Review: Love's Paradox by Laura Kreitzer

Description: 
Stalked by her abusive ex-fiancé, Rae Zachery retaliates by singing karaoke and spilling all their dirty secrets to the entire bar. When her ex attempts to silence her brazen performance, sexy, leather-clad Parker comes to her rescue and soundly punches her ex in the face. As valiant as that may be, Rae finds Parker’s violent assistance unsettling, yet she can’t help but be drawn to him and his tragic past.

Fighting her attraction for Parker is a battle Rae can’t win, and soon their night of sharing secrets morphs into an undeniable bond. But fate won’t so easily relinquish her grip on their happily-ever-after. Instead of blissfully skipping into obscurity, Rae and Parker are subjected to her ex-fiancé’s vicious proclivities. Who knew love could hurt so good?

My Thoughts:
Rae is trying to heal from an abusive relationship while her ex still stalks her. Parker is not what he first appears to be. They attempt to make things work while working through their past issues. Parker is very sweet and I enjoyed Rae's snark. An emotional romance that deals with some fairly deep issues. I enjoyed this.  

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language, deals with abusive relationships and stalking.

My Source: Netgalley

Where to get it: 
Amazon
B&N
iTunes

Where to find the author:
Website
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Goodreads
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Review: A Christmas of Coal and Mistletoe by Bobbi Romans

Description:
Cathy’s hit that 'married for so long' slump and coupled with the news she can't have children, grows distant and confused in her marriage. When her adoring husband Dan surprises her with a Twelve Days of Christmas trip, she hopes this might be the fix she’s been looking for.

All is well and spicy complete with Partridges in Pear Trees—or at least, owls on totems poles—until a cryptic text arrives on his cell.

A text that might end their marriage for good.

But a tragic freeway accident has Cathy re-evaluating what's most important in life. As things become midnight clear, the only question left is whether she is too late, or if just maybe she'll get all she wants for Christmas after all.

My Thoughts:
Cathy and Dan have been married for a while and they've hit a slump. They love each other, but lately they're just going through the motions. Then Dan surprises her with a trip. They end up working on their relationship. A realistic and hopeful holiday story that is appropriate for any time of year. Short but packs an emotional punch. A good, quick, emotional read. 

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: author

Where to get it:


Where to find the author:
Website
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Goodreads
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Review: Night Demon by Lisa Kessler

Night Demon (Night Series #2) by Lisa Kessler

Description:
Deep within the Yucatan jungle a demon has awakened...

Gretchen Finch's job would be much easier if she weren't alone in the jungle with a brilliant recluse whose every glance sets her on fire. But the more she focuses on her work, the closer she gets to unlocking the mysteries of a terrible creature - the Night Demon - that threatens the world as she knows it. Though her scientific mind tells her it's impossible, she's beginning to believe the ancient Mayan tales as the sinister jungle comes alive around her.

Lukas Smith has spent hundreds of years searching for answers to his immortal Night Walker nature. As a series of ancient glyphs become clear, he's about to find out more than he'd ever hoped, but the more he learns, the more his fate intertwines with the Night Demon, and the harder it becomes to hide his immortal secret from the beautiful, intelligent Gretchen.

Together, they must find a way to stop the inexplicable violence and mass destruction surging across the earth before the Night Demon destroys more than just mankind.

My Thoughts:
First of all, I haven't read the first book or the prequel novella, but it didn't matter. I didn't feel lost. This is a fresh take on vampires and shifters. I loved Lukas. He is very conflicted about what he is and his feelings for Gretchen. Gretchen is tough and smart and won't let Lukas push her away. The Mayan history angle is interesting. The evil is of the end-of-the-world variety and it is hard to see how things can possibly work out. There were some great twists that I didn't see coming. I thought the characters were wonderfully complex and I definitely want to check out the other books in the series now. Smart and steamy, I recommend this one for any fan of paranormal romance.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Some violence and gore.

My Source: NetGalley

Where to get it:
Amazon
B&N


About the author: (taken from her website)

Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.

Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.

When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego. You can learn more at http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Where to find the author:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Authorgraph

Review: Finding Jordie by H.J. Harley

Finding Jordie by H.J. Harley

Description:
Jordie is a survivor, tough, and independent. She’s had to be, since her husband was killed in Iraq. For the last eight years, raising her daughter and owning a popular New York City bar has kept Jordie plenty busy, leaving her no time for much of anything else. Aside from her sassy yet squirrely best friend Rachel, Jordie’s social life is bare bones and her love life nonexistent. Truth be told she wouldn’t change a thing; she’s never been happier.

Then she meets Nathan, and he changes everything with one crooked smile, triggering a chain of life altering events for the two of them, filled with romance, chaos and deadly peril. Neither of them could ever imagine their relationship would resurrect an unknown darkness from Jordie’s past, lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Jordie has never needed to be stronger for all of them to make it out alive.

My Thoughts:
So good, it almost killed me. I was in love with this book from chapter one. Jordie is fun, tough, and sassy and I love her voice. She has an amazing friend in Rachel and they have an interesting relationship that involves a lot of good-natured swearing and name-calling. Emma, Jordie's daughter, is precocious and hilarious. Nathan...well, he is just dreamy. The love scenes fade to black but there is enough heat that you know how crazy they are about one another. They both have baggage, but work through it together. There were some heartfail moments, but I am happy to report that I survived. If you like romance, sassy heroines, swoon-worthy men, and a book that you can't stop reading, read this.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!
*Notes: Profanity and cigarette smoking.

My Source: author

Publication: February 11, 2013

Where to get it:

Where to find the author:
HJ Harley
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Authorgraph

Review: Rules of the Game by Elaine Raco Chase

Rules of the Game by Elaine Raco Chase

Description:

"You need an attitude adjustment," Samantha Logan told Adam Rourke.

She didn't care that he was rich, she didn't care that he was handsome, and she didn't care that her boss was his surrogate father.

She tried to ignore the fact that his deep voice hit her behind the knees and made her feel oddly off balance. And she was sure those heart palpitations were the result of drinking two five-hour energy drinks in less than 30 minutes and definitely not from a pair of broad shoulders, green eyes, and a sexy stubble.

He was way too cynical, thought he knew it all, and had her reaching for three Excedrin and a couple of Tums in less than five minutes!

Samantha Logan, he decided, was the proverbial sexy librarian fantasy - with dancer's legs and a curvy ass. Her blonde hair was piled precariously on top of her head, held in place by a bright yellow pencil. A few flaxen wisps had escaped, teasing against a softly rounded face. Square blue-tinted eyeglasses highlighted even bluer eyes. She was smart, sassy, way too funny - and she had no idea she was all that.

When she pulled the pencil from her topknot, he watched her hair untangle and drift down to her shoulders, in a sexy-just-out-of-bed, mess-me-up-more tumble. Adam hadn't realized he was even holding his breath, until he coughed in relief.

Right now, she was mad! Her bare foot angrily tapping against the carpet. And way too sexy - he tried to blink that observation away. There was nothing left to do but apologize. But she had looked him straight in the eye and insulted him!

Even after two tours of duty in Fallujah, Adam wasn't sure he could handle a woman who: wrangled a team of SEALS for the Wounded Warrior Project; was banned from singing, humming, or playing golf, had an oven timer that played Beethoven's Fifth; loved all things chocolate way too much; preferred puppy kisses over his; and owned a moose named Morti.

There was only one thing for this Marine to do– man up, take her down and demand a zerbert – whatever the hell that was!

My Thoughts:
Great characters and lots of fun. I love Sam. She is fun, sassy, and quirky. She keeps Adam on his toes. I liked when he told her he needed to download Urban Dictionary to understand her. She's not afraid to tell him when he needs an attitude adjustment. And he takes it all in stride, which is why they are a great couple. If you like light, funny romance with some steam, I definitely recommend.

As for the audio, it was great. The narrator, Rachel Logan, was easy to listen to and she was just fantastic. I would look for other books narrated by her.

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!

My Source: author

Where to get it:
Audible
Amazon

Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
iTunes
Sony
Kobo
Diesel

Where to find the author:
Elaine Raco Chase
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Pinterest

Authorgraph

Review: A Hunter's Blade by Cera DuBois

A Hunter's Blade (The Hunter's Dagger #2) by Cera DuBois 

Description:
Brigit Wolfe, a born werewolf, hasn’t killed a human in over a hundred years, although now, she wonders if the animal attacking people in Silver Creek, Colorado, isn’t her. But she might have bigger problems when her cowboy neighbor, Austin Calhoun, ambles into her bar. Austin hasn’t been a vampire for long, but he is determined to prove to himself that he’s worthy of his hunter’s dagger. Brigit’s rare beauty and blade-sharp tongue enchants him. She ignites a passion he thought was dead, but is she the killer his master sent him to destroy? During Austin’s investigation regarding Brigit’s involvement in the deaths, an old crime surfaces connected to her human best friend. These two immortal enemies have to join forces to solve the mystery before someone else dies. But can they survive the heat of their own desire?

My Thoughts:

I just loved this. I do have to admit to an unnatural love of vampire/werewolf romances. I liked the characters. Brigit is a strong, independent woman who happens to be a very old werewolf. Austin is a relatively new vampire who is still getting used to it, but is still a fairly cocky man, which I thought was cute. Brigit's apprehension about getting involved with Austin made sense given her history. Not to mention the fact that he is investigating her for murder. I thought the story was really good and pulled me right along. There was steam between the characters,  but not so much that it distracted from the actual story. This is the second book in the series but stood well on its own. I haven't read the first, but now I want to. If you are looking for a good paranormal romance series, definitely check this one out.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!!!
My Source: author

Where to get it:
Amazon
 
About the author:

Cera duBois has a strong belief in never giving up on your dreams…

Although Cera was unable to read due to dyslexia and a learning disability until she was in the fourth grade, she always had a story to tell. She wrote her first novel in eleventh grade when she had to keep a journal for her academic English class. Since her life was far from exciting growing up as a farm girl in West Central Pennsylvania, she decided to rely on her imagination to give her something to write about. Over the course of the school year, she wrote a tangled romance set in the Deep South during the Civil War. Becoming an author was her ultimate dream. Despite holding a BS in secondary social studies education from Penn State University, she currently works full-time as a medical secretary. A mother of a teenage son and pre-teen daughter, she lives near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with her husband of nearly 20 years. If she isn’t sitting in a quiet corner with her laptop, warm days will find her in the English garden surrounding her house. Cera loves to read and is interested in history, romance, science fiction and the paranormal. She also writes contemporary Westerns under her real name of Sara Walter Ellwood.

Where to find the author:
Website

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Authorgraph

Kindlegraph is now Authorgraph

I saw this on Twitter and thought it was worth mentioning. It makes sense that the name has changed since you don't have to have a Kindle to use it. I have talked about Kindlegraph before and I try to include a link when I know an author has a book available to request. I currently have 19 in my collection. Basically it is a digital file with a brief message and the author's actual digital signature. You can also include a message to the author when you request. It is just fun to get one. It always makes my day. And it is a FREE service. 

Here are some authors that I have authorgraphs from: Sylvain Reynard, E.L. James, Heather Huffman, Debra Anastasia, J.M. Darhower, T.M. Franklin, Teresa Ragan, Jessica McQuinn, Jennifer Lane, and Charles Dougherty. And I just found Robin Burks. (These are all authors I have reviewed here at WLB.)

You can click the links to get more information about Authorgraph or browse books and start requesting. Do you have any authorgraphs?