Review and Giveaway: A Familiar Tail

A Familiar Tail (Witch's Cat Mystery - Book 1) by Delia James

Publication Date: 02/02/2016
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 0451476573
ISBN-13: 978-0451476579

(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Delia James on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Excerpt from A Familiar Tail, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

Magic and meows meet in the first enchanting Witch’s Cat mystery!
 
Unlucky-in-love artist Annabelle Britton decides that a visit to the seaside town of  Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the perfect way to get over her problems. But when she stumbles upon a smoky gray cat named Alastair, and follows him into a charming cottage, Annabelle finds herself in a whole spellbook full of trouble.
 
Suddenly saddled with a witch's wand and a furry familiar, Annabelle soon meets a friendly group of women who use their spells, charms, and potions to keep the people of Portsmouth safe. But despite their gifts, the witches can’t prevent every wicked deed in town....
 
Soon, the mystery surrounding Alistair’s former owner, who died under unusual circumstances, grows when another local turns up dead. Armed with magic, friends, and the charmed cat who adopted her more than the other way around, Annabelle sets out to paw through the evidence and uncover a killer.

Thoughts:

Delia James starts readers off with the first book in a new paranormal cozy mystery series. The first book in The Witch's Cat mystery series, A Familiar Tail introduces readers to Annabelle Britton who has no idea that the 'vibes' she has had all her life are a bit on the witchy side. Readers looking for a series that is mysterious and magical will find this one right up their alley. With everything from covens to cats, this is a story readers won't soon forget.

What I liked:

As many of you know I am a big fan of paranormal reading and a big fan of cozy mysteries. With Delia James' new series, you get a little bit of both. The paranormal characters in this book happen to be witches, but a knowledge of witchcraft isn't needed to enjoy it. The mystery surrounds the death of woman who has a large cat that attaches itself to the heroine. Both parts of the story work in combination to give the reader an interesting read that has a great paranormal premise.

When it comes to reading this kind of book, I look for a couple of things, background and the balance between paranormal and mystery elements. This is the first book in the series, so we don't have a lot to go on, as far as, background in the beginning. James does a wonderful job of describing Annabelle and her gift. We also meet Alastair, the cat and we learn a lot about Annabelle's family and their connections to the town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Annabelle learns that her vibes are feelings related to the fact that she is a witch. All of this really held my interest as I got to know the heroine and her feline friend. So James gets top marks for the background part of the story. 

Balance is everything when it comes to a series that has to basically marry two genres. James had to give readers a good mystery and a good paranormal tale. I felt like this book leaned a little more to the magical side of things but that stemmed from setting up the series in general. James had to give readers a lot of background here and most of it had to do with witches and covens and the like. The mystery was still a prominent part of the story. 

There's a killer in Portsmouth and Annabelle and her new found friends must figure out whodunit. I liked the mystery aspects of the story for a couple of reasons. Alastair, the cat, belonged to the victim. He has taken up with Annabelle and he such a great part of the story. He basically leads Annabelle to the cottage where is owner lies dead and where the story truly begins. The clues were well thought out and they occurred at the right times in the story. There weren't a lot of red herrings, but that didn't seem necessary with all of the other things going on. When a second murder occurs, things get even more complicated. A very good mystery and paranormal even though the balance was a little off.

What I didn't like:

There wasn't much I didn't like about this one. I was skeptical because there are so many books that involve magical cats. I was expecting it to be a little predictable, but to my surprise it wasn't. Also, most of the paranormal cozies are about witches. I figured that part would be overused as well. But James proved me wrong by giving this one an interesting premise that dealt with witches but wasn't really contingent on knowledge of the craft. So no real complaints here.

Bottom Line:

This is a great new cozy mystery with some very interesting paranormal aspects. Annabelle was a believable heroine and she asked a lot of the right questions. Alastair is a character I am sure than many readers will enjoy. The other ladies of the coven will probably provide great future stories. For the first book in a new series, this one had great background and the balance was pretty good, though not perfect. Read this one... it might change your mind about paranormal cozies.

A Familiar Tail is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Born in California and raised in Michigan, Delia James writes her tales of magic, cats, and mystery from her hundred-year-old bungalow home. When not writing, she hikes, swims, gardens, cooks, reads, and raises her rapidly growing son.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of A Familiar Tail by Delia James.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, March 8th.

1. Please leave a comment describing a favorite cat you may have had or someone close to you has or had.

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: To Catch a Rake

To Catch a Rake (Rake's Handbook - Book 3) by Sally Orr

Publication Date: 02/02/2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Casablanca
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 1492630039
ISBN-13: 978-1492630036

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Sally Orr on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Rake's Handbook

1. The Rake's Handbook
2. When a Rake Falls
3. To Catch a Rake
The Rake's Field Guide

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from To Catch a Rake, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

No Good Rake Goes Unpunished

When George Drexel used his vast experience with women to write and publish The Rake's Handbook: Including Field Guide, little did he realize the havoc it would cause. Now years later, the rumor of a second edition has London's naughtiest widows pounding on his door, begging to be included. But George has given up his roguish ways and wants nothing more than to be left alone with his architectural pursuits...until beautiful Meta Russell tempts him from his work and leaves him contemplating an altogether different sort of plan.

The handbook may be years out of print, but it still has the power to ruin lives. Desperate to save her sister-whose inclusion has left her jilted-Meta tracks down the rake responsible, only to find a man who steals her breath and leaves her reeling. Banding together to put things to rights, George and Meta find themselves drawn inexorably together...but can Meta truly trust her heart to a man who wrote the book on being a rake?

Thoughts:

The Rake's Handbook series continues with the third novel, To Catch a Rake. Author Sally Orr captivates readers with eccentric characters and an interesting premise. Orr uses the historical building of the Thames Tunnel to give her novel credibility and authenticity. Readers who enjoy a good romance from this time period, with snippets of accurate historical detail will love this one. Orr shines in her third book in this popular series!

What I liked:

I love historical romances. I love the setting and the opulence. I love the characters and social norms in these kinds of novels. But the most important thing for me in finding a historical romance that I really enjoy is accuracy. Having read a ton of historical romances, it is easy to pick out those authors who have done their homework and those that just write with a lick and a promise. Sally Orr is a writer who knows what she is doing. It is obvious from all of her books that she has done her research and cares about adding real historical events that bring the period to life.

In To Catch a Rake, Orr uses the building of the Thames Tunnel as a backdrop to her romance. George Drexel, Orr's leading man, is an architect who is working on the project. What makes this interesting is the fact that the tunnels exists and was being constructed during the time period in which the book is set. I loved the historical detail and thought this added so much to the already wonderful romance. I love it when an author gets it right and Orr certainly does here.

The romantic aspects of the book also very well written and enjoyable. Meta's sister Lily has just lost her fiancee due to the fact that her initials may appear in a rather controversial novel, The Rake's Handbook. George is a driven and ambitious architect, but he also the author of the dreaded book. Meta sets out to prove that her sister is not one of the women that George has written about, but when she meets him she is completely blindsided by his charm and wit and his duty to his family. 

Orr gives readers a hero that is kind and generous, but who is also very intelligent and charming. George was a great hero. One of those men a lady wished she could meet. But he obviously has a bit of a wild side, because The Rake's Handbook is quite detailed. It was a fictional account and really had nothing to do with Meta's sister, but it brought the hero and the heroine together in this book, and made for a really unique story. George wasn't a brooding hero, he was just a man on a mission, driven and a bit eccentric. He was quite enjoyable to read about.

Meta, the heroine, is a widow who takes care of her younger siblings and her family. Family means everything to her and when her sister's reputation is at stake she has to take steps to put the situation to rights. She goes to George with intentions of making him change things for Lily, but she doesn't expect to find someone she is very attracted too. I loved watching her let down her guard and finally let George into her heart. This was one of those romances that has some steam and passion, but one that will also make readers feel warm and fuzzy and generally satisfied by the romance.

