Merman of Ea Book 1 & 2 by Shira Anthony

Stealing the Wind(Book 1)
Summary:
Taren Laxley has never known anything but life as a slave. When a lusty pirate kidnaps him and holds him prisoner on his ship, Taren embraces the chance to realize his dream of a seagoing life. Not only does the pirate captain offer him freedom in exchange for three years of labor and sexual servitude, but the pleasures Taren finds when he joins the captain and first mate in bed far surpass his greatest fantasies.

Then, during a storm, Taren dives overboard to save another sailor and is lost at sea. He’s rescued by Ian Dunaidh, the enigmatic and seemingly ageless captain of a rival ship, the Phantom, and Taren feels an overwhelming attraction to Ian that Ian appears to share. Soon Taren learns a secret that will change his life forever: Ian and his people are Ea, shape-shifting merfolk… and Taren is one of them too. Bound to each other by a fierce passion neither can explain or deny, Taren and Ian are soon embroiled in a war and forced to fight for a future—not only for themselves but for all their kind.




Rating:  

Into the Wind(Book 2)
Summary:
Since learning of his merman shifter heritage, Taren has begun building a life with Ian Dunaidh among the mainland Ea. But memories of his past life still haunt him, and as the threat of war with the hostile island merfolk looms ever closer, Taren fears he will lose Ian the same way he lost his beloved centuries before. Together they sail to the Gateway Islands in search of the fabled rune stone—a weapon of great power the Ea believe will protect them—and Odhrán, the pirate rumored to possess it.

After humans attack the Phantom, Taren finds himself washed up on an island, faced with a mysterious boy named Brynn who promises to lead him to Odhrán. But Taren isn’t sure if he can trust Brynn, and Odhrán is rumored to enslave Ea to protect his stronghold. Taren will have to put his life on the line to find his way back to Ian and attempt to recover the stone. Even if he does find it, his troubles are far from over: he and Ian are being stalked by an enemy who wants them dead at all costs.

Rating:   

I have to say that I never thought I would get so involved with the characters in a series about merman.  I've always been interested in myth and legends but just never once thought about reading a story revolving around merman.  But, I love this series!  The characters grabbed me from the get go.  My heart went out to Taren from the minute his master gave him away in place of his debt.  I won't lie that my heart was torn when meeting Ian for the first time but eventually, he too wormed his way into the good side of my heart.  I do no spoilers so I'll say no more in regards to the plot.
I will say that I owe my reading this series to some friends and I thank them for the recommendation because I am the first to admit I would probably never have given these titles a second look had it not been for them.  Having said that, I mean no negativity towards the author, it's just merman as a fictional topic never would have even crossed my mind.  Thankfully, it crossed my friends' minds because without their recommendations, I would have missed some well written story telling.

Author Bio:
Shira Anthony is a complete sucker for a happily-ever-after, and rarely reads or writes a story without one. Never a fan of instalove, Shira likes to write stories about real men with real issues making real relationships work.

In her last incarnation, Shira was a professional opera singer, performing roles in such operas as “Tosca,” “Pagliacci,” and “La Traviata,” among others. Her Blue Notes Series is loosely based upon her own experiences as a professional musician.

Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs and when she’s not writing, she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. When she’s not working, she can be found aboard a 36’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.

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Cooking Up a Storm by Ashley Ladd

TITLE – Cooking Up A Storm

AUTHOR – Ashley Ladd

GENRE – Contemporary M/M/M romance

PUBLICATION DATE – July 11, 2014

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 26,500

PUBLISHER – Totally Bound

COVER ARTIST – Emmy Ellis

Summary:
Brooks and Rique desperately want to win the head chef’s position for eccentric millionaire Jonah Verleun on his beautiful, private, but peculiar island that includes a zoo full of exotic animals, an amusement park, and a monster shark tank beneath Jonah’s bedroom floor. While Brooks wants the job to escape his heartache and the lover who thwarted him, Rique is hiding from the mob hoping to live long enough to pay them off with the prize winnings. Fierce competitors, they cook up a storm in a series of cooking challenges all the while trying to turn down the heat on their intense attraction. When a hurricane strikes the island, the storm Rique has been cooking up, explodes and no heart or body are safe.

