Karin Harlow's Enemy Lover

WOW! Look out Jean Claude & Anita and you, too, Cat & Bones! Jax and Marcus are steaming up the pages and kicking ass along the way! It’s been a long time since I’ve had a book draw me in after the first page and keep me flying through the pages until the very end! Karin Harlow’s Enemy Lover was full of fast-paced action along with stomach-fluttering emotions. The characters were so vivid that as soon as you met them you either loved them or rooted for their demise. The L.O.S.T. series is going to quickly become a genre favorite.  A must read for any fan of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy! Enemy Lover is the first book in the series and I simply can’t wait to see where Harlow takes L.O.S.T.!

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When her team failed to protect her from rape and torture by the hands of the human trafficking pimp Montes, Angela Giacomelli, was lucky to be alive. When the same justice system she fought for took her attacker away as an untouchable, she took justice into her own hands. As a result, her boss sold her out and left her to fend for herself on the witness stand. Angela, the once top-notch, kick-ass, take no names, cop is found guilty of murder. The bastard deserved it, but she is now going to spend the rest of her life in prison.

After being whisked off the bus that was delivering her to her new life in prison, she is given a second chance at life with the L.O.S.T. (Last Option Special Team). Angela Giacomelli is gone and Jax Cassidy is born. The L.O.S.T. hones her skills and makes her a lethal member of the team. Jax’s assignment, one she must succeed in to prove herself, is to gain the trust of assassin Marcus Cross and destroy him. Once Marcus is out of the way, she must take down his boss, Colonel Joseph Lazarus, leader of “The Solution”, an organization that preaches patriotism, but practices terrorism in the name of national security. Lazarus’s goal isn’t so much national security, but clearing the path to the top, right to the White House.  It’s a tough assignment but neither Jax, nor her team, know just how dangerous the assignment is. Marcus is no regular assassin. He’s a vampire and Lazarus is his creator.

  Marcus is no stranger to being alone and fending for himself. He was abandoned by his mother as a baby, his father died by the time he was 6, and his grandfather raised him on the reservation. As a troubled kid he was in and out of jail as a teen and after graduating high school with a barely passable GPA, he joined the Army at age 17. Within a year he had moved quickly through the military scoring perfectly on nearly every ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) and spent 10 years as a Specialty Sniper in the Ranger program.

8 years ago Marcus Cross was a Special Ops Sniper, fighting for his country. When he is left for dead in the desert hills of Afghanistan, deserted by his unit, Marcus is given a second chance at life, eternal life. With the blood of two of the most powerful vampires in existence running through is body, Marcus is a practically invincible. With Colonel Lazarus as his mentor, Marcus is able to continue to fight for his country, not as a military soldier, but a soldier for The Solution. He’s a skilled assassin, taking out the bad guys; the bad guys that no one else can touch, not even the military.

When the Senator, who has been supporting The Solution, pulls the funding because of the extreme measures that Lazarus has been taking, Lazarus threatens him and his family. The Senator calls in the L.O.S.T. to protect his family and Lazarus calls on Marcus Cross. Marcus’ assignment: kill the Senator’s daughter and anyone who gets in his way. Not being one to kill innocent people, Marcus tries to reason with his mentor. Lazarus makes it clear that though the daughter is not a threat, her father is and, well, sometimes you have to sacrifice an innocent for the greater good.

When Marcus and Jax become each other’s “assignments”, they find it to be not quite as easy as they thought. There is an attraction between them that shocks both of them.  Both have been betrayed in some of the worst ways and trust is not an easy thing for either of them, especially since they are both on opposing teams.  Jax and Marcus find something in each other they never thought to find again. Jax finds the passion that she thought would never return and Marcus finds the one thing that makes him miss his mortality and makes him want to live as normal a life as he can. 

Marcus finds out that Lazarus has been using him and the betrayal is blood deep. He must work with Jax to take down his mentor and save not only the senator’s life, but Jax’s as well, even if it costs him his immortal life in the end.

