ARC Review: Never Cry Wolf by Cynthia Eden

Never Cry Wolf

by Cynthia Eden

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: June 28th 2011 by Kensington

ISBN 0758242158

Courtesy of author

Running With A Dangerous Crowd                                  Lucas Simone is not the kind of guy you mess with. He's big, he's strong, and his eyes hint at a wilder side most women can't handle. Of course, that's because his predatory instincts are no metaphor—he's a genuine Grade-A top-quality werewolf, tough enough to fight his way to dominance over the scariest pack on the West Coast. There's only one chink in his armor. Unlike most alpha dogs, Lucas has a reputation for protecting the weak and innocent.                                                                        Sarah King is counting on that protective impulse—it's the only thing standing between her and certain death. There are only two problems: one, she's not quite as innocent as she'd like Lucas to believe. And two, if he doesn't stop stoking Sarah's animal lust, it's only a matter of time before her own wild side gets unleashed. . .

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

Cynthia Eden never disappoints, weaving a gripping tale of betrayal, revenge, love and trust that will keep you turning the pages for more!

Sarah King is on the run with a large bounty on her head; her only hope is the L.A. alpha wolf, Lucas Simone. When Lucas is imprisoned for a murder he didn’t commit Sarah impersonates his lover, giving him an alibi for that night and setting him free. The only thing she asks for in return is his protection. Lucas knows that Sarah isn’t telling him everything, but despite that he can’t leave her to survive on her own. There is an undeniable attraction between them that both intrigues and makes him weary, determined to find out the truth Lucas brings her into the pack after she gives up intel on a rival pack and a murderous plot. The secrets Sarah carries though could end her life and she will not give them up willingly, but when one of them is threatened and must seek the help of a voodoo priestess each must learn to trust each other if they want to escape the danger with their lives and souls intact.

Set in the world of Others from Cynthia’s Night Watch and Midnight trilogies, Never Cry Wolf makes a great standalone. Rival coyote packs, alpha wolves fighting for territory and revenge, heart breaking betrayal, demons, vampire, magic and voodoo, plus an F.B.I. investigation! Never Cry Wolf is full of action and adventure, and you can’t forget the sizzling romance that comes standard in all of Cynthia Eden's novels!

I became totally immersed in this novel right away, finishing it in record time; I never wanted it to end. The story of Lucas and Sarah was full of danger and intrigue with a combustible chemistry between the two that could not be denied. I absolutely loved Lucas. He is dark, sexy, aggressive, protective, smart, possessive and all ALPHA. He had a rough upbringing but despite all of those difficulties, or most likely because of them, he has grown stronger and is the alpha of the L.A. werewolf pack and one of the most recognizable ones as well. Every Other knows that you don’t mess with the L.A. wolves. Sara was an admirable character as well. Having a stark upbringing where she first had to hide who she was and then fighting for survival on the streets, she later joins the F.B.I. but while undercover fell for the alpha wolf Rafael. After seeing the true monster under the handsome mask and realizing that he was only using her for rare abilities, she flees for her life hoping that Lucas can protect her. She is brave, intelligent and very determined. Once she finds Lucas she knows that he is the one for her but has a hard time trusting him with all her secrets. This was one point that I didn’t care for because no matter what Lucas found out about her, he still stuck by her side, so I thought that she should have been upfront with him the whole time. But I guess that would have made the novel a lot shorter, LoL. I liked how the whole story unraveled though and Eden kept me in suspense revealing each piece of the plot masterfully. She also has the wonderful ability to create such intriguing side characters that you become invested in them as well and want more of their story right away. The ending really captured my heart, it was beautifully written and one of my favorite endings ever. An alpha wolf, not knowing what love is, asking if these feelings are it. *sigh* So romantic…

Just another smashing hit from must read paranormal romance author, Cynthia Eden!

Rating: 4.5 

Beg for Mercy Blog Tour: Feature & Giveaway

Today we have a great feature and giveaway for one of the best romantic suspense novels that I have ever had the pleasure to read. You can check out my review of Beg for Mercy *here*.

From the desk of Jami Alden:

Dear Reader,

Whenever I start a new project, people inevitably ask me, “what's it about?” WithBeg for Mercy, my answer seemed simple. This book is about Megan Flynn's desperate quest to get her wrongfully convicted brother off death row before he's executed. It's about a woman who is so determined she'll risk anything: her heart, when she begs Detective Cole Williams, the man who broke her heart when he arrested her brother, for help as she tracks down the real killer. And her life, when she herself becomes the target of a brutal killer's twisted desires.

But as I got further into Megan and Cole's journey, I realized that's not really what this book is about. Scratch beneath the surface, and you'll see that this book is really about faith. Not necessarily the religious kind, but the kind of faith you have in the people you love. It's also about the faith you have in yourself, in your gut, your instincts — whatever you want to call it. It's about listening to yourself and the truth that you cannot deny, even when the rest of the world tries to convince you that you're wrong.

No matter the evidence that points to her brother's guilt, Megan knows, deep down in her core, that her brother is not capable of the kind of brutal murder for which he was convicted. Nothing will convince her otherwise, her belief in her brother's innocence and faith in his true nature is absolutely unshakeable.

It's so strong that it can even convince a skeptic like by the book, just the facts ma'am detective like Cole Williams to put aside everything he thinks he knows about this case. It will drive him to risk a career that means everything to him in order to help the woman he loves.

Megan and Cole's journey to happily ever after isn't an easy one, but nothing worth having comes easily. I hope you enjoy their story, and as you read, ask yourself, how deep is your faith in yourself and the people around you? How far would you go for someone you love?

Enjoy! Jami Alden

Jami Alden is the Holt Medallion–nominated author for sexy romantic suspense. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her socially well-adjusted alpha male husband, her sons, and a German Shepherd who patiently listens to dialogue and helps her work out plot points. You can find out more about Jami and her books at:

FaceBook, Twitter, Website, GoodReads

He lurks in the shadows, waiting and watching . . . And once he has you, all you can do is. . . BEG FOR MERCY Megan Flynn thought she was falling in love. Cole Williams wasn't just handsome and passionate, he was one of the good guys. Or so she thought, until he arrested her brother-the only family she has left-for a murder she knows he couldn't have possibly committed. Now, with her heart broken and her brother's life hanging in the balance, Megan will risk everything to prove his innocence. Even if that means throwing herself into the path of a sadistic killer with a hauntingly familiar MO. Seattle Detective Cole Williams had given up on making Megan see reason where her brother is concerned. But when she insinuates herself into the most shockingly brutal case Cole has ever worked, he can't stand idly by. Plunged into a secret world where the city's elite indulge their darkest desires, Cole will do whatever it takes to bring down a madman who has made Megan his most coveted prey. Read an Excerpt!

~*GIVEAWAY*~

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing I have three copies of Beg for Mercy to giveaway, to enter just fill out the form below!

Giveaway guidelines:

-Three winners will be selected at random to win one copy of this title each -Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win -No P.O. Boxes, please. -Giveaway copies will be sent directly from publisher

-Giveaway will close at 11:59pm on July 8th

Review: Beg For Mercy by Jami Alden

Beg For Mercy 

by Jami Alden

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

Published June 1st 2011 by Forever (first published 2011)

ISBN 0446572802

Courtesy of publisher

He lurks in the shadows, waiting and watching . . . And once he has you, all you can do is. . .                          BEG FOR MERCY                      Megan Flynn thought she was falling in love. Cole Williams wasn't just handsome and passionate, he was one of the good guys. Or so she thought, until he arrested her brother - the only family she has left - for a murder she knows he couldn't have possibly committed. Now, with her heart broken and her brother's life hanging in the balance, Megan will risk everything to prove his innocence. Even if that means throwing herself into the path of a sadistic killer with a hauntingly familiar MO.                                                 Seattle Detective Cole Williams had given up on making Megan see reason where her brother is concerned. But when she insinuates herself into the most shockingly brutal case Cole has ever worked, he can't stand idly by. Plunged into a secret world where the city's elite indulge their darkest desires, Cole will do whatever it takes to bring down a madman who has made Megan his most coveted prey.

