Angels vs Demons Blog Hop

I absolutely love the theme picked for this hop! I would like to thank the awesome Diva's Leia Shaw and Carrie Ann Ryan for putting this slice of awesomeness together. 

The Below two books are paperbacks and looking for homes in the US. One features my favorite demons, the other features some of my favorite angels. 

The below eBook is available for US & Int participants.

There are also 2 tour wide Grand Prizes. Be sure to get to as many of the blogs as possible for your chance at winning one of the following TWO grand prizes.

ONE winner will receive a Kindle Touch

ONE winner will receive a $60 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sinful Sirens Giveaway Hop

The awesome Diva's at Under the Covers and Guilty Pleasures have 

put together an fantastic giveaway hop. Big ginormous thanks to those ladies! 

The below two paperbacks are looking for homes in the US. 

The Gena Showalter book is autographed! 

The above book is an eCopy and open for US and International giveaway.

As always the pics link to goodreads.com so that you may find out more information on the book. 

To enter the giveaway please comment below with email address.

Review: The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Seduction (goodreads.com)

By: Gena Showalter (author website)

 
 

Mass Market Paperback, 504 pages

Published February 28th 2012 by HQN Books

ISBN 13: 9780373776573

Source: Purchased for self

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Lords of the Underworld #9

Best read in order: yes

Stars: 3

Flames: 4

Paris is the one Lord that never drew my attention. I don’t dislike him, but he never grabbed my attention. I know to many he is the favored Lord. If you are that person you will LOVE The Darkest Seduction. I guess I never felt that his demon possessed enough badassery to be a problem to live with. I have to point out that I did learn a lot about Paris and Sex that I never knew, but it was not enough to make me feel any differently about him.
Sienna never wowed me either. The fact that every character in the series and in multiple books have to regularly pointed out her less than drop dead gorgeous appearance or the fact that she is heavily freckled got on my nerves three books ago. I was very surprised by the way her character has evolved with Wrath and also as to where she stands at the end of the book. That was the biggest shocker of all. Her outcome from the big final battle…never saw it coming!
I loved the other Lords (ones from past books and ones who have not gotten a book yet) and the roles that they played in this book. The overall struggle that has been going on is continued. Of course Gena has added some new twists that I can’t wait to see where she goes with. Zacharel has a good bit of page time. His book Wicked Nights comes out in late June. Readers were also introduced to several new Lords. I loved Viola, the Keeper of Narcissism. She is going to be so much fun to read in the future books.
This is one of my most favorite paranormal series. I like that it is not your typical vamp/were romance. The characters are immortal warriors that have been possessed by demons as punishment. Gena also gives a good mix of dark and violent, with plenty of humorous moments while blending in a great romance.

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Review: The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Surrender (goodreads.com)

By: Gena Showalter (author website)

Mass Market Paperback, 426 pages

Published September 27th 2011 by HQN

ISBN 13: 9780373775811

Source: Purchased for self

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Lords of the Underworld #8

Best read in order: Yes

Stars: 5

Flames: 4

Reviewed by: Vanessa

If you are looking for a read filled with humble, shy human characters, people that calmly reach rational decisions, characters that have modest feelings… PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! Now if you are looking for a book that if full of sharp tongued wit and busting the spine with ego and characters who bring new meaning to competitive natures, where pure insanity ensues well then you Win.

I loved this book from the very beginning. Kaia and Strider made an excellent couple. They were incredibly fun to read. Strider is possessed by the demon Defeat. Defeat sees everything as a challenge that they must win. Kaia is a harpy. Harpies are just insane as far as I’m concerned. Mix the insanity with the competitiveness of games where scores are settled with very few rules and anything goes. This book is an exciting nonstop page turner. Then the icing on the cake there is romance. Showatler has combined a couple that complements each other so well. They both challenge each other in ways that help each other, they strengthen one another. I think Kaia and Strider are my new favorite couple for this series.

The readers see a descent amount of page time of two previous books couples. Gwen and Sabin, and Bianka and Lysander are a very present part of the Harpy games that Kaia is involved in. I enjoyed the sisterly bantering the Harpies meted out upon each other.  

Review: The Darkest Secret by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Secret (goodreads.com)

By: Gena Showalter (author website)

Mass Market Paperback, 410 pages

Published March 29th 2011 by Harlequin Books

ISBN 13: 9780373775491

Source: Purchased for self

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Lords of the Underworld, #7

Best read in order: absolutely

Stars: 4

Flames: 3
Reviewed by: Vanessa

                Haidee has lived her lives with the motto of “Die if you must, but take as many Lord’s as you can with you.” As a Hunter she has dedicated her life to see that the Lord’s don’t cause harm to others. She was doing exactly that when Strider caught her, drugged her and took her to the Lord’s Budapest fortress.

                Amun (Keeper of Secrets) has been left with an insane amount of minion demons running wild in his head after assisting a fellow Lord. Unable to purge these demons he seeks peace in death. As he’s lying in bed wishing for such he finds a connection to another that gives him some peace from the demons.

                I liked how Haidee and Amun were brought together in the beginning. The mechanisms that were used to allow their connection to work were perfect for this couple. Sometimes I really wonder why authors choose for the difficult bonding of enemies. Then you get something like The Darkest Secret in your hands and you realize it makes for a great story. Amun and Haidee have to overcome the events in their pasts that led them to become enemies. They must learn enough about the other so that they can begin to earn each other’s trust. All of this takes place while they are trying to return the new residents in Amun’s head to their rightful home. Amun and Haidee then take readers on the journey of how they will make a happily ever after work when they both know that the people around them will have some major issues with their romance.  

                William, Strider and Paris have fairly large secondary roles while providing plenty of comic relief. They are vacationing together. They are all three wrestling with bigger personal issues, yet still trying to get their minds into a better place. The past books heroes and heroines have very tiny little snippets. I would have liked to have seen a little bit for from the past couples that I loved so much.

                I had two small annoyances with the book, Haidee and Micah, and Strider and Haidee. Haidee and the Micah issue came off as immature to me. Although it is Micah that opens up the doorway that allows for Haidee to initially go to Amun. Then there is Strider’s obsession with Haidee and the explosion that it causes with Amun. It annoyed me! While these things aggravated me they also added to the suspense that kept the pages constantly turning. It always seems that the things that irritate me, the book would not make sense without. 

Review: Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter

Dark Taste of Rapture (goodreads.com)

By: Gena Showalter (author website)

Mass Market Paperback, 451 pages

Published August 23rd 2011 by Pocket Star

ISBN 13: 9781439175781

Source: Purchased for self

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Series: Alien Huntress #6

Best read in order: Yes

Stars: 5

Flames: 3

Gena Showalter is in the top five of my most favorite authors. I can’t pick one, so I have a top five. I’ve read the majority of her books from her various series. I really like her Alien Huntress series. The previous book in the series Ecstasy in Darkness introduced readers to Ava and Noelle. They are certifiably insane and incredibly fun to read. Their sisterly torturous banter had me constantly wondering not only how they had made it into adulthood, but how they made it through Alien Investigation and Removal (AIR) training. The training question is answered here. Dark Taste of Rapture begins about a year before the previous book, with Ava and Noelle’s first day at AIR training. This is where Noelle first meets Hector and Dallas.

Noelle is totally in her character of airhead heiress when she comes off the bus that has hauled her to training. She arouses groaning from both Hector and Dallas immediatly. Dallas because he has very naughty thoughts, Hector because he knows then and there that this woman will be the death of him. All Hector wants is to get what he sees as the failure out of the training program as quickly as possible. The teacher student relationship does not keep hands, mouths and tongues from roaming when Hector and Noelle are alone long enough to acknowledge the mutual attraction.

Hector tries (and fails) repeatedly to stay away from Noelle. His emotions have a very negative affect on his arms and what he sees as their curse. He has no idea where the ability came from all he knows are the horrible consequences. Hector has not only harmed people, he has killed them with just a touch. So even though he wants Noelle and she wants him he tries to keep her away from him.

Once Noelle decides that Hector is it for her, it’s on. She pursues him to the point of stalking. Reading the pursuit of this relationship was extremely entertaining. Hector’s constant flip flopping of I want you, stay away from me, I crave you, we can’t be together, I want you in my life, I can’t be responsible for harming you should have been gotten frustrating. It never got old. To read what would happen after each of his dismissals with Noelle’s chase of him was priceless. To add to the tension they are of course working a case together.

There is a deleted scene. (Click here to check that out!) It adds some insight into the visions Dallas had concerning Noelle and who she would sleep with. It also explains some of the attitude coming from Dallas. I can understand why this was deleted, Dallas was not the books hero. However, this scene sheds some light on what the visions could possibly mean and the repercussions that readers may see in the next book.

One of the biggest ongoing conflicts involved in this series has been Trinity, Queen of the Schon’s. In the previous books she has been spreading her virus/disease. She has also had a major villainous role in the previous books. The readers do not get any new information on what is going on with that struggle. She is not mentioned in any way. She had nothing to do with Noelle and Hector or the case they were working on, so I guess she was viewed as irrelevant for this installment in the Alien Huntress series.

A character from the first book is brought back with a minor role in this book. I have a feeling he will get a book before Dallas. I desperately want to read his story. I have loved Dallas from the very beginning and he appears to be that character in the series that will keep getting tortured and passed over for love until the last possible moment. I am curious about where reintro guy’s character will go. 

Amazon.com buy link

That's What I'm Buying Today!

Lord of Rage (goodreads.com)

Royal House of Shadows #2

By: Jill Monroe (author's website)

The Gladiator's Master (goodreads.com)

By: Fae Sutherland & Marguerite Labbe (author's website)

August Giveaway

I have an autographed copy of Gena Showalters Savor Me Slowly up for grabs this month. If you have not read this series I highly recommend it. Very hot aliens and very sexy Showalter romance. It is book number 3 in her Alien Huntress series. To enter just comment below and be a follower. I will announce the winner on Saturday August 27, 2011 before midnight.

Savor Me Slowly (goodreads.com)
Gena Showalter (website)
Alien Huntress series information

Giveaway is open to US residents only. I’m not responsible for books lost in the mail.

ARC Review: Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter

Lord of the Vampires (goodreads.com)

Gena Showalter (website)

Mass Market Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages

Expected publication: August 23rd 2011 by Harlequin

ISBN 13: 9780373618668

Source: Netgalley

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Royal House of Shadows #1

Stars: 4

Flames: 4

                Nicolai is one of four children who at the time of his parent’s death were sent away from the royal palace that was under attack. Only a time piece that he is no longer in possession of links him to his siblings. He is not even aware of a missing timepiece though. His lusty ways and an error in magic cast by a dying parent sent him to the slave market, as a sex slave. His purchasers have wiped his memory repeatedly. In an attempt to escape he writes magic into a book and draw a modern time human Jane to come assist in his escape. Jane works for a sect of the government that studies the supernatural. So she is not shocked that the chained vampire she has been dreaming of for the past several months is in this book. She is also not shaken that she has been brought into another realm by the chained vampire. Jane’s a trooper. She agrees to help Nicolai. She has a gazillion questions and her scientific mind questions everything, but she atrocities that he has dealt with and feels the need to help him obtain his freedom.

                I have no idea why but I loved Nicolai’s short choppy sentence caveman speak. Not to mention the really hot over used “Mine.” When I say over used I mean in this book alone, not as readers see it in so many books. Nicolai might as well been shouting this as his mantra when in Jane’s presence. I also liked Jane and Nicolai’s connection. As a couple they really worked for me. I give much of that credit to Jane not freaking out about popping up in an alternate realm where magic is used and vampires exist. I also really enjoyed all the flashbacks that Nicolai had while his memories randomly trickled back to him. The catalyst that caused his memories to begin surfacing was captivating too. I am one who typically does not enjoy a historical like fantasy world (that what this book is) but I really enjoyed the magical elements and the setting was perfect.

                This was a very fast paced book. I was also amazed at how much action was squeezed into the 288 pages. Loved what the books big evil doer got in the end. Justice was served in the most appropriate way. Very interested to see where this series goes. The readers are given very little information of the other siblings. Nicolai shows the readers small memories of his siblings as he is getting his memories back. Once he has all of his memories back he still only knows vague hunches or rumors. The location and well-being of the others for the most part is unknown. Thus I’m tremendously intrigued. I will definitely read the next book in the series, which is Breena’s (the only female sibling) story. At the end of Lord of the Vampires, Nicolai has found out that she is possibly with Berserkers. A series that has been written by four different seems quite interesting!

Favorite quote, from Jane: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but I might be a vampire so I don't give a shit."

Amazon.com buy link

Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter

                This is book number 5 in the Alien Huntress series if you do not include the two young adult books in the series.  I loved the Ava and Noelle. They had the banter and relationship of two frat boys that had been friends since birth. The readers meet McKell in the previous book. He was the vampire who had the prearranged marriage with Bride. That did not work out; due to him trying to keep her alive he has been kicked out of the underground vampire world. AIR is not happy with McKell because he is keeping them from bringing him in so they may test his blood to see if he is the cure for the Schoen disease.  Ava and Noelle have been assigned to bring him in.

                The romantic pursuit in this was incredible. They both realize they have to change and evolve for this to work temporarily. Temporarily is the key word they are trying for here. They both acknowledge the attraction for each other. They are both willing to give into their needs, but only for a short span of time.

                One of the many things I love about this series is the amount of content that is devoted to the characters of past books. With most series you only get a small glimpse of the previous books characters. This series the characters from the previous books have large roles with the focal characters of this book. I keep wondering when the delicious Dallas will finally get himself a book. AIR is still fighting the Schoen Queen.

                Overall this book is a 5 star read and 5 flames on the sex o meter. There is plenty of action and fighting. The characters have great relationships with each other. The relationship development between Ava and McKell was wonderful. Not as much sex as I like in books, but what was there was very hot and much anticipated.