Friday, July 31, 2015

Cozy Review: Ming Tea Murder (Tea Shop Mysteries)



I've finished "Ming Tea Murder" the 16th book in her Tea Shop Mystery Series by Laura Childs.

Product Description

It’s scones and scandal for Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Steeped in Evil.


Normally Theodosia wouldn’t attend a black tie affair for all the tea in China. But she can hardly say no to her hunky, handsome boyfriend, Max, who directs public relations for the Gibbes Museum in Charleston. Max has organized an amazing gala opening for an exhibit of a genuine eighteenth century Chinese teahouse, and the crème de la crème of Charleston society is invited.

In the exotic garden staged in the museum’s rotunda, a Chinese dragon dances to the beat of drums as it weaves through the crowd. The guests are serenaded by a Chinese violin as they sample an assortment of tempting bites. And to give them a memento of the occasion, there’s even a photo booth. But Theodosia makes a grim discovery behind the booth’s curtains: the body of museum donor Edgar Webster.

While Theodosia prefers tea service over the service of justice, this case is difficult to ignore — especially after Max becomes a suspect. Now she must examine the life of the fallen philanthropist and find out who really wanted him to pay up.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!


About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and a recent recipient of the Romantic Times Book Review’s Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. In her previous life, she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund-raising for various non-profit organizations, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Product Details
Series: Tea Shop Mysteries (Book 16)

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley (May 5, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425281647
ISBN-13: 978-0425281642

My Review:


4/5

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Manga Review: Alice in Murderland Vol. 1



I've finished "Alice in Murderland Vol. 1" by Kaori Yuki.

Product Description

Now! Let the "Mad Tea Party" begin!


The Kuonji clan, owner of one of the world's top conglomerates, has a tradition: Once a month, family members attend a "Mad Tea Party." But at the latest gathering, the nine Kuonji siblings in attendance are shocked to hear a pronouncement issue from the lips of their mother, Olga -

"I'd like you children to now fight one another to the death!"

As chaos erupts, Stella, the fourth daughter, loses all reason, and suddenly a whole new Stella, complete with blonde hair and blue dress, comes out to play!

About the Author

Kaori Yuki is a manga artist best known for her gorgeously illustrated gothic manga series Earl Cain, Godchild, Angel Sanctuary, and Demon from Afar.

Product Details
Series: Alice in Murderland (Book 1)

Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (June 23, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316342122
ISBN-13: 978-0316342124


My Review:

This is one messed up viciously bloody manga which I highly recommend if you can stomach violence.

Stella is a very gentle and kind girl until she loses sanity then she turns into a viscous blood thirsty killer.  She is very close to her oldest brother and older and younger siblings.  She has a an older brother who enjoys killing people especially girls!

I can't say too much otherwise I will spoil the plot and give too much away unless you want me too!

5/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

June Williamson's Thai Food Made Easy Blog Tour with a Spotlight and Review



I am so excited to have June Williamson here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight and Review.

Thanks June and Cedar Fort Publishing and Media for allowing me to join your Thai Food Made Easy Blog Tour!

Please take it away, June!






About the Book:

Stop spending a fortune on takeout and bring the delicious flavors of Thai food into your own kitchen. With a tantalizing variety of curries, pad thai, and all your other favorites to try, this book takes the mystery out of Thai food preparation so you can enjoy those fresh and exotic flavors any day of the week.







About the Author:

June V. Williamson was born in a little northeastern town of Udorn, Thailand. When she was 7 years old, her mother met, fell in love, and married an American Air Force officer. This was the beginning of her military life of living back and forth from America to Thailand being exposed to the native Thai life for 9 years. However, those years were deliciously profound. Thai food had been infused into her by Thai street vendors and her Thai mother. She is now back to living in another beautiful little town, but in Utah with her husband and 5 children.

Thai Red Curry


Ingredients

1 T. canola oil
1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless, sliced)
2-3 T. red curry Paste
1 can coconut cream (13.5 oz) or approximately 2 cups
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup bamboo shoots (strips)
1 cup green vegetables sliced (zucchini, green beans, peas…)
2 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp msg/”accent” optional

Directions

Place chicken and curry paste into hot oil.
Stir constantly until the chicken is semi-cooked.
Add all remaining ingredients.
Cover and cook 1- 2 minutes until chicken is done.
Serve over steamed rice.

My Review:

I jumped at the chance to review this book because I've never really had that much Thai food except for Pai Thai a couple of times which I really enjoyed!

The cover is really inviting and the picture looks very yummy which made me what to check out the book!

I loved the shopping list at the end of each recipe and the information of all the different curries.

Glad that each recipe had a picture of the final product and each was really easy to follow short and sweet!

I can't wait to make most of the recipes especially the hot and spicy ones but haven't had a chance since it's been so hot.

Thanks Cedar Fort Publishing and Media for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Wednesday Wish List


Please list the books/manga/manhwa/yaoi manga from your wishlist that you are hoping to add to your shelves in a comment, thanks.







"This is not a test" -- every New Yorker's worst nightmare is about to become a reality.

New Yorkers aren't easily intimidated, but someone is doing their best to scare them, badly: why?

After two inexplicable high-tech attacks, the city that never sleeps is on edge. Detective Michael Bennett, along with his old pal, the FBI's Emily Parker, have to catch the shadowy criminals who claim responsibility -- but they're as good at concealing their identities as they are at wreaking havoc.

In the wake of a shocking assassination, Bennett begins to suspect that these mysterious events are just the prelude to the biggest threat of all. Soon he's racing against the clock, and against the most destructive enemy he's faced yet, to save his beloved city -- before everyone's worst nightmare becomes a reality.







Out of all the mysterious boarders who call Sanctuary home, no one is more antisocial or withdrawn than Maxis Drago. But then, it's hard to blend in with the modern world when you have a fifty foot wingspan.

Centuries ago, he was cursed by an enemy who swore to see him fall. An enemy who took everything from him and left him forever secluded.

But Fate is a bitch, with a wicked sense of humor. And when she throws old enemies together and threatens the wife he thought had died centuries ago, he comes back with a vengeance. Modern day New Orleans has become a battleground for the oldest of evils. And two dragons will hold the line, or go down in flames, in Dragonbane, the next explosive Dark-Hunter novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon.



 



Newly minted FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid is settling into her job in San Antonio, Texas, when the corpse of Harper Worthington, the husband of a sitting congresswoman, is found naked in a motel on the wrong side of town. It's up to Lucy to locate the last person to see him alive: a teenage prostitute who seems to have vanished into thin air.

When forensics determines that Harper was poisoned, Lucy and her new by-the-book partner dig deep into his life to find out who might want him dead. Why did Harper lie to his wife and his staff? Was he involved in an illicit affair? Embezzling money? Laundering money for a drug cartel? Or was he simply a pawn in someone else's dangerous game?

Lucy's boyfriend Sean Rogan is hired by Harper's company to run a security audit, causing friction between Lucy and the FBI. But when Sean finds a high-tech bug in Harper's office, an entirely new threat emerges -- a far-reaching conspiracy run by a ruthless killer who will do anything to get what he wants, and kill anyone who gets in his way. And the person between him and victory is Lucy Kincaid.






Perfect Plan

He was the ultimate rake. But Randall Clayton, seventh Duke of Beldon, harbors a hidden motive for seducing the fiery-haired, passionate Caitlin Harmon. Rand is on a mission to find a murderer and it's leading straight to Caitlin's father.

Perfect Seduction

She was the ultimate temptation. Cait, the feisty, intellectual daughter of an American adventurer, is certain she will never fall in love. But one dance with Rand Clayton and Cait's heart is lost forever.

Perfect Sin

Theirs was the ultimate love. They were the talk of London -- until passion and betrayal tore them apart. Now Rand must embark on the quest of a lifetime: proving to Caitlin that love is the most powerful treasure of all.












Take an all-new excursion in the world of the Carpathians from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan — joined here by Maggie Shayne and Lori Herter, two other masters of vampire romance in an original anthology that takes dark fantasy to rapturous new heights.

Dark Crime by Christine Feehan

Blaze knows who killed her father and she has merciless plans for payback. Until a phone call from a seductive stranger pleads with her to wait. Retribution is in his blood, too. Now, he and Blaze will be united in the blood of the guilty. Tonight, vengeance is theirs.

Dead by Twilight by Maggie Shayne

Bloodsuckers may be an accepted minority but one of them is getting away with murder. Until a female vamp teams with a mortal detective to end the killing spree. Now the night belongs to them — and so does every pleasure and danger lurking in the shadows.

Cimarron Spirit by Lori Herter

While excavating an Anasazi ruin, archeologist Annie Carmichael uncovers the resting place of a centuries-old vampire who finds in Annie the liberating mate he has longed for. But how much is Annie expected — or willing — to surrender for the man she now desires?





From the author of Edge of Betrayal — the Edge series returns with the climactic fifth novel, and an all-new explosive, romantic adventure.

In the world of covert operations, Bella Bayne knows how to get the job done. And with her work coming first, her personal life is coming in a distant second. Even though Bella would like nothing more than to ravish the rugged, handsome Victor Temple, she’s his superior so it’s a strictly hands-off affair.

When Bella gets a solid lead on the location of Dr. Norma Stynger — the twisted mind behind Project Threshold — she must team up with Victor if they are to finally bring justice to the madwoman. But when Norma’s daughter risks her life to help the team, Bella is faced with the impossible task of deciding who will live and who will die.






In the savage world of shapeshifters desire can be as dangerous as nature itself

As bodyguard to the most powerful shapeshifter in the human world, Shadow Shifter, Eli Preston has sworn to protect his leader, defend their alliance, and keep his darker instincts in check. But when a beautiful female trainee arouses his jaguar senses, there is no stopping the beast within. He must have her. Even if it jeopardizes the deadliest mission of his life.

When the heat is on-and the claws come out-the heart is the fiercest hunter

For six years, Nivea has been waiting for Eli to take her in his arms, unleash his animal urges, and claim her as his mate. But once their passion is unleashed - in a reckless moment of pure unbridled lust-nothing can ever be the same. The battlelines are drawn: man versus animal, shapeshifter versus shapeshifter. And Eli must be prepared to fight for his life - and his love - or he will lose Nivea forever in Primal Heat by A.C. Arthur.





The author of Wolf’s Fall returns with her “hot and to die for”* Alpha Pack — a top-secret band of Navy SEALs with Psy powers and shifter prowess whose dangerous missions sometimes require a more intimate call to duty.

Believed dead by his Pack mates, Micah Chase, a wolf shifter and Dreamwalker, was held captive for months, subject to tortures that left him physically scarred and emotionally unsettled.

Now under the care of the Alpha Pack’s doctors, he’s been prescribed an experimental healing drug, but he still can’t shake the nightmares. Even more damning is that Micah’s problems pose a danger to his team, and if he doesn’t get himself under control, they’ll all suffer a terrible fate.

There is a key to his salvation. Jacee is a beautiful coyote shifter, and though her kind is hated, she’s falling in love with a man whose very future is in her hands. Together they’ll face his personal demons as well as a deadly enemy — and for both of them desire has never come with such risk.

Katie MacAlister's Dragon Fall Blog Tour with a Spotlight, Excerpt and Giveaway


I am so excited to have Katie MacAlister here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight, Excerpt, Giveaway and Review.

Thanks Katie and Hachette Book Group for allowing me to join your Dragon Fall Blog Tour!

Please take it away, Katie!





About DRAGON FALL

For Aoife Dakar, seeing is believing - and she's seen some extraordinary things. It's too bad no one else believes that she witnessed a supernatural murder at an outdoor fair. Returning to the scene for proof, Aoife encounters a wise-cracking demon dog-and a gloriously naked man who can shift into a dragon and kiss like a god. Now thrust into a fantastical world that's both exhilarating and terrifying, Aoife is about to learn just how hot a dragon's fire burns.

Kostya has no time for a human woman with endless questions, no matter how gorgeous or tempting she is. He must break the curse that has splintered the dragon clans before more of his kind die. But his powerful attraction to Aoife runs much deeper than the physical - and there may be more to her than even his sharp dragon eyes can see. To survive the coming battle for the fate of his race, he needs a mate of true heart and soul.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1gDE624
B and N: http://bit.ly/1gDE6iR
iTunes: http://apple.co/1HwU07n
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1HwTTZz
BAM!: http://bit.ly/1V7fn6l
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1OgIlfg









About Katie MacAlister

For as long as she can remember Katie MacAlister has loved reading, and grew up with her nose buried in a book. It wasn't until many years later that she thought about writing her own books, but once she had a taste of the fun to be had building worlds, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes, she was hooked.

With more than fifty books under her belt, Katie's novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and are regulars on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. A self-proclaimed gamer girl, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her dogs, and frequently can be found hanging around online.

http://katiemacalister.com/
https://www.facebook.com/katie.mac.minions
https://twitter.com/katiemacalister

Excerpt

Kostya took my arms in his hands, giving me a little shake. “You appear to be denying the existence of Jim, amongst other things. Is that it? You do not wish to admit that I am a dragon, and Jim is a demon?”

“Oh, now you’re a dragon, are you?” I asked, stifling the urge to laugh hysterically.

“I have always been a dragon.” His tone implied that he was vaguely insulted, but before I could make a comment about his sanity — let alone mine for even having that conversation — the world as I knew it came to an end.

Or rather, the world that I had lived in for the last two years ended. Before my unbelieving eyes, Kostya’s form seemed to shimmer for a moment before morphing into that of a black dragon, complete with glossy black scales, ivory claws, and trickle of smoke coming out of one nostril. I froze, staring, my brain trying to come to terms with the impossible being in front of me, but before I could do more than squawk, the dragon shimmered again and Kostya stood in its place.

That was the moment that my sad little inner voice stood up and shouted with joy, filled with vindication after two years of denial.

“Holy sex me now!” I said, the rest of my brain still having problems coping with the fact that a dragon — a dragon! — had stood before me, his claws on my arms.

Told you so, said the formerly sad inner voice. Guess Terrin was right all along, huh? Now we can get on with life. I wonder what a demon lord does?

And that’s when the penny dropped. “You’re the black dragon I saw at GothFaire that night the world went insane. You’re the guy Terrin pointed out to me.”

“I do not know anyone named Terrin. As for your request”

“What request?” I asked, confused while my mind was busy pushing bits of puzzle pieces into place. No wonder Kostya looked familiar to me. But that meant that everything Terrin told me was true. Which in turn meant I wasn’t the least bit ga-ga. Relief swamped me when I added, “I didn’t ask you for anything.”

“You did. You asked me to sex you now. I realize that you desire my body,” Kostya said to me in the same stern tone of voice that my father had used whenever I was caught doing something I oughtn’t, “but now is hardly the time or place for such actions. I will admit, however, that the thought is not displeasing to me. You are quite comely. Later, we will have the sexing. But for now, we must remain focused.”

I giggled. I couldn’t help it, the giggle just slipped out.

His frown returned. “You find me amusing?”

“I find your phrasing amusing. Comely, to be exact. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it used outside of a Georgette Heyer novel. And for the record” I had to stop for a moment to get a grip on myself. Apparently, my brain decided that giggling was good, and there was no reason to cease that action. “For the record, I do not desire your body. Not that you’re hideous or anything, far from it. Even with those scars, your chest is really nice, and I like your legs because they aren’t scrawny, and you have nice shoulders and naughty bits, but I’ve never been one to put physical attributes ahead of more important things.”

“Such as?” He had his hands on his hips when he asked the question, which just made me want to giggle again.

