Kiss of the Vampire by Cynthia Garner

Goodreads Description:

Warriors of the Rift

Once a generation, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing supernatural entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world-or send it spiraling into chaos.
Half-demon, half-human, Nix de la Fuente is accepted by neither and mistrusted by both. Determined to prove she's more human than not, she devotes herself to solving crimes between the world's mortals and its most unsavory undead. But her latest case brings her face to face with the one vampire she could never resist . . . 

Called in to investigate a string of violent murders, special agent Tobias Caine isn't interested in rekindling his relationship with Nix. Yet one look and the vampire knows his need for her is as strong as ever. Once, their all-consuming passion nearly cost Nix her fragile hold on her humanity. Now, as their hunger for one another intensifies, exposing them to an unimaginable danger, it could cost them both their lives.

My Rating:

My Review:

I love the original aspects of this story.  The theory that the beings cross over through a dimensional rift and then possess human beings to turn them into Werewolves, Vampires, Demons, Etc is very original and I highly enjoyed that aspect of the story.  Nix is part human and part demon, and the human liaison between the counsel and the human PD.  Her specialty is demon crimes.  She has to keep hold of her temper because half breeds like herself tend to go insane at a young age due to the dueling personalities.  The love of her life, Tobias, left her to try and keep her sane.  Tobias is a vampire and could see Nix slowly loose her humanity the longer they are together.  He leaves to try to capture a long running enemy but is called back to the town Nix lives in by a friend.  When that friend is found murdered, both Nix and Tobias are thrown together by the counsel to solve the murder which is the second in a series of viscous crimes against vampires.  Their interactions are intense and you can just feel the passion simmering beneath.  Their search for the murder and the reasons for the murders is very well written.  There is just enough twist and turns to keep you guessing till the end!  I really loved the world created and the love story between Tobias and Nix.  I can not wait to read the next in the series!

Moonlight Road, Promise Canyon, Wild Man Creek, Harvest Moon, & Bring Me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr

Goodreads Description for Moonlight Road:

WITH HER BELOVED YOUNGER SIBLINGS SETTLED AND HAPPY, ERIN FOLEY HAS EMPTY NEST SYNDROME. AT AGE THIRTY-FIVE. 

So she's hitting the pause button on her life and holing up in a secluded (but totally upgraded --- she's not into roughing it!) cabin near Virgin River. Erin is planning on getting to know herself ... not the shaggy-haired mountain man she meets. 

In fact, beneath his faded fatigues and bushy beard, Aiden Riordan is a doctor, recharging for a summer after leaving the navy. He's intrigued by the pretty, slightly snooty refugee from the rat race --- her meditating and journaling are definitely keeping him at arm's length. He'd love to get closer ... if his scruffy exterior and crazy ex-wife don't hold him back. 

But maybe it's something in the water --- unlikely romances seem to take root in Virgin River ... helped along by some well-intentioned meddling, of course.

My Rating:

My Review:

You met Erin in her sisters book and for me I wanted to see her let loose and take care of herself instead of her siblings!  I was so happy to read this book and finally see her take control of her life and let her siblings take control of theirs!  I loved the chemistry between Erin and Aiden and I laughed out load a lot in this book!  I didn't expect some of the twists in the plot especially where Aiden was involved and the ending what both shocking and superb!  And as always you get a few updates about the Virgin River residents which are always nice to read! Highly Recommend!

Goodreads Description for Promise Canyon:

After years spent on ranches around Los Angeles, Clay Tahoma is delighted to be Virgin River's new veterinary assistant. The secluded community's wild beauty tugs at his Navajo roots, and he's been welcomed with open arms by everyone in town--everyone "except" Lilly Yazhi.

Lilly has encountered her share of strong, silent, "traditional" men within her own aboriginal community, and she's not interested in coming back for more. In her eyes, Clay's earthy, sexy appeal is just an act used to charm wealthy women like his ex-wife. She can't deny his gift for gentling horses, but she's not about to let him control her. There's just one small problem--"she" can't control her attraction to Clay.

But in Virgin River, faith in new beginnings and the power of love has doors opening everywhere....

