Buffy's Ramblings

Big thanks to Herding Cats and Burning Soup for hosting this hop! The Share the Love Hop is for the authors or blogs you love. I chose six (even though it was only supposed to be 1-5, sorry) authors that I love. If I didn't love them, I wouldn't be part of their street teams. So yeah, I'm pimping them for