“Intelligence, a sense of humor, and oh yes, not being a mythical creature.” I swallowed another giggle. “Not that it wasn’t a cool form, but still. I like my men without the sort of baggage that must go with being a shapeshifter.”

“Is that so?” One eyebrow lifted.

“Yes.”

“Then you will not like this.” He pulled me against him, his mouth moving into place on mine, his breath hotter than I could have imagined. And then he kissed the very wits right out of my brain.

Giveaway




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meg Hennessy's A Pirate's Command Blog Tour with a Spotlight and Guest Post



I am so excited to have Meg Hennessy here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight.

Thanks Meg and Pump Up Your Book Promotions for allowing me to join your A Pirate's Command Blog Tour!

Please take it away, Meg!



Title: A Pirate’s Command
Author: Meg Hennessy
Publisher: Entangled: Seclect Historical
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle

His secrets could destroy her

New Orleans, 1817


Colette Kincaid once knew such love and delicious passion in the arms of her pirate husband, Donato de la Roche. Yet Colette could not continue to live as the wife of a pirate, when reunited with her family. So she fled, taking their son with her and reconciling herself to never seeing her husband again.

Until their son is taken.

Donato is convinced his wife is behind his son’s disappearance-just as she is convinced he is the villain. Now they’re unable to leave each other’s side as they seek their child, forced to confront the desire that still smolders between them. But Donato knows that soon he must face the secret about Colette he’s been hiding for so long. And it’s a secret for which there is no forgiveness.

ORDER INFORMATION

A Pirate’s Command is available for purchase at


amazon
BN
add-to-goodreads-button3

  

PUYB Meet the Author





Meg Hennessy read her first historical romance when Rosemary Rodgers’, Sweet Savage Love, swept the college campuses. She won’t admit how many years ago that was, but was forever hooked on the genre of happy-ever-afters. Meg grew up immersed in the culture of her father’s old Southern family and writes with a Southern flavor. It was her sense of wonderment when visiting her grandmother’s home as a child that now bubbles upward into her writing of today, creating steamy nights of intrigue and romance.

She had been writing for years, but seriously pursued publication in 2009. Seeking authenticity for her first novel, she researched hundreds of books, visited numerous battlefields, and toured antebellum homes. When it came to putting pen to paper, Meg found her story-telling voice, as her heroine simply stepped into Shadows of a Southern Moon,winning the 2010 EPIC Award for best Historical Romance and launching her writing career.

Meg lives amid the beautiful rolling hills of southeastern Wisconsin. Besides writing and spoiling her much-loved horse, she enjoys backyard birding, nature walks, and admits to being a gardening addict. Having spun stories for years, she enjoys seeing her dream come true as her characters spring to life and step within the beautifully bound pages of a romance novel.

For More Information

Visit Meg’s website.


Twitter
Facebook


Guest Post

A Pirate’s Command is book two of the Secrets of the Bayous Trilogy. When I wrote the first book, Dark Secrets, Deep Bayous, I had written with the idea it was a single book, but after it was completed I had the sister of the hero, ask me (as characters do) to write her story. As I looked at the first book, it had lent itself to a sequel. Maybe I had that in my mind all along but I decided to take the plunge and figure out Colette’s story. Who was the pirate she had disappeared with in Dark Secrets, Deep Bayous and why was he now the greatest threat to her chosen life of piousness and service?

Donato de la Roche, her pirate husband, was probably the most complicated of the two. In book one he was a shadowy figure that appeared briefly once or twice, but was more than willing to step into the limelight, nearly demanding to be the hero of A Pirate’s Command.

So I had two lost lovers both wanting a chance to tell their story.

I loved working with these characters.

Colette was desperately trying to find herself after a devastating high seas robbery that had stolen her memory, but along the way she learned who she was and where her heart belonged. Would she give herself permission to love again, to feel the passion once again? Donato was a man who could walk onstage and dominate it. He was an actor at heart and carried his scenes with finesse and style. He was a man comfortable with himself, enough so, he could be the romantic without the slightest thought, and little help from me.

These characters were full of the intricacies that make all of us unique in some way. They were a thrill to work with and yes, I'd rehire them.


Please follow the rest of the tour here, thanks:

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2015/07/09/pump-up-your-book-presents-a-pirates-command-virtual-book-tour 



Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Manga Review: Mixed Vegetables Vol. 1 - Vol. 6



I've finished "Mixed Vegetables Vol. 1 - Vol. 6" by Ayumi Komura.

Product Description

Rewritten by food writer Stephanie Lucianovic (connected to KQED, and Bravo through TWOP)

For fans of dramatic cooking shows like Top Chef and Hell’s Kitchen

Ties-in with the ongoing foodie trend, and with the proposed VIZ food manga push/imprint

Energetic and clean art will appeal to fans of Yakitate Japan

Strong character development and an engaging storyline will appeal to readers of titles like Absolute Boyfriend and Nana

Includes detailed author notes, and will include glossary of cultural and cooking terms

To be previewed and promoted in VIZ Media’s Shojo Beat magazine.

Hanayu knows that it will break her parents' hearts if she defects from the bakery to become a sushi chef. But if she marries into a sushi family, they'll have to understand her decision. Now she just has to get Hayato Hyuga interested in her, and what better way than to wow him with her cooking skills?

About the Author

Ayumi Komura was born in Kagoshima Prefecture. Her previous title is Hybrid Berry, about a high school girl who ends up posing as a boy on her school's baseball team.

