Review: Dark Wolf Rising by Rhyannon Byrd

Posted on December 6, 2012 by emilyh

Chelsea Smart arrives in Silvercrest with no plan to leave until she finds her missing sister. When she encounters Eric Drake who is determined to get her to leave, she is confused by the attraction she feels for the bossy man and his suggestion that he looks into her sisters disappearance and wait for the information. Chelsea is not one to hand over the reigns, but she has no idea Eric is a Dark Wolf and quite powerful. Each one is determined to the push the other away as the chemistry between them builds and Eric has no plans of taking a human mate, nor does Chelsea want a man controlling her life.

Suspenseful page turner, Chelsea has a troubled background that has her turning the other way when it comes to Eric and manages to get herself into trouble. Eric has his own issues and mating , especially with a human is one of them. I enjoyed the story, thought it definitely had a lot of avenues for future books in the series which I can’t wait to read.

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Review: Black Magic Lover by Cynthia Cooke

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Amelia

The fascinating world of the supernatural is brought to life in a most intriguing way as the voodoo aspects are all too convincing. Cynthia Cooke captures the willpower of those who believe in the unexplained and gives readers a frightening look into what might be possibly happening in a nearby quaint town.

When Laura Larame receives a mysterious phone call stating her mother is still in the bayou town where she lived as a young child, she feels compelled to return and hopefully discover what really occurred the night her life was completely changed. Laura has not been back to the area since she was eight, yet she wants to know why no one from her hometown has ever contacted her and whether her mother is still alive or not. Deciding it is finally time to move forward in her life by getting over the past, she travels to the one place where she hopes to find the answers to the questions which have plagued her since that long ago night she cannot remember.

Upon arriving at her old home, Laura is surprised to find her childhood friend, Drew Michel, whom she vaguely recalls. As they talk and he shows her around, indistinct memories become clearer. She also truly wants to trust this man as she did when he was a boy. What she does not know is Drew can see those who have died plus even has visions about how someone will die. When he realizes Lauraâ€™s death will be a reality because of her coming back to the area, he tries to make her leave and thus keep her alive. Unfortunately, her determination to uncover the truth is too strong and she plans to stay until the mysteries surrounding her life are disclosed.

Cynthia Cooke vividly describes the situations to give a clear-cut impression of all circumstances. Sometimes the scene will contain only emotions and other moments may be filled with suspense, but all details will come across clearly and let the reader know exactly what is happening and why. All the way through BLACK MAGIC LOVER, there are countless mysteries incorporated into the storyline along with numerous unspoken secrets. These unknowns are slowly revealed with clever answers, many of which are total surprises. Several of the events are shocking and definitely add in building the suspense. How everything will conclude is uncertain until the very final scene, where love comes into play and proves its power. Drew and Laura may share a past but they are basically strangers when they once again meet up. Ms. Cooke takes these two down a road with numerous twists and turns before they can ever be happy, and what they must live through is frequently terrifying and often scary with its realism. Any feelings they have for each other are profoundly sincere, and they express these genuine emotions with much honesty. The many secrets this couple does not know when the story starts but are gradually divulged with every page turned are inventive and make for a unique tale of the supernatural. BLACK MAGIC LOVER stirs your imagination and emotions when destiny takes two appealing characters on an adventurous romantic journey.

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Review: Angel Slayer by Michele Hauf

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Amelia

Of Angels and Demons is a new paranormal series where every disclosure is inventively original and totally captivating. Michele Hauf takes certain perceived facts, adds several cleverly ingenious ideas and consequently makes your own emotions run the gamut.

During the first showing of her art work depicting uncharacteristic angels, Eden Campbell is finally able to illustrate to others what she has secretly dreamed about for most of her life. Her portrayal of the angelic beings is nothing like the stereotypical pictures normally seen, but this is how they have always looked in her dreams. A most unusual man speaks with her during the showing, one who unnerves her, and he follows her when she later leaves. When a confrontation turns threatening, Eden is thankful to another man who arrives and whisks her away.

After they are hopefully hidden from the man who threatened her, Eden learns some astonishing facts from her rescuer. He is called Ashuriel the Black, and he is an angel slayer sent to kill her assailant, a Fallen angel who wants her to give birth to his apocalyptic causing offspring. Eden is stunned by his news but does accept his statement as true since she believes in angels. Ashur wonders what the woman under his protection will think when she learns he is actually a demon whose real looks are nothing like the human man he is at the moment. As a demon, he is encouraged to act upon numerous sins, but he is strictly forbidden from falling in love. Eden comes to know much about the man watching over her, and she will do whatever she can to get Ashur to care for her as she does him.

Michele Hauf is a notable originator of believable paranormal worlds. With dramatically striking descriptions, the reader will be completely drawn into the innovative storyline and is continuously affected by every intriguing revelation. The plot about angels and demons envisioned by Ms. Hauf for ANGEL SLAYER is deftly brought to life with skillful writing and colorful characters. Setting the Of Angels and Demons series in the same world as her other outstanding Nocturne books makes for some interesting overlapping issues, ones which are always brilliantly carried out and often have a startling outcome. There are definitely a couple of surprising turns, ones I never saw coming and thus upped my satisfaction. The ground-breaking theories conceived for this story are extremely out of the ordinary, and the possible reasons for balancing good and evil are certainly plausible. An intensely emotional love story from the very start, the situations which Ashur and Eden must face are frequently upsetting and cause your heart to ache for the decisions they much eventually make. They both suffer conflicting emotions from time to time, especially Ashur, and I was pulled more into their lives as each new situation arose. Ms. Hauf is always able to evoke a myriad of emotions from her readers, and ANGEL SLAYER is no exception. There are moments with chilling predicaments and others are stirringly poignant with genuine realism. Although Ashur is not your normal hero, he still manages to movingly affect you with the sincerity behind his actions and in particular those of a self-sacrificing nature. There are also many delightful conversations between him and Eden, and their witty banter was repeatedly engaging. The potent desire they feel for the other is expressed with plenty of steamy heat, and just proves a lusty demon makes a superb lover. As for the next book in the series, I am anxiously waiting. ANGEL SLAYER is an imaginative romance which grabs your thoughts while touching your heart.

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Review: Vampire Vendetta by Alexis Morgan

Posted on April 19, 2010 by Amelia

Vampires rule in the intriguing world imagined by Alexis Morgan, where humans not only know about these beings but work under their guidance. Welcome to a most interesting paranormal concept, as original ideas are brought to life through enthralling scenarios featuring an outstanding cast of characters.

When a scandal surrounding his half sister caused Seamus Fitzhugh to have everything important in his life taken away from him, the vampire knows who to blame and sets a plan of retribution in motion. As a purebred vampire, Seamus is higher in status than the half human, half vampire beings known as chancellors, and he is definitely higher in standing than humans, but now he is shunned by everyone who knows his situation. Feeling alone and with nothing to lose, he arrives at the home of the man he feels is responsible for his present life, hoping to insinuate himself in some capacity into the vast estate which his enemy owns.

The medical background of Seamus helps him establish a reason for staying at the compound since it needs a medic, and he soon gets a chance to prove whether he will be an asset or not. A female chancellor who is deathly ill arrives, and his life quickly becomes entangled with that of Megan Perez. Though he is immediately drawn to the secretive woman, he knows letting her problems become his must not happen as this may disrupt his goal for vengeance, even when his heart wants to override this personal objective. Unbeknownst to Seamus, someone is devising a scheme which threatens both his and Meganâ€™s future.

Alexis Morgan is a premier novelist of paranormal romance, and her expertise is evident in her first Silhouette Nocturne release. The whole premise of VAMPIRE VENDETTA is innovative, as Ms. Morgan gives the various legends about vampires her own particularly unique twists. From the very start, I was drawn into the lives of the dynamic hero and heroine where intense feelings are constantly depicted with such realism. Though Seamus and Megan possess supernatural abilities and traits, their personalities are still conveyed with humanlike emotions, thus letting a deep connection be formed. Ms. Morgan has the interaction between these two plus any dealings with other individuals coming across as so genuine, you will become exceedingly concerned about the welfare of these beloved characters. Some of their scenes will touch your heart as compassionate natures are revealed through actions, while other moments will leave you sighing from their heartfelt expression of inner longings. Both of them are struggling with past events which still haunt their current lives, and the choices they made during a number of situations had me admiring them as personal values fueled their responses. I especially loved Seamus when he had a private battle with himself, as he had come to not care about much of anything except his driving need for revenge, so many decisions were conflicted if the result forced him away from his agenda. There are numerous paranormal elements in this story, but they are made believable by giving the impression of being everyday occurrences. One of the secondary characters is named Conlan, and I really hope this appealing man gets his own book. VAMPIRE VENDETTA is a romance where the redemptive power of love is revealed through dramatic creativity.

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Review: Mistress of the Underground by Lisa Childs

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Amelia

The Secret Vampire Society series adds another intriguing installment with MISTRESS OF THE UNDERGROUND, where secrets abound and unknown danger lurks. Lisa Childs creates a paranormal world where mortals and immortals may live together, yet knowledge about the existence of those frequently thought to be found in only scary tales can turn deadly for the unaware.

When Paige Culver became the new owner of Club Underground, she wanted to help out a close relative, not because this was any life-long dream. From the very first, she does not feel comfortable at the club and has to wonder if it is the building itself or something else which makes her anxious. Paige hates having secrets kept from her, as too many hidden truths in her marriage to Dr. Benjamin Davison led to them divorcing, although she still intensely cares for the man she has tried so hard to forget. When several mysterious threats occur, she is determined to uncover what is going on at her club and who is behind the warnings.

After Ben heard his ex-wife is now running the club he repeatedly frequents, he tries to warn her of possible danger if she does not stay away from the establishment. The renowned cardiologist unintentionally became involved with the patrons of the club, and now he is the one who secretly aids the vampires and other immortals when they are hurt. Regrettably, Paige does not heed his advice and her search for answers may have deadly consequences. Ben may have lost her as his spouse, but he will do whatever it takes to protect her life.

Lisa Childs keeps you emotionally involved in her notable story until the very end. Readers cannot help but be affected by the numerous poignant scenes, as reactions are expressed with sincerity caused by deeply felt feelings. MISTRESS OF THE UNDERGROUND continuously speaks to your own heart as you are drawn into the atypical lives of the Ben and Paige. The problems they find themselves facing are equally caused by real life human concerns and those resulting from the paranormal. From the moment you realize how he spends much of his life plus what he has sacrificed, you strongly feel empathy for this tortured hero and want him to be able to achieve his desires. Paige is a determinedly feisty heroine, one who wants to move on in her life but a haunted past will not let her. Ms Childs puts these two at odds as they struggle with plenty of emotional issues which not only have an effect on them in the present but will shape their futures as well. The conversations between them are believably honest, as their feelings conflict with what their minds tell them over and over again. Theirs is an exceedingly complex love story, as regrets and decisive secrets hamper them from being forthright with each other using words, thus keeping their relationship from having a second chance of rekindling. However, Ben and Paige certainly know how to express their innermost sentiments in one way, since any love scenes are fierily explosive. There are also plenty of secondary characters whose story I would like to know, and I hope they get the opportunity in future releases. MISTRESS OF THE UNDERGROUND is a remarkable paranormal story brimming with passionate encounters, unfolding mysteries and surprising twists.

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