The Book Den has been on hiatus since July while I was studying overseas and recovering from surgery. It will return next week with my Most Anticipated Books of 2016, plus reviews of Jill Shalvis' upcoming release, and reviews of books by Suzanne Wright, Kristen Ashley and Elle Kennedy. We also have a very special review of two species creations by Bad-Dragon.com.
Pop by and join in the fun next week! And if you have any books you'd like to suggest for review or any authors you'd like to highlight for Author Spotlight Week, leave a comment here or contact me at thebookden@hotmail.com
Showing posts with label Suzanne Wright. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suzanne Wright. Show all posts
Friday, 11 March 2016
Monday, 6 April 2015
Dark Instincts by Suzanne Wright
Book
Blurb:
It
happens whenever wolf shifter Roni Axton is near Marcus Fuller: a
crackle of sexual awareness that’s intoxicating…and deeply
annoying. Marcus is a pack enforcer who oozes power, but Roni is
lethal in her own right—nothing like the flirty females who flock
around him. Even still, his possessive gaze makes one thing clear.
Marcus has singled her out for seduction, and he wants to make her
sit up and beg.
No matter how aloof and unfazed Roni acts, Marcus can tell she wants him. When a brutal attack by a jackal pack forces them to work together, it’s the perfect opportunity for Marcus to chip away at her defenses—until he falls into his own trap, completely unprepared for the intensity of their connection. Roni is the only one who’s ever seen past his shifter charm and discovered the man hiding beneath it. And for Marcus, claiming Roni once will mean needing her forever.
No matter how aloof and unfazed Roni acts, Marcus can tell she wants him. When a brutal attack by a jackal pack forces them to work together, it’s the perfect opportunity for Marcus to chip away at her defenses—until he falls into his own trap, completely unprepared for the intensity of their connection. Roni is the only one who’s ever seen past his shifter charm and discovered the man hiding beneath it. And for Marcus, claiming Roni once will mean needing her forever.
Book
Review:
Dark
Instincts is the fourth book in Suzanne's Phoenix Pack series and is
my favourite in the series since Feral Sins (the first book in the
series). While it's not a return to the raw, unadulterated, darkly
sexual book that Feral Sins was, it definitely feels richer and a
little more intense than the other two books in the series (which are
still good, they just don't hold a candle to the rawness of Feral
Sins).
I've
said it in other reviews but it bears repeating, I'm ridiculously
picky about shifter-themed books. By their very nature, they're
stories about people who have a distinctly animalistic side and I
want to get a genuine sense of that duality and I definitely want
that to be a part of how they love. I want to feel the power of the
characters, I want to fall into the richness of a well-developed
fantasy world and I want to truly believe that these people laid
before me on the page are both animal and human. That is something
Suzanne Wright does very well, and it's something she does extremely
well in Dark Instincts.
Roni
is an incredibly complex character. She's a woman who has a traumatic
history, but she's also a warrior. She's strong, smart, loyal and
protective and has a backbone made of steel. She's also awkward
around strangers (hilariously so!), stubborn and vicious. It took
about two chapters for me to fall completely in love with Roni. I
loved her strength, I loved that even though she was stubborn and
super strong, she knew how to compromise. In Roni, Suzanne has
created a strong female character who comes across as empowered,
passionate and completely badass, but also a little vulnerable, very
feminine and very loving. She's an incredible character, and Suzanne
has done a wonderful job mixing wolf traits with strong, feminine
human traits to create a character who is believable, loveable and
kind of awesome.
Marcus
I loved from the very first second he appeared! He's adorable, funny,
and all kinds of sexy but he's also very alpha, very protective and
very much not interested in letting Roni push him away. The way he
loves Roni without expecting her to change will melt your heart. But
he also does some bonehead stuff, all in the sake of proving his
manliness, that'll make you want to smack him upside the head. He's
sexy, protective and very alpha but he's also funny and kind. You
won't be able to stop yourself falling in love with the big bad wolf.
Now,
Dark Instincts has some pretty dark subject matter, and it covers
some issues that may be triggers for some readers. But the plot is
really excellent. It flows well, it has some interesting plot points
(and quite a few emotional ups and downs!) and overall, in spite of
some slightly sketchy bits and pieces, it's a well-thought-out,
emotionally and sexually charged plot. It's intriguing, it's dark and
twisty and it'll keep you interested right from the first page.
The
dialogue is fun and engaging, Marcus is kind of adorable in a very
sexy way which stops the plot from becoming too dark and Roni's
random awkward factoids are an awesome addition to the story. The sex
scenes are steamy and Roni and Marcus have some delicious chemistry.
Dark Instincts also features many of the characters from the previous
books, and the world they live in is richly described, so it's easy
to fall into the story.
