Title: The Shadows
Author: J.R. Ward
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication Date: March 31, 2014
Edition: Hardcover
ISBN-10: 0451417070
ISBN-13: 978-0451417077
Pages: 576
Price: $17²⁵
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I’m such a big fan of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series and so far there have 13 books published including the current release named The Shadows. We previously met the Shadow named Trez “Latimer” in previous books but he doesn’t really exist though it’s not just because his identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. His parents sold him to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, but Trez escaped the Territory. He has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years – all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on...except for his brother, iAm. It has been iAm’s sole goal for most his life to always keep his brother from self-destructing – and he knows he’s failed but it’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around...but by then it’s too late. The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating. Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others – or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything because staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice...that will change both of their lives forever.

Title: See Bride Run!
Author: Charlotte Hughes
Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing
Publication Date: December 23, 2014
Edition: Paperback
ISBN-10: 1505711983
ISBN-13: 978-1505711981
Pages: 210
Price: $8⁹⁹
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In the book See Bride Run! By Charlotte Hughes you meet Atlanta’s Iron and Steel billionaire heiress Annie Hartford. She has no desire to marry a man she does not love, which is where the runaway bride part comes in. Annie’s very controlling father has been calling the shots her entire life but this time he has pushed her too far that she hijacks the family limo, only to have it break down in small town Pinckney, Georgia. Then Annie meets small town lawyer and restaurant owner Sam Ballard who has been unlucky in love as well with his own runaway bride. So the last thing he expects is Annie coming into town in a short waitress uniform and breaking every dish in his Dixieland Café since she only graduated high school and then finishing school. Still, he can’t very well fire her because she has won the hearts of everyone in town and he starts to fall in love with her but he doesn’t know if she will stay or go running back to her rich father.

Today I'm reviewing Grace Cooopersmith's debut novel Nancy's Theory of Style that I got a review copy of. If you have read Marta Acosta's Casa Dracula series you have met Nancy Carrington-Chambers since she is friends with Milagro de los Santos. I have anxiously been waiting for this release every since I interviewed Marta Acosta on my live podcast show, TAMFA | Phoebe Jordan, in September 2009 and she gave me a bit of the details to this novel as well as the 4th Casa Dracula book. We only got a glimpse of the lively, pretty young socialite Nancy Carrington-Chambers in the Casa Dracula series but in the start of this novel we start to get a bigger picture of what she is like. Nancy has always believed that an excellent sense of style and strict attention to detail are what it takes to achieve a perfectly chic life. Nancy is a woman of certain tastes and has lived a very privilaged life though has never really received any emotional comfort from her parents throughout her entire life. After she leaves her husband who has turned their McMansion into an unlivable place she’s determined to make her event planning company, Froth, a real winner, but her new prize assignment—reinventing the turgid Barbary Coast Historical Museum fundraiser—must be spectacular in every way. Luckily, Nancy now has the perfect assistant (which her husband sent her way) named Derek Cathcart who is British, impeccably dressed, gorgeous, and clearly gay—so why does Nancy find him so attractive?

I have read a couple of ebooks published by Wild Horse Press which include ebooks by Jessica Coulter Smith, Linda Palmer, Paige Warren, T.L. Mitchell, J. L. Oiler and Julie Kimbrell. Today I will be reviewing Alexis Devuall's debut contemporary erotic romance short story called, All Tied Up, which I was happy to get a copy to review. The heroine of the novel, Anna Dumont has had it with loser boyfriends which any woman out there can relate to in one way or another. So when her friend Todd issues a challenge for her to visit The Crystal Palace, and she accepts with a bit of doubt. Little does she realize she's about to meet an amazing man and have a sexual adventure unlike anything she could have anticipated. I had fun reading this novel because it was a very hot and steamy story about a woman who finds that she needs to change the way she is living her life. I found that it was fun as well as erotic which is a nice combination when reading a short story and it left me wanting to find out if Alexis would end up writing more about Anna and the other characters that I came to enjoy in this novel. Alexis Duvall delivers a wonderfully erotic and exciting debut novel about a woman who after dating loser boyfriends finds a way to break out the wild woman that was inside her all along. I will be keeping an eye out for any of Alexis's future books because after reading this debut novel I have a feeling her future books will be just as good or even better. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from Alexis's website and picture:

ALL TIED UP by Alexis Duvall $3.98 (54 Pages)

Anna Dumont has had it with loser boyfriends. So when her friend Todd issues a challenge for her to visit The Crystal Palace, she accepts. Little does she realize she's about to meet an amazing man and have a sexual adventure unlike anything she could have anticipated.

