Review: Graced

*Review copied received from author in exchange for an honest review.*

Graced (Graced series, book 1) by Amanda Pillar

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Ebook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Graced (1)

City Guard Elle Brown has one goal in life: to protect her kid sister, Emmie. Falling in love–and with a werewolf at that–was never part of the deal.

Life, however, doesn't always go to plan, and when Elle meets Clay, everything she thought about her world is thrown into turmoil. Everything, that is, but protecting Emmie, who is Graced with teal-colored eyes and an unknown power that could change their very existence. But being different is dangerous in their home city of Pinton, and it's Elle's very own differences that capture the attention of the Honorable Dante Kipling, a vampire with a bone-deep fascination for a special type of human.

Dante is convinced that humans with eye colors other than brown are unique, but he has no proof. The answers may exist in the enigmatic hazel eyes of Elle Brown, and he's determined to uncover their secrets no matter the cost...or the lives lost.

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Review:

Graced and I had a rocky start. The transition of changing POVs felt off and really frequent. With multiple points of views from first person that can happen, and at times I thought the timeline was just a smidge off. It didn't help that when I finally started to really sink into the story Elle and Clay were laying heavy on the paranormal romance tropes. Like Clay was in lust and her smell was soooooo good, but a girl with that bad ass of an attitude is too much work! Blah-blah, instalove/lust. It was silly. Thankfully the real meat of the story doesn't solely depend on them as a couple, though it does enough development later that it didn't bother me too much and I could actually see them become a reluctant item towards the end.

No. The real awesome-tacular thing about Graced was the other characters telling the story. Namely Dante!!! Oh my gosh! Dante. He's clearly evil at the beginning. He's the bad guy, but soon we realize that mentally he's a little off. An eccentric? Maybe. Or maybe he's just had evil parents and he just needed real people to make him more “human”. Dante was the perfect intro into why vampires are evil. Soon though he entered the realm of “grey”. More importantly an anti-hero. He does bad shit, but I love him. He's complex.

Even more complex is his romance in the book! Which made up for the other character's instalove. No really. The build up and humor of Dante developing emotions and feelings is epic.

In fact, the character development and story was so engaging as Graced continued on. Pillar really found her footing as the story kept going and I haven't been this engaged in a new Urban Fantasy book in ages. The true part is that all the grey areas have the characters meeting their “enemies” and finding a common ground. Some of the dialogue is hilarious! Especially as Dante does something despicable to Elle, but she totally ends up liking him. (Don't worry Elle, he's like Lokey. You should hate him, but you just can't.) I could go over each character, but I won't.

I also loved the idea of how Elle is protecting her kid sister. That she would do anything for her. The real villain actually ended up being Elle's grandmother. Who on occasion gave me goosebumps. It's also an intriguing concept of the Graced being hidden and that some of their powers are mentally intrusive. Those are scary powers, scarier to me then vampires or werewolves. At least they're up front monsters.

Oh, and the world! It's dystopian if you want to get down to it, or High Fantasy-ish. Basically there was a peak in technology, a great war among the races, and then boom they lost things. There's some technology, but most of it was lost. I like the prejudices and the minor details that Pillar has put in to make her world stand out. Very refreshing and I loved the history and look forward to seeing more of it outside of the current city that most of the story takes place in.

The truth is that Graced only missed being on my Shera's Top 10 Books of 2016 by a hair. Let me tell you I debated and debated. The anticipation of book 2 though, made it onto my Top 10 Anticipated Adult Books of 2017 list though! The characters are totally awesome! The nuances to them as Graced built up was brilliant! At times the dialogue was so clever I felt like I needed to give author Amanda Pillar a gold star of achievement! Even with a rough start it's hard to resist the addictiveness of Graced, and then it gets so good you forget everything else. If you've been looking for a new Urban Fantasy series—and are leery about self pub/indie pub—Graced is a pretty safe bet. It's been well edited. Besides a great story and I can't spam—err, recommend—it enough!

Content Warning: Homosexual themes, some sex scenes (not too crazy), and of course sexual humor! Murder and some human right issues. Some of the leads do bad things.

 
4/5 - A true obsession!

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Graced (1) Bitten (2)	Graced (1) Bitten (2)	Graced (1) Bitten (2)

Review: City of Wolves

City of Wolves by Willow Palecek

Genre: Paranormal Historical
Edition Reviewed: Ebook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: City of Wolves

Alexander Drake, Investigator for Hire, doesn’t like working for the Nobility, and doesn’t prefer to take jobs from strange men who accost him in alleyways. A combination of hired muscle and ready silver have a way of changing a man’s mind. A lord has been killed, his body found covered in bite marks. Even worse, the late lord’s will is missing, and not everyone wants Drake to find it. Solving the case might plunge Drake into deeper danger.

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Review:

Hmmm. An interesting short and I believe a fun introduction to what could be a fantastic new series. I did feel that some of the mythology was sketchy. It didn't fully develop the world in a timely fashion.  Like letting readers know how much of the paranormal is known and so on. Not to mention what kinds of paranormal is out there.

The short didn't fully sell me on the lead or what I would assume is the cast of characters that would occupy the series. (If it was indeed made into a series.) That's the problem with shorts. Most of the time it's just not enough to establish a story properly. They tend to be good for snippets for series that are already being devoured and the mytho established.

However, I loved the writing style and with this I would be very interested if it turned out to be a series. The world, once established, was fun and I think plenty of room for potential. Not to mention that I'm interested enough about the lead to go forth and see a more developed version of him. I had a fun time and it was perfect for a quick read.

Content Warning: Some sexual humor and violent deaths. Nothing truly shocking or surprising.

  
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
N/A	N/A	N/A

Review: Club Dead

Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, book 2) by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Club Dead (3)

There's only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with (at least voluntarily)and that's Bill. But recently he's been a little distant---in another state distant. His sinister and sexy boss, Eric, has an idea where to find him. Next thing Sookie knows, she is off to Jackson, Mississippi, to mingle with the under-underworld at Club Dead. It's a dangerous little haunt where the elitist vampire society can go to chill out and suck down some type O. But when Sookie finally finds Bill---caught in an act of betrayal---she's not sure whether to save him...or sharpen some stakes.

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Review:

Ah. The book. The one that I love despite Bill and Sookie's rocky relationship. Actually I love it because of that reason. It's been clear from the beginning that there has been issues between them. Sookie has always wanted that extra umph from Bill. Bill has never even cared enough to give her a heartfelt, and simple, gift. I truly believe he relies on Sookie's feelings of unconditional love. That because he is her first love and first bedroom partner that she would never truly get rid of him. Not to mention that she runs away and comes back. A lot.

The two are fire! But sadly fire fizzles out. You can stoke it again and again to create another blaze. But you'll have to constantly work at it. It will almost go out, you'll burn yourself from it, it can get out of control, and in the end it's just constant work.

Harris starts up the story really interesting. You get the idea that Bill is tired of Sookie. In the last book I could see he missed other vampires. He wanted to impress upon Sookie that he was not human. Period. Well he succeeded. To be honest if I was Sookie I would have dumped him after book two. Those events, I just wouldn’t want to deal with it. Harris keeps it real. Sookie does love him and she needs a protector from the other vampires who know what she is. It's scary.

That's why no one can begrudge Sookie her temptations. In the form of Eric. Damn you fine Norseman. It was very interesting to see more of Eric. He's mainstreaming like Bill. However, he lives and interacts with other vampires still and is older than Bill. Yet Eric is more . . . real. He's a vampire, but there's an actual person in there. Bill feels cold and aloof. He's a monster with out the fluff. But Eric is oh so fluffy!

Speaking of fluff. Alcide! Yes, a werewolf love interest. (The other temptation.) Sam may be a shifter, but he's not that obligatory werewolf. I'm pretty positive that Alcide is the reason why so many vampire books feature the hot third wheel of a werewolf. Because with every page I felt more confidence in why I always new Alcide was one hot motha—you get my point. Sure we can see some issues, and towards the end Sookie can see that Alcide may not be for her. She's growing. However, he's a warm blooded man—hot werewolf!—who could give Sookie the kind of life she wants. Maybe. Either way I loved Alcide and Sookie in this book. The chemistry! The fact that it actually made me think “forget Eric, Alcide is where it's at” is a testament to Harris's skills as a writer. To not only create man candy, but interesting man candy. Well fleshed out man candy. (Take that however you want.)

Club Dead is a fun fast paced read. I enjoyed the murder mystery, even if I guessed it. The rescue that transpires that sets the whole thing into swing. It was fun seeing other things beside vampires and getting to know the craziness of werewolves. How the mechanics work in the animal shifting realm. Not to mention the foreshadowing, the bigger picture! I adore Sookie and all her quirks. The running jokes are great. (Though the word of the day calendar might get old at this rate.) The man from Memphis was so much fun, and I love that he wasn't just a one time joke. Bubba is too cool not to utilize. It's a great sign that even up to book three, Club Dead, on my reread of this series the five stars are sticking.

Sexual Content: Sex scenes, rape scene (guys let's be honest it really is), dark themes, bisexual and homosexual elements. (Prrrrrrrr Eric.)

 
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)	Dead Until Dark (1) Living Dead in Dallas (2) Club Dead (3) Dead to the World (4) Dead as a Doornail (5) Definitely Dead (6) All Together Dead (7) From Dead to Worse (8) Dead and Gone (9) Dead in the Family (10) Dead Reckoning (11) Deadlocked (12) Dead Ever After (13)

Review: Full Blooded

****Copy received for an honest review through Netgalley.****

Full Blood (Jessica McClain, book 1) by Amanda Carlson

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: eBook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Full Blooded

Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared.

After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.

But not everyone is on board. The werewolf Rights of Laws is missing text and the superstitious werewolves think that Jessica means an end to their race. It doesn’t help when Jessica begins to realize she’s more. She can change partway and hold her form, and speak directly to her wolf. But the biggest complication by far is that her alpha father can't control her like he can the rest of his wolves.

When a mercenary who’s been hired by the vampires shows up to extract information about the newly turned werewolf only days after her change, they find themselves smack in the middle of a war and there's no choice but to run together. When it’s up to Jessica to negotiate her release against her father’s direct orders, she chooses to take an offer for help instead. In exchange, Jessica must now swear an oath she may end up repaying with her life.

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Review:

“Whirlpools swirling, cascading, twirling. Hawaiian roller coaster ride!” Yeah! What a rush! It's this crazy thrill ride from page one to the end. Which means big cliffhanger that you'll want to have the next book on hand for. It's really hard to find a book that never slows down and just keeps careening down a path of edge-of-your-seat fun. That said this book isn't all that original and is probably what killed some of my overall enjoyment.

Jessica is a strong leading lady that Urban Fantasy fans have come to expect from the genre. She's strong willed, mouthy, occasionally foolhardy, and has an ego. She definitely rolls with the punches as they come and deals with things well. (To the point where I felt like it wasn't . . . emotionally accurate. Or maybe it's better described that her character and others in the book aren't fully real at this point.) The “Oh, this just happened OK!” moving along attitude took away from some of the build up, but kept the ride vrooming by. Which ended up working fine! Even with the predictable plot that felt like it was borrowing from a lot of urban fantasy and paranormal romances and patching a tale together.

What did it for me is that Jessica as the first female werewolf in ages spells out the new dawn for our furry friends. She can do things that the old world werewolves could, and the abilities were thought to be lost. If the story would have stopped at her being the only female werewolf in ages, I would have been beyond excited. The fact that she's morphing into this all powerful werewolf? Not too much. Even if with paranormal I like my leads to be human. My mind rushes to Anita Blake as she get more and more powerful with each volume, which ends up dehumanizing her. Maybe I'm being biased, but superwoman is not what I signed up for.

Another sour point for me is that Jessica immediately finds her mate. Nope she can't start her story without having her significant other. She needs a man to help further her along. Personally I would have liked to have seen her personal growth as a single woman of the werewolves playing the field. Too many times it feels like the old chain and ball has to be put on before the character—or the reader—can find out who they truly are.

Full Blooded does a wonderful job of mixing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance! Fans of either genre will be thrilled and will love the action. There's sex, fighting, mystery, alliances and politics, prophecies, witches, vampires with thousand year old agendas, and more. Everyone will be able to find something to like. Personally, with not enough female werewolves out there I'm all for it. Especially at times when I feel like Jessica could be just as awesome as Riley (from the Riley Jenson books). Safety bar down and I'm ready for the next ride!

Sexual Content: Some sexy fun time, nothing over the top.

  
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Full Blooded (1) Hot Blooded (2) Cold Blooded (3) Red Blooded (4) Pure Blooded (5)	Full Blooded (1) Hot Blooded (2) Cold Blooded (3) Red Blooded (4) Pure Blooded (5)	Full Blooded (1) Hot Blooded (2) Cold Blooded (3) Red Blooded (4) Pure Blooded (5)

Review: The Howling Heart

****Copy provided by author for an honest review.****

The Howling Heart by April Bostic

Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Edition Reviewed: eBook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: The Howling Heart

Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies, and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.

Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv---wolves descended from 13th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.

Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.

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Review:

Even with the male lead crying and emotionally blackmailing the lead into staying with him I might have been OK. Because as the book progresses Riley, the male lead, does prove himself. The hopeless romantic in me really starts to believe his case of love at first sight. Despite some of the minor sexism and the . . . rushed pacing. Where each event feels like:
And then. And then. And then. And then. And more and then!

Paige and Riley have chemistry. It's hot! The world of the Varuvl—also known as werewolves—and the Norse mythology is a real treat, which I would have loved even further explored. Even though the book and plot felt as standard as it comes to the Paranormal Romance genre. I could have loved it. Truly. Despite all of my issues with crybaby Riley. God he's pathetic. Alpha material. No. Beta. Heck yeah. Even though I thought Paige and Riley could have been better as a role reversal. Riley makes a great cry baby fragile girl, but I kind of respect Bostic for making such a male lead.

This writing is underdeveloped.

The writing tells instead of shows. Even with barren writing like the Anita Blake series, you can feel the world being painted in your mind. Heck, even P.C. and Kristin Cast House of Night books have a way with words. (And we all know how childish I find the dialogue and sometimes the characters' thoughts.) At times the sentences in Howling Heart are choppy. Even scenes. Other times I'm left going, “Wait, what? How did that make it past editing?” It felt like a ton of writing clichés and “what would an author paste in hear” mash up.

Bostic hasn't found her writing rhythm or flow yet. Nor, her own personal writing style. When she does . . . I'm pretty sure her books are going to rock! There are a lot of good things present here. Just not enough. There are two things that kill books for me. Lack of decent writing. Check. Lack of character depth and realism. Bostic does a pretty good job of creating the characters here, and the two love interests definitely have chemistry. The writing just wasn't advanced enough to support it.

Sexual Content: Steamy! Standard PNR scenes.

  
1/5- I couldn't finish it or wish I hadn't

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
The Howling Heart	The Howling Heart	The Howling Heart

Giveaway: Loup-Garou For You!

This is a fun new title for the Paranormal Erotica lover! It's got a little across time romance, a historical, and it's got some spicy scenes! Look out for my review later this week, but for now enjoy the giveaway and some of my favorite quotes below.

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Loup-Garou for You by Katalina Leon
Genre: Historical Paranormal Erotic Romance
Grab it: Amazon | Goodreads
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.

Bayou Country, 1834. Aubert Marston awakens on the eve of his twenty-seventh birthday to discover he’s undergone some disturbing physical changes. His body is bigger, stronger and hairier than it’s ever been, and burns with the lust of a beast. To make matters worse, a hundred guests are about to arrive for the plantation’s annual ball.

A mysterious young woman named Corrine appears in his home, tempting Aubert to unleash the inner lycan, and family secrets from a medieval past surface. Corrine lures Aubert to a bayou camp of Cajun Loup-Garous—werewolves. Aubert’s wealth and good looks are no advantage here. He must surrender to his feral nature and fight tooth and claw against another male pack member to claim Corrine as his own.

Inside Scoop:  This story contains mild bondage, southern hospitality, consensual sexual torment, female/female, male/male, anal play, cage fighting and unfettered animal lust. Enjoy!

A Romantica® historical paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

About the Author

Katalina Leon
I’m an artist, an author, mother and wife. I write for Ellora’s Cave, Loose Id Publishing and a couple new publishers to be announced soon. I try to bring a touch of the mystical and a big sense of adventure to everything I write because I believe there’s a bold, kick-ass heroine inside all of us who wants to take a wild ride with a strong worthy hero.

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook

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Giveaway:

You can enter below to when a 15 dollar Amazon gift card! How great is that?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Quotes:

Now here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book!

Here’s a taste of what’s to come with the first sentence of the book.

With clockwork precision, in the restless hour before dawn, the oppressive leviathan of a nightmare rose form the depths, grabbed Aubert and yanked him down.

Here’s a little “tame” preview . . .

Heated sexual thoughts whirled through his mind. His jaw tensed and his legs trembled. He was tempted to open the door, grab the woman, toss her onto the bed and take his pleasure with her.

Words no one wants to hear about any kind of mysterious changes happening to them.

“You don’t understand. By sundown you will begin to change into a creature that has the cunning mind of a man and the impulses and desires of a beast. You will become Loup-Garou—a werewolf—and you will not be able to control yourself during the first stages of the transformation.”

Probably one of the single best one liners about being told you’re turning into a werewolf!

“You think I’m going to turn into a hairy wolfman?

Here’s one of my favorite romantic scenes from the book!

“I love you.” Corrine’s hand rested on Aubert’s shoulder. “in my heart and mind, you’ve always been my only choice. You’re my handsome prince.”

Lastly, I’m starting to think cats and werewolves have a lot in common.

“It’s a full moon—who needs sleep?”

All right hope everyone enjoyed! Big thanks to Katalina Leon and Paranormal Cravings!