An Unforgettable Lady by Jessica Bird (J. R. Ward)

This is the story of Grace Hall, a rich socialite who is also a recently married Countess. What the public doesn't know is that her marriage is on the rocks already. She has been separated for months and is trying to get a divorce without the newspapers finding about it. Her father had passed away a few months back and she is trying to keep herself as the head of the Foundation that he was part of. On top of all this, someone is killing women who have been featured in a Times article. All of them are famous and known to Grace. She is one of the six females featured in it.

Could she be the next victim of this serial killer? Her friend Carter thinks so. Carter's husband, Nick Farrell (featured in another book) calls John Smith. John is the owner of Black Watch LTD, a private security company. He hires seals, marines and rangers. He is also a "ghost". Has not used his real name is so long, he may have forgotten it. In his line of work, he needs to be able to disappear, leaving no trace behind.

He takes the position as Grace's bodyguard and moves into her Penthouse. Here is where the romance starts. John is trying to continue with his self impose rule of never falling for a client, which Grace is making it very hard to do. On the other hand, Grace is trying to stay away from trouble and keeping herself alive.

This book was very entertaining and I enjoyed tremendously. John is a classic alpha dominant but Grace doesn't intimidate easily. I like how Mrs. Bird connects her characters from other books. They are all tied together even if it is just a quick cameo. It reminds me of her other series, the BDB which I love, you feel me?

You could see some of Zsadist or Wrath in John and some of Bella in Grace.

4/5 Fangs

That Which Bites by Celis T. Rono

That Which Bites

Julia Poe Vampire Chronicles #1

Celis T. Rono 

Julia Poe has been alone since the age of eight. Her family was murdered by vampires after the Grey Armageddon occurred, a poison that killed most humans. She has survived on the streets of Little Tokyo, hiding in a bunker. Her first kill happens at this age and she was left with a reminder for life, a scar on her face.

Fast forward to age twelve she meets a nun, sister Ann and "Goss" who showed her how to protect herself and kill vampires. She is a great shot and has learned combat from her friend Goss and the movies that she has watched to keep her company for so many years.

In this world a Vampire Council exists. Two master vampires have divided the city. QuillonTrent who has turned the beautiful people and cops and Kaleb Sainvire who has created the Human Cattle society. Humans are treated as cattle and their blood is the milk that gets distributed.

After one of the cattle rescues goes wrong, they decided to stay low for a month, they are to meet for a late birthday celebration for Poe. When her friends don't come back, Poe goes out looking for them. She gets captured and at the end saved by Kaleb who takes her to his home. There she learns that not all vampires are equal and there is a way to help the remaining humans.

This book is full of action, sometimes unnecessary violence. Julia gets hurt so many times, that you wonder how can she still be alive. She attacks Kaleb and his friend Jonathan without a second thought as to if she may be wrong about her conclusions. The end leaves you with a notion of a second book.

2/5 Fangs

British Bad Boys by Nancy Warren

Three short stories about three American Girls falling in love with British guys.

George and the Dragon Lady

Maxine Larraby is a documentary filmmaker doing a series called Great Estates, Grand Titles. She goes to interview the Earl of Ponsford, George Hartley, at his ancestral home. George's Castle and the grounds are in danger of not surviving without more income. The Earl decides to accept the reporter into his home knowing that this will attract more visitors and the needed revenue to keep Hart House going.

They meet and like each other instantly. But, will she give up her career and stay with him or return to LA?

Nights Round Arthur's Table

The second story is about Meg Stanton, an American writer. She writes thrillers and flies to England to find some needed inspiration for her next novel. What she finds is Arthur Denby, pub owner of the Royal Oak and a friend of George and Maxine. She pictures him as her next imaginary villain. The villains in her stories usually died at the end of her books. Is he going to have the same fate?

The attraction is mutual and this dangerous looking man can take her heart as well. After all, doesn't she have a soft spot for villains?

Union Jack

The third story is about Maxine's sister, Rachel Larraby. A chef, recently divorced and unemployed. Maxine invites her to Ponsford to distract her and get her out of the depression she has sink in after loosing her job.

Once she arrives to Hart House, she agrees to cater for a wedding at the Castle. The bride's brother, Jack Flynt, comes to oversee the preparation for the wedding.

Jack has not committed to a woman before. Rachel doesn't think she will be the exception.

Maybe a fling is all she really needs. But, what if Jack wants more?

All three stories are fast paced, light reading. No major disappointments. No major obstacles.

Does make you want to fly to England and enjoy a darts night at the local Pub.

2.5/5 Fangs

Afterlight (Dark Ink Chronicles, Book 1) by Elle Jasper

Riley Poe is the owner of a tattoo parlor. She lives in Savannah with her brother Seth. She is a reformed junkie. Her life is very stable.

One night Seth and his friends (all teenagers) enter the crypt were vampires have been resting for years.They unleash two very powerful vampires, the Arcoses. These vampires start using them as minions. Seth and his friends are forced to obey them and take humans to them as new prey and if not stopped the kids will become vampire themselves and will be ruled by the desire to kill humans. The quickening or transformation takes one month to complete.

When she finds herself in trouble she seeks her friend and guardian, Preacher who takes her to meet the Dupre family. They are vampires who had a pact with the Gullah for years. She meets Phin, Luc, Josie and Eli. Eli, the oldest son is assigned as her bodyguard.

It turns out that Riley possesses a special type of blood that vampires crave. The Dupre family has been using certain herbs and Gullah blood for centuries. This controls their hunger to kill.

