Review: Ancient Blood by Barbara Edwards

Ancient Blood by Barbara Edwards

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Finding Rhodes End Book Two

After narrowly escaping a stalker’s vicious attack, Lily Alban is left with the ability to see human auras. After moving to the tiny hamlet of Rhodes End, she finally feels safe, and against her better judgment, falls in love. But she soon discovers the man she loves is not a man at all.

As a botanist, werewolf Cole Benedict has dedicated his life to researching healing herbs to find a cure for Lycanthropy. He resists his attraction to Lily to protect her from the beast inside him. But when Lily’s stalker threatens her again, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Even if that means embracing the instincts of his wolf.

Together they must use extraordinary gifts to catch Lily's stalker before he attacks again. But will revealing their inner-most secrets to one another destroy their growing love or save them both?


Clare C’s Review

Ancient Blood refers to the bloodlines of the werewolves in a small New England town. The novel follows three couples as they navigate the varying effects of these bloodlines on their relationships. Steve is a scientist who has accidentally given himself vampiric appetites. He needs to cure himself so he can be with Mel. Cole had a bad experience with a wife decades before, so he’s reluctant to claim Lily as his mate. Mike and Jane must combat her brother’s prejudice and borderline insanity.

There’s a lot going on here for one novel. The change in character point of view every few pages isn’t confusing, but it doesn’t let the reader get much insight into each person as they’re introduced and their respective stories unfold. The plot is predictable and the writing moves at a sedate pace. Events and emotions are told rather than shown. Lily has the ability to see auras, but that special ability doesn’t seem particularly helpful in finding the bad guy. In places, the writing is disjointed. Some sentences seemed to come out of nowhere, as if a sentence or two had been removed and nothing was smoothed over to bridge the gap.

The idea behind Ancient Blood and the town of Rhodes End is interesting and the plot has merit. Perhaps if the novel had focused on one set of characters, the author would have been able to develop the story and characters a little better.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Seven Souls A Leaping Anthology

Seven Souls A Leaping by Lisa Pietsch, K.F. Zuzulo and Heather Long

Publisher: Sapphire Blue Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

At the New England New Age (NENA) Investigations, no case is too weird. The paranormal detective agency relies on the familial talents of siblings Duncan and Samantha MacDougal and their cousin Tara Conroy. While Duncan and Samantha tend to the field work, Tara mans the office tapping sources in both the physical and spirit world. Fate takes a hand when a killer named Jeffrey Wiles begins a death-dealing spree that puts the lives and loves of these investigators on the line.



Lia’s Review

Frozen Hell by Lisa Pietsch:

Danyelle Roy is a private investigator feeling the pinch of the economy. When she begs her friend Murphy, a bail bondsman, to give her some work, he does so reluctantly. Jeffrey Wiles isn't the kind of criminal you want to send a cute redhead after. He slaughtered a 13-year-old girl while her parents slept and then used her blood to paint Satanic graffiti on the walls. Duncan MacDougal is a specialist in paranormal investigations and he's never seen anything like the Satanic spellcasting done by Jeffrey Wiles. When Duncan and Dani team up to capture Wiles, the magic is overpowering.

The instant I started reading this story I felt as though I was watching a bad movie filmed in a scenic location but with robots instead of actors. This story concentrated so much on details and what everything looked liked instead of character feelings. In the second scene of the story when Wiles attacks and kills a little girl, instead of her feeling any real emotion, all the details concentrated on the candles that Wiles lit. Although the story did get better as it progressed, it lacked conflict. I felt like the only reason that Dani and Duncan fell in love is because her cat told him they’re soul mates. I liked Dani, she was an enjoyable character, although the rest of the story needed to be developed more.


Star Light, Blood Bright by K.F. Zululo:

Samantha MacDougal can see auras. Her gift usually helps her pursue rascals and wraiths for her family’s business, New England New Age Investigations. But when she begins to track Satanic serial murderer Jeffrey Wiles along icy Boston streets, her own life’s light is in danger of being extinguished. She is alone in her struggle until handsome Boston detective Ike Marshall mysteriously provides a supernatural shield of light that warms her as never before.

