Showing posts with label Liberty Ann. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liberty Ann. Show all posts

Saturday, March 2, 2013

~Ava & Liberty Ann's SSR Dual Review of The Progeny (The Progeny Series #1) by Ashlynne Laynne~


"The Progeny"
Author: Ashlynne Laynne
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 348
Source: Author in exchange for a honest review.
Published: February 1, 2012






Author's Website: http://ashlynnelaynne.com/

Buy Links: Amazon

Goodreads Blurb:
 “No fate other than the one I choose.” The timeless creed, and tattoo, bore by the Rousseaus— a vampire clan with the purest bloodline of any vampire family. Out of this clandestine group came one who was different, yet the same: Ascher - a half-bloodling— half- human, half vampire.

Ascher questions the purpose for his existence and which world he truly belongs to: the human world or the vampire world. Two months from sealing to Ursula— a prearranged union to a woman he abhors — he’s at his wit’s end. He knows if he calls off the sealing, the Romanian clan will strike with deadly force, but he cannot see eternity with a cold empty shell of a woman like Ursula.

Just when he thought life was complicated enough, he meets Shauna— a beautiful, bi-racial human wiccan — and immediately develops an unshakable attraction to her. She makes him feel alive and vital despite his origins and Ascher makes a decision that turns his immortal world upside down.

Ava's Review:

The Progeny is two firsts for me. The first of an amazing, original exciting, memorable, touching and fun paranormal read and my first time reading anything by Ashlynne Layne. A definite MUST read for any paranormal romance fans out there that enjoy a magical and endearing story.

Ascher is a devastatingly handsome one of a kind male in his world. Not so much ridiculed for being different, but cherished and smothered in some ways. He picks on himself more than any others do. He’s a very special male that finds himself alone no matter the company, incomplete even though he is whole and unhappy even though joy surrounds him. That’s until the day he meets Shauna. Once he sets his eyes on her, his whole existence changes in the very best of ways.

Shauna is another that is a beautiful person inside and out but does not have a sense of belonging anywhere. Being different in anyway makes it hard for her to be accepted by many. On top of that, she’s had a VERY traumatizing past that constantly haunts her. She’s never had a real relationship in any way shape or form, except for with her sister. Their bond is unbreakable and true. When she meets Ascher, he world tilts on its axis  and further exploration of why he makes her feel the way she does is in order.

I absolutely LOVE these two together and cannot wait to see what happens next for them and the rest of their family and friends. An amazing group of people (characters) that are so lovable (well except for one or two meanies), that they linger in your mind even days after you’re through reading…



Overall Rating:



Sex Rating:






Liberty Ann's Review:

I am a huge Vampire fan and have read many a book that includes them.  The Progeny is new to me as is the author Ashlynne Laynne.  Since I am always looking for new authors to follow and was so excited at the prospect of a new Vamp series, I could hardly wait to begin.

The Good:  You know things are starting out the right way when the main character makes you curious from the very beginning.  Oh Ascher, you can be my half-vamp honey any day!  Ms. Laynne did a terrific job of sharing the internal conflict that Ascher feels with his impending loveless nuptials vs starting a war.  When he meets Shaunna, day becomes night and night becomes day.  The chemistry between the two of them was instant and I loved getting to know them both as they struggled with finding their way.  Ms. Laynne gave me plenty of information on each character without dragging the story down.  In fact, while the beginning was a bit slow, once it began to pick up speed, whoooo!  It was a serious page turner.  Eventually it crested and we were brought back down without being left hanging.  The plot was intriguing and I was enthralled.

The Bad:  As I learned in Physics, to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction and such is somewhat the case here.  The slow start was a bit rocky.  That could be attributed to a variety of things.  Grammatically, there were some fairly significant errors.  Thankfully, those can be easily fixed in a second edition.  Ms. Laynne is a new author and this is the first book in the series.  There are bound to be a few pot holes along the way.

The Snuggly:  Ahh, the Snuggly.  I knew Ascher and Shaunna were drawn to one another right from the start but I had no idea just how hot their lust for each other would burn!  Oh honey...bring me a fan!  The intimate scenes were seriously spicy.  They went from zero to sixty in nothing flat.  I was amazed that they did not just combust!  But I'll let you in on a little secret.....I really, really liked it!  Now where is that fan? ;)

The Rest:  Action, sex, witchcraft, bloodlust, power plays, murder...this story had it all.  And when you are reading a paranormal book, you cannot ask for much more.  I look forward to reading the next book in the series (ooh, I love a good series!) and watching both Ascher and Shaunna grow and mature. As I said, this is NOT a YA novel.  It is for adults.  But if you are an adult paranormal romance lover, pick up your copy of The Progeny today.  If you are lucky, you will have a new author to follow and a series to read just like me!



Overall Rating:




Sex Rating:







~Ava & Liberty Ann's SSR Dual Review of Blood Bonds (The Progeny Series #2) by Ashlynne Laynne~

Title: Blood Bonds (The Progeny Series, Book 2)

Author: Ashlynne Laynne

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Author Website: http://ashlynnelaynne.com/

Length: 283 Pages

Buy Links: Amazon  |  B & N  |  KOBO 




Description:
 “Forever. For always. For eternity.”


The ties that bind two hearts are powerful. For Ascher Rousseau and Shauna McCutchin, it’s more than just a blood bond. Their union is that of vampire legend. Their love is a predestined prophecy foretold centuries ago.

It’s a week before Ascher and Shauna's sealing and the couple is making final preparations for their eternity, but Ascher's ex has other plans. Ursula is hell-bent on revenge—revenge fueled by lover's scorn and her father's death—and she begins breeding a fresh army of newborn darklings to do her bidding.

When Ursula finds a new weapon—an ally with the capability to dismantle the Rousseau clan— Ascher and Shauna's bond is tested and they must stand together against Ursula or lose each other for eternity.
Ava's Review:

I love when a series book continues right where it left off! ESPECIALLY when it was so very good to begin with! Ashlynne continued with a strong going and endearing story that had even more romance, magic and fun than before. For anyone planning to read this, I strongly recommend reading book one of the series’ first. You’ll enjoy it so much more if you do.



Ascher and Shauna have come a long way, been though many good times and just as many bad, all in the short span of time they’ve been together. But their love continues to grow into one of the strongest levels I’ve ever experienced in my reading life, a love so endearing, emotional and pure that it brings tears to my eyes. Yes, they have some ups and downs, ins and outs. But they come together even stronger than before and have amazing make up lovin’ when they do ;)



There’s a lot more going on within the story that just Ascher and Shauna. There’s another relationship in bloom, a bad guy (actually a chick) that needs to be smashed, burned and tossed to the deepest depths of the garbage dump (oh, sorry to be so harsh. It’s the truth though, you’ll see). We get to experience happy reunions, growths and changes from many of the amazing characters Ashlynne has created for us. Definitely a lot of excitement and fun to be had that’s for sure!



Ok, I’ll admit it! I’m addicted to The Progeny series! Help, please!! I’m in dire need of the next book and STAT! If not, I believe I’m in need of a Progeny anonymous group :)

 4.5 Satin Pillows


 A Heat Rating of:






Liberty Ann's Review:

As I mentioned in my review of The Progeny, there is not much I like better than a good Vampire series...except when it is a good Vampire series that picks up right where the last book left off!  Ashlynne Laynne managed to do just that very thing, bringing us right back into the lives of Ascher and Shaunna, the evil Ursula and all of the drama and heartache and love that we felt at the end of Book One.  But can she continue this book in the exciting and enthralling manner of Book One?

The Good:  All of the characters that I came to know and love in the first book, return for round two and they are every bit as enthralling and detailed as before.  Ms. Laynne has quite the knack for creating this alternate reality, if you will, and filling it with characters that you either love or hate, not much in between.  The storyline grabbed me from the first chapter and I never wanted to put the book down.  It wasn't quite the roller coaster effect of book one.  Instead it was filled with family and friends and lots and lots of love.  That's not to say there wasn't plenty of drama but there was more bonding and supporting and loving family-type behavior that made Blood Bonds very enjoyable.  Oh, and don't worry...there is still plenty of sex. ;)

The Bad:  I really have very little to add to this category this time.  The tempo was smooth, making the crescendo and decrescendo flow perfectly.  The grammatical error issue has been overcome and the characters are all more mature and developed...and I was not sure that was possible as Ms. Laynne did such a good job developing them in Book One.

The Snuggly:  H.O.T.  S.E.X.  Yup, there was indeed a healthy dose of hot sex.  That Ascher is one sizzling half-Vamp and you put him and Shauna together and they just cannot keep their hands off each other.  Fan.  Now. lol  Again, this is an Adult book so no wrapping it as a gift for your 16 year old niece.

The Rest:  “Forever. For always. For eternity.”  What a fabulous way to begin this book.  Sadly, you begin to wonder if this will indeed happen. (Wanna know if there is a happy ending?  Read-the-book)  Who wants to read a Vampire book that is happy all the time anyway, right?  I am so glad this is a series.  And we are lucky because Book 3, Blood Promise, was just published!!  I do so love instant gratification, don't you? ;)  So all of you Paranormal Romance lovers out there can happily read 3 books of Ashlynne Layne's The Progeny series, available now.  Should you?  Oh yeah!

  4.5 Satin Pillows


 A Heat Rating of:




Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Liberty Ann's Satin Sheets Spotlight of FINDING ABIGAIL by Carrie Ann Ryan

by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publisher:  Fated Desires Publishing, LLC
Published:  February 5, 2013
Length:  156 pages
Genre:  Fantasy Romance

I was sooooo excited for Finding Abigail to come out.  I just LOVE the Holiday, Montana series and Carrie Ann writes 'em like no other.  If this is your first experience with the Cooper Brothers, you can also check out Charmed Spirits and Santa's Executive plus watch for the next one, Her Lucky Love, coming out in early March!



Book Blurb:
Tyler Cooper is the town sheriff and, in the past, had been the only person keeping Holiday steady. Though the community is now finding out that it’s town is magical, Tyler has always known it—it’s in his blood.  He has always known his fate of becoming a cupid, striking love into the hearts others, but an enemy from his past is set on keeping him from finding his own destiny—and love.
Abigail Clarke is leaving Holiday for good. She has to. After years of trying to fit in and make Tyler notice her, she’s giving up. She’s watched her friends fall in love and it’s heartbreaking. Acknowledging that the one man she’s always loved doesn’t want her, it’s time to move on and find her own future.
Right when the stars align and Tyler opens his eyes, his enemy is back and has his sights on Abigail. Abigail is in danger and Tyler may be the only one to stand up to him and save her.

Warning: Contains one sexy sheriff who turns into cupid, complete with bow and arrow, the sweetest teacher you’ll ever meet who needs to find her bad girl side, and a love of candy hearts that’s sure to bring them together


Order Links:  




A little about Carrie Ann:
 

Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate - even if it’s just in her books. Happy endings are always near - even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.

Carrie Ann’s Redwood Pack series is an bestselling series that has made the shifter world even more real to her and has allowed the Dante’s Circle and Holiday, Montana series to be born. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. 

Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:


 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Liberty Ann's Satin Sheets Romance Review of Love's Prophecy by Brenda Dyer #Book 2 Excerpt, #giveaway

Love's Prophecy
by Brenda Dyer

http://www.brendamdyer.com/   Publisher: CreateSpace Independent
Genre: Paranormal Romance   Length: 310 pages


 Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble 



Dark warriors of might...
Mel is a vampire warrior sworn to hunt and kill demons in the dark streets of Vancouver. But he's burdened with a new assignment: find the meaning behind the Vampire Prophecy. Having no faith in the gods and their empty words, he believes there's no truth to the ancient legend until he meets Breeana, a human woman who bears the mark of the prophecy and resembles the mysterious woman haunting his dreams. When a vengeful demon spies Breeana in his arms, she is marked for death. He must take her from the world she knows until he can eliminate the threat. But the real danger is the role Breeana must play in fulfilling the prophecy and the intense feelings she brings out in him. Mel is forced to choose between his obligations to his kind, the world, and the woman he loves. Does he have the courage to let the one woman who could heal his wounded heart and soul go, or will he risk her life and bind her to him for all eternity.

Small warriors of light...
Veterinarian, Dr. Breeana Spencer yearns for love and companionship, but the disappointment of failed relationships has left her bitter. She now finds solace in romance novels. But when she meets a mysterious stranger, she's drawn to him by a connection so forceful it shatters all reason, leaving her incapable of resisting him. Yet there's more to him than smoldering good looks and a rock-hard body. As she's drawn deeper into his danger-filled world, she learns she's part of an ancient vampire legend. Breeana fears her future is no longer hers and will not include Mel. As their enemies close in, desperate to destroy them both, she must fight to convince Mel her place is at his side. A  life-altering choice is before her—one that will take all her courage and love to make.




My Review:
Ahhh the proverbial...COMPLETELY AMAZING, UNIQUE, and MESMERIZING Paranormal Vampire Book!!  I am so in love with Love's Prophecy.  This is one of those special books that I keep to reread over and over and over again.  Here, let me show you a little of what I mean....

The Good: Once again, it was the characters who drew me in and held me hostage for the entire book. How could I not love Breeana?  Sure she had some baggage but when she admitted that she was waiting for the kind of lover you find in Romance novels ~ preferably a vampire, well, is there a better fantasy?  Then of course, there is Mel.  Mel is the type of hero you immediately fall in love with and want to save ~ you know, my typical hot Alpha Male with Baggage. ;)  I loved how protective Mel was of Breeana and how he knew in his Vampire remnant of a heart that he loved her as he had dreamed of her and would go to extreme lengths to keep her safe.  They were both so well written that it seemed like we instantly become good friends and that is a rare author who can do that.  The secondary characters were also well written and helped to progress the story in pertinent ways.  Characters like Kal. (Kal and Mel really are best friend and are always together.)  He provided the light-hearted humor and in the end, I was really quite curious about him.  I would love to learn more about him in Book 2.

The Bad Extra Good:  As for the tempo of the story, this was a total page-turner for me.  I was constantly wanting to know my proverbial question - "What Happens Next?" - because you have to know how things will turn out in the end. The whole book is just too good not to.

The Snuggly:  The romance between Breeana and Mel feels so real.  Of course, you cannot have a good Vamp romance without some sexy biting, but the sex scenes seem almost realistic. Now I totally love the whole getting hot 'n bothered bit just reading the intimate scenes but these seemed almost like more.  Like there was real love there between the characters.  Of course, it was still plenty steamy, never you fear!  Anyone have a fan...or three?  Over 18 only please.

The Rest: Brenda created a whole new mythology that made sense and is totally compelling. The climax was suspenseful and it kept me guessing right up to the end. The ending itself was satisfying and made me happy...le sigh... I have been 100% completely sucked into this amazing world, and love it.  I cannot wait for the next book!**  Love the BDB?  Well, this is a Paranormal Lover's dream so in case you are not sure if I think you should read it or not, YOU TOTALLY SHOULD!!

A TOTALLY AMAZING 5/5 Satin Pillows and a Sizzling 4/5 Flames!!


**And, as a special treat...Brenda has shared an excerpt from Book 2 - Prophecy's Child.  Ready?  Here goes....



Kal’s cheeks reddened and he glanced at the floor. Sighing, he rocked back and forth on his heels as he shoved the bag back into his pocket. With a flick of his head, he dislodged thick bangs out of his eyes. “Look, Katherine, I need to apologize.”
“For knocking me down? Don’t worry about it.”
A small smile tugged at his lips and sadness filled his eyes. “That too, but I’d like to apologize for the way I left things between us.”
The tenacious hold she had on her rage disintegrated. And not giving a crap that they stood in the middle of a store with people all around, she said none too quietly, “You didn’t leave anything between us—you just left. I woke up and you were gone, which wasn’t unusual, you were never there in the mornings, but when I tried to call your cell phone, guess what? You cut the damn thing off! So please, do me a favor and keep your bullshit apologies, because I don’t want to hear them.”
With the rounded tip of his boot, he toed the base of a metal clothes rack which held an assortment of women’s robes. He fingered the sleeve of a fluffy, purple housecoat; his intense stare locked with hers.
He glanced away, but before he did, she noticed guilt and hurt cloud the blue depths of his eyes.
How dare he be hurt? He had no right. Katherine’s fury boiled over. She wanted to wound him even more.
She curled her fingers, making tight fists. “If your objective back then was to make me fall in love with you, and then make me despise you, then bravo, mission accomplished. And make no mistake. I do despise you.”
A muscle along his jaw ticked and his shoulders visibly tensed. “Ouch,” he said. His wide chest expanded as he inhaled, the leather of his jacket creaked with the movement. “I wish I could change what happened—how I handled things, but I can’t. All I can do is apologize.”
“You’re right, you can’t change things. They are what they are.”
Tilting his head slightly, he gazed at her through his bangs which had fallen over his eyes again. His expression was one of deep regret.
The hurtful words on Katherine’s tongue jammed in her throat and ice replaced her blood. The way he looked at her was exactly how her son did when he was in trouble.
Oh, God. Her son—his son. A son he knew nothing about and she would do anything to keep it that way. She raised him. Ike was hers. Kal had walked out, making it very clear he wanted nothing to do with her.
Her heart bounced around her chest like a ping pong ball. “I…I gotta go.”
Concern darkened his eyes, which sent her heart thumping faster. “Katherine? Are you okay?”
“Where’s my purse?” She looked down. Her brown and tan handbag lay on the floor, the contents strewn all over, along with the items she’d purchased.
Without looking at him, she dropped to her knees and swiped her lip-gloss, wallet, and checkbook back inside, and then grabbed the small plastic bag that held the Orajel and Tylenol she bought for Ike. Straightening, she spared Kal one last glance before she bolted toward the entrance.
"Katherine. Wait. We need to talk about--" the sound of his deep voice was cut off as she sprinted out the glass doors.
Any second she expected to feel the crush of Kal's large fingers squeeze down on her shoulder before he jerk her around to face him. Hatred would darken is beautiful blue eyes as he accused her of keeping him from his son. But worse would be when he informed her he'd be taking Ike somewhere she'd never find him.


......Stay Tuned!!!



Giveaway

Brenda has graciously agreed to giveaway an eCopy of Love's Prophecy to Three Winners!!!

To enter, leave us a comment regarding your favorite Paranormal beings.  

Make sure you leave your email address as well because no email = no entry.  This giveaway will run from now through  1/31 at 11:59pm EST and is open Internationally.  The winners will be chosen at random from all accepted entries.

Good Luck!!

Liberty Ann's Satin Sheets Romance Review of Coming Home by Paloma Beck


Coming Home
by Paloma Beck

http://romancebeckons.blogspot.com/  
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing 

Genre: Contemporary Romance  
Length: 142 pages


 Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble 

Rachel Porter, a romance writer, has told her three sons tales of finding their true soul mate since they were just boys. She lives with the belief that there is but one match for every person. Now as men, they have yet to discover their soul mates. That is, until they come home…

Ryan Porter, Rachel’s oldest son, needs a change from his busy city lifestyle. After five years of living in New York and establishing his own real estate firm, something is still missing. When a family tragedy brings Ryan back to his family’s rural home, he meets Tyra. She just might be the catalyst for the change he needs, redirecting the course of his life. But first he must accept his relationship with his parents and embrace Tyra’s secrets.


My Review:
The strangest things can bring people together.  Take Ryan and Tyra for instance.  It took a family tragedy to bring Ryan back home to the small town area he grew up in.  Tyra had been living in the small town area and working for ~ surprise, surprise ~ Ryan's mom who believes with all her heart in Soul Mates.  So the tragedy brings Tyra and Ryan together but will they stay that way?  Are they meant to be Soul Mates or just ships that pass in the night?

The Good :   There was so much in this book that I loved.  The pacing is just right, allowing you to participate in the emotions of the moments yet not make you antsy to keep moving.  The characters are interesting, have incredible depth, and are people you want to get to know better.

The Bad/Good:  This book brought up some deep and painful memories and thoughts from my own life.  While this is actually a good thing that the author can evoke emotions that real and that strong, I did not like feeling them and facing them along with the characters.  And that Kimmie and her father?  Talk about characters to love to hate!  They were awful...awfully good at being bad, that is.

The Snuggly:  I tell you, nobody can write these sizzling intimate scenes like Paloma.  You feel like you are right there with them.  Heck, you'd give anything to be there in Ryan's capable hands.  Oh my!  But sizzling as the sex and sexy scenes are, they are not crude or demeaning in any way.  The emotions behind the actions are really believable and the whole thing completely leaves you firmly in need of a cold shower.  Or four.  The intimate scenes make it clear this is not a book for those under 18.

The Rest: With the end of the book, I felt a sense of resolution and was content with the closure.  However, there were characters and events I wanted to know more about like Davis and Henry and their relationships with Ryan and their Mom. I was curious and I was so pleased to find that Paloma is writing a book for each of the three brothers.(Love a good series, I do!)   So who should read Coming Home?  Well, if you are a true romantic at heart, enjoy family-centric series, and can handle some fantabulously sizzling scenes, this book is not to be missed!



5/5 Silk Pillows and 5/5 Scorching Flames!