The Bourbon Thief Review

Title:  The Bourbon Thief
Series:  N/A - A Standalone Novel
Author:  Tiffany Reisz
Publisher:  Mira
Release Date:  June 28, 2016
My Rating:  5 Scandalous Hearts
First Thoughts:  Reisz has woven a visual story that felt so real I could feel the sultry Southern air settle over me, hear the wind whisper scandalous secrets through the trees, and feel the enormous depth of both Tamara's pain and joy as she fought for the life she wanted with the man she loved.  It's a tale of sinfully giddy highs and devastatingly brutal lows, one of lies, deceit, and betrayal, but also truth, loyalty, and love

*Many thanks to Reisz, Mira, and Netgally for an ARC of this book.

Synopsis:
From the internationally celebrated author of the Original Sinners series comes a brand-new tale of betrayal, revenge and a family scandal that bore a 150-year-old mystery

When Cooper McQueen wakes up from a night with a beautiful stranger, it's to discover he's been robbed. The only item stolen—a million-dollar bottle of bourbon. The thief, a mysterious woman named Paris, claims the bottle is rightfully hers. After all, the label itself says it's property of the Maddox family who owned and operated Red Thread Bourbon distillery since the last days of the Civil War until the company went out of business for reasons no one knows… No one except Paris. 

In the small hours of a Louisville morning, Paris unspools the lurid tale of Tamara Maddox, heiress to the distillery that became an empire. But the family tree is rooted in tainted soil and has borne rotten fruit. Theirs is a legacy of wealth and power, but also of lies, secrets and sins of omission. The Maddoxes have bourbon in their blood—and blood in their bourbon. Why Paris wants the bottle of Red Thread remains a secret until the truth of her identity is at last revealed, and the century-old vengeance Tamara vowed against her family can finally be completed.

My Review:
Some people are natural born storytellers - words flow like molten gold from their lips and/or pen.  They hold you mesmerized in the palm of their hands while they weave their stories, spin their tales.  A masterful storyteller hypnotizes you into a trance-like state - his/her voice/words the only thing you hear/read as you're held captive by the magic of their gift, of their art.  I believe Tiffany Reisz is a master storyteller - one of the best at what she does.  I was totally consumed by her Original Sinners Series - wasn't sure I'd escape the series with my mind intact, but I did - although months later, Soren, Nora & the others still weigh heavily on my mind.  

I've just finished reading an arc of The Bourbon Thief and once again, I'm spell-bound by Reisz.  I'm left with my head spinning & heart racing, reeling from the sheer depth of this epic saga of unspeakable betrayal, scandalous behavior, and blood thirsty revenge/vengeance.  Yes, Queen Tiffany has done it again.  What a masterpiece! Totally intriguing!  Totally all-consuming!  Totally outrageous!  Totally shocking!  Totally one of the sweetest, yet most heartbreaking love stories I've ever read.  I'll give you a brief overview, but I promise No Spoilers as this book must be a first-hand experience.  Please - avoid all spoilers and read this book with an open heart & open mind.

Once upon a time, the Maddox family of Kentucky ruled the South and the bourbon business with their famous "Red Thread" distillery.  It was a time where blood lines mattered more than love, where one's last name or race either opened or closed doors, where legacies were handed down from father to son to son to son and so on . . . if they had sons.  What if they didn't?  How far would they go to ensure their bloodline?  When the Red Thread distillery mysteriously closed down, one bottle of its finest 150-year-old bourbon remained - with the original red ribbon still tied around its neck.  Many years later, this bottle of bourbon was sold at auction for a million dollars to Kentucky billionaire, Cooper McQueen.  When a beautiful, seductive woman named Paris spends the night with him, she tries to steal the bottle, making claims she is the legal owner.  Cooper makes a deal with her - her story for the bourbon.  

