Tuesday, 28 August 2018

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Captured by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates #2) by Felicity Heaton @FelicityHeaton




New York Times best-selling paranormal romance author Felicity Heaton is here today for the book tour of her new shifter romance release, Captured by her Cougar, the second book in her brand new Cougar Creek Mates Series. Set in her popular Eternal Mates world, Cougar Creek Mates takes you into the deep Canadian wilderness to a secret place that’s home to a cougar shifter pride led by four sexy brothers, each guaranteed to steal your heart and set it racing! With all four books in the series releasing just weeks apart, this is going to be one hot summer.

Check out the book, download it with your Kindle Unlimited subscription if you have one, and be sure to enter the awesome grand giveaway happening at her website!


In the wake of an Archangel attack on Cougar Creek, Storm is seething with a need for revenge against the hunter organisation and the key to it might be the petite blonde mortal he’s locked in his cabin, one he’s determined to make sing for him. Only the beauty has a fiery temperament to match his own, and the more time he spends with her, the more she stokes a fire inside him. One that fills him with a startling and undeniable need to make her sing in another way—in his arms.

Gabriella isn’t going to take her captivity lying down. She’s going to give the pig-headed brute holding her against her will hell until he finally believes she’s innocent. He might be a cougar shifter, but she isn’t afraid of him. Or at least she isn’t afraid of what he is. The way he affects her, the flames that lick through her whenever they’re close, terrifies her though, because the longer she’s around the towering sexy-as-sin shifter, the hotter that fire blazes, and it’s only a matter of time before it burns away all her restraint.

With the mating heat and the attack bringing cougars back to the creek, Gabriella is a complication Storm doesn’t need, but she’s one that he wants… because she might just be his one true mate.




Read it with your Kindle Unlimited Subscription or buy now from…





Enter the grand tour-wide giveaway to win one of a $75, $50 or $25 Amazon Gift Card at the Captured by her Cougar book page. This giveaway is international and open to everyone, and ends at midnight on September 2nd. Enter now: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/captured-by-her-cougar-shifter-romance-book.php





When he held up a bag and jerked his chin towards the cabin, Gabi ducked away from the window, missing what he said to his brother.
The door opened a split-second later, and his eyes landed on her where she stood near the log burner, the mug of coffee in her hand.
“Drinking my coffee now?” He arched an eyebrow at her, and she ignored him, because he wasn’t angry with her.
No. There was a satisfied glint in his grey eyes that said he had wanted her to fall for the coffee trick and was sure she was going to fall for whatever one he employed next.
He held up the bag and waggled it. “Ivy and some of the females donated to your cause. Must make a change… being shown charity?”
He opened the bag when she didn’t respond and peered inside it.
“Ooh…” His shoulders trembled beneath his black woollen jumper as if he was shuddering. “All kinds of goodies. Clothes… candy… other necessities to keep you beautiful.”
That gave her pause.
Keep her beautiful?
Pig thought she was beautiful?
He didn’t seem to notice his choice of words, because she was sure that if he had, he would have been horrified by them—by finding a human of all things beautiful.
He pulled out a near-empty bottle of perfume, and some deodorant, plus a toothbrush and razor, and damn, she wanted them but she wasn’t going to let him see that. She wasn’t going to let him win.
She folded her arms across her chest. “Let me go. I’ve done nothing wrong. You can’t keep me here… like a prisoner.”
“Like a prisoner?”
She nodded.
He smiled coldly. “Little Bird, you are a prisoner… and I’m your jailer… and until you tell me what I want to know, you aren’t going anywhere.”
She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him. “You know this is illegal, right?”
“You’re trespassing on our land, you brought assault rifles and intended to slaughter us all… and you think you have a right to say what we’re doing is illegal?” he barked and she shrank back, but then rallied and stood her ground. He advanced on her, but she refused to let him intimidate her. “I can, and I will, do whatever it takes to protect my kin.”
Gabi set her jaw as her heart began to pound, anger trickling through her veins to heat her blood. “I swear, I’m not going to tell anyone. Who would believe me anyway?”
“Archangel,” he snarled and stepped into her, his huge body crowding her as she tried to hold her ground. “The people you work for. I’m sure they’ll believe you, and they’ll come back with more guns… more hunters… and I can’t allow that.”
“I told you… I don’t work for Archangel!” She squared up to him, which did nothing. He just glared at her, his eyes blazing gold, triggering an instinct in her that screamed at her to run because she was in danger. She had nowhere to run, so all she could do was fight. He had her backed into a corner but she was damned if she was going down without a battle. “So that’s it then… I’m just going to be your prisoner forever?”
“Unless you tell me what I want to hear, that’s pretty much the case, Little Bird.” He glowered down at her, his jaw muscles tensing beneath his golden skin.
“I’m not going to accept that,” she bit out. “I want to talk to Ivy.”
“You’ll talk to me.” He grabbed her arm, the press of his fingers hot and hard, making her aware of him and how close he was to her.
His body brushed hers, her breasts against his stomach, his thighs against her hips.
Her breathing quickened as his proximity wreaked havoc on her, had thoughts spinning through her mind that she damned well wasn’t going to entertain.
“Get your bloody hand off me.” She meant it to come out loud and forceful, but it left her on a whisper.
“No,” he muttered and his deep voice was as strained and low as hers.
His eyes darkened, but it wasn’t anger in them.
It was desire.
Fire that lit up the gold of his irises.
She was seeing things, her tired mind messing with her, because the pig didn’t like humans, he liked his women fast and forgettable, and she didn’t like her men going furry and feral.
But then his eyes dropped to her lips.
It was just the briefest glance, but she caught it and how his eyes darkened further.
Oh, cougar boy wanted her.
Gabi couldn’t resist tilting her head back, part of her wanting to lure him in even when she wasn’t sure whether she was doing it because she wanted to find a way to escape and gaining his trust in this way felt like the right move to make, or because she wanted to kiss him too—burned with the same fire that was in his eyes.
He glanced at her mouth again, and for a heart-stopping moment she thought he would kiss her, braced herself for it and found herself fiercely wanting it.
Fool.
His lips quirked in a cold smile. “You’re not my type. I prefer my females to have a heart behind their breasts and without a knife in their hand, ready to stab me in the back.”
Son of a bitch.
That hurt even when she tried to let it glance off her. It cut deep, his aim true.
“You flatter yourself a bit too much,” she bit out, venom in her tone, and he leaned back and frowned down at her. “I have a fiancĂ©… one who will be looking for me… a very powerful man.”
One who she doubted was really worried about her since the match had been Alexander’s idea and she had only gone along with it at the time to help him out when he had needed an investor to save his business.
Her words had the desired effect though.
The man released her, looked at her through truly dark eyes for the first time, no flicker of light and warmth in them at all, and left, slamming the door behind him so hard that one of the glass panes cracked and she flinched.
She had the feeling she had upset him, just as she had wanted, but it didn’t make her feel better.
It only made her feel worse.
Gabi sat on the couch, keeping still and silent, lost in thought as she stared at the flames. Day drifted into night, and when he didn’t return, she settled in his bed and slept as best she could, expecting to wake when he came home and stomped around the cabin, making her aware of his mood.
Only she woke the next morning and there was no sign of him.
She padded across the wooden floor to the bag he had left on it near the kitchen, picked it up and emptied the contents one by one on the polished wooden counter. She glanced at the door, but didn’t bother to check it. The key was missing, and she had no doubt he had locked it while she had been busy flinching.
Gabi used the supplies he had given her to clean up in his small bathroom. The water was freezing. She hurried through washing herself, and used the deodorant but not the perfume, and dressed in the dark green t-shirt and the brown trousers that were a few sizes too large for her. Ivy’s?
She cinched them at the waist with the supplied belt and went into the kitchen, finger-brushing her blonde hair as she gazed out of the window at the woods and the strip of the clearing that she could see.
There were another three men she didn’t recognise today, together with two more women, both of them very pretty and both of them brunettes. They reminded her of Ivy, and she ached to see the woman she had come to think of as a friend, her heart heavy as she stood in silence in the empty cabin.
She just wanted to see a kind face.
She went through the process with the coffee machine, replacing the filter and grounds, and the water, only to realise the power was out again.
Had he disconnected it to punish her, because she had tried to punish him?
Tears filled her eyes but she sniffed them back. “Screw him. Bloody bastard. You can’t keep a good Gabi down.”
She rifled through his cupboards and found a steel kettle and a cafetiere, and grinned. She filled the kettle with water, set it on top of the log burner, and went back to the window as she waited for it to boil.
Pig appeared, dressed in the same black jeans and jumper he had been wearing yesterday as he crossed the grass, heading over to one of the women. He smiled as he spoke with her while they walked, following the path towards the woods and his cabin, each one a needle that pierced Gabi’s chest and made it sting for some reason.
His eyes remained locked on the woman as they stopped near the cabin, in full view of Gabi. The hunger in his gaze made her want to look away, even though it was a pale shadow of the way he had looked at her yesterday, before he had spent the night away from the cabin.
With one of the women?
She remembered what he had said to Flint—that he wanted in on the action.
He wanted these women.
He glanced in her direction, and smirked at her, and she looked away from him, refusing to let him win. He was doing it to spite her, to hurt her because she had hurt him.
She was sure of it.
He wanted the women who were coming to the area.
But he wanted her more.
And damn her.
She wanted him too.
But she wasn’t going to give in to him.
Never.


Read it with your Kindle Unlimited Subscription or buy now from…



Book 1: Claimed by her Cougar – Available in Kindle Unlimited!
Book 2: Captured by her Cougar – Available in Kindle Unlimited!
Book 3: Courted by her Cougar (coming 8th September 2018)
Book 4: Craved by her Cougar (coming 29th September 2018)




Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:


Sunday, 26 August 2018

Book Review of Hell & A Hard Place (The Heckmasters) (Volume 1) by Allison Merritt



Book Title: Hell & A Hard Place (The Heckmasters #1)
Genre: Paranormal/Supernatural Romance
Pages: 316
Author: Allison Merritt
Date Published: 30 May 2017

Synopsis:

An ad in the newspaper for a schoolteacher in a small New Mexico Territory town is the answer to Rhia Duke's prayers. She packs her sister and friend into a rickety wagon and leaves Nebraska behind, intent on escaping a threat from her past. But her hopes are shattered when they arrive in Berner and she learns there is no job. Sheriff Wystan Heckmaster is the oldest son of a demon who spurned evil for the love of a human woman. His duty is to slay any demons that rise from Hell to serve their master—his father's former liege and his greatest enemy. With a gut full of regret, a forgotten town filled with reformed demons and now a beautiful schoolteacher to look after, Wystan must decide whether revenge is worth dying for, or if he can find peace the way his father did—with enough love to overcome the blackest evil.

Review:


Hell and A Hard Place (The Heckmasters Book 1)Hell and A Hard Place by Allison Merritt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in The Heckmasters series. I absolutely loved it!

First off, I absolutely love the new cover! It fits the story perfectly, although the original cover did too. It was originally published as Wystan, but the author received her rights back from the publisher when it closed and she had a new cover made and re-published it herself. I have noticed it's no longer available in Kindle format, so not sure if this book is going through another round of edits to be re-published in the near future through another publisher.

Rhia Duke is a wonderful character. I liked her very much. She is a schoolteacher by trade. She is a very determined woman, with a stubborn streak a mile wide. Desperate to leave her past behind, she sets off, along with her young sister and a companion they pick up en-route, to answer an advertisement in the newspaper for a job in New Mexico. But things are not all they seem and danger lurks in every corner.

Wystan Heckmaster is a fantastic character. I liked this man very much. He is quite gruff and tough, but as I got to know him a little better, realised that he hides a softer, gentler, not to mention honourable, side. He is the sheriff of a town where the citizens are reformed demons. Being a half-demon himself, his life has not been easy. However, he has taken it upon himself, along with his two brothers, to keep the earth and humans protected from the demons trying to escape through a portal called the Pit. When Rhia appears in his town, he realises that things are about to change forever.

This is a fantastic supernatural/paranormal romance! Set in the late 1800's, this book quickly swept me up and carried me away. The story is told through various points of view, which made it very interesting. There is excitement, danger, mystery and suspense mixed in with the hot romance.

I liked meeting Sylvie, Rhia's twelve year old sister. She is full of curiosity and is extremely bright. I also liked meeting Beryl Brookshier, a young woman the two sisters had befriended on their journey. However, she is also a mystery and, when her secret is revealed, it completely threw me. I certainly didn't see that twist coming! I also loved meeting Wystan's two brothers, Eban and Tell. Eban is the healer and Tell is the hunter. The three Heckmasters make a formidable team as they tackle the evil escaping from hell. We also get to meet the other residents of Berner, some of whom I liked and some not. The heat between Rhia and Wystan fairly sizzled on the page and their chemistry is extremely explosive! The story has several twists and turns, not to mention a villain that sent a shiver down my back. Noem is a vile character, but even he pales in comparison. You'll have to read the story to find out for yourself as to whom I'm talking about. However, I will say that I didn't suspect a thing and their betrayal actually brought a pang to my own heart. Although, in hindsight, I should have realised that they were up to no good. There is a battle between several demons and the Heckmasters that is quite intense, with a surprising twist that had me sitting on the edge of my seat! I finished the story and sat for a while as I contemplated and absorbed what I had just read. I love books that make you go "wow" at the end, and this is one of them. It took me on a journey that I didn't expect. I am now looking forward to reading Eban's story as soon as possible.

Allison Merritt has written a wonderful paranormal/supernatural romance. Her characters come alive on the page and her descriptions of the scenes made me see them in my mind's eye with ease. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting. I also love the flow of the story, the scenes flowed seamlessly from one to another. I have never read any other books by this author, but I would definitely love to read more of them in the future.

Due to scenes of an explicit nature, I do not recommend this book to younger readers under the age of 16. However, I highly recommend this book if you love erotic wild west type supernatural romances filled with sexy half-demons, or paranormal romances with strong characters. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

About The Author:



A life-long love of reading turned Allison Merritt into an indie author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.

Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.

She serves as the newsletter editor during the 2013-2014 year for Ozarks Romance Authors in Springfield, Missouri and has been a member since 2009.

Author Links:

Book Review of Captured by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series Book 2) by Felicity Heaton @FelicityHeaton



Book Title: Captured by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series #2)
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Pages: 147
Author: Felicity Heaton
Date Published: 18 August 2018


Synopsis:

SHE MIGHT BE STORM'S ENEMY... BUT GABI'S ALSO HIS ONE TRUE MATE

In the wake of an Archangel attack on Cougar Creek, Storm is seething with a need for revenge against the hunter organisation and the key to it might be the petite blonde mortal he's locked in his cabin, one he's determined to make sing for him. Only the beauty has a fiery temperament to match his own, and the more time he spends with her, the more she stokes a fire inside him. One that fills him with a startling and undeniable need to make her sing in another way--in his arms.

Gabriella isn't going to take her captivity lying down. She's going to give the pig-headed brute holding her against her will hell until he finally believes she's innocent. He might be a cougar shifter, but she isn't afraid of him. Or at least she isn't afraid of what he is. The way he affects her, the flames that lick through her whenever they're close, terrifies her though, because the longer she's around the towering sexy-as-sin shifter, the hotter that fire blazes, and it's only a matter of time before it burns away all her restraint.

With the mating heat and the attack bringing cougars back to the creek, Gabriella is a complication Storm doesn't need, but she's one that he wants... because she might just be his one true mate.

Review:


Captured by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series Book 2)Captured by her Cougar by Felicity Heaton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is the second book in a new shifter series called Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series, which is an offshoot of the Eternal Mates series (which I love) and based in the same world.

Storm is an interesting character. I must admit that I wasn't sure I liked him at first, but he grew on me - when he stopped being an a-hole towards the end, he became more likeable. He is one of Rath's brothers and first introduced to the reader in the first book, Claimed by her Cougar. He has a massive chip on his shoulder with regards to humans due to an incident that happened several years previously, so when Alexander, a hunter who works with Archangel, attacks his brother, Storm takes it upon himself to keep the hunter's step-sister Gabriella prisoner. Determined to gain information of Archangel from her, he finds himself torn between his duty to his family, and his undeniable attraction to her - as she's his one true mate.