Excerpt:
     When pain flared in Rique’s upper arm, he saw that something, maybe a bullet, had sliced through his jacket. He spied blood trickling down his arm and knew it hadn’t been caused by lightning. “Shit! Someone’s shooting at us.”
     Fear leapt into Brooks’ eyes. He grabbed Rique’s arm and examined it. “Are you all right? We really need to get into the shelter to have that checked out by the doctor.”
     Knowing they might be fighting for their lives and that the shelter wasn’t an option, Rique shook his head. “It’s not deep. I’ll be okay. But we have to get out of the open now!”
     Brooks scowled and his gaze pinned Rique to an invisible wall. “What the hell is going on? Why would someone be firing at us?”
     Rique longed to explain everything to Brooks, as his life was in danger because of him, but now wasn’t the time, not when he could smell death. He glanced over his shoulder past Brooks, seeking his assailant. “No time to explain. We have to get out of here. Run in a zigzag.”
     Lightning flashed across the sky and shortly after, thunder boomed, making Rique jump.
     They ran hunched over through the slashing rain, zigging and zagging as bullets flew past them, sounding as if they were exploding in his ears
     The water was cold and hard as needles on his face. It didn’t smell fresh like a normal, sweet rainstorm, but dangerous and musty. Rique damned himself for putting Brooks in this mess. He wondered if the mob held the others prisoner and that’s why they hadn’t answered the door.
     Gravel crunching underfoot, at times so slick it made him skid, he turned the first corner they came upon then the next. He stopped dead and the moldy air left his lungs. A moment later, Brooks ran into his backside almost knocking him over. He swayed dangerously but managed to stay upright and spread his arms wide to keep Brooks from stumbling forward.
     He couldn’t believe his eyes. He could taste fear, dark and evil. One of Jonah’s tigers lay in their path, crouching low, baring his teeth and eyeing them as if they were dinner.
     He tried to quell the jitters attacking his stomach so the animal wouldn’t smell his fear. He whispered to Brooks through clenched teeth, “What do we do now? Freeze or run?”
     “Run. But where?” Brooks whispered back, frowning.
     “To the closest protection.” He prayed their hunters had lost them, that they wouldn’t run back into a barrage of bullets. As Rique bunched his muscles to run, he imagined the animal’s fangs ripping into him. He noted how the tiger’s thick muscles corded in his shoulders and how saliva dripped from his snarling lips.
     “Dear God, we’re going to die.” Panic laced Brooks’ voice. “If we get out of here alive, let’s both turn down the job and move in together.”
     Swallowing hard, Rique could only nod in agreement. Besides, as much as he wanted to live with Brooks, he couldn’t do it as long as he was in debt to the mob. However, the point was moot. He couldn’t see a scenario in which one of them didn’t die in the next five minutes.
     Feeling responsible, Rique couldn’t let anything happen to Brooks as long as he was alive. He would take on the tiger, giving Brooks time to reach safety. “On the count of three, run!”
     As Rique whispered, “One,” hisses, followed by a blood-curdling growl filled his ears. It was a different sound than the tiger was making. Then a crocodile bellowed, sprang out of the bushes then snatched the tiger by its belly. As it dragged the struggling creature back into the bushes, the tiger howled in surprise and pain. It clawed the air in vain as the reptile’s powerful jaws clamped tighter, biting through flesh and bone.
     Blood gushed on the ground, and Rique quickly became sick to his stomach. He didn’t know whether to be sorry for the tiger or grateful to the reptilian monster. Deciding he didn’t have the luxury of either, he pointed behind them and screamed, “Run that way!”
     They ran, and Brooks yelled, “Do you think the storm destroyed the zoo’s cages?”
     This storm wasn’t that strong. Rique bet the thugs had had something to do with the freed animals and he cursed Eddie and his gang.
     They reached the main building and wrenched the door open to stagger inside. Brooks fumbled with the door.
    “What in hell are you doing? Come on!” Rique slid to a stop down the hall and glared at his lover.
    “Trying to lock the door, slow them down.”
    “It’s glass. They’ll shoot through it. We have to hide.” As if Rique’s words invited danger, bullets riddled the door, shattering the pane.
     Jumping like he’d been electrified, Brooks rocketed down the hall after Rique. “Why do they want to kill us? I haven’t done anything.”

Excerpt(18+):

     Troubling thoughts whirled through Rique’s mind. Why had Jonah called him and Brooks into his office? Had they violated some fine-print rule he’d missed? Had Jonah learned about his debts and Mafia troubles?

     Gulping, Brooks shared a worried glance. His gait was uneven and stilted and his frame was stiff and wary.

     “Are we in trouble?” Brooks whispered.

     Worried about the reason for their summons, Rique forced himself to relax and not shake his head at his lover and his loose-cannon lips. As much as he was beginning to love Brooks, there was no way he could share his mob secrets. Not only would they overly alarm Brooks, but the security team might overhear and he didn’t trust anybody.

     Jonah locked the door and leisurely returned to his desk. He folded himself into his chair and looked, long and assessing, at first Brooks then Rique. Finally, he said in a smooth, debonair voice, “No. Not at all. But I wish to remind you of your contract.”

     Damn! Rique gulped as they pulled up chairs across from their boss. So they were in trouble. Too late, he realized his toes were tapping fast and that his fingers were linking and unlinking, so he stilled them.

     “What about the contract?” Brooks inched forward in his chair and wrung his hands in his lap as his eyes bulged.

     Jonah bent over the desk then he pointed at the security cameras.

     Before a word came out of Jonah’s mouth, Rique had an epiphany. As he recalled Fiona’s warning, his heart threatened to burst. “You’ve been watching us. Everything. Everywhere.”

     Several seconds later, Brooks blanched and his Adam’s apple convulsed.  “You saw us together. Intimately, I mean.”

     Leaning closer, Jonah nodded. “Yes. You gave your signed permission, and this is my private island which means it’s governed by my rules.”

     It could mean Rique’s life if he left. With his heart feeling as though it was beating in his throat, he pleaded, “Please don’t kick us out. Our love lives are our choice and should be private.”

     He watched a deep flush crawl up Brooks’ neck and into his cheeks as Brooks begged.

     “Please don’t hold it against us. We didn’t plan to fall in love. It just happened. We haven’t hurt anybody.”

    Fall in love? Shock and wonder filled Rique. Warmth flowed through him. So Brooks felt the same way he did. Giddiness replaced the dread born moments before.

     Brooks loved him. And he loved Brooks. How could he have fallen so hard, so fast? He reached over and put his hand on Brooks’ shoulder. Then he turned and faced Jonah. “I won’t apologize for loving this wonderful man. And I won’t stop loving him. If it means we can’t be together then I’m torn whether or not I still want the position.”

     He couldn’t believe he’d just said that. Damn my heart!

     When Brooks squeezed his hand and tilted his chin, light refracted off his glasses and made his pupils look fractured. “Ditto. No disrespect intended, sir.”

     Laughing heartily, Jonah slapped the table, causing a few sheets of papers to float to the floor.

    Is the man crazy?

    Blushing, Jonah gave them a shy smile. “Don’t apologize, and please call me Jonah. I loved watching you. I wanted to join you. I came as much as you did.”

This was a very pleasant read.  The chef setting is intriguing and kept my interest to the end.  The characters are enjoyable and well written.  I would have liked to have had more detail and length to the story which is the only reason I'm giving this a 4 bookmark rating instead of 5.  The story itself is well written and a very easy read that sucks you in.

Rating:  

Character Bios:

Enrique Fuentes, known as “Rique” is a world-class chef who has been invited to participate in a cook-off to find the new head chef for eccentric billionaire Jonah Verleun. Although it’s an awesome position on a paradise Caribbean island with a substantial paycheck, Rique’s motive is self-survival. He’s running from the mob in Las Vegas because he owes hundreds of thousands in gambling debt he can’t pay. Thus meanwhile, he’s hiding from the mob and hoping to pay them off with his prize winnings.

This tropical island reminds him a lot of his prior home in the bayous near New Orleans, complete with alligators and hurricanes. Since he lived through Katrina, he’s not overly concerned with tropical storms that may threaten the island, as are many of his competitors. He also likes to work out and swim in his spare time.

So Rique’s really not in the market for love. He has to stay focused and win this job. Nor does he want to pull anybody else into his problems.

Brooks DuBois is a charmer from New York City. Usually he’s lost in his cooking zone, happy-go-lucky the rest of the time. He wants this elite job too. He can’t go back to NYC and face his former lover Xavier who dumped him for Amber to become a breeder. If he loses this competition, he’ll move on rather than risk bumping into Xavier and Amber. 

Thus his heart is still too sore to start a new relationship, or so he thinks until he meets Rique.

Jonah Verleun is a self-made billionaire and a real go-getter. He’s an eccentric recluse who likes fish and animals. He keeps his own zoo and a shark tank under his bedroom floor. Statues of merfolk, big game fish, and Neptune adorns his limestone mansion.

He’s also a voyeur and likes to watch his employees, especially in their private suites. Soon Rique and Brooks become his favorite people to watch and it doesn’t take long before Jonah decides he wants to join their little group.

Soundtrack:

If Your Book Were Made Into A Movie – What Songs Would Best Fit The Story On The Big Screen?

I Did It For You – David Cook

Heroes – David Cook

Declaration – David Cook

Always Be My Baby – David Cook

Life On The Moon – David Cook

It’s Not Over – Daughtry

Crashed – Daughtry

What About Now – Daughtry

Start of Something Good - Daughtry

Author Bio:
Ashley Ladd lives, loves, and writes in Paradise, aka Florida, thus many of her stories are set in the Sunshine State. Also a Trekkie and an Air Force disabled vet, Ashley often creates military heroes and heroines and goes where no woman has gone before. She loves romantic comedy, time travel, and cats so don't be surprised if a talking cat shows up in some of her stories.

