Larissa's Advanced Review: Figure of Speech {Halle Shifters #4} by Dana Marie Bell

  

Figure of Speech by Dana Marie Bell 

When two hearts speak as one, no words are needed.

Chloe Williams has waited four long years for her mate to acknowledge her. Time and again he has turned her away for being too young, even when she was hospitalized, recovering from a beating that left lingering after effects. Now that he’s been turned into a Wolf, his mating instincts are kicking in big time. Chloe has to decide if it’s worth risking her heart yet again.

Ten years older than Chloe and dealing with issues she knows nothing about, veterinarian James Woods is about ready to howl in frustration. He’s been drawn to Chloe since she was a radiant nineteen-year-old college student, but the age difference held him back from making a move on her. Now his Wolf wants what’s his, and Jim is finally in a place where he can claim her.

Between meddling mothers, Hunter brothers, and a mystery that threatens to end Chloe’s life, they might find an opportunity to tell each other just how they feel. Or find themselves separated by more than just misunderstood words.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, and two people who finally get their damn act together.

• Publisher: Samhain Publishing
• Release Date: March 3rd 2015    
• Series: Halle Shifters
• Author's Website
• Pre-Order the book:

*NO Spoilers!

I love this series! I love the Halle Shifters, the Pumas, the close-by Pack and this fantastic world Dana Marie Bell created!

I was dying to get Chloe and James's Story for so long and their romance was pretty awesome!!! I really enjoyed the glimpse we got of the other characters in this great town.

The only thing that brought down the rating for me is that we don't really get a conclusion to the issues Chloe and other shifters are having during the novel =(

I get that it's a set up for the next one, but I really needed at least some conclusion.

Other than that, Figure of Speech was a great read and I cannot wait for the next one in the Halle Shifters series.

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INTL GIVEAWAY + Larissa's Review: Demons in My Driveway {A Monster Haven Story #5} by R.L. Naquin

  

Zoey Donovan Aegis and co-opted protector of all things supernatural is moving up in the Hidden world. Actually, she's being drop kicked onto the front lines of a fight between the newly formed Cult of Imagination and Hidden governments everywhere.

The Cult is opening portals and unleashing demons, vampires and werewolves, growing closer to breaking the lock that holds back the zombie apocalypse with every world they crack open. Oh, and they want every last Aegis in the world dead, and a roving band of Hidden worshippers is only too eager to assist.

On the upside, Zoey finally has her mother back. But having another Aegis around one with very different ideas on how to run things is proving difficult. For their own safety, they're stuck inside Zoey's home. What was once a haven is now a prison, further straining maternal relations and alienating her reaper boyfriend. Taking down a cult and saving the world again would be a lot easier if she could go farther than her own driveway.

from GoodReads.

• Publisher: Carina Press
• Release Date: October 20th, 2014
• Series: Monster Haven Series  
• Author's Website
• Buy The Book: AMAZON

*NO SPOILERS 

I love the Monster Haven series and the fact that book #6 will be the last really saddens me. However, I am glad R.L. Naquin has an end in sight and a plan. I totally trust her.

Demons in My Driveway was another delightful addition to the series. Though it read like a transition book, which it is. That isn't a bad thing, but when compared to previous entries, it fell a little short.

That's not saying that it wasn't a great book, it definitely was. I love how Naquin writes the relationships in this series and I can't wait to see where it all goes.

I am not writing more about the book because I want to avoid spoilers... But if you wanna give this series a shot, don't start here! Take it fro me, you wanna check it out starting with book 1 =)

Previously on The Monster Haven Series:

#1 | #1.5 | #2 | #3 | #4

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Sarah's Reviews: Wanted by Annika James

Attacked as a young witch and left for dead, Ashlinn is deathly afraid of being bitten again. Having survived until she’s almost eighteen without donating blood to any of her vamp friends, Ashlinn figures she’ll continue to live bite-free. After her crush reveals how powerful she is, however, the Vampire Council declares she be claimed as a familiar, which requires biting. Ashlinn doesn’t want to be owned, even by hot vamp, Conor. Luckily, her best friend, Matt, volunteers for the job. She is given one week to choose her protector, and the list of willing biters keeps growing. Will she go with best friend Matt, hot vamp Conor, or someone else to protect her? Will she be able to get her power under control by then? Will she overcome her phobia of being bitten? And who says she needs to be protected, anyhow?

Release Date: January 17th 2013
Publisher: MuseItUp

It might surprise you to know that this book is actually really steamy and has lots of hot male vampires. Although I do like the cover and I do like the decision to not maybe sell the book in that way - it's missing the selling trick!

Witches and vampires are featured in this YA book. I was totally convinced that this book works as a single edition, I do think a series would have been better as it was very to and fro, almost confusing but not quite. It just managed to hold onto it's values and synopsis without getting into being too random for me to follow. I liked the love triangle but it felt very teenage angst with all the indecisions, which I know is what teens relate to.

A good but quick read but it left me wanting more from it than it did offer sadly :(

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Sarah's Reviews: Grishma (Necoh saga #1) by Kelly Anne Blount

In the world of Necoh, everyone fears Grishma, a hideous murderous beast responsible for ruining or ending the lives of anyone who dare cross her.
As a young boy, Ryder lived with his family, deep in the caves underneath the Kadin Forest, unaware of the horrors of the world. His simple world was turned upside down one horrible night when Grishma attacked his family, killing his father and kidnapping his mother and younger sister.
From that night on, Ryder devoted his life to killing Grishma. He tracked the monster from Necoh, to our world, and back again. Unfortunately, during his quest, he accidentally transported Brooklyn, a high school junior into his tumultuous world, where she is mistakenly identified as Princess Sophie, the missing princess of Sumner.
Days after Princess Sophie’s return, Grishma plots and manipulates the King into drugging and marrying off his only daughter to Prince Algid of Dratun. Desperate to save Brooklyn, who now believes she is the long lost princess, his mother, and his little sister, Ryder embarks on the deadliest part of his quest.
Will he save Brooklyn? Will she ever regain her memory? What will become of his mother and sister?
Through epic adventure, loss, and love, GRISHMA depicts the strength of the human spirit and the tight bonds formed by the unique creatures of Necoh.

Release Date: March 10th 2013
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Author Website

I felt it was time to delve into some fantasy genre style reading and this had been hovering in my 'next to read' list for some time and now it was time. I did really like the cover and I thought it was very simple but beautiful.

As for the story, I wanted to like it more than I actually did which was a shame. I found the lead female character, Brooklyn to be really quite annoying and I just could not take to her at all. I liked Ryder more but wouldn't say he was a great main male lead but he had the more action parts of the story and I enjoyed those.

I liked the storyline and I hope there will be a sequel as there really is no resolution. But perhaps the part of the book I found most strange was the title as it focuses on the beast but the description seemed more about Ryder. I didn't feel that the Grishma side of the book title really captured what the book was about. Although I have no real suggestions for what it perhaps should have been.

I enjoyed the book and I hope there is another book as I need to know what happens next!

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Sarah's Reviews: Blood of the Son (Skye Morrison #1) by J.L. McCoy

Skye Morrison has a lot in common with today’s college graduates; she’s neck-deep in student loan debt and desperate for a job. For four years, the nightlife of Austin, Texas (home of Skye’s Alma Mater) has satiated her thirst for good music, a revamp in fashion and men – especially local musician, Jameson Doyle, but her spot as a waitress at Drop Kick Dan’s bar wasn’t going to cut the slack. A personal life troubled by a hounding ex only made matters worse. Skye was never the damsel in distress type, but when an unexpected public shouting match with her ex turned physical, a savior disguised as a heavenly gorgeous Irishman came to her rescue. Archer Rhys, a businessman with a lot to offer, doesn’t exactly sweep Skye off her feet but she couldn’t help but to be captivated by his ravenous good looks. When Archer makes Skye a lucrative job offer as his personal assistant for his new downtown Austin club, The Mausoleum, she quickly finds out that she may have gotten more than she bargained for.

Release Date: March 3rd 2012
Author Website

This is the first of the Skye Morrison series and I had noticed a few people had likened it to the Sookie Stackhouse series. I probably shouldn't have read that opinion before I got to reading this book as I was a bit disappointed. 

The plot is very simple, Skye wants a new job and goes to work at the club Archer runs. She thinks he's hot and also finds his brother Jameson attractive, she then finds out they are vampires. The problem exists in that the book is too long, it would have worked as a novella introducing the series as the major plot happens towards the end of the scene. Before that it's all a bit needless and some of the writing seemed a bit stunted. I have read #2 and I enjoyed it more than this one. But everyone has to start somewhere right?

This has possibly been the most difficult book to grade in loveys as I had so much promise for the book which was not the author's fault but anticipation aside, this book could have been a lot shorter and made into a much more appreciated novella to start the series. 

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INTL+US Blog Tour Giveaway / Review by Sarah: The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak

THE HARVESTING
By: Melanie Karsak
(The Harvesting #1)
Publisher:  Steampunk Press
Date of Publication:  September 18th, 2012
It's all fun and games until someone ends up undead. 
Though Layla reluctantly returns home to rural Hamletville after a desperate call from her psychic grandmother, she could never have anticipated the horror of what Grandma Petrovich has foreseen. The residents of Hamletville will need Layla's help if they are to survive the zombie apocalypse that's upon them. But that is not the only problem. With mankind silenced, it soon becomes apparent that we were never alone. As the beings living on the fringe seek to reclaim power, Layla must find a way to protect the ones she loves or all humanity may be lost.
"To label this a zombie book would be a false pretense . . . this is so much more than that. What you start out with and what you end up with are very different, and those twists and turns in the middle will make your heart beat faster over and over again."-- Colossal Pop

The Harvesting is more than a zombie story which is good as it would obviously get compared straight away to The Walking Dead series as soon as you mention zombies... yes you know it happens. Again we have a strong female lead (I need to get away from female leads and yes I realise as a woman that it sounds weird to say that) and the book is non stop action and excitement. But this has zombies, vampires and even more so don't worry about it being just your average zombie story - it is so much more.

I would definitely read the next part as the cliffhanger was annoying but I really would like the author to concentrate more on the other characters a bit more. Half of the story/idea is really well thought out but the characterisation of the characters and especially Layla, she just didn't develop throughout. There was no progression of her character through everything that she had gone through.

Available at:

AMAZON  | SMASHWORDS 

Connect with Melanie Karsak:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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