Wednesday 30 December 2015

Book Review of Dragon's Promise (Mills & Boon/Nocturne) by Denise Lynn @DeniseLynn



Book Title: Dragon's Promise (Mills & Boon/Nocturne)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 304
Author: Denise Lynn
Date Published: 1 September 2015 (E-book)

Synopsis:

Succubus, slayer or soul mate?

He was a Drake, a dragon. She was a St. George, born to slay them. They were meant to be mortal enemies, yet for three days the shifter and the succubus had been insatiable lovers. From that union a secret child had been conceived. Now Caitlin St. George had to finally tell Sean Drake she'd not only borne his son, but that the baby had been kidnapped. And only Sean could save him…

The tasks in front of Sean were not easy. He'd had to give his family's enemy all he demanded…and then become what he'd feared the most. Would this mission cost Sean the last shreds of his humanity, or could love finally tame the beast within?

Review:


Dragon's Promise  (The Drakes #3)Dragon's Promise by Denise Lynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful paranormal romance. I loved it!

Sean Drake is a wonderful character. I liked him a lot. He is loyal, loving and sexy. He is the youngest of three brothers, who also happen to be dragon shifters. However, Sean's dragon was woken by magic and he and his dragon half are struggling for control. When Sean meets Caitlin St. George, sparks fly.

Caitlin St. George is also a wonderful character. She is feisty, stubborn and deadly. She's a succubus and a dragon slayer, which makes it awkward when having to swallow her pride and ask for help from Sean, her mortal enemy and father of her child.

I have a huge soft spot for Mills & Boon romances. They were my favourite staple romances as a teen and beyond. I devoured these stories like candy at every opportunity, sometimes reading two or three a day. I must admit that I haven't read one of these for at least three years due to expanding my reading habit into other genres. Thus, it was like coming home when I started reading this book. I had forgotten how much I loved them!

This story is your typically formulaic romance, but there are a few twists that kept it feeling fresh. The story is told through both Sean and Caitlin's points of view, which gives the reader a chance to get to know the characters better. I love the chemistry between the two protagonists. The passion between them is definitely scorching, though not as explicit as some books I have read recently. Sometimes it is nice to have the heat without it being too in the face.

There are some interesting characters introduced too. Braeden and Cam are Sean's brothers' and are quite intimidating in their own way. However, Aunt Danielle is way scarier! Aelthed is a High Druid, imprisoned in an enchanted puzzle box by his nephew, Nathan the Learned. He's been trapped for hundreds of years in spirit form, though he still has his secrets.

This book is full of magic, dragons, danger and romance. I reached the end of the book and sighed in satisfaction. Perfection! I am now looking forward to getting back to reading these books once again.

Denise Lynn has written a fantastic, fast paced romance. I love her writing style, which brought the characters to life. The flow was wonderful too. I would most definitely read more of her books in the future.

I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal romance stories with bite (dragons and vampires amongst others). - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews


            

About The Author:




Denise Lynn lives in NW Ohio with her husband, son and slew of 4-legged "kids". She has been an avid reader of romance novels for many years, travelling to lands and times filled with brave knights, courageous ladies and never-ending love between the pages of those wonderful books. She writes medieval romances set in England, Ireland, Normandy, France and a few fictitious islands in the waters surrounding Great Britain. When not writing historical romances, she's likely working on paranormal romances with dragons, wizards and other assorted praeternatural beings - some set on the same fictitious islands created for her medievals. When Denise isn't writing, she can be found hiking, baking, sitting in front of a sewing machine, or snipping herbs for various edible and not-so-edible recipes. 

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Audio/Book Review of The Cathedral of Known Things (The Relic Guild Book 2) by Edward Cox @EdwardCox10 @ImogenChurch



Book Title: The Cathedral of Known Things (The Relic Guild Book 2)
Genre: Science Fiction/Dark Fantasy
Pages: 480
Audio Run Time: 21 Hrs 53 Mins
Author: Edward Cox 
Date Published: 15 October 2015 (E-book & Audiobook)

Synopsis:

Divided, hunted and short on resources, the surviving members of the Relic Guild are in real trouble. Their old enemy, the Genii, and their resurrected master have infiltrated Labrys Town and taken over the police force.