Quinn Keitt's Crimson Stained

Quinn Keitt’s Crimson Stained is a wonderful story of a love meant to overcome all obstacles. While this is a vampire romance, it could very well be a book about any young couple struggling with the beginnings of their relationship, dealing with addictions, family, friends, and the doubts. Keitt brings so much emotion into her story that any adult would be hard to not reminisce and empathize with the characters in the story. The vampire aspect of the story doesn’t come through as a main issue in the story, but adding a unique element that enhances the relationships. Crimson Stained will appeal to the fans of Twilight and True Blood alike.

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Lacey is a young woman, living her life on her own and for the most part, she’s quite happy with it. Sure, she would love to not have to go to work everyday at the clothing store and sure, she’d love to have a good man to wake up next to everyday, but, such is life and she’s taken care of herself for a long time. One night as Lacey is coming home from work she sees an attractive, god-like specimen of a man in the parking garage. He notices her and their eyes meet; it’s an immediate attraction as he gravitates towards her. Unfortunately before he could reach her, he’s attacked by some kind of monster; a monster that bites into the boy’s neck and rips it open while sucking down the blood. Great! If she’s not lusting after Tristan, a boy that can’t seem to get the hint that she’s in love with him, then she’s watching the next potential date get his throat torn out. Just her luck. Things seem to only be getting crazier when the boy she saw attacked shows up at her balcony window one night, completely naked! Not that she would complain about an Adonis-like man, naked on her door step, but this one seems to want something from her as he continues to show up at midnight every single night. They strike up a somewhat awkward friendship through his continuous visits. She’s always been a sucker for the blond hair and green eyes, but she is not crazy enough to let him into her apartment! She soon learns hat Kevin is of all things, a vampire. Yep - just her luck. He’s not just a crazy naked boy; he’s a crazy naked vampire.

Kevin remembers seeing Lacey right before he was attacked. Now that he’s a vampire he has a single objective, to make Lacey his. Kevin is used to being on his own, but the possessive instincts of a vampire are hard to deny. While he doubts she would want a monster, who must kill to survive, he continues to show up at her balcony door every night, biding his time. He could enter her home without her permission (just one of the many myths he learned was untrue of vampires) but he does not want to scare her. He wants her to come to him willingly and become his mate. His patience is growing thin, and he devises a way to claim her on his terms.

As the relationship continues Lacey finds herself struggling with having to keep his secret, struggling with knowing the man she loves is a murderer. They face many of the same struggles that other young couples face in their relationship; dealing with family, friends, Kevin’s jealously over Tristan (who just happens to be noticing her now) and a pregnancy that has the potential to destroy their love for each other, on top of the issues of having a vampire for a lover.

Kevin soon finds it harder and harder to keep himself stable both physically and mentally. The demon that attacked him and changed him seems to have passed along his insatiable thirst and uncontrollable rages. Kevin is killing more and more people just to be able to function. The bodies are piling up and the police are taking notice. He’s becoming a danger to everyone including Lacey. Lacey knows that any sane person would run as fast as they can, but Kevin would find her, he’ll never let her go. Despite her natural fears, she knows she loves him too much to ever leave him, especially when he needs her the most. Lacey must find a way to save Kevin from the demon trying to take over his mind and body before he destroys any chance of their love surviving, not to mention their undead lives.

Shayla Black's Delicious, Wicked Lovers #3

Shayla Black’s Delicious, the 3rd book in her Wicked Lovers series, is a wildly erotic story that will set your heart a flame. Shayla Black never fails to add the gut- twisting emotions to her stories that make the steamy, erotic scenes all the more powerful.

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Luc Taverson is a man with a plan. He’s a successful chef with many book deals, a TV show in the works and a girlfriend who is a beautiful, upstanding teacher. He wants the all-American family; the lovely wife that’s a pillar in society to mother his children and take care of their family. Nothing will get in the way of his plan for the future; not his fertility issues that are a secret to all but a select few, not his dark desires he keeps hidden, and most of all not Alyssa Devereaux, the exotic dancer turned strip-club owner.


Luc and Alyssa spent one night together, which ended up being such a wild uninhibited night of passion it left Alyssa desperate for more and Luc scared of the lack of control he experienced.

