Fifty Shades Darker by EL James

Today I'm reviewing the second book in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, Fifty Shades Darker. In the first book you met Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey the hero and heroine of this trilogy. They are completely different people who meet for the first time because Ana's friend had an exclusive interview with the elusive entrepreneur Mr. Grey. The first book left off with Ana and Christian having made love for the first time in what some people call in straight vanilla way without her signing the contract that Christian had original given to her before they started their relationship. But as Ana got to know Christian she wanted to please him in the way that he likes and even though he knew that in some part of Ana that she wasn't ready for it he gives in to her. Christian gives her a taste of the BDSM world he is a part of by spanking her and the experience leaves her both enticed and slightly confused. This confusion is worsened by Christian's extravagant gifts, and the fact that he brings her to meet his family. After successfully landing a job with Seattle Independent Publishing, Ana further bristles under the restrictions of the non-disclosure agreement and the complex relationship with Christian.

The tension between Ana and Christian eventually comes to a head after Ana asks Christian to punish her in order to show her how extreme a BDSM relationship with him could be. Christian fulfills Ana's request, beating her with a belt, only for Ana to realize that the two of them are incompatible. Devastated, Ana leaves Christian and returns to the apartment she shares with Kate. In this book Ana's desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades. While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life. Through this journey that both Christian and Ana take they both experience new feels that they've never had before because they have now found someone that they can see living out the rest of their lives. I really loved that both Christian and Ana start to realize that they need to change a little bit for one another if they ever want to make this a successful relationship.

Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James

Today I'm reviewing a book that I know that everyone has read since it came out a few years ago. And though this book isn't one that I just read recently but it's one that I really loved reading when I first heard about it and just had to read in 2012. I first heard about the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy from my aunt who heard about it on the Z100 morning radio show. I decided to give the first book a try so I downloaded the entire trilogy on my NookColor. I read the description of each book so that I would get a feel for the trilogy and I thought it was really intriguing since I've never really read books about characters who practiced BDSM. Also I don't read too many books that are written in the first person because I sometimes feel that they limit what the reader gets to understand about all the characters. So when I first started reading Fifty Shades of Grey I was hooked after getting thru the first few pages.


Anastasia Steele is a literature student who goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey because her roommate Kate was too sick to go though she didn't want to miss her only opportunity to get an interview with Mr. Grey. She encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating when she is first escorted into Mr. Grey's office and to read how they first meet was intriguing to read because Grey seems like a man who doesn't talk about himself to anyone. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. This instant attraction somewhat reminded me of the Twilight characters Edward and Bella but with a non-paranormal twist. And it was fun to find out later that this series was actually James previously writing the trilogy as a Twilight fan fiction with BDSM mixed in. Though I like Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele much more than I ever liked Edward and Bella since Grey and Steele's romance felt more real to me than Edward and Bella's romance and it's not because Edward was a vampire and there were werewolves mixed in. For me Ana and Grey have an instant attraction to each other but it's not like Edward and Bella's which I found was somewhat unhealthy because they were I feel obsessed with one another rather than in love with each other. Ana and Grey seem to have a somewhat healthier relationship but it's just the first book in the series so we have only gotten to see how they start to fall in love with each other which may change as they get to know how to deal with each other's emotions.

Keta Diablo is one of my favorite erotic romance authors and because I enjoyed her male/male contemporary erotic romance releases Crossroads, Crossroads Revisited and Crossroads Showdown, which are the first three books in her Crossroads series and her Male/Male contemporary short story, Hot and Sticky, with Amber Quill | Amber Allure. So when I got the chance to read her just upcoming Male/Male historical novella, Long, Hard Ride, with the new online publisher Decadent Publishing. I read a very intriguing excerpt on Keta's website that had me wanting to read the novel as soon as possible. The story starts off where we meet Grayson Drake and he has been sent by a covert spy agency from the South to break Marx Wellbourne out of Elmira Prison at all costs. Gray has been ordered to return Wellbourne to Richmond so the Confederate Army can pick his brain about the maps he’s memorized but Gray soon discovers Marx is courting death from malaria and pneumonia.

