Betrayal ~ Infidelity Series Book #1

Title:  Betrayal
Series:  Infidelity #1
Author:  Aleatha Romig
Release Date:  October 11, 2015
Main Characters:  Alexandria "Charli" Collins & Lennox "Nox" Demetri
My Rating:  4 No Holds Barred ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Sometimes, you have to take a chance and risk it all in order to get it all.  You have to step outside the box and trust that someone will catch you when you fall. Sometimes, you have to risk your heart.


Synopsis:

Alexandria Collins has one week to live carefree—no ghosts of her past or pressures of her future haunting her. Reinventing herself as "Charli," she is knocked off her feet by a sexy, mysterious man who brings her pleasure like she never imagined. With her heart at stake, she forgets that decisions made in the dark of night reappear in the bright light of day.

"Some of my tastes are unique. They aren’t for everyone. I understand that.”

Lennox "Nox" Demetri is wealthy, confident, and decisive--he knows what he wants. From the first time he sees Charli at an exclusive resort, he knows he wants her. Although he is usually the one to make the rules, together they agree on one:

One week. No more.

When betrayal comes from those closest to Alexandria, she must decide how far she is willing to go to survive. Choices are not always easy, especially when they involve the heart, body, and soul. After all, Infidelity is a business, and some rules are meant to be broken.

"Is it really cheating if you're doing it to yourself?"

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a sexy, new dominant hero who knows what he wants, and a strong-willed heroine who has plans of her own. With classic Aleatha Romig twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions, this new epic dark romance will have readers swooning one minute and screaming the next. Have you been Aleatha'd?

BETRAYAL is a full-length novel and the first of five in the INFIDELITY series.

My Review:

Oh Aleatha Romig...What a tangled web you weave! I loved the intriguing intro/meeting of Alex/Charli & Nox. Charli with an i wants to experience a carefree week of exploring her hard limits before starting law school. Nox is the dark, mysterious stranger willing to take her to those limits if she agrees to trust him & do everything he asks of her. And so the week begins . . . no questions, no exchange of personal info, no last names, definitely no commitments - just one week of no holds barred, pushing all limits sex. Of course, all good things must come to an end sometime. Real life is calling Alex back to her Southern aristocratic home where secrets are knocking on the closet door. The magnitude of the betrayal that she discovers there sends her running to New York and taking a strange job opportunity with a mysterious company called Infidelity. She is floored when this job not only brings her back in contact with Nox, but also in service to him! Perfect setup leading into book 2!

I'm not always a fan of the past/present back & forth action but it certainly works beautifully in this book. I found myself flipping pages as the suspense & sex set the pages aflame. Betrayal is a very intriguing start to what promises to be another great series! A Must Read!

My Rating:  4 No Holds Barred ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

Shifting Dreams ~ Cambio Springs Series #1 ~ Book Review

Title:  Shifting Dreams
Series:  Cambio Springs #1
Author:  Elizabeth Hunter
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Release Date:  March 5, 2013
Main Characters:  Jena Crowe & Caleb Gilbert
My Rating:  4 Mysterious ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Like a present, this book builds anticipation, unwrapping the mystery of the town & people one page at a time.  Sooner or later, everyone must choose whether or not to allow someone close enough to help them close the door on the past, accept the present, and move forward into the future.

Synopsis:

Some days, Jena Crowe just can’t get a break. Work at her diner never ends, her two boys are bundles of energy, and she’s pretty sure her oldest is about to shift into something furry or feathery. Added to that, changes seem to be coming to the tiny town of Cambio Springs—big changes that not everyone in the isolated town of shapeshifters is thrilled about.

Caleb Gilbert was looking for change, and the quiet desert town seemed just the ticket for a more peaceful life. He never counted on violence finding him, nor could he have predicted just how crazy his new life would become.

When murder rocks their small community, Caleb and Jena will have to work together. And when the new Chief of Police isn’t put off by any of her usual defenses, Jena may be faced with the most frightening change of all: lowering the defenses around her carefully guarded heart.

Shifting Dreams is the first novel in Cambio Springs, the new paranormal romance series from Elizabeth Hunter, author of the best-selling Elemental Mysteries series.

My Review:

Strange things happen in Cambio Springs . . . people are clannish, secrets are guarded, an outsider never quite fits in.  Caleb Gilbert rode into town toting some heavy emotional baggage, but he was determined to make a home and a place for himself as the chief of police.  He runs into a wall of resistance from some of the strange locals who don't cotton to outsiders as they protect their secrets at all costs.  Jena Crowe is a widowed mom with two young boys, making ends meet by running her parent's diner during the day and tending bar at night.  Sparks fly when Caleb & Jena meet and share one electrifying kiss on Caleb's first night in town.  In the weeks that follow, he pursues Jena as diligently as she pushes him away.  Why won't she let him get close?  How can he break through her guard?  Late one night, Caleb is called out to the scene of a murder to find a very naked Jena sitting on the porch crying.  He senses her lies when he tries to question her. . . in fact, Caleb knows that everyone on the scene is lying to him.  The murder victim is a tribal elder, found lying naked in a pool of blood, bearing some strange deadly scratches. As Caleb investigates the scene, he realizes that something is very wrong here.  The evidence just doesn't add up, and he can't catch a murderer if no one will tell him the truth. What is going on in this town?  Who & what are these people?

There's a fascinating cast of characters in Cambio Springs.  Caleb is so sexy, so gorgeous.  And while he pretty much rode into town on a white horse, he's also in need of some TLC himself.  He left a past that haunts him and carries a saddle bag full of self-inflicted guilt. Jena's simply afraid to love and trust again, afraid of being left alone once more if another man either dies too young as her first husband did or simply rides out of town like most outsiders eventually do.  Caleb has his work cut out for him once he decides that he wants to be the man in Jena & her son's lives.  Sooner or later, everyone must choose whether or not to allow someone close enough to help them close the door on the past, accept the present, and move forward into the future.  And while trying to convince Jena that he's the real deal, Caleb is experiencing some strange sensations/dreams of his own.  There's an intriguing supporting cast that I know will be fodder for future stories . . . I look forward to reading their stories, especially Ted & Alex and Ollie & Allie.

Shifting Dreams is a hard book to describe without spoilers.  You really need to live and experience the story as you read it. I found this book to be different than other series I've read by Hunter, but just as captivating in its own way. The town of Cambio Springs is an intriguing mystery.  Like a present, this book builds anticipation, unwrapping the mystery of the town & people one page at a time.  I was quickly hooked by Hunter's writing style (as always) and found this book to be an unique, often funny, fascinating, and yes, even sexy read. A Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Mysterious ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . .xxx

Sandra

Haunted Open House ~ Do You Believe in Ghosts?

Welcome my Pretties!

Hey Y'all!  Welcome to my stop on Nancy's Haunted Open House Blog Tour.  As you can see, I'm in costume & ready to have some spooky fun.  There's a crispness to the air & I do believe a full moon rising . . . the perfect time to visit some haunted places!  What? You don't believe in ghosts?  Let's see if I can make a believer out of you tonight.  Take my hand while we visit some of the ghostly haunts in my home state of North Carolina.  I've been to most of these . . . & left in a hurry.  HaHaHaHaHa  

For eerie tales about haunted places, there's no place like the South.  From the mountains to the sea, North Carolina is either blessed or cursed, according to who you ask, with tales of ghost sightings and stories of narrow escapes.  Many tales have evolved from historical roots, documented facts that have resulted in spirits wandering, haunting the night.  Whether you're a believer or not, most of these places are hauntingly beautiful, steeped in history, and rich in folklore.  Let's check out a few tonight . . .

After we finish, be sure to enter my treat giveaway below and check out the other HOH Tour Blogger stops for a chance to gather more treats!

The Mountains of N.C.

Asheville - The Biltmore Estate, America's largest home, is the site of numerous hauntings. The 250-room estate, which opened in 1895, has 34 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms. In 1914, George Vanderbilt, the owner, died of appendicitis, and his wife reportedly can still be heard speaking quietly to him in the library. George appears in some of his favorite rooms in the estate, and a headless cat roams the grounds while voices echo in the swimming pool room. Asheville's other grand edifice, the Grove Park Inn (groveparkinn.com), is a massive hotel and spa built with boulders dug from a nearby mountain. A woman in a gauzy pink gown fell to her death in the hotel's atrium around 1920, and her spirit inhabits a fifth floor guest room. The Pink Lady hasn't revealed why she stays, but some suspect she jumped to her death when her heart was broken.

Valle Crucis is a small town high in North Carolina's mountains. People driving by the cemetery of an old stone church at night report a huge dog with glowing eyes and yellow teeth leaping from behind a headstone and keeping pace with the car, no matter its speed.

The Piedmont & Foothills of N.C.

