Review: The Passion of Cleopatra

The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne Rice & Christopher Rice

Ramses The Damned Book 2

Published November 21, 2017 by Anchor

Reviewed by Sarah

4 Immortal Stars

Synopsis -

From the iconic and bestselling author of The Mummy and The Vampire Chronicles, a mesmerizing, glamorous new tale of ancient feuds and modern passions.
Ramses the Great, former pharaoh of Egypt, is reawakened by the elixir of life in Edwardian England. Now immortal with his bride-to-be, he is swept up in a fierce and deadly battle of wills and psyches against the once-great Queen Cleopatra. Ramses has reawakened Cleopatra with the same perilous elixir whose unworldly force brings the dead back to life. But as these ancient rulers defy one another in their quest to understand the powers of the strange elixir, they are haunted by a mysterious presence even older and more powerful than they, a figure drawn forth from the mists of history who possesses spectacular magical potions and tonics eight millennia old. This is a figure who ruled over an ancient kingdom stretching from the once-fertile earth of the Sahara to the far corners of the world, a queen with a supreme knowledge of the deepest origins of the elixir of life. She may be the only one who can make known to Ramses and Cleopatra the key to their immortality—and the secrets of the miraculous, unknowable, endless expanse of the universe.

The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne Rice

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book of Anne Rice (I know shocker!) and I did enjoy it. The book had wonderful imagery written in to make it feel like you were at each location when it was described in the book. The spin on the characters was fantastic but I feel like it also honored them in its own way but not making it seem like satire almost if that makes sense. As it is the second book in the series and I jumped in assuming it was a first in the series I was able to follow along without too much confusion so it can definitely be read as a stand alone, although I do plan on going back to read the first so I have a better idea of Ramses full story from the start- in her books/world/series.

Reviewed by Sarah of the GothicMoms Review Team

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Review: Alpha's Prize

Alpha's Prize by Renee Rose and Lee Savino

Bad Boy Alpha's Book 3

Published October 16, 2017 by Burning Desires

Reviewed By Janet

5 Howling Stars!

Synopsis:

 MY CAPTIVE. MY MATE. MY PRIZE. 

I didn’t order the capture of the beautiful American she-wolf. I didn’t buy her from the traffickers. I didn’t even plan to claim her. But no male shifter could have withstood the test of a full moon and a locked room with Sedona, naked and shackled to the bed. 

I lost control, not only claiming her, but also marking her, and leaving her pregnant with my wolfpup. I won’t keep her prisoner, as much as I’d like to. I allow her to escape to the safety of her brother’s pack. 

But once marked, no she-wolf is ever really free. I will follow her to the ends of the Earth, if I must. 

Sedona belongs to me. 

Publisher’s Note: Alpha’s Prize is a stand-alone book in the Bad Boy Alphas series. HEA guaranteed, no cheating. This book contains a hot, demanding alpha wolf with a penchant for protecting and dominating his female. If such material offends you, do not buy this book.

Alpha's Prize by Renee Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A paranormal scorcher! Carlos is one sexy dominant wolf who commands the pages as well as his pack. He meets Sedona under the most dire of circumstances, as they are imprisoned together. This is highly erotic and perfectly fits this setting. Given everything that's going on, Carlos and Sedona remain strong. There is much at stake here. I loved every minute, and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I've never had the privilege of reading these authors before, but I'm definitely going to read the others.

Reviewed by Janet of the GothicMoms Review Team

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Guest Blog: Heroes or Villains

Fire’s Kiss

By Brittany Pate

Fiery Seas Publishing

November 21, 2017   

Paranormal Romance Fiction

Embyr tends her tavern while keeping her dangerous parentage a secret, until she's attacked by a hellhound and saved by one of the most feared men in history.

For the last eight hundred years, Ryder McLennon, the infamous leader of Death's Horsemen, has used his army to hunt the vampire who killed his wife. He's earned a reputation as a murderous madman. But in Embyr, he discovers something that could turn the tide of battle in his favor. Her control over fire can reduce an enemy to ash and her flippant disregard of him heats his blood in ways no one else ever has. She's beautiful, powerful and completely different from her violence-loving brethren.

Embyr finds herself thrust into a war she wants no part of, targeted by a vicious vampire because of her cooperation with Ryder. As she learns to wield her demonic powers without letting the madness of her race overcome her, she also has to fight her attraction to a killer bent on her seduction.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Fires-Kiss-Brittany-Pate-ebook/dp/B077BHVX92

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fires-kiss-brittany-pate/1127434821?ean=9781946143372

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fire-s-kiss

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/fires-kiss/id1312265602?mt=11

Trailer Link: https://youtu.be/T_4tsEY2muA

Which is your favorite to write: Heroes or villains?

