I don't usually go with half stars on a review, but this book was too good to be considered average, but had just a handful of small things that kept it from a four. The beginning of the book was incredibly confusing at first. We are thrown into a world with very little explanation - very much like the main character is. The author does a good job of showing the reader the confusion Rachel experiences, but I just don't like being confused - a personal thing.

Once Rachel hooked up with the paranormals things got much much better. I love the world Bridget Blackwood has created. It was a great mix of reality and fantasy with the paranormal trying to fit in, but never quite being able to all the way. But Rachel is an anomaly, she doesn't fit in either world and her abilities and trust will be pushed to their limits.

I don't want to give too much away about the romance because it comes fast and sudden and is a turning point to the story. They are incredibly sweet and loyal to each other and seem like a great match. Their relationship was a great way to develop and really show off the good and bad of both characters.

There were tons of side characters that I would love to know more about. I think the politics and relationships Blackwood has started to develop here could turn into a very successful series. *This book was received in exhange for an honest review*

- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/03/review-rising-shadows-by-bridget.html#sthash.9Nf5IJZv.dpuf

*Warning - this book begins with a non-graphic depiction of rape and torture that may be a trigger for some people*

Scarlet Fury is more than just a romance - it is Madalaina (Mads) story of coming out of a very bad mental place and finding herself in the darkness. There are subtle and not so subtle lessons about life on every page and I really enjoyed watching her overcome. I thought Blackwood did a brilliant job of showing the struggle and how hard it is to get your life back after an experience like this.

But this is a romance. Cleary is perfect for Mads, but she's not sure she will ever be whole enough again to be worth his time. He has to prove to her that it he wants her no matter what. It was really quite beautiful.

We also get to see more into the political world of these paranormals and more about the over-all series story arc as well. It was a great second story and this world is fascinating to read about.

I love going to visit World in Shadows. There is such a great build up of the story that continues from book to book that is hard to resist. The characters are so dynamic and developed. While each book has its own story, they also add a new layer and progression to the overall series.

Elisavet is the first of her kind in hundreds of years. Her change is dramatic and the shock waves travel well beyond her family. The world is outraged than a human can be changed and this could be devastating to the constantly evolving relations between humans and the preternatural community. The build up for this was amazing!

Now Manias is a man full of responsibility. He has sooo much on his plate, but he gladly takes the care and teaching of Elisavet on - there's just something about her. As a vampire that is constantly in control, he quickly finds himself overwhelmed and the only way he can guarantee Elisavet's safety is a very drastic step. I got to learn a lot about the vampire culture and history, and it really helped build the world to something even more than it already was.

The ending just about gave me a heart attack. It was so well done. I had a feeling of satisfaction and conclusion for Manias and Elisavet, but there's a hook - not a cliffhanger - that is pulling me back to the world to read some more as soon as I can.

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

Too much jumping around in timeframe - I couldn't follow it.

You must be able to suspend a little reality for this one. With an assistant DA lusting after her latest court case, there's a little bit of over the top feeling, but it was still a lot of fun. When Grayson is arrested for possession with the intent to distribute, things are looking pretty bad - his professional football career may be in jeopardy and he's looking at a few years behind bars. But he didn't realize that would be the consequence when he took action.

Assistant DA Melissa St. James knows something isn't quite right when she's told to throw the book at the sports star, set an example, and make sure he's found guilty. But something inside her tells her to look deeper - and thank goodness she listens.

What unfolds is a sweet and sexy - but highly unlikely - quick romance. It was fun and easy to put away my sense of disbelief after briefly acknowledging its presence. A very fun and quick read with a dash of suspense to keep your blood pumping.

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

I loved this book! Perhaps it was because of my soft spot for vikings and all things Norse. Perhaps her sense of humor was just perfect. Perhaps her couple was so hot together I couldn't let them go. It was a little bit of all of this. It seems like every time I turned a page, I was finding something new to love.

This is a short novella with a lot of kick. It starts with a bang and just keeps on going. Nikki's crazy family had me cracking up, but also understanding her frustration at being so consumed with them that she no longer had her own self. Their interactions were a double-edged sword in her life. On one side showing exactly how needed and loved she was, on the other, not letting her live her own life or follow her own dreams and desires.

But Cruz seems to be the perfect solution, once she forgives him for throwing her grandfather out of the bar. He's quite the dark brooding type, but doesn't get so caught up in it all that he becomes one sided. He's got quite the sense of humor, even if it's a little different than most. He's also one of the sweetest guys I've read about in a long time without losing that Alpha quality I know we all love.

The Promise Kitchen is quite an in-depth look into the lives of small town southern areas. Shelby comes from a low-income family in a town with no prospects or promises for her or her daughter. Shelby has big dreams, she wants to be a chef. And she appears to have the talent, but there's no place for her to find out at home.

So she ventures into the big city, leaving her daughter behind, to follow her dreams, get a job, and move her family to be with her. Shelby's struggle was incredibly real. I could feel the frustration as every time she got a couple steps ahead, something would go wrong and she'd end up almost back at the beginning. When her daughter gets sick, she thinks it's all over for good. But she has found a guardian angel she didn't know about.

Mallory is on the opposite end of the spectrum. She has a good job that she says she loves. To all appearances she has everything on track and going the right direction, but it's all a lie. Her life begins to spiral out of control and her friends aren't who she thought they were. As she fights to find her new way, her path corsses with Shelby and our stories collide in quite an interesting fashion.

I loved this book - but at times Mallory's story was a little too depressing. I know depression is real and very difficult to pull out of, but this drop into depression seemed a little more like wallowing in self-pity than an actual downward spiral. But don't let this little comment scare you away. I think the writing and storyline of The Promise Kitchen was amazing.

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

These were a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved Her Sister's Shadow, but wasn't a thrilled with His Brother's Keeper.

Her Sister's Shadow is all about the shy twin finding her way to happiness and love. There was a lot of really great story in this one. Katie and Rosie were both fun personalities, but completely different. Katie is outgoing and flirty - loves to be in the middle of everything. But Rosie prefers to be at home, working in the garden or kitchen. But they both find a way to find love and happiness in Her Sister's Shadow. They also both get a look at tragedy and people aren't always what they seem - but it works out great in the end. This was my favorite of the two stories.

His Brother's Keeper just didn't have the best trope for me. A twin pretending to be the other one is all fun - when you're kids. But when your twin is in the hospital in a coma, pretending to be him so you can spend time with his fiance is just creepy. Now it starts as a genuine case of mistaken identity, but he doesn't bother to correct anyone. The ending....well it just confused me. Some people knew and they talked about telling other people, and I'm not entirely sure the whole thing came out?

I highly recommend the first story, Her Sister's Shadow, but you can skip His Brother's Keeper.

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

I just couldn't engage with anyone. The main characters were together from almost the beginning, and there was just far too much going on around the to keep track of it all.

These are some great Christmas romances. Starting with Mistletoe Between Friends is great. The perfect pair of opposites that are best friends, a plot to stop the blind date set-ups for the holidays, and things just lead to so much more. Lily and Cameron have amazing chemistry and they are just far too adorable together. I was rooting for them right from page on and I enjoyed every page of their story.

The Snowflake Inn was another great romance, but it didn't hit the same high note that Mistletoe Between Friends did. Grace and Riley are both survivors on different tracks life. Riley is a bit of a jerk for most of the story - which was hard to wrap my head around after such a great feel-good story in Mistletoe. I needed him to turn around faster to really like him. Grace was a strong woman, but she had her weak moments that really made me feel for her. The romance was quite fast to all wrap up.

This is a great Christmas duo. Not sure I'd recommend reading them back to back though - just too different.

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