Review: Hunter of Shadows by Nancy Gideon

Hunter of Shadows
Nancy Gideon
Series: Moonlight #5
Publisher: Pocket
Publish Date: November 29, 2011
Mass Market Paperback {p.383}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Monica Fraser, Silas MacCreedy
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

The secrets he knows about her could get him killed.

Transferring to the New Orleans Police Department, Detective Silas MacCreedy has a hidden agenda: to secure his clan’s place once again in the Shifter hierarchy. What he didn’t count on was stumbling upon a sexy assassin who could shred his best intentions and lead him into a dangerous dance that threatens to engage his heart.

But the ones he doesn’t know . . .

Monica Fraser knows just how to make a man beg—for his life. But she has no clue how to fight her attraction to the fiercely intense detective who seems determined to get in her way, both professionally and intimately.

. . . could kill them both.

When emotional attachments to the past and an unexpected glimpse of a different future have her questioning her deadly purpose, Nica must discover the truth about her secret abilities in order to free herself from the forces that control her. But that freedom comes with a price—trusting those she’s been ordered to eliminate.

Hunter of Shadows starts out of the gate with action. Silas and Nica meet when he happens upon her thinking she’s a damsel in distress, but is far from it. The two of them had major chemistry, even when Nica was trying to kill him. The only time she wasn’t trying to kill him was when they were trying to jump each others bones. They both have issues with trust, but can’t seem to stay away from one another.

Nica was unlike any heroine I’ve read before. Sure I’ve read books with strong female leads, but Nica is so much more than that. She could hold her own against the men in this novel and at times best them. Silas is the only one who can get through to her and keep her from her deadly mission.

Nica comes from a tragic past, and Silas come from a place of always being the provider. With his responsibilities to his sister and childhood love, he doesn’t really have anything that’s all about him. Until Nica. Both characters have such depth that you can’t help but to be drawn into their story. As far as his sister Brigit goes, at times I couldn’t stand her, but by the end of the book I was hoping I’d see more of her in the future.

Of course we also catch up with super couple, Max and Cee Cee. These two never fail to entertain. This latest installment in the Moonlight series has twists and turn that I didn’t see coming. I was totally engrossed in this one and could hardly wait to see what was around the next corner for these characters. I look forward to reading book six.

Waiting on Wednesday {73}: Wicked Nights

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. It is showcases upcoming releases of books that I'm looking forward to. It is somewhat similar to one of my previous posts, Anxiously Awaiting. {Button courtesy of Bewitched Bookworms}

Wicked Nights
Gena Showalter

June 26, 2012

From the New York Times bestselling author who brought you the Lords of the Underworld comes a dark, seductive new series featuring angels poised at the brink of destruction…

Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed too dangerous, too ruthless, and if he isn’t careful, he’ll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred . . . until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he’s never before known.

Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation—or her ultimate damnation?

Author Interview & Giveaway: Marjorie M. Liu, author of Within the Flames

Please join me in welcoming Marjorie M. Liu, author of Within the Flames, as she provides us with an author interview today.

A pyrokinetic and former car thief, Eddie cannot refuse an assignment to cross the continent in order to rescue an extraordinary woman in peril…even though he fears losing control of the destructive power of flame at his fingertips. The last of her shape-shifting kind, Lyssa hides in the abandoned tunnels beneath Manhattan. Like Eddie, fire is her weapon, her destiny…and her curse. For beneath Lyssa’s extraordinary beauty are dangerous secrets…and even darker, nearly irresistible urges...

Facebook | Twitter | Website

Every writer has a different process or schedule they follow when writing. What is your process like?

There’s no real process, actually. I always have an idea, a nagging image in my mind, some desire to speak to something that’s in my heart. That’s where the stories begin. I sit down and do my best to write them.

Is there any specific place you like to go to write, or can you write anywhere? Do you have any rituals or foods/drinks that you simply must have in order to write?

I can write anywhere, for the most part – though that also depends on how I’m feeling on any particular day. Sometimes, nothing is better than a coffee shop. Other days, I drag my computer to bed. No rituals, either. I need to be physically comfortable, but that’s not much of a surprise. When you have a job that requires hours sitting in one spot, comfort matters!

Out of all the books you've published, which two characters are your favorite and would consider revisiting in the future?

Hard choice. If we remain just within the Dirk & Steele series, then I can honestly say that I already did revisit my favorite couple: Lannes and Lethe, from The Wild Road. Those two – a gargoyle and his human wife – reappear in Within the Flames in a rather meaty role.

Can you give us a peek into the life of author Marjorie M. Liu? When you are not writing a book what does your typical day look like?

When am I not writing, that’s the question! Typically, a normal day involves a couple hours of work in the morning, a break for lunch, more work – and then an evening spent reading, watching television, or just daydreaming.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Be true to yourself. You’ll receive a lot of messages, good and bad, about what it takes to succeed as a writer. At the end of the day, however, the key is simply to write and tell the story of your heart.

What can fans expect next from you? Any teasers?

I’m very excited that I was finally able to tell Eddie’s story in Within the Flames. He’s a character who has been around from the very beginning of the Dirk & Steele series, and in some ways is its heart. He’s young, earnest, brave -- wary of his ability to control fire -- and the kind of hero who won’t win the heroine’s heart with grandiose gestures, but instead his thoughtfulness and kindness.

Another upcoming release is the next Hunter Kiss novel, The Mortal Bone, which finds Maxine in a fight for her life when Zee and the boys – those demons who live as tattoos on her body – are forcibly stripped away from her skin, leaving her defenseless and alone for the first time in her life. I can safely promise that Maxine’s life changes forever after this book.

As a bonus, an original, brand-new Hunter Kiss short story will be released online in December, bundled with the e-version of a formerly published Hunter Kiss novella, “Armor of Roses.” The short story is called “The Silver Voice” and is told from Grant’s point of view.

So today I have a copy of In the Dark of Dreams to giveaway.

She could never forget the boy with the ice blue eyes . . .

She was only twelve when she saw the silver boy on the beach, but Jenny has never stopped dreaming about him. Now she is grown, a marine biologist charting her own course in the family business—a corporation that covertly crosses the boundaries of science into realms of the unknown . . . and the incredible.

And now he has found her again, her boy grown into a man: Perrin, powerful and masculine, and so much more than human, leaving Jenny weak with desire and aching for his touch.

But with their reunion comes danger. For Perrin and Jenny—and all living creatures—their only hope for preventing the unthinkable lies in a mysterious empire far beneath the sea . . . and in the power of their dreams.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF IN THE DARK OF DREAMS?

{November 29- December 13, 2011}

• Only residents of the U.S. are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copies will be sent directly to winners from the publisher
• 1 Winner will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
• Please check my Contest Policy before entering

To enter:

 1. Please leave a comment on this post that includes your email address

And the Winner is...

Lisa Renee Jones Bundle

Michelle Harlan

And the Winner is...

Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins

Tammy VanScoy

Review: Prey by Linda Howard

Prey
Linda Howard
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publish Date: September 6, 2011
Hardcover {p.323}
Source: Public Library
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Angie Powell, Dare Callahan
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Thirty-two-year-old Angie Powell has always spoken her mind, but in the presence of Dare Callahan she nurses a simmering rage. After all, why give Dare the satisfaction of knowing he can push her buttons and push her to the edge?

Three years ago, Dare returned home to rural western Montana and opened a hunting business to rival Angie’s. Complicating matters is the fact that Dare has asked Angie out (not once but twice) and has given her a gift of butterflies in the process. Angie has no patience for butterflies. They only lead to foolish decisions. And now the infuriatingly handsome Iraq war vet has siphoned away Angie’s livelihood, forcing her to close up shop.

Before Angie is to leave town, she organizes one last trip into the wilderness with a client and his guest, who wants to bag a black bear. But the adrenaline-fueled adventure turns deadly when Angie witnesses a cold-blooded murder and finds herself on the wrong side of a loaded gun. Before the killer can tie up this attractive loose end, a bear comes crashing through the woods—changing the dark game completely.

Luckily, Dare is camping nearby and hears the shots. Forced together for their very survival, Angie and Dare must confront hard feelings, a blinding storm, and a growing attraction—while being stalked by a desperate killer and a ferocious five-hundred-pound beast. And neither will stop until they reach their prey.

This book started off interesting enough, although it was a bit of a slow starter. When it did pick up, it was a fast pace that may have been a little too fast. The suspense portion wasn’t all that suspenseful. Angie is a witness to a murder and tries not to get herself killed for what she seen.

The novel takes place over a couple of days, with her trying to elude a killer in the wilderness, with the help of a man she loathes, but secretly lusts after. They fall in love while camping out, eluding this killer, which was a bit too quick for my tastes.

Both Angie and Dare likeable enough, it was their love connection that I didn’t buy. Yes they both had been lusting for one another from afar for some time, but that didn’t translate into love and marriage for me.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Michelle Hodkin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: September 27, 2011
Hardcover {p.452}
Source: Public Library
Genre: Young Adult
Mara Dyer, Noah Shaw
Challenge: 100+, YA Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

Mara and her family relocated to Florida after a tragic accident left 3 of her friends dead. Her first day at her new school she meets the notorious Noah Shaw.

The story took some strange twists and turns with Mara and her hallucinations. She doesn’t remember what exactly happened that left her alive and her friends dead, but she tries to get those memories back while trying to have a semi-normal life.

Noah and Mara well written characters, although not very relatable. The creepy things they dealt with seemed a bit far-fetched but not so much so that it would deter me from wanting to see what would happen next.

Noah and his smart comments kept me entertained between breaks in the creepy. Mara’s mother I felt was overbearing and it came across as though she didn’t want Mara to get her memory back. She just wanted to keep her medicated. But that could have just been me.

The book ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger, so I’m sure there’s bound to be a sequel. I will be tuning in to see if what Mara saw at the end was real or fantasy.

Waiting on Wednesday {72}: Spirit Bound

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. It is showcases upcoming releases of books that I'm looking forward to. It is somewhat similar to one of my previous posts, Anxiously Awaiting. {Button courtesy of Bewitched Bookworms}

Spirit Bound
Christine Feehan
December 27, 2011

Lethal undercover agent Stefan Prakenskii knew a thousand ways to kills a man—and twice as many ways to pleasure a woman. That’s what made him look forward to his new mission: arrive in the coastal town of Sea Haven and insinuate himself in the life of an elusive beauty who had mysterious ties to his past, and a link to a dangerously seductive, and equally elusive master criminal who wanted only one thing: to possess her.

Judith Henderson was an artist on the rise—an ethereal, and haunted woman whose own picture-perfect beauty stirred the souls of two men who have made her their obsession. For years she has been waiting for someone to come and unlock the passion and fire within her—waiting for the right man to surrender it to. But only one man can survive her secrets, and the shadow she has cast over both their lives.

Teaser Tuesday: Hunter of Shadows by Nancy Gideon

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading. To participate, all you have to do is the following:

• Grab your current/upcoming read
• Open to a random page
• Share 2-3 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers! (You do not want to ruin the book for others.)

Share the title & author so that others who enjoy your "teaser" may add the book to their TBL pile.

She sprang. Even ready for her, Silas hadn't anticipated her speed. She was on him before he could blink, and he was barely able to keep her snapping teeth from his neck. She was everything he feared...and more.

page 49; Hunter of Shadows by Nancy Gideon

Review: Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle

Canyons of Night
Jayne Castle
Series: Looking Glass #3; Arcane #11
Publisher: Jove
Publish Date: August 30, 2011
Kindle {p.237}
Source: Public Library
Genre: Paranormal
Charlotte Enright, Slade Attridge
Challenge: 100+, Sci-Fi
Buy the Book: Amazon

Charlotte Enright, owner of a small antiques shop called Looking Glass Antiques on Rainshadow Island, and Slade Attridge, the community's new chief of police, both have something in common: they possess strong paranormal talents.

They met several years ago when they were in their teens spending the summer on the island. Slade saved Charlotte from a gang of drunken toughs, but then at the end of the summer Slade and Charlotte went their separate ways and started their adult lives.

Now, fifteen years later, they have both been drawn back to Rainshadow Island. They will discover the adult passion they have for each other and start to explore some of the mysteries of the forbidden section of the island known only as the Preserve.

Charlotte has had a crush on Slade since the night he saved her from her attackers when she was a teen. The two of them have always had some sort of connection, but Charlotte’s talent has made it somewhat difficult for her to be in relationships. That is until Slade.

Both were the perfect match for the other. They were these quirky characters that had just the right amount of chemistry. I really liked both Slade and Charlotte from the beginning. I liked all the residents of the island.

The mystery aspect was interesting enough. I didn’t suspect the culprit at all. That person was never really on my radar.

A nice addition to the series.

In My Mailbox {74}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

Books via Publisher

Hunter of Shadows by Nancy Gideon

Books via Half Price Books

The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Swag via Publisher

Review: Once and Again by Lauren Dane

Once and Again
Lauren Dane
Series: Petal, Georgia #1
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publish Date: August 30, 2011
Kindle {p.184}
Source: Kindle Loan
Genre: Erotica
Lily Travis, Nathan Murphy
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Seven years ago, Lily Travis was only too glad to see her hometown of Petal, Georgia in her rearview mirror. Thanks to her father running off with a twenty-year-old, though, here she is, trying to pick up the pieces. First order of business: meet with her brother’s teacher in a quest to pull his grades out of a downward spiral.

Nathan Murphy is pretty much resigned to his bachelor status—until he looks up from his desk to see an all-grown-up Lily walking into his classroom. Of all the women who turned out to be totally wrong for him, she’s the only one who felt right. At least until his foolish, immature mistake drove her away.

Lily has to admit that time has been more than kind to gorgeous, sexy Nathan. Except there’s no room on her full plate for another complication. Especially with a man who broke her heart once before.

With a little help from his friends, Nathan has a plan to rekindle the flame. It isn’t long before they’re burning up the sheets. Winning her heart? That’s another matter.

I was truly excited to be revisiting Petal, GA since the completion of the Chase Brothers. I have to say, catching up with the entire Chase family was the only highlight of this book.

Lily and Nathan used to be an item in college until she caught him kissing her cousin. Fast forward to present day, she’s back in Petal to take care of her little brother and alcoholic mother. Upon seeing Lily after all that time, Nathan realizes he wants her back. That didn’t ring all that valid to me.

Nothing about Nathan stood out to me as leading man material. He didn’t really do much throughout the book other than get frustrated with Lily’s need for space.

I wasn’t invested in the outcome of their relationship one way or the other because it didn’t seem to be about anything but sex.

Review: Bring Me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr

Bring Me Home for Christmas
Robyn Carr
Series: Virgin River #16
Publisher: Mira
Publish Date: October 25, 2011
Kindle {p.331}
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Genre: Contemporary
Becca Timm, Denny Cutler
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

This year, Becca Timm knows the number one item on her Christmas wish list—getting over Denny Cutler. Three years ago, Denny broke her heart before heading off to war. It's time she got over her silly high-school relationship and moved on.

So she takes matters into her own hands and heads up to Virgin River, the rugged little mountain town that Denny calls home, as an uninvited guest on her brother's men-only hunting weekend. But when an accident turns her impromptu visit into an extended stay, Becca finds herself stranded in Virgin River. With Denny. In very close quarters.

As the power of Christmas envelops the little town, Becca discovers that the boy she once loved has become a strong and confident man. And the most delicious Christmas present she can imagine.

Becca has a feeling that her boyfriend is about to propse marriage to her, but she can’t seem to stop thinking about her ex. So she hitches a ride with her brother to crash his all guys weekend with her said ex. Needless to say, Denny is surprised to see her.

The two of them seemed cordial enough with one another, although they did seem to be avoiding the issue at first. But when an accident forces them to spend time together, they admit their feelings for one another. Denny and Becca’s romance was sweet and entertaining, but it was the rest of Virgin River that drew me in.

I enjoyed watching the town pull together to help each other during the snowstorm. Almost all the familiar faces were present in this installment. Jack, Mel, Preacher, the Riordans, and more.

A nice read to get you ready for the holidays.

Theme Thursday {14}: Character Description

This meme is being hosted by Kavyen @ Reading Between Pages. Each Thursday she will be posting a new "theme" Anyone can join in; here are the rules:

• A new "theme" will be posted each Thursday
• Select a conversion/snippet/sentence from your current read
• Post your selection, but don't forget to list the title and author of the book
• This event is open for one whole week
• It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
  
  Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”

This week's "theme" is: CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Jack Drake, the blonde,clean-cut, all-American of the group looked up from his plate. "Any news?"
Lobo pushed his chair back and strode towards the window, his long dark brown hair bounced with each step he took.

Taming Black Dog Four by Carol Lynne

Turning Up the Heat Blog Tour: Author Interview & Giveaway with Cara Elliott and Lilli Feisty

Describe Too Wicked To Wed in three words.
CE: Sexy, Seductive. Sophisticated.

Describe Deliciously Sinful in three words.
LF: Sexy, sensual and romantic.

When and why did you begin writing?
CE: I penning my first book at the age of five—it was a Western, with lots of crayon drawings of n horses and cowboys. Clearly I must have a thing for Men in Boots, for I then moved on to Regency historicals. Even as a child, I always loved telling stories, and though writing got put on the back burner for a while, I always had ideas percolating in my head. Now I get to write them down again!

LF: I started writing back in elementary school. Like a lot of writers, I always loved books. I read anything and everything that I could get my hands on. In college, I took Creative Writing classes, but I didn’t actually pursue writing as a career until years later. In the back of my mind, I always knew I would be a writer and one day I just decided to make it happen. Six months later I sold my first novella, and soon after that I sold my first novel to Grand Central. I’ve been writing ever since!

How much time do you take to finish a book?
CE: Each book is very different, and some require more research than others. So it really varies.

LF: It depends on so much. I have a busy life and a lot of projects and I’m a part-time single mom. So life’s circumstances often dictate how long it takes me to complete a novel. Generally, I try and write two books a year.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
CE: Oh, that an impossible question! You can’t ask me to name just one. I love language, and so I really respond to writing that creates color and texture with words. It’s all about evoking emotion. Pacing, description, imagery—they are all important elements. I’m a big fan of Loretta Chase and Eloisa James for the way they incorporate humor into their stories. And for darker, deeper style I love Mary Jo Putney and Joanna Bourne.

LF: I have always been a huge fan of Jane Austen. I’m sure that’s not very surprising, she was the original romance author. I love her stories, her characters, her wit and the romantic elements in her books. Mr. Darcy is one of my favorite romance heroes of all time. When people ask me why I write romance, I often quote her: “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.”

What are some other jobs/careers you had before becoming an author?
CE: I have a Master’s degree in Graphic Design and have worked as an art director for a magazine.

LF: Well, let’s see. I’ve been a make-up artist, a teacher, an art broker, a fundraiser and a secretary. Not necessarily in that order.
Thank you so much for having me!

Things are cooking in the kitchen...and the bedroom.

Restaurant owner Phoebe Mayle thought she had it all under control. Sure, her new chef has a bad-boy reputation - and a chiseled body to match - but she's positive she can whip him into shape.

But from the moment Nick Avalon roars into town in his Hummer, he makes her whole world sizzle. Now Phoebe has lost control of her kitchen, and Nick has taken over her mind and her body. His insatiable appetite for pleasure leaves her breathless with carnal cravings only he can satisfy. Yet can their hunger for each other be a recipe for a love that lasts?

Outspoken and independent, Lady Alexa Bingham enjoys the heady freedom of making all her own decisions, even though the challenges of overseeing her family's country estate are daunting. But when a chance encounter with London's most notorious rake awakens a secret longing for adventure, she accepts her aunt's invitation for a Season in Town . . . only to find that breaking the rules of the ton has serious consequences.

The Earl of Killingworth uses his rakehell reputation to hide the fact that poverty has forced him to work for a living. As the owner of a gambling den and brothel, Connor has no time for glittering ballrooms or innocent young ladies. But after a reckless wager leaves him with a new business partner, he is forced to take a risky gamble . . . Will the cards fall in their favor? Alexa and Connor begin to play a dangerous game of intrigue and deception as they seek to outwit a cunning adversary who wants to put them permanently out of business. But if they are not careful, it is the flames of their own fiery attraction that may destroy them.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THESE BOOKS?

{November 16-30, 2011}

• Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copies will be sent directly to winners from the publisher
• 1 copy of each book will be available depending on entries
• 3 Winners will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
• Please check my Contest Policy before entering

*Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing the prize!