Review: Winded by Sherri L. King

Winded by Sherri L. King

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

A Shikar story, set in the world of The Horde Wars series.

Vetiver Device bears the same burden as generations of Device women, protecting her tiny New England island from the Unnamed. Merrymint is a doorway, and Vetiver the key. The last of her witch bloodline, Vetiver calls to the elements to send help in fortifying the island’s wards. She receives not only aid, but her destiny in warrior form.

Boreas of the Shikar heard Vetiver’s plea through layers of worlds. She called to his Wind, and he answered, bringing with him a storm to close the doorway forever. As for Vetiver, Boreas will bind her lush, ripe body to his, fill her with intense carnal pleasure…and one day his essence. Transforming her into a warrior-witch to stand by his side as wife, lover, protector of the entire human race.


Claudette's Review

I was only too happy to return to Ms. King’s latest story involving a shikar warrior; this time it is Boreas and a human witch called Vetiver Device. This story has all the crucial elements that Ms. King always brings to her novels, great plotting and story telling, action, adventure and characters who capture your emotions and draw you in. I’m not an animal lover but who wouldn’t love Ball Vetiver’s faithful doggy familiar. Like an heirloom, Ball is passed down to each generation of Device witch and is far more than the canine he appears to be.

I was fascinated by Vetiver’s family history and this enthralling adventure with this mortal witch and the very sexy shikar warrior at her side. Their powers compliment each other and this novel is just as great, not to mention as hot as the others in this series.

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Wolf At The Door by J. Damask

Wolf At The Door by J. Damask

Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Being an ex-teen vigilante comes with its own set of problems.

Housewife, ex-teen vigilante…and shape-shifting wolf…Jan Xu has enough problems without adding her sister's to the mix. Marianne is returning to Singapore and she's filled with strange ideas. She's also not alone. She's coming home with a new boyfriend who has a dark agenda of his own.

With sibling rivalry threatening the inevitable: a battle-to-the-death with fang and claw, Jan and Marianne must overcome their issues if they're ever going to find peace within their troubled relationship.

Content warning: Violence, fang-and-claw fighting.



Claudette's Review

Jan Xu is a werewolf, as is almost everyone else in her family. I love that though she’s married and has children this doesn’t hinder her from being a butt kicking protagonist. Her sister Marianne and she haven’t been close since Marianne failed at puberty to gain the ability to become a wolf. When Marianne returns home to Singapore, after years away from her family, she brings her new boyfriend Steve. Though Steve is also a werewolf, he very clearly has a hidden agenda. Only Jan seems to be aware that he is a threat however. Soon Jan’s world is rocked by mishaps that are befalling everyone she cares about.

This is a story with sibling rivalry at its heart. At times the narrative was disjointed, abruptly mentioning events from the past and introducing new characters without any obvious context or introduction; as though the reader knows exactly who they are. The rich detail and originality of both the setting, culture and story, more than make up for that. I found this novel to be fascinating, gripping and thoroughly enjoyable. A werewolf fantasy with a difference.

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Fire Wolf by Anh Leod

Fire Wolf by Anh Leod

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Divorcee Olivia has had her eye on much younger firefighter Smokie Monahan. She propositions him, never realizing he’s had it bad for her since he first saw her luscious bod in a bikini a decade before. She plans a brief, hot, sexy encounter at the firehouse—in, out, done. But that quickly turns into a series of lusty hook-ups that neither can resist.

Smokie is a wolf shapeshifter, so he knows the scorching sex with a human isn’t going to lead to anything more. Besides, Olivia insists it’s just a fling—no more relationships for her. Then a mystical seer declares they are true mates.

Smokie thinks he’s too young to settle down and Olivia thinks hot sex does not equal love. These two are about to discover just how pleasurable being stuck with each other for life can be.

Reader Advisory: Smokie likes it a little bit rough, a little bit kinky.



Claudette's Review

Smokie is a werewolf, one of many at the local fire station. Smokie’s had a crush on Olivia since he was barely out of puberty, and she was in her twenties - and a very small bikini. One day Olivia turns up at the fire station and brings him up close and personal to her, in a way that Smokie’s been fantasizing about for years. Olivia’s marriage and divorce have seriously damaged her confidence; so she decides to take a real walk on the wild side and her affair with a younger and very hot fireman does that. What makes this more than just another cougar story is that Olivia has no idea that Smokie is anything other than a younger man.

