Category: This one’s a Keeper

Review: Ghostly Liaison by Stacy McKitrick

Posted August 13, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Title: Ghostly Liaison
Series: Ghostly Encounters #1
Author: Stacy McKitrick
Genre: Paranormal
Published: January 19, 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Press
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

When Rob’s sister passed away, she left him her dog and her house. He can handle the dog part, but he doesn’t need another home. Especially a fixer-upper the neighbor swears is haunted.

Then he meets Bridget, who’s working on getting her life back together after a car accident left her scarred in more ways than one. She can’t pass up Rob’s offer of free lodging, regardless of the shape it’s in. Or the roommate that’s part of the package. She’s never believed in ghosts, but now she’s living with one who wants Bridget’s help in catching a killer. There’s only one problem: the killer has unfinished business.

Read on for my thoughts on Ghostly Liaison. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: RavenStorm Witches – A Coven of Bitches by Misha McKenzie

Posted August 12, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: RavenStorm Witches – A Coven of Bitches
Series:
Author: Misha McKenzie
Genre: Paranormal
Published: May 15, 2015
Publisher: Icasm Press
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

The RavenStorm Witches have taken the art of revenge to an all new level.

Hilarity ensues when Maeve and the rest of her Coven of Bitches take on the liars, manipulators, and bullies who’ve hurt or betrayed their loved ones.

And for those needing a little something extra… there’s always the stock from the better-off-dead potions cabinet.

Read on for my thoughts on RavenStorm Witches – A Coven of Bitches. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Smoke on the Water by Lori Handeland

Posted August 5, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Smoke on the Water
Series: Sisters of the Craft #3
Author: Lori Handeland
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: August 4, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Abandoned beneath a black willow tree on the banks of a northern Wisconsin creek, Willow Black spent her entire childhood in foster care. Her entire life she’s had terrifying visions, and it is these visions that eventually land her in a psychiatric facility. And so Willow takes her meds and believes she is getting better. Until she meets a fellow patient who doesn’t think she is crazy at all. She thinks Willow is a witch.

Willow’s psychiatrist, Dr. Sebastian Crane, works hard to resist his feeling that he and Willow are destined to be together while also working to convince her that strange occurrences aren’t the result of witchcraft… until he is thrown into the middle of a storm of supernatural events that can’t be explained any other way.

Reunited after four hundred years, three sisters join together to vanquish the power that tore them apart…and embrace the sorcery that is their birthright.

Abandoned as an infant, Willow Black spent her childhood in foster care, the object of whispers and pity…and rumors about being certifiably crazy. Telling your young friends that you can foresee the future-and summon the rain-is a surefire way to end up in the psychiatric ward. But when Dr. Sebastian Frasier arrives at the facility, Willow’s whole life takes a turn. Sebastian is the handsomest man she’s ever actually laid eyes on-even though he has been in Willow’s visions for years. But not even she could have predicted the storm of passion that engulfs them both. With Sebastian by her side, Willow is emboldened to embrace her history, and the sisters she never knew. Soon, the true power in her blood awakes-and the battle she was born to fight begins. While the tempest rages, Willow must depend on the friends and family she’s found-and the man she has loved forever.

Read on for my thoughts on Smoke on the Water. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Midnight Kiss by Nancy Gideon

Posted July 30, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Midnight Kiss
Series: Touched by Midnight #1, Midnight #1
Author: Nancy Gideon
Genre: Paranormal
Published: July 12, 2015 ebook edition (original May 1, 1994 by Pinnacle)
Publisher: ImaJinn Books
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley (& an original paperback owned)
Cover Description:

Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon’s Touched by Midnight series.

A DARK CURSE

Miss Arabella Howland is content to forgo the London marriage mill to assist her father in his research, especially when it comes to his intriguing patient, Louis Radman. But it’s not long before Bella’s curiosity alerts her to the danger of her father’s work . . . and to the fact that Louis is not who or what he seems.

