December 25, 2017

Joanna’s Favorites of 2017

With so many great and excellent reads published this year, I had a hard job settling on a short list. Some of my favourite authors have been knocking it out of the park with their releases, and I’ve made brand new finds who I’ll one-click forever.

How about you? Found a book that’s given you joy? Let me know.

Burn For You by J.T. Geissinger

Chef Bianca Hardwick goes head to head with rude, gorgeous and damaged Jackson “The Beast” Boudreaux in this tale set in the Deep South. It’s all accents, sumptuous recipes and fiery tempers, with a dollop of an arranged marriage. And I adored it. [Read more…]

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December 12, 2017

Review: Amid the Winter Snow by Grace Draven, Thea Harrison, Elizabeth Hunter & Jeffe Kennedy

Reviewed by Jen

This anthology was a great mix of new worlds and familiar favorites for me.

In the Darkest Midnight is set loosely in the world of Grace Draven’s Wraith Kings, though this story stands up completely on its own. It follows young Jahna, a nobleman’s daughter with a sizable birthmark, who falls head over heels for her brother Sodrin’s instructor in swordsmanship. Radamir is a swordmaster of Ilinfan, a line renowned for its skill. He has committed to four years training Sodrin, but he is quickly taken by the intelligence and fortitude of the young woman derided by others for her appearance. It isn’t romantic between them, at first, as Jahna is only 15, but over time, they form a friendship and much later, it develops into something more. This is a very slow burn and I was a little put off at first by how long Jahna was too young for their relationship to take off. But Draven does a fantastic job crafting the longing Jahna feels for Radamir. By the time they got together, not only did I want it, I needed it to happen. Now that’s over, I’m still wanting more. [Read more…]

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September 13, 2017

Review: The Singer by Elizabeth Hunter

Reviewed by Joanna

We ended the first book in this series on a cliffhanger. Malachi and Ava, a newly mated and bonded couple of half-human half-angel folk were being pursued through Istanbul by the deadly Gregori. They were trapped in an underground cistern fighting for their lives, only for… Malachi to be killed by Brage, one of the Fallen.

Ava goes into extreme shock and a mourning so fierce she bursts the ear drums of those around her. She’s only just found Malachi – her true soul mate and reshon, after years of being isolated and considered mentally ill by her human family. [Read more…]

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September 6, 2017

Review: The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter

Reviewed by Joanna

I can’t believe I’ve not yet picked up this series. It’s been on my to-be-read list forever, and I’ve adored other work by this author. My loss, as this book is excellent. Plus book five has just come out, and I feel a binge read coming on.

To the story. Ava hears voices. She always has, and they drive her crazy, giving her terrible headaches and forcing her to stay away from other people. A successful photographer, she tours the world, focusing on remote tourist locations to keep the voices quiet. You see, they come from everyone, like she’s a receptor for inner monologues. Except the voices are always in a foreign language and she has no idea what they are saying. [Read more…]

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October 2, 2016

Review: A Fall of Water by Elizabeth Hunter

fall-of-waterReviewed by Jen

I have really enjoyed the Elemental Mysteries series –and this final installment completely satisfied. I’ve read some reviews that liken these books to a more grown-up Twilight, and in some intangible way, I can see the comparison. There is something about the tone… the need these two characters have for each other that’s similar. How this immortal man’s life changes utterly in loving this human woman and how she becomes even greater as she joins his world. There are other parallels, too, with vampire families and dangerous, political ancients. But this is very much its own story. And Beatrice is such a force as a heroine, no one could ever mistake her for an awkward teenager. [Read more…]

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September 25, 2016

Review: The Force of Wind by Elizabeth Hunter

force-of-windReviewed by Jen

I have to say this is the strongest book in the Elemental Mysteries book so far. So much happens here. So much that we have been building toward! This feels like the culmination of a giant build that basically explodes off the page. That being said, don’t jump in the series with this installment. You definitely want to start at the beginning. [Read more…]

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September 18, 2016

Review: This Same Earth by Elizabeth Hunter

this-same-earthReviewed by Jen

I had a very difficult time at the beginning of this book. By that, I mean that I wanted to throw my e-reader against the wall and perhaps drop an anvil on top of the hero’s head. And if you read the first book in this series, and if you rooted for B and Gio in any way, shape, or form, you will feel the same way. Halfway through the book, I was still mad. I wasn’t sure I was going to get past it. Eventually… begrudgingly… I did, but I’m still a little resentful about all of the angst. [Read more…]

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September 11, 2016

Review: A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter

hidden-fireReviewed by Jen

One of my great book buddies has been on me for ages to read this series. I don’t know what took me so long to take her advice. It’s so easy these days for vampire romance novels to be campy, silly, or unbelievable on an emotional level. But this book was none of those things. I cared about the main characters. I was interested in the supporting cast. And I was invested in what happened. [Read more…]

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December 26, 2014

Review: Desert Bound by Elizabeth Hunter

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000032_00049]Reviewed by Shelly

This is another new to me author whose writing that I totally enjoyed. This is the second in Elizabeth Hunter’s series, Cambrio Springs. Set in a small town, Cambrio Springs’ history goes back generations; the mystery of the resident shape shifters is steeped in the mysterious spring water that the town’s ancestors drank. From snakes, birds, wolves, lions to bears and everything in between, there are a lot of shape shifters and they all have their place in the town’s structure. I liked this community. They’re tightly knit, loyal, fun and some of them are plain ole Neanderthals, but likable nonetheless. [Read more…]

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