One of the things I love most about blogging and writing book reviews is I get to [digitally] meet new people -- fellow bloggers, other bookworms, and of course, authors. At this point, I'm still not used to the fact that authors personally reach out to me to get their work read and reviewed. It's such a humbling and flattering experience and one that I will never take for granted. 

With that said, we are here for the review of Releasing the Demon, book one of The Order of the Senary by author L.D. Rose. She reached out to me a couple of weeks ago, asking me to read and write an honest review of Black Bullet, which is the second instalment in the same series. I, however, ended up falling in love with the first book and decided to share my thoughts on this paranormal romance novel. 

So let's jump to it.

Blaze Knight has been through hell and back, but the nightmares aren't over yet.

Five years after Blaze was maimed by Cyrus Chimola, a powerful vampire with a penchant for torture, he's still trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. As a genetically engineered mercenary with the ability to bend fire to his will and to see in infrared, Blaze's mission is to protect what's left of humanity. When Chimola and his crew return to the Bronx gunning for Blaze's blood, Blaze is forced to face the demons of his past. Hell-bent on revenge, he seeks the help of Valerie Medeiros, an NYPD detective who manages to steal his heart and save his life in more ways than one.

Motivated by her sister's gruesome death, Valerie has made it her life's goal to bury every vampire in the ground where they belong. When she brings in Blaze Knight for suspected murder, she discovers he's not only innocent, he isn't a man at all-he's a half-vampire hybrid working with a band of brothers for the U.S. military. Valerie has a hard time trusting anything with fangs, yet she quickly falls headlong into Blaze's life, a life full of darkness and horror she can't even begin to fathom. The bodies are stacking up, but Valerie can't seem to let go of this hybrid, a beautiful monster filled with pain, rage, and passion unlike anything she's ever known.

In a world where the line between good and evil is blurred, Blaze and Valerie will find danger at every turn, risking everything they've come to know and love, including one another.

Blaze Knight is a good man with questionable methods. He's been "gifted" with a power that made him a target for years and even tortured for months, at one point. Ever since then, he's been hell-bent on ridding the world of vampires as much as he can, even if he loses himself in the process. That is until a brave detective brought him to his knees, literally, and his infrared world just got a whole lot brighter. 

Valerie Madeiros is a brave, motivated, and honourable woman. Despite his lack of supernatural powers, she still aims to fight and kill vampires and to protect the human race as much as she can. Anyone who destroys bloodsuckers is on her side, as far as she's concerned. But when she discovers that her mysterious vigilante is more complicated than she thought, her brain and heart are thrown for a loop. 

Releasing the Demons is set at a time when the world is overpowered by vampires. Basically, the only thing keeping people safe is shutting themselves in when the sun sets, and not inviting bloodsuckers in your home. A reasonable strategy, but not good enough. That is where our protagonists come in. 

Valerie works for the NYPD -- yes, the police force still exists and they are, as far as I can tell, on the good side. During the day, she's busting her ass off figuring out where the vamp dens are and reading up on her favourite vigilante, and at night, she tries to rid the city of as many monsters as possible. On the other hand, Blaze and his brothers hunt all over New York City to eliminate as many vampires as possible. With their abilities, strength, and dedication, killing a hundred of the beasts is the norm. But then an old foe of theirs, namely Blaze, made itself known again by killing people so freakin' brutally and sending our hulk friend a message. 

This is where it gets really interesting for me. I've never been one to shy away from violence and gore, so I was elated because the author didn't hold anything back when she wrote graphic scenes. Yeah, I guess that's one thing you guys need to know: If you're squeamish, this book might not be for you. Anyway, L.D. Rose managed to balance the bloodiness by only adding gruesome scenes when they're essential to the story. 

The writing style as a whole really appealed to me. There's a good amount of humour without going over-the-top, and the action scenes are intense but not overplayed. The romance between Blaze and Valerie isn't sickeningly sweet too, which is fantastic because again, there are bigger issues to focus on. I also like that the author created a strong female character who is willing to put her life on the line and fight monsters even though she only has her gun, guts, and determination. However, despite the lack of super strength or super speed, and with her newfound beau being a hybrid and all, she's not at all interested in being a vampire herself! No offense Bella Swan. She's good with what she's got and she manages just fine as a human. 