Alyssa is proud of the life she’s made for herself. She has built a successful business at Sexy Siren’s and now she is opening her very own upscale restaurant. Luc agreed to help her by coming in and working the restaurant for opening week. His name alone will bring people to the restaurant. Alyssa has an additional plan in the works for Luc though; she will have him for herself because one night was not enough.

Luc is determined to go in, work the week, and leave. No mixing business with pleasure. He can’t afford to have feelings for a woman like Alyssa Devereaux. She’s sexy as hell and he would love nothing more than to have a week of pleasure with her. However, Alyssa just doesn’t fit into his future plans. He doesn’t see her as the “motherly” type and what would it look like to have a stripper as a wife; someone who is always being picketed by the local minister as a whore and sinner?

Luc can’t hold back any longer when he realizes that he is not the only one wanting Alyssa. His possessive nature comes out full force when Alyssa starts receiving threats. Alyssa would love for Luc to want her out of true feelings for her, but it seems he only wants her behind closed doors. His accusations of her show he doesn’t trust her and his respect for her is nonexistent. Can she give him her body without submitting her heart and soul to him? Luc and Alyssa both have secrets that are dark and devastating.

The threats to Alyssa get more and more serious and Luc finds it impossible to let her go when her life is in danger. Luc must find a way to save Alyssa without giving up the future he has so carefully planned.

Ravens Deep

Ravens Deep is a true, gothic-style vampire romance book. The story between Madeline and Darius has both the romanticism of a new relationship as well as a dark and sinister psychological aspect, combining passion and fear, leaving you breathless. The house, Ravens Deep, is like a 3rd character in the book and seems to have a soul of its own (causing me to leave the lights on to sleep at night). Throughout the book, you become witness to the powerful struggle between good and evil, the struggle to prove that true love can be enough to overcome the physical and psychological pain a lover can cause, and the proof that secrets, no matter how far gone, can come back to haunt you. Jordan’s exceptional attention to detail and vivid descriptions make it easy to step into the world of Ravens Deep and impossible to forget.

Madeline Shaw, aspiring-author, had no idea that by picking up a random genealogy magazine and sending a letter to a potential ancestor, her life would change forever. After several weeks of corresponding through letters, Mr. Chambers gives Madeline an invitation to use his home, Ravens Deep, to find her inspiration to write.
Madeline leaves the hustle of London for quiet country moors, arriving at Ravens Deep and immediately feeling a connection to the house (despite the odd noises, doors that open by themselves, and the odd fact that no one in the nearby villages knows of the house).

One evening, a handsome young man, named Darius, appears in the garden and things begin to take a different turn. Madeline is intrigued by his mystery. He appears out of nowhere, disappears just as quickly and seems to know too much about Ravens Deep and its history. Despite the feelings that are obvious between the two of them, Darius continues to hold Madeline at a distance and keep parts of him hidden from her. Madeline catches glimpses of something in Darius, a darkness in his eyes, that isn’t quite right. As days pass, Madeline starts to see more of the struggle in him, yet she can’t make herself walk away from him. She finally realizes that Darius is the “Mr. Chambers” with whom she’s been corresponding. She discovers he is a vampire. And their connection runs blood deep.

Darius tries desperately to make Madeline come to her senses and leave him, his struggle with the darkness within him is becoming harder and harder to overcome. After promising him that she will leave and never come back, she returns to London for a brief time only to realize that she cannot stay away from him, or Ravens Deep. Upon returning she encounters a Darius that she fears as much as she loves. As Madeline gives up everything in order to have a life with Darius, he continuously refuses to give her eternal life, not wanting her to become the monster he believes himself to be. There is tortured violence and anger in Darius that should be enough to make Madeline run for her life but instead, she is begging him to take it.

The 4th book in Terry Spear’s Werewolf series can easily be a stand alone read. In Legend of the White Wolf she takes us on a suspense filled journey to the frozen forest of Maine. Spear’s attention to vivid detail and emotions makes it impossible not to feel as if you are right there with the characters, feeling the cold bite of the arctic wind or enjoying the warmth as fingers run through a wolf’s fur. As usual, the characters come off the pages and grab your attention quickly. Legend of the White Wolf will have you wondering who the good guys really are and turning pages all night long!