I didn’t like this story at all. There was too much concentration on details (just like in the first) and no concentration on plot or character development. It lacked conflict, especially in the romance department. Ike Starr, the hero, had no personality whatsoever and Sam MacDougal was a very dumb heroine. When she started to see the evil specks of aura, instead of realizing them as Wiles spirit, she instead just wrote them off as nothing. Then, when Wiles (while possessing her neighbor) came to her door, and she was warned that it’s Wiles, Sam still opened the door instead of run and hide. By the end of this story, I was so annoyed with this heroine that I skipped the last three chapters and moved on to the last story.



13th Night by Heather Long:

Since the day she learned to put her ABCs together, Tara Conroy has been sharing a ghostly correspondence with the spirit world. One spirit, in particular, Darian, has been talking to her since she was twelve years old. His letters take a darker turn as she and her cousins hunt down killer Jeffrey Wiles.
Darian Barnes ran afoul of a witch in 1929 as the stock market crashed. She cursed him, and for nearly a century Darian has existed as a spirit, always seeing, never touching or experiencing, until one day he encountered Tara. For the first time in eighty years, someone could hear him. He watched over her, guiding, protecting and advising—always there when she needed a friend.
Now Darian and Tara must find a way to bring their love into the physical world and destroy Jeffrey Wiles once and for all…

After reading and being disappointed with the first two stories, I was a bit reluctant to read this one. I was very shocked to see that this one actually had a plot and well developed characters. The conflict wasn’t just a part of the plot, but there was conflict between the characters. Tara and Darian were both very enjoyable characters. I was rooting for them to succeed the entire time. This story was not filled with any of the purple prose the first two stories contained. It was an enjoyable end to this poorly written anthology. Ms Long definitely gained a new reader with her story.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Scandalous by Ava McKnight

Scandalous by Ava McKnight

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

When Kate’s professional reputation is muddied by a nasty scandal, the sexy CEO of her company comes to her rescue. John is a man who always gets what he wants, except when it comes to Kate, who’s been out of his reach for eight long years.

Kate insists she’s innocent of the accusations made against her. As the scandal unravels and shocking secrets are revealed, John finds himself caught between saving his company’s reputation and having all of his wildest fantasies fulfilled by Kate. Wanting Kate has its repercussions. But when a man’s heart and passion are on the line, what’s he to do?



Denise’s Review

Kate finds herself in an innocent, however unfortunate situation and her CEO, John, who has lusted after her for years, comes to her rescue. I’ve made no secret in past reviews that I love the unrequited love theme, and given Ms. McKnight’s reputation, the blurb sucked me in.

The trouble is, there was little between the pages to hold my attention. I felt I was never given reason to connect with Kate; I was TOLD why I should, sure, but that line connecting character to reader was never established. I hate it when an interesting premise turns into a dry read, but that’s what this one did for me. I’m not sure whether it was the stilted dialogue or the flat characters, but something failed to click with this one. The writing itself was decent but not remarkable. For being as short as it was, this novella took me nearly a month to complete; I just couldn’t get into it.

However, that being said I can definitely see how it would appeal to other readers. If you’re looking for steamy sex, this is the book for you.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Black Surrender by Lorie O’Clare

Black Surrender by Lorie O’Clare

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Black Jag, Book Three

The wildcat of the VicMoran litter, Rafe isn’t too convinced the newly discovered laws are for the best. Especially when they would prevent him from chasing down Anna Hunter. He’s had a taste of her and now he wants the entire meal.

Anna knows better than to let any of the other jaguars know her true feelings about the documents all jaguars are honor-bound to follow. She’s not into suppression. No one is going to put a leash on her or demand she behave a certain way simply because some ancient jaguar prophesied the laws be followed in order for survival.

Anna knows how to survive. And she knows what she wants—whom she wants.
One night of incredible sex changes Rafe’s and Anna’s lives forever. Now the documents that put a thorn in her claw need to be saved from jaguars out for profit. Rafe and Anna have no problem fighting to save all jaguars. But they’ll be damned if they’re going to quit enjoying what they both know is right.