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

Megan Flynn and Cole Williams have an unresolved past...

Three years ago Megan thought that Cole was her future, but on the dark day that her brother, Sean, was arrested for murder by Cole that dream shattered.

Now she is determined to find the true killer, no matter what it takes. With her brother waiving his right to future appeals though, the clock is ticking down. When a young woman is found brutally murdered in an abandoned trailer Megan might have finally found a link connecting the Seattle serial killer to the murder her brother is accused of.  Cole Williams can wash all her hope down the drain though when he shows up to investigate the homicide.

Seattle Detective Cole Williams has spent the last three years trying to put Megan Flynn from his mind, but unable to help wondering what could have been. When he finds her at the scene of a homicide he realizes that he could have a second chance with her, if only he could set aside his views on her brother and support her in her quest for the truth. When Megan finds herself in the sights of the murderer though, he has to make a decision; which is more important? Megan or his badge? 

Beg for Mercy is a darkly disturbing and sinfully delicious story that I could not put down! It is unique, intense, dark, gripping, and I have never read anything quite like it before. It blew me away! Jami Alden masterfully pens a tale of nail biting suspense with twists and turns that would put the scariest roller coaster to shame, adding succulent romance and titillating tension that kept me hanging onto every word. She is detailed and dedicated in her writing, giving readers in depth scenes that come alive on the pages.

I was instantly immersed in all the characters of this novel. Megan’s brother, Sean, is an ex-Ranger who Megan knows would never harm anyone, let alone a woman. But sitting on death row for three years has worn him down and he can’t stand to see what it does to his sister. Loosing all hope, he resigns himself to death. Megan refuses to give up though and will go to any lengths to prove her brothers innocence. She is a strong, intelligent and admirable heroine, someone that I would be honored to have fighting on my side. When Cole shows up back in her life though she is weary, knowing that she never stopped loving him she instantly feels guilty for having feelings for the man who basically condemned her brother to death without even trying to help her prove his innocence. Cole is remorseful over there past though and is looking to make things right. Determined to see justice served he cannot turn a blind eye when Megan finds evidence that could bring possible doubt to the murder her brother is accused of. I really loved Cole, he is protective, possessive and so alpha *rawr* You could feel him and Megan’s chemistry right off the bat and their relationship was smooth and developed at a realistic pace. Sexual tension between the two was sizzling and I would scream in frustration with them every time that dang phone rang! But the wait was well worth it with some blazing sex scenes. This book really had it all!

The villain of Beg for Mercy gave me chills and trying to piece the puzzle together ad figure out whom he was, was challenging. The author would give you little glimpse into his psych and past, and he was so well developed with such a heart wrenching back-story I actually sympathized with him. The plot moved along at a fast pace and I didn’t want it to end, I loved every second of Beg for Mercy and the story has stuck with me days after putting it down. If you love crime drama, thrillers and romance then this is the book for you! I’m looking forward to Sean’s story, Hide From Evil, with the hard cracking ADA who helped send him to prison set to release November 1^st. 

Rating: 5 Wine Glasses! A new-to-me author to stalk! 

Review: A Wedding Wager by Jane Feather

A Wedding Wager 

Blackwater Brides #2

by Jane Feather

Mass Market Paperback, 447 pages

Published June 21st 2011 by Pocket

ISBN 1439145253

Courtesy of publisher

New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather again delights with her new book in this entrancing Georgian trilogy featuring three noble brothers who are offered a preposterous opportunity to restore their family’s mortgaged lands. An eccentric uncle promises a lavish inheritance, but only if each marries—thus redeeming—a fallen woman. And if even one brother fails to fulfill the old man’s decree, none will gain the windfall.
Lady Serena Grantley was born to the nobility, but fortune's whim placed her in control of her gamester stepfather, who uses her beauty to lure young men to his gambling tables. Serena even dismissed her first love, the Honorable Sebastian Sullivan, at her stepfather's command. But when he attempts to force her into a liaison with a dissolute earl, Serena resolves to do his bidding no more. Sebastian is the only man who ever captured her heart, and it is to him she turns. . . .Torn between family loyalty and the woman he loves, Sebastian faces a devilish dilemma. His uncle is ailing, and time is running short. Desperate to find a solution, Sebastian conceives a dangerous plan—a wager that could bring him and Serena happiness at last . . . or separate them forever.

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

A despicable uncle set on revenge challenges the three Blackwater brothers to find wives who are fallen women to marry in order to inherit his vast fortune. Penniless and facing debtor’s prison the brothers have no other choice but to each find a disreputable bride that fits their uncle’s standards.

A Wedding Wager is the second novel in the Blackwater Bride’s trilogy and focuses on the middle brother, and twin, Sebastian.

Sebastian thought he was in love with the darkly beautiful Lady Serena and that his feelings were returned until the day that she abruptly turned him away and left the country. He fell into deep despair for quite some time and has avoided a relationship since. Now, three years later, Sebastian encounters Serena at one of her stepfather’s Gaming Hells and despite his anger; he cannot deny that he still loves her. Devising a plan to win Serena’s heart, he is determined to find out the truth of that long ago day, but will Serena ever trust him enough to give it to him? And even if she does, can Sebastian convince her to leave her stepfather’s control?

This was a great stand-alone, the second in a trilogy, I jumped right in without reading the first book. I didn’t feel lost or confused at all and the crux of the trilogy was well laid out. It was my first read from author Jane Feather and I can now understand her popularity in historical romances, her writing easily immerses the reader into the time period.

However, this is a hard one to review. The plot itself was slow moving and the characters lacked dimension. I wanted to like the hero, Sebastian, but he had little depth. The heroine, Serena outshined him on every page, though he was honorable, courageous and charming. The tiffs him and Serena got into just seemed childish and out of place.

Serena was a very strong character and easily admirable but I was turned off by the fact that she was never completely upfront with Sebastian, her supposed love. Even in the end. She would also constantly blame him for his opinions or look down on him for his emotions in situations where she was less then truthful, which I did not find fair and led me to view her decision making as questionable. Their loves scenes together were also luke warm and I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the two.

The subplots did add an interesting element though, and the dialogue with Miss Abigail was entertaining, however, I did not care for her mother one whit but I think that was the point.

Jasper, the Earl of Blackwater, seems rather interesting and I would read the first novel in this trilogy if I ever had the free time. I found Sebastian’s twin, Perry, as rather a dry character though and uninteresting.

I would say that if you enjoy light historical romances that are heavily descriptive you will like this one, or if you are already a fan of Ms. Feather. But if you prefer more action, suspense and steamy romance you may want to skip A Wedding Wager.

Rating: 3 Wine Glasses

Author Guest Post & Giveaway: Cynthia Eden

Today I have the super sweet and talented Cynthia Eden joining us for a great guest post and a fabulous giveaway! Cynthia has a new release, Never Cry Wolf, coming out next Tuesday the 28th and if you like hot alpha wolves then you'll want this book! You can read my review *here!*

I Have A Paranormal Addiction

Hi, everyone! A big thanks to Crystal for having me at her place today!

I have a confession to make (though it’s not going to catch many folks by surprise). I have a paranormal addiction. I just can’t get enough of vampires, demons, and shifters.

I can’t exactly remember when I first became hooked on the paranormal world. Maybe it was back when I was a kid and I used to watch horror shows on the USA Network. Back then, they had a guy called Commander USA who hosted a horror marathon (sort of like Elvira did). I would watch those shows for hours—and always hate when the vampire got slayed at the end. Such a sad fate.

As I grew older, I read tons of monster books, I watched as many paranormal shows and movies as I could find, so, yes, that meant I never missed a BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER episode. How could I miss it? Spike was awesome! And now, these days, I eagerly tune in to catch each episode of TRUE BLOOD on HBO. Thanks to Alcide and Eric, my addiction is just growing.

So when I write, it’s pretty much only natural for me to write about paranormal heroes and heroines. I love putting new spins on old myths, and I sure do love to see just how far I can push my characters. In NEVER CRY WOLF, I had the chance to write about one of my favorite paranormal beings—the wolf shifter. My hero, Lucas Simone, is the alpha of his pack. Tough, strong, you definitely want this guy on your side in a fight.

And, unlike the monsters who appeared in those old black and white movies, I can guarantee you that Lucas won’t get slayed at the end of the story. Instead, he might just get the girl. (Who am I kidding? It’s a romance! Of course, he’ll get the girl—he just has to slay all the bad guys coming after her first.)

Do you have a paranormal addiction, too? What started your addiction?Leave me a comment, and I’ll pick one person at random to win a copy of NEVER CRY WOLF.

Have a great day!

Cynthia Eden

www.cynthiaeden.com

NEVER CRY WOLF—Available 6/28/11 from Kensington Brava

Be afraid of the big, bad wolf…

~*GIVEAWAY*~

As Cynthia mentioned above, she is giving away one copy of her upcoming release, Never Cry Wolf.

To enter, just leave a comment answering the question at the end of her post and make sure to leave an email address so that we can contact you if you're the winner!

Giveaway will close at 11:59pm on July 7th when Cynthia will choose one winner at random. Open internationally.

Good Luck Everyone!

Here's some more about Never Cry Wolf:

RUNNING WITH A DANGEROUS CROWD

Lucas Simone is not the kind of guy you mess with. He’s big, he’s strong, and his eyes hint at a wilder side most women can’t handle. Of course, that’s because his predatory instincts are no metaphor—he’s a genuine Grade-A top-quality werewolf, tough enough to fight his way to dominance over the scariest pack on the West Coast. There’s only one chink in his armor. Unlike most alpha dogs, Lucas has a reputation for protecting the weak and innocent.

Sarah King is counting on that protective impulse—it’s the only thing standing between her and certain death. There are only two problems: one, she’s not quite as innocent as she’d like Lucas to believe. And two, if he doesn’t stop stoking Sarah’s animal lust, it’s only a matter of time before her own wild side gets unleashed…

Read an Excerpt

18 & Over Book Bloggers Giveaway Hop (Sept 15th-18th) Sign-up

This September I will be co-hosting with Laurie over at Bitten by Paranormal Romance for the 18 & Over Giveaway Hop!

<center><a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m538/Bittenbyparanormalromance/18OverCouplesBookGiveawayHop.png"width="200" height="250"/></a></center>

The 18 & Over Book Bloggers Giveaway Hop will run from Sept 15th-18th.

Giveaway hops are a great way to earn new followers, find new blogging buddies and win free books. And since this is an 18+ it makes it extra fun. I know a few of you added some wicked delights to the last giveaway hop Laurie held and I hope to see some of those things this time around too! ;)

Here are the rules, and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me (readingbetweenthewines10 AT gmail DOT com) or Laurie (bittenbyparanormalromance AT gmail DOT com)

Please read carefully below.

• This is an 18 & Over Giveaway only, please no Young Adult or Fiction books.
• Dates for the hop: Sept 15th to 18th. This means that you should schedule your post to go up at midnight and end your giveaway at midnight.
• There's no limit on the amount that you can spend on your prizes/books.
• You can giveaway mass paperback, gift cards, eBook, book depositories etc..Petty much anything that relates to 18 and over reading material. The basic thing to remember is, as long as someone can get an adult book or books, your good to go.
• For the erotica books, it's free game here, you can throw in some menage, m/m, f/f, etc...
• Only 3 extra entries on your giveaway please. Giveaway hops are time consuming, especially for new followers, and we want to keep it as simple & quick as possible.
• Shipping: Giveaways can be US, Canada and International. Laurie has added a place on the entry form in case a participant resides in another country and would only like to mail in-country.
• The last day to sign up is Sept.1st, 2011
• Please advertise the hop by making a post about it on your blog or placing the button on your sidebar where others can see it.
• To enter fill out form below and we will add you onto the Mister Linky.
• This hop is open to 18 and over authors. If you’re an author that fits this category and would like to host a hop on your blog you're more then welcome to enter.
• Please don’t enter the giveaway hop unless you’re going to fill the commitment!