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 second and third book in her series fabulous series called Moonlight Hero and Moonlight Guardian 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 May 25^th release novel, Moonlight Champion, the fourth book in her Ashton Grove Werewolves series, which I was lucky enough to receive an advanced review 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. Since reading the first book in her wonderfully written Ashton Grove Werewolves series I have been anxiously waiting for the next book in the series to be published as soon as possible because I am officially addicted! Now we all have read about the three Andrews brothers, Cole, Gabriel and Michael finding their mates and having their happily ever after though they had some trouble along the way. But now it's their cousin Conner Tierney's turn to find his mate and have his happily ever after.

Keta Diablo is one of my favorite erotic romance authors and because I enjoyed her male/male contemporary erotic romance releases Crossroads, Crossroads Revisited and Crossroads Showdown, which are the first three books in her Crossroads series. So when I got the chance to read her just released Male/Male contemporary short story, Hot and Sticky, with Amber Quill | Amber Allure. I read a very intriguing excerpt on Keta's website that had me wanting to read the novel as soon as possible. The story starts off where we meet Hugh Landon, an up and coming lawyer in Washington, D.C., who is in big trouble because when his career hangs in the balance over a missing file, Hugh must call his paralegal, Milan Vassar at the midnight hour and plead for assistance. Hugh has been having trouble controling his sexual fantasies about Milan ever since he started workign with him 8 months ago and being with him at that late of an hour pushes him to the edge.

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, Julie Kimbrell and Jessie Colter. Today I will be reviewing Linda Palmer's paranormal young adult called, My-Wolf, which is the first book of her Wolf of My Heart series and I was happy to get a copy to review. The heroine of the novel, Andee Rivera, has no idea what she's getting into when she saves Jonah Killebrew from drowning in a chilly mountain lake which is where the house she stopped by to check up on the cat that her professor asked her to care for. He's badly injured—wild animal bites from the look of his wounds—and as a fledgling healer, she wants to help him recover. But his bites are more than they seem to be and all the potions and salves in the world may not be enough to save him. Linda has yet to disappoint me when ever I pick up a copy of her paranormal young adult novels. Her novels have always kept me on my toes and wanting more even when I have finished reading her novel. I had such fun reading it that I seriously was dreading finishing this novel since I didn't want it to end which always happens when I read Linda's novels. Linda Palmer delivers yet another wonderfully suspenseful and exciting young adult novel about a young woman who finds out something unexpected about herself and is also dragged into a whole new world that is not freaking her out since she found her true love. This novel is just the start of a great series that I have to recommend to both young adult and adults alike since it is filled with young love and exciting suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for all of Linda's future young adult novels since she is seriously becoming one of my favorite YA authors. I give this book 4.5 Open Books:

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

MY-WOLF by Linda Palmer $5.98 (Book 1)(233 Pages)

Andee Rivera has no idea what she's getting into when she saves Jonah Killebrew from drowning in a chilly mountain lake. He's badly injured—wild animal bites from the look of his wounds—and as a fledgling healer, she wants to help. But his bites are more than they seem, and all the potions and salves in the world may not be enough to save him.

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 Jessie Colter's debut paranormal young adult called, Heart's Desire, which I was happy to get a copy to review. The hero of the novel, Morgan Raines, transferred to a new high school his senior year and starting over doesn't bother him, but finding his mate pinned to her locker by her Neanderthal ex-boyfriend does. From day one, Morgan and Skye are inseperable, despite the fact her ex keeps getting in the way of there budding relationship. But will Skye's feelings change when she realizes he turns into a panther every time the moon is full? Or can true love conquer all? I certainly think that true love conquer's all since it is a beautiful thing that everyone strives to one day discover. I love paranormal young adult novels and I had such fun reading it that I seriously was dreading finishing this novel since I didn't want it to end. Jessie Colter delivers a wonderfully suspenseful and exciting young adult debut novel about a young woman who finds her true love is a shapeshifting panther that would do anything for her. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for all of Jessie's future young adult novels since she has hooked me to her writing from reading the first page of her debut novel until the very end. I give this book 4.5 Open Books:

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

HEART'S DESIRE by Jessie Colter $5.98 (169 Pages)

Morgan Raines transferred to a new high school his senior year. Starting over doesn't bother him, but finding his mate pinned to her locker by her Neanderthal ex-boyfriend does.... From day one, Morgan and Skye are inseperable, despite the fact her ex keeps getting in the way. But will Skye's feelings change when she realizes he turns into a panther every time the moon is full? Or can true love conquer all?

