Category: This one’s a Keeper

Review: Primal Darkness by Evie Ryan

Posted June 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Primal Darkness
Series: By Moonlight, part two
Author: Evie Ryan
Genre: Erotica, Paranormal Romance
Published: May 15, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle edition
Cover Description:

Darkness becomes her…

Rugged, commanding, and undeniably sexy, Brandon Scott is the reason Gwen’s alive, but she isn’t sure about this mountain man who’s mischievous yet careful with her. He drives her nuts, but keeps her smiling. Every kiss sends her reeling with desire, but every mishap makes her smack him, annoyed. Despite his brazen attitude and rough ways Brandon charms her every time he flashes that bad boy smile. He’s not the type of man Gwen usually goes for, but then again she’s never fallen for a werewolf. This werewolf has her hooked. And neither Gwen nor Brandon seems very concerned that she’s a vampire. Vampires and werewolves don’t mix.

Caught up in their sudden romance, Gwen moves into Brandon’s cabin where falling in love and making love are their only priorities. But when Gwen discovers she isn’t the only hiker who was saved from death, she begins to unravel a dark secret that threatens to divide them, and an ancient power called primal darkness is at its core.

A vampire amongst werewolves, Gwen investigates alone. The closer she gets to discovering the truth, the greater the rift between her and the man she loves. Brandon’s keeping something from her, but the vampire who turned her isn’t. Refined, inviting, and highly seductive, Christoph Barone would do anything for her and Gwen can’t deny the temptation. His hands are strong, yet smooth as silk. Every touch melts her. And when he looks at her with those piercing green eyes she feels a connection so deep it takes her breath away. But isn’t Brandon the one?

As primal darkness rises, the two men vie for her heart. Gwen is torn between her werewolf lover and the love of a man who’s like her, a vampire. She must choose before the dark power makes the choice for her. If it does, it could mean her life.

Read on for my thoughts on Primal Darkness. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Vamp Rising by Evie Ryan

Posted June 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Vamp Rising
Series: By Moonlight, Part 1
Author: Evie Ryan
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: May 14, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle edition
Cover Description:

Death is only the beginning…

When Gwen Keller arrives in the Cascade Mountains, ready for the long weekend ahead, she knows she’s out of her element. The steep terrain, crisp mountain air, and rugged wilderness are nothing like Seattle’s state-of-the-art amenities she’s accustomed to, but that’s the point. She wants an escape from her grueling career as a high-powered executive and the hectic lifestyle that comes with it. She needs time alone, just her and nature,so that she can come to terms with the diagnosis that’s looming over her head: Gwen will not live long.

Brandon Scott notices the city slicker the second she sets foot in his neck of the woods and he isn’t pleased. The way she wrestles her tent poles with a clatter, stomps noisily through the brush, and sings aloud through trails she has no business hiking sets his teeth on edge. But the longer he studies her from afar, the harder it is to deny she’s piqued his interest. Her curves, the short mop of blond hair she tosses with a smile, and the perky pep in her step has him curious about her, if not intrigued. Does she have what it takes to survive in his territory? Would his inner wolf scare her off? Maybe she’s the one…

But the opportunity slips through his fingers when he finds the lone hiker dead at the bottom of the ravine.

There’s only one way to restore her to life and it isn’t to make her like him. An ancient favor is called in, and the mysterious woman is saved. But what she’s become is destined to destroy him: a vampire.

Brandon must tame her darkness if he wants to win her heart, but Gwen is torn between the vampire life and that of werewolves. She must choose before time runs out…

The search party is closing in.

Read on for my thoughts on Vamp Rising. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Aftermath by Sandy Goldsworthy

Posted June 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Aftermath
Series: The Afterworld Saga #1
Author: Sandy Goldsworthy
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: December 2, 2014
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

After losing her father, Emma Bennett moves to her aunt’s small town of Westport to finish out her senior year of high school. Emma wants to forget the pain and loss of the past few weeks, finding relief in the company of Ben Parker—a local boy who she has an instant attraction and uncanny connection with. When Ben seems a little too preoccupied with other responsibilities and has no time for her, Emma turns to the town’s hottest flirt—Lucas Crandon—for affection. Unfortunately, she realizes a little too late that, sometimes, bad boys really can be bad for you.

Life as an undercover agent for the Afterworld’s Bureau of Investigation isn’t an easy job. When Ben Parker finds his soul mate, Emma, in a small town, he finds himself forced to choose between doing his job or rekindling a relationship with the love of his existence. After Ben is notified that a notorious immortal is loose somewhere near Westport, he realizes that his love life will just have to wait. There is a criminal to apprehend before he can have his girl.

When lives are at stake and immortals are on the loose, can two soul mates find their happy ever after?

Read on for my thoughts on Aftermath. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Aftershock by Sandy Goldsworthy

Posted June 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Aftershock
Series: The Afterworld Saga
Author: Sandy Goldsworthy
Genre: Paranormal
Published: April 11, 2014
Publisher:
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle edition
Cover Description:

An agent for the Afterworld’s Bureau of Investigation, Ben Parker spent decades undercover on earth, searching for the wife he left behind when he died.

Just when he decides to give up hope, and move on with his existence, he learns his soul mate was found. Now, reviewing her case file, he understands what she endured those years without him.

More importantly, he knows what the future has in store for her… but there’s nothing he can do to change it.

Read on for my thoughts on Aftershock. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Girls Can’t Be Knights by Lee French

Posted June 15, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Girls Can’t Be Knights
Series:
Author: Lee French
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Published: June 12, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Portland has a ghost problem.

Sixteen-year-old Claire wants her father back. His death left her only memories and an empty locket. After six difficult years in foster care, her vocabulary no longer includes “hope” and “trust.”

Everything changes when Justin rides his magical horse into her path and takes her under his wing. Like the rest of the elite men who serve as Spirit Knights, he hunts restless ghosts that devour the living.

When an evil spirit threatens Claire’s life, she’ll need Justin’s help to survive. And how could she bear the Knights’ mark on her soul? Everybody knows Girls Can’t Be Knights.

Read on for my thoughts on Girls Can’t Be Knights. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Night of the Living Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

Posted June 9, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Night of the Living Demon Slayer
Series: Biker Witches Mystery #7, Demon Slayer #7, The Accidental Demon Slayer series #7
Author: Angie Fox
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Published: May 31, 2015
Publisher: Angie Fox
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Lizzie Brown is all for letting the good times roll…until a dark voodoo church rises up in the bayou outside of New Orleans. Now ritual fires are burning long into the night and the dead are having a hard time staying that way.

Lizzie goes in undercover to put a stop to the madness. Good thing she can count on her sexy shape-shifter husband, as well as her Grandma’s gang of biker witches. Too bad nobody’s watching her trusty dog, Pirate, who has become way too friendly with the phantom haunting a long-forgotten Victorian-era seance room.

Secrets and spirits abound. Nothing is what it seems. And when legions of the dead threaten the city, there may be no stopping them.

Read on for my thoughts on Night of the Living Demon Slayer. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: A Marquis for Mary by Jess Michaels

Posted June 9, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: A Marquis for Mary
Series: The Notorious Flynns #5
Author: Jess Michaels
Genre: Historical Regency Romance
Published: June 9, 2015
Publisher: The Passionate Pen
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Mary Quinn is almost at the end of her rope. After two years under her sister and brother-in-law’s protection she may soon have to return to her terrible father’s house if she cannot find a husband. In her desperation, she bumps into Edward, Marquis Woodley. Drawn to each other, they are soon thrown into a scandal that leads to an engagement.

But as the pair grow closer and their wedding looms, Woodley’s past and the horrific circumstances of his first wife’s death may keep them from the happy ending that will save them both.

Read on for my thoughts on A Marquis for Mary. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Chosen by Jennifer Ortiz

Posted June 6, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Chosen
Series: The Chosen Chronicles
Author: Jennifer Ortiz
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Published: January 12 2014
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Cal Reynolds has always been special. He comes from a long line of Hunters – a group of humans gifted with exceptional strength, speed, and magical ability. The Hunters’ purpose is to protect the world from demons from the Underworld. But even among this select group, Cal stands out.

When his strained relationship with his father causes Cal to leave the Hunters, a series of events is set in motion that causes him to discover secrets about himself, his family, and his future that he could never have imagined. In the midst of trying to decipher the pieces left from this chaos, Cal reconnects with Gabrielle Morgan, the only girl he’s ever loved, after a nearly seven year estrangement.

But Cal is Chosen – and that has far reaching ramifications, not only on himself but on those he loves as well. When Cal is faced with the ultimate deception, he begins to realize that he will need to choose where his loyalties, and his love, lie…and the seduction of darkness is almost overwhelmingly alluring.

Read on for my thoughts on Chosen. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Daring Exploits of a Runaway Heiress by Victoria Alexander

Posted June 4, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Daring Exploits of a Runaway Heiress
Series: Millworth Manor #5
Author: Victoria Alexander
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Zebra
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Owned, Personal Collection
Cover Blurb:

To Do:
Swim naked in the moonlight
Play in a high stakes card game
Ride an elephant
Be painted sans clothing.
Take a lover…

Lucy Merryweather has inherited a fortune—and her great-aunt’s list of unfulfilled wishes. What better way to honor her memory than by accomplishing as many of them as possible? And with Lucy’s family an ocean away in New York, nothing stands in her way—if one ignores the private investigator hired to spy on her.

Yet Cameron Effington is infuriatingly difficult to ignore…

As a reporter, Cameron is always looking for a good story. An American heiress running rampant between Millworth Manor and Mayfair is the perfect subject. Not to mention captivating. And extremely kissable. And if Lucy believes he’s a detective? Well, the truth should never get in the way of a good story—or hinder delicious, impetuous passion.

Read on for my thoughts on The Daring Exploits of a Runaway Heiress. No true spoilers, promise.

A Visual Introduction to The Gates Legacy series by Lorenz Font

Posted June 4, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Today, June 4, 2015, is release day for the fourth installment of The Gates Legacy by Lorenz Font… Reckoning. In preparation for my own review of Reckoning, I thought I would give you a visual introduction to this amazing series to those who have not yet discovered it.

We begin with Hunted:

https://youtu.be/XRRY924x4YE

And then move on to the second novel in The Gates Legacy, Tormented:

https://youtu.be/ZU4RWhCR_To

The third novel in The Gates Legacy is Ascension:

And.. finally – Reckoning:

I arrived a bit late to this series, but as I quickly got caught up and current, these videos gave me a definite incentive to continue to get caught up. This is a detailed, intense world that I hope you will take the time to discover.

Review: Reckoning by Lorenz Font

Posted June 4, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Reckoning
Series: The Gates Legacy #4
Author: Lorenz Font
Genre: Paranormal
Published: June 4, 2015
Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee House Publishing House
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Blurb:

The vampires of New York City are breathing easier after the demise of the tyrannical former head of the Vampire Council, Goran. Under Rohnert, the revered and newly ascended leader, their future looks promising. However, an unknown enemy is manipulating events, killing humans and vampires alike, and exposing their secrets to the human world.

This is bad news for new vampire Cyrus and his band of fighters at Tack Enterprises. Events derail his plans to find Zane, the sadistic vampire who tortured Cyrus and forced immortality on him. Armed with hatred deep in his bones, all Cyrus cares about is getting even, and Zane has it coming. Cyrus soon finds himself torn between the crippling desire for revenge and his responsibility to his friends. When he begins to spend time in the company of the beautiful and pureblooded vampire, Isidora, her presence in his life makes him rethink his priorities.

Isidora is able to read minds. The thoughts she hears from the respected and irresistible vampire, Cyrus, are filled with both anger towards Zane and a deep admiration for her. Being closeted all her life, Issy has no idea what to do in the face of the outside world’s war, death, and challenges. One thing is clear. She craves Cyrus, but his need for vengeance is clouding his mind. After discovering a previously hidden family member and being called to serve the Council, Issy is at a crossroads in her life and struggles to find the right path.

Both vampires face tough choices. Should Issy pursue her feelings for Cyrus or wait until he can return her affection? Will Cyrus deny his attraction to Isidora so he can kill the man who made his life a living hell on earth? Every decision leads to a reckoning.

Read on for my thoughts on Reckoning. No true spoilers, promise.