Review: The Danger That is Damion by Lisa Renee Jones

The Danger That is Damion
Lisa Renee Jones
Series: Zodius #3
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publish Date: May 1, 2012
Mass Market Paperback {p.323}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Paranormal; Suspense
Lara Martin, Damion Browne
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

The diabolical General Powell created Kayla Martin, a beautiful super-soldier, to help him destroy his valiant enemies. But when Kayla is pitted against the renegade Damion Browne, she discovers that not only is her life in danger, but her heart as well. Enemies soon swarm around Kayla and she must trust the dangerous Damion to embrace her as his ally. As they struggle to defeat a madman, their trust in each other becomes the only chance they have to find peace...and love.

I was totally engrossed in this storyline from page one. Both Lara and Damion were very well-written characters with great chemistry. I loved their interplay.

Lara, who has no memory of her past, is attracted to and quickly falling for Damion, her sworn enemy. The two of them are not only trying to uncover her past but keep her alive. They tended to butt heads a lot but you could still see they really cared about one another.

The love scenes were just as hot as the action. Talk about no dull moments in this one. Even the background characters brought their own bit of something to the table. Of the background characters, I really loved Chale and Jenna. Jenna worked at Powell's lab and Chale was Damion's partner. I'm hoping that Jenna will be "redeemed" and matched with Chale.

The previous life-bonds from the past two books made appearances. I'm still a fan of Michael and Cassandra. I remain cautious of how Dorian, Adma's son is going to fit into the Renegades. I'm hoping he'll end up being a good guy.

I am so looking forward to the next installment. Hopefully it'll be Chale's.

In My Mailbox {94}

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 Blog Win

One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown

Books via Paperback Swap

Unridden by Cat Johnson

Books via Publicist

Daughters for a Time by Jennifer Handford

Blog Tour & Guest Post: Lori Foster, author of A Perfect Storm

Not when she’d once been held captive by human traffickers who, after using her, had tried to kill her as punishment for running away.

Her death would have been a lesson to remaining trapped victims. Instead, the bastards had died—and good riddance.

Luckily—at least for Spencer’s peace of mind— Jackson was already in love with Alani, so his interest in Arizona wasn’t romantic in any way. But for Arizona? He just didn’t know.

Jackson was a good man. A protector.

And right now, Spencer felt like a destroyer of evil. Nothing protective in that.

“Oh, for crying out loud.” Arizona slugged him in the shoulder. “What the hell is wrong with you? No one died. Lose the sad face, will you?”

Next stop on the Tour:  http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Lori’s Advice for Aspiring Romance Novelists

I suggest that budding romance writers write what excites them. Avoid the traps of trying to jump on the bandwagon, or emulate a successful author. If it’s not YOU, you won’t enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy it, why would anyone else?

Some writers prefer stand alone books. Some, like me, have characters that take over and show up again and again. Some like writing sweet romances, and some like super-steamy and explicit. It is such an amazingly personal thing that you can’t, and should never try to, write for anyone but yourself.

I’ve had books that readers hated. Some that readers *really* hated. LOL. But I’m a realist. I know I can’t please all the readers all of the time. When disappointed readers write to me, I apologize. I AM sorry that they spent time on a book they didn’t enjoy. But will I change what I’m doing for them? I can’t.

What works for me is writing what I want, what I enjoy, the way that I want to write it, and the way that works for me. All writers should do the same.

Another tip for new writers – stay away from critique groups. It’s YOUR book, not a book by committee. Just because your critique partner doesn’t like it, just because she thinks it’s awkward, doesn’t mean you need to change it. The only opinions that matter are #1) yours, and #2) the editor’s. Your critique partner cannot buy your book. All she can really do is point out typos, which is great, discourage you with criticism, which is self-defeating, or bolster you with praise, which may or may not jive with an editor’s opinion.

So avoid it.

Contests can also be a catch 22. Sure, you get immediate feedback and sometimes you get a connection with an editor or agent. But you also get immediate gratification – something you should get after you’ve _finished the book!_ NOT because you’ve written one to three chapters.

I’ve know unpubs who’ve polished that first chapter a dozen times. It’s been submitted in at least that many contests. It’s even placed in a few, or won in some. But the whole book? Why finish a book when you can send just one chapter in to win another contest?

Contests make it so easy to lose sight of the end goal – which is publication.

New writers – keep your eye on that end goal! As soon as you finish a book and get it mailed off, start another. And another.

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Buy the Book

http://booktrib.com/blog-tour-a-perfect-storm-by-lori-foster/

Review: A Perfect Storm by Lori Foster

A Perfect Storm
Lori Foster
Series: Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor #4
Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: March 27, 2012
Mass Market Paperback {p.442}
Source: Publicist
Genre: Suspense
Arizona Storm, Spencer Lark
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

He never saw her coming…

Spencer Lark already knows too many secrets about Arizona Storm, including the nightmare she survived and her resulting trust issues. But in order to expose a smuggling ring—and continue avenging his own tragic past—the bounty hunter reluctantly agrees to make Arizona a decoy. Yet nothing has equipped him for her hypnotic blend of fragility and bravery, or for the protective instincts she stirs in him.

Arizona wants to reclaim her life, which means acting as bait to lure the enemy into a trap. Sure it's dangerous, especially with a partner as distractingly appealing as Spencer. But as their plan—and their chemistry—shifts into high gear, Arizona may discover there's an even greater risk in surrendering her heart to a hero…

Arizona enlists the help of Spencer in her latest efforts to take down another human trafficking ring. Spencer and Arizona seem like they’d work well together, only if Arizona would communicate her plans with him. But everywhere else the two of them seemed to work well. Both Arizona and Spencer were great characters both on their own and together.

Spencer, who doesn’t seem to be healed from the loss of his wife, doesn’t want any commitments with Arizona or anyone else. Arizona on the other hand, can’t stand the thought of being touched intimately by any other man but Spencer. Together they both seemed to heal each other.

A Perfect Storm provided the right mix of romance and action. Some of the situations Arizona got herself into were just on the right side of “what were you thinking.” Spencer constantly had his hand full with her.

The addition of the other couples is always a plus. I would have loved to see more of them. I was very eager to see how Spencer and Jackson got along with each other now that Spencer and Arizona were more than friends.

This is a great series that I would love to see grow to Troubleshooters proportions, but I think this one was the final one. Men Who Walk the Edge of Danger is definitely a series you don’t want to miss.

http://booktrib.com/blog-tour-a-perfect-storm-by-lori-foster/

#Giveaway & Review: Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins

Somebody to Love
Kristan Higgins
Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: April 24, 2012
Mass Market Paperback {p.425}
Source: Publicist
Genre: Contemporary
Parker Welles, James Cahill
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon's Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father's wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she's not thrilled -- …even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox.

Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist's assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn't the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn't the only thing that needs a little TLC….

Parker and James may have seemed like an unlikely pair, but they were perfect together. Parker was uncertain about getting involved with James because of their age difference and the fact that she saw him as her father's "minion," because he was her father's lawyer.

James was a bit uncomfortable with being around Parker's young son Nicky, so I was unsure of how that would affect their relationship. Once I got to know about his background, it became clear as to why he was uncomfortable around children. But I did love his relationship with Parker's father Harry. I was happy to see James had some sort of father-type relationship since his own father wanted nothing to do with him.

The ending was perfect. With Parker and her father making a decent start at trying to mend their relationship. And of the budding one between James and Nicky. I loved their last scene together in the book.

The fact that this book brought couples from previous books in the mix and we got to see how they were progressing was an added bonus. I hope that Higgins decides to revisit Parker and James in the future as well.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

{April 23 - May 7, 2012}

• Only residents of the U.S. are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
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• Please check my Contest Policy before entering

To enter:

1. Please fill out the form below
*Thanks to Little Bird Publicity for providing the prize!

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In My Mailbox {93}

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 Library Sale

Books via Publisher

The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain