Review: Magic Stars Ilona Andrews

From award-winning author, Ilona Andrews, an original novella, set in the New York Times #1 bestselling Kate Daniels World and featuring fan-favorites, Derek, and Curran and Kate’s very independent ward, Julie. 
Scarred, solitary Derek Gaunt has separated from his Pack, and is truly a lone wolf. With no family he answers to no one; but is fiercely loyal to a chosen few. So, when several of those close to him are murdered, he’ll stop at nothing to hunt their killer through the magic-drenched streets of Atlanta. 

Never one to be left on the sidelines, equally determined—some might say stubborn—Julie Lennart-Olsen soon joins in his pursuit; and what began as revenge turns into a race to save the city. Their search pits them against powers they never imagined and magic so old, it predates history. It may cost Derek his life, but there are things for which even he would risk everything.

I love this story because it included Julie and Derek both. I've wanted to learn more about Derek ever since I started reading the Kate Daniels series and this story delivers this. And oh man Julie is going to be some amazing heroine when she is completely grown. She's wonderful now. Smart, spunky and resourceful just like Kate but there are some differences.  This story was a short day in the life kind of story for the both of them. It was short but satisfying. If you are reading the Kate Daniels series you definitely don't want to miss this. Not only does it have a couple of my favorite characters in the Magic world it wasn't just a fill in to the next Kate story it was a fantastic story in its own right. I bought this one with my own money and I give it 5 stars.

Review: All he wants for Christmas Anthology

Six ALL NEW Christmas stories guaranteed to warm up your holidays… Here’s to finding spies, cops, rockers, SEALs, professional hockey players and billionaires under the Christmas tree this year! In Holly, a town where it’s Christmas every day of the year, 6 shop owners on Main Street are about to find love in unexpected places. Grab this bundle of ALL NEW, 100% sizzling hot holiday tales! 

MELT FOR ME by Elisabeth Naughton 

Yuletide Spirits pub owner Ella McKinley doesn’t do holidays. Not after everything she lost on a cold, snowy night long ago. In fact, she’d be perfectly happy if the calendar jumped from November to January, bypassing December all together. Then rock’s latest “it” guy, Tate Kendrick, rolls into town, and though Ella tries to resist his wicked charm, the heat they once shared flares hotter than ever. When trouble linked to the rock star strikes at her pub, Ella suddenly starts to wonder if the return of her first love is a holiday miracle or nothing more than her nightmare before Christmas. 

SWEET RAPTURE by Alexandra Ivy 

Meg Anderson has returned to her home in Holly, North Carolina after she discovered her relationship with Dylan Cain was nothing more than a lie. The last thing she expects is for Dylan to be her new tenant. Or the realization that he might be the only thing standing between her and a killer… 

THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS by Cynthia Eden 

Everyone in town thinks that Jemma White is as sweet as the delicious treats she makes at her chocolate shop—but they’re wrong. Jemma is ready to let her wild side out, and she’s just found the perfect man to make all of her fantasies come true. Grayson Cole is a too-sexy-to-be-true stranger who has escaped to Holly for the holidays. He is her perfect temptation, and Jemma can’t wait to steam up the cold winter nights with him. But when danger from Grayson’s past follows him to town, she realizes that the man she is falling for has been keeping some very dark secrets…secrets that may just get them both killed. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY by Katie Reus 

After unexpectedly inheriting a bookstore, Nora and her younger sister settled in Holly, NC, a place where it’s Christmas year-round. As the legal guardian for her sister the past few years, romance has been the last thing on Nora’s mind. But she broke her rules for the town’s golden boy—former SEAL Jackson O’Connor. When Jackson does something stupid and almost loses Nora for good, he realizes just how far he’s willing to go for the woman who’s stolen his heart. But it might take a Christmas miracle to get Nora to give him a second chance. 

SINFUL IN SNOW by Laura Wright 

Billionaire Back In Town: Gabriel Fox is a ruthless, heartless, soulless grinch. His only goal in coming to Holly, North Carolina is to ruin Carol Cardini's Christmas. Like she ruined his—and his life—ten years ago. Now that her business is in trouble, he's finally found the way. But the beautiful owner of Christmas Carol's Shop and Crafts won't allow her dream to be destroyed. Not by revenge, and certainly not by the sexiest man she's ever known. She can, however offer an apology, and a chair at her holiday table. But can a grinch’s cold heart be warmed and healed by the love of a good woman—and the magic of Christmas spirit? 

Home Advantage by Skye Jordan 

NHL super star, Meier Grant, finds himself sidelined for a bum shoulder and sentenced to three weeks recovery—in his hometown of Holly, North Carolina. But an extended family stay isn’t on his holiday wish list, especially when his parents are more interested in capitalizing on his fame than much needed family bonding. So when he learns the high school beauty and so out-of-his-league Faith Nicholas is suddenly single, and even sexier ten years later, home doesn’t seem so bad. Not when it includes spending some quality bonding time with Faith. Meier may have some of the best moves in the league, but will they be enough to win a woman deserving of forever?

I was given this anthology by one of the authors in it and I read it over the Christmas break. It was a nice holiday read. Some new to me authors and some old favorites in this anthology. There was actually a pretty nice mix of old and new. I don't know if I'd like to live in Holly, NC but I'd sure like to visit.  There was a real good assortment of folks in this anthology rock stars, hockey players, FBI agents are just some of the heroes, and there was a barkeep, a hardware store owner and a chocolatier on the heroine side. It included suspense, mysteries, and just good ole fashion boy meets girl stories. None of my usual paranormal but it was a nice change of pace and a nice read for the holiday. Sort of helped me get in the holiday spirit even it was over 70 degrees on Christmas day. lol I really liked this anthology and  I give it 4 stars.

Review: Shattered by Cynthia Eden

In New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden's latest novel featuring the Last Option Search Team (LOST), one agent is forced to face her past as she uncovers secrets about the man who may be the key to her future.

Criminal psychologist Dr. Sarah Jacobs is all too familiar with the kind of bad boys who belong behind bars. But the dark, dangerous man she meets in the New Orleans underworld is a new kind of ruthless, and all too irresistible.

Jax Fontaine doesn't claim to be a good guy, but he's loyal to his own code and brutally honest about what he wants. He and Sarah may be worlds apart, but when they're skin to skin, nothing matters but the heat between them.

And when a deranged killer targets Sarah, Jax will do whatever it takes to keep her safe

This has to my most favorite Romantic Suspense books of Cynthia Eden's that she's wrote. I loved everything about it.. Sarah was a kick ass  heroine with a seriously twisted past. I loved the way she went into detail on how Sarah did her profiling especially how it pertained to her past with her dad.

And Jax he's the epitome of bad boy. I want one of him for my own. He's sexy, loyal, and mean to the bone with those who deserve it. He's protective of those he considers his. His past is seriously warped too. And when someone goes after Sarah he goes ballistic. I loved the way this story went and the way they were intertwined And i must sat that Cynthia got me with one of the bad guys and I really didn't  see him coming. The way he was wrote before didn't come off as the way he wound up. Just goes to show that you can't tell what a man is like beneath the skin.

And OMG the ending to this book was wonderful. There was one part that even though you knew it was coming it blew me away. I give this book 5 stars and I can't wait until the next story in this series. I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Review:River Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River-one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help...

Mercy is not your typical badass heroine usually found in UF books. She's more like a Pitt Bull. Tenacious with a side order of stubborn as hell thrown in for good measure.  And she's also loyal to her loved ones to a fault and extremely protective. Love love loved the surprise that Jesse and Mercy's mom pulled on her with the rest of her friends and families help. 

Adam now is such and neat guy and great dresser. He's totally opposite Mercy in many ways but these two together just seem to click. Could be because under that exterior the interior contains its own monster. Adam is also extremely protective and as a were made even more so. but he loves Mercy enough to let her be herself which includes letting her fight monsters if needs be. And in this situation needs be. Love that we find out more about Mercy history and what she is and is not. Her help was some really interesting characters and I hope we learn more about some of them. And I must say that Ms. Briggs wrote a freaky and strange killer.  What with all that is going in this book it is one wild and fast read. Loved it. and I hope we see many more in this series. And maybe some  with the secondary characters as well.
I give is book a 5 star review and I paid for it myself for my own personal pleasure.