I enjoyed this book very much. The music Riley plays, the description of her artwork made me want to get dragon tattoos myself (even though, I am ink-less), I want to get pink and red highlights like her. I love the cover and I thought Eli and Riley were a great team.

The addition of Victorian as one of the Arcoses and his interest in Riley will make a great second book.

3.5/5 Fangs

Dark of kNight by T.L. Mitchell

Dark of kNight

kNight #1

T.L. Mitchell 

Julie kNight has been away for four years attending college in Virginia. This is until she receives a phone call from her father's best friend telling her, Julie's father passed away.

She returns home to Spring Place, GA. She stays with Casey, her best friend growing up and her family.

Casey's brother and Julie's father partner in a DNA company, Daniel Maxwell returns home and makes his attraction to Julie crystal clear. She has known him her whole life but didn't know how he felt until now.

Then, the animal attacks begin and she starts dreaming of werewolves, vampires and Lycans.

Lycans are the sworn enemies of Werewolves. In this mythology, Vampires are also enemies of the Werewolves.

When Casey is taken, everyone joins forces to find her. Julie must make a decision about Daniel and her future as his mate.

I had problems keeping interested in this book. I just felt like the romance was not there and the action didn't grab me. It has a good premise but Julie and Daniel's love felt forced.

Cliffhanger: No

2/5 Fangs

Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin

Magic Lost, Trouble Found 

Raine Benares, Book 1

Lisa Shearin

In the city of Mermeia, in the Kingdom of Brenir we found a royal family, the Mal'Salin with a new goblin King, Sathrik Mal'Salin and his exile brother, Chigaru Mal'Salin who is trying to steal the crown from the King.

In the middle of this power struggle, we find Raine Benares, a seeker, who can find objects or people. She is an elf, a sorceress of moderate powers. From her mother's side, the Benares family is known as smugglers or thieves, but her father's side remains a mystery for a while.

In one night, Raine becomes the center of attention when a friend of hers steals a necklace which turns out to be a beacon for the Saghred. An ancient object protected by the Conclave Guardians which can steal souls and has limitless power. Once Raine wears the necklace, she can't remove it without risking her life. Somehow she is linked to it and it gives her new powers and magnifies her own.

Sarak Nukpana is an evil goblin who is also the King's chief counselor shaman. He is after the Saghred and won't stop at nothing to be able to yield the power.

The elven Guardin, Mychael Eiliesor is sent to retrieve the beacon and hide it from evil. But, he finds himself wanting to protect the bearer of the necklace as well.

Raine's other love interest is a goblin by the name of Tam Nathrach, a nightclub owner but also a goblin once related to the royal family.

Magic Lost, Trouble found was an entertaining book. The secondary characters were well described. Phaelan and Piaras were my favorite. The action was enough to keep me reading. I will read the next one in her series.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

Hunt the Moon (Cassandra Palmer, Book 5) by Karen Chance

Cassie is preparing for her coronation as Pythia, the chief seer of the supernatural world. She is learning to use her abilities to defend herself. Although, being thrown from a cliff maybe to much, Pritkin!
In an earlier book, Cassie's life has been in danger through Mircea's survival. If Mircea dies no one will protect Cassie as a child and she will not survive. In this book, through time traveling we meet  Cassie's parents. If Cassie's mother is killed, she will never been born. Cassie's mother is being attacked by Dark Mages -on steroids. And just because Apollo is dead, it doesn't mean the other Gods are gone too.
We learned more about Mircea's and Pritkin's past.
Marco, her bodyguard is extremely funny and tender at times. Specially, when he just holds her while she is crying.
The book is action packed but also has many tender moments. The balcony scene, the shower scene, Mircea's declaration, Ruth's death, the last chapter.
Karen Chance gives both love interests plenty of time. To me, Mircea is more like a father figure, security for Cassie. Someone she has known her whole life. But, he also treats her like a child and can be over protective. On the other hand, Pritkin believes in her. He thinks she can be the best and beyond. She is her equal. They disagree but they trust each other. In most UF books is easy to pick an HEA, Mrs. Chance makes it very difficult but not impossible. My heart goes out to Pritkin.
I hope the next installment  comes out soon. I just can't wait to see what Cassie does. Who will she take with her?Is Prtikin and Cassie going to be together?What Mircea will do if she chooses Pritkin?
A taste:

“But some things take longer to dissolve than others,” Pritkin said, looking pointedly at Caleb’s shabby old leather coat.

Caleb clutched a lapel possessively. “No.”

“Have you a better idea?”

“Yeah! I’ll say we used your damn coat!”

“You can’t. Too many people saw the shape it was in. There wasn’t enough left to work with by the time—”

“Well, we’re not using mine!” Caleb said angrily.

“I’ll buy you another one—”

“I don’t want another one! I’ve had this coat for twelve damn years—”

“Then perhaps it’s time for an upgrade,” I pointed out, grabbing a sleeve.

“Like hell! I just got it spelled the way I like—”

“I’ll help you spell a new one,” Pritkin told him, tugging at the back.

“Get off me!”

“Caleb,” I put a hand on his arm. “Please?”

He looked at me and his lips tightened. “You’re damn right you will,” he told Pritkin. “And none of those little pansy-ass spells, either. I want the good stuff.”

“You can make me a list.”

“Fuckin’ A I’ll make you a list,” Caleb muttered, and stripped off his coat. “You know, legend or not, you’re still a royal pain in my ass.”

Pritkin nodded approvingly. “Now you’re getting the idea.”

And yes, I still want to touch Pritkin's hair

4.5/5 Fangs