The Brown Mountain Lights, first reported by Native Americans, appear after sunset as they rise above the peak of the mountain. Visible from Linville, the Blue Ridge Parkway or Wiseman's Gap, the lights change in size, shape and color. Legends surround the lights, which have been dismissed by the U.S. Geological Survey as marsh gas, even though there are no marshes in the area. The earliest legend recounts a great battle between the Cherokee and Catawba; purportedly, the lights are maidens searching for their lost warriors. A later story suggests an explorer was lost on the mountain, and the light is his slave's lantern, swinging as he searches for his owner.

*(The Devil's Stomping Ground is about 20 miles from my home. The barren circle this article speaks of is really there.) The devil paces, plotting evil, 150 miles east in Siler City. A spot called the Devil's Tramping Ground is a 40-foot diameter circle, barren of life, perhaps used for ancient ceremonies, as an alien landing zone or simply the place where the devil's hoof prints cause nothing to grow.

*(The site of the disappearing hitchhiker is also about 20 miles from my home in the other direction.  I pass this place often, and it always gives me chills.) North Carolina adds its own vanishing hitchhiker to the long list of spirits searching for a ride. Lydia's Bridge near Greensboro is the site where a young woman in white flags down a passing car. She rides in the back seat as the driver takes her home. When he opens the door to let her out, he discovers she's vanished. He knocks on the door of her home where an old woman tells him Lydia died in a car crash at the bridge many years ago.

The Dismal Swamp in N.C.

The Great Dismal Swamp covers 112,000 acres along North Carolina's northern border with Virginia. Open from sunrise to sunset, the huge swamp's cypress forests and shaded waterways provide a suitably creepy setting for hauntings. Unsettled visitors report seeing strange lights and ghosts and hearing unexplained sounds. Legend has it that slaves first escaped to the swamp in the 1600s and lived in small communities isolated from the world, inspiring a novel by Harriett Beecher Stowe. Lake Drummond, just across the border in the heart of the swamp, is the site where a young man searches vainly for his lost love, who paddles her white canoe across the water. The tragic circumstances are related in poet Sir Thomas Moore's "Ballad of the Lake of Dismal Swamp."

The Coast of N.C.

Edward Teach, the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard, met his end at a bloody battle in the sound off Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. After two years of preying on ships, capturing their cargo and murdering their crews, the governor of Virginia decided to put a stop to his piracy and sent two ships to defeat him. In 1718, after a furious fight, Blackbeard died at the hands of Lieutenant Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy. His head was severed and his body thrown overboard. Blackbeard's ghost haunts Teach's Hole, his favored hideaway, where it searches for its head, howling at his loss.

Another headless ghost haunts Maco Station, a few miles from Wilmington. In 1867, the caboose of a train came uncoupled on a dark and rainy night. The conductor waved his light frantically to warn the train advancing behind him, to no avail. The train collided with the caboose, killing Joe Baldwin. On some nights, a light sways from side to side along the tracks, advancing faster and faster. It could be Joe, looking for his head.

*(Information for this article was gathered in part from an article on Haunted Places in USA Today.)

Nancy, Thanks for once again hosting a fabulous Haunted Open House Blog Hop!  I look forward to it every year.  Congratulations on the release of Unleashed By Shadows!  It's an awesome addition to the Moonlight series.  Grab a copy y'all!  I highly recommend it.  You can check out my review:  Unleashed By Shadows Review

Be sure to trick or treat at these other HOH Blog Stops to fill your treat bag with lots of goodies! My treat for you is a chance to win a $10 gift ecard from Amazon!  You'll find the other blog stops here Haunted House Bloggers or in the list below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wild Ride Book Review

Title:  Wild Ride
Series:  Playing For Keeps #2
Author:  Cathryn Fox
Release Date:  October 19, 2015
My Rating:  3.5 Erotic ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Nothing much hotter than a long ride on a sinfully sexy cowboy . . . especially when he's playing for keeps. 

*Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for an ARC via Netgally.

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance novella from Entangled's Brazen imprint...

Good girl, meet bad cowboy...

Marketing Tycoon Tyler Mackenzie, a.k.a. Wildman Mac, has a knack for knowing what people want and, more importantly, what they need…so when he decides to show sweet and sexy yoga instructor Jess Gray that she's the one for him, he puts a seductive campaign into motion.

When Mac defines the terms for the week and insists she do everything he says, Jess can't help but be intrigued. Since this good girl wants to break free and do something naughty, she agrees to his terms and soon finds herself embarking on a sexual journey that knows no limits. For Jess this is one week of living out her fantasies, but Mac is determined to make this wild ride last forever.

