Book Review: Pit Perfect Murder by Renee George

Pit Perfect Murder
Author: Renee George
Series: A Barkside of the Moon Cozy Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Barkside of the Moon Press (March 1, 2018)

Description: When cougar-shifter Lily Mason moves to Moonrise, Missouri, she wishes for only three things from the town and its human population. . . to find a job, to find a place to live, and to live as a human, not a therianthrope.

Lily gets more than she bargains for when a rescue pit bull named Smooshie rescues her from an oncoming car, and it’s love at first sight. Thanks to Smooshie, Lily’s first two wishes are granted by Parker Knowles, the owner of the Pit Bull Rescue center, who offers her a job at the shelter and the room over his garage for rent.

Lily’s new life as an integrator is threatened when Smooshie finds Katherine Kapersky, the local church choir leader and head of the town council, dead in the field behind the rescue center. Unfortunately, there are more suspects than mourners for the elderly town leader. Can Lily keep her less-than-human status under wraps? Or will the killer, who has pulled off a nearly Pit Perfect murder, expose her to keep Lily and her dog from digging up the truth?

Fall in love with Lily Mason, the shifter who only wants to live as a human, and her pit bull Smooshie, a rescue dog who in the end may be the one doing the rescuing!

My Thoughts: This was a fun beginning to a paranormal cozy mystery series. Lily Mason is a cougar shifter who has recently lost her family. When she learned that she has an uncle in Moonshine, Missouri, she decides to visit him and see what life is like in a human community.

She meets a number of people in the town including her uncle, Parker Knowles who runs a Pit Bull rescue business, and Katherine Kapersky, a woman no one likes. Lily is also adopted by a rescued Pit Bull that is named Smooshie and falls in love with the pit bull. Needing a place to stay while her truck is being repaired, Parker offers her an efficiency he has at his business.

She is settling in when she discovers Katherine's murdered body while taking Smooshie for her evening constitutional. Lily becomes involved in the case because the sheriff seems determined to arrest Parker for the crime. Sure, he had arguments with Katherine but there are very few people in the town who didn't.

As Lily investigates, she uncovers all sorts of reasons why someone would want Katherine dead. After all, she was a blackmailer who used her knowledge to get people to do things for her. It seems like there are quite a number of people who had a much better reason to want Katherine dead than Parker did.

I liked the interesting cast of characters. I liked Lily who is able to use her ability as a lie detector to uncover secrets that the townspeople would rather keep hidden. I liked her growing friendship with Parker and am wondering if it can go anywhere since he's human and she is secretly a shifter.

Favorite Quote:

"That's your theory? I helped Ralph escape then I ran outside, with more than a dozen other people, tracked down Ed and killed him without being seen. Then I ran back inside the building to drag out Nadine?" Where did this guy get his police training? Yosemite Sam cartoons?

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Pit Perfect Murder by Renee George

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

When I was eighteen years old, I came home from a sleepover and found my mom and dad with their throats cut, and their hearts ripped from their chests. 

Friday 56:

He reached down and petted the giant dog's head. "This here is Elvis."

"I thought he left the building."

Parker's blue eyes twinkled. "He's a hunka-hunka burning love."

This week I am reading a recent addition to my TBR mountain. Pit Perfect Murder by Renee George combines many things I like in a book - shapeshifters, cozy mysteries, and rescue dogs. Here is the description from Amazon:

When cougar-shifter Lily Mason moves to Moonrise, Missouri, she wishes for only three things from the town and its human population. . . to find a job, to find a place to live, and to live as a human, not a therianthrope.

Lily gets more than she bargains for when a rescue pit bull named Smooshie rescues her from an oncoming car, and it’s love at first sight. Thanks to Smooshie, Lily’s first two wishes are granted by Parker Knowles, the owner of the Pit Bull Rescue center, who offers her a job at the shelter and the room over his garage for rent.

Lily’s new life as an integrator is threatened when Smooshie finds Katherine Kapersky, the local church choir leader and head of the town council, dead in the field behind the rescue center. Unfortunately, there are more suspects than mourners for the elderly town leader. Can Lily keep her less-than-human status under wraps? Or will the killer, who has pulled off a nearly Pit Perfect murder, expose her to keep Lily and her dog from digging up the truth?

Fall in love with Lily Mason, the shifter who only wants to live as a human, and her pit bull Smooshie, a rescue dog who in the end may be the one doing the rescuing!

ARC Review: Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong

Otherworld Nights
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publication: Plume (October 28, 2014)

Description: Rare and never-before published short stories featuring fan favorites from the New York Times bestselling series

It’s been more than ten years since Kelley Armstrong began the Otherworld series and drew legions of fans to a realm roamed by witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons. Many of the novels have become bestselling favorites, but not all of the Otherworld adventures have been easy to find. At last, Otherworld Nights shares short stories that have previously been available only online or in obscure collections. Fans have long been clamoring for this anthology and they won’t be disappointed—they’ll find plenty of surprises are in store.

My Thoughts: This is the first of three anthologies of rare and never-before published short stories and novellas. The focus of this anthology is love. The stories included are "Demonology," "Twilight," "Stalked," "Chivalrous," "Lucifer's Daughter," "Hidden," "From Russia, with Love," and "Vanishing Act."

All of the stories were entertaining. I liked learning about Reese's background in "Chivalrous" which was a story that I had never read before. Nor had I read "Twilight" which was a Cassandra story. Being a new story, "Vanishing Act" which was an Adam and Savannah story that takes place after Thirteen extended the scope of the world. I had been curious about what would happen for Savannah and am satisfied with the way this story went.

It is nice to be able to get these various stories assembled into a more easily obtainable format. The only thing that I would have found more useful would have been a timeline. A chronology of the stories and the novels would have helped me fit them into the whole world better.

Fans of the Women of the Otherworld series will definitely want to own this collection whether or not they had previously managed to locate and read these stories.

Favorite Quote:

Nelson dropped to one knee. "I am yours, mistress. I live to serve you. To worship you."

"Guess that demon soul isn't in the monkey anymore," Karl murmured.

"You don't think I'm worthy of worship?" I said. "Maybe—"

Demon Nelson started licking my shins.

Karl turned to me. "You were saying?"

"Never mind. You're going to need to disable him. Just don't—"

I got this eARC from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

When you've lost everyone, you learn the danger of attachments. As a vampire, you must accept that every person you ever know will die, and you are the only constant in your life, the only person you can - and should - rely on.

My first thought when I read this passage was how lonely that life must be.

This week my teaser comes from Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong. I got this eARC from Penguin's First to Read program for review. It was released on October 28. Here is the description:

Rare and never-before published short stories featuring fan favorites from the New York Times bestselling series

It’s been more than ten years since Kelley Armstrong began the Otherworld series and drew legions of fans to a realm roamed by witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons. Many of the novels have become bestselling favorites, but not all of the Otherworld adventures have been easy to find. At last, Otherworld Nights shares short stories that have previously been available only online or in obscure collections. Fans have long been clamoring for this anthology and they won’t be disappointed—they’ll find plenty of surprises are in store.

ARC Review: The Mystery Woman by Amanda Quick

The Mystery Woman

Author: Amanda Quick

Publication: Putnam Adult (April 23, 2013)

Description: Under the plain gray skirts of Miss Beatrice Lockwood’s gown, a pistol waits at the ready. For Beatrice is a paid companion on a secret mission—and with a secret past—and she must be prepared to fight for her life at any moment.

Yet she is thrown oddly off guard by the fierce-looking man who joins her in foiling a crime outside a fancy ball—and then disappears into the shadows, leaving only his card. His name is Joshua Gage, and he claims to know Beatrice’s employers. Beyond that, he is an enigma with a hypnotically calm voice and an ebony-and-steel cane. . . .

Joshua, who carries out clandestine investigations for the Crown, is equally intrigued. He has a personal interest in Miss Lockwood, a suspected thief and murderer, not to mention a fraudster who claims to have psychical powers. The quest to discover her whereabouts has pulled him away from his mournful impulses to hurl himself into the sea—and engaged his curiosity about the real Beatrice Lockwood, whose spirit, he suspects, is not as delicate as her face and figure.

He does know one thing, though: This flame-haired beauty was present the night Roland Fleming died at the Academy of the Occult. Guilty or not, she is his guide to a trail of blood and blackmail, mesmerism and madness—a path that will lead both of them into the clutches of a killer who calls himself the Bone Man. . . .

My Thoughts: In this second book in the Ladies of Lantern Street series, Miss Beatrice Lockwood is working for Flint & March and is undercover as a paid companion protecting a young heiress when she meets Joshua Gage who helps her foil the abduction of her charge. Joshua is recovering from injuries that happened when one of his investigations as an agent for the Crown went badly awry, He has spent the past year in isolation at his family estate and has been left with a scarred face, a week leg, and a determination to leave investigations in the past.

Joshua is called back to London from his brooding when he believes that Beatrice is the one who is blackmailing his sister. Psychic sparks fly between Joshua and Beatrice when they meet though each is wary of the other. The running joke through this whole story is Beatrice's acceptance of her psychic powers and Joshua's determination to deny that they exist and to rely instead on logic. Joshua quickly comes to see that Beatrice is in danger and it looks like the case that injured Josh so badly isn't over. 

This story had all the elements of an intriguing mystery and an inevitable romance. Both Beatrice and Joshua are strong characters who have a great deal in common as they are both investigators and competent adults. However, they come from different social classes. Beatrice can't see a future for them but Joshua is not a conventional sort of man. The villains include a Russian assassin called the Bone Man and a truly mad scientist.

This was a fun story for all of Amanda Quick's fans and anyone who like paranormal historical fiction. 

Favorite Quote:

"I make my living as a private inquiry agent who poses as a paid companion," she said, trying to catch her breath. "Before that, I pursued a career as a paranormal practitioner for a certain individual who was evidently engaged in blackmail. I assure you, it takes more than a few snide comment from my betters to insult me."

"They aren't your betters."

She paused in the act of adjusting her hair. "What?"

"You are so much better than they are," he said, his voice roughening. "Better in spirit  better in character, better in every way imaginable. You are...amazing, Beatrice."

I won this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. You can buy your copy here.

WoW: Angel's Flight by Nalini Singh

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. She has a linky widget at her site each week for your post and to make it easy to find posts by other people.

The purpose of the meme is to spotlight books that we are eagerly anticipating. It is fun to take a look at what others are waiting for.

I have noticed that it has expanded my wishlist and TBR mountain though. Be warned!

I am eagerly awaiting Angel's Flight by Nalini Singh. This is an anthology of novellas from her Guild Hunter series. It will be nice having all the stories in one book. I am really looking forward to reading Angel's Dance which is new for this anthology. I think I have read the other stories but reading them again will not be anything like a hardship.

This anthology will be published on Feb. 28. I pre-ordered my copy on Jan. 16.

ARC Review: Witchful Thinking by H. P. Mallory

Witchful Thinking
Author: H. P. Mallory
Publication: Bantam (February 28, 2012)


Description: From H. P. Mallory—the exciting author of Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble—comes her new paranormal romance featuring the sassy, self-deprecating witch Jolie Wilkins.
 
Jolie thinks she’s seen it all, but life continues to spring surprises. The latest shocker? She’s just been crowned Queen of the Underworld. Jolie may possess a rare gift for reanimating the dead, but she doesn’t know the first thing about governing disparate factions of supernatural creatures. She can barely maintain order in her own chaotic personal life, which is heading into a romantic tailspin.

First there’s sexy warlock Rand, the love of her life, from whom Jolie is hiding a devastating secret. Then there’s Sinjin, a darkly seductive vampire and Jolie’s sworn protector—though others suspect he harbors ulterior motives. As the two polar opposite yet magnetic men vie for Jolie’s affection, she must keep her wits about her to balance affairs of state and affairs of her heart. Overwhelmed, under pressure, and longing for love, Jolie decides it’s time to take charge—and show everyone that this queen won’t take jack.



My Thoughts: I got to the end of this one and said "Huh?" I soldiered through 312 repetitious pages of Jolie dithering and second guessing and third guessing herself only to reach a very inconclusive conclusion. This one had so many possibilities. The setting was great. The characters were varied and represented a wide-variety of paranormal species. The potential for a romantic triangle was there. But, ultimately, this one left me feeling flat.


Part of the problem for me was the first person narration by Jolie. I just couldn't empathize with her indecisiveness. She made so many bad decisions that I just hung in there to see if she would ever manage to straighten out her very complicated life. She was so self-deprecating that I couldn't understand why one hot man...err, warlock...would ever fall for her let alone why two would.

While Rand and Sinjin were both pretty, neither was my idea of a romantic hero. Rand was portrayed as over-analytical. So much so that he came across as wishy-washy and constantly blowing hot and cold. Sinjin, the beautiful vampire, was almost completely opaque to us. Jolie persisted in seeing him through rose-colored glasses and refused to accept what he actually said about his motivations. Why he wanted her for more than sex and lunch was completely beyond me. Maybe he didn't .... but the ending?

