Brandy’s Blog

One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress) by Jeaniene Frost (@jeaniene_frost, @avonbooks)

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This is the second in the Night Huntress story and once I started it I couldn’t put it down. 

Four years after leaving Bones, Cat is working for an elite branch of the government hunting down vampires.  She has grown into a powerful woman, who doesn’t take crap from anyone.  She is using the skills that Bones taught her to capture or kill vampires.  The department that she works for uses the information that she gathers to learn more about this race.  I love how well these characters have developed since the first book.  When Bones walks back into her life, Cat realizes that she can’t live without him and everything else is secondary.

How will her team take the news that she has a vampire lover?  Not as well as you would think. 🙂  Throw in an assassin that is hunting down Cat and a jealous team member and Cat has her hands full. 

I never thought I would be able to get into Urban Fantasy and I will be the first one to admit that I was wrong.  Check out these books and dive into a world full of passion with two characters that explode from the page!

 

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (@jeaniene_frost, @avonbooks)

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OMG! I do not consider myself a book snob and will totally read just about anything that sounds good to me. I was hesitant to read the Night Huntress books simply because I didn’t think they would appeal to me. I can thank my friend Jena for setting me straight and introducing me to the world of Jeaniene Frost!

Any book that starts out with a girl driving around with a dead body in the truck and it doesn’t faze her, has my attention!

Cat is out to hunt vampires. Plain and simple. Having been the byproduct of a rape against her mother by a vampire, you could say that she has revenge on the mind. Cat is not your ordinary girl though. She is a half-breed and with that status comes some of the same “perks” of being a vampire. Cat finds that the easiest way to hunt vampires is to work the bar scene. Pretending to be drunk, she lures them out and stakes them down. It seems to work for her until she meets a vampire that turns her down flat. Seems strange to her but she moves on to another and succeeds. Returning to the bar the next night she is approached by the vampire that turned her down and thinks she will strike gold twice in a row. She was wrong and winds up chained in a cave.

Bones is an old and very strong vampire who is also a hunter. After he follows the girl that hit on him and watches her stake one of his kind that he happened to be tracking, he follows her home and watches her nonchalantly destroy and bury the other vampire. Knowing that this was his only real lead in a long time to his prey, he knows that she has something to do with the man he is chasing.

When Cat wakes and realizes that she is chained in a basement by a vampire, she knows the end has come. Bones realizes that the girl is just a hunter until he sees the vampiric glow of her eyes. This girl is something rare and different. Bones sees an opportunity to train her and use her as bait to get to the big fish he is trying to reel in. Cat agrees since she is willing to work with a vampire to kill more of them.

You need to check out this series of books and enter the world of Jeaniene Frost. She is able to sink her teeth into you and draw you into her world. Check out Puretextuality’s Author Interview with Jeaniene HERE.

While you are at it check out the rest of the amazing blog setup over at Puretextuality. I think you will all find something you will enjoy on the site and make sure you tell them that Romancebookworm sent you!

The Bite Before Christmas by Lynsay Sands and Jeaniene Frost (@Lynsay_Sands, @jeaniene_frost)

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This is a two part book. The first story is by Lynsay Sands (Check out more reviews here!) one that I had been waiting on and was stoked that Teddy has his own story! Teddy Brunswick is the police chief of Port Henry, where several immortals have made their home. While not all the folks know about them, quite a few do and Teddy has had his hands full. With Christmas around the bend and no family, he is tired of going to other people’s homes for Christmas and take Margurite up on the offer of a cottage for the holiday. Who knew a storm would blow in and take out the power.

Katricia Argeneau has reached the point where a lot of immortals go rogue. Having been alone for more centuries then she can count, she wants to get away. When a series of weather related events leaves her at her cousin Decker’s cottage for the holiday, she hopes that it will get better. How much better can it get when you realize that the man you just ran into is the life mate you have been dreaming about for hundreds of years?

Teddy is shocked to discover that he is attracted to the beautiful young woman and is disgusted with himself. Having no intention of being one of those old men that chases younger women, he is hesitant at first with Katricia. When he discovers that they are life mates during a shared dream, his belief in a family of his own is restored.

The second story is a novella from Jeaniene Frost and I have to admit I have not read her stuff. I have read reviews from fellow bloggers and knew that there were a lot of folks that enjoyed her Night Huntress series. I just didn’t know if I would. Let me tell you that I really enjoyed this novella. Even though I was a little lost on the characters, I still got a sense of their relationships and nuances and was intrigued.

Cat and Bones are a vampire couple who are completely in love. During a birthday celebration, a former flame of Bones is brutalized and the hunt is on! Discovering a long lost relative is in the cards and then a whirlwind of demonic mishaps. I don’t want to go into a lot of detail with this story since I think you NEED to read the Night Huntress books! As my friend Jena would probably tell you, they are a must have in any collection!!

Rated 4 stars

Tall, Dark & Hungry (Argeneau Novel) by Lynsay Sands (@Lynsay_Sands @avonbooks)

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I really enjoyed reading Bastien and Terri’s story again. Bastien Argeneau is the go-to guy for the family. Whenever there is a problem or something needs to be taken care of, he is the one that gets called. It has been that way since his father died. He has been extra busy since his brother, Lucern, found his life mate and started planning his wedding. Terri is the bride, Kate’s, best friend and cousin and she is flying in from England two weeks early to surprise her and help with the wedding.

Staying in New York is not cheap so her cousin arranges for her to stay at Bastien’s penthouse apartment. No sooner does she arrive, then Kate has to leave to fly out to a writer’s conference due to an unfortunate incident with a toliet. Throw in a vampire playing Dracula, a curse on wedding plans and a vindictive bee and the laughs just don’t stop.

Terri has hangs up on relationships and it was lovely to watch her fall so hard for Bastien. Take the time to meet the Argeneau family. I am sure you will love them as much as I do!

Rated 4 stars

The Immortal Hunter by LynsaySands (@Lynsay_Sands)

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Oh my goodness! I can’t even begin to tell you guys how much I love the Argeneau family and Lynsay’s series involving them.

The Immortal Hunter is the story of Decker Argeneau. All the man wants is a simple vacation and that is thrown out the door when he is asked to assist in catching a rogue vampire. Since that is his job as a Council Enforcer he is willing to assist. What starts off as a simple capture of a rogue turns into much more when the enforcers realize that a family member that turned rogue fifty years earlier is in the area. Attempting to catch Nicholas Argeneau becomes their new target. Nicholas has been watching a nest of rogue vampires and enlists Decker and Justin in his quest to free the two young women they have taken captive.

Dr. Dani McGill has no idea what is with the crazy men that have kidnapped her or her baby sister, Stephanie. She just knows that she has to keep them alive. When gunfire erupts and her sister is forced away by one of the kidnappers, Dani is convinced things have gone from bad to worse. How do you trust a man you know is lying to you even if he takes a bullet for you?

Finding a lifemate when you least expect it is a blessing and it is one that this Argeneau man is going to fight for even if he has to fight the one he loves.

Rated 4.5 stars

Curves by Design (Big Girls and Bad Boys: A BBW Erotic Romance) By J.S. Scott (@AuthorJSScott)

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This is the first book by J.S. Scott that I have read and I will be hunting down more! It was nice to read about a full-figured woman as the main love interest and not your traditional type of woman. Molly knows that she has self-esteem issues thanks to her mom’s thoughts on her weight all her life. Devon Richards is a sexy, archetict who thinks Molly is a sensual, beautiful woman and he would love to spend more time with her. He is devestated when he believes that she is dating his little brother. When he finds out that they are not together, he realizes that nothing is going to stand in his way of making Molly his. Their story is a nice case of the full-figure girl getting the hot man in the end.

I was not a fan of the manipulation that he used to get her to go on a date with him. However, I am a full-figured woman and I know how hard headed and stubborn we can get. My husband tells me that he would have probably pulled the same kind of stunt to get me to go out with him!

This is a short story but well worth the read.

Rated 4 stars

Welcome to the Avon Blog Hop! (@avonbooks,@JQAuthor, @LynsaySands, @EloisaJames)

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I wasn’t sure what I wanted to talk about for my edition of our blog hop. I have been a fan of romance novels since I was about 11 years old and read my first Harlequin. It wasn’t long before I moved into historicals and when I discovered that I was a speed reader, I never looked back!

There are so many amazing authors involved with Avon books and limiting myself to an absolute favorite is nearly impossible to do. I figured I would tell you about 3 of my favorites though.

Eloisa James is one of the world’s greatest writers and if you have not read her Duchess books you need to link to Amazon right now and start downloading them! (Click to see some of my reviews for Eloisa) She creates a world that you can immerse yourself in and imagine that you are a member of the ton! I have been a fan since the first time I read Potent Pleasures. A delightful read and one I recommend for everyone’s library. I have read every book multiple times and I am even an Ambassador for Eloisa!(Click here to go to Eloisa’s website!)

Lynsay Sands should need no introduction but if you are unaware of this creative genuis, then you need to check out the Argeneau Vampires series. (Check out a couple of my reviews here) I read Single White Vampire first and was so hooked that I hunted down the other books. Lucern is a vampire that writes romances. Love it! Fast forward a few years later and I have the complete series and hunger for more. If you like vampires you will love this family as much as I do.(Click here to head to Lynsay’s website!)

And last but certainly not least, Julia Quinn. (Click here for a favorite review)I discovered Julia when I read The Duke and I, the first in the Bridgerton series. I was hooked from that point on. I have devoured every book she has written and The Duke and I remains one of my favorite books of all time. There is just something about Daphne and Simon that intrigues me.(Click here to head over to Julia’s webpage!)

I hope that you will take a moment and discover these authors and some of their work if you are not already familiar. They are just as incredible as all of the authors at Avon books!

I am giving away a Goodie bag of Avon books! Included are Melody Thomas, Lori Wilde, Stephanie Laurens, Julie Anne Long, Caroline Linden, and Karina Cooper! Enter your information in the form below for your chance to win! Good Luck! Don’t forget to check out all of the incredible blogs listed at the bottom of this post and continue your tour of the Avon Blog Hop! Contest is open to US residents only and ends at midnight on December 22, 2012.

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The Accidental Vampire (An Argeneau Novel) by Lynsay Sands (@LynsaySands, @avonbooks)

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Welcome to the world of Port Henry! I am a huge Lynsay Sands fan and am seriously addicted to the Argeneau family. Elvi Black is the quentiessential newbie vamp. Having no idea how she was turned into a vampire on a vacation to Mexico with her best friend, Mabel, she has been trying to make the best out of a bad situation. Having watched the movie, Dracula, and becoming vampire experts, they are convinced they have Elvi’s new life figured out. They made arrangements for a coffin, Elvi sleeps during the day and takes the rules of the movie seriously. Fast forward five years and the entire town is working hard to help Elvi. Everyone donates to the local blood bank and they do everything they can for her. In return, Elvi attends all the town functions, bake sales and “performs” as the local town vampire at her restaurant, Bella Black’s.

Mabel and Teddy, the town sheriff, have taken it upon themselves to place a personal ad in the Toronto singles columns to find a mate for Elvi. They don’t want her to spend eternity alone. According to the laws of vampires, this is a big no-no and they send in Victor Argeneau, a vampire enforcer, to take stock of the rogue(Elvi) and report to the council.

Chaos ensues when several vampires that Victor knows shows up in response to the ad and it becomes obvious that someone is out to end Elvi’s immortal life. Between discovering his lifemate and trying to save her from the trouble she keeps running into, Victor has his hands full! I really enjoy the cast of characters in Port Henry and their obvious love and respect for Elvi.

Rate 5 stars

The Rock Star’s Daughter (The Treadwill Academy Novels) by Caitlyn Duffy

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This is a YA story that I really enjoyed.

Taylor Beauforte is your typical 15 year old for the most part. The difference is she attends a boarding school in Massachusettes paid for by her rock star dad, who she never sees. Growing up in California is never easy but having a party girl for a mom and a rarely seen dad, makes it a necessary to grow up fast. Taylor is your typical bookworm, who justs wants a normal family. With her mom, Dawn’s constant drinking and partying it seems like a fairytale she will never see. When her mom dies at a party, Taylor is confronted with her father’s new family and lifestyle before she knows what hit her. Forced to join them on her father’s tour, she searches for a way to fit in and make a place of her own. Finding a kindred spirit in Jake, the son of one of the groupies, Taylor begins to find her place and fall in love.

I really did enjoy this book. It touched on a few topics that I feel need to be touched on with young readers. This book talked about grief and how the loss of a parent can affect you. It also reflects on how hard it is to develop a relationship with someone that you may be related to but no absolutely nothing about.

Rated 4 stars

Dangerous Secrets (Tall, Dark and Deadly #2) by Lisa Renee Jones (@LisaReneeJones)

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OMG! I recently read Ms. Jones’ Secrets Exposed book which was a prelude to these books so when I realized they were sexy, hot stories that involved brothers, I went searching through Amazon. Turns out I had already downloaded several of her books so I got to reading!

Julie Harrison is a divorce attorney for the rich and selfish and is currently working on a case for a New York judge. Julie is very good at keeping men at bay, especially after she has seen the devestation left behind in relationships. Only one man has ever come close to bring Julie to her knees and that was Luke Walker.

Luke is a former Navy SEAL, who runs a security firm with his brothers. Walker Security is one of the best in the business. Julie and Luke had spent a month as lovers a few years prior until Luke had to go back to war and neither one of them had the courage to make a commitment. Since then they have been trying to avoid any entanglements with each other. Easier said then done. Royce, Luke’s brother, is marrying Julie’s best friend, Lauren. That makes Julie and Luke, the best man and maid of honor, which puts them together quite a bit.

When Julie gets tangled up in her client’s shady dealings, she automatically turns to Luke for help. Delving into the world of drugs, cartels, and art these two take on a world of bad guys in order to save kids from tainted drugs.

Can Luke convince Julie to take a chance on their relationship or is he destined to remain a friend with benefits? This is an sexy story that draws you in and reminds you that sometimes you have to take a chance even when you are scared.

Rated 5 stars