My Review:

Three weekend cowboys invite the girls they can't get off their mind to a week of R&R at their ranch.  Coop has found his happy ever after with Julia.  Now it's Wildman Mac's turn to find out if Jess is his one that got away.  He kissed her once, and it haunts him still.  Mac is nervous as the plane carrying Jess and the other girls arrives at the ranch.  He knows all about Jess's darkest fantasies...he once saw what she writes in her journal at night.  Mac would love nothing better than being the man that fulfills those sexual desires from now on. Jess remembers the boy who kissed her, having thought of that kiss often over the years. Can she cut loose and let Mac give her the ride of her life?  Does she dare?  Their week together begins, and man oh man, it's a wet dream!  All Mac asks of Jess is that she trust him completely, give herself over to him without question.  He plans to fulfill her every lust filled desire - even the one that has him growling in jealousy.

Wild Ride is one hot, sexually explosive read!  There's no doubt you'll need a cold drink or something very sexy & warm to curl up with.  The sex scenes (& there's plenty of them) in this one are erotic to say the least.  Fox really brings the heat as Mac & Jess explore her every fantasy together.  As much as I love a good hot scene, I would have liked a little more relationship development outside the bedroom.  They went from 0 to 60 very quickly, and it almost felt like too much too soon.  But there are some peeks of who they both are at heart, and given the short length of the book, it's not unexpected that it would be one hot, fast, erotic read.  A Must Read!

My Rating:  3.5 Fantasy Filled ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . .xxx

Sandra

Sweet Ride Book Review

Title:  Sweet Ride
Series:  Playing For Keeps #3
Author:  Cathryn Fox
Release Date:  Nov. 16, 2015
Publisher:  Entangled: Brazen

My Rating:  3 Wickedly Sexy ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Sometimes, you need to take a chance - get off the Merry-Go-Round and go for the prize . . . especially when the prize is a sinfully wicked cowboy.

*Many thanks to Entangled: Brazen Publishing for this ARC via Netgally.

Synopsis:

He'll unlock her wildest fantasies...

Private investigator Curtis Jagger has always had a thing for Alix Harris. She was the darling of their high school—gorgeous, popular, class president...and, he suspects, just as naughty as she is nice. Now Jag has the opportunity to show her what she's missing. To show her that sometimes being bad can be sexy as hell...

Alix has always done what she's supposed to, and it's gotten her exactly nowhere. Determined to please herself—in every way possible—she accepts Jag's mysterious invitation to his ranch. In front of Jag's camera lens, Alix finds freedom far beyond her expectations. A freedom where she takes the reins and rides out every wicked desire.

But in one week, Alix will have to return to her real world where politics reign. A world that can’t include Jagger, or she’ll lose everything.


My Review:

The final installment in Fox's Playing For Keeps series is wickedly sexy and jam-packed with promises of fulfilling dark fantasies. Coop & Mac have each claimed their one that got away.  Now it's Jag's turn.  Can the boy from the wrong side of the tracks claim the high society, high school queen?  He couldn't back then, but what about now?  Jag is not the nerd he was in high school.  He's a sinfully sexy private investigator.  And it seems that he did some private investigating of his own before inviting Alex down to the ranch for a week of no holds barred live out your fantasy sex!  It seems he has perfect timing as Alex has just learned that her fiance has a very pregnant mistress that he's been keeping on the side.  In spite of having always done what was expected of her, Alex decides to take a chance.  And when Jag decides to call her bluff, they dive into a week of fulfilling her darkest sexual fantasies.  But all good things must come to an end, right?  When the week's over, Alex must choose whether to return to her cheating ex-fiance & high society life or live out her fantasies many times over married to Jag.

Sweet Ride is a wickedly erotic read that will have you seeking a cold shower - or a hot cowboy!  While I enjoyed Jag & Alex's story, I would have liked to see more personal growth and relationship development between them, outside the sex.  I think the lack thereof has more to do with the short length of the novella than anything else.  It may also have to do with the fact that I lost my heart to Coop in book 1!  As always, Cathryn Fox delivers another smokin' hot cowboy story . . .one I'd like to ride off into the sunset!  A Must Read!

My Rating:  3 Wickedly Sexy ♥'s . . .And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . .xxx

Sandra

Novel Book Tours ~ Touched By Midnight Series Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the Touched By Midnight Series Blog Tour hosted by Novel Book Tours!  I've read all nine of the Midnight books so I can say with authority, "You need to read these books!"  While you're here, feast your eyes on the tantalizing new covers, read my review of Midnight Kiss, enjoy excerpts from the first three books, enter the giveaway, and check out other blog stops on the tour.