Bottom Line:

This one could have been your typical run of the mill historical romance, but Sally Orr makes all the difference with heartfelt romance and wonderful historical detail. I fell in love with George and his tunnel project. He was eccentric and passionate. Meta would have done anything for her sister and as a heroine she stood out among the many. Loved this one! You will too...

To Catch a Rake is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Sally Orr is a recovering scientist who worked for thirty years in medical research. One day a cyber-friend challenged her to write a novel. Since she is a hopeless Anglophile, it's not surprising that her first book is a Regency romance. She lives with her husband in San Diego, surrounded by too many books and not enough old English cars.

You can sign up for her newsletter at http://www.sallyorr.com/

Review and Giveaway: For Cheddar or Worse

For Cheddar or Worse (Cheese Shop Mystery - Book 7) by Avery Aames

Publication Date: 02/02/2016
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425273326
ISBN-13: 978-0425273326

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Avery Aames (aka. Daryl Wood Gerber) on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Cheese Shop Mystery

1. The Long Quiche Goodbye
2. Lost and Fondue
3. Clobbered by Camembert
4. To Brie or Not To Brie
5. Days of Wine and Roquefort
6. As Gouda as Dead
7. For Cheddar or Worse

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from For Cheddar or Worse, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

In the new Cheese Shop Mystery from the Agatha Award-winning author of As Gouda as Dead, an extra-sharp tongued cheese critic is cut down during a summer cheese festival.

It’s time for the annual Cheese Festival in Providence, Ohio, and Charlotte Bessette’s cheese shop is packed with homemade specialties. Meanwhile, her friend Erin is prepping her dairy farm and inn for cheese makers, marketers, journalists, and one surprise guest—Lara Berry, pretentious cheese whiz, pompous bestselling author, and pungent critic whose extra sharp tongue can crumble a reputation. 
 
Even though any love for Lara by her friends curdled long ago, Charlotte is surprised when the foodie is smothered to death in her room at Erin’s inn. Accusations start flying, but the one laying blame on Erin strikes Charlotte as a crock. Now, to clear her friend’s name, Charlotte has to sift through Lara’s ex-lovers, former business partners, and unforgiving enemies to find a killer before Lara’s past casts a tainted pall on the festival’s future.

Thoughts:

Author Avery Aames concludes her Cheese Shop Mystery series with the seventh book, For Cheddar or Worse. Readers who have followed the series throughout it's publication will be sad to see it end. Charlotte Bessette's cheese shop is the pride of Providence, Ohio, but her antics as an amateur sleuth is what has readers coming back for more. Aames wraps this one up nicely with a well crafted mystery that is full of surprises and plenty of yummy cheese!

What I Liked:

So sad to see this one end. The Cheese Shop series has been one of my favorites. Though I have not reviewed every book in the series, I have read them all and loved how the series progressed. Avery Aames gives readers a captivating setting, wonderfully drawn characters and plenty of mystery in each of the books in this series. Returning to each book is like visiting an old friend. It's warm and cozy and just a bit intense with each mystery. Loved them all!

For Cheddar or Worse is the last book in the series and those are always hard for an author in my opinion. There are so many loose ends that need to be tied up and each character's growth and development has to come to close. Aames does a wonderful job with this final book. Charlotte is finally married to the love her life, Jordan. Erin's bed, breakfast and dairy farm is a success and the cheese lovers of Providence are going to see some murder free days. 

This book had everything a reader could want in a final installment. The annual cheese festival has come to Providence and with it, a lot of cheese lovers, marketers and journalists. There are a few unexpected guests. Lara Berry is not very well liked in the cheese community because of her condescending attitude and harsh dictates. And then there is the murderer who kills her. Neither were wanted at the cheese fest, but it makes for an interesting mystery. Lots of well thought out clues, motives galore and the suspect pool is large. Aames excels at red herrings and keeping the reader guessing.

One of my favorite parts of this series is the people and characters that inhabit Providence. Aames always creates characters that readers want to know more about whether they are re-occurring or just around for one book, they are all well drawn and have the kind of depth readers need in a good mystery. I was happy to see that Charlotte and her friends have their own happy endings, as well as, a great final mystery.

What I didn't like:

I have always felt that this series focused more on the people than on the mystery in each book and that's not a bad thing. But for mystery purists and readers who are all about the sleuthing it might seem like something is missing. Don't get me wrong I loved learning about Charlotte and Jordan and her other friends, family and townspeople, but sometimes I wanted to know more about who was dead and why. Make sense?

Bottom Line:

This has been an awesome series and I hate to see it end, but Avery Aames will likely give us more great mysteries in the future. Aames ends this series on a good note. The story was engaging and finding the killer was not easy. I didn't get it figured out until the big reveal and that's always nice. Another great book by a well liked author in the genre.

For Cheddar or Worse is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Avery Aames is the nationally bestselling author of A CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY series for Berkley Prime Crime. The first, The Long Quiche Goodbye, won the Agatha Award for "Best First Novel." Avery is the pseudonym for Daryl Wood Gerber. Daryl writes the nationally bestselling COOKBOOK NOOK MYSTERIES. Daryl also created the format for the popular sit-com, "Out of this World" and has won awards for her screenplays. Both Avery and Daryl like to read, cook, and garden. 

Avery & Daryl blog at Mystery Lovers Kitchen, http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com - 
a blog for foodies who love mysteries. 

And some of their characters show up at the Killer Characters blog, http://killercharacters.com 

Visit Avery at her website: http://www.averyaames.com to see a sneak preview, her book trailer, find recipes, and more.
Visit Daryl at her website: http://www.darylwoodgerber.com for the same.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of For Cheddar or Worse by Avery Aames.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, March 4th.

1. Please leave a comment describing your favorite cheese or cheese dish.

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Until I'm Yours

Until I'm Yours (The Bennett Series - Book 4) by Kennedy Ryan

Publication Date: 02/02/2016
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Imprint: Forever Yours
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 432
ISBN-10: 1455537519
ISBN-13: 978-1455537518

(Received for an honest review from Forever Yours)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Kennedy Ryan on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

The Bennett Series

1. When You Are Mine
2. Loving You Always
3. Be Mine Forever
4. Until I'm Yours

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Synopsis:

The world knows her face . . .
Mean girl. Goddess. Bitch. Supermodel Sofie Baston has earned those labels . . . yet they don't scratch the surface of who she really is. Before she can follow her own dreams, Sophie must do her daughterly duty and reel in a "fish" for her father's business-a tall, brown-eyed entrepreneur who immediately hooksher. He's a big guy with an even bigger heart . . . but will that heart be open to Sofie once her darkest secret is revealed?

. . . but only one man knows her heart

To Trevor Bishop, Sofie is a beautiful mystery he would gladly spend his life solving. He figures her tough demeanor is armor against a world that's hurt her too many times. Then Sofie's deepest wounds are reopened by the powerful, ruthless man who made them. When she musters the courage to take him down, her world shatters. Now Trevor is determined to help Sofie pick up the pieces so they can build a future together. The challenge will be convincing his ice princess that it's safe to melt in his arms . . .

Thoughts:

Kennedy Ryan brings readers the fourth installment in The Bennett Series, Until I'm Yours. Readers who are new to this author will find this book intense and passionate. Ryan writes characters who have depth and emotion. She delves deep into the things that make a character tick and brings her readers right along with her. If readers think perhaps they can't relate to a supermodel, Ryan will likely prove them wrong with Sofie Baston. This is a character that will take readers from hate to love in the beat of a heart. A great new book from Kennedy Ryan!

What I liked:

Kennedy Ryan is an author I wasn't too sure about when I picked up the first book in this series. She was untested for me and I didn't know what kind of voice she would have. Needless to say I shouldn't have worried. Ryan has a knack for writing characters that are raw and edgy. She gets under the skin of characters, making them authentic and real. I love the way she can make a reader hate a character and then turn around and redeem them. That's what happens with the heroine in her latest book, Sofie Baston.

Readers who have read the other books in The Bennett Series have met Sofie before and I'm sure it was a meeting they won't soon forget. She was the mean girl in every sense of the word. Readers likely wanted to pull their hair out when reading about her antics. Ryan did a fantastic job giving readers a character they would love to hate. Now in the fourth book, Sofie becomes the heroine. How does an author then turn the tide you ask? How can she take the reader from hating a character to loving her? 

It's not easy. But Ryan gives readers a whole new side of Sofie in this book. She is vulnerable and softer than we have ever seen her. She does have feelings underneath all that smugness. And when Trevor Bishop starts to see what's under all that, he falls for her, just like readers will. Sofie hasn't had it easy even though she's a supermodel and Ryan makes a real effort to show her humanity. She has a lot to overcome and the underlying message of the story is that even though a person makes mistakes and has things happen to them that could derail their lives, they can survive and face life head on. I loved the premise and the way the author explored every situation involving it. 

What I didn't like:

I wondered if readers would be able to relate to Sofie in the beginning but Ryan was quick to show just how real this character was. Trevor, however, was a little harder for me to connect with. He was a attractive and his caring manner with Sofie was tender and I wanted to fall madly in love with his character and I did to some extent. But for me this book was more cerebral and more about Sofie's journey then about her journey with Trevor. The romance was hot and it brought Sofie to the point she needed to be to face her demons, but it wasn't the central focus of the story. I liked that, but some readers may not. 

Bottom Line:

Another great book by Kennedy Ryan. I have really enjoyed Sofie throughout the series, but loved seeing her come into her own here. I liked disliking her, but liked liking her even better! Make sense? lol... If you haven't tried Ryan's writing, now is the time. This is a very intense story that has some wonderful characters. Looking for something a bit more challenging in a romance? This might be it.

Until I'm Yours is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Kennedy Ryan grew up in North Carolina, but loves living in Atlanta with her husband (tall – check, dark – check – handsome – check), and her handful of a son. Though she knew, like writers often do, that she was supposed to tell stories, the road to fulfillment has been paved with “some of everything” jobs that kept her family eating and living indoors. With her degree in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Go Tar Heels!), she has focused on writing for non-profit organizations and even doing some non-fiction ghost writing. Only in the last few years did she start telling stories again.

In addition to being a devoted wife and mom, she’s also passionate about serving families living with Autism. Her son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two, and she has made it her mission to help as many families as possible find the resources and services they need.

I am just as passionate about the REAL LIFE stories I tell as I am about the worlds I build in fiction. Some of these use my given TINA DULA and some are written under my pseudonym KENNEDY RYAN.

Review and Giveaway: Darkness Raging

Darkness Raging (Other/Sisters of the Moon - Book 18) by Yasmine Galenorn

Publication Date: 02/02/2016
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0515154776
ISBN-13: 978-0515154771

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Books)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Yasmine Galenorn on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Otherworld / Sisters of the Moon

0.5. Etched in Silver
1. Witchling
2. Changeling
3. Darkling
4. Dragon Wytch
5. Night Huntress
6. Demon Mistress
7. The Shadow of Mist
7. Bone Magic
8. Harvest Hunting
9. Etched in Silver
9. Blood Wyne
9.5. Ice Shards
10. Courting Darkness
11. Shaded Vision
12. Shadow Rising
13. Haunted Moon
14. Autumn Whispers
15. Crimson Veil
16. Priestess Dreaming
17. Panther Prowling
18. Darkness Raging
The Shadow of Mist
Tales From Otherworld
Moon Swept

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Darkness Raging, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

The New York Times bestselling author of Panther Prowling returns to the Otherworld where one of the D’Artigo sisters faces a terrifying challenge that’s more personal than she ever could have imagined.
 
We're the D'Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Camille is a wicked-good witch. Delilah is a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. And me? I'm Menolly, a vampire married to a gorgeous werepuma. As the war in Otherworld arrives, Blood Wyne, Queen of the Vampires, summons me. Apparently, my position as Roman's consort entails more than I imagined...
 
As the Demon Lord Shadow Wing creates his own sinister version of the Keraastar Knights—the guardians of the spirit seals—to destroy the portals and free himself from the Sub Realms, his ally, the necromancer Telazhar, leads an assault from Otherworld into the streets of Seattle. And my sisters and I are caught dead center. 
 
Then, on the eve of war, my wife, Nerissa, is captured. The enemy demands we surrender the rest of the spirit seals, or they are going to kill her. I will do anything to save her. Even if it means leading an army of vampires into the very depths of the Subterranean Realms...

Thoughts:

The D'Artigo sisters are back in Yasmine Galenorn's latest book in the Otherworld series, Darkness Raging. The war in the Otherworld is spilling over to Earthside and the sisters are caught right in the middle of it. This book almost feels like a coming of age story where the heroine for this one, Menolly has to do a lot of growing up and makes some very hard choices. Readers of the series will pick up right where they left off with this one. It's a great new addition to this ever changing long running series. 

What I liked:

This series has soooo much  history. Though each book can be read as a standalone I don't know why you would. Darkness Raging is the eighteenth book in this long running series and each book has been unique and different. Each book is told from the point of view of one of the three sisters, Menolly, Delilah, or Camille, which sets each one apart. Darkness Raging is from Menolly's point of view. She happens to be my favorite sister, so I really liked this one. 

Galenorn has finally brought the war in the Otherworld to a head and readers will be pleased that she interjects so much of it to Earthside. The Earthside setting of Seattle is interesting and always adds to the story. The setting is so well done that it almost takes on the characteristics of another character in the series. What I found interesting in this one, is that the sisters are still protecting the seals from Shadow Wing, but it's becoming a lot more difficult, especially for Menolly. Her relationship with Nerissa has come full circle and they are in a very good place, when Blood Wyne queen of the vampires decides that Menolly's consort Roman must have an heir. Talk about complicated. On top of that Nerissa is then kidnapped. What's a girl to do... but take an army of vampires into the subterranean realms to the rescue.

The plot was very engaging. I know that Galenorn is expected to add three more books to the series, but Darkness Raging wraps up so many loose ends that it has that feel of a final book. I felt like the growth in all of the characters was exceptional in this one. There were a lot of hard decisions and moments when all seemed lost. Galenorn reaches all of the readers emotions from happiness to sadness, from passion to anger. It was very good writing and readers will certainly feel it on every page. I'm not looking forward to the end of this series, it has been a good one, and Darkness Raging is going to be one of my favorites.

What I didn't like:

Not much, really. I liked it all. That feeling of finality was a little hard to swallow, but every series must lead up to an ending at some point. There is so much history here that I think reading it as a standalone is a bad idea. But if you consider there are eighteen books in the series you might think differently about it. 

Bottom Line:

For fans of the series it's a must read. The action is heated and makes you want to scream, while the romance is tender and passionate at the same time. I want to pull my hair out with Nerissa sometimes and Roman just makes me swoon. This is a great series. Don't miss out. Darkness Raging is an excellent addition from Menolly's point of view and Galenorn sets the scene for the last few books. Great writing!

Darkness Raging is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She is the author of the Otherworld Series, the Fly By Night Series, the upcoming Whisper Hollow Series, the upcoming Lily Bound Series. She also writes the Indigo Court Series, the Chintz 'n China Series, the Bath & Body Series under the name of India Ink, again for Berkley Prime Crime, and metaphysical nonfiction. She writes for/has written for Berkley/Jove, Diversion Books, Llewelyn, Crossing Press, and is now making a foray into being a hybrid author by dipping her toe into self-publishing. 

Yasmine lives in the Seattle WA area with her husband and is the mother of four cats. 

Because so many people ask, you pronounce her name this way: Yaz-mihn (NOT Jasmine--it's a "Y", not a "J"). Last name is pronounced: Gal-eh-norn The accent is on the first syllable.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Darkness Raging by Yasmine Galenorn.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, March 2nd.

1. This is an intense series. Do you like them that way or a little less challenging to understand?

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Surrender at the Border

Surrender at the Border (Border - Book 1) by Risa Leigh

Publication Date: 02/15/2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: Entangled Ignite
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 230
ISBN-10: 1682811204
ISBN-13: 978-1682811207

(Received for an honest review from Ignite)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Risa Leigh on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Synopsis: 

ATF agent B.J. Carleton's first priority is stopping the flow of guns into Mexico until sassy Callie Snowden finds herself in the sights of a ruthless gunrunner, a man B.J. suspects killed her husband. After the tragedy Callie retreated home to her small Texas town, thinking she'd found safety. Now secrets from the past plunge her into a nightmare. When she and B.J. are kidnapped by ruthless cartel henchmen and taken into the Chihuahuan desert, B.J. must protect Callie from the killers and harsh terrain. As they run for their lives, the past continues to play itself out and catches them in its deadly spiral. And if B.J. gives in to his overwhelming attraction for her, he may lose everything...for both of them.

Thoughts:

Risa Leigh brings readers the first book in a new romantic suspense series. Surrender at the Border is action filled and romantic. Leigh strikes a good balance and readers will quickly fall in love with her sassy heroine and her determined hero. Looking for something that will have you on the edge of your seat and staying up late flipping those pages? This one might be just the thing. A very good new book from an author to keep an eye on!

What I liked:

I have only just become really interested in romantic suspense writing and I find that there are several things that draw me to a particular book or author in the genre. Usually that is a trusted author, a good hook and a great balance between action and romance. Since Risa Leigh is new to the genre, I was skeptical but the synopsis of this story was interesting and got my attention. There has to be a great hook for romantic suspense novels. That thing that pulls the reader into the action. This one has that. An ATF agent trying to curb gun running from the Mexican drug cartels. A premise that is not necessarily unique until you add in the girl next door librarian who is still reeling from the death of her husband. Leigh has the romance angle covered as well right from the start.

Leigh gives readers characters who have depth. B.J. is an ATF agent and readers can see right from the beginning that his job is very important to him but they can also see is protective nature when it comes to protecting Callie during his investigation. He shows great vulnerability when he discusses the death of his wife and the death of Callie's husband due to violence and he quickly becomes a character readers can become invested in. 

Callie thinks she is safe, but danger is lurking right around the corner. The man who killed her husband is stalking her and he happens to be the man B.J. is looking for in connection to the gun running case. Callie is sassy and energetic, but she that soft side that grips the heart of the reader. As she and B.J. begin to be aware of their attraction to each other, Callie blooms. A great female lead!

It's all about the balance in romantic suspense and Leigh does that with style. This is a fast paced novel. You have gun running, kidnapping, escapes, desert survival and everything a reader could ask for in the suspense aspect of the book. But you also have that heartwarming connection that builds between the hero and the heroine. There are moments of tenderness and sharing and moments of passion that keep the romantic aspects of the book on point. Leigh draws us in and keeps us right on the edge throughout this book.

What I didn't like:

This book has quite a bit going for it and this certainly is not a deal breaker. There was only one real love scene and it wasn't very long. That can be good and that can be bad. There was a good balance to the book but most of the romance was more of generic sort, not too much hanky panky. For me that's not a big deal but to some it might be. Just keep in mind that this is more romantic and lest sexual and you'll love it.

Bottom Line:

I liked it a lot. Risa Leigh gave me good characters. A believable storyline. Lots of heart pounding action and a wonderful romance between two people who has had their share of tragedy. The hero was rough and tough and the heroine was sassy and sweet. They proved they could survive just about anything including the desert. Risa Leigh is definitely an author to keep in your sights in the romantic suspense genre.

Surrender at the Border is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Risa Leigh lives in Arlington, Texas, close enough to see her grandchildren often.  She was named for an opera singer (Risë Stevens) so it stands to reason that she sings in two choirs.  Risa has a part-time job at Barnes and Noble as a bookseller and storytime lady.  She loves to travel and every time she goes somewhere, she finds a new story to tell.

She is no longer working as a school librarian, but she writes children’s books under the name Risa Brown.

Risa currently indulges that secret fantasy by writing romantic suspense for Entangled Publishing.