Review: Borrowed Souls by Chelsea Mueller

Borrowed Souls

Author: Chelsea Mueller

Release Date: May 2, 2017

Publisher: Talos

Soul Charmer Book #1

ISBN:   1940456827

ISBN13: 9781940456829

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Edelweiss

Callie Delgado always puts family first, and unfortunately her brother knows it. She’s emptied her savings, lost work, and spilled countless tears trying to keep him out of trouble, but now he’s in deeper than ever, and his debt is on Callie’s head. She’s given a choice: do some dirty work for the mob, or have her brother returned to her in tiny pieces.

Renting souls is big business for the religious population of Gem City. Those looking to take part in immoral—or even illegal—activity can borrow someone else’s soul, for a price, and sin without consequence.

To save her brother, Callie needs a borrowed soul, but she doesn’t have anywhere near the money to pay for it. The slimy Soul Charmer is willing to barter, but accepting his offer will force Callie into a dangerous world of magic she isn’t ready for.

With the help of the guarded but undeniably attractive Derek—whose allegiance to the Charmer wavers as his connection to Callie grows—she’ll have to walk a tight line, avoid pissing off the bad guys, all while struggling to determine what her loyalty to her family’s really worth.

Losing her brother isn’t an option. Losing her soul? Maybe.

The whole premise of BORROWED SOULS quickly drew my attention and when I had the chance to review it, I jumped into it pretty quickly.

Callie is a huge believer of being there for family, but in my—and every other normal person's mind—they don't deserve her at all. Her brother is a drug addict that uses her to bail him out of trouble and I can't even begin to explain how I feel about her mother. BORROWED SOULS finds Callie trying to save her brother once again, at the expense of herself.

Callie was an easy character to connect with. I found her to be both brave and determined. She really needed to work on making it harder for her family to manipulate her into doing everything for them, but I think it will come. There is a bit of a romantic connection between Callie and Derek, but it is far from the focus of the story. I did however really enjoy watching them work together.

I really enjoyed the world-building aspect of BORROWED SOULS. It was well explained without it being overly done. We got a lot of little tidbits scattered throughout the story, but I didn't feel like I was waiting to know about it, it was smooth learning. There is of course a lot more that needs to be known and explained, but for the first book in a series, I thought it did a good job. I look forward to reading more!

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

Interview: Shifted by Fate by S.R. Mitchell

UFI welcomes Author S.R. Mitchell. Thanks for Joining us!!

What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview? 

Hmmm… I love to crochet and I have a sushi problem lol I could eat sushi everyday if able.

What do you enjoy doing on your down time? 

I have a very busy life lol! I am married to a wonderful man and we have three children. My down time is spent reading and relaxing. I especially love the beach with the sound of the waves crashing.

What is your Favorite part of writing? 

I block out everything around me when I writing and get immersed in the story. It is an escape that I create with full creative freedom.

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write? 

I usually start with a general outline and character info, but after that I let it flow.

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres? 

I love reading Norah Roberts and Lynsay Sands!

How would you pitch Shifted by Fate to someone who has not heard of it before? 

This book is unique! It a wonderful romance between a werewolf and witch. Who doesn’t like a hot alpha that know what he wants and would do anything to protect the one he loves?

What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you? 

I am currently working on completing book 3, A Chance to Love a Highlander, of my Highland Chance Series! It is a Historical Paranormal Romance series full of twist, excitement, and some time travel.

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I am a Texas born wife, mother, and writer! I write words to enchant your soul and fill your heart with love.  I write Historical Romance, Historical Paranormal Romance, and Contemporary Paranormal Romance.


Find S.R. Mitchell and her books

Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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Shifted by Fate
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Kelly had a history of picking the wrong guy, but destiny had its own twisted plan for her. She could not change what destiny had in store for her, but she could learn to accept it. With change came Eric and he was one-hundred percent Alpha bad boy.  Kelly knew one thing when it came to Eric...  
He drove her absolutely crazy.

