Paranormal Romance

Review and Giveaway: First Visions (Second Sight #1) by Heather Topham Wood

March 16, 2013 by Barbara at Basia's Bookshelf 7 Comments

By Heather Topham Wood

Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: April 27, 2012
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Follow the rest of the tour!

Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother’s home.

Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can’t control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.

Goodreads Summary

First Visions is available at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

I think books about psychics are usually kind of fun, especially since I am one. I know, you’re saying, “what, we didn’t know that!” No really, I predict you’ll want to read this book by the end of my review. See, I’m good (and humble). One of the really great perks of this series is that the next three books are already out and the fourth is coming soon, so you can read this and then gorge yourself on more snarkalicious, grouchy Kate, who’s admittedly a better psychic than me.

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Filed Under: *B Rating, 2013 Ebook Challenge, 2013 New Adult Challenge, Giveaway, New Adult, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance Tagged With: Heather Topham Wood

Into the Hollow

November 26, 2012 by Cait 4 Comments

Karina Halle

Series: Experiment in Terror #6
Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
Publication Date: Nov 15, 2012
Genre: Horror/Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased

Perry Palomino has fought her demons – and won – but the battle is far from over. She’s now left broken and on her own, leaving behind her life and family in Portland to focus on giving Dex Foray – and the Experiment in Terror show – a second chance. But their past mistakes continue to tease and test their relationship, as does the wild and desolate terrain of the Canadian Rockies. The snow-covered peaks and ravenous forests hide an urban legend too unbelievably frightening to be true and the only way the duo has a chance of surviving is if Perry can let in the very man who sent her to hell and back.

Good morning y’all! We’re back from our week off, and we feel rejuvenated. Although, my Thanksgiving was pretty uneventful, seeing as how everyone was sick. Except me. So my MIL and I spent all of Wed night, and all day Thurs in the kitchen preparing a wonderful meal that no one could eat. Isn’t that always the way it goes?

I decided to start the week off with the latest release in the Experiment in Terror series. Into the Hollow is the sixth book, and after On Demon Wings, I was hoping for some resolution in Dex and Perry’s relationship. The ending of the fourth book destroyed even the friendship the two had built up, and Dex was barely around in On Demon Wings. Well, until the very end when he swooped in and saved the day. Now he’s back, and Dex is determined to fix what went wrong between him and Perry.

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Filed Under: *A Rating, Cait Recommends, Paranormal Romance, Reviews Tagged With: Karina Halle

Of Blood and Bone (The Minaldi Legacy #1)

October 16, 2012 by Barbara at Basia's Bookshelf 7 Comments

By Courtney Cole

Publisher: Lakehouse Press
Publication Date: September 30, 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Kismet Blog Tour

Luca Minaldi is powerful, rich and mesmerizing. But he is also a reclusive enigma. He lives in Malta, a fairytale-like place filled with sunshine and sea, beauty and secrets. And Luca’s darkest of secrets is the best kept of them all.

Eva Talbot is spending the summer in Malta to finish up her doctoral dissertation. When she meets Luca, a mysterious and handsome shipping magnate, there is an instant attraction. He has a disturbing and beautiful energy that she has never felt before. But she senses the darkness that lives within him.

Eva is hired to care for his mother, a woman who suffers from dementia, but it is Luca who Eva will eventually risk everything to save. She desperately wants to reach inside of him and fix what is broken, while at the same time, she knows that she is falling for him. Her life becomes a swirling chaos of darkness and romance, of secrets and mystery. And the question that emerges will become the most important answer of all.

Can she save Luca from the darkness that plagues him without losing herself?

The answer is a matter of life or death.

Goodreads Summary

Of Blood and Bone is a hazy gothic romance that reminded me of a 1950s movie when it wasn’t trying to convince me it was an erotic thriller. I’m sure at least part of the story had to take part during the daytime, but something about the way it was written just felt like it was always night and there were probably convenient patches of dense fog waiting to trap unsuspecting victims. The atmosphere was deliciously drawn and by the mid-point in the book, every time Eva headed to her room, all I kept thinking was, “you’re in danger, girl! Why don’t I get you a nice lap throw and you can get settled in the living room chair?”

