Review: Guardian's Bond

Guardian's Bond by Rhenna Morgan

Ancient Ink Book 1

Publication Date March 12, 2018 by Carina Press

Reviewed by Janet

4 Ancient Stars

Synopsis:

For decades, he’s been alone.
Now, she’s here. His fated mate.
His to win. To protect. 
To provide for and pleasure. 

Priest Rahandras has lived with the darkness trapped inside himself for years. Betrayed by his own brother and forced to watch his clan’s brutal annihilation, the only thing Priest wants more than to escape the curse that haunts him—as both man and beast—is to rebuild.

Until the mate he’s longed for walks into his life with an elder from his past. She’s everything he’s wished for, and the key to the clan’s very survival.

Kateri Falsen is a woman of logic and facts. While Priest’s cat can sense her arousal, telling her they’re fated won’t be enough. He’ll have to show her his love: with his words, with his actions, and with his body.

Protecting Kateri from the evil trapped inside him is paramount. But when lost clan members are systematically murdered, he’ll have to choose between exposing his mate to his black magic, or risking her as the next victim.

This book is approximately 90,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Guardian's Bond by Rhenna Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful paranormal romance with shifters. Definitely heavy on the romance with smoldering hero Priest. He is a dominant alpha male in every sense of the word. When he meets Kateri, he may well have met his match and be brought to his knees by his mate. Kateri isn't sure what to believe about the things she is being told. Ever since she was a little girl, her father told her everything was nonsense. Now she'll have to trust in Priest to keep her safe and trust her heart.

A great setup in the first book of this series. It leaves you ready for book two. There's plenty of room for growth with all the different shifters. I look forward to reading Elise's story.

Reviewed by Janet of the GothicMoms Review Team

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Release Day Blitz: The Coven Princess

Click here to get The Coven Princess for 99c on March 7th ONLY!

Now available from USA Today bestselling author Lily Luchesi and Vamptasy Publishing:

THE COVEN PRINCESS.

Your blood does not define you.

Harley Torrance's parents were killed in a home invasion when she was three. Adopted by a nice couple, Harley begins to develop strange powers. At fourteen she brews a potion so strong it gains the attention of the Coven King, and changes her world forever.

She's not human, she's a witch.

Now a part of the magical community, Harley must learn to control her powers lest the Darkness already in her blood overcomes her. Can she dampen her lust for power in order to stop the Dark from taking over the Coven and killing everyone in their way?

Add The Coven Princess to your TBR list!

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Join the event on Facebook featuring multiple authors, games, and prizes!

About the author:

Lily Luchesi is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Paranormal Detectives Series, published by Vamptasy Publishing. She also has short stories included in multiple bestselling anthologies, and a successful dark erotica retelling of Dracula.
She is also the editor, curator and contributing author of Vamptasy Publishing's Damsels of Distress anthology, which celebrates strong female characters in horror and paranormal fiction.
She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and now resides in Los Angeles, California. Ever since she was a toddler her mother noticed her tendency for being interested in all things "dark". At two she became infatuated with vampires and ghosts, and that infatuation turned into a lifestyle. She is also an out member of the LGBT+ community. When she's not writing, she's going to rock concerts, getting tattooed, watching the CW, or reading manga. And drinking copious amounts of coffee.

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Review: A Glimmer of Hope

A Glimmer of Hope by Steve McHugh

The Avalon Chronicles Book 1

Publication Date April 1, 2018 by 47 North

Reviewed by Janet

5 Glimmering Stars!

Synopsis:

From Steve McHugh, the bestselling author of The Hellequin Chronicles, comes a new urban fantasy series packed with mystery, action, and, above all, magic.

Layla Cassidy has always wanted a normal life, and the chance to put her father’s brutal legacy behind her. And in her final year of university she’s finally found it. Or so she thinks.

But when Layla accidentally activates an ancient scroll, she is bestowed with an incredible, inhuman power. She plunges into a dangerous new world, full of mythical creatures and menace—all while a group of fanatics will stop at nothing to turn her abilities to their cause.

To protect those she loves most, Layla must take control of her new powers…before they destroy her. All is not yet lost—there is a light shining, but Layla must survive long enough to see it.

A Glimmer of Hope by Steve McHugh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

High octane action and pure fun. This is amazing right outta the gate. Hit the ground running and never stopped. Monsters, mythology, and ancient scrolls - I'm giving the author a high five here.