I have read a couple of ebooks published by Wild Horse Press which include ebooks by Jessica Coulter Smith, Linda Palmer, Paige Warren and T.L. Mitchell. Today I will be reviewing Julie Kimbrell's debut contemporary romance called, Mr. Irresistible, which I was happy to get a copy to review. The heroine of the novel, Kate Simon, hasn't met the right man, but she's happy with her life regardless. But one look at the hero, Gage Morgan, and she wonders if maybe she's missing out on something after all. He makes her heart race, her palms sweat, and leaves her body yearning for his touch which is something she has felt for any man before. While he may be irresistible, Kate isn't sure he's quite right for her and it has her running scared from this attraction that she can't seem to get rid of. Gabe manages a bar and rides a Harley which leaves her wondering how could he possibly be more different than her? And yet, every time they're apart, she can't wait until the moment she can see him again. I had fun reading this novel since it was obvious from the beginning that Kate and Gabe would have a bumpy round ahead of them. I thought it was funny how both of them were trying to fight the attraction that they instantly had for each other as soon as they met because I had that feeling that no matter how hard they try they would fall in love. Julie Kimbrell delivers a wonderfully exciting debut novel about two people who have been burned by love before and have been brought to get together to find a long lasting love together. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from Julie's website and picture:

Mr. Irresistible by Julie Kimbrell $5.98 (181 Pages)

Kate Simon hasn't met the right man, but she's happy with her life regardless. But one look at Gage Morgan and she wonders if maybe she's missing out on something after all. He makes her heart race, her palms sweat, and leaves her body yearning for his touch. While he may be irresistible, Kate isn't sure he's quite right for her. He manages a bar and rides a Harley. Could he possibly be more different than her? And yet, every time they're apart, she can't wait until the moment she can see him again.

I have read a couple of ebooks published by Wild Horse Press which include ebooks by Jessica Coulter Smith, Linda Palmer, Paige Warren and T.L. Mitchell. So when Wild Horse Press contacted me to inquire if I accepted review requests from publishers and asked me if I would like to review Karoline Barrett's debut paranormal short story called, Between Here & Ever After and I accepted. I love their website because it is so clean and easy to find everything you would like to know about their authors, books and submission guidelines and more. I might really consider submitting my manuscript to them if I ever get it finished and editing enough to fit their requirements for submission. Today I will be reviewing Karoline's paranormal short story called, Between Here & Ever After, which I was happy to get a copy to review. The heroine of the novel, Madelyn Douglas, is killed in a freak accident and when her spirit rises from her body she is given a task to complete before she can move on. She must save her ex-fiance, Brian Rossi, from a fate living in the bad side instead of the good side in the ever after. Thinking Brian is mixed up with the mob, Maddie does her best to convince him to walk the straight and narrow but somewhere along the way she falls in love with him again. Is it possible for a ghost to have a happy-ever-after? I sure think so since Maddie and Brian seem to have a connection with one another that is strong even after so many years of being apart. I haven't read a good ghost romance in a long time and though this is a short story, which I seem to have a love and hate relationship with, I had a great time reading it. Karoline Barrett delivers a wonderfully exciting debut novel about two long lost lovers who get a second chance to be with one another with a twist since the heroine is a ghost and the hero is alive with suspicion of being connected to the mob. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from Karoline's website and picture:

BETWEEN HERE & EVER AFTER by Karoline Barrett $3.98 (47 Pages)

Killed in a freak accident, Madelyn Douglas has been given a task to complete before she can move on. She must save her ex-fiance, Brian Rossi. Thinking Brian is mixed up with the mob, Maddie does her best to convince him to walk the straight and narrow. But somewhere along the way she falls in love with him again. Is it possible for a ghost to have a happy-ever-after?

If you know me then you know that I really can't help but grab as many of Jessica Coulter Smith's books as I possibly can because she is such a talented author who always seems to grab my attention. Though she can frustrate me sometimes with her books but in a good way since they keep me on my toes wondering what's going to happen next. Today I will be reviewing Jessica's first contemporary erotic short story called, Christmas Wishes Come True, which I was really excited to get a copy to review. The heroine of the novel, Elise, doesn't feel like celebrating Christmas this year since a divorce has left her feeling more like Scrooge than Santa. But will the handsome, charismatic Nathan be able to change her mind? He may be just the present she needs this year and that I completely agree with that. I haven't read a good christmas romance in a long time and though this is a short story, which I seem to have a love and hate relationship with, I had a great time reading it. Elise and Nathan seem to have an instant attraction to one another from the first time they meet and that is only the start to what will be a beautiful lasting relationship. Though that relationship will have a rough start since Elise is just getting out of a marriage where she caught her ex-husband having sex with a woman in their own bed. So Elise has trust issues that will really affect her budding relationship with Nathan even though she is coming to really love him like she never loved her ex-husband. All in all I enjoyed reading this novel though I wish it were a bit longer since I would love to get a longer story between Elise and Nathan. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from Jessica's website and picture:

CHRISTMAS WISHES COME TRUE by Jessica Coulter Smith $3.98 (104 Pages)

Elise doesn't feel like celebrating Christmas this year. A divorce has left her feeling more like Scrooge than Santa. But will the handsome, charismatic Nathan be able to change her mind? He may be just the present she needs this year.