Cooper & Paris settle in with a glass of bourbon (of course) as she begins telling the story of Tamara Maddox, Bourbon Royalty, and Levi Shelby, the stable hand hired by her grandfather.  For me, this is where the story begins, where I became sucked into the tale, unable to stop reading even though a feeling of impending doom settled over me.  Afraid of turning the next page and yet unable to stop myself, I plunged ahead and lost myself in Tamara & Levi's tragic love story - one cursed from the beginning by the spirit of a Maddox family slave girl of many years ago who habitually wore a red ribbon in her hair and one who placed a curse on the Maddox family when she was forced to leave in shame.  I can't and won't disclose details of this story because of spoilers.  I will say Reisz weaves a visual story that felt so real I could feel the sultry Southern air settle over me, hear the wind whisper scandalous secrets through the trees, and feel the enormous depth of both Tamara's pain and joy as she fought for the life she wanted with the man she loved.  It's a tale of sinfully giddy highs and devastatingly brutal lows, one of lies, deceit, and betrayal, but also truth, loyalty, and love.  In typical Reisz style (as if Reisz can ever be called "typical"), this story is anything but a typical love story.  With pages heavily laden with a dark, edgy feel, Reisz delivers again . . . and I'm left with Tamara & Levi in my head, unable to yet let go of this fated couple.

The Bourbon Thief is a visual, emotional train ride - one that often had me feeling like the girl tied to the tracks with a runaway train racing toward her.  I couldn't escape.  I couldn't stop reading.  I couldn't avoid the shockers that left me reeling page after page, chapter after chapter.  There was only one way out for me - read through until the end.  The enormity of this story overwhelmed me, and yet, I'm so glad I read it.  It's beautiful, yet scandalous - a story filled with despair, loss, vengeance, but one also filled with hope, trust, and pure love.  An absolute Must Read!  A Page Burner!

My Rating:  5 Scandalous ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra

Paranormal Attractions Boxed Set Review

Available June 20, 2016 on
Amazon







My Blood Runs Blue by Stacy Eaton
Instinct by J.A. Belfield
Parlor Games by Bonnie Edwards
Love Set in Stone by Staci Troilo
Romance Under Wraps by Michele Jones
Phantasm by J.L. Campbell
The Beckoning of Beguiling Things by Calinda B
Remembered by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon
Once Forbidden by Hope Welsh

*Many thanks to Author Nancy Gideon for an arc of this Set for an honest review.


Synopsis/Blurb:
Vampires, sexy ghosts, gargoyles, mummy’s curses and a secret magical society are some of the fabulous paranormal twists you’ll find in PARANORMAL ATTRACTIONS, a boxed set of 9 steamy romances brought to you by Amazon, Barnes & Noble bestselling, and award-winning authors. Lose yourself in these light and dark paranormal stories that are only around for a short time.

My Blood Runs Blue – Stacy Eaton
Officer Kristin Greene’s life is turned upside down when she begins to investigate a homicide and finds that killer is something out of her nightmares. What will happen when Julian and Alexander introduce Kristin to the world of vampires?

Instinct – J.A. Belfield
Werewolf Sean Holloway treats the village marketplace like a sexual buffet, until his instincts guide him toward the unique scent of the nonchalant Jem Stonehouse. Despite his pack's rules, he wants her—an attraction that can bring only danger for Jem. Will Sean defy his own Alpha to save the woman he loves?

Parlor Games – Bonnie Edwards
Carrie MacLean and Matt Crewe have secret needs when they arrive at Perdition House for a sexy bachelor auction. Can love survive the mesmerizing spirits of the hookers who once lived and worked in the haunted bordello?

Love Set in Stone – Staci Troilo
Perched above Pittsburgh, a gargoyle spends centuries as a protector of humanity while he waits for the one who will break his curse and free him from his stone prison. When he finally finds her, her life is in jeopardy, and he realizes he may face eternal damnation to save her life.

Romance Under Wraps – Michele Jones
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History gets an Egyptian installation, and it seems to come with the ubiquitous mummy’s curse. Death and destruction abound. But the real curse is on the mummy’s advisor—he must teach the mummy how to pass forty-three judgments or find the reincarnated queen and win her love—or they are doomed to continue reawakening every century to try all over again.

Phantasm - J.L. Campbell
After losing her husband in a tragic accident, Josette is convinced she's on the road to recovery—until Dwayne starts appearing to her in ways that take her to the edge of terror and back. Can Mario Browning, a persistent and perceptive man, save her from falling into a dangerous abyss between the world of the living and the dead?

