ARC Review: Mission:Black by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Division Eight #1
Pub. Date:	Oct 18, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	130 pages
Source:	Author

I have been looking forward to this new series by A.D. Starrling for quite a while... and not just because I got to name one of the characters! You see, Ms. Starrling writes some of the best fast-paced action stories that I have read. Her heroines are kickass, and her heroes are not so bad either. So I was stoked for this first book of the Division Eight series, with its own kickass heroine, Rachel Carter.*

Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Giveaway

It's that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the air is getting cooler and the nights are getting spookier. Yes, it's time for tricks and treats, goblins and ghouls, chills and thrills and huge amounts of sugary sweets. But at the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog it's also time for the 5th annual Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Giveaway. Join Laughing Vixen Lounge and our bewitching co-hosts The Kids Did It, The Mommy Island, Herding Cats and Burning Soup, The Hopping Bloggers, Mama Smith's Reviews and Women and Their Pretties for a spooktacular Halloween event.

Enter to win a $250 Prize Pack filled with goodies from 10 wickedly fabulous shops. All shops are offering Gift Cards or your choice of item(s) so there will be something for everyone. Many of the shops have items perfect for any book lover along with lots of unique, handcrafted and custom designs to choose from.

Visit the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog daily during the giveaway for the Halloween Movie Marathon. Test your movie knowledge with the Guess the Movie Game. Then try to solve the Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt, if you dare! Each event will get you daily entries in the giveaway plus a special giveaway for the Scavenger Hunt. Find full details for these events HERE.

Bambi's favorite Halloween movie is Hocus Pocus - a kitschy throwback to the 90s.
I loved the music, and the comedic way the witches were portrayed while still being the villains.
What's your favorite scary or Halloween themed movie?

Bambi's favorite spooky book is Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub. This was a fantastical horror story where this black house was the doorway to a parallel universe. Lots of murder, mayhem and scary creatures. Do you have a favorite scary book?

You can start by entering the Rafflecopter widget below. To experience all the games, movies, shop features, giveaway info and all around awesome fun make sure to stop by the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog HERE.

The giveaway runs October 18th - November 1st and is open worldwide to anyone 18+. 1 winner will win the Prize Pack and 1 winner will win the Scavenger Hunt Prize Pack. Laughing Vixen Lounge is responsible for all giveaway details. Click HERE for full details.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: Away From the Dark by Aleatha Romig

Series:	The Light #2
Pub. Date:	Oct 18, 2016
Publisher:	Thomas & Mercer
Length:	350 pages
Source:	NetGalley

 

Warning!!! This review contains spoilers for the first book in this series, Into the Light.  If you have not read the first book, you probably do not want to read this review.  And what are you waiting for? Into the Light was a fantastic 5-star read!

Aleatha Romig really knows how to get the reader's adrenaline going. Every book that I have read by this author has had me sitting on the edge of my seat, and kept me turning the page well into the night. Away From the Dark is no exception - this is sure to be a hit with suspense and thriller fans.

Audiobook Review: Ghost by A. Zavarelli

Series:	Boston Underworld #3
Pub. Date:	Sept. 28, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Narrator:	Tracy Marks
Length:	8 hrs 5 min
Source:	Author

Phew. This book was D-A-R-K. I knew that it was going to be dark, but it went somewhat beyond my expectations. Tracy Marks again did a good job with the narration - she does great accents and her Boston and Russian accents sounded authentic to my ears. The character affectations in this performance (particularly the heroine) did sound nearly the same as the last book, Reaper, so I would just advise not to read them back to back to avoid confusion. 

Audiobook Review: Highland Chieftain by Hannah Howell

Series:	Murray #21
Pub. Date:	Sept. 27, 2016
Publishers:	Tantor Audio Kensington/Zebra
Narrator:	Angela Dawe
Length:	352 pages 8 hrs 35 min
Source:	Publisher

The Murray series has been around quite a long time, over fifteen years if I am remembering correctly. While I haven't read the whole series, I am a fan of Hannah Howell and do pick up one of her books occasionally when I'm in the mood for a lil' bit o' Scotland. This latest installment of the series surprised me a bit with darker tones than I remember reading from her other books.

Fall Into Romance Giveaway Blog Hop

What books made me fall in love with the genre, 
or keep me smitten and coming back for more?

Kindle Unlimited Review: Touched by Amy Stearman

Pub. Date:	Sept. 29, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	244 pages
Source:	Kindle Unlimited

This is my second read from Amy Stearman, and this one was quite a bit different from the first (Altered). For some reason I thought Touched was the second book in the Altered series... but I was totally wrong. Touched is a standalone contemporary romantic suspense with a minor supernatural element.

ARC Review: My Seductive Highlander by Maeve Greyson

Series:	Highland Hearts #4
Pub. Date:	Oct. 11, 2016
Publisher:	Loveswept
Length:	240 pages
Source:	NetGalley

The Highland Hearts series is wrapped up with this final installment featuring the youngest Sinclair sister in modern-day Edinburgh, and a cursed dragon turned ladies man exiled from his time. This has been a fun light-hearted time travel series, and I have enjoyed joining this quirky family on their journey across time.

ARC Review and Giveaway: Crimson Death by Laurell K. Hamilton

Series:	Anita Blake #25
Pub. Date:	Oct. 11, 2016
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	720 pages
Source:	NetGalley

Anita and the boys (and a few girls) are back to solve the world's vampire problems while trying to manage their own personal lives and dramas, and keep us entertained all the while. I do love the worlds that Laurell K. Hamilton has built in this series (as well as the Merry Gentry series). She has a gift at creating characters and personalities that draw the reader in... and she definitely has her work cut out for her when the series has grown this big with such a large number of main characters.

#Audiobook Review: Slightly Married by Mary Balogh

Series:	Bedwyn Saga #1
Pub. Date:	Sept. 30, 2016
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Rosalyn Landor
Length:	10 hrs 57 min
Source:	Publisher

The Bedwyn saga kicks off with a classic marriage of convenience story that takes place shortly after England has emerged victorious from the Napoleanic wars. This story was narrated by Rosalyn Landor, who lends authenticity to the British setting with her very proper speech. Landor did a good job with the variety of character affectations and stuffy demeanor of our hero and his brother.

ARC Review: Tyranny by Gemma Brocato

Series:	Goddesses of Delphi #1
Pub. Date:	Oct. 4, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	189 pages
Source:	Kindle Unlimited

This is my long overdue first read from Gemma Brocato, who I met at the RT Convention this year. Gemma is one of the Kickass Chicks, a super fun group of authors that let me tag along with them to dinner one night. So I'm happy I'm finally getting one of Gemma's books on the blog.

#Audiobook #Review: Playboy Pilot by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Pub. Date:	Sept. 21, 2016
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrators:	Andi Arndt Sebastian York
Length:	7 hrs 35 min
Source:	Publisher

This is my first read from both Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland, and I will definitely try them out again in the future. I haven't read as much contemporary romance this year, so I'm always happy to find one that's more hit than miss.

ARC Review: Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge

Series:	Untitled #1
Pub. Date:	Sept. 27, 2016
Publisher:	Balzar + Bray
Length:	448 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

I have been craving more fantasy in my life this year, and have been seeking out new (to me) fantasy authors left and right. I totally got sucked in by the cover of Bright Smoke, Cold Fire, and the blurb piqued my interest as well. I can't recall having read a retelling of Romeo and Juliet in the last handful of years, so I was definitely intrigued.

ARC Review: Dangerously Charming by Deborah Blake

Series:	Broken Riders #1
Pub. Date:	Oct. 4, 2016
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	304 pages
Source:	NetGalley

The Broken Riders series is a spinoff from Deborah Blake's original Baba Yaga world. I haven't read about the Baba Yagas yet, but I'm definitely going back to investigate. I just love the world full of faery/fairytales that Blake has built.

ARC Review: Undead and Done by MaryJanice Davidson

Series:	Undead #15
Pub. Date:	Oct 4, 2016
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	304 pages
Source:	NetGalley

This series has always been a humorous escape for me, so I am sad to see it end... but I also believe that it's ending in a good place. As readers, we aren't always happy with how a series pans out... but I think this one was wrapped up quite nicely. Maybe with the potential for a spinoff? ::Cough::Jon Taylor::Cough::

Event Recap: Inaugral Nola Storycon

Hiya lovely readers!

I've been a bit absent lately due to an exhausting travel schedule for work and fun... but one of the things I was looking forward to the most this year (that didn't even require travel) was Nola Storycon!

I mean, just look at this author lineup!

Host Authors

Jeaniene Frost, Melissa Marr, Ilona Andrews, Kelley Armstrong, and Jennifer L. Armentrout

Special Guest

Charlaine Harris

Audiobook Review: Undead and Unforgiven by MaryJanice Davidson

Series:	Undead #14
Pub. Date:	Oct 6, 2015
Publisher:	Recorded Books
Narrators	Nancy Wu
Length:	9 hrs 4 min

Undead and Unforgiven picks up right where Undead and Unwary left off, with the Hell committee (Mark, Tina, Kathy, the Ant, and Father Marcus) helping Betsy whip Hell right into shape. The new buddy system is working just fine, and Betsy is on a crash course to learn the job from the bottom up. Starting with welcoming the newly dead to their eternity.