A BRIGHT PROMISE

After centuries struggling with his vile existence, Louis Radman will soon be free of his affliction, thanks to his very capable physician. Unfortunately, his heart is less secure around the man’s tempting daughter. His yearning to walk in the light once more is complicated by his desire for the delightful Bella, who is as intelligent as she is fearless. But if history has taught him anything, it’s not to tempt fate.

AN UNFORGIVING PAST

Still, happiness has a price and Louis is soon reminded that mortality comes with unfortunate limitations. To protect his new bride, he must face the demons from his past who wish to pull him back into their vampiric fold.

Yet, if he’s forced to return to his midnight world, will he lose his beloved Bella forever?

Read on for my thoughts on Midnight Kiss. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Unbound by Emily Goodwin

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Unbound
Series: The Guardian Legacies #1
Author: Emily Goodwin
Genre: Paranormal
Published: July 27, 2015 (original 2011)
Publisher:
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

The world of ghosts and spirits is nothing new to Anora Benson; she’s spent her whole life trying to ignore them, trying to be normal. But when the Pricolici, a group of ancient bounty hunters, are sent after her, Anora realizes she is more than just a medium.

As a witch she has power, power she doesn’t know how to use, power that makes her vulnerable to the demons that desire her gifts. Anora is alone and scared, forced to face the darkness on her own.

Then she meets Ethan, a handsome and mysterious stranger who shows up in her life right along with the magic, and he seems to know quite a bit about her and the Coven she hails from. Will she risk everything by trusting him or risk fighting alone?

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

Review: Dragon Fall by Katie MacAlister

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Dragon Fall
Series: Black Dragons #1
Author: Katie macAlister
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

YOU FLIRT WITH FIRE…

For Aoife Dakar, seeing is believing-and she’s seen some extraordinary things. It’s too bad no one else believes that she witnessed a supernatural murder at an outdoor fair. Returning to the scene for proof, Aoife encounters a wise-cracking demon dog-and a gloriously naked man who can shift into a dragon and kiss like a god. Now thrust into a fantastical world that’s both exhilarating and terrifying, Aoife is about to learn just how hot a dragon’s fire burns.

WHEN YOU DATE A DRAGON

Kostya has no time for a human woman with endless questions, no matter how gorgeous or tempting she is. He must break the curse that has splintered the dragon clans before more of his kind die. But his powerful attraction to Aoife runs much deeper than the physical-and there may be more to her than even his sharp dragon eyes can see. To survive the coming battle for the fate of his race, he needs a mate of true heart and soul.

Read on for my thoughts on Dragon Fall. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Baby’s Got Bite by Candace Havens

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Baby’s Got Bite
Series: Take It Like A Vamp #2
Author: Candace Havens
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Covet
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Some consequences bite . . . big time.

Bennett Langdon has a firm no-relationships policy. Still, it doesn’t stop her from hooking up with a super-sexy bad boy at her best friend’s wedding. After all, it’s only one night—what harm could it do? Ten weeks later, a pregnant Bennett has her answer…

Linc Monahan can’t believe it. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He’s a werewolf, and shouldn’t be able to father a child with a human. Now Linc has to find some way to tell Bennett that not only do werewolves exist, but she’s about to have a baby with one.

But when word of their surprise conception gets out, the fur hits the fan. There are people who don’t want this baby to be born—even if it means killing. Now Bennett and Linc aren’t just fighting each other . . . they’re fighting for their lives.

Read on for my thoughts on Baby’s Got Bite. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Take It Like A Vamp by Candace Havens

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Take It Like A Vamp
Series: Take It Like A Vamp #1
Author: Candace Havens
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: July 21, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

Vampire Nick Christos might’ve been born in the Middle Ages, but the good old days seem tame compared to the last eight years he’s spent ruling the Supernatural Council. His only respite is with his cute neighbor Casey Meyers, a woman he wants more than any undead man should. Sure, he’s forced to take a cold shower after every encounter, but there’s no way he’ll test his own strength by getting too close to a human, and he’s not willing to risk her life—not with bloodthirsty family on the prowl out to ruin Nick’s life.

When said Nick’s kin shows up, the innocent Casey is caught in the middle of a centuries old fight, and Nick’s biggest fear is realized. Now, instead of keeping his hands off his neighbor, he’ll risk everything to save the human he’s come to love.

Read on for my thoughts on Take It Like A Vamp. No true spoilers, promise.

Stacking the Shelves #8

Posted July 26, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 12 Comments

StackingTheShelves Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Hosted at Tynga’s Reviews If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

It was a decent haul this week – not “too” crazy but a couple titles caught my eyes.

So because this post is longish I’m going to shorten it a bit here – and invite you to read more about my Stack the Shelves list for this week on the next page – then I won’t feel so bad filling up your reader with one long-ggg post. 🙂 Read on Booklovers.

Review: The Art of Sinning by Sabrina Jeffries

Posted July 21, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Art of Sinning
Series: Sinful Suitors #1
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: July 21, 2015
Publisher: Pocket Books
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

American artist Jeremy Keane refuses to return home and take over his father’s business. He’d much rather sample bevvies of beauties abroad, in search of a model for the provocative masterpiece he’s driven to paint. When he meets Lady Yvette Barlow at a London wedding, he realizes she’s perfect for his work—and determines to capture the young heiress’s defiant spirit and breathtaking sensuality on canvas.

No stranger to scandal, Yvette agrees to be Keane’s subject—in exchange for his help gaining entry to the city’s brothels he knows intimately, so she can track a missing woman and solve a family mystery. But when their practical partnership leads to lessons in the art of sinning, can they find a bold and lasting love?

Read on for my thoughts on The Art of Sinning. No true spoilers, promise.

Musing Mondays #6

Posted July 20, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Musing Monday is hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm.

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

My prompt for this week is: I bought the following book(s) in the past week…

For some reason Christmas in July was on my mind a lot last week. Thinking about the Christmas novels I’ve loved and read again every Christmas season – and deciding how I’m going to put together my Christmas reading and reviewing for this year. I have a small bookcase full of past Christmas seasonal stories. Yes, I tend to collect them and re-read favorites as time allows. How many of those older, beloved stories do I review or simply read for myself is one thought that keeps going through my mind.

Of course when books come to mind I head over to Amazon and on a lark looked for 1-Click “free” or Kindle Unlimited novels… holy candy canes, Batman there’s a ton of them. I picked out ten that sound promising. I really do need to come up with a plan now, ‘cos time will fly by and I’d like to get those reviews in “saved” mode at least. Because I know me – I’ll be on the lookout for new Christmas novels as soon as Halloween is past.

Hmmm… Halloween. Now where did I store those themed novels? *sheepish grin*

Are favorite Christmas / Seasonal stories part of your traditions?

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: Are you able to read while in a vehicle (in motion)? Have you always been this way?

Yes. For over 15 years I worked in downtown Pittsburgh and lived in a suburb about half an hour out… and we all know that morning or evening rush hour adds on considerable time to that commute. So I’m an old pro at reading in motion. I don’t like sitting on the bus or trolley sideways, but even in that uncomfortable situation it never slowed down my reading. At that time my main time for reading was on the commute and lunch hours. The things we do to continue a good story. 🙂

Review: His Captive Mortal by Renee Rose

Posted July 19, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Title: His Captive Mortal
Series:
Author: Renee Rose
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Erotica
Published: July 16, 2015
Publisher: Baronet Press
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When a young special education teacher unwittingly attracts the attention of a strange man on her late night walk home, she winds up with a supernatural guest she can’t evict. For some reason, Charlie, the dominant immortal believes she is of fairy descent and has magical powers. He demands her complete submission and cooperation, refusing to free her until she promises to help him.

Charlie sees the power in Sasha and believes she has the ability to undo the curse placed on him by a jealous lover one hundred years before. He also loves toying with the feisty mortal, doling out humiliating punishments while arousing a lust in her that leaves them both hungry for satisfaction.

His habit of emotional detachment crumbles as he falls for Sasha, yet when he discovers she carries a secret that relates to his past, the betrayal nearly destroys him. He must decide whether he can ever trust a woman, or give into instinct and walk away from what might be his only chance at love and redemption.

Publishers Note: This book contains elements of BDSM including spanking, bondage and erotic sex scenes. 18+ reader, adult content.

Read on for my thoughts on His Captive Mortal. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Writing the Bestseller II: Romance and Commercial Fiction

Posted July 19, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Writing the Bestseller II: Romantic and Commercial Fiction
Series:
Author:
Genre: Non-Fiction
Published: July 17, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Writing romance and commercial fiction means knowing the rules, and this book will help you learn them and get there. If you’re wondering where to start, what to do, what not to do, how to find your author brand… this book has it all and more. Just take it from the 12 bestselling authors who wrote it!

Experiencing all the ups and downs of the publishing industry isn’t easy, so Writing the Bestseller II will help you not only handle the work involved, but handle it well. Learning from authors who have been in your shoes, who understand the market and genre, willingly share their tips, wisdom, and encouragement so you can also succeed.

What are you waiting for? Get started on your writing career today!

Read on for my thoughts on Writing the Bestseller II: Romantic and Commercial Fiction (non-fiction)

Review: Death Sentence by Sheryl Browne

Posted July 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Title: Death Sentence
Series:
Author: Sheryl Browne
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Published: June 1, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

He’s killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would you do?

Detective Inspector Matthew Adams and Patrick Sullivan, drug dealer, pimp, murderer: two men on opposite sides of the law. A history that goes way back. A bully even in his youth, Sullivan had made it his mission in life to make the goody-two-shoes copper’s life a misery. Now Matthew has made it his mission in life to make sure the pimping scum responsible for prostituting young girls, abusing them, and beating them to death, is locked up for life.

When Matthew’s child becomes a casualty of the war between them, does Matthew want justice? Or does he want retribution? When Patrick’s brother is shot down like a dog in a drug bust gone wrong, Patrick wants payback. He wants Matthew. Or the copper loses his pretty, pregnant wife. As far as Patrick is concerned, it’s quid pro quo.

Read on for my thoughts on Death Sentence. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Angelbound Origins Bundle by Christina Bauer

Posted July 14, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Angelbound Origins Bundle
Series: Angelbound Origins
Author: Christina Bauer
Genre: Paranormal
Published: July 14, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Follow the adventures of Myla Lewis in the ANGELBOUND ORIGINS SERIES, Books 1-3. This bundle may be read as a standalone or as a prequel to the ANGELBOUND OFFSPRING SERIES.

ANGELBOUND (Book 1)Myla Lewis is a girl who loves two things: kicking ass and kicking ass. She’s not your everyday quasi-demon, part-demon and part-human, girl. Myla lives for the days she gets to fight in Purgatory’s Arena. That is, until she meets Prince Lincoln, a super-sexy half-human and half-angel demon hunter. But what’s a quasi-demon girl to do when she falls for a royal demon killer? With a love with fighting for, Myla’s about to shake up the after-realms.

SCALA (Book 2)Myla Lewis has a whole lot of trouble. A magical object called Lucifer’s Orb is threatening millions of souls, and it’s Myla’s job to make it go away. Plus, an old enemy is plotting to separate Myla from her Angelbound love, Prince Lincoln. But Myla and Lincoln are fighting back. Can they stop the Orb, save Purgatory’s souls, and stay together… Or will both the after-realms and their relationship be destroyed?

ARMAGEDDON (Book 3)Myla Lewis once fought gladiator-style in Purgatory’s Arena. Now, she’s fighting again, only this time in Hell. And the stakes have never been higher. The King of Hell, Armageddon, has kidnapped Myla and Lincoln’s young son, Maxon. With so much at risk, Myla knows the time has come to kick Armageddon’s ass or die trying. Don’t miss the exciting conclusion to the ANGELBOUND ORIGINS series!

Read on for my thoughts on Angelbound Origins. No true spoilers, promise.