December

Sorry I've been missing in action the last couple of weeks, but things have just been crazy.  

Now that I'm back...

Here are a few of the most anticipated romance releases for December.  

Which book are you looking forward to reading this month?

"Reaver" by Larissa Ione  (Demonica series)

"Shadowdance" by Kristen Callihan  (Darkest London series)

"Gabriel's Redemption" by Sylvain Reynard  (Gabriel's Inferno series)

"Spellbound" by Sylvia Day  

"The Professional" by Kresley Cole  (The Game Makers)

"Unclaimed" by Sara Humphreys  (The Amoveo Legend)

"The Spider" by Jennifer Estep  

"Deception's Web" by Crista McHugh  (The Deizian Empire series)

Review: "Entwined with You" by Sylvia Day

The worldwide phenomenon continues as Eva and Gideon face the demons of their pasts, and accept the consequences of their obsessive desires… 

From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside–so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.

No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.

Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession…

_______________________________________________________________________________

     First, I would like to say that the sex in this book is hot... extremely. I will admit after one particular scene I needed to have a cigarette. The chemistry between Gideon and Eva is so breathtaking that you can almost feel it when you are reading the book. 

     The reason I gave this book 3/5 stars is because there are way to many things going on around and to this couple to keep them apart. No couple can truly have this many issues. When an author puts that many antagonistic issues in a novel it starts to take away from the true storyline. I stopped counting after 25...seriously. One new problem that arises truly flies out from left field and I found myself laughing at 1:00 am in the morning. Before I could truly get annoyed by yet another problem coming their way a hot sex scene would come up and appease me for a few chapters. I seriously wondered if Wile E. Coyote was going to come out and try and drop a boulder on them to add to the list of people/places/things against them. 

      I'm a reader... and I love romance novels. I truly thought the first two books were amazing.  I felt this novel spent too much time trying to lay the groundwork for the next two. Here's hoping the next one will lay the problems Gideon and Eva have... and there are many... to rest.

June

Here are some of the most anticipated books being released in June.  Do you know of some other great ones coming this month?  If so, feel free to share in the comments section.

Week #1:
Entwined With You by Sylvia Day  (Bared to You - book #3)
Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh  (Psy-Changeling - book #12)
Phantom Wolf by Bonnie Vanak  
Hunting the Jackal by Seressia Glass
Seducing the Demon Huntress by Victoria Davies
The Darkest Embrace by Megan Hart
Darkest Desire of the Vampire by Rhyannon Byrd and Lauren Hawkeye
Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead  (Age of X - book #1)
Darkness Unmasked by Keri Arthur  (Dark Angels - book #5)
Tiger Magic by Jennifer Ashley  (Shifters Unbound)
Midnight's Kiss by Donna Grant  (Dark Warriors - book #5)
Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards  (Black City - book #2)
Beauty and the Wolf by Marina Myles  (The Cursed Prince - book #1)


Week #2:
Being Me by Lisa Renee Jones  (Inside Out Trilogy - book #2)


Week #3:
Rapture's Edge by J.T. Geissinger  (Night Prowler - book #3)


Week #4:
After Dark by Gena Showalter and Kait Ballenger  (LOTU #4.5/ Execution Underground #0.5)
Witch Bound by Eleri Stone  (Twilight of the Gods - book #2)
Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep  (Mythos Academy #4.5)
A Kiss of Blood by Pamela Palmer (Vamp City - book #2)

Hunted by Kevin Hearne  (The Iron Druid Chonicles - book #6)

Cover Reveals: "Entwined with You" and "Heart of Obsidian"

Entwined with You is the highly anticipated third novel in the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day.  It is scheduled to be released June 4th, 2013.

Synopsis:
     From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn't resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside--so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat. 
     No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I'd been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become. 
     Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession...

"Heart of Obsidian" is the next novel in Nalini Singh's Psy Changeling series.  The author has been very secretive about the details, but of course much of the speculation with today's cover reveal is...  Are there any clues on the cover for what's coming next and which guy is in the photo?  Unfortunately for Psy Changeling fans, all you'll get for now is the title and cover.  She stated today that the back cover blurb would not be released until March.  This novel is also has a scheduled release date of June 4th, 2013.

October Releases

Here are some of the most popular fantasy/paranormal romance books due 

to be released in October.  Click on the titles for more information.

Week #1:

"Phantom Shadows" by Dianne Dovall  (Immortal Guardians #3) 

"Savage Hunger" by Terry Spear  

"Shadowborn" by Jocelyn Adams  (Lila Gray #2)

"Dark Currents" by Jacqueline Carey  (Agent of Hel #1)

"Dark Storm" by by Christine Feehan  (Carpathian #23)

"Daughter of the Sword" by Steve Bein  (Fated Blades #1)

"Death's Rival" by Faith Hunter  (Jane Yellowrock #5)

"Edge of Oblivion" by J.T. Geissinger  (Night Prowler #2)

"Ember's Kiss" by Deborah Cook  (Dragonfire #8)

"Fury's Kiss" by Karen Chance  (Midnight Daughter #3)

"Ghosts of Memories" by Barb Hendee  (Vampire Memories #5)

"Mate Claimed" by Jennifer Ashley  (Shifters Unbound #4)

"Revelation" by Erica Hayes  (Seven Signs #1)

"The Mysterious Madam Morpho" by Delilah Dawson  (Blud #1.5)

"Three Parts Dead" by Max Gladstone

"Werewolf in Denver" by Vicki Lewis Thompson  (Wild About You #4)

"Wicked Whispers" by Nina Bangs  (Castle of Dark Dreams #6)

"Poison Princess" by Kresley Cole  (The Arcana Chronicles #1)

"Death and The Girl Next Door" by Darynda Jones  (Darklight #1)

Also, a contemporary romance that I must mention... 

"Reflected In You" by Sylvia Day  (Crossfire Novel #2)

Week #2:

"Into the Woods: Tales from the Hallows and Beyond" by Kim Harrison

"Absolution" by Susannah Sandlin  (Penton Legacy #2)

"Ghost Town" by Jason Hawes

"Romeo Redeemed" by Stacey Jay  (Juliet Immortal #2)

"Velveteen" by Daniel Marks  (Velveteen #1)

Week #3:

"Angel's Ink" by Jocelyn Drake  (The Asylum Tales #1)

"Kissed by a Vampire" by Caridad Pineiro

"Tangled Web" by Christa McHugh  (Diezian Empire)

Week #4:

"Blood by Moonlight" by Jocelynn Drake, Terri Garey, Caris Roane

"After Moonrise (Possessed/Haunted)" by P.C. Cast/Gena Showalter

"Destiny Rising" by L.J. Smith  (The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters #3)

"The Lost Prince" by Julie Kagawa  (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten)

Week #5:

"A Trace of Moonlight" by Allison Pang  (Abby Sinclair #3)

"Black Lament" by Christina Henry  (Black Wings #4)

"Dark Nights" by Christine Feehan  (Dark #7)

"Desperately Seeking Shapeshifter" by Jessica Sims  (Midnight Liaisons #2)

"Dream Unchained" by Kate Douglas

"Forbidden" by Jacquelyn Frank  (World of Nightwalkers #1)

"Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet" by Darynda Jones  (Charley Davidson #4)

"Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel" by Karen Marie Moning  (Fever World #1/ Fever Series #6)

"Midnight's Seduction" by Donna Grant  (Dark Warriors #3)

"Out for Blood" by Kristen Painter  (House of Comarre #4)

"Shadow Rising" by Yasmine Galenorn  (Otherworld Novel)

"The Shattered Dark" by Sandy Williams  (Shadow Reader /McKenzie Lewis #2)

"To Hell and Back" by Juliana Stone"  (League of Guardians #1.5)

Review: "Reflected In You" by Sylvia Day

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to. He was my addiction... my every desire... mine.


My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful... except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.

We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession...



     "Reflected In You" by Sylvia Day is the highly anticipated second book in the Crossfire series.  If you haven't read the first book, "Bared to You," now's your chance.  This book will be released October 2nd so you have plenty of time to catch up.  This is one of those books that you wont be able to put down until it's finished.

     Gideon and Eva are still trying to work through their less than perfect relationship.  Throwing to people together that are as screwed up from their past as these two are is proving to be quite the emotional rollercoaster.  This book brought out so many emotions will reading it.  At times this book was blissful, happy, sad, frustrating, suspenseful, gut wrenching and of course hot!   Sylvia Day is a master at writing steamy scenes and when you throw dreamy Gideon in the mix... wow!  

     While Gideon and Eva are trying to work on their relationship, I felt like they didn't make much progress through most of the book.  They were still having trouble trusting each other, still dealing with the nightmares and their shared history of abuse.  The one area they don't have a problem with.. their steamy romance.  No matter what's going on in their lives that seems to ground them and bring them back together.  When that's taken out of the equation, it brings up lots of changes between them.  Eva, especially, has to sort out her feelings and try to learn to trust Gideon through it all.  While most people would have given up on him, Eva can't bring herself to let go.  This is probably one of her biggest faults but it's hard to blame her when it's Gideon she's hanging on for.  There dysfunctional relationship makes me just want to scream at them and tell them how much they are screwing up but somehow it works for them.  Having some of the same issues, these two understand each other in a way no one else can.    We do finally get some answers about Gideon's history and learn a little more about Eva's.  Cary plays a bigger role in this book as well as someone from her past.  

     I hate to compare this book to the Fifty Shades Trilogy but it has a similar feel to me.  It has similarly screwed up characters and the same rich, powerful protagonist.  While Eva's not as innocent as Anastasia was, they have to deal with some of the same issues.  While the Crossfire series doesn't have the BDSM that Fifty Shades had it has some very hot scenes!  I was anxiously anticipating this novel to see where Gideon and Eva's relationship would go and it certainly did not disappoint.  

Review: "A Hunger So Wild" by Sylvia Day

     A Hunger So Wild by Silvia Day is the second book in the Renegade Angels series.  There are also a couple novella's in the series as well if you're looking to stay in the Renegade Angels world a little longer.

     Elijah is one of the rare Alpha's still leading his pack through the revolt against the Sentinels angels. When a new virus begins sweeping through the vampires, Vashti is forced to seek an alliance with Elijah.  The vampires and lycans are natural enemies and it's only made infinitely worse by the fact that the lycans are the ones that killed Vashti's mate.  Elijah has his own beef with Vashti as well, since she killed his best friend in an attempt at seeking vengeance for her mate's death.  When the lycan Alpha and the vampires second in command get together for an alliance, sparks will definitely fly, in more ways than one.  Learning where their true loyalities lie may prove more difficult than either of them imagined.

     Sylvia Day has certainly taken a new twist on the vampires, angels and werewolves here.  In this series they are all angels in one form or another, or were at one time.  There's a little murder mystery, with the plot and cover up of the murder of Vashti's mate.  We certainly have some mystery/action going on trying to find a cure for the vampire virus.  Then of course we have some romance... my favorite!  There's definitely something between Vashti and Elijah from the beginning but with the different "species" factor and the past troubles between them, it makes for some serious tension.  I love that Elijah is the ultimate male alpha character without being full of himself.  He seems to genuinely care about all the members of his pack and doesn't treat anyone as though he's better than them.  That's hard to pull off with such a tough hero.  There's just one scene that was a little disconcerting between the two of them but I wont go into details and spoil anything.   Overall, they had great chemistry.

      I have recently read several of Sylvia Day's books and have really enjoyed her writing style.  Well, for the most part... I did kind of want to scream at her "What, are you kidding me!" after reading the ending of this book.  It's not so much that it was a cliffhanger just that I wanted a little more closure at the end and well, just more of their story.  I actually had to give myself a couple days before I wrote the review  because I had to let myself get over the ending first.  I am most certainly looking forward to the next book in the series.  I'm also very intrigued with the head of the vampires, Syre, and his story.  Hopefully we'll get that soon.

     If you're not familiar with Sylvia Day's work check out her website here.  She writes a wide range of novels: historical, contemporary, fantasy, paranormal and more.  If you're a fan of Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James, Sylvia Day even has the Crossfire Trilogy which reminds me a lot of that.