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 Jessica Coulter Smith's fantasy/sci-fi erotic romance short story called, A Slave to Her Passion, which is the first book of her A Tale of Shar series and I was happy to get a copy to review. The heroine of the novel, Alyson, has been abducted and taken the the land of Shar, a realm that is run by a wicked vampire and is filled with demons and fallen angels. Resigned to her fate as a slave in this new realm but things begin to look up when the mysterious Adam buys her from Lars who is very hard on his slaves. The sexy fallen angel plans on sharing her with his best friend—but after a night of passion, he may just change his mind about sharing. Alyson begins to wonder if its possible to fall in love with the man who owns you and she also begins to wonder if she's still a slave? Or just a slave to her passions? This novel is very different from the other novels I've read by Jessica and I loved it! I think she wrote it beautifully and it was definitely hot and steamy which made me want it to never end especially since I thought the angels were gorgeous in this novel. Jessica Coulter Smith delivers a wonderfully erotic and passion filled novel about a woman who gets kidnapped and taken to another realm to be a sex slave. I will be keeping an eye out for the future books in the A Tale of Shar series since I know this novel is just the beginning for Alyson and Adam. I give this book 4.5 Open Books:

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

A SLAVE TO HER PASSION by Jessica Coulter Smith $3.98 (Book 1)(75 Pages)

Alyson has been abducted and taken the the land of Shar, a realm that is run by a wicked vampire and is filled with demons and fallen angels. Resigned to her fate as a slave and things begin to look up when Adam buys her. The sexy fallen angel plans on sharing her with his best friend—but after a night of passion, he may just change his mind. Alyson begins to wonder if its possible to fall in love with the man who owns you. Is she still a slave? Or just a slave to her passions?

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 an ARC of J.L. Oiler's debut novel Blood Dance, which is the first book of her Seeds of Oden 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. Well onto the book review for J.L. Oiler's debut novel, Blood Dance, that I will say right off I really enjoyed reading and I would love to read the next book in the series. This book isn't to be released until Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 so if you want to read the book as soon as you read this review you are going to have to wait a couple of weeks but it will be worth the wait I tell you. The Crimson Erotica is Pittsburgh’s hottest night club and even in the middle of the week patron clamor to get through the door so that they could party until they dropped from having a good time. But no one who entered the club would ever imagine it is something far different or that the shapely dancer who owns the club with her two sisters is far from an ordinary human.

Named for the god of war, Ares has always lived up to the reputation of the name her father gave her though she had her soft spot of her younger sisters. Born to be the bloodmate of Kaden, one of the leaders of an ancient race of vampire’s who have sworn to protect mankind from their predatory counterparts, she is torn between her promise to reunite her younger siblings and her desire for the one man who makes her pulse race. Can she surrender to her destiny and help protect mankind from the evil that stalks them or will she just continue to sway in the denial on the Blood Dance? I think that Ares will surrender to her destiny and help protect mankind from the evil that stalks them with her bloodmate Kaden because she has lived too long without the passionate love that they instantly share. It was so much fun getting to know more about the Seeds of Oden in this first book of the series because I enjoyed reading more about this world filled with good and bad vampires with the mix of 12 female bloodmates that are part-human. Ares and Kaden have got some issues that they may have to work out with their new bloodmate relationship since she has always been with the one mindset of reunited her younger siblings. I think they will make it and I hope to read more about their growing relationship in any of the future books of this series. J.L. Oiler delivers a steamy and thrilling debut paranormal romance novel as well as a wonderful start to a gripping new series that will have to anxious to get your hands on the next book. I am hooked and I can't wait to get my hands on J.L's next book, Blood Dawn, of her Seeds of Oden series which is going to be out in Summer of 2010 if all goes accordingly. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from J.L.'s website and picture:

BLOOD DANCE by J.L. Oiler $ 4.98 (Book 1)(142 Pages)

The Crimson Erotica is Pittsburgh’s hottest night club. Even in the middle of the week patron clamor to get through the door. But no one would ever imagine it is something far different or that the shapely dancer who owns the club with her two sisters is far from an ordinary human. Named for the god of war, Ares has always lived up to the reputation. Born to be the bloodmate of Kaden, one of the leaders of an ancient race of vampire’s who have sworn to protect mankind from their predatory counterparts, she is torn between her promise to reunite her siblings and her desire for the one man who makes her pulse race. Can she surrender to her destiny and help protect mankind from the evil that stalks them or will she just continue to sway in the denial on the Blood Dance.

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. Now today I am reviewing Linda's upcoming February 2010 young adult release, Operation Normal, that I was so excited to get the honor of reviewing since I was totally needing my Linda Palmer Young adult fix since first starting reading her novels. 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'm sure glad I did because I had a great time reading this novel so much that I finished it up in less then 6 hours after I got it uploaded onto my Sony eReader.

I was so excited when I started reading this novel and was really instantly hooked with the main characters who I could sometimes really identify with. Well the novel starts with the heroine, Ally Mills, desperately wanting a "normal" for her half-sister Kayly, which is something she never had herself thanks to her liberated mom. Ally has always been a list maker when it comes to the things she wants to do and so the first thing on her list of to-dos for making a normal life for her half-sister is by contacting Kayly's dad, who promised he'd stay out of Kayly's life just as Ally's own dad once did. When Ally's mom leaves the country on assignment, Ally drops in on the guy to introduce him to his baby daughter but Kayly's dad doesn't live there—her half brother, Zach, does which completely throws Ally. But then Ally is again completely thrown for a lope with his shocking offer to help find "normal" is nothing compared to what happens next for the three of them. WOW and AMAZING are the first two words that came to mind when I finally got finished reading this great novel. I had such fun getting to know Ally who is such a wonderful sister to her baby half-sister Kayly and it was very brave of her to try to get Kayly's father into her life. It was such a wonderful surprise to find that Zach is actually Kayly's half-sister because it means that Ally and Zach can have a future together which I could see happening from the moment they met one another at his apartment. I am so happy that I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Operation Normal because I loved reading it so much I was 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 Ally, Kayly and Zach. Linda Palmer delivers yet another exciting and wonderfully written young adult with suspense, romance and a bit of paranormal elements to have you falling in love with all the characters and never wanting the novel to come to an end. I give this book 4.5 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book that I got from Linda and picture:

OPERATION NORMAL by Linda Palmer $ 5.50 (169 Pages)(Comes out February 2010 from Unical Press)

Ally desperately wants "normal" for her half-sister Kayly, something she never had herself thanks to her liberated mom. First on her list of to-dos is contacting Kayly's dad, who promised he'd stay out of Kayly's life just as Ally's own dad once did. When Ally's mom leaves the country on assignment, Ally drops in on the guy to introduce him to his baby daughter. But Kayly's dad doesn't live there—her half brother, Zach, does. And his shocking offer to help find "normal" is nothing compared to what happens next.

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 second book in her series fabulous 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 just released novel, Moonlight Guardian, the third book in her Ashton Grove Werewolves series, which I was lucky enough to receive an review 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. Since reading the first book in her wonderfully written Ashton Grove Werewolves series I have been anxiously waiting for the next book in the series to be published as soon as possible because I am officially addicted! Now we all have read about the first two Andrews brothers, Cole and Gabriel, finding their mates and having their happily ever after though they had some trouble along the way. But now it's the youngest brother to find his mate and finally settle down to start a family which is what we all wish for him. Michael Andrews is the last of his brothers to find his mate and he's played it tough, trying to convince his family that a mate is the last thing he wants, that he enjoys having a different woman every week. In reality, he's afraid and he wants to find his mate though he thinks he may already have, but what if he's not a good husband? Maybe he just isn't made to love someone like his abusive father who he felt never really cared about his mother and his brothers.

Chloe Stevens is on her last leg and she found a guy she thought was great, only to end up pregnant and have the guy vanish into thin air after he got what he wanted from her. Then she lost her job and consequently, her car which just gets worse because now she's facing an eviction from her apartment. So she's five months pregnant with no job, no car, and now no home which forced Chloe to do the one thing she swore she wouldn't...contact the father of her baby. She may have just been a fling to Michael, but their few days together had meant more to her than it must have for Michael. When a pregnant Chloe shows up looking for Michael, he's stunned to find out that he's going to be a father and it appears that fate is determined to put the woman in his path. While he's thought of her often over the past several months, he's done his best to stay away. What on earth does he have to offer her or the baby she's carrying? A baby on the way changes everything...whether Chloe likes it or not, she's stuck with Michael from here on out. Now he just has to convince her to marry him which is going to be a bit tough when Chloe becomes attached to Ramsey who is another werewolves and part of the Ashton Grove pack.

So I finished reading this book in about less than a day since I got it and while I was reading it I had a bit of mixed feelings about some of 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 Chloe since I wasn't completely sure if Michael 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 eased my mind about the characters which were wonderfully written. While I was reading it Jessica told me the following on Facebook, "My fingers are crossed that you like you it...but I get the feeling you may want to beat me over the head with it :)" which then made me a bit nervous. I've noticed that Jessica is now writing novels that will keep us readers guessing about which man in the heroine's will be the lucky one to end up with her and it can really get nerve racking always wondering who will end up with who. In the end Jessica Coulter Smith delivers yet another exciting paranormal romance in her highly addictive Ashton Grove Werewolves series that will have you guessing from start to finish about who will Chloe choose to mate and love forever but also make you want the novel to never end. I've also got to mentioned that I got a sneak peek into the 5th and next book in the series called, Moonlight Champion, which is the story of one of the Andrews brother's cousins who is named Connor Tierney. Now I really can't wait to get my hands on a copy of it but I have to wait since it's not going to be released until 2010. I give this book 4.5 Open Books:

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

MOONLIGHT GUARDIAN by Jessica Coulter Smith $ 5.98 (Book 3)(173 Pages)

Michael Andrews is the last of his brothers to find his mate. He's played it tough, trying to convince his family that a mate is the last thing he wants, that he enjoys having a different woman every week. In reality, he's afraid. He wants to find his mate and thinks he may already have, but what if he won't be a good husband? Maybe he just isn't made to love someone. Chloe Stevens is on her last leg. She found a guy she thought was great, only to end up pregnant and have the guy vanish into thin air. Then she lost her job and consequently, her car. Now she's facing eviction. Five months pregnant, no job, no car, and now no home have forced Chloe to do the one thing she swore she wouldn't...contact the father of her baby. She may have just been a fling to Michael, but their few days together had meant more to her. When a pregnant Chloe shows up looking for Michael, he's stunned to find out that he's going to be a father. It appears that fate is determined to put the woman in his path. While he's thought of her often over the past several months, he's done his best to stay away. What on earth does he have to offer her? A baby on the way changes everything...whether Chloe likes it or not, she's stuck with Michael from here on out. Now he just has to convince her to marry him...

SWEET INSPIRATION by Penny Watson $ 6.99 (Book 1)(206 Pages)(Coming out on December 2, 2009)

Today I'm reviewing my online friend Eva Gordon's contemporary paranormal romance novel, Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf, the second book of her Wolf Maiden Chronicles series. I also reviewed her paranormal romance novel, Werewolf Sanctuary, which is the first book of her Wolf Maiden Chronicles series about a week ago if you would like to know what I had to say about it before you read my review for this book. I'm also happy to say that in a couple of weeks I'll be interviewing Eva right here on TAMFA so keep looking for it this month. Now to my review of Eva Gordon's novel which I had such fun reading that I finished it up so quickly because I couldn't stop reading it that I didn't sleep until I completely finished reading it. Now in the novel Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf which is a historical paranormal romance that takes place during the Viking Era of the Dark Ages. A time when only the strong survive which depicts alpha lycans and Sigurd, an alpha Norse wolfskin, son of Gunnolf the Red seeks revenge against shape shifting bearskins, Bork the Mad and his son, Mord the Blood Claw for the death of his parents and his older brother Guda. Orphaned, he has been raised by his older sister Brynhild, who convinces him to take a wolf maiden in order to increase their small pack. Despite the warning by Hungerd the wolf witch, he takes a farmer's new bride with tragic consequences which ends with his pack's demise and leads to the journey he has to take alone. He joins a long ship of Vikings until the day he can avenge his pack's demise as well as kill Bork and Mord for the death of his father and brother as well as his mother.