Ashley writes for Ellora's Cave, Totally Bound, and New Concepts Publishing under this name. Please visit her blog at: http://www.ashleyladd.blogspot.com

To follow her on Twitter and Face Book, look for "AshleyLadd" (all one word, no quotes).


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Equals by Brigham Vaughn

Summary:

Too busy to date while he worked to put himself through school, Russell Bishop’s dedication finally pays off; he has a great job with Vantage Marketing. Stephen Parker, CFO of the marketing firm, has resigned himself to a life without a partner. For six months, they wanted each other but it isn’t until Russ slips on spilled coffee, and Stephen rushes to his rescue that they discover their attraction is mutual.

However, the twenty year age gap between them proves difficult when they begin dating. Fiercely independent, Russ isn’t sure he’s ready for long-term commitment. Scarred from a previous relationship, Stephen is afraid history is repeating itself. Is there any way for them to meet in the middle and become equals?

We see how a seemingly insignificant clumsy annoyance can change the lives of two people.  Everything happens for a reason and this time around, spilled coffee brings two men together, even if one has to get some minor injuries to do it.  I love the dynamics between Russ and Stephen both as individual characters and as a couple.  Even though there is a 20 year age gap between the two, they are surprisingly the same even if they are at different places in their lives.  The author manages to bridge that gap with sincerity, passion, fight, and overdue communication.

Rating:   


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Stranger on the Shore by Josh Lanyon

Summary:
Twenty years ago young Brian Arlington, heir to Arlington fortune, was kidnapped. Though the ransom was paid, the boy was never seen again and is presumed dead. Pierce Mather, the family lawyer, now administers and controls the Arlington billions. He's none too happy, and more than a little suspicious, when investigative journalist Griffin Hadley shows up to write about the decades-old mystery. Griff shrugs off the coldly handsome Pierce's objections, but it might not be so easy to shrug off the objections of someone willing to do anything to keep the past buried.

Review:
This was amazing!  I won't lie, I had an inkling about the mystery but not how it all would come together.  I've been reading mysteries for nearly as long as I've been reading so very few truly surprise me anymore but that doesn't stop me from enjoying them.  Having said that, it didn't hamper my need to get to the end to see how it was all wrapped up.  And it was indeed a present because it's a great read.  Interesting characters that really get your emotions pumped, some you love and others you will hate, even if you don't think you should.  Another riveting read by Mr. Lanyon, he truly knows how to pique the reader's interest and keep us coming back for more, and boy do I love coming back for more.

Rating:  5 Stars

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The Certainty of Deception by Jeanne McDonald (The Truth in Lies Saga #2)

Author: Jeanne McDonald

Title: The Certainty of Deception (The Truth in Lies Saga #2)

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cover Design: Jada D'Lee Designs

Release Date: July 8, 2014

Summary:
After years of living in the darkness of his past, Andrew Wise, a young attorney working for his family’s law firm in Sarasota, Florida, has finally broken free of the demons that haunt him.  Wealth, success, happiness, and true love; everything a man could ever dream of, was right at his fingertips.  Or so he thought.  But in the blink of an eye, all of that changed.  Upon discovering that his ex-girlfriend, Olivia Hamilton, was pregnant, Drew fell back into some old habits, which led to him losing the one person that mattered the most in his life - McKenzie Evans.

When McKenzie left him and returned to Texas, Drew was beside himself.  The night before she left, he made an agreement with her best friend Jared Christopher, that he would give her time and space to come to grips with the fact that he’d fathered her best friend’s child.  Now, two months later, he feels as though he held up his end of the bargain, Drew can’t take their separation any longer.   With his brother’s wedding mere weeks away, Drew devises a plan to win McKenzie back.

Under the guise of a bachelor getaway for Gavin, Drew, along with his brother and Jared, jets off on an adventure to the panhandle of Texas.  There, he will learn what made McKenzie who she is and will find strength within himself that he never realized existed.

In this charming sequel to The Truth in Lies, Drew and McKenzie discover that not everything is as it seems, forgiveness is a matter of acceptance, and true love really can conquer all.

Review:
I didn't think it was possible to love Drew & McKenzie any more than I did when I read The Truth in Lies but the author has made me do it.  Full of emotion, passion, deception, and truths as their story continues.  If you read the Truth in Lies you want to be sure and keep up with Drew & McKenzie's story and if you haven't read the first story yet, what are you waiting for?  It's a must read for lovers of romance, drama, and just plain excellence in the written word of fiction.  And now, the wait for book 3 begins.

Rating:  5 Stars

Excerpt:
     “Evans’ Bodyworks, McKenzie speaking,” her sweet voice serenaded me like a siren’s song.
     The wind pushed from my chest in the most orgasmic of ways.
     I closed my eyes and allowed the intense rush of relief blow from my chest.  For the last two months, I’d called her office just to hear her voice.  She’d changed her cell phone number to an Amarillo number after leaving, but Evans’ Bodyworks was a listed number.  As per my agreement with Jared, I never said a word.  I simply listened to her until she hung up.
     “Hello?”  I shivered with delight at the sweet timbre of her tone.
     Since her departure, I’d taken up sending her flowers every Monday, simply to brighten her week.  The phone call was to brighten mine.
     “Hello?  Anybody there?”
     Oh, God, that Southern drawl.  She’d commented several times about how much she hated her accent.  “I sound like a backwoods hick,” she’d complained.  She didn’t sound like a hick to me.  On the contrary, I could’ve listened to her talk all day long if given the chance.
     Drops of rain splattered to the ground.  I looked up at the sky.  It appeared the sun was going to lose the battle of the clouds after all.  Not that I minded, I loved the rain.  The rain held a sentimental value to me.  It was a rainy night where I first made love to McKenzie.  Rain was a good thing.  It brought life and in my case, it brought love.
     I closed my eyes to recall the smell of her skin mixed with the rain.  Shadows of her danced in the recesses of my mind.  I swallowed hard, thinking of how it felt to have her smooth skin pressed against mine.  Every minor detail displayed with vivid accuracy in my consciousness.  Her shimmering blue eyes sparkled, her playful smile, and the way her golden hair fell in front of her face when it was wet.
     “Andy?  Is that you?” she whispered.
     Tha-thump.
     My heart skipped a beat at the sound of that nickname on such beautiful lips.  Only Mickie was allowed to call me that.  Just because my name was Andrew, didn’t mean people should call me Andy.  Andrew or Drew was fine with me, but never Andy.  That was my twin sister’s nickname, after all.
     I sprang to my feet in a single bound, and looked around the beach.  It was still fairly empty.  Just a few runners making their way to their cars before the rain picked up.
     “I guess not,” she faltered.
     The sadness in her voice chipped away another piece of my mangled heart.  She missed me.  The evidence was there in the sound of her voice.  Fine, the evidence was hearsay, but this wasn’t a court of law, so it was admissible. She called me by name, hoping it was me on the other end of the line.
     This was what I’d been waiting for.  I needed to know that she missed me too, that I wasn’t alone in my heartache.  I wanted to reveal myself, but I feared it would ruin my upcoming plans.  Only one person knew what I was about to do and that was because he was intricate to my plans.  All I needed was for Jared or Gavin to get wind of my trip to Amarillo.  There was no doubt in my mind that they’d try to stop me.  So, instead of acting on instinct, I sat there like a fool, listening to her breathe.
     Click.
     The phone went silent.
     For several seconds I stood, unmoving.  She had spoken to me.  To hear her call me by name was an answer to my prayers.  It only solidified my decision to get off of my ass and fly to Texas.  I’d waited like Jared and Gavin demanded.  Two long, miserable months, I’d waited.  Not a single drop of liquor had touched my lips since that night, no matter how bad I wanted a drink.  I’d been patient, keeping my distance, well, in a way.  Sure, the flowers didn’t equate to distance, but she hadn’t told Jared about them as far as I knew.  I was sure if she had, I’d never hear the end of it.  So, to me, that was a signal that she wasn’t over me any more than I was her.  They were lucky I’d lasted this long.  Patience was not one of my virtues.  The time had come, and I was getting my girl back.
     My mind released me from its temporary prison, allowing my heart to say what it needed to say.  “I miss you,” I whispered, breathless.

Trailer:

 

Author Bio:
Jeanne McDonald began telling stories at the ripe young age of five, when her mother considered the truth to be a lie due to her extensive embellishment to the retelling of an event.  She wrote her first short story when she was twelve years old, and at the age of sixteen she tried her hand at poetry.  She reconnected with her love for writing in 2010 thanks to the encouragement of a dear friend.

Her passions include a "mild" Starbucks addiction, music, reading, quotes, movies, and romance.  When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, chatting with her friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology.  A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.

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***To win, applicants must be able to attend the event in Houston, Texas on August 15-17, 2014.  Prize does not include airfare or other travel arrangements.  Tickets are also available at http://www.indieauthorevent.com/ ***

The Truth in Lies

Summary:
Life is a sequence of choices. Some are deliberate, others are forced upon you. This was a lesson that McKenzie Evans knew all too well. After the miscarriage of her son, she made the hard decision to leave her absentee boyfriend and move in with her former college roommate, Olivia Hamilton. That’s when she was introduced to Andrew Wise, a brilliant attorney, working for his family’s law firm in Sarasota, Florida.

To McKenzie, Drew became her salvation. He had a way of understanding her when no one else could. The closer they became, the more McKenzie found herself falling in love with Drew. He was everything she ever dreamed of in a man, and for the first time in her life, she felt truly alive. There was only one problem. Drew was dating Olivia.

With the help of fate and circumstance, Drew and McKenzie journey down a path of unrequited love and denied feelings. In the end, they must make a choice between their hearts or their consciences. In this one decision they discover that there’s always a glimmer of truth to a lie, that there’s a fine line between love and friendship, and sometimes you have to risk everything to gain everything.

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The Dark Horse & The White Knight by Josh Lanyon

The Dark Horse
Summary:
Paul Hammond is dead. That's what tough and sexy LAPD Detective Daniel Moran tells his lover, Hollywood actor Sean Fairchild--and Sean wants to believe him, but what about those threatening postcards in Hammond's handwriting? The last thing Sean needs is someone doubting him. But then, what does Sean really know about his new boyfriend? Dan is a dark horse--and maybe Sean is betting too much on this relationship. He can't afford to take foolish chances. It not just Sean's career at stake or his relationship or even his sanity--it's his life.


Rating:   5 Stars



The White Knight
Summary:
Actor Sean Fairchild has a not-so-secret admirer: a psycho stalker who thinks taking out the sexy, shy young actor will leave the world a better place. His manager insists Sean needs protection, and Sean's beginning to think he's right.

It's a Hollywood cliché: the hot and handsome bodyguard. But in the case of LAPD Detective Daniel Moran, it's all true. Dan is everything Sean ever wanted in a leading man, but Dan's kind of an old-fashioned guy. It's his job to keep Sean safe and in one piece--happy is someone else's problem.

As tension mounts, Sean can't help turning to Dan, while Dan is finding it harder and harder to say no. Their only chance of a happy ending is if Dan can keep Sean alive--but what happens when he uncovers the secrets Sean is trying hard to conceal?

Rating:   5 Stars


Series Review:
Sean captures your heart with his sincerity and his hometown wholesomeness.  Dan certainly captures your attention with his take charge bodyguard yet heartfelt attitude.  The mystery keeps you guessing throughout both books as it is interwoven wonderfully with Sean and Dan's romance and their professional lives.  The supporting characters only heighten the mystery as well as strengthen Sean and Dan's characters both individually and as a couple.  I would definitely not turn down another story featuring these two lovebirds.

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Beasthood by A.Z. Green

TITLE - Beasthood

SERIES –  The Hidden Blood Series, #1

AUTHOR –  A.Z. Green

GENRE – Paranormal romance/ dark fantasy/ new adult

PUBLICATION DATE –  17th Feb 2014

LENTH (Pages/# Words) – 390 pages

PUBLISHER – KDP Amazon

COVER ARTIST –  A.Z. Green (the author) 

Summary:
The bloody, raw meat was tantalizing her; calling to her. She hated it and yearned for it all at once.
Stop, she ordered. What are you doing?!
So hungryyyyy, snarled a primal voice deep within her.
Don’t you dare! she screamed back.
But the primal hunger ignored her pleas and took over her body, forcing her rational voice deep within the crevices of her mind.

What would you do if you discovered you weren't human? That you turned into a bloodthirsty monster against your will?
What if your instincts, emotions and desires were torn between your own and the dark, dangerous animal lurking inside of you?
If it could make you yearn for someone you shouldn't, make you say and act in ways you wouldn't and overwhelm your whole existence?
If everything you'd ever known about your life was a lie?

In a world where a deeply hidden community is swathed in mystery, deadly secrets, betrayal and murder, Jaz Barker struggles to fight against the dangerous Beast within her and the emotions and desires it thrusts her way.

When tensions ride high and people she cares about are put in danger, she will have to decide how much of her newly awakened animal-side she's willing to let in.

And if it is worth the risk...

