Black Howl

Black Howl by Christina Henry is part of her 'Black Wings' series that centers around Madeline Black, an Agent of Death whose job is to escort the spirits of the recently deceased to a 'Door' of choice.  Those who refuse to pass through remain on Earth as a ghost, those who pass through...who knows what exactly happens to them?  It may depend on their beliefs.  This question is even more important by the end of this book.  There are many conundrums in these tales which seem to have quite a few imaginative elements but sometimes I don't think they form a cohesive flow in the story...not to mention, if you are associating with all-powerful beings who can destroy things with a thought and you can fly and conjure up inordinate amounts of power...should you really have money problems?  Trouble buying a winter's coat?   Hmm, I don't think so.  Somebody ought to be able to provide!  Then there's the question of Maddy's wellbeing...it seems that she's handicapped by her half-mortal nature but I find my credulity being a bit strained by the constant damage and recuperation that takes place...or maybe it's the passage of time that I am struggling with.  And the life and death struggles that take place in the front yard, back yard, etc., somehow I think that JB wouldn't have time to do anything else if he is constantly trying to keep everything hidden from the obtuse human neighbors.  Anyway, I love the gargoyle Beezle who has an incredible sweet tooth, loves to watch movies and is an uncomplicated straightforward being, the guys in Maddy's life are yummy (naturally) and the political maneuverings will keep one guessing and wondering who is truly an ally and who isn't.  For me this is one of those series that generates likes and dislikes in equal amounts...but it is still an enjoyable read.  My Amazon review is at this link under ELF2060.  Please add a 'yes this was helpful' vote if you are willing, it is greatly appreciated!

Black Wings and Black Night are the first two novels in the series.  My Night Owl reviews are at these links Black Wings and Black Night


This title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Natural Evil

Natural Evil by Thea Harrison is her latest novella set in her fascinating world of Wyr shapeshifters.



I fell in love with this series with the first novel (Dragon Bound) that introduced Dragos Culebre.  He is an obsessive/compulsive dragon that knows when a PENNY has been altered in his extensive hoard.  He is the leader of one of the seven demesnes that his kind (one of the Elder Races) have populated.  The fascinating and long-lived shapeshifters (Wyr) that populate this world seem to have well-developed protective instincts that are exacerbated when they meet their mates and each subsequent book highlights their actions.  They coexist and occasionally have alliances with other beings such as vampires, djinns, oracles and faeries which leads to even more fodder for fantastical and enjoyable stories.  My Goodreads review for Dragon Bound is at this link

Those of you who are new to this series are in for a treat as there are four novels and two novellas to work your way through.  The most recent novella, Natural Evil, introduces a Peacekeeper who winds up desperately needing the assistance of a very competent yet emotionally weary retired soldier.  An astute reviewer noted that there is a pack of Tarot cards that helps tie this story in with the previous novella, True Colors, and indications are that the cards move as they desire and will choose the subject of the next novella.  The novellas give an excellent flavor of the world if one is trying to decide whether to invest in the novels but unfortunately are only available in e-format at the present time.  Hopefully the author will publish a print copy of several novellas once she has more of them written.  My Amazon review is at this link, as always, I appreciate "yes, this was helpful" votes for the review under ELF2060 if indeed you do like it.



I received a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review

Sorry, freebies offer expired...but there's hope for the future also...Shiloh Walker and Dark Thoughts blog

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate the day.  I regret that my source of pineapple jellybeans dried up since they stopped having that flavor as one of the five in the package!  It was a source of sadness when I discovered that last year.  Those of you who gave up something for Lent--don't overdose when you resume partaking of whatever it is (0:

Update:  April 11, 2012
Sorry, the freebies I originally posted about are no longer available BUT there are going to be free books for children on Kindle on April 19  (Thank you author Stacey Juba for the notice).  Please look at this link if you are interested.

In case you were wondering, I have become part of Shiloh Walker's street team.  It is interesting to discover more details about an author whose books I enjoy immensely, most recently those which were part of her Ash Trilogy: If You Hear Her, If You See Her, and If You Know Her.  One of the things that I have learned from being part of the team from its inception is how hard authors work to publicize their works...and she is definitely a prolific author.  Hunter's Rise was just released and is part of a series but unfortunately the publisher did not like the sales from the last book and has not asked for another which translates into a story that we are not going to see (yet...she says hopefully).  I have been privileged to receive a copy of the newest Grimm title, Grimm Tidings and will post a review on April 15.  I followed Ms Walker to one of her guest blogs and was intrigued by her list of 'Memorable Heroes'...stop by the Romance Reader at Heart blog at this link and see how her list compares to yours.

I am tickled to have won two titles this week!  One to celebrate Elisabeth Naughton's release of Enraptured (thank you Cheryl Brooks!) and one from Portia da Costa to celebrate her release of In the Flesh).  Thank you ladies!