Gabriella is a fascinating character. I like her a lot, but feel that she vacillated between being a strong female lead, standing up for herself against more powerful people/shifters, and a useless damsel in distress; this is not necessarily a problem, but this meant (to me) that she could have behaved more consistently either way. Gabriella finds herself held prisoner by a sexy cougar shifter. Scared, but determined, she tries to come to terms with her step-brother's death and her growing attraction for her captor. But as the mating heat draws other shifters back to the Creek, will she fight for her freedom from captivity, or will she find freedom in his strong arms?

I began reading this story, told through both Storm's and Gabriella's points of view, and it swept me up and carried me away. I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first book. Storm is a little like his name - he is a force to be reckoned with, but he also is a total a-hole for most of the story. Granted, he has reason to be, though that still doesn't excuse him in my eyes. The insta-love between the main characters is thankfully absent in this story. I could see the hate Gabriella felt for Storm and the resentment of her imprisonment. However, there’s a little bit of Stockholm Syndrome going on as the story progressed, I feel.

As this is a novella rather than a novel, I think the author did an excellent job in extending the time the characters got to know each other in this book compared to the first book in the series. There is a big fight scene (which I won't go into due to spoilers) that I enjoyed; this is one thing I love about this author's writing - her descriptions of action, particularly fight or battle scenes are extremely exciting. This scene also introduces the reader to Storm and Rath's other two cougar brothers, Flint and Cobalt. I am now looking forward to reading their stories shortly.

I reached the end of the book in a happier frame of mind than I did with the first story. This book didn't feel as rushed this time, but I still don't know if the author is putting too much pressure on herself to get these books out quickly, or not. I prefer quality over quantity, and this book, although a lot better, is decidedly below her best work even though I still loved it. I hope the other books in the series are less rushed, and I am looking forward to reading the next book soon.

Felicity Heaton has written another fast-paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love her fast-paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is still on top of my favourite author's list.

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of cat shifters and other paranormal species. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

Purchase Links:

               

About The Author:


Felicity Heaton


Felicity Heaton is a NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY and International Best-Selling Author writing passionate paranormal romance books and series for adults.

In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, her best-selling Her Angel romance series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm romance series or any of her stand alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try her Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series. Or if you like hot-blooded alpha heroes who will let nothing stand in the way of them claiming their destined woman then try her Eternal Mates series. It’s packed with sexy heroes in a world populated by elves, vampires, fae, demons, shifters, and more. If sexy Greek gods with incredible powers battling to save our world and their home in the Underworld are more your thing, then be sure to step into the world of Guardians of Hades.

Fans of paranormal romance books by authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole and Christine Feehan will love Felicity's books too.

Author Links:

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

Website ; Blog ; Facebook ; Twitter ; Tsu ; Pinterest ; GoodReads ; Amazon

Saturday, 18 August 2018

Book Review of The Devil's Cup: A Medieval Mystery (A Hawkenlye Mystery) by Alys Clare



Book Title: The Devil's Cup (A Hawkenlye Mystery #17)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 240
Author: Alys Clare
Date Published: 29 June 2018


Synopsis:

Sir Josse d'Aquin is summoned to assist the beleaguered King John in the 17th - and final - Hawkenlye mystery.

September, 1216. A foreign army has invaded England. The country is divided. Some support the rebel barons and Prince Louis of France; others remain loyal to the king. His rule under threat, King John summons Sir Josse d'Acquin to support him. But can Sir Josse save the king from himself?

Meanwhile, Josse's daughter Meggie is summoned to Hawkenlye Abbey to attend a sick patient in a very distressed state. The elderly woman is warning of terrible danger unless she can complete her mission. What she learns from her patient will set Meggie on a perilous journey to retrieve a cursed treasure. But will she be in time to prevent a tragedy?

Review:


The Devil's Cup (Hawkenlye Mysteries, #17)The Devil's Cup by Alys Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story is the seventeenth and final book in the Hawkenlye mystery series. When I picked this book up at the library, I didn't realise it was part of a series at all. However, this didn't seem to matter, as the story reads as a stand-alone, though there are some references to other characters and books in the series.

Sir Josse d'Aquin is an interesting character; he's a knight of middle age, or maybe between the age of fifty or sixty years old in the year 1216. He finds himself being summoned by his childhood friend, King John, to help him as he tries to drive the invading force of Prince Louis of France out of England. But, while he's travelling with the King, Josse's daughter, Meggie, finds herself on a mission of her own.

Meggie is also an interesting character. She is a healer, working with the nuns at Hawkenlye Abbey as they tend to the sick and infirm. When a mysterious woman who is ill arrives at the Abbey with a warning of danger, Meggie finds herself journeying with the ailing woman's son, Faruq, to locate a relic that is cursed. But, as danger threatens, will they be able to retrieve the relic in time, or will it exact a terrible price?

As I said above, I saw this book in my local library. I love a good mystery, even a historical one, so after reading the synopsis, I decided to read it. I am struggling to write this review, not because it's bad (because it isn't), but because it isn't that good either. It is an okay read for me.

I found myself putting this book down, reading something else, and coming back to it with no problem. It is not a hard read by any means; in fact, it's a pretty easy read. This story told through several character's eyes, should have made it more interesting. However, something is missing from this tale. Maybe other mystery novels have spoilt me, but the plot is missing a crucial element - fast-paced suspense/mystery. This tale plods along at such a slow pace that I lost interest at times, which is why I would put it down and then come back to it. I've read other historical fiction novels that have sucked me in and left me breathless from the wild ride. Unfortunately, this book didn't do that to me. It is only in the last third of the book that the action picks up. The Devil's Cup of the title is an artefact that carries a curse. But the author, instead of using it as a tool to build suspense, focuses on King John and his attempt to forestall Prince Louis's invasion of England, which, I feel, is a shame as the object should have had a more significant role in this fictional tale.

Apart from the slow pace of the story, Alys Clare has written an intriguing story that brought the past to life. I love how she invoked the feeling of being transported into the past with her descriptive writing. The story flow is a little jerky in places where some of the scenes change in my opinion, but other readers may disagree with me, so will leave you to decide for yourselves. Nonetheless, I would consider reading more of this author's books in the future.

Due to some scenes of violence, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I do recommend this book if you love historical fiction, mysteries, and thrillers. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

Purchase Links:


                    

About The Author:
(information taken from Amazon)


Alys Clare writes historical murder mysteries. To date there are 16 titles in the Hawkenlye series, set in and around the Wealden Forest during the reigns of Richard I and John: in order they are Fortune like the Moon, Ashes of the Elements, The Tavern in the Morning, The Chatter of the Maidens, The Faithful Dead, A Dark Night Hidden, Whiter than the Lily, Girl in a Red Tunic, Heart of Ice, The Enchanter's Forest, The Paths of the Air, The Joys of my Life, The Rose of the World, The Song of the Nightingale, The Winter King and A Shadowed Evil.

The Aelf Fen books are set in the fenlands of East Anglia in the reign of William Rufus. The 7 titles so far are Out of the Dawn Light, Mist over the Water, Music of the Distant Stars, The Way between the Worlds, Land of the Silver Dragon, Blood of the South and The Night Wanderer.

Alys has been writing professionally for more than 25 years.

Author Links:

Thursday, 16 August 2018

Audio/Book Review of The Pirates of Pacta Servanda (Pillars of Reality Book 4) by Jack Campbell


Book Title: The Pirates of Pacta Servanda (Pillars of Reality #4)
Genre: Epic Fantasy/Dark Fantasy
Pages: 324
Audio Book Length: 11 Hours 32 Mins
Author: Jack Campbell
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
Date Published: 12 April 2016 (E-Book)
12 January 2016 (Audio)

Synopsis:

"The world feels oddly strained, like a line pulled too taunt and apt to snap, smashing everything in its path."

Master Mechanic Mari and Mage Alain have survived every attempt to stop them, but their enemies are determined to kill Mari, the only one who can save her world from a storm of destruction. As armies begin to gather and cities seethe with tension, Mari, Alain, and their friends must prepare to confront the storm in the place it first appeared: the broken kingdom of Tiae.

The dangers facing them demand perilous raids, tough battles, and more than a little piracy. Beating the Mechanics Guild and the Mage Guild that have controlled the world of Dematr for centuries will require an unprecedented alliance under Mari's command of rebellious Mechanics, Mages, and common folk who know that together they can change the world, but separately they will all lose.

Review:


The Pirates of Pacta Servanda (The Pillars of Reality, #4)The Pirates of Pacta Servanda by Jack Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is the fourth book in a fantastic epic fantasy series called The Pillars of Reality. I absolutely loved it!

Mari is a fantastic character. I liked her immediately when I met her in the first book. I love her determination to do the right thing, even at the cost of her own life. A Master Mechanic, Mari has faced many threats to her life from the Guild Masters on the world of Dematr and survived. Mari has been foreseen by Mages to be 'The Daughter of Jules' and fated to free the world of Dematr from the tyranny of both the Guilds - Mechanics and Mages - and to unite the Mechanics, Mages and Commons against said Guilds. This time, she finds herself on a dangerous mission on the sea in an attempt to reach the broken kingdom of Tay and walking in the footsteps of the legendary Jules of Pacta Servanda. Together with her friends, and Alain, she will have to dig deep to survive the oncoming storm.

Mage Alain is also a fantastic character. I liked him a lot from the start. He was one of the youngest Acolytes to achieve Mage status at the age of seventeen. He has been taught from a young age not to show or feel any emotions and that the world he lives in is an illusion, where nothing is real. I love how this character has grown as the series has progressed. He tries to show more emotion, even though his Guild had virtually beaten it out of him. He hides a dry wit under that emotionless mask.

I listened to this story in audio format, rather than read it. MacLeod Andrews once again narrates the story. He does a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. Even Alain, who's voice is meant to be flat and emotionless comes across with subtle hints. You would think that Alain's voice would be monotonous, but it's not so. I love the way he brings all the characters to life with different accents, inflexions and tones. He even makes the women's voices sound perfect for each character. As for his narration, he read the story clearly and concisely, and his pacing was perfect. I would definitely listen to more books read by this narrator.

The story continues from the end of The Assassins of Altis and sees Mari and Alain joining with several new characters as the action heats up. Mechanic Caylou (not sure of spelling as I listened to the story so have no reference and have spelt it phonetically - it could be Kayloo or another variation) makes another appearance. He is one of Mari's friends from the Mechanics Guild, along with his girlfriend, Ally, who also makes an appearance this time. Mage Asha also makes another appearance, but there are also several other new characters that are now integral to the plot. There is Mage Dov, who is Asha's uncle, and Mechanic Dov (no relation) whose relative had once lived in Marandur. Sien, a princess of Tay, plays a significant role in this story, too. There are a few more characters added, but it would take me too long to mention them all.

I love the world building in this series. It is familiar though strange at the same time. It has a mix of steampunk and modern day technology, but this is due to the way the Guilds restricted people from creating new things. The story is full of action, adventure, and danger and I found myself an emotional wreck at times. In this story, the characters travel to the Sea of Backer, where pirates, traders and Imperials rule the waves and danger threatens on all fronts. The action is ramping up as the storyline reaches towards the climax. Have you ever read or listened to a story and felt utterly emersed in it? It happened to me as I listened to this book. These characters have come to life for me and have become my friends. This book ends with a slight cliffhanger, which had me eager to listen to the next story in the series, The Servants of the Storm, as soon as possible.

Jack Campbell has written a fantastic science fiction series. I have added him to my favourite author's list, as he's found a fan in me. I love his writing style, which is fast-paced and descriptive, and the flow of the story is good too.

Although there is now some mention of scenes of a sexual nature, it’s not shown. I do not, however, recommend this book to younger readers under the age of 15 due to some violence. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love dark or epic fantasy, steampunk or action/adventure and supernatural/paranormal romance genres. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews


             

About The Author:


"Jack Campbell" is the pseudonym for John G. Hemry, a retired Naval officer (and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis). As Jack Campbell, he writes The Lost Fleet series of military science fiction novels, as well as the Beyond the Frontier continuation of The Lost Fleet, and The Lost Stars series (a spin-off of The Lost Fleet). He has also written the Stark's War series and the Sinclair/"JAG in space" series, and has written many shorter stories featuring space opera, fantasy, time travel, and alternate history. Many of these stories can be found in the three Jack Campbell ebook anthologies. He lives with his wife (the Indomitable S) and three children (two of whom are autistic) in Maryland.

Author Links:



Tuesday, 7 August 2018

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Claimed by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Book 1) by Felicity Heaton @FelicityHeaton




New York Times best-selling paranormal romance author Felicity Heaton is here today for the book tour of her new shifter romance release, Claimed by her Cougar, the first book in her brand new Cougar Creek Mates Series. Set in her popular Eternal Mates world, Cougar Creek Mates takes you into the deep Canadian wilderness to a secret place that’s home to a cougar shifter pride led by four sexy brothers, each guaranteed to steal your heart and set it racing! With all four books in the series releasing just weeks apart, this is going to be one hot summer.

Check out the book and be sure to enter the awesome grand giveaway happening at her website!








Claimed by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series Book 1)
Felicity Heaton

Having lost his parents and mate in a brutal attack on his cougar shifter pride by a hunter organisation, Rath burns with a need to keep humans off his land and out of his life. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect his pride from them, but when a lone female wanders into his territory, it isn’t a burning need to drive her away he’s feeling and it isn’t his pride that needs protecting—it’s his heart.

Down on her luck, Ivy follows a lead to a spot where she hopes to photograph black bears, but what she discovers there is a mountain of a man who lacks manners and seems determined to drive her off his property—a man who stirs unbidden fire in her veins and a strange sense of home.

With a pride gathering on the verge of happening at Cougar Creek and the air charged with a mating heat, the last thing Rath needs is a human on his land, especially one as beautiful and alluring as Ivy, one who rouses a fierce need to fight for her, but he can’t convince himself to let her go… and that proves dangerous for them both.






Enter the grand tour-wide giveaway to win one of a $75, $50 or $25 Amazon Gift Card at the Claimed by her Cougar book page. This giveaway is international and open to everyone, and ends at midnight on August 12th. Enter now: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/claimed-by-her-cougar-shifter-romance-book.php







If the tip she had received turned out to be nothing, Ivy was going to kill the person who had given it to her. She rubbed her hands together, struggling to keep the chill off her numbed fingers as she made her way through the thick coniferous woods, following a faint path that she hoped would lead her down to the river she had heard almost a mile back. She paused and checked her position on her GPS.
She was getting close to the coordinates she had been given now, and not even the freezing morning temperatures, or the chilly night camping that had seen her awake more than asleep, listening tensely to every noise in the darkness, could dampen her excitement.
Black bears.
If she could get some photographs of a mother with cubs in undisturbed habitat, it would be incredible, perfect for her series on Canadian bears, an idea she had hit on last year when trying to shatter a creative wall that had left her close to giving up photography altogether.
Yasmin had talked her through it, always the voice of reason and support, convincing her not to give up just yet and to think of a project that could stir her passion again.
Ivy was glad that she had listened and had decided to try a series on bears, because some of the photos she had taken of grizzlies in the fall had restored her faith and now she had found the energy she had been missing, the enthusiasm she had always had for photography.
It wasn’t her work. It was her passion.
One she couldn’t believe she had almost given up on now that she was back in the saddle.
She carefully picked a path over the roots of the spruces and pines that towered above her, half of her focus on the world around her and half of it on the project.
If things went well with the black bears, maybe she could head over to the coast and find some spirit bears. It would be more of a challenge, but she had done her research and there was a place that was off the beaten trail, just like this one. No tourist groups to disturb her work or get in the way. Just unspoilt and untamed nature at its finest. She could picture the photographs now, just as she could see the ones she could get in her current location, and another bubble of excitement burst inside her, bringing a smile to her lips.
She could do it if her funding held.
Ivy didn’t want to think about that, not when what had happened with one of her sponsors had sent her into her creative depression in the first place.
She adjusted the straps of her backpack, one that he had bought her.
One she had wanted to ditch but getting a bag of this calibre, one that could safely store all her equipment, some clothing and food, and her camping gear, was expensive, and she had never been one to do something as frivolous as throwing away a perfectly good bag and buying a replacement.
Her budget was stretched tight enough as it was.
She was damned if she was going to risk running out of money just to spite a man who didn’t give a damn about her.
Ivy paused and listened, searching for the sound of the river through the patches of birdsong. Nothing. She pushed onwards, heaving a sigh as her feet started to ache in her boots. She must have walked a few miles already, had started out from her camping spot at first light, as soon as she had been able to walk without needing a flashlight.
It was growing lighter now.
Ahead of her, the trees thinned, and she peered through them. Golden light cast shadows, telling her there was an opening of some sort in that direction.
She quickened her pace, the thought of standing in the weak sunlight and letting it warm her driving her more than the thought the river might be there. She needed to warm up or her brain was going to freeze. She should have found her gloves in her pack this morning, and maybe a hat, something to keep the chill off so it wasn’t such a distraction, but she had been so excited by the thought of finding black bears in this pristine wilderness that she had rushed to keep moving towards the location she had been given.
An animal called in the distance and she stilled, her head whipping in all directions, pulse jacking up as she listened hard, trying to figure out where the sound had come from, and what had made it.
A deer broke cover just a few metres ahead of her and she almost shrieked as she jumped and stumbled back a step. The heel of her hiking boot caught on a root and threatened to send her down, and she staggered as she fought to maintain her balance so she didn’t land on her backside, and her pack.
The animal glanced her way, called again and bounded into the trees to her right as she grabbed the trunk of the pine to stop herself from falling and breathed hard and fast, her heart hammering as adrenaline flooded her veins, leaving her trembling.
When the sound of its footfalls disappeared, and the birds began singing again, she breathed a little easier, focused on each one she pulled down into her lungs to steady her racing heart as she sagged against the tree.
Damn, being so deep in the woods was making her jittery.
She wasn’t sure she had ever ventured so far into the wilderness before, and she hadn’t realised it would put her so on edge, afraid of every noise she heard. She had been so caught up in the fact the person she had spoken to at a bar in Golden, deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, had told her he had seen a lot of bears in this valley in the past that she hadn’t really thought about how remote it was.
Or how alone she was.
Normally when she headed into the wilder places in the world, she had a guide with her.
This time, she was flying solo.
Looking for bears.
Damn, she hoped she hadn’t made a terrible mistake by trekking into the middle of nowhere and wasn’t about to meet a grisly end.
Pun intended.
Ivy looked back over her shoulder as she palmed the bear spray hanging from her belt of her brown trousers, using the feel of it to calm her nerves. If she trekked all day, she could probably make it back to her Jeep where she had parked it at the end of a logging track. It would be dark when she got there, but she could sleep in the safety of the vehicle and drive at first light.
She glanced at the forest around her, and shook her head, causing her ponytail to sway across the shoulders of her beige weatherproof jacket.
No. She had to keep going forwards, wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she didn’t do this. It would always play on her mind, tormenting her with the fact she had given up when she might have been able to get award-winning photographs of bears.
When she scanned the woods again, and spotted mist creeping through the trees below her to her right, her feet took the decision out of her hands. She marched down the slope, winding through the broad trunks of the ancient trees, and slowed as she left them behind.
The river.
It was eerily silent as it stretched before her, shallow and broad, rippling over rocks.
She stared at the dense dark green woods on the other side and the mountains that speared the azure sky beyond them, the cragged peaks still laced with snow.
The beauty of it hit her hard, had her standing still and taking it in as she swept her gaze across the scenery, to her left towards where the sun was rising, not quite visible beyond a dip in the mountains.
She wasn’t sure she had ever been anywhere that felt so tranquil.
Where she felt miles from civilisation.
It was breathtaking.
A smile crept onto her lips. The trek and the terrifying night sleeping in a flimsy tent had been worth it just to see this.
She followed the rocky bank of the river, letting it lead her now, forgetting her GPS, sure this was the spot the old man had told her about, and that she would get the photographs of bears that she wanted here, if she had a little patience.
And damn, they were going to be amazing.
She could feel it as a shiver over her skin, a sweep of prickles that stirred her excitement to a whole new level and had her looking at all the angles, seeking just the right one to make a composition that would blow the world away.
She found it as she rounded a bend in the river and the trees hugging the bank eased away from it, allowing the scenery to open up.
It was perfect.
Incredible.
The shallow river rippled over rocks, flowing swiftly around the bend, and trees enclosed it on both sides. The mountains embraced those trees, rising high into the sky. Yes, this was the place. She was going to get the shots she wanted here, she was sure of it.
As the sun broke the horizon above the mountains, and mist swirled across the river, she reached for her camera. She had to photograph it. It was too beautiful to let it slip through her grasp. She pulled her backpack off, set it down on the bank near the trees and unzipped it, taking out her camera. She fixed a wide-angle lens on it, one that would give her enough field of view to really capture the beauty of the valley but could zoom to give her a close up if a bear appeared, and positioned herself.
Ivy snapped a picture and looked down at the screen of her Nikon, smiled at the shot, adjusted her settings, and lifted her camera to take another. As she swept it across the scenery, looking for the best composition, she imagined a black bear emerging from the haze and how perfect it would be. It was a magical scene as the sun rose and mist hung just above the rippling water, and it would only be made even more magical by a bear.
She took a handful of photographs, the changing light as the sun rose leading her to take another and then another, documenting the splendour of the scene as it subtly shifted.
She had never seen anything so beautiful.
So breathtaking.
She swung her camera left, towards the side of the river she was on, wanting to capture a shot of it with the glacier in the distance and the sun rising above it.
A shape loomed in the mist, disturbing it, and her heart lodged in her throat, a thrill chasing through her as she pressed down on the shutter release, sure it was a bear.
But as the mist parted, it wasn’t a bear that emerged.
It was a man.
A mountain of one.
He moved towards her with a predator’s gait, prowling through the mist that tried to cling to his long powerful jeans-clad legs and the cuffs of his worn dark green fleece, the sun rising behind him casting golden highlights in his thick dark hair. His square jaw, shadowed by stubble, tensed and his stony grey eyes darkened as they narrowed on her.
It took Ivy a moment to realise he was talking to her.
“You’re trespassing.” His gravelly deep voice rolled over her, a growl that suited his appearance.
He looked more dangerous than the wild animals in these parts.








Book 2: Captured by her Cougar (coming 18th August 2018)
Book 3: Courted by her Cougar (coming 8th September 2018)
Book 4: Craved by her Cougar (coming 29th September 2018)






Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:


Sunday, 5 August 2018

Book Review of Claimed by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series Book 1) by Felicity Heaton



Book Title: Claimed by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series #1)
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Pages: 150
Author: Felicity Heaton
Date Published: 28 July 2018


Synopsis:

Having lost his parents and mate in a brutal attack on his cougar shifter pride by a hunter organisation, Rath burns with a need to keep humans off his land and out of his life. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect his pride from them, but when a lone female wanders into his territory, it isn’t a burning need to drive her away he’s feeling and it isn’t his pride that needs protecting—it’s his heart.

Down on her luck, Ivy follows a lead to a spot where she hopes to photograph black bears, but what she discovers there is a mountain of a man who lacks manners and seems determined to drive her off his property—a man who stirs unbidden fire in her veins and a strange sense of home.

With a pride gathering on the verge of happening at Cougar Creek and the air charged with a mating heat, the last thing Rath needs is a human on his land, especially one as beautiful and alluring as Ivy, one who rouses a fierce need to fight for her, but he can’t convince himself to let her go… and that proves dangerous for them both.

Review:


Claimed by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series Book 1)Claimed by her Cougar by Felicity Heaton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story is the first book in a new shifter series called Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series, which is an offshoot of the Eternal Mates series (which I love) and based in the same world.

Rath is a character whom I liked a lot. He has all the traits of an alpha male - strong, protective, and possessive. Being a cougar shifter, however, he also likes his space and is used to being solitary. When a human unexpectedly crosses into his territory in search of black bears to photograph, Rath is determined to chase her off before the rest of the pride arrives for the gathering, but it quickly becomes apparent that there's more to Ivy than being just a pesky human - she's his mate.

Ivy Wentworth is a strong female character. I liked her a lot too. A freelance photographer, she is determined to track down black bears in their natural habitat. Instead, she finds herself confronted by a surly man determined to drive her off his land. As danger draws unknowingly closer, Ivy finds herself fighting her attraction to the mysterious Rath.

I started reading this story, told through Rath's and Ivy's points of view, and it swept me up into the tale and carried me away. Rath is a little rough around the edges, and Ivy is like a babbling brook that smooths them, so together they make a lovely couple. My only bug-bear about this story was the insta-love between the main characters. Insta-love, no. Insta-lust, yes. They knew each other for less than a week and, with Ivy being a human, I don't think she would fall head over heels so quickly. Another thing I found about this story is that it felt too short - more like a novella than a novel even though there are 150 pages, and it also felt a little rushed near the end as if the author had quickly wrapped it up to get an HEA ending.

As this series is part of the Eternal Mates world, there is mention of Archangel, the same agency that has been hunting other shifter species in that series. Alexander, Ivy's sponsor, is vaguely introduced; he only appears close to the end of the story and is in one scene. I felt he didn't have enough development into a villainous character for me to love to hate him. It's as if the author just used him as a way to introduce Archangel into the equation, which annoyed me. Rath's younger brother, Storm, is also introduced to the reader. Again, this character doesn't get much page time, but as he is the intended main character in the next book in the series, I suppose we'll get to know him better then. Gabriella, Alexander's half-sister, is also brought into the tale near the end and will be in the second book as one of the main characters. There's a preview of Storm and Gabriella's story at the end of this book.

I reached the end of the book with mixed feelings. I love the shifter world the author has created but feel let down by the rushed feel to the story. I don't know if she is putting on too much pressure onto herself to get these books out quickly, or not. I prefer quality over quantity, and this book is decidedly below her best work, even though I still loved it. I hope the other books in the series are less rushed, and I am looking forward to reading the next book soon.

Felicity Heaton has written another fast-paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love her fast-paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is still on top of my favourite author's list.

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of cat shifters and other paranormal species. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

Purchase Links:


            


About The Author:


Felicity Heaton


Felicity Heaton is a NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY and International Best-Selling Author writing passionate paranormal romance books and series for adults.

In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, her best-selling Her Angel romance series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm romance series or any of her stand alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try her Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series. Or if you like hot-blooded alpha heroes who will let nothing stand in the way of them claiming their destined woman then try her Eternal Mates series. It’s packed with sexy heroes in a world populated by elves, vampires, fae, demons, shifters, and more. If sexy Greek gods with incredible powers battling to save our world and their home in the Underworld are more your thing, then be sure to step into the world of Guardians of Hades.

Fans of paranormal romance books by authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole and Christine Feehan will love Felicity's books too.

Author Links:

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

Website ; Blog ; Facebook ; Twitter ; Tsu ; Pinterest ; GoodReads ; Amazon