Kindle Unlimited Review: Keeper of My Soul by Rebecca Norinne Caudill

Series:	Macauley Series #2
Pub. Date:	May 18, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Pages:	209
Source:	Kindle Unlimited

The Macauley series continues to show the potential to become action-packed fangtastic entertainment set in the beautiful backdrop of Ireland.

As this is an urban fantasy, we met our main characters in the first installment. So this is not a standalone; you need to read the books in order to be "in the know" of what is going on. So if you haven't read the first book, A Time Apart, stop reading now because this review may contain minor spoilers.

Review: Demon Hunting in a Dive Bar by Lexi George

Series:  Demon Hunting #3

Pub. Date:  Jan. 1, 2013

Publisher:  Lyrical Press

Pages:  369

I stuck around the quirky southern town of Hannah, Alabama this week for an extra dose of raucous demon-hunting hilarity in the deep South. 

Indie Wednesday Spotlight and Guest Post with Victoria Danann

 

The Indie Wednesday Spotlight this month is on the bodacious Victoria Danann. Victoria has authored thirteen novels in the paranormal and contemporary romance genre.  Her paranormal series, Knights of the Black Swan, has won Best Paranormal Romance Series three years running by the The Paranormal Romance Guild. 

As a lover of all things paranormal and urban fantasy, I am stoked to try out this new-to-me indie author and see what kind of freaky imagination she has! From what I hear, she has some hot and hunky heroes and strong relatable heroines. I am so happy to welcome this author to the blog today... let's find out a little more about her, shall we?

Review: Counsellor by Celia Aaron

Series:  Acquisition #1

Pub. Date:  Sept. 28, 2015

Publisher:  Self-Pub

Pages:  209

Source:  Kindle Unlimited

I got drawn in by the cover of this book when I recognized the Oak Alley Plantation. I was even more stoked when I saw that it was set in New Orleans, as I don't think I have ever read a dark romance set here. Unfortunately, this story didn't work for me.

Review: Demon Hunting in the Deep South by Lexi George

Series: Demon Hunting #2

Pub. Date:  March 22, 2016

Publisher:  Lyrical Press

Pages:  369

I was feeling a bit stressed due to some doggy aging issues happening in my house, so I decided to head back to Hannah, Alabama for a serving of Lexi George's zany southern colloquialisms and over-the-top southern stereotypes. Of course I can't forget the skeazy demons and yummalicious demon hunters which are congregating in this podunk town full of unique and endearingly hilarious characters.

ARC Review: Highland Awakening by Jennifer Haymore

Series: Highland Knights #2

Pub. Date:  March 29, 2016

Publisher:  Loveswept

Pages:  248

Format:  eARC

Source:  NetGalley

This review is way late! I managed to put it on my calendar for May instead of March. Oops. I'm letting it slip that I don't always have it perfectly together! So I apologize to Jennifer Haymore, Loveswept and NetGalley for being tardy. (I received an advanced copy of this book from Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.) This was a nice quick romantic read that made my crack of dawn Southwest flight pass in the blink of an eye.  So, yay!

The Highland Knights are a group of soldiers who have come home from Waterloo and banded together as a mercenary group to conduct special assignments for the Crown. In this installment, the Knights' assignment is to guard the odious Lord Pinfield, who has been receiving threats against his life.  While performing his guarding assignment, Camden McLeod, our hero, keeps running across Lady Esme Hawkins, our heroine. I really liked Camden's character. Having shunned his father, and society, due to their questionable values, Cam is an honorable sort unlike the masses of male chauvinists and adulterers common for the time. I loved the way that he took care of his sister, Anna, and vowed to not treat women as his father, the Earl of Sutton, treated his mother. His somewhat gruff and bulldozing ways also endeared him to me, even though they sent Esme running the other way on occasion.

Our heroine, Esme Hawkins, is the youngest sibling of the House of Trent.  So this book is kind of a spinoff from that series, because there is a lot of character crossover and detail mentioned about those books. I have yet to read them, so I felt I was lacking some backstory. But despite that, I still enjoyed this romance. Esme is a bit of a tortured heroine due to some events that have happened in her past (which I assume are detailed in the Trent books). She is shy and awkward and never says the right thing. She tends to be a bit of a klutz at societal events. But she has a hidden passionate side and has secretly authored a number of romance novels. I liked Esme and could totally relate to her klutzy social awkwardness.  I just wish I had read the Trent books so that I was more informed about her history and family life.

I loved the relationship between Esme and Cam. He was a bit of a steamroller when it came to obtaining what he wanted, namely, Esme. The chemistry between the two was sweetly passionate... but the steam built to an explosive point quickly.  I liked that these books have been more on the erotic side than mainstream historical romances. I loved that Cam's initimate preferences matched his demeanor and personality... and they certainly kept me riveted on the very early morning flight. I look forward to Colin's story next in Highland Temptation.

Favorite quote:

Dinna think you can keep any part of yourself from me, Esme. I’m going to learn all your secrets. I’m going to know every inch of you. Of your mind, of your thoughts, of your body. Then we’ll see what you think about marrying Henry Whitworth.

Highland Knights

Stackin' the Shelves #33 and Weekly Recap

Hosted by Tynga's Book Reviews

Welcome back bambinas!

There is a lot going on this weekend!  This is Stackin' the Shelves, the weekly feature where I showcase all the books I have accepted for review, one-clicked, won or borrowed from the library.   I'm also adding a weekly recap to the feature so you can see what I've been up to this week, and what's coming soon. Thanks for stopping by and please shoot me a comment below to let me know what you are up to or what's on your shelf!

Guest Review: Trapped in His World by Stella Noir and Roxy Sinclaire

Series:  Dark Romance #1

Pub. Date:  Jan. 20, 2016

Publisher:  Stella Noir

Pages:  75

Format:  eARC

Source:  Roxy Sinclair

She may have the body of a curvaceous bomb shell but Navia Watson is sorely lacking in the self confidence department. Not only is she shy and quiet, she is also struggling to find a job.While her best friend Chloe is off for a week enjoying her honeymoon, Navia has agreed to temporarily fill her secretarial position for Chloe's boss, Jason Black, to earn extra cash while she continues her job search. She learns very quickly not to disobey the boss...

Navia is a well rounded character-likes, dislikes, family, and insecurities. My peeve was how often she flip flops on her feelings for Jason...A LOT! She has the hots for him but doesn't like how he treats her sexually. A few pages later she changes her mind and decides she can handle the roughness. It's definitely psychological to read their sexual interactions. Jason is one dimensional for me. He makes me think of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when he's with Navia. One minute he's sweet and charming, almost like the perfect gentleman yet each time he loses control he gets darker and darker with her. He doesn't get really personal until the tail end of the story when he's grasping at straws to keep her from leaving him but is it enough to make her stay?

The general story is well written and enjoyable, the language flowed smoothly, and there are decent character interactions. Overall, I like Navia and Jason, however, I will admit the sex scenes aren't my cup of tea. 

Warning: this is a dark novella that does contain questionable consensual scenes that could trigger a reaction in someone. 

Bambi Unbridled received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Reviewed by Julie H. for Bambi Unbridled

Julie is a transplanted military brat that now calls the Midwest home with her own romantic hero, daughter and two furbabies. While she toils the day away in a medical office, she would really rather be reading! Julie loves historical romance, steampunk, romantic suspense, military romance (duh!), paranormal and urban fantasy.  She loves a kickass take-charge heroine, lots of action, and the all-important HEA. Julie can get down with an alpha male, but she does not discount a nerdy hero with a sexy brain.

Julie and Bambi met at the RT Convention where they found themselves standing in many lines, sharing their similar reading interests, and fangirling over attending authors.

Series Saturday Audiobook Review: Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh

Series:  Psy-Changeling #14

Pub. Date:  June 2, 2015

Publisher:  Tantor Audio / Berkley

Narrator:  Angela Dawe

Length:  15 hrs 41 min

Format:  Audiobook

Source:  Hoopla

Nalini Singh is one of the most trustworthy authors I know... anything I pick up by her, I am sure to enjoy. Her world building for the Psy-Changeling series has always fascinated me.  She has a smart imagination, skilled at being creatively complex when it comes to the Psy-Net, supernatural and psychic abilities, with some animal magnetism thrown in to give us shifters of every different type.

Review: Claimed by Elle Kennedy

Series:  Outlaws #1

Pub. Date:  October 6, 2016

Publisher:  Berkley Publishing

Pages:  368

Format:  Print ARC

Source:  Berkley Publishing

Soooo, this book was not at all what I was expecting. It was super duper steamy, and I was reading on a very packed Southwest flight. And the nosey old dude next to me kept trying to peak at my page. I was having a dilemma... let him see, which might spark some uncomfortable conversations, or make the print tiny and shield my tablet. I went with the latter. I wasn't ready to go there with the rando rubbing elbows with me b/c if he turned out to be weird, I couldn't exactly get away.

ARC Review and Giveaway: Fly With Me by Chanel Cleeton

Series:  Wild Aces #1

Pub. Date:  May 3, 2016

Publisher:  Berkley Publishing

Pages:  320

Format:  Print ARC

Source:  Berkley Publishing

Oh man... I am so excited about finding this author.  Or, I guess I can thank Berkley for introducing me to Chanel Cleeton's work.  She is new to me, but I am definitely going to be checking out her other books.  Fly With Me was so fabulous, I am urging everyone to read it. I have been experiencing burn out on contemporary romance this year, but I think this book has just broken my slump. Yay!

Guest ARC Review: Wrong Place, Right Time by Elle Casey

Series:  The Bourbon Street Boys #2

Pub. Date:  May 10, 2016

Publisher:  Montlake Romance

Pages: 330

Format:  eARC

Source:  NetGalley

Everybody is given his own burden to carry, and we’re never given anything we can’t handle. -Dev

With a load of responsibility on her shoulders, Jenny is too afraid to step out of her safety net and explore a new career - much less jump in the dating pool again - but she's also tired of watching life pass her by. As a favor to her sister, Jenny takes a free lancing job for the Bourbon Street Boys Security group, where her first day is less than stellar and she inadvertently ends up being locked in the panic room with a complete hottie.

ARC Review: The Crown of the Queen by Jeffe Kennedy

Series:  The Twelve Kingdoms #3.6

Pub. Date:  May 24, 2016

Pages:  ~100

Format:  eARC

Source:  Author's PA

The Crown of the Queen is a short novella in the Twelve Kingdoms series that is bridging the original series with the upcoming spinoff series, The Uncharted Realms.  The first book of the new series, The Pages of the Mind, is scheduled for release May 31, 2016.  (It appears The Twelve Kingdoms series will continue instead of spinning off.)

Guest Review: Dangerous Kisses by Alice Lake

Series:  Guild of Hybrids #1

Pub. Date:  Feb. 1, 2016

Publisher:  Self-Pub

Pages:  235

Format:  eARC

Source:  Author

As a member of a secret society that assists women in need, Lavinia Hall has helped many unfortunate women but she has a gut feeling something is wrong about Lady Clara Stratton's request to ruin Lord Eric Mathieson. Against her better judgment she accepts the assignment but no good deed ever goes unpunished. 

Stackin' the Shelves #32 and Weekly Recap

Hosted by Tynga's Book Reviews

Welcome back bambinas!

There is a lot going on this weekend!  This is Stackin' the Shelves, the weekly feature where I showcase all the books I have accepted for review, one-clicked, won or borrowed from the library.   I'm also adding a weekly recap to the feature so you can see what I've been up to this week, and what's coming soon. Thanks for stopping by and please shoot me a comment below to let me know what you are up to or what's on your shelf!