an obsession with older men? And, my son's name is Cole ( a character from Falcon Crest ). Now, of course it took me many years to "mature" with the shows adult themes. In the beginning, I had no idea what was going on. I just knew it was something I shared with my grandmother. It's a time in my life I always look back on with such warm and happy feelings. That was our Friday night line-up until I graduated high school in 1991 and both shows ended their run.

It wasn't just a weekend thing either. As I got older, I would watch Dynasty on Wednesdays and we'd discuss it when I got to her house. I spent entire summers with her and we'd indulge in Young and the Restless and General Hospital. Even though I don't watch them anymore, Sonny Corrinthos will always hold a special place in my heart. We'd spend rainy or snowy Saturday afternoons watching American Movie Classics...Greta Garbo, Gary Grant, Rock Hudson and Grace Kelly fueled the romantic in me.  Put that together with all the soaps I was watching and a writer was born. I learned how to spot the drama and the angst and figured out how to balance that with the right amount of love and the HEA. And, the cliffhanger! My favorite story element. Throw in the sex and you've got Ella Jade...Erotic Fiction Author.

Today, Stella is 82. She now sits in my family room and watches her soaps ( or "stories" as she likes to call them ) while I feverishly type in the dining room or kitchen. Occasionally, in between her naps, she'll call to me, "Are you writing another one of those dirty books?"

Yes, Gran, I am and I owe it all to you.

http://ellajadeauthor.blogspot.com

Ella

REVIEW - RELUCTANT PROTECTOR

"Cassie’s learned to shrink from kindness and to never trust anyone. She knows the day Peter finally captures her will be the day she dies. To elude her brother and save the others, she’ll have to risk her body and her heart. What she doesn't expect is a chance at a normal life."

Author: Nana Malone
Published: Self Published on December 2011
Pages: 62 Pages
Form: E-book (from a tour for an honest review)
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Series: The Protectors #1
Amazon: Buy / $5.47 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see US price )

"For five years, Cassie Reeser has been her brother’s personal lab rat. Peter’s experiments have made her a stronger, faster, better human. And she’s not the only one - he’s been experimenting on others as well. For five years, escape has eluded her. Until now. When she finds out he plans to sell her as a human weapon she knows it’s now or never. To make her escape she’ll sacrifice family bonds and leave behind the one person who’s ever helped her. Cassie’s learned to shrink from kindness and to never trust anyone. She knows the day Peter finally captures her will be the day she dies. To elude her brother and save the others, she’ll have to risk her body and her heart. What she doesn't expect is a chance at a normal life.

Seth Adams is used to sifting through lies to find the truth. As a former war correspondent he knows what evils lurk in the world. When he finds Cassie hiding out in his car trunk, her story sounds like a fantastical dream. But, before long, he witnesses firsthand what she’s talking about when they’re attacked by a group of Peter’s soldiers. As a result, he goes through his own transformation into a super human and realizes the extent of what Cassie is running from. Cassie might not think she needs his protection, but he’ll die before he lets her brother have her back." ~From Goodreads

Fast pace, interesting and dark, Reluctant Protector has a cool Dark Angel feel with its modified human weapons, escaping a facility and generally kicking ass - but it's more than that too, adding up all Cassie's abilities might ruin the plot so I won't do that. ;) The story has a modern urban fantasy feel with suspense and violence woven into it to get an exciting mix.

Sheltered Cassie was an interesting read when she begun to have emotional reaction to Seth, beginning to blush, get hot and bothered and begin to get attached. She still had the cool and collected side that had come with being isolated most of her childhood and imprisoned by her brother who was supposed to love her - but it was interesting to read her come out of her shell.

Seth came off as just a passenger on a ride in the beginning, but then you began to know more about him, about his strength, his skills, being a marine and he suddenly he felt capable even next to Cassie who was nothing to sneer at at 5 foot 2. I really enjoyed reading about Seth and seeing Cassie from his point of view.

The plot was very interesting, I have loved the human weapon stories since Dark Angel and Reluctant Protector didn't disappoint. I liked the action, the fight scenes and the warmth and coldness balance with the characters. Liked it plenty enough to pick up the second book when it comes out!

Rating :

REVIEW - DEACON'S TOUCH

"Deacon begins to warm up to Jessica, but that also means his other dormant desires surface, his desire for control in the bedroom, and he knows it would send a good girl like Jessica running the other way - but Jessica has few fantasies of her own and one of them just might include a cowboy tying her to bed."

Author: Callie Croix
Published: The Wilder Roses Publishing on August 2011
Pages: 110 Pages
Form: E-book ( from the publisher for an honest review )
Genre: Erotic Cowboy Romance (18+ Only)
Series: Cowboy Kink
Amazon: Buy / $5.18 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see US price )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $2.50 (Nook)
The Wilder Rose Press: Buy / $2.50 (Ebook)
Excerpt: Pushing boundaries

Jessica really doesn't want to be at her friend's fiancée’s bachelorette party, she's swamped with work ( just like she likes it ) and squeezing this in last minute is giving her a headache. She misses her plane and has to be picked up late by one of the Dumen boys, one of the seriously hot brothers who run Ranch where the bachelorette weekend is taking place.

Deacon, an Ex-Air Force Pararescueman, has a hard time keeping up his walls around Jessica, the girl's reserved and bit snappish, but when he catches her off guard she's warm and kind - and lights up all kind of fires inside him that he hasn't paid attention to since his divorce and injury.

Deacon begins to warm up to Jessica, but that also means his other dormant desires surface, his desire for control in the bedroom, and he knows it would send a good girl like Jessica running the other way - but Jessica has few fantasies of her own and one of them just might include a cowboy tying her to bed.

Deacon's Touch is a keeper, I sure am going to read it again! Nothing was missing, it had it all, romance, emotions, danger and little bit of kink! It started off as a sweet romance city girl meets hot and injured ( both emotionally and physically ) cowboy, they dance around attraction, finally give in, meet danger and then we get on the kinky side of the romance with some light bondage and bossy Dom attitude, yummy! For a novella it wasn't at all too short, and even managed to get me teary eyed at the end - after all you really really want Deke and Jessie to make it.

I loved Jessie and Deke's chemistry, it was real and believable instead of the insta-love ( which works well in paranormal romance mind you ;) ) that makes me cringe at contemporary romance genre. They had that dancing around each other feel where they both wanted more but didn't think their attention would be necessarily returned and keeping emotional distance was the way to go - but like always one kiss changes it all. Bossy Deke was delicious to read, he had the whole ex-special ops way about him and when spiced with a little Dom and whole lot of cowboy he was irresistible!

This book definitely wet my appetite to read more Dumen brother books, getting to know the brothers a little during the novella gave a great sneak peak at things to come, and I was hooked. Callie Croix has a way of writing sexy, determined and yummy ex-soldiers ( like in Touch Me ) and she gets to the details of things without it harming the story. She can write delicious romance and very hot erotic romance with a light bdsm twist. Having read only two novellas by Callie Croix, I think I can still call myself a fan!

I highly recommend this to cowboy lovers who aren't shy around a little light bondage and erotic play. This is so worth reading!

Rating :

REVIEW - HER COWBOY STUD

"What Trace sees is a gold-digger, he can't fathom why his Uncle left her anything at all in his will - but now she's come to collect month after his uncle's death. The attraction is immediate and he doesn't like it, she's out get money so he has to keep a cool head about it. But when Macy acts truly shocked about what Silas left her he begin to have mixed feelings and having her warm his bed seems more and more like a stellar idea even if she is after money."

Author: Randi Alexander
Published: The Wilder Roses Publishing on March 23rd 2012
Pages: 67 Pages
Form: E-book ( from the publisher for an honest review)
Genre: Erotic Cowboy Romance (18+ Only)
Series: Cowboy Kink
Amazon: Buy / $4.59 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see US price )
Wilder Rose Press: Buy / $1.99 (Ebook)
Excerpt: Kiss Me, Trace

Macy's come to Houston not only to get what a nice older man decided to leave her in his will but also to meet his nephew Trace. She's had a crush on him since seeing his picture that one shared plane ride with Silas - and now she's got her sexy heels on and she's ready to play a little game of seduce with Trace.

What Trace sees is a gold-digger, he can't fathom why his Uncle left her anything at all in his will - but now she's come to collect month after his uncle's death. The attraction is immediate and he doesn't like it, she's out get money so he has to keep a cool head about it. But when Macy acts truly shocked about what Silas left her he begin to have mixed feelings and having her warm his bed seems more and more like a stellar idea even if she is after money.

Macy's about to get what she wanted, Trace, and she's got a bag full of sexy goodies to try out with him, thanks to her job at marketing and selling adult toys. But when she discovers Trace's view on her she's shot down from her rose colored cloud, reality isn't what fantasies are made of.

Her Cowboy Stud is quick pace, entertaining and oh so definitely sexy read! Not a dull moment in it. If you're looking for a don't-put-me-down cowboy romance then this is it! Of course if you are squeamish about adult toys then look away - this cowboy had a sexy dominating streak in the bedroom, and a girl to match his desires.

Macy and Trace made odd bed fellows at first, a cowboy and adult toy saleswoman, not really a sentence you hear a lot, but they have great chemistry, Trace's mistrust and lust for her, and Macy's naive crush on Trace makes for good and entertaining reading, especially when the facts come out and feathers are ruffle one way and another. One of the most delicious scenes is interrupted by the "truths" coming out and even the reader is left sexually frustrated - now that's good romance writing!

I like the cover, I just wish the girl didn't have obvious double D ( maybe even E )  implants it's distractive and makes Macy look cheap, that's my only qualm about the cover. The blurb was great at drawing the reader in, and Alexander writes great, her characters have emotions that are real and not forced and her playful style in the lighter areas is fun to read.

You'll like this if... you like your cowboys in control, your woman daring and misconception ruining a perfectly sexy/great day ( but knowing it will be all fixed and good later )!

Rating :

REVIEW - HARM'S HUNGER

"Harm's well and satisfied after the tint with a stranger in the elevator, too bad it had to be so short, but when he walks in to get the papers signed he's shocked to see Jena in the room with all her brothers, talk about little awkward. When Jena refuses to sign he takes her to Sally's ranch to persuade her, but a storm and crash change all plans."

Author: Patrice Michelle
Published: Self Published on December 2011
Pages: 75 Pages
Form: E-book (from the author for an honest review)
Genre: Cowboy Romance
Series: Bad in Boots #1
Amazon: Buy / $4.59 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see US price )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $1.99 (Nook)

Excerpt: Chapter 1

Jena has come to Texas to sign off her part of the ranch to Harmon Steele Great Aunt Sally's neighbor - or so her brothers think. With a mind of her own she wants to see the ranch first, what she doesn't expect seeing is a hot cowboy in the elevator who grants her one of her fantasies. Too bad it's going to be quick because she has a "signing" to go to.

Harm's well and satisfied after the stint with a stranger in the elevator, too bad it had to be so short, but when he walks in to get the papers signed he's shocked to see Jena in the room with all her brothers, talk about little awkward. When Jena refuses to sign he takes her to Sally's ranch to persuade her, but a storm and crash change all plans.

Jena knows it's not polite but she decides to give Harm one fantasy, just like he gave her one, he didn't know he had, as the crash causes a temporary memory lapse Jena tells Harm she's his girlfriend and they are talking marriage. Commitment phobic Harm sure gets a lot to think about, but Jena also begins to think maybe playing Harm wasn't the best of ideas, the man has a sexy possessive streak a mile wide and as his girl she's inside that mile.

Harm's Hunger is one sexy short novella! It's my introduction to Bad in Boots series and I sure am sold! Staring off with a hot scene in the elevator is not a bad way to kick things off in my book, establishes undeniable attraction well and sets a sexy tempting tone for the rest of the book. Michelle writes completely believable characters and her use of dialogue is great nothing corny of fake about it - which makes for great reading!

Jena was a little sneaky and I loved her for it! Her pretending to be Harm's girlfriend was a nice little walk on the naughty side, and her dilemma when he wanted to have sex was so much fun to read! Harm you just can't help falling for, he's a big built guy, strong, capable, caring, possessive and passionate - and okay I so have a thing for cowboys who don't take no for an answer. ;) Harm was a delicious mix of alpha male and cowboy in the best possible mix, and I loved seeing him begin to get out of his afraid of relationships mode as he contemplates what it would be like to be married to Jena.

So why not 5 stars? Mainly because it was tad bit too short, I loved it a ton but I would have loved it even more if it had had more basic everyday stuff, they were isolated in the ranch during the storm and I would have loved some non-storm time after the storm passed maybe some cold feet on Jena and Harm going after her.

The second book Ty's Temptation is out and I have a chance to read it as well and I have high expectations! But after all Patrice Michelle writes so well it's an absolute joy to read her work, so I'm not worried! ;)

Rating :

GUEST BLOG - ATTRACTED TO ALIEN HOTTIES

The attraction of alien hottie 
in the romance world

Perhaps I’m dating myself, but there was a time when vampires and werewolves were things to be feared. There was no Team Edward or Team Jacob. There were no humans having incredible sex with the living dead or stinky dogs; humans ran in fear of these mythical creatures.They didn’t clamor to get in between the sheets with them!

Let’s face it: romance is all about escaping, whether it be to a different time or place, or indulging in fantasies of being special enough that a super-hot mythical creature would take interest in you, swoop you up from your mundane life to love, worship and cherish you. Maybe even give you a little nip on the neck.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of aliens? Most likely it is the creatures from the movies Alien, or E.T. or the guy they supposedly caught in Roswell with the huge black eyes, big head, and long, skinny body.

It doesn’t exactly make a girl want to jump in between the sheets with one!

My aliens are beautiful creatures in their natural form. Their bodies consist of swirling smoke, each with their own distinct color.  In their human form they are also nice on the eyes: big, hard strong bodies, good looking, intelligent and all have some alpha in them, although some more than others. In fact, it is impossible to tell that they are anything but human, except when the sun goes down and their eyes begin to glow their alien color.

Their stories are very human. They are alpha males in human bodies, yet they all have their vulnerabilities and insecurities. And when they find the human women they love, they worship and cherish them.

So if women can swoon over a stinky dog/human hybrid, or one of the many versions of vampires out there, I think there is room for some hottie aliens. Don’t you?

~Carly Fall

Check out Carly's newest release "Finding My Faith" ( Includes, excerpt and buy links! ) and participate in the giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW - UNFORGIVEN

"When Gage Lawton finds his brother shot dead on his back porch, every shred of evidence points to one person: Gage's former lover, Riley. He and she didn't part ways on good terms, and he's not planning to rekindle anything now--not when he's got a revolver pointed at her head and a finger on the trigger. "

Author: Sarah Ballance
Published: Noble Romance Publishing on September 2011
Pages: 114 Pages
Form: E-book (from a tour for an honest review)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Packing Heat #1
Amazon: Buy / $8.05 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see US price )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $5.00 (Nook)
All Romance Ebooks: Buy / $5.00 (Ebook)
Excerpt: Prologue & Chapter 1

"Riley Beckett's past just came back to haunt her . . . and this time, he's got a gun.

When Gage Lawton finds his brother shot dead on his back porch, every shred of evidence points to one person: Gage's former lover, Riley. He and she didn't part ways on good terms, and he's not planning to rekindle anything now--not when he's got a revolver pointed at her head and a finger on the trigger.

A year after Riley swore she and Gage were over, he returns in a hail of gunfire. One look into those achingly familiar blue eyes and she knows how wrong she was to let him go, but now far more than their heated past stands in the way. A twist of fate puts them in the cross hairs of a killer, leaving Riley with two slim options: trust her greatest betrayer or face a murderer on her own."

Unforgiven starts with a bang and doesn't slow down, from murder to suspecting your ex-love of your life to becoming fugitive things don't come easy to Gage and Riley - but it sure makes for interesting reading! Sarah Ballance writes an action packed story where in its center we have an ex-couple, still in love with each other but enough has happened in their past, from his drinking to her parents death that they are more than weary of connecting again.

I liked Gage, I liked how he'd grown to be a man in the year these two spent apart. He's passionate, commanding and skilled ( and has a yummy jealous streak ) and he was a perfect partner to Riley's character. Riley was a joy to read, she's capable, has a good sense of humor, but a really nice vulnerable side as well. :) The characters are well written, wonderfully real and easy to like and care for, their chemistry works well and you believe the passion and the love.

The plot on its own was great! I like my novels with bit of mystery, loads of action, hot couple and all kinds of yummy sexual tension and Unforgiven provided them all! Half way through the book I was all invested in finding out just who pulled the trigger and how was her brother involved, great mystery! When it comes to things I found have wanted more was sometime between the murder and the flare of emotions again, it felt bit too sudden and bothered me in the beginning along with the teasing and jokes, I felt if my brother had just died or if I'd been shot at it would take me some times to recover. But that soon faded as the story moved and the character journey and the plot won over. Great ride, I do love my romantic suspense with a danger threatening the couple's lives, mystery to discover and whole lot of action!

You'll like this if... romantic suspense is your thing, if you aren't squeamish about guns and if you like action in your stories!

 Rating : 

          Something was wrong. Was the dark playing tricks on her? Riley Beckett froze, arm outstretched, hand poised to toss her keys on the table just inside her front door. But she didn't let go. Instead of dropping them in their usual spot, instinct whispered for her to feather pieces of the makeshift weapon between her knuckles. Heart pounding, she pressed the keys in a silent, white-knuckle grip and prayed her concerns were her imagination, that the paranoia of coming home alone to a dark house was getting the better of her.

          One, two steps in. Wood planks echoed underfoot. She fought to breathe in air that grew thinner with every tense second.

          Three steps.

          Then it hit her. The scent. His scent. And with it a flush of memories. The burn of hot grass on her bare skin. Rough hands, a tender touch. Love so sweet she ached for it, her dreams raging, and her body drenched with need.

          Their first time.

          Her last.

          "Gage?" Her voice broke on the single syllable. Riley's grip on the keys tightened, her blood raging hot and cold all at once.

          A creak sounded from the corner chair. Her eyes refused to adjust in the darkness, but not even the faint light kept the blond streaks in his russet hair from giving him away. Like rays of sunshine, she used to tease, and her words never failed to draw a scowl across his rugged face.

          "Riley."

          God help her, her name on his lips sounded as it always had. Coarse. Dangerous. Forbidden. Even before . . . The memory surged, hot and vivid, leaving a metallic taste in her mouth. White heat assaulted her from every corner of the room.

          The keys fell to the floor with a clink.

          "An eye for an eye, is it?" His voice sounded unpracticed, as if he hadn't spoken in a long while.

          She couldn't see his face, but she knew his expression. Flat and humorless. Broken. She remembered the day he stopped smiling. Every part of her wanted to flee, but she stood frozen to the spot.

          "What do you mean?" Riley wondered if the words, whispered and weak, had the strength to make it across the room. Hadn't she always known she'd shatter the next time she saw him? Hadn't she dreamed of it anyway?

          "You have to ask?" Gage laughed, cold and hollow. "Billy's dead. Hell of a thing to come home to, Riley. My brother blown to bits on my back porch."

          "Oh, God." Riley swayed, bile rising in her throat. The room filled with a distant buzzing. She took one unsteady step to the side and stumbled.
      
          When she found his gaze, it was over the business end of a revolver.

          He leveled the gun in her direction. Everything else in her world trembled, but his aim held rock steady. Unyielding.
        
          His eyes burned blue and bright. "What I want to know, sweetheart, is why you did it."

          He worked his finger over the trigger, and a veil of blackness threatened her last discerning thought.

Noble Romance

REVIEW - A BRUSH OF DARKNESS & A SLIVER OF SHADOW (WITH GIVEAWAY)

"Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister..."

Author: Allison Pang
Published: Pocket Publishing on January 2011
Pages: 343 Pages
Form: E-book (from a tour for an honest review)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Abby Sinclair #1
Amazon: Buy / $7.99 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see US price )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $7.99 (Nook)
Excerpt: Chapter 1

"The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.

Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts.

Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her." ~From Goodreads

Rating :

Author: Allison Pang
Published: Pocket Publishing on February 2012
Pages: 384 Pages
Form: E-book (from a tour for an honest review)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Abby Sinclair #2
Amazon: Buy / $9.65 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see US price )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $7.99 (Nook)
Excerpt: Chapter 1

"Just when her new life as a TouchStone — a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds — seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed.

The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding elven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves." ~From Goodreads

Rating :

Witty, quirky and unique! From humping unicorns to paintings sucking the life out of you A Brush of Darkness is one wildly weird ride with tons of witty dialogue and fast pace action, and one deliciously hot incubus as sneaky as they get prowling around our heroine.

Abby comes out strong and brash, but the reader also gets a climbs into her mind where she wishes her bravado with creatures who could crush her like a bug, would just a little bit less snappy. A smart heroine with all the right tools to be awesome - cute, quirky and magically blessed Abby is a heroine worth praising!

Now Brystion, oh this is one hot incubus, all swagger, sex and innuendo, and it's all just bit too much for Abby. Tall, built, dark long hair, sexy golden eyes, mouth made for sin - and then a bad boy as hot as that gives all his focus on you, how is a girl not supposed to end up puddle of happy, girly, hot mess. Of course there is the fact he can kill you, and has more agendas that Bush - and you so cannot trust him. Oh, who am I kidding that's just the icing on the cake!

The romance is there but it's not the main focus, Abby and Brystion's relationship is seductive and budding, but it's not the love conquers all, but more a broken, half desperate love that is but shouldn’t be. Which is very hot in its own regard!

A Sliver of Shadow picks up where A Brush of Darkness left off, babysitter for fairy princess's baby boy with wings, guarded by a brooding fairy prince with a eye batch and having one snarky ex-incubus lover is the setting where this novel starts from. Keeping up with Pang's signature quirkiness and oddness A Sliver of Shadow is a yummy sequel to A Brush of Darkness, but Abby has much more responsibility on her plate now, and it suits her and makes the story both dangerous and hilarious!

This is for you if... you love quirky and unique Urban Fantasy with one sassy heroine and one brooding bad boy hero ( of sorts ) and lots of dreams.

( First image: Mel, Phin, Abby and Brystion - Second image: Moira, Nobu, Talivar and Brystion in human form )

Get your hands on your own copy of A Sliver of Shadow here!
Total of ten copies will go to ten lucky winners tour wide!

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