Synopsis:
They swore they’d be together forever. Detective Charlotte Caissie is suddenly sharing drawer space and making media news with her shape-shifter lover Max Savoie. Knowing the reformed mobster is determined to be accepted by her peers, how can she ask him to return to his criminal roots to help her solve a complex case?
But those they trust the most . . . Going undercover to find the vicious serial killer who kidnapped a colleague’s daughter, Cee Cee is caught between the partner whose integrity she relies on and her fiercely possessive lover. In calling on Max to use his preternatural talents to aide a hated enemy, she crosses a line that strains their relationship to its limits.
Will do anything to tear them apart. With his secret spreading beyond those he can trust, Max is forced to make dangerous alliances to protect his family and his clan. The only certainty he has is his love for his human mate, until the loyalties that define them threaten to divide them forever.
My Review:
Bound By Moonlight, book 4 of Nancy Gideon's By Moonlight series, delivers another intriguing, heart-stopping, action packed roller coaster ride. Max Savoie & Charlotte Caissie survived their own version of hell several years ago. They have battled their demons, their opponents and each other to finally publicly declare their love. But it seems the battles have just started. Will this couple ever be able to overcome the obstacles standing in the way of them sharing closet space on a permanent basis? Does a dedicated Detective of the New Orleans Police Homicide Department and the Shifter King CEO of a mob empire stand a snowball's chance in hell of making it work as a mated couple? If love was all that mattered, yes. But is love ever enough?
Detective Charlotte Caissie - tough, sassy, dedicated, hell on heels...she is feeling the heat...torn between the shifter man she loves and her cop family and partner of several years, Alain Babineau. Some of her fellow cops witnessed first hand the monster that Max is hiding inside when he risked his own life to save Alain's stepson, Oscar. But are they thankful enough to keep his secret? Max knows the cops are ready to betray him, but Cee Cee is putting it all on the line to convince them otherwise...is she betting too much? Is she willing to risk Max's love? His life? Loyalties are challenged, Cee Cee must choose once and for all who to trust. She loves Max but the demons in her closet are fighting to escape, and she knows she will need to conquer them before she and Max can move forward.
Shifter King Max Savoie - Dark, sleek, lethal, provoking...some say he's a monster in an Armani suit & red converse sneakers, controlling an empire built on ill gotten gains & a clan of beasts most people never see, even in nightmares. And yet his heart & soul belong to a mortal who has the power to bring him to his knees. Can Max prove himself worthy of Det. Charlotte Caissie's love & loyalty? Can he protect her and others depending on him from the danger no one else sees coming? Time is running out for Max - the walls are closing in, and the demons in his closet are rattling their chains, threatening to bust down the door. He's walking a fine line between the law, a hidden clan of creatures who see him as their King & savior, the unknown danger from the North and doing what he must to protect those he loves. He wants nothing more than to live happily ever after with Cee Cee but he'll have to walk through the swamps of hell once again to get there.
Now Det. Charlotte is racing against time to save a young girl from being the latest victim of a killer who is stalking young strippers in New Orleans, kidnapping & brutally abusing & then killing them. The abuse hits too close to home for Cee Cee, raising nightmares she prefers to keep hidden. She must go undercover with her partner, Alain, to try to flush the killer out. And as time runs out, she risks everything by asking Max to do the one thing that he might not be able to survive. Has she ask too much? Can their relationship survive it?
Bound By Moonlight is a beautiful, brilliant addition to the By Moonlight series...my favorite thus far. Nancy Gideon keeps the action fast, the angst devastating, the sex hot, the love to die for...A must read for lovers of Romance, Suspense, Paranormal and Fantasy. Another book for my Favorites shelf! Loved it!
Rating: 5 Gorgeous ♥♥♥♥♥'s...And that's the truth!
Cross My Heart...xxx
Sandra
Quotes:
"Chin up, sha. Don't let them see what frauds we are. The tough homicide cop and her mobster-beast boyfriend milling with the city's best. Shall we?"
She hesitated, then said, "I love you, Max."
His breath hitched as if she'd shot a round into his chest. Then his free hand slid over hers and pressed lightly. "That sustains me too."
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Cee Cee felt a stir of air, and her head popped up from the papers strewn across her coffee table. Max was standing on her balcony.
"Geez, I almost swallowed my tongue!"
"That would be a loss, considering what delightful things you can do with it."
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
"I thought for a minute that you asked me to your office for The Talk."
"What talk?"
"About why dogs and cops shouldn't live together?"
His blow-your-hair-back laugh burst out before he could catch it, before he realized she was serious. His other hand scooped under her chin, turning her face toward him. His voice was exquisitely tender. "Why would I want to do that, Charlotte? What possible reason would I have?"
She regarded him somberly. "A lot of them, both two- and four-legged."
A small, mystified smile. "But you're the reason my heart beats."
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Synopsis:
Simon O'Neal's causing trouble again. And it's up to Gail DeMarco to stop him.
Gail
DeMarco left Whiskey Creek, California, to make a name for herself in
Los Angeles. Her PR firm has accumulated a roster of A-list clients,
including the biggest box office hit of all—sexy and unpredictable Simon
O'Neal. But Simon, who's just been through a turbulent divorce, is so
busy self-destructing he won't listen to anything she says. She drops
him from her list—and he retaliates by taking the rest of her clients
with him.
Desperate to save her company, Gail has to humble
herself by making a deal with Simon. The one thing he wants is custody
of his son, but that's going to require a whole new image. He needs to
marry some squeaky-clean girl who'll drag him off to some small, obscure
place like Whiskey Creek….
Gail's the only one he can trust. She
agrees to become his wife—reluctantly. But she isn't reluctant because
he's too hard to like. It's because he's too hard not to love!
My Review:
It's been some time since I read a good contemporary romance so I was delighted to win a copy of When Lightning Strikes from a Goodreads giveaway. I settled into reading it, not having read anything by Brenda Novak before. I'm happy to say that while I saw where this one was headed early on, I really enjoyed the journey. When Lightning Strikes is about a couple who come together and get married for all the wrong reasons as they don't even like each other. Plain Jane Gail DeMarco is an in-charge business woman running her successful PR company in Los Angeles. Simon O'Neal is a drop dead gorgeous movie star spiraling out of control, using both women and booze. This odd couple's journey begins in turmoil when Gail agrees to marry Simon to improve his image in hopes of getting his son back, in exchange for Simon helping her get her clients back. The marriage bargain is struck for two years...and sex is NOT part of the deal. Right?!
Simon and Gail's marriage begins as a business arrangement with neither wanting or expecting anything more. Gail realizes the only way to help Simon is to get him out of Los Angeles, away from the temptation of both his friends and vices. She convinces him to move with her back to her small hometown, Whiskey Creek. Realizing that he is in serious trouble of never seeing his son again, Simon agrees to live in the little town for 3 months and clean up his act. As their journey begins, they face obstacles one by one - each learning truths and vulnerabilities about the other, as well as strengths. Whiskey Creek and its lifelong residents add a delightful layer to this story, from the small town atmosphere where everyone knows everyone to the acceptance by the locals of the movie star. Will it be enough?
I was surprised to find that I genuinely liked these characters. Gail is a take charge 31 year old woman who doesn't need a man to take care of her. While not a raving beauty, she is prettier than she herself thinks but has a complex over not being "pretty enough" to compete with the bombshells that Simon is continuously photographed with. Since this is a "business arrangement", she is able to let loose, convincing herself that it really doesn't matter as they'll only be together two years anyway. Simon is the sexy movie star that everyone wants a piece of but he is also hiding a vulnerability. He's given up on having anyone accept him for what's inside. He really needs someone to care about the man and see him for what he truly is, not just the movie star. Mix in some secondary characters with their own agenda and things get very complicated for this couple. Simon's past comes knocking, threatening to destroy the relationship Gail is beginning to hope might last beyond the two year contract.
When I started When Lightning Strikes, I must admit I was afraid it would be a bit frivolous...plain girl falls for movie star, but it doesn't take long to realize there is more to this book. The author does an outstanding job of peeling back the layers of these characters and getting to what's hidden beneath. What started out as typical, quickly turned into something more as I found myself rooting for Simon and Gail. This is my first Brenda Novak book but it won't be my last! A great read!
Rating: 4 Pretty ♥♥♥♥'s...And that's the truth!
Cross My Heart...xxx
Sandra
I'm excited to have received an ARC of The Singer, the 2nd book in The Irin Chronicles series, by author Elizabeth Hunter. I am participating in a blog tour for the release & will be reviewing the book. Please check back here for exact dates. I fell in love with Ava & Malachi when I read The Scribe and like others, wiped tears as that book ended. It is a must read! You can read my review here: The Scribe Review
Here is the cover & synopsis for The Singer:
When you've lost everything you love, how do you fight the darkness?
Ava left Istanbul with a new identity, new name, and new magic she could barely control. Laid low by Malachi's sacrifice, she searches for help from the fabled Irina. But will the secretive women of the Irin race welcome or shun her? Ava's origins are still a mystery, and her powers are darker than any they've encountered before.
The Irin world hangs in the balance. And as the children of angels battle their own demons, ancient rivalries among the Fallen threaten to wreak havoc on earth.
Thousand of miles away, a warrior wakes with no memory of his identity or his people. Stumbling though the dark and twisted schemes of fallen angels, ravenous Grigori, and even his own leaders, he must find a way back to the one thing he remembers. A single voice calls him. Malachi has one mission.
"Come back to me."
THE SINGER is the second book in the Irin Chronicles, a contemporary fantasy series from Elizabeth Hunter, author of the Elemental Mysteries.
IWSG is a group of writers who share ideas and encourage others. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Articles are posted the first Wednesday of every month.
Writing Through the Chaos: Are you one of those writers who can write anytime, anywhere? In your office, at the kitchen table, in a restaurant or a check-out line? Interruptions don't phase you as you answer questions, help kids with homework, cook dinner, & give the dog a bath while continuing to write, never losing a word, page, or chapter? Please share with me how you do that.
Once I start writing, interruptions blow me out of the water. My train of thought is often derailed by chaos around me and quickly lost if someone speaks to me. My husband and I agreed that he wouldn't interrupt if the DND sign was on my closed office door unless the fire department, police, or an ambulance had been dispatched.
It's a good plan but often, as soon as I settle in and the passages start flowing, I hear a tap, tap as he gently knocks on my office door, easing it open and saying, "I hate to interrupt you but..."! If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that neither of us would need to work.
Another culprit is the telephone...How do telemarketers know when I'm deep in thought, churning out pages? Again, my concentration is lost. While I will turn down the volume, I prefer not turning the phone off in case of emergencies. And yes, even the mad buzzing my cell phone makes on vibrate throws me off kilter!
I've tried every trick in the book except maybe the barbed wire! And unfortunately, setting up shop on a deserted island is not an option. Now I'm turning to you, my support group. While I realize that ultimately it's up to me to learn to "tune it out", I welcome your ideas, suggestions, and methods of tuning out the chaos that is the world around us. How do you deal with constant interruptions and still immediately recapture your thoughts and ideas to continue writing your story? Please tell me what works for you.
Take a few minutes to visit other members of the IWSG group by clicking on this link. IWSG List
Synopsis:
With the legends and lore of Ireland running through his blood, falconer Connor O’Dwyer is proud to call County Mayo home. It’s where his sister, Branna, lives and works, where his cousin, Iona, has found true love, and where his childhood friends form a circle that can’t be broken…
A circle that is about to be stretched out of shape—by a long-awaited kiss.
Meara Quinn is Branna’s best friend, a sister in all but blood. Her and Connor’s paths cross almost daily, as Connor takes tourists on hawk walks and Meara guides them on horseback across the lush countryside. She has the eyes of a gypsy and the body of a goddess…things Connor has always taken for granted—until his brush with death propels them into a quick, hot tangle.
Plenty of women have found their way to Connor’s bed, but none to his heart until now. Frustratingly, Meara is okay with just the heat, afraid to lose herself—and their friendship—to something more. But soon, Connor will see the full force and fury of what runs in his blood. And he will need his family and friends around him when his past rolls in like the fog, threatening an end to all he loves…
My Review:
I wanted to love Shadow Spell. I was excited to open the cover and delve into Connor & Meara's story and revisit this family as they continue battling the evil threatening to destroy them all. I like the characters, the setting, and the idea of the plot line. Unfortunately, for me, the story just never develops - it never goes anywhere. The anticipation and suspense never build to the point that I can't put the book down. In the end, I felt like I was in the same place I was when I started the book. That alone might be okay if the romance had caught fire. While I love a good friends to romance story, Connor & Meara's relationship was just ho hum for me. I didn't feel the sparks, the anticipation, the bantering that leads to burn up the pages sex...I just didn't "feel" them. They came across as good friends who became good friends with sex and oh yeah - btw, I love you. There wasn't enough angst, fire, or emotions to build the anticipation to make this story come alive. Even the danger never caused me a moment of worry, never made me flip pages to see what would happen, never made me concerned for the characters. Most of the book, they were meeting to form a plan of attack while sharing a meal. When the final attack came, it was anti-climatic.
I have to be honest and say I was disappointed with Shadow Spell. It is an okay "average" read but nothing as special as I'm accustomed to getting from Nora Roberts. I love Nora's books and am a huge fan. I've read them all and I will read the next one...but this one missed the mark for me.
Rating: 3 ♥♥♥'s...And that's the truth!
Cross My Heart...xxx
Sandra
Synopsis:
After winning the trust
of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has
had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human,
Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.
The
appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the
humans and the Others, resulting in the murders of both species in
nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in
the snow, Simon Wolfgard—Lakeside's shape-shifting leader—wonders
whether their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or of a future
threat.
As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more
frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now the Others
and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the
man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet—and stop the danger that
threatens to destroy them all.
My Review:
Murder of Crows is the second book in the series, The Others. Written In Red was a 5 heart read for me...see my earlier review from March 18. I did not originally plan to also review Murder of Crows but it just won't be ignored. This series is fascinating with layer upon layer of intrigue, suspense, and world building, and characters that are magical.
Murder of Crows continues the saga of Meg, Simon, and the Others as they battle forces unknown, guided by the prophesies that are coming more often to Meg. Her visions are like pieces of puzzles, objects that individually make no sense. They include things like blood, black feathers, a shark, smoke in a jar. What do they mean? Simon leads the charge to interpret Meg's visions as danger lurks near. At the same time, Simon and Meg grow closer and continue struggling to learn what their relationship means and where it is heading. Is a romantic relationship actually possible? Simon experiences unfamiliar bouts of jealousy when other males come around Meg while she is unsure of her feelings for Simon. What they both understand is that they really enjoy being together and doing normal human things like cuddling on the couch and watching movies...but Simon isn't human. The character interaction in Murder of Crows is intense and fascinating and often humorous. I laughed out loud at this hodge podge group of characters and their antics.
The plot in Murder of Crows is woven like a fine tapestry with detailed intricacies that will keep you searching for a pattern. It's there, if you can recognize it. Where is it all leading? How does it all fit? Will they figure out the puzzle of Meg's visions in time to save her, the good humans, and the Others? Can they work together to save Meg from the Controller seeking her return to his compound and control? Who is using the blood of cassandra sangues to make drugs that will harm the Others?
While Murder of Crows answers some of your questions, it raises more. The suspense is high as they battle against forces unknown and race against time to discover and destroy the hidden danger threatening them all. Everyone in town works together to help Meg (and her group of girlfriends - the "Fluffballs") reconstruct the journey she traveled when she fled the Controller and the compound where she was held captive - the journey of which she has limited, vague memories. She asks Simon for one thing - to free Jean, the girl who helped Meg escape at the expense of her own freedom, and Simon vows to keep his promise. Can he find the compound in time to save Jean and the other girls who are also cassandra sangues? What will happen if he frees them? Can they be rehabilitated?
Murder of Crows is a intriguing story of many layers that fascinated me as piece after piece of the puzzle slipped into place revealing more of the bigger picture. The characters are all an important, mesmerizing part of the story, each unique in their skills and what they bring to the table. Murder of Crows is a worthy sequel to Written In Red and once again, I'm left anxious for more. I have wavered between 4 and 5 hearts for Murder of Crows but because of the intricacies of the world building, characters and plot, this is another 5 heart read for me. It deserves nothing less. A Must Read for lovers of Fantasy!
Rating: 5 Gorgeous ♥♥♥♥♥'s...And that's the truth!
Cross My Heart...xxx
Sandra
Quotes:
"S-Simon?" A tremble in her voice.
"Meg?" Still plenty of growl in his voice.
"You're not a Wolf."
"I'm always a Wolf."
"But you're not a furry Wolf."
"No, I'm not. And you're hogging the covers." That said, he grabbed the covers she was clinging to and yanked.
She tumbled into him. Before she could decide what to do, the covers were around both of them, and he had her pinned between his body and the bed.
"Stop squirming," he snapped. "If you bruise more than the hip you just kicked, I will bite you."
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
"Where Meg is concerned, you've been confused since you met her." Henry handed one mug to Simon and sat beside him. "And now, my friend, you're a Wolf who has bounded into a pretty meadow and discovered it's full of snakes and steel traps."
He didn't think that was a flattering description of Meg, but he swallowed the impulse to defend her.
"She's not terra indigene, Simon," Henry said gently. "She's not one of us. She's human."
"She's not one of us, but she's not one of them either," he snapped. "She's Meg."
Synopsis:
Six months after nearly losing their lives to a serial killer in New York City, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are suffering through something almost as frightening: the monotony of desk duty. When they're ordered to take a vacation for the good of everyone's sanity, Ty bites the bullet and takes Zane home with him to West Virginia, hoping the peace and quiet of the mountains will give them the chance to explore the explosive attraction they've so far been unable to reconcile with their professional partnership. Ty and Zane, along with Ty's father and brother, head up into the Appalachian mountains for a nice, relaxing hike deep into the woods... where no one will hear them scream. They find themselves facing danger from all directions: unpredictable weather, the unrelenting mountains, wild animals, fellow hikers with nothing to lose, and the most terrifying challenge of all. Each other.
My Review:
While I enjoyed Cut & Run, I wasn't sucked in to the point of no return. I read it, enjoyed it, and moved on to other books I needed to read. I knew I would return to the series someday but was in no hurry. Several books later, I picked up Sticks and Stones with the thought of finishing this series for a Goodreads group challenge. Early in the book, I found Ty & Zane being ordered on another "mental health" break (vacation) from duty. Jeez...are all FBI agents nut cases?! These guys are seriously messed up in the head. I settled in to read, hoping to discover what had snagged my friends into this series - hook, line, & sinker. Somewhere around a half book or so later, I was flipping pages & snarling at anyone who dared to interrupt my reading. Finally, it dawned on me what was holding me enthralled...Ty & Zane - two men struggling to come to terms with emotions they have no idea what to do with, while fighting to survive on a mountainside with Mother Nature throwing everything in her arsenal at them. You can read the synopsis and get the drift of the many elements & dangers these guys battle while on a hiking trip in the Appalachian Mountains with Ty's dad & brother. I'll just try to relay some of the emotions I was feeling by the end of the book & the reasons why I am now "caught" - just as hooked as my friends are.
Ty & Zane are both struggling to hold on to their sanity from past catastrophes of one kind or the other. In Sticks & Stones, I was more atoned to what they were thinking - each in his own head, and thus, both characters evoked a deeper, emotional response from me. I loved getting in each character's mind and being privy to their thoughts about one another...both of them wondering what the other one is thinking - how each is feeling about their relationship and where it might be going. I felt their insecurities and learned their vulnerabilities as they each battle their own demons. Their pain, both emotional & physical, is very much alive and both devastating and heartbreaking. They face death and fight for life and each other on that mountain. The author did an amazing job portraying the emotional turmoil that is churning inside both men threatening to tear them apart.
I lamented the bumbling job Ty & Zane did as veteran detectives in Cut & Run and slashed my rating by 1 heart because of it. This book does not suffer the same malady. Once they start up that mountain, the suspense and action are non-stop. The interaction between all the characters is fascinating, revealing family dynamics & issues as the mountain and all her secrets threaten to prevent them from ever going home again. I found my heart pounding as I raced through the latter half of this book. Please, I prayed, give me and Ty & Zane a happy ending.
I didn't expect to become caught up in this series but I am. I will be finishing the rest of the books and, like everyone else, anxiously waiting for more, I'm sure. I will just say to doubters - commit to reading the first two books. If you're not a fan by the end of Sticks & Stones, then drop it. I can't imagine any fan of Romance/Suspense not loving it. In my opinion, it just about has it all. I have argued with myself to rate this book 4 hearts...but then I think about how I flipped pages into the night to find out what was going to happen, allowing neither dirty house nor hungry husband to interfere with my infatuation with this story. I just can't justify not giving it the other heart so...here goes. Sticks & Stones is a must read!
Rating - 5 Gorgeous ♥♥♥♥♥'s...And that's the truth!
Cross My Heart...xxx
Sandra
Quotes:
"Next time you're struggling, you tell me," Ty said quietly. "Don't care what it's about. That way I don't have to guess what you need from me."
Zane's lips pressed together hard, and he swallowed with difficulty, not wanting to pull away from Ty even an inch. "I don't want you to think I can't back you up," he said, their lips brushing as he spoke.
"When I think that, you'll know it," Ty promised, and he leaned away from him just enough to be able to look him in the eye. "It's twice now you've saved my life," he reminded in a gruff voice. "Time you stopped thinking of yourself as the weaker half."
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
"There aren't many things left that truly scare me, Ty," Zane said softly. "But that's one of them."
"What is?" Ty asked without looking back at him. There was a hint of dread in his voice as he stared devotedly at the ground.
Zane looked at him longingly, the words on the tip of his tongue: Not being in time. Losing you. But just the sound of Ty's voice carried a warning; they were too close to a line neither of them wanted to cross.
"Hell freezing over because you actually said thank you," he tried instead.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Leaning close to Ty's ear, Zane whispered, "Don't make me come after you. You get swept off, I'm eating your share of the pie."
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Deuce put his chin in his hand and watched them silently. He couldn't read Zane, but he thought the man's projected emotions were fairly straightforward. When they were visible at all. Right now, Zane was focused on Ty, and that anger appeared to be totally gone, replaced by something milder. Warmer.
But Ty? Deuce snorted. Not in love, his ass. Ty could fool Zane, maybe. He could even fool himself for a while longer. But Ty couldn't fool Deuce, not anymore.