Layla Cassidy's life is forever changed when she stumbles upon an ancient scroll. She's now on the run and doesn't know who to trust or what to believe. The secondary characters are awesomesauce! Mr. McHugh does an astounding job of giving each of them uniqueness and depth. The monsters are detailed vividly, and you may see them in your nightmares. Layla is exceptional, and this is just the beginning of her journey.

I'm so excited to have a new author to read. This is the first in a new series, but a spin-off, so I can't wait to read them all. Paranormal and fantasy readers must read this!

Reviewed by Janet of the GothicMoms Review Team

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Review: An American Witch in Paris

An American Witch in Parisby Michele Hauf

Published March 1, 2018 by Harlequin Nocturne

Reviewed by Rose

5 Magical Stars!

Synopsis:

Taken hostage in Paris…

…but bound by desire

Tired of his desk job, Ethan Pierce decides it’s time for a more exciting occupation. This straitlaced vampire may be ready for demons and blood magic, but nothing can prepare him for Tuesday Knightsbridge. She’s brash, she’s bold and she’s the sexiest woman he’s ever met. She also happens to be a witch…and the key to saving the world.

An American Witch in Paris by Michele Hauf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tired of his desk job, Ethan Pierce decides it’s time for a more exciting occupation. This straitlaced vampire may be ready for demons and blood magic, but nothing can prepare him for Tuesday Knightsbridge. She’s brash, she’s bold and she’s the sexiest woman he’s ever met. She also happens to be a witch…and the key to saving the world.

Be prepared for alot of sex scenes and swearing.

I have read a lot of books by Michele Hauf, and I've liked them all, loved many of them, but this one, this may be one of my favorites. This book has everything I always love about her books, awesome characters, easy flowing plot,and steamy romance. If you like hot, sexy vampire/witch stories, you want this book.

Reviewed by Rose

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Spotlight & Review: Dead Girls Don't Sing

Dead Girls Don’t Sing

The Undead Space Initiative

Book Two

Casey Wyatt

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Time Travel

Publisher: Casey Wyatt

Date of Publication: 12/18/17

ISBN: 978-1979982078

ASIN: B07846RFWP

Number of pages: 338

Word Count: 93,000

Cover Artist: Kim Killion Designs

Tagline: Time will have its way

Book Description:

When former vampire stripper Cherry Cordial settled on Mars with her undead family, she thought she’d left her chaotic past behind her. After finding her mate and becoming the first vampire to give birth, she’s hoping to lead a drama-free life.

Naturally, the universe has a different plan. When mysterious undead space travelers arrive, an ancient Martian plague is released, infecting the undead. To find the cure she must return to Earth. All she needs to do is travel into the past, confront her own tangled history, and not break the space-time continuum. But if Cherry’s learned anything, it’s that her life is never that easy.

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Excerpt:

Tiny pokers stabbed my eyes.

Another body, warm and hard, spooned against my backside.

Ian always felt so good, comforting and real.

His hand wrapped around my waist, cupping the underside of my breast. A cool sheet slid off my bare shoulder.

I was naked and in bed. A snippet of memory interrupted my appreciation of my husband’s hand.

Wasn’t I running from something . . .?

Fingers trailed along my spine, heading south. The touch was wrong, unfamiliar and rough.

Hold on. That wasn’t Ian. I shouldn’t feel the warmth of sun against my skin either. We lived on Mars, where it was colder than a witch’s tit.

If not Ian, then who was touching my inner thigh?

My eyelids snapped open like a shade on a spring. Bolting upright, I bared my fangs and grabbed the man’s wrist.

Oh, holy hell. I was in bed with another man. I rolled away and slammed into a different body. Shit, make that two other men. Two eye-poppingly gorgeous men.

Hey, I might be dead, but I’m not dead dead.

“Mistress? Have I displeased you?” said the man whose wrist I was about to shatter. Stunning blue-gray eyes. Dark stubble lined his chiseled jawline. His dark hair was mussed and complimented his swarthy skin tone. Dried blood smeared his neck. A red trail led to puncture marks.

The other man’s brown muscled chest rose and fell in rhythmic sleep. His body was fully exposed on the white sheet. Puncture marks lined his neck, his groin and his very erect penis.

My cheeks heated like a furnace. Clearly, we’d had a good time.

“No. Leave me. Both of you go to your rooms.” I dropped his wrist. The man woke his drowsing companion, and they left as I’d commanded.

Damn. I wished I could get the other men in my life to be so compliant.