The Touched by Midnight Series by Author Nancy Gideon is being re-released with new covers & a bit of updating.  The first 3 books are out now, and I must say Looking Good!  The re-release will continue with books 4-9 scheduled for release at one a month.  Lovers of PNR, especially vampires, grab this series now and sink your teeth in for a taste of some sinfully sexy men of the night with a side order of kickass heroines who stand up to them & for them.  You're in for a tantalizing, mesmerizing adventure as you progress through the series.  I'll give you a hint of things to come with my review of Midnight Kiss, book 1.  

My Review of Midnight Kiss:
Midnight Kiss is a hauntingly beautiful romance that aims straight for the heart.  This book has all the elements of a historical romance with one big added plus - the hero, Louis Radman, is a vampire and the heroine, Arabella Howland, is a very enticing mortal that Louis desires.

Louis Radman is a tormented, lonely shell of a man who has roamed the earth for 300 years as a vampire.  He is desperate to regain the life that was cruelly taken from him so many years ago.  Louis seeks the help of a physician, Stuart Howland, to cure his blood malady in hopes of reclaiming his mortal life and a shot at claiming the heart of the good doctor's daughter, Arabella.  When a blood transfusion seems to work, Louis takes Arabella as his wife, and they begin living the dream of a long, blissful life together.  But Louis's secrets, nightmares from his past, surface to reclaim Louis and threaten the life of his new mortal bride.  Louis finds himself in a battle for everything he holds dear, including his wife.  

Arabella Howland works as her father's physician assistant.  She is smart, curious, outspoken, pretty, and in love with her father's strange but gorgeous patient.  She can't solve the mystery of Louis's ailment or learn the reason her father is treating him, but she knows he is hypnotic, and she is drawn to him like a moth to a flame as he stirs before unknown desires in her.  Her greatest wish is realized when Louis asks her to marry him.  Little does she know that her dream will soon turn into a devastating, endless nightmare that doesn't disappear when the sun rises.  Arabella's life, as well as the lives of everyone she loves, is in mortal danger as she learns the horrifying truth about the man she has married.  Will she stand beside him to help him fight the past he can't escape?  Or will she run for her life?

I was quickly drawn into the plot of Midnight Kiss and the lives of Louis & Arabella as they battle the ultimate evil for a chance at eternal love.  The supporting cast of secondary characters is strong, adding intrigue and intensity to the story.  I'm especially intrigued by Gerard & am looking forward to more of his story.  Midnight Kiss is mesmerizing, hauntingly addictive, and beautifully written.  The historical setting sets the mood & atmosphere to the point that it almost becomes another character in this book.  Fans of paranormal and historical romance should give this book a read.  It comes in as one of my all time favorites.  A great start to the series!  A must read!

Rating:  5 Mysterious ♥♥♥♥♥'s  And that's the truth!...
Cross My Heart...xxx ~ Sandra

A Few Unforgettable Quotes:
She laughed softly.  "There is no logic in love, Louis.  Love is like the beauty of the heavens.  It needs no reason to exist.  Do not deny me the glimpse of paradise we've made between us.
♥    ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥
"Louis?"
"Yes, Little One?"
"Promise me I will have you forever and always."
When she was met with silence, Arabella looked up to him.  The somber set of her features demanding a reply.  "Promise me."
He cupped her face with a gentle touch, his gaze delving into hers with a soul-snatching intensity.  "I promise that I will never leave you unless it's best for you that I be gone."
♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥
"All I know is the name of what you are and some superstitious folly that's supposed to protect me from you.  I do not know what to believe, Louis."
"Believe that I love you, Little One."
♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥     ♥
"All love is madness.  But I will suffer it gladly."
♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥

Midnight Kiss (Touched by Midnight - Book 1)

by Nancy Gideon
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | Kobo Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published by: Imajinn Books
Release Date: July 12, 2015
Length: 262 Pages
“Dark and compelling, Gideon's novel will appeal to those who enjoy the vampire novels of Anne Rice.” — Library Journal

“A colorful and hauntingly beautiful tale of otherworldly love . . . destined to become a classic!”— Affaire de Coeur 
“Incredible, spellbinding reading!” — Rendezvous 

Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.

A DARK CURSE
Miss Arabella Howland is content to forgo the London marriage mill to assist her father in his research, especially when it comes to his intriguing patient, Louis Radman. But it’s not long before Bella’s curiosity alerts her to the danger of her father’s work . . . and to the fact that Louis is not who or whathe seems.

A BRIGHT PROMISE
After centuries struggling with his vile existence, Louis Radman will soon be free of his affliction, thanks to his very capable physician. Unfortunately, his heart is less secure around the man’s tempting daughter. His yearning to walk in the light once more is complicated by his desire for the delightful Bella, who is as intelligent as she is fearless. But if history has taught him anything, it’s not to tempt fate. 

AN UNFORGIVING PAST
Still, happiness has a price and Louis is soon reminded that mortality comes with unfortunate limitations. To protect his new bride, he must face the demons from his past who wish to pull him back into their vampiric fold.

Yet, if he’s forced to return to his midnight world, will he lose his beloved Bella forever? 

Midnight Temptation (Touched by Midnight - Book 2)

by Nancy Gideon

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | Kobo Books

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Published by: Imajinn Books

Release Date: August 14, 2015

Length: 256 Pages

“A treasure trove of unearthly delights! Readers will want to induct Ms. Gideon into the vampire storyteller’s Hall of Fame!”— Romantic Times

“An extraordinary, moving and sensual tale of supernatural love powerful enough to defy death. Nancy Gideon is a bright artistic star of epic proportion in the supernatural galaxy. Five Star!”— Affaire de Coeur

"A fast-paced, surprisingly believable look into a dark and mysterious world where only the greatest of loves can flourish!”— The Literary Times

Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.

A WICKED LEGACY

Terrified by her unusual strength and frightening urges, Nicole Radouix’s sheltered country life is shattered when she discovers her family’s secret— she’s the daughter of a mortal mother and vampire father. Stricken, she flees to the seductive lure of the city to discover the truth about who and what she is. But the turmoil of post-revolution Paris is no place for an innocent.

A WILD DESIRE 

Finding herself under the protection of noble ex-patriot Marchand La Valois, Nicole is pulled into deadly underworld struggles, both political and vampiric. As their passions ignite, Marchand soon realizes the lovely Nicole is more predator than prey and may be more of a threat than the unruly streets outside.

AN UNTHINKABLE DILEMMA 

Desperate to control her dark desires, Nicole accepts an offer of guidance from a hypnotic enemy, ensnaring both her and Marchand in a dangerous web of centuries’ old revenge. To escape their deadly nighttime games, Nicole must embrace her immortality. But will it cost her Marchand’s eternal love?

Midnight Surrender (Touched by Midnight - Book 3)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published by: Imajinn Books
Release Date: October 1, 2015
Length: 266 Pages

“Gripping! Readers are pulled into a whirlwind while surrendering their souls!”— Gothic Journal

“Darkly sensual and suspenseful Midnight Surrender is nothing short of special! Lovers of vampire romances take notice!”— The Literary Times

“Gideon mesmerizes with this chilling tale. You’ll read it and read it again. Superb!”— Rendezvous

Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.

A RECKLESS QUEST 
A savage killer stalks the dark streets of turn-of-the-century New York. To keep her father’s newspaper afloat, publisher Cassie Alexander chases the story. But what she catches is a madman’s attention.

A DARK DECEPTION
When her reclusive neighbor Louis Radcliffe rescues her from an attack, Cassie finds her vow of independence shaken by the strong attraction between them. It’s an attraction Louis denies, even as the invalid grandmother he cares for pushes to bring them together—for reasons that will break both their hearts.

AN INEVITABLE SACRIFICE
Determined to hide his secrets from her, Louis soon becomes the cornerstone of Cassie’s investigation. He can’t allow her stubbornness to place her life—and his immortal soul—in danger. But as much as he tries to keep her safe in his arms, it soon becomes evident that Cassie’s become a target. And Louis has no choice but to find out if their love is strong enough to withstand the truth . . .