Hunter’s Review

I had a hard time following this book. Perhaps it is my fault, I did see that it is a third book in a series before I started reading it but I am used to at least being able to figure out what’s going on when I step into a series anywhere other than the first book.

I liked Anna and Rafe. I thought they were interesting characters and the love scenes were hot.

But I wouldn’t recommend starting this series with this book.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Secrets Everybody Knows by Charlotte McClain

Secrets Everybody Knows by Charlotte McClain

Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 1

Blurb

Love can't flourish in the dark

Fifteen years ago, Elaine fell in love with Johnny McMannus, the local bad boy. He was nineteen and she was jailbait. To keep them both out of trouble, Johnny left town.

But years later his father's heart attack brings him back to run the family garage. Hoping to reconnect with Elaine, Johnny has to first fix the mess his parent's alcoholism has made of things. Before Johnny can deserve Elaine, he has to salvage his family's reputation, save their home, and rescue the business.

Too bad Elaine doesn't want to be deserved. She wants to be loved. She never got over Johnny and she's done sneaking around with him as they had before. If he can't love her in public, to her way of thinking he doesn't love her enough.

Warning: Nosy neighbors, hypochondriac mothers and underage girls



Lisa’s Review

This novella would have real potential if the characters were given a chance to develop. Unfortunately, because of its size that can be hard to achieve. It was very difficult for me to connect to either Elaine or Johnny as adults. I had a better understanding their teenage years. However, as adults neither character seemed to mature very much.

Johnny came home after 14 years still in the same frame of mind. He still doesn’t feel worthy of Elaine. He let his parent’s alcoholism and poor reputation tarnish his own life. In fact, the only reason he drug his sister to Alanon meetings, at first anyway, was to improve their family’s overall reputation, in order to be with Elaine.
The last 14 years haven’t changed Elaine that much. Even though she has become a respected teacher in their small town, she seems to be just going through the motions of living life. Elaine’s routine life spins off kilter when Johnny returns. In fact she is so upset over Johnny’s return that she drowns her fears in ice cream and Bailey’s Irish Crème. The rest of the time is spent avoiding Johnny instead of confronting him. The little interaction they do have feels rushed and the ending was predictable and anti-climactic.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Three for the Road by Berengaria Brown

Three for the Road by Berengaria Brown

Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Menage Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

When three bed-buddies go on a two-week road trip together, will it turn into a sex odyssey or will it destroy any hope of a relationship or romance?

Jennifer Adams agrees to a vacation with Chris and Robert. When she realizes she’s expected to live in a shipping container, instead of a conventional RV, the vacation is almost over before it begins. Jenni is lured by great sex with two yummy men. But will that be enough?

Be Warned: menage sex, multiple partners, anal sex, m/m sex



Clare C’s Review

Jenni, Chris, and Robert are three people who want to have a ménage relationship with one another. When one of them stumbles into a converted storage container, they strap it into their truck and head out for an RV-ish road trip. It’s meant to be a feel-good, short reading experience.

I think the problem lies mostly in the stilted dialogue. There wasn’t really a conflict to move the narrative, so Brown mostly relied on the dialogue to develop the characters. I just didn’t connect with them, and consequently, I didn’t care too much about their story. I’ve read a few of Ms. Brown’s novellas, and I’ve quite enjoyed them. This one didn’t have the same energy as some of the others. If you’re looking for a lazy, relaxed read, then you might enjoy Three for the Road.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Secret Cravings by Kris Cook

Secret Cravings by Kris Cook

Publisher: Siren-Boookstrand
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Kate Bullion’s chance to surprise her grandmother for the holidays goes awry when, instead of Gran, she comes face-to-face with twins Rance and Troy Keekoti, her childhood best friends. They’ve grown up into two very sexy men, but pain from their past still stings Kate.
Rance and Troy have never forgotten Kate--the girl of their dreams, now a woman they crave to possess. Yet tribal law prevents them from coming clean with her about their true nature as shifters. They can’t resist being near her, though, no matter what the risk.

Kate bakes some of Gran’s famous cookies for Rance and Troy, but what none of them know is that one of the ingredients magically lowers inhibitions in humans. In the twins, it unleashes primal urges that scorch her to the core.

