Review: The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo (Love at Stake) by Kerrelyn Sparks

The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo (Love at Stake) by Kerrelyn Sparks
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

He’s out of control

Dougal Kincaid has something to prove. After being injured in a battle with the Malcontents, he’s ready for active duty protecting unsuspecting mortals from these villainous vampires who want to rule the world. But first he has to get control of himself . . . because just the sight of a certain lovely doctor has his injured hand doing some peculiar things, not to mention the sizzling sensation that burns along his dragon tattoo . . .

Vampires? Vampires?! As a scientist, Leah is having trouble believing that these immortal creatures exist. But there they are, standing in front of her, asking for help in solving a genetic puzzle that can save mankind. There’s even one in a sexy kilt! Just one look into Dougal’s gorgeous green eyes sets her pulse racing. But can she trust him—and the overwhelming desire that refuses to be ignored . . . ?

REVIEW:

The Love at Stake Series is a fun and sexy paranormal series. Hot vampires in kilts with sexy accents. Yummy! The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo is Dougal Kincaid’s story. When Leah is hired and he sees her on the surveillance camera for the first time his dragon tattoo burns and he feels an instant connection to her. Leah wants nothing to do with anything supernatural, but has trouble resisting Dougal even if he is a vampire. I enjoyed their story and look forward to the next book in the series. Kerrelyn Sparks is on my automatic buy list. I recommend this book and this series for paranormal lovers.

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

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Shooting Scars (TAT #2) by Karina Halle

Shooting Scars by Karina Halle
Publication Date: August 20, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

When Ellie Watt made the ultimate sacrifice for Camden McQueen, she never thought it would be easy. But walking away with her ex-lover, Javier Bernal, in order to ensure Camden’s safety has brought a whole new set of dangers. With Javier’s plans for Ellie growing more secretive by the moment, Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game before her past swallows her whole.

Meanwhile, Camden’s new life is short-lived. Fueled by revenge and pursued by authorities, he teams up with an unlikely partner in order to save Ellie. But as Camden toes the line between love and retribution, he realizes that in order to get back the woman he loves, he may have to lose himself in the process. He might just turn into the very man he’s hunting.

Told in dual POV from Camden and Ellie.

REVIEW:

I started this book and then had to go back and read the first book and the novella to fully understand the story. I recommend reading the series in order.This one was difficult for me to review. The characters are intense and I kept thinking that they would be redeemed, but that wasn’t what the story was about. This is a love triangle about three messed up people and there is no clear choice on who should end up together. That said I really enjoyed the stories and will be reading the next one when it comes out. I love characters that really make me feel and think. If you are looking for something intense, I recommend this series. Shooting Scars has a great plot with lots of twists and turns. You’ll be thinking about the story long after you put it down.

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

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Jaded Youth by A G Chambers

Jaded Youth by A G Chambers
Publication Date: August 1, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

DINM’s destruction has made Jade’s team invincible in the eyes of every other Doppelganger, giving Adrian and Joanna the chance to finally prove themselves, explore the terms of their new contracts and the tempestuous relationship brewing between them.

Both have secrets, nightmares, memories that would be better off buried in the past and people they wish they could forget. Joining together might just give them the redemption they both so badly crave. But with an overprotective brother and a newly found Fettle DP that has sent Joanna’s emotional control into turmoil, it’s unclear whether they even stand a fighting chance.

Then there’s the trouble boiling within the government’s own four walls as the treasury continues to be drained with a never ending list of unaccounted expenses, disappearing without a trace. Adrian is enlisted to ghost the perpetrator with his Orb, and Joanna’s help.

Their progress is stunted before it can even begin, their contracts ripped away from them as the team realise that the aftermath of DINM reaps more problems than rewards. When the minister they’ve been shadowing inadvertently introduces them to a man both Adrian and Joanna recognise, their dark pasts become entangled in a twist of fate none of the team saw coming.

REVIEW:

This is the second book in A.G. Chamber’s Jaded series. It is a young adult series with a science fiction twist about a team of assassins and their doppelgängers. I recommend reading Jaded Rein before reading Jaded Youth to understand the back story. I read both books back to back and they kept me on edge and turning the pages to see what what happen next. A G Chambers creates a vivid world and characters that draw the reader into the story. Jaded Youth is full of mystery, suspense, intrigue and great characters. Jaded Youth is focused on Adrian and Joanna’s growing relationship and establishing their roles on the team. Suspenseful science fiction story with a good plot. I recommend this book and this series for science fiction lovers.

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

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About A G Chambers

20130728-213638.jpg A G Chambers is the author of Jaded Rein, the first in a five novel series about the world of Doppelgangers, having to clean up the government’s messes over a new genetic development they don’t know how to handle.

She loves work by Nalini Singh, J K Rowling, Enid Blyton, Lara Adrian, Patricia Cornwell, Lee Child and a number of other authors.

Split between UK and New Zealand, A G Chambers has always had a passion for writing with her first short story at 8 years old, ‘Chocoblock’ and poem ‘Seasons’. From there she was nominated in the top 10 novelists at 12 years of age for her short story memoir, which featured a doughnut eating horse and has since gone on to publish her first novel, Jaded Rein, at 18. Funnily enough, she almost failed her second year of English and spent a considerable amount of time debating whether or not she wanted to be a chemist before she became a Publishing Assistant for The University of Law in London.

Facebook | Twitter: @AG_Chambers

Dead Sexy Dragon (Dragon Heat) by Lolita Lopez

Dead Sexy Dragon (Dragon Heat) by Lolita Lopez
Publication Date: August 6, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The last thing dragon shifter Stig Wyvern needs is his dead friend’s kid sister showing up on his doorstep, especially since he’s just minutes away from entering a mating phase. Sharing his isolated house with the young woman he’s desperately lusted after for quite some time is a recipe for disaster.

But Cora Cardenas has nowhere else to go. She’s in deep trouble with some really nasty people and Stig is the only one who can protect her. That he’s deliciously sexy and makes her tingle with the simplest of smiles is an added bonus.

Cora quickly realizes Stig is hiding something from her. To make matters worse, she’s plagued with breathtakingly naughty dreams starring a shadowed lover who bears a startling resemblance to her host. And what the hell is going on in the basement at night?

Stig needs to get Cora out of his house but his inner beast has other ideas. He’s found his mate and she’s not going anywhere.

REVIEW:

Dead Sexy Dragon is a smoking hot, erotic, paranormal romance. When Cora finds herself in danger she turns to her brother’s best friend for help and protection. When her brother died Stig promised he would always be there for her. Stig is a deliciously sexy dragon and Cora arrives the night he goes into heat. Things quickly heat up when they both start having erotic dreams and soon they can not fight their growing attraction. This is a quick erotic romance to curl up with on a lazy Sunday. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in this series. I love sexy dragons!

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

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Complete Me: A Novel by J. Kenner

Complete Me: A Novel by J. Kenner
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You comes the third novel in the erotic, fast-paced trilogy including Release Me and Claim Me. This sexy, emotionally charged romance continues the story of Damien Stark, the powerful multimillionaire who’s never had to take “no” for an answer, and Nikki Fairchild, the Southern belle who only says “yes” on her own terms.

Our desire runs deep. But our secrets cut close.

Beautiful, strong, and commanding, Damien Stark fills a void in me that no other man can touch. His fierce cravings push me beyond the brink of bliss—and unleash a wild passion that utterly consumes us both.

Yet beneath his need for dominance, he carries the wounds of a painful past. Haunted by a legacy of dark secrets and broken trust, he seeks release in our shared ecstasy, the heat between us burning stronger each day.

Our attraction is undeniable, our obsession inevitable. Yet not even Damien can run from his ghosts, or shield us from the dangers yet to come.

*Complete Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

REVIEW:

Complete Me is the final book in the Stark Trilogy. The Stark Trilogy is the erotic love story between sexy billionaire, Damien Stark and Nikki Fairchild. Damien is a sexy alpha dominant. Nikki captures and holds his attention and with personal demons of her own she finds comfort with a man like Damien. Their story is intense, full of passion, danger and emotion. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. This final book is a great ending and conclusion for the trilogy. I loved it!

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

Buy Links:
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Additional Information About The Stark Trilogy:
Click on the image below to take you to J. Kenner’s website. The website has all the buy links as book information.http://juliekenner.com/stark-trilogy

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Night’s Mistress: Children Of The Night by Amanda Ashley

Night’s Mistress: Children Of The Night by Amanda Ashley
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

For centuries, Mara has been a Vampire: mysterious, alluring and fiercely independent. Although she has been pursued throughout her life – by Vampire and mortal alike – she has never allowed love to claim her. But when she discovers she’s pregnant, Mara finds herself torn between two unforgettable men…Kyle Bowden is the mortal father of her unborn child. A gorgeous, golden-haired artist full of passion and life, Kyle was ready to give his soul to Mara-until he learned her terrible secret. Logan Blackwood is the Vampire she created 900 years ago. Now a Hollywood millionaire with all the dark seductive power of his kind, Logan still longs for the woman who turned him. With time running out, and her dark gift fading, Mara must decide what is best for the miraculous new life growing inside of her. But first she must embrace the feelings in her heart-and choose one lover…for all eternity.

REVIEW:

Great story! Mara, the heroine, is an ancient vampire whose last relationship with a human ended badly when he found out she was a vampire. She is nursing a broken heart when she runs into an old flame Logan Blackwood, a vampire she turned several hundred years ago and who has been in love with her since he was turned. I loved Logan! Mara is losing her vampire power and turning human. With all the different factions after her she turns to Logan for protection. I was annoyed when Kyle came back into the picture, and Mara had to choose between the two men, but I was happy with the ending. There are lots of surprises and complications in the story and it has a great plot with lots of action, danger, and steamy romance. Amanda Ashley writes great paranormal romance and I recommend this book and the series for vampire lovers.

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

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Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen) by Lisa Renee Jones

Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen) by Lisa Renee Jones
Publication Date: July 22, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

New Adult novel
Recommended for 17+ due to mature themes and sexual content
Book 1 of THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN Series
ESCAPING REALITY
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Infinite possibilities….
Infinite passion…..
Infinite danger….
His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn’t trust him. I shouldn’t tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.

At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loved to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she’s finally dared to believe she is forgotten-even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets her guard down, the ghosts of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run.

On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take “no” as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam than meets the eyes?

REVIEW:

This book drew me in and kept me on edge from beginning to end. I still don’t know what happened. Who are the bad guys? Who can Amy trust? I like a good mystery though. Amy has a mysterious and dangerous past that has kept her on the run with the help of some unnamed protector. She gets a message that she has to drop everything and leave and she does. I’m not sure why she doesn’t stop to question who or what the mysterious danger is, but maybe the next book will explain more. Liam is a sexy, dominant, billionaire Amy meets running to a new life and away from whatever danger is following her. They have an instant connection and even though Amy can’t trust anyone, she can’t help letting Liam in. This story is full of suspense, danger, mystery and romance. I was completely captivated and can not wait for the next book to hopefully get answers. The cliffhanger ending left me screaming and I might have thrown my iPad if I wasn’t afraid of breaking it, but it was a great story and I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next book in the series. I recommend this book for New Adult and Romantic Suspense lovers.

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

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TO SIN WITH A VIKING by Michelle Willingham

TO SIN WITH A VIKING by Michelle Willingham
PUBLICATION DATE: July 23, 2013
REVIEWED BY: Reading In Pajamas/Donna
RATED: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Caragh Ó Brannon defended herself bravely when the enemy landed—only, now she finds herself alone with one very angry Viking.

Styr Hardrata sailed to Ireland intending to trade, never expecting to find himself held captive in chains by a beautiful Irish maiden.

The fiercely handsome warrior both terrifies and allures Caragh, but he is forbidden territory. He is the enemy and he is married. Yet Styr harbors a secret that just might set them both free.