Now the chemistry between Blaze and Valerie was slow burning. There was no love at first sight. No I-just-knew-he-was-the-one-when-I-first-laid-eyes-on-him crap. And I loved that! There was a sense of realism. I would be remiss if I don't mention though that the love scene was intense AF. It's short but oh so sweet. Doesn't take away from the heaviness of the story at all. 

The plot of Releasing the Demons is actually quite interesting. I mean, what would happen to the world if supernatural beings do take over? How would we survive? How would the economy function? What will the government do? Those are some of the questions raised by this novel. Now, to be honest, the author didn't divulge much into the technicalities of things -- like what's happening to the rest of the world apart from New York, and how do people make a living -- and I would love for her to hint on that on future instalments. But that's not what the story is about, I think. At least not at this point. I believe, however, that as the series goes farther along, it would be interesting to see more realistic elements come into play. Again, like the government making themselves known, maybe seeing some regular people trying to fight back, something along those lines. 

SUMMARY: 

Overall, Releasing the Demons is a well-written book that seems to be a solid foundation for an excellent series. I look forward to reading more of the authors work and I do recommend this to bookworms who like a little action and fantasy alongside their romance. 

RATING: 

L.D. Rose is a neurotic physician by day, crazed writer by night, and all around wannabe superhero. She writes dark paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but she’s been known to delve into horror, sci-fi, and medical suspense on occasion. L.D. Rose is a PAN member of the RWA, FF&P, NEC-RWA and CoLoNY. She currently lives in Rhode Island with her studly hubby, her hyperactive Boxer, and her two devious cats.

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Book image from Goodreads

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I was debating with myself whether or not to pick Artificial by Jadah McCoy up because I've never been a fan of novels written in a different time -- past or future. But the blurb got me curious enough that I did end up reading and reviewing this book. Did I like it? Did I not? What were the strong points? What were the weak ones? Would I recommend it? Let's answer all these questions.

Title: Artificial 

Author: Jadah McCoy 

Published by: Curiosity Quills Press

Publication Date: April 4th 2016

Genres: New Adult, Science Fiction

Source: ARC Given by Tour Organizer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28682101-artificial

SYNOPSIS:

She struggles to feel human.

In 2256, the only remnants of civilization on Earth’s first colonized planet, Kepler, are the plant-covered buildings and the nocturnal, genetically spliced bug-people nesting within them: the Cull. During the day, Syl leaves her home in the sewers beneath Elite City to scavenge for food, but at night the Cull come looking for a meal of their own. Syl thought gene splicing died with the Android War a century ago. She thought the bugs could be exterminated, Elite city rebuilt, and the population replenished. She’s wrong.

Whoever engineered the Cull isn’t done playing God. Syl is abducted and tortured in horrific experiments which result in her own DNA being spliced, slowly turning her into one of the bugs. Now she must find a cure and stop the person responsible before every remaining man, woman, and child on Kepler is transformed into the abomination they fear.

He struggles not to.

For Bastion, being an android in the sex industry isn’t so bad. Clubbing beneath the streets of New Elite by day and seducing the rich by night isn’t an altogether undesirable occupation. But every day a new android cadaver appears in the slum gutters, and each caved in metal skull and heap of mangled wires whittles away at him.

Glitches—androids with empathy—are being murdered, their models discontinued and strung up as a warning. Show emotion, you die. Good thing Bastion can keep a secret, or he would be the next body lining the street.

He can almost live with hiding his emotions. That is, until a girl shows up in the slums—a human girl, who claims she was an experiment. And in New Elite, being a human is even worse than being a Glitch. Now Bastion must help the girl escape before he becomes victim to his too-human emotions, one way or another.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

REVIEW:

Syl is a strong female lead who does not hesitate to kick a** and will fight for what she believes is right. Because of this, I liked her a lot. Actually, almost all characters were interesting and held a good amount of mystery. However, I found little to no character development as the story progressed.

The story was interesting. I'm not sure how unique the plot is as again, I don't really read dystopian books even the Divergent trilogy, but it works for me. It did take a while before I found myself immersed in that world, but even then I can't consider myself "lost" in it. I guess Artificial as a whole is neither a hit nor a miss to me. It was good with the potential of being great but for some reason, it lacked in one way or another. It never really struck me as something I would love or would be inclined to read again. I don't know if the reason for this is my inexperience in reading this genre, but I just felt disconnected. Like I was a person looking in through a window instead of taking part in the action.