Ultimately, I couldn't figure out what the story was about other than Jolie's complicated relationships with Rand and Sinjin. There was no other conflict in this one. I did have some hopes the Mercedes - the prophetess - had some sort of agenda but nothing ever happened. All she did was act as a puppet master railroading Jolie into becoming the Queen of the Underworld which put her more into conflict with republican Rand but seemed to have no other effect.

All in all, I can't recommend this story. I got to the last chapter and just about threw the book across the room because it looked like it was going to be an "it was all a dream" ending only to throw in a plot twist that was absolutely unexpected and mind-boggling. It looks like more books are planned for this series but I will never know how it all works out, I give up.


Favorite Quote:

I am going to focus all my energies, all my attentions on my kingdom, and I'm going to become the best Queen I can be.

Who knows, maybe I'll even end up on the cover of a Wheaties box someday.

I received the ARC through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here. 

Book Beginning & Friday 56: Witchful Thinking by H. P. Mallory

Happy Friday everybody!!

Book Beginnings

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages.  

Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. 

If you like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

The Friday 56

Rules:

• Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
• Turn to page 56.
• Find the fifth sentence.
• Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Freda's Voice
• Post a link along with your post back to Freda's Voice

Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

I just grabbed Witchful Thinking by H. P. Mallory from my review stack. It is the third in the Jolie Wilkins series. I have just read the first one but a couple of reviews I have looked at indicated that I would be caught up on the events of the second book in the course of reading this one. I got this book through the Amazon Vine program. The first two books were self-published but this one is coming out from Bantam on Feb. 28.

Beginning:

"So, no more ghostly encounters?" Christa, my best friend and only employee, asked while leaning against the desk in our front office.

Friday 56:

Because the truth of the matter was that I had no right to wear it.

She's talking about Rand's mother's ring and I have no idea why she is wearing it and can't wait to get to page 56 to find out.

ARC Review: Fury of Fire by Coreene Callahan

Fury of Fire
Author: Coreene Callahan
Publication: Montlake Romance (February 7, 2012)


Description: A clandestine race of half-dragon, half-humans known as dragon-shifters lives among us. Bastian, leader of the Nightfury dragon clan, is sworn to protect humankind at all costs. For him, honor and duty always come first. When the clan dictates he take a human mate to sire a son, he falters, aware that for a human to birth a dragon-shifter she must die. Myst, the woman given into his care, is the most extraordinary he’s ever met, and though he can’t bear the thought of harming her he is bound by duty.

Myst loves her life in the human world, but Bastian has captured her heart in an instant of electric connection. But Bastian and his warriors are in the middle of a deadly battle with the Razorback dragon-shifters, intent on killing every Nightfury clan member—and the humans they protect—the fate of their world and ours hangs in the balance. 

An extraordinary blend of action, fantasy, and steamy romance, Fury of Fire brings to life a dangerous new world intertwined with the survival of humanity, all while exploring the meaning of honor and the nature of true love.



My Thoughts: This story is an entertaining and exciting start to a new paranormal romance series -- with dragons. Myst Munroe is a nurse practitioner who runs into trouble of the dragon sort when she goes to visit a  pregnant patient who has skipped a couple of appointments. She finds in lying in a pool of blood on the floor of her home. She manages to do a quick and messy C-section after the mother dies and manages to save the little baby boy. Then dragons show up. Bastian and his warriors show up to battle their rival Razorback dragon-shifters and end up rescuing Myst and the baby. Bastian knows - but doesn't share - the no human woman survives giving birth to a half-dragon child. But, in order to continue his species, he is determined to find a woman to have his child at the next Meridian.


He is immediately attracted to Myst and is especially intrigued by the amount of energy she puts out. Normally dragons are hit and run lovers who steal a woman's energy and wipe her memory. They need the energy to survive. The leader of the rival Razorbacks is Ivar. His MO is to steal so much of a woman's energy that she dies. He is leaving dead bodies around Seattle which draws the attention of the human cops. This is bad for the secrecy of all dragon-kind and just one more reason Bastian and his crew are after him. Ivar is also doing scientific research to find a way for dragons to have female babies. After which, he is excited about exterminating the human race. 


