Review: Force of Temptation by Suzanne Wright

Force of Temptation

Author: Suzanne Wright

Release Date: December 13, 2016

Publisher: Montlake Romance

The Mercury Pack Book #2

ISBN:   1503940489

ISBN13:  9781503940482

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

Harley Vincent is resigned to life in the human world. Sure, being a margay shifter is half her nature, but life among humans gives her the freedom to roam and do as she pleases. That is, until anti-shifter extremists target her, putting her life in immediate danger.

When an old acquaintance and onetime fling, Jesse Dalton, shows up to offer the protection of his pack, Harley hesitates. She may have feelings for Jesse that go beyond their one-night stand, but life among shifters means giving over her independence to the needs of pack. Plus Mercury Pack has its own threat to face: a rich half-shifter is determined to claim their territory at any cost.

Jesse, who lost his true mate as a child, has wanted Harley since their night together, and he’s not letting her go again. They may not be destined for each other, but he knows she belongs to him and with his pack. Even if he can convince her to join him now, can he convince her to stay?

I absolutely love this world and can't get enough of the characters. If you haven't already started The Phoenix Pack series, I would start there first and read both that series and this in release order. You won't be sorry you did.

There has not been one couple from either series that I have not liked. Jesse and Harley are great individually and awesome together.  Both of their personalities complimented the other well and Harley fit right into the pack once everyone got to know her and learned to trust her. The romance was hot and the connection between the two was strong. There was a lot of learning on both sides of the relationship that made things even better.

As always the secondary characters played just as big of a role in the storyline as the couple. I learn more about each pack member with every book and I can honestly say that there isn't one member I don't like and I look forward to each of their love stories in the future.

The conflict in FORCE OF TEMPTATION was filled with drama and danger. I don't want to give anything away, but I think FORCE OF TEMPTATION was a little more dangerous and suspenseful than some of the previous books because of the pack members that ended up being in the most danger. Can't wait to see what comes next for both the Mercury and Phoenix Packs.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill

Ever the Hunted

Author: Erin Summerill

Release Date: December 27, 2016

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Clash of Kingdoms Book #1

ISBN:   0544664450

ISBN13: 9780544664456

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Edelweiss

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.

However, it’s not so simple.

The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.

There was a lot involved in EVER THE HUNTED, but Erin Summerill did a great job of setting up the world and pacing out the action.

Britta is only seventeen, but she appeared older to me. I found her to be strong, a little willful, and very determined. I won't go into explanations for fear of spoilers, but Britta experiences a lot of loss in EVER THE HUNTED. I'm not sure how she functioned for half of it, but she is a fighter and did a great job of keeping her head in the game that she was forced to play. Cohen was extremely easy to like after you got to know him and he added a lot to the storyline. Their relationship isn't easy and there is a lot of history, but they worked well together and you can't help but root for them.

I have a tiny complaint. There seem to be a love triangle coming and after everything Cohen and Britta went through, I'm not sure how much I will be able to connect to a new love interest if it is indeed going to happen.

The world building was great. Every scene and location was set up in a way that had me lost in every bit of it. I didn't want to stop reading for fear of losing the flow. The different kingdoms that makes up the world were both interesting and the conflicts that they were facing were easy to understand. EVER THE BRAVE is already on my wishlist and I look forward to seeing how the story ends.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

New Releases: 12/25-12/31

Tue. Dec. 27th

 The City of Ice (The Gates of the World #2) by K.M. McKinley 

 Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms #1) by Erin Summerill

 The Face of the Unknown by Christopher L. Bennett 

 Nine of Stars (Dark Alchemy #3) by Laura Bickle 

 Rules of the Game (Endgame #3) by James J. Frey, Nils Johnson-Shelton

Happy Reading!!

Promo + Giveaway: Silverwolf by Jacey Bedford

Silverwolf
Rowankind #2

 Britain, 1801. King George’s episodic sanity is almost as damaging as his madness. First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte is gathering his forces in France. The disease of democracy is spreading. The world is poised on the brink of the modern era, but the rowankind, long a source of free labor, have shaken off their bonds. Some have returned to Iaru to find freedom with the Fae; others are trying to find a place in the world, looking for fair treatment under the law. The course of the industrial revolution may change forever.

Wild magic is on the rise. Creatures of legend are returning to the world: kelpies, pixies, trolls, hobs and goblins.

Ross and Corwen, she a summoner witch and he a wolf shapechanger, have freed the rowankind from bondage, but now they are caught in the midst of the conflict, while trying their best to avoid the attention of the Mysterium, the government organisation which would see them hanged for their magic.

When an urgent letter calls Corwen back to Yorkshire, he and Ross become embroiled in dark magic, family secrets and industrial treachery. London beckons. There they discover a missing twin, an unexpected friend, and an old enemy—called Walsingham.

“Swashbuckling adventure collides with mystical mayhem on land and at sea in this rousing historical fantasy series launch set in a magic-infused England in 1800.” —Publishers Weekly

“Bedford crafts emotionally complex relationships and interesting secondary characters while carefully building an innovative yet familiar world.” —RT Book Reviews

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Jacey Bedford has a string of short story publication credits on both sides of the Atlantic. She lives a thouand feet up on the edge of the Yorkshire Pennines in a two hundred year stone house. She has been a librarian, postmistress, rag-doll maker, and a folk singer in an a cappella trio. She can be found at jaceybedford.co.uk or on Twitter at @JaceyBedford.

Find Jacey and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

__________________________________

US/Canada Only

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Week in Review: 12/18 -12/24

Merry Christmas!!

Books Received for Review

I'm out of town, anything I received this past week will go on next week's post!

Books I've Read

I'm out of town, anything I read this past week will go on next week's post!

Reviews Posted

Legend of Love by Lisa Kessler

  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Monday- Promo + Giveaway for Rulers of Darkness Box Set by Amanda J. Greene

* Wednesday- Guest Blog + Giveaway for Beyond Every Mirror by Christine Church

* Friday- Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings....

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* Did you know you can follow UFI on these other sites?

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You can also add me (as in Stacy) to your friends on these sites if you're on them.

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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings....

Warm wishes to all! I hope no matter what holiday you are celebrating this month, that it's filled with family, love and joy.

Review: Legend of Love by Lisa Kessler

Legend of Love

Author: Lisa Kessler

Release Date: October 14, 2016

Publisher: Lisa's Lair

The Muse Chronicles Book #2

ISBN13: 9780997627411

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

The Prophecy - “Every generation the nine daughters of Zeus are reborn, and with their rebirth are also nine Guardians. They will be marked by the gods, and given gifts to protect his treasure. Their abilities will only be unlocked when they find their muse.”

Callie O'Connor's life has never been the same since the Muse of Epic Poetry came alive inside of her. Now she's on the other side of the country, working as civilian psychologist for the Navy, and leading her Muse sisters in their quest to reopen the Theater of the Muses.

But nothing could have prepared her for Hunter Armstrong. He's a Navy Seal, driven, confident, and dangerous. And he plans to do more than just protect her.

The gods couldn't have picked a better Guardian. But as Hunter soon discovers, Callie has some skeletons of her own in the closet, and loving her could lead to his destruction.

LEGEND OF LOVE was just as fast paced and full of romance as book one, LURE OF OBSESSION. We learned a lot about the world of the muse chronicles in book one, so book two stuck to the continued storyline and character love story.

Callie is the Muse of Epic Poetry and isn't looking for a relationship, so when Hunter Armstrong walks into her office and starts to flirt she tries very hard to keep him at arms length—even though she is just as drawn to him as he is to her. On top of her pact with her fellow Muse sisters preventing her from jumping into a relationship with Hunter, she has a fear of hurting another man. An old fear that isn't easy for her to get over. Luckily fate has a hand in things and Hunter ends up being her Guardian. I found Callie to be very determined, yet fun when she's able to let go. She is definitely someone I could see myself hanging out with.

Hunter loves his family so much that he joined the military to help take care of them. When he's sent home after a challenging mission that left one of his brothers missing in action, he is sent to a therapist. Hunter doesn't want to talk about it, but he is definitely interested in the therapist. Hunter quickly won my heart. He was loyal, protective and willing to go the extra step for those he cares about.

The relationship was the best part of the book. Hunter and Callie were made for each other. They had plenty of ups and downs, but there relationship felt real and their connection shined through the pages. The secondary characters, especially the Muses, continue to be a strong part of the storyline and I loved seeing them again and continuing their journey to open their theater and inspire everyone. Both Melanie and Nate also play a good part in LEGEND OF LOVE, it was nice seeing them again and seeing that they still have their happily ever after.

There is just something about this world and these characters that draws me in. BREATH OF PASSION—Erica's love story— is up next and I look forward to diving into it.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.