So will I recommend it? Yes, I will. Because as a whole, Artificial is still an entertaining read. You'll be introduced to a new world filled with danger and action and will get to know characters that will bring the story to life. I'd also like to point out that the author's writing style is good because of her seamless storytelling abilities.

RATING: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jadah currently lives in Nashville, TN and works in law. When not babysitting attorneys, she can be found juicing her brain for creative ideas or fantasizing about her next trip out of the country (or about Tom Hiddleston as Loki - it’s always a toss up when she fantasizes).

She grew up in rural Arkansas, yet can still write good and sometimes even wears shoes! She did date her first cousin for a while but they decided against marriage for the sake of the gene pool.

Her true loves are elephants, cursing, and sangria - in that order. If you find an elephant that curses like a sailor whilst drinking sangria, you’re dangerously close to becoming her next romantic victim - er, partner.

She cut her writing teeth on badly written, hormone-driven fanfiction (be glad that’s out of her system), and her one true dream is to have wildly erotic fanfiction with dubious grammar written about her own novels. Please make her dreams come true.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: https://jadahmccoy.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14903289.Jadah_McCoy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jadah-McCoy-Author-1570450153179469/

TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

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Have I read the first three installments of the Sinful Serenade series? No, no I have not. Do I regret anything about reading Play Your Heart Out by Crystal Kaswell? Yes, yes I do. But before you start thinking of me as a horrible book reviewer, I only meant that I regret not knowing about this band series first and not reading the other three books in the series. On that note, here's my review of Play Your Heart Out.

Title: Play Your Heart Out (Sinful Serenade #4) 

Author: Crystal Kaswell 

Publication Date: May 24th 2016

Genres: New Adult, Romance

Source: ARC Given by Tour Organizer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29515206-play-your-heart-out

SYNOPSIS: 

He parties like a rockstar.

She's there to make sure no one finds out...

Jess James has her eye on the prize. She is finding the money to pay for law school. Period. She is starting a new life on her own. Period. And she's absolutely staying in Los Angeles, three thousand miles away from the people who expect her to lie for them. It doesn't matter how lonely she gets on her own, how exhausted she is from working overtime as a cocktail waitress, or how deep the knife wound in her back cuts. She is going to be a lawyer, whatever it takes.

Only she doesn't have what it takes. She can barely afford to pay her rent.

Sinful Serenade bassist Pete Steele has enough to pay Jess's rent and buy her a small island in the Caribbean. The famous, talented rock star has everything... except the one thing his manager wants. Pete rose to fame as a devoted boyfriend. Doesn't matter that his ex slept with his best friend, he needs to stop screwing his way through Los Angeles to keep his reputation clean. Pete works hard, and parties harder... and the sweet, blond waitress is exactly the girl he needs on his arm if he wants to keep the record company happy.

Their arrangement is simple: he pays her tuition, she plays his girlfriend. They'll lie to the world, but not to each other. Especially not when they're alone, in his bed, him figuring out exactly which buttons to push to get her moaning his name.

Jess is good at keeping up appearances. She can play the enigmatic rock star's girlfriend. But Pete shouldn't play games with a girl who's been broken before...

REVIEW:

Going into the world of Sinful Serenade, I admit that I had a lot of reservations. I have read a few other novels with a similar plot outline--bad boy rock star, good girl falls in love with him, they struggle, they end up together, blah blah blah. So you can say that I was preparing myself mentally to not roll my eyes at cliche lines and scenes. 

"If you thought this book is unoriginal, then why did you want to review it?" you might be thinking. I have a simple answer for this: the author was obviously doing something right to get people hooked on this world, and I wanted to see it for myself. 

There are three things I'm absolutely certain as I'm writing this review: first, Crystal Kaswell is a talented and passionate author. The way she wrote Play Your Heart Out, (and her other books too, I'm sure) with such seamless story telling, colorful dialogues, and vivid descriptions prove that this is not her first rodeo. Her ability to effectively spin a story, add deep layers to its plot, and create complex and relatable characters is a testament to her years of experience, hard work, and colorful imagination. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not reviewing the author. I just wanted to show you why and how Play Your Heart Out exceeded my expectations and broke all my premature assumptions. 

