Take a photo of a barcode or cover
What a great start to a short, sweet, and humorous series. When Ellen decides to go on a strict diet of online well researched dates, you just know something unexpected is going to happen. I just never thought that a dog eating a hairbrush would be the thing to set it off. Ellen was a great character, Chester was an amazing puppy to help her out, and Henry is the perfect guy. Now, we can't forget about the internet dates - they are each special in their own way as well and really helped me understand and know Ellen's personality.
While this is a shorter story, there is plenty packed in to keep it a good one. While this book may not have gotten the highest rating - it was perfect for a pick me up story during a long week. Susan Hatler also introduced us to a few of Ellen's friends, and it looks like they are next in line to find love of their own.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/06/review-love-at-first-date-better-date.html#sthash.QqCPvcxl.dpuf
While this is a shorter story, there is plenty packed in to keep it a good one. While this book may not have gotten the highest rating - it was perfect for a pick me up story during a long week. Susan Hatler also introduced us to a few of Ellen's friends, and it looks like they are next in line to find love of their own.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/06/review-love-at-first-date-better-date.html#sthash.QqCPvcxl.dpuf
The majority of this book is taken up by quite an epic battle between magic factions in Venice. On one side we have Bruno and his friends (including Melina), and on the other we have the council that has been in power for years - many many years. But all is not well between Bruno and Melina at first. There was an issue with the DeVinci's books at the end of book two that has him wondering if he can trust her. This was worked out fairly quickly though and their romance seemed to be wrapped up already.
I would have liked to see a little more struggle between them in the book - their relationship seemed to resolve itself too soon. The battle was brilliantly written though with a ton of crazy magic stuff flying around everywhere. The end was a storybook ending with a really huge HEA for Bruno - but he definitely had to fight to get it.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/06/review-claimed-vitruvian-man-3-by-cate.html#sthash.4DHNd0JH.dpuf
I would have liked to see a little more struggle between them in the book - their relationship seemed to resolve itself too soon. The battle was brilliantly written though with a ton of crazy magic stuff flying around everywhere. The end was a storybook ending with a really huge HEA for Bruno - but he definitely had to fight to get it.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/06/review-claimed-vitruvian-man-3-by-cate.html#sthash.4DHNd0JH.dpuf
I love rock and roll so I was super excited to have a chance to try this new series that revolves around the band, Reckless Beat. Book one chooses to star the lead guitarist, Mitchell, and his surprise romance with a non-groupie concert goer, Alana. It was a very interesting match up. Mitchell is used to having a new girl in every city - groupies galore. Alana, on the other hand, has led an incredibly sheltered life that was very anti-males. When Mitchell spots her in the crowd at a concert, he is instantly drawn to her and wants to find out who she is. While this may seem unlikely, anyone who goes to a concert has seen a guard go up to a girl in the first couple rows and ask her to come back stage - it happens - just not usually quite this way.
Alana has some major trust issues when it comes to men - not because of anything that has happened to her, but because of the way she was raised. Right off the bat her limits are tested when she finds herself in the care of Mitchell after an accident happens in the hotel after the concert. They find they get along quite well, but both have issues to overcome before they can really explore the how deep their feelings go.
In the beginning, the story fell a little flat, but about half way through something changed. I can't even pinpoint exactly what it was, but suddenly the writing and the story just went through the roof. It became amazing. If the whole book had been written this way, it would have gotten a huge 5 rating. A lot of things happen to our couple - together and individually - throughout the second part of the story that really had a huge emotional impact on their lives. Wrap it up with an amusing (but dangerous) confrontation with Alana's mother and you had a perfect ending.
This is definitely a series I will be reading more. The entire band has some very fun and interesting personalities and I want to see them all get their HEA.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
Alana has some major trust issues when it comes to men - not because of anything that has happened to her, but because of the way she was raised. Right off the bat her limits are tested when she finds herself in the care of Mitchell after an accident happens in the hotel after the concert. They find they get along quite well, but both have issues to overcome before they can really explore the how deep their feelings go.
In the beginning, the story fell a little flat, but about half way through something changed. I can't even pinpoint exactly what it was, but suddenly the writing and the story just went through the roof. It became amazing. If the whole book had been written this way, it would have gotten a huge 5 rating. A lot of things happen to our couple - together and individually - throughout the second part of the story that really had a huge emotional impact on their lives. Wrap it up with an amusing (but dangerous) confrontation with Alana's mother and you had a perfect ending.
