BOOK REVIEW ~ BOUND BY NIGHT BY LARISSA IONE

Title: Bound By Night (MoonBound Clan Vampires, Book One)
Author: Larissa Ione
Release Date: September 24, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD
Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories—along with every bloodsucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most . . .

A VAMPIRE OUT FOR REVENGE
A member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clan, Riker is haunted by demons of his own. When he recognizes Nicole and remembers how her family enslaved his loved ones, his heart burns for vengeance. But when he kidnaps Nicole and holds her in a secret lair, his mortal enemy becomes his soul obsession, his greatest temptation, and, perhaps, his only salvation—a hot-blooded lover who could heal him with her touch . . . or bury him forever.

Book Review 

First off -- props to the cover department on an excellent cover. This is exactly how I pictured Riker in my head. And the little bit of skin playing peek-a-boo drove me crazy. LOVE.IT.

Secondly, I want to live inside Larissa's head, cause that woman has developed a whacked world of vamps that at times was a bit confusing...but at the end, I understood this paranormal world that Ione had created. 

Bound By Night is a slow build-up...with a lot of background info thrown at you in the first half of the book. But its characters are beguiling, the plot compelling, and Riker is very, very, captivating. In this universe, vampires are the underdog and humans, are the bad guys. Humans have enslaved vamps and one malevolent organization is preforming horrific experiments with the unwilling vampires they have captured. This organization, Daedalus, is currently headed by Nicole Martin.

Nicole's position as CEO has come under attack. Literally and figuratively. She has been kidnapped by the MoonBound Clan in the hopes of freeing a woman vampire being held captive by her company, Daedalus. 

Riker and the members of the MoonBound Clan are a small tribe of vampires trying to avoid a war with ShadowSpawn. MoonBound has used a midwife to help aid in a vampire delivery and has gone missing. The MoonBound Clan believes that Daedalus is responsible. 

The story of Bound By Night is about trust, misconceptions, forbidden attraction and being able to move past a horrific past. Starting over. Discovering love in places you never thought to look. 

Despite the slow start, Larissa has me hooked with this new series and with the crafty machinations in the epilogue. I cannot wait to see how this series develop with the second book, which will feature the MoonBound Clan's fierce leader, Hunter. 

ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ THE ETERNITY CURE BY JULIE KAGAWA

Title: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden, Book Two)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Release Date: April 30, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.


Book Review

Kagawa's series, Blood of Eden, is a great Young Adult paranormal read that has a little bit of everything--blood sucking baddies, vampy good guy and girl, forbidden love, and twists in the plot that make you want to read it fast to find out how the story ends. 

Except when you get to the ending and you gasp aloud, realizing  you've been given a major cliffie and now have to wait and see what happens next. 

The Eternity Cure starts out after Allie leaves Eden and is searching for her sire, Kanin. Their blood connection has Allie dreaming about his captivity and he is in pain, almost LOST to the monster inside him. He's been kidnapped by the crazed vamp, Sarren, and Allie is determined to find him. 

At a crossroads, Allie is pulled in two different directions...with only one being the correct path to Kanin. Her choice leads her Jackal instead. Let me just say, I love this character's devious nature. He has somehow wormed his way inside my heart. He has this crass outer shell,  but deep inside I suspect a little bit of a softie. 

Allie reluctantly teams up with Jackal to find and rescue Kanin--their path leading them back to New Covington. 

Things start to unravel fast as Allie and Jackal approach New Covington. Humans are running around in the Fringe, bleeding, their bodies rotting, and delirious with some sort of sickness. The Top Siders that are not infected scurry to the sewers, warding of the Mole people, and fighting for the lives. 

The deadly Red Lung virus has been released and killing off the population. And the possible cure is in the hands of a madman--Sarren. 

Kagawa has crafted a powerful and compelling story. Her heroine, Allie, fights her basic nature, several enemies, and confronts what seems to be unbeatable odds. But she prevails, with grit and this little thing called hope. She chooses the kind of monster she wants to be--and her inner strength is something that we call can learn from. 

ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ EDGE OF DAWN BY LARA ADRIAN

Title:  Edge of Dawn (Midnight Breed, Book Eleven)

Author:  Lara Adrian

Expected Release Date: February 26, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Twenty years after the terror of First Dawn—when mankind learned that vampires lived secretly among them—the threat of violence reigns as the two species struggle to coexist. The only group preserving the fragile harmony is the Order, an elite cadre of Breed warriors dedicated to protecting humans and vampires alike. And in this precarious world of torn loyalties and shattered trust, Mira, a fiery squad captain, finds that every fight bears an intensely personal cost.

