Em & M Books

I really enjoyed all three stories in this book. With great characters, witty banter, and an interesting plot that was carried throughout the books, Taming the Pack had just about everything I like in a paranormal romance.

I had previously read the first book, Past My Defenses, when it was originally released. Vanessa and Dane were great. She’s a wolf that has allergies, he’s a human forest ranger, and together these two were lots of fun! Vanessa runs when things get difficult, but she’s in heat so it’s a bit hard for her to run away from the man she has scent-matched to, even if he is a human! Dane is just trying to figure out how the wolf he had in his cage could possibly be this woman who just ran off on him. These two didn’t have the easiest time getting together, but it was a whole lot of fun watching them get there.

In This Weakness for You, we get to see Jordan fighting his scent-match to Christa – not only has he been there, done that and it didn’t work out so well with having a mate, it turns out Christa is Dane’s sister…and after all the grief Jordan gave Dane about Vanessa he knows Dane will kill him if he even thinks about going near his sister! Christa has to be one of my most favorite characters in a long time. She’s feisty, confident, and really lives for each day and moment – all this in spite of life’s set backs, including the fact that she has MS. She doesn’t let Jordan get away with anything – from pushing her away to being over-protective, she always called him on his actions.

“And then there’s this…” He took a step back and shifted. One minute, he was a man – the next, a large black wolf beside a pile of clothes.

Christa’s eyes widened and she stared. “Oh, well…” Then, she wrinkled up her nose and tilted her head. “You know, I’d actually considered that, but there’s no way to ask that without sounding insane.”

The black wolf stared. Jordan’s primal intelligence had been expecting panic and shock. This amused acceptance was…confusing.

His mate scooted farther back in the bed with a yawn. “So now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, can you stay?”

He didn’t move.

His female leaned forward and whistled while patting the bed.

There was a brief fight between his stubborn human intelligence and the instinctual desire to be with his female. Also…she’d just whistled. His pride couldn’t fight the altered primal mind-set. Mine. Mate. Mine. The black wolf jumped on the bed and lay down beside her.

And in Crazy Over You we finally get to see Sheriff Travis Flynn meet his match, uh, scent-match – even if she seems to walk a bit on the other side of the law! LeAnn just wants to find her brother and falling for the sexy sheriff is not part of the plan. Travis has seen his two friends find their mates and wants what they have…and if that means pulling out all the stops to keep LeAnn with him and maybe breaking a law or two along the way, well, a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.

I just love this series and Thunder Wolf helps move this story arc of the Enforcers forward, giving us a bit more insight into the Enforcer world as well as revealing more information about the threat of the Russian Volchista.

Hadley and John were both great characters. I just loved watching Hadley go all Enforcer on her charges, keeping them in line and reminding them that just because she may be small, doesn’t mean that she still can’t kick some serious butt. John wants Hadley – no ifs, ands, or buts…except as an Enforcer relationships aren’t something you can do. Of course, from the beginning of this story arc you can feel that the world is changing for these wolves, and maybe involvement is not a liability. I loved that even though John’s base instinct was to protect Hadley, he respected her Enforcer ability and let her take care of herself, never trying to step in front of her, always fighting beside her. It was great seeing these two work together and play together – and I loved how Hadley could bring about that playful side in John.

I also love the way that Heather Long manages to interweave the stories of the packs into each book, allowing us to keep track of the goings on and spend time with some of the characters from previous books. And continuing to see different sides of Julian, the head of the Enforcers, is always interesting – and has me anticipating his book!

As I’ve said before, this is one of my favorite series. I think the only thing keeping me from a 5-star rating on this one was I didn’t feel as emotionally vested in the characters as I have in so many of the other books, which may have been a result of both characters being Enforcers and both were fairly well adjusted – I felt like I was watching a great story rather than being a part of it. Again, still enjoyed this one, just finding it hard to rate it the same as some of the other books in the series that I loved!

Although I think you can read this one as a stand-alone there are a lot of tie-ins to the overall story arc which may make this one a bit harder to follow along with – and really, this entire series is worth the read so why not start at the beginning!

Once again the writing team of Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano delivers a book full of romance, suspense, and enough twists and turns to keep you engaged in the story right to the very end.

Taylor and Matt were an awesome pairing. These two had chemistry which extended beyond the bedroom. They were such a great team working together, and I loved the fact that their romance seemed to happen naturally and without a lot of drama once they decided to give things a try. Matt was perfect for Taylor – she’s been burying some pretty serious stuff far down and he refused to let her get away with keeping things bottled up. He was also quick to recognize that Taylor could take care of herself and didn’t need him to go all alpha and caveman on her, but he also just as quick to recognize when she needed him to lean on. Taylor was a bit intense and career-driven, but I really loved watching her pair up with Matt and the Justice Team when she gets pulled from her duties.

I loved how the plot was laid out, making you feel like you were discovering the various pieces of evidence and clues right along with Taylor and Matt. It was fun seeing the tie-in to the Justice Team and their involvement in the case. Anytime Mitch shows up you just know you are in for a fun time! And the sisters – I’m so excited to hear that there will be a series featuring the two sisters that run the PI firm that Matt works for…they are going to be so much fun!

I may be in the minority with this, but I did find the ending didn’t quite work for me. I would have liked it to have been a bit different (not the tie up of the major story line, but a secondary plot point in the book) – things tied up a bit too nicely and felt too predictable, and I would have loved to have seen the ending of that secondary plot point be carried forward in future books in this series. I know others won’t agree since the ending tied up all the loose ends, but I did find myself thinking “no, please don’t let that resolve because I can see this being woven into so many other stories” as I was getting to the end of the book. Not a huge thing, but I would have loved to have seen things end a bit differently.

Overall, this was another great read by Evans and Giordano. Their combined voices always deliver great dialogue and a story that is seamlessly constructed. This can certainly be read as a stand alone but I guarantee you’ll want to go back and read the other books if you start here!

Another fabulous romantic suspense from Misty Evans! Fast moving and entertaining, with just enough romance and tension thrown in to keep me glued to the pages, Fatal Truth was a great start to a new series.

Savannah ended up being an awesome heroine. I was a bit unsure of her at first, but as her character was developed and revealed throughout the book she really had everything I love in my heroines – she was strong, smart, capable, and knew when she needed to ask for help. Yet she also didn’t have a problem standing up for herself or letting her thoughts and opinions be heard – especially when it came to Trace. Trace has learned to keep everything under control, especially his emotions. Unfortunately when it comes to Savannah she always seems to get him a little bit crazy. And even though I was a bit frustrated that he didn’t man up and let Savannah know who he was, knowing his past made me a little more forgiving towards him. Together these two had some serious tension going on. And let’s just say at one point the term “hot yoga” had more to do with the heat between these two than the yoga challenge that they had going on.

I loved the secondary characters in the book and each and every one of them added something to the story. I really loved seeing Cal, Beatrice, and Emit again – Beatrice was one of my favorite characters from the SCVC series and I love that I’ll get to see a bit more of her in this new spin-off series.

If you’re looking for a great romantic suspense then look no further. Fatal Truth offers up a large dose of conspiracy, intrigue, and action, with a nice side of romance and shouldn’t be missed.

Just loved this book! I’ve been waiting to see what would happen to Luke and Lisa Kessler did not disappoint. Like the other books in the series there is a lot of heart, humor, and heat, but this one brings a darker, edgier tone as Luke must deal with an evil, twisted pack that holds his future in its hands.

Luke…*sigh*…all he wants is to find his mate. He’s seen what finding a mate can bring and he wants to find his own happy ever after. He’s also seen what not finding a mate can do to a wolf – not something he wants to even think about since it hits too close to home. Luke has been a great supporting character in the previous books in this series – always loyal, puts the pack first, and always there for everyone, especially his twin brother, so it was great to see him finally step out on his own and look for his own future and happiness. Of all the characters in the series I’ve always thought Luke was the most emotional one…and when he finds his mate that emotion ramps up to alpha conditions and he is one driven wolf – driven to protect and free his mate from Caldwell’s pack as well as doing whatever he can to protect his Reno Pack from the threat of Nero. Of course trying to balance out all that alpha and not putting himself and Raven in even more danger is not an easy task.

Raven could hold her own. Even though she’s had a tough life she is still an optimist at heart, and meeting Luke has given her that spark of hope she needs to believe that things might just work out. I love the way she’s always cracking little jokes, bringing a smile to Luke’s face even when they had to face some really awful things.

I just love this conversation between Luke and Adam, the alpha of the Reno pack. To me it reflects exactly what Lisa Kessler's wolves represent - heart, home, safety, and family - and how the mating bond makes that real.

A captivating read about a woman trying to take control of her life and the man who is fighting to remain part of it. I’m a big fan of second chance romances and enjoyed the twist of these two already being married – albeit a marriage of convenience – and finding their way to each other’s hearts.

Both Johnny and Tessa are trying to escape the patterns of their past. Tessa has spent her life shying away from everything and when she finally decides to take control of things that also means letting go of everything from her past – including her husband, a man who married her to protect and care for her, but has never treated her like a real wife. Even though she has very deep and real feelings for Johnny, she knows she needs to let him go so they both can move on with their lives. What Tessa doesn’t know is that she has always been Johnny’s anchor, and when he finds she has set him free he is set adrift and he knows he’s not ready to give up on Tessa or their marriage so easily.

     “There’s more to the new me than some highlights and a trim,” Tessa said, her voice gone throaty. “I’m not the meek, mouse weakling you married.”

     Frowning, Johnny slid his hand down to cup her tense jaw. “I never thought of you that way.”

     Her eyes darkened. She turned her head away from his hand. “You would never have said that, because you’re too kind. But I’m not an idiot, Johnny. You’ve always seen me as a child.”

     “I see the woman you are now,” he rasped, already missing the silken texture of her skin under his fingertips. “And I like what I see.”

     She swallowed audibly, her brow crinkling in confusion. “I don’t understand why you’re talking like this. Why are you making this so difficult? It wasn’t even a real marriage.”

     The words were a body blow, knocking the wind out of Johnny. But he’d never been good at going down easy. “It was real to me.”

I really enjoyed watching Johnny take a step back and acknowledge that his take control personality is not what is needed to save his marriage. And even though he’s never acted on his very deep and real feelings for Tessa, he needs to now figure out how to show Tessa just what she means to him without steamrolling over her – a tough job for someone who is always used to being in total control of everything. I did like Tessa, but at times she could be a bit annoying to me – she is trying to keep control of her new found life, which I get, but sometimes I felt she was a bit quick in assuming someone was trying to take control and I do wish she was a bit more upfront to Johnny about her feelings and her fears. I did like the fact that she broke out and was able to create a new life for herself and created a home for herself on the island, and I loved watching her find her sexy side when it came to Johnny.

There were a few mysteries that were intertwined within Johnny and Tessa’s story, and I really enjoyed meeting Marcus and Quinn and look forward to learning more about them in the next book. The couple of twists at the end were only slightly predictable and didn’t disappoint at all.

All in all, I think I’ve decided that I need to find this island and take up residence! This was a cute and quirky small town “in your face” kind of place that allows for some great fun (small town gossip and characters just can’t be beat!) and also some heartwarming moments between friends who are more like family. This was my first book in the series and I don’t think I lost anything starting here although I would like to go back and read the previous books. Definitely a book worth checking out.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley which I voluntarily reviewed.

I really liked this book – there was a lot going on, but the overall story was good. Evan and Jesse have a very brief history so there is an element of a second chance, which I enjoy, and there is also a bit of mystery thrown in which allows us to really get to know the characters. And I’m a sucker for sports romances, so there were a lot of things I really liked about this book.

Both Jesse and Evan are carrying around some issues from their past. Jesse turned to alcohol as a way of helping him grieve the loss of his brother. Evan has closed herself off after breaking free from an abusive relationship. To say these two had some issues to overcome is an understatement. When they meet up 10 years after their very brief affair, they are not the same two people who shared a crazy 48 hours together. Neither one of them are good at communicating or sharing so a lot of things that may have been talked out right away are left unsaid and/or unknown to each other which causes a lot of angst between them.

One thing that seemed to slow the reading down a bit was that there were too many things going on at once. The overall story of Jesse and Evan finding their way back to each other was good, but there were many sub-plots going on within and between their two families which seemed to bog me down a little. I liked the abusive ex story line, but some of the other things I think could have been left out or reworked to keep the pace up.

Overall, I think this was a great debut novel for the author it definitely has me curious to see if there will be any other books that deal with Jesse’s brothers.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Wow – Misty Evans has certainly made the arrival of Cal and Beatrice’s baby one to remember! With all the action, suspense, and heart of the rest of the SFI series, this novella has everything you would expect when it comes to birth of Cal & B’s baby!

It's always special when your baby's birth happens and you and your new family are surrounded by people you love...and it’s even more special when those people you love can protect you from the crazy terrorist who has shown up in the middle of the delivery seeking revenge. Leave it to Cal and B to deliver a baby in the middle of a gunfight – I would have expected nothing less! And as usual B steals the show…

“Where is she? Where is your pregnant wife?”

Cal was about to dive for his gun when he heard the bedroom door crack open and Beatrice’s voice sounded behind him.

“Right here, bitch.”

And all hell broke loose.

……..

Beatrice squeezed the trigger.

At the same time, a contraction squeezed her.

Cal yelled, her shot went wide, and the bitch who’d shot her husband ran.

One of the things I love best about this series is how Misty Evans weaves her characters in and out of the books. It is always a treat to catch up with characters who have been featured in other books as well as get to know some new ones. I loved meeting Connor and Sabrina, two SFI team members who find their way to one another during this novella. They each have an interesting background and I hope we get to learn more about them in upcoming books in the series – *dish, Misty – what’s up with the September 12 group that Connor keeps referring to?*

This is a quick read with great writing that will pull you in and have you finishing it in one sitting. Even though this one is a bit heavier on the suspense/action side, the undercurrent of emotion between Cal and B and the beginning of the romance between Connor and Sabrina balance out all the gunfire and explosions. And the ending made me all warm and smiley inside.

Although this can be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend starting this series from the beginning so you have a better understanding of the relationship between the characters.

Heather Long does it again with another 5 star read in her Wolves of Willow Bend series. Shadow Wolf is the beginning of a new story arc in this series and boy...I could not put this one down!

From well-developed characters to an awesome plot that reveals enough to get you through Mitch and Amelia's story but leaves enough in question to have you anticipating the next book, Heather Long has a way of just drawing you into the world she has created. And now adding some additional dimensions into the world of the Enforcers has only made me more excited to see where this series leads...and has me hoping that it is many, many, many more books before it ends!

This is one of my favorite series and I can't recommend this book and series enough. Although you could read this as a stand-alone, I would recommend starting at the beginning so you can meet all the wonderful characters in the world that Heather Long has created.

Fatal Love by Misty Evans

Another awesome read from Heather Long - can't say enough about all the books in this series! This was a quick read that featured two "older" wolves finding their way back to each other - just loved the secret Santa tradition and watching these two realize just what they mean to each other.

Just loved this one! From the laugh out loud moments - and there were many - to the ones that had my heart breaking (and even ones that had me getting a little bit angry), I couldn't put this one down.

For the first time ever the complete Hart Family Series is together in box set form.

Broken Hart 
What happens when the man who vowed never to fall in love meets a woman that he can't be without?

Shattered Hart 
He's a player, she's a virgin. What could possibly go wrong?

Loving Hart
Spencer and Delilah were made for each other. There's just one little problem...

Unbroken Hart 
Loving Sabrina healed Dante's Broken Hart, but he'll never forget what it took to get there.

Missing Hart 
No matter the reason for it, a lie can ruin everything. When an unexpected twist brings these soulmates back together, things get hot.

Finding Hart 
Two couples separated by circumstances beyond their control. One family hell bent on finding their girls. It's all come down to this.

**The Hart Family series is HOT. These couples are passionate & sexual. If sexy stories aren't your thing, these books aren't for you.**

Raising my eyes to him, I checked to see if he was noticing what was happening, only to find his eyes blazing back into mine.  The look he gave me was pure combustible heat, and it left me with absolutely no doubt that he felt whatever was happening too.

He shook his head as though he was trying to clear it, and returned to massaging as I closed my eyes and tried to process what the hell was happening—and my reaction to it.   When he rubbed the arch of my foot again, I couldn't help it, and I moaned.  My eyes snapped open, and I prayed that maybe he hadn't heard me.

His hand slid from the arch of my foot up to my left ankle as his other hand gripped my right ankle.  Using my ankles as leverage, he jerked me toward him. I wasn't dumb and I knew what that meant.  Clearly, he had heard me. I was trying to process all of that as he bent forward and kissed first one knee, then the other.

I took a shocked breath and my jaw dropped as I stared at the top of his head.  Raising his eyes to mine, Dante asked, “Rina.  I want this.  Do you?”

The line was shockingly easy to cross.

Looking him straight in the eye I answered honestly and without hesitation. “Yes.  God, yes.”

 
He looked gorgeous, as always, and I struggled to remember to breathe for a minute.  He works out like a mad man, and his body is to die for.  After giving me a kiss and a hug, Spence escorted me into his living room.  Taking a spot on his couch, I smiled when he took the seat at the other end.

“What’s up angel?  What do you need?”

I’d already decided not to beat around the bush, so I dove right in.  “Don't flip out. I’m here because I need to kiss you again, and I want you to give me my first orgasm. It's time.”

I paused when he gasped, and I could see that he was going to argue with me.  “Shush Spence.  Listen to me before you say no.”

He nodded tersely, so at least I knew he was listening.

“I'm a virgin, and we both know I'm saving it for you."
The look on his face was a mixture of shock, discomfort and arousal.  "Jesus, Delilah, shoot straight much? That's… I mean… I don't know what the fuck to even say."

"You can cut the crap and admit that you've known all along that I was waiting for you.  I don't mind waiting, not that I'm going to sit on my ass forever, but before I start taking care of my needs myself, I want you to get me there.  I want all my firsts to happen with you."

"Oh, fuck.  I don't even…"

Holding up my hand, I told him to hush.  "You can run from everyone else Spencer Cross, but you'll never be able to run from me.  I know you want this and you've wanted it for a long time. You’ve been waiting for me to come to you again.  Well, here I am. Someday, you'll have all of me.  Until you're ready to take that step, I'm asking you to give me this."

I saw the exact moment that he accepted what I’d said as being true, and I knew he was going to do it. His eyes were like a firestorm when he looked at me.  "If this is what you really want angel, then yes. You’re right.  I want to give it to you.  Tell me how you want me to do this."

Standing, I took his hand in mine as I started walking toward his bedroom.  I walked fast, letting go of his hands when we got in so that I could throw myself on his bed.  After enjoying a little bounce, I propped myself on my elbow and stared at him as he stood over the bed.

"You can start by kissing me.  How it goes from there is up to you."

Turning on my heel I ran for the door, desperate to be away from him.  I swung it open at the same moment he reached a hand out and slammed it.  Pivoting,  I glared up at him.  “What the hell are you doing?  You can’t let go of the past and I’m done being your fucking punching bag.  What do you want?”

Pushing me roughly against the door he wrapped his fingers in my hair and pulled me against him.

“You!  Goddammit, I fucking want you.”

We met each other halfway, mouths smashing against each other in a kiss so intense that it was painful. My body went up in flames, the blood in my veins flowing hot for him. Our hands collided as we started ripping at each other’s clothes.  He bunched my skirt up to my waist and tore my panties off as I struggled to get his jeans open.  Finally I succeeded, reaching in and pulling his massively swollen erection out of his jeans and positioning it right at my center, marveling out how wet I was as I drenched his swollen head with my arousal.

With one hard thrust, he was in so deep that it hurt.  After not being penetrated for four years, he filled me to capacity and then some.  I screamed out in ecstasy and clawed at his shirt as his hips pumped into me at warp speed.  My back was banging against the door with every punishing thrust and I didn't care.  I felt him in every part of my body as he pounded in and out, our mouths smashed together as we kissed like two maniacs.  We were a mess of teeth and tongue, the pain turning immediately into pleasure.

Ella Fox  writes like a woman possessed whenever she gets the chance!  She is the author of The Hart Family Series, The Renegade Saints Series and The Catch Series.

When she’s not writing, Ella indulges the gypsy in her blood and travels the country.  Ella loves reading, movies, music, buying make-up, reading Tmz, Twitter and pedicures… not necessarily in that order. She has a wild sense of humor and loves to laugh.  Her favorite thing in the world is hanging out with her family and watching comedy movies.

It has been days since Lily killed the vampire responsible for her brutal attack. Now she and Wolf have been summoned by the Society to answer for her actions. Standing before the Regent, she learns she has tipped the human and supernatural scales. A new vampire is required to restore balance.

When she hears the penalty for her crime, Wolf protectively steps in and accepts a dangerous task in exchange for her freedom. He must find the rogue vampire who has been slaughtering citizens in their territory or risk losing Lily to the Society. And he only has days to do it.

As the night of reckoning fast approaches, Lily finds an unlikely advocate in a centuries-old, seductive vampire named Athene who gives her an ominous warning. Athene knows secrets about Wolf she won't divulge, which only complicates the mysterious revelation Lily has recently discovered about herself.

Screams, growls, and cries echo throughout the darkest, desolate streets of the city. The final showdown determines who is predator and who will become prey. One thing remains certain-no one escapes the night unscathed.

Beast is the much anticipated sequel to Predator & Prey by James D Horton.

Book 2: Beast

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK

James D Horton is the breakout author of the Predator & Prey series which features an urban fantasy setting with a paranormal romance story. Lily is the star who falls in love with enigmatic Wolf, who is not a nice vampire. The story starts in Predator & Prey, continues in Beast (Predator & Prey, #2), and in the newly released Control (Predator & Prey, #3).

James is also the author of two popular non-fiction books which focus on relationship advice presenting the successful actions that he and his fiancé use to make their relationship better every single day with their six children.

He is currently working on the next installment of the Predator & Prey Series.

He lives in Lamar, MO with his fiancé and their children, plus the ever annoying Spock, a Yorkshire Terrier Chihuahua.

Connect with James on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1AT7a8Q
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1mfm5cy

My name is Tara O’Connell, and I've always believed we control our own fate. That life is a journey with many roads, and the choices we make can shape our future.

Life has presented me with two paths and I've chosen one.

Was it right? Did I make the best decision?

After the uncertainty of the last twelve months, my destiny is now crystal-clear to me. I have a man I love more than words can express, a thriving business, and the best friends anyone could ask for. But just when I thought I could put the turmoil of my past behind me and move on, a life-changing phone call has rocked me to the core and turned my life upside-down once more.

To make matters worse, influences outside my control have taken hold and are shattering my perfect world.

But some things are worth fighting for.

Dreams can come true and I’ll do everything in my power to make them happen. But dreams can also be smashed into tiny pieces, and no matter how hard we fight or how hard we wish for something to be, sometimes with the hand we've been dealt, we can never win.

While Lisa Edward has called Melbourne Australia home for her entire life, she has lived and worked in England, and traveled through most parts of Europe and the United States. She loves nothing more than spending time with her husband and beautiful daughter, or curling up into the early hours of the morning with a great novel. By day, Lisa works in the analytical IT field, so relishes the opportunity to foster her creative side through writing. Her deep appreciation for literature was nurtured from a young age, being taught to respect books and get lost in their stories. She enjoys reading honest and realistic novels that are relatable, thought provoking and leave a lasting impression. She can’t write without music playing, using the emotions from different songs to invoke that of her characters. Lisa takes inspiration from her own life experiences, the people around her and those she has met in her travels.

Jasmine knows her life will never be the same. As a valkyrie - fallen angel hybrid, she will have a part to play in the coming apocalypse whether she likes it or not. When the nephilim are attacked the angels are forced into the fight and send their warriors out to retrieve two angelic relics which have the power to sway the battle either way. With demons, vampires and fallen angels banding together to create an army, the pressure is on Jasmine and Zach to produce an alliance that can rival it. With new and old enemies coming into play, Jasmine finally learns what she's made of . . . but what will be the price of this revelation of secrets? Will Jasmine learn who she really is, only to lose everything she ever wanted? The fifth installment of the Falling series.

Laura Prior grew up in the north-east of England and has travelled the world while working as a nurse. She is currently living and working in Melbourne with her partner. She enjoys snowboarding, long walks, shoe-shopping and cocktails. She loves reading passionate novels with strong female characters.