Emelisse, a Frank wolf maiden, has been raised and educated in the classics, science, literature and languages by female lycans of the Lupercal. Born a runt with a weak heart her father has been overprotective but she refuses to be treated like a delicate vase and rebels by seeking out riding and falconry. Now at age the age of eighteen Emelisse frets that her father wants her to accept Radulf III the Cruel, an alpha lycan of a pack of powerful warriors. So she tries to run away with her human lover which ends in tragedy for all parties but also begins the journey to her destiny which was foretold the day of her birth. Viking werewolf, Sigurd rescues Emelisse, from the claws of the berserker bear men and when he finds out that she is has the 5 toed paw print on her hip he claims her as his ulf hexen or wolf maiden, but she wants to leave lycan society and live with humans. To complicate matters she has been called by her goddess Feronia to save the lycans from a dreaded disease and that means that she will have to stay in the lycan society if she wants her lycan family to survive was is foretold to be a disease that could wipe out both lycan and humans from the face of the earth if it is not stopped. Their union is wrought with great peril in a world where werewolves must battle against their own kind as well as their fierce enemy, the berserker bear men. Will Emelisse accept Sigurd a foreign lycan as her alpha mate? Sigurd vows to protect her from their enemies but how can he save her before she dies from her ailing heart?

OMG and Wow! That is what I had to say when I finished reading Werewolf Sanctuary and it's exactly the same thing I had to say when I finished reading this novel because I couldn't believe how great a read it was. From the first page to the very last page, this novel tells of an entertaining journey into the the lycan world that will give you a thrill ride in this historical paranormal romance. At the end of the first novel we find that Wyatt and Madeline are researching about the past alpha lycans and their wolf maiden life mates and reading this novel was so much fun because it gave us a past story to compare with the past of the lycan race with the present of the lycan race. I also loved that I got to learn more about alpha lycan Lupa who we only got to know a little about in the first book as a retiring alpha lycan leader of the Lurpercal. Now in this book we see her as a younger alpha lycan who is close to Emmelise and is trying to save the lycan race from a disease that is going to wipe out their race if they don't find the cure soon. Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf has more than enough romance, dangerous journies for both Sigurd and Emmelise that leads to plot twits and turns to give readers a page turner with satisfying experience. I very much look forward to more of Eva Gordon's wonderful Wolf Maiden Chronicles series especially her next book in the series which is a historical paranormal romance called, White Wolf of Avalon. I give this book 4.5 Open Books: Here is the description of the book from Eva's website and description: BEAST WARRIOR: VIKING WEREWOLF by Eva Gordon $ 7.49 (Book 2)(158 Pages)

OMG and Wow! That is what I had to say when I finished reading this novel because I couldn't believe how great a read it was. From the start of this novel I became addicted to the characters Wyatt and Madeline because I knew that they would have a lot to tell me about themselves as well as the relationship that I knew was going to happen between them throughout this novel. There were many plot twists and turns that had me glued to this novel making me want more and more as well as making me wish that it would never end. I found out that this Lycan world that Eva created was very intriguing because it is such a complex world that I had fun learning everything I could about it while reading this novel. Wyatt and Maddie are such wonderful characters that have a lot of growing to do in this novel because they have been living without each other for their entire lives so now that they have finally met and fallen in love they need to adjust to their new lives together. Along the way they will have many tough and dangerous obstacles that will be blocking their way to finally having their happily ever after with each other. Eva Gordon delivers an intriguing tale of lycans and humans that is at times so believable I felt as though I'm right there with Wyatt and Maddie. From the first page to the very last page, this novel tells of an entertaining journey into the the lycan world that will give you a thrill ride in this contemporary paranormal romance. Werewolf Sanctuary has more than enough romance, plot twits and turns to give readers a page turner with satisfying experience and I look forward to more of the Wolf Maiden Chronicles series especially her next book in the series which is a historical paranormal romance called, Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf. I give this book 4.5 Open Books: Here is the description of the book from Eva's website and description: WEREWOLF SANCTUARY by Eva Gordon $ 7.49 (Book 1)(248 Pages)

