Archive for the Category &raquo;Paranormal Romance &laquo;

Review: DEMONS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND by Linda Wisdom

Category: 3/5, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, review copy 3 Comments

Apr

96861423 From the back of the book:

A BEWITCHING WOMAN ON A MISSION…

Feisty witch Maggie enjoys her work as a paranormal law enforcement officer - that is, until she’s assigned to protect a teenager with major attitude and plenty of Mayan enemies, Maggie’s never going to survive this assignment without the help of a half-fire demon who makes her smolder…

A HOTTER-THAN-SIN HERO WITH AN AGENDA…

Declan is proprietor of an underground club and busy demon portal. No way he’ll allow his demon race to be blamed for the malicious acts of some crazy evil Mayans. But he’s already got his hands full when the sexy witch offers him a challenge he can’t refuse…

Amidst the rising flames of their steamy love affair, Maggie and Declan are damned if they do, and even more damned if they don’t…

I was so excited for another installment of Linda Wisdom’s witches. Maggie is one of the witches, along with Blaire and Jaz, that has been roaming for more than 700 years. Maggie is a little different from the other witches in that she doesn’t spend much time with humans. Now she has to face one of the most dreaded type of humans - a teenage girl. There were times that I was laughing out loud and Maggie learns to deal with Courtney. There were also times that I was a little jealous of Maggie’s spell casting. I would have love to be able to use some of them on my little ones! Declan is one hot hero - literally. He is half-fire demon, but one hundred percent good guy. I loved how there was never a moment when it even appeared that he wasn’t on Maggie’s side. He is always there for her. I would have liked his presence to be felt more in the story, because I felt like we didn’t get to really know him like we did Maggie. DEMONS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND is a fun paranormal romance.

the book girl gives DEMONS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND a 4/5

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Blog Tour and Giveaway!! ETERNAL RIDER by Larissa Ione

Category: 4/5, Paranormal Romance, review copy 3 Comments

Apr

95573886 From the back of the book:

THEY’RE HERE.

THEY RIDE.

THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE

Born of a match between good and evil, four siblings stand between hell’s minions and everything they want to destroy. They are the Lords of Deliverance, and they have the power to ward off Doomsday…or let it ride…

ETERNAL RIDER

His name is ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can’t - or won’t - understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman’s safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara’s life.

ETERNAL RIDER is the beginning of a new series that is set in the same world as the Daemonica books. I think that it is not necessary to have read the other series, but it certainly helped me understand what was going on better. There is a very handy glossary of terms at the beginning of the book, which helps a lot. I love when books that have lots of unique or fictional terms have them defined. I flipped back several times to remind myself what a certain word met. I enjoyed ETERNAL RIDER, but had a little trouble getting into the story. There is a lot going on and a lot to try and remember. In the end it is completely worth it! Cara is a fantastic and complicated character. She goes through a range of emotions from fear to happiness and every other emotion. I loved her reactions to what was happening to her and around her. The changes in her world are numerous, but she (eventually) is able to handle it all. Ares, or War (or Jeff), is even more complicated. He is one of the four horseman and is trying to prevent the apocalypse. I had trouble connecting to his character since he isn’t good or evil. The story moves at a very quick pace and the world is fascinating. I think any fan of the Daemonica series is going to love ETERNAL RIDER.

the book girl gives ETERNAL RIDER a 4/5

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REVIEW: IT HAPPENED ONE BITE by Lydia Dare

Contest: Comment on this post to enter to win one of three copies of ETERNAL RIDER. To earn more entries tweet the link to this post with the tag #bookgirlgiveaway and comment on the week’s other posts. Contest will run through 4/10/11 at 5pm cst. US address only, please. Please remember to check back to see if your name is picked - I don’t email winners.

Category: 4/5, Contest, Paranormal Romance, review copy 34 Comments

Mar

96861417 From the back of the book:

HE’S LOST, TRAPPED, DOOMED FOR ALL ETERNITY…

Rich, titled, and undead, gentleman vampyre James Maitland, Lord Kettering, fears himself doomed to a cold and lonely existence - trapped for decades in an abandoned castle. Then, beautiful Scottish witch Blaire Lindsay arrives and things begin to heat up considerable…

UNLESS HE CAN PERSUADE HER TO SET HIM FREE…

Feisty Blaire Lindsay laughs off the local gossip surrounding her mother’s ancestral home - stories of haunting cannot scare off this battle-born witch. But when she discovers the handsome prisoner in the bowels of the castle, Blaire has no idea that she has unleashed anything more than a man who sets her heart on fire...

I can’t tell you how much I love these historical paranormal romances from Lydia Dare. IT HAPPENED ONE BITE is the first in the new vampyre series, but there is some cross-over with the werewolf series as well. Blaire is part of the same coven from those books and their is also Alec MacQuarrie from the previous series. This book, even though their is some crossover, does stand alone. I just loved Blaire and James. They are among my top ten favorite couples. Blaire is strong willed and has a mind of her own. She knows what and who she wants and won’t be swayed. James is the perfect mate for her. Their story is emotional, funny, and not to be missed!

the book girl gives IT HAPPENED ONE BITE a 5/5

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Review: MERELY MAGIC by Patricia Rice

Category: 5/5, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, review copy 3 Comments

Mar

79509467 From the back of the book:

She has the magic as her birthright

Ninian is a healer, but she’s a Malcolm first and foremost, and Malcolms have always had a bit of magic - unpredictable though it is - to aid them in their pursuits. She knows she must accept what she is or perish, but then Lord Drogo Ives arrives, bringing the deepest, most powerful magic she’s ever experienced and turning Ninian’s world upside down…

A man of science doesn’t believe in anything he can’t see

Drogo Ives has no time for foolish musings or legends, even if he can’t seem to resist the local witch. Thrown together by a series of disasterous events, Ninian won’t give herself fully to Drogo until she can make him trust and believe in her, and that’s the last thing he’ll ever do…

As the danger and chaos surrounding them escalates, Drogo and Ninian will be forced to decide: their love or their lives...

MERELY MAGIC is a magical story that captured my interest from the first words. I loved the world building and magical elements. This book is full of interesting characters - the secondary characters bring the story to life and help move the story along. I especially love Drogo’s brother, Dunstan. Drogo is the perfect hero for Niniam and she’s perfect for him. The contrasts in their characters made for some funny and sweet moments. This is the first book in a series and I will definately be reading the rest!

the book girl gives MERELY MAGIC a 4/5

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Review: NEVER AGAIN by Michele Bardsley

Category: 4/5, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, review copy 3 Comments

Mar

819767411 From the back of the book:

Welcome to Nevermore, Texas, population 503, where witches and wizards live side by side with humans. Small towns like Nevermore are vanishing in America - and in this case, that could be the work of a freelancing witch…

CURSED AND DOUBLE CURSED

Lucinda Rackmore never would have been caught dead in a town like Nevermore. Of course, that was before the “great reckoning” drained the family finances and her former lover, ruthless master wizard Bernard Franco, snuffed out Lucy’s magical abilities.

But can Lucy really expect protection from the Guardian of Nevermore, her ex-brother-in-law, Gray Calhoun? Gray wants nothing to do with her - and Lucy can’t blame him. Not after her sister sacrificed him to a demon lord. Still, with everyone in town looking to settle a score with the Rackmores and Bernard bent on dragging Lucy back into his clutches, Gray might be her only hope for survival.

This is the first book in a new series by Michele Bardsley. I am a HUGE fan of the Broken Heart series and was very excited about this new series, but also a little worried it would be too much like the BH books. It isn’t. NEVER AGAIN is a little darker and sexier than the others. I loved the world building and the characters. Gray and Lucy are very interesting and real - at least as real as witches and wizards can be. I loved that even though they had both been burned, they weren’t closed off from love. (Even if they thought they were) NEVER AGAIN is the perfect first book for a new series. It introduces characters, world, and conflict without overwhelming the reader. The only bad thing I can say about this book is that I have to wait for the next in the series - NOW OR NEVER.

the book girl gives NEVER AGAIN a 5/5

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REVIEW: THE WEREWOLF UPSTAIRS by Ashlyn Chase

Category: 5/5, Paranormal Romance, puchased book Leave a Comment

Feb

869118961 From the back of the book:

Petty crime never looked so good…

Alpha werewolf Konrad Wolfensen sees it as his duty to protect the citizens of Boston, even if it means breaking into their apartments just to prove their security systems don’t work. But when his unsolicited services land him in trouble with the law, he’ll have to turn to his sexy new neighbor for help.

She should have known better…

Attorney Roz Wells is bored. She used to have such a knack for attracting the weird and unexpected, but ever since she took a job as a Boston public defender, the quirky quotient in her life has taken a serious hit. Until her sexy werewolf neighbor starts coming around…

Roz knows she should stay away from this sexy bad boy, but she can’t help it that she’s putty in his hands.

THE WEREWOLF UPSTAIRS is a fun paranormal romance. I enjoyed this book more than I did the previous one in the series, STRANGE NEIGHBORS. Roz is worried when her best friend, Merry, marries a shape-shifting baseball player. She doesn’t know if the raven-shifting will hurt her friend and wants to be close by just in case. Little does she know that she is moving into a whole building full of paranormal beings. I like how these paranormals are living pretty normal lives and there is no hidden evil after them. One works at a hospital, one is a baseball player, and one is a thief - sort of. Konrad is the thief, but he doesn’t actually steal anything. He points out deficiencies in their security. Roz and Konrad are instantly attracted to each other and through a series of disastrous dates find themselves falling in love. The writing is snappy and fun. I loved the relationship between Roz and Konrad, as well as the relationships between all of the residence of the apartment building. If you are looking for a light, fun paranormal romance this is definitely a book to read!

the book girl gives THE WEREWOLF UPSTAIRS a 4/5

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REVIEW: KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK by Stephanie Rowe

Category: 4/5, Paranormal Romance, review copy 2 Comments

Jan

84352431 FROM THE BACK OF THE BOOK:

HE NEEDED A KILLER WOMAN…

Blaine Underhill was one lucky man. Having recently escaped a century and a half of imprisonment at the hands of an evil witch, he’s determined to save his still-enslaved friend. But in order to do so , he’ll need the help of one of the world’s most lethal women.

SHE WAS DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, LITERALLY…

Trinity Harpswell is sick and tired of being a Black Widow. Having managed to go three years without accidentally killing anyone she loves, she’s one short week away from freeing herself from this killer curse forever.

When Blaine tracks her down and convinces her to help him, little does Trinity know that the next seven days are going to be murder!

KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK is the first book in a new series. I really enjoyed Stephenie Rowe’s previous books and was excited to read this one. I wasn’t disappointed at all. KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK is funny, sexy, and different. There is a lot going on in this book and I almost gave up in the beginning. It took me a while to get into the story, but once I did I couldn’t put it down. KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK is different, because it isn’t your usual shifters and vamps. Trinity is a Black Widow and that is something I’ve never seen in a book before. The book is full of zany characters that add so much to the story. I recommend this book for anyone who wants a fresh and funny urban fantasy.

the book girl gives KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK a 4/5

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Review: IN THE COMPANY OF VAMPIRES by Katie MacAlister

Category: 4/5, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, review copy Leave a Comment

Jan

77909868 From the back of the book:

IF ONLY A BROKEN HEART WERE ALL SHE HAD TO DEAL WITH…

But there are Viking ghosts, gods, werebeings, and one sexy-as-sin vampire on Francesca’s case. And her biggest trouble is spelled with a capital L - for Loki, the trickster god who made good on his promised revenge by abducting her mother.

But when Fran arrives at GothFaire to save her mother, things go from bad to worse. Her immortal ex, Benedikt, is there, full of secrets…and with a new girlfriend. Fran must battle not only a power-hungry group that wishes to dominate both the immortal and mortal worlds, but the woman who claimed Ben’s heart. Shape-shifters, vikings, and a town filled with deranged opera fans. It’s a good thing Fran’s no ordinary mortal…

Fran and Ben are characters from Katie MacAlister’s YA series. I loved the YA books and was very excited to see Fran and Ben again. However, the book fell flat. Fran still behaved like the teenager she was in the YA books even though 5 years had passed. Also, I felt like the plot of the book - Fran’s hunt for Loki and her mother - went nowhere. While she does find them, we don’t know why her mother was being held and whether Fran can banish Loki. I’m hoping that this is the set-up for another novel, because there was no real ending to IN THE COMPANY OF VAMPIRES. The romance between Ben and Fran is the only thing that seems decided at the end of the book. I was hoping for more out of this story than I got. I will say that IN THE COMPANY OF VAMPIRES has parts that are very sexy and parts that were very funny. Even though I don’t feel like the story was complete it was an entertaining read.

the book girl gives IN THE COMPANY OF VAMPIRES a 3/5

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Review: MY IMMORTAL ASSASSIN by Carolyn Jewel

Category: 3/5, Paranormal Romance, puchased book 5 Comments

Jan

82164488 *FIRST POSTED ON THE SEASON**

MY IMMORTAL ASSASSIN boasts both a unique world and unforgettable characters.

This is the first book in this series that I’ve read, but after hearing so many good things about it I was excited to read MY IMMORTAL ASSASSIN. Carolyn Jewel has created such interested characters and her world building is both realistic and fantastical at the same time.

Grayson Spencer is out for revenge. She is intent on killing the mage who killed her sister and tortured her. I loved how much strength Gray has and how strong her need for vengeance is. She is determined to kill Christophe and no one is going to stop her, especially Durian.

Durian is, even after reading the whole book, a bit of a mystery. In the beginning he is all business, but as he comes to know and understand Gray he softens. I loved the transformation of Durian and how it was evident in his dealings with Gray and other characters.

Durian underestimates Gray in the beginning and I loved how he comes to appreciate just how great she is. There was one scene in particular that stuck out to me. The scene is between Gray and Durian during her training.

He didn’t hide his skepticism. He’d developed his style of fighting over centuries, borrowing and adapting from any system that contained something useful to him. He had spent years adapting movements to his magic, until he arrived at the deadly blend he used today. “This is not a game.”

“I didn’t say it was.” She stretched her arms. “You’re good with your body, and that means you make it look easy. I get that it’s not.”

“I would be happy to show you once more.”

She didn’t blink. “I have it.”

He stepped aside and added overconfidence to his list of required remediations. “Then do show me.”

Gray nodded at him. She shook out her arms and legs, finished off with an oddly controlled roll of her head and shoulders and took up his starting position. Before his eyes, she transformed herself. Not the shift from human to a true manifestation of one of the kin, but a transformation nonetheless.

She executed his form without a single error.

There wasn’t anything about this book I didn’t like. The action is fast-paced, the dialogue witty, and the characters are completely fleshed out and realistic. One thing that I really appreciated is the glossary in the beginning. It helps the reader understand the terminology used in the book. Several times when I was a little confused between a “Mageheld” and “Magekind” I could flip to the front of the book and there it was explained to me.

the book girl gives MY IMMORTAL ASSASSIN a 4/5

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