The romance between Myst and Bastian begins with him kidnapping her but soon leads to them falling in love though neither of them will admit it. He forces a promise from her that she will stay with him and not try to escape for three days. Unknown to her, that will bring them to the Meridian and his only fertile time. He is troubled by a guilty conscience that he isn't telling her that she will likely die trying to have his baby. He has a lot of second thoughts and guilt. The love scenes between them are hot and also show that Myst is more than capable of keeping control of Bastian. They exchange energy and develop a special connection.


This was a fine paranormal romance with hot love scenes and interesting world building. I look forward to following along in the other books in the series both to keep up with Myst and Bastian and also to see the other dragons in Bastian's crew find romances of their own. I recommend this one to readers who love paranormal romance -- and dragons.


Favorite Quote:

Myst snorted. So much for looking tough. Yeah, because nothing said badass like bright pink nail polish and sequined flip-flops.

I received this one through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here. 

Book Review: Bump in the Night by J. D. Robb et al.

Bump in the Night
Authors: J. D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan, Mary Kay McComas
Publication: Jove (March 28, 2006)


Description: Enter a world where no boundaries exist - and where every seduction is supernatural... 

Follow four of today's most provocative authors to a place where love can transform reality-and anything can happen. Here they present stories of ethereal circumstances, magical romance, and otherworldy suspense. Beginning with an all-new tale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts writing as J. D. Robb-and featuring lieutenant-of-the-future Eve Dallas-this collection will take you on a breathtaking journey through the passion of the heart and its power to transcend the everyday...



My Thoughts:


Haunted in Death by J. D. Robb - I listened to the audio of this one and reviewed it here. It was an entertaining story that had ultra-rational Eve confronting a ghost. I liked the by-play between Eve and Roarke in this one. The story was well-told and well-read.


Poppy's Coin by Mary Blayney -- This is a historical romance centered around a magic coin. A gentleman, short of coin and the guardian to two young children, takes a job as a companion for a rich widow and then has to deal with falling in love with her without feeling like he sold himself to her. It was a nice romance.


The Passenger by Ruth Ryan Langan is a contemporary ghost story. The hero and heroine meet in the wilderness where she is trying to get a story of a mysterious light on a lake and he is beginning a daredevil quest of survival. They meet when his plane crashes and she finds him and fall in love - guided by the spirit of her dead mother. It was also entertaining as the two lonely people decided that they had found the perfect person for each of them.

Mellow Lemon Yellow by Mary Kay McComas -- I abandoned this one when the male lead (at least I think so) made his first appearance at the heroine's father's funeral wearing ruby red slippers. Apparently the heroine was the only one who could see him. I didn't have the patience to keep reading and figure out what was going on.

All in all, the J. D. Robb story was great, the other two stories I read were entertaining, and only one didn't suit my taste.


Favorite Quote:

"Could be it's telling you that you had a paranormal experience last night."

Eve spared one bland look for Peabody. "Paranormal my ass."

"Cases have been documented, Dallas."

"Fruitcakes have been documented too. It's going to be a family member. That's where we push."

I bought this one. You can get your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: Fury of Fire by Coreene Callahan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I just got Fury of Fire by Coreene Callahan from the Amazon Vine program. It will be published today. This is the first in a new paranormal romance series - with dragons! Here is the product description:

A clandestine race of half-dragon, half-humans known as dragon-shifters lives among us. Bastian, leader of the Nightfury dragon clan, is sworn to protect humankind at all costs. For him, honor and duty always come first. When the clan dictates he take a human mate to sire a son, he falters, aware that for a human to birth a dragon-shifter she must die. Myst, the woman given into his care, is the most extraordinary he’s ever met, and though he can’t bear the thought of harming her he is bound by duty.

Myst loves her life in the human world, but Bastian has captured her heart in an instant of electric connection. But Bastian and his warriors are in the middle of a deadly battle with the Razorback dragon-shifters, intent on killing every Nightfury clan member—and the humans they protect—the fate of their world and ours hangs in the balance.

An extraordinary blend of action, fantasy, and steamy romance, Fury of Fire brings to life a dangerous new world intertwined with the survival of humanity, all while exploring the meaning of honor and the nature of true love.

Teaser:

He wasn't trustworthy. Bastian was one of them. A monster with claws and fangs, the stuff of nightmares.

WoW: Firelight (Darkest London) by Kristen Callihan

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. She has a linky widget at her site each week for your post and to make it easy to find posts by other people.

The purpose of the meme is to spotlight books that we are eagerly anticipating. It is fun to take a look at what others are waiting for.

I have noticed that it has expanded my wishlist and TBR mountain though. Be warned!

I am waiting for Firelight (Darkest London) by Kristen Callihan. It combines two of my favorite genres paranormal romance and historical romance into one book - with a gorgeous cover. Here is the description:

London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . . 

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

I have pre-ordered this one. It was published on Jan. 31. Maybe it will be in my mailbox today.

Book Review: A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson

A Werewolf in Manhattan
Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson
Publication: Signet; Original edition (January 4, 2011)


Description: Emma Gavin writes about werewolves, but that doesn't mean she believes in them-not until a pack of real-life New York weres decide to investigate the striking accuracy of her "fiction". 

When Aiden Wallace, son and heir of the pack leader, tries to sniff out Emma's potential informant, he discovers something even more dangerous- an undeniable attraction to her.



My Thoughts: Best-selling author Emma Gavin writes about werewolves and she has so many details correct that Aidan Wallace of the Wallace pack has been put in charge of finding out who her werewolf informer is. Finding out requires that he bug her loft and follow her wherever she goes. Along the way he learns a lot about her and becomes fascinated with her.


Aidan knows, however, that as the heir to the Wallace pack, his future has been determined. He is slated to marry Nadia Henderson, daughter of the alpha of the Henderson pack, and unite the two packs. He was OK with this - but resigned more than eager - until he got to know Emma. Now the future he thought was planned out has become much less desirable. But Emma is human. They can't have a future together, or can they?


When Emma starts getting emails from someone who scares her, Aidan knows he has to step in. Things become even more complicated when they find out that the guy sending the creepy emails is Nadia's nineteen-year-old brother Theo. Now, Aidan has to protect Emma from Theo who really wants the werewolves to come out to the public while keeping the whole idea of werewolves as fact away from Emma. Also he has to find a way to keep his hands off a woman who gets more fascinating each time he meets her. Sharing a suite in Chicago's Palmer Hotel might not really be the best idea if they really intend to keep their hands off each other but he convinces himself that it is good security.


It doesn't help that Aidan has a genetic defect that forces him to shift when he gets aroused without the possibility of satisfaction. And just being around Emma is very arousing for him. It doesn't help that Emma wants him too. She says it is "research" into the lives of the rich and famous but neither one of them really believes it. Emma is into saving the planet and really gets on Aidan's case about his private cars, fancy suites, and really, really fancy watch. They have very different lifestyles which would be enough of a barrier to romance even without the whole werewolf thing. But love can manage obstacles like that despite the differences between them.


This was a wonderfully sweet romance between two strong characters who were willing to fight for each other. I liked that Emma was a strong independent woman who wasn't going to let the rich and powerful Wallace clan push her around. I enjoyed the story so much that I quickly went online and ordered the next book in the Wild About You series - A Werewolf in the North Woods - and look forward to reading Roarke's story.


Favorite Quote: In which our hero is being castigated over the phone by his younger brother about his decision to spend time with our heroine on her book tour.

He doubted she'd be popping out to hear his conversation. Still, he kept his voice down.

Roarke, who had no such restraints, was yelling into his phone. "You're an idiot!"

"Not according to my test scores."

"Which are nullified by your testicles, apparently. I knew you had solid-brass ones, but this is arrogance taken to the max."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I just finished a really intense book and went browsing on my TBR mountain to try to find something lighter. I am hoping that A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson will fill the need. I have had it on my stack for a little more than a year now. It's about time it found its way to the top.

Description:

Emma Gavin writes about werewolves, but that doesn't mean she believes in them-not until a pack of real-life New York weres decide to investigate the striking accuracy of her "fiction".

When Aiden Wallace, son and heir of the pack leader, tries to sniff out Emma's potential informant, he discovers something even more dangerous- an undeniable attraction to her.

Teaser:

Aidan settled in to wait and tried to block out the sensory overload created by a pack of humans. Perfume, aftershave, and deodorant assaulted his nostrils, while a cacophony of voices, cell phone chimes, background music, and shuffling feet battered his eardrums.

Who has ever given a thought to the difficulties of having enhanced senses in crowded places? I know that I have not.

Book Review: Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz

Copper Beach
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Publication: Putnam Adult (January 10, 2012


Description: A rare book. An ancient code. An all-new novel from the New York Times-bestselling master of passion and the paranormal.

Within the pages of very rare books some centuries old lie the secrets of the paranormal. Abby Radwell's unusual psychic talent has made her an expert in such volumes-and sometimes taken her into dangerous territory. After a deadly incident in the private library of an obsessive collector, Abby receives a blackmail threat, and rumors swirl that an old alchemical text known as The Key has reappeared on the black market.

Convinced that she needs an investigator who can also play bodyguard, she hires Sam Coppersmith, a specialist in paranormal crystals and amber-"hot rocks." Passion flares immediately between them, but neither entirely trusts the other. When it comes to dealing with a killer who has paranormal abilities, and a blackmailer who will stop at nothing to obtain an ancient alchemical code, no one is safe.

My Thoughts: Jayne Ann Krentz begins a new contemporary/paranormal/romantic suspense series with Copper Beach. The main characters are Abby Radwell and Sam Coppersmith. Abby works as a dealer in the rare paranormal book market because she has the unique talent of being able to unlock encrypted books. Unfortunately, her family is far more likely to think that she is crazy than to celebrate her talent. In fact, they sent her to a special boarding school in her youth to "cure" her. She made lifelong friends among the other students with paranormal talents and developed a distance from her family. She also became very self-reliant and confident in her skills. She has also become very reluctant to trust anyone outside of her small circle.


When Abby begins to be blackmailed, she is directed to Sam Coppersmith. Sam is the son of the head of Coppersmith Inc which made its fortune in the rare earths business. He also has paranormal skills. He takes one look at Abby and falls in love. Naturally, he is determined to solve her problem and along the way solve his too. His girlfriend was murdered by someone trying to break into his home lab and his family is searching for a lab book that contains experiments on some dangerous crystals that his father and his partners discovered years ago. Sam is a typical Krentz hero. He is attractive, single-minded and very, very competent. He is also dangerous.


This story was a fast-paced thriller as Abby and Sam try to track down the person (or people) who want the encrypted lab book and who are willing to kidnap Abby and kill anyone who gets in their way. The dynamic between the two of them as they slowly find their way to romance was very engaging. I loved Abby's reluctance to trust and her constant effort to keep the relationship between them a business one. I also liked Sam's desire to protect Abby and his need to get her to see their relationship the way he sees it.


This was an excellent romantic suspense title filled with fascinating characters. I was really fond of Abby's dog - Newton - who was, as Sam says, a condo-sized junkyard dog. I recommend this one to JAK's many fans and for fans of the paranormal in their romantic suspense.


Favorite Quote:

"Are you out of your mind, Abby?" Gwen Frazier leaned forward across the restaurant table and lowered her voice. "According to what I found online, Sam Coppersmith was implicated in the murder of his fiancee six months ago. You have no business hiring a man like that. He might be very, very dangerous."

"Relax, I'm employing him, I'm not sleeping with him. Big difference."

"That's supposed to reassure me?"

"Well. It certainly makes me feel better about the whole thing," Abby said.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here too.

Book Beginning & Friday 56: Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz

Happy Friday everybody!!

Book Beginnings

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages.  

Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. 

If you like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

The Friday 56

Rules:

• Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
• Turn to page 56.
• Find the fifth sentence.
• Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Freda's Voice
• Post a link along with your post back to Freda's Voice

Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz arrived in my mailbox today and I started reading it immediately. It didn't even hit the TBR mountain. I am a huge fan of JAK (and all her pseudonyms). This one is contemporary romantic suspense with a heavy hint of the paranormal. It also begins a new series.

Here is the product description:

A rare book. An ancient code. An all-new novel from the New York Times-bestselling master of passion and the paranormal.
Within the pages of very rare books some centuries old lie the secrets of the paranormal. Abby Radwell's unusual psychic talent has made her an expert in such volumes-and sometimes taken her into dangerous territory. After a deadly incident in the private library of an obsessive collector, Abby receives a blackmail threat, and rumors swirl that an old alchemical text known as The Key has reappeared on the black market.
Convinced that she needs an investigator who can also play bodyguard, she hires Sam Coppersmith, a specialist in paranormal crystals and amber-"hot rocks." Passion flares immediately between them, but neither entirely trusts the other. When it comes to dealing with a killer who has paranormal abilities, and a blackmailer who will stop at nothing to obtain an ancient alchemical code, no one is safe.

Beginning:

There was nothing like the drama of a deathbed scene to expose the skeletons in a family's closet. You never knew what would fall out when you opened the door, the nurse thought.

Friday 56:

Newton was the condo-sized version of a junkyard dog. 

The beginning makes me very curious about what kind of family secrets are going to be exposed.