So the Relic Guild must flee their home, and set off on a dangerous journey across the worlds of the Aelfir. One that will lead them to a weapon which might destroy the Genii. Or the whole universe...

And forty years before all this, the war which led to the fall of the Genii continues. And what happens to the Relic Guild during that conflict will change the course of their desperate flight.

Review:


The Cathedral of Known Things (The Relic Guild, #2)The Cathedral of Known Things by Edward Cox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Relic Guild series. I absolutely LOVED it!

The story is again narrated by Imogen Church, who also narrated Bridget Jones's Diary. She did a fantastic job in bringing the characters to life. Her ability to voice the different accents used for the various characters impressed me. I loved her speaking voice, and her reading pace was perfect.

Clara is a young woman of eighteen, who has been working as a prostitute in a brothel since the age of fourteen in the Labyrinth city called Labrys Town. I really liked her. She is stubborn and determined. She has magic in her veins and is known as a magica; she's a wolf shifter.

The story continues from the end of the first book. Now working with the remaining members of the Relic Guild, Clara finds herself, together with Van Bam and Old Man Sam, on the run from Fabian Moor and the Genii in an attempt to contact the Thaumaturgists. Meanwhile, Hamir, the Necromancer is pursuing his own line of investigation. There are also new characters introduced, such as Sergeant Ennis, a policeman of Labrys Town, who has been tasked to investigate and locate the members of the Relic Guild. Then there is Namjee (sorry, not sure of the spelling since I can only go by phonetics due to this being an audiobook), who is an intriguing character. She is an Aelfir that Van Bam had met before the end of the Genii war. Then there is Hillam and Gloguilder, who are also Aelfir. These two characters are extremely likable, their banter made me grin. They are best friends and sound like siblings at times. We also get to spend time with the Genii: Fabian Moor, Hargie Tabbet, Victor Gadrill and Mo Asherzad. This gives the reader a deeper understanding of their motivations and actions. Are they as evil as painted? Only time will tell.

This is a unique story; the world building and character development is extraordinary. I loved the descriptions of the scenes and characters. The story has a post apocalyptic feel to it, with a hint of steampunk, which is further enhanced by the split timelines, which are forty years apart. The characters in both the past and the present are quite interesting. This split timeline shows the reader the events in the past that led to the isolation of Labrys Town from the houses of the Aelfir, and also reveals secrets hidden by a few of the characters. This story has several twists and turns that kept me hooked. There is not a lot of action (as in explosions and weapon fire, although there is some in a few scenes) but, it's the storytelling that instantly pulls you in. I found myself on a roller coaster ride of emotion from beginning to end. There is a huge twist near the end of the story that had me in tears. I will not say whether they were happy or sad, because that would be a spoiler. However, the story does end in another little cliffhanger that made me gasp. I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers because they frustrate me to the point of screaming, but I am looking forward to continuing this story as soon as I can.
At the end of the audiobook, there is a 15 minute interview with Edward Cox and Imogen Church, which I found very interesting.

Edward Cox has written an interesting sequel to his debut novel. I loved his fast paced writing style. The flow of the story seemed a little more seamless than the first book, and this increased my enjoyment. I will be keeping an eye out for more of this author's work in the future.

Due to scenes of violence and gore, I do not recommend this book for younger readers under the age of 15. However, I highly recommend this book if you love science fiction and dark fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews


                

About The Author:




Author of THE RELIC GUILD, THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS and THE WATCHER OF DEAD TIME (2016) published by Gollancz. Represented by John Berlyne of Zeno Agency: http://zenoagency.com/

Edward Cox began writing stories at school as a way to pass time in boring lessons. It was a hobby he dabbled with until the late 80′s when he discovered the works of David Gemmell, which not only cemented his love of fantasy but also encouraged a hobby to become something much more serious.

With his first short story published in 2000, Edward spent much of the next decade earning a BA 1st class with honours in creative writing, and a Master degree in the same subject. He then went on to teach creative writing at the University of Bedfordshire. During the 2000′s he published a host of short stories with the smaller presses of America, where he also worked as a reviewer.

Alongside David Gemmell, Edward's influences continue to range from past masters to current authors. Neil Gaiman and Gene Wolfe, George Orwell and Richard Matheson, Angela Carter, Kafka, Tad Williams, Michael Moorcock, Susanna Clarke and Chuck Palahniuk - these are the kinds of authors with something to teach on the craft of storytelling, and they inspire Edward in a continual pursuit to get better at what he does.

Currently living in Essex with his wife and daughter, Edward is mostly surrounded by fine greenery and spiders the size of his hand. The Relic Guild is his first completed novel, and it is the result of more than ten years of obsessive writing.

Author Links:

Monday 21 December 2015

Book Review of Hydromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 4) by Charmaine Pauls @CharmainePauls



Book Title: Hydromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 4)
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Pages: 261
Author: Charmaine Pauls
Date Published: 17 October 2015

Synopsis:

She’s sleeping with him.

She lied to him.

She loves him.

Can she destroy him?

Tough and invincible Maya Martin is part of Cain Jones’ paranormal crime taskforce. Her ability to manipulate water makes the South African born hydromancist an invaluable asset to the team. When AK47’s are smuggled from Mexico to Zimbabwe via Costa Rica, Maya is sent on a mission to destroy the arms and expose the syndicate. Her main suspect is the new Australian ambassador, Timothy Fardel, but the dark side of his personality is not the hidden truth Maya expected. Neither are the emotions that get in the way. Faced with honoring her oath or following her heart, Maya has to make the most difficult choice of her life.

This book contains adult content with explicit language and consummated love scenes. Suited for an adult audience.

Review:


Hydromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 4)Hydromancist by Charmaine Pauls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the fourth book in the Seven Forbidden Arts Series. I loved it!

Maya Martin is a wonderful character. I really liked her. She is an extremely tough character; she's had to be. Growing up on the Cape Flats, a notoriously dangerous area of Cape Town, she's had to face vicious gangs and survived. Now older and working with the paranormal taskforce with her gift of hydromancy, she's on a dangerous undercover mission to destroy an arms dealing syndicate. Maya faces a battle between her heart and her head when her attraction for Timothy Fardel brings even more trouble.

Timothy Fardel is a bit of a dark horse. I really liked him. I know it sounds weird to say that considering his involvement with arms dealing. However, as I got to know him better and his secrets were revealed, I found myself liking him even more.
Having enjoyed the other three books in the series, I was eagerly looking forward to reading this one. I started reading and didn't put it down until I had finished it. The story is told through both Tim's and Maya's point of view. I would have liked to have had a little bit more from Tim's side of things. However, as the story unfolded, I could understand why the author decided not to take that path; it left Tim to be more mysterious.

It was nice to meet all the other members of the paranormal taskforce again. However, they were mostly on the peripheral edges, rather in the thick of it. It was interesting to meet Tim's bodyguards. They take their duty very seriously and are extremely loyal to Tim. I must admit that I didn't take to his secretary, Frida Adolfsson. She is very bitchy towards Maya, which I can understand, as she is also protective of Tim and doesn't want to see him hurt. However, I still found her cold at times.

There are several twists and turns that surprised me. Though none more so than when Tim's secret is revealed. I won't say what it is, as that would be a spoiler. The chemistry between Maya and Tim is extremely hot and the bedroom scenes are scorching! I reached the end of the story and it left me looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Charmaine Pauls has written an entertaining standalone erotic romance. Her characters are lifelike and come alive on the page. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. I would definitely consider reading more of her books in the future.

Due to the explicit nature of some of the scenes, as well as use of foul language, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 18. I do, however, recommend this book if you love science fiction, erotica, erotic romance or paranormal romance genres. – Lynn Worton

View all my reviews


           

About The Author:


Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a masters degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to France with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published six novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in Chile with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

Author Links:

Friday 18 December 2015

Book Review of Aeromancist: The Beginning (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 2) by Charmaine Pauls @CharmainePauls



Book Title: Aeromancist: The Beginning (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Pages: 144
Author: Charmaine Pauls
Date Published: 14 May 2015

Synopsis:

Passion always comes with a price.

All that Russian aeromancist Lann Dréan wants, is to enjoy a month of peace in the privately owned convent in Santiago he is turning into a home. When an American literature student walks into his library of ancient books, his holiday intentions change. The untouchable Lann is inexplicably enraptured. For all his famed control, he cannot stay away from Katherine White.

Gifted with a hunted talent and a price on his head, the best Lann can offer Kat are thirty days of unrivalled passion before returning to his paranormal crime taskforce in New York. If Kat consents to his terms, she will agree to walk away on Day Thirty. Forever. But his uncontainable desire comes with an unforeseen price.

This book contains adult content with explicit language and consummated love scenes. Suited for an adult audience.

Review:


Aeromancist: The Beginning (Seven Forbidden Arts, #2)Aeromancist: The Beginning by Charmaine Pauls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Seven Forbidden Arts series. I loved it!

Lann Dréan is a complex character. I liked this man very much. He can come across as cool and aloof at times but, this hides his deeply felt emotions. He knows that if he lets his emotions out, his ability to control air could cause serious damage. He is intrigued with Katherine White, who visits the ex-convent (now Lann's home) looking for research material for her thesis. Determined to learn more about her, he dangles the opportunity for her to study at the convent, with a small proviso.

Katherine White is a wonderful character. I liked her very much but felt that she wasn't given enough rein by the author to fully explore her strengths. She came across as strong willed, but seemed to submit too easily to Lann's authority at times. I don't know if this is a good thing or not.

I started to read this story and didn't put it down until I had finished it. The story is told through both Lann's and Kat's point of view. However, I would have loved to had more of Lann's point of view for certain scenes, the plane ride for instance. This book is, however, definitely more erotica than erotic romance. There is a story, but it felt secondary to the protagonists' attraction. Their chemistry is explosive and hot. There is a little BDSM and bondage play that may upset some readers. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't the same level of danger as the first book of the series. But, having read book 3 before reading this book, I had some questions about their relationship. Now that I have read this book, my confusion quickly cleared. Therefore, don't do what I did. Read this book first before reading book 3. I am now looking forward to reading book 4, Hydromancist, as soon as I can.

Charmaine Pauls has written an entertaining standalone erotic romance. Her characters are lifelike and come alive on the page. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. I would definitely consider reading more of her books in the future.

Due to the explicit nature of some of the scenes, as well as use of foul language, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 18, or those who may suffer a trigger event brought on by breath play/asphyxia in sexual situations. I do, however, recommend this book if you love science fiction, erotica, erotic romance or paranormal romance genres. – Lynn Worton

View all my reviews


            

About The Author:


Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a masters degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to France with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published six novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in Chile with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

Author Links:

Thursday 17 December 2015

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Walking Heartbreak by Sunniva Dee @SunnivaD @XpressoReads


Walking Heartbreak
Sunniva Dee

Publication date: December 17th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense
Don’t judge me.
I am not what you see.
I am the opposite.
—Nadia’s lipstick note on Bo’s mirror.