REVIEW:

I enjoyed how this story began and how she managed to weave the story around a married man. The author managed to deal with the subject so that it was heartfelt, believable and the outcome gratifying. Caragh was a strong and yet tender woman set up against Styr, a strong warrior who has his own tender side. A perfect match. Right away you knew who they were and began to care about what happens to them. The story itself had enough action to keep the pages turned and blended nicely with the budding romance. The heat was a little slow in coming but was satisfying when we got there. Overall, I enjoyed this book.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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ENTHRALLED ANTHOLOGY by Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook and Lucy Monroe

ENTHRALLED ANTHOLOGY by Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook and Lucy Monroe
PUBLICATION DATE: July 2, 2013
REVIEWED BY: Reading In Pajamas/ Donna
RATED: 4 Stars

Description and review for each novella separate below:

DEVIL’S DUE

DESCRIPTION:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh returns to her sensual world of the Breedsas one stubborn Breed meets her match, and can no longer deny her mate—or the fierce desires of her own heart.

REVIEW:
This was my first taste of a Breed Novel but I had no trouble following the storyline. The danger from outside forces coupled with sometimes wondering if the good guys were really all that good, kept the tension going. As for romance? It was HOT! I can only imagine what a full-length novel would be like. This series was already on my TBR list, now they have moved up.
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THE CURSE OF THE BLACK SWAN

DESCRIPTION:
New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day introduces the League of the Black Swanand the dangerous game one woman plays when her family’s curse dooms her to kill the man she loves.

REVIEW:
This was a nice introduction to her new series. Ms. Day did a good job of introduction without getting bogged down and overshadowing the story. I really liked the romance. Tender, heartfelt and warm. It blended nicely with the action. I cannot wait for book 1 of this new series to come out.
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SALVAGE ( A Tale of the Iron Seas)

DESCRIPTION:
New York Times bestselling author Meljean Brook delivers a new story in her steampunk world of the Iron Seasas a man who’s lost everything returns home to find that not only is his marriage in jeopardy, but he must now fight air pirates who intend to steal his one remaining treasure—his wife.

REVIEW:
This is the first time that I have read a Steampunk novel. I will admit that it isn’t my cup of tea. That is a personal preference and does not reflect upon the writer’s ability to bring the story to life. She has a smooth writing style that kept me reading and I found the romance sweet and touching with just the right amount of heat. If you’ve not tried this genre yet, this would be a good one to try.
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ECSTASY UNDER THE MOON (Children of the Moon)

DESCRIPTION:
And Lucy Monroe, national bestselling author of the Children of the Moon novelsunleashes the feral passions of a werewolf on the body, mind, and soul of his prey, his lover, his lifemate.

REVIEW:
This was a short pleasing novella. I’ve also not read the Children of the Moon novels and this story made me add to my TBR list. A story of two shifter nations joining together again entwined with a sweet gentle romance was a very nice combination.

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Officer and the Secret by Jeanette Murray

Officer and the Secret (Semper Fidelis. Always Faithful.) by Jeanette Murray
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

If There’s One Thing He Hates, It’s a Secret…

Coming home after a rough deployment, Captain Dwayne Robertson wants some stability in his life, and finds it in the friendship he’s forged with Veronica Gibson while he was away. But her past is a well-guarded mystery, and Dwayne doesn’t know if he can deal with a woman who has something to hide…

And She’s Filled with Them…

Veronica Gibson doesn’t want anyone to know about her bizarre upbringing. She’s finally escaped her missionary parents and would be enjoying her independence if she didn’t feel so insecure about fitting in. She can easily envision a glorious future with Dwayne—but can she build a new life on a web of lies?

REVIEW:

I loved The Officer and the Secret! It is the third book of the Semper Fi Series, but can be read as a stand alone. I really want to read the first two books in the series now so I can read how the other couples got together though. I loved Dwayne even though I wanted to smack him at times. He is a sexy marine home from deployment and suffering from PTSD. Veronica has been sheltered her whole life and is just coming out of shell. They have great chemistry together and Veronica really seems to be the person to help Dwayne with his PTSD. Their story is a steamy romance that held my interest from beginning to end and had me laughing and smiling. The Officer and the Secret has a great plot and characters! This is the first book I have read by Jeannette Murray and will not be the last. I recommend this book for romance lovers that love a military hero!

Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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