Author Archives: Reading In Pajamas

FOREVER (Book 2 in World of the Nightwalkers) by Jacquelyn Frank

FOREVER (Book 2 in World of the Nightwalkers) by Jacquelyn Frank
PUBLISH DATE: May 28, 2013
REVIEW BY: Reading In Pajamas/Donna
RATED: 4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
After being brought back from death, police officer Jackson Waverly receives the shock of his life: he has become host to a Bodywalker, a spirit that is reborn in flesh and blood, and part of a proud, ancient race that uses its extraordinary gifts to battle dark, evil forces. Jackson’s spirit is a powerful one—none other than the Egyptian pharaoh Menes, who longs to reunite with his eternal love, the Egyptian queen Hatshepsut.

While Menes is obsessed with finding the perfect vessel for his queen, Jackson cannot stop thinking about Dr. Marissa Anderson, the gorgeous precinct shrink who keeps pushing him to confront his grief over the loss of his K-9 partner. But what Marissa really arouses most in Jackson is intense desire, which is exactly what Menes is looking for. To fight a great enemy, pharaoh and queen must join; but to host Hatshepsut, Marissa will first have to die. Fate has given Jackson a profound choice: save Marissa from Menes’s plan or keep an entire species from the brink of extinction.

REVIEW:
Book 1 of this series, Forbidden, explained how ancient Egyptian royalty maintained a form of immortality by “blending” with humans on the cusp of death. Giving them a choice to live with an added soul and powers in exchange for helping protect others from evil. I like that this book did not have to delve into that as much and went straight to the good stuff.

Jackson is an alpha male, blended with an ancient alpha male. Somehow I don’t think it would have gone as smoothly as written, but it is a story, one that I enjoyed, so I will concede that point. I liked Jackson and the way he is around his friends and of course with Marissa. She is strong and intelligent so she took a bit of time to come to terms with her new reality. That life on earth is not all she thought, nor is her place in it. Marissa and Jackson’s romance was built smoothly to the simmering point while enemy chaos surrounded them. Her reluctance to blend with Hatshepsut was understandable regardless of her feelings for Jackson. It may sound confusing but was actually easy to follow and just flow with it. I would recommend reading book 1 first however.

I truly enjoyed this story. Not only the battle of good vs. evil, but the inner struggle of the Bodywalkers as well. The romance was very satisfying and I can’t wait for book 3 to see what happens next.

*Review copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

20130512-210615.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/ReadingInPajamas
https://readinginpajamas.wordpress.com
http://www.goodreads.com/readinginpajamas

May 12, 2013 – May 18,2013 Weekly Reading List

Our Weekly Book List (if we have reviewed the book, our rating is listed):
*let us know if you have a book you think we should add.

Monday, May 13, 2013
Run Wild With Me: A Loveswept Classic Romance by Sandra Chastain -(Reading In Pajamas/Cori – Rated 3 Stars)
Talking Dirty with the CEO by Jackie Ashenden – (Reading In Pajamas/Cori – Rated 3.5 Stars)
His Risk to Take a Line of Duty novella by Tessa Bailey (Reading In Pajamas/ Donna – Rated 4.5 Stars)
How Beauty Loved the Beast by Jax Garren

Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Eyes Wide Open by Raine Miller

BARE IT ALL by Lori Foster

BARE IT ALL by Lori Foster
PUBLISH DATE: April 30, 2013
REVIEW BY: Reading in Pajamas/Donna
RATED: 4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it…until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice’s secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire—and into the line of fire….

REVIEW:
This is the second book in the Undercover Series and she has these cops figured out! Outwardly Reese is all tough and dedicated yet inside he is tender and caring. Lori does a great job of blending the two sides of him. Reserved and guarded Alice also hides a side of herself. One that longs for closeness and love. I really liked her character and how she faced the demons of her past and moved forward to embrace life. The disparate group of people that pulled together to combat the evil drug lord worked well together and I ended up caring for each one of them. I hope they appear in future books.

I truly enjoyed this book with all the action and tension meshed with the friendships and romance. It had it all nestled nicely in uniform. Lori Foster is now on my favorite list!