Now I don't know how Pete was in the first three parts of the Sinful Serenade series, but the Pete in this book is a hard-headed man-whore who is in the road to self-destruction -- career-wise and in life. But I think for me, what sets this guy apart from all the other bad boy rock stars is he used to be a good guy who wanted a long and happy relationship but got hurt big time. So he's not who or what he is just because, there's a reason behind it making him relatable to some people who got hurt by their exes. Now Jess, she also got hurt. But because of the strength she possesses, she decided to push through in life. She's intelligent, career-minded, and goal-oriented, which should help her do what she has to do easily, but doesn't really. Jess and Pete's chemistry is great, their verbal exchanges colorful, and their pain and sadness real. 

I don't want to say too much about the book, only that it's amazing and you should read it ...  but not before parts 1-3, because you won't get the whole Sinful Serenade experience...like me. 

Check this out you guys.

RATING:

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon

Purchase book 1

Purchase book 2

Purchase book 3

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Crystal Kaswell writes steamy new adult and erotic romance books. She loves when flawed characters fall head over heels for each other. Especially if they fall into bed first. She loves police procedurals, tea, and The Hunger Games series. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://www.crystalkaswell.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrystalKaswell

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8379758.Crystal_Kaswell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalkaswellwriter/?fref=ts

TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

Book images provided by Xpresso Book Tours

You know that feeling you get when you think you know how a story is going to go? You think, "Eh, this is probably like every other book with the same plot. A guy and a girl become best of friends, but one of them falls in love with the other. He or she doesn't want to come clean with his/her feelings though because of the risk of ruining their friendship. Fast forward a hundred pages then voila! They end up together and live happily ever after."

But the thing is, Conflicted isn't anything like that. I mean, yeah there are certain elements making it similar to others with the same story line, but as a whole, it's deeper, more realistic, and a whole lot more complicated.

Title: Conflicted

Author: Ruby Black

Publication Date: May 10, 2016

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Source: ARC Given by Tour Organizer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29743045-conflicted

SYNOPSIS:

She’s the only one I’ve ever needed and the only one I’ll never have.

The only problem is…she’s my best friend.

I’ve always felt the connection, but I just can’t go there. Not with her. She deserves better than what I can offer her. So I drown myself in women and booze, certain I’m doing the right thing, keeping her at a distance.

Or so I thought.

When Lacey tells me about the internship she’s scored with a hotshot criminal attorney, I’m happy for her. This could make her career. If anyone deserves success, it’s her.

Then I learn who her new ‘mentor’ is.

My father.

Now, the secrets I’ve been keeping may cost me the very friendship I’ve been trying to protect.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Amazon

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Tweet: She’s the only one I’ve ever needed and the only one I’ll never have @rubyblackbooks http://amzn.to/1q0p22H

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

Lacey is an intelligent woman who will do everything she can to achieve her dream. Her life revolves around studying, coffee, and Lucas--that is until she started her internship that can make or break her future career. But underneath all that strong shell is a shy, insecure girl who's just looking for love, support, and acceptance. But what will she do if she gets all that but under the wrong circumstances?

Lucas has only ever experienced loss. He lost his mother, his sister, his grandmother, and he might as well consider his father gone too. Letting people in is hard for him because he's afraid of being abandoned and hurt again. That's why he puts up the easy-go-lucky, care-about-nothing facade 24/7, especially when he's with Lacey. Wanting her but not wanting anyone else to have her is eating at him day by day. But there's nothing he can do, especially since he's keeping huge secrets from her.

REVIEW:

I am a woman, so I hate being wrong by default. One of the few times I do like to be mistaken however is when it comes to a book. Going into Conflicted, I had quite an assumption of how the story will go, as I have expressed earlier. Was that wrong of me? Yes, of course. But I tried my best to read this contemporary romance novel by Ruby Black with fresh eyes and no judgement. Boy was I glad I did. 

Here are a few notable things I liked about Conflicted: 

Character focus. In the entire book, there were only a handful of characters that were given emphasis. These are Lucas, Lacey, Aaron, and Eva. There were a couple more supporting characters introduced, but they weren't really thrust into the limelight. Because the author opted to make the story focus around Lucas, Lacey, and Aaron, I was able to understand the depth of each character more, more than if Ruby Black decided to congest the book with new characters in every chapter. 

Multiple POVs. I have always enjoyed a book told from different points of view compared to one that is narrated from just one. I feel like this writing style enables me to connect to the main characters more, and I become more invested in the book as a whole. Conflicted is told from Lacey and Lucas' perspective, giving all of us a glimpse of their thoughts, their actions, and their feelings. 

Attraction. I liked how Lacey was a lot like any other single woman in the sense that when she was thrust in a situation with a man she was attracted and infatuated with, she was real and honest. She did give in to her physical and carnal needs--which is normal because she is single and into Aaron--but didn't go all the way because she knew that her sleeping with him is wrong in more ways than one. She knew at the back of her mind that she wants Lucas to be the one in that moment with her. But that doesn't mean that Lacey and Aaron's attraction to each other was purely sexual, because Aaron really did like Lacey. She made him dream and gave him hope that when things turn around, they can be together. 

Which leads me to my last point...

Love triangle. YES, this is a love triangle. It may or may not be the intention of the author, but it is a three-way relationship to me. I may not be a fan of stories like this (because someone ALWAYS gets hurt), but because of the special circumstances in this particular book, I found myself anticipating what's to come and who will end up together. 

What did I mean by that? You may be wondering, "Shouldn't Lucas and Lacey be together?" Well, they did finally end up confessing their feelings for one another. But the last two to three paragraphs in the book led me to believe that there is so much more to come before we can celebrate.

SUMMARY:

Conflicted didn't exactly hit me with a bat from the first few pages; it slowly crawled its way into my mind and heart as each page passes. 

It's a story that will make you think of what-ifs, second chances, redemption, and happily-ever-after. It makes you yearn to see things from a different perspective, makes you want to understand the reason behind the characters' actions. And because of all these things, it is a great read.

RATING:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ruby Black is the pseudonym for a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She likes angsty romance, alpha males, and full bookshelves. Her novel Conflicted will be available May 10, 2016.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: https://rubyblackbooks.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ruby-Black-966302863381225/?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rubyblackbooks/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/rubyblackauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rubyblackauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29743045-conflicted

Newsletter: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/g4h6w4

TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

Book images provided by Indiesage PR

*Sigh* Lately, I find myself in situations where I have to read a book only to find myself thrust in the middle of an already progressing series. Just like The Wolf of Kaliningrad, which is apparently the third installment of the dubious series. Is this a standalone? Yeah it can be considered one I guess. But will it be good to read it as one? I wouldn't recommend it. Here's why.

Title: The Wolf of Kaliningrad

Author: Sara Wylde

Genre: Contemporary romance

Publisher: All Romance eBooks

Date of Publication:  May 1, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-943576-77-7

Word Count: 19k

Cover Artist: Erin Dameron Hill

Source: Copy Given by Tour Organizer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29541886-the-wolf-of-kaliningrad

SYNOPSIS:

Lola Carter’s addict brother stole from the wrong man: the legendary Wolf of Kaliningrad, a scarred beast of a man who shows no pity and no mercy. When her brother is taken captive by the Wolf, Lola will do anything to save him. The Wolf offers to trade her life for her brother’s…if she’ll marry the monster.

Only this is no beauty and the beast tale. The Wolf is about to learn that Lola is a fierce adversary who can be just as beastly when it comes to saving herself and claiming something she wants more than anything else: her monster’s black heart.

PURCHASE LINKS:

ARe

Amazon

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

Lola Carter a.k.a. Lola La Bang doesn't have much of anyone or anything--just an addict brother she's desperately trying to save and a paying job as a dancer in a strip club. But what she has an abundance of are bravery, intelligence, and hate--all of which are the traits of a formidable woman. However, a big turn of events changed her life in an instant, whether it's for the better or for the worse is yet to be determined.

Arkady Marek a.k.a. The Wolf of Kaliningrad in one word is a monster--both inside and out. Raised in a world filled with violence, greed, and power, he learned early on that if he wanted to have a better life, he needed to be at the top of the food chain and that he has to do everything in order to get there. He fears nothing while everybody else fear him. But when faced with the woman who sees him for something more, he realized that he is thrust in a battle he is not capable of fighting--the battle of the heart.

REVIEW:

The Wolf of Kaliningrad is the beginning of Lola and Arkady's love story. However, it's obvious from the pace of the story and how the scenes unfold that I have already missed a lot in the story's entirety. I was seriously annoyed at how everyone seems to already know each other; character names were being dropped here and there, references were made about their pasts, and deep rooted problems are discussed ever so casually.

I was honestly having a hard time keeping up. I felt like I was someone looking through a house window while people were inside partying. It also doesn't help that the book ran at an incredibly fast pace--a pace so fast that I felt some scenes weren't done justice.

But inspite of all this negativity that I just spouted off, the book wasn't all that bad. The characters, mainly Lola and Arkady of course, were such interesting people that I was excited to see how they would interact with one another. They are two strong-willed people who both know what they want and will do anything to get them. Their driving forces may have been different in the beginning, but down the line their intentions were the same. The speed of which their romance have developed may have been hard to comprehend, but as long as I get a happily-ever-after, I'm good.

Another note-worthy thing about author Sara Wylde's book is the violence. I just recently finished reading a book series involving the Mob so I admit, I was still in the mood for a little ruthlessness. This didn't disappoint. Not that there were extravagant scenes where dozens of people died, but the couple of scenes that people's lives were taken the author managed to pull off in a tasteful manner. So a solid star for that.

SUMMARY:

The Wolf of Kanilingrad is a short but fast-paced read. It's a good book to pass the time, but I highly recommend that you read the first two installments in the entire series first so you'll find the story easier to comprehend and get lost in.

RATING: 

EXCERPT:

His suit was Valentino.

She could tell by the texture of the decadent fabric against her naked skin when he grabbed her from behind. The leather of the gloved hand across her mouth was finely made, butter-soft. Lola Carter didn’t even think of screaming. She knew who held her, and no amount of screaming, begging, or crying could save her now.

Nothing, except maybe the money she’d hidden in her dressing room.

“Do you know who I am?” His voice was rough, like great boulders grinding against each other.

She nodded her head as much as she was able. The man who held her, naked after her turn on stage at the Pink Lagoon, was the mighty Wolf of Kaliningrad. He was a stone cold killer with no heart, no mercy. His only god was power, and his communion was money.

Money her brother had stolen from him.

“Good.” His harsh whisper sent shivers down her spine. “I take my hand away from your mouth, you won’t scream.” He slowly removed his hand from her mouth.

She didn’t scream. Didn’t so much as breathe deeply. Lola knew her life was in his hands.

“Lo. Hey, Lo?” a voice called out. “You okay?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Everything’s fine. Just taking a break in my dressing room.”

“Dressing room.” A snort sounded. “Girl, you putting on airs.”

“It is my dressing room. It locks. I have the key. It’s mine. But I’ll give it to you when I move on to bigger and greener pastures,” she teased.

“Lola La Bang, moving on to better things than the Pink Lagoon? Girl, I know you will. If only so I get that dressing room. Don’t take too long,” Peaches Crème said as she peeked around the corner. “Oh, you busy. I see.” Peaches flashed her a grin and went out for her set on the stage.

“Dressing room. Now.”

She shivered again, suddenly hyperaware of the texture of his suit against her bare skin, the sound of his voice like a touch itself.

Christ, what was wrong with her? She was hot for this guy just because of the feel of his suit. No, if she was honest, it was the leather gloves. Her utter vulnerability—had to be the female version of a fear boner.

It just had to be.

Lola led him through the darkened hallways until they came to a couple of doors in the back. It wasn’t really a dressing room, it was more like a large closet she’d co-opted for herself. She didn’t have anywhere else to hide the money, so she’d made a big show of requiring a dressing room. With the money she brought in to the Pink Lagoon, Carl would let her do just about anything, as long as it made him money instead of costing him.

And her little closet she called a dressing room? Well, it didn’t cost him shit.

As soon as the door closed, she reached to turn on the light, but his gloved hand closed over hers.

“No lights.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sara Wylde is the crackfic contemporary pen name for PNR/UF author Saranna DeWylde. She rather imagines that all the pen names live in the same dorm in her head and frequently have discussions that look and sound something like an episode of Herman's Head. For more information on other books by Sara, visit her website: www.sarawylde.com

AUTHOR LINKS:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarannaDeWylde

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SarannaDeWylde

TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

Book images provided by Bewitching Book Tours

Sometimes there's no better way to understand reality than through fantasy, and the best way to find truth may be in a book - if you can find the right one.

Battles against darkness, a quest for truth, and a search for the book that no one can read are all part of the fantasy adventure in The War of Words. As an evil sorcerer wages war by using mysterious shadows and seeks to gain control by confusing the residents as to what's real and what isn't, the fate of the kingdom rests in the hands of Kelsey and Nicholas.

As the youngest officer in the king's army, Kelsey fights the evil sorcerer s shadows on the battlefield as she explores the kingdom searching for the key to winning the war. Nicholas, a young sorcerer in training who is mastering his craft, discovers how the right words can change the course of the future.

Explore an enchanted maze, uncover the power of words, and learn about friendship in this whimsical tale.

Choose your words wisely. This is one of the phrases I live by and for good reason. Choosing the things you say carefully in every situation will help you achieve your desired outcome—it can be to please someone, hurt them, get you out of trouble, or get you in it. Whatever you want to accomplish, you can by putting the right words together and injecting the right tone. This belief of mine has been made stronger when I read War of Words by Amy Neftzger..

A novel for middle graders, this book contains a strong message that more people should understand and apply in life. Words, when used the wrong way, can cause harm, but when used the right way, can help inspire and nurture someone. This book may be initially intended for tweens or mid-grade readers but people of all ages would benefit from this book.

I wouldn’t go for the kind of writing that is poetic and/or cheesy, but in War of Words, it completely works. There are a lot of “quotable quotes” as I call it, and if I wasn’t bound by an agreement, I would share a few with you guys.

The story is filled with a lot of sci-fi elements, but the situations the characters find themselves in and the decisions they needed to make are real and can be applied in real life.

The only negative, but not really, thing I can say about this is I didn’t know it was part of a series. I have expressed this in previous reviews, but I really do hate being thrust upon a series if I haven’t started from the beginning. Nevertheless, I had fun and learned a lot.

I highly recommend everyone, from ages 8 to 70, to purchase a copy of this book. It's a good $4 to spend in exchange for a lesson and entertainment-filled novel that you can pass on to future generations. What are you waiting for guys? Don't miss out on this! Grab a copy and let us know what you thought.

Amy Neftzger is the author of fiction books for both adults and children. She has also been published in business and academic journals, as well as literary publications.

A few of her favorite things include traveling, books, movies, art, the Oxford comma, and gargoyles.

First and foremost, I want to point out that one of the main reasons why I decided to read and review this book is the cover. For some weird reason, I pictured Cloaked to be a story about Little Red Riding Hood with a modern and different twist, with Red Riding Hood being the wolf. Wherever that came from, I don't know, but I'm still glad I had the chance of receiving a copy of this novel.

Title: Cloaked (The Wulfkin Legacy 0.5)

Author: T.F. Walsh 

Publication Date: January 4th 2016

Published by: Crimson Romance

Source: ARC Given through Netgalley

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27919040-cloaked

SYNOPSIS:

Raised by an overly protective wulfkin pack, Daciana leaps at the chance to venture into the human world for her one-year independence ritual. But after someone steals the endangered bear cubs she’s been assigned to protect, she must locate them or lose her job and return home in disgrace. The sexy inspector on the case isn’t making this any easier. He knows nothing of her kind, and wulfkin rules forbid relationships with humans.

Newly divorced Inspector Connell Lonescu trusts no one but himself. He’s convinced relationships are a waste of time and thinks burying himself in work will ease the pain. Yet he’s attracted to the gorgeous and mysterious Daciana, even if there’s something slightly odd about her. Can Connell learn to trust the sexy but secretive woman?

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon: Cloaked (The Wulfkin Legacy)

B&N: Cloaked (The Wulfkin Legacy)

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

Daciana is a strong-willed, hard-headed woman who is very passionate about what she does and who she is. All her life she just wanted to be a valued member of her pack; she wanted to make them proud of her and what she accomplished, that she's totally blindsided by what the world threw her way. Now with everything happening in her life, she's torn between doing the right thing and following her heart.

Connell is a complicated man with lots of self-doubt. That's what happens when your supposed best friend screws your wife in an interrogation room of the police station you work in. His intentions of keeping Daciana at arm's length--literally--is noble, but there's only so much fighting he can do before he gives in. But he still has trust issues and can't fully move forward with his relationship; can he let go of the past and learn to depend on another person again?

REVIEW:

I've said it in previous reviews and I'll say it again: I love books with strong female leads. I'd rather read a novel with women like Melody Callahan than those with weak-ass "girls" in some contemporary romance books. This has NOTHING to do with feminism, okay? I don't want people to misinterpret that. I just like stories that puts the female protagonist, in this case Daciana, in serious and/or dangerous situations. And there is no shortage of that here in Cloaked.