Raised among the Order, Mira has always believed in the warrior’s code of swift—and even lethal—justice. But the one thing she desires more than the Order’s hard-won acceptance is Kellan Archer, a sexy but troubled Breed fighter. In love with him since childhood, Mira once broke through his tough exterior during an unexpected night of rapture, but the next day he mysteriously disappeared, never to return.

Kellan didn’t think he would ever see Mira again—or have to confront the truth of why he left. After abandoning the Order years ago, he now leads a band of human rebels intent on carrying out their own vigilante rule of law. Yet a high-profile kidnapping assignment brings him face-to-face with the past he sought to avoid, and the striking woman he has tried desperately to forget. And as tensions mount and the risk of bloodshed grows, Kellan and Mira must take sides—between the competing missions that dominate their lives, and the electrifying passion that claims their hearts.

Book Review

Yes, we have moved twenty years into the future and the world now knows of the Breeds existence.  Mira is an adult, captain of the Order, and recovering from the unexpected death of Kellan--The man who she shared only one night of passion before he was taken away from her in a brutal death. 

Mira still struggles with her grief and her contempt for those responsible for Kellan's death--a group of Rebels who blew up the warehouse that Kellan ran into before it exploded, killing him in its raging fire.

Mira's anger and grief is the source of her attack on a human inside a bar who is known for his association with the Rebels. Her violent actions force Lucan's hand and Mira is removed from her position as captain of the Order as well as an extended leave of absence. 

Peace between the humans and the Breed have been strained and a conference has been arranged--bringing both races together in the hopes of easing tensions in their fragile relationship. A brilliant, young scientist, Jeremy Ackmeyer,  is scheduled to appear at this meeting with Mira as his bodyguard. She has special instructions to pick him up and escort him to the World Peace Summit. 

When a group of Rebels kidnap Jeremy at his home, Mira is taken as well. She is brought to their hideout and comes face to face with the mysterious Rebel leader--a man simply known as Bowman. Bowman wants Jeremy to pay for the dangerous weapon he invented that could annihilate the Breed race. And Bowman has a secret identity that brings Mira to her knees. He is the man she has spent the last eight years grieving--Kellan Archer. 

Why did Kellan decide to stay away, have everyone think that he was dead? How can he be the leader of the Rebels-- enemy to the Order and especially to Mira?

There is a lot of political maneuvering in Edge of Dawn. Lucan struggles with wanting to do things the old way and loathes the bureaucratic bullshit he now has to swallow. Then there is a secretive group that is determined to make sure the breeds are exterminated. 

The great thing about this book is seeing the children of the Breeds grown--Nathan, Rafe, Dare, Aric...just to name a few. Their stories unfold and plot possibilities abound. Lara has laid the groundwork to continue this series, hopefully, and I cannot wait to see where she takes these new characters. 

For me, the pacing of Edge of Dawn had its slow moments, but there had to be some new world building and new character development, which slows the tempo just a bit.  

Kellan and Mira's relationship is tumultuous--filled with angst, passion, and despair. The smexy times between Mira and Kellan is SCORCHING.  More so, I think, than in the past. Adrian captures the sensual side as well as the emotional impact with these scenes--sheer perfection.  

Edge of Dawn is a great addition for the Midnight Breed series with a fresh spin to a senescent tale. 

BOOK SPOTLIGHT and GIVEAWAY ~ CARESSED BY A CRIMSON MOON BY AMANDA J. GREEN

Caressed by a Crimson Moon

Rulers of Darkness #3

January 25, 2013

Consumed by madness and tormented by dark memories of blood and death, Hadrian Lucretius, King of the Validus Clan, has returned after living in self-imposed exile for nearly three hundred and fifty years.

To maintain peace with the vampires, Eva Maldonado is offered as a sacrifice to the crazed vampire king by her father, the alpha of the Silveria Shifter Pack. Hadrian’s reputation is both legendary and lethal; he is ruthless, bloodthirsty, lusty, and soulless. When Eva arrives at the ancient fortress high in the Carpathian Mountains, she is shocked to find a ravaged man with dark burning eyes filled with loneliness and dangerous desire.

Would she be his lover…or his prey? His savior…or his victim? Would Hadrian lure her into madness or would their perilous passion be their redemption?

Links to purchase book:

Amazon / B&N 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Author Bio:

Amanda J. Greene is a paranormal romance author. When she is not writing, she can be found playing the role of a full time university student who works part time. She lives in Southern California with her very supportive husband and their sweet cocker spaniel. Doing all the above and being a military wife is not easy, but rewarding! Of course, she accomplishes everything with a strong cup of coffee in her hand. 

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook



Book Excerpt :

Eva groaned when the clock on the mantle elegantly chimed three. She slid from the bed and began to pace the room again. She could not stop thinking about her encounter with the king. He was a powerful, mysterious, and all together lethal vampire, terrifying and undeniably sexy. She was struggling to find a logical explanation to her reaction but came up with nothing. With a sigh, she acknowledged that her confinement was not helping her bewildering thoughts and restlessness.

She circled about the room. Though the space was large and stylish, she felt trapped. At her father’s village, she had been treated like a prisoner, always locked away, always caged. She craved movement and she wanted out. Now.

She had not promised Falcon she would stay in the room. Once given, a shape-shifter could never go back on their word, a trait she wished she had not inherited from her father. Falcon was right, she admitted, she could easily get lost and she did not want to be caught by the king again.

Or did she?

No, of course not.

She paced by the door for the hundredth time, casting a longing glance to the knob. It wasn’t locked. Maybe, if she just stepped out into the hall for a moment she would feel better. She shook her head. No, she would wander away. She would be unable to resist the urge to roam. In frustration, she threw her hands in the air. Hoping a shower might help calm her, she went to the dark polished dresser and pulled out a set of pajamas before stomping to the bathroom.

Having inspected the washroom earlier, she had been pleased to find it stocked with all the necessities. After placing her neatly folded pajama pant and tank top set on the counter, she grabbed a bottle of body wash, then studied the collection of expensive shampoos and conditioners and randomly selected a French pair. She turned on the shower and quickly ditched her clothes.

The warm water that rained down from the numerous shower heads was soothing. She took her time bathing and washing her hair, savoring the heated water and privacy. For the past ten years she had bathed in a communal shower with chilled water. Well, no one had actually bathed with her, no one bared to be that close to the half-breed.

“Another positive check for the vampires,” she said as she sat on the bench, basking in the heat and steam that gathered in the roomy glass shower stall.

God, she had missed true civilization. The shifters she had lived among envisioned themselves superior to the human race, deciding that living in the jungle, with few modern amenities and technology was the way to go. She rubbed the back of her neck and snorted. The pack was nothing but backward, from their views of the world, of women, of war, everything. Why could they not be like most other shifter packs and live with humans? Have normal homes, eat at restaurants, and enjoy dance clubs and movie theaters.

Enjoy everything I once had.

She had lived within human society the majority of her life. She and her mother had lived happily together, just the two of them before cancer stole her life and her father claimed hers. She had attended public schools, making friends with humans and even a few shifters. Never had they treated her like a leper or made her feel inferior.

With a sigh, she turned the water off, quickly dried and dressed. Out of habit, she brushed out her thick hair with her fingers, instead of using one of ivory combs, and fastened it in one long braid that extended to her hips. Next, she stoked the fire. It’s flames coming back to life with a vengeance and she happily greeted the warmth. Eva fell into a chair and brought her legs up. She hugged them to her chest and rested her chin on her knee. For a while she sat, gazing unseeing into the fire. The shower had helped, but she still fought the urge to glance at the door.

Never had she felt so restless, not even during a full moon when she was locked in her hut while the pack shifted into animal form. Their snarls, growls, and fights would echo in the night and, being a half-breed, she remained in human form. Her body grew tense as she tried to keep her focus on the elegant dancing flames.

When the clock’s beautiful melody chimed four, Eva cursed and jumped to her feet.
“That’s it.”

She stormed back into the bathroom and threw open the door to the walk in closet. She wiggled free from her pajama pants and quickly pulled on a set of dark jeans, slid her feet into thick socks and tied on her snow boots. All the while, she silently thanked Falcon for purchasing these items for her. After she snatched a powder blue down jacket, matching beanie and gloves, she reentered her room. Eva paused before the door, her hand hovering just above the knob. She knew she should stay. She knew Falcon was right and the last thing she wanted was to get lost in this inexplicably large castle. Or be found by the king…

An unseen force beckoned to her, calling to the dormant wildness within her. She wanted nothing more than to throw open the door and run.

Eva rubbed her temples and dropped her head.

“What is wrong with me?”

She had never craved movement so much in her life. She needed to be out of this castle. She longed to feel the cool wind whip at her cheeks, the moon kiss her skin and…She frowned as her heart began to slam in her chest. There was something else. Something in the back of her mind demanding that she go into the night. She knew there was something out there. Something she…needed.

Eva slowly opened the door. Sticking her head out into the hall, she looked both ways before silently tiptoeing from the room, closing her door. She retraced her steps, descending to the main level and out the front door.

Relief filled her as the wind rushed over her. She quickly tucked her ears beneath the beanie and shoved her hands into her gloves. Taking in a deep breath, she filled her lungs with the clean scent of trees and freshly fallen snow.

“Okay, I’m outside. Where to now?”

An odd sensation compelled her to turn right. She walked along the wall of the castle and continued around until she came to a terrace. The furniture was covered with tarps weighted down by snow. Coming to the edge, she was shocked by what she could see. Below was a large hedge made labyrinth, with a building of glace at its center and a lake, frosted over by ice, towards the back. The land was flat and stretched for miles a village of cottages huddle together against the line of trees that extended for miles and ended at a cliff.

She quickly descended the steps from the terrace and paused when she came to the entrance of the labyrinth. Should she enter? Did she dare? Again, an odd feeling swept over her. Not one of fear but of excitement. Confusion clouded her mind while instinct compelled her forward.

Eva slowly wound through the maze, using her photographic memory to find its center. She was almost certain the glass building was a green house and she was anxious to see what kind of tropical plants would be living such fragile lives in these unforgiving mountains.

Her steps faltered as she came to a bend. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

She was not alone.

Eva froze and strained her senses. Her hearing and eyesight was slightly better than a human’s but nothing compared to a full shifter or—she swallowed hard—a vampire. Unable to detect anything, she slowly crept forward. Placing her back against the twelve-foot tall hedge wall, she peeked around the corner.

A man sat on a white marble bench, his elbows resting on his knees, his head hung low. She could only see his perfectly hard profile and her heart skipped a beat as her breath caught. High, bold cheekbones and a straight, stern jaw descended to thin, yet enticing lips. His hair was black and buzzed in an extremely short military fashion. To her disappointment, his eyes were closed, but she knew they would be intense. He was dressed in all black, a stark contrast to the white that surrounded him.

Raw power radiated from him. He was pure unadulterated male. Lethal. She knew instinctively this vampire was the crazed king, Hadrian Lucretius. The man—no, the beast that had ensnared her in the hall.

His eyes remained closed as his lips pulled back from his long, white fangs tinted with red.

Blood.

She knew she ought to be horrified but as before…he was making her lust. Her body was hot and heavy, her breathing came in soft gasps, and heat spiraled through her core as she recalled the feel of his powerful body looming over her.

“I know you’re there.” His voice was deep and heavily accented though his style of speech was modern. He spoke again, but she did not comprehend his words. She closed her eyes and savored his voice. Dark. Seductive. She shivered, not from cold, but from pleasure.

Nothing made sense. She knew her reaction was insane. She knew she should be terrified and run as fast as she could back to the castle and the safety of her room. But, she could not bring herself to leave, nor did she want to run. Her heart stuttered at the thought of him chasing her and something wild deep within her roared to life.

In a rush of movement, she was pulled forward and spun about. Her back slammed against the hedge, a cool, strong hand wrapped about her throat. Her cry of shock quickly faded to a gasp of delight. He stood before her, pinning her to the hedge. Her senses flared, taking in his fresh scent. He smelled of pine, wilderness, and male. His eyes gazed deeply into hers as if searching for her very soul. They were fathomless, obsidian pools that swirled with malice, grief, and…desire.

Her heart thundered in her ears as her lips parted, drawing in rapid breaths, filling her lungs with his irresistible scent. Again, she wondered at her response, but lust clouded her mind, blocking all rational thought.

She dropped her gaze to his broad shoulders and chest, which were covered only by a short-sleeved black shirt. Her fingers twitched at the thought of running her hands over the hard muscle. He was lean, solidly built, and tall, clearly over six feet.

He crowded her. Trapping her.

She loved it.

Hadrian’s gaze focused on her pulse. Eva’s heart beat wildly, teasing him. His fangs felt heavy in his mouth and they ached to pierce her slender throat.

The run had helped him immensely, driving away those hateful memories. He thanked God he had recovered before his ward had stumbled upon him in the labyrinth. The memories always left his mind tainted.

Blood.

He had wanted blood. No. Needed blood. Death. Yes, he had craved to taste death, to savor it. He had hunted in the forest and fed from a rabbit. It’s tangy blood and tiny life had brought him precious little relief. It was enough. It would keep him from tearing her throat open and gorging himself on the sweet elixir.

She would be spicy, exotic, and oh, so hot.

He ran his tongue over his fangs and Eva sighed. The scent of her desire grew stronger. He took in a deep breath and shuddered. Intoxicating. His erection strained against his pants as heat consumed him. He wanted to teleport her to his bed, feel her soft body beneath him, her hips rocking with his as he claimed her, filled her. Her lust sang to him like a siren’s song and fired his icy blood.

“We meet again, little one.” He brushed the elegant column of her throat with his thumb, pausing over her pulse with every stroke. “I did not expect it would be so soon.”