Today I have the pleasure of reviewing an Advance Readers Copy of Keta Diablo's upcoming release from Ravenous Romance called The Sin Eater's Prince, which you got a sneak peek at in the anthology, Boys of the Bite. I've had the pleasure of reviewing several of Keta's other books and was excited about getting my hands on a copy of her first full-length vampire novel. And I have to say I'm glad that I did because though I had a lot of things going on in my life I had a great time reading it. The novel starts with the hero, Owen Rhys, the sin eater of his village in Wales, who has been shunned by the local villagers his entire life—except by Andras Maddock, the local physician who is the other hero of the novel. We see how Owen lives by himself since his father's death with no one to care for him or love him the way he wants to be love. Owen and Andras have a chemistry that you can read from the very start of the novel when Owen is called to go about doing his job as a Sin Eater with Andras going with him as a doctor to the families homes. At first Owen is trying to deny that he was in love with the one man he thinks will never return that love but all that changes. Owen is shocked when Andras saves him from death at the hands of a vampire and admits he cares deeply for Owen. Owen suspected that Andras was a vampire for a while but it wasn't until the attack that he finally confirmed his suspicion that he was a long tooth that his father had warned him about.

Dagan, son of Traherne, the vampire Andras killed to save Owen, will stop at nothing to avenge his father’s death and obtain the Prince of Wales’s mystic sword from Andras. The divine claymore holds the power to grant immunity from the sun’s harsh rays—the one exemption the dark Lords of the Underworld has sought for centuries. While reading this novel I did have to trouble with the Welsh words that were used throughout the novel, which sometimes happens when I read historical romances, but that didn't take away from my enjoying the plot of the story. There is a lot of revenge, redemption, dark versus light, good versus evil in this novel that had me virtually flipping the pages to find out what will happen next for Owen and Andras. There are some pretty heated love scenes between Owen and Andras that had me wanting them to never end since I could practically feel the heat and lust coming from the both. I always seem to enjoy the love scenes from Keta's books both erotic romances and m/m erotic romances because they are so tastefully written. Keta Diablo delivers a novel that is about star-crossed love and sorcery mixed with physical lust and blood lust combined that will keep you on your toes wanting to know what will happen next. I have to say again that I'm glad that I got the chance to get my hands on an ARC of this novel because it was such a joy to read. I look forward to reading any of Keta's future books and we may be lucky enough to get another book about Owen and Andras since I think that the ending of this novel might just be the beginning for them. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from Keta's website and picture:

THE SIN EATER'S PRINCE by Keta Diablo $6.99 (135 Pages)

Owen Rhys, the sin eater of his village in Wales, has been shunned by the local villagers his entire life—except by Andras Maddock, the local physician. In love with the one man he thinks will never return that love, Owen is shocked when Andras saves him from death at the hands of a vampire and admits he cares deeply for Owen. Dagan, son of Traherne, the vampire Andras killed to save Owen, will stop at nothing to avenge his father’s death and obtain the Prince of Wales’s mystic sword from Andras. The divine claymore holds the power to grant immunity from the sun’s harsh rays—the one exemption the dark Lords of the Underworld has sought for centuries. Star-crossed love, sorcery, and bloodlust collide on a vengeful path where only one side can remain victorious. Revenge and redemption. Dark versus light. Good versus evil. The Sin Eater’s Prince.

I have read a couple of ebooks published by Wild Horse Press which include ebooks by Jessica Coulter Smith, Linda Palmer and Paige Warren. So when Wild Horse Press contacted me to inquire if I accepted review requests from publishers and asked me if I would like to review T.L. Mitchell's debut novel Dark of kNight, which is the first book of her Dark of kNight series and I accepted. I love their website because it is so clean and easy to find everything you would like to know about their authors, books and submission guidelines and more. I might really consider submitting my manuscript to them if I ever get it finished and editing enough to fit their requirements for submission. I found out that T.L. had previously self-published this novel with AuthorHouse but pulled it out and decided to have it re-issued in a second edition in eBook format with Wild Horse Press. Well onto the book review for T.L. Mitchell's debut novel, Dark of kNight, that I will say right off I really enjoyed reading and I would love to read the next book in the series. The heroine of the novel and series is Julie Knight and she never really knew how much her life would change after the death of her beloved father. So after returning home to Spring Place, GA, the mysterious animal attacks begin that start to change her world in ways that she never knew possible. The small town is in an uproar over the horrific killings and that is when Julie finds herself in danger when the truth of who she is has finally been revealed to her. The last of a thousand year old bloodline of Lycans, Guardians of the mysterious Fort Mountain is all depending on her and her mate to continue the line or it would be the end for the Lycans. Now the hero of the novel and series is Daniel Maxwell, the handsome, dark, yet mysterious scientist returns home for the funeral and he has definitely has changed, but his love for Julie remains the same. She is what he has always wanted, has always been what he needs in his life though he has never said anything about it to Julie. Daniel would die for her and he would kill for her because that is how passionate and true his love for her is.

The passions begin to flare and so does the romance between Julie and Daniel though it seems like it is going to fast they don't know or want it to stop. Joining forces with a mysterious group of moon-eyed people, together they must prepare for the ultimate battle—the battle against a deadly pack of werewolves. Can Julie and Daniel's love be strong enough to protect them from their dangerous desires? Or will they be forever lost in the Dark of kNight? Well I think that Julie and Daniel's love is strong enough to protect them from their dangerous desires because they have the determination to live and love one another that being lost in the dark of kNight is not an option for them. It took reading the first two chapters to hook me into the plot of the novel and not let me go even after I had finished the novel to the start of what I can tell will be an intriguing and suspenseful series. T.L. Mitchell delivers an exciting and suspenseful debut paranormal romance novel that will captivate you from the start and will have you wondering what would happen next for Julie and Daniel as well as the rest of the wonderfully written secondary characters. After reading this novel I was sad that the novel had to end but was excited that Julie and Daniel with the rest of the secondary characters would be coming back for another round in the second novel, Fall of kNight, in her Dark of kNight series. This is a series that I will definitely be keeping an eye out for because it has everything I need in a series, wonderful primary and secondary characters that capture my interest from the start, a suspenseful and exciting plot that has me wanting more and definitely the paranormal element that takes me out of my everyday life. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from T.L.'s website and picture:

DARK OF KNIGHT by T.L. Mitchell $ 5.98 (Book 1)(260 Pages

Julie Knight never really knew how much her life would change after the death of her father. After returning home to Spring Place, GA, the mysterious animal attacks begin. The small town is in an uproar over the horrific killings. Julie finds herself in danger when the truth of who she is has been revealed. The last of a thousand year old bloodline of Lycans, Guardians of the mysterious Fort Mountain. Daniel Maxwell, the handsome, dark, yet mysterious scientist returns home for the funeral. He has changed, but his love for Julie remains the same. She is what he has always wanted. She is what he needs. He would die for her. He would kill for her. The passions begin to flare and so does the romance between Julie and Daniel. Joining forces with a mysterious group of moon-eyed people, together they must prepare for the ultimate battle—the battle against a deadly pack of werewolves. Can Julie and Daniel's love be strong enough to protect them from their dangerous desires? Or will they be forever lost in the Dark of kNight?

I was lucky enough to win an autographed copy of historical romance author Rita Gerlach's current release Surrender the Wind from the wonderful Christian romance author MaryLu Tyndall, which I've had the pleasure of reading her books. I've also had the pleasure of chatting with Rita on Facebook one day and I was lucky enough to have her scheduled to be on my live podcast show TAMFA—Phoebe Jordan on Thursday, January 21st at 8PM EST. For today I will be reviewing her novel Surrender the Wind which I had such a fun time reading because I love historical romance novels very much. The novel starts after a harrowing escape from the British, patriot and the hero of the novel, Seth Braxton, finds his father had died at Yorktown. Now battle scarred and grieving, he hopes to settle down for a peaceful life along the shores of the Potomac by restoring the land his father so dearly loved. Thinking he will forever stay in the secluded wilderness of Virginia he receives a message that he has inherited his grandfather's estate in faraway England. Seth is torn between the land he's fought so hard for and the prospect of reuniting with his young sister, Caroline, who was a motherless child at the onset of the Revolution, taken to England in order to spare her the horrors of war. Well Seth has to make up his mind on what he is going to do next because it will decide his future forever which could end up with him falling in love in England or him being alone to care for his land in Virginia. So in the end he made up his mind though not with any intention of making his stay at Ten Width permanent. He journeys to England to do his duty and when he arrives, he finds his sister grieving terrible after being told her young son has died of a fever.

In the midst of so much tragedy, he meets Juleah, the daughter of an eccentric landed gentleman who lives not that far away from Ten Width. She is also best friends with his sister Caroline and was with her when her grandfather was gravely ill and died several months ago which helped her get through such sorrow. Her independent spirit and gentle soul stole his heart from the very the time that they first met in person and she later becomes his wife and lady of the manor. That then enrages the man who once sought her hand and hoped Ten Width would be his own which leads both Seth and Juleah on a dangerous path. From the Virginia wilderness, to the dark halls of an isolated English estate, Seth inherits more than a crumbling ancestral home that he has never wanted but is responsible for. He uncovers a sinister plot that leads to murder, abduction, and betrayal—an ominous mix that threatens to destroy his new life and new love. It took me a little while to get into this book but after finishing the first two chapters of the book I was immediately hooked with all that was going on with the hero Seth and the heroine Juleah. I could tell from the beginning of this novel that it would be a good read because I could feel the chemistry between Seth and Juleah that would make this novel fun to read so that I could find out how they would get their happily ever after ending that I so wanted for them. Rita Gerlach delivers a wonderfully written historical romance novel that had the sinister plot that leads to murder, abduction and betrayal it promised and left me wanting more even after the novel had ended for Seth and Juleah. I will be looking forward to any of Rita's future books if they are as good as her novel Surrender the Wind. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from the back cover and picture:

SURRENDER THE WIND by Rita Gerlach $ 13.99 (382 Pages)

After a harrowing escape from the British, patriot Seth Braxton finds his father dead at Yorktown. Now battle scarred and grieving, he endeavors to settle down for a peaceful life along the shores of the Potomac by restoring the land his father loved. Thinking he will forever stay in the secluded wilderness, he receives a message that he has inherited his grandfather's estate in faraway England. Seth is torn between the land he's fought for and the prospect of reuniting with his sister, Caroline, who was a motherless child at the onset of the Revolution, taken to England in order to spare her the horrors of war. With no intention of making his stay at Ten Width permanent, he journeys to England to do his duty. When he arrives, he finds his sister in the throes of grief after being told her young son has died of a fever. In the midst of so much tragedy, he meets Juleah, the daughter of an eccentric landed gentleman. Her independent spirit and gentle soul steal his heart, and she becomes his wife and lady of the manor, enraging the man who once sought her hand and hoped Ten Width would be his own. From the Virginia wilderness, to the dark halls of an isolated English estate, Seth inherits more than a crumbling ancestral home. He uncovers a sinister plot that leads to murder, abduction, and betrayal—an ominous mix that threatens to destroy his new life and new love.

Today I'm reviewing newly released novel of romance author Wendy Ely who I met through one of the various online romance writing and reading communities I'm a member of. She contacted me about being on my review blog and I was happy to have her because I reviewed an ARC of her debut novel, Jesse's Brother. I interviewed Wendy on this review blog as well as had her guest blog about her debut novel, Jesse's Brothers and I even talked live with Wendy Ely on my live podcast show TAMFA—Phoebe Jordan about what she felt now that her debut novel, Jesse's Brother, was finally released as of Monday, September 21. Now lets get to my review of Wendy's newly released novel, Confessions, which I was lucky enough to get copy of from Wendy to review. Confessions is the first book of Wendy's Desert Secret series and I'm happy that it is because I would definitely love to see these main characters in the future novels of this series. This novel starts when the heroine, Chelsea Montgomery, is at a diner where she first vanished eleven years ago, and we find out that her hometown thought she’d been abducted.

In truth, she'd given up the daughter she'd secretly had with her one true love Jordan Case. Though it's been eleven years since Jordan has seen or heard from Chelsea now he confronts her to help find the child, Elizabeth, that they both created long ago. With a little girl's fate hanging in the balance, will the uneasy partnership—stained by the past—transform into something else? Well I certainly hope so because I know that Jordan and Chelsea were meant to be together with their wonderful daughter. I had fun reading this novel because it kept me on my toes wondering when Chelsea and Jordan would finally get to see their daughter and be together after so many years apart. There was a bit of mystery while reading this novel that I loved during which Jordan and Chelsea had to find their daughter but couldn't since the people that illegally adopted Elizabeth after so many years. Wendy Ely delivers yet another wonderful novel that hooked me from the start and made me crave for more even though the novel finished. I very much look forward to reading any of Wendy's future novels because like I said she has me hooked. I am also anxious to find out more about her Desert Secret series especially since I think there is more to be find out about Chelsea's sisters who have a mysterious background that I would like to find out more about. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the novel from Wendy's website and picture:

Can Chelsea and Jordan find their child, and rediscover each other? When Chelsea Montgomery vanished eleven years ago, her hometown thought she’d been abducted. In truth, she'd given up the daughter she'd secretly had with Jordan Case. Now he confronts her to help find the child. With a little girl's fate hanging in the balance, will the uneasy partnership—stained by the past—transform into something else? Content Warning: Contains sexual scenes and sensitive family situations.

Linda Palmer is a former Silhouette romance author now a young adult author that I recently discovered but one that I will definitely be keeping an eye out for in the future after reading her paranormal young adult novel, The Cinderella Swap, which she contacted me to review for her. I also had the pleasure of getting to review her current released paranormal young adult novel, Jaguar Moon, from one of my favorite e-publishers Wild Horse Press as well as Linda's upcoming February 2010 young adult release, Operation Normal, that I was so excited to get the honor of reviewing an ARC since I was totally needing my Linda Palmer Young adult fix since first starting reading her novels. Now today I'm reviewing another ARC of Linda's upcoming December 2009 release called, Storm Swept, from yet again one of my favorite e-publishers Wild Horse Press. I was so happy to get an ARC of this novel because I fell in love with Linda Palmer's first young adult novel, The Cinderella Swap, that I knew this upcoming novel will be just as great a read with some new characters to fall in love with. I've only recently gotten into reading young adult romance novels and since then I've been hunting up as many young adult romance authors I could find to read. I was very intrigued when I read the blurb for this novel and the cover was also really beautiful that I had to read it.

I was so excited when I started reading this novel and I have to say that it actually took me about a couple of days to finish up this novel though her previous YA novels I gobbled up in a few hours. Well the novel starts when the heroine, Jenny Jefferson, agrees to help her sister open a B&B but she doesn't know that Jase Edwards will be working there, too. Jenny and Jase have history—an angry encounter at her sister's wedding four years ago. This time around their chemistry is as intense and supercharged as the lightning snaking down from the storm clouds overhead. Not even a mischievous house ghost can distract them from each other. But something far more sinister lurks in the shadows, and its eye is on Jenny. Can she and Jase unravel the mystery of the house's tragic past before history repeats itself? So this novel wasn't exactly what I was expecting when I read the blurb because I sometimes had a bit of trouble understanding what was going on with Jenny and Jase as well as their mysterious haunting ghost. It took me a while to really get into the story which is completely different from Linda's other novels which just sucked me in from the very beginning.

I loved the characters Jenny and Jase as well as Jenny's older pregnant sister but what kept throwing me off the story was the haunting ghost in the B&B that kept attacking Jenny. I was really not sure what to think of who the hell that ghost is and why it was only attacking Jenny and not her pregnant sister or even Jase. Other than that I loved the way Jenny and Jase really started to get to know each other better though they had a very bad first impression of each other from their sister and brother's wedding celebration. Jenny and Jase are wonderful characters that after some time together can see that they are both really good and caring people who love their family very much. They also have some very intense chemistry going on between them that I sometimes could see the words sizzling while I was reading though they stayed true to their vows of not persuing a phyiscal relationship with one another until they knew each other full in a month or so. I am still so happy that I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Storm Swept even though it took me a while for me to really love reading it. I was a bit sad that it had to come to an end though it was a satisfying end that may have potentional of giving us a follow up story for Jenny and Jase if Linda ever decided to write more on them and their families. Linda Palmer delivers yet another exciting and wonderfully written young adult with suspense, romance and a bit of paranormal elements to have you questioning who the haunting ghost of the B&B is and why is it after Jenny and not any of the other characters. I give this book 4 Open Books:

STORM SWEPT by Linda Palmer $ 5.98 (151 Pages)

When Jenny Jefferson agrees to help her sister open a B&B, she doesn't know that Jase Edwards will be working there, too. Jenny and Jase have history—an angry encounter at her sister's wedding four years ago. This time around their chemistry is as intense and supercharged as the lightning snaking down from the storm clouds overhead. Not even a mischievous house ghost can distract them from each other. But something far more sinister lurks in the shadows, and its eye is on Jenny. Can she and Jase unravel the mystery of the house's tragic past before history repeats itself?

Madonna Lacy also known as M.L. Lacy is a self-published author who I met through my very good friend RITBS creator Terry Kate. I interviewed Madonna here on the blog as well as had her guest blog last month which was pretty fun to learn more about her and her books. Now today I'm reviewing her debut novel, Chrysalis: The Awakening, and the first book in her Chrysalis series. It's a paranormal romance filled with vampires, magicians and other various types of mythical creatures we have only read about in fairytales. All families have secrets, right? But not like 32-years-old, Bree Campbell, who is discovering that her entire life has been a secret that only she didn't know anything about unlike the rest of her family who is keeping the secret from her. Like most people, it never occurred to Bree to question her mortality and that is until she learns that she is a mortal born into a family of Magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life. This is a new world filled with so many unbeliveable creatures that go bump in the night and as these doors to Bree’s new world fly open she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth. Now she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen One and to top that the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones. And if this weren't overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving every living thing on earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the mortal world she has always known and the Magical world she is just now discovering. Now that is a burden that no one should be saddled with at birth and not know about it until your older.

But the real question lies in whether Bree will survive the long transformation into the powerful Druid Sorceress that is her destiny or die in the process as many before her have gone. That is something that she is being prepared for by the ancient ones that have come to her in her mind as she slowly became aware of her destiny as the most powerful of the Chosen Ones. Now Bree’s journey will not be an easy one and she must face the realities of her new life and her new family which include a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her mortal life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her because for no sooner that Bree is finally reunited with her long lost love, Steven, Bree must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family. Meeting Steven again after such a long time being apart because most of her memories were hidden in her mind in order for her to forget him and move on to being a normal human though that had a tragic ending. While Bree tries to free herself from her past, including her cruel and lethal soon-to-be ex-husband, she must determine who she can truly trust. And while her clan loves her immensely, they will continually try to stand in her way while all in the name of protecting her from those set upon her death.