Since ancient times, the Lupercal Council has kept their people’s werewolf identity a well-guarded secret from man. They refer to their kind as lycans. The lycan shifts into a bear-sized wolf, bearing unique markings reminiscent of Maori or Celtic tattoos. The pack shifts during the full moon and are under the control of their alpha male leader. The alpha male and alpha female are not bound by the full moon and can shift at will. Lycans can only breed with their kind. The exception are the alpha males, which can only mate with human women known as wolf maidens. These human women bear the five-toed paw print or mark of the wolf on their left hip. Female alphas are sterile but are the leading lycans governing the Lupercal Council. The Lupercal society is in peril due to an unknown disease infecting their young offspring. The children that survive the pestilence shift too early into wolf cubs, lose their distinct markings, and end up becoming normal wolves unaware of their human consciousness. Normally immune to most known diseases, the Lupercal has few of their own doctors and must seek the help of a human outsider to find the cure. Wyatt Weylin, the alpha male of the Montana pack and leader of a team of mercenary lycans, flies to a World Wolf Conference in San Francisco, where he hopes to convince leading authority on wolf diseases, veterinarian Dr. Madeline Styles to come to his wolf sanctuary and find a cure. The minute he sees her he feels drawn to her striking good looks. The sensory chemistry is instant. He tries to suppress the feeling knowing that he is forbidden to fall for a human. Life gets complicated when Wyatt discovers that the vegetarian animal doctor has the mark of the wolf and is his life mate.

Well this novel starts with us meeting Livvie Merrick who hates the psychic gifts that make her different and cause nothing but trouble in her life though that could change if she could learn to control it better. That's especially true when she has a vision that the school's star quarterback will break his leg and naturally Livvie warns him—a warning misconstrued as a curse when it comes true. That makes for a lonely senior year for Livvie until Alex Sawyer moves to town and Livvie has to show him around school because she is part of the Welcome Team. Livvie is quickly lost in his big beautiful blue eyes and though it's clear that Alex is as attracted to her, she knows the day will come when he finds out what a freak she really is. What neither of them knows is that Alex is different, too, and the psychic gifts Livvie despises may be exactly what she needs to save him. Alex and Livvie have a lot of things that they will need to work out because they both have some secrets that they will need to tell each other sooner rather than later if they want their budding relationship to last more than a couple of weeks as is normal for teenage relationships.

As this is my second novel that I've read from Linda Palmer I can tell you that I will be keeping a look out for any of her future young adult books because she has me hooked and not about to let me go any time soon. This novel is such an exciting paranormal young adult novel with so many interesting plot twists that will have you spinning to catch up with all of the fun new things that happen to Livvie and Alex on their journey to finding true love with each other. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to read any of Linda's future young adult novels if they are just as good as this one. Though it's written in the first person, which I don't generally like to read, I find that Linda has written it in a way that kept my interest from start to finish just like her current release, The Cinderella Swap. Linda Palmer has delivered an exciting paranormal young adult romance with many twists and turns that will keep you wanting more and fill you with excitement trying to figure out if Livvie and Alex will end up with a happily ever after though it seems almost impossible. I give this book 4.5 Open Books:

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

JAGUAR MOON by Linda Palmer $ 5.98 (257 Pages)

Unfortunately Ren’s mom, a juvie judge, greets Dugan by name, which is never a good thing since it means she first met him in court. But that isn't going to make Ren forget about Dugan because she knows that he isn't the same young man that her mother thinks he is since he's been to juvie court. Though Ren is ordered to forget the boy, she can’t and who would because Ren knows that Dugan is the only boy for her which is something she knows her mother won't understand right now. Her secret psychic gift—a flash of color that reveals the soul—tells her that Dugan is as good on the inside as he looks on the outside. And while she’s perfectly happy to have a secret boyfriend, Dugan will not cooperate since it's not in his nature after having experienced a very rough childhood and been in serious trouble already. It’s mutual need that finally brings them together but will their “Cinderella Swap” remain strictly business? Of course not because that would just make a very dull young adult romance novel wouldn't it and that it not what this novel is.