Hadrian kept his hand on her neck as he stepped back to appraise his prey. He had known she was small, but his mind had been completely consumed with lust and hunger earlier to focus on detail. She was barely over five feet and slight of frame. Fragile. He could snap the poor girl; easily break her like a doll. He eased the pressure on her neck at the thought. Her face was delicate with almond shaped eyes that were down caste, concealing their color. She also had well defined cheekbones and stubborn chin. Her luscious, pouting lips were peach in color. Hadrian shivered as he imagined their taste. He could not remember the last time he had felt another’s lips pressed against his. Never had he kissed the women he took to his bed…not since he had been a mortal man, not since his wife. But damn, her mouth was tempting.

He dropped his gaze to her body. She was tightly bundled in a thick jacket, the blue a perfect complement to her smooth sun kissed skin. Her dark brown hair was pulled back and fastened in a braid that came to her hips. He resisted the urge of freeing her locks, having the absurd desire to run his fingers through her hair.

He released her throat to press his hands to the hedge on either side of her head. Her gaze met his and Hadrian bit back a curse. Amber. Pure, amber stared back at him. Not yellow, as he thought before when he had found her in the hall.

Stunning.

For an instant, his gaze grew sharp. Eva tried to look away, but his hand caught her chin and forced her to face him.

“Look at me, little one.”

She raised her hands, intending to shove him away, like she knew she should. This was wrong. He was a vampire. No, he was a crazed vampire king and she was, well, a lowly half-breed, who was also his ward. Nothing could happen between them. As if I would want something to happen between us, she told herself.

His thumb brushed over her bottom lip, the caress was simple and yet completely erotic. He sank his body into hers and Eva lost her breath. .

Hadrian slipped his hand down her neck to her nape; his fingers began to play with the stay strands of hair that had escaped her braid. His ravenous gaze roamed her body. Despite the bulkiness of her jacket, he could feel her generous curves. The blue material covering her chest strained ever so slightly against her breasts as her hips cradled his, her stomach was flat and soft against his painful erection.

“Shall we continue what we started in the hall?”

Eva swallowed hard as she thought, Oh, God, yes!

His finger danced over her shoulder and her chest to the zipper of her jacket. She watched as he slowly drew it down, heat coiled in her core.

Eva couldn’t think. She couldn’t move. The heat of his strong hands burned through the thin material of her pajama tank top as he spanned her waist. She did not notice the cold but shivered in anticipation. His fingers slowly slid up her sides and paused at her ribs, just below her aching breasts. She arched her back and he hissed.

“Terror,” Hadrian whispered. “You should be feeling terror.”

Eva squeaked in response, unable to speak.

He leaned his head down, his breath brushed along the sensitive flesh of her throat.

“You should run,” he said. Would I let her escape? Yes, he would. He would use what remained of his will to remain still as she raced through the labyrinth. He should set her from him and demand that she go.

All Eva could do was nod. She knew he was right. She should be screaming. She should be praying that Falcon would come to her rescue. This dark vampire had her trapped. Hadrian, the mad king, had her at his mercy. She tried to remember the evil rumors, hoping they might be able to draw her back into reality. Nothing came. All she could think about was how much she wanted to feel his hands on her body, hips lips against her skin and his—

“Touch me,” Eva gasped. Desire controlled her mind as lust gripped her body.

His black gaze jumped with dangerous delight. He spun her about, forcing her back against his chest, his hands gripping her hips as he pressed her front towards the hedge.

Heaven help her, a bolt of treacherous excitement ran down her spine to curl her toes. She pressed her hips back and groaned at the feel of his hard cock against her ass.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked, his lips brushing her ear.

“Y-yes.”

“Who?” His demand was rough and, God, she loved the anger that laced his voiced. On some level, she knew she must be losing her mind to desire this vampire. She did not care. She wanted him. Now. Primal, sexual need coursed through her in sweet agonizing pulsating waves.

“H-Hadrian Lu-Lucretius,” she answered.

Eva cried out in surprised pleasure as he slowly scraped his fangs drew his tongue over her rapidly beating pulse. She tilted her head to the side, giving him better access to her neck.

This was crazy, she should be begging him not to bite her, not panting for his touch. All her life she had been told a vampire’s bite was ruthless and excruciatingly painful, something to be avoided at all costs. But she wanted this.

She frowned as she tried to analyze her reaction. She should be fighting him with every ounce of her strength. Instead she was aching with lust.

His tongue caressed her neck and her thoughts scattered. Her head lolled back against his chest.

Eva began to wriggle beneath his hold. She wanted to see him, to kiss his lips. It felt like an eternity since the last time she had been kissed. What would his fangs feel? Would the cut her? Something dark and wild in her roared at the thought. She tried to turn, but he kept her pined.

“You crave.” His fingers dug into her hips as he rubbed her against his shaft. He dipped his face down into the crook of her neck and took in a deep breath. She shuttered. He inhaled in her scent, like an animal, like the beast that he was and it thrilled her. “I can scent your need.”

