Blade Bound by Chloe Neill

****

The thrilling final installment of Chloe Neill’s New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series sees sinister sorcery advancing across Chicago, and it might usher in the fall of Cadogan House.... 
 
 
Since the night of her brutal attack and unwilling transformation into a vampire, Merit has stood as Sentinel and protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House. She’s saved the Windy City from the forces of darkness time and again with her liege and lover, Ethan Sullivan, by her side.
 
When the House is infiltrated and Merit is attacked by a vampire who seems to be under the sway of dark magic, Merit and Ethan realize the danger is closer than they could have imagined. As malign sorcery spreads throughout the city, Merit must go to war against supernatural powers beyond her comprehension. It is her last chance to save everything—and everyone—she loves.


Source:  Advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book friends! I'm soooo freaking sad that the Chicagoland Vampires are over and done!  Reading this ARC was so hard.  I love Merit, Ethan, Mallory, Gabe and the rest of the gang, so saying good-bye is breaking my heart!  

It's also incredibly difficult to write this review without giving anything away and I definitely don't want to spoil your journey through Blade Bound.  I have three things to say that hopefully won't give anything away.  

(1)  I really think this story arc should have been two books.  And not just because I want more CV books, I swear!  There's a lot that happens in Blade Bound and I would have loved some additional depth to it.  But I get it, Chloe's ending the series and wanted to make sure she got everything in, but still...  *heart-breaking*

(2)  I am satisfied with how the series ended, even if I wish the arc had been split into two books and that it hadn't ended at all.  *sobs uncontrollably*

(3)  I need to know more information about the spin-off series, like now.  

I read the last half of Blade Bound in a public place and I am happy to say that I avoided crying like a baby... mostly.  

If you are a Chicagoland Vampire fan, then let me know what you think of the last book!  Neither of my fellow BiblioJunkies love the series like I do, so they are waaay behind and I can't talk to them about it!  I NEED to talk about it!  

If you haven't read the Chicagoland Vampires yet - WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!  GO BUY SOME GIRLS BITE RIGHT NOW!!!  And once you've binged this awesome series, come back and talk with me about it, please!  

~Shel

Scandal Never Sleeps by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake Tour & Giveaway!

Today we are showcasing what looks to be a super-hot mystery.  Who doesn't love a little intrigue to go with the steamy scenes?  I'm adding Scandal Never Sleeps to my TBR pile and so should you!  Scroll down to enter the giveaway!  

SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS

The Perfect Gentlemen, Book 1

by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake

Coming August 18, 2015

They are the Perfect Gentlemen of Creighton Academy: privileged, wealthy, powerful friends with a wild side. But a deadly scandal is about to tear down their seemingly ideal lives...

Maddox Crawford’s sudden death sends Gabriel Bond reeling. Not only is he burying his best friend, he’s cleaning up Mad’s messes, including his troubled company. Grieving and restless, Gabe escapes his worries in the arms of a beautiful stranger. But his mind-blowing one-night stand is about to come back to haunt him...

Mad groomed Everly Parker to be a rising star in the executive world. Now that he’s gone, she’s sure her job will be the next thing she mourns, especially after she ends up accidentally sleeping with her new boss. If only their night together hadn’t been so incendiary—or Gabe like a fantasy come true...

As Gabe and Everly struggle to control the heated tension between them, they discover evidence that Mad’s death was no accident. Now they must bank their smoldering passions to hunt down a murderer—because Mad had secrets that someone was willing to kill for, and Gabe or Everly could be the next target...

* * * *

“What are your plans tonight, Eve?”

That was a loaded question. Her current plan included going to a lonely apartment where she could worry about her future and try to figure out if someone had murdered her friend. She could be alone with her fear and doubt . . . but she didn’t really want to. “I was getting ready to leave. What about you?”

“So was I. I thought I’d get some dinner before I called it a night. I don’t think the food here is going to be any good. Giovanni’s is one block over. Italian might be nice. I can promise you won’t have any trouble getting a glass of wine there.”