Excerpt:
     “For the fourth round, the judges have decided that the two opponents must face each other in their Beast form, starting now!”
     The crowd drowned out his rumbling voice and went manic.
     Jaz stared in disgusted awe as Kain's body contorted and twisted and crunched until he turned into a Beast. His roars and howls were spine-chilling, sending shivers through every inch of her. But she realized her reaction wasn't because of him.
     Something was wrong with Nik.
     “Why isn't he Changing?” Alf barked. “Why the fuck isn't he Changing?!”
     Jaz gaped at Nik who was standing completely still. Kain's spine cracked and dark brown hair began pushing through his skin, covering his Changing body. His jaw crunched as it lengthened.
     “He can't Change,” she uttered in a low voice, mostly to herself. The air in her lungs suddenly felt like a ball coated in spikes.
     “He can't bloody Change! He must be too weak!” She clamped her hands to her mouth just as Kain lunged straight for Nik.
     Before she knew what she was doing, she jumped forward, tripping over the thigh-high barrier. She felt Alf's hand whip past her, missing a grip on her arm before she saw the sand floor of the arena below her, rushing towards her. She held out her hands just in time to try to soften the fall before she slammed into the ground; the wind was knocked out of her and she grunted.
     Half the crowd turned in her direction, some pointing at her, the other half who hadn't yet seen her still had their eyes glued to the cage. She cocked her head up, saw the Beast's teeth about to shred Nik's shielding arm to pieces, when her view was blocked by someone's back as they pounded towards the cage. One by one, five more Weres jumped down from behind her, dodging her as they raced towards the metal dome. She stared in bewilderment as two more sprang out from the barrier containing the pulsing crowd on the other side. The increase of Weres on the arena floor caused an uproar in the crowd and Judges Stand.
     Jaz saw the two cage guards knocked out on the floor just before she felt an arm around her, yanking her to her feet. She wheeled round to face the cold, beautiful eyes of her enemy.
     “Fraya!” she barked, teeth bared. Njord's note had confirmed the feeling in her gut that the cold-hearted bitch standing in front of her had killed Lora and her unborn child. Jaz wanted to squeeze the life out of her and enjoy watching it. But the guilt-stricken look in Fraya's eyes stopped her.
     “Need a hand?” Fraya offered.
     Jaz studied her suspiciously but urgency kicked her into action. She pushed her emotions aside, ignoring Fraya as she bolted across the sand floor, sprinting over and around Weres fighting and throwing punches at each other. She couldn't tell who was with her or against her. She didn't care. She just needed to see if Nik was alive.
     Beast Kain was roaming around the cage, pacing back and forth. Nik was in the middle still standing and Jaz exhaled with relief. Alf was pushing others back from the cage. The wispy-haired judge was screeching into his microphone, calling for order.
     It was then that the balls of fire shot out of nowhere.
     Jaz screamed as one hurled in her direction. Those in front of her path ducked, and she dived to the side just in time. Then there was another from a different direction, coming from her left this time. She ran forward. Then came another, and another all being shot from guns fixed into the stone barrier just below the crowd. Jaz spotted square holes that had been opened for the guns to fire through, before she had to dive again.
     The heat of the balls turned the arena into Hell itself. She ran towards the cage but was stopped in her path as more fireballs in quicker succession exploded out into the arena. The fireballs bounced off the wall of glass protecting the crowd. Jaz had no idea when or how the glass wall had appeared.
     As she ducked down on the ground she noticed the balls of fire seemed to purposely miss the cage, aiming only at those who'd disrupted the fight. Some of the people dispersed as quickly as they could. But others weren't so lucky.
     Jaz cried out when a man next to her, not much older than she was, was hit in the chest by a fireball. He fell back screaming like a banshee. She jumped away, falling onto her butt as she gawked at him. His clothes were melted to his torso and the skin was burnt off like candle wax. He held his burnt flesh, and it was then Jaz saw the enormous hole in his body; his intestines, stomach and liver burnt away; his spine was visible, charcoal black and smoking. She sagged over her bent knees, clutching her stomach as the unbearable stench made her retch.
     He was gasping as his hands scrambled around his stomach, as if trying to hold himself together. More skin slid away like red-hot melted cheese from his touch. And then he held up his burnt hands screaming because he'd rubbed away the flesh and muscle from them, leaving nothing but charred bone. Then he gurgled as he choked on his own blood, unable to breathe.
     Jaz sprang to her feet, holding her hand to her mouth. Her eyes widened to saucers when she saw the fireball hurtling towards her. Before she was a human barbecue, someone knocked her down from behind and the fireball flew past her, hitting the wall.
     She swung round to find Fraya again. She should have shoved Fraya into the path of a fireball but the horror of what she'd seen stupefied her. She peered down at the dying man and saw he was no longer moving. The foul stench and smoke in the air made her cough and her eyes burn.
     “Go!” Fraya bellowed, shoving her up.
     Jaz jumped to her feet, avoiding the charred bodies, dodging the one-on-one combats still going on despite the raging fireballs shooting out. She wanted to scream at them to get out of there, but she needed them to be distracted because she knew at least half of them would try and stop her. Fraya was the first to try as she yelled at Jaz to come back, before Jaz pulled open the enormous bolt on the door of the cage and jumped in.

Review:
The cover had me with the words "Even death cannot hide the truth. . .", talk about an attention grabber.  When I read the summary, I was intrigued.  By the time I got to chapter one, I was already invested and couldn't wait to turn each page.

