The Execution Of The Storyline Was Beautiful. Tovia reviews #ParanormalRomance Banished by Iris Champion

Today’s team review is from Tovia. Find out more about her here https://chroniclesofawallflower.art.blog/

Tovia has been reading Banished by Iris Champion

It’s often said that forbidden fruits taste the sweetest and this novel is no exception.

I took a look at the blurb and thought ‘’a romantic tale between a rebellious human turned angel and Lucifer? typical’’ but I was pleasantly surprised as I progressed. The author Iris Champion captures this work of ethereal fiction in a way and manner that stays true to herself. She transformed these very mundane and cliché characters into her own and it’s sincerely beautiful.

Though the plot is such that you can almost already tell the end from the beginning, this book was still a worth- while read. The diction used throughout was easy to understand and the switch between point of view offered no confusion. This author created characters that were not any different from the people you would encounter in your daily life thus making it easy to understand and empathize with them.

I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars because not only was the execution of the storyline beautiful, the copy I read was also edited thoroughly. If you’re a severely religious person with no tolerance for sexual content then I strongly suggest that you stay clear of this book but if you love a good fantasy tale and wouldn’t mind a few heated scenes between the lines then I think you’ll find this novel quite interesting and remember to keep out of the reach of children while at it.

She’s an angel in training. He’s darkness incarnate. When their heated attraction breaks divine rules, can love rewrite fate?

Britton prays she’ll live up to her destiny. The first human raised by Archangel Michael, she’s desperate to fit in with those born in Heaven. But when she’s humiliated by her angelic peers during battle practice, she flees in shame and falls into the devilish arms of a stranger.

Lucifer has grown weary of banishment. And when he happens upon his archenemy’s beloved protégé, he’s delighted by the unexpected opportunity for vengeance. But he’s confronted by the surprise return of a long-buried yearning when their passion turns hotter than Hell.

After her steamy affair with her Fallen lover is discovered by her cherished father figure, Britton refuses to accept his furious forbiddance of their courtship. And with ancient rivalry drawing Lucifer down a familiar dark path, he’s torn between the hope in his heart… and giving in to his deadly instincts.

Can their sizzling desires pave the way for the Devil’s redemption?

Banished is the fiery first book in the Fallen Angel paranormal romance series. If you like scorching chemistry, sweet temptations, and alluring characters, then you’ll adore Iris Champion’s wicked tale.

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Rosie’s #Bookreview Team #RBRT #ParanormalRomance Wild Shadow by @MarthaDunlop #TuesdayBookBlog

Today’s team review is from Shelley. She blogs here https://shelleywilsonauthor.com

Shelley has been reading Wild Shadow by Martha Dunlop

Wild Shadow is a standalone title by author Martha Dunlop. After reading Martha’s debut novel, The Starfolk Arcana, and loving the mystical and spiritual context, I was excited to see how the author would explore astral projection in this title.

Told from three points of view (Dylan, Tabitha, and Max), you get an interesting angle from three very different characters. I liked Dylan; he was warm and empathic but also ambitious and assertive. Tabitha, I could see in my mind as her character developed, and I loved that she had the ability to astral project as a tiger when she paints. Max was the only character I couldn’t gel with – as the author no doubt intended it. He’s a slimy creep who deserves everything he gets (I think the author let him off way too lightly!!)

The secondary characters added to the story nicely, although I would have enjoyed getting to know more about Rachel’s background. The musical arc also added a lovely ‘beat’ to the novel.

The tigers were the star of the show for me as they are my favourite animal. I was jealous that Tabitha could walk with them in her projected state and was glad to see how their journey ended.

Although this is a love story, there is still plenty of tension and angst. I would have liked to see some of the storylines unfolded on a deeper level, such as the backstory between Max and Sophie’s relationship, as I kept expecting a blackmail reveal or something equally sinister. I was also half expecting the owls to reveal themselves as astral projections too!

I don’t usually enjoy romance stories, but there was just the right amount of mystical content to keep me engaged.  

Beautifully written and a novel any paranormal romance fan would enjoy.

4 stars

Dylan wants to launch a solo music career and move out of the flat he shares with his old school friends, but he feels trapped by his life in Wildley Forest Village. When a mysterious artist catches his eye and a white tiger starts appearing only to him, Dylan finally feels things changing. But is this apparition all in his imagination, or is something more magical happening?

