Ok, so we thought it was all over at the end of the trilogy - and it could have been. But I love these guys so much that I jumped on book four when I realized Showalter had kept writing. The thing that stands out the most is that she manages to re-open the whole zombie apocalypse with yet another new twist - and wrap it all up in just one more book. But, I hope there is still more as she leaves some things hovering on the horizon that I'd really like to hear more about.

Zombies are back, but they aren't the same breed of zombie the slayers are used to slaying. They've been altered somehow and a new game plan is needed pronto. But the problem with that is is Milla - something funky has happened to the girl and now she's got all these wonky powers that are causing a bit of chaos and catastrophe.

This is a romance! A full blown HEA type of romance set in a horror setting, and it was brilliant. There's an acceptance of the past and the moving forward of the future that was woven into every word. Now I just need some more zombie craziness - I want more of them!!!

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2016/01/a-mad-zombie-party-by-gena-showalter.html#sthash.LDsB8ni8.dpuf

I really loved this story. Charlie and her boys are going to have to overcome a lot if they are going to be together. Her doubts about them and herself, a pack divided, and a murderous Xerxes with his attention on her. There's a lot going on in this story.

We get plenty of really good romance. Lots of growth in the relationship, which I really love. They are not only facing issues outside of themselves trying to force them apart, but there are some emotional walls that will need to be overcome before they can truly be a fully mated trio. And Charlie - I just adored her!! She was such a geniune character that I totally wish I could be best friends with.

There is also tons of action and we get to see a little of what the folks from Sanctuary are doing in the battle against Xerxes as well. While they may manage to strike a blow against him, there's still a lot more to be done. Great mix of romance with some heart-stopping action for quite the ride.

I think this is my favorite in the series so far!

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoy how this series is evolving with one exception - Ward is a little whiny in this one. He is constantly overthinking everything he does with thoughts of how worthless and unpowerful he is. Even though everyone around him is trying to fix his idea of his personal worth, it just seems to do nothing. In fact, Celia begins to wonder about his powers and where they come from, and we get a pretty cool reveal as to what Ward can really do.

Ward, Celia, and Nazarius are tracking Allette to try and end her wave of murder. She leads them to Dulthyne where they discover something far more sinister than anything they could have imagined. This is going to be a no holds barred fight for Ward's very soul and it is super intense.

But wait, what about Allette? Well, she's in there just making the whole situation even worse. I really enjoyed this adventure but I wish Ward would stop wallowing a bit and just suck it up and do what needs to be done. Maybe after the crazy (totally didn't see it coming) cliffhanger ending, book four will see him finally come into his own.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2016/01/ward-against-disaster-by-melanie-card.html#sthash.Q4AwAVJe.dpuf

This is a low point in the series for me. The story of naive-ish college student hooking up with a womanizing history professor seemed a little cliche, but there were some nice highlight in it. The professor was always upfront with women about not being interested at least, so he was a good womanizer - sort of? There just wasn't a whole lot of meat to their relationship and the mini BDSM elements fell short of being very realistic. In fact, the part that I wanted to see them most - their trip to Dallas - was skimmed over in just a few paragraphs.

In order to beef the story up, a stalker was added, but he was never really part of the story. To be honest, I forgot about him until he had his next couple paragraphs later in the story, and then again towards the end. He seemed to be added just to give the reader something to read.

I'm also confused as to why Delia's family history was so important. We actually hear more about this than the stalker, but then it just went away and we don't hear more about it. I was very confused. There were some many good directions to go, but none of them were taken.

Three couples, one forgotten room, and love that is denied. The story of two families spanning three generations in the same house - but a house in different circumstances each time. We morph from sumptuous mansion, to boarding house, to military hospital. As the house itself changes, so do the couples that are destined to find heart break within its walls.

Each couple is faced with their own challenges and stands up to them in their own ways. It all begins with the classic story of a rich son and the maid. But what neither of them realize is that there is a third part working against them. The next generation is also torn apart and suddenly it is up to the third to try and find their happiness in this strange room.

The story jumps from generation to generation as their stories tie together in a very special way. At times they seem to overlap. A reader could easily begin to confuse the three story lines, but they were written so well that each period has its own voice that makes it impossible to mix them up.

As the final generation, Kate and Cooper, try to discover how their histories overlap the story even takes a bit of a turn towards a mystery. Uncovering secret hideaways and notes left decades ago that each point them in the direction of the truth.

An amazing story that is a romance, but not in the way you may think. There is plenty of heartache and unhappiness along the way . But the ending really makes it all worth the wait.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

This was an incredibly beautiful story. Helena has had a very rough few years - from being left by her fiance and then blamed for it to almost dying of fever. But since she has decided to really live her life, she leaves England behind for the sights and sounds of Paris and art school - sounds like a great idea.

And it was. Watching Helena really come into her own and learn to live life to the fullest was so much fun. Her artist friends are colorful, but not so much that they become caricatures. You fall in love with all of them and the little circle of friendship that they develop. They all have their own very unique personality and histories that have brought them together in one place. Most of the story involves all of them growing and learning together - and it all just seemed incredible natural. But once in awhile it became a little drawn out. Not much but just enough to notice.

There's a love interest, a grumpy professor, and an eccentric aunt that all have important roles to play in Helena's life. Not everything turns out the way I expected. Some pleasant and unexpected surprises are included and Helena doesn't get everything and all that she hopes for. But that is also the beauty of the story. *This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2016/01/moonlight-over-paris-by-jennifer-robson.html#sthash.t4WdBBFi.dpuf

I am really loving the SEAL's of Sharon Hamilton. The way they interact with each other and their different personalities really keep things interesting and fun. Armando and Gina make a wonderful cover, and even though they aren't on the same page at first, they find out they have so much in common.

My biggest concern/complaint about the series, is that so far they seem to end in about the same way. I'd like to see the type of final scene mixed up a bit more in future books. I do like how even though each book could be a stand alone romance, there is a backstory that carefully weaves its way through and really ties the books together.

I seriously love the concept behind these shifters. But I can't tell you exactly why they are different - it's fun figuring it out on your own. Cree is a shifter that has some very special skills, skills that John from the DCO (Department of Covert Operations) thinks will be nice to have. At least that's what they both say going into their first meeting.

They quickly find out that there are a whole lot of somethings running beneath the surface - including an incredible sexual attraction. But, Cree's shifter status and John's reasons for recruiting her may prevent them from figuring out if they could be anything more.

This is a very quick wham bam thank ya ma'am type of story. We have a couple really good fight scenes, a little bit of suspense (the story just wasn't long enough to really draw it out), and a really hot couple. I do wish that it had been longer - but I understand that it was a prequel to set the stage for the future books. Great start - I know I want more now!! And the last time I looked - this was a freebie on Amazon and B&N - so go give it a try!!!!

All those events you hear Allanon talking about - well here's the first hand look into the life of Bremen, the fall of the Druids and the first battle with Brona. Seeing the events unfold all together as a single story was a lot of fun. You pick up on the various parts of the legends and the histories that you hear in bits and pieces throughout the series. As such, it can easily be read as a stand alone and you will still get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

In fact, you may get more enjoyment out of it. I found I had learned a little too much about the events and characters, and when they didn't live up to my expectations, especially Jerle Shannara, who I found to be very un-heroic and a little whiny at times.

The druid Bremen, on the other hand, was great. I loved his tenacity and his sorrow that he wasn't able to make people (like the Druids) change their mind about how they would react to events. Overall the adventure was a little predictable (but I already knew what was going to happen), and the hero was a little too underwhelming, but it was still fun.

- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2016/02/the-first-king-of-shannara-by-terry.html#sthash.nrWrJFw6.dpuf