BOOK REVIEW ~ SHATTER ( PHOENIX RISING, BOOK FOUR) BY JOAN SWAN

Title: Shatter (Phoenix Rising, Book Four)
Author: Joan Swan
Expected Release Date: December 31, 2013
Publisher: Brava
Genre: Paranormal/Romance

Paperback - 352 pages

ARC provided by NetGalley

Book Blurb:

For seven years, Halina Beloi has been in hiding. But she's never forgotten Mitch Foster, the long, lean man she had to leave behind. Until, that is, Mitch shows up with a list of questions and a 9mm in his hand. 


All Mitch knows is that Halina broke his heart and disappeared. But new information has surfaced implicating her as a player in the deadliest game of Mitch's life. This time, he's not letting go without answers. Now terror, danger and heat will fuse them together or shatter the future. . .

Book Review

Mitch Foster. Finally.

I have been waiting anxiously for Mitch's story since reading Fever. He was a secondary character that leaped off the pages for me. He was snarky, a playboy who harbored dark secrets and had a secretive past. What more could a gal lust for, right?

On a side note, the Phoenix Rising series is an addictive read, heaped with suspense and action to keep you reading until the last page. It should be read in order to understand all the facets and players in this complex tale of military machinations and paranormal phenomenon. 

Shatter starts out with Mitch locating a woman he thinks is involved with the explosion that left his friends exposed and --ultimately-- altered with strange paranormal abilities. The same woman, who seven years ago, shattered his heart and betrayed his trust. 

Halina Beloi found herself entangled in a deadly game. And to protect the man she loved, she left and went into hiding. Now, Mitch is back in her life. But she isn't the same woman she was seven years ago. She's stronger and that fierceness has kicked Mitch on his butt. From the moment these two characters face off, the sexual tension is off the charts and their discord is highly entertaining. Mitch is such a strong character and with Halina, he has met his match. 

Now Mitch and Halina must work together in order to find some much needed answers and help those involved in that calamitous explosion years ago. But the past can be a tricky bitch to get over, filled with its own emotional land mines. Watching Mitch and Halina maneuver through their hurtful past as they take on their virulent present makes for an invigorating and addictive read. 

LUSTING FOR COVERS ~

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.

Once you are ready to join the fun, 

please fill out Mister Linky over at TBQ's blog with 

your name/blog name and the direct 

link to your Lusting for Covers for this 

week!

Here is my candidate for this week:

Expected Release Date: December 31, 2013

As of yet, there is no blurb. But I love and adore this series. Joan has been one lucky lady with her covers. All of them is delish and this is no exception. 

YUM delicious and can I have seconds? 

What cover are you lusting over this week? Leave me a comment and let me know~ 

ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ RUSH BY JOAN SWAN

Title: Rush (Phoenix Rising, Book Three)

Author: Joan Swan

Release Date: August 27, 2013

ARC received from author for an honest review 

Jessica Fury, Washington lobbyist, has money, connections, and her own firm. But five years ago she had something better: happiness. Her firefighter husband, Quaid, was handsome, courageous, and crazy about her. Then one day he walked into a chemical inferno—and never walked out. Jessica has been through hell to get back on her feet. And then a rumor surfaces that could bring a miracle or shatter her world – again.

Q has been a prisoner forever. He’s honed his mind and body into weapons. He’s developed abilities no one else understands. But he’s still at the mercy of a cabal of ruthless men, who blank his memory, test him like a lab rat, and tell him lies. Although his past has been erased and his future looks grim, instinct tells him he has a woman to live for. What his mind can’t remember, his body can’t forget…

The heat is on. 

Book Review

I love and adore this series. And with each book, I love the heroes of Swan's Phoenix Rising series. 

In Rush, Q has been rescued by the other members of his firefighting team. The same team that were involved in a bio hazard explosion five years ago. The same team that now have special supernatural powers since said explosion. And the same team that are now fighting to save their lives as one maniac searches to destroy them. 

The Phoenix Rising series is one that MUST be read in order, as the story builds on itself--and jumping ahead will only lead to mass confusion. 

Q has been thought to be dead for the last five years. And Jessica Fury, his widow, is afraid to believe that Quaid is alive. She has spent the last year fighting a grief that had her turning to drugs and meaningless sex in order to forget the man she would always love. And the slightest hint of hope could send her back down inside the dark abyss of addiction. 

But there is no denying that Q, the man they rescue, is her husband. 

And there is also no denying the fact that Q is not the same man he was five years ago. He's been tortured, tested, and drugged for over five years in a secret black op experiment -- one that goes way beyond ethical, moral, and with a evil man in power hell bent in making sure Q is returned to line his pockets with dirty money. 

Q cannot remember his past. He has no memory except for the torture and experiments that have been done to him. But the presence of Cash, the only man he knows he can somewhat trust, along with the other people claiming to love him, he realizes that his entire life has been taken away from him. And he will do anything to get it back. Especially the beautiful woman he has dreamed about while held captive. He is drawn to her, feels things that doesn't make sense, but pulled by something stronger than his will. 

Jessica knows that Quaid has a long road ahead of him. He may be alive, but he has seen things, done things, that have changed him. But he is still the move she loves. And Jessica is afraid that the things she has done while grieving his loss could destroy their fragile connection. So she treads carefully, hoping that the secret she keeps will not come back to destroy their chance of a happy reunion. 

Joan Swan writes a compelling, nail-biting thriller with appealing characters. The fact that the reader can re-visit Tag, Alyssa, Luke, Kiera, Mitch, Cash, and Kai is a huge plus. I love them all. With a special place reserved for the ever humorous and ever mysterious Mitch. I call dibs on him. 

Rush gives more information about DARPA and what exactly the evil Schaeffer expected to gain with his deadly plans. But of course, there are cliffies and hints of other possible side stories developing in the wings. I wait anxiously for December and the release of Shatter, book four in the Phoenix Rising series. I'm hoping that Swan will not leave the mysterious Trent alone in Pakistan. 

The Phoenix Rising series is a highly addictive read that grabs you and won't let go. 

SEXY SNIPPETS ~ RUSH BY JOAN SWAN

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 at RBtW's blog so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!

Title: Rush (Phoenix Rising, Book Three)

Author: Joan Swan

Expected Release Date: August 27, 2013

His muscles contracted beneath her lips and a sound rolled in his chest and vibrated through her lips. Her body hummed with need.
She slid her tongue along the indentation of his spine, paused and kissed him again. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
A heavy breath rocked his shoulders. "You can never stop doing that."
A smile turned her lips and some apprehension melted. "That can be arranged."
She kissed her way up his spine, pressing her body to his and slid her hands over his hard, warm, abdomen. The ribbed sinew beneath her fingers flinched.
"Oh...God..." He breathed the words, long and slowly as if he'd never felt anything so heavenly.

I love this series and love Joan Swan's writing style. Her books are well written and her heroes are drop-dead SMEXY!

Now it's your turn to show me your sexy ~