5/5 Perfect Paranormal Romance with a perfectly developed story
581961
I was recommend this book by two separate people and for some reason dragged my feet.  Then I started reading and found myself intrigued by the mysterious start as we watch this man work in the library by using someone else.  I wasn't sure how the feel of the book was yet and so kept reading.  I was hooked!  Gio and Beatrice captivated me and I couldn't put this books down.  I read 1-3 in the series over the course of 3-4 days before I finally took a break because otherwise I would get in completes on assignments that were waiting for my attention.

The world building in this series is phenomenal.  This is our world reimagined with magic and creatures already familiar to us but presented in a new and unique way.  The detail was superb and the storyline enthralling.

Beatrice is a strong female lead and she did not annoy me.  I enjoyed becoming her and living the story as her (we all do it don't we? lol).  Gio, oh Gio.  A wonderful strong brooding male lead with dimension and a great air of mystery.  These characters and all the supporting characters were written with such depth that they came to life.  I believed their actions, I understood them and I felt for them.

There were parts in here that in my opinion related to another well known story and the use of that made me laugh and smile, loved it so much.

The scene that grabbed me the hardest and still stands out from the first book is the elevator scene.  You will know it when you read it.

I HIGHLY recommend this series.  In fact I suggest buying the 4 book bundle but the first book in the series is FREE so you can grab it and see if you get as hooked as I did.

The Pros:
-Strong female (kick some butt type of strong) and male leads that had depth and didn't annoy.
-Characters that evolve and grow with the story.
-Well thought out story that wraps up nicely after 4 books but welcomes the continuation of the world through other books an characters.
-Really well done world building, based off of our current one.
-Well completed story arcs.
-Great romantic chemistry and a couple you can fall in love with.
-Surprised me greatly, so not just a typical story format.
-A supporting cast that is just as well written with just as much depth leaving you wanting more of them.
-You can completely immerse yourself in the books.

Cons:
I really can't remember any at this time, lol.

This series really captured my attention and I know I will be plunging into the spin offs from it because I can't stand leaving them just yet and I want to get to know the other characters just as much as I know Beatrice and Gio.
4050636
Aaaaahhhhh I loved this book so much! I always enjoy good werewolf stories - but this really was a step beyond, with characters I absolutely adored and a really original take on the werewolf mythos and a unique, compelling magical system. For once in a book with alternating points of view, I was just as invested in both POVs, and even the side-characters are vibrant and satisfying. The romance is both complicated (by grim context) and understated (a small subplot for one of the PoVs rather than the main plot for either of them), but oh, the chemistry between Natividad and her love interest is FABULOUS - I really want to see what happens next with it!

I hope SO DESPERATELY that there will be a Book 2 soon, because I really, REALLY need to find out what happens to all the characters! And for once, I really do mean ALL of them, not just the heroine or hero.
2724668
This book has everything a paranormal romance fan could want!  It has wit, humor, hot romance, amazing characters, magic and demons!  If I didn't have such a big TBR list, Id start it again.  I was immediately drawn in and I didn't want to stop reading until it was finished.  Lexi and Ryan are a great couple and its hard not to love their chemistry.  The supporting characters were just as engaging and the twists involving those characters really make for a great read.  There were parts of this book where I was reading so fast because the action scenes were killing me and there were other scenes that I had to reread just because they made me happy.  I also really loved the lore of the sorcery and demons, it was really well thought out and fit the story of Lexi and Ryan perfectly.  The ending was scary and awesome at the same time and I cannot WAIT till the next installment!  This is my favorite book by Melanie James so far, get it, you will not be disappointed!
2360456
When I picked up Games of Fate, I knew nothing about Fates, Shifters, or Burners, or how in the world an ADHD heroine could work in a paranormal fantasy. I was immediately drawn into the richly-layered and complex world of FFSD, and I soon realized that Ms. Radcliffe had created a very real, flawed, relatable heroine  and a whole host of real, flawed, relatable characters to surround her.

At its very base, the plot might seem familiar: normal human woman undergoes a transformation into a superhero; flawed hero with his trusty sidekick needs to be rescued from his dark side; newly-powerful heroine saves the dayand the hero. However, the world Radcliffe has created to flesh out this idea is new and breathtaking. Rysa with her ADHD is hardly your normal heroine, and her struggles and woundedness give her character depth and honesty. Ladon carries a world-weariness that you can almost feel, while Dragon and his blend of ageless wisdom and puppyish enthusiasm make you smile. Even the villains are multi-dimensional: the Burners are brilliantly-realized and cringeworthy, while the different sounds of the Fate seers can communicate much about the Fates themselves. Their arrogance is unbounded, and yet you realize how much they are trapped by their own gifts.

The love story is wonderful, and Radcliffe certainly knows how to write a love scene! I loved the development and growth of the relationship between Ladon and Rysatheir honest passion, their commitment to (and fears for) each other. And watching Dragon fall in love with Rysa was a joy.

Oh, and speaking of Dragon  Ive read a lot of dragon books. I teethed on Anne McCaffreys Pern series, among others. But Radcliffes addition to the draconic lore is wonderful. Their mimicking abilities, their fondness for orange food (I really need to find Cara Caras!), their six-fingered hands and retractable talons are fascinating. The energy flow between Dragon and Human, and the idea that the psychic bond between them has the physical effect of elastic that can only stretch so far, are new and unique. I love the fact that, like Perns dragons, Brother and Sister Dragon are real characters with quirks, eccentricities, affections, and dislikes.

One critique Ive seen, and I can understand it, is that the reader is dropped into the action quickly and early, without any background or preparation, and has to figure out whats going on. Rysas ADHD can also create the sensation that the viewpoint is fractured, which can be daunting. But as I read (and re-read) this book, I realized that thats an important part of the experience. Rysa has no knowledge or understanding of the world into which shes been dropped, and is having to view this brand-new world through the lens of her attention issues. We, as the readers, are experiencing it along with herdiscovering the truth of her heritage and this new and terrifying world, piece by piece and moment by moment. Seeing it through her eyes, ADHD and all, makes the moment when we understand whats happening feel like a triumph; like we, along with her, finally understand and have the knowledge we need to win the battle. We are invested in Rysa and in her story, and it makes the whole read more rewarding.
3806302
A perfect perfectly imperfect couple!

Love at First Roar is the latest in the Grayslake series, but can be read as a stand alone and you still know what is going on.  Isaac is the clan's werebear healer and has terrible facial scars from a previous encounter with a group of hyenas.  The men of the clan applaud his courage, while the women shrink away from his scars.  Kira is the almost blind weremole who came to Grayslake seeking a new clan where she can be safe from the attacks of her previous clan.  Not only is she nearly blind, but she has her own scars inside and out to deal with.  Now this sounds like it could be a very serious book, but Celia Kyle takes these two imperfect people and creates the most beautiful story around them that has you laughing out loud and tearing up at different times. Throw in the lovable, goofy, drooling, leg lifting, lousy guide dog, Ebenezer, and you have a most delicious story of love and strength of will to overcome past tragedies. I have to admit, I was never a fan of shifter stories until I came across Celia Kyle's books.  The combination of funny, tenderness and drama with imperfect characters has me buying everything this woman writes! After all, isn't that what you read for - to escape to another world that is fun to be in!
3800495
Solstice Night has everything you want in a paranormal romance. It is written fast paced with action, love, and paranormal beings like vampires, empaths and werewolves. And all those elements are wrapped in an exiting story that I had troubles with, putting down.

Solstice Night is about Beo. She is a 14.000 year something. Not a vampire or Demon but a paranormal someting that is strange enough to exists for all those years. When she is on a journey to warn someone, she meets the man of her life- the mute Canis and frees him from the hands of his evil vampire master. That results that Canis takes revenge by slaying his Ex-master and becoming the new vampire-chief of Detroit. While finding out who initially wanted to kill his master, Canis (now called Dis) finds himself drawn to Beo. Even he doesn't know what she is, but except her as she is.

I look forward to read more about Beo. I didn't know which character I liked better, Beo or Dis. Both main characters are written with great emotion and depth with both there own story/history that made them who they are now. If your a fan or Chicagoland Vampires or the books written by Ilona Andrews you definitely going to enjoy this book from (for me a new author) B.C. Sirrom. ... p.s. I really have to ask her first name because writing the name B.C. Sirrom really sucks in a review, now i know how many times i actually want to use the name of the author :)
3031613
I fell in love with this book at first glance. Yes, I'm a shallow cover snob. But what was inside did not disappoint. I admit I had no idea (because I didn't read the blurb, just saw the book and started reading) that this was a rockstar romance. I LOVE THOSE. But only when they are done really really well. Chase delivers.

But wait... this isn't just a contemporary romance. It's a PARANORMAL contemporary romance. Be still, my heart. I feel like Chase wrote this one just for me. The whole concept of the Glowers was brilliant!! Everything I love, all wrapped up in one package.

Between the romance and the mystery, the secrets and the magic, and these chemistry between two AMAZING characters I will not soon forget, this story was a home run for me. I would give six stars if I could. Pick this one up. You'll thank me later.
3359960
This book was recommended to me by the many people who thought her work in "Playing Easy to Get" was the best in the anthology.  I've been leery of trying new paranormal romance books because the market seems to be flooded w/ a great deal of them that are not very good.  I'm glad I tried this book however.  This series will now be an auto-buy for me.

With all the paranormal entities in this book, I'm surprised the author kept everything on track so that the reader wasn't inundated about this new world.

The plot was set at a great pace.  The love and sensuality was appropriate for the length of the book.  The best feature of the plot however was the characterization.

The hero is a werewolf who has been tortured for the last 500 years, and when he gets a whiff of his mate, he gets the strength to free himself to hunt for her.  Since he's been dying and rebirthing for the last 500 years, it's understandable he's a little caveman and crazy like when he kidnaps his heroine.

The heroine is a half Valkyrie & Vampire. She's been so intimidated by her Valkyrie aunts so long tha she has no self esteem and is a truly cowardly lion.  Emma the Timid is what they call her.  So many paranormals these days, the heroines are so strong, snarky, and independent, that Emmaline makes a nice change in flavor. I loved her character.  The entire plot is paced so that she begins to peek out of her shell and grow a back bone.  It's wonderful that Kresley Cole was able to make her heroine transition smoothly into a stronger and likeable character w/ insecurities instead of making her into an overnight superhero.

Some people may be cringe from the near rape scenes in the beginning. But rest assured there was no rape in the book, in fact the true love scenes aren't until the mid 200 pages so this makes the connection between the heroine and the hero all the more realistic.

Highly recommended.
2197857
For those of you who do not know I am a die-hard reader of anything paranormal-romance, dragon heroes just happen to be my favorite and so whenever I can get my eyes on such material I leap at the chance. I discovered I Dream of Dragons entirely by accident while I was exploring the new arcs to be released the month of April. I am happy that I did find this book because it was very enjoyable, but did contain a few flaws.

The thing that I admired the most about the story was how unique it was written! Finally, an author has come along that knows how to pen a dragon shape shifter such as Rory. Add in the fact that Rory and his siblings have left their homeland of Ireland and I was instantly hooked. Being, an Irish-America I tend to fall in love with most stories that feature an Irish hunk and Rory along with his siblings are certainly hot!

Returning to the plot I thought that the author, Ashlyn Chase, did a marvelous job with this book. Both Rory and Amber, his love interest in the story, have accidental rented the same apartment that has some paranormal tendencies among the building. This eerie fact did not scare Amber as much as I had originally thought. Together, Rory and Amber had a fiery (no pun intended) spark that set the entire story ablaze and so thumbs up to the author for inventing such a wicked delight of a romance.

 Now for the flaws. My largest flaw with the story has to be the secondary characters of the story, mostly Rory's siblings along with his enemies. Everyone is sort of running around in the book and together they all overshadow the time that the author could have spent on Rory and Amber. I understand that this book is the beginning of a series, but I would have liked for the author to find a more equal balance among all the characters.

As for the sensual scenes I do not consider this book to be of explicit content. The X scenes were tastefully wrote and I was relieved because I feel like too many paranormal authors try and push the sex onto their readers. In this book the scenes are written as if the characters are actually in love with one another and not as a hormonal dragon and a mortal female whisking off to bed with one another.

This is yet another read that I would suggest to readers. I vastly savored this story and I am anxiously awaiting the next release in The Dragons of Boston series.
96207
5 stars!! Awesome paranormal romance that mixes the Greek gods and the contemporary. I have had the pleasure of reading each of the books in The Mythean Arcana Series. Aurora is a soulceresses and has a history that includes tremendous power, terror/fear and love. As a young woman she met Felix who is a mix of timewalker and woulver. He is strong and powerful in his own magic but within the few short weeks he knows in his heart Aurora is his mate. They only get a few months together before they are separated for centuries. Each is tortured in different ways while apart but even knowing there will be future hardship They find joy just being in each other's presence. The book brings the characters to life and locations to reality. It includes suspense, intrigue as well as sweet & intense romance. I enjoyed the length of the book as well. Ms Hall has been able to continue her excellent writing even through this 6th book in the series which is often difficult for most authors. This book can be read as a standalone because Ms Hall has gone into the background of the characters but I recommend trying to read the books in order but it's not essential. I look forward to reading her future books. I received a free copy of this book from the author solely in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you Ms Hall.
2171485
A Hunger Like No Other is what an excellent paranormal romance should be.  From page one, the main characters draw you into their captivating world filled with a plethora of supernatural beings as lycans, vampires, valkyries, furies, and wraiths.

Lachlain and Emma are extremely likeable characters who are strong, witty, and passionate.  I adore lycan and prefer the stories with the intense, volatile, devoted Lycan males.  I fell in love with the tortured, complex, and sexy lykae king, Lachlain.  His half vampire/vakyrie mate, Emmaline, is adorable, sassy and smart.  It is during their road trip from Paris to Scotland that their attraction and relationship builds into one of trust.

My only picks are the clich cover and the relentless sexual tension which began to grate after while.

Their story is full of action, drama, romance, suspense, and intriguing secondary characters which propels the story forward.  Paranormal romance blends the real with the fantastic.  Ms. Cole has done this genre proud.
3118571
Magic, Druids, Witches?  Yes, please.  It's been a while since I've had a chance to read an adult paranormal romance.  Protecting His Witch was the perfect book for me to delve back in to my favorite genre.  I was fascinated by the world the author created-the multiple dimensions, the Greek Pleiades lore that was interwoven into the story and combined with the Druid lore...then taking that and adding in the romance element, resulting in quite the intriguing story.

The characters-very well crafted.  I loved both of the main characters, Kat and Matthew, and they worked well as a couple.  And Matt's sexy alpha presence...mmm, that's another "Yes, please!"  In the secondary characters, Charlotte was fantastic-full of spunk and a strong leader, while Bryce was one of those who make you want to growl and throw one of those upside-the-head slaps-even after you find out why he acts the way he does.

The story will draw you in, and it flows really well.  There's plenty of action and excitement, along with a good dose of steam.  I thought everything wrapped up toward the end a bit too quickly compared to the pace of the rest of the story, but otherwise it's a great read.

An excellent start to the series, and a 4-star read for me.
3548846
When Homeward Bound first came out, The Pervy Ladies Book Blog was just starting and it was one of the first release blitzes we did.  I was immediately drawn in to the blurb but with the fervor of the blog starting and a broken down car, I wasn't able to get the book.  I was bummed.  So I was super excited to be able to read it this week.  Now, I will confess, I love paranormal books but I sometimes feel let down by the paranormal romance (PNR) genre.  And yes, there is a difference.  A lot of PNR tends to focus strictly on the romance part of the storyline and leaves out a lot of juicy tidbits about the paranormal action.  Homeward Bound was the perfect blend of the two, the right amount of action and the perfect amount of spicy romance.

Immediately I got drawn into Gage Crosses world with the descriptions that were given, I could almost see, smell and touch it.  It was in vivid colors in my imagination.  This didn't change as the story unfolded.  It was action packed, moving quickly through the story so you're on the edge of your seat without feeling rushed.  My fingernails are bit down to nubs and my heart was pounding at times.  The love story progresses naturally if a little out of the blue, I wish we had a little more back story about how Gage, Adrienne and Joey got together but perhaps thatll come in one of the future books.  There was a lot of playful banter between the three that showed their closeness.  Gage is one yummy hunk of alpha goodness and Adrienne is a certified badass woman.

I absolutely loved this book and I cannot wait for the next one to come out.  Luckily its just a few more weeks and I don't have to wait long!  This will be one that Ill be adding to my list of paranormal recommendations.  It definitely surpassed my expectations and is a book any diehard paranormal fan should read.
3939532
This is the first book of Kathy Lyon's that I am reading and though it is a part of a series, it is completely perfect to be read as a standalone. I hadn't read the first book- The Bear Who Loved Me, but this didn't affect my reading experience in any way.
I was hooked from the first chapter! I loved the descriptions, and the way the author managed to detail the shifters and the grizzly part of them was wonderful. I have read many bear shifter books and this one really stands out due to its writing,details and worldbuilding.

Julie has returned to Saginaw,Michigan to find her father's journals so that she can transcribe them. He's in the hospital due to health issues and she knows that he will get bored very soon. He has been researching folklore and tales especially those that concern shapeshifting. When she spent a few summers in Saginaw, when she used to have a crush on Mark. But he mostly ignored her and her attempts to befriend him. Until the one hot night that they spent together during which he abrupptly left.

Mark is very close to becoming feral and losing himself forever. He has been trying hard to find a cure but nothing has been able to help him. He even enlisted Julie's father's help to find something that might help. When Julie shows up at his door looking for her father's research he is in for a shock. He never expected the girl he desired from far to show up in town again and moreover be willing to give him another shot. But someone has stolen her father's research and is determined to hurt Julie too. There is something sinister going on Mark desperately wants to protect Julie from it. But with everyday bringing him closer to turning feral and the danger escalating what will the future hold for them?

The book had the perfect mix of action,suspense and romance in it. Both Mark and Julie were amazing characters and I couldn't help but root for them. The chemistry between them was also wonderful. The secondary cast of characters like Carl,Becca and Tonya were fascinating. They added depth and flavor to the story. We didn't get much more than a glimpse at the antagonists and I would love to know more about them. Its clear the author intends to take the mystery further into the next books. The ending was well done, but I would love to know more about the partial shifters and how the shifting affects them. I think we'll get more on that in the next book which features Alan and Tonya's story.

If you're looking for a shifter book with lots of action,romance and amazing characters you should give this one a chance. In the meantime,, I'll be reading Carl and Becca's story in The Bear Who Loved Me. ;)
2707206
4.5 stars

  A fabulous paranormal read! Swoon-worthy Beau is basically an A-hole in a pretty package. He committed the ultimate sin the demon in the world- get a human pregnant. Beau fell love and got human pregnant and then it was ripped away when she was and her unborn child were killed in front of him. Now he is the king of the underground fighting pits. Lex has had a hard life especially when her parents were died. She has had no one to rely on but herself. There is an instant connection when she finally meets Beau in the pits. Will they be able to save each other?

  This paranormal tale set my kindle on fire with all of the sexual tension. Overall I really enjoyed this book because of the dark and emotional elements. I would highly recommend this book.
2656217
This is the first book I've read by Alexandrea Weis and it won't be my last.

This story flowed smoothly and i loved the well developed characters so much that i couldn't put it down.
I loved the kind of paranormal theme and the story intrigued and compelled me to read on to see what would happen next.

I am so very much looking forward to book 2.

****I received this ARC in exchange for an honest Review.****

Laura Redmon
Cutting Muse Blog Review
3867751
I have a weakness for both young adult and paranormal romance books, so Sweet Evil was right up my alley.  Plain and simple, I loved it.  The world-building in this book was excellent and absolutely fascinating.  Higgins put a great new spin on the world of angels and demons.  Between the world she created and the angsty budding romance between Anna and Kaidan, I was hooked.

I adored Anna and thought her ability to see other people's emotions was so interesting.  She was inundated with a lot of life-changing information, yet I felt like she handled most of it with great maturity.  In the scenes with Kaidan and her thoughts about him, though, we were often reminded that she was also a regular 16-year-old girl in love with a boy.  Despite the fact that she was thrust into a completely new life and learned some difficult life lessons, I liked that she maintained two of the traits I loved about her most, her kindness and compassion.

Kaidan stole my heart right away.  Yes, he was attractive and charismatic, but we also saw a softer side of him when he was alone with Anna.  He and the other Nephilim had no choice but to do the work of their fathers, yet he was clearly bothered by it.  There was no doubt in my mind that he was falling for Anna, but he had to be strong because he knew that in their world there was no way they could be together.  Kaidan is definitely a tortured hero, and I have a feeling that we are going to see some major struggles within him in the next two books.

I loved every single one of the supporting characters in this book: Jay, Patti, Jonathan, Kopano, etc.  They all added something to the storyline, and I enjoyed watching how Anna interacted with each of them.  The story had a nice pacing to it, and I was definitely engaged until the very last page.  I liked the way Higgins ended the book, and now I am eagerly moving onto the next one.