Eva has come to Malta to gather sociological research for her final paper before achieving her doctorate in psychiatry. Standing in her way – a giant, hairy spider. Jogging down the beach at night, Luca hears Eva’s hysterical screaming and checks to see if he can help. He gets rid of the spider but gains her fascination. Luca is just as attracted to the beautiful doctor, but he’s hiding something that will keep him from a relationship with her. Women start disappearing from Malta only to turn up dead, savagely attacked. He fears he may be responsible because he has violent blackouts. Eva isn’t so easily set aside and Luca can’t put her out of his mind so he ends up inviting her to live with him and his insane mother (makes perfect sense, right?). His beast is never far away from the surface, he just has to make sure Eva never knows.

The plot is more of an emotional journey than a long physical story, although there are a few incidents that push the story along. Mostly though, it’s the story of Eva and Luca falling in love, Luca fighting his beast, Eva and Luca fighting to stay together, Luca fighting his beast and Eva fighting for Luca. They have a dark, sometimes violent chemistry (there are a couple of scenes of dubious consent) whether they’re together or not. I thought it was clever of the author to not reveal too much information about what the nature of Luca’s beast was until the end of the story. My imagination was running wild.

Eva seems to be an obsessive sort of woman. Once she found out Luca was in trouble, she barely even ate and was researching continually. She talks a lot about being chatty with the residents of Malta for material to finish up her thesis but I wondered if she’d really be that sort of person. I do believe that she attached to Luca from the start – there was palpable chemistry from them right away and he was just the right blend of gorgeous and scary that would intrigue her professional mind.

Luka was a little easier to read but I’m not sure that the information ever did me much good in liking or not liking him. He had a troubled past with his mother and once a week he visits her even though it’s not good for either her dementia or his nerves. He’s nearly a complete recluse, doesn’t date and his best friend is Adrian, the guy who takes care of him and whose father took care of his father and so on back through history. He thinks he has something filthy and evil buried inside of his psyche that comes out without warning, turning him into a murderous beast. When he meets Eva, for the first time he wants someone enough to forget he’s supposed to be afraid of himself and he can’t stay away.

Despite being in their heads and knowing a lot of facts about them, I never got the feeling that I knew Eva or Luca very well. I knew their situations, their emotions in the moment and what pieces of past they shared with each other, but it all felt disconnected. To me, their relationship seemed based on a hypnotic sort of lust for the other, a desperate need to get under the other person’s skin. Love? I don’t know.

My Summary: I just love moody, broody stories sometimes and this definitely fit the bill. It left me a little unsettled, which I think was the point. Lucas isn’t the most angsty hero I’ve ever read, but having the story in his alternating POV helped to establish that he’s a guilt-ridden one. This ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I’m so invested in this dark story, I’d pick up the second book.

My Rating: B+

Filed Under: *B Rating, 2012 Ebook Challenge, Paranormal Romance, Reviews Tagged With: Courtney Cole

Silver Mine (Takhini Wolves #2)

September 11, 2012 by Barbara at Basia's Bookshelf Leave a Comment

By Vivian Arend

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Publication Date: September 11, 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Author

“If a tree falls in the forest, duck…”

“Takhini Wolves, Book 2″

Life in isolation is the safest place for Chase Johnson, a crossbreed who doesn’t know which form he’ll assume next-cougar or wolf. Once a year, his unelected position as spokesman for the Yukon outcasts forces him to visit civilization. This time he runs across someone unexpected. She’s not his mate, but she pushes all the right buttons.

It’s taken years for Shelley Bradley to gather the courage to return to her home pack. In spite of being the lowest of the low-a shifter who can’t shift-she’s determined to make a place for herself as the Whitehorse locals’ new vet-slash-doctor.

There’s definite electricity between her and Chase, but sex with fellow shifters and the inherent mind games got old a long time ago. Ignoring him seems best. When he shows up at her office with a wound that won’t heal, she’s stuck-yet drawn to solve this medical mystery.

As they journey deep into outcast territory in search of answers, their powerful sexual attraction crumbles her resistance. But time is of the essence. If a cure can’t be found before his human and cougar succumb to his injury, he-and others like him-will die.