This is definitely a series I will be reading more. The entire band has some very fun and interesting personalities and I want to see them all get their HEA.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
Gina was in it for the long haul with her last boyfriend - for too long. He was a jerk that didn't want to get married after 10 years!! So she decides to find the perfect man to marry - and take as a date to Ellen's wedding. She is instantly set up on a blind date that she's just not too sure about. Meanwhile, the hottie at work has a new job so dating current co-workeds is now fair game - and he has his sights set on Gina.
This was hilarious! The way Gina and Chris talk to each other, especially at the beginning with their truth or dare game, was fantastic. These are the perfect length for a quick read before falling asleep happy and with a chuckle. I love how upbeat and positive the writing is and how real the characters are.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/06/review-truth-or-date-better-date-than.html#sthash.2gROKd3z.dpuf
This was hilarious! The way Gina and Chris talk to each other, especially at the beginning with their truth or dare game, was fantastic. These are the perfect length for a quick read before falling asleep happy and with a chuckle. I love how upbeat and positive the writing is and how real the characters are.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/06/review-truth-or-date-better-date-than.html#sthash.2gROKd3z.dpuf
We continue the story of Amber Lily in book 10 of Wings in the Night. After the evens in book 8, her life has changed drastically. She has learned to be more independent and more dependent at the same time. She understands that she is something new and different. And while some will view that as something to be cherished and protected, others (like DPI) view it as a new subject to tear apart and figure out.
We also get to meet Edge - a young vampire (all things considered) that is set to find the last remaining DPI agent and make sure he dies a horrible death. That's all well and good, but Amber Lily has her own reasons for hunting the man down, and she needs him alive.
They have quite an interesting romance, but I didn't feel as if that was the highlight of the book. More and more new and different things are discovered (I really wish I could say more - but I would give way too much away). The main focus of the story didn't seem to be so much about the romance at times, but about continuing the storyline of the vampires I've come to love reading about. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of very romantic scenes and it definitely should be considered a paranormal romance, but there was just too much else going on at the same time. Some of the more hardcore romance readers may not get into this as much as I did.
There seems to be some very fun and exciting things to come for our little group. There's a short story at the end of this one to set the hooks for book #11 - and it sounds very exciting. We got to meet a "young" Rhiannon in it and it solidified her as one of my favorites - the pet panther helps a bit too.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/07/review-edge-of-twilight-wings-in-night.html#sthash.QKLgdn0s.dpuf
We also get to meet Edge - a young vampire (all things considered) that is set to find the last remaining DPI agent and make sure he dies a horrible death. That's all well and good, but Amber Lily has her own reasons for hunting the man down, and she needs him alive.
They have quite an interesting romance, but I didn't feel as if that was the highlight of the book. More and more new and different things are discovered (I really wish I could say more - but I would give way too much away). The main focus of the story didn't seem to be so much about the romance at times, but about continuing the storyline of the vampires I've come to love reading about. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of very romantic scenes and it definitely should be considered a paranormal romance, but there was just too much else going on at the same time. Some of the more hardcore romance readers may not get into this as much as I did.
There seems to be some very fun and exciting things to come for our little group. There's a short story at the end of this one to set the hooks for book #11 - and it sounds very exciting. We got to meet a "young" Rhiannon in it and it solidified her as one of my favorites - the pet panther helps a bit too.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/07/review-edge-of-twilight-wings-in-night.html#sthash.QKLgdn0s.dpuf
This one was a bit shorter than the first two and I wish it had been longer. I wanted to see more of Rachel and Noah (and even little Chester). Their chemistry on their first (sort of) blind date was very memorable and I really really liked them both. And I will admit some of it had to do with wanting to know how Chester was. It seemed to be over before it really began. I still think I'll try the next book and see if it picks back up for me.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/07/review-my-last-blind-date-better-date.html#sthash.qdpSMuS5.dpuf
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/07/review-my-last-blind-date-better-date.html#sthash.qdpSMuS5.dpuf
Hell's Kitty can be read as a stand alone - although you will definitely want to go back and catch up once you're finished.