Other men? There were other people important to me. Why couldn’t I remember them?

I’d kill Jonathan if he was messing with my mind again.

But yet... that idea didn’t feel right.

Somewhere in a dead corner of my memory, this moment seemed familiar. Jonathan, sensing my unhappiness with our “arrangement,” had spent the early years of our relationship attempting to please me.

This must have been my slut phase, where we’d bring home gorgeous men and I would feast and fuck while he watched. I enjoyed knowing it bothered him that I wouldn’t sleep with him. Only the mortals that we found in gaming dens, brothels, even at society events. The only other thing I would take from Jonathan besides his money was his blood, and only out of necessity.

Fucking hell. Ian’s go-to phrase—I remembered him now—helped resurface the reason why I was reliving this not-so-proud moment in my past.

The plague. The Lost Ship. The time stream. My daughter.

Oh, dear God. I hoped she was safe.

“Good morning, my pet.” Jonathan read a page of the morning newspaper while sipping tea from a dainty cup. He sat on the balcony situated outside my bedroom. From his vantage point, he could view the bed and my doings in Technicolor glory.

My heart lurched at the sight of his arrogant beauty. I had forgotten how full of life he’d been, especially in this time period. And, oh, how handsome he was. His raven hair glossy with blue highlights sparkled in the early morning sunshine. The strong line of his jaw and perfect Roman nose coupled with full lips made it hard not to stare at him. He hadn’t yet acquired the weariness that having a Family would place on him.

In later years, after much bitterness between us, I no longer saw him anymore. The beauty was tarnished, and we became as passionate as two coworkers passing the time until their shift ended. He had become someone I had to endure rather than enjoy. Not that I ever really “enjoyed” him because of the circumstances surrounding our sham marriage.

The horrid image of his death, when he’d knelt, offering Thalia his head, shattered the peaceful moment. With a plaintive look, he commanded that I accept his fate and mine. We both knew that Thalia, the dead queen’s heir apparent, was a vindictive bitch. She blamed me for her mother’s death and Jonathan refused to bow down to her. So, he did what he always did. He protected his Family by sacrificing himself so we could escape. In his last moments, regret had filled his eyes. The wish that we could have been different together had been silenced forever.

Seeing Jonathan again and remembering was worse than reopening a wound and rubbing salt in it with a lemon juice chaser. If only I could apologize to him for how awful I’d been. I hadn’t been blameless in wrecking our relationship. I could have tried harder to accept my fate instead of punishing him at every turn.

The temptation to blurt out the truth bubbled inside, until I had to force myself to look away from him. Would this Jonathan be willing to help me? Or would he use my current predicament to his advantage?

No. I couldn’t, wouldn’t chance it. Not with the entire colony’s lives hanging in the balance.

Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve. Sew it on a patch and you’d have my life’s motto.

Yup. Regrets sucked.

Jonathan placed the teacup down and smiled. “Did you enjoy yourself? You seemed a bit surprised when you awoke.”

Surprise didn’t cover how I felt. That word was too puny, too inadequate. After a few seconds, I found my voice again.

“Yes, we had a good time. Thank you.” It sure looked that way.

He acted like finding his wife in bed with other men was no big deal. It wasn’t like I would keep them. To him they were more like pets or meals with legs.

But now, with a century of wisdom tucked under my belt, instead of relishing in his annoyance, I realized something. He was sad. With himself or me, I wasn’t sure. And it didn’t matter. I had a mission to accomplish. A future to save.

Review by Jennifer

This was an interesting take on an Old genre and well told at that! In general I am not a fan of Space stories but I have it a try & was not sad I did!

Cherry is a dynamic character and as such helps make the well crafted world better. This was a well written dynamic story about Vampires and some other undead races in space! There was even some time traveling fun involved!

Give it a go!

About the Author:

Casey Wyatt grew up in a mid-size Connecticut town where nothing exciting ever happened. To stem the boredom, she read fantasy and sci-fi stories, imagining her own adventures in her head. Not much has changed since she’s grown up, only now she's a multi-published author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. In her spare time, she loves all things geeky, hangs out in museums, and collects stray cats.

Visit Casey on the web: www.caseywyatt.com. You can also find Casey on Facebook and Twitter (@CaseyWyatt1).

To receive advance notice about new releases and special sales, subscribe to Casey's Newsletter at www.caseywyatt.com

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Release Day Blitz: The Librarian's Vampire Assistant

Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

 

The Librarian's Vampire Assistant

Synopsis:

From New York Times Bestseller, Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

comes a Horribly Sunny Mystery, The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant.