And last but not least...Mary with her Dark Thoughts blog always has the most interesting pictures on her blog but today she is sharing freebies and money-making internet sites at this link.  Thanks Mary!

Adults only please

Please only continue reading if you are over 18!  

A few of the shorter erotica titles recently read include:

Crystal Jordan's Prowl the Night which is comprised of two novellas about jaguar shifters in San Francisco.  A nice blend of paranormal elements and family dynamics with conflicts that can be found in any relationship plus the added complication of political maneuvering.  My Amazon review is under ELF2060 at this link.

Lauren Dane's Beneath the Skin which is a novella that is part of her 'De La Vega Cats' series which feature a different set of jaguars based in Boston. (yes, somehow I was on a roll with big cats!)  My Amazon review is at this link.

and two novellas in R.G. Alexander's 'Children of the Goddess' series; Regina in the Sun and Lux in Shadow.  Both are excellent novellas that feature two sexy vampires in the Sariel clan as well as werewolves and other related beings.  (there are at least two more novellas in the series but I will have to finish a few other titles before I get back to them).  My Amazon review for Regina...is at this link while the review for Lux is here.

All four of these novellas were very spicy yet had an intriguing story to follow as well.  It was nice to read about feline shifters for a change and there is an intriguing thread tying the Children of the Goddess novellas together as the uneasy alliance between different classes of vampires and werewolf packs gets tested.  All three authors have created intriguing characters who function within their hierarchies yet have to face the conflict between what is traditional and what their hearts tell them.

New releases

Don't forget that Hunter's Rise
by Shiloh Walker is out


Other titles that were released today include The Wolf Who Loved Me by Lydia Dare

Beneath the Skin by Lauren Dane

 
The Shape of Desire by Sharon Shinn







My reviews are listed under ELF2060 on the Amazon pages accessed by clicking on the icons above.  Happy reading!

One Hot Cowboy Wedding

One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown is part of her 'Saddles and Spurs' series and is a delightful romance that follows a hunky cowboy and his best friend.  Ace Riley inherited his grandfather's ranch and has worked hard to build it into a successful enterprise but is blindsided when he discovers that his grandfather's bequest has a catch--he has to be married within two years and it has to last at least a year!  His best friend Jasmine King owns and runs the local diner, Chicken Fried, and is used to sharing in his ups and downs while she watches him date a wide variety of women.  Her heart was bruised by the jerk that she was involved with for five years and she has been leery of dating ever since.  She volunteers to help Ace get around the requirements but they start wondering about their relationship after their quickie secret Vegas wedding.  A series of hilarious events result in the explosion of wedding plans in their respective families as Jasmine's mother tries to realize her dream of giving her daughter a fairy-tale wedding.   Ace and Jasmine gradually realize that they are going to have to decide whether they're going to act on the heat that they feel for each other even as they learn to cope with all of the demands of their respective families.  The question remains...can Jasmine get past the barbed wire tattooed on Ace's arm to capture his heart and does she want to risk her own?

An enjoyable light read filled with entertaining drawled comments and colloquialisms along with a glimpse into the hardworking lives of a rancher and a woman who owns and operates a cafe.  The hunky males who occupy this corner of Texas and the women who have corralled their hearts combine plenty of sass and spice in this sweet Western romance.

Untouched

 
Untouched is Book 2 of ‘The Amoveo Legend’ series by Sara Humphreys which focus on a group of extraordinary beings who are shapeshifters living among humans.  Kerry Smithson has always known she was different but had no idea that her inability to physically touch others without experiencing pain came from her mixed heritage.  She is unwilling to accept that she and sexy Dante Coltari have more in common than a mutual attraction until she is faced with the undeniable evidence that both she and the foxy male are part of another race.  She is even less convinced that he is her mate but cannot deny that he is only the second person she has known whom she can touch without experiencing severe pain.  The horrific experiences that she and Samantha survived have made her even more wary of establishing new relationships but she inadvertently becomes a target of the fanatical Purists who believe that the Amoveo should only mate with their own kind.  Threats against her make Dante even more determined to never leave her side even as he takes the opportunity to introduce her all kinds of new experiences.  An evil opponent self-styled as the ‘Punisher’ seems determined to ruin the lives of Kerry and her friends forever but their friends and allies are just as determined to prevent him from achieving his nefarious goals.

This story was very inventive with an interesting twist given the need of individuals for contact and Kerry’s inability to touch or be touched without experiencing extreme pain.  She has a single friend and superficially is a successful model but is reluctant to make friends and Dante has to make strong efforts to breach her distrust and convince her of his sincerity.  She grows to believe that the sexiest thing about him is his heart as she comes to know him better but she is reluctant to accept the many complications of accepting someone in her life.  An entertaining light read.

A copy of this title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.