They both have issues, around whether or not they are ready for a permanent relationship.
This is an enjoyable and very sexy romance.

3 ½ Tea Cups!

   

Review: The Big, Bad...by Nina S. Gooden

The Big, Bad...by Nina S. Gooden

Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Riding Hood Tales Book One

What’s a girl to do when her daily delivery ends in a vortex of passion and gunfire?
All Roux wanted was to bring Grandma her goodies and get out of there before the old lady planted a slug in her back. Unfortunately, her simple routine gets blown sky high when she stumbles onto a crime scene. To make matters worse, the only suspect is a very hunky and very naked Wolf who has decided to claim her as his mate.
Aldrich may be the most overbearing man Roux has ever met, but something about him warms her heart. No one who touches her as gently as he does could be a cold-blooded killer. Roux is determined to prove that, but the closer she gets to the truth the more she’ll wish she hadn’t. There are secrets in the town of Harmony, secrets that could tear her world apart.


Claudette's Review

Ms Gooden transports the reader into a land straight out of Grimm’s fairy tales, where wolves walk amongst human, just as often on two legs as four. Granny is a bad tempered, vicious old woman, none of the Citizens watch members like having to visit. Especially as Granny is far more likely to pepper any approaching visitors with buckshot, than offer them tea and crumpets. Roux is the only one who actually likes Granny, well who isn’t scared off by Granny. One day while visiting Granny with a good will basket of goodies, Roux, has a bad feeling as she steps over the threshold. Granny’s dead and Roux has to find answers to who killed Granny and why. The hunky naked wolf who can’t keep his furry paws off her and insists she’s his mate, is a major suspect. Did Aldrich kill granny? Her wolf friends Mina and Ulrick assist her in supplying answers about the wolf community. Suddenly Harmony is no longer the safe haven it has been for years.

All the characters are likeable and I very much enjoyed this original story. I was hooked from the first line. If you like your romances a little dark, sexy, funny and unpredictable then this is one for you.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Skylar’s Devotion by Marisa Chenery

Skylar’s Devotion by Marisa Chenery

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

A famous Victoria's Secret fashion model, Braelyn comes home to visit her parents after being away for a year. On a shopping trip, a man on a motorcycle at the red light snags her attention while she crosses the street. When she draws even with him, he flips open the visor of his helmet, and she instantly forgets what she's doing. A blast from a car horn makes her aware she's standing in the middle of the crosswalk, and she quickly gets moving.

Skylar follows the beautiful blonde with his gaze, watching where she goes. Sitting at a red light is not the place he expects to run into his would-be mate, but there she was. Determined not to let her get away, he follows her. He finds it hard enough to deal with her being mortal and not knowing anything about werewolves, but the bigger problem is the stalker who wants to do his famous mate more harm than good.


Claudette's Review

Werewolf Skylar is minding his own business on his motorcycle waiting for the lights to change when he sees a woman beautiful enough to be one of his own species. The woman in question spies him across a crowded road and stops dead, blocking traffic while they lock eyes. Skylar has found his mate and she’s a famous lingerie model. Braelyn is enjoying a break from work spending time with her parents. Aside from that she plans to do some shopping and have some fun. If the fun happens to be over six foot tall, built like a tank with a face like a romance cover model, then bring on the fun. Unfortunately for Braelyn she’s also attracted a demented stalker.

I expected to dislike Braelyn after all she’s gorgeous and perfect, can a reader empathise with that? Well, Ms. Chenery’s writing make Braelyn perfectly likeable, and I loved her confidence in herself and her sense of fun. She puts Skylar through his paces and showed that she has more to her as a person than just the ability to look good in her underwear. This is another great addition to the series.
a tank with a face like a romance cover model, then bring on the fun. Unfortunately for Braelyn she’s also attracted a demented stalker.