Eric knew as soon as he scented her, and her smell invaded his senses, that she was his mate.  An alpha did not let go of his mate for anything.... she was his. He would fight for her.  He would guide her.  He would love her.

And with other wolves now after her… he would protect her at all cost.

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Promo+ Giveaway: When Danger Bites by Heather Long

When Danger Bites
Bravo Team Wolf #1

Buttoned-up Corporal Kaitlyn Amador is dangerous on every level. As a human, she poses a threat to Marine Captain Jax Raymond’s special Force Recon unit. Though the team has a reputation among the other recon units, only their commanding officer knows their secret. As a woman, the danger posed is entirely different. Jax can survive the temptation for only so long before his wolf takes over and pursues what it wants.

Military intelligence specialist Corporal Kaitlyn Amador is the first woman in the Marines to be assigned to a recon team. And everyone’s watching her. Her mission? Not only prove herself worthy of her place in the group, but uncover the mystery of why Bravo Team is so successful. A mission that gets more difficult every time she’s near Jax…

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2qO4goP

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Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2pmgNyP

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2p8uIfL

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Excerpt:

“That’s a long drive.” A hint of reproach toughened his tone, but he didn’t chastise her about the tires.

“Not too bad, but it’s nice to be out of the car.” In more ways than one. She’d changed into her blues at the last rest stop. Prior to that, she’d been in jeans. She kind of missed those jeans right now. It would be nice to just hang out with him, two random strangers…

“I bet.”

“How about you?”

“On my way back from leave.” He didn’t sound like he wanted to talk about work, assignments, or deployments. “Tell you what, let’s table the work convo.”

Kat chuckled. A man after her own heart. “Kind of hard to ignore the work aspect, considering I’m wearing a uniform.”

“I’m really good at pretend.” The promise of something wicked danced in his eyes.

“Are you, now?”

“Hell, yeah, and I’ve decided we’re going to have a good time over lunch. We’ll laugh, we’ll talk, and we’ll get to know each other.” God help her, he was temptation on a stick. Why couldn’t she have met him back at Quantico?

Where was the harm? I’m on my way to a secret assignment to investigate a classified force recon team. I can see lots of harm. Still, they were only having lunch.

Lunch and pie. “So you have a plan?”

“Absolutely. The only question I have is, are you onboard?”

Their food arrived, and the burgers smelled mouthwateringly good. Kat’s stomach rumbled audibly. With food in front of her, she could pour all her pent-up interest into eating.

Licking her lips, she unfolded a napkin then met his gaze. “I’m totally onboard,” she told him, especially since she could use a break before she immersed herself in Bravo Team culture. “But only for the burger.”

“Hard to compete with Martha’s burgers,” he agreed as he pulled his burger to him. The first bite she took was so good, she damn near groaned. The meat was hot, the onions crisp, and the tomato sweet. Damn. Then her gaze locked with Jax’s as he raised his burger. She found herself mirroring the action, and they both bit into their burgers at the same time and sighed. It went beyond intimacy, the way his eyes seemed to caress her and the warmth invaded her veins.

Trying to laugh off the crazy sensation, she lowered her burger. “Okay, that was a little more food porn than I’m used to with my meals.”

“We need to feed you more, then.”

“Sounds—meaty.” And I sound like an idiot. She grimaced. “I’m terrible at the flirting thing.”

“No, you’re not. Flirting is just play, and I think you’re playing fine. Besides, porn isn’t playing. Porn is good.” To illustrate his point, he took another big bite and lifted his eyebrows as though to invite her to join him. Lifting her burger, she repeated their earlier move and held his gaze as they took another bite. It was so ridiculous and fun in the same breath, she almost laughed.

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USA Today best-selling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.

