ARC Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Series: Angelfire, Book #1

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance

Released: Date: February 2011

Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books

Author Website: http://www.courtneyallisonmoulton.com/

Format I Read: ARC ebook

Pages: 464

Source: Net Galley

Reading Challenge: Debut Author Reading Challenge, Kick Ass Heroine Reading Challenge

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb
When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.


A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.


While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

My Thoughts
I am always interested in reading different takes on the origins of angels so when I read the summary for Angelfire, I knew I would love it. The cover was also an attention getter.

I thought the story was interesting and full of plot twists. It was slow one minute and fast paced the next. The romance was predictable but still had me speed reading to see how their relationship would play out.

Ellie and Will are my new Buffy and Angel. She’s a kick ass slayer when she’s in her zone and he’s the tortured soul trying hard not to succumb to his own personal darkness. I could tell from the first moment Will popped on the scene that there was more between them than their mission. Of course he was in love with her but their relationship was beyond complicated. And for me, complicated love is the best to read about because the characters go through so much just to prove that they belong together. Will and Ellie had centuries to figure it out, but the greater good always came first.

The only thing I didn’t like about the story was the father and his attitude. I think I know what’s going on with him and hopefully it will be discussed later. I am anxiously awaiting the second book to confirm my suspicions. Overall, this was a very good debut from Courtney Allison Moulton and I am counting the days until I can get my hands on the next in this awesome new series.

Rating

Four flowers of love-really liked it and would recommend it

Other Books In This Series:

Wings Of The Wicked, Book #2 (Coming in 2012)

Hymn To The Fallen, Book #3 (Coming in 2013)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

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Shelfari

ARC Review: Mystify by Artist Arthur

Series:  Mystyx, Book #2

Genre:   YA, Paranormal

Release Date:  January 18, 2011

Publisher:  Kimani Tru

Author Website:  http://www.artistarthurbooks.com

Format I Read:  ARC ebook

Pages:  248 (Nook pgs)

Source:  Net Galley

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Sometimes being an outsider is the best way to fit in… 

Sasha Carrington has grown up feeling like an outsider, and her parents are too concerned with scaling the Lincoln, Connecticut, social ladder to even notice her. They’d be really horrified to know about the supernatural abilities Sasha and her friends Krystal and Jake possess. But as part of the Mystyx, Sasha has found her place.

Now her parents have suddenly taken an interest in everything she does, and their timing couldn’t be worse. Sasha’s father wants her to become BFFs with snooty Alyssa Turner, who hates Krystal for stealing her boyfriend. Then there’s Antoine Watson, the boy Sasha has liked forever, the boy her parents would never approve of. But with the dark side getting more dangerous by the day, and the Mystyx’s own powers growing in unexpected ways, Sasha is facing choices that could affect her friends, her love life—and even her destiny…"

Awesomeness:

“Life is not about what we want, Sasha.  It’s about what’s best for us, for our family, our legacy.  Want rarely comes into play.”

What he really means is that want rarely comes into play where I’m concerned.  My parents seem to have everything their chilly little hearts desire.  Me, on the other hand, well, let’s just say I’m not like my parents.  Some days I wake up and even consider requesting a DNA test.

My Thoughts 

This is another YA series that I continue to enjoy. Artist Author has created a paranormal adventure featuring a teenage clique of supernaturals that keep me tagging along as they deal with their personal dramas and use their powers to deal with the Darkness that is stalking them.

In the latest book, the story turns to Sasha.   Her friends continue to judge her and think she’s a stuck up “Richie” simply because her parents are.  I thought she was a likable character, a little bratty and spoiled at times, but overall she was more mature than her friends, Krystal and Jake. 

Jake and Krystal got on my nerves in this book.  I always thought that Krystal was self centered, but she really out does herself in this book.  And Jake has serious anger issues.  His story is the next book, so hopefully I’ll be able to have a better understanding of who he is and what he’s dealing with personally before I start to hate him.

A new member was introduced to the supernatural clique and she seems to balance out the trio which is a good thing because their friendship was seriously headed for an ugly break up.

I am anxious to figure out the mystery of the “M” birthmarks and how all the kids ended up in the same town or exactly why they have their powers.  The mysteries are slowly unfolding, giving me just enough bits of information to keep me following the story.  

Overall I really liked Mystify and will continue reading the series.  I am very interested to know what in the world is going on with the Darkness and what it’s really after. 

Rating

4 flowers of love.  Very good and a recommended read.

Other Books In This Series:

Manifest, Book #1

Mayhem, Book #3 (August 2011)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

Review: A Rogue's Pleasure by Hope Tarr

Title:  A Rogue's Pleasure
Author:  Hope Tarr
Series:  None
Released:  August 16, 2010 (originally released in 2000)
Genre:  Historical Romance
How I Got It:  ARC ebook from Net Galley

Book Summary:
Miss Chelsea Bellamy is desperate

Her beloved brother is being held for ransom! Impoverished after the deaths of her parents, Chelsea doesn't have five shillings, never mind the five hundred pounds the kidnappers are demanding. With no one to turn to, she resorts to highway robbery to raise the sum.

Lord Anthony Grenville is bored

Viscount Montrose's coach is overtaken by a highwayman—who turns out to be no man at all! Anthony hasn't been this intrigued by anything, or anyone, since his return from the war. And when he catches the flame-haired thief breaking into his London house to further fill her coffers, he comes up with a plan to rescue her brother—and resolves to seduce her into his bed!

Their passion is mutual

Chelsea accepts Anthony's aid, but she'll never become his mistress—even if the thought of it fills her veins with liquid fire...

My Thoughts:
This is my first book by Hope Tarr and I love it.  I haven't read a lot of historical romances, but this book is making me rethink that choice.

The romance between Chelsea and Anthony was pure drama and funny as hell.  I was rooting for Chelsea to have a HEA with him even though he didn't really deserve her.

Chelsea was a very likeable character.  She was feisty at times and did what she felt was necessary to survive.  Other times she was very naive and got caught up in situations that she should have seen coming.  I hated the fact that she felt like she had no one she thought she could depend on to take care of her.    And Anthony certainly wanted to take care of her, just not in the way she really needed him to.

Despite his rakish ways, I loved Anthony.  I wanted to hate him so bad, because he was so full of himself.  He treated women like playthings and plotted to get keep everything in his favor.  He even got pissy when his so called "services" were rejected.  I was glad when he did the right thing and redeemed himself.  Although I do not approve of his methods (looking the other way), he did a good job of worming his way into Chelsea's heart.

My Rating:
I give the book five flowers of love because it sucked me in from the beginning.  I enjoyed it and could not put it down.  It's funny, romantic, and involves a crude but sexy manwhore.  This book is a new fav for the bookshelf because I will want to read it over and over.

Read an excerpt

Sins Of The Heart by Eve Silver

Title:  Sins Of The Heart
Author:  Eve Silver
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series:  The Otherkin Trilogy, Book 1
Release Date:  August 1, 2010
How I Got It:  ARC ebook from Net Galley

Book Summary
Half-human, half-god, Dagan Krayl is the Underworld’s most powerful soul reaper. When one of his brothers is murdered, Dagan must use every ounce of his power to hunt down those responsible for his brutal death. But he must move swiftly—and carefully—if he’s to have any chance of resurrecting his brother.
Yet that resurrection could wreak havoc on the mortal world. As an Otherkin, Roxy Tam has sworn to protect the human race and it’s her mission to stop Dagan. But when she sees him face to face, she realizes that she has seen him once before—a meeting that changed her life forever.
Neither Dagan nor Roxy expect to join forces for the sake of mankind. Or have their loyalties tested as they struggle against the potent desire that threatens to consume them both….



My Thoughts
Sins Of The Heart is the first novel that I have read by Eve Silver and it did not disappoint.  In fact, I have found my newest paranormal series to obsess over.

The story is the first of a trilogy that mixes romance with mystery and a bit of Egyptian mythology.  At first, I was confused by all the talk about gods and demigods.   But as the story progressed and more was explained (and my inner nerd starting showing), I quickly got the gist of what was going on and was able to enjoy a great read.

Dagan is a soul reaper.  His job is to harvest dark souls from the most evil and deliver them to the Underworld so that the soul will not be recycled.  Ten years ago, Dagan met a teenage Roxy Tam who had been kidnapped and possibly about to be murdered.  Dagan was not there to take her soul but was attracted to the feisty young woman like a moth to a flame.  He was also fascinated by the fact that no human had ever been able  to sense his presence unless he let them.  Feeling something that he could not describe, he freed her, killed her captors, instructed her to have  a nice safe life, and left her.  But since that night he has never been able to stop thinking about her. 

Roxy was at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Despite the reaper claiming to have saved her life, years of unspoken secrets have taken her freedom and cursed her with a fate far worst than death.  She too had been unable to get the reaper out of her mind, but payback was  high on her agenda and she wouldn't rest until she paid him in full.

Years later, Dagan's brother is murdered and he and his remaining brothers will stop at nothing to find the killers and a chance to reincarnate him.  Strange events start to unfold  as a hot whodunit leaves friends and enemies scrambling for answers. In the process of running down clues, Dagan accidentally crosses paths with Roxy, who is now become his enemy.   Dagan  crosses the line when he goes after her with a passion even the fires of hell cannot put out.  He will give up everything and kill anyone that comes between him and his mate.

Dagan is my new book boyfriend because I  loved everything about his character.  He was dark and dangerous, a true alpha male when duty called.  I liked the fact that he gave Roxy her space to do what she needed to do even though his instincts told him differently.

Roxy was also a good character.  I loved the way she was able to remain strong and independent even though she had the deadliest of creatures stamping a "Mine" sign on her forehead.

My Rating
Five flowers of love and a place on my fav books shelf.  If you love romance and mystery like I do, Sins Of The Heart is a must have.  The only problem I had was the ending.  It leaves you just enough bread crumbs to encourage you to pick up book two, Sins Of The Soul, which will be out in September.

Read and excerpt from Sins Of The Heart 

Also check out Sin's Daughter, the prequel to The Otherkin Series-available now

More Sins Of The Heart Reviews:
Lovin' Me Some Romance

Control by Kayla Perrin

Title: Control
Author:  Kayla Perrin
Series:  None 
Released:  September 1, 2010 
Genre:  Erotica, Romance 
Publisher:  Spice, Harlequin 
How I Got It:  received ARC ebook from Net Galley

Book Summary: 

Their romance was a modern-day fairy tale: handsome older millionaire falls hard for struggling young waitress. Robert swept Elsie off her feet – and into his bed -- put a huge diamond on her finger and spirited her away in his private jet destined for happily-ever-after.

Eight years later, Elsie Kolstadt realizes the clock has finally struck midnight. The five-star restaurants, exclusive address and exotic vacations can no longer make up for Robert's obsessive desire to control everything about their life together. From her hair colour to her music playlists, Robert has things just the way he wants them. No matter what.

But it's Robert's ultimate, unforgivable manipulation that finally shocks Elsie into action. Though divorce would strip her of everything, she can't live under Robert's roof any longer. Making her decision easier is Dion Carter, a high-school football coach with a heart of gold and a body of sculpted steel. Suddenly Elsie is deep in a steamy affair that could cost her everything – because Robert will stop at nothing to keep Elsie under his thumb.

My Thoughts:
Elsie is a young woman married to a much older man.  They seem to have the perfect life, but Elsie longs to have a child to make her fantasy complete. Unfortunately,  sex is the farthest thing from her husband's mind.  Time and time again, Elsie is left starved for attention.  Sexual fantasies become  the only things  that warm her side of the bed.   Soon there's trouble in paradise because Elsie's fantasies no longer include her husband.

Robert is a man who enjoys having control over everything.   He has all the things that money can buy, so surely his wife should be happy.  And if she's not, he'll just have to convince her to see things his way.  With two failed marriages, and an image to protect, hell will freeze over before he'll lose control over Elsie.  She will stay willingly, or else.

Okay, even before the first chapter was up, I knew that I didn't like Robert.  I knew he was crazy all along.  And Elsie is certainly crazy for marrying a man old enough to be her father.  Have babies with him...eeeewww!  Viagra or not, I am so glad that their sex scenes were low key.  Thank you Ms Perrin!

Anyhoo, I did enjoy reading the book.  I enjoy drama filled books, especially when weak women get tired of being beat down and finally stand up for themselves.  I liked Elsie at first because I really wanted her to get out of the relationship. I rolled my eyes when she keep trying to be cordial with Robert.

The impression that I got of their entire relationship was something like this: Robert say jump, and Elsie ask who high.  End of story.  So I got kind annoyed that Elsie seemed to think differently.  To tell the truth, her way of thinking ended up getting on my very last nerve.

Like I said , I did enjoy the book, but when the character of Dion was introduced, I found myself liking the book and Elsie less.  The reason I say so is because I wanted to see Elsie find herself by herself so she could get her life together.  Instead, she jumped from one situation to another.

I felt like all the things she went through with Robert she needed time to wrap her head around before wrapping herself up in another guy.  At this point the book started moving too fast.  But the crazy thing about it was that it only moved fast with the new romance so I found myself skipping over those parts and getting back to the messy divorce.  Sorry, in this book, I loved the drama more than the forced romance.  

My Rating:
I give the book 3.5 flowers of love.  It started out very promising but left me flat at the end.   I think the rushed romance is what really killed it for me.  The book ending left me with questions.   I actually thought I missed a page or two and had to flip back just to make sure.  The only reason I kept reading was because I wanted to know what her crazy husband was going to do next.


No excerpt.  I looked and looked, but I couldn't find an excerpt anywhere.

  1/2

Naked by Megan Hart

Title:  Naked 
Author:  Megan Hart
Released: August 1, 2010
Book Series: None, but should read Tempted or Everything Changes first
Publisher:  Spice, Harlequin
Genre:  Erotic Romance
How I Got It:  received ARC ebook from Net Galley

Book Summary
I didn’t think he wanted me. And I wasn’t about to get involved with him, not after what I’d heard. Alex Kennedy was tall, dark and unbearably hot, but I’ve been burned before. Maybe it was stupid of me to offer but he needed a place to crash and I needed to pay the rent, but now he’s my tenant…with benefits. And now that we’ve crossed that line, I can’t seem to find my way back.
But I can’t give my heart to a man who’s so…unconventional. His last sexual relationship was with a married couple. It’s enough that my ex-fiancé preferred men, I won’t take that chance again no matter how much my body thrives on Alex’s touch. I can’t risk it, but I can’t resist it, either.
Alex can be very convincing when he wants something.
And he wants me.

This review may contain some spoilers.  But, if you are like me, you enjoy being spoiled every now and then.


My Thoughts
What to say about this book? I can say that I loved it.  At first I didn't know what was going on or what direction the author was trying to take because the main character was pretty much all over the place.

Olivia is a photographer and on a journey of self discovery. She can't seem to figure out her place in life.  She's so unsure about her religion, friendship, and romance.

Awhile back, Olivia was engaged to Patrick.  Days before they were to be married, she discovered that her long time boyfriend had been cheating on her...with men.  Needless to say, they didn't get married, but remained best friends.  That is until she noticed his handsome house guest, Alex. 

Immediately, Patrick declared him off limits.  Despite the warning, Olivia continued to notice Alex until Patrick  explained that he was a manwhore that he'd already slept with.  He also stated that Alex wasn't into women and that he was bad news anyway.

Even thought she was attracted to Alex, she was content to just be friends.  She even offered to rent him an apartment when he decided to stay in town.  And hot as he was, she couldn't not ask him to pose for pictures for her photography portfolio.

Well, Alex, being super comfortable with his body got real explicit with his posing and ended up seducing Olivia.  Okay, that I saw coming but Patrick being beyond pissed off and acting like a jealous boyfriend, I did not.  I knew he'd be mad because friends shouldn't date another friend's jump off, but his anger stemmed from something past and supposedly long forgotten.

I honestly liked Olivia.  But certain things she did made me want to just slap her.  She was just too damn trusting and naive about the wrong things. More importantly, she sided with someone she just met, rather than her BFF, even thought he was a prick.  In the long run, if she had listened more with her brain and not her heart, she would have made all the right choices without all the heartbreak.

With Alex, I wasn't completely sure if he was gay or straight.  He certainly acted like he was straight, but at certain points in the book, I wondered.  And wondered again.  And yes, at times he was an asshole, but a lovable asshole.  I was glad that he was open about his sexuality , but I'm still not sure what the deal was with him and his BFF.  That little tidbit is why I gave you the "need to read this first" info.

I liked Patrick at first, but he did a total 360.  He turned out to be a miserable bastard and I kept wondering why Olivia had stayed friend with him at all.
 
Anyhoo, the relationship between Olivia and Alex worked because they were both lost and apparently needed each other to find their way.  I was totally happy that he didn't turn out to be the scumbag that everyone made him out to be. 

My Rating
I give Naked five stars.  This book was definately a good read and deserves it's place on my bookshelf as a favorite.  Wasn't sure in the end what was going to happen, but was ready for the story to go either way.


Read an excerpt from Naked

And of course I wanted to know more about Alex.  And trust me, you will too, so  just read the first book  so you'll know exactly what you're getting into.

So, I scoured the web to see what I could come up with.  Tempted is the story of Alex's famous menage a trois (no real details in Naked, just a you should have been there feeling) with his best friend and his best friend's wife. It's told by Anne, the wife, but I'll be reading Everything Changes, which is told by Alex.  Both books are  suppose to be the same story.  Personally, I prefer to hear the male version because it's not so dramatized and more on the slutty side.

Shadow Of The Vampire by Meagan Hatfield

Title: Shadow Of A Vampire
Author:  Meagan Hatfield
Released: July 1, 2010
Book Series:  None
How I Got It:  Received ebook from Net Galley to review

Book Summary:
Even vampires should never sleep with the enemy.

Vampire princess Alexia Feodorovna has been undead for 125 years, so it's been a while since any man has made her pulse race. Until Declan Black. One look at his bronzed body and a fire like no other consumes her. Then she discovers that he's a dragon lord come to take revenge on the vamps who killed his parents. And claim a crystal said to imbue its owner with incredible powers.

Alexia is ordered to torture and kill the dragon lord. Yet with each reckless encounter, she finds herself consumed by his fiery passion. A passion Declan battles, as well. Will he be able to resist the fire of lust she kindles within him and keep revenge in his heart? Or will he risk everything to quench the burning desire and claim the vampire as his own?

My Thoughts
Alexia is a vampire princess getting ready to become a queen.  Her mother, the Queen, is showing signs of Alzheimer, and her evil almost stepfather is busy plotting to take over the world.  Alexia's world is about to come tumbling down if she doesn't find that sacred crystal.  And having a handsome, very naked dragon shifter in her dungeon is not helping matters at all.

Declan should be ruling his kingdom, but instead he's counting his days.  These vamps have already tortured and killed his parents so he's sure that he won't survive either.  As long as his dragon kin are safe, he has no problems with dying.  But each time that little blonde vampire comes near him, he hopes to live another day just to touch her.  Even though she appears to be as barbaric as the others, his heart yearns for her. 

From the time Alexia and Declan met, I could tell that these two were destined to be together.
The heat from these two made it impossible for me to put the book down.  Shadow Of A Vampire is my kind of book because it had me up half the night trying to finish it.  

My Rating
I give it five stars because it was good from start to finish.  I was completely drawn it to the book and felt the passion between the two characters leap right off my computer screen.

Read and excerpt from Shadow Of A Vampire

The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter

Title:  The Darkest Passion
Author:  Gena Showalter

Released: Will release May 2010
Series:  Lords of the Underworld, Book 8

I received this galley courtesy of Netgalley.com to review. 

Book Summary
For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence.  An angel--a demon-assassin--has been sent to kill him.  Or has she?  Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting - and falling for - Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this 'mortal' with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

Now, with an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't... 

My Thoughts
Olivia is an angel that wants nothing more than to molest the very demon that she is suppose to kill.  She even goes so far as to give up her wings to become human so that she can win his heart.  Well, ladies, once we set our sites on that one particular guy, nothing can save him.  Olivia is determined to have Aeron, even if it means dying for him.


Aeron is the clueless demon that can't comprehend why a fallen angel craves his attention so much. Besides being a total idiot, he has a heart of stone-or so he thought-and has no time to play boyfriend to a misguided angel.  He tries his best to fend off Olivia's advances but the more he fights, the more he starts to be crave her attention as well.   

I loved this story and had so much fun reading it. Who knew that angels and demons could play so nicely and so dangerously?  The drama and the dialogue had me not wanting to stop reading.  Each time I got to a spot that I thought I could bookmark, I just couldn't put it down. 



There was very few dislikes for me.  One thing I didn't like was the history and mythology.  I know those parts were probably essential to the story but I was a little too eager to get to the meat of the story.  Some parts I did read, but others I just skipped right over.  I like getting to the juicy drama filled parts, and this book had quite a few parts.

I also did not like the way the book ended.  Sure it left room for another installment, but I hate it when things are tied up all nice and neat but you're still  left feeling  like it should be more.

My Rating
I give The Darkest Passion Four Stars.  I would definitely recommend this book.  I've always loved everything Gena Showalter writes,  and this one didn't disappoint.  It was a good read.  The dialogue alone  makes me want to reread just for the laughs.  


Read an excerpt from The Darkest Passion