I expected to dislike Braelyn after all she’s gorgeous and perfect, can a reader empathise with that? Well, Ms. Chenery’s writing make Braelyn perfectly likeable, and I loved her confidence in herself and her sense of fun. She puts Skylar through his paces and showed that she has more to her as a person than just the ability to look good in her underwear. This is another great addition to the series.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review:A Stranger Within by Amanda Steiger

A Stranger Within by Amanda Steiger

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Kat Hanson just wants a normal life…but that’s out of the question when you’re the human host of Fenrir, an immortal, bloodthirsty wolf-demon. A deranged scientist is after her—or rather, what's inside her—and the sealing spell that keeps Fenrir trapped inside Kat’s body is weakening, giving Fenrir more control over her thoughts and emotions.

As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, she’s just learned that her friend Alex is actually a bodyguard secretly assigned to protect her…and there’s a side to him she’s never seen before now, a side she finds unnervingly attractive. But after learning how much he’s kept hidden from her, Kat isn’t prepared to trust him. The fact that she now sprouts fur and claws whenever she’s aroused doesn't help matters, either.

If she wants to survive, she has to learn how to harness the power within her...and deal with her own confusing desires.


Claudette's Review

College student Kat Hunter finds out that she had been kept in blissful ignorant about everything. All the important questions such as who she is? Who her birth parents were? Why are some very dangerous people are after her?. Even her best friend Alex is more than the dorky friend who has always been there for her. Twenty two years ago, a mad man released a demon to allow him to cleanse the world of the plague of mankind. A good many people died so that Kat’s body could be used as a containment vessel to imprison the demon Fenir. Now the madman and his minions have found her, and they intend to free Fenir.

Kat has to deal with the sense of betrayal she feels because her adoptive parents and her friend Alex have been lying to her. Now she realizes that the horrible dreams she has been having are Fenir’s way of communicating with her. Dreams of blood and violence, that frighten her, both with their intensity and because in the dreams, she revels in it. Now Kat’s eyes have really been opened to the reality of what has been hidden from her all her life. Before she was just another college student who was trying to immerge from her cocoon and be more confident, more in charge of herself and now? Fenir’s influence is growing. Kat is not only afraid of what he will do if he’s the one holding the reins on her body and mind, but what he will ultimately do if and when he gains complete control.

This is a gripping and well written paranormal novel with a very beautiful love story underpinning it. Alex has always been in love with Kat, but she has never seen him as anything other than her dependable and faithful best friend. It’s his love, devotion and his faith in her strength that tip the scales and help her to maintain her humanity, while being possessed by a very dangerous force of evil. The characterization and excellent story combine to provide the reader with a real page turner that will have them riveted until the last word. The world building is both clever and entertaining and I was really drawn in. I certainly enjoyed this novel, and don’t doubt that you will too.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Demons of Desire by Ari Thatcher

Demons of Desire by Ari Thatcher

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

The only consolation Sin has for moving into her late great-aunt’s creepy Victorian house is the handymen who come with it. Triplet vampires Baen, Gower and Enos are yummy enough to tempt her from her self-imposed celibacy and make her forget she’s well on her way to becoming a crazy cat lady.

The brothers instantly recognize Sin as their mate, but realize they need to ease her into the idea of being loved by three vampires. Then a sex-craving demon takes control of Sin’s body and seduces the men, forcing them to make a rash decision with her life.


Claudette's Review

Sin has no choice but to move into her aunt’s house, it is all that was left to her in her aunt’s will. The house is old and beyond creepy. Aunt Absinthe has three gorgeous friends who drop by to help out with the ancient heating system and are only too willing to help settle Sin into her new home. The only problem is all three of them make Sin’s hormones purr. There was a lot that her Aunt didn’t warn her niece about, and three handy men are the only good thing amongst them. The house is also full of dangerous occult items collected by Sin’s great grandfather. Sin’s ignorance allows a sex demon to get loose and it’s a good thing that the three handy men are vampires because only they are strong enough and knowledgeable enough to deal with Sin possession by a lust crazed demon. Sin thought that her big dilemma was that she was equally attracted to her triplet handymen. She had no idea that moving house could be so eventful!

This was an entertaining and original story. If you love vampires then this is definitely one for you, and you get not one, not two but three vampire hunks. Isn’t Sin a lucky girl?

3 ½ Tea Cups!

   

Review: Icy Temptation by Marisa Chenery

Icy Temptation by Marisa Chenery

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb


Arwen is an individual figure skating coach who never thought she’d ever get to meet the lead singer of the band Soar. She’d been crushing on Gannon ever since Soar’s first CD came out. While attending the band’s concert in her hometown, Gannon’s and her gaze meet during a love song he sings, making Arwen think he’s only singing for her. Unexpectantly, the next day, an even more unbelievable situation occurs. Gannon appears at the skate club and asks her out on a date.

