Book Review: Strong Blood by Dale Ibitz.

Synopsis:
The war between nature's gods continues to rage on Eyidora and Haley, descendant of the Air Eyid, struggles with her own battles.

She's mired in a battle with Ian, the Fire Eyid descendant, over the lost Eyid stones. She needs the stones to stop the war, and he needs the stones to destroy Eyidora. She knows where the Land Eyid stone is hidden, and she races to Tamoor to find it before Ian does.

Haley still doesn't trust Tuggin, the stone-faced Eyidoran assigned to protect her. As a Menta witch, he's adept at lying, mind-control, and killing. Even though Haley is starting to believe that Tuggin may be serving more than one master, she continues to battle her feelings for him, never sure which duty he feels most inclined to serve.

But Haley's biggest battle of all comes when she meets Luke and Telsa, twins with undeniable strength. Haley invites them to join her on her mission to find the Land Eyid stone. Has she put her trust in someone who may be just as dark and dangerous as Ian, the descendant of Fire himself?

The Nerd's Ramble: In the second instillation of the Last Moon Rising Series, we find Hadley, Elana, and Tuggin still tangled up together in a twisted "should they be or shouldn't they be trusted" plot string. I like that no one really seems to be who they say they are in this series. Here we're also introduced to a second set of twins, Luke and Telsa who also apparently have secondary motives.

There's a lot more story in this book. We get history about the war and some of the things that are driving the story along. We get more character definition and learn more about a couple character's motivations. I really love the interaction between Tuggin and Hadley and the relationship that is building between them. Hadley gets more development, not only on a personal level, but grows with abilities. She and Ian are well matched as antagonist/protagonists go, and I'm really liking where this story is heading.

The major encounter between Hadley and Ian is very interesting. A few secrets are revealed, a couple of characters come clean about their actions, and betrayal rocks the rag-tag group of teens. Personally I feel that this book is a bit stronger than the first book, but I still want more. I'm one of those people who like longer books and in a way I almost feel that Book one and two could have been combined. I'm looking forward to book three.

Review of Book #1-- Fire In The Blood

Rating: ★★★★☆
Total Length: 260 pages
Available Format: All formats
Publication Date: October 1, 2012 (Createspace)
Author's Page: Dale Ibitz on Goodreads
Disclosure: I won Fire in the Blood through a contest. The author generously sent me Strong Blood. I am not compensated, nor am I influenced in any way for this review.

Book Review: Love by Design (Design #1) by Elizabeth A James

Synopsis: Callie Brandon wasn't looking for love; it always ended up at the feet of someone else. But when a sexy architect sets his determined, baby blue eyes on her, she starts to believe maybe life has designed her very own "happily ever after".

The Nerd's Ramble: This was a cute read. The romance was well written, though a little predictable. It's the classic boy meets girl story through an intervening cupid, this time in the form of the boy's dad. Justin and Callie are characters that the reader can relate with. Their romance is a love story, but they do have arguments and snags along the way.

Callie is one of my favorite heroines in a long time. She's smart, successful, confident and caring. She's got a good head on her shoulders, and good relationships with the other characters in the story. Her major flaw--and the thing that pulled me out of the story for a few moments was her interactions with Ashley once the other woman's true intentions were revealed. I know I personally wouldn't stand for that, but it is fiction.

The support cast really  shines here and I'd love to get to know more about them, and their romances. I recommend this book. It's a great sweet summer read. Perfect for the beach.

Rating:★★★★☆
Total Length: 164 pages
Available Format: epub
Publication Date: January 24, 2013
Author Link: Elizabeth A James on Goodreads
Disclosure:  I was gifted a copy of this book for review. I am not compensated or influenced in any way. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Shorts Saturday: A multi book review post.

Bondage with the Boss-- Erin Fraser.

Synopsis: Swinging, ambitious couple Aidan and Sinead use their purpose built basement and mutual love of bondage to impress his boss, but the best laid plans can have unexpected outcomes...
The Nerd's Ramble: A short erotic short that I didn't really enjoy. There wasn't any build up, and the whole short was rushed. I didn't really care too much for the constant bashing of one of the partners involved, and there was something that just rubbed me the wrong way. I received this free from a giveaway. Some people will really enjoy this, I just didn't really care too much for it.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Total Length: 5,700 words
Available Format: Epub
Publication Date: February 2, 2011
Author Link: Erin Fraser on Goodreads










Erotic Blossoms: Iris Sample of Sin-- Elizabeth Woodham.


Synopsis: I discovered a lovely bar with a restaurant attached, accessed by way of steps leading down from the street into a basement. It looked unremarkable from the outside, but on reaching the lower level, large glass doors showcased a welcoming bar, complete with small dance floor, lounge and dining area, the latter had a busy sectioned off room behind glass doors for smokers, smoking appeared popular in the city, more so than in my home town. I don’t smoke, so the waiter sat me in the outer area, took my drink order, left me a menu and disappeared.

The Nerd's Ramble: I received this free as a gift in a giveaway, and frankly I deleted it as soon as I finished it. I was disgusted by it, not because of the sex, but the characters themselves were loathsome to me. I didn't like that the male character was cheating--and bragging about his conquests. Just not my cup of tea. If you're into that sort of stuff, more power to you, but otherwise I'd suggest that you skip this. Which is sad because I enjoyed the other short I've read by Elizabeth Woodham.

Rating:★☆☆☆☆
Total Length: 19 pages
Available Format: Kindle
Publication Date: March 6, 2012 (Erotica Express)

Author Link:  Elizabeth Woodham on Goodreads














Cover Her Eyes-- J.J. Asher.


Synopsis: 'Cover Her Eyes’, an erotic tale of a couple and the games they play is both harsh and erotic; JJ has written two short pieces, linked by the main characters (Adam and Isabel). Isabel yearns to indulge their fantasies and it’s Adam’s business and pleasure to make his wife's wishes come true.

In the first story, ‘Playing with the Boys’, Isabel indulges one of her greatest desires, and in the second, ‘Cover Her Eyes’, Adam arranges for his secretary to take down a little more than simple dictation! Erotic, sexy, but rarely romantic, JJ’s stories are supremely entertaining. Enjoy

The Nerd's Ramble: Gangbang in the locker room, and an affair with a secretary. This was a prize in a giveaway. Again, this isn't really my cup of tea. I don't mind erotica, and it's a genre that I'm getting into, but I prefer more of a buildup and more backstory and less demeaning chit-chat with my smut. I don't mind dirty talk and naughty things, but this crosses the line in more than a couple places. Again, some may really enjoy this, but it's not really my cup of tea.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Total Length: 6,000 words
Available Format: epub
Publication Date: September 3, 2011 (Secret Narrative)
Author Link: JJ Asher on Goodreads

Nerium Oleander: Toxic Heart by Elizabeth Woodham

Synopsis: Provocative erotica designed to turn you on. Toxic in all its parts, the beautiful Oleander, Nerium Oleander, is considered by many to be the most poisonous plant in the world. Two of the most potent poisons are oleandrin and neriine, known for their powerful effect on the heart.

The Nerd Rambles: This is a short, and incredibly quick read that I received as a prize in a contest. Weighing in at 2,500 words it packs a punch. I don't want to talk too much about it because it would literally give everything away. It's interesting and dark and turns down a road that I hadn't expected it to. The piece is artistic and heavy and interesting. I wouldn't mind reading more from Ms. Woodham and I probably will go seek some out.

Rating: ★★★☆☆
Total Length: 2,500 words
Available Format: Epub
Publication Date: October 18, 2012 (Secret Narrative)
Author Link:  Elizabeth Woodham on Goodreads

Book Review: Brie Learns the Art of Submission by Red Phoenix

Synopsis: First published as the popular nine-part eBook serial, Brie Learns the Art of Submission is now available as a full-length novel.

Join Brianna Bennett as she is introduced to the erotic world of submission...

Brie's life changes the day Sir comes to her tiny tobacco shop. His invitation to the Submissive Training Center is about to rock this young woman's world. The renowned school is famous for its elite submissive instruction. She has no idea what will be asked of her or the boundaries that will be pushed. One thing is certain: Brie is about to learn more about herself in six weeks than she has over the previous twenty-two years.

From formal classes, hands-on practicums and weekly auctions, Brie will confront her deepest fears and desires. In the process, she will also forge lifelong friendships with fellow submissives and fall for several of the Center's skilled Doms.

As graduation day approaches things begin to unravel, forcing Brie to make an unexpected choice of Master. Which Dom will ultimately earn her devotion and capture Brie's courageous heart?

The Nerd Rambles: This book really pushed the limits of my comfort, which I suppose is a good thing. I won it in a contest, and it sat on my tablet for a long time--the cover taunting me and daring me to click it open. I did, and started to read.

The book is mind melting hot. It's well written, and actually the story itself is really good. There's romance there as well as the introduction to the culture and way of life. Something that I really like about this book is that it's presented in such a way that it leads me to believe that Ms. Phoenix is involved in the BDSM world. It's in a way educational and exposes the reader to various aspects of the world.

The characters grow and change and form relationships. Brie finds herself attracted to three men and forming bonds with them. I like that all three men have positives and negatives and offer challenges to Brie, and in the end there is a happily ever after (or at least for now), but I'm not going to tell which she picks. ;)

Rating: ★★★★☆
Total Length: 479 pages
Available Format: Epub
Publication Date:  November 2012
Author Link:  Red Phoenix on Goodreads

Book Review: Obscura Burning by Suzanne van Rooyen

Synopsis: The world's going to end in fire...and it's all Kyle's fault.

Kyle Wolfe's world is about to crash and burn. Just weeks away from graduation, a fire kills Kyle's two best friends and leaves him permanently scarred. A fire that Kyle accidentally set the night he cheated on his boyfriend Danny with their female friend, Shira. That same day, a strange new planet, Obscura, appears in the sky. And suddenly Kyle's friends aren't all that dead anymore. Each time Kyle goes to sleep, he awakens to two different realities. In one, his boyfriend Danny is still alive, but Shira is dead. In the other, it's Shira who's alive...and now they're friends with benefits. Shifting between realities is slowly killing him, and he's not the only one dying. The world is dying with him. He's pretty sure Obscura has something to do with it, but with his parents' marriage imploding and realities shifting each time he closes his eyes, Kyle has problems enough without being the one in charge of saving the world...

The Nerd's Ramble: Obscura Burning is the story of Kyle Wolf and how his world is slowly crumbling around him. Caught between two different realities, one where his boyfriend is alive and their friend Shira is dead, and the other where Shira lives, but Danny, Kyle’s boyfriend has died.  The shifting reality, the appearance of Obscura, and the fight against time are tearing Kyle apart, and he ends up not only fighting for his life, but the salvation of Earth.

It took me a couple of chapters to get oriented with the world and the events that were going on. I feel that there could have been just a little more back story and set up, but it’s not detrimental to the pacing, or the story overall. I really enjoy the issues that were presented in this book and how the characters deal with them, and the emotions that go along with them. I like that Kyle Wolfe is more of an anti-hero or a dark hero, but I tend to fall for characters who have baggage.

The book is well written, well paced and the characters are ones that I keep thinking about and coming back to. I like the science in this story, and the fact that it’s a very different take on an apocalyptic story. Kyle, whether you love him or hate him, will stick with you for a while. The ending of this book is something that I would not change. I like the way it ends, and the sentiment in the ambiguity.

Obscura Burning is a book that I would recommend to people, even if they’re a bit turned off by the ‘young-adult’ label. It’s mature and fast paced, dealing with some heavy issues. I like that the main character is conflicted with his own personal issues, along with having to deal with the societal labels that go along with them. It’s a great, wild read and I can’t stop thinking about it.

Rating:★★★★☆ 
Total Length:  300 pages
Available Format: Epub and traditional
Publication Date: December 7, 2012 (Etopia Press)
Author's Link: Suzanne Van Rooyen on Goodreads
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by BTS Magazine for a review. I was not compensated or influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book Review: Dreamz (Wunder #0.5) by A.R. Von

Synopsis: Wunder may have a normal life now…well, as normal as a freak of nature could have. Half zombie while her job is to hunt bloodthirsty creatures to protect the innocent. It’s the dreams that haunt her and they aren’t nightmares. Wunder dreams of a man, a man made just for her. Is he real, can he be the one she‘s yearned for?

Pete’s world is a lonely one as he wrestles with the reality of being part zombie. His hatred for the creatures that killed his parents drives him to patrol the streets and wipe them all out. His life would be stark, but for the dreams he’s been having; of a woman, so sensuous, so sexy. These alluring visions have become erotic and consuming. He feels as if he made her up to keep from going crazy. Is this life of hunting the walking dead, all there is? Or is she out there, waiting…just for him?

The Nerd Rambles: Plagued (haha see what I did there? Sorry, it won't happen again) by dreams featuring a smokin' hot mystery man, Wunder has to balance her day to day zombie hunting life and deal with her own demons of being half zombie--all the while thinking about her nightly escapades with tall dark and handsome.

This is a prequel of sorts to Wunder, which I've also reviewed and will link further down, and it goes deeper into Wunder's history and her daily life. I liked getting to read more about Wunder's team and more about her day to day life. We're also given more of an introduction to Pete, who is Wunder's love interest. Their chemistry is scorching hot, and well written. I can't get enough of Wunder and the world that Ms. Von has built. I'm really looking forward to book two, or really anything that I can sink my teeth into. (Sorry.)

Review for Wunder

Rating: ★★★★★
Total Length: Not given.
Available Format: Kindle, epub.
Publication Date: June 11, 2013 (Dream Z Dragon Publishing)
Author Link:  A.R. Von on Goodreads

Book Review: The Chief of All Time (Medicine Man #1) by S.R. Howen.

Synopsis: Shannon Running Deer is American Indian by blood, he has forsaken his people's ancient ways to embrace the "modern" world as a wealthy, highly successful trauma surgeon.

His comfortable existence begins to unravel when, seemingly by chance, Shannon finds himself gradually drawn into the past. Pursued by an ancient evil, he knows he can change the future, if he can survive the past.

In the tradition of Diana Gabaldon, S.R. Howen's MEDICINE MAN is a distinctive and atmospheric novel full of spirituality, mystical time travel, romance, passion, and suspense.

The Nerd Rambles: The Chief of All Time is a wonderfully written piece, that weaves together both modern story telling, and ancient lore to create a tapestry of lush story telling. The main character, Shannon Running Deer has abandoned his Blackfoot ancestry to focus on the modern world, and modern medicine. However, he gets entangled in a battle that sends him teetering into the past, the present and tangles with reality and mysticism.

The love for this story and the research and time it took to create it is obvious in each scene. The characters are wonderfully written and the balance between each is really nice. The conflict in this story is well thought out and fits the story well.

I really love how this book has taken Native American culture, their practices and beliefs, and not exploited it as a fetish, or a story quirk, but really made them the focus of the story. They’re thoughtful and real and I found myself getting caught up in that aspect of the story.

However, this really wasn’t the book for me. I found myself getting distracted, and at times confused as to what was going on, and with the shift between present and past I got a little frustrated. While it’s not my personal favorite, the writing was wonderful and while I did enjoy it, I could only recommend it to a certain few of my friends. Simply put, if you enjoy intricately woven stories that blend reality and mysticism with well researched aspects of a culture, don’t hesitate to pick this up. If it sounds interesting at all to you, don’t hesitate to pick this up. You might just fall in love with it.

Rating: ★★★☆☆
Total Length: 278 pages
Available Format: All Epub formats and traditional publication.
Publication Date: November 9, 2012 (Wild Child Publication)
Author's Webpage: S.R. Howen on Goodreads
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by BTS Magazine in return for a review. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts are my own.

Book Review: The Mortal Instruments Book Five City of Lost Souls Cassandra Clare

Synopsis: What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

The Nerd rambles: Say what you will about Cassandra Clare--I'm not going to get into it here. These books though---they're my dirty little secret. Seriously. I deny deny and deny that I like them, and a few select know that I do. (And here I go putting it up on the internet *sigh*). Please don't get me started on the movie, I don't think anyone can handle that.

The Good: There's A LOT going on in this book. And not all of it is Clary moping over Jace. Or whining about Jace. Or chasing Jace. The other characters show up and do things, significant things that are important to the plot--and to what this series may change into with the next book. Some of the characters have even appeared to grow a bit and have started to patch relationships and personal issues. I like that not everyone is relying on Clary to magically pull something out of the air to save the day. This book had a lot of action, and conflict. It takes a little while to digest.

The Bad: Clary whines. Simon whines. Izzy's a tall stoic bitch. And we're not talking about Alec. Ever again. There's so much going on in this book at times scenes tend to get too cluttered, too hung up on minute meaningless detail. Other scenes seem to drag. I think that's part of Clare's writing style though. The build up to the last 'big fight' was rushed, and the fight almost anti-climatic with how quickly it was over. Alec, you have a lot of explaining to do, and I don't think you're going to fix what you broke.
Honestly, I enjoyed it. I've read better, and I've certainly read worse. I just wish there was some way to smooth everything down, because at times it became very jarring.

Rating: ★★★★☆
Total Length: 535 pages
Available Format: Epub, Kindle, Traditional
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Author Link: Cassandra Clare webpage

Book Review: In Too Deep Kathryn Shay

Synopsis: IN TOO DEEP is the first novella in Shay’s powerful, new anthology, AMERICA’S BRAVEST. (All six novellas are available in a boxed set.)For months, Captain Gabe Malvaso and Firefighter Rachel Wellington have kept their knife-sharp attraction to themselves and out of their firehouse. But when a building explodes around them and they’re trapped in the basement, will they still avoid temptation?

The Nerd's Ramble: Initially I was all over this. I love firemen to begin with, and the fact that it involves a captain and a female firefighter getting all tangled up together? I was so into this. Unfortunately, I was let down. I know the synopsis says that it's the first in the series, but it doesn't feel that way. Characters float in and out of scenes, and we're expected to care for them for no reason at all. There are relationships mentioned, but that's it. I think if you're going to do something like that, there needs to be more explanation. Getting to Gabe and Rachel? Their chemistry almost seems forced, and the author does something that's one of my own personal pet peeves.  The characters can barely function without thinking about each other--and to me in this setting is a no go. I'd skip this, to be honestly frank.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Total Length: not given.
Available format: smashwords, kindle
Publication Date: November 2011 (Smashwords)
Author's Link: Kathryn Shay on Goodreads

Book Review: Melting Ice (SEALs on Fire #5) Nicole Austin.

Synopsis: Syndra Banks should be thrilled by an invitation to join SEAL team Arapahoe in Key West for a wild good time. Instead the text summons from Ice pisses her off. Why? Because he calls and she goes running, without fail, every damn time. And now she doesn’t have a choice. If Syn wants to get her personal life moving forward she has to see him again in person to break it off.

Thanks to his smokin’ hot lover, Master Chief Sam Westervelt is losing his edge. Syn is melting the ice that runs in his veins, turning it into a river of molten lust. His discipline is shot and he’s daydreaming about intense, steamy sex while on missions, putting his entire team at risk. But he has a surefire plan all figured out if he can just toe the line a little longer.

Sometimes getting what you want is as simple as reaching out, grabbing hold and not letting go.

The Nerd's Ramble: This was one of books that was rather 'up there' for me in the series. Ice and Syn have such great history and chemistry and they work together so well despite their differences. I really like the two of them, and found myself really rooting for them. I like these two characters a lot. The ending of this one made me smile, and it shows how close all of these characters really are.

Rating: ★★★★☆
Total Length: Not given
Available format: kindle, epub
Publication Date: 2013 (The Wild Rose Press)
Author Page: Nicole Austin web page

Book Review: Conquering Zeus (SEALs on Fire #7) Cerise DeLand

Synopsis: Getting in the party mood for a weekend away with his SEAL teammates is no easy deal for “Zeus” Calderon. He’s hung up on a woman he saved from terrorists months ago, but he should be able to forget a gutsy blonde reporter who showed resilience and humor under fire. Shouldn’t he?

Kim Stansfield got the instant hots for the hunky Navy SEAL who led her out of harm’s way—and she’s got proof Zeus feels the same about her. He’s stubborn, but she’s devised a plan to conquer him.

When she shows up in Key West and surprises him on the beach, Zeus learns that once in a lifetime a man meets a woman he can’t forget—and every day without her is no easy day.

The Nerd's Ramble: The premise of this one was promising, as the back story was engaging and interesting. It was something that I hadn't seen before--something that I hadn't seen done this way before. Let's put it that way. However, it's a stretch for me in the believability department even though this is fiction and some things have liberty taken. It's a good story, Zeus and Kim have amazing chemistry together, and I like the fact that they build on an actual relationship. This story went by super fast though, and while I appreciate the epilogue, I felt that there needed to be a bit more to this one.

Rating: ★★★★☆
Total Length: Not given.
Available Format: kindle, epub
Publication Date: 2013 (The Wild Rose Press)
Author's Link: Cerise DeLand web page

Book Review: Touching Ghost (SEALs on Fire #6) Regina Carlysle

Synopsis: What a sweet little blast from his past! Ren “Ghost” Ramsey hadn’t planned on taking a trip back in time while Stateside with SEAL Team Arapaho but that’s what he gets when sweet Sadie Ballew buys a plane ticket to Key West and makes an offer he can’t refuse. Back in small town Oklahoma, he’d been the local bad boy complete with a chip on his shoulder and she’d been the only person who’d loved him despite it all. She’d been a girl then but things are a hell of a lot different now and Ren wants nothing more than to burn up the sheets with the sassy lady.

Ren was a man now. And what a man! Now a SEAL known as Ghost, a complete badass, infiltrator and spy, Sadie sees only the boy she’d loved and lost all those many years ago. His little R & R is just the excuse she needs to see if she’s woman enough to heat things up between them and claim him for her own…once and for all. Is she up for the challenge? Hoorah! Sadie is a woman who exactly what she wants… Ren in her bed and in her life.

The Nerd Rambles: This one is my absolute favorite so far in the series. Ren is adorable, and charming and has a little bit of hurt under his rugged SEAL exterior. I really love his chemistry with Sadie, and the way he cares so much for her. This one is more romance I think than anything--Ren is still very much an alpha male, but he treats Sadie so well and he's not as aggressive as the others. I just love this one so much. Seriously one of my favorites.

Jonesin' For Action (SEALs on Fire #3)
Dagger's Edge (SEALs on Fire #2)

Rating: ★★★★★
Total Length: not given
Available format: Kindle, epub
Publication Date: 2013 (Wild Rose Press)
Author's Link: Regina Carlysle web page

Book Review: Jagger's Moves (SEALs on Fire #4) Allie Standifer

Synopsis: Jagger’s ready to cast off the weight of his SEALs responsibility, if only for a few days. Except his mom’s a pro with guilt which has him standing in the airport waiting for his childhood friend. Maybe a quick lunch, a fast game of catch up and he’d be out the door and on his way to the bar where his teammates were waiting.

Alexa’s eager to see Ty again if only to prove her silly girlhood crush was just that, a crush. Except when she finally sees him all those old feelings come rushing back combined with a woman’s needs that leave her trembling with desire.

The Nerd's Ramble: This is the least favorite of mine out of the series. With so much history between Jagger and Alexa, it could have really sparked something incredible. The chemistry was intense and the story good, it just lacked something that the others did. Jagger's not necessarily my favorite of the group, and I find him to be a little too 'alpha-male' which probably sounds a little ridiculous considering the men in this series. I just think it's okay. Read it for the sake of reading it for the series.

Jonesni' For Action (SEALs on Fire)
Dagger's Edge (SEALs on Fire #2)
Coyote Heat (SEALs on Fire #1)

Rating: ★★★☆☆
Total Length: 66 pages
Available Format: kindle, epub
Publication Date: 2012 (Wild Rose Press)
Author's Link: Allie Standifer webpage

Book Review: Games of Fire by Airicka Phoenix

Synopsis: Sophie has enough problems in her life without Spencer turning her blood to fire, without his eyes freezing and burning her, without his hatred of her. Since his migration into the house next to hers, Sophia Valdez isn’t sure whether she wants to toss him under a bus or kiss that smirking mouth of his. But even as the temperature rises around them, leaping flames of passion, want and desire,everything either has ever known will be shattered by the lurking shadow hounding their every step, wanting revenge.

Spencer Rowth moves to the sleepy town of River Port with his mother and twelve year old sister, Suzy, to escape a deceitful father, an unfaithful girlfriend and a life crumbling much too fast for him to grapple onto only to be smacked upside the head by the last thing he wanted again. Sophie was everything he refused to want. Her temper, her wit, her laugh, her smile, the way her entire body goes up in flames under his hands are things he would rather slam a lid on and forget. Instead, he finds himself falling for the smart-mouth next door. But how long will he have before the evil chasing them catches up? How long before the very thing he never wanted becomes his only thread to sanity? And who is after them? What do they want and why do they want Spencer and Sophie dead?

The Nerd's Ramble: This book blew me away. I've read one of Ms. Phoenix's books before and I found myself enjoying that one as well. However, Games of Fire is probably one of my favorite things I've read in a while. The set up is a little standard, good girl lives with good parents, attends Church each week, has good friends, and the best guy friend since they were all little. Enter bad boy hottie who moves in next door, who all in one instant manages to turn her on and shut her down at the same time.

There's more to this than that though. Loads.

Sophie and Spencer meet and after fighting their growing mutual attraction for a third of the book enter into a sort of relationship, where neither wants to take take the next step, but they find themselves becoming tangled together. Then the really weird things start to happen. Vandalism, creepy messages, and some truly disturbing things happen in this book. I figured out who was behind it rather early on in the book, but it didn't take away from the story. In fact it made it even more fun to see when the big bad thing was going to happen. And speaking of big bad things--this is a doozy. And it's interesting how it's resolved and the buildup to it is really well written. I think what I like most apart from the suspense and the fact that this story goes so much deeper than good girl/bad boy fall in love is that the characters grow and change and evolve. They are not the same people at the end of the story that we as readers meet on page one. The characters change and get stronger, and good things happen, bad things happen and it's just really an all around great story. I cannot get enough of this story. I really liked it. It surprised me and I'm glad that I read it.

Disclosure: I won this in a contest. I am not compensated for this review, and I don't even think the author knows I'm doing it.

Rating: ★★★★★
Total Length: 475 pages
Available Format: Kindle, Smashwords, Kobo, Paperback
Publication Date: February 14, 2013 (self published by Airicka Phoenix)
Author's Link: Airicka Phoenix webpage

Book Review: Coyote Heat (SEALs on Fire #1) Desiree Holt.

Synopsis: Miguel “Coyote” Cruz is happy to join his SEAL Team Arapaho teammates for a wild weekend at Key West. After all, they just came off a particularly tough mission and Coyote is ready to let it all hang out. The love ‘em and leave ‘em Cruz sees the female population of the tourist town as a veritable banquet for him. The last thing he expects is to meet a woman who gives new meaning to hot sex but who also singes his heart. What’s a no-commitment SEAL to do?

The Nerd Rambles: I like this one. I like this one a lot. In fact this book and Aiden's book are tied for my favorite as of right now. I have four more in this series to read. I like that Cori has a past, and it takes her a while to trust Coyote to even open up to him on a personal (rather than just sex) level. I like that Coyote, the alpha male who loves and leaves and doesn't seem to care too much about emotions is gobsmacked and hooked because Cori doesn't take any of his bologna. They communicate with each other, which is another aspect of their blossoming relationship that I like. This one cuts off short, but I didn't mind it as much. I want to know more about these two, as their chemistry is amazing.

Jonsein for Action (SEALs on Fire #3)
Dagger's Edge (SEALs on Fire)

Rating: ★★★★☆
Total Length: Not given.
Available Format: Kindle, epub
Publication Date: 2012 (Wild Rose Press)
Author's Page: Desiree Holt on Goodreads

Book Review: Raised by Hand, Lifted by the Tides Willett Thomas

Synopsis: When we first meet Lily “Lil Bit” Dalton, she is quite literally drowning. This “lip flapping” event, along with others, takes place in the quirky, yet racially divided waterway township of Arcadia, Florida in 1954.

In Raised by Hand, Lil Bit recounts the years between ten and thirteen spent in the care of the woman she considers to be her grandmother, "Bubbah," and this woman's alcoholic son, Bobby. As the story opens, it’s been five years since Lil Bit’s mama, Violet, “dropped her off like nothin’ but a bit of dirty laundry,” when on “Ditch Thursday,” Lil Bit is pulled from the river by Sheriff Marin. The Sheriff’s act of heroism leaves her not only with the secret of what lies beneath the water, but also with gnawing doubts about Sheriff Marin, “the only white man worth a damn in all of Arcadia,” who also knows the river’s secret, but tells no one.

Like the tales told by the young heroines in the classics To Kill a Mockingbird and the Secret Lives of Bees, Lily “Lil Bit” Dalton’s quest to reunite with her mother, while also keeping the secret of the Massaquatta’s murky depths, takes readers on a tumultuous ride filled with adventure and mystery. But more importantly, Raised by Hand answers the age old question: What does it take to be a family?

The Nerd's Ramble: In short this book packs a punch. It's complex and layered a story within a story within a story. The characters all interweave together, seemingly random people and events take place only to have significant impact later on in the book. Lil Bit is an adept narrator, connecting with the reader through her day to day life. The voice is authentic and really well written.

I really enjoyed this book. It's one that transported me to the time of the novel, the setting as much as a character as the flesh and blood people roaming around in it. I love the themes of family and forgiveness that run through this. The characters are all strong, and each have their own set of flaws (some of which are corrected, others are not--once more lending to the authenticity of the voice of the book).

This story got under my skin in ways that books lauded as similar to this hadn't. It's really a wonderful book, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Ms. Thomas' work. I cannot recommend it enough. 
Disclosure: I was sent this book free for review. I did not receive monetary compensation for my thoughts or review. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ★★★★☆
Total Length: not given
Formats Available: Kindle, EPUB, Traditional.
Publication Date: Published in 2013 (Though first published October 2012)
Author's Link: Willett Thomas on Goodreads

Book Review: Bitter Blackout by N.A. Foy, Lynn Todd, Dori Klaproth, Shelly Schulz

Synopsis:  Mirrors of darkness. Love found in the arms of an enemy. Magic users who defy death. The silent corridors of a temple. A young woman runs the gauntlet and fights against her own kind for survival. All of these can be found within the realm of Bitter Blackout.

The Nerd's Ramble: Since this is an anthology, my review format is going to change just a little bit.
There are three poems by N.A. Foy. The first being Embrace the Shadow which is my favorite out of the three. The second poem in the anthology is The Temple and his third poem closes out the work with Grasping the Remains of a Dream. I'm not someone who reads a lot of poetry, but I really enjoyed the three that were featured.

The first short story is by Lynn Todd titled Tiamae. This piece is a detail rich story about a light elf, Zamatia, and a dark elf, Kerethsar, who against all odds fall in love and have a child named Tiamae. The relationship between Zamatia and Kerethsar has tons of Hades and Persephone to me, and I think it's an interesting take on a story that's as old as the spoken word.

The second short story is by Dori Klaproth titled Timeless Witch (Sioria Caelleich). This story is interesting complex, weaving magic and story telling to create a short that leaves me wanting more, and wanting to find out what happens next. It was a nifty little short, and I enjoyed it a lot.

The last short is the one that I wrote called The Harrowing. The main character named Alice is accused by the pack of being involved in her twin brother's, the former leader of the werewolf pack, death. Her sentence is to run in the Harrowing, a hunting tradition where the pack hunts the condemned. She has to fight to clear her name, and to stay with her new mate who is also hiding a secret.

Rating: ★★★★★
Total Length: 70 pages
Available Format: Print and Kindle.
Publication Date: March 19, 2013 (Darq Deviant Press)
Author's Links:
N.A. Foy webpage

Book Review: Meaning of Life (Mathis Greene 0.5) R.A Sears

Synopsis: The Order of Khonsu is an elite group of assassins. Their mission: destroy all rogue Othernaturals, creatures of varying degrees of nightmare.

Mathias Greene started off hunting humans before his unique talents were discovered. Talents, and his own lineage that isn't fully human. But she never cared that his eyes were nearly black to see at unfathomable depths in the ocean. Audra loved him more than anyone ever had, and for that, The Jackal took her away from him. Swearing to take revenge on the entire Clan of Anubis, Mathias hunts for the monsters that killed his beloved.

This is a prequel to the novel "Eater of Hearts", TBA

The Nerd's Ramble: This is a fantastic short, setting up what looks to be a great series. The reader is introduced to Mathis, an assassin, who is grocery shopping in the middle of the morning when a gun fight breaks out. Mathis is a capable and well written character, and the fight scene is done well, not dragging or repetitive. We get a bit of backstory, and some of Mathis' motivation for the way he is.

My only problem is that I want more, and I'm impatient. I'm really looking forward to reading the full length novel that goes hand in hand with this short. Ms. Sears is a good author and I'm interested in Mathis and his world, and what comes next.

Rating: ★★★★★
Total Length: 16 pages
Available Formats: Epub, Kindle
Publication Date: April 16, 2013 (Darq Deviant Press)
Author's Links: R.A. Sears on Goodreads R.A. Sears website

Book Review The 13th Hour by Richard Doetsch

Synopsis: A mesmerizing thriller -- told in reverse "The 13th Hour" is the story of a man given the chance to go back in time in one-hour increments to prevent a vicious crime from destroying his life.Nick Quinn is being held in jail, accused of the murder of his beloved wife, Julia. He knows she's dead; he saw her bloody corpse, shot in the head at point-blank range. The police tell him they found the murder weapon with his fingerprints on it in the trunk of his car. Nick is confused, grief-stricken -- "and completely innocent."

At 9 p.m. on July 28, a gray-haired gentleman visits Nick in the police interrogation room and asks him a simple question: ""If you could get out of here, if you could save her, would you?"" He hands Nick a golden talisman that allows Nick to go back in time, one hour at a time, for a total of twelve hours. With each hour that Nick travels back, he finds more clues to the identity of Julia's real killer, but he also discovers that his actions in the past may have unexpected repercussions in the future.

In his race against time to save the woman he loves most in the world, Nick will find that friends become enemies, old loyalties are tested, and Julia's murder is part of a larger scheme that has its roots in greed and vengeance. Nick has the ability to save Julia, the chance to put his own world in balance, but he is venturing down a precarious route. If he hasn't set things right by the thirteenth hour, his desperate attempts to save Julia's life may lead to a far greater catastrophe than he could have ever imagined.
The Nerd's ramble:  This book was amazing. From the first page to the last I couldn't leave it alone. I read this in one sitting, all afternoon curled up in a cozy chair as a nasty spring storm raged outside. The 13th Hour is a science-fiction thriller, due to the element of time travel; that manages to keep things tense, interesting and smart, revealing little clues hour by hour as to the motives behind Julia's death and the plane crash.

The story is told in reverse and in fact the author leaves a note saying that the book starts with chapter thirteen. Nick is an interesting and compelling character, risking everything to protect the woman he loves. Julia is very much a secondary character, in the worst way, but the other supporting cast really help with the mood and desperation of this book.

I liked the overall idea of this book, and the characters. The pacing was nice, the development of plot as the story progressed (regressed?) was something really well thought out. As time ran out the narrative moved faster, events were sped up, contributing nicely to the overall mood of the book. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Rating: ★★★★★
Total Length:  389 pages
Format: Traditional, Kindle, Epub
Publication Date: December 29, 2009 (Aria Books)
Author's Page: Richard Doetsch