Hot Cover Monday! The Hitwoman and Neurotic Witness ( Hitwoman series Book 5) by JB Lynn

When her apartment building is blown to smithereens, bumbling hitwoman Maggie Lee is forced to move back into the Bed & Breakfast she grew up in.

Living with her three meddling aunts is bad enough, but it just so happens that the B&B is also occupied by a U.S. Marshal, an FBI agent, her old friend Zeke who’s on a mysterious mission, and a woman who claims she can see dead people. These aren’t the kinds of roomies Maggie wants to spend time with, considering that in order to pay for her niece’s medical care she supplements her income by killing people.

Maggie avoids arrest and deals with a crazier-than-usual home life while trying to track down exactly who is blowing up the holdings of various crime families. To make matters worse, she’s walking a precarious tightrope between keeping her mobster bosses happy and protecting her murder mentor (and almost lover) Patrick Mulligan.

Aided by the warped predictions of her semi-psychic friend; her sarcastic, demanding, talking lizard; and an always ravenous, dyslexic Doberman; Maggie juggles keeping secrets, unraveling riddles and protecting those she loves.

Can she do it all? Or will she suffer yet another unspeakable loss?

Find out more about JB Lynn and the Hitwoman series on her website here www.jblynn.com

Audiobook review: Crystal Cove (Friday Harbor #4) by Lisa Kleypas

Justine Hoffman has made a comfortable life for herself on the island of Friday Harbor. She is the proprietor of a successful boutique hotel, and she has the safe, predictable life she has always wanted. Growing up with her flighty, nomadic mother, Marigold, has instilled in her a deep longing for stability. But in spite of everything Justine has achieved, there is still something missing. Love. And after years of waiting and dreaming, she is willing to do whatever it takes to change her destiny. What Justine soon discovers is that someone cast a spell on her when she was born, with the result that she will never find her soul mate. Determined to change her fate, Justine finds a way to break the enchantment, never dreaming of the dangerous complications that will follow. And when Justine meets the mysterious Jason Black, she accidentally unleashes a storm of desire and danger that threatens everything she holds dear...because Jason has secrets of his own, and he wants more from her than fate will ever allow. 

This audiobook was given to me by a friend. I have no read or listened to the other books in this series. I didn't feel i missed anything by starting here though although it might have helped to read the first three first.  Justine is happy with where she's at in life except that she's missing one thing. Love!  She finds out someone put a spell on her as a baby to prevent her from having real love. She decides to try and do something about that. In the mean time Jason Black shows up at her hotel. Rich with a list of requirements for him and his staff. He's got a motive for being there though. He's a man without a soul and thinks Justine has a spell book that can help him.  

Kind of a interesting audiobook. The voice work is well done. Every character has a different sound and fits the character. Jason is kind of a sneaky selfish guy but at the same time he's attracted to Justine. He battles what he wants and needs and still he tells himself it's OK to be sneaky and lie to Justine.  The book is supposed to be contemporary romance but it still have elements of paranormal and BDSM. Since i read all three of these it didn't bother me but i was a bit surprised all the same. The scheme for Jason is to get a soul but when he finally gets the spell book and has someone cast a spell for him it ends up putting Justine in grave danger. He saves face in the end but it's kind of a emotional mess to get there. I enjoyed the book but felt it was a little all over the place still. 3 out of 5 stars for Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas.

Find out more about Lisa Kleypas and her books here www.lisakleypas.com

Book review: The Reason is You by Sharla Lovelace

Reissue May 7, 2013 
In the small town of Bethany, Texas, Dani never fit in. Being different pushed her to the fringes of society, and even leaving town for two decades didn’t stop the talk. Now she’s back, trying to settle in with her daughter and have a normal life. But the men in her life might not make it that simple. First, there’s her old friend Alex. He’s mischievous, sexy, and still hot enough to melt her shoes. And he’s a ghost—a real one, who’s always been there for her when she most needed him. Of course, there are actual men in Bethany, too. Like Jason with his hard body. Dani seems to have a habit of running into him—literally. Now she must decide between a man who long ago touched her heart and a man she can actually touch


