Tag Archives: Paranormal Romance

First Blood by Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green & Meljean Brook

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
First Blood

Title: First Blood
Author: Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green & Meljean Brook
In: First Blood (Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Short story collections, Vampires
Dates read: 26th August – 30th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: She tried to shove him off of her, but he was stronger.

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Synopsis

ONCE YOU ACQUIRE A TASTE FOR IT….

Susan Sizemore returns to the universe she created in her Laws of the Blood novels – with a sizzling story of the intimate relationship between a vampire Enforcer and a werewolf in “Cave Canem”.

In “Russian Roulette” by Erin McCarthy, fledgling vampire Sasha Chechikov flees the bright lights and dangerous slayers of Vegas for New Orleans, where she is saved by a vampire haunted by his past – and hungry for passion.

Set in the Vampire Babylon world, “Double the Bite” by Chris Marie Green puts the bond between twin female vampires to the test when one of them falls for her prey… and must choose between love and family.

And in Meljean Brook’s “Thicker Than Blood,” vampire Annie Gallagher needs help to save a young human girl named Cricket, but she doesn’t expect the help to come from the FBI agent she loved – and had to give up – when she was transformed.

These all-new darkly sensual tales will pull you into worlds that are as seductive as they are strange, where passion comes with a price… and longing is eternal.

Thoughts

This is a fantastic blood sucking selection of vampire romance tales. They’re full of lust, love and passion. Along with a little bit of kicking ass, finding yourself and forgiving the past. Everything that you want in a good collection of novellas. A little bit of spice, and a whole lot of sweet…

First Blood is a wonderful collection of tales. One that I thoroughly enjoyed sinking my fangs into and was a little bit disappointed when it ended. There is something kind of fun about vampire romances. Something which is fun and mostly sensual… if sometimes a little cliché. Luckily, none of these four novellas were able to be classified as overdone tropes… which, not so luckily, meant that I also have four series to add to my collection of to be read books.

This is a great collection of paranormal romance novellas. Every story is written by a master of her craft. And the stories are guaranteed to get your pulse racing, heart pumping, and imagination going wild. It’s just lucky that there aren’t likely to be any vampires waiting at your door for a nice romp in the dark.

 <- Thicker Than Blood ReviewCave Canem Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Light Through Fog by Holly Lisle

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of paranormal romance book cover

Title: Light Through Fog
Author: Holly Lisle
In: The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Family, Ghosts, Paranormal romance
Dates read: 30th September 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: “It’s not cancer,” he said softly.

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Synopsis

Sarah is trying to move on after the devastating loss of her husband. But a night deep in the fog might help her to cross to another world where he was waiting for her. To spend their ever after together.

Thoughts

This story bought tears to my eyes. It was beautiful, sweet and totally made me believe in true love. And the idea that love crosses boundaries. Even if that boundary is death. It’s the kind of story which makes you believe that there are more things on heaven and earth than you could ever dream, and maybe you should believe just for that one moment longer.

The atmosphere of this story is beautifully creepy. You can kind of guess that from the mention of fog in the title. The swirling of fog in each meeting, the moments which Sarah and her deceased husband manage to steal away together… that question of “what if” lingers throughout this story. Yet it doesn’t manage to be creepy… rather an ethereal and beautiful tale.

Possibly my favourite moment ever happens at the end of the story. When Sarah is able to pretty much turn around and say F*** you to all of the horrible naysayer. Family might mean a lot, but there are certain aspects of family and decisions we make that count towards true family…

 <- Daniel ReviewThe Tuesday Enchantress Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Enthralled by Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook & Lucy Monroe

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for enthralled lora leigh book cover

Title: Enthralled
Author: Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook & Lucy Monroe
In: Enthralled (Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook & Lucy Monroe)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Short story collections
Dates read: 29th August – 30th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: The first stroke of lightning-bright pain gave way to a steadily increasing inferno of pleasure Kate couldn’t fight and had no desire to escape.

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Synopsis

They Have the Power To Hold You Spellbound, To Captivate Your Senses, and to Keep You Forever in Their Control.
Forever enthralled…

1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh returns to her sensual world of the Breeds…as a spirited female Wolf Breed finally meets her match, and can no longer deny her mate – or the fierce desires of her own heart.

New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day introduces the League of the Black Swan…and the dangerous game one woman plays when her family’s curse dooms her to kill the man she loves.

New York Times bestselling author Meljean Brook delivers a new story in her steampunk world of the Iron Seas…as a man who’s lost everything returns home to find that not only is his marriage in jeopardy, but he must now fight pirates who intend to steal his one remaining treasure – his wife.

And Lucy Monroe, national bestselling author of the Children of the Moon novels, unleashes the feral passions of a werewolf on the body, mind, and soul of his prey, his lover, his mate.

Thoughts

I knew I was probably going to love this collection before I even read it – I already love three out of the four authors. Plus, it was a paranormal romance collection featuring animal shapeshifters in one form or another… topics that I absolutely adore…

Each of these four stories take place in larger, fantasy worlds. Ones that I’ve either already got an obsession with or am sure to develop an obsession with. They’re great as standalone novellas, but also fill in gaps for those series that I have read. If you want to find some new paranormal romance series and authors to add to your shelves… I’d definitely suggest trying this collection.

Enthralled is a somewhat fitting name. I was enthralled in each and every story from the very beginning. There was just enough lust and passion to make your heart beat, but so much more going on so it wasn’t one dimensional. From political intrigue to old vendettas, the extra storylines will enthral, fascinate and tie you up in knots. In the best way possible.

 <- Ecstasy Under the Moon ReviewThe Devil’s Due Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Spellbound by L.A. Banks

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for my big fat supernatural wedding book cover

Title: Spellbound
Author: L.A. Banks
In: My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Family, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 30th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2006
5th sentence, 74th page: Ethel floated toward the tree near the two lovers.

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Synopsis

Odelia and Jeffereson just want to escape their horrifying families. They want to get married and live happily ever after. But they’re insane, dueling families have a lot to say about it… put in a call to the Grandmothers, and things might just start to work out the way they want them to.

Thoughts

This story is such a gorgeous little Romeo and Juliet themed tale. Two young people from warring families have fallen deeply in love. And all they want to do is get married. Unlike the Shakespearean classic though, they have grandmothers. Who help. Actually they more than help… they step in and take charge. Big time. I love the strong grandmother trope…

Odelia and Jefferson are a rare and cute couple. And an interesting wedding to start a collection about supernatural weddings off with. The hoodoo casting, Deep South dwelling families were completely unexpected. Totally loved. And impossible to stop thinking about. The fact that the lead are virgins at their wedding just makes it all the more sweet… especially since BOTH the man and woman have abstained.

This short story made me think about those moments when you’re falling madly in love. Those heady moments of excitement and anticipation as you begin to truly start a new life with each other. It’s sweet and romantic. And, just downright hilarious to counter all the mushy feelings… definitely a short story that I would recommend again and again.

 <- My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding ReviewSomething Borrowed Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Ecstasy Under the Moon by Lucy Monroe

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for enthralled lora leigh book cover

Title: Ecstasy Under the Moon
Author: Lucy Monroe
Series: Children of the Moon #3.5
In: Enthralled (Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook & Lucy Monroe)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Dates read: 30th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: “You have a sense of safety there you do not feel when you are awake.”

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Synopsis

And Lucy Monroe, national bestselling author of the Children of the Moon novels, unleashes the feral passions of a werewolf on the body, mind, and soul of his prey, his lover, his mate.

Thoughts

This is one of those stories which makes you want to run out and buy every single story in this series. Not only is it a paranormal romance that features shapeshifters (something I am completely obsessed with), but it’s well written, incredibly sweet and impossible to forget. There is just something beautiful and mysterious about the two leads and the extra level which they connect on. Something intense about the world the Monroe has created…

I’ve read a lot of shapeshifting stories which feature werewolves, ones that feature cats. And even one or two with bears and sharks… but I’ve never actually read one which features a bird of prey…and an eagle who has lost her confidence… well, that completely hit my sweet spot. A secret village hidden in the forests of Scotland just made it all the more impossible to put down and stop thinking about…

A lot of information was squeezed into a very small amount of words. Normally novellas which take place in a complex world make me scratch my head a little at the background story. Yet, with a small prologue and a sordid past, Monroe manages to impart all of her wisdom in a short amount of time. Actually, it was the perfect amount of information – enough that I understood the politics completely, but also light enough on the information that I want to know more, more, more!

This was such a sweet, easy, light read. One that I won’t forget readily and I’m really looking forward to repeating in future novels from this series… when I’ve saved up a little first…

 <- Salvage ReviewEnthralled Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Thicker Than Blood by Meljean Brook

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
First Blood

Title: Thicker Than Blood
Author: Meljean Brook
Series: The Guardians #3.5
In: First Blood (Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Demons, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 30th September 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: All the while, telling me that I had to drink the vampire’s blood, that I had to willingly accept the change for the transformation to work.

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Synopsis

Six years ago, Jack Harrington was in love with Annie Gallagher, until her sudden death turned his world upside down. But when an intruder breaks into his home one night, the former FBI agent can barely believe his eyes – Annie’s alive… and a vampire.

After her sudden transition, Annie couldn’t bear to let Jack see all that she had become. One night she gives into temptation and decides to feed off a man who resembled Jack, only to find herself face to face with the man himself. Now that they’re together again, Jack’s not about to let Annie go, vampire or no. And Annie needs Jack’s help to find a missing girl named Cricket. Danger swirls around the pair as they search for Cricket while a demon bent on destroying all vampires closes in on the pair. Will love lost and found be able to overcome supernatural odds?

Thoughts

I found this story a little bit sad. Alright, there’s a happy ending… but the fact that a couple who so obviously loves one another is kept apart by a series of mistakes and misunderstandings… it was more than a little sad. I did like that the relationship was restored because of her constant need to be near him, and desire to find a little girl collide beautifully.

There are three tales which run through this story. Firstly, there’s the race to find Cricket with a mad man (or demon) on their trail. Secondly, a renegotiation of old relationships and sharing of the past as they try to find a future together. And, lastly, the thread which holds this novella to the rest of the Guardians series, the epic battle between light and dark that happens behind the scenes of our every day lives. Not many novellas would be able to include all of these storylines so seamlessly, but Meljean Brook managed to do this fantastically.

Thicker than Blood was a great novella with just the amount of angst and drama to keep me hooked, but not so much that I found it tedious. It made me want to run to my shelves and pick up the next book in the Guardians series, and just sink my nose into another day of fun and romance, forgetting the world and all of my responsibilities.

 <- Double the Bite ReviewFirst Blood Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Point of No Return by Jennifer St Giles

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of vampire romance 2 book cover

Title: Point of No Return
Author: Jennifer St Giles
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Historical fiction, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 26th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: How could a mortal believe a slayer over a man like you?

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Synopsis

She’s been half in love with a statue for as long as she can remember. But when she meets the man in real life, her life may just be put in jeopardy. Will he arrive in time to save her?

Thoughts

Love hits us all. Not so often in the form of an obsession with a statue. But it still hits us. Luckily, nothing untoward happens with the statue… rather it happens with the man who inspired the physique. Which I can kind of understand… I too have stared at some gorgeously constructed artwork…

Prejudice exists in everyday life. But it seems to be so much more potent when told through the lens of fantasy and fiction. Maybe something to do with the fact that it removes us a little further from the situation, so we can see it a lot clearer. I like that instead of focusing on vampire prejudice (I have a LOT of those stories), this tale focuses instead on assumptions made about women and their sexuality. Actually, it was mostly the belief that she’s a witch because of her red hair… but still…

Every action has a consequence. I kind of hate the consequences in this story… in trying to save the woman he loves from a life of the night, he inadvertently places her in even more serious danger. Danger which makes you want to reach through the pages and punch the idiots who perpetrate it in the face. But that’s a soap box moment for another day…

 <- I Need More You ReviewWith Friends Like These Review ->
Image source: Bookdepository

Love Struck by Melissa Marr

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for love is hell book cover

Title: Love Struck
Author: Melissa Marr
In: Love is Hell ( Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfield, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin & Laurie Faria Stolarz) & Faery Tales and Nightmares (Melissa Marr)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Celtic, Fae, Paranormal romance
Dates read: 24th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Teen
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: He paused, considered telling her that he suspected that Veikko had entrapped her, and decided against it.

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Synopsis

Alana has been entrapped by a selchie. But what if all of the stories she’s heard aren’t true? What if it’s love, and not entrapment?

Thoughts

I’ve read quite a few stories about selkies and the fae. Or at least, stories which have a moment featuring them throughout. This was an incredibly different take on a familiar tale though. Which I’m beginning to expect from Melissa Marr. For starters, the selkie isn’t the one necessarily doing the entrapment, and vice versa.

Alana is kind of a perfect partner for a selkie. A race of seal-beings who are all about lust, love and sexual fixation. Alana on the other hand is basically living a celibate life. She doesn’t necessarily want to pursue the lust that her mother has so heavily involved herself in. And she really doesn’t want to tie herself down to one being, regardless of how deeply she is drawn to him. It acts as a nice balance to the traditional tales.

The betrayal and secrets interwoven throughout this story are kind of beautiful. Even though I was pretty sure I knew who the “good guy” was, there were still constant moments of doubt. Moments where you wonder if what you perceive to be the truth was really the truth and so on. It was enough of a mystery to hook me in and make me want to never put the story down. And then it ended. And I was left feeling the urge to pick up yet another Melissa Marr story.

 <- Fan Fictions ReviewLove is Hell Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

Fantasy by Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
Fantasy

Title: Fantasy
Author: Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger
In: Fantasy (Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Paranormal romance, Short story collections
Dates read: 4th July – 21st September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: They’d made love on the floor before the fireplace, writhing on the fur rug like cats in heat.

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Synopsis

Where do your fantasies take you?

Under the blazing heat of the Borneo sun…
… a beautiful naturalist’s dream comes true – to live among the feral jungle creatures. But an untamed, irresistible beast of another sort forces her to explore her own wild side.

In an exclusive gentlemen’s club in Victorian London…
… adventurous ladies are available to the highest bidder. Yet how far will a modest widow go to fulfill her fantasy of being auctioned off as a rake’s midnight plaything?

From the depths of the dark unknown…
…a child of midnight has arrived in a spiritual Tibetan refuge to rid herself of wicked desires. Here this ageless beauty meets the one man who can save her – or damn her soul forever.

In a private, all-male school for seduction…
…she might just graduate with honors. If she can only maintain her disguise long enough to teach the man of her dreams a few lessons.

Thoughts

I bought this because I had a few weeks / months of obsession with Christine Feehan. I didn’t expect to find more authors to be completely obsessed about. Alright, I read another Emma Holly story the month before I read this one, but still… three new awesome authors and four beautifully simple and cute novellas to spend my nights forgetting about the world around me… what more could a girl want?

Fantasy is a collection of four novellas that run the gambit of romance stories. Two are heavily paranormal, featuring the typically expected paranormal creatures of vampires and shapeshifters. On the other hand, there are two more contemporary tales which take place in the past and the presence. Contemporary and paranormal, present and historical sit side by side in a fantastic collection I absolutely adored and thoroughly enjoyed. I just couldn’t put it down.

If you like romances that will make your heart skip a beat and pulse pound, this is the kind of collection that you’ll enjoy. It’s got a taste of everything, and more than a tease of passion and lust amongst the pages. I found it difficult not to turn immediately to the next page whenever I finished one tale… and it was only the knowledge that I had other responsibilities in life to take up my time… responsibilities that are just enjoyable, but distracting from this story, just the same.

 <- The Awakening ReviewThe Widow’s Auction Review ->
Image source: Christine Feehan

Salvage by Meljean Brook

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for enthralled lora leigh book cover

Title: Salvage
Author: Meljean Brook
Series: The Iron Seas #3.5
In: Enthralled (Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook & Lucy Monroe)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Pirates, Steampunk romance
Dates read: 21st September 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Suddenly her throat felt the same.

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Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Meljean Brook delivers a new story in her steampunk world of the Iron Seas…as a man who’s lost everything returns home to find that not only is his marriage in jeopardy, but he must now fight pirates who intend to steal his one remaining treasure – his wife.

Thoughts

Men are stupid. To be fair, so are women. But in this story… men are stupid. And seriously dude, stop being so damn ignorant and love thy wife. We do not want money, we want our man. That’s it, rant over. This was actually an amazing novella. But I still left it thinking that men are kind of stupid. And need a bit of a kick up the butt to restore their brain cells.

I really enjoyed the slight revisitation to Ivy and Mad Machen in this story. They don’t actually make an appearance, but they are mentioned and their lives after the events of their story are happily alluded to a number of times. Enough to let you know that they’re enjoying their happily ever after, away from prying eyes and comfortable in their reputations.

I can’t imagine ever marrying a man that I wasn’t 100% sure of, that I knew inside and out. But there seems to be a slight theme in some of Meljean Brook’s stories about this happening. Two people who are 100% in love, but really not aware of each others’ personalities and needs. A bit of a case of jumping into the deep end, and then forgetting why you’re swimming. It’s a slightly painful trope. But also an incredibly fun one. One that I really enjoyed. And it almost worked better in this novella as their issues predominately come from misunderstandings and a desire to make each other happy. Whilst not actually understanding what their counterpart needs.

Add all of the relationship complications to the idea of pirates stealing a chest of gold; a diver trying to retrieve the treasure; and a murder or two of some rather unmoralistic mercenaries… well, it was a really good, enjoyable and fun ride. Just enough lust to make me miss my partner, but more about piracy and brigands on the seven seas… mixed in with a fantastic steampunk world.

 <- The Curse of the Black Swan ReviewEcstasy Under the Moon Review ->
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