My Rating:

My Review:

I loved the new blood in Virgin River and the new romance!  Robyn Carr certainly knows how to keep a series going and kicking!  Clay had an interesting life and needed a chance when the local Virgin River Vet and his long time friend calls and asks if he knew of any Vet Techs who were looking for a job he jumped at the chance!  He never expected to meet a blue eye'd hopi goddess!  Lilly had to grow up at age 13 and it was a hard transition for her!  Due to her early advancement into adulthood she has issues trusting men, especially gorgeous Navajo men!  Clay and Lilly's romance is interesting to read and I really liked the Native American aspects to this book!  The ending was sweet and I can't wait to read more about the couple in subsequent books in the series!

Goodreads Description for Wild Man Creek:

Colin Riordan came to Virgin River to recuperate from a horrific helicopter crash, the scars of which he bears inside and out. His family is wonderfully supportive, but it's his art that truly soothes his troubled soul.

Stung personally and professionally by an ill-advised affair, PR guru Jillian Matlock has rented an old Victorian with a promising garden in Virgin River. She's looking forward to cultivating something other than a corporate brand.

Both are looking to simplify, not complicate, their lives, but when Jillian finds Colin at his easel in her yard, there's an instant connection. And in Virgin River, sometimes love is the simplest choice of all....

My Rating:

My Review:

Colin's military career is ended to early due to a stupid commercial airplane not knowing where it was flying.  It flew into his Black Hawk during routine practice on base an Colin now has burn scars and rods and bolts in his body.  He then got addicted to prescription medication and was put into rehab. He goes to Virgin River to try and come to grips with his new life and paint, something he's been doing for a hobby since his teens.  He wasn't prepared for Jillian.  Jillian got blind sided by her boyfriend who was only dating her to get her job.  She has to take a 'leave of absence' from her career and goes to Virgin River to be alone and just try to figure out what has happened to her.  Hope died and Jillian finds out her old house is for sale and she decided to be impulsive, which isn't unusual for her, and buys it to start her own farm.  Colin and Jillian don't seem to have much in common but they have a hot an fantastic relationship.  Such a great page turner! One of my favorites in the series!

Goodreads Description for Harvest Moon:

Rising sous-chef Kelly Matlock's sudden collapse at work is a wake-up call. Disillusioned and burned out, she's retreated to her sister Jillian's house in Virgin River to rest and reevaluate. 
Puttering in Jill's garden and cooking with her heirloom vegetables is wonderful, but Virgin River is a far cry from San Francisco. Kelly's starting to feel a little too unmotivated...until she meets Lief Holbrook. The handsome widower looks more like a lumberjack than a sophisticated screenwriter--a combination Kelly finds irresistible. But less appealing is Lief's rebellious stepdaughter, Courtney. She's the reason they moved from L.A., but Courtney's finding plenty of trouble even in Virgin River. 
Kelly's never fallen for a guy with such serious baggage, but some things are worth fighting for. Besides, a bratty teenager can't be any worse than a histrionic chef...right?

My Rating:

My Review:

Ever since Jillian and Kelly visited Virgin River I knew they'd both get their own books.  This book is Kelly's book.  She's an impressive chef who fell in love with the owner of the restaurant she works at and is a chef himself.  Problem is he's married.  She loved her fast face job until one day changed everything.  She goes to Virgin River to regroup and figure out what she wants in life.  She discovers a lot about herself and Lief.  Lief is a Widower with a teenage step daughter.  They have a lot of issues that are dealt with in this book and it's a pretty good view into the mind of a teenager who's had some traumatic things happen to her in her life.  Lief is an amazing man and dad and is very dedicated to Courtney, even though they aren't blood related.  Kelly and Lief's story is good but not one of my favorites. I felt there was a lot of things that weren't very important and just made the story lag.  I enjoyed reading it to see what happens to Kelly and Lief, who is introduced in a previous book. 

Goodreads Description for Bring Me Home for Christmas:

This year, Becca Timm knows the number one item on her Christmas wish list: getting over Denny Cutler. Three years ago Denny broke her heart before heading off to war. It’s time she got over her silly college relationship and moved on. 

So she takes matters into her own hands and heads up to Virgin River, the rugged little mountain town that Denny calls home, as an uninvited guest on her brother’s men-only hunting weekend. But when an accident turns her impromptu visit into an extended stay, Becca finds herself stranded in Virgin River. With Denny. In very close quarters. 

As the power of Christmas envelops the little town, Becca discovers that the boy she once loved has become a strong and confident man. An the most delicious Christmas present she can imagine.

My Rating:

My Review:

This book is about Denny, who was in previous books, and his ex girlfriend Becca.  Denny had a very hard few years, his mother died of breast cancer, his mother tells him the dad he had wasn't his real dad, he breaks up with his true love to rejoin the marines.  After his tour he finds Becca but she says it's too late so he goes in search of his dad, who is Jack or so his mother says.  Becca is dating a great guy who is going places and has a rich family in Cape Cod.  She can't stop thinking about Denny so she tags along with her brother on a hunting trip Danny is hosting.  Danny and Becca seem like opposites but through the story you see why they love each other.  Becca hurts herself and is stuck in Virgin River after the hunting weekend and Danny steps up to take care of her.  It's a fairly predictable story line and happy ending.  It wasn't a favorite for me and I could have lived without reading it.  I don't know why but I never really got emotionally invested in Danny from the other books. Still a good read if you are like me and reading through the series.

A Town Called Valentine by Emma Cane

Goodreads Description:

Welcome to Valentine Valley—where broken hearts come home to mend, and true love may lie just across the range . . . 

Emily Murphy never thought she’d return to her mom’s rustic hometown in the Colorado Mountains. But after her marriage in San Francisco falls apart, leaving her penniless and heartsick, she returns to her old family home to find a new direction for her life. On her first night back, though, a steamy encounter with handsome rancher Nate Thalberg is not the fresh start she had in mind . . . 

Nate has good reason not to trust the determined beauty who just waltzed into town—he’s no stranger to betrayal. Besides, she’s only there to sell her family’s old property and move back out. But as Nate and Emily begin working side-by-side to restore her time-worn building and old family secrets change Emily’s perception of herself, both are about to learn how difficult it is to hide from love in a place known far and wide for romance, family ties, and happily-ever-afters: a town called Valentine.

My Rating:

My Review:

I received this book as from another book blog giveaway.  I enjoyed it but wasn't in love.  I liked the family dynamic Nate has and I LOVED the first meeting between Nate and Emily.  I felt for all Emily had gone through and I was very happy to see how she took over her life.  I only gave this a three because I felt that the writing wasn't where it could be but it was by no means horrible.  It was a good book and I hope the author creates more in the series so I can see Nate's family find love and maybe Emily's friend Monica.  This series has GREAT potential and I can't wait to read more from this author to see how she progresses her writing and the series!  Emma Cane has the potential to be the next Robyn Carr, we'll see!

Midnight Kiss by Robyn Carr, Jean Brashear, Victoria Dahl

Goodreads Description:

THESE ARE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS WORTH KEEPING! 

TAKE A RISK 

At the inaugural New Year's Eve party at Jack's Bar, two lonely revelers decide the best balm for their broken hearts might just be each other. 

FIND THE PERFECT WORK-LIFE BALANCE 

When a flinty lawyer with a bad-boy addiction meets the quintessential nice guy, sparks fly that consume their expectations of life and love. 

GET THOSE FINANCES IN ORDER 

Working over the holidays on a messy bank takeover is made worse for two federal specialists by an ill-advised kiss that will never happen again ... right?

My Rating:

My Review:

I picked this up because it had Virgin River Story 12 in it.  I'm working my way through that series.  The reading was good, nothing stuck out that was drastically wrong.  The Virgin River story was good but I don't see why it couldn't have been added to one of the other books.  That series has a few running romances at a time and I didn't think it deserved it's own 'book'.  The other two stories were good but nothing fantastic.  I just felt like I wouldn't have been harmed if I had never read the three short stories.  Don't get me wrong they were cute and sweet just not fantastic.  I am not a fan of short stories or novella's so maybe that is tainting my opinion of the stories a little.  

Scandalous Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt

Goodreads Description:

Can a pirate learn that the only true treasure lies in a woman's heart?

Widowed Silence Hollingbrook is impoverished, lovely, and kind—and nine months ago she made a horrible mistake. She went to a river pirate for help in saving her husband and in the process made a bargain that cost her her marriage. That night wounded her so terribly that she hides in the foundling home she helps run with her brother. Except now that same river pirate is back...and he's asking for her help.

"Charming" Mickey O'Connor is the most ruthless river pirate in London. Devastatingly handsome and fearsomely intelligent, he clawed his way up through London's criminal underworld. Mickey has no use for tender emotions like compassion and love, and he sees people as pawns to be manipulated. And yet he's never been able to forget the naive captain's wife who came to him for help and spent one memorable night in his bed...talking.

When his bastard baby girl was dumped in his lap—her mother having died—Mickey couldn't resist the Machiavellian urge to leave the baby on Silence's doorstep. The baby would be hidden from his enemies and he'd also bind Silence to him by her love for his daughter.

My Rating:

My Review:

Since reading the first book in this series I have wanted to read more about Silence.  I was SO EXCITED to read this book!  It starts with Charming Mickey taking his daughter from Silence and Silence coming to get Mary Darling back.  Silence is forced to stay at Mickeys and their interactions get more and more steamy and emotional until they implode.  The connection between Mickey and his enemy is interesting and for a while there I was worried all would not end well!  This book has some good mystery and had me hopping in my seat a few times turning the pages as fast as I could!  Silence's story did not disappoint and I am so happy with the ending!  You HAVE to pick this book up if you like historical romances and/or the Maiden Lane series!  

Till Dawn with the Devil by Alexandra Hawkins

Goodreads Description:

Few women can resist a man like Gabriel “Reign” Housely, the Earl of Rainecourt. With divine good looks, delectable charms, and delicious wealth, he would seem to be every marriage-minded mother’s dream match for their daughters. But not so, given the mysterious death of his first wife. Fortunately for Gabriel, he has no plans to seriously court any of the London ladies ever again. That is, until he shares one unforgettable dance with a mysterious stranger…

Exquisitely beautiful though decidedly modest, Lady Sophia usually shuns the festive ballrooms of London society. But when a man who calls himself “Reign” enters her life—seemingly from out of nowhere—and shows her true kindness, her wary young heart begins to melt. Of course, Sophia would be shocked to learn the truth about Reign’s past. But when scandal strikes, this devilish stranger may be her only salvation…

My Rating:

My Review:

I got this book from Swap.com and was very excited to read it.  This is the second in the Lords of Vice series.  I loved the surprises at the end and I really liked having a heroine who was not perfect and had very poor eye sight.  I think it added something a little different to this series.  Reign had a horrible first marriage and was not keen on doing it again but then he met Lady Sophia and he just couldn't stay away from her.  When she needed protection he couldn't stop himself from coming to her rescue.  I enjoyed reading his slow progression to falling in love and the mystery and action were pretty good in this book.  I read this in a few hours and is a good read! If you enjoyed the first in the series you will like this one I believe.

Princess Charming by Nicole Jordan

Goodreads Description:

In Nicole Jordan’s dazzling new Regency series, the scandalous Wilde cousins seek true love by imitating history’s legendary lovers . . . beginning with Ashton Wilde, Marquis of Beaufort, who takes on the daunting role of Prince Charming to an unlikely Cinderella.

Thanks to the mischievous meddling of his matchmaking sister, Ashton Wilde meets a damsel in distress during the midnight magic of a lavish ball. But Maura Collyer isn’t looking for a prince—or an intimate pairing with any member of the scandalous noble Wilde family.

Intrigued by Maura’s beauty and daring, Ash is determined to aid in the rescue of her beloved stallion, gambled away by her wicked stepmother to an evil viscount. As their adventure becomes rife with peril and passion, Ash suspects he’s found his heart’s desire.

Even though her dearest friend may be her self-proclaimed fairy godmother, Maura is mortified at being pushed into a romance with a notorious rake such as Ash. Dashing and charming, he comes to Maura’s rescue just in time to help her steal back her precious horse. As they flee across the countryside, she can’t resist his sweet seduction. But is her prince playing a role in a fairy tale to test an improbable theory, or is the love awakening in her heart proof of her own happily ever after? 

My Rating:

My Review:

Maura is a woman who has her pride but she must get her prize breeding horse back.  He's more then just a horse, he's her pet and her father gave him to her.  Now that her father is gone she can't to be with out her horse.  Maura's step mother stole his papers and sold him to the very man responsible for Maura's fathers death, even if indirectly.  Maura's first attempt at asking for her horse goes terribly wrong and Ashton Wilde witnesses it all.  Maura ended up loosing her temper and kneeing the scoundrel all while Ashton watched, just about to step in to be the knight in shining armor.  He however learns Maura is more then able to hold her own and that intrigues him.  Ashton tells himself he's just helping Maura because she's best friends with his sisters but its more then that and as they spend more time together he realizes he can't let her go.  Ashton and Maura and real funny together and their romance is an inferno!  The mystery and action in this books is fabulous and I loved seeing such a strong independent female in that era of time!  I really enjoyed getting to know the other family members and I hope the author gives them all their own book and romance!  I know I'll keep this author on my list of author's to keep track of!  Fabulous book!