Indie-rocker Bo Lindgren is worshiped for his looks and musical genius. It’s been lonely at the top since his ex left. Bo will never take a girlfriend again though, because he doesn’t have the chops to love. He knows he’s poison, a heartbreak waiting to happen for anyone he allows too close—like his ex. Bo screws his way through the fangirls until he’s sick of it all. Until the dark gaze of Nadia Vidal appears in the door to his dressing room.
Saved from an arranged marriage by Jude, the love of her life, Nadia eloped and got married at nineteen. But now, two years later, life is wilted, dead, and not what anyone should have to endure.
Nadia, with her secret-keeper eyes and instant understanding of who Bo is, attracts and fascinates him without even trying. The ring gleaming on her finger should keep them apart, but morals can’t always resist destiny.
When brokenhearted meets heartbreaker, whose heart is really at stake?

WH Obsession is music

EXCERPT:
BO

Her moods flow in gentle waves. The coffee of her irises swims with sadness then lifts into whiskey gold with the twang of my guitar. Left to ourselves in the back lounge, our silence is sinuous, laced with stories from my hometown, Skala, and Nadia’s anecdotes from growing up in a cult. But when we’re quiet, my fingers itch and find my guitar. Toy with strings and enunciate emotions she tries to conceal.
Sometimes, my riffs turn to ballads while lyrics splash out in patches of color in my head. Sometimes, when Nadia curves a hip to get comfortable, my gaze float to her waist and shifts to her chest. The game of my chords turns loaded, adding a steady, slow beat, the way I do to make her climb when we’re together.
Without words, she still hears my hunger. Watches my fingers work metal strings with a need that becomes X-rated. And she sits up. Joins her legs and lowers her chin to her knees, demure, secretive, hiding behind her hair in shyness and not understanding that she’s sexier than ever.
All these females. So many women and vixens with a past, a present, and a future—a full life I never wanted to be a part of. But now, I crave to bury deep under the skin of a single girl who is not single.
It’s been a while since I spoke last, so my voice rasps deep when I say, “You kill me.”
“I don’t want to kill you. Do you know the person you are? How talented you are? You deserve so much, Bo, you don’t even know, and the last thing you need is dead weight like me.”

Walking Heartbreak rectangular Ad



Author Bio:
Sunniva was born in Norway, the Land of The Midnight Sun, but spent her early twenties making the world her playground. Southern Europe: Spain, Italy, Greece—Argentina: Buenos Aires, in particular. The United States finally kept her interest, and after half a decade in California, she now lounges in the beautiful city of Savannah. Sunniva has a Master's degree in Spanish, which she taught until she settled in as an adviser at an art college in the South.
Sunniva writes New Adult fiction with soul. Sometimes it's with a paranormal twist, like in Shattering Halos, Stargazer, and Cat Love. At other times, it's contemporary, as in Pandora Wild Child, Leon's Way, Adrenaline Crush, and now Walking Heartbreak.
Sunniva is the happiest when her characters take over, let their emotions run off with them, shaping her stories in ways she never foresaw. She loves bad-boys and good-boys run amok, and like in real life, her goal is to keep you on your toes until the end of each story.



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Tuesday 15 December 2015

Release Day Blitz: The Redemption of Roan (The Syndicate Series #2) by Kathy Coopmans @AuthorKCoopmans





Title: The Redemption of Roan
Series: Book 2 in The Syndicate Series
Author: Kathy Coopmans


Roan Diamond’s loyalty to the family may be obligated by blood, but nobody ever said he had to love them all, right?
As the next in line to head the Diamond dynasty, he has loose ends to take care of, and one of those is his brother Royal. Yet his plans for revenge fall apart the minute he lays eyes on Alina—Royal’s ex-girlfriend, who also happens to be the daughter of the rival Solokov family.
As a mafia princess, Alina Solokov knew it wouldn’t be easy when she made the decision ten years ago to leave the family for a new life at a college in England—but betrayal is often a dish served cold by those who you love the most. Now, back in the United States after a job offer that she couldn’t refuse, her new found strength is pushed to the limits when Royal returns to claim her for his own.
When the man who captures her heart amongst the chaos is front and center in a lifestyle she swore never to return to, can she hold her ground and fight being sucked back into the black hole that is the mafia underworld? Or will Roan’s love be worth the ultimate sacrifice?