Felipe is your stereotypical tom cat. He enjoys women - just never more than once - and never at his place. This poses a problem to Lucifer's matchmaking schemes and he thinks he knows just how to handle it. So off Felipe goes on a retrieval mission to pick up Jenny. Jenny is something else - really, we have no idea what she is exactly. She's more of an innocent than I am used to seeing from Eve Langlais' leading ladies and I loved that about her. Now she still has the fun sarcastic mouth on her that I've grown to love and look forward to though.
Someone besides Lucifer wants Jenny as well, and Felipe finds it more difficult (and wet) than he anticipated. But through it all his cat keeps purring, espcially when she's nearby. I really enjoyed meeting some of the sirens that Jenny lives with, they were the perfect counterpoint to Felipe at the beginning of the story. There is a lot of adventure and action as we go - giving Felipe's cat a few perfect opportunities to come out and play. A fantastic book that was tons of fun to read.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/#sthash.Uid4t2Xv.dpuf
Felipe is your stereotypical tom cat. He enjoys women - just never more than once - and never at his place. This poses a problem to Lucifer's matchmaking schemes and he thinks he knows just how to handle it. So off Felipe goes on a retrieval mission to pick up Jenny. Jenny is something else - really, we have no idea what she is exactly. She's more of an innocent than I am used to seeing from Eve Langlais' leading ladies and I loved that about her. Now she still has the fun sarcastic mouth on her that I've grown to love and look forward to though.
Someone besides Lucifer wants Jenny as well, and Felipe finds it more difficult (and wet) than he anticipated. But through it all his cat keeps purring, espcially when she's nearby. I really enjoyed meeting some of the sirens that Jenny lives with, they were the perfect counterpoint to Felipe at the beginning of the story. There is a lot of adventure and action as we go - giving Felipe's cat a few perfect opportunities to come out and play. A fantastic book that was tons of fun to read.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/#sthash.Uid4t2Xv.dpuf
This was much different than what I expected at first. I expected something more romantic - with perhaps a HFN type of ending that fell apart in book two or something. That definitely didn't happen. In fact, there wasn't much happy in the ending at all. That being said, it definitely isn't a romance. It's all about a very very evil vampire trying to find his bride, a bride that doesn't want to be his.
It is a pretty good urban fantasy though. I really enjoyed the very traditional take on vampires and the Wiccan aspect of witchcraft. Out main character, Rayvin, is a blast. I loved her attitude and how much she cared about others, even when they didn't see to care about her. I didn't like what happened to some of the side characters and I really hope Ridgewood has a way to change what their path appears to be.
There is a love interest, Grant, but things don't seem to come together for them until later in the book. And as you know from the first paragraph of my review, it doesn't end well - at least not yet. I'll be picking up book two eventually. I sort of want to know how everything comes out next, the author definitely got me a little hooked.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/#sthash.oEHsdXsx.dpuf
It is a pretty good urban fantasy though. I really enjoyed the very traditional take on vampires and the Wiccan aspect of witchcraft. Out main character, Rayvin, is a blast. I loved her attitude and how much she cared about others, even when they didn't see to care about her. I didn't like what happened to some of the side characters and I really hope Ridgewood has a way to change what their path appears to be.
There is a love interest, Grant, but things don't seem to come together for them until later in the book. And as you know from the first paragraph of my review, it doesn't end well - at least not yet. I'll be picking up book two eventually. I sort of want to know how everything comes out next, the author definitely got me a little hooked.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/#sthash.oEHsdXsx.dpuf
Joss is a very powerful woman, she she doesn't really believe it. When she buys an inn on top of a ley line all hell breaks loose. A demon has targeted the vet down the road and seems to be intent on harvesting some souls. Joss's power may be all that can protect the small town and keep it from being destroyed.
Joss was an interesting mix of confidence and doubt. She is sure that her inn will succeed and that her special recipes featuring lavender will be a big hit. On the other had, she doubt her family history and her strength to love again - even when signs point to Eric being the love of her life. But Eric isn't safe - he's been put in the middle of the battle between the goddess Isis and her family and the minions of hell.
I loved the mix of mythology in this one. Several more minor characters were mentioned and it was great to see them have even a tiny bit of the spotlight (I especially loved Tisiphone). There is a ton of adventure and there were times I thought Cate Masters wouldn't be able to pull off a HEA because things were so crazy. There is a pretty great battle scene that I couldn't tear myself away from.
What I like best about both characters was their desire to make life good on their own. They weren't necessarily afraid to ask for help, but they wanted to try and save themselves first. Now if only they could realize they also had each other.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/07/review-goddess-awakened-by-cate-masters.html#sthash.zSQhpTWK.dpuf
Joss was an interesting mix of confidence and doubt. She is sure that her inn will succeed and that her special recipes featuring lavender will be a big hit. On the other had, she doubt her family history and her strength to love again - even when signs point to Eric being the love of her life. But Eric isn't safe - he's been put in the middle of the battle between the goddess Isis and her family and the minions of hell.
I loved the mix of mythology in this one. Several more minor characters were mentioned and it was great to see them have even a tiny bit of the spotlight (I especially loved Tisiphone). There is a ton of adventure and there were times I thought Cate Masters wouldn't be able to pull off a HEA because things were so crazy. There is a pretty great battle scene that I couldn't tear myself away from.
What I like best about both characters was their desire to make life good on their own. They weren't necessarily afraid to ask for help, but they wanted to try and save themselves first. Now if only they could realize they also had each other.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/07/review-goddess-awakened-by-cate-masters.html#sthash.zSQhpTWK.dpuf
Colonization was a fantastic mix of several genres. We have colonists from Earth that have been in space for many generations finally reaching their new home. The science fiction aspect is launched from page one on the space ship and continues throughout with some of the technologies and even a bit of an alien presence of new somewhat intelligent plant life. We have a potential romance between Andromeda and her best friend, Sirius, that has some very major overhauls right from the start. It goes off in a direction I really didn't see coming at first. It is also a bit of a coming of age story as Andromeda struggles to find her place in the new world and among her people as a contributing member.
Andromeda was a great character. She was constantly evolving and learning. Colonizing a planet after being aboard a ship her whole life is a huge change for her. Having never known anything other than the inside of the colony ship, she has some very realistic fear of change as they approach the planet. Combine that with the feeling of not being the best she could on her aptitude tests, and you have a very confused young lady.
Sirius and Corvus were a perfect play off each other. I don't want to say too much about them because so much of their personality unfolds through the story. Andromeda's perceptions of them both changes many times throughout as she realizes more about both them and herself. For those of you who hate love triangles - don't worry. This is not what I would consider a love triangle and all the back and forth that tends to come with them.
A lot of Andromeda's growing up and self-realizations come because of a danger to the colony that she discovers. I loved watching how she threw herself into the problem and was willing to step up and take blame for her bad decisions and try to make them right. I also loved how she didn't back down when she knew she was right and others just didn't believe or listen to her. She seems to be the only one able to see the alien ghosts and she refuses to stop trying to find out what their message is. And it's a good thing she did. The action is a little more subtle in this - the danger isn't a planned attack or invasion, but something much more deadly and natural - I won't say more or I may ruin it.
This was a great read. I highly recommend it for fans of science fiction or romance. The way the two were mixed was phenomenal. Book two is already out and I will be adding to my reading list a soon as I can.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2014/07/review-colonization-by-aubrie-dionne.html#sthash.MG5jnCcZ.dpuf
Andromeda was a great character. She was constantly evolving and learning. Colonizing a planet after being aboard a ship her whole life is a huge change for her. Having never known anything other than the inside of the colony ship, she has some very realistic fear of change as they approach the planet. Combine that with the feeling of not being the best she could on her aptitude tests, and you have a very confused young lady.
Sirius and Corvus were a perfect play off each other. I don't want to say too much about them because so much of their personality unfolds through the story. Andromeda's perceptions of them both changes many times throughout as she realizes more about both them and herself. For those of you who hate love triangles - don't worry. This is not what I would consider a love triangle and all the back and forth that tends to come with them.
A lot of Andromeda's growing up and self-realizations come because of a danger to the colony that she discovers. I loved watching how she threw herself into the problem and was willing to step up and take blame for her bad decisions and try to make them right. I also loved how she didn't back down when she knew she was right and others just didn't believe or listen to her. She seems to be the only one able to see the alien ghosts and she refuses to stop trying to find out what their message is. And it's a good thing she did. The action is a little more subtle in this - the danger isn't a planned attack or invasion, but something much more deadly and natural - I won't say more or I may ruin it.
This was a great read. I highly recommend it for fans of science fiction or romance. The way the two were mixed was phenomenal. Book two is already out and I will be adding to my reading list a soon as I can.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2014/07/review-colonization-by-aubrie-dionne.html#sthash.MG5jnCcZ.dpuf