NOBODY MESSES WITH HIS LIBRARIAN. . . Who killed Michael Vanderhorst’s maker? It’s a darn good question. But when the trail brings Michael to hellishly sunny Phoenix, Arizona, his biggest problem soon becomes a cute little librarian he can’t seem to stay away from. He’s never met a bigger danger magnet! Even her book cart has it out for her. And is that the drug cartel following her around, too? “Dear God, woman! What have you gotten yourself into?” Things go from bad to worse when local vampires won’t play nice. Can this four-hundred-year-old vampire keep his librarian safe and himself out of hot water? Can he bring his maker’s killer to justice? Yesterday, he would’ve said yes. But yesterday, he didn’t have a strange connection with a librarian. Yesterday, people weren’t trying to kill her.

BUY LINKS

AMAZON | KOBO | B&N | iBOOKS | PAPERBACK Coming soon!

 

About the Author

MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling romance author. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dream. Mimi lives with her Latin Lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and the rat terrier duo, Snowflake and Mini Me, in Arizona. She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.

Sign up for Mimi’s mailing list for giveaways and new release news!

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Review: Flight of the White Wolf

Flight of the White Wolf by Terry Spear

White Wolf Book 3

Publication Date March 6, 2018 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Reviewed by Deja

5 HOWLS!

Synopsis:

Stranded in the wilderness, these warring hearts will be forced to work together—or die together.

Gavin Summerfield—an arctic wolf shifter with a fear of flying—has to fly into the vast lakeland wilderness of northern Minnesota to track down his suspect—where his ability to shift will come in very handy. Imagine his chagrin when his pilot turns out to be the woman who tasered him last time they saw each other. Things are off to a rocky start...again.

Arctic wolf shifter Amelia White isn't entirely displeased to see Gavin again, but priorities shift when their plane is sabotaged and goes down in the middle of nowhere. As their attraction grows, Amelia hopes Gavin doesn't discover the secret she's been keeping...she knows he could never forgive her...

The White Wolf Series:
Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas (Book 1)
Flight of the White Wolf (Book 2)

Flight of the White Wolf by Terry Spear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book I have always been a fan of wolf shifters but there was something even better about the Arctic Wolf Shifters in this book that made it even better. Gavin and Amelia were amazing together and I loved reading about them. It was amusing to read of a wolf shifter who was afraid of flying but it made for a better story. I would love to see where this series goes from here.

Reviewed by Deja of the GothicMoms Review Team

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Review: The Witch's Reward

The Witch's Reward by Liz McCraine

The Kingdom of Aggadorn Book 1

RePublished December 18, 2017

Reviewed by Janet

5 Magical Stars!

Synopsis:

Fairy tales are not a thing of the past. 

In the kingdom of Aggadorn, seventeen-year-old Larra Stoneworth of the village of Farr discovers she has a strange magical power. But the law for humans having such magic is simple: death. When word of Larra’s gift reaches the palace, the king’s son is sent to capture her and bring her to trial. During their journey from Larra’s small village to the city, Larra faces dangers unlike any she has ever imagined. Though Larra’s magic may seem a threat to some, another far more sinister threat emerges that endangers the life of everyone—even the king himself. 

An innocent girl with powers she didn’t know she had. A noble prince sent to imprison her. A powerful counselor gone mad with jealousy. An evil plot. A death sentence. And above all, the strength of one young woman to do what is right, no matter the consequences. 

Note to the Reader: The romance in this novel is clean.

The Witch's Reward by Liz McCraine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Get ready for a splendid tale with a touch of romance. I loved it! Many young adult readers will love this as well.

Larra Stoneworth is a strong protagonist and fiercely protective of those she loves. She lives with her grandmother and when Larra is accused of being a witch, she must go before the king and stand trial. The king's captain and his men are sent to retrieve her. Christoff is a fair man but does not want to trust a witch. And so, the journey begins.

Book two is already out. Squee! This is a book that shouldn't be overlooked. Grab your copy and settle in to the Kingdom of Aggadorn.