***Review copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

20130512-063718.jpg

HIS RISK TO TAKE by Tessa Bailey

HIS RISK TO TAKE by Tessa Bailey
PUBLISH DATE: May 13, 2013
REVIEW BY: Reading in Pajamas/Donna
RATED: 4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
Homicide cop Troy Bennett had a reputation with the Chicago PD for being fearless and in control—until the night his daredevil partner is killed during a raid. From that moment on, he swears he’ll never again be responsible for the loss of a loved one. To escape his demons, Troy transfers to the NYPD, bringing him up close and personal with Ruby Elliott, a beautiful, street-savvy pool hustler. Reckless and stubbornly independent, Ruby embodies everything Troy’s avoiding, but when she walks into the pub he’s at with his new coworkers and blows his carefully laid plans to hell, Troy knows he has to have her—risks be damned. But there’s a connection between Ruby’s shadowed past and a case Troy’s working involving a notorious Brooklyn felon, throwing her safety into jeopardy. Confronted with his biggest fear, will Troy push Ruby away to keep her safe or fight to keep her in his arms where she belongs?

REVIEW:
I just love a dominant man in uniform and Troy fit that bill in spades! Ruby is street smart and strong willed without being witchy about it. I like that. The two of them had an easy banter that truly added to the romance and the author did a good job of weaving all this into the danger they faced from one of the city’s crime bosses. This added a nice gritty edge to the story. I really enjoyed this novella. It was fast paced, full of action, romance and smoking hot sex.

*Review copy was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Connected (Connections #1) by Kim Karr

Connected (Connections #1) by Kim Karr
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Reviewed by Reading in Pajamas – Cori
Rated: 5 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

In the bestselling tradition of Jamie McGuire and S.C. Stephens…

In Dahlia London’s world, happily ever after is a far cry from reality. Her soul has been left completely shattered by tragedy. But a surprising reunion with someone from her past is about to give her a reason to love again…

When rock star River Wilde comes back into Dahlia’s life, their super-charged connection runs deeper than either of them ever expected. The more time they spend together, the more intense their relationship becomes, and Dahlia believes at last she has found her soul mate.

But as old bonds fade and Dahlia’s grief begins to lift, her guilt and confusion remain. River desperately wants to be the one who mends what’s been broken—but with a past that refuses to stay buried, is it possible for their future to begin?

REVIEW:

I was blown away by this book! I devoured the whole book today after a reader on my review page said, River Wilde was her favorite book boyfriend. I was not disappointed! River Wilde is definitely hot book boyfriend material! This was an amazing love story, that brought two people together twice that were meant to be together. Kim Karr, the writer, weaves this love story of tragedy, destiny and romance. River and Dahlia’s love story left me believing in fate and destiny. It made me feel and took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. I recommend not reading any spoilers about this story. Just pick it up, read it and enjoy the ride. I can not wait for the the next book!

20130508-163347.jpg

Buy Links:
Amazon|B&N|iTunes/ iBooks

May 7, 2013 Romance Releases

Our Weekly Recommendation List with our Rating if we have read the book:

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Predatory – Alexandra Ivy, Nina Bangs, Hannah Jayne, Dianne Duvall- (Reading In Pajamas/ Donna – Rated 4 Stars)
Highland Werewolf Wedding – Terry Spear (Reading In Pajamas/ Donna – Rated 4 Stars)
Eternal Demon: Mark of the Vampire – Laura Wright
Undone (The Amoveo Legend) – Sara Humphreys
Time Thief: A Time Thief Novel – Katie MacAlister
Sworn to Protect: A Sugarland Blue Novel – Jo Davis
Nightbound: Lords of the Darkyn – Lynn Viehl
The Cursed (League of the Black Swan) – Alyssa Day
A Taste of You (The Epicurean Book 1) by Sorcha Grace (Reading In Pajamas/ Cori – Rated 4 Stars)
The Cursed by Alyssa Day
Ours to Love by Shayla Black
True By Erin McCarty – (Reading In Pajamas/ Cori – Rated 3.5 Stars)

A HIGHLAND WEREWOLF WEDDING by Terry Spear

A HIGHLAND WEREWOLF WEDDING by Terry Spear
PUBLISH DATE: May 7, 2013
REVIEW BY: Reading In Pajamas/Donna
RATED: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
After werewolves Elaine Hawthorn and Cearnach MacNeill almost have a head-on collision on a foggy Highland road, they’re pretty well stuck with each other. It’ll be hours before anyone can get there to pull his car out of the ditch and they both have better places to be.

The sexy little American brings out all of Cearnach’s big bag protective instincts. If she thought she was in trouble before, Elaine has no idea what kind of complications a hot Scot can cause…

REVIEW:
Elaine, a young member of a pirate clan of wolf shifters finds herself thrust into the intrigue through no fault of her own. Having to hide and reinvent herself, she thought it was all behind her. But more than 300 years later she finds herself once again in the fray and back in the arms of the mysterious shifter from long ago.

