Roaring Midnight by Colleen Gleason

Review of Roaring Midnight by Colleen Gleason

Roaring Midnight was a definite treat to read and a great addition to her urban fantasy series the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, though this is the first book in which we meet Macey Denton a.k.a. Macey Gardella on which this book in centered. This was my first opportunity to read Gleason’s writing and I’m delighted to say that I will definitely be checking out her other novels as well as the upcoming additions to this series.

The time period is set in Capone’s era. Flappers, spiffy spats, gangsters, and vampires. Gleason did an excellent job pulling you into the world she’s created including setting descriptions, clothing, and slang-filled dialogue. It was as if I could taste the boot-legged whisky and smell the cigar smoke as I followed Macey’s story.

Macey Denton began this tale as a small town girl who’d realized her dream and moved to the big city of Chicago. Working her dream job at the University Library and spending her evenings dancing the night away with her friends. She was in love with the city she called home, and pretty happy in general where her life was concerned. Then an extremely old book managed to end up in her hands, inside of which she read of vampires and those who hunted them. A far cry from the classic Dracula story which held her interest, then in turn gave her night terrors about all those creatures who go bump in the night. A few short days later a stranger approached her at the library asking for Macey Gardella, Gardella being the family name the untitled old book had centered around, and from that point on her life was irrevocably changed.

Macey was faced with many trials in this story and you were given the opportunity to see her grow in strength and character in both her failures and successes. She’s stubborn, loyal, and strong-willed yet remains aware of her weakness and has no problem admitting to them. She’s human, and her compassion and hopes and dreams for her future work to keep her grounded in her new world full of monsters. I really liked this heroine and am truly looking forward to seeing how she’ll grow into in the next installment and what affects it will have to her life and calling.

There were several male characters in this story that caught Macey’s eye. Sebastian and Chas were both drool-worthy in my opinion but Grady was the one who ended up stealing her heart. Their romance had the perfect recipe of banter, chemistry, and steam for a successful set-up to an on-going series. Immediately after finishing this book I had to go look to see when the next book would be released as I am definitely looking forward to reading more about these two.

To sum up I found Roaring Midnight to be a refreshing take on the ‘Vampire Hunter’ theme. I’ve always had a bit of interest in the twenties and Gleason did an excellent job bringing the city ran by Capone to life in my mind. If you enjoy relatable characters, vampires, those who hunt them, a sweet yet complicated romance, and of course gangsters toting tommy-guns I highly recommend you pick this title up.

***ARC provided by publisher

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

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Review of Don't Bite the Bridesmaid by Tiffany Allee

Review of Don't Bite the Bridesmaid by Tiffany Allee

Not wanting to disappoint her family as well as show her ex-boyfriend that she hasn’t moved on from the train wreck that was their relationship, Alice Shepard is on the hunt for a date for her sister’s upcoming wedding. Being hurt and loaded with baggage has kept her off the dating scene causing her even more difficulty finding someone who could pull off acting as though they were together, as well as being someone she wouldn’t mind being cooped up with in the close confines of a cruise ship for several days. Not wanting to ask a coworker because she’s worried about the awkwardness that would surely result after her sister has tied the not, she feels she has no options other than asking her very handsome and stoic neighbor. It helps that she’s been obsessing over him since she first set eyes on him after moving in, but also adding a whole other level of stress to trying to accomplish her goal of showing everyone that she’s emotionally sound and able to find a man for herself without their intervention.

Noah Thorpe has watched his neighbor since she moved into the place next door. Though, from both an great emotional and physical distance. Being a vampire and under threat of being forced into a union he wishes to avoid from his maker, he has no dreams of doing more than enjoying Alice from a distance. To his shock he, in the most opportune time, he’s offered a proposition from the young woman that he has little option other than accepting. He needs to get out of town, and spending time on a cruise ship out of the view of his peers is the perfect cover. However, it doesn’t go unheeded that he will be closer to the creature he’s been working so hard to avoid than ever. Worrisome that his desires and her temptation seem to rise exponentially relative to their proximity. 

This was my first opportunity to read Tiffany Allee’s works and I truly enjoyed myself. This was a very light read full of many sweet and endearing moments. As well as the steamy and dreamy chemistry between Alice and Noah. Though their relationship grew at a quick rate, Allee did a great job of starting it off with a simmer and ending with a lively boil. Taken on the journey of these two falling in love you definitely get to enjoy watching them battle their own insecurities as well as fight for what they truly want in their lives. Finishing this book has left me interested in checking out other titles from Allee’s Sons of Kane series. If you are looking for an enjoyable light read about a sweet romance, and two strong individuals finding themselves through the ones they love I can genuinely recommend you pick up this book.

***ARC provided by publisher

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

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Review of Dire Desires by Stephanie Tyler

Review of Dire Desires by Stephanie Tyler

Dire Desires is the third installment in the Eternal Wolf Clan series written by Stephanie Tyler. I will admit that jumping in on the third book was a little challenging at the start due to the story being told from several characters points of view, and their histories with each other, but not so difficult that it detracted from the story. Which I highly enjoyed. Stephanie Tyler has been an author I’ve had in my TBR pile for a while and am happy I got the opportunity to dive in.

Jinx is a Dire Wolf, (think immortal super werewolf) and he can see ghosts. After being tricked into opening Purgatory in the previous book he is now dealing with the fallout. Not only is he currently on the outs with his King, but his brother is in a coma and he’s discovered that several beasts from Purgatory have escaped into the world. Now focusing on tracking down the monsters before they do too much damage he gets a lead on one wreaking havoc in a local psychiatric hospital. On the way to check it out Jinx, and his vampire roommate Jez, get word that a wolf has been a patient there for several years after her parents believed her to be suffering from mental illness. Once Jinx walks into her holding room he is not only shocked to discover that she is in fact a Dire wolf, but also his mate.

Gillian has been living in a drugged up haze for the past several years. A traumatic event in her past caused her adoptive parents to have her locked up fearing that she was dangerous to herself and those around her. In her muddled mind she knows she doesn’t belong in a hospital, but she also knows she doesn’t feel like a normal human being anymore. Under the cover of darkness she often escapes to run through the forest located behind the facility. She always returns though, believing that there is no place for her to go. Then out of the blue a man walks into her room claiming he’s there to rescue her. Get her out of that horrible place. She knows in her head that she shouldn’t trust him, but something inside her is telling her to go to him. That he is someone who will change her life for the better. That he is offering her the chance at freedom she’s been yearning for.

Though Jinx and Gillian’s relationship can be categorized as insta-love, as so many in this genre tend to be, it works for me in this book. Jinx treading water in his depression and self-loathing had been granted a gift in the form of a beautiful, strong woman to cherish and protect. Taking hold of his heart and pulling him out of the depths of his despair. Being a prisoner herself, due to misunderstandings by all parties in her life, Gillian was rescued by a strong and caring man who offered her freedom, love, and the chance to get to know herself as the woman she truly is. Under his protection she is given the opportunity to explore every aspect of being a Dire, and while there are several surprises along this journey you can feel the happiness that Gillian projects at getting the opportunity to thrive as the person she was born to be.

This book was fairly quick paced. Full of action and romance. The sideline plots were also an interesting detour from the main storyline and appear that they are an extension from the two previous books in the series. The supporting characters all added greatly to the world Stephanie has created here and I found myself wanting to read the previous installments so I can get a better handle on their stories. I will also be waiting patiently for the next book in this series to be written and released. 

In summary, if you like strong alpha males...and even stronger female heroines thrown into a paranormal world of magic, love, and hellhounds I definitely recommend you pick up this title.

***ARC provided by Netgalley

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

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Review of Bitter Disenchantment by Shawntelle Madison

Review of Bitter Disenchantment by Shawntelle Madison

This novella focuses on Aggie McClure, the outspoken red-headed sidekick of Natalya Stravinsky, the main character of Coveted. This story is written as a prequel to the series letting the reader in on the events surrounding Aggie’s arrival in South Toms River, New Jersey.

Having not read Coveted yet this was my first time experiencing these characters as well as Madison’s writing. I am looking forward to checking out the series now since I found this book to be a quick tease leaving me curious to discover what happens next to the characters I was introduced to.

Aggie was looked on as having it all. Being the only offspring of the Alpha werewolf of the Manhattan Pack and destined heir. Though in reality she was faced with many obstacles that some readers could connect to. Having been born with her father wishing she was a boy, dealing with the unhappy separation of her parents, as well as being forced into an arranged marriage.

Determined to face the trials set before her and emerge the victor Aggie takes her life into her own hands and makes some incredibly difficult choices. She’s fighting for everything she holds dear, including a future where she gets to live her life in a manner of her own choosing.

Madison has created a very strong heroine both in body and mind. This story was a smooth read, full of plots that added in the growth of Aggie’s character. Allowing the reader the opportunity to see what adversities and choices she had to face to become the person she is in the Coveted series. Action, romance, and mystery are all combined to give you a well fleshed out story. If you are a fan of Madison’s Coveted series I definitely suggest you read this as I think it will add to the overall experience. If like me you are new to this author I still say go ahead and check this title out. It could quite possibly turn you onto a new series to follow as it happily did for me.

***ARC provided by Netgalley

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

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Review of Hook's Pan by Marie Hall

Review of Hook's Pan by Marie Hall

I would like to begin this review by stating that this was my first time reading Marie Hall’s works and thus was my first experience with her Kingdom Series. Though I had no basis to judge this book beforehand I was a little worried that my excitement with the premise of this story would be shattered by corny dialogues and overly lust-filled characters that would scar my love for this story as a child. I am so happy to announce that I not only LOVED this story, but found it was extremely well written. Her immaculate character and world building had the whimsical settings and well fleshed characters easily taking over my imagination.

Captain James Hook is portrayed in this story entirely different from what I’ve ever known him to be. He’s brooding, self-destructive, and on a quest for vengeance. Peter Pan took something from him, far more valuable than any trinket or treasure, and he wouldn’t rest until the ageless nuisance had been removed from Neverland and adjoining worlds forever. His fairy Godmother Danika, the fairy with a soft spot in her heart for the bad boys of Kingdom, feared that Hook had reached the point of no return. The edge of an abyss that once entered will never leave his soul in peace. Refusing to allow that to happen to one of her charges she’d given in to the fact that she’s run out of time and must take the chance to fix one of the worst injustices in Neverland before it’s too late for them all.

Trishelle, or Trisha as she preferred to be called, began this tale in a dark place. The anniversary of her sister’s death still weighing heavily on her heart and mind. Fighting to keep a well adjusted and carefree mask on her face has taken its toll. She doesn’t believe in love, so many experiences in her life proving that it doesn’t exist anywhere outside of the day dreams she refused to let herself have, and fairy tales. Suddenly, on the beating wings of a impatient fairy, her world was tossed topsy turvy. All things familiar ripped away by roaring tides, and replaced centrally in the dark, star strewn eyes of a man that saw into her soul as much as he called to her body.

Though both Hook and Trisha show no fear of the lust they have for one another, their emotional relationship was as fragile as a house of cards. The slightest breeze from fairy wings, the devilish delights of an old though forever young adversary, and the tic toc of a weighing count down, all threatened to crush their hearts and their future.

This tale swept me up in a world of fantasy and steamy romance while reintroducing me to characters I loved as a child. Though I did find myself trading teams on who I rooted for from the classical renditions. Hook was a dastardly seafaring rogue who had as little use for apologies and weakness as he did a television set from the modern world. He was rough and I loved him for it. Trisha was so headstrong. Refusing to settle for anything other than the life she felt she deserved. One where she could hold true to herself, and not be consumed by the person she’d once been. Though they were hot and heavy in the bedroom, I found their journey to discover their feelings for each other a sweet and beautiful experience. After finishing this book I immediately sought out the previous four installments in Hall’s Kingdom series. If anything in this review has caught your eye, imagination, or love for an old story revisited I highly recommend you check this one out.

***ARC provided by Netgalley

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

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Review of Tempted By A Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Tempted By A Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson

This novella by Vicki Lewis Thompson is the second installment in her Perfect Man series. Though I generally lean towards paranormal romance and urban fantasy I couldn’t help but pick up this title. After all, what country girl doesn’t have a thing for cowboys....right? After finishing this story I was very pleased I’d given into the temptation (see what I did there? Haha!).

The story begins innocently enough. Fletch watching over his favorite broodmare’s worrisome labor with Astrid, his vet and the woman who’d caught and held his eye for sometime now. He’s aware of Astrid’s ‘no client dating’ policy, but is willing to put in the time to make her change her mind. Little did he know after a first kiss, a near death experience, and a harrowing rescue in the space of one evening, he’d get his chance sooner than he’d ever thought possible.

Astrid has long been attracted to Fletch. Her favorite client and the most caring man she’d ever met. Be it for the men who called him boss, or the animals in his care. Astrid’s need to keep her business strictly business to avoid damaging the reputation of her clinic was not the only reason she worked to dampen her feelings for this man. The knowledge that they were from two very different worlds was always a nagging thought in the back of her mind. But upon seeing how easily life could be taken from her, priorities begin to shift and all those obstacles seem to dim in light of a chance at the life she’s always wanted for herself.

This was a quick and very enjoyable read. Fletch will warm your heart from the first page. Astrid’s strength and independence is commendable, and her love for her work and the animals in her care endearing. Their romance is steamy and though moves a little quick you definitely get the feeling that this has been brewing since far before page one. If you are looking for a little something to pass some time and leave you with that ‘feel good’ feeling of a happily ever after I can easily recommend you pick this up.

***ARC provided by Netgalley

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

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Review of South of Surrender by Laura Kaye

South of Surrender by Laura Kaye

South of Surrender is the third installment in Laura Kaye’s Hearts of Anemoi paranormal romance series and once I began reading I was thrilled to discover that I could easily follow this story without having read the previous two titles in the series. However, after finishing this book I will definitely be picking up the previous books as well as checking out more series written by this author. Yes, I enjoyed this book that much!

Much to my delight this story began with a wonderful magic-laced action packed scene that immediately grabbed my full attention and had me holding my breath for the hero of this tale, Chrysander Notos. As a member of the Anemoi, God of the South Wind and Summer, it’s his season and therefore the responsibility to hunt his brother Eurus has fallen on his shoulders. Trying to find a way to bring his wayward brother back to his family and return him back to the good graces of the Olympian Gods, Chrys discovers that the situation is far more dire than he’d previously suspected and that his brother may have moved far beyond the possibility of redemption. 

In this first scene Chrys and Eurus face off, but Chry’s slight hesitation costs him dearly. Sending him falling from the sky, gravely injured, and as his mind darkens he’s only hoping that he will survive and get another chance to fix his mistake.

Laney Summerlyn is a young, strong-willed woman who does not let her disability hold her back. She has a degenerative eye condition that has taken away most of her sight. Rising to the challenge to live her life the ways she pleases and utilizing the skills her doctors and specialists have taught her, she moves through her home and ranch with confidence. Caring for her rescue horses and continuing her free-lance writing career. Seth, her closest friend and ranch hand, helps her most days in tasks she is unable to do herself and to generally keep an eye on her. Though thankful for his concern, and grateful for their friendship, Laney remains steadfast in her plans to remain independent. Fight her own battles. And stand on her own two feet. So even when an abnormally violent storm rages over her home in the middle of the night, she does not let her fear keep her from reaching the barn to comfort her frightened horses. What she hadn’t been expecting was finding a man that would end up changing her view of the world more than the loss of her sight did.

Chrys and Laney are taken on a journey of discovery in this story. Both within themselves, facing their own personal insecurities and fears, as well as learning their place in the ever changing world they call home. Their relationship beginning with an unshakeable trust in each other that has them questioning why they continue to fight so hard to remain not just independent, but alone. While Chrys struggles to keep Laney safe and out of harm’s he finds himself humbled and absolutely astounded as time after time this fragile human puts herself in the line of fire to protect him. These acts, among many other honorable traits, batter away at the wall he’s erected around his life and his heart and make it extremely difficult for this God to keep pushing her away. Even if he feels it’s her best option for survival. 

Laney, always ready to stand up for those she cares about be them horses, friends, or a particular handsome God who’s rekindled a fire inside her she’d thought lost, takes the drastic changes to her life in stride. Being in the right place at the right time she stumbled into a world where her life is under seemingly constant threat from a mad God. Her disability leaving her more vulnerable than most, but she has already accepted her lot in life in that manner. She didn’t let losing her sight break her, and she wasn’t ready to give up on the chance of a future with a man that had her feeling more alive than she’d ever thought possible. A man who saw her instead of her disability, as well as rejoiced in her strength and character rather than drown her in pity.

Kaye has brought to life two characters that you fall in love with individually, but together truly become a force to be reckoned with. Both fiercely loyal and protective of each other. Each making the other face their own insecurities and drown them out with love and acceptance. The supporting characters in this story were also a treat to read about, many being from Kaye’s previous installments in this series. You get to witness them come together as a family to care for each other, grieve those lost, and fight for their future. As previously stated I will be reading the first two novels in this series so that I can experience their stories, as well as be waiting for the next book in this series to be released.

***ARC provided by Netgalley

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

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