 I have never read this author before. She was giving away copies of this book for honest reviews and the blurb sounded interesting to me so i signed up to get one. It came in the mail a couple days ago and I immediately started reading. I only made it to page 86 the first night. Got a late start so that's pretty good for me in a couple hours of reading time. I was drawn in pretty quickly.  I don't even know where to start. This was a such a different book for me. Book starts out with Dani moving back home with her teenage daughter. Same old people same old thing. People never seemed to change. Growing up was difficult for her because starting as a young child she could see dead people. Talk to them and she didn't realize for a long while no one else could see them which made her a freak in the eyes of her peers. When Dani is 16 she meets Alex a man who died the day she was born and he came her best friend.  She doesn't realize that at the time but in present time she does and along with that a lot of other things start coming to light.  Dani also finds out her daughter can see Alex and other dead people too. No she fears for what will happen with her daughter if people find out. In the midst of all this she starts working in a bait shop and meets and falls for the owner Jason. Who has some issues of his own.  There is a very complicated love story or two going on and you can't help but feel grief for the characters and want things to work out for everyone. This book is funny,and quirky and will just draw you right through. The story and writing make you feel so many different things from laughter to tears. You start it and don't want to put it down which is my favorite kind of book. 5 out 5 stars for The Reason is you by Sharla Lovelace.

Find out more about this book and Sharla Lovelace. Check out her website here www.sharlalovelace.com

Book review:Hunger Awakened (Vampire Hunger #2) by Dee Carney

Available now!
There’s something inside of him, some dormant part that’s been awakened. And now it wants to be set free…

Something’s wrong with Sebastian Kent. Already considered an outsider in the vampire community as a half-vampire, half-something else, he’ll do everything in his power to hide his weakness. But when sickness strikes, he has no choice but to turn to a human for help—a woman whose touch provides his only relief.

Alice Bowman is hiding her own illness, one that has left her homeless. When she comes to Bast’s aid, she doesn’t expect to be thrust into the world of vampires. But he offers her refuge and a job researching his family history in the hope of finding a clue to his mysterious affliction. She can’t resist his offer of protection—and the chance to spend more time with the man who arouses her every desire.

But as Bast and Alice’s hunger for each other grows, so does the power of Bast’s unexplained half. And soon his unknown past and her uncertain future threaten to keep them apart forever….

Sebastian Kent has a problem. He is a vampire. Ok well that's not the problem the problem he is only half vampire. He doesn't know what the other half of him is. He's been trying to figure it out forever. He's also the head of guard who protects the Vampire Council and if they find out he's toast.  Alice Bowman is sick like really sick. Down on her luck, no money and no place to live. Literally eating out of trash cans when she happens upon Sebastian.  Sebastian or "Bast" and he calls himself in the book starts getting violently sick. He's not really sure what's going on. Alice takes cares of him and gets him home and next thing you know there is a connection being made and Bast must keep Alice close to keep his symptoms at bay. Somehow her being around and touching him and kissing him helps get rid of the symptoms he's having.  Bast find he can't get enough of Alice and wants to keep her forever but he doesn't know that something is really wrong health wise with Alice.  I can't give a lot of details  without giving to much away. Bast will eventually figure out what his other half is and you can guess before he figures it out. The relationship between him and Alice is interesting because she is so fragile yet really comes across as a strong woman. As big and brawny and alpha as he is he needs Alice. The writing in this book draws you in and and pulls you through. I enjoyed the main characters as well as the secondary characters.  Good solid read for me. 4 out of 5 stars for Hunger Awakened by Dee Carney.

Find out more about Dee Carney and her books here www.deecarney.com

Book review: A Low Down Dirty Shane (Misfits &Mayhem) by Sierra Dean

A Low Down Dirty Shane
Coming December 25, 2012

Thick-skinned vampire assassin meets smart-mouthed druid archer. Run, Cupid, run.

Shane Hewitt has been many things—failed husband, supernatural punching bag, and now a bitch to the vampire council of New York City. He thought killing rogue vampires was the hardest thing he’d ever do. Until a hot redhead smashes into him, shouts orders and announces she’s saving his life.

The sole female warrior in a family of druids, Siobhan O’Malley knows how to take care of herself and protect the big city from beasties who breach gateways from the fae realm. The last thing she needs is a misguided, leather-clad hottie’s help to get the job done.

Except maybe he’s exactly what she needs. Siobhan is expected to be a willing, virginal sacrifice on her twenty-fifth birthday. Sex with Shane to stay alive? If he can pull his foot out of his mouth long enough and stop driving her crazy, no problem.

Now if only the bad guys would leave them alone long enough to get the deed done.

Warning: Contains a wee red-headed archer with deadly aim; a leather-jacket-wearing vampire hunter with a habit for saying all the wrong things; and a life-saving ritual that will leave them both panting.

Sierra Dean is back with a new series branches off her Secret McQueen series. You'll recognize a few names and characters when you read this. Shane steps forward in this book and we finally get to see a little bit about who he is. He runs almost literally into Siobhan and hunter of a different kind on the street. The two of them join up to at first help keep Siobhan from being a sacrificial virgin and then to save her replacement. This is a short read but packed with some kick ass action. I love how Sierra Dean creates these tough as nails female  heroines in her books. Still they come across as feminine sexy woman who can take care of themselves but know how to accept help from a man too when needed.  I loved this but wish it was longer. I would love to see more. 4 out of 5 stars for A Low Down Dirty Shane by Sierra Dean.

Find out more about this book and and her other work on the Sierra Dean website here www.sierradean.com

Book review: Fever ( Book 1 Phoenix Rising series) By Joan Swan

Available Now

Dr. Alyssa Foster will admit to a bad boy fetish…

But when she finds herself face to face with a convicted murderer with a ripped body, a determination for freedom and an eye on her as his get out of jail free card, Alyssa knows she’s in deep trouble…. Not just because Teague Creek is a prisoner desperate for freedom, but because his every touch makes her desperate for more.

A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose…

Teague Creek has one shot at freedom, but his plan to escape with a hostage develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives who know of his strange abilities, he needs to avoid trouble, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him Forever.

Fever is book one in Joan Swan's Phoenix Rising series. I have already read and reviewed book 2 which i really enjoyed and decided i needed to backtrack to book one to find out about the first couple in the series. They can be read as a stand alone but make a little more sense read in order. I had some trouble getting through this one but i was ill for over a month and that was part of the problem. I barely got halfway through when i had to lay it down. I sat down finally yesterday and read the last 200 plus pages and i loved it. Poor Teague really gets his ass handed to him no matter what direction he turned  when a a Warehouse Fire 5 years ago kills one of his friends and irrevocably changes the rest of them. From there his life took a downward spiral. His wife commits suicide and while he  is searching for answers about the fire a woman helping him is murdered. After that he is accused of the murder and sent to prison and loses custody of his little girl.  Finally he makes his break from prison and takes  what is the wrong girl as a hostage. What started out as wrong slowly becomes right when Alyssa Foster starts to see the real Teague. Doesn't hurt that she has a twin brother who is a kick as lawyer that decides to help Teague because he hates injustice and because his sister cares for Teague. A secret government agency is after him though and they will stop at nothing to silence him. Action packed and exciting. I grew to love the characters even though some made it tough at times. lol 4 out of 5 stars for Fever by Joan Swan. If you decide to read this one make sure when your done you pick up Blaze next which is book 2 in this series. You'll meet Luke in Fever who is the hero in book 2.

Find out more about Joan Swan and all her books on her website herewww.joanswan.com.  PS there are excerpts to enjoy there as well.

Book review: Blaze (book 2 in Phoenix Rising series) by Joan Swan

Blaze
Release date September 25th 2012

The hotter they come, the harder they fall…

With a man like him, every mission becomes personal…

Ever since FBI agent Keira O’Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she’s felt a connection even her empathic abilities can’t explain. She needs to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that—not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she’s regretted walking out on for three long years.


Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable—in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it’s the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke’s really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again…

This is book 2 in Joan Swan's debut book series Phoenix Rising. I have to admit i missed book 1 but am on my way to remedying that sad fact right now. Fever is book one and then Blaze the current release is book 2. You can read them as a stand alone as i had no trouble reading this one by it'self and not feeling to deprived having not read book 1. From what i could gather there were 8 people on a Fire fighting team. There was a explosion in a warehouse that forever changes them and one of them is presumed dead. It's touched on here and there in book 2 so like i said your not out in the cold with no way of figuring out what's happened previously. In the aftermath though all remaining who were in the explosion were left with weird powers.  Keira and Luke used to be together before the explosion that changed them.They haven't seen each other in three years since Keira left to pursue the FBI after Luke gave her a ultimatum. She's a crack shot now. Best in the nation. Keira and Luke, who is now with the ATF run into each other on a mission. One that has gotten kind of personal for Keira. She's tracking a boy and the feelings she gets when touching his picture makes her feel all kind of things she's not sure about. Problem is the boy doesn't speak English so what she hears she can't understand. Keira's power is hearing things. Getting a feel for people by touching their picture or something of theirs or just being in the vicinity. Luke skin is resistant to fire and from bullets apparently. Their powers get ramped up when they are together. Keira's been looking for a little boy by the name of Mateo. She finally finds him but he only speaks Greek so there is a big language barrier. Without that barrier the story would  more simply unfold but nothing is supposed to be that easy in a romantic suspense. lol Now that she has him she's got to figure out the mystery of who he is and what  experiments have been done on him, who he belongs to and who is out to get him back. Lots of mystery to go hand in hand with the past paced action and suspense. This book is filled with intense action but balances out with casual moments and fun witty dialogue. Ms Swan lets you feel like your in on the action like these are real people. You get Luke and Keira's story but you also get glimpses of everyone else from the team. This is what makes you feel invested in the series. I know i want to read more and see what happens next! PS once you read these books you figure out how aptly the books are named for the characters. 5 out of 5 Modokker Book Picks for Blaze by Joan Swan

Find out more about this book and the Phoenix Rising series on Joan Swan's website here www.joanswan.com

Book review: Keeping Secret ( Secret McQueen series book 4 ) by Sierra Dean

From authors website:
Keeping Secret

Secret McQueen, Book 4
Coming July 10, 2012


Something old, something blue, something deadly…what else is new?

It’s a nice day for a white wedding. At least that’s what Secret McQueen is hoping for, with her poofy-princess-dress marriage to a werewolf king looming closer and closer by the day. But as ever, nothing can be that easy for a vampire/werewolf hybrid for whom someone still harbors a death wish.


Summoned to the south by her werewolf uncle, who makes no bones about the fact her mate bond with Lucas doesn’t pass muster, Secret learns her furry heritage looks more like a tangled vine than a family tree. Getting her royal uncle’s blessing hinges on finding one of the missing twigs. Even with vampire sentry Holden Chancery at her side, she manages to land up to her neck in a swamp of trouble.


As an assassin’s scope zeroes in, family dramas boil up and a fast-collapsing love square threatens to bury her alive, making it to the church on time could be the least of Secret’s problems.


Warning: Contains a grumpy bride who shouldn’t be wearing wedding white, a motley crew of bridesmaids, a dangerous scenic drive in the woods and a smoking-hot trio of suitors who might be too scorching to touch.

I've been a big fan of Sierra Dean's Secret McQueen series since i read the very first one. I can't believe we are on to book 4 already. I say that after i've been impatiently waiting for each one. I then inhale them in  one big gulp or in this case sitting and then start waiting for more again. Honest to god i never knew where the author is leading me in this book. I don't mean that in a bad way though. I mean it in a very good and devious way. lol Secret has so many love interests you need a map to keep track of them all. I'm always trying to decide which one I am rooting for. Usually it's Desmond but i have to say Holden is really getting to me. I might have to switch over to him soon. Poor Secret is all twisted up over the men in her life. Not that she isn't enjoying them as she's twisting. Thing is in this book she's getting married and someone keeps trying to kill her. Between all the men in her life and her other daily stuff she has to pull off a wedding and not get killed before it happens. The bad guy in this book flew right under my nose and i missed it. Well done Sierra. I should've had a inkling but i was to busy with the men distracting me to see it. One of the best and worst things about this book is the same thing that happens in every Secret McQueen book. It's getting to the end ...it's getting really good and then.... I'm left hanging. What wait!!! What happens next? Those are usually my last words. Nice! 5out of 5 Modokker Book stars for Keeping Secret by Sierra Sean! Loved it! Go Holden! Team Desmond. Just say no to Lucas!!! Which team are you on? Maybe Sig? Lots of hot sexy men in this series to choose from.

Find out more about Sierra Dean and this series including excerpts on her website here www.sierradean.com

Book Review: Angel Betrayed ( book 2 Fallen series) Cynthia Eden

Out everywhere June 26th 2012

Sammael–call him Sam–was an angel once. An Angel of Death. But the dispassionate, watch-from-above thing just wasn’t working for him when it meant watching evil torture innocent souls day in and day out. It might have cost him his wings, but these days he gets to apply the direct method on the bad guys. Problem is, what’s making his life difficult is a bad girl…


Seline O’Shaw needs protection, and with the hounds of hell on her tail, she’s not going to quibble too hard about where she gets it. Sam’s virtue is questionable, but he’s smoking hot, massively powerful, and owes her a favor. So what if she’s getting a little case of angel lust? There are some damn deadly sins after her hide…

I think this might be my first Cynthia Eden book. I saw this on netgalley and it called to me. What can i say it did. Been a while since i read a good paranormal and the cover was pretty easy on the eyes and the blurb reeled me right in. Sammael looks like a really bad dark evil guy at first. I thought omg how is this going to work out. I don't like this guy already. Then Seline comes on the scene and she's hurt and lost but determined. Quite misguided by the Rogziel the punishment angel who decided to step out on his own and punish all the Fallen. He's been the one to guide Seline since she was a baby and her parents supposedly died at the hands of each other. Seline is a halfbreed. Half Angel, half demon succubus. She's been told more than once she's a abomination. She believes it. Then Sam gets a hold of her. He's ancient compared to her 30 years. He knows after getting to know Seline that she's been led astray and used for what she can do. Trust between the two does not come easy but when it finally does it's a thing of beauty. You can see as the story moves on that Sam isn't all as evil as he first appears and that Seline is way more than she thinks she is. I loved this book. It took me forever to finish because of person problems in my life in the past week but if i could have had the time i would've sat and read this in one sitting. I was so lost at first because quite frankly i couldn't figure out where the author was going. Not in a bad way but a good way. It was really unpredictable. I kept waiting for Sam and his brother AZ to make up and they only ended up in limbo there really with a truce which makes me wonder all the more what's coming in the next book.  Kept me guessing til the end how it was going to all come out. Love that!! Once Sam and Seline commit nothing will stop them. 5 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars for Angel Betrayed by Cynthia Eden.

Find out more about Cynthia Eden, this book and her other work here on her website www.cynthiaeden.com

Cynthia Eden is also having a release day party on her blog today as well. Find it here www.cynthiaeden.com/blog/

Book review: Through the Night(The Reliance Group Series book 3) by Janelle Denison

THROUGH THE NIGHT


LADY LUCK
As the Executive Casino Hostess for The Onyx in Las Vegas, Valerie Downing is always on the lookout for the night’s biggest winners. When she spots a man—one of the sexiest she’s ever laid eyes on—generating huge excitement at the craps table, she knows she’s in luck. Her goal: To make sure the high rollers stay at her hotel, and that any further gambling is invested right back into the casino. His: To enjoy some other “perks” that Valerie might have to offer.


GAMBLING MAN
Turns out Chase Pierson is already a VIP guest who happens to be working with Valerie’s boss on a top-secret mission for the Reliance Group—one for which she too has been recruited. But Valerie, bold and gorgeous as she is, is first and foremost a professional. No fraternizing with Onyx clientele is her motto…and this hard-bodied, infuriatingly charming client is no exception. Even if Chase knows that the harder the hunt, the hotter the surrender.

This is book 3 in Janelle Denison exciting Reliance Group series. In this one Valerie who is the hostess for Onyx Casino in Las Vegas  as well as a Reliance Group member. She gets paired with Chase Pierson who is treasure hunter.  Things heat up quick since Valerie is clairvoyant and Chase has psychic abilities too  He can touch a object and literally see it's history. Valerie can touch people or feel things in places. Between the two of them they hope to find a missing piece of a intricate and expensive cane once owned by Al Capone. There is another great treasure Chase is after once he finds the missing piece and assembles the cane worth millions. Problem is both Valerie and Chase have troubled family pasts to overcome. Sparks literally fly when they touch each other but someone doesn't want them together at all. I love love loved Chase. The love scenes were divine and the connection between Chase and Valerie was electric, literally!  I like when you can't figure out who the bad guy is but sometimes it's pretty fun when you think you know and you're sitting there saying NO NO NO don't you get it he's the bad guy. While that is fun for me this book wasn't about the bad guy but the love story. Chase has all this patience with Valerie and even though he has his own issues he's there for her and believes in her. This is easily my favorite of all the books in this series so far. Can't wait for the next one! 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars for Janelle Denison's Through the Night.
 
Read more about this book and this series on Janelle Denison's website. There is even a excerpt for this book there.www.janelledenison.com
 
Releases March 27th
pre order from Amazon right now www.amazon.com/Through-Night