Bree’s arch nemesis is Esmeralda, a powerful sorceress in her own right who will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. Now if Esmeralda can claim Bree’s blood, heart and soul and restore her Demon to his body, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and rule as she chooses. But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace the responsibility she has been born to. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself. Will it be enough to save the world? Well that question is yet to be answered since this book is part of a series that it yet finished so we are going to have to hold our breaths and wait to find out if Bree will have enough in her to save the world. I have to say that it took me a bit of time to get into this very complex novel since there was so much going on with the various characters in this novel. There was a small part of the story that was written in the third person and when it switched to the first person through Bree's point of view I was a bit confused but I got into the story after a couple of chapters to get use to the change. In the end of this long and character driven story I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next between Bree and her love Steven as well as the rest of her family and clan. Madonna Lacy delivers a wonderfully written debut novel that will have to captivated from start to finish in this world filled with vampires, magicians and other various types of mythical creatures we have only read about in fairytales. I am very much looking forward to getting my hands on the second book in the Chrysalis series because I seriously want to read what happens next to end my curiousity at least for this next part. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from the back cover and picture: CHRYSALIS: THE AWAKENING by M.L. Lacy $ 14.99 (Book 1)(589 Pages) All families have secrets. But at 32 years old, Bree Campbell is discovering that her entire life has been a secret. Like most people, it never occurred to her to question her mortality; that is until she learns that she is a mortal born into a family of Magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life. As the doors to Bree’s new world fly open and she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen One; the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones. And if this were not overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving the earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the mortal world she has always known and the Magical world she is just now discovering. But the real question lies in whether Bree will survive the long transformation into the powerful Druid Sorceress that is her destiny or die in the process as many before her have gone. Bree’s journey will not be an easy one. She must face the realities of her new life and her new family; a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her mortal life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her. For no sooner than Bree is finally reunited with her long lost love, Steven, Bree must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family. While Bree tries to free herself from her past, including her cruel and lethal husband, she must determine who she can truly trust. And while her clan loves her immensely, they will continually try to stand in her way; all in the name of protecting her from those set upon her death. Bree’s arch nemesis is Esmeralda, a powerful sorceress in her own right who will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. If Esmeralda can claim Bree’s blood, heart and soul and restore her Demon to his body, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and rule as she chooses. But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace the responsibility she has been born to. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself. Will it be enough to save the world?

I do love paranormal romances very much because the authors create this totally different world that is similar to our own world. But these worlds these authors create are filled with all these paranormal creatures that we only think is myth but are totally real in paranormal romances. I know that author Jessica Coulter Smith loves to read paranormal romances so when she writes paranormal romances are what she ends up creating. I had the pleasure of hosting her guest blog about her release Moonlight Protector, which is the first book of her paranormal Ashton Grove Werewolves series and I also reviewed it as well. I also had the pleasure of interviewing her as well if you want to find out more about Jessica's writing and about some of her hobbies and favorite authors. I reviewed her current release second book in her series called Moonlight Hero for both Jessica and her publisher Wild Horse Press and what a nice read that was for me. I also had the pleasure of reviewing the sort of prequel to her Ashton Grove Werewolves series that was previously published by another online publisher but was re-issued with Wild Horse Press called, Whispering Lake.

Well today I'm reviewing Jessica's upcoming stand alone novel, Vicus Luna, which I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reading copy from Wild Horse Press a few days ago. I love Jessica's novels and was happy that they sent me a copy to review because I've read the blurb for this novel a while back before it was given an official released date on Jessica's website. Well this novel is a paranormal romance that starts in the town of Windsor, Georgia which is a town that lives in fear of the Vicus Luna, the local werewolf pack. Each month the pack comes out and abducts a woman, someone to do their bidding, who is little more than a slave and it's on one of these nights that Cady Whitmore, the heroine, finds herself cornered by the Vicus Luna. Terrified, she faces three werewolves who wish to claim her as their own but when the alpha decides to claim her, Cady is horrified because of what she's heard of the alpha being a womanizing, chauvanistic, cruel man. When Marshall drags her off to a secluded cabin, she worries for her safety and her life since she has never had a steady boyfriend or lover since she's barely 20 years old. As Cady struggles with many challenges thrown her way, she finds herself caught in a difficult spot because while Marshall may not love her, he isn't ready to let her go. Marshall's friend and fellow pack member, Brendan, knows that Cady is special and will stop at nothing to make sure she's safe.