Tabitha moved to Wildley Forest to paint the tigers at the zoo. A reclusive young artist with a big reputation, she protects her privacy fiercely. Nobody knows her biggest secret: When she paints, she astral projects and her awareness walks as a white tiger. People don’t usually see her tiger form, but then she encounters Dylan and her defences begin to crumble.

Dylan’s friends aren’t keen on the new girl and the tiger keeper at the zoo wants Tabitha’s attention for himself. But as the tiger walks, change becomes inevitable for everyone. Can Dylan and Tabitha find their way to love? And will the truth unite them or will it tear them apart?

AmazonUK | AmazonUS

Rosie’s #Bookreview Of #ParanormalFantasy AWAKENING by Jennifer Leigh Pezzano

Awakening by Jennifer Leigh Pezzano

3 stars

Awakening is a semi-erotic paranormal fantasy; the story is split into three distinct parts. It begins in modern day Rockport, Maine, a small coastal town, where we meet Jezebel who runs a cleaning company. The story begins when she gets a phone booking for a new house cleaning job; it’s for the curious old residence on the bluff.

When Jezebel goes there to assess the cleaning requirements, the owner August De Sanguine has an instant magnetic effect on her. Unusually she returns to do the cleaning job herself, but admits that this is because she is sexually attracted to him. They quickly share several erotic trysts around a feeding ritual for August called an Embrace. August is a paranormal being called a Truth Holder, but Jezebel is not afraid of him; however, he abruptly leaves town and Jezebel is left broken-hearted.

In part two of the book, we learn of the story of another Jezebel; August’s wife. This tale begins in Paris during 1720,  and gives us some much needed background into August, while part three continues the story of the first Jezebel.

Leading with two main characters using the same name is definitely a challenge and I found it hard to make a connection to either of the Jezebels; they needed more depth to make them unique. That aside, I liked that the author tried to put her own spin on the popular vampire theme; however, I thought it was overwhelmed by all the sexual acts which liberally dosed the pages. I don’t mind hot sex in a book, but it quickly became a bit much. There were plenty of descriptions of places and people which did paint lovely pictures in my mind, but I thought that there was room to further develop the vampire element. It focused on one point about a sharing of essences, but I hardly knew anything more about what a Truth Holder vampire was by the end.

Overall, a bit of a mix of strong points and weaker areas, with an interesting attempt at a new vampire theme, which just needed a bit more work for me.

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Jezebel is a solitary woman with a haunted past. Running a business in a small coastal town, she clings to the predictability of her days, seeking refuge in the silence. When an enigmatic new client comes into her life, she is drawn to him, unaware of the link she holds to his own tangled history.
He offers her a seductive proposal, and she is propelled into an entrancing world of pleasure that shatters her reality, and deeply alters her sense of self.
But underneath all his magnetism and power lies the human complexities of a grieving man running from his shadows. Will August surrender his centuries of pain and allow Jezebel fully into his life? And will Jezebel be able to navigate the landscape of what he has to offer?
Delivering a new meaning to the vampire archetype, Awakening is a multi-layered, sensuous, paranormal love story that reaches through the curtain of time. The intricate ties that connect these two to one another will forever transform the course of their lives, stretch the fabric of their reality, and awaken within them something deeper and more profound.

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THE ALCHEMICAL DETECTIVE by @KirstenWeiss #Paranormal #Romantic #Mystery #TuesdayBookBlog

The Alchemical Detective by Kirsten Weiss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Alchemical Detective is book #2 in the Riga Hayworth paranormal romance mysteries. The book is easily a stand alone read.

Metaphysical detective Riga Hayworth has come to Lake Tahoe for some rest and relaxation as she works on regaining her lost magical abilities (from book #1, but it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read it). Urged to consider alchemy by a French stone gargoyle, Riga finds her studies disrupted by a reality TV show offer; to investigate into tales that the lake is home to Tessie, an unknown monster.

Peace and quiet is also shattered when a local palm reader is found murdered. Riga finds herself “a person of interest” to the police and suddenly she’s asked not to leave town. Her own investigations lead her to daemon involvement in the murder and as the body count rises Riga considers the Tessie project might well be linked to the murders.

I loved the paranormal aspects of the book, they were explained well and I didn’t feel lost, the magic was very believable. I also liked the ghosts who were part of the story, I’m a big fan of interactive ghosts. Riga was an easily relatable character, I like her sassy independence and no-nonsense attitude. Lots of suitable lose ends to leave the reader thinking and it has me running to Amazon looking up the next book in the series.

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Book Description

Where Alchemy, Demons, and Good Wine Collide… with a Lake Monster Named Tessie. A psychic has been murdered in an occult ceremony and the police pay a visit to Riga Hayworth, metaphysical detective. But this time, she’s not a consultant on the case. She’s a suspect.

There’s a storm on the horizon.

Riga’s lost her magic and has come to Lake Tahoe to recover and spend quality time with her new love. But life for Riga is never that simple. A psychic’s been murdered, and the police believe Riga has a connection to the crime.

They’re right.

And if that’s not enough, Riga is drafted as the host of a reality TV show about the local lake monster, and her niece is rejecting her metaphysical abilities. Juggling demons, daimons, and angry tarot card readers, Riga must catch a killer before she becomes the next target.

The Alchemical Detective is an urban fantasy exploring the world of alchemy and the imagination.

About the author

I worked overseas for nearly twenty years in the fringes of the former USSR, Africa, and deep in the Afghan war zone.  My experiences abroad not only gave me glimpses into the darkness and light of human nature, but also sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.

 Now based in San Mateo, CA, I write genre-blending novels: urban fantasy/mystery, steampunk/suspense, and cozy mysteries with a touch of paranormal. The mix just makes things more fun!

 I believe that life is as magical as you want to make it. I’ve never met a dessert I didn’t like, and my guilty pleasures are watching Ghost Whisperer reruns and drinking red wine.

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Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT AN UNEXTRAORDINARY LIFE by Jo Hollywood #Paranormal #Romance

Today’s team review is from Shelley, she blogs at http://shelleywilsonauthor.com/

Shelley has been reading An Unextraordinary Life by Jo Hollywood

Title: An Unextraordinary Life

Author: Jo Hollywood

Category: Paranormal Romance

Rating: 3*

 

My Review:

 

Romance isn’t one of my favourite genres to read. However, paranormal fiction certainly is, so when I spotted that An Unextraordinary Life was a mix of the two I thought I’d give it a go.

 

The story switches point of view between the main characters, Tess and Jack. Tess is a young woman trying to move on with her life following the sudden death of her husband, and Jack is her dead husband back from the dead and on a mission to help her move on. It’s got many similarities with the 90s film Truly, Madly, Deeply. There are two secondary characters, Jenny the every faithful best friend, and Rob, the handsome work colleague who is conveniently placed to swoop in and ‘get the girl.’

 

The romance was fairly predictable, with an overly long build up to the love triangle between Tess, Jack, and Rob. I did like the idea of a heroine battling with her emotions over the feelings she has for her true love (a ghost) and reality. I would have liked the paranormal aspect to have been explored further. We discover that one character is something more than just a human friend, but the what, how, and why are left relatively unanswered. I wasn’t convinced with the Guardian Angel and her receptionist either.

 

There were sections of the book that were quite boring for me, and I found myself skim reading, but I’m glad I stuck with it as the twist near the end was nicely done.

 

A sweet novel that would appeal to a more die-hard romantic.

Book Description

When Tess unexpectedly bumps into Jack one cold day in March, her world is quite literally turned upside down. Can she make a new life for herself with Jack, based on how happy they were in the past? Or does she need to make a new start and find love in the arms of her new work colleague, Rob? The path of true love never does run smoothly. Meet Tess, a woman who is still in love with her husband, who died five years ago. Meet Jack, the ghost, who wants to make Tess happy again. Finally there’s Rob who wants to win Tess’s heart. Who will she choose?

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TEMPTED BY THE JAGUAR by Cristina Rayne #Paranormal #Romance Book #1 Riverford Shifters @CRayneAuthor

Tempted by the Jaguar: Transformation and Revelation by Cristina Rayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tempted by the Jaguar: Transformation and Revelation is book #1 of the Riverford Shifters series of paranormal romance.

It takes place in Riverford, Texas and opens with the abduction of Kylie Moore by a ruthless serial attacker. When faced with her attacker and his cutting knife, Kylie’s fear sets off a primal animal soul hidden deep within. Kylie shifts into a Jaguar and almost kills her attacker.

Stopped by a second Jaguar, Kylie runs away in fear. Utterly exhausted she calls Paul for help and drags herself home. Next day Hunter Rivera shows up at her door, because he followed her scent, he was the second Jaguar and he opens her world to were-folk.