Warning: Contains a silver-tongued, hairy-chested, lean-muscled Alpha who’s got what it takes to lead in the wilderness and in the bedroom. Yeah, I know…not really much of a deterrent, is it? Throw in continuing territorial wars and a domestic cat. Stir and enjoy the chaos.

Goodreads Summary

I’ve loved Arend’s series about shapeshifters since 2009, when I picked up Wolf Signs, a book about a deaf girl who heads out into the wilderness with no idea she’s part wolf. It was unique, sexy and full of humor. The Granite Lake wolfies have been going strong for five books (with a new one coming!) and they’ve spun off into a slightly edgier and rougher series, the Takhini Wolves. I liked the first book for its sly humor and bad-assery (new word alert!). Silver Mine was a more sedate book, the issues a little deeper and there wasn’t quite so much butt-kicking. The humor is always there though. I wouldn’t recognize an Arend book without it.

Chase is a loner by nature, living in relative isolation in the Canadian wilds with random fellow loner shifters for a loose “pack.” During his yearly trip into civilization in Whitehorse for supplies that will probably end up in their bellies too, he’s also got to find a doctor. He got scratched up during a fight with a puma shifter and the wounds aren’t healing at all.

Years ago, Shelley fled Whitehorse and an abusive Takhini pack that turned her into an outcast because she was a half-breed wolf who couldn’t shift. During her time away, she became a vet with specialized shifter training and the old Takhini alpha was overthrown by a much different, kinder man who created a new kind of pack. Her sister Caroline and the lure of her own office in Whitehorse pulls Shelley back home, although she’s determined to stay away from anything resembling pack life or shifters – except a very delicious blonde shifter who’s new in town looks interesting to her one night.

That blonde shifter comes banging on her not-yet-open office door the next day, looking for the doctor to check out some scratches. Shelley can’t figure them out – there was something wrong with the puma shifter who attacked Chase and she needs to check him out before she can fix what’s wrong with him. That means Chase has to take her deep into his isolated territory, the two of them, alone, with all of this sizzling attraction between them.

At least for a good while at the start of the story, I didn’t feel very connected to Shelley and Chase. There was a lot of other stuff going on back in Whitehorse with Shelley’s sister Caroline and Evan, the Alpha of Takhini, and it was a little distracting. By the time the two had really left civilization, it was easier to feel a bond and a lot of sexual tension growing between the two of them. I was a little surprised by how fast Shelley decided she wouldn’t resist him. I mean, not that I would either. But, you know, I expected her to at least put up more of a fuss.

Shelley and Chase both have sad and unusual pasts that should have given them a little oomph in the depth department. Shelley experienced terrible bullying because she could never trigger her wolf and was blamed for something terrible. Chase is a Métis, a shifter with two animals who generally isn’t accepted by either pack. They had a lot in common that could have brought them together on a special level but I just never got that feeling from them. I really did believe their romance though and whoo, they were steamy together.

The supporting characters and side stories were very strong and I think may have overwhelmed Shelley and Chase. There was a lot of Caroline and Evan, much being made about her being human and not his mate despite them sleeping together. Back at Chase’s home, there was an adorable cast of characters: Delton, the grizzled old wanderer who’s been watching his place; Jones, the young trouble-making wolverine and my favorite, Frank, the big ol’ bear shifter who’s absolutely hilarious. I swear I’m going to sit on Arend one of these days and make her write a bear shifter series. They’re big, brawny (get in a lot of trouble) and so funny I adore them.

My Summary: I’m pretty conflicted about this one. I liked the mystery of the puma scratches and the hike in was memorable because of the nice slow build of sexual tension between Shelley and Chase. There had just been too much other stuff going on earlier in the book and I don’t think I had a good enough grasp about who they were individually to really feel for them as fully as I wanted to as a couple. The supporting characters were awesome though, really bringing the story to life and making it fun. Overall, I enjoyed reading this despite the issues and I’m looking forward to Evan getting his book (and the bears, hint hint)

My Rating: B

Filed Under: *B Rating, Paranormal Romance, Reviews Tagged With: Vivian Arend

Beneath a Rising Moon

August 30, 2012 by Cait 1 Comment

Keri Arthur

Publisher: Dell Books
Publication Date: July 31, 2012 (Re-Published)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Netgalley

On the werewolf reservation of Ripple Creek, a killer is on the loose. Three women are dead, their bodies mutilated and faces slashed. A fourth, Neva Grant’s twin, lies in the hospital, fighting for her life. Psychically linked, Neva shared the horror of her twins attack and makes a silent vow by her sister’s hospital bed. She’ll hunt down the killer, if Savannah finds the strength to live.