 Amazon-US: http://amzn.to/1HEw8C7 





The Wrath of Cain, Book 1



Kathy is a Michigan native where she lives with her husband Tony. They have two son's Aaron and Shane.
She is a sports nut. Her favorite sports include NASCAR, Baseball and Football.
By day she is a hairstylist and loves her job. 
She has always been an avid reader and at the young age of 50 decided she wanted to write. She claims she can do several things at once and still stay on task. Her favorite quote is "I got this."







Happy Holidays from Kathy Coopmans




Monday 14 December 2015

Release Day Blitz: Desired (Onyx Club #4) by Sebastian Ex @sebastian_ex




RELEASE BLITZ







Title: Desired
Series: Onyx Club #4
Author: Sebastian Ex
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: December 14, 2015



BLURB

A celebration involving the Onyx Club Dominants and their ladies, brings the couples together as we say goodbye to them in the most spectacular of ways.

Matthew and Ella are focused on their growing family and are still in the throes of their Filthy Desire. Brandon and Penny have survived their Dangerous Desire; and are now dealing with Penny's inability to have children. Nathan and Bianca’s Carnal Desire for each other has yet to be sated. They’re moving beyond Bianca's horrid start in life, and focused on making progress.

Ella, Penny, and Nathan all have surprises their partners have Desired… 


*Possible triggers, coarse language, graphic sex and adult themes.


GOODREADS LINK:



PURCHASE LINKS








EXCERPT

“Yeah, okay,” she says sarcastically and even though I’m not looking at her, I know she’s rolled her eyes at me. 
“That’s it, damn it.” I pull into a side road, and drive down until we’re quite a distance from the main highway. “Get out,” I say to her. Ella looks around and then looks to me. 
“Have you lost your mind, Matt? We’re in the middle of nowhere. I’m not walking to the wedding from here.” 
She’s half-smiling, and I know she knows I’d never make her walk. “That smart mouth of yours has just earned you a spanking. Now get out.” I get out of the car and walk around to her side. 
“Oh,” she says when she gets out. 
“Oh what?” 
Her shoulders shudder and she smiles at me. “Oh, Sir.” 
“Good. Turn around, look at the car.” 
“Yes, Sir.” She turns away from me. 
“Take your underwear off.” She shimmies her panties down her legs and starts to bend to pick them up. “Leave them around your ankles. I want you to see what a greedy girl you are. While I’m fucking you, you’ll look down and know this pussy,” I quickly lift her dress and insert a finger into her cunt, “this pussy is always ready for me to fuck, because you’re greedy and insatiable.”



Teasers







ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE ONYX CLUB SERIES


#1 Filthy Desire



US: http://amzn.to/1MYTEfF
UK: http://amzn.to/1AxZoAb
AU: http://bit.ly/1Gd8evn
CA: http://amzn.to/1HI93MF


#2 Dangerous Desire



US: http://amzn.to/1fhgikr
UK: http://amzn.to/1GY9XzT
AU: http://bit.ly/1RgjYUc
CA: http://amzn.to/1LO1DcD


#3 Carnal Desire



US: http://amzn.to/1NIBQ2H
UK: http://amzn.to/1NiJdnc
AU: http://bit.ly/1XgK9ru
CA: http://amzn.to/1SaUcgK


AUTHOR BIO

Sebastian Ex is a native of Sydney, Australia, having grown up in a tight-knit family mostly Sebastian Ex is a native of Sydney, Australia, having grown up in a tight-knit family mostly surrounded by women. A serial lover of the sheer beauty which is every woman, Sebastian was encouraged to pen his words when a lady friend of his compared some paragraphs from contemporary erotic novelists to his scorching, hot sexts. Now, Sebastian has released the first three books in the Onyx Club Series and is in the process of writing the third. Sebastian writes full-time, as he aims to bring characters to life, that are both real and identifiable. 

The books in the Onyx Club Series have made Amazon top 100 list in erotic romance. Filthy Desire, Dangerous Desire, and Carnal Desire are available now. Meet Matthew Weston from Filthy Desire, Brandon Edwards from Dangerous Desire and Nathan Stone and enjoy their stories.


AUTHOR LINKS







GIVEAWAY


There is a giveaway for a $20 Amazon gift card



Direct Link: 



Book Review of Pyromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 1) by Charmaine Pauls @CharmainePauls



Book Title: Pyromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Pages: 311
Author: Charmaine Pauls
Date Published: 19 March 2015

Synopsis:

At the same time as mysterious fires commence to rage through Clelia d’Ambois’ home village in Brittany, France, she starts sleepwalking. Daughter of a Japanese orphan, Clelia’s heritage is riddled with dark secrets that threaten anyone she loves. In a recurring nightmare she sees Josselin, the haunted man who abandoned their village nine years earlier, come for her, but she doesn’t know why. All she knows is that she has to run. As fast as she can.

Leader of a paranormal crime taskforce, Josselin de Arradon is called back to his hometown with a mission–find and kill the firestarter responsible for Larmor-Baden’s blazing destruction. Sensing that Clelia is the key to solving the crime, Josselin kidnaps her to use her as bait. The battle doesn’t turn out quite as he expected. Nothing could have prepared him for the truth, or the depth of his desire for his prisoner.

Pyromancist is Book 1 of the Seven Forbidden Arts series. All books in the series are stand-alone novels with no cliffhangers, but it is recommended that they are read in chronological order.

This book contains adult content with explicit language and consummated love scenes. Suited for an adult audience.

Review:


Pyromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts, #1)Pyromancist by Charmaine Pauls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Seven Forbidden Arts series. I loved it!

Clelia d’Ambois is a fascinating character. I really liked her. She is kind and loving, but hides a dark secret. Her mother was a firestarter. Fires begin breaking out in the village and Clelia is terrified that she's the one causing them.

Josselin de Arradon is also a fascinating character. I liked him a lot too, but found his jealousy and possessiveness to be a little off putting. He is the leader of a team of a paranormal crime force that investigates crimes committed by those using the forbidden arts of magic. Though he's not a vampire, he can detect the magic and/or guilt/innocence through tasting a suspect's blood. Investigating the fires in the village he grew up in gets a little more complicated than he anticipates when he meets Clelia again and attraction sparks.

The author originally contacted me requesting a review of the third book, Aeromancist, in July this year. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to get the first book in the series to see how it all began. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to read it until now.

I started to read and didn't put it down until I finished it. I quickly found myself intrigued with the story. The story is told through both Clelia's and Josselin's points of view. I would have loved to see more of it through Josselin's eyes though. Nevertheless, the story had me enthralled. I loved Clelia's grandfather, Erwan. He's a kind and loving man, who loves Clelia very much and would do anything to protect her. There are several other characters that are introduced: Lann Dréan, Maya Martin and Cain Jones. These are Joss's teammates and each of them have their own secrets and gifts. I am looking forward to reading their stories, although I've already read part of Lann and Katherine's by reading the third book first.

This book is an erotic romance and there are explicit scenes of a sexual nature that are extremely hot and bordering on erotica. Talk about scorching! There is also a lot of danger and intrigue mixed in to make this one series I am looking forward to continuing. I am hoping to read Aeromancist: The Beginning soon.

Charmaine Pauls has written an entertaining standalone erotic romance. Her characters are lifelike and come alive on the page. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. I would definitely consider reading more of her books in the future.

Due to the explicit nature of some of the scenes, as well as use of foul language, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 18. I do, however, recommend this book if you love science fiction, erotica, erotic romance or paranormal romance genres. – Lynn Worton

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About The Author:


Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a masters degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to France with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published six novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in Chile with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

Author Links:

Sunday 13 December 2015

Book Review of Next Stop: Nina by Robin Raven @RobinRaven



Book Title: Next Stop: Nina
Genre: Coming of Age/Romance
Pages: 243
Author: Robin Raven
Date Published: 18 July 2015 (E-Book)


Synopsis:

Nina is pushed to the edge, then falls over that edge into a whole new world.

There's something different about Nina; she never felt comfortable in this world. As she struggles to cope with the pain of her present and past, the young girl's life is changed through the beauty of art.

When Nina grows up and winds up in over her head in a dark place, she finds herself somehow transported to another time when nothing is quite what it seems. She must fight the horrors of her past all over again. Along the way, she faces greater challenges than she imagined and enjoys sweet surprises when she discovers true love.

This is a character-driven novel with a heroine who faces suicidal depression on her own terms, and that's just the beginning. At its heart, Next Stop: Nina is a love story that takes on the types of love that change us and allow us to discover the truth in ourselves.

Review:


Next Stop: NinaNext Stop: Nina by Robin Raven
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is an intriguing time travel story. I enjoyed it, with some reservations.

Nina is an intriguing character. Unfortunately, although I empathized with her, I just couldn't find it in me to like her. She is a young woman in her thirties, who has suffered a traumatic childhood. Suffering with depression (un-diagnosed), she finds herself thrust back in time to her eight year old self, unable to change a crucial event in her life.

I started reading this book and, although I hate to admit it, was not really hooked by the story. I am normally one of the first people to admit that I love time travel stories. Unfortunately, I felt that the story was too long-winded. In a way, it was a mix of Groundhog Day and Freaky Friday (though without the body swapping).

Nina, as a character, felt slightly one dimensional and, unfortunately, so did the other characters. The one thing that did shine through was the author's love of art. Her descriptions of the paintings were vivid and brought them to life. Nina's journey of going back to that awful event and making different choices over and over again quickly became a little stale. However, I felt her love of Leonard (Lens) became obsessional in the end, rather than heartfelt.

Nina is a character who seems to have slipped through the cracks and did not get the medical assistance she needed after the traumatic event in her young life and spiraled into depression as she grew up. I guess the time travelling was a way for her to learn valuable lessons in life and love. Depression is a very difficult and complex emotion to deal with. Many sufferers feel unloved, unwanted, ugly and suicidal. They suffer with low self esteem and self loathing. Whether brought on by physical trauma or emotional overload, many people who suffer in silence are the ones that really need the help. The hardest lesson to learn for someone who suffers with depression is that they are loved, are wanted and are beautiful.

I reached the end of the book with mixed thoughts. I was happy that Nina managed to find what was important in her life, but wished she had found out a lot sooner! As an outsider looking in, I could see she needed help, but no-one else in the book ever did apart from Lens. But, if you decide to read this book, you may have a different take.

This is Robin Raven's debut novel. I enjoyed her writing style, but felt that she needs to work on her characterizations. They didn't feel as lifelike as they could have done and needed a little more fleshing out. The flow of the tale was a little bogged down by the repetitive nature of the story, but it was fast paced enough for me to keep turning the pages. I urge her to keep writing, as I feel she has potential to become a wonderful author.

Unfortunately, this book was just not my cup of tea. However, I recommend this book if you love time travel, coming of age or romance genres. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:




Robin Raven is the human who once belonged to the greatest dog that ever lived. "Next Stop: Nina" is Robin's debut novel. She has several other works of fiction that she hopes to share in the near future.

Born in Mobile, Alabama, Robin grew up in a nearby town called Saraland, and her hometown is a lovely place that still inspires her. As an adult, Ms. Raven has mostly lived in Los Angeles and New York City, so she also considers those cities to be home.

Robin blogs at RobinRaven.com and often has her nose in a book. If she's not reading or writing, you can probably find Robin daydreaming about adopting a rescue donkey. Delicious vegan food rocks her world. So does effective altruism. In addition to being an author, Robin has worked as a professional actress. She loves to connect with fellow writers and readers, so feel free to say hi to her on social media.