Hunter takes her to his clan and is asked to protect her in her early days on self discovery, but Kylie holds her own secrets. Paul is not her real father, he’s been helping to her find her parents. Kylie can use Hunter to find answers, where her own investigations have stopped.

Some interesting changes heighten the attraction between Hunter and Kylie which they try to fight at first. If Kylie is who the clan think then she is, she’s a prize that more than one clan will want. However as the book ends on an exciting cliff hanger, Kylie reveals an even bigger shock to Hunter.

This book is for you if you enjoy the supernatural fantasy worlds of were-folk mixed with hot romance. The story will continue in book #2

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Book Description

Kylie Moore has a secret, one she and her adoptive father have carefully guarded for over a decade since the night her parents disappeared. However, when she is randomly attacked one night in her apartment complex’s parking lot, that one violent act sets in motion events that reveal not only her long-dormant shifter heritage in the worst possible way, but could also railroad her efforts of finding out what really happened to her parents. 

Suddenly finding herself the center of attention among Riverford’s shifter clans, Kylie’s only hope of navigating such a dangerous minefield of politics and perpetual battles over territory is Hunter, a too-sexy-for-her-peace-of-mind jaguar shifter that might be her key to gaining insider access to the hidden and secretive shifter society. 

Now Kylie must decide whether to integrate more deeply into Hunter’s jaguar clan in order to take advantage of this rare opportunity or to run while her secret still remains uncovered. To stay would mean deliberately putting herself in more danger than Kylie may be prepared to handle, especially when Hunter, the person she must rely on, may be hiding something as well. 

About the author

I live in West Texas with my crazy cat and about a dozen bookcases full of fantasy worlds and steamy romances. I also have a degree in Computer Science which totally qualifies me to write romances. Fantasy is my first love, and if I can inject a little love into the fantastical, along with a few steamy scenes, then all the better.

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If Paranormal Romantic Suspense appeals to you, I have also read and reviewed Book #2 and #4 in this series and you can read my reviews here.

Book #2 Accepting the Jaguar

Book #3 is a standalone novella about a minor character which I chose not to read.

Book #4 Tempted by the Tiger

AFTER THE FALL By Carissa Lusk @ckelley_lusk #NA #Romance #TuesdayBookBlog @UFBooks

After the Fall by Carissa Lusk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After The Fall is a New Adult (NA) Paranormal romance set in West Virginia. The book opens with a prologue involving dreams of falling in love by the sea. Amity Day is studying English at college, as the new term starts she is feeling a little lost after her long term boyfriend transferred to a different University.

Marcus Riley seems to have eyes only for Amity in the classes he shares with her and she can’t help feeling intrigued and attracted to him, yet she’s in love with Alex and she feels guilty about spending time with Marcus.

Marcus is a talented artist and he is very attentive and determined. He writes poetry for Amity and she finds herself in a love triangle. Behind it all are dreams which feel more like memories, jumbles of messages which Amity tries to grasp.

At Christmas it looks like Alex is about to propose to Amity and fear of losing Marcus forces her to decide between the two but has she made the right decision? Her family knew all about Alex, but she keeps Marcus a secret and lies to her family. When Marcus reveals that they’ve shared past lives together Amity begins to understand some of her dreams, but still something isn’t right, why are there questions which Marcus refuses to answer?

The love triangle theme is very popular in the YA / NA romance market, it works well and adds intensity and drama. Who wouldn’t want men fighting over them? It’s good for the female ego. The intrigue and mystery surrounding Marcus and Alex makes you want to find out their connection and thus keep turning the pages.

My review is based on a free copy of the book given to me as part of this Ultimate Fantasy Book Tour.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Book Description

Amity cries out into the darkness that surrounds her, hoping for a solitary voice to provide direction; she hears two.

Amity knows she loves Alexander, yet the loneliness brought on by the miles that separate them can only be curbed by the cryptic affection of Marcus Riley. She can’t understand the strange familiarity she finds in the wild blue of Marcus’s eyes, but she will soon learn his secret.

Plagued with dreams and memories of lives beyond her own, a tragic fate will emerge from the ashes of a love scorned. Eventually, she will discover the dark truth that will leave her running for her life, and she will learn who sacrificed everything to save it.

Buy Links

Bookbaby | ITunes | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | AmazonUS | AmazonUK

About the author

Carissa Lusk grew up in a small town in West Virginia and never moved far from home. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Concord College. She credits her love of reading and writing to Kate Chopin, Emily Bronte, and her mom. After the Fall is Carissa’s debut novel.

Visit her at:

Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

 

Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT TILL LIFE DO US PART by @Carmen_Books #Paranormal #Romance

Today’s team review is from Cathy, she blogs at http://betweenthelinesbookblog.wordpress.com/

Cathy has been reading Till Life Do Us Part by Carmen Stefanescu

The book description was promising and the paranormal aspect intriguing, coupled with the fact the story explores reincarnation and past lives, all of which fascinate me. And I love the cover image.

Barbara Heyer is able to talk to spirits and help their families come to terms with the loss of their loved ones. She was ten when she had her first experience, a visit from her dead grandfather. Since then it’s been a regular occurrence. Barbara is driving home when she gets an interrupted message from someone called Kathleen, mentioning her brother, Colin, and the fact someone has murdered her. A visit from Detective Patrick Fischer, who Barbara feels an instant connection to, confirms Barbara’s worst fears. Her brother is the prime suspect in Kathleen’s murder.

Barbara has a terrible fear of fire and experiences vivid dreams about someone called Emma. She agrees to agrees to a past life regression with her new friend, Amanda. The time slip section of the book shows life as it was, with no recourse for women who find themselves at the mercy of men, especially men with no scruples.

It started off all right but unfortunately the book as a whole fell flat for me. There were a few issues – the characters lacked depth and charisma and I couldn’t connect with them. Some of the narrative and dialogue didn’t flow, seeming exaggerated and unnatural. The romance between Barbara and Patrick wasn’t convincing enough and the reason for the break didn’t make any sense.

It’s a good premise with a great choice of subject matter, some vividly descriptive passages and the potential is there. A thorough edit and proofread would iron out the irregularities in the turn of phrase and word choices, and correct the punctuation and grammar where needed, making it a smoother, easier read.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s #Bookreview Team #RBRT WHEN DARKNESS FALLS by @ChauvetEllen #ParanormalRomance

Today’s second team review is from Shelley, she blogs at http://shelleywilsonauthor.com/

Shelley has been reading When Darkness Falls by Ellen Chauvet

As a fan of paranormal romance, and in particular, vampires, I was looking forward to reading When Darkness Falls.

The plot idea is great – the fight between good and evil is always a popular theme, as we can see by the thousands of books that dominate this genre. Finding an original take on vampire fiction and paranormal romance is a tough task. For me, this book didn’t quite deliver.

What let the book down were things like monotone descriptions of the mundane, such as shopping for a purple jumper, a scene that went on for pages but didn’t drive the story forward in any way. I didn’t connect with the characters very well, they begged for deeper descriptions which could be used to create memorable pictures in my head.

The lead figure Lexie, is a vampire executioner, granted, she is new to the gig, but one minute she’s getting into her groove and the next she’s swooning or worrying about her random (and swiftly changeable) emotions towards every man in the vicinity, rather than being an intense, sassy, brutal persona, it leaves the reader confused.

Many paranormal romance, books have reasonably explicit sex scenes, I know the author was trying to make her mark in this genre, however, the sexual encounters in this book were clumsy and hugely untasteful. It almost felt like the author was attempting to fit as many sexually explicit words into a sentence as possible.

Sadly for me, the reading experience didn’t live up to the expectations I felt when reading the book blurb. Paranormal romance is a saturated genre in the book market and this book needs a bit more TLC to get it ready to compete.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Bedeviled & Beguiled by @samcheever #Paranormal #Romance #Bookreview

Bedeviled & Beguiled by Sam Cheever
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bedeviled & Beguiled is a paranormal fantasy with a romantic element. It is set in the futuristic time of 2090 and evolves around an Angels versus Devils theme.

Astra Q Phelps is a halfling and vaporises Devils and demons for a day job. Caught up in an impending showdown between two devil factions, Astra finds she has been chosen to mediate between the devil royal courts and on top of this her Angel guardians want her to be the interface between the Angels and Devils.

Astra is pulled in all directions as she fights evil forces whilst discovering she has more magical powers herself and a secret hidden noble ranking of her own. Can she really trust the drop dead gorgeous Prince Dialle?

This is written in a fun upbeat style, I enjoyed the first half of the book, but felt the second half slipped into too many unbelievable miraculous situations for Astra to escape from. I also wanted to see less sentences beginning with overused phrases like “somehow, however and suddenly”, which I know this author is capable of doing without.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

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