Daciana can be found in a couple--or more--scenes where she's fighting for her life, both in human and wolf form. She has this authority that animals understand; an aura or scent that says, "Don't mess with me because I can easily kill you." Even in her petite, human form she doesn't stop fighting for her life and that of the cubs she's trying to rescue. And this is where I started liking Connell; he understands Daciana's impulse to follow her instinct and solve this case on a good note, and he doesn't try to stop her. He doesn't treat this woman who likes to dress like a ninja at night like a frail woman who needs protecting. Even when he sees her battered and bruised, he didn't go all alpha on her and said "I told you so." He respected her for her bravery and passion, and he deserves a pat on the back for that.

There weren't a lot of characters introduced in Cloaked which is good in a way because the readers' attention will be more focused on the leads and the story. Speaking of the story, Cloaked is intriguing and exciting. We don't really know what will happen in the following parts of the series, and that keeps us readers on our toes.

SUMMARY:

This is a relatively short book, in my opinion, because I finished it in about 2 hours, but a good 120 minutes well spent. Pick up a copy of this guys, but let me warn you: YOU WILL BE LEFT HANGING. Just sayin'.

RATING: 

Book cover from Goodreads

"This is going to be really good," was what I thought when I read the blurb of A Shot of Bourbon. It piqued my interest, got me curious, and convinced me to give it a shot ... And that I did. Was it a good choice? Was the whole story as captivating and gripping as I hope it would be?

Title: A Shot of Bourbon (The Bourbon Series #1)

Author: A.C. Land

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Category: Young Adult

Release Date: March 29, 2016

Publisher: BookFish Books

Source: ARC Given by Tour Organizer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29151307-a-shot-of-bourbon 

SYNOPSIS:

In the little highway town of Bourbon, Missouri, deadly secrets lurk behind Southern charm.

Seventeen year old Charli Valentine didn’t expect to spend the last few weeks of summer break nursing a broken heart, icing a black eye, and watching her ex kiss another girl. Since being a good girl has gotten her nothing but heartache, Charli decides to give rebellion a try. She pigs out, drinks, and hangs with Luke Parker, the son of the infamous Bourbon Butcher.

But there’s more to Luke than meets the eye. His tough exterior and terrible dialect hide a good person despite his bad boy reputation. No matter how hard he tries to fight it, Luke is drawn to Charli’s innocence and finds her clumsiness too charming to resist. Though they’re from opposite sides of the tracks, neither can resist the magnetism drawing them together.

When Charli discovers a box in her mother’s closet, she pieces together the truth about Bourbon’s past and uncovers a deadly secret about her family. And once Luke learns of it, he vows to protect Charli no matter the cost.

REVIEW:

Here's the thing, I had such high hopes for this book because the blurb really set me up for something so high, that I found myself left hanging a little bit when I finished reading the last page. I'm not saying it was bad, I'm just clarifying that it wasn't as amazing or exciting as I expected it to be.

But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy reading A Shot of Bourbon. Most of the characters were interesting in their own merit, but I find myself more attracted to Luke's brother, Collin. If I had one character who I didn't really feel connected with, and honestly felt annoyed with it will be Charli's best friend, Lonna. I feel like she uses her beauty and appeal to mess with people's feelings but when push comes to shove, she doesn't really have much of a backbone. Maybe there's a story behind that, but for now, I don't like her all that much.

The story was really interesting; there were a lot of layers and twists that start to unravel once secrets start pouring out. I just feel like the potential of the story was a bit overshadowed by the way the author wrote the scenes. I had a hard time imagining the scenario by how the author wrote them. There are moments when I felt like a scene should be filled with tension and action but ends up being chaotic in terms of the execution. There were also some parts in the book that made me question the sanity or relatability of the characters based on their actions and dialogues.

I can't deny the chemistry between Charli and Luke though, and the ending managed to make me anticipate the following installment in the series. So all-in-all, an okay read.

SUMMARY:

A Shot of Bourbon is a book with loads of potential, with its gripping story and complex characters, which could have been utilized with better writing and pacing from the author. Again, it was a good read and I'll probably read the next installment because I want more of Collin.

RATING:

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author of the Bourbon Series, A.C. Land has been a lover of stories since she first read about Peter Pan giving Wendy an acorn and teaching her to fly.  A.C. always dreamed of telling big stories about small towns.

Residing on a cattle farm in Missouri, A.C. loves playing with her rambunctious Jack Russell, Riley, making decorative cakes, taking pictures, drinking pumpkin spice coffee, and hanging out with her nephews.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://authoracland.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorACLand 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuthorACLand

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/authorACLand

TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

Book images provided by Lola's Blog Tours