When his gaze met the woman’s in the crowd, Gannon became immediately taken with her. Something about her drew him like no other human woman had before. As an Alte, a winged being humans had mistaken for angels through chance encounters, he and his band mates are the last of their kind after an illness swept through their people. Surviving, they find themselves able to manipulate the elements, allowing them to hide what they truly are from the humans around them. Their bright silver eyes become natural, and even their wings are camouflaged, leaving a tattoo-like mark on their backs. Immortal as well, the remaining five have together lived for over a thousand years.

As Gannon grows closer to Arwen, he finds himself fighting to keep his true self hidden. Even more frightening, when they make love, he starts to absorb her life energy causing him to put some distance between them. But when another of their kind arrives on the scene, revealing what caused the demise of their people, Gannon is faced with letting Arwen die or risking the rest of humanity to save her.



Claudette's Review

Ms Chenery excels in writing about otherworldly men living amongst us humans who are not complete, until they find the love of their life. This time it isn’t werewolves but the Alt, a winged race of beings almost completely wiped out by a pandemic which killed all but a handful, who found that aside from their immunity, they had gained the ability to control the elements and were now immortal. I’m not sure why a bunch of immortals would pick singing as a career, but I suppose that it makes more sense than them choosing to spend the centuries processing tax returns. The surviving Alt becomes the very successful rock group Soar, hiding their wings and distinctively silver eyes, and touring the world. Figure skating coach Arwen Greyson is a huge fan of Soar, in particular the lead singer, Gannon. When she and her friend go to one of their concerts, Arwen actually feels that Gannon is really singing to her alone.

Little does she realize that it isn’t fantasy. Gannon is drawn to her sufficiently to persuade his fellow band mates to stay in town for long enough, for him to get to know this woman who stirs him like no other. Arwen thinks she is experiencing a waking dream when the object of her fantasies turns up at the rink one evening, and promptly falls flat on his backside on the ice. Arwen is no groupie, and doesn’t fall straight into bed with Gannon. As Gannon comes to the realization that what he feels for Arwen is more than a fleeting attraction, he worries about how he can reveal the truth about himself without scaring Arwen away. This is further complicated when Arwen affects his control over his abilities in a way that is could well prove fatal to her.

As always Ms Chenery writing is a treat. I can’t wait to see what she serves up with the rest of the Angels of Rock.

3 Tea Cups!

Review: Stroke Me by Calista Fox

Stroke Me by Calista Fox

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Book 1 in the Body Scenes series.

Newly divorced Annabelle leaves her proper life behind for the bright lights, big city experience in Manhattan. Her first night in town, her best friend takes her to Body Scenes, a hedonistic hotspot where artists create themed masterpieces for exclusive display—using naked bodies as their blank canvases.

When a renowned artist asks to paint Annabelle in a sexy scene with three very hot men, the request is too tempting to pass up. With each stroke of the brush on her sensitive skin, she’s more than ready to be the star of the mural—and the erotic foursome.



Claudette's Review

Stroke me is not strictly speaking a romance. It’s about a woman exploring her sexuality after having it stifled during her marriage. After her divorce, Annabelle wants to shake the shackles of her old self off with a vengeance. What better way to do that than to team up with her still wild friend from her college days, Yvette. Yvette teases Annabelle about her prudish country club lifestyle and takes Annabelle to somewhere completely outside her proper suburbanite experience.

The main feature of the club Yvette takes Annabelle to is the art show. Some very naughty naked live art. Annabelle gets asked to dance by a very attractive and hot bodied man called Eric. Eric makes her feel sexy and desirable, something she hasn’t felt in years. What woman wouldn’t appreciate that? Eric is one of the performers in the art show. Of course someone drops out and they need a woman to replace her and perform in a piece with three men, Eric is one of the men and he recommends Annabelle. The artist thinks that Annabelle would be perfect for the piece too. So does she have the guts to get naked for the sake of art? Eric wants to see Annabelle again afterwards so it’s a HFN. This is a hot little ménage novella.

3 Tea Cups!