Heart of War by Lisa Beth Darling Review

Synopsis:
Inside the heart of every warrior breathes the soul of a hero--even within The Heart of War.


Meet Ares God of War is the greatest Warrior the world has ever known, he's also moody, grumpy, dominant, ravenously sexual,and above all, built like a Greek God.

Suspected of killing his Daughter in-Law, Psyche, and long in exile from Olympus, the solitude of Ares' island is interrupted when Magdalena MacLeod a brash and sometimes manipulative Fey washes up on Ares' island after believing she's been shipwrecked. There is no wreck and her memory of events is sketchy at best. Branded with a golden chastity belt bearing the mark of Cernunnos, Celtic God of the Forest and Death, Alena has been on the run from the Great Horned God for 200 years. As Ares and Alena grow closer discord erupts on the island as his head woman, Kat, plots to get rid of Alena and the Olympians plot to use her in their endeavor to discover who killed Artemis. Ares will have to choose between his Divinely Dysfunctional Family, his pride, and Alena before dueling to the death with the God of the Forest.
Come along for an epic adventure of erotica, steamy romance, and drama in this Modern Day Greek Tragedy. Battle Ancient Gods and Fall in Love along side Ares God of War and Alena MacLeod. Theirs is a love that will rock the world from the heights of Olympus to the Celtic moors.
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My Review:

The Heart of War is an amazing and brilliantly told story that sucks you in right away and doesn't let go of you. It's an emotional roller-coaster filled with anger, lust, betrayl, heart break, and love that leaves you on the edge of your seat until the book ends and I loved every moment of it!!!

Lisa weaves heart racing battle scenes and sizzling, toe curling sex scenes, that played in my head like a movie, with mythology. Ares is a fascinating character and the fact that he's the story's 'hero' makes the story quite unique. The descriptions are amazing. The world building is phenominal! The book is long, but never once did I feel that it was too long. It was the perfect length! 

One of my favorite parts of the story was the dialog and how the different gods and goddesses interact with one another. Love the cover, too! This book has become on of my favorites. I can see myself reading it again and again, and am even considering buying a paperback copy to place on my bookshelf!

I can't wait to get my hands on the second book in the series.

I recommend this book to anyone that's looking for a steamy paranormal book, with lots of action, adventure, and something much more entertaining that vampires and werewolfs!!!

Because of the battle and sex scenes (including rape), I would suggest that readers be 18+.

5/5

Happy Reading!!

*Krisitna*

Sweet Irish Kiss by JoAnne Kenrick

Synopsis:

Ingredients for a perfect Irish Kiss; Baileys, Kahula, and whipped cream. For a Sweet Irish Kiss...just add Shaun Bell, a divorced workaholic bar-owner in Soho, London. Line up ladies. He's ready to love again.

Rachel Taylor was damaged by Daddy Dearest's play-away from home attitude. She wants to put her best foot forward. Only problem is, she stumbles backward each time she tries.

The 1NightStand match-making site brings this pair together for a night of guilt and commitment free sex. It's a match made in heaven until morning rolls around and Shaun can't bring himself to say goodbye. Can he win her over with his Sweet Irish Kiss, or will Rachel still see the neon "potential cheater" sign above his head?

Right now JoAnne has a copy of Sweet Irish Kiss up for grabs at the Fall into Books blog hop! Here is the link: http://www.joannekenrick.com/2011/09/autumn-harvest-fall-between-pages-blog.html

Happy Reading!

*Kristina*

Sweet Irish Kiss

1NightStand Story

Releases 30th September

 

 

Night Walker by Lisa Kessler Review

Synopsis:

He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her...

Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.
 
She's haunted by dreams of her own death...
 
After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.
 
They've waited in the shadows for centuries...
 
Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he's ever loved again.

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My Review:

Night Walker is a tale of true love that spans hundreds of years.

Night Walker is the tale of Kate and Calisto. Kate is alone more than ever after she finds her fiancé cheating on her with one of his students. In order to get away from her pain, Kate flees Reno for her hometown Point Loma. It is there that she meets a new man that she mysteriously has instant attraction to. Not only that, but her nightmares of a young woman being chased are getting worse. Calisto is a Night Walker- a being that needs another’s blood to survive, who is only alive during the night, and who can transform himself into a large raven. He's hunky, has a Spanish accent, and does not like being called a Vampire. Calisto used to be someone different- a mortal. After the love of his life dies tragically, he decides to give up the sunlight for another chance at loving her. When they finally come together, will they fall in love once again?

This debut novel by Lisa Kessler is simply amazing. The voice she uses to tell the story is fresh, lyrical, and brilliant. I loved everything from the psychotic madman stalking our main characters, to the fact that music and art are heavily entwined throughout the novel, to the two main characters and the love that has lasted for hundreds of years. (And let's not forget the sexy cover!) This novel is in third person and visits all of the characters. Not only that, but during the first several chapters the readers get a glimpse into the past, when the tale really began. Mrs. Kessler took reincarnation and mastered it beautifully. Way better than Lauren Kate's Passion for sure!

The characters are all fantastic. Kate and Calisto have such chemistry and Calisto is such a swoon worthy hero! Seriously, move over Edward, Jacob, Jace...whoever! I'd pick this handsome, Spanish accented, recluse any day! The bad guy is truly terrifying, and the side characters, like Betty, Lori and Edie are great too.

Night Walker is a tale of true love conquering evil that is written beautifully, and takes the whole 'vampire' bit and gives it a new and original spin. If you're like me, you'll have a hard time putting this novel down and begging for more once it is over.

I recommend this book to any paranormal romance fan looking for something different.

I'll be waiting patiently for book two! While I wait I plan on checking out Lisa's short story Across the Veil. :)

Quote:
"He watched her mouth, waiting to hear her voice again. He ached to touch her. It was the sweetest torture he'd ever known to see her live once more, and not be able to hold her in his arms, to kiss her soft lips. Fire licked at his heart, awakening passion he had long ago forgotten."

Happy Reading!

*Kristina*

For Love of an Angel by Rosalie Lario

 

 

Synopsis:

In a world where angels rule over humans, twelve outcasts dare to defy expectation, warring with their angel brethren to prevent the extinction of humankind.

They are The Fallen...

Michael is one of twelve angels who have been outcast due to their determination to protect humans. In order to preserve his immortality and strength, he must find a mate with angel blood. Eva Smyth has never believed the propaganda spouted by the Consortium-the elite system of guards put into place once angels took over reign of Earth-but she never expected to learn the angels plan to eradicate all of humankind, or that she herself is part angel. Joining Michael means living a life on the run, at war against the angels and hunted by the Consortium. Eva must decide whether to risk it all...for love of an angel.

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My Review:

 

When I saw that this book was only .99 cents and that it was about angels, I decided to purchase it because I've been on an angel kick lately. This book is worth way more than I paid for it!

Angels and fallen angels have become popular recently, but this book was a lot different than any other angel story I have ever read. First off, the angels are the bad guys in this novella with the fallen angels as the good guys. That's pretty original by itself! But it gets better! The angels now reside on Earth because their realm has been destroyed. They've chosen where all the humans work and live, and have curfews. Eventually, we discover that the angels are plotting to destroy human kind after they use the humans to do things like build their towers. We also discover that angels need to have sex with other full or half angels in order to keep their immortality.

Eva, the main female character, is stuck working in a coffee shop. She has a nice apartment, but has to live next door to her annoying ex boyfriend. She wishes for something more and that's exactly what she gets. Enter fallen angel Michael. He's beyond gorgeous and has a pair of stunning black wings. He comes to Eva in the middle of the night calling her his beloved.

I really liked both of the characters. They had chemistry, and their relationship didn't seem rushed even though For Love of an Angel is a novella. There are a few sexy scenes and several swoon worthy ones. Their is also humor peppered throughout the story, which I really enjoyed. The ending is sweet and sets up perfectly for the next book.

It's a very original story that I enjoyed a lot. The only thing is that I wish it would have been longer. I'll be waiting for the second in the series, Angel's Desire to come out and might even pick up her book Blood of the Demon because it sounds really good.

If you like angels/fallen angels and are looking for something different and steamy, you should definitely check this one out!

This novella does have a few sex scenes, so I would recommend it for 18+!

 

One of my favorite quotes:

"Angel, huh? I knew their had to be some reason I couldn't resist him. The man was like sex on a stick."

 

Happy Reading!

*Kristina*

Happy Endings--- Yay or Nay?

Hello, bookworms!

Sorry for my absence! With the starting up of college again and the large number of review requests I've been getting, it's been hard to keep up, but starting next week I've got tons of reviews, suggestions, interviews, and giveaways to share with you. I'm even going to be doing a guest post on an author's blog about book reviews!

Today's blog topic is something that means a lot to me while reading a book. The idea came to me after I finished a book that was the last book of a series earlier. What is the topic, you may ask?

Happy Endings!

It occured to me when I got the idea for this blog post that I LOVE happy endings in books. Yes, I'll admit it. I am a total sap. I'm the one girl in the quiet movie theatre that says "Awh!" complete with my hands clasped under my chin, or the girl that gets teary eyed when a couple end up together at the end of a book. And I'm not talking about happy endings just consisting of the hero and heroine uniting at last. (Okay...Mostly that.) Maybe the happy ending is a character beating a sickness, having a baby, or finally getting the promotion they deserve.

I think I love happy endings for books so much because in real life, happy endings are a lot harder to come by. Some believe they don't exist at all.



Because I'm such a romantic, I tend to not like a book or series as much if it doesn't end happily. I mean, if the couple go through five or six books filled with tension, obsticles, and drama, why can't they be together in the end? Is it wrong that I base a book or series off of my love for happy endings?

Now that I've voiced my opinion, I'd like to hear yours! Are you a 'happy ending' person? Or do you find it refreshing when things don't go as people planned?

Happy Reading!!

*Kristina*