She boldly covered his hands with her own and he allowed her slide their hands over her flat belly to her breasts. She moaned when gave a gentle squeeze. Her breasts were bare beneath her tank top and she hated the thin material for being in the way. She wanted to feel his palms against her hard nipples.

“Wild,” Hadrian breathed.

She sighed and began to adulate her hips against him. He bit back a curse as fire spread through his veins.

Take her.

His fangs grew even longer, his nails lengthened to claws as his cock swelled. His eyes flicked from her breasts to her pulse and back. The vampire within him howled as he thought of pushing her jeans down, revealing her sex. She would be so hot, so wet. He could tell by her scent she was ready. He could drive into her as he pierced her flesh and drank deep.

Take her.

Eva reached up to circle her arms about his neck—

She stumbled into the hedge. Whirling around she saw…nothing. He was gone. The snow was undisturbed, with the exception of her footprints.

The absents of his body left her vulnerable to the cold and she quickly zipped her jacket. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the sensual haze that clouded her thoughts.

Her neck tingled and Eva hesitantly raised her hand, her fingers met smooth skin. He had not bitten her. Her cheeks flooded with heat. She had wanted him to sink his fangs deep within her. Her blush grew even darker as clarity began to set in. She had freely offered herself to him, mind, body, and…blood. She had been his for the taking.

So why hadn’t he claimed what she had clearly offered?

Eva walked over to the marble bench and sat. She rubbed her hands anxiously over her knees as she fought the urge to search him out, to find him and demand they continue. He had wakened something darkly feral within her and she frowned, one hundred percent confused.

Why had she acted this way? Why did she want him so badly? She bounced her legs, barely resisting the need to hunt him.

She knew vampires could control a human’s mind. The ability made hunting and feeding much easier. Had he done that to her? Possibly. But, if he had reached into her mind, why had he let her go? Why had he not taken what he wanted?

“Because you’re a half-breed,” she spat.

No man in his right mind would want a half-breed.

But he isn’t in his right mind, she thought then mentally shook herself. Stupid girl, she chided. Even if he hadn’t used his power on me and I do truly desire him, it doesn’t make a difference. He is a king and I’m a half-breed bastard that he’s been saddled with as a ward.

She sighed and leaned back, titling her head up to the clear sky. The night was still. Silent. Her breathing had begun to slow, her heart returning to a normal pace while her body still throbbed with need.

Out of all the rumors she had heard of Hadrian, none had warned her about how devastatingly handsome he is. Darkness clung to him and he wore power and malice like a second skin. Yet, his touch had been gentle and—she shivered—deliciously firm. He could have ripped her throat out with his fangs or he could have slaked his lust on her. Instead, he deserted her.

A growl rumbled the night and Eva’s brow furrowed. It sounded like a jaguar. She glanced about, straining her hearing, trying to discern where it had come from. To her knowledge, there were no shape-shifters here besides—She slapped a hand over her mouth—Her. She had made the noise. Never before had she been able to growl, to channel the feral animal that lurked within every shape-shifter.

She shook her head in disbelief. Something strange was happening to her. First, she had craved freedom of her room, then followed her curiosity out of the castle, she had been compelled to enter the maze and this sexual madness with Hadrian. Everything pointed to what the pack called Drive, a behavior motivated by pure instinct. She was a half-breed and as such, she would never experience Drive. Or, should never.

Eva gave a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping as she brought her hands up to massage her temples. Maybe she just needed some sleep. Jet lag could do strange things to people.

Leave Amanda a comment along with your email for a chance to win a copy of her eBook, Caressed by a Crimson Moon.  Winner will be chosen on February 6, 2013. Good Luck!

BOOK REVIEW ~ EVENTIDE BY ELLE JASPER

Title: Eventide (The Dark Ink Chronicles, Book Three)

Author: Elle Jasper

Release Date: March 6, 2012 

Reviewer purchased own copy of book.

Newly-bitten tattoo artist Riley Poe feels herself changing in unimaginable ways. Eli Dupre, her vampire lover, has seen the change in her and fears for her humanity. His rival, Victorian, tells her she must see the patriarch of the vampire cult that attacked her to save her soul. In the vampire cult's fortress in Romania, Riley will face her worst fears-and the dark powers threatening to destroy her. And she'll have to do the one thing she's been determined not to do—put her trust in Eli.

I really wanted to enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the first two in this series--but somehow along the way, the story lost its fizz and just can't stand up against the seductiveness of Afterlight and Everdark.  

Eventide starts off where Everdark ended:  Riley has been taken by the Russian strigoi vamp, Victorian, and she experiences haunting images/dreams. And worse, she is losing time--hours--where she doesn't remember what she has done, much less, how the hell she got there. 

Her doesn't-give-a-shit-attitude and her change of personality leaves her friends worried and wondering what the hell is going on. They all know Riley has the blood of two powerful strigoi vampires flowing through her veins, but this drastic change in her behavior makes them start to question whether Riley is strong enough to fight the darkness that threatens to consume her. 

Eli Dupre, her sexy vampire boyfriend, is determined to save her before its too late. And the only way to prevent Riley from completely changing, is to hand her over to the man who also wants Riley for himself--Victorian. 

This is the part of the book that I truly did enjoy. We get to see a softer side to Vic and my heart goes out to that emo-Russian vamp. He loves Riley. And knowing that Eli has her heart doesn't change that fact. He will always love her wait for her forever. Sniff....

Eventide reads so differently from the first books. The reader spends a lot of time wondering what the hell is going on. The missing chunks of time, the hallucinations, the strange dreams--all come from Riley's point of view and are very confusing. But I could almost handle that...almost. 

However, when Riley and Eli are in Russia, they met up with new characters who have their own stories to tell. We see these stories when Riley touches them and she is "flung" inside their heads--seeing what they have experienced--and the ride is all the more confusing to the reader. I felt a sensory overload coming on with the new names, plot twists, and none of it seemed to stick. 

It was a case of too much information in a little bit of time and left me skimming some of it. GASP! I loathe to skim, but frankly, I couldn't help it. There was nothing there to hold me to the story. And for me, that's just so sad. Especially since I know all this build-up will come into play with the next book in the series...

Overall, I was unimpressed with Eventide, but there were redeemable parts and I will continue to read this sometimes charming, sometimes dark, and always smexy series.  

SEXY SNIPPETS TUESDAYS ~ THE WITCH IS BACK BY H.P. MALLORY

Tuesdays have never been so sexy!

Sexy Snippets is a weekly feature hosted by Reading Between the Wines for the 18+ crowd. To join in just grab the button, post a sexy paragraph or two from your current read and share the author & title so other participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like. Then add your post to the linky over on RBtW's blog post so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!

Title:  The Witch Is Back

Author:  H.P. Mallory

Expected Release Date:  July 31, 2012

His eyes were on fire again, no longer white but a burnished red, like embers. "You taste," he began and then shook his head as if he had no words. He opened his eyes and before I could respond, he dropped his head to my breasts, taking one in his mouth. He sucked and teased my nipple ruthlessly before sinking his fangs into the soft flesh above it. I squirmed beneath him, at the pain as well as the sensation of his fingers stroking between my legs. I hadn't even realized he'd pulled out of me until he entered me again and begun pumping inside me as he sucked savagely at my breast.



I just finished this book this am and man was it a roller coaster ride of emotions. Still not sure how I feel about Sinjin.  Review to come this week here at Where's My Muse.

LUSTING FOR COVERS SUNDAY

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

This meme is hosted by TBQ @ TBQ's Book Palace.

To view complete instructions on how to participate, as well as grab the HTML code for the graphic, see this page first!

Once you are ready to join the fun, please fill out Mister Linky over at TBQ's blog post along  with your name/blog name and the direct link to your Lusting for Covers for this week!

This weeks L4C:

Lara Adrian

Edge of Dawn (Book 11, Midnight Breed Series)

Twenty years after the Order’s vanquish of their chief adversary, conflicts and skirmishes continue for the Breed, violence escalating toward war. Peace seems elusive, but the Order and their allies will not rest until it is won.

For Mira, raised with the Order from the time she was a child and now the formidable captain of her own team of warriors for the Order, the fight is personal. War has cost her a great deal, though nothing more precious than the life of someone she loved dearly. Vowed to avenge his death, Mira blazes into every battle like a Valkyrie, poised to make her enemies pay. Until an unexpected encounter with a rebel leader brings her face-to-face with a startling truth, and a betrayal that will cut through her every defense . . . straight to the core of the wounded woman whose faith has never been tested more, nor her heart more deeply torn.


I am a huge fan of the Midnight Breed Series--read all except for the last one,  Darker After Midnight, Book Ten.  This cover is by far her best.  And this is the long awaited story of Mira who we first met in Veil of Midnight. Can't.Wait.


Mark it on Goodreads to add to your TBR pile.


What book cover have you been lusting over this week? Please share!



GUEST BLOGGER ~ CLARK HAYS AND KATHLEEN McFALL -- BLOOD AND WHISKEY

WELCOME, CLARK HAYS AND KATHLEEN McFALL, AUTHORS OF BLOOD AND WHISKEY

Also, check out the Blog Tour Giveaway Rafflecopter below at end of post.

Character Envy 

Writing together, especially romances, can make for strange jealousies.

By: Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall

In 1999, we came up with a radical plan to save our romance: write together. We had just reunited after an epic break up that required a several-year cooling off period. When a not-so-chance meeting rekindled the flames, we decided to channel some of the excess passion into a joint creative project to hopefully avoid total combustion.


The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Darkly Romantic Mystery (Midnight Ink, 2010) — and a newly entangled romance — was the result. This May, we finished our second book, Blood and Whiskey, and we learned something important: our characters lead far more romantic lives than we do.


Of course, they’re also dealing with murderous vampire hordes, cold-blooded killers straight out of the old west, biblical prophecies, undead race wars and the care and feeding of an overly-sensitive dog-cow-dog named Rex. But even with all of that, and even setting aside the fact they are from very different worlds — she needs human blood to live, he’s more of whiskey drinker — Tucker and Lizzie have a romance for the ages.


It may be petty, but we’re kind of jealous.


And not just of the main characters. Elita, the fierce, sexy vampire warrior sworn to protect Lizzie, has seduced her way through half the undead world and left a trail of drained human bodies — stone cold dead but with smiles on their faces — stretching back thousands of years. In Blood and Whiskey, she finds herself sandwiched happily between a handsome Russian vampire, Rurik, and his supermodel human consort, Virote.


Us? Well, we find ourselves sandwiched between deadlines.


Early on, we figured that when romantic partners wrote together, it would involve far more reclining on satin sheets, sipping champagne and whispering sweet plotlines to one another. The truth is far less, well, romantic. Here’s what a typical exchange between us sounds like (names changed to protect the not-so-innocent):


Chuck: Did you finish your chapter yet?


Cathy: Almost, did you finish yours?


Chuck: I need about two hundred more words and a better description of the thing.


Cathy: What thing?


Chuck: The thing. In the mountains. With Elita.


Cathy: Oh yeah. I forgot about that. Should we talk about the next chapters?


Etc., until bed time.


Compare that to a scene from Blood and Whiskey featuring Tucker and Lizzie:


“Do you ever, you know, take a look when I’m dead? Does it turn you on to have a naked corpse next to you?”


“Woman, don’t be gross.”


“I’d probably take a peek. I mean, I do anyway, at least when you are sleeping. What’s the difference? It’s perfectly natural.” She nipped at his neck playfully.


“It’s un-natural. That’s why they call you un-dead.”


“Is what I’m feeling now, un-horny?”


“I’m pretty sure it’s the pregnancy hormones getting you all riled up.”


She unbuttoned her shirt and slipped his hand under, molding it around her breast and they both sighed. “You sure you haven’t felt me up when I’m cold and dead? I wouldn’t mind. And I wouldn’t know it if you, you know, did stuff to me.”


“No. I mean, yeah, I’m sure. I’d like to do stuff to you now though.”


“I like that idea.”


Is it any wonder we’re a little jealous?


Still, just in case it sounds like we’re complaining, we don’t write all the time. And the passion we channel into our characters has to come from somewhere.


CLICK HERE for yesterday's book promo of BLOOD AND WHISKEY along with a book summary.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK PROMO TOUR ~ BLOOD AND WHISKEY -- CLARK HAYS AND KATHLEEN McFALL

C.S. MAXWELL ~ WHERE'S MY MUSE

AND

BEWITCHING BOOK TOURS PRESENTS...

Long before Twilight and Vampire Diaries, Llewellyn published the first book of a thriller series, The Cowboy and the Vampire, in 1999, in trade paperback, with a print run of 10,000 (which sold out). It then went out of print. In response to the Twilight and Vampire Diaries mania, Midnight Ink, an imprint of Llewellyn, released a second edition in 2010 with a print run of 6,000, and, for the first time, with an e-book edition. Blood and Whiskey, the second book in the thriller series, is now being published by Pumpjack Press. Both books are by husband and wife writing team Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall.

Blood and Whiskey

A Cowboy and Vampire Thriller

Authors:  Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall

Publication date: May 1, 2012

SUMMARY

Wanted: Lizzie Vaughan, Dead or Alive.

Relationships are always hard, but for a broke cowboy and a newly turned Vampire, true love may be lethal.

After barely surviving an undead apocalypse in The Cowboy and the Vampire, Tucker and Lizzie hightail it back to quirky LonePine, Wyoming (population 438), to start a family. But she’s got a growing thirst for blood and he’s realizing that mortality ain’t all it’s cracked up to be when your girlfriend may live forever. With a scheming Vampire nation hot on their boot heels and a price on her head, how far will Lizzie and Tucker go to protect their unlikely love?

Blending evolution, religion and an overly sensitive cow dog named Rex, Blood and Whiskey drags the Vampire myth into the modern west, delivering double-barreled action, heart-pounding passion and wicked humor.

~ CHECK OUT GIIVEAWAY DETAILS AT END OF POST ~ and tune back in tomorrow for a guest blog from authors, Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays.