The Descent
Book Three of the Taker Trilogy
By Alma Katsu
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pub. Date: January 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-1451651829
Pages: 352
Buy Links: Paperback, Kindle

Review:

I haven't been more exciting about reading a book than I have been with The Descent; book three of The Taker Trilogy. There was almost a year and a half gap between the second (The Reckoning) and the third book, The Descent, so I was patiently waiting on pins and needles for the release, which finally arrived back in January. Gallery Books kindly sent me a free copy to read and review, but, sadly, a few other books arrived before The Descent did; therefore it sat in the TBR pile longer than I wanted it to. I finally got around to reading it in late February.

There are have not been many books that have grabbed a hold of me within the first few pages, leaving the characters still in my mind years later. Alma Katsu has created a beautiful trilogy full of love, revenge, sacrifice and redemption. There has been an overload of vampire and werewolves books over the years and Alma Katsu gives us a refreshing supernatural love story without blood-sucking demons or shape-shifters.

The Taker Trilogy centers on Lanore "Lanny" McIlvrae, who fell in love with the charming, rich and older, Jonathan St. Andrew, at a young age during the 1800s. After becoming pregnant, her family sends her away to Boston to have the baby (which results in a miscarriage), but within minutes of arriving in Boston she meets the charming Adair, whom forever changes her life, introducing her to a world of immortality.

Her Eternal Rogue
By Gina Danna
Publisher: To The Better End Publishing
Pub. Date: June 30, 2013
ISBN: 978-0615836348
Pages: 284
Buy Links: Amazon, B&N

Review:

At first glance Her Eternal Rogue looks like a Harlequin Regency romance novel at sea, but author Gina Danna puts a twist on the genre by adding a paranormal theme.
The heroine is Lady Lavina Sinclair who has been kidnapped by French pirates, whom plan on selling her into the prostitution trade, but luckily for her, a handsome stranger happens to rescue her.

His name is Captain Alexander Sword (Barrington), who had escaped his controlling uncle in exchange to living on the high seas, but now finds himself known as a ruthless pirate. He was to be hanged for his crimes, but he accepted a deal to rescue Lady Lavina from the French pirates and return her to her betrothed (Nicholas) in England.

The rescue mission seemed to be easy thing to get done, but Alexander didn't plan on falling for the Lady Lavina, who returns his affections. Little does she know that he has cursed - he is actually a vampire.

The Courier of Caswell Hall
An American Tapestry series
By Melanie Dobson
Publisher: Sumerside Press
Pub. Date: September 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0824934262
Pages: 336
Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1aLxC9s
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/mdobson 

Review:

During 1781, the Continental and British armies are at war, a war that pits father against son, brother against brother, and neighbor against neighbor. In Virginia, Lydia Caswell only wants the two sides to have peace, unlike her Loyalists parents or even her friend Sarah Hammond, who might just grab a gun and join the fight.

By chance, Lydia finds a wounded man near a riverbank on a snowy night. This happens to be the same night the British made plans on sailing up the James River and raiding the capital. The man is named Nathan, who changes her life forever, introducing her to a world of coded messages, disguises, couriers and spies.

As Lydia starts to fall in love with Nathan, she starts to question her beliefs. She must choose between the loyalty to her family and having freedom. Meanwhile, her friend Sarah is put in a similar position when love and war collide.

FIANCE BY FRIDAY
The Weekday Bride Series, Book Three
By Catherine Bybee
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Pub. Date: August 13, 2013, First Edition
Buy Links: Amazon, B&N, BAM, Book Depository 

Review:

I was first introduced to author Catherine Bybee's works last year with Not Quite Dating and she has become one of my new favorite writers, so I was more than eager to review the third book in the The Weekday Bride Series titled Fiancé by Friday, which I received free of charge in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Gwen Harrison's life hasn't exactly been average as she is technically referred to as "Lady" since her father is an English duke! After her brother married, she took over her sister-in-law's business, a matchmaking firm called Alliance, where she helps the high-class find the perfect match. She has started to feel like a normal human being since moving to America, but then her brother sends her surprise - a bodyguard.

Neil McBain's years as a marine has helped me become the head of security for the Duke, but he has finally met his match, that is with the Duke's sister Gwen, who he is instantly attracted to. He is a man of few words and tries to do his best to ignore his feelings toward his new client. Strange happenings occur, dead birds suddenly appear, the security system goes wacky, and the neighbors seem to be a bit odd.

Is someone after Lady Harrison? Or is Neil's deadly past coming out of the shadows?

A Summoner's Tale
Order of the Black Swan, Book 3
By Victoria Danann
Publisher: 7th House 
Pub. Date: February 12, 2013
ISBN: 978-1933320809
ASIN: B00BC1SYKE
Buy Links: Paperback, Kindle 

DESCRIPTION: 

A secret society, a witch, a psychic, vampires, modern day knights, heroes, elves, fae, assassins from another dimension, and fairytales come together where emotions intersect. Two souls, joined by a mystical bond, separated by distance, must simultaneously struggle through pain and darkness in an ultimate confrontation with character and an ultimate struggle for life proving that true love waits patiently through lifetimes and finds courage to survive. Even in the strangest places. Even when you're least expecting it. Even when you're far, far from home.

Review:

Due to family crises, personal issues, and falling behind on my reading, my review for the third book in the Order of the Black Swan series got delayed and delayed. I apologize to the author for the review's lateness.

Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies
By Leslie Wainger
Publisher: For Dummies
Pub. Date: May 7, 2004
ISBN: 978-0764525544
Pages: 384
Buy Link: Paperback

Review:

Have you ever wanted to write a romance novel? I'm sure there are many aspiring writers and romance reader junkies that have dreamed about becoming a romance writer. Now you can learn about the romance publishing industry and how to write your own novel with Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies by Leslie Wainger, executive editor of Harlequin Books; with a forward by New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard.

Get in the inside scoop from Leslie Wainger, who has been editing romance for nearly thirty-five years. She teaches you about what reader are looking for in a good romance novel. You'll learn the difference between contemporary and mainstream genres; subgenres and niche markets; where to set up the perfect writing spot; creating alpha males and fiery females; adding the perfect conflict, climax, and resolution to a plot; setting a great romantic scene; outlining your novel; showing vs. telling; how to get into a character's mind; writing great dialogue; and writing a passionate love scene.

Barefoot Summer
By Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: May 28th, 2013
ISBN: 978-1401687007
Pages: 336
Buy Link: Paperback; Amazon Kindle
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/dhunter

Review:

I almost passed on reading Barefoot Summer. At first glance at the cover, I didn't think this would be a great read for me, but then I remembered reading The Big Sky Romance Series by the author, so I decided to sign up to review it, which I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

For over ten years, Madison McKinley has been grieving the drowning of her twin brother. Her loving family and friends have tried to help her cope with her loss, but she can't seem to put things behind her and move on. She occupies her days as a veterinarian in her riverside town, but her brother's death still haunts her.

The town's annual regatta is approaching and Madison plans on entering the race as it was her brother's dream to win it. Sounds easy, right?

It would be if Madison actually knew how to swim and sail. She has a major fear of water!

Once Upon a Prince
The Royal Wedding Series
By Rachel Hauck
Publisher: Zondervan
Pub. Date: May 7, 2013
ISBN: 978-0310315476
Pages: 352
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/kFb0Y
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/rhauck

Review:

Cinderella type fairy tales have never been my thing, but I watch the television series Once Upon a Time, so I thought I would give Once Upon a Prince a try, which I received free of charge through the Litfuse Publicity and Zondervan in exchange for my honest review.

For the past twelve years, Susanna Truitt has been in love with the marine Adam Peters, who she has dreamed of marring him, but life has unexpected turns for her. It seems her so-called love had met another woman seven years ago and he plans on marrying this woman! Susanna heart is crushed along with all of her dreams.

Prince Nathaniel is taking once last holiday (aka - a vacation) to the St. Simons Islands. His father's health is failing fast and it is just a matter of time before Nathaniel will take over as king. When he returns home, he'll have to marry a complete stranger in an arrange marriage, something he wishes to avoid. By chance, he aids a beautiful woman, Susanna.Instead of giving her his real name, he tells her his name is Nate as he doesn't want her to know he is a prince. Sparks fly between the two, but his secret may ruin everything.

Not Quite Mine
By Catherine Bybee
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Pub. Date: May 7, 2013
ISBN: 978-1611099515
ASIN: B00A3ZA598
Pages: 302

Review:

The sequel to Not Quite Dating centers on the Katelyn "Katie" Morrison, while her brother Jack marries Jesse from the first book, Not Quite Dating. Katie has been the typical rich heiress with her tough girl attitude, tight clothes, and the habit of hopping from one guy to another, all of which ends up in the tabloids.

Katie gets a big surprise on her penthouse doorsteps, an infant girl with a note attached stating the girl's name is Savannah. The mother wants Katie to take care of the baby and not to get the social services involved. She is even more in shock when she sees her name on the birth certificate as the mother of the baby. Katie would love to keep the baby. But is she ready for motherhood?

She plans on keeping the baby until she finds out who the mother is, but keeping the baby a secret from the tabloids and her family may be a difficult thing to do, especially when her brother’s best-friend, Dean Prescott, discovers the baby in her penthouse. Dean and Katie had a fling awhile back that resulted in a miscarriage and Katie breaking Dean's heart. Dean knows he shouldn't help Katie, but a part of him still loves her.

Night's Darkest Embrace
By Jeaniene Frost
Publisher: Pocket Star
Pub. Date: November 13, 2012
ASIN: B007QUU9JO
Pages: 122

Review:

Enter a world of Pureblood demons, Fallen Angels and partial demons, such as Mara, who traveled into another dimension called Nocturna when she was a child along with her cousin Gloria. Mara returned to her own world when she was twenty, but her cousin went missing.

Mara blames herself for Gloria's disappearance and possible death. She wants revenge by killing the Pureblood responsible for kidnapping them. She gets help from Raphael; he also originally helped her escape Nocturna. She is not a kid anymore and she will do anything to find her cousin.

Secretly Smitten
By Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Huntand Denis Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: January 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-1401687137
ASIN: B00AA0TLF0
Pages: 400
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/gM679    
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/Smitten

Review:

In this sequel to last year's Smitten, authors Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter gives us four romantic and sometimes mysterious tales set in the fictional town of Smitten, Vermont. The plots centers on the three Thomas’s sisters, Tess, Clare, and Zoe, along with their mother, Anna, and their grandmother, Rose.

Love Between the Lines is the first story and is written by one of my favorite authors, Colleen Coble, who once again adds a bit of mystery to her story. While Tess was in her grandmother's attic, she stumbles upon a pair of dog tags belonging to David Hutchins. Who was this man? Well, she quickly learns that he was her grandmother's first love, but he died during the war. If he died during the war, then how did his dog tags get into the attic? As Tess investigates the mystery, she may accidentally find love.

Zoe Thomas is opening a matchmaking business in Make Me a Match by Kristin Billerbeck. Cupid’s Matchmaking Services is put on hold when the new city manager, William, begins tossing codes and regulations at her. As Zoe struggles to start her business, the real cupid may have other plans for her.

Broken Build
By Rachelle Ayala
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 978-1480010512
ASIN: B0099MLND8
Pub. Date: October 5, 2012
Pages: 330

Review: 

From the author of Michal's Window comes a new suspenseful thriller titled Broken Build, set in the high-tech world with backstabbing and deception around every corner. The author, Rachelle Ayala, had sent me a free copy to review after I had previously reviewed her biblical romantic tale, Michal's Window. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect since this book is set in modern times.

The main character, or should I saw heroine, is Jennifer Cruz, a woman with a rocky criminal past, who has now gone to great manners (plastic surgery, etc) to disguise herself into a new identity, Jen Jones. She takes a job as a computer techno whiz for David Jewell, a software CEO, a man she deeply hurt six years ago in her past life. Of course he doesn't recognize her now. As she spends time with David, their old romantic feelings start to resurface, but she can never erase her past.

Smitten Image
By Pam B. Morris
Publisher: Crimson Romance
ASIN: B008DVLINQ
Pub. Date: July23, 2012
Pages: 233
Buy Links: Amazon, B&N, iTunes


Review: 

Set in the year 2039, Lily Barnett is a skillful (but ditzy) painter when she is not searching for her keys or whatever she has misplaced. She fears that she'll never find true love in the great city of New Chicago. Lily desperately wants to find love. She day dreams about the man in her painting jumping off the canvas and sweeping her off her feet.

One day she stumbled into a magic shop looking for something to cure her aching heart. She sets her eyes on a love potion and eagerly guzzles it down without even learning about the side effects.

Lily's neighbor and best-friend, Daniel Harris - who is also the building manager, desperately falls for her quirkiness. He has been in love with her for years, but has never told her because he is hiding a dark magical secret of his own.

Desires Revealed
By Rebeka Harrington
Publisher: Rebeka Harrington
ISBN: 978-0987195630
ASIN: B008DBGM2S
Pub. Date: July 30, 2012
Pages: 226
Buy Links: Paperback, Kindle

Review: 

Desires Reveals revolves around a 2,600 year-old vampire named Bektamun who happens to save a family whom are accused of being Huguenots in the St. Bartholomew's Massacre of 1572.

The daughter of the family, Nicole, bonds with the vampire despite her young age (She is around four or five.) and the fact that her parents and siblings don't care for it. Over the years her relationship with the vampire becomes deeper, but there is a rule that vampires can never have a relationship with a human. There are dark forces that will stop at nothing to destroy their bond.

Michal's Window
By Rachelle Ayala
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 
ISBN: 978-1475081480
Pub. Date: April 12, 2012
Pages: 458
Buy Link: Amazon.com

Review: 

This stunning biblical tale centers on Princess Michal, the daughter of King Saul, as she first meets the shepherd boy/harpist named David, who is arrives at the kingdom to help mend her father who is tormented by evil spirits. The Princess falls in love with David and before long the two are wedded.

Situations occur that causes King Saul to order the death of his son-in-law. Fearing for David's life, Michal helps her husband escape the wrath of her father.

Michal is later reunited with the now King David, but he has changed from the man that she had known. David has several wives and other lovers, but Michal still loves him and is determined to win his heart at all costs.

Dancing Naked in Dixie
AUTHOR: Lauren Clark
PUBLISHED BY: Monterey Press
ASIN: B0082205JY
PUB DATE: May 9, 2012
PAGES: 267

    Julia Sullivan is a travel writer for the Getaway Magazine and she is given an assignment that takes her to Eufaula, Alabama to cover the annual Winter Pilgrimage event. Julia is use to traveling to exotic locations and going to Alabama doesn’t thrill her at all, but she doesn’t have a choice. Her new boss isn’t fond of her and to keep her job she has take the assignment.

    She is surprised to see how friendly the Eufaula locals are and takes in the Southern life, meeting quirky characters such as Shug, PD, Roger, and many others. Julia is emotionally drained for her mother’s passing and her battered relationship with her father. This simple assignment is turning into more of a life changing event, as she deals with her personal problems and unexpectedly finds romance.

Roan
BY: Jennifer Blake
PUBLISHED BY: Severn House
ISBN: 978-0-7278-8124-3
RELEASED DATE: 2012 (Original copyright in 2000)
PAGES: 380

 After one of the suspects jumps out of a moving van and rolls down a hill, Sheriff Roan Benedict pulls out his gun and fires, only to realize that he had just shot a woman. He takes her to the hospital with the intention to charge her for robbing a local grocery store. When Tory awakens, she claims that she was a kidnapping victim, but does not know the names of the men that were in the van. Roan does not want to believe her, but he cannot exactly arrest her either.

    Two unknown men try to break into the hospital. Roan knows that Tory is no longer safe there and invites her to stay at his house until she can identify the kidnappers. Of course, Tory is not exactly telling the truth. She is running away from her evil ex-fiancée and her stepfather, who are both after her inheritance. As a romance blossoms between Roan and Tory, she wonders if she can tell him the truth. However, she may not have a choice as her ex arrives in town for her.

Midwife of Venice

AUTHOR: Roberta Rich

PUBLISHED BY: Gallery Books

ISBN: 978-1-44516-5747-0

RELEASED DATE: February 2012

PAGES: 344

    Hanna Levi, a Jewish midwife, is known through Venice for helping mothers give birth by using the ‘birthing spoons’ that she designs herself. A Papal forbids any Jews to give medical treatments to Christians, which the rule has never been a problem for Hanna, until a Christian nobleman asks for her help. His wife has been in labor for days and he wants Hanna to help with his son’s birth. In exchange, he’ll pay for husband Isaac’s ransom. Isaac has been captured and forced into slavery in Malta. Hanna must go against her religion to help save her husband.

Pages: 310
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Now for a twist, Sam asks Sookie for a favor - for her to ask the vampire Eric if Sam could borrow one of his vampire bartenders. Eric can never say no to Sookie, therefore the vampire pirate Charles joins Merlotte’s in Sam’s absence. Meanwhile, Tara is now in the control of the dangerous vampire Mickey.

Dead as a Doornail focuses more on the weres and shape-shifters than it does vampires. If you are watching the current season, you’ll realize that some of the plot elements in Dead as a Doornail are in it, mainly with Jason. Vampire favorites Bill, Eric and Pam have very little to do with the novel, and involves more of the Hotshots and werewolf clans. The death of Debbie Pelt is coming back to bite Sookie in the you-know-what, as private investigators are looking into her disappearance. I liked that the author laid out more of the werewolf mythology into the modern world. Sookie’s fairy-godmother, Claudine, is a riot and fun character unlike the fairy plot from True Blood. The fifth book in the series is great read.

Pages: 573

An angle of the Light, Azrael, makes his descend onto the earth, but in the form of a living-flesh body. There are scars on his back where his wings once were. Confused and naked on the street, he is confronted by young thugs. He quickly picks up their language and begs them for help. Azrael realizes that he had no other choice, but to defend himself and take one of the thugs clothes.

Azrael finds Celeste in a sleazy bar and tell her to come with him. Of course, she doesn’t want to go with a psycho. He eventually tells her who he is and that he is there to protect her from the evil forces that have been ruining her life. A horrible battle for control of the mortal realm is coming, and Celeste is now in the middle of it. The angel has one problem, the longer he stays in his half-human form, the more he becomes human. He starts to have desires, and is very attractive to Celeste. T

To same the human race, Celeste must show Azrael the dark world and addictions that she has been living in her entire life, or the forces of evil will take over.

There are many books written about fallen angels falling in love with humans, and a few movies too. When I signed up to review Surrender the Dark, I didn’t realize that it was about angels. I changed my mind after reading the intriguing prologue, as the Azrael leaves heaven and descends upon the Earth. Many heroines are clichéd, but Celeste is a bit of fresh air and realization. She is a strong willed women with many weaknesses. She was never looking for a knight in shining armor to rescue her from her bad lifestyle, until Azrael came into her life. I can easily see this as a blockbuster movie. I recommend Surrender the Dark to all urban fantasy fans.

*I would like to thank Pocket Books for sending me a copy to review.