As this is my first novel that I've read from Linda Palmer I can tell you that it definitely won't be my last. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to read any of Linda's future young adult novels if they are just as good as this one. Though it's written in the first person, which I don't generally like to read, I find that Linda has written it in a way that kept my interest from start to finish. I fell in love with Ren and Dugan from the start and loved reading how their young love struggled and survived in the end just like I kept hoping it would. The story also had a bit of the paranormal to it since Ren has a special ability of seeing the color of a person's soul when she touches them and know what type of person they are. Linda Palmer has delivered an intriguing young adult romance with many twists and turns that will keep you on your toes with excitement trying to figure out if Ren and Dugan will end up with a happily ever after. I give this book 4.5 Open Books:

Now in desperation she cries out to the Gods, and they take pity on her by sending her forward into the future, so that she may return later to correct her mistakes of the past. This is the story of Nefertiti, of the life she has lived here as Kayla, unaware of her true identity until finally reunited with the man who is the living reincarnation of her murdered husband, Akhenaten. She is faced with a difficult choice that is to either return to Egypt and save her country and its people or stay here with the man who holds her heart in any lifetime. But then she starts to wonderf if she returns to Egypt, will she remember her life as Kayla, so she may be returned here before her life becomes forfeit in the past. It is amazing how Charline has created a wonderful fictional world where the great Egyptian Queen Nefertiti has been given the chance to live her life in the future (our present) and meet once again her reincarnated husband, who is now named Paolo a gorgeous Italian man, and soul mate as Kayla. I had such a wonderful time reading this novel that I almost got a couple of paper cuts because I was flipping the pages a bit too fast in order to find out what would happen next for Kayla and Paolo. After finishing this novel I was a bit sad that the story had to end and from the ending I think Charline may be thinking of writing a sequel since I felt that Kayla and Paolo may have more to their story. Charline Ratcliff delivers a beautifully written debut novel of a famous Queen Nefertiti getting a second chance at fixing her past mistakes and having a wonderful future with her soul mate, Akhenaten, in the future (our present). I give this book 4.5 Open Books:

In the first novel we met the Andrews brothers Gabriel, the oldest and the alpha, and his younger twin brothers Cole and Michael. We read about Cole's happily ever after with his human mate Marin and got a look at how the other brothers Gabriel and Michael who are both feeling like they are in need of finding their mates as well. Now alpha werewolf Gabriel Andrews is stunned when his mate comes bursting through the door of his garage one day. Running from a ravenous vampire, Kiera is happy to see the hot mechanic and this confrontation between the couple and the vampire forces Gabriel to announce Kiera as his mate. Which is a surprise for the vampire, Kiera and Gabriel because neither of the three was expecting that when they woke up that morning. Then when the vampire throws down the gauntlet, demanding that Gabriel and Kiera marry each other in order to prove that she's really the alpha's mate, Gabriel is only too happy to agree.

Kiera on the other hand has her doubts because coming from a small town in Tennessee where werewolves do not assocaiae with other shifters, the little werefox can't believe that Gabriel could really want her in his life. But Gabriel is unlike all those werewolves she grew up with because he is more open minded about it and knows that no matter what Keira changes into that she is his mate and the only woman for him. It was such a pleasure reading about Gabriel and Kiera's happily ever after story because after reading about Cole and Marin's I wanted to read how his other brother's Michael and Gabriel would end up with their mates. Keira is such a timid woman but I think that she really changed since meeting Gabriel because he really gives her that extra boost that pushes her to be more independent, strong and able to her own person. Now I got to know a bit about Gabriel in the first book and reading his love story I got to know him better. Gabriel is such a wonderful, strong and charming man who really is good for Keira since they may not seem like a likely couple but in fact make a great for each other.

Truck driver, Joshua Kaine and his wife, Jessie, enjoy the freedom of the open road until one night on a lonely country road Josh is attacked by a rabid dog. After killing the animal, Joshua becomes very ill, but quickly recovers. Weeks later, when the full moon rises and Josh begins howling, the trouble has just begun. Drawn by an unknown force, Joshua finds himself in a remote mountain area at The Gathering where he meets Garan, a gray wolf who has walked the earth for thousands of years, and Joshua learns the rabid dog was actually a werewolf and his clan is now after Josh. On the run, hunted by a clan of werewolves, and searching to undo his plight, Josh ventures into the swamps of Louisiana in search of an old, black woman who holds the key to his existence. Josh is pushed to the limits, and when the merciless werewolves kill his wife, the hunted becomes the hunter.