Review Wicked Misery by Tracey Martin ★★★★

Wicked Misery by Tracey Martin
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Miss Misery #1
Publication Date: October 8th 2013
ISBN: 9781619218079
Page Count: 384
Rating: ★★★★
Review Copy: ARC
Reviewed by: Lynsey
Buy Link: AMAZON



Synopsis: It's all quasi-legal fun until somebody gets framed for murder.

Jessica Moore thrives on misery. Literally. Thanks to a goblin s curse, she gets a magical high from humanity s suffering. A shameful talent like that could bury a girl in guilt, so to atone, she uses her dark power to hunt murderers, rapists and other scumbags until one of them frames her for his crimes.

In desperation, Jessica seeks refuge with the one person she trusts to not turn her in a satyr named Lucen. Like every member of his race, Lucen uses his lusty magic to control Boston s human population, and Jessica isn t immune to his power. But the murder victims belonged to a rival race, and when they discover Lucen is harboring Jessica, dodging the cops becomes the least of her problems.

With only five days to find the real killer, Jessica faces a danger far more serious than the brewing magical war. The danger of succumbing to Lucen s molten seduction.

Warning: Contains a heroine with a lust for misery, creepy murders, and creepier goblins, satyrs so hot you'd sell your soul for one, and scaly sewer rats masquerading as dragons. Who said magic was all sparkles and tiaras?

Wicked Good

There were many, many things I liked about WICKED MISERY. Of them all, I think the worldbuilding was my favourite.

Imagine a world filled with all manner of supernatural creatures living out in the open for all to see (albeit confined, mostly, to their own shadowy little corner of the city). Each race has a particular human energy/emotion it needs to feed on. In this book, the secondary character and love interest, Lucen, was a Satyr, for example. As you sly sleuths might have already guessed, that means the emotion he needs to feeds from is lust. Others races feed from rage, doubt, vanity, that kind of thing. In order to feed, however, the supernatural races - or "Preds" as they're called here - have to first turn the humans into addicts. This basically means the humans give their life energy to the Pred in exchange for the feel-good factor they receive in return, which they become addicted to and therefore keep coming back for more. So, it's kind of a two-way street, except an unscrupulous Pred could easily take that feeding too far and then you'd be left with only a husk of a person remaining; a ghoul with nothing left to give. So it's a risky business for the human. But, as we all know, the world is never short on fools willing to do stupid shit for a quick thrill.

Now, this is all very good, and while I thought this concept was awesome and really clever and interesting, it brought with it a slight problem for me. Okay, make that a HUGE problem. Because Lucen, being a Satyr, has to feed from his addicts, and from time to time, engage in sex with them to keep them all happy and hunky dory. Thus making it simultaneously my favorite and least favourite thing about the whole book all in one. Because I, as a reader, will never ever be okay with my love interest sleeping with other people. Of both sexes. It's just not in my nature to share. So unless the author has something amazing up her sleeve to "fix" this situation, maybe by giving him another way to get what he needs, I'm always going to be unhappy about it. Given the twists and turns in the plot towards the end of the novel, it has to be said that that last statement is well within the realm of possibility. So I'm not without hope. Yet.

Aside from that, there were a lot of other things I liked too. I liked the protagonist, Jessica, for example, who, by the way, also feeds on people, though she is not a Pred, only a magical human. She feeds on their misery (hence the title). So anyone feeling miserable will do; the crappier the better. Also, she's currently using her ability to sense negative emotions to track down would-be rapists, killers etc., and swap their soul contracts for some quick cash. Earning her the nickname Soul Swapper. Though Jessica was a bit judgy where the Preds were concerned in the beginning, I enjoyed watching her growth and acceptance.

Other things of note - Jessica's cross-dressing friend Steph was a riot. The plotting was good and the mystery well set up. I liked the mix of races and the fact that they were mostly mythical creatures as opposed to more modern supernatural beings like vamps, werewolves, etc. Martin's worldbuilding does perhaps rely on a bit of familiarity with these kinds of creatures, however, since there isn't much exposition provided aside from her own new spin on them. Surely you've heard of Satyrs, Sylphs, Goblins, Harpies, Furies and Magi, though? I mean, what self-respecting UF nut hasn't? Pft.

All together, this book had a lot of good, and really just one major personal roadblock that I am willing to overlook for now in the hopes that it just... goes away in the next instalment. Go on, away with you! Shoo! Shoo!

4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by:

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: The Devil's Reprise by Karina Halle

The Devil's Reprise by Karina Halle

(Devils #2)

Publication Date: October 28th 2013

Synopsis: 

Given a second chance, music journalist Dawn Emerson and guitarist Sage Knightly are reunited, only to have their lives threatened again by a demonic bargain. The sequel to THE DEVIL’S METAL, from USA Today bestselling author Karina Halle.

When Dawn Emerson got the chance to go on tour with her favorite metal band, Hybrid, she thought she landed the writing gig of the century. But what started off as a dream for the budding music journalist quickly turned into a nightmare that she and guitarist Sage Knightly barely escaped alive.

Now, months after they went their separate ways, Sage invites Dawn to accompany him on his first solo tour across Europe and write about it for Creem Magazine. But like the last tour, nothing is as easy as it seems. Sage is a broken man on the path to self-destruction and Dawn isn’t sure if she’s the right person to save him. And aside from having to pick up the pieces of their burgeoning relationship, they have to negotiate the mysterious new photographer assigned to Dawn’s story, as well as vindictive promoters and demonic groupies they thought they’d never see again.

Because this time, it’s Dawn who made a deal with the devil and the only thing worse than having to uphold a bargain with the prince of darkness is not remembering how you’re supposed to pay it back.

It may be with their souls.

**THE DEVIL’S REPRISE is the sequel to THE DEVIL’S METAL and the final book in this series.

The Devil's Reprise Tour Schedule: 

Sunday October 27th:  Reading is My Breathing (review)
Monday October 28th:   Reading Books Like a Boss (review)
Tuesday October 29th:  No BS Book Reviews (review) & The Demon Librarian (promo)   
Wednesday October 30th:  Hook Me Up Book Blog (promo)
Thursday October 31st:  Ginger-Read Reviews (review)
Friday November 1st:  Little Read Riding Hood  (review)
Saturday November 2nd:  My Book Muse (review)

The daughter of a Norwegian Viking and a Finnish Moomin, Karina Halle grew up in Vancouver, Canada with trolls and eternal darkness on the brain. This soon turned into a love of all things that go bump in the night and a rather sadistic appreciation for freaking people out. Like many of the flawed characters she writes, Karina never knew where to find herself and has dabbled in acting, make-up artistry, film production, screenwriting, photography, travel writing and music journalism. She eventually found herself in the pages of the very novels she wrote (if only she had looked there to begin with).

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently splits her time between her apartment in downtown Vancouver and her sailboat, where a book and a bottle of wine are always at hand. She’s hard at work on her next novel.

Blog: http://khalle.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @MetalBlonde

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karina-Halle/140649372629593

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785031.Karina_Halle

Enter for your chance to win: 

1- $50 Redbubble Gift Certificate 

1- $10 Amazon Gift Card

1- $5 Amazon Gift Card 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wanna read the first book in the Devils series? THE DEVIL'S METAL is only 99 cents right now! We highly recommend it - and we do mean HIGHLY. Sex, demons, and rock 'n roll, baby.....you're gonna love it!

The Devil's Metal by Karina Halle (Devils #1) 

Synopsis:  It’s the summer of 1974 and 21-year old Dawn Emerson has only three things she wants to do: compete one last time in the Ellensburg Rodeo, win back her ex-boyfriend Ryan, and become the best damn music journalist at Central Washington University. But all her plans are left in the dust when she’s contacted by Creem magazine to go on the road with one of her favorite groups, the up-and-coming metal band, Hybrid.

At first the assignment reads like a dream come true. Not only will Dawn land some much-needed credibility as a female music journalist, but she’ll finally get to experience life from the other side of the stage, and maybe crack the drunken, enigmatic code that is guitarist Sage Knightly. Instead, Dawn finds herself on an aging tour bus filled with ego-maniacs, band politics and a whole lot of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. When monsters start showing up in dressing rooms and some of Sage’s groupies become increasingly strange and dangerous, Dawn discovers the band is not only going places - they’re going straight to Hell.

And Dawn has a backstage pass.

Release Day Review: Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne ★★★★★

Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne 
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series: n/a
Publication Date: October 28th 2013
ISBN: 9780345549112
Page Count: 240
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Copy: ARC
Reviewed by: Lynsey



Synopsis: The rules are clear—until they’re broken. Lauren Layne puts a New Adult spin on Pygmalion, also the inspiration for Pretty Woman, and gives the classic love story its edgiest twist yet.

“Who knew that pretending you’re not falling for someone would be so much more difficult than pretending that you are?”

Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she’s pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn’t exactly Ethan Price’s type, either. He’s probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund . . . or does he?

As the summer scene kicks off in the Hamptons, Ethan is desperate to make his snobbish mother forget the pedigreed girl who broke his heart. While Stephanie’s a stretch as a decoy, the right makeover and a pastel cardigan just might do the trick. She may not love the idea of playing Ethan’s brainless Barbie girlfriend, but the free rent and luxurious digs make a tempting offer. So does the promise of a ready-made screenplay idea inspired by their charade.

But when Stephanie steps into Ethan’s privileged world, the “acting” begins to feel all too real. The kissing and touching that were intended to fool the Hamptons crowd wind up manipulating them. And Stephanie faces a question she’s too afraid to ask: Is Ethan falling for the real her or for the dolled-up princess he wants to see?

Isn't it Wonderful

Isn't She Lovely reads like your favourite Romantic Comedy movie set down in pen and ink. Based on an adaptation of the Pygmalion tale, with, cleverly, a plot centred around two film students trying to create the exact same thing, art becomes life and life becomes a lot more complicated in this tale of opposites attract. What made Isn't She Lovely so enjoyable for me is the very thing that makes my favourite movies my favourite movies - chemistry. I mean really, truly GREAT chemistry between the two romantic leads. That indefinable spark that brings a film/book to life. It had all that and so much more. I freakin' loved it!

I can see why there's been movie after movie after movie based on Pygmalion, because there's just something inherently appealing about watching two unlikely comrades-in-arms working together to create this amazing "fool-proof" charade, only to have the plan blow up in their faces as the line between reality and make-believe gets blurred beyond recognition. A lot of these movies are quite clichéd now, however, and I was glad to see Layne tried her best to avoid as much of the cheesiness as possible, while still providing me with a Hollywood-worthy ending sweet enough to make me grin from ear to ear.

Brimming with great banter right from the first page, Isn't She Lovely hooked me instantly and I read it in a single day, which is unusual for me. The witty dialogue doesn't end once things heat up in the romance department, either; it carries on throughout the whole book, really making you feel like the characters were good friends as well as lovers. And yet it never gives the impression that the book is not to be taken seriously. Because there is a lot of emotional stuff in here too. If you've ever watched any of the other adaptations like Pretty Woman, My Fair Lady, She's All That and, one that wasn't mentioned here but that I'm throwing in anyway, Mannequin, then you'll know that trying to create, or recreate, the perfect woman, always seems fun in the beginning (gotta love those makeover montages!), but ultimately leads to a lot of soul searching by both parties. And here it was no different. Can a Goth girl and a spoiled frat boy ever really come together in compromise? Add into that the characters' own troubles, and it was definitely a book with some real, raw emotions going on, despite the ever-present humour.

Stephanie and Ethan were great characters. So endearing and likeable. I was most impressed by Ethan's character, actually. Aside from being a total hottie, which never hurts, he was also a lot more than either Stephanie or I expected. Stephanie even accuses him of being without substance early on in the book during their judgemental, stereotyping phase, but that's far from the truth and I was glad that, although the whole situation of the fake relationship was messy, he never played games. Now Stephanie on the other hand... She was the more troubled of the two, and there were a couple of instances where I felt she was being a little unfair to Ethan. Testing him in circumstances where he was destined to fail. I suppose calling it game-playing would be slightly unfair, but I just felt like the poor bloke was in a lose-lose situation at times. Bless him.

To sum up, I recommend this book to all readers of Contemporary Romance and New Adult. It was one of the most enjoyable NA's I've read so far, leaving me feeling supremely satisfied and yet sad that it was over at the same time. Great fun! ~ 5 Stars ★★★★

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by:

ARC Review & Excerpt: The Wind Whisperer by Krista Holle ★★★★

The Wind Whisperer by Krista Holle
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Publication Date: November 15th 2013
ISBN: n/a
Rating: ★★★★
Review Copy: ARC
Page Count: 302
Reviewed by: Lynsey
Review Copy: ARC



Synopsis: At fifteen, Anaii is the most important member of her tribe—and the most mysterious. Ever since Anaii can remember, the spirits of the wind have whispered of fertile hunting grounds and imminent enemy attacks. But when her people are ambushed by a brother clan without any apparent cause, the spirits remain eerily silent.

As the village prepares to retaliate, Anaii is pressured by her best friend, Elan, to marry him. It’s an old plea—Elan has spent a lifetime loving her, but Anaii only sees a childhood playmate out of an imposing warrior. Stifled by Elan’s insistence, Anaii escapes into the forest where she meets Jayttin, the beautiful son of the enemy chief.

Enamored by Jayttin’s carefree spirit and hope for peace, she repeatedly sneaks away to be with him, but when her deception is discovered, Elan is devastated. Pledging his lifelong affection, Elan gives her a passionate kiss, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light.

While Anaii is tormented over which man she must choose, the wind whispers of a new threat that could destroy both clans. Only a union will afford a chance at survival, but the reality of that union is based on one thing—which man Anaii chooses to die.

Whispers on the wind

I enjoyed THE WIND WHISPERER a lot more than I expected to given that it was such a step outside my usual comfort zone, and I've never read a book in this culture before, but something about the excerpt I read just spoke to me; forbidden love, the simplistic nature of clan life, star-crossed lovers. I took a chance and it paid off. I thought I might need to use the paranormal angle as a crutch to help ease me into it, but it actually wasn't necessary. I was fascinated by the characters immediately. Now I actually think I'd like to try other books in this genre, which has to be a compliment to this author.

So what's it about? Well, the main character is Anaii and she, as well as being the chief's daughter, is a Wind Whisperer. She can hear the voices of the wind spirits and they tell her things that help her clan: if it will rain, where their enemies are, stuff like that. And they do have enemies - the Zenni, who raid one night and, if not for Anaii's warning, would have obliterated her much smaller clan. But why did they attack, after ten years of peace? Well, that what's Anaii's father wants her to find out.

I enjoyed Anaii as protagonist, flaws and all. And, yes, she does have them. She's young, a little pampered, a little stubborn, and at only 15 winters (although that's considered full grown here), she's new to romantic feelings of any kind, and makes some mistakes along the way. The love triangle was... Well, you know how they go. When both boys are adoraballs it's sooooo hard to see the one she doesn't choose have his heart broken. Why can't they make one of the choices a total butthead to make it easier on us, hmm? *sigh* I'm not one of those readers who's automatically turned off at the mention of a love triangle, and in a way I enjoy the complications they stir up, but they're always, always bittersweet.

I felt a goodly amount of indignation on Anaii's behalf several times during the read. Obviously I'm accepting of the roles each sex plays within this culture, so even though some of that stuff was brow-raising, it was fine. No, it was more how they treated her as a commodity. She being the one that has saved her tribe many times over, yet is to be given in marriage as a prize to the fiercest warrior? Whether she likes it or not? Mmm. It got my hackles up, let me tell you. Was fun to read, though;)

I really enjoyed the Wind Whispering parts. It started off as a tool used only in small ways around the clan, but became so much more. Once the clan troubles escalated, Anaii's skills also rose the occasion and I was glad to see her develop in all ways. Her skills became invaluable.

Although the story was wrapped up and the love triangle fully resolved, it seems the author plans a second instalment for these characters. I would say that at the moment, though, this book works perfectly as a standalone.

All together an enjoyable read that provided a lot of enjoyment and much contemplation. ~ 4 Stars ★★★★

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by:

Krista Holle is an award winning author who stepped up her writing after reading Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. It occurred to Krista that there is an insatiable audience of women and girls who want to read books filled with stories about true love—not just vampires. When Krista is not writing, she loves to collect seashells, watch movies, and eat obscene amounts of pizza. Krista currently resides in Montpelier, Virginia with her husband, four daughters and an eccentric cat with a weird attachment to the family’s socks. 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

I looked around cautiously before freezing at the sketchy outline of a muscular man partially hidden in the grass.  A man!  He was sprawled on his back and golden pink from too many hours in the sun.  My heart pounded to see the unfamiliar pattern of a deer on his breechcloth.  I had marched myself directly into the reach of a Zennite warrior! 

I gingerly took a step backwards, but to my horror, the man’s black eyes fluttered open.  I turned and hurled myself back across the meadow, just as the man shot up and flew after me like a predatory bird.  My muscles burned and strained to lengthen the space between us, but getting away was hopeless.  I was not a challenge to even the young boys in the foot races.

After a few powerful strides, the warrior tackled me to the ground, painfully grazing the skin on my cheek.  I wheezed a few times before my lungs filled with air. 

“A Chippoke?” he asked between breaths. 

I feverishly punched and kicked to free myself.  “Get—off—me!”

“Stop! I’m not going to hurt you,” the warrior chuckled as he struggled to pin my arms and legs.  His voice was calm and pleasant, but lying was no different than breathing to a Zennite.

“I cannot promise the same,” I wheezed as I fought. 

“You’re a bobcat,” he said with a laugh.  “A bobcat with no teeth or claws.”

“Let me go!”

“I will when you’re calm.”

Strong hands held my wrists while his full weight pinned my torso against the earth.  Fighting him was as useless as running.  “You are not a boy,” I spat angrily, fully taking in my attacker.  It was little comfort that he didn’t look like a bloodthirsty killer.  He was admittedly handsome with an angular face and sleek black hair that hung well past his shoulders.  He was not as tall as Elan, but his muscles were narrow and built for speed.  There was something different about his eyes too.  They were as black as soot—very unlike the brown woodsy colors from our tribe.

The warrior smirked down at me.  “My mother will be very surprised to hear that.  All this time she’s assumed…”

My face heated, but I fiercely met his gaze.  The Zenni were like wild dogs and pumas—they could smell emotions. “What I meant was, you are a man, not a boy.”

“Oh, I see, but you must understand, I’m not a man yet.” 

“You must understand I’m a squirrel!  Get off!  You’re hurting me!” I ordered with a useless heave.  

“No,” he said with a smirk.

It was then I realized I might die—right after I was lulled into a false sense of security.  My chest pounded as I searched for the killer’s weapon.  “Are you going to kill me?”    

“I do not feel like killing you just yet,” he said as his long hair swirled in my face.  Were we to play a game before he killed me? 

“I am glad the mood doesn’t strike you,” I snarled.  The warrior studied me with a drawn brow.  Was he guessing that I was the forest witch?  I didn’t think I looked like a witch, but I wasn’t certain what one should look like—evil at least.

“I don’t understand something,” the warrior said.  “Your eyes are blue—the blue of an angry sky.  Are you the daughter of a god?”

“Yes,” I said, heaving against his weight again.  “Now get off me, or my father Achak will strike you dead with lightening.” 

Review: Redemption by C. J. Barry ★★★★

Redemption by C. J. Barry

Genre: Urban fantasy

Series: Soul #1

Publication Date: October 1st 2013

ISBN: 9781455577491

Page Count: 336

Rating: ★★★★

Review Copy: ARC

Excerpt: Here

Reviewed by: Lynsey

Synopsis: Reya Sinclair is a Redeemer of Souls. Her mission is to give Earth’s most depraved sinners a shot at redemption just before they are slated to die. Her own redemption is on the line as she fulfills her duties, leaving a trail of dead bodies in her wake. It’s all going perfectly well until one detective takes notice, possibly bringing her salvation to a halt.

Thane Driscoll is a good cop who’s seen too many bad guys get away, including the man who murdered his father. He exacts his own style of justice, even if it costs him his humanity. A string of mysterious deaths leads him to a woman who’s not quite human and might hold the key to finding his father’s killer.

When death and shadows descend, New York City becomes a battleground for the forces of light and dark. As the body count rises and sparks fly between them, Reya and Thane race to uncover a terrible truth. Can one man hell-bent on revenge and one woman determined to save her eternal soul be enough to keep the planet from spiraling into darkness?

Trailer:

Cool beans

Ah, fun, fun, fun. I really liked this one and am glad I picked it up. It was well-written, amusing, different, complex. All good stuff like that. Reya, our main character, is a Redeemer. A supernatural occupation I found most fascinating. It literally means that she gives people - usually murdering, raping, thieving scumbag-type people - a chance to redeem themselves before death. Or, to at least acknowledge their sins and ask for forgiveness - whether they deserve it or not. I LOVED (yes, capitals) this concept! What's more, I loved Reya's method of delivery. And, well, just about everything else about Reya.

Have you ever come across one of those characters where you just think, "Man, she's cool! I wish I had that much sass and swagger!"? Well, Reya was one such character. She filled every scene - most especially in the first half of the book before things got all serious - with this amazing devil-may-care attitude. It was slightly inappropriate, her glib casualness, considering the macabre nature of her job, but that just made it even funnier somehow.

Sadly, it's not all that much fun for Reya herself; dealing with this level of lowlife day in day out; having to see, feel, taste every sin they've ever committed before she goes after them? Not pleasant. But, of course, the plot eventually had to move away from this aspect and develop on a wider scale. And to kick that off, in steps slightly shady detective Thane Driscoll. Now Thane, quite cleverly, I thought, was very similar to Reya, in that he liked to carry out his own brand of vigilante justice on suspects who might otherwise get away with murder - literally and figuratively- under today's laws. Of course, you're not actually allowed to do that, as an officer of the law, and this brought his own soul's "goodness" into question. Something that Reya, as a Redeemer, knows a little something about.

From Thane's point of view, he senses there's something a little more going on than mere coincidence when every accidental death he's seen in the line of duty lately has featured a sighting or video surveillance capture of a mysterious but smoking hot black-haired female. When he finally tracks down said female to question her on it, her infuriating, non-committal answers, usually finished off with a big, fat, shit-eating grin, drive him to distraction. Or maybe it's just the "smoking hot" part that does that...

There was a lot of focus in the rest of the book on good and evil, dark and light, right and wrong. Some nice brain food. And the various different dimensions the human soul can exist in in its many incarnations was fascinating stuff. There was a bit of romance in there as well as you savvy readers may have guessed. When a guy's name is mentioned in the book description, it means there's a romance, right? Even if it's only a teensy one. And here, the romance was pretty good, but the sex scenes? Eh, I wanted more in that area. It felt too much like they were just meeting each other's bodily needs, whereas I need more emotional connection. I know, I'm a marshmallow. So that, and a couple of other small issues make this a 4 star read for me, but one that I still highly recommend paranormal readers add to their list!

4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

Launch Day Post: Crimson Dawn by Amos Cassidy!

Today is the release of
Crimson Dawn by Amos Cassidy!
Series: (Crimson #3)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: October 25th 2013

BUY NOW AT AMAZON / AMAZON UK



Synopsis: 

The Power has arisen.
The Power has taken what belongs to Raven.
The Power must pay.

Raven will do anything to reclaim what is his, even venture into The Dreaming - a part of Faerie that is shunned even by the fey - to seek out the one being who may be able to give him the answers he seeks. With Mick as his guide and Maxwell and Harold at his back, Raven must fight his demons to reach his angel.

The Power is home.
The Power has taken the throne.

Bres, Lugh and Faye will all feel the consequences of their actions in different ways. The Power has a plan and it will eliminate all who stand in its way.

The Devourer is awake.
The Devourer has a champion.

Roman has been charged with a task that will save the world, but at a devastating cost.

The Power is in control.
The Power has a vessel.

Rose will do anything to reclaim her body and stop The Power from exacting his selfish ambitions. With the help of her Guardian she must find a way to expel The Power. But will her plan succeed, or will her final sacrifice be her last?

Other books in this series:

Crimson Midnight (Crimson #1)

Rose wants excitement, bright lights and late nights, but she gets more than she bargained for when she swaps her wholesome country life for the hustle and bustle of London.

The city night is home to hungry shadows, eager to consume her.
Rose discovers there is more to this world than what the mundane eye sees, and that she herself is a part of it. Unexpected friendships are forged and unwanted, sometimes dangerous, attractions flare.

London becomes a playground for magic, danger and supernatural threat. While her life, and those of who she loves, hangs in the balance, she must endeavour to embrace her new nature and assist in identifying the hidden threat before it succeeds in its dark purpose.

An Urban Fantasy filled with moon-praising, flat-dwelling vampires, chic corporate werewolves, bar-tending warlocks, ravenous demons and much, much more.
Step inside…

GOODREADS | AMAZON US | AMAZON UK: 

Crimson Darkness (Crimson #2) 

London is in the grip of an unnatural darkness. Rose is in the grasp of an unrelenting power and Raven and Thistle, along with their supernatural allies, are battling to survive and find a way to restore their home city. For the fey, the song remains the same. They must return the power to Faerie or die. Unfortunately for them, the task has been superseded by an even more important one - help save Earth or perish along with it! For Rose, the stakes are even higher as she is forced to make a terrible deal that will damn her if she does and damn her if she doesn’t. Now enemies must work together as allies if they are to save their worlds from an ancient threat…

GOODREADS | AMAZON US | AMAZON UK

Amos Cassidy - a team of two. Amos is a 29 year old Diva and Cassidy a 37 year old mum of three.
Aside from a passion for writing and a love of reading they also share an addiction to coffee, love anything Joss Whedon and are constantly playing tug of war over Jensen Ackles.

They have been writing together for four years. The Crimson series is their debut project.

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BLOG 1 | BLOG 2 | GOODREADS

Tour Stop, Review & Giveaway: Panic by JA Huss ★★★★★

Panic by JA Huss
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Series: Rook and Ronin #3
Publication Date: October 17th 2013
Rating: ★★★★★

Book Tour Hosted By: Xpresso Book Tours

Synopsis: Rook is chasing her dream—film school and a chance at a life beyond the one she left behind six months ago. But before she can become the girl she wants to be, she must deal with the girl she left behind.

Ronin is also chasing his dream—a family of his own and a life away from erotic modeling. And he too, has a past he’s trying to forget. A past that makes Rook question everything about their life together.

Lies, secrets, and shocking truths will rock the foundation Rook and Ronin have built. Can they put the past behind them and move forward together? Or is this just another too good to be true relationship that will crash and burn in the end?

**BUY NOW @ AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO  

TRAILER: 

Review:

A Most Excellent Ending

I love it when a trilogy ends well. When I flip the last page of the final book, read the final words, and then flop back on my bed/couch/whatever, sighing happily and floating on a cloud of pure bliss.

The Rook and Ronin trilogy has been a favorite of mine from the day I started reading it (you can read my reviews of book 1 and 2 HERE and HERE). Much as I adore Rook's boys - and when I say adore, I mean wish they were real so I could have my wicked way with them - this is really Rook's story, and in Panic, she absolutely shines. With her erotic modeling days behind her and more money in the bank than she knows what to do with, it seems her future couldn't be brighter. But as Rook quickly discovers, moving on - growing up, if you will - comes with its own unique set of challenges. Even more so when she and Ronin both have pasts that are hellbent on catching them.

What I like most about Rook is how beautifully honest she is. Sure, she has secrets, and yeah, there are more than a few scary skeletons lurking in her closet, but she doesn't pull punches or play silly games - she's just herself. This is her life, her journey, and if you don't like it, you know where the door is. Don't let it hit you on the way out. I heart that about her. She's just so frank and engaging, so real, it's impossible not to hop on her bandwagon. Heck, I didn't even try. I just gave in, accepted how amazeballs she was, and haven't looked back since. (She hasn't given me any reason to, either.)

Rook's journey wouldn't be complete without her boys. Ronin, Ford and Spencer are a trifecta of hotness, and their devotion to Rook doesn't waver for a second - which of course makes them even more irresistible! We learn a lot more about the guys' shared past in Panic, and just how badass and wickedly devious they are capable of being - even more so than they were in book 2. I was a bit sad that Spence didn't have a larger role to play, but he made his page time count. As for Ford, he tried hard to steal the show, and I gotta admit, he came damn close a time or two, but I am and always will be a Ronin girl. Ronin is just so...so...everything, and I heart him like crazy. Really, though, it doesn't matter which guy rings your bell, whether you're a Spencer super-fan, a Ford fanatic, or a raving Ronin supporter like I am. They are each fantastic in their own way and you're going to fall in love with all of them.

Love is not something you will feel for the character of Clare. She's back and causing a lot more trouble than she's worth. I feel for the girl and all she's been through, but if she'd walked out in front of a bus, I wouldn't have minded at all. Terrible, I know, but gahhh, she just rubs me the wrong way. Always has. As for Rook's douchebag ex, Jon....UGH. Don't get me started.

Panic hits a home run on every front. It has tension, suspense, romance, hot smexy times, and some truly incredible jaw-dropping moments that I never saw coming. It was the perfect ending to an exceptional NA contemporary trilogy and if I didn't have to worry about breaking my bank, I would buy you all copies of the books so you could experience this awesomeness for yourselves.

5 Stars ★★★★★
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by:

Other Books in the Series:

Tragic by J.A. Huss

Series: Rook and Ronin #1
Publication date:  May 20th 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis: Rook Walsh is TRAGIC

Because life so far - just sucks.  Some girls get parents. Rook got the foster care system.  Some girls get Prince Charming.  Rook got an abusive frog.  Some girls get lucky…

Rook got a second chance.

And she took it.  Because when fate throws you a bone - you grab it with both hands and run.

Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she’s got The Look.  The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract.

Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he’s everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn’t. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy!  He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine’s portfolio.

Rook’s luck changes in an instant and suddenly she’s the darling of the modeling world.  It’s a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there’s always a price to pay - and Rook is about to get the bill.

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agh17mzbbg4

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17404203-tragic

Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Manic by J.A. Huss

Series: Rook and Ronin #2
Publication date: August 1st 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Synopsis: TRAGIC is over and Rook is ready for the future—Spencer Shrike and the STURGIS contract!

It’s three months of body art modeling! That means three months of Spencer Shrike’s paintbrush all over her body, three months in front of Antoine’s camera, and three months of twenty-four hour filming for Spencer’s Biker Channel reality show.

Wait a minute…what reality show? Maybe she should’ve read that STURGIS contract a little closer? ;)

Sure, Rook’s bank account is almost overflowing, but Ronin is angry, Clare is trying to escape rehab, Antoine is a worried mess, and Elise is just trying to hold everyone together. Her new family is about to fall apart before she even gets the chance to enjoy them.

Add in a mysterious man from her past, a road trip to the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and a final show in front of the entire world where all her good are on display, and you’ve Manic—a new adult contemporary romance that will definitely make your summer sizzle!

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857998-manic
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Author Bio:

J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really-Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.

Author Links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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