Nancy Gideon is the author of over 55 novels ranging from Regencies, historicals and contemporary suspense to dark paranormal romance, with a couple of horror screenplays thrown into the mix.
​When not at the keyboard or working full time as a legal assistant in Southwest Michigan, she can be found feeding her addictions for Netflix and all things fur, feather and fin, enjoying Grammy time (usually watching The Avengers), and meeting new friends and readers through her GoodReads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group. Her books can also be found under the pen names Dana Ransom, Rosalyn West and Lauren Giddings.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
- Midnight Kiss: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | Kobo Books
- Midnight Temptation: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | Kobo Books
- Midnight Surrender: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books
​- Genre: Paranormal Romance  

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Tour Schedule

Monday, October 19, 2015
- Margo Hoornstra - Writing Inside and Out
- Romancing the Dark Side
- M.J. Schiller, Romance Author

Tuesday, October 20, 2015
- Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews
- DRB1stChp Blog

Wednesday, October 21, 2015
- Books with Merritt
- Sexy Between the Covers- Melissa Keir

Thursday, October 22, 2015
- Kristy Centeno
- Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf
​- Lora Lee

Friday, October 23, 2015
- Authors' Cafe
- Paranormal Dimension
- Paranormal Realms

Saturday, October 24, 2015
- Teatime and Books
- Christine's Words
- Leigh Anderson Romance
- Diane Burton - Adventure and Romance
- The Cheshire Cat's Looking Glass

Slow Ride Book Review

Title:  Slow Ride
Series:  Playing For Keeps #1
Author:  Cathryn Fox
Release Date:  Sept. 28, 2015
My Rating:  4 Flaming ♥'s

First Thoughts:  It's never too late to chase your dreams . . . especially if he is a sinfully sexy part-time cowboy.

*Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for this ARC via Netgally.

Synopsis:

He's looking for love. She's looking for trouble...

As a successful doctor and weekend cowboy, Chase Cooper enjoys a full life with plenty of female company. But lately, something hasn't felt right. He's been distracted. Antsy. Damn it, he's been lonely. With an eye on settling down with a nice girl, Coop invites his high school best friend down to his ranch to see if maybe she's the one for him...

Instead, her twin sister shows up. The one who loathes him.

Julia Blair is already halfway to Coop's ranch when she learns the invitation wasn't for her, but her vivacious twin sister. She has two choices: slink back home, or see just how far this farce will go. One glance at hotter-than-sin Coop, and she knows she's playing a dangerously hot game. Because what this cowboy wants, this cowboy gets...

(Previously released on Entangled's Flaunt imprint as Cowboy's Way - November 2013 and has been enhanced with new material.)

My Review:

This is my first read by Cathryn Fox, and I must say while this may be a novella, it sizzles with action, sex, and romance.  The depth of the plot line is surprising given the short length of the story.  And yet, I was left completely satisfied with the character development and couldn't help falling in love with Coop and Julia as they stumbled their way into love.

After a night of drinking, three friends - Coop, Jag, & Mac - decide it would be a good idea to invite the ones that got away down to their dude ranch for a week to see if sparks would fly or sizzle out.  Chase Cooper sent an invitation to his gal friend from high school - a girl named Mia whose twin sister was Coop's secret crush.  When the invitation arrives, it's Julia who receives it.  Having no idea who it's from, she decides on a whim to show up in her sister's place.  As she walks off the plane, she is shocked to see Coop waiting.  The truth is - she's always had a crush on him too.  And so their story begins.

The next week is spent getting to know each other - both in and out of bed.  It's obvious they are sexually compatible, but Julia wants someone to want HER, not her sister.  Coop is looking for a permanent relationship, and he believes he's found it in Julia.  But mishaps, misunderstandings, and secrets threatened to destroy the relationship before it gets off the ground.  Can Coop convince Julia that she's the one he wants in only a week?  Is it too late to catch the one that got away?

Slow Ride is a sweet, sinfully sexy story about second chance romances.  It's well written and flows beautifully.  If you like your cowboys smokin' hot & all kinds of trouble and your sex all over the place, this is the book for you!  Sweet, erotic, sizzlin' hot . . . A Must Read!

*Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for this ARC via Netgally.

My Rating:  4 Flaming ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra

Unleashed By Shadows Book Review

Cale ~ Terriot King aka Gunslinger

Title:  Unleashed by Shadows
Series:  By Moonlight, book 10
Author:  Nancy Gideon
Release Date:  Print: Oct. 17, 2015
                         Ebook - Oct. 26, 2015
My Rating:  5 Searing, Soul Searching ♥'s
First Thoughts:  Sometimes, the greatest danger to man comes from secrets hidden within . . . the ones lurking in the dark shadows of one's own soul. They hold the power to destroy us - they are the opponent we must conquer if we are to survive with our sanity and life intact.  Even a King is vulnerable to the darkness . . . he just has farther to fall when he loses.

Synopsis:

He feared no man, no foe, no obstacle or challenge . . . 

Burdened by the weight of his secrets and his father’s sins, the need for redemption pulls Cale Terriot from his duty to his clan and the arms of his new mate into deadly intrigues in a rival territory. His dangerous masquerade in a high-stakes Shifter fight club is about to be exposed to those who would show no mercy – if he can survive in the ring.

How to protect a prince turned king made pawn? 

Fearing she’ll lose her soulmate to the darkness he carries inside, Kendra Terriot, newly made queen in the Shape-shifter House of Terriot, must provide him with an heir in order to save his life . . . and his soul. But first she must risk all to coax him back from the edge of violence inherited with his crown.

Can her love tear him from an unbreakable vow that can only end in death?

My Review:

Burdened by a dark past ripe with blood, death, & enough guilt and regrets to last several lifetimes, Cale Terriot is on a mission to make amends and atone for the sins of his father and so when  Silas MacCreedy calls in a debt, Cale reluctantly agrees to help him.  When he learns what is expected of him, Cale knows he should refuse but it's the only way to satisfy his debt and ease his guilt.  The King of the Terriot clan of Shapeshifters goes underground to fight in an illegal fight ring in an effort to discover the names of the men at the top - the powers that be who pose a real threat to his people, family, & all of New Orleans.  Cale knows he's walking on dangerous ground, flirting with the devil as he falls under the spell and into the hands of Casper Lee.  He's walking a high wire without a safety net and dangerously close to falling off.  I won't go into more details on the story to avoid spoilers, but Unleashed is a riveting read, one intimately woven to include a large cast of characters in a plot with more twists and turns than a curvy mountain road.

From King to the drug induced world of illegal fighters . . . what happens when a man risks everything in an effort to make amends for the past?  When is the cost of redemption too high?  If Cale survives the fight in the ring, will he be lost to the inner darkness threatening his soul?  Cale is crumpling under the weight of a heavy secret - one that haunts him, one that is destroying him, one that may cost him the love of his life.  In order to win the fight in the ring, the King of the Terriots will have to flirt with a dark mistress from his past . . . one that nearly destroyed him before his mate, Kendra, stepped in, refusing to let him go. Cale enters a battle for his life, his mate, his people, and his soul.  They say the truth will set you free - but what if it costs him everything?

Cale Terriot is simply awesome in Unleashed By Shadows.  There's no doubt he's King of the Terriots as he struts his stuff whether working undercover as a common dock worker, getting down & bloody in a fight ring to the roar of Gunslinger, or shaking his mighty fine ass on the dance floor.  He is arrogant, cocky, and smokin' hot!  He's also protective, devoted, & actually very vulnerable.  He accepts the weight of the crown pressing heavily upon him as he fights to save all that is dear to him.  There are two sides of Cale Terriot to be experienced in this book, and the cover reflects both of them beautifully.

Kendra Terriot surprised me in Unleashed.  Gone is the shy, meek girl who married her Prince.  Present & accounted for is a kickass woman who goes to bat for her man.  She is spunky, sassy, and a force to be reckoned with - as Cale himself soon discovers.  I loved the new, improved Kendra.  She no longer stands behind her King, she stands beside him as his Queen.

And then, there's the Terriot Brothers - Colin, Rico, and Kip.  Gorgeous, powerful, lethal and loyal to their brother and the crown he wears.  Sensing the imminent danger surrounding their brother and king, they unite to cover his back.  Together, they are a force to be reckoned with.  One of the sexiest things I've ever seen is the Terriot brothers in action on the dance floor.  Somebody pour me a cold one!  Cale, Colin, & Rico take over a dance floor with moves that will leave you panting for more.  I am hoping for much more of the Terriot brothers in future books.

How can I talk about Moonlight #10 without mentioning Max and CeeCee?  They return from their honeymoon a little more than halfway through this book.  Max is magnificent as always! It does my heart good to see this man/shifter happy with his mate, CeeCee, by his side. There are some great scenes between Max & Cale as Max shares some of his secret abilities and powers with Cale in an effort to help him prepare for the fight of his life.

Unleashed By Shadows is an intense, riveting, explosive read that had my heart racing, my libido firing, and my laughter ringing out loud.  While Unleashed is intense, Nancy Gideon's snarky humor is always evident, and I'm happy to say that she rings the sex-o-meter bell more than once in this one!  Cale's story will grab you by the heart strings as you share the journey of a guilt ridden man seeking redemption - one who is haunted by shadows of regret and a past that will bury him alive if he doesn't open up and let the light shine in.  Unleashed By Shadows is a heart-touching, sexy, soul searching read.  A Page Burner!  A Must Read!

My Rating:  5 Gorgeous, Soul-Touching ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra