Book Review: Kiss Me, Bite Me by Sayara St. Clair

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

KISS ME, BITE ME (Blood Kissed #1) by Sayara St. Clair is described as a vampire paranormal romance, but it does not become a paranormal romance until well over halfway through the story. Normally because of this delay I would be disappointed, but the author’s writing, dialogue and contemporary romance in the beginning of the book is very well written and kept me reading and enjoying Kayana and Greg’s story.

Kayana Castello Branco is a scientist who studies blood. She overcame an abusive childhood and has never been secure in herself. Her one long-term relationship was lukewarm and ended the moment she bumped into a gorgeous stranger at a conference, but of course, with her luck he is taken.

Eight months later, Greg Morgan cannot believe his good fortune. He once again has run into the beautiful woman he could not forget. He is now free and the sparks are flying. Both Kayana and Greg believe they are the other’s soulmate. Their relationship and sex are beyond perfect until Greg disappears.

When Greg reappears, both Kayana and Greg want to return to their perfect relationship, but Greg is having control issues over his newly turned reality. Fangs and an insatiable thirst for blood may ruin this romance.

I enjoyed Kayana and Greg and was pulled into their romance. They were both unlucky in love until they found each other and then it was explosive. There are explicit sex scenes, but they are well written and interwoven into the plot. The author has written realistic and witty dialogue that added to the emotional pull between the characters. It is hard to categorize this book because the paranormal turn starts so late in the book, but even with the switch, I still was satisfied with the hero and heroine’s HEA. My only problem was that I do not feel that the cover is right for this book based on Kayana’s description and Greg grew the fangs.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Book Review: Embracing Her Heart by Melissa Foster

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

Once again I can say when I sit down with a Melissa Foster contemporary romance, I am never disappointed. I might debate if the plot was or was not my favorite, but I am ALWAYS in love with her characters!

EMBRACING HER HEART (The Bradens & Montgomerys, #1) by Melissa Foster is a second chance contemporary romance that had me swooning over the hero and empathizing with the heroine. This book is part of the Love In Bloom romance collection which can all be read as standalones.

Grace Montgomery has returned to her small hometown for a three week vacation from her hectic life as a writer/producer in NYC. Years before, she graduated high school and could not get out of town fast enough even though she was leaving her loving family and high school boy friend behind. She was off to chase her dream and leave her small town ways behind.

Reed Cross has always loved working with his hands and becomes a leading historical preservationist. He is back home after is uncle suffers a heart attack. He has always felt something was missing in his life and when he has a chance encounter with Grace and her sisters it brings make memories he has been trying to forget.

They only have three weeks. Do they still feel the same even with the years they spent apart? Reed is home to stay, but Grace has commitments and a life she fought to achieve in NYC. She is no longer that small town girl. Can they make it work?

Grace and Reed are characters that could walk off the pages, they are so realistic. I especially love that there are no misunderstandings that they do not talk out. This whole story is about communicating and respect. I felt like Grace, being the oldest in my large family, I could not wait to run away to college. When you come home, you realize what is really important and childhood issues are not necessarily how you deal with your siblings as adults. The romance pacing is realistic and the sex scenes are hot. I can highly recommend this book for a heartwarming and sexy second chance romance!

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Feature Post: Cold Justice Series Books #1-3 by Toni Anderson

  

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

This is one of my favorite Romantic suspense series!

The first three books are in a box set which makes it easy for you to download the start of this great series. Ms. Anderson is already up to book #10 in this series. When you have reading time, this is the series for you to start and fall in love with especially if you love Romantic suspense. Hot, sexy and intelligent heroes and heroines with nonstop suspense plots that will keep you turning the pages. (All of the books can be read as standalones, but there is some character crossover.)

***

A COLD DARK PLACE (Cold Justice, #1) – Mini Review

Mallory Rooney has worked her whole life to become an FBI agent and solve the abduction case of her identical twin from their bedroom when they were 9 years old. She believes in the justice system, not vigilantism. With the execution style death of a serial killer, Mallory begins to suspect a vigilante is using information from inside the FBI. She wants him stopped and jailed.

Alex Parker, former soldier, former CIA, now assassin for The Gateway Project has an agreement to ignore his conscience for three years and eliminate proven serial killers before they kill more victims and destroy more families in exchange for getting him out of a Moroccan Prison.

As the FBI tries to catch a serial killer who is abducting and killing young women from the same area Mallory’s sister was taken 18 years previously,  Alex meets Mallory. At first he is there to make sure she does not identify him as the vigilante, but he soon only wants to protect her as the killer has Mallory in his sites.

So many secrets, not just from Alex, but from everyone around Mallory. The ending was very satisfying. The suspense is nonstop and the romance is hot. I loved this book and cannot wait to continue on in this series.

***

COLD PURSUIT (Cold Justice, #2) – Mini Review

This book starts with an intense mall attack by terrorists while single mom, Vivi Vincent and her son, Michael are shopping and enjoying the holiday season. FBI agent Jeb Brennen is also in the mall with no weapon, while on vacation. A bomb goes off and then the shooting begins.

The plot continues to escalate at a heart-pounding rate. The terrorists find out Michael was hiding in a cabinet in the toy store during the attack and they do not know what he witnessed or heard. The danger continues far after the mall attack.

The characters are all complex, even the terrorists. Ms. Anderson brings to light how very complex the politics are in the Middle East with a surprising twist. The romantic elements are paced and handled realistically. The plot and action start with a bang and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

***

COLD LIGHT OF DAY (Cold Justice, #3) – Mini Review

Physicist Scarlett Stone’s father is dying in prison and she wants nothing more than to prove this former FBI agent wrongly accused and imprisoned. He was accused of being a spy for the Russians. Using a false identity, Scarlett gains access to the Russian ambassador’s Christmas party and attempts to bug the embassy, but sets the true spies on a deadly path to remain unknown.

Former Navy SEAL, now FBI Special Agent, Matt Lazio is attracted to Scarlett and when he finds out she lied to him about her identity he hunts her down. As agents from her father’s case begin to die, Matt wonders if the FBI still has a traitor and the true spy is still free.

Scarlett and Matt are a sizzling hot couple! The suspense plot keeps intensifying at a fast pace as the real spy fights to remain unknown. I really liked the plot twist at the end.

***

Toni Anderson – NY Times and USA Today international bestselling author.

Ms. Anderson writes dark, gritty Romantic suspense novels that have hit the Amazon and Nook Top 10 and iBooks Top 50.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Before It’s Too Late by Sara Driscoll

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE (FBI K-9 #2) by Sara Driscoll is an edge-of-your-seat FBI K-9 crime thrill ride! I enjoyed the first book in this series and this addition to the series did not let me down. I had to continue turning the pages without stop anxious for the team to catch the killer, but also dreading the next type of asphyxia used on each victim.

As women go missing, their dogs are found with coded messages attached to their leashes all addressed to Special Agent Meg Jennings. As the FBI cryptanalysts decode the messages, Meg and Hawk, as well as the other FBI K-9 team members race to save the women from a horrific death. It is a deadly game in which each woman bears a striking resemblance to Meg.

Meg cannot let these women be substitutes for her any longer. She breaks the FBI rules and brings in her sister, Cara who is talented with codes and puzzles and Clay McCord a reporter who is extremely well versed in Civil War history to solve each clue sooner to give the team more time to rescue the abducted women.

When Cara and another woman are abducted, Meg is told by the killer she cannot use any law enforcement to help. Can she save her sister in time? Will she have to let another die in her place? These games have to end and it is time to unmask this killer who keeps killing Meg over and over again.

Meg and Hawk are such an interesting team. If you love dogs added to your stories, this is the series to follow. This is a suspense/thriller series with just a hint at romance for the future. It was great to follow all of the team again, but this book also goes more in depth into Meg and Cara’s private lives. This story is full of action, thrills and chilling methods used by the killer. (The first death is a primal fear of so many, including me.) I am looking forward to reading more of this series in the future!

Feature Post: Burning Up by Jennifer Blackwood

I am very excited to be sharing this feature post from Jennifer Blackwood.

Below you will find a message from the hero of Burning Up, an excerpt from the book and a Rafflecopter giveaway. This looks to be the start of sizzling hot firefighter romance series!

 

 

Message From Jake Bennett, Hero from Burning Up

Hey, everyone. I’m Jake Bennett. I’m thirty-two and live in Portland, Oregon (Jesus, this sounds like I’m creating a dating profile, which I am definitely not). I’m a firefighter and single parent. Firefighting just came naturally as a career choice. My grandfather was a firefighter. Loved to take me to the station when I was a kid, and I haven’t wanted to do anything else ever since my four-year-old self held a hose. And why would I? I get to help people in need and my day is never boring when I get to spend it with my best buddies. Besides my job, my twelve-year-old daughter Bailey keeps me on my toes. I’ve Googled and YouTubed more than I’d care to admit to keep current on her latest obsessions (seriously, I know way too much about winged eyeliner and HTML coding).

It’s been me and Bailey for over a decade and we’re not looking to add to the family. See, after her mom skipped town on us when she was a baby, I’ve had a tough time trusting people. There are a few people I do trust, which include my firefighter brothers and my best friend’s little sister, Erin Jenkins. She’s back in town for the summer, and after ten years of not seeing her, she’s not the girl next door I remember. She has curves for days, blonde hair I want to sink my fingers into, and a mouth that drives me absolutely mad. She’s off limits and yet somehow, I decided it’d be a good idea to ask her as my date to my sister’s wedding (I claim sleep deprivation and a temporary loss of sanity).

And once we get to the wedding, we’re stuck in the same hotel room together.

Someone upstairs must be tempting me, because Erin is everything that I could ever want in a woman. Smart, sexy, and irresistible. But right now, I need to focus on being a parent. I made a promise to myself and Bailey that she’d be my number one until she went off to college. There’s also the fact that Erin is leaving at the end of the summer. It’d be stupid to contemplate something that already has an expiration date. Right?

Burning Up Excerpt

“Jake, honey, can you get more ice?” Jake’s mom called from down the table.

Without as much as a glance, his chair scratched against the hardwood floor as he backed away from the table. “Sure.”

Erin caught his hand before he could make it past. “Mind if I come, too?” The thought of sitting at the table and making small talk was enough to give her hives. Plus, she’d get this weirdness all out in the open because she wasn’t going to spend all weekend with him if he was going to act like a spooked horse.

Jake looked from the hallway back to the table, clearly debating his strategy. After a few moments, he nodded.

“I think it’s in the storage room over here,” he said. It was to the point where he wasn’t even looking at her now. What the hell had she done?

Before he could disappear into the room, she grabbed his arm again.

“Jake.”

He swiveled to face her, his eyes nearly melting her into a puddle of goo. Girl. Get ahold of yourself. It’s just a freaking man. Her body and mind were obviously on different terms. “Yeah?”

“Listen, this is just getting weird. Right? It’s not just me?”

He quirked a brow. “Weird how?”

“Don’t you play it off like it’s all me.” Erin did have a knack for making situations awkward, but there was no way she was the only one experiencing this level of discomfort. She put her hands on her hips. He had to feel this, too. One minute they were laughing like old times, the next, she was subject zero of an infectious disease. “It’s like I have the plague or something.”

“Do you have the plague?” he asked, clearly amused.

“No.” Copious amounts of hand sanitizer ensured that. “But you’re treating me like I do.”

“I’m not treating you like you have the plague.”

“Poisonous warts? Dengue fever? Halitosis? Take your pick,” she said.

He moved closer to her, his scent, a mix of cologne, beer, and mint encasing her. She’d like to say she didn’t inhale it creepily, but she was still Erin Jenkins.

“None of the above.” He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple climbing his throat.

“Then what is it?” She was at the point she almost wished she hadn’t come. At least then, she could live in her delusional bubble of reminiscing about the way things used to be, when he actually hung out with her.

Perfectly straight teeth raked across his bottom lip. “Being around you just brings back a lot of memories.”

“Hopefully not embarrassing ones.”

“Those are the best kind.”

“I see.” That was not an answer she’d been expecting. Play it cool. Yeah, she was never good at listening to her inner chi.

“Erin, as gorgeous as you are in that unfairly tight dress, you are my best friend’s sister. I work with Reece. I don’t want to lose my kneecaps because of something stupid I’d do.”

“You want to do something stupid?”

He grinned, his eyes lighting up into the dangerous glint he used to have when he was younger and about to do something that he’d absolutely regret. The one that always made Erin’s knees wobble like jelly. “Yes. Insanely stupid.”

His fingers brushed against her cheek, scorching a trail down her jawline.

“Tell me, Erin. Do people still use the word ravish?”

Damn it. So he had heard her earlier. When she thought she’d kept her thoughts in her head—where they belonged. She fought back a cringe and squared her shoulders. She was a grown woman and would own up to it.

“Those who read material other than Firefighters Monthly, yes.”

“A lesser man might be offended.” He took a step forward, and she parroted the move, taking a step back, her back hitting the wall. His arms bracketed her head, caging her in. “Feel free to peruse my science fiction selection anytime you want.”

She rolled her eyes. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d call that for what it is—the worst pickup line in existence.”

“Trust me, Erin, even if I dropped my best pickup line on you, it wouldn’t work.” He closed his eyes and took a steadying breath.

“Is that so?” Little did he know that he could use single-word commands, and she’d be playing her own version of “What Would You Do for a Klondike Bar?” Except instead of ice cream, her prize would be in the form of licking other things.

***

About the Book

Title: Burning Up

Author: Jennifer Blackwood

Release Date: May 8, 2018

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Series: Flirting with Fire, #1

Summary

Unemployed schoolteacher Erin Jenkins is back in Portland, the town she hasn’t called home for more than a decade. It’s not the way she wants to spend her last days of summer: in between jobs and avoiding her mother’s snooping by escaping to the ice-cream aisle. But when the opportunity arises for her to accompany her brother’s best friend—her lifetime crush—to a wedding, summer gets a whole lot more interesting.

Firefighter and single dad Jake Bennett has built a nice, safe wall around his heart—no romance, no getting burned. That doesn’t mean he’s ruling out a fling. Considering Erin’s visit is temporary, they’re the perfect fit for a scorching no-strings one-night stand. Or two. Or five. Until the worst thing happens: Erin and Jake are feeling more. Damn that four-letter word.

Now their hearts are on the line, and when their smoldering summer comes to a close, it’s going to be harder than ever to put out the fire.

 

Author Biography

Jennifer Blackwood is the USA Today bestselling author of the Rule Breakers, Drexler University, and Snowpocalypse series. Aside from writing contemporary romance, Blackwood teaches English in Oregon, where she lives with her husband, son, and unruly black Lab puppy. When she isn’t writing or teaching, you can find her binge-watching some of her favorite TV shows, such as Supernatural and Gilmore Girls.

Social Media Links

Website: www.jenniferblackwood.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferBlackwood

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jen_blackwood

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8532549.Jennifer_Blackwood

Rafflecopter Giveaway

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Book Review: No Darker Place by Debra Webb

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

NO DARKER PLACE (Shades of Death #1) by Debra Webb is an intense, psychological thriller with a sadistic serial killer who had me checking my own doors before bed. This is an edge of your seat read. (Please Be Aware: This book does contain graphic violence. I would also suggest that you read the prequel, The Blackest Crimson first.)

Detective Bobbie Gentry has recovered physically and returned to duty after her escape from the notorious serial killer, The Storyteller. Mentally, she has only one goal, find and kill the killer who destroyed her family.

Nick Shade understands Bobbie’s desire for vengeance. He has a secret past of his own. He is on the hunt for The Storyteller and he knows his best chance of catching him is to stay close to Bobbie, the only person to survive The Storyteller. Nick is finding it difficult to stay emotionally uninvolved as Bobbie becomes more and more reckless as people she knows become victims.

Will Nick protect Bobbie from herself even if his target gets away? Bobbie has to decide if she can trust this stranger, who can read her so well. Can both of these broken people come together to stop The Storyteller from finishing Bobbie’s story?

This thriller has so many psychological twists and turns in all of the characters, not just the serial killer. At times it can be almost too intense and yet, I could not put it down. Bobbie’s backstory is heart wrenching. Nick’s backstory is being revealed gradually throughout the book and I was continually surprised. The Storyteller is terrifying.

I am really looking forward to reading more in this series to see how Bobbie and Nick proceed forward with their lives.