ARC Review: Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer

July 25, 2011 | No Comments

Luck of the Devil

by Patricia Eimer

Published by: Entangled Books

The dysfunctional family meets paranormal in Luck of the Devil, a creative and funny new novel by Patricia Eimer.

As the youngest daughter of Satan, Faith has a tough time dealing with family and fitting into the human world.  Faith’s human mother is a nutcase who has a problem facing reality.  Faith’s sister, Hope struggles with a demonic demotion, and her brother Tolliver turned her roommate into a succubus.  Just as Faith finally begins to make progress with her handsome neighbor, the entire family decides to come for a visit, and a stalker threatens her safety.

Luck of the Devil is a fun, entertaining read.  Patricia Eimer manages to humanize demons, while keeping the essential supernatural stereotypes intact.  Part of why this novel is so entertaining is the family dynamics.  The devil is the absent father who tries to make up missed time with gifts, Tolliver is the older brother resentful of his step mother, Hope is the sister trying to gain acceptance, and Faith just wants to be “normal.”  Even though this family is demonic, it is easy to relate to the characters, who face very human problems such as job demotion, relationship struggles, and facing parents after messing up.

The spin on the supernatural is unique.  The relationship between angels and demons, good and evil is unexpected.  In this book, the devil and god are brothers who control their own elements of the universe.  The romance in Luck of the Devil was sweet, and hot at times, but not over done.  There were parts to this book that felt a bit lacking in direction, but overall, the book was very fun and enjoyable to read.  I am looking forward to reading more from Patricia Eimer in the future.

For readers who enjoy humorous paranormal books, Luck of the Devil is a great read.  Look for this book on release day, August 2!

Review: Better Than 8: Fantasy

July 23, 2011 | No Comments

Better than 8: Fantasy

by Erin Jamison

Published by: Tadpole Productions

If you are looking for a hot, spicy, and fun read Better Than 8 fits the bill.

In Better than 8, Amara is a single, beautiful woman who is tired of being lonely.  After some coaxing from her girlfriends, Amara joins a dating site featuring men who are well endowed.  Amara is pleasantly surprised when she meets someone and they connect regularly online.  However, dealing with insecurity from previous failed relationships, Amara backs off, and so does her online mystery man.  Amara fears that she has lost her online man forever, but fate and fantasy sometimes collide…

Blending contemporary romance with erotic fantasies, Better Than 8 is a sensual treat.

I enjoyed this short erotic novel.  Amara is an independent woman looking for love.  She has an odd, unhealthy relationship with her ex, and needs to move on.  Amara knows what she likes in men, and she’s proud of it.  The online dating site, better than 8 fits the character, as does her caution about online dating, and meeting and falling for Sevastian. I enjoyed the story, and the romance and sex was quite hot.  There is an ménage element to the story, and while it took me a bit to acclimate to it, it worked in the end.  Amara’s character grew with the story, and I always enjoy reading about characters that are proud of whom they are. Better Than 8 is a sizzling erotic read that I recommend to fans of erotic romance.  I really liked this novella, and I look forward to reading more from Erin Jamison in the future.

Time to Celebrate! 500 Follower Giveaway!

July 22, 2011 | 34 Comments

500 Follower Giveaway!

I would like to say thank you to all of my awesome followers.  When I began blogging, I had no idea how it would go, and how much I would love it.  I love blogging, reading, reviewing, and meeting fellow book lovers.  In honor of hitting this 500 follower milestone, I’m having an International GIVEAWAY!

What I’m giving away:

$25 Amazon Gift Card!

For International: For those followers who are international, I will give the option of choosing up to $25 in books from The Book Depository

• Must Be a Follower
• (+1) Extra Entry For Tweeting about this Giveaway
• (+1) Entra Entry For showing this giveaway Button on your blog (code on upper left sidebar)
• (+1) Extra Entry any other way

• Fill out this FORM to enter!-now closed

  *Contest runs from Friday July 22 through midnight July 31.  Winner will be chosen randomly by number.  Winner will be notified via Email, and will have 48 hours to respond.  If the winner does not respond, another winner will be chosen.

5 Star Historical Romance Review: Seduction & Scandal by Charlotte Featherstone

July 21, 2011 | 1 Comment

Seduction & Scandal

by Charlotte Featherstone

Publisher: Harlequin

 My Rating:

Blurb from publisher: 

 My Review:

Charlotte Featherstone weaves death, templar nights, romance and murder together in this exhilarating historical romance.

The Earl of Black suffers under a curse that brings death to those closest to him.  Isabella herself is running from a secret, shameful past.  Isabella does not trust her emotions, choosing to relegate them to her novels, while courting only safe and secure men.  Black is anything but safe, and Isabella wants to avoid his advances and the danger he represents.

When it comes to historical romance novels, so many times the stories are similar.  The handsome English Lord, Duke, Viscount woos the unconventional Lady.  While I enjoy these stories, I love when a refreshing new spin comes to life in a novel.  In Seduction and Scandal, Charlotte Featherstone brings a darker and more dangerous element into the Regency England setting with beautiful imagery of the character Death, and supernatural capabilities of ancient artifacts.

I absolutely loved Seduction and Scandal.  The book is well written and developed, and the characters are varied in personality and vices. Isabella’s cousin plays a large role in the story, and I am very eager to learn what happens next with her character, as well as the other leading men.  Seduction and Scandal laid the foundations for a solid and promising series.  I am hooked, and eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

Find this book:

Menage A Blog: Review and Giveaway for Tracking Shadows by Regan Black

July 20, 2011 | 12 Comments

The Menage A Blog Event by Blog Tour de Force is underway! Menage a Blog is hosted by the Indie Book Collective, it is an event running from July 18- July 25, where readers get to meet new authors and get free books! One of today’s featured authors is Regan Black.

Tracking Shadows

by Regan Black

My Rating:

Blurb:

In Chicago, Slick Micky is the smuggler who will deliver anything, anytime, anywhere, but recently an old enemy has called in the best assassin in the business to take him out. Trina Durham’s unique ability to induce deadly hallucinations keeps her at the top of the killing game. But no one warned her this target might as well be a shadow.

Now the two must join forces before the true villain of the Chicago underground tears them apart.

My Review:

Tracking Shadows is an engaging read following an assassin navigating the dark and dangerous underworld in a futuristic Chicago setting.

In Tracking Shadows, assassin Trina Durham is hired to kill the reigning smuggler king of Chicago, Slick Micky. After dealing with other assassins, Trina realizes that this assassination is not run-of-the-mill, and Slick Micky is not who she thought he was. Even with her ability to create illusions, there is more to this job than even Trina can see.

I really enjoyed Tracking Shadows. It is urban fantasy in that it is set in the future, in an America where basic commodities such as coffee and sugar are strictly controlled. There is no paranormal element, but Trina, the heroine, does have a special ability. She can create illusions and hallucinations in other people’s minds. The technology is advanced, and fitting to the setting. The world/setting is very interesting and original.

Part of why I like this book was the way in which the plot unfolded. Both Micky and Trina have pasts that led them to be the characters they become. As the story unfolds, so does the background of the characters, and the reader follows along right with the characters.

About Regan Black:

Regan Black writes action packed paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels so readers can savor a fantastic escape from the daily grind. Experience a Regan Black adventure at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords.

Giveaway

Hot Summer Read! Review: Smokin’ Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

July 19, 2011 | 3 Comments

Smokin’ Seventeen

by Janet Evanovich

Published by: Bantam a division of Random House

My Rating: *** 3 of 5 stars

Blurb From Publisher:

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. 
 

Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.  Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie.  With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.

Book Savvy Babe’s Review:

In Smokin’ Seventeen, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is back in action.  With not-so-trusty sidekick Lula at her side, Stephanie is on the hunt for skips, trying to decide between two men, fending off her mother’s matchmaking attempts, and of course, trying to stay alive.

Stephanie Plum novels can always be counted on to bring a laugh to the reader, and Smokin’ Seventeen did not disappoint.  Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur didn’t have huge part, but she is always entertaining.  Lula, the former hooker-turned-sidekick, was her usual zany, outrageous character.  The romance dynamics between Ranger, Morelli, and Stephanie was pretty much the same too, with Stephanie trying to decide between them.  Thanks to Grandma Bella’s curses and love triangle dynamics, the steamy scenes heated up in Smokin’ Seventeen.

Smokin’ Seventeen is a bit different from previous books in that there is not one major felon that Stephanie has to capture and turn in.  Smokin’ Seventeen is more a series of smaller skips and exploits combined together.  There is a feeling, which began in earlier books, that Stephanie is getting tired of the bounty hunter escapades and ready to move on.

I enjoyed reading Smokin’ Seventeen, it’s a light, fun, quick read.  It is not my favorite in the series, but it is always fun to see what Stephanie and the gang are up to.  This installment in the series was more of the same, not much changing.  The book leaves off with excitement and anticipation for the future (a little bit of a cliff hanger), and I am looking forward to see what happens next.

The Stephanie Plum series is a highly entertaining and fun series, and one that I recommend!

The Stephanie Plum series is a very popular, best-selling series, and I’m curious, what did everyone else think of this book?  Are you Team Ranger or Team Morelli?  As for me, I am Team Ranger!