Tempted By Fire

Tempted By Fire by Erin Kellison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I initially picked up this book because I really enjoy Erin Kellson's writing. It being a ARC is a total perk! I started with her Shadow series then moved on to her Reveler series now she has moved on to Dragon shifters hallelujah! Apparently she has no lack of creativity~

Tempted by Fire was no hardship to read, with this new world created by EK you get different kinds of shifters several vampire cameos and a look into the hardship life of Dragon kin.

6 centuries can feel like an eternity to finally have a resolution to the murder of your wife and child! That is exactly where Thane Ealdian stands with the remains of his family finally surfaced his hope is to ferret out who the killer was a dish out his vengeance. There are only a couple obstacles: Another Bloodkin family has laid claim to the leftover fragments of what he held dear, the other is the mediator Emerson Clark who happens to be a fiery dragon female. Emerson's job is to work as the go between with both families to negotiate where the remains truly belong.

With evidence incriminating Heolstor family, Thane's only thought is of blood! Killing, revenge, then maybe his trip to Havyn to give the dragon with in his final flight. Yet the Night Song that stirred his dragon was beginning to dim as a new distraction seem far more entertaining, Emerson.

Emerson Clark, cannot wait for this last assignment to come to an end. She is over the glitz and glam of the Bloodkin's wealth. Sounds crazy right!? See the problem is the luxurious living comes with them controlling you too. She can't even have dinner without someone watching her checking in on her and the fact she has no life outside of work. She craves a life of her own.

Just as other books written by EK the characters are always well define, thought out and head strong. You always get a crystal clear picture of who you are reading about. Emerson was delightful, she herself doubted being part dragon and you get these tiny breadcrumbs throughout the pages that shed light on her more Bloodkin tendencies. I felt the beginning kinda slow but then it picks up and moves at a much steadier pace. The sex was not over the top for those who like the innuendo but not the blow by blow descriptive, yet you still have the passion and fire. Thane was total alpha and who doesn't like that in a shifter romance?? I felt the supporting characters had importance as well and I look forward to see who gets a book of their own. All in all once I stopped trying to pronounce the family names and focused on the actual storyline I couldn't put it down. I will say after The Reveler series this book was good, but God The Reveler series is phenomenal. So high hopes for where it all leads~

I will most definitely read all that this series has in the future. It was really good and it can only get better with this author!

I received this for an honest review.


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The Highwayman (Victorian Rebels #1)

The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kerrigan Byrne has to be one of my all time top favorite authors. She has a knack for blending the fiercest alpha males with their equally feminine counterpart. I have read almost everyone of her books and swooned accordingly.

Dougan and Farah's story will sweep you up like a tornado. It gives and gives and gives all these complex situations and furiously I read on. I have a large portion of this book highlighted due to the carefully constructed passages that were breathtakingly poetic and moving!

Their bond started while both were young and in an orphanage. Young love is the purest kind. To have that love and acceptance was something foreign to Dougan. One taste of love and Dougan was hooked. The orphanage was where they came together and it was also what forced them apart.

Fates cold caress never left Dougan he was imprisoned at a very young age and suffered what no human should. Every kind of abuse imaginable was forced upon him and Dougan perished while in prison. Through the darkness the Blackheart of Ben More emerged (Dorian) demolishing Dougan's enemies in his wake. While incarcerated a gang of boys formed an alliance and together nothing could stop them. They remembered all the memories Dougan shared of his Fairy and those cherished moments helped them all face the shadows.

Farah leads a bluestocking life as a clerk in a police department. The startling and curious response she had when encountering the Blackheart alarmed her to no end. This chance occurrence lead her truly down a rabbit hole, for everything she knew was about to be turned upside down.

This book was one of the best historical romance I have ever read, it's like all Kerrigan's books lead to this new series. OMG I cannot wait for the next installment. It grips you much like the Maiden Lane series be Elizabeth Hoyt. If you enjoyed her writing you will without a doubt ADORE this book!! The writing is smooth and fluent. Some parts were so poetic that I had to reread them over and over. The love , strength and endurance her characters go through is astonishing. They preserver but sometimes when you have been drowned and submerged in the darkest moments of your life you are forever tainted and even though you made it through part of you can be lost. Good thing I believe in Fairy's.

I was overwhelmed with emotion and hope while reading this. Holding my breath with every encounter Farah had with Dorian Blackwell. The intensity at which he needed to possesses her body and soul makes you yearn for that kind of adoration. The moments when he did take her were exquisite delicious. When they were intimately engrossed with each other these moments they are small works of art the heat and passion is molten. Carefully written and constructed vividly descriptive and leaves you quivering.

I received this for an Honest review. I honestly think you should read this book and ALL the other books this women writes!!


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Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs, #1)

Stolen and Forgiven by Alexandra Ivy
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Stolen

This collaboration has a familiar shifter feel in totally unique setting. Kind of like a dystopian shifter romance.

Years after a virus thinned out human existence shifters came forward to help save the human race.

Their thanks was incarceration, branding and why not collar them as well for good measure.

Small community living has enormous down fall for a large group of people suck in tight quarters. With that being said imagine being a shifter, knowing that if you haven't found your true soul-MATE you probably never will. How could you? You are locked up with the same people you have been for decades.

Holden the Alpha has hard choices to deal with everyday between being forced to brand and collar all of his people even the children and the feeling of being trapped and at his wit's end all comes to a halt the instant he smells her. The thought of just letting her bleed out and die when there is a way she could be saved is unacceptable. Not to mention the retribution his pack will suffer if a dead human is found in their compound.

Ariel has had a less than perfect life. Parents are dead, growing up in an orphanage was her all time low or so she thought. I think lab-rat and a real live game of operation just made it to the top of her shitiest moments list. Tossed away like garbage into the Wolves compound with death closely nipping at her heals. In that moment of darkness she never imagined emerging a wolf.


I found the plot to be inventive but the usual flow was not there. Not to mention the sex, it was really choppy. You didn't get any heat from it, no titillation or yearning to run home a strip it down. It felt clumsy. What also brought the rating down for me was the first chapters seem to have an abundance of repeating going on. The need to run, the way the submissive wolves where described. No poetic eloquence. Not to mention the part where she just wants Holden to "Make her feel good" totally made me think of Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry in Monster's Ball. No Romance.


Forgiven

Now for the second installment Forgiven, this one was very different. Like night and day. The chemistry was bubbling and overflowing. Loved it. The story had a building up tempo that had you powering through the pages.

Holden's pack feared retaliation from what happened with the doctor. They expected punishment just not in the form of sharing the small living compound they had. With the tigers no less. Higher Powers that be expected them to just fight and let themselves thin the herd. The shifters where smarter than that. They have been in communication for years and the key players in each community already had some history. The in the sheets kind.

Cora the tiger princess is less than happy to see the only male her cat wanted to mate with, Soren. Soren took one for the team and mated in his own pack. Back then the Alpha wasn't mated the pack needed stability. Yet the guilt he holds due to his young mate dying is a palpable thing, so strong that even after she passed away he couldn't approach Cora. But that too is in the past. All they have between them is the walls they built themselves. Which happen to be paper thin...lol They each have a strong mating pull towards each other their other half have absolutely no qualms with human emotion or pride.

When they do come together, fireworks are ignited and the passion that has been tempered pour out. With life seemingly good, of course that is when the other shoe drops. The SAU wants to force the packs to change people of their choosing into a shifter. They got this bright idea that having Cora would make her father more pliable to their whims. What wasn't accounted for was Soren and his determination to have her with him now and always. They just pissed off the wrong wolf.

AS I mentioned before this was gripping and action packed, this story sheds light on new players and gives you an idea of all the possibilities the series can go.

Very good read.

I received this for an honest review. I truly enjoy Alexandra Ivy's writing. This collaboration was not quite what I expected. I just finished Blood Assassin and I was thrilled to pick this book up. But not a total loss.


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Blood Assassin (The Sentinels, #2)

Blood Assassin by Alexandra Ivy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love is a powerful motivator.
What wouldn't you do for someone you loved?

Blood Assassin has been on my to read list for a while and I swear I am kicking my own ass for waiting so long to read it! It was a fast paced read, one that was unpredictable and refreshing.
The absolute best part about it was the hero and the villain both had the same motivator! So in essence how can you dislike someone who you can empathize with? Crazy & exciting!


You have an ex-assassin who is trying to obtain his child by any means necessary, so manipulating and poisoning a person is not above him. Especially when the abductors threaten the man that usually is considered the threat!

Then there is Serra and Fane their relationship is a rocky road that leads to nowhere. She has all but stripped down and begged him to be in his life and or his bed. No such luck on either account and she's just done with it all! Yet when it becomes obvious she is in danger, come hell or high water he will do whatever is necessary to assure her safety above all else!


OMG, I just loved Fane if I didn't have a book boyfriend or 2 he would be the one. His charm and witful remarks surprised me throughout the book. He was this deep well of thought and at first glance he just didn't come off that way. I don't know who was more surprised me or Serra...lol With carefully guarding her heart against yet another painful rejection she really is in awww of Fane and his course of action. She refuses to be the damsel in distress and he proves that when he claims her it's for keeps.

I have just moved all things Alexandra Ivy to the top of my reading list. Her book just really struck me and peeked my inner romance addict. Enjoyable and sensual on several levels, what a read! Her passion seeped into her characters, they were deep and well constructed. Even the Bas and his sidekick, I was rooting for them as well.

I received this ARC for an Honest review! If you adore Alpha Males, Tattoos and action packed romance than what are you waiting for~


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Nightwalker (The World of Nightwalkers, #5)

Nightwalker by Jacquelyn Frank
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nightwalker was a great end in the series, at least I got the impression it was the end. The series may pick up with the new addition to the Nightwalker clan, only time will tell.

Picking up this book had to be done, I needed closure. This final chapter picks up right where Forged left us fighting the reincarnate God Apep. I strongly suggest reading at least 1-2 books before this one in the series in fear of being lost in the greater plot. You really get a sense of closure in the book it touches on past characters that were introduced and most even had their own book.

I feel really strongly about knowing how to kill off a character for the greater good of the series. You can always find a way to bring them back (wink). This is what diminished the stars on the review for me. I will not spoil it (completely) you cannot have a happy-ever-after for everyone, it isn't functional. I truly was disappointed that only the characters that I had No attachment to were the ones that perished. Where is the depth in that? Don't get me wrong when the shit hits the fan and I am crying thinking how unjust it was, later I applaud that same monumental moment it breathes life into the story. What is life without loss?

So in this last installment you get Kamen's resurrection of sorts. Not that he comes back again but it is his comeback story. The finality of his great misdeed that freed Apep and initially caused him to deflect to the good guys leaves him feeling worthless and he strives to find resolution. His found purpose in defeating the God has been established and he will make sure all the Nightwalkers will come together to break the curse. On this righteous path he gains a champion in a half-breed Wraith Vieve.

Vieve delivered the grand slam in this book, she brought all the bases in. I love everything about her. She was instrumental in making Kamen whole and in the act of championing for him she gained her own worth! She seemed to touch everyone in the story and even though she wasn't a full wraith she implemented herself in helpful ways.

This book jogged around a bit, I really think it was a closing to the series rather than Kamen and Vieve's tale. This being said all in all you get closure on multiple levels but I still have questions.

Like what about Grey and the Unicorn...lol?

I received this for an honest review.


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Fate Undone

Fate Undone by Linsey Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked up the very first book in the Mythean Arcana series on pure chance, now I an anxiously waiting for the next fix like a junky. Each in its own right can be a standalone that's how easily you get swept up into the Mythean world. This series is quickly becoming an all time fav. for me. Each book highlights another love swept couple and the unique struggles that they'll face, much like any romance. Yet the game changer here is the well developed world of Mythean's, God's and Immortals each having different struggles and abilities along with the complexity of love...pure magic!

Loki and Sigyn's story is one of growth, self sacrifice and owning your shit, all the good bad and in between. After hundreds of years and new identities these two still harbor baggage and not the Louis Vuitton kind.

Loki the deceiver what wouldn't he do to out strategize his fate? All this maneuvering has brought him full circle with life. Once again in the vicinity of the only other person with whom he felt a connection with and happens to be the same person he renounced, Sigyn.

Sigyn harbors a lifetime (maybe several lifetimes) of anger and hurt. Just imagine how that can fester. She gave up being a God for the love of a controlling manipulative Ass. She doesn't even realize how pissed off she still is until he shows up bleeding in her home. Right away he needs something and has all this I'm Sorry shit but, she is trying to live for her and her alone. After being blackballed by the other Gods for her association with Loki, she is a remade woman. With a new name and loving community she adores...that is until she hears from said Controlling manipulator that her sanctuary and all she holds dear has a triple threat with nefarious intentions!Loki isn't a total lost cause, he not only sacrifices all he is to save the woman he loves he also risks it all for the Gods that condemned him. Their quest is crazy and in the tribulations they find the courage to forgive and heal. Oh Yeah~

Don't get me wrong there is a ton that I didn't mention because you need to read the book, this one much like the others in the series is scorching in the bedroom! So thought out and lecherous in the most appealing way ever. I feel the heat was definitely turned up in this one. No Complaints here the build up and Climax were exquisite~

I find this series so thorough and unique from the thought concept of the plot to how gripping the characters are. Every book offers up diversity and passion not only the sexually charged kind either. The passion for living and acceptance, nothing is more rewarding than really connecting to a writer's work. Empathizing with the traits and thought process of the personalities to which you are reading about. That connection is the addiction, who hasn't been burned in life? Who doesn't like a comeback? A second chance? Isn't that the allure of a truly great read?

Well then pick up the book and give it a go!!

I received this book for an honest review, it was exceptional!!


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Wolf with Benefits

Wolf with Benefits by Shelly Laurenston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read and diligently followed Shelly Laurenston’s Pride series like a total Shifter Groupie. Guilty as charged!! Always fascinated with Shifter stories there is just something about men and women that can morph into an animal counterpart that makes the paranormal fiction even better. When you look at everyday people their mannerisms seem to take after animals…at times. Shelly’s writing takes it a step farther.

The She-Jackal Antonella Jean-Louis Parker “Toni” for short was handed the short end of the stick when it came to destiny dealing out Prodigy status. Knowing full well her whole pack was granted a gift in various skill sets and her only skill was managing their egotistical, narcissistic little ass’s day in and day out. Schedule after schedule and class upon class her life was dedicated to organizing them and keeping the peace among the heathens. That is until she finds her talent for scheduling and managing the unmanageable can be used on a greater scale, like managing the Hockey team the Carnivores.

Toni has severe separation anxiety, she has dedicated so much of herself to helping her brothers and sisters attain their goals she has lost all sight on hers, which is the reason she a) has no boyfriend, and b) can’t get laid. All work and no play schedule is about to change and Ricky Lee is just the wolf for the job. Ricky Lee was such a great counterpart for Toni’s character. This easy going voyeur really supported Toni and helped her realize she was capable and had qualities that make her just as special as her prodigy family. She really finds her worth in this book and at the end she has this amazing moment with her parents. Not to mention she really kicks ass at her job and the outlandish fires that seem to come up to test her, you do not mess with a she-jackal or her kin! Ever!!

Ricky Lee Reed is a curious wolf who loves to be entertained. His first encounter with Toni was nothing but shear entertainment especially when he realized the “Are you my daddy”, line she had her siblings use was just to mislead. When he realized Toni was nothing short of a maelstrom of funny and outlandish comic relief at least that is how he interprets the antics of her brood, following her around to see what happens seems like the right thing to do.

This continued in the norm for SL books, this means you have characters so define you may just write them a Christmas card, that is how dynamic they are! I am never more amazed as I am reading these books; this one in particular was so F@#king hilarious I was laughing-out-loud so often people probably thought I had issues. *Warning do not read this book in libraries* Toni’s siblings had me rolling with the simple way they executed their opinion and cut you down to size effortlessly. I swear I love Kyle!! And Freddy.

I cannot put my finger on one reason why these books standout for me the world they live in is just like the real world with the obvious exceptions. The supporting characters are much like your own crazy family they pop in and out of this book and sometimes newbies are introduced like Livy… OMG I am going to read Bite Me very soon, I missed that one somehow. Let’s not forget the action (in many ways) but the threat still persist in the shifter community and I think with the new players looking into the people hunting down shifters and stuffing them for trophies will soon be put down. These books aren’t overly sexual, (that is possible… sort of) you do get the idea and the imagery is Lovely but it isn't borderline erotica…lol For those of you that don’t care for the freak in the sheets time. I personally feel this book like the others in the series is a 5 star read in every way!

I received this for an honest review!


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