ARC Review: Need (Want, Book Two)

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Want, Book Two
Author: Stephanie Lawton Website :: Facebook :: Twitter
Publication Date: May 17, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Isaac Laroche is cursed. All he wants to do is hide out and feel sorry for himself. Never mind that he got caught sleeping with his seventeen-year-old piano student, or that he abandoned her when the truth was exposed. 

Isaac’s feisty high school sweetheart has different plans. Heather Swann has returned to their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to regroup after breaking up with her troll of a fiancé. She’s restless and looking for a diversion, but she bites off more than she can chew when she sets her sights on rehabilitating Isaac with her unorthodox sexual, mental, and physical plans. 

The two quickly reconnect, but their happiness is threatened by family secrets, old vendettas and the death of a beloved father-figure. 

Can Heather handle Isaac’s baggage, or will her own come back to haunt them both?

*Need is the second novel in the Want series. I would absolutely recommending reading Want before continuing with Need because so much of Isaac's story is based around the events in Want. If you haven't yet read Want, there will be some spoilers in my review.*

And if you haven't read Want yet, DO IT! Here, I'll make it easy: CLICK ME!

Wahoo! Wednesday: Shells and Pages A-flyin'!

We've made it more than halfway through our week my beautiful friends! Success! :) This week's Wahoo! Wednesday 

When I was on vacation with the in-laws, I shot my first gun ever. Which is so obviously necessary since I am reading books about the zombie apocalypse, vampire's coming out of the coffin, were's hunting human prey, and psychotic mages...I may want to learn how to shoot a gun in case I have to. I mean, if it's between me or them, I want to at least have a measly human shot, ya know?

Anywho, this Saturday hubs and I are going to take a 3.5 hour basic fire arms training course from Aegis Tactical. Although hubs is already proficient and comfortable with all sorts of weapons, I am most certainly not, which is why this class is so important for my zombie-owning future.

You may call me - Anita Blake...minus the orgies...and leather...aaaand self-obsessed tendencies...okay dont call me Anita Blake but you get what I mean - right?!

Also, I wanted to share with ya'll my first EVER Print Advanced Release Copy (ARC)! Freaking say what?! So, here it is:

Special thank you to The Story Siren for this awesome book. And thank you to all of you pretties for following, commenting, and sharing the love all over the blogosphere. I could've never imagined that reading could mean any more to me, but with every book I read and review, the strength of my love affair grows. :)

So, here's to another Wahoo! Wednesday!

What made you WAHOO! this week?!

ARC Review: Moonglow (Darkest London Book 2)

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Author: Kristen Callihan
Publication Date/Format: July 31, 2012/eBook and Paperback
Blurb: Once the seeds of desire are sown . . . 
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . . 
Their growing passion knows no bounds . . . Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

What a beautiful, honest, and intriguing story. Moonglow had my heart pounding through action, devastation, romance, and more. While I wasn't fully immersed until I was about 20% into the book, the 80% that followed was simply incredible.

ARC Review: Forgotten Dreams (Short Story)

Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: (Paranormal) Romance
Author: Alexia Banks
Publication Date: August 6, 2012
Format: eBook

Blurb: Shane Connelly - a pretty young entrepreneur - is determined to shake things up as she leaves her drone of a boyfriend Marc, and the mean streets of Miami far behind. She goes in search of greener pastures in the North Carolina mountains, but finds it’s anything but the perfect spot to while away the hot summer months.

Her recently acquired country home turns out to be a burned out hovel in the middle of nowhere - and after a series of unexplained and chilling visions - she suspects it’s haunted. With her hopes dashed before her adventure can even begin, she is about to head home when a handsome stranger unexpectedly arrives at her doorstep.
Before she can beat a trail out of Swan Creek wine country, Shane and her handsome Cherokee neighbor Jesse are inexplicably drawn together as they dodge bullets, unearth ghosts, and unravel a dark town secret. As events reach a surprising conclusion, Shane realizes that it’s not the high altitude that’s making her head spin, but her tall lover with the penetrating dark eyes.

Forgotten Dreams was a fast-paced and intriguing read. I loved the city-gone-mountains gal, Shane Connelly, and the southern gentleman, Jesse Blackfox. This book drew me in on page one and I just had to keep flipping. Ms. Banks does a great job of portraying a fast-paced romance, however, the paranormal-ness (yes, I'm aware this is not a word) comes secondary to the relationship progressing between Shane and Jesse, therefore I would categorize this as more of a romance novel. 

ARC Review: Eliza's Awakening (Short Story)

Rating: 3 Stars
Genre: Historical Erotica
Author: Zaide Bishop
Publication Date: July 23, 2012
Format: eBook Amazon
Blurb: It is the eve of the Longest Night. Eliza Baker and the rest of Lord Jayden's servants excitedly prepare for the lavish festival as their masters enjoy a head start on the debauchery that awaits. Eliza's madly in love with Kell, a sweet, deliciously sexy guard. Kell returns her feelings, but is striving to make himself a worthy man before he asks Eliza's father for permission to court her.

To keep the Demon of Winter at bay, an offering must be made during the festival. As the event begins, Lord Kempsly informs Kell that he's offering a special sacrifice this year, and Kell must escort the girl who will offer up her maidenhood for the enjoyment of the crowd. Another guest will select the maiden, and Kell realizes to his dismay the guest is Lord Rakin, a rich and handsome rogue who has his eye on Eliza. But little do any of the men suspect the burgeoning desire the ceremony is awakening in Eliza...

The blurb explains exactly what occurs in this book - however I'm going to give you a bit of the nitty to prepare you if you so choose to read it. Eliza's Awakening is most definitely erotic - and even with its issues, it stayed pretty darn steamy throughout. If you are uncomfortable with menagé and damn-near rape scenes you may not want to read any further.

ARC Review: Ever Fire (A Dark Faerie Tale #2)

Author: Alexia Purdy
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy Romance
Release Date: July 9, 2012
Series: A Dark Faerie Tale
Rating: 4 Stars out of 5
Blurb: The Serenity of the Land of Faerie is threatened as the Unseelie Queen Aveta rages war against the three remaining Seelie Realms of Faerie. As Shade's powers grow, she finds she is running out of time to keep the war from spilling into the human world. Winter is growing in strength as the evil Queen's horrifying legions scar the land in their frigid wake. No one is safe. Shade becomes enemy number one for the Unseelie legions. Questioning her true role of power, Shade discovers the cost of winning may come at a much higher price than she ever imagined.

I am so happy that Alexia sent me this amazing book to review. Ever Fire is my *first* official ARC review, but I have 15+ coming within the next three months that I can't wait to share with you all. *squee!*

This book releases this Monday, July 9th so if you haven't read this series, you have the weekend to catch up for FREE Ever Shade: A Dark Faerie Tale #1 on amazon.

*minor spoilers from Ever Shade*