Reviewed by Janet of the GothicMoms Review Team

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Review: Devil Take Me

Devil Take Me by Karilyn Bentley

Demon Huntress Book 4

Published January 22, 2018 by The Wild Rose Press

Reviewed by Jennifer

5 Demonic Stars!

Synopsis:

A demon attack…

Reeling from a personal tragedy and abandoned by all she loves, the world's newest demon huntress, Gin Crawford, sinks into a deep despair.
She’s forced back to reality by news of a large number of people committing suicide, all on the same night. Suspecting demon involvement, Gin must work with her sexy but estranged mentor Aidan Smythe to track who, or what, is behind the deaths.

Leads to a new discovery…

As they come closer to finding the culprit, they realize their employer, the Agency, is hiding its own secret, one which threatens Gin's very existence. New discoveries reveal that even those dedicated to eradicating evil can be bought. Can Gin and Smythe forgive each other and work together or will they fall under the demon's thrall? 

Devil Take Me by Karilyn Bentley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Good plot ... nice take on a popular topic. Characters are well defined and the World building is well done.

I look forward to other books!

I was offered the opportunity to read this as an Advanced reader copy and now I am writing my honest review.

Reviewed by Jennifer of the GothicMoms Review Team

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Release Blitz: Crimson Illusion

Crimson Illusion (7 Kingdoms, Book Two)

by Rae B. Lake

Genre: Paranormal / Fantasy / Romance

Buy Now for $.99 or Read Free on KU!

Cover Design by Rae B. Lake

Publication Date: January 1, 2018

Blurb:

Kate - I should have known, I was told not to trust the Palaens, but still I did. Now even after the broken bones and the bruises have healed, I am still left in pieces. No matter how hard I try to erase him from my memory, my heart always reminds me of one fact. I am in love with a killer.

Lucas - She is gone...just gone. Right when I thought maybe we would start a life together, she leaves me, or at least I hope she did. There was so much blood, and explanations why. I need to find her, even if it’s just to let her go.

* Crimson Illusion is part 2 of the 7 Kingdoms Novels, Join Kate and Lucas as they find out just how much havoc the Phantoms can do to the Wolfe and Fields families. Will they be able to move past what happened in New Hampshire and fight this new demon together or will they have to admit defeat.

Author Bio:

Rae is a daydreamer, nurse, bookworm, nature enthusiast, wife, momma, animal activist and an optimist. She has lived her entire life in NYC and loves to travel with her family. She believes that sweets should have a larger piece of the nutritional pyramid and that Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of the best TV shows ever invented. When she is not working as a nurse in her community, she can either be found reading, writing or taking a walk while listening to music. She has been writing books in her mind for as long as she can remember but decided that maybe there were others out in the world that would find joy in the words she would put down on the page.

Rae would love some new stalkers!!!

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Review: Wolf Blood

Wolf Blood by Steve Morris

Lycanthropic Book 1

Published January 1, 2018 by Landmark Media

Reviewed by Janet

5 Bloody Fangs!!

Synopsis:

The werewolf apocalypse begins ... 

When a wave of vicious attacks sweeps across London, there are reports of a Beast on the loose. There are fears of a Ripper stalking the streets. 
But the truth is more terrifying than anyone wants to admit. 
Werewolves are prowling the city. Hunting and killing. 

Lycanthropy, a disease as old as humanity, now threatens to destroy civilization. With no cure, no vaccine, and millions of potential victims, it’s spreading through the capital at exponential rates. And every werewolf bite has just two possible outcomes – death or infection.

Only a tiny number of people have the insight to realize what is happening. But what will a young police woman, a group of teenagers and a computer nerd have to sacrifice in order to survive?

The werewolf apocalypse is here. And it’s only just beginning … 
WOLF BLOOD is the first in the LYCANTHROPIC post-apocalyptic werewolf series. If you enjoy the zombie apocalypse, dystopian science fiction, horror, grimdark, dark fantasy, or multi-protagonist sagas, don’t miss out on the next big trend in apocalyptic fiction.

Wolf Blood: The Werewolf Apocalypse Begins by Steve Morris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Horror fans are in for a treat! These werewolves are cunning and unstoppable at spreading the lycanthropy disease. I was very excited to read this. This author pulls out all the stops so there's lots of gore and action to be had among these pages. Loved this from the moment I started reading. This is the first book in the series, so yes, it does end on a cliffhanger, but now I can't wait for book two.

We start off with Professor Norman Wiseman who is studying the lycanthropy disease in Romania when unfortunate mishaps occur. Then the rest of this takes place in London where the werewolf apocalypse spreads like the plague. This switches around to the different characters this book centers around. Amazing details give this authenticity. You're in for a wild ride.

Reviewed by Janet of the GothicMoms Review Team

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