The Beckoning of Beguiling Things - Calinda B
Can 24 hours really change your life in magical ways you never imagined? Marissa Engles is about to find out, when she heads to Las Vegas, meets sexy, Thunder and Lightning dancer Chris King and unwittingly unleashes the force of a secret, global, magical society known only as the Numina.

Remembered by Moonlight - Nancy Gideon
The deadly leader of a shape-shifter clan with no memories of who he is and a dedicated cop hiding a heart-breaking secret face impossible odds in steamy New Orleans that conspire to pull them apart. Because the enemy they pursue . . . might be him.

Once Forbidden - Hope Welsh
Devlin wants her from the moment he sees her save a child in a fire, but it’s forbidden for vampires to change humans. Can he bear to let her go?

My Review:
Paranormal Attractions is a collection of nine uniquely different, sizzling tales of paranormal romance, including 6 novellas and 3 novels.  PNR junkies can self-meditate to their heart's content, getting their "fix" from this awesome selection of everyone's favorite supernatural romance types - Shifters, Vampires, Ghosts, Gargoyles, Mummies - Oh My!  This boxed set has something for everyone!  A steamy smorgasbord of flavors, Paranormal Attractions offers readers a chance to sample a variety of pnr stories all neatly packaged together from some of the best, award winning authors around.  Whether you like your romance hot & erotic or slow & sweet, you'll find something to feast on that will more than satisfy your pnr appetite.

Stacy Eaton gets the blood pumping in My Blood Runs Blue when Kristen, a cop, investigates the brutal murder of a woman.  She meets the very mysterious and yet somehow familiar Julian, a vampire on his own special mission.  Julian is shocked to "recognize" Kristen as a woman he once loved, and so does his "boss", Alexander.  As Kristen looks to solve the murder/s, she finds herself in a love triangle with ties to her past.  Will history repeat itself?  Kristen discovers not only love, but also the key to her past.

J.A. Belfield's Instinct is a tantalizing introduction to her Holloway Pack series.  Werewolf Sean Holloway indulges in a different woman every week - until he first scents and sees Jem Stonehead who refuses to be his "flavor of the week".  And so the seduction begins . . . but what will happen when Jem learns who & what Sean really is?  Is love enough?  Can Sean turn his back on his pack for the woman he loves?  Instinct is a heartfelt love story about choices and consequences.

Parlor Games by Bonnie Edwards is book 4 of the Tales of Perdition series.  Matt Crew enters a bachelor auction at Perdition House and meets journalist, Carrie MacLean who is there to discover the real secrets hidden behind the walls.  Both have secrets of their own.  As the days go by, Matt & Carrie are unable to resist the powerful, sexual, supernatural chemistry between them and soon discover there is a lot more than charity bachelor auctions going on at Perdition House.  Parlor Games is an intense, sexy, erotic read with a powerful message about eternal love.

Love Set In Stone by Staci Troilo introduces the reader to Daniel (a warrior who entered a pact for his life after dying in battle in 1203), as he sits guard over the city by day as a gargoyle/grotesque and by night as a human.  Daniel meets Rina after saving her from a violent attack outside a bar, instantly recognizing her as his soul mate.  Daniel is challenged by the unfamiliar surroundings/gadgets of the modern world and by a rival for Rina's affections.  Can he save Rina from the danger stalking her?  Will Rina be able to accept both the man and the stone creature when she discovers the truth?  Love Set In Stone is an unique, almost fantasy-like story of love, regret, and second chances.

In Romance Under Wraps by Michele Jones, Dene must pass an ancient Egyptian pharaoh's curse in order to enter the afterlife by finding and winning the love of the lost queen.  Will he find her in time?  Will a mummy's centuries old curse keep him from earning her trust? Egyptian mythology, steamy romance, and a mystery to solve makes for one intriguing read.

J. L. Campbell's Phantasm is a sweet, yet terrorizing, love story about letting go of the past and taking a chance on the future.  Josette is walking a fine line, teetering on the edge of her dead husband's world as her terrorizing nightmares become all too real.  Mario offers her a second chance at love, but is she ready to let her dead husband go?  Or will she be forever lost between the living & the dead?  Phantasm is an intense, at times frightening, and yet beautiful love story.

The Beckoning of Beguiling Things by Calinda B is an introduction to the Beckoning Series.  Marissa  joins her sisters for a wild weekend in Vegas and meets Chris King, a dancer.  But all is not as it seems.  Forces combine, including The Numina (a magical society) and an evil sorcerer, to influence the outcome of Marissa's weekend by the choices she makes.  And yet, the very thing that may destroy her in the end are hidden secrets.  Will Marissa take a chance on a lasting one night stand?  This book is an intriguing introduction to the series.

Hope Welsh's Once Forbidden (Hunted #1) is a sinfully sexy, intimate love story.  Sarah was horribly disfigured saving a child from a burning house.  Since then, she keeps to herself only escaping in her erotic dreams.  Devin was watching as Sarah saved the child and found himself falling for the beautiful person he saw inside.  As a vampire, he has the power to give her formal external beauty back to her, but it is forbidden for a vamp to change a human.  Will Devin obey the rules & walk away?  Will Sarah open her heart & take a chance on real love?  Once Forbidden is a steamy, erotic and yet beautiful love story about taking chances.

Nancy Gideon's Remembered By Moonlight (By Moonlight #9) features my favorite Shifter & #1 BBF, sleek, deadly, & yet somehow vulnerable Max Savoie.  Remembered By Moonlight is an intense, emotionally charged story that continues the woes of Max and Cee Cee from previous books as they return to their high rise apartment, hoping that a familiar environment will help Max regain the memories he lost while held in captivity in The Chosen's lab. While Cee Cee yearns to resume the life with the mate she knew before his memories were erased, Max views her as a stranger, and for the foreseeable future, his prison guard. Nancy Gideon is a master at manipulating an emotionally charged atmosphere while fanning the sexual tension to a flame between characters. She sets the pages of Remembered By Moonlight afire with the desires that blaze between Max & Cee Cee as they rediscover each other and the life they lost with the erasure of Max's memories. Can they move forward as mates & lovers? Even if Max never regains his memories? Remembered By Moonlight is firing on all cylinders - it sizzles with love scenes that will have you seeking a cold shower, fast-paced action that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and an ending that will leave you sighing, smiling while wiping a tear. Moonlight fans - You will love this book! Fans of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, suspense, and romance - This is a Must Read!  While it is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone - although you will be missing a "binge-worthy" series if you don't  grab the other By Moonlight books!

The Paranormal Attractions Boxed Set will be released June 20, 2016 for a limited time.  It offers readers a smorgasbord of sexy heroes/heroines to feast upon.  Prefer vampires?  You got it!  Are Shifters your thing?  Got that too.  How about ghosts & spirits?  Check.  Gargoyle & Angels?  I fell in love.  The PA boxed set contains an awesome selection of PNR stories - definitely something for everyone.  Be sure to grab your set on the 20th!  It's a Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Intimate ♥'s . . . And That's The Truth!
Cross My Heart . . . xxx

IWSG: June 1, 2016 ~ What do you do with lemons?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers who share ideas and encourage other writers.  It's a great place to express doubts and concerns as well as offer and receive tribulations and guidance from other writers. IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month.  I think you'll find it to be a great writer's resource that's well worth your time.  Be sure to stop by and visit with some of the other IWSG writers/bloggers at IWSG Members.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 1 posting of the IWSG will be Murees Dupe, Alexia Chamberlynn, Chemist Ken, and Heather Gardner!

What do you do with lemons?
Sometimes, life sucks.  There - I said it.  It's sad, but true.  It can sneak up on you, smack you up side the head, and leave you spinning your wheels.  Without boring you with all the details, I'll say that as you read this on June 1, my husband will be one day out of a life altering surgery for a disease that has debilitated him for months, drastically changing our lives.  I like to think I'm an optimist, but not gonna lie - this has been a tough row to hoe.  Most days, I feel like a hamster who can't get the wheel to slow down enough to get off . . . just not enough time to do it all.  And, of course, it's my writing that's suffered most as its gotten shuffled to the back burner.

Still, every time I feel like throwing in the towel, I can hear the words of my dear, precious mother saying, "Girl . . . what do we do with lemons in the South?"  And the answer was/is: "Make Lemon Meringue Pie!"  Oh yum! There was nothing else in this world as good as my mother's Lemon Meringue Pie with a mile-high meringue topping.  It put a smile on my face and chased away the blues every single time she served it.  I miss both her and her fabulous cooking every single day of my life.


So - With my mother's words still echoing in my brain - My Self-Pity Party is over.  This is me taking my "lemons" and making "pie".  My writing has suffered drastically this year, BUT I can see a brighter light shining at the end of the tunnel.  With a successful surgery, my husband should be able to fully recover, and we can get back to a more normal routine which includes my protected writing time.  My w-i-p planned completion date may be off by several months, but it will happen sooner or later.  Right after I turn these lemons into a Lemon Meringue Pie! :)

How's your year going - both personally & professionally?  Are you on-schedule with your w-i-p?  Or do you have some catching up to do like me?

*Posted early due to personal commitments & a "Schedule" Link that never works! :)


  

IWSG: Pencil or Gray Matter?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers who share ideas and encourage other writers.  It's a great place to express doubts and concerns as well as offer and receive tribulations and guidance from other writers. IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month.  I think you'll find it to be a great writer's resource that's well worth your time.  Be sure to stop by and visit with some of the other IWSG writers/bloggers at IWSG Members.

The awesome co-hosts for the May 4 posting of the IWSG will be Stephen Tremp, Fundy Blue, MJ Fifield, Loni Townsend, Bish Denham, Susan Gourley, and Stephanie Faris! 

Pencil or Gray Matter?  

Ever get a fantastic idea for a w-i-p or new project only to forget it a few minutes later?  Ever waste precious time trying to recall an idea you just knew you'd never forget?  Frustrating, right?  Right.  Been there, done that.

Nothing frustrates me more than getting excited over a good idea for a current or future writing project only to forget it before I can write it down.  And, it seems, no amount of racking my brain will bring the idea back - Poof!  Like smoke, it disappears into thin air.  

Ideas often sneak up on me at inconvenient times - like while I'm driving or waiting my turn in the check-out line. Or an idea will ping my radar when I'm in a restaurant observing others (Ever written an idea on a napkin? Ever lost the napkin later?) or when I wake in the middle of the night.  Something or someone triggers an idea that has good potential, and I think I'll write it down as soon as I get home or as soon as I complete this task or as soon as I find my pencil & paper. And aren't those famous last words?!  After one too many times of pulling my hair out and kicking myself over lost ideas, I finally took to heart the meaning of Jack London's words, "Cheap paper is less perishable than gray matter, and lead pencil markings endure longer than memory."  Well, duh.  You mean I should stop what I'm doing and write it down right then & there  - before the idea has a chance to escape?  How simple is that?

Lesson learned.  I'm living proof you can teach an old dog new tricks!  I now keep a small notebook & several pencils/pens with me everywhere I go . . . in my car, in my purse, on my nightstand in my bedroom, and in most other rooms in my house (yes, even the bathroom!).  It's an inexpensive, yet sure way to preserve those precious ideas for future use.  As Jack London said, "Keep a notebook - Travel with it, eat with it, sleep with it.  And slap into it every stray thought that flutters up into your brain.  Cheap paper is less perishable than gray matter, and lead pencil markings endure longer than memory."  And that's the truth!

How do you keep track of your ideas?  Do you depend on pencil or gray matter?
  

It's Freebie Friday!

Don't miss out!  Grab your copy today!  As always, many thanks to Entangled Publishing for sharing the goodies!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1zKO73r
B&N: http://bit.ly/21jIaX0
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1KUAow1
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1rFtZ2J

Worth It All Review

Title:  Worth It All
Series:  The McKinney Brothers
Author:  Claudia Connor
Release Date:  April 19, 2016 by Loveswept
My Rating:  4 Sweet ♥'s

My First Thoughts:  When fate deals you an unexpected hand, you have to figure out the best way to play it or risk missing your chance at real happiness. 

*Many thanks to the Publisher for an ARC of Worth It All for review via Netgally.

Synopsis:
She’s fighting for control. . . . Paige Roberts learned to fend for herself growing up. Now she’s doing everything possible to give her daughter, Casey, the stability she never had. But when the vivacious five-year-old decides she’s done wearing her prosthesis, Paige faces her toughest challenge yet: trusting a handsome, brooding stranger who simply wants to help.

He’s struggling to connect. . . . JT McKinney lost more than his leg in a car accident that stole his dreams of pro football. Eight years later, he's made a new life for himself far away from his old one. His business is developing cutting-edge prosthetics and he’s more than happy to turn his attention to machines instead of people. Still, he can’t shake the feeling that something’s missing.

Will they take a chance on love? . . . When JT gets the chance to help Paige’s daughter, he takes it. He never planned on the two of them tearing down his walls or teaching him to believe in himself again. Paige might not believe in happily ever afters, but JT wants more than anything to be her prince. They’ll both have to let go of the past if they want a future.

My Review:

I was so excited to get my hands on the third book in The McKinney Brothers Series. This is a great series that always delivers just the right combination of angst, heat, and good old-fashioned romance. Worth It All is a heart-touching addition to the series that doesn't disappoint. It takes place several years after the ending of the previous book.

J. T. (Jake) was headed for stardom as a professional football player when an accident changed his life forever. One night, one moment in time, and not only did he lose his dreams, he lost his future - something precious he didn't think he wanted. He eventually moved on with his life by moving all the way across the country from his family and friends to start his life over. He's now successful, but living his life alone as he doesn't believe he deserves a family of his own.

Paige is a single mother, working two jobs and going to school in an effort to provide a good, stable home and future for her daughter, Casey. Once upon a time, Paige had a life plan . . . one that was changed forever one night in the backseat of a car by a boy she didn't say No to - she won't make that mistake again - even though it gave her the best thing in her life, her precious 5 year old daughter, Casey. She has a new life plan, and it doesn't include a man.

J. T. and Paige's worlds tangle when J. T. meets Casey as she waits for her mom to get off work from the diner. It was very close to love at first sight for Casey & J. T. as they discover they share a common bond - one that makes them both "different". The scenes between J. T. and Casey are among the best in the book as Casey tears down the walls J. T. had constructed around his heart while he helps her learn how to deal with her struggles at being different from other kids. Make no mistake about it - Casey steals the show in this book. She is adorable with an honesty and openness often found in young children, and yet, she is wise beyond her years. Many of her comments and questions speared me straight through the heart. How could anyone not love this little girl?!

Through Casey, J. T. and Paige begin to connect, to reach out, to dare to dream for more. Can he forgive himself? Can she alter her life plan? Their romance is a sweet, slow burn - one that simmers as they both learn their own capacity and need for love is greater than they thought. Worth It All is an emotional, feel-good romance that will leave you smiling. A Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Sweet, Slow Burning ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra

IWSG: Series*ously Addicted . . .

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers who share ideas and encourage other writers.  It's a great place to express doubts and concerns as well as offer and receive tribulations and guidance from other writers. IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month.  I think you'll find it to be a great writer's resource that's well worth your time.  Be sure to stop by and visit with some of the other IWSG writers/bloggers at IWSG Members.

The awesome co-hosts for the April 6 posting of the IWSG will be Megan Morgan, Chris Votey, Viola Fury, Christine Rains, Madeline Mora-Summonte, L.G. Keltner, Rachna Chhabria, and Patricia Lynne! 

Series*ously Addicted:  Are you a fan of book series?  I am.  I'm not only a fan of series - I'm hopelessly addicted to them.  For me, there's nothing better than finishing a great book only to find it's just the first in a series, and there's more to come!  When I discover an addictive series, I often find myself hooked into a binge read - reading straight through until I finish the last book.  Talk about burning the midnight oil!  Does that ever happen to you?

After my most recent series binge, I found myself thinking more about writing a series - which led me to wondering:  How many authors accidentally stumble into writing a series - stretching a successful first "standalone" book into a previously unplanned series?  Or how many authors always start out by planning to write a series from the moment they begin writing book one, page one?  

My current w-i-p took root from an idea for a standalone novel, but I now see the potential for carrying the story/characters forward in a series.  I'm left debating whether to go with my original plan and tie things up with a bow in this book or leave a few lines dangling for the possibility of future books with these characters who are demanding more time.  My gut instinct is to write a satisfying ending for readers (not a fan of huge cliffhangers!) while leaving the door open for exploring more books.  My dilemma is figuring out the best way to do that.  

So, tell me . . . Are you Series*ously Addicted to reading and writing series?  As a writer, which approach to writing a series do you take?  Are you a stumbler or a planner?