The characters are well written and unforgettable, especially Jaz.  Sometimes, you need to refresh your memory when reading a series when there is time between installments but I can safely say you won't be needing to do that here.  No matter how long a wait it is before the next one, and I hope it's not too long, everything will have stayed with you.

When I found out that this is the author's first work, I was amazed at how smoothly everything fell into place.  A true must read for paranormal lovers.  Definitely an author to watch for.


Rating:  4 1/2 Stars


Character Bios:
Jasmine 'Jaz' Barker (Kormak)
She's a complicated one. The name proves that much. Born to Eliza and Thorpe Kormak, adopted by John and Rachel Barker, she is brought up to believe she is human. Then when she's taken to Deer Creek (unwillingly) she discovers she's in fact a Werebeast. A shape-shifter that are their own species, with their own laws and society. She struggles with the changes around her, and within her, fighting like a stubborn mule against her unwanted feelings. After a year of insomnia, haunted by the nightmare of dying in childbirth, her outer shell has hardened. She's sarcastic, stubborn, abrupt, loving, loyal, brave, passionate and persevering. She has feelings for Nik but finds it difficult to express them and continues to deny them to everyone including herself. She has suffered from severe iron-deficiency anaemia most of her life, doesn't like dogs after she was attacked by one, loves horses, children, music and recently developed a fondness for running and kick-boxing.

Nikolas 'Nik' Driver- Pack Leader of Deer Creek
Nik Driver is a strict but nurturing Pack Leader who many admire, respect and look up to. Because of this, he has a lot of enemies who are jealous of his popularity. He became Pack Leader at a young age when his father was murdered. He was a witness to it and has never got over it. It still haunts his dreams.
He has a brother and sister, but treats everyone within his Pack as his own family. He's ruthless at times, but fair and forgiving. It's not very often that he reveals his true emotions -or smiles- and he has impeccable self-control. Around Jaz, however, he is different and allows her to see him for what he is the more he's around her. He was in love and mated with Lora, Jaz's twin sister. Neither Lora nor Nik knew Jaz existed at the time. Lora died in childbirth, losing their son in the process. He vows to avenge her and his son's death, as he knows that it wasn't a natural tragedy.
He's a skillful fighter, an avid reader, farmer and intelligent leader.

Lora Kormak
Twin sister to Jaz; she was not adopted by the Barker family but was raised by her real parents, Eliza and Thorpe. At around the age of 18, Lora left her parents to visit her wider family in Deer Creek. She met Nik and they fell in love, but not everyone was happy with their romance. She began to suspect something was wrong, and that she was being watched. She died in childbirth, heavily pregnant. The event was witnessed by her sister, Jaz, in spirit as Jaz dreamt it whilst Lora was dying. Their sisterly twin connection is what allows Lora to remain alive through Jaz in some way.
She enjoyed reading, writing (especially in her diary) and the countryside.

Edda
Edda is Jaz's carer and mentor. She helps Jaz to overcome her fears and to understand her nature. She watches over her to help Jaz through the Change, which is the term used for shape-shifting. The process to bring on the first Change is excruciating and takes time, causing them to be weakened and sick from the pressure it puts on their body. Edda's job is to care for them during this difficult time. She and Jaz become close through this. Edda has two daughters, Kenna and Kelda, who are close friends of Jaz.
She's direct, unwavering, she keeps her personal life personal, she doesn't let her emotions affect her work and she's loyal to her Pack and family.

Garik Kormak
Jaz's uncle, brother of Thorpe Kormak, son of Maria Blom-Kormak (Jaz's grandmother). An abrupt, anti-social Were with the flair of making people dislike him. He's good at collecting information and regularly leaves the Pack to conduct missions outside by the order of his Pack Leader, Nik. He pretends to care little about people but proves himself later on to feel the opposite. He cares for Jaz, and his family but puts his duties first; his mind is always prepared for future events that threaten to destroy the Pack.

Author Bio:
A.Z.Green was born in 1989 and raised in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. She met the love of her life aged 16 and moved to London, finally settling down near Brighton.

She has written various novels and short stories in her lifetime but has only recently decided to publish. She writes a wide range of genres such as dark fantasy, romance, thriller, historical fiction, dystopian, horror and paranormal. Her books tend to fit better into the New Adult genre as they usually have a more mature theme.

Beasthood is her first published novel.

Besides writing she also loves designing blogs, websites, covers for others' books as well as her own and various graphics. She has four blogs/websites and counting. Pinterest and Tumblr keep her busy, as does reading, drawing, painting and watching films. That's if she gets time to do any of these things with a three-year-old jumping around.

When asked in an interview, 'What books have inspired you to write?' she replied, 'I write books I wish existed, not because I'm inspired by a book that already exists.'

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