                When it comes to the question of writing heroes or villains, that’s very hard to answer. Likely because I try to give all of my characters the same treatment. I have a rather extensive character questionnaire that I fill out for each one, whether it’s a main or supporting character. Not all of that information makes it into the book, but it breathes life into them for me.

                But for the sake of answering the question, I would have to go with heroes. While villains are extremely interesting to me, writing a hero is the real challenge and excitement for me. I try to make sure that each of my characters comes from a real place, so it’s always interesting to me why the hero chose the route he or she did.

                I don’t ever want my heroes to be perfect. Perfect heroes are boring heroes, in my opinion. They’re going to have flaws, they’re going to doubt, to make mistakes. What I love discovering is what keeps them on the hero path, how they deal with it when they make the wrong choice or when faced with something that isn’t very heroic.

                It’s easy to be bad. It’s not so easy to be flawed, to be broken, and still be a hero.

About the Author:

Brittany Pate lives in Texas with her husband and son. She is a longtime lover of all things fantasy and romance. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys narrating audio books and drinking entirely too much coffee.

Website: http://brittanympate.wixsite.com/brittanympate

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittanypatewrites/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrittanyPate2

Release Day Blitz: Only You

Banned from Heaven. Escaped from Hell. They are UnHallowed.

As the looming battle between the demon hordes and the UnHallowed intensifies, so does Amaya’s feelings for Bane. She wasn’t supposed to fall in love with an UnHallowed, but the attraction is undeniable…as is the danger. Good thing he keeps pushing her away, underestimating her at every turn, which fuels her resolve and strengthens her to do what she must—save the world.

The world be damned. For millennia, Bane’s one purpose was to reclaim his grace and his place in the Celestial Army. Then he met Amaya. Created for one purpose, she is the key to defeating their enemies, but the cost is too great if it places her life in danger. He will do whatever is necessary to protect her, because nothing else matters.

Time is closing in. The balance of power is shifting. Amaya and Bane can either unleash their spiraling passions and fortify their bond, or lead themselves and all the UnHallowed to utter destruction.

About the Series

Only You

by Tmonique Stephens

Series

Unhallowed # 2.0

Genre

Adult

Paranormal Romance

Urban Fantasy

Publisher

Independent

Publication Date

November 20, 2017

  
The UnHallowed Series
    

Giveaway!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About Tmonique Stephens

I wrote my first novel about a reporter and a hockey player after the U.S. hockey team won gold in the 1980 Olympics. I love writing flawed characters who reflect the emotional baggage we all carry. I write complicated stories for complicated people. Paranormal romances and fantasy novels are my favorite genre. I’ll read anything about fairies, demons, or angels, but I also enjoy Stephen King and Preston and Childs.

I’m hooked on Lucifer, The Backlist, The Strain, Vikings, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, and BlindSpot. I can’t get enough of these shows!

I was born in St. Thomas USVI, but grew up in The Bronx, New York one mile from Yankee Stadium. I love SyFy, the History channels, and Asian cuisine. But my heart and stomach longs for anything from the Caribbean.

Author Links

    

This promotion is brought to you by Pure Textuality PR.

Release Day Blitz: Creep

Title: Creep

Author: Gillian Zane

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Editor: Raw Book Editing Services

Cover Designer: Parajunkee Design

Publisher: Parajunkee Publishing

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

Blurb: Case # 4 of the Karma Incorporated Series.

What goes around comes around...it’s called Karma.

Working for Karma Incorporated might sound like the best job in the world, but there’s one really big catch: you’ve got to die to get it. Cassandra Mercier died at the ripe old age of twenty-one and is now gainfully employed by the Afterlife Corporation as a Karma operative...and she’s been working overtime.

Cassandra is given the task of  playing the psychic medium Castalia Rosso, and she’s on the hunt to give a few pretend ghost hunters a bit of cosmic retribution.

Her targets are two Creeps.

Twins Raul and Roselle, who have made a name for themselves in the ghost hunting community as renowned demon hunters. They’ve gotten so much notoriety that they’ve landed themselves a reality television show. The network insisted that they include a psychic on the show with them, though -- and this is where Castalia Rosso comes in. Joining the twins on an investigation of one of the most haunted houses in the area, Cassie must expose the brother and sister ghost hunting duo, and all their dirty behavior and deal with some real ghosts all while trying to sort out her own tumultuous existence. 

As the case gets more and more complex, so does the world Cassie exists in. Life and death aren’t exactly what they seem when working for the Afterlife Corporation.

Release Party:

https://www.facebook.com/events/910910045752226/

adults. Gillian defines herself by the city she was raised in, New Orleans. She’s tried moving away a few times but always comes back. At the age of ten, she decided she would be a writer and has been determined every since. Between that decision and when she actually finished a book that she believed was good enough to publish, she’s served in the military, worked as a bartender, became a cog in the corporate marketing wheel as a person “that makes things pretty” and has since been laid off too many times to count. She currently writes full-time, but still, continues to “make things pretty” by designing book covers and websites for her fellow authors and bloggers. Gillian lives in New Orleans with her husband, her daughter, and an ugly dog.

Author Links:

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bmCzWf

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2hsNjAC

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGillianZane

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13818399.Gillian_Zane

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GillianZane

Web: http://gillianzane.com/

Buy Links: Cheat: http://amzn.to/2yvPFSI

Shark: http://amzn.to/2ADlcDp

Liar: http://amzn.to/2yvzwfU

Creep: http://amzn.to/2AAGzFr

Chapter 5

Now Hiring

“Cassie! Where ya been?” A dripping wet Fallon trotted around the pool toward me.

“A little R and R,” I lied to keep up the charade. I didn’t want to explain the atrocity that had become my life.

“Jelly!” She rolled her eyes. “How’d you get something like that, you’ve been gone forever?” She emphasized the forever in an exaggerated accent.

“I guess I was stressed,” I shrugged.

“You missed all the drama, girl.” Her eyes were as big as saucers, her lips pursed like a fish to emphasize all the crazy. It took everything in me not to roll my eyes.

“Fill me in.” I really didn’t want to know, but it was expected and I didn’t want to hurt Fallon’s feelings.

“Not while you’re wearing that,” she frowned at me. I looked down. I was in a thin shirt that was boxy and not flattering, the only thing under it was a sports bra and cotton panties with leggings. So much for inconspicuous. I looked like I had recently escaped a mental institution. I tapped my bra self-consciously; the two vials of liquid were still there.

To fit in, I manifested a bathing suit, and a tiny purse to hold my vials, then trailed after Fallon as she chatted her way to the pool.

“Persephone is finally gone, we have a new boss. Ohemgee, Cassie, he’s fucking hot, like hot hot, not like nerdy hot Brandon. Like my panties are tingly wet just thinking about him.” She squeezed my arm and I tried not to wince. “He’s not exactly receptive to any of us, though. Kind of scowly, and bossy. He yelled at me a few times.”

“Scowly?” I asked. She rolled her eyes and handed me a beer from the cooler next to the pool.

“Oh, and Trish and Otto are an item, like really an item, moved their shit into one house and stuff, calling themselves Trotto, or maybe Trito, I don’t know, but it’s weird. Em said she heard them fighting and hot new boss guy went over there to break it up. It was a mess.”

“Trish and Otto?” I asked stupidly. I couldn’t place an Otto.

“Yeah, they do make a cute couple,” Fallon sighed and glanced over at Trent who was sun bathing, even though he could tan with a thought. Fallon had been crushing on him for a while. Sensing eyes on him, Trent sat up, took his sunglasses off, and did the cool-guy-chin-jut-greeting thing.

“Hey Cassie! You’re back. Boss said you’d be back today. Well, he said the missing operative would be back today. Never said your name or anything, just that if we see 'the missing operative', to tell her to go to his office immediately because he’s tired of being fucking short-staffed…” Trent said in one breath.

“Yeah, I think I already have a case,” I responded despondently. I guess it made sense, considering I was supposed to be on some kind of weird Afterlife vacation for the last month. I really didn’t want another case though.

“Already, really girl?” Fallon rolled her eyes. “Whatevs, you’ve been off duty for like months. Wish.” I had the urge to tell her all about my off duty status. Maybe that would wipe that frown off her face, but I bit my tongue and kept it to myself.

“Months? It was that long for you guys too?” For some reason I thought it would only be that long for me.

“Yeah, you never came back from your last case. That was like, at least 3 months ago.” Fallon frowned at me. “We thought something happened, or you got promoted without them telling us. That would have sucked. They didn’t tell us shit. But it happens like that sometimes.”

“They said it was only a month or two,” I replied. “That’s what they told me.” Fallon shook her head and Trent looked skeptical. 

“You were on R and R and you didn’t know how long it was? Where did you go? Antarctica?” Trent asked.

“Uh, no, just like a relaxing place in Afterlife.”

“I’ve never heard of an operative doing that.” Trent got up from his chair so he could grab a beer.

“I don’t like to be normal,” I shrugged and Fallon laughed a little harder than the joke required, like she was faking it or didn’t get the joke.

“Don’t worry. No one thinks you’re normal.” She laughed again loudly and I frowned, not sure if I should take it as a compliment or an insult.

Six Sentence Sunday

Here are a few more than six sentences for #SixSentenceSunday from my current #WIP #NotSoWicked. A Young Adult book from the world of #Underlayes that I'm determined to finish for #NaNoWriMo.

“Dear, Goddess, are they ever gonna learn how to drive these things?” came from someone closer to the front.

Which earned a few laughs and a, “Think you could do any better?” from Mz. Fargus, a warlock who had accidentally turned himself into a woman with a spell meant to make him more sensitive to females, whose turn it was to drive our bus that morning. Like most of the adults in Underlayes, he had never learned how to drive. They all now took turns in learning how to do so, by driving us to school. Well, not all, mostly just those that were bartering for a favor, like a spell to turn back to the gender they wanted to live in. And he sucked at it even more than most, one time he turned so sharp the bus ended up flipped on its side. Good thing we were practically immortal, short of decapitation, and fire.

“You know,” Laina spoke as we all stood to get off the bus, “this whole human experience part of things just may get us killed one day.”

We laughed at her comment while we shuffled our way to the front and off the bus, and I said, “Well, at least we’d go out together. Ready for another fun filled day at Be Prepared High?” with several sighs in response, we headed to the door to see whatever they had in store for us.

“The way the authors voice was #strong yet #spunky was fascinating to watch it play out...” – SLHReviews

“The characters feel real they have flaws and personalities that draw you to them…” – Cupcakes and #Books

“The #romance was off the charts. The twists and turns had me guessing. The only bad thing is that it ended way to soon, I was not ready to leave the world that #hooked me in.” – Relleman

“This book took family dysfunction to a whole different level and I loved it, I cannot even imagine whats in store for the next book but if its anything like this one I'll be in for another #allnighter yay happy dance.” – Deja

books2read.com/u/bzajVq
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36217797-witch-wars

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Review: Magician's Keeper

The Magician's Keeper by Nicola E. Sheridan

Published November 4, 2017 by Escape Publishing

Reviewed by Terri

4 Super-Sized Stars

Synopsis:

A brand new steamy paranormal romance about learning to love all of yourself.

In a world where people judge one another by exacting standards of size and style, being a big girl like Eudora Splat was never going to be easy.

Though trouble is brewing between magic folk and human purists who would see them all destroyed, Dora, a half-giant, tries to eke out a quiet, unnoticed life for herself, but it’s hard to be subtle when you’re over seven feet tall.

Losing her job as a gardener due to human complaints, Dora is recruited as a prison guard, where she’s enlisted to protect the magician Evander “Bear” Gordon from human purist attack. Bear encourages her to embrace her power and celebrate her heritage, introducing her to a world where she can be extraordinary and not just weird. 

But after years of hiding and shying away, can Dora find the strength to grab onto a new life — and hold on to the man she’s falling in love with?

The Magician's Keeper by Nicola E. Sheridan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a different kind of read for me in that it didn't include the usual group of paranormal beings. I'm also not used to giants playing an intelligent character. They are normally stereotyped as being a little slow or even dumb. So it was fun to read about Dora, a half-giant because she was very real. She had all kinds of emotions and ideas. She was also pretty tough and held her own in every fight she had. She was the one who rode in and saved the day. (I always like when the female characters are tough and kick a$$). The author did a great job creating a fantasy world but mirroring it close enough to real life that it was relatable. The plot wasn't fast-paced, but I actually found that enjoyable. Too many books just bombard the reader with intense action scene after intense action scene, and they forget to develop the story and characters. I think this book made for a great start to what could become a decent series.

Reviewed by Terri of the GothicMoms Review Team

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Review: Maid of Ice

Maid of Ice by Shona Husk

Blood and Silver Book 3

Publication Date November 21, 2017 by Lyrical Press

Reviewed by Terri

4 Magical Stars!

Stalkers and death threats . . . 
For Finlay Ryder, danger means playing a racecar driver on a daytime soap. That is, until he’s forced to reckon with his true identity as an Albah, a magical ancient race, by one of his own kind. Someone wants him dead. And worse, an ancient vampire is on the prowl, drawing blood left and right. Now, Finlay has no choice but to hunt enemies with unspeakable powers—or risk being hunted himself . . .

. . . and that’s just the first date 
Ice skater Alina Nyx is using her broken wrist as an excuse for a career change. And when she falls for handsome Finlay, Albah drama feels like her new full-time job. Learning about magic and vampires is exciting, until her life is threatened. Now, as she begins to uncover her own mysterious powers, she must combine forces with Finlay to eradicate their foes for good, or all Albah will suffer . . . 

Maid of Ice by Shona Husk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the PNR world, it is hard to come up with something new. I think this author did a good job creating a twist in order to create a great "something new". This is a fun romance with unique world building. I enjoyed the way the author used an ordinary backdrop/setting and added the right amount of urban fantasy to appease this fantasy lover. I think the characters are well-developed, I liked the interplay between the two main characters and the dialog read natural and felt "real" (that's important to me). I'm thinking (and hoping) that this is the first of a series.

Reviewed by Terri of the GothicMoms Review Team

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Halloween Spotlight: Witch of Death

Witch of Death

Chrys Fey

Length: Short Story

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery

Murder isn’t always committed with magic unless a witch is involved.

Blurb:

Detective Reid Sanders doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but when he’s faced with a crime scene that defies the laws of nature, he has no other choice but to start believing. And solving a magical murder involves working with a witch.

Liberty Sawyer embodies the look of your classic evil witch, so, it’s no surprise when she uncovers the murderer is a witch that she becomes Reid’s number one suspect. If she can’t convince him otherwise, more people could lose their lives to dark magic, including her.

Excerpt:

Liberty Sawyer glided swiftly through the horde of police officers, reporters, and on- lookers. Black hair fell from a rigid part in the middle of her scalp to her hips. Her eyes were a soul-stabbing blue and her lips were blood-red. She towered over the other officers on the scene, and wore all black, which set off the pallor of her skin.

Showing her badge to the officer, she slipped under the crime scene tape. A few paces away, she spotted Detective Corbin talking to his new partner, a man she knew by name but hadn’t had the privilege of meeting yet.

“I cannot believe you called her,” the new man was saying when she came up behind them. “We don’t need a damn psychic!”

“Actually, I’m a witch.” She smiled when Reid jolted and turned to face her. “I’m Detective Liberty Sawyer.” She stuck out her hand.

“Detective Reid Sanders,” he grunted back and took her hand.

The feel of his palm against hers sent tingles of lust from the tips of her fingers to her shoulder blade, and she knew he felt it too by the way he jerked his hand back. She winked at him playfully, hoping it would unnerve him even more.

$0.99 CENTS!

Book Links:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / The Wild Rose Press / NOOK / KOBO

BIO:

Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept blending romance, crimes, and disasters. She’s an administrator for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, running their newsletter and book club. She’s also an editor for Dancing Lemur Press.

Fey realized she wanted to write by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen.

Fey lives in Florida and is always on the lookout for hurricanes. She has four cats and three nephews, both keep her entertained with their antics.

Author Links:

Facebook / Blog / Website / Goodreads

Review: Touch of Night

Touch of Night by Carin Rafferty

Sanctuary Series Book One

Published February 28, 2007 by Imajinn Books

Reviewed by Kaila

4 Stars!

Synopsis -

This is a reprint of Book One in Carin Rafferty's acclaimed Sanctuary series. 

Ariel Dantes is running out of time. Her brother Armand has disappeared while investigating a secretive cult professing to be a coven of witches and warlocks. When the police won’t agree to open a case, Ariel must track down the last man to see her brother—self-professed warlock Lucien Morgret.

Bar owner and banished warlock, Lucien will do anything to protect his former coven. His doubts about the coven’s safety have been building, and now a journalist is missing. He’ll help Ariel . . . as long as she obeys his rules.

If Lucien and Ariel want to save Armand and the coven, they need to work fast. With time against them, and a rogue warlock practicing the forbidden Old Ways, they’re running out of options. Lucien realizes he will need to meld with Ariel’s mind - and body –in order to fight the darkness. But will mating with this mortal woman save him or damn him? Will they lose themselves, and the ones they love, forever?

Touch of Night by Carin Rafferty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this story a great deal. It was a different sort of fantasy story for me, and was interesting. It kept me on the edge of my seat in places and it made me feel in the action right along with the characters. The writing was also very well done. I liked it a lot and I really enjoyed the twists and turns that I didn't see coming. It was wonderful and a fast paced story. Very well done from this author and I'm glad I got the chance to review it.

Reviewed by Kaila of the GothicMoms Reviews Team

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