“You’re asking me out?” It was a little surreal. She saw much more attractive women still in the bar. Why had he chosen her? Maybe he liked a curvier girl. Some guys did.

His face settled into a polite mask. “I don’t know that I would call it a date.”

“What would you call it, then?”

He stepped closer, into her personal space. “Eve, I want to be honest with you.”

Eve. She wasn’t Everly to Gabriel. Which meant that he didn’t expect her to be a good, polite girl. She didn’t have to be shy about what she wanted.

She stood a bit taller and met his beautiful blue eyes. She could see the five‑o’clock shadow darkening his jaw and wondered what it would feel like to brush her fingertips over his face, to run her thumb across that full bottom lip of his. “Honesty is good.”

She wasn’t being entirely honest with him, but it didn’t matter. They were sharing a moment out of time. She wouldn’t see him again. She didn’t even know his last name.

“I’m looking for an escape tonight. I can find it in the bottom of a bottle or I can take you out of here and try to make us both feel good. Why don’t you let me buy you dinner and plead my case?”

He was asking her to sleep with him. A one-night stand. She’d never had one. She’d slept with two men in her whole life, and they’d both been her boyfriends. Sex had been all right, but something about the look in Gabriel’s eyes told her this would be far better.

He wanted to escape. She wasn’t sure from what, but she glimpsed a world of worries and sorrow in his expression that drew her. She understood loss and longing. She knew what it meant to need a few hours of escape. Hadn’t she been wanting that herself?

A single memory pierced her in that moment. Two days before he died, Maddox had shaken his head over her nonexistent dating life. He’d tried to persuade her to let him set her up on a blind date, but she’d said she didn’t have time. She’d needed to get some reports done and go through the purchase orders on the new hard drives and security systems. He’d rolled those piercing eyes of his.

You need to live a little. Your whole life can’t be spent behind a computer screen. Life is often about taking risks. Sometimes you have to leave yourself to figure out who you really are.

She didn’t have to be herself. Not tonight.

“Kiss me.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. She was never bold or brazen when it came to men. She’d never demanded anything sexually of a lover, but she wanted Gabriel to kiss her. She wanted to see if that spark she felt translated to something truly physical.

She expected some discussion, and when he hesitated, she was more than willing to admit that she’d been hasty. Everly was about to shake her head and try to laugh the incident off when he cupped her face and his body brushed hers. He tilted her head up and his mouth descended.

Soft. His lips were soft on hers. Gentle. He moved with predatory grace. His fingers sank into her hair, and her hands seemed to naturally find the lean muscles at his waist. Even through his crisp dress shirt, she could feel the heat of his body. It practically poured off him and into her, warming her skin and making her come to life.

He was gentle, but Everly knew precisely who was in charge. His lips locked onto hers, leading her. A little tug on her hair told her which way he wanted her to move.

Everything about him—scent,taste, feel—made her melt. She forgot where she was, forgot that they were in public. The noise of the bar receded until all she could hear was her own heart beating furiously in her ears. Nothing mattered at all but the feel of his body under her hands, the masterful way he moved her.

“Is that what you wanted, Eve?” He breathed the words against her mouth. “You wanted to see if I can kiss? I can give you more. I don’t simply want to kiss your lips. I want to strip you down and find out if you’re as sweet and soft everywhere as you look. I want to run my tongue over your skin until I memorize how you taste. I want to kiss you so long and hard that you’ll forget you were ever kissed before.” He lifted his head up and dragged in a breath. “So what do you say? Will you have dinner with me?”

She swallowed. His words made everything but her need fall away. “It’s not dinner I’m interested in anymore.”

Posted by arrangement with Berkley Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Shelley Bradley, LLC and DLZ Entertainment LLC, 2015.

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal and historical romances.  Shayla has received or been nominated for the Passionate Plume, the Holt Medallion, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence and the National Readers Choice Award.  She lives in Texas with her family.  Visit her online at shaylablack.com, facebook.com/ShaylaBlackAuthor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism.  It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success.  Lexi lives in North Texas with her family.  Visit her online at LexiBlack.net.

Buy Link:

http://www.penguin.com/book/scandal-never-sleeps-by-shayla-black-lexi-blake/9780425275320

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

***

From Penguin:

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege—and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal…. 

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

Bourbon Kings is like marathoning Dallas.  I felt like a complete voyeur and couldn't put it down.  These people are either horrible people or had horrible things done to them.  There are no saints in this story.  It is riveting and consuming and makes you glad for your normal life, with normal problems and concerns.  It's possible that I forgot to eat, drink, or even pee while reading this book.  Yes, I was so entranced with reading their trainwreck lives, that I finished all 421 pages in one sitting (we won't tell my boss that's why I am going to be late for work in the morning - it will totally be because of traffic!).  

BK has everything; mystery, intrigue, and perversions for all shapes and sizes.  We've got cheaters, thieves, frauds, and murderers all lined up for your entertainment.  I defy you to not become completely engrossed in this book.  

I admit, there's some of Ward's writing style that I'm not in love with, but even that couldn't stop me from gorging myself on this soap opera.  Will I read the next book in the series?  Absolutely.  Like any good voyeur, I can't wait for the action to start again.  Ward expertly leaves us with questions that must be answered, things we must know.  Truly, if you've ever enjoyed a soap opera with mystery and intrigue, this is your book.  Thanks Penguin, for reminding me, yet again, that I have no self-control.

~ Shel

Still the One by Jill Shalvis

***

From jillshalvis.com

Darcy Stone is game for anything—except sexy Navy veteran and physical therapist AJ Colten, the guy who’d rejected her when she’d needed him most. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he needs her to play nice and help him secure grants for his patients. Unfortunately Darcy can’t refuse. She needs the money to fund her passion project: rescuing S&R dogs and placing them with emotionally wounded soldiers.

AJ admits it—Darcy is irresistible. But he’s already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he’s not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they’d ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What’s the real thing? And where does it go from here?

Jill Shalvis.  Need I say more?  Ok, fine.  All of Jill's work is phenomenal and Still the One is no exception.  Sunshine Idaho is one of my favorite fictional places, right up there with Lucky Harbor.  In Sunshine Idaho, all the boys are hot and all the girls are awkward and hilarious.  While Sunshine is missing a wonderfully crazy Lucille character, it is still a fabulous place.  

AJ and Darcy are amusing as they pretend to not want one another.  Such a fruitless struggle...  Their pretend relationship could not possibly be more of a sham, not because they aren't together, but because there's nothing "pretend" about the relationship.  Stubborn, thy name is a Jill Shalvis hero and heroine.  

If you haven't added Still the One to your summer reading list, you are seriously missing out!  

~ Shel

Tryst by Alex Rosa

***

In this sensational New Adult debut by Alex Rosa, boyfriends are too much trouble. So what’s the harm in a little fun?

With an abusive relationship behind her, Skyler moves out of her Orange County apartment, changes her phone number, cuts ties with her friends, and moves in with her brother Josh, a talent agent with a spare room in his incredible house in Hollywood.

Josh is happy to take Skyler under his wing, but he has one rule: she can’t sleep with his roommate, Blake. That’s fine by Skyler. She doesn’t want a man in her life right now—and certainly not cocky Blake who’s with a different girl every night. But his all-American boy charm and his ripped model physique are difficult to refuse. Josh will never know if no one ever tells him. And a little secret now and then never hurt anyone…

I have mixed feelings about Tryst...  I enjoyed Blake, the uber-hot bad boy.  Skyler's best friend, Tucker was a hoot.  The brother, Josh felt fairly irrelevant, except as a road block to Skyler and Blake's relationship.  My mixed feelings stem from the fact that the story felt unfinished.  There seems to be unfinished business with Skyler's abusive ex; with Blake's career and the relationship between Blake and Josh after the events of Tryst.  

Notwithstanding the unfinished business, Tryst was a decent love story.  The brother's best friend theme is common in romances - an easy impediment to the burgeoning relationship of our hero and heroine - so it is easy for the books to run together.  Tryst stands out, because, in addition to this, there are the lasting ramifications of an abusive relationship and how a victim moves forward with relationships after removing him-or-herself from the abusive relationship.  Here, Skyler clearly has low self-esteem that makes her think she is not yet good enough for a "normal" relationship.  And Blake has self-esteem issues stemming from his promiscuous ways.  He feels that because of his player status he doesn't deserve Skye.  When it's all said and done, the characters grow and heal together, which is really what it is all about.

I'm hoping that Tryst was the start of a series, because I'm very interested in the story of Josh and Vanessa.  I can only hope that Skyler and Blake give them hell in their story.  :-)

~ Shel

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.



By James Dashner
Publication Date: August 14, 2012

The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive



By Michelle Rowen
Publication Date:  August 7, 2012

An Immortality Bites Mystery #1
 August 7, 2012 - NAL Obsidian
ISBN-10: 0451237641
ISBN-13: 978-0451237644


Sarah Dearly is adjusting to life as a fledgling vampire, satisfying her cravings at vampire-friendly blood banks. But when her fiance Thierry takes a job with the Ring—the secret council in charge of keeping vampires in line—Sarah’s about to get more than a taste of danger…


Being engaged to a centuries-old master vampire can be challenging—especially when he takes a job with the Ring. Thierry’s in for fifty years of nonstop travel and deadly risk. It’s enough to make any woman reconsider the wedding…any woman except Sarah, that is!

Traveling with him to Las Vegas for his first assignment, they encounter a child beauty pageant contestant from hell, as well as a vampire serial killer leaving victims drained of blood, potentially exposing the existence of vampires to the whole world. But when Thierry’s truly ancient history comes back to haunt him, and he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit, it’s up to Sarah to clear his name before their immortal lives come to an end.

Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke

****

From NAL:

 

The next generation of shape-shifting dragons from the popular author of the Dragonfire novels.

Zoe Sorensson is perfectly normal, except she’s been told she’s destined for great things. Zoe’s the one female dragon shapeshifter of her kind. But Zoe is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr and her powers are AWOL, so she’s sent to a Pyr boot camp.

Zoe quickly realizes that she has to master her powers yesterday, because the Pyr are in danger and boot camp is a trap. The Mages want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line - unless Zoe and her friends can work together and save their own kind.

 

 

 

I am a fan of Deborah Cooke’s adult Dragonfire series. Flying Blind is a young adult series set in the same universe of dragons and magic. The Pyr are an ancient race of dragon shape-shifters. In Cooke’s universe, there is only one female Pyr per generation. She is the Wyvern and she is revered by the other Pyr as their spiritual guide and advisor. In this generation, Zoe is supposed to be the lucky winner, but she cannot figure out her shifting or Wyvern powers. She doubts that she is the true Wyvern and when she and her friends get to boot camp, they begin to doubt it as well. But Zoe must quickly learn to believe in herself and figure out her powers, because strange things are happening at boot camp and she fears the adult Pyr are in trouble. The only way to save everyone is for Zoe to convince herself and her friends that she is the Wyvern and for them to work together.

Cooke’s dragon lore is engrossing. The characters are lovable and the story is completely entertaining. Flying Blind is a fun tribute to the trials of growing up - learning to believe in yourself and figuring out who you are and want to be. While Zoe figures herself out, she is awkward and ridiculous - seriously, you totally feel embarrassed for her! It’s one part adorable heroine, 1 part high-flying adventure (literally) and 2 parts hot dragon & spellcasting boys = a fantastic reading experience!

 

The sequel, Winging It releases December 6, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can learn more about Cooke's Dragonfire series (adult paranormal romance) here.  I recommend you check out both series for some seriously fun entertainment. 

 

~Shel