Product Details
Series: Mixed Vegetables (Book 1)
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC (September 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421519674
ISBN-13: 978-1421519678

My Review:


I highly recommend this manga if you like great character development, food and an exciting storyline.

I really liked how Hanayu and Hayato both felt remorse for their deception towards each other and deep down they really liked each other.

I was really glad that both have dreams of owning their own restaurants and that Hanayu finally told her dad what she wanted and didn't back down.

5/5



New Releases 2015 (July 28)



 




New Releases









The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege — and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal.

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege — as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted — and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions — professional and intimately private — ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.






In the newest installment of her popular Krewe of Hunters series, New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham brings readers another exciting — and unpredictable — story.

Murdered by a dead man?


A woman named Maria Gomez is murdered in Miami, apparently by her husband — who'd been presumed dead, slain by a crime boss. FBI agent Brett Cody can't believe it; dead or alive, the man had loved his wife. Brett also can't help feeling guilty, since he was responsible for protecting Miguel and Maria Gomez.

A few miles away, Lara Mayhew has just begun working at a dolphin research facility. She loves her new job — until a dolphin brings her something unexpected from the deep. A human hand. More body parts show up, and when Brett looks into the situation, he discovers that the dismembered corpse is Miguel's.

Soon, rumors of crazed zombies abound in the Miami media, and the Krewe of Hunters, an elite FBI unit of paranormal investigators, is called in. Brett and Lara find themselves working with the Krewe — and working closely together. An elderly crime boss who's losing his memory seems to be key to solving this case, but there's no motive. Unless Brett and Lara can uncover one in the Miami underworld. And that means they have to protect themselves. And each other.

 



Never Drop Your Guard

It should be the best day of their lives. Too bad they never get to see it. On the cusp of their twenty-first birthday, he strikes. His victims are always twins, their ritualistic murders planned in exquisite detail, down to the moment when they breathe their last together.

Never Close Your Eyes


A possibly innocent man is in prison, and Brianna Hayward needs to convince the New Orleans police. Not just to free her cousin, but to save others who will suffer until the true culprit is found.

Reporter Jase Bridges is intrigued. It’s a story that could make his career — as long as Brianna never guesses the secret in Jase’s past.

Or You’ll Never See Him Coming


Detective Rick Bentz had doubts about the “21” conviction when he worked the case in L.A. Now the real murderer may be loose in Bentz’s backyard. Twin sisters from All Saints College have vanished on the eve of their twenty-first birthday. And as Bentz and his partner, Reuben Montoya, desperately follow the trail, a killer prepares to unite his next victims in death forever.






THE HOTTER YOU BURN

The Original Heartbreakers

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter is back with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers tale featuring a troubled playboy and the woman he can’t resist.


Beck Ockley is ruthless in the boardroom and the bedroom. He's never been with the same woman twice, and vows he never will. With a past as twisted as his, meaningless sex keeps the demons at bay. His motto: One and done. No harm, no foul.

Harlow Glass is the most hated girl in town. The beautiful artist is penniless, jobless and homeless. When she sneaks into Beck's home — her ancestral estate — for food, she's shocked by his early return and her immediate, sizzling and intense attraction to him.

For the first time in Beck's life, he can't get a woman out of his mind. All too soon, friendship blooms into obsession and he'll have to break her heart or surrender his own.






YOU FLIRT WITH FIRE


For Aoife Dakar, seeing is believing-and she's seen some extraordinary things. It's too bad no one else believes that she witnessed a supernatural murder at an outdoor fair. Returning to the scene for proof, Aoife encounters a wise-cracking demon dog - and a gloriously naked man who can shift into a dragon and kiss like a god. Now thrust into a fantastical world that's both exhilarating and terrifying, Aoife is about to learn just how hot a dragon's fire burns.

WHEN YOU DATE A DRAGON


Kostya has no time for a human woman with endless questions, no matter how gorgeous or tempting she is. He must break the curse that has splintered the dragon clans before more of his kind die. But his powerful attraction to Aoife runs much deeper than the physical - and there may be more to her than even his sharp dragon eyes can see. To survive the coming battle for the fate of his race, he needs a mate of true heart and soul.










A bold, seductive laird meets his passionate match in a scintillating Highland romance from New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands.

Sword fighting, swearing, and riding astride come naturally to Saidh Buchanan. Simpering and holding her tongue - definitely not. Raised alongside seven boisterous brothers, Saidh has little interest in saddling herself with a husband until she glimpses the new Laird MacDonnell bathing naked in the loch. Though she’s far from a proper lady, the brawny Highlander makes Saidh feel every inch a woman.

She has an angel’s looks, a warrior’s temper, and seeks out his kisses with wanton eagerness. Little wonder that Greer is intrigued by his comely guest. When reckless desire overtakes them, he’s more than willing to make an honest woman of her. But Saidh is the target of a hidden enemy, and Greer faces the battle of his life to safeguard the woman he wants above all others.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Weekly Book Reads (July 27)



 Weekly Book Reads


Weekly Book Reads is a weekly Monday Meme that is hosted by Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews:

Post the books read last week and books you plan on finishing this week.

Read Last Week:

1.  Murder with Fried Chicken and Waffles - A.L. Herbert
2.  The Witch of Bourbon Street - Suzanne Palmieri
3.  A Scourge of Vipers - Bruce DeSilva
4.  Alice in Murderland Vol. 1 - Kaori Yuki

Weekly Book Reading:

1.  Ming Tea Murder - Laura Childs
2.  Dragon Fall - Katie MacAlister
3.  Thai Food Made Easy - June Williamson
4.  The Liar - Nora Roberts
5.  Demon From Afar Vol. 3 - Kaori Yuki

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Library Haul 2015 (July 26 - Aug 1)



Library Haul

Here's the list of books/manga/manhwa/yaoi manga I picked up this week at the library:

Hardcover:

1.  The Liar - Nora Roberts
2.  Ming Tea Murder - Laura Childs

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Bunny Express Saturday 2015 (July 25)


Bunny Express Saturday is hosted every Saturday at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews.

I received these in the mail this week.


For Review:






In this electrifying thriller by New York Times bestseller Linda Castillo, Kate Burkholder must uncover a family's long-hidden past to solve a brutal murder.

When a tornado tears through Painters Mill and unearths human remains, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder finds herself tasked with the responsibility of identifying the bones -- and notifying the family. Evidence quickly emerges that the death was no accident and Kate finds herself plunged into a thirty year old case that takes her deep into the Amish community to which she once belonged.

Meanwhile, turmoil of an emotional and personal nature strikes at the very heart of Kate's budding relationship with state agent John Tomasetti. A reality that strains their fragile new love to the breaking point and threatens the refuge they've built for themselves -- and their future.

Under siege from an unknown assailant -- and her own personal demons -- Kate digs deep into the case only to discover proof of an unimaginable atrocity, a plethora of family secrets and the lengths to which people will go to protect their own.

Thanks Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press!

Tonya Kappe's A Charming Fatality Blog Tour with a Spotlight and Giveaway


I am so excited to have Tonya Kappes here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight and Excerpt.

Thanks Tonya and Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for allowing me to join your A Charming Fatality Blog Tour!

Please take it away, Tonya!






A CHARMING FATALITY:
Magical Cures Mystery Book 7

Cozy Mystery
Print Length: 165 pages
ASIN: B00YLLHOX0




Publication Date: July 10, 2015


Bubble. . . Bubble. . .

Whispering Falls’ resident potion maker, June Heal, is the first witch in the magical village to make a big money deal with the Head To Toe Works, a national chain specializing in spa and natural products.

Cures and Trouble

June is going to need to use her own stress relief potion she made especially for Head To Toe Works after she discovers the dead body of Burt Rossen, the co-owner of Head To Toe Works, on the belt of the assembly line of her stress free lotion product.

Magic Stirs

A new baby is born in Whispering Falls and giving Oscar Park, June’s fiancé and Whispering Falls’ sheriff, the itch to get a wedding date set and gives June an ultimatum.

And Trouble Doubles

June is forced to use her witchy ways to figure out who stole her secret potion after it turns up missing. Rumors are flying around like broomsticks that June is a witch and used a spell to murder Mr. Rossen. Someone wants her out of Head To Toe Works, but who? Will the killer get to June before she can walk down the aisle?




About the Author

Tonya Kappes is a USA Today Bestselling Author.

I write fun humorous fiction, some with romance and some with a little mystery.

More than anything I love to connect with readers! I’m a huge fan of them and LOVE getting to know them. Making readers smile, and remembering not to take life too seriously is how I like to write. I’m addicted to coffee, McDonald’s Diet Coke, and Red Hots Candy to keep her going!

When I’m not writing about quirky characters and even quirkier situations, I’m busy being the princess, queen and jester of my domain which includes my BFF husband, three teenage boys, two dogs and one ornery cat.

Author Links:

And be sure to stalk me on: Facebook, Twitter, TSU, Instagram!

Website: http://www.tonyakappes.com/

Purchase Link:

AMAZON

Giveaway:




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, July 24, 2015

Elizabeth Lowell's Perfect Touch Blog Tour with a Spotlight, Excerpt and Giveaway



I am so excited to have Elizabeth Lowell here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight, Excerpt and Giveaway.

Thanks Elizabeth and Tasty Book Tours for allowing me to join your Perfect Touch Blog Tour!

Please take it away, Elizabeth!






Perfect Touch: A Novel
By: Elizabeth Lowell
Releasing July 28, 2015
William Morrow

Blurb


Sara Medina is a designer and art dealer from San Francisco. She matches her clients desires with fine and folk art from the world over -- living up to her thriving business named Perfect Touch. She still remembers her rural childhood of hard work and poverty on the family dairy farm, but she keeps it firmly in the past as she searches out new artwork and artists that are on the breaking edge of acclaim. After she experienced the cultural riches San Francisco had to offer, she decided her life would be that of an urban career woman rather than a working mom commuting from the suburbs. With the intensive hours and travel required to grow her business to the next level, she has no time or energy left for romantic or family entanglements.

Jay Vermillion recently inherited Vermillion Sky, a ranch that nestles up to Wyoming’s Grand Teton Mountains -- and the estates of the rich and restless. As a returned veteran of numerous deployments over the course of two wars, he finds himself wrestling with the demands of a ranch that has been run down during his father’s long illness. Between the urgent need to modernize and revitalize the Vermillion Sky, as well as an unexpected and vicious fight with his former stepmother over the custody of now-valuable paintings that were part of his father’s estate, Jay has no time for finding a wife and creating a sixth generation of Vermillions to ensure the family legacy continues.

When Jay hires Sara to appraise and market his father’s cache of paintings by Harris “Custer” Armstrong, neither one expects the explosive results of their eventual meeting in Jackson, Wyoming. In addition to a mutually inconvenient attraction, they a discover double murder at the edge of the ranch lands and a potential betrayal even closer to home. All trails lead to Custer’s artworks as valuable enough to kill for, especially an unknown painted rumored to be called The Muse.

As Sara and Jay unravel the motive for the killings, they both discover that love, like murder, doesn’t wait for a convenient time. On the heels of that soul-shattering realization, Sara is targeted for murder. Suddenly, the war-weary soldier finds something he is once again willing to die for.

Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/06/perfect-touch-novel-by-elizabeth-lowell.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24871110-perfect-touch?ac=1

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Touch-Novel-Elizabeth-Lowell/dp/0062328344
B and N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perfect-touch-elizabeth-lowell/1120611725?ean=9780062328342
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/perfect-touch/id936880251?mt=11
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/perfect-touch




Author Info

Elizabeth Lowell’s exciting novels of romantic suspense include New York Times Bestsellers: Dangerous Refuge, Beautiful Sacrifice, Death Echo, The Wrong Hostage, Amber Beach, Jade Island, Pearl Cove, and Midnight in Ruby Bayou. She has also written NYT best-selling historical series set in the American West and Medieval Britain. She has more than 80 titles published to date, with over 24 million copies of her books in print. She lives in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with her husband, with whom she writes novels under a pseudonym. Her favorite activity is exploring the Western United States to find the landscapes that speak to her soul and inspire her writing.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Website: http://elizabethlowell.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethLowellFans
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lowellwrites
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19051.Elizabeth_Lowell

Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

The motel room door was ajar.

I locked it, Sara Anne Medina thought. Didn’t I?

She pushed the door open with her big purse—and froze. The room had been tossed ruthlessly. Her suitcase was upended and off the stand. Her clothes were strewn across the worn carpet, toiletries scattered, her underwear and workout gear tumbled together. The lavender scent of her favorite shampoo filled the air.

I was only gone for five minutes.

The take-out coffee she had bought was hot against her suddenly chilled hands.

Some stranger went through my things. Did the tweaker get off on my underwear?

Is he still here?

The thought had her jerking back so quickly the coffee sloshed over her cold-numbed fingers. She looked around the hallway. No one in sight.

I don’t have time for this drama. I have to be at the courthouse. I have to finally meet my mystery man, so I’ll stop dreaming and get back to reality, where I belong.

Where I want to be, even with the damn tweakers.

Using her foot, she kicked the door all the way open until it slammed against the stop. No one was behind it. No one was in the room itself. The closet was open, no place inside to hide. The bathroom door showed a view of the toilet, shower, and sink. The mirror was smudged where she’d cleared the shower’s steam with her hand just minutes ago.

Whoever had been here was gone.

The mess wasn’t.

It will have to wait. Then, They took my computer. It’s all backed up on the cloud, but damn it!

The cord dangled from the wall, over the chair that had held her overcoat. The coat, like the computer, had vanished.

Wonder how many pawnshops there are in Jackson, Wyoming? And why would they take a woman’s coat? There aren’t too many women my height who are a size six.

With a hand that trembled slightly, Sara set down her coffee, took a pen out of the bottomless bag that passed for her purse, and poked through the mess of clothes on the floor to the suitcase half-hidden beneath. The inside pockets were still zipped closed.

They missed my little jewelry case. I’d rather they take the jewelry and leave the computer, but they didn’t ask me, did they?

Giveaway




Thursday, July 23, 2015

Cozy Review: Murder with Fried Chicken and Waffles (Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mysteries)



I've finished "Murder with Fried Chicken and Waffles" the 1st book in her Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mysteries Series by A.L. Herbert.

Product Description

Welcome to Mahalia's Sweet Tea -- the finest soul food restaurant in Prince George's County, Maryland. In between preparing her famous cornbread and mashed potatoes so creamy "they'll make you want to slap your Momma," owner Halia Watkins is about to dip her spoon into a grisly mystery.

Halia Watkins has her hands full cooking, hosting, and keeping her boisterous young cousin, Wavonne, from getting too sassy with customers. Having fast-talking entrepreneur Marcus Rand turn up in her kitchen is annoying enough when he's alive -- but finding his dead body face-down on her ceramic tile after hours is much worse.

Marcus had his enemies, and the cast iron frying pan beside his corpse suggests that at last, his shady business deals went too far. Halia is desperate to keep Sweet Tea's name out of the sordid spotlight but her efforts only make Wavonne a prime suspect. Now Halia will have to serve up the real villain -- before the killer returns for a second helping.

Features delicious recipes from Mahalia's Sweet Tea, including Sour Cream Corn Bread and Sweet Corn Casserole!

About the Author

A.L. Herbert grew up in both Prince George’s County and Charles County, Maryland. A.L. is currently working on the next Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery and more delicious comfort food recipes. Readers can e-mail the author at alherber123@gmail.com. And please visit www.alherbert.com and https://www.facebook.com/a.l.herbert123.

Product Details
Series: Mahalia Watkins Soul Food MysteriesPaperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington (February 24, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1617731749
ISBN-13: 978-1617731747


My Review:

3.5/5

Anime Overview: Prison School


Synopsis

On the outskirts of Tokyo stands Hachimitsu Private Academy, a storied all-girls boarding school for elite young women full of potential and good breeding. But as the new school year rolls around, one tradition is going out the window: For the first time in the school's long history, boys are being allowed to enroll. But on the first day of school, only five boys make the cut. Kiyoshi Fujino, one of the lucky few, is thrilled by this discovery, his heart leaping with joy at the thought of being surrounded by all those girls, day in and day out. But little does he know of the shocking fate that awaits him.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Wednesday Wish List


Please list the books/manga/manhwa/yaoi manga from your wishlist that you are hoping to add to your shelves in a comment, thanks.








The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege — and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal.

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege — as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted — and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions — professional and intimately private — ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.






In the newest installment of her popular Krewe of Hunters series, New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham brings readers another exciting — and unpredictable — story.

Murdered by a dead man?


A woman named Maria Gomez is murdered in Miami, apparently by her husband — who'd been presumed dead, slain by a crime boss. FBI agent Brett Cody can't believe it; dead or alive, the man had loved his wife. Brett also can't help feeling guilty, since he was responsible for protecting Miguel and Maria Gomez.

A few miles away, Lara Mayhew has just begun working at a dolphin research facility. She loves her new job — until a dolphin brings her something unexpected from the deep. A human hand. More body parts show up, and when Brett looks into the situation, he discovers that the dismembered corpse is Miguel's.

Soon, rumors of crazed zombies abound in the Miami media, and the Krewe of Hunters, an elite FBI unit of paranormal investigators, is called in. Brett and Lara find themselves working with the Krewe — and working closely together. An elderly crime boss who's losing his memory seems to be key to solving this case, but there's no motive. Unless Brett and Lara can uncover one in the Miami underworld. And that means they have to protect themselves. And each other.

 



Never Drop Your Guard

It should be the best day of their lives. Too bad they never get to see it. On the cusp of their twenty-first birthday, he strikes. His victims are always twins, their ritualistic murders planned in exquisite detail, down to the moment when they breathe their last together.

Never Close Your Eyes


A possibly innocent man is in prison, and Brianna Hayward needs to convince the New Orleans police. Not just to free her cousin, but to save others who will suffer until the true culprit is found.

Reporter Jase Bridges is intrigued. It’s a story that could make his career — as long as Brianna never guesses the secret in Jase’s past.

Or You’ll Never See Him Coming


Detective Rick Bentz had doubts about the “21” conviction when he worked the case in L.A. Now the real murderer may be loose in Bentz’s backyard. Twin sisters from All Saints College have vanished on the eve of their twenty-first birthday. And as Bentz and his partner, Reuben Montoya, desperately follow the trail, a killer prepares to unite his next victims in death forever.






THE HOTTER YOU BURN

The Original Heartbreakers

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter is back with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers tale featuring a troubled playboy and the woman he can’t resist.


Beck Ockley is ruthless in the boardroom and the bedroom. He's never been with the same woman twice, and vows he never will. With a past as twisted as his, meaningless sex keeps the demons at bay. His motto: One and done. No harm, no foul.

Harlow Glass is the most hated girl in town. The beautiful artist is penniless, jobless and homeless. When she sneaks into Beck's home — her ancestral estate — for food, she's shocked by his early return and her immediate, sizzling and intense attraction to him.

For the first time in Beck's life, he can't get a woman out of his mind. All too soon, friendship blooms into obsession and he'll have to break her heart or surrender his own.






YOU FLIRT WITH FIRE


For Aoife Dakar, seeing is believing-and she's seen some extraordinary things. It's too bad no one else believes that she witnessed a supernatural murder at an outdoor fair. Returning to the scene for proof, Aoife encounters a wise-cracking demon dog - and a gloriously naked man who can shift into a dragon and kiss like a god. Now thrust into a fantastical world that's both exhilarating and terrifying, Aoife is about to learn just how hot a dragon's fire burns.

WHEN YOU DATE A DRAGON


Kostya has no time for a human woman with endless questions, no matter how gorgeous or tempting she is. He must break the curse that has splintered the dragon clans before more of his kind die. But his powerful attraction to Aoife runs much deeper than the physical - and there may be more to her than even his sharp dragon eyes can see. To survive the coming battle for the fate of his race, he needs a mate of true heart and soul.










A bold, seductive laird meets his passionate match in a scintillating Highland romance from New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands.

Sword fighting, swearing, and riding astride come naturally to Saidh Buchanan. Simpering and holding her tongue - definitely not. Raised alongside seven boisterous brothers, Saidh has little interest in saddling herself with a husband until she glimpses the new Laird MacDonnell bathing naked in the loch. Though she’s far from a proper lady, the brawny Highlander makes Saidh feel every inch a woman.

She has an angel’s looks, a warrior’s temper, and seeks out his kisses with wanton eagerness. Little wonder that Greer is intrigued by his comely guest. When reckless desire overtakes them, he’s more than willing to make an honest woman of her. But Saidh is the target of a hidden enemy, and Greer faces the battle of his life to safeguard the woman he wants above all others.
Related Posts with Thumbnails