The Rangers believe the killer is a member of the Sinclair pack, but Neva knows the Sinclairs will never talk to an outsider. To begin the hunt, she first has to seduce a Sinclair—and then she has to keep him interested long enough to find the killer. The only Sinclair not under suspicion is a wolf with a hard drinking, hard loving reputation. But has she got what it takes to attract a man with such experience? Neva doesn’t know, but for her sister’s sake, she has to try.

Duncan Sinclair has been called back home to find a killer, and he wants nothing more than to complete his task and get out of the town for which he has no love. Then he’s approached by a wolf who obviously has more than seduction on her mind, and he finds himself ensnared in a growing web of desire and deceit.As the murders continue and the killer’s shadow draws ever closer, Duncan and Neva find themselves having to trust each other in order to survive. But can they trust the emotions flaring between them? Or will the lies of the present, the deeds of the past, and a killer’s bloody intentions tear them apart?

Goodreads Summary

I’m convinced that every once in awhile everyone needs a good, old-fashioned wolfie love story. There’s something soothing about reading a book that’s straight up paranormal romance, where I don’t have to worry about cross tags or multiple genres or whatever. And it gives me just enough magic to let me escape for awhile without making my brain hurt. Keri Arthur has always been my go to author for werewolf books. Her Riley Jensen series is one of my favorites, and when I found out an older series was being re-published, I immediately jumped on the chance to review it.

For years there has been a moral battle between the Sinclair clan and the wolves of Ripple Creek. The Sinclairs are notorious for their complete lack of inhibitions during the week of the full moon, whereas the Ripple Creek wolves believe in saving their dance for their one and only. Neva has been raised under these strict ideals, but those principles fly out the window when her twin sister, and head ranger, is attacked by a mad serial killer targeting female wolves in the area. And not just any female wolves either, the victims previously had been mates (not soul mates, just temporary mates that get together to “dance” during the full moon) of the insanely attractive Sinclair brothers.

Neva, while not naturally devious, comes up with a plan to seduce the only Sinclair man not under suspicion for the murders, Duncan, and use the time at the mansion to investigate the murders. Duncan has reluctantly returned to the mansion after ten years away, but now a changed man. His youth was full of the kind of indiscretions that the Ripple Creek wolves abhor, but after a life altering experience in jail, Duncan decides that the traditional Sinclair way of living is not for him. He’s been searching for his soul mate ever since, and there’s something about Neva’s innocence that calls to him. A bunch of misunderstandings later, Neva and Duncan realize that they’re on the same side and begin to work together to find the killer. As they spend more time together, their relationship grows from pure physical desire to the kind of bond they’ve each been looking for their whole lives. Whether they want it or not.

I really enjoyed Beneath a Rising Moon. It was easy and relaxing, but it captured my attention enough that I read it in one sitting. It was also a quick read, only taking a few hours to get through. I came to care about the characters, but they didn’t wrench emotions out of me. This book was a lot softer and lighter than her Riley Jensen series. Whereas Riley was a kick-arse, loud talking kind of heroine, Neva was a waitress at her family’s diner and happy with her quiet life. Duncan was adorably alpha, and I loved that he was the first one to recognize the bond between him and Neva and wasn’t afraid of it. Even though he was a jerk to her in the beginning, he recognized he was in the wrong and tried to atone for it.

I’m really intrigued with the Sinclair brothers, and I wonder if Arthur will ever write stories for them. I love the idea of a promiscuous alpha hero brought low by a soul mate he secretly wants, but would never admit out loud. The next book in the series is Savannah’s story, but the hero in that one isn’t another Sinclair. So far it looks like they’re are only two books in the Ripple Creek series, so just Neva’s and Savannah’s. I guess I’ll just have to be satisfied with their stories.

My Summary: This book was a good middle of the road type read. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Will I ever read it again? Probably not. The characters were memorable, but while the lack of emotional wrenchage was good for a break, it won’t be put on my to-read-over-and-over-again shelf anytime soon. Beneath a Rising Moon is like the pink stuff (ginger?) you eat between sushi rolls, it cleanses the pallet and gives you an opportunity to recuperate in between the more addicting reads.

My Rating: B+

Filed Under: *B Rating, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Reviews, Suspense Tagged With: Keri Arthur

Moonglow (Darkest London #2)

August 21, 2012 by Cait 2 Comments

Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Genre: Paranormal Regency Romance
Source: Netgalley

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy’s door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

Goodreads Summary

I admire an author that can take an old genre and give it a new spin. Historical romances have been around for a looong time, and sometimes if you’ve read one, you’ve read them all. I love this new series by Kristen Callihan, where she’s taken Victorian England and given it a darker, grittier feel, then added in little hints of magic and wonderfully fleshed out characters that you can’t help but love. In a genre full of dukes and wallflowers, this author has managed to make her books stand out from the crowd.

In the first book of the series, Firelight, the story focuses on Miranda Ellis and Lord Benjamin Archer. Miranda is the youngest of three sisters, and from a young age has struggled with wielding a mysterious elemental power, fire. Moonglow is the story of the second sister, Daisy. Daisy is recently widowed, and determined to enjoy her life now that she’s escaped an oppressive marriage. While attending a friend’s party, Daisy and a potential lover take a stroll in the garden only to stumble across her friend’s mauled and lifeless body. Before Daisy can scream for help, the ravenous animal that killed her friend returns and attacks Daisy as well.

Ian Ranulf has battled with his wolfie tendencies for many years. He is on his way home from running off the full moon agitation, when he catches the scent of an unknown werewolf in his territory. As he follows the scent to investigate, he arrives at the scene of the attack where Daisy is the only survivor. Afraid of what she’s seen, Ian whisks her away to his home where he can question her in private. Daisy is horrified by the attack and the death of her friend, but she tells Ian the truth of what she saw despite knowing he’d most likely have her committed.

Knowing this magical world must stay hidden from the human authorities, Ian and Daisy race to find the mad werewolf before he finds them. It seems that Daisy is his ultimate target, and Ian is determined to protect her despite her objections. In their hunt for the mysterious werewolf, the pair also manages to embroil themselves in local werewolf politics, adding the pack to the list of enemies out to get Ian and Daisy. Daisy didn’t come away from the original attack unscathed, and even if they manage to overcome the obstacles in their way, it may not matter in the end. For Daisy, it’s truly become a race against time and Ian faces a loss he may not recover from.

If it’s possible, I think that Moonglow was better than Firelight, and I really enjoyed Firelight. Moonglow had a darker tone overall, and Ian was the epitome of a tortured hero. Ian has had some hard knocks in life, and he has lived a very lonely existence in order to avoid feeling that kind of emotional pain again. Then Daisy comes crashing into his life and disrupts everything, and Ian was so cranky about it. He was all growly and grumpy and I loved it. I loved Daisy. She was strong and vibrant, and despite her awful marriage she made something of herself and wasn’t afraid to love. Daisy thought so poorly of Ian at first (he did, after all, fancy himself in love with Miranda and tried to persuade her away from Archer), but once she got past the act that Ian puts on, she discovered the great man that Ian really is.

Moonglow is full of twists and turns. When I thought I had a handle on what was going on, Callihan would throw something new in and ruin all my speculations. I finally stopped trying to figure it all out, and just sat back and enjoyed the ride. We learn a little bit more about Miranda’s fire magic, and discover that Daisy has some unique magic of her own. It seems that Poppy, the oldest sister, has been hiding a few things from her two sisters. One of the biggest battles that Ian and Daisy had to face was the question of her humanity vs. his immortality. I thought Callihan did a great job of tying up that conflict, and I look forward to hearing about how it all works out for Daisy and Ian in future books.

My Summary: Moonglow was an excellent read. Intriguing, mysterious, full of suspense, passion and romance… it was everything I look for in a book. I loved Daisy and Ian’s love story, especially because it seemed like they were never going to be able to be together. They had so many strikes against them, and I was overjoyed when they finally achieved their happily ever after. This book took me away from my life for a few hours, and I’ve decided that I will happily escape into the world of Darkest London anytime!

My Rating: A