Will she be able to let go of old pain and choose the love of her two wolf-shifters?


Claudette’s Review

Kate and twins Rance and Troy grew up together but after they were all involved in an accident, everything changed and Kate lost her two best friends. There was always something more than mere friendship between them but they suddenly started avoiding her like the plague and never gave her an explanation for their behaviour; just shut her out of their lives. The secret the twins are hiding is that they are wolf shifters, as are all of their native American tribe. The tribe has a strict taboo against revealing themselves and intermarrying and mating with humans

When Kate drops in unexpectedly to visit her Gran, she finds that her Grandmother is out of country and that Troy is there keeping an eye on her Gran’s ranch. Drawn to Kate as always, Troy tempts fate by asking Kate to dinner. Rance is not amused that his brother is getting so close to temptation, Kate’s mere presence triggers their wolves and they can’t risk exposure. Though both men have known since the accident that Kate is their mate, they can never be together so even spending an evening in her company is a risk that Troy shouldn’t take. When Kate follows her Gran’s recipe for cookies and bakes a batch, all their inhibitions are lowered and the truth will out.

This is a novella that faithfully follows the rules of the average romance – boy(s) meet girl, fall in love with girl but there’s a misunderstanding/ secret and so they can’t just run off and have their happily ever after.

I would have liked Kate’s character to be more developed. We get that she smells good to her mates and that she’s very pretty, but beyond that we know very little about her. As for the twins, as many authors do when writing ménage novels, the men’s personalities are polar opposites. Troy is easy going and light hearted and Rance is the more intense twin.

If you like shifter romances then this is a pleasant read.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Range War Bride by Lara Santiago

Range War Bride (Tasty Treats 11) by Lara Santiago

Publisher: Siren-Boookstrand
Genre: Futuristic Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

In a world where female infertility is the norm, two related men are legally allowed to marry one woman to produce an heir for their family property.

Brianna escapes a vile arranged marriage but is rescued by two brothers, Alex and Rafe Drakestone, on their own bride hunt for a woman to carry their child. Brianna agrees to marry Alex and Rafe, if she proves fertile. However, her stubborn and not-so-nice ex-fiancés won’t let her go without a fight and bring the local law into the mix.

And then all hell breaks loose.

Brianna harbors a horrible secret that threatens her freedom if found out. Will Alex and Rafe start a range war to keep her as their bride? And will they discard her once they learn what she’s done in the name of self-preservation? Can four men fight over one woman and settle their private war?


Yadkny’s Review

Alex and Rafe hold the biggest share of ranch land in the state if not the country, so having their pick of the litter when it comes to a wife and mother to their children should come easy, but all it brings are inexperienced, immature gold-diggers... and a headache. Rafe is tired of waiting for Alex to come to terms with the fact that they need to choose someone and now since they need an heir to their land.

Brianna is on the run literally, from an unwanted marriage proposal. She seeks what she thought was salvation on another ranchers farm, only to find herself now bound in another contract, although this one may not be completely unwanted. For her to be happy though, will mean spilling a secret better left buried, but she needs time, which she is starting to run out of.

I've seen the concept before of what our world might look like if the population whether female or male was almost completely decimated by either war or disease. In this version, it's a disease that almost wipes out the worlds human female populace. Most of those females who survived are now barren.

With this dramatic change to the worlds future generation, so to can we expect a shift in the ways males and females interact with each other. These interactions now include contracts of marriage for the sole purpose of procreation. Once the female proves fertility that is. The relationships forged lack intimacy and love, which to me is needed if a child is to be created. It's all basically a business transaction that involves lawyers. Women's rights have changed in that we're now obligated to take on two husbands and the use of any contraceptives is illegal. It's a backwards process where you start with getting pregnant and then if you're lucky find love with your partner(s). You'd think women would have the upper hand in that there aren't many of them, but they are just as disposable if proven infertile and in worse cases, be relegated to work in brothels.

Ms. Santiago's story definitely got me thinking of what a disaster this would all be and thankful for the fact that we're not currently living it. I really admired Brianna's fighting spirit and although she knows her fate dictates that she's duty-bound to participate, she still fights for rights in her contract that will allow her to stay independent and seek the kind of life she can settle for. Alex and Rafe for all intents and purposes do care for Brianna, but I can't believe that love was at all instantaneous. The sex however, reads amazingly well. This story will leave you with lots of food for thought.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Secret Soiree by Kathy Kulig

Secret Soiree by Kathy Kulig

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Erotic Romance

Heat Rating: 4

Blurb

Performing kinky sex shows at private parties should be easy for two part-time lovers. When Darius makes an offer to help Destiny avoid financial disaster, how can she refuse? The money’s good, the sex scorching.

Amazed by how uninhibited she can be, Destiny is driven by a sensual need aroused by her audience. When clients begin requesting special services, Destiny easily complies. But can her blazing-hot romance with Darius survive the consequences?


Denise’s Review

Ideally, a good story should have some measure of conflict. In romances, even HFNs, there should be some sense of man v. self, man v. man, man v. nature, and all those other plot devices you learned in school. This story had some conflict, but just barely enough to pad the breaks between sex scenes.

Paula (aka Destiny) is a law student whose student loans will pretty much guarantee she’ll owe money the rest of her life. Though it’s not exactly the sort of job she’d put on a resume, she works as a stripper to pay her bills…until her boss catches her giving her lover, Darius, a show she’s prohibited from giving regulars—even if it is on her break. Darius tells her not to worry, though, because he has something that pays even better on the table. Rather than strip, why not do what they love best in front of an audience at a private party? Although Destiny is reluctant and nervous, she’s desperate for cash, and ultimately agrees.

The premise is raunchy and the writing itself is good, but if you’re looking for something beyond the above description, you should likely focus elsewhere. The author had plenty of venues to explore and not one of them were touched to any degree of satisfaction. Darius and Destiny (or Paula, or whatever she wants to be called in a given scene) talk about their unusual relationship, but nothing is resolved by the end. Destiny also discusses her health concerns (her parents died young from disease and she believes she will, as well), but nothing comes of that, either. Likewise, there is some concern about the job she’s performing and how it will affect her longtime career goals, but this is also brushed over quickly. It’s disappointing when you read a story with promise that falls flat, and that’s what this one did for me.

I will say the writing itself is good, and the sex scenes are amazingly hot. If that’s what you’re looking for in a read—sex with little substance—then I do recommend Secret Soiree. Sometimes, honestly, that’s what one is in the mood for.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Kiss Noir by Robynn Clairday

Kiss Noir by Robynn Clairday

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 1

Blurb

Jen is the quintessential twenty-first century young woman; she’s in her late twenties, professionally employed but less than thrilled with her job, and the love of her life is her dog, Cobbs. She can’t understand why she hasn’t found the man of her dreams. Jen assumes she’s too picky and unrealistic.

Dameon LaFaim is half-vampire, half-human; he has spent his life searching for the scientific solution to suppress his darker side. He’ll try any treatment, no matter what the terrible cost. He has lived for hundreds of years, but true love has eluded him, until now.

Jen doesn’t see herself as heroine material, but she captures Dameon’s heart.

Dameon is hunted by an obsessed, dangerous vampire named Tatiana, who would destroy Dameon rather than let another woman have him.

Jen and Dameon have to battle both external obstacles as well as internal, before they can love each other.



Clare C’s Review

I love vampire stories, no matter what kind of mythology they use. Kiss Noir evokes images of old black-and-white horror movies only with a contemporary setting. While the plot was solid and the idea was very good, I wish it had been less wordy. It begins with a prologue that summarizes how Dameon came into existence but doesn’t have much to do with the plot. Later, his father’s true story is summarized. While it was interesting, I wished it had been ‘shown’ instead of ‘told’.

Parts of the story were very good. I felt the author did a great job capturing Jen’s character and communicating her to the reader. Many chapters begin with action and plot movement. The action parts were interesting, but they were a bit drawn out. I felt that many parts were over-explained, and it detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. Ms. Clairday is a new author to me. Her ideas are great, her imagination is boundless, and I look forward to seeing how she grows as a writer.

2 ½ Tea Cups!