Dark Lycan (Carpathian (Dark) #24) by Christine Feehan

Blurb…

Tatijana of the Dragonseekers spent centuries encased in ice with her sister, trapped in limbo between life and death, never speaking to a soul other than those who tormented her. Now, she has been freed from her frozen prison by an unknown descendent. Awakened in human form, Tatijana yearns to explore the modern world in which she now lives—a world with more mysteries than she is prepared for.

Fenris Dalka has returned to the Carpathian Mountains after a long absence to be with his brother. He is scarred by centuries of battle, and every hard-won victory. But the real reason for his return home could prove deadly if discovered by the wrong man—or woman. Upon his arrival, he is compelled by a beautiful and enigmatic stranger who carries the scent of fresh earth, of forest, of the night itself.

In time Tatijana and Fenris will discover all that unites them—their secrets and pasts, their predators, and the hot flush of passion that stirs their souls. Yet just as surely, seduced into the silvery darkness of a full-moon night, they’ll also discover everything ancient and evil that exists to destroy them.

This book is absolutely amazing. I'm not joking when I say that, start to finish, Dark Lycan is white knuckles, edge of your seat action. As I said before, the Carpathian's world is changing in ways I never imagined it would. It's becoming more dangerous, more complex, and the stories are almost impossible to put down!

Tatijana of the Dragonseekers lineage, after centuries of captivity at the hands of her depraved great grandfather Xavier an evil and powerful Mage, is tired of resting. She's finally free and she's ready to spread her wings - no pun intended - and learn of the world that evolved while she was trapped in an icy tomb. While out and about she finds herself in the company of Fenris Dalka, a man who is much more than he appears to be, a man with secrets he wants to keep hidden. It doesn't take long for them to realize that they are lifemates and, once they do, the passion they share sets the pages on fire.

I am always amazed at Christine Feehan's imagination. The worlds she creates are unlike any others in their genres - and if there are similar worlds it's likely because she was copied. The stories are fast paced, exciting adventures filled with danger, romance and passion. They keep you guessing, keep you trying to puzzle out the problem, and keep you turning the pages into the wee hours of the night - or morning.

I'm thrilled to have picked up the Carpathians again. I didn't realize how much I was missing them!

How to Run With A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

How to Run With A Naked Werewolf is the third book in Molly Harper’s Naked Werewolf series, and probably my favorite of the three. It’s fun, sassy, sexy, exciting… entertaining, start to finish!

Molly Harper is one funny author! She’s got a talent for writing stories that pull me in and don’t let go because they’re not only interesting, but romantic and witty, too. The dialogs – both spoken and internal - are filled with tongue in cheek humor, and I find that I just can’t help but fall in love with the main couples, over and over again.

This particular story was a bit more angsty and poignant as it touches on spousal abuse in some of its darkest forms. While it wasn’t terribly graphic, there’s enough there to know that things were not pretty. It tore my heart out to know what Anna endured and gave me the insights I needed to understand why she continually runs, especially from the people she cares about.

I simply adored Caleb! There was something so naïve and vulnerable about him and yet, so extraordinarily alpha, too. His desire to protect Anna from harm while at the same time allow her to be herself was absolutely endearing and has made him my favorite hero of the series, so far.

Despite Anna’s background, she was just plain fun! I loved how she thought she was being so clever, pulling the wool over Caleb’s eyes, only to learn that regardless of what she did, he still loved her. This added a certain… something… to their relationship that had me cheering them on towards their happily ever after!

My thanks to Pocket Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!

How to Run with A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

How to Run with A Naked Werewolf is the third book in Molly Harper’s Naked Werewolf series, and probably my favorite of the series, so far. It’s fun, sassy, sexy, exciting… entertaining, start to finish!

Cover Blurb:

Caleb Graham is a werewolf by nature, a tracker by profession. He uses his “extra gifts” to find people, and not always in the most legal or ethical manner. He doesn’t care what they’ve done, or who wants them found, as long as his considerable fee is paid. He likes his life simple and uncomplicated.

Anna Moder, former physician to Caleb’s pack, happens across Caleb during a particularly violent “negotiation” that has left him bloodied and unconscious. She helps him, despite the fact that he’s cost her a car, so he insists that she stay with him on the road for a while. As they grow closer, Anna looks past the gruff exterior and and the questionable job to thoroughly decent werewolf underneath.

Anna – who is careful to edit her involvement with Caleb’s pack from their conversations – doesn’t talk about why a nice girl wants to live in the middle of frozen nowhere, but she’s obviously on the run from something. When Anna’s past collides with Caleb’s current assignment from one of his sleazier contacts, Caleb finally has to make a choice—protect his job…or his potential mate?

Full review to come, closer to release date!

Available for pre-order -

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper and Amanda Ronconi

Nothing sucks the romance out of world travel like a boyfriend who may or may not have broken up with you in a hotel room in Brussels. Jane Jameson's sexy sire Gabriel has always been unpredictable, but the seductive, anonymous notes that await him at each stop of their international vacation, coupled with his evasive behavior over the past few months, finally push Jane onto the next flight home to Half Moon Hollow -- alone, upset, and unsure whether Gabriel just ended their relationship without actually telling her.

Now the children's-librarian-turned-vampire is reviving with plenty of Faux Type O, some TLC from her colorful friends and family, and her plans for a Brave New Jane. Step One: Get her newly renovated occult bookstore off the ground. Step Two: Support her best friend, Zeb, and his werewolf bride as they prepare for the impending birth of their baby...or litter. Step Three: Figure out who's been sending her threatening letters, and how her hostile pen pal is tied to Gabriel. Because for this nice girl, surviving a broken heart is suddenly becoming a matter of life and undeath.

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Audio Book Review

The Story:

Nice Girls Don’t Live Forever is the third book in Molly Harper’s Jane Jameson series, which is a cross between Contemporary and Paranormal Romance, with the slightest hint of Chick-lit.

As is always the case with Molly Harper, the storytelling is brilliant. My earlier slight disappointment in the world building is gone, and this story is romantic, funny, sexy, fast paced, and at times poignant. The story takes place in the quirky small town of Half Moon Hollow where vampires have been ‘out of the closet’ for a while now, and share the air with humans, ghouls, witches, ghosts, and werewolves. Makes for some interesting reading!!

The Audio:

Amanda Ronconi does a phenomenal job of bringing Jane Jameson and her friends to life. Her voice is just rough enough to give Jane the edge you'd expect from a sassy vampire, as well as give all of the characters truly distinctive voices. I love that I know who's speaking without the "Jane said..." or "Jolene said..." Honestly, Ms. Ronconi is a very talented narrator!

Once again I can wholeheartedly recommend this amazing author/narrator team!

A Kiss of Blood by Pamela Palmer

A Kiss of Blood is the second book in Pamela Palmer’s Vamp City series, and while this too is dark, provocative, and sexy, as is the first book, we see a more compassionate side to both Arturo and Quinn. I became more invested in the beings who live in Washington, VC, and wanted to see them set free from the nightmare that was becoming their lives. Without a doubt, this world Ms. Palmer has created is unique, the characters complex, and once I started, I couldn’t put it down.

From the cover:

One of the few humans who managed to escape the deadly twilight world of Vamp City, Quinn Lennox vows to never return. But the vampires want her back, for only she has the power to renew the magic of their crumbling world and free the vampires trapped within.

When the dangerous and all-too-seductive Arturo Mazza comes for her, Quinn knows she can never trust him after the betrayal she suffered at his hands. But with her beloved brother's fate hanging in the balance, and her own power beginning to emerge, she chooses to risk all on yet another perilous journey back to Vamp City. And though she tries to deny it, her heart begins to hold hope that even a ruthless vampire can learn the meaning of true love.

The truth is, Quinn Lennox only cares about one thing; her brother, Zack, who’s dying as a result of magic poisoning. Unless Quinn can renew the magic that allows Vamp City to exist, the city will die, along with all who reside in it – including Zack. Quinn doesn’t care about the barbaric and bloodthirsty beings who live there, but to save Zack, she must save them as well. And so it continues…

I truly enjoyed this exciting installment of the Vamp City series! Talk about a riveting story! In my review of book #1, A Blood Seduction, I said that I wasn’t sure if Arturo could be redeemed because he was a selfish, self serving, bastard! A gamma hero, through and through. Willing to send Quinn to her death to get what he wanted… for him, the end always justified the means. But in this book, he really is coming around and that makes me very happy.

Will Quinn save Vamp City? Will she and Arturo ever work out their issues? What the heck is happening to Zack?? I’ll have to wait until the next book to find out. Talk about a cliff hanger!!!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review!