I liked that she and Cearnach were so very drawn to each other, knew it was destined but were still thoughtful about it. They didn’t just dive in and say it was fate. It wove in nicely with the clan battles and intrigue. The book was well written and engaging. After all….castles, warring clans, pirate treasure and hot love all set in the Scottish Highlands….what more do you need?

* Review copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

20130502-152455.jpg

Talking Dirty with the CEO by Jackie Ashenden

Talking Dirty with the CEO by Jackie Ashenden
Publication Date: May 13, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas – Cori
Rated: 3.5 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Gadget journalist Christie St. John is more geek than chic. But when research for an article she has to write on online dating leads to the bed of the hottest guy she’s ever met, she knows that if the geek is to keep the hottie CEO, she’s going to have to come out of her digital shell.

Tech mogul Joseph Ashton never expected an Internet blind date to end in the best sex of his life. Yet as the chemistry between him and Christie burns out of control, he can’t help but think this woman is out for his money like all the rest. She claims she wants his heart instead – but that’s the one thing he can never give.

REVIEW:

This book was so much fun to read! Romance that starts in a chat room by chance turns into something more. Steamy romance between a funny geek and a hot CEO. I loved it! As a geeky girl myself it was fun for me to read about. I loved the banter between the characters and it had me laughing out loud. I’d classify the story as a light hearted, fun romance! I highly recommend this book to readers looking for a good romance story.

*Review copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

20130501-095603.jpg

I’ll Be Damned (Anna Wolfe Series) (Volume 1) by Casey Keen

I’ll Be Damned (Anna Wolfe Series) (Volume 1) by Casey Keen
Publication Date: March 27, 2013
Reviewed by Reading in Pajamas – Cori
Rated: 3.5 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
A sister kidnapped. An impending war between Heaven and Hell looming around the corner. A Grand Witch who has no idea what she is. The Prince of Darkness’s obsession in claiming her. Two sinfully gorgeous men pulling her in two different directions. As the owner of the coffee shop Deja Brew in Savannah, Georgia, Anna thought her life was ordinary. That is until her sister is kidnapped by a demon, prompting two handsome men to march into her life unexpectedly. Valen, the sinfully gorgeous, overprotective werewolf who is Anna’s sworn guardian and Marlow, the most handsome and powerful Warlock in the entire Netherworld. Suddenly, her world is stripped of everything she knows and replaced with frightening news about who she really is – a powerful Grand Witch. Now, it’s up to her to draw out her dormant magic, rescue her sister and stop an impending heavenly war threatening to eradicate the human race all while staying alive.

REVIEW:
Well I’m officially hooked! I want to see what will happen next! This is not my normal steamy romance read, but I really enjoyed this book. I never knew what was going to happen next in the story so it kept me turning the pages trying to figure things out. There is a love triangle forming between Anna, Valen and Roman. I would start to want Anna to chose one and then change my mind. There is lots of action, suspense and great characters. It ends with a cliff hanger that really left me wanting to know what will happen next. Now I’ll be impatiently waiting for the Fall 2013 release!

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

20130430-173139.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/ReadingInPajamas
https://readinginpajamas.wordpress.com
http://www.goodreads.com/readinginpajamas

GABRIEL (KEMATIAN HUNTER) by Tina Pollick

GABRIEL (KEMATIAN HUNTER) by Tina Pollick
PUBLISH DATE: January 22, 2103
REVIEW BY: Reading In Pajamas/Donna
RATED: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
When demons break ancient bonds, a love-match between a valiant archangel and a selfless nurse bring humanity’s last hope—but contagion from the demons threaten their newly developed bond.

Kematians escape the guard of the watchful archangels and flee into the world to feed on humanity. With powerful regeneration abilities, the demons turn the tide against the valiant archangels, taking a toll on their numbers. Will Calla Stevens, a nurse with miraculous healing abilities, be able to save Gabriel when he’s on the cusp of death.

REVIEW:
Calla’s very modern day “prove it to me” attitude was evident when she was hesitant to believe in angels even though she carried a special healing ability within her. Gabriel lived his whole existence loving mankind as a whole and was unprepared for the feelings he had for her. Their struggle to come to grips with their growing emotions grew with their struggle to stay alive. You can tell that the author is very sentimental and has strong religious beliefs. It was a pleasure to see how she wove all that in with a paranormal romance. I enjoyed it!

*Review copy provided by Tina Pollick in exchange for an honest review.

20130429-151602.jpg