Cameron MacPherson has come to Maine, determined to find his two Seattle PI business partners, who are late returning from their hunting trip. Faith O’Malley is there to track down her ex-boyfriend who stole her father’s secret research. When the hotel mistakenly gives Faith the key to Cameron’s room they are both surprised at the sudden attraction between them. They both are there for business though, not pleasure. They soon find that their investigations are heading in the same direction, and they are suddenly involved with murders, mystical wolves, and a group of fanatics determined to prove the existence of werewolves.

Everything changes in the frozen backcountry as their passion heats up, but when a wolf attacks and Cameron is bitten they soon realized that there is more to the legends of mystical wolves than just a story. Together they must work with the lupus garou pack to solve the murders and save the pack and the future of the entire lupus garou world. All the while trying to keep Faith from being claimed by the pack’s alpha male and Cameron from being killed for claiming her for him self.

R. Malone’s Crimson Rose (Jan/Feb 2010) is an intense read that is unlike most vampire romance books on the shelves today. This is not a story with a clear cut “love conquers all” feeling to it. It is truly a happily ever after…with a twist.



Rose Litchford hasn’t had a great life for the last 5 years. Her husband was killed the same night they conceived her son, Jacob. Rose and Jacob are living with her abusive boyfriend Shane, who has made it all too clear what would happen if Rose ever left him. Could things get much worse for Rose? She soon finds out when a strange man, Stefan, begins stalking her, leaving bloodied roses by her window, waking her son and telling him that he is going to take her from Shane.
When she confronts him outside her home one night, she realizes he is not a mere man, but something else. He forces a passionate kiss on her as he confesses his love. Rose is confused and frightened by his abrupt statement of love and the fact that he says he’s known her for a century.

Everything changes in the blink of an eye for Rose. After Stefan saves her from a brutal attack by Shane, he renders her unconscious and steals her away. She wakes to find herself being held prisoner by this Stefan. Locked in a room he comes only to feed upon her. She begs to leave, to see her son. He only professes his love and says that she can never leave him. She is trapped with a monster, a vampire. The only other company is an aged butler and a female vampire that has obvious feelings for Stefan and less than favorable feelings for Rose.

Many weeks pass and Rose learns a secret that Stefan has kept hidden, something that proves to her he was just as much a monster in life as he is now. Stefan tries to make her understand, but given her current standing with him she has nothing else to judge him by.
Stefan eventually brings Rose’s son to her, yet still keeps them both captive in his home.

Throughout the story Rose is continuously trying to figure out if Stefan is truly a monster or if there is something more, something good inside him that has been buried because of a brutal past. Stefan lost the love of his life the same night he lost his mortal life and was an empty shell until he found Rose.
Just when Rose begins to think she may be able find some happiness with Stefan, a ghost from his past returns with nothing but vengeance planned. Stefan must come face to face with his past in order to save his future with Rose. Rose must face the facts of Stefan’s past and struggle with the life-altering decisions about their future.

Pretty Pictures, well I'm going to try

Well as most of my friends will tell you, I have yet to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I love photography though. My dream was to be a wildlife photographer, but once I had kids, that kinda went out the window. It's hard to spend weeks/months in the field and still be there to tuck the kiddos into bed. So, I have moved that dream to the back burner for a while. For now I just take pictures for my enjoyment. I take my kids pictures instead of using a professional, I've taken pics of friends kids, etc.
I recently took some senior pictures for my sister friend. She loved them. Several others have said they really loved them too.
Well a coworker "heard" that I do great pictures. (I have no clue who she heard this from)
She asked if I would mind taking her family pictures. She wants to do outside pics. I saw sure. I thought she just mean her and her kids. Uh, no. She means her and her kids, plus her older kids kids, and their spouses. YIKES!!
Needless to say, I'm so nervous. I'm not a professional. Not even close. I don't have a ton of fancy equipment. I have a really nice camera, but that's about it.
I've told my coworker to warn her family not to expect anything extraordinary. I guess since I'm not charging them, they really can't complain. Right?
Fingers crossed I don't make a massive fool of myself!