Find Heather and her books

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Profile

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New Releases: 5/14-5/20

Tue. May 16th

 The Best Kind of Magic (Windy City Magic #1) by Crystal Cestari
 Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais
 Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist #1) by Renee Ahdieh
 Seeker (Riders #2) by Veronica Rossi 
 The Shadow Cipher (York #1) by Laura Ruby 
 Thick as Thieves (The Queen's Thief #5) by Megan Whalen Turner

Happy Reading!!

Guest Blog: Wicked by L.M. Pruitt

UFI welcomes Author L.M. Pruitt. Thanks for Joining us!!

Writing Sex (Scenes)

I’ll just come out and say it—sex is hard.

Sorry, that was a joke I couldn’t resist.

Moving along.

Writing sex scenes is difficult because, let’s face it, you’re walking a thin line. You might be too explicit for one person and too sweet for another. You might use a word you’ve always considered normal for the genre and then it turns out you’ve written something so comical it takes people completely out of the scene. Even when you’re supremely confident in your work, there might be a time when you’re so frustrated with everything that you seriously consider scraping sex from all your future books.

When that happens, I almost always turn to music—specifically to the sex playlist.

I think most of you know what I’m talking about when I say the sex playlist. It’s the list you have to get you in the mood, whatever the mood might be, so maybe you have more than one playlist. Just listening to the music makes you feel a little more in tune with your surroundings and yourself and…well, everything. My list changes depending on my mood and obviously music gets cycled in and out depending on the year. Still, there are some which I would consider favorites.

Criminal, Fiona Apple. Yes, it might be a bit obvious but I don’t care. It always puts me in the right mood.

The Hills, The Weeknd. Not the most romantic of songs but there’s something about his voice and the music itself which just feels sexy.

Hotel California, Eagles. Again, not a very romantic or sexy song—I mean, it’s essentially about hell or purgatory (take your pick). But for some reason it always makes me think of like a lazy Sunday afternoon lounging in bed with your sexytimes partner.

Obviously this is only a very tiny portion of the list as a whole but I think it’s enough to show my… diverse tastes. Share in the comments some of your go-to sexytimes songs!

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Wicked
Damned #1

All things truly wicked start from innocence.

—Ernest Hemingway

Being a demon isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Especially when you make a massive mistake your first month on the job.

Even more so when your sister is one of the all-star players on the other team.

Add in the rumors of not one but two coups and it’s not hard to see—something wicked this way comes….

Excerpt #2:

I’d been wrong.

You could, in fact, be overdressed.

And in my case, I was very, very overdressed.

I tugged on Barry’s sleeve until he leaned down. Pressing my lips to his ear, I whispered, “Remind me to take your advice the next time you offer it.”

Every person in the room, archangel and human/Winged, was wearing jeans and boots. Some wore tank tops, others wore t-shirts or long-sleeved Henleys. Jackets were thrown on a chair in the corner which looked as if it was set there specifically for that purpose. Another corner had been turned in to some sort of nursery area, at least a dozen children of varying ages occupying themselves with toys which were, thankfully, quiet.

One by one, they all turned to look at me and Barry—or really, just me. I doubted Barry was the subject of the intense and blatant interest and scrutiny. I cleared my throat and offered a half-hearted wave. “Hello.”

Joanne looked up from the stack of papers in her lap and sighed. “Julie. Really?”

“What?” I lifted my chin, crossing my arms over my chest and frowning. Maybe it was her more than obvious disappointment, such a perfect mirror of my mother’s, but I was immediately defensive. “What’s wrong with this? I wore this to one of the country club events.”

“Which should have been an indicator that maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t the most suitable thing to wear.” She waved her hand around the room, which, while almost as luxuriously furnished as Barry’s was definitely still a tent. “Is there anything about this place which screams ‘country club’?”

“Or ‘ball’?” A tall, lanky redhead who looked as if he had more questions in life than answers laughed and shook his head. “We don’t have balls here.” He immediately closed his eyes and sighed. “Please, please forget I said that.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’ll say something even stupider before the end of this meeting.” Gabriel nodded at me from across the room. “Nice to see you not looking like death warmed over.”

“You’ll have to forgive my brother—he’s recently developed what might be called a morbid sense of humor.” The man who seemed to always be within arms’ reach of Joanne stood, crossing the room and extending his hand. “We’ve met before but I understand you don’t remember me. I’m Michael.”

A vague memory, distorted by alcohol and time, drifted to the forefront of my mind. Ignoring his hand and narrowing my eyes, I said, “You mentioned something about escorting me to hell.”

“To be fair, I was annoyed at the time.” He lifted his brows, nodding pointedly at his still extended hand. “And I don’t think you’re in a position to be commenting on people’s manners given the male company you were keeping at the time.”

“Is there anybody who doesn’t know about David?” I threw my arms up, my voice spiking in annoyance. “Seriously, Joanne? Weren’t you the one who didn’t believe in spreading gossip?”

“There’s a world of difference between gossip and truth, Julie.” Her smile was far from amused. “And you’re being rude to my husband.”

“Wait—I thought the other one was your husband.” I glanced around the room, snapping my fingers and pointing at the man locked in conversation with Gideon. “That one. Raphael.”

“Yes?” He looked up, his eyes unfocused, his confusion obvious. “Did someone say my name?”

“Never mind. Go back to curing cancer.” Joanne waved her hand absently, her attention focused on me. “They’re both my husband.”

“Both of them?” I spun to face Barry, watching the entire scene with no expression whatsoever. “Seriously? Seriously?”

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L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She knows this because she's killed bamboo. Twice.  She is the author of the Winged series, the Plaisir Coupable series, Jude Magdalyn series, the Moon Rising series, and Taken: A Frankie Post Novel.

Find L.M. Pruitt and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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Week in Review: 5/7-5/13

Books Received for Review

Blood Kissed by Keri Arthur
One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake
Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows

Books I've Read

Ravenheart by Dannika Dark
All the Stars Left Behind by Ashley Graham
Blood Kissed by Keri Arthur

Reviews Posted


Dating the Undead by Juliet Lyons
Snared by Jennifer Estep

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

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

* Wednesday- Promo for The End of Magic by Amber Benson

* Thursday- Interview + Giveaway for My Defender by Alanea Alder

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

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Review: Dating the Undead by Juliet Lyons

Dating the Undead

Author: Juliette Lyons

Release Date: May 2, 2017

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

V-date.com Book #1

ISBN:  1492645303

ISBN13: 9781492645306

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source: Edelweiss

It’s Bridget Jones with vampires in this fresh and funny paranormal romance from debut author Juliet Lyons

When Silver Harris kisses sexy Irish vampire Logan Byrne on New Year's Eve, she knows other humans just won't suffice. Convinced she'll never see him again, she joins the uber-popular vampire dating site, V-Date.com.

What Silver doesn't know is that the site is more dangerous than she could ever imagined, and soon she's in over her head. When Logan returns, sparks fly and attraction sizzles, but they'll have to escape some very real demons if they have any chance of lasting forever.

I enjoyed DATING THE UNDEAD while reading it, but a few months later I don't really remember too much about it.

Silver and Logan were both interesting and entertaining characters. There wasn't any real growth together or complementing—not 'oh you look lovely' but more the they really play off each other and make each other better type—of each other. As this is a paranormal romance, the connection between Silver and Logan was there from the moment they meet, but there wasn't anything that really wowed me. Don't get me wrong, they were steamy together, but I didn't feel the "I would die without the other" moments I enjoy most out of paranormal romance.

The storyline was interesting enough, but there were parts that didn't really add anything to the storyline and others that dragged a little too much. The epilogue was disappointing. I look for epilogues to smooth out the ending and provide closure and I just didn't get that from DATING THE UNDEAD. I might read more from this series if it's presented to me, but I won't go searching it out.

I gave it 3/5 stars

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