Guarded by the Alpha by Holly Eastman

Kindle Edition

Published October 24th 2016

Puma shifter, Del Santoni, has lived her entire life as the heir to a decades’ old feud with the Armsford family—a struggle that ended in the death of her own father years ago. Since then, both sides have done nothing but fight and grapple for social power—and Del’s sick of it. She’s willing to do anything to end the war—even if it means dethroning her own family. 

Del begins a secret mission to recover the Maker’s Mark. If legend is true, its symbols will reveal the name of the one true ruling family. When the statue is found and someone threatens Del’s life in order to steal it, Del is forced to accept the help and protection of her greatest enemy. He is the most stubborn, infuriating werewolf she’s ever laid eyes on. He also happens to be her fated mate. Throw in a sassy human car thief who won’t leave her alone, a marriage hoax, and tattooed coyote shifters trying to kill her at every rest stop...if she survives the week, it’ll be a miracle. 

Wolf shifter Zak Armsford has never been accused of being a good guy – but being good doesn’t get the job done. Mislabeled and misunderstood, he left Fort Jericho years ago and joined the military to put his bad rep to good use. Now that he’s a free man, he’s not exactly white collar material. So when his friend from Shifters, Inc calls with a protection detail, Zak is just hungry enough for some action to say yes. 

Turns out his assignment offers plenty of action. Zak discovers he’s been hired to protect the Princess of Fort Jericho herself. Del Santoni—his greatest enemy and his childhood crush all in one. Zak can’t walk away a second time. To keep Del alive and the statue safe, he’ll ruthlessly use his supernatural strength, his connections, and Del’s own secrets against her. 

On the run, Del struggles with the truth. Is Zak her Fated Mate – or her mortal enemy? Because it’s not just Del’s heart that’s at risk – it’s her life. 

STANDALONE Shifter Romance with a HEA! 

This is a Shifters, Inc story. Read more Shifters, Inc books from Georgette St Clair. 

My Thoughts…

Shifters, a decade old feud, and long time crushes…. Sounds like the perfect shifter book.   Holly Eastman including everything a shifter book must have to be considered good in my opinion.   

The feud between Del and Zak’s families is so old that it is amazing that people still remember what the feud is about.   I love Del’s determination to end the feud no matter what the outcome is.    While she is the Princess of Fort Jericho she is not afraid to fight for what she believes and do what needs to be done to get the results she needs to put her world right again.

Zak, retired military, is looking for something.    His life has not been easy and when Shifters, Inc. call him for a job he never dreams it will lead him to his childhood crush and enemy.   I like that he was strong and sure enough of himself not to walk away from an uncomfortable situation and took his job seriously.   

The sparks between these two, the attraction, is so obvious.   There is no doubt that they belong together.     I was hopeful that they would be able to get past their family feud and find a way to be together.    

I love the ending.   Holly Eastman did an amazing job with this shifter story and I cannot wait for more.  

Book Links

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You Will Not Have My Hate by Antoine Leiris

Hardcover, 144 pages

Expected publication: October 25th 2016 by Penguin Press 

On 13 November 2015, Antoine Leiris’s wife, Hélène, was killed, along with 88 other people at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris, when three men armed with guns and suicide bombs opened fire on the unsuspecting crowd at a rock concert. Three days later, Leiris, a young journalist, wrote an open letter on Facebook addressed to his wife’s killers. Leiris refused to be cowed or to let his 17-month-old son’s life be defined by Hélène’s murder. He refused to let the killers have their way. ‘For as long as he lives, this little boy will insult you with his happiness and freedom,’ he wrote. Instantly, that short Facebook post caught fire. It was shared over two hundred thousand times and was reported on all over the world. In his beautiful and moving defiance of the terrorists who had killed his wife, Leiris became an international hero to everyone searching desperately for a way to deal with the horror of the attacks.


You Will Not Have My Hate is an extraordinary and heartbreaking memoir about how Leiris, and his baby son Melvil, endured after Hélène’s murder. With courage, moral acuity, and absolute emotional honesty, Leiris finds a way to answer the question, how can I go on? This is the rare and unforgettable testimony of a survivor, and a universal message of hope and resilience. Leiris is guiding star for us all in perilous times. 

My Thoughts…

Antoine Leiris could have written this book in so many ways.   Instead of focusing on the horrific event of the Bataclan Theatre bombings in Paris he took his story and spun it into a beautiful tale.   You Will Not Have My Hate is the tale of a husband and father having to figure out how to live life without the love of his life by his side.     He takes the loss of his wife and the loss of his son’s mother and makes it into something that made him stronger.      Antoine steps up, continues to live, and continues to make a happy existence for his son.    

The story is not long, only 144 pages, yet there is such a punch to the story.        My heart was tugged at, my mind was tested, and my life was affected.    I stopped and thought about how my life could be changed if something happen to my husband, what if something happen to me and he had to take over… it opened my eyes to what those who lost someone have to do just to get through the day. 

This is an inspiring story.    I look up to Antoine and I have never met him.   Not everyone can go through the loss of a spouse in the way he has and come out not full of hate.    

Book Links

Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   Barnes and Noble   

Pull Me Close (The Panic #1) by Sidney Halston

ebook, 240 pages

Expected publication: October 25th 2016 by Loveswept

Welcome to Panic, a sultry Miami nightclub where bodies and hearts move to a beat that doesn’t stop at sunrise—the setting for an emotionally charged series from the bestselling author of the Worth the Fight novels.

When Katherine Wilson passes out in the arms of the hottest man she’s ever seen, it’s not because of the lights, the pulsating music, or the crowded dance floor. It’s because she can’t enjoy a night out like a normal person, not with her debilitating anxieties. These panic attacks are going to destroy her life unless she takes control—or gets a helping hand. So after the club’s bad-boy owner personally escorts her home, Katherine feels something urgent and primal awaken inside of her.

Nick Moreno doesn’t need a headache like Katherine. A drug bust has put his father behind bars and forced Nick to take over the daily business of his family’s South Beach nightclub. His head tells him to walk away—but his body has other ideas. Katherine’s vulnerability, her grace and courage, compel him to reach out. And when they kiss, Nick is overcome by desire: to pull her close, and promise that his embrace will always be the safest place on earth. 

My Thoughts…

PTSD is not an easy topic.      Sidney Halston took this tough subject and made it something that should be discussed, should not be hidden, and should be something considered serious.     I have huge respect for Sidney Halston and her grace in handling PTSD. 

Katherine has PTSD.  It is debilitating for her.    She is a character that I wanted to protect, coddle, and support.   As I got to know her better I realized that is exactly what she didn’t need.   She needed someone to stand up to her, push her, and accept her for what she has to offer.    This is where Nico comes in.    

Nico has been burned from his past relationship with a drug addict.   What he doesn’t need is another needy, lying woman which is exactly what he thinks Katherine is.   Until he trusts his gut and follows his heart.    He learns that there is more to her then meets his eyes.     First impressions are not always correct.     While I think Nico is great, perfect, wonderful for Katherine I also think Katherine is all that and more for Nico.    He needs someone to love him as he is also. 

I have to mention that there are two earth shattering world events mentioned in this story.   Both these events are true, well known, and horrific.  Yet, in this story they are not made light of, they are used to show how some events can affect people in horrible ways and how these same people can overcome their fears to be able to live “normal” lives again.  

This is not an easy read but it is a worthwhile and wonderful read.      This story is real, truthful, and heartbreaking.   It is also uplifting to see how people who struggle can get the help they need to be able to live again.      

Book Links

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Night Watch (Kendra Michaels #4) by Iris Johansen, Roy Johansen

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: October 25th 2016 by St. Martin's Press

The #1 New York Times bestselling author and the Edgar Award winning author are back with a new a new novel featuring Kendra Michaels—hired gun for both the CIA and FBI.

Born blind, Kendra Michaels spent the first twenty years of her life living in the darkness. Then, thanks to a revolutionary medical procedure developed by England’s Night Watch Project, she was given the gift of sight. Her highly-developed senses (honed during her years in the dark), combined with her new found vision, have made her a remarkable investigator, sought after by law-enforcement agencies all over the country. But her newest case finds her uncovering a deadly truth about the shadowy organization that has given her so much.

Kendra is surprised when she is visited by Dr. Charles Waldridge, the researcher who gave her sight. But all is not well with the brilliant surgeon; he’s troubled by something he can’t discuss with Kendra. When Waldridge disappears that very night, Kendra is on the case, recruiting government agent-for-hire Adam Lynch to join her on a trail that leads to the snow-packed California mountains. There they make a gruesome discovery: the corpse of one of Dr. Waldridge’s associates, brutally murdered in the freezing snow. But it’s only the first casualty in a white-knuckle confrontation with a deadly enemy who will push Kendra to the limits of her abilities. Soon she must fight for her very survival as she tries to stop the killing… and unearth the deadly secret of Night Watch. 

My Thoughts…

Night Watch is my first Kendra Michaels book but definitely not my last.  I picked it up hoping for a good thriller with some twists and that is exactly what I got.   This is a quick paced murder mystery with a little bit of a sci-fi thrown in for fun.    The idea that stem cell can be used to fix the blind is a wonderful medical wish and I liked that it was portrayed in such a way that it didn’t seem unrealistic. 

Kendra Michaels is an interesting character.   Due to her blindness her other sense are heightened causing her views and observations of things to not be “normal.”    I have heard that when you lose a sense (sight, hearing, taste) other senses step up and take over, Night Watch just took that to another level.     It was interesting to see Kendra interact with other characters.   The FBI was involved along with other official departments and she was strong enough to stand up for herself and the job she was doing without seeming standoffish.   She was determined, smart, and willing to do anything for the people who were important to her. 

The small romance part of the story is Kendra and Lynch.    While it is obvious there is an attraction between the two their romance is not the main storyline.     It was fun to see them circle each other, push each other, and pull at each other while keeping each other at arm’s length.    I am interested to see where this will head and how long it will take them to get there.  

I am an Iris Johansen fan and am now a Roy Johansen fan.   The rest of this series is on my MUST READ list.    I recommend checking it out for yourself. 

Book Links

Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   Barnes and Noble

Good Taste: Simple, Delicious Recipes for Family and Friends by Jane Green

 Hardcover, 192 pages

Published October 4th 2016 by NAL

A lush and gorgeous guide to all things food and entertaining from New York Times bestselling author Jane Green.
 
Jane Green’s life has always revolved around her kitchen...

... from inviting over friends for an impromptu brunch; to wowing guests with delicious new recipes; to making sure her ever-on-the-move family makes time to sit down together. For Jane, food is enjoyable because of the people surrounding it and the pleasures of hosting and nourishing those she cares about, body and soul.

Now, Jane opens wide the doors of her stunning home to share tips on entertaining, ideas for making any gathering a cozy yet classy affair, and some of her favorite dishes, ranging from tempting hors d’oeuvres like Sweet Corn and Chili Soup, to mouthwatering one-pot mains like Slow-Braised Onion Chicken, to sinfully satisfying desserts like Warm Chocolate and Banana Cake.

This book is Jane’s perfect recipe for making a wonderful life complete with friends, loving family, and moments filled with good food, good times, and, of course, Good Taste. 

My Thoughts…

I am not a fan of “celebrity” cookbooks as I find they usually call for ingredients that are not easily found or affordable for the “normal” person yet with Jane Green’s Good Taste Cookbook I found myself wanting and being able to cook every recipe.    My family, especially my children, are very picky and there were so many recipes that they enjoyed or would enjoy when I finally tried them out. 

While checking out the recipes I felt like I was getting a glimpse into Jane Green’s life.   The stories between the recipes shared the why’s of the recipes.   The reasoning behind why she is sharing the recipes that she is. 

The step by step directions showed how meticulous she is.   They were easy to follow and made total sense.   Even the non-cooker/baker will find recipes in this book that will temp them to try their hand at a new meal idea.       This book is perfect for the experienced chef/baker or the stay at home cooking for the family cook.  

Check out Good Taste.    There is a recipe in here for everyone. 

Book Links

Goodreads   |   Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble

Crossover by Chelsea Camaron and Ryan Michele & GIVEAWAY

Title: Crossover

Series: Prequel: Devil's Due MC & Vipers Creed MC

Author: Chelsea Camaron & Ryan Michele

Genre: MC Romance

Release Date: October 25, 2016

Two motorcycle clubs, two different reasons for being, and one lifestyle find each other together. – Devil’s Due MC – Respect is earned, never freely given. Our road is a path for justice. Nomads always on the open highway, we follow the trail, no matter where it leads, everyone be damned. – Vipers Creed MC – Respect is hard earned. Live by the creed, die by the creed. If you aren’t with us, you’re against us. If you step into our world, your balls better be big and your cock even bigger. Brothers, bikes, and bitches collide. Respect is everything. When two clubs cross over into each other’s worlds, only madness, mayhem, vengeance, and heat can possibly ensue.

My Thoughts…

I am torn on this book.    Being a HUGE fan of Chelsea Camaron and her Devil’s Due MC Series but this book was different.   I felt like each chapter was its own story.   The characters were found in each chapter but it was disconnected to me.   I wanted an entire prequel story not broken chapters.     I am not familiar with Ryan Michele’s Viper Creed MC but the chapters were written in similar style.    

All of that being said I’d be interested to continue with each of these series as I know that In the Red, book one of the Chelsea Camaron’s  Devil’s Due MC , is written in a style that seemed to flow better to me.    I love a good MC book.   The moody men, tough bikers, and wonderful storylines are something that are always enjoyable.   

This is a short and quick read.    I think it can be read as a prequel but may be more of a read after you have read a few of the books in this series.   It is a good glimpse into the members of the different biker clubs.    

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USA Today bestselling author Chelsea Camaron is a small town Carolina girl with a big imagination. She’s a wife and mom, chasing her dreams. She writes contemporary romance, erotic suspense, and psychological thrillers. She loves to write about blue-collar men who have real problems with a fictional twist. From mechanics to bikers to oil riggers to smokejumpers, bar owners, and beyond she loves a strong hero who works hard and plays harder.

Ryan Michele found her passion in making fictional characters come to life. She loves being in an imaginative world where anything is possible and has a knack for special twists readers don’t see coming.

She writes MC, Contemporary, Erotic, Paranormal, New Adult, Inspirational, and many more romances. And whether it’s bikers, wolf shifters, mafia, or beyond, Ryan spends her time making sure her heroes are strong and her heroines match them at every turn.

When she isn’t writing, Ryan is a mom and wife living in rural Illinois and reading by her pond in the warm sun.

                                                                           

                                                                         

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