Overall,
Dark Instincts is an intriguing, darkish, lusty tale and I'd
recommend it to fans of shifter-themed romance novels. However, I
wouldn't recommend reading it as a standalone novel. There's too much
backstory and character development that you really need to be aware
of to enjoy it fully.
Dark
Instincts releases 7 April 2015 and is available wherever you buy
your books!
You
can keep up to date with Suzanne Wright's other work via her
Facebook, Twitter,
Blog, Goodreads,
and Email.
Thursday, 1 January 2015
Most Anticipated Books Of 2015
Anticipation can be a
frustrating thing but it can also be wondrous thing. If you’re an avid reader,
like myself, you probably know the agony that is waiting for the next book in a
series to come out or waiting for your favourite author to release a new book.
So as we collectively cling to the sneak peeks and teasers that our lovely,
sadistic authors share with us leading up to the release of their newest
masterpiece, I thought I’d share the upcoming books I’m most excited about for
2015.
Now, I’ve been a lifelong
nerd so I know the pain of being picked last for things (usually sports,
because I’d really rather read than do the whole…hitting a ball with a blunt
instrument thing), so this list is not in order of preference. It’s simply a
list of fabulous authors with intriguing upcoming releases that I can’t wait to
get my greedy little book-reading hands on. I hope you’ll find some books that
interest you, and please feel free to comment with any books you can’t wait to
read in 2015 as well! I’m always looking for new reading material and I’m
always happy to give a shout out to excellent authors!
1. Cherry
on Top by Karla Doyle
After two tours in the
Middle East, Ben returned home needing peace and purpose. He found it as pastor
of a laid-back, small-town church. There’s just one thing missing from his
life—love. In a community of a couple thousand, his options are limited. Until
Lindsay comes to town for a wedding. Sparks fly between them, but she’s
skittish. If Ben wants her to stay, he’ll have to convince her that he’s more
than a man of God—he’s the right man for her.
Why I’m Excited: I’m a huge fan of Karla
Doyle. I’ve read all of her books and they never fail to amaze me. Cherry On
Top is the third book in her Close to Home series and the first two were
fabulous! It features Lindsay, the sister of Conn and Curtis (the heroes of the
first two books) and Ben and ex-soldier and current pastor. Both characters had
small parts in Icing on the Cake and I’m really excited to see what Karla does
with the teasing and charming Ben and the snarky, but loyal Lindsay.And check out that brand new cover, isn't it gorgeous?!
Important Dates: Cherry On Top cover will
be revealed 21st January so keep your eyes out for that! It will be
released 5th of March but there’s a fantastic unedited excerpt on
Karla Doyle’s website which you can find here.
2. Deep by
Kylie Scott
Blurb: One by one, the
members of Stage Dive are falling in love. David, Mal, and Jimmy have all taken
the plunge, and now it’s Ben’s turn—only he refuses to fall into that trap. The
sexy bassist enjoys his no-strings-attached lifestyle. But when Ben is forced
to keep the one girl he’s always had a weakness for out
of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn’t
always stay there.
Why I’m Excited: There are many reasons to
be excited for Deep. First, I’m a massive fan of Kylie’s work, she writes
fantastic books with characters that are awesome but also real and flawed, her
dialogue reaches out and grabs you and it’s so on point you can almost hear the
characters saying each line. Second, Deep is the final in Kylie Scott’s
absolutely phenomenal Stage Dive series and Play (the second book in the
series) was my favourite read of 2014. Third, while it has been a long wait for
Deep, Kylie has been incredibly generous with sneak peeks and teasers from the
book and every single one of them suggests that Deep may be the best book in
the series. And finally, Ben is described as a big, bass playing, beard owning,
tattooed bad boy and Lizzie is smart, funny, sweet and sassy. What could be
better than that?
Important Dates: Deep will release in March
and is available for pre-order. Check out Kylie’s website for more details.
3. Still
The One by Jill Shalvis
Blurb: Darcy Stone is game for
anything—except sexy Navy vet and physical therapist AJ Colten, the guy who’d
rejected her when she’d needed him most. Now the shoe is on the other foot and
he needs her to play nice and help him secure grants for his patients. Unfortunately
Darcy can’t refuse. She needs the money to fund her passion project: rescuing
S&R dogs and placing them with emotionally wounded soldiers.
AJ admits it—Darcy is irresistible. But he’s already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he’s not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they’d ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What’s the real thing? And where does it go from here?
AJ admits it—Darcy is irresistible. But he’s already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he’s not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they’d ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What’s the real thing? And where does it go from here?
Why I’m Excited: I’m ridiculous excited for
this book! Darcy is the sister of Wyatt from Then Came You, she was actually
one of my favourite characters in the story, and AJ is Wyatt’s best friend.
Both characters really captured my attention in Then Came You. Wyatt because he
came across as sexy, slightly bossy/slightly broody and gruff but also super
protective and sweet, Darcy because I loved her bravery, her willingness to
jump back into life after a terrible accident and her snark. They rub each
other the wrong way and the friction practically caused steam to rise of the
pages. I can’t wait to see what trouble they get up to and how Jill Shalvis
develops Darcy’s character.
Important Dates: Still The One will release
on the 7th of April and is available for pre-order in both print and
eBook format. You can find details and an excerpt on Jill’s website here.
4. Master
of Freedom by Cherise Sinclair
Blurb: Detective Atticus Ware gave
up his beloved Idaho to start again in the mountains of California, close to
his imprisoned brother. He has a rewarding job and friends, but the experienced
Dominant wants more than the Do-Me submissives who flock around him. He needs a
woman who will give her heart as well as her body.
Virginia, “Gin,” is damn good at her challenging career as a prison psychologist. However, one problem inmate is mired in misery and unable to overcome his guilt at causing a friend’s death. To clear her mind, she joins a friend’s kinky backpacking excursion, planning to hide in her tent during the evening BDSM pursuits. But Atticus lures her into the activities. She’s read about BDSM, but submission under the hands of a powerful Dom is beyond anything she’d imagined. She doesn’t trust men, doesn’t want a relationship, and yet…wants more from him.
Finally, Atticus has found the woman he wants in his life. In his bed. In his cuffs. But she’s not only his brother’s therapist, but also works in a prison. How can he tolerate his woman walking into danger every single blasted day? Gin knows she has no future with Atticus Ware, but still, hope is rising in her heart.
Virginia, “Gin,” is damn good at her challenging career as a prison psychologist. However, one problem inmate is mired in misery and unable to overcome his guilt at causing a friend’s death. To clear her mind, she joins a friend’s kinky backpacking excursion, planning to hide in her tent during the evening BDSM pursuits. But Atticus lures her into the activities. She’s read about BDSM, but submission under the hands of a powerful Dom is beyond anything she’d imagined. She doesn’t trust men, doesn’t want a relationship, and yet…wants more from him.
Finally, Atticus has found the woman he wants in his life. In his bed. In his cuffs. But she’s not only his brother’s therapist, but also works in a prison. How can he tolerate his woman walking into danger every single blasted day? Gin knows she has no future with Atticus Ware, but still, hope is rising in her heart.
Why I’m Excited: I usually wouldn’t include
novellas in a most anticipated list because I’m not a huge fan of them
(especially for BDSM stories which need some time to develop to feel
authentic). However, with Show Me Baby, Cherise showed that she can rock the
hell out of a novella so I’m very heavily anticipating this book! Master of
Freedom is also a continuation of her Mountain Masters series, which is fantastic
and it features Atticus Ware who had a short but very intriguing role in Edge
of the Enforcer (which was amazing!). That’s a whole lot of goodness wrapped up
in a little package.
Important Dates: Master of Freedom releases
on the 14th of April and is available for Pre-Order. Check out Cherise's website for more details.
5. Betting
on Fate by Katee Robert
Blurb: This time, all bets are
off... Penelope Carson loves to steal clients from Will Reaver. Yet something
in her business nemesis's icy blue eyes makes Penelope...nervous. It certainly doesn't
help that the man is the living embodiment of a Norse god. A controlled,
powerful Norse god. Which she really should have remembered before she made a
bet with him—because losing means becoming Will's personal submissive for a
week.
There's nothing Will would
like more than to have Penelope kneeling before him in complicit submission,
her fiery dark eyes inviting him in. Challenging him. But their bet
takes Will and Penelope deeper than either of them have ever been. Where
control is an illusion, and boundaries are pushed aside. And where hearts
become the stakes in a game that neither Dominant nor submissive can win...
Why I’m Exciting: I’ve read several of Katee
Robert’s books and was never a fan until I read her latest release, Mistaken by
Fate. It was a fantastic read; sexy, fast paced with excellent plot points and
interesting character development. The dialogue was great and while it is BDSM
themed, the kink is kept light enough that readers with a vanilla preference
could still enjoy the book. As such, I’m super excited to read her
upcoming release, Betting On Fate which features Will, the brother of the hero
in Mistaken by Fate, and the fantastically feisty Penelope who had a small role
in the first book.
Important Dates: Betting on Fate releases on
the 5th of January and will be available from all manner of online
eBook retailers.Check out Katee's website for more details.
6. Riskier
Business and Risking It All by Tessa Bailey
Blurb and Important Dates: Since this one is a twofer,
I’m going to cheat and just direct you to Tessa’s website
for blurb and purchasing information. Riskier Business releases 5th
of January and Risking It All releases 27th of January. Both are
available for Pre-Order.
Why I’m Excited: Riskier Business features
my two favourite Tessa Bailey characters. Troy is so freaking sexy and such a
broody badboy and Ruby is feisty, sassy and all kinds of awesome. Risking It
All features Ruby’s best friend, Bowen, who featured briefly in His Risk To
Take. He’s sexy, sweet, loyal and a trying-to-reform-bad-boy. Those amazing
characters combined with Tessa Bailey’s fast and sexy plots and dirty-talking
dialogue insures that these two upcoming releases are going to be one hell of a
ride.
Honourable
Mentions
1. Dark
Instincts by Suzanne Wright
Blurb: It happens whenever wolf
shifter Roni Axton is near Marcus Fuller: a crackle of sexual awareness that’s
intoxicating…and deeply annoying. Marcus is a pack enforcer who oozes power, but
Roni is lethal in her own right—nothing like the flirty females who flock
around him. Even still, his possessive gaze makes one thing clear. Marcus has
singled her out for seduction, and he wants to make her sit up and beg.
No matter how aloof and
unfazed Roni acts, Marcus can tell she wants him. When a brutal attack by a
jackal pack forces them to work together, it’s the perfect opportunity for
Marcus to chip away at her defenses—until he falls into his own trap,
completely unprepared for the intensity of their connection. Roni is the only
one who’s ever seen past his shifter charm and discovered the man hiding
beneath it. And for Marcus, claiming Roni once will mean needing her forever.
Why I’m Excited: Dark Instincts is the
fourth book in the Phoenix Pack series. I enjoyed the first three books, and
I’ve always been intrigued by Marcus so I’m excited to see what trouble he can
get into.
Important Dates: Dark Instincts releases on
the 7th of April and is available for pre-order. Check Suzanne’s website here for more details.
2. Figure
of Speech by Dana Marie Bell
Blurb: Chloe Williams has waited
four long years for her mate to acknowledge her. Time and again he has
turned her away for being too young, even when she was hospitalized, recovering
from a beating that left lingering after effects. Now that he’s been turned
into a Wolf, his mating instincts are kicking in big time. Chloe has to decide
if it’s worth risking her heart yet again.
Ten years older than Chloe and dealing with issues she knows nothing about, veterinarian James Woods is about ready to howl in frustration. He’s been drawn to Chloe since she was a radiant nineteen-year-old college student, but the age difference held him back from making a move on her. Now his Wolf wants what’s his, and Jim is finally in a place where he can claim her.
Between meddling mothers, Hunter brothers, and a mystery that threatens to end Chloe’s life, they might find an opportunity to tell each other just how they feel. Or find themselves separated by more than just misunderstood words.
Ten years older than Chloe and dealing with issues she knows nothing about, veterinarian James Woods is about ready to howl in frustration. He’s been drawn to Chloe since she was a radiant nineteen-year-old college student, but the age difference held him back from making a move on her. Now his Wolf wants what’s his, and Jim is finally in a place where he can claim her.
Between meddling mothers, Hunter brothers, and a mystery that threatens to end Chloe’s life, they might find an opportunity to tell each other just how they feel. Or find themselves separated by more than just misunderstood words.
Why I’m Excited: Figure of Speech is the
fourth book in the highly entertaining Halle Shifters series and features
Chloe, a relative of several of the heroes in the series. Chloe’s story has
been a core part of the series, and her story has been heartbreaking, so I’m
really looking forward to her getting her very own happy ever after.
Important Dates: Figure of Speech will
release 3rd of March and is available for Pre-Order. Check Dana
Marie Bell’s website for and unedited excerpt
and more details.
3. Kristen
Ashley: Multiple Releases
Kristen has announced the
upcoming release of several books in 2015 but so far has provided very few
details so I don’t feel that I can include them in my most anticipated section.
Mickey, (from The Will of The Magdalene series) will have his story
released in March, and Joker (seen briefly in Own the Wind – the Chaos series)
will have his story, titled Ride Steady, released in June. There’s no blurb,
title or cover that I could find for Mickey’s story, but the blurb for Ride
Steady is below. Check out Kristen's website for more details.
Blurb for Ride Steady: Once upon a time, Carissa
Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came
easy–until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a
struggling single mom stranded by flat tire, Carissa’s pondering her mistake
when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.
In high school, Carson
Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far
beyond his reach. Today, he’s the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and
from the way Carissa’s acting, it’s clear she’s falling fast. While catching
her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good
girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too
bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker’s secrets are revealed and an
outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady
with Carissa–or ride away forever…
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