In the end, the best werewolf will win but which one will it be since not only are Marshall and Brendan involve to keep Cady but then Eric, Brendan's twin, comes along and that just makes this triangle into a square, LOL. So I finished reading this book in about less than a day since I got it and while I was reading it I had very mixed feelings about all the characters in the novel. I actually had to read the last page of the novel to give me an idea of who would end up with Cady since there were about at least 2 men who were after her and I wasn't completely sure who would be the lucky hero to end up with her in a happily ever after. I've done this a couple of times with other books I've read and it has always sort of easied my mind about the characters which were wonderfully written. I had such fun reading this paranormal romance novel since it was about werewolves but completely different from the werewolves we know and love in Jessica's Ashton Grove Werewolves series. I enjoyed her previous stand alone novel that I reviewed for Manic Readers called, Magnolia Magick, which was similar to this novel since it had two men who were involved with the heroine and I was not sure which would be the lucky man to end up with the heroine. In the end Jessica Coulter Smith delivers yet another wonderfully written paranormal romance with werewolves that will have you guessing from start to finish about who will Cady choose to love and make a life with but also make you want the novel to never end. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from Jessica's website and picture:

VICUS LUNA by Jessica Coulter Smith $ 5.98 (230 Pages)(Comes out December 1, 2009)

The town of Windsor, Georgia lives in fear of the Vicus Luna, the local werewolf pack. Each month the pack comes out and abducts a woman, someone to do their bidding, little more than a slave. It's on one of these nights that Cady Whitmore finds herself cornered by the Vicus Luna. Terrified, she faces three werewolves who wish to claim her as their own. When the alpha decides to claim her, Cady is horrified. From what she's heard, the alpha is a womanizing, chauvanistic, cruel man...When Marshall drags her off to a secluded cabin, she worries for her safety and her life. As Cady struggles with many challenges thrown her way, she finds herself caught in a difficult spot. While Marshall may not love her, he isn't ready to let her go. Marshall's friend and fellow pack member, Brendan, knows that Cady is special and will stop at nothing to make sure she's safe. In the end, the best werewolf will win...

I have read a couple of ebooks published by Wild Horse Press which include ebooks by Jessica Coulter Smith, Linda Palmer and Paige Warren. So when Wild Horse Press contacted me to inquire if I accepted review requests from publishers and asked me if I would like to review Paige Warren's short contemporary romance story I accepted. I love their website because it is so clean and easy to find everything you would like to know about their authors, books and submission guidelines and more. I might really consider submitting my manuscript to them if I ever get it finished and editing enough to fit their requirements for submission. I have read and reviewed Paige Warren's other short story called Baby and All for Wild Horse Press so I was looking forward to reading her newly released short story. Well onto the book review for Paige Warren's latest short contemporary romance story, Unexpected Wife, that I will say right off I finished off in less than 6 hours after starting it.

This novel when I first read the blurb reminded me of her novel, Baby and All, because it was about a woman on the run from a man. It begins with Ainsley McCullough, the heroine, being on the running from her past for a while and when she stumbles across an abandoned farm house, she thinks that maybe things will start to look up. Getting a job in the small Texas town, she's surprised to learn the man who owns her home is in jail since she is on the run from the police because she thinks that she killed her ex-boyfriend when he tried to kill her. Braedan O'Connor, the hero, was falsely accused of a crime and has spent the past year in jail and so he's anxious to get home and see what kind of damage has been done to his home. When Braedan enters his home and smells homemade apple pie, he's surprised to say the least because then he spots the woman responsible for the mouth watering smell and all of his senses come alive. Ainsley hadn't expected to get caught in the man's home and so when she comes face to face with the handsome stranger, she isn't sure what to expect. Knowing he was in jail frightens her, almost as much as his good looks turn her on and so now she wonders what price will she have to pay for invading his home?

Well though I found some similarities in this book from her previous short story it was unique with it's own plot that had me wanting more. I really enjoyed reading about Ainsley and Braeden who are complex characters in their own right which is something I like in a story. I don't read that many short stories because I feel that I don't get to know the characters that well in such a short space of time but I couldn't stop reading this short story because it was GREAT! It was a bit fast paced but I loved reading about Ainsley who is a woman that wants to make a life for herself even though she's scared that she may have killed her abusive ex-boyfriend. I also really loved reading about Braeden who is a strong and handsome man who is so honest and a real gentleman though he was sent to prison for a crime that he didn't commit. Paige Warren delivers yet another wonderfully romantic romance short story that will keep you reading from start to end wondering what will happen next for Ainsley and Braeden. I'm a fan of Paige's short stories and will be looking out for more in the future but I'm hoping that she will one day write a full-length romance novel for me to enjoy because these short stories are only whetting my appetite. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from Paige's website and picture:

UNEXPECTED WIFE by Paige Warren $ 3.98 (56 Pages)

Ainsley McCullough has been running from her past for a while. When she stumbles across an abandoned farm house, she thinks that maybe things will start to look up. Getting a job in the small Texas town, she's surprised to learn the man who owns her home is in jail. Braedan O'Connor was falsely accused of a crime and has spent the past year in jail. He's anxious to get home and see what kind of damage has been done to his home. When Braedan enters his home and smells homemade apple pie, he's surprised to say the least. Spotting the woman responsible for the mouth watering smell, all of his senses come alive. Ainsley hadn't expected to get caught in the man's home. Face to face with the handsome stranger, she isn't sure what to expect. Knowing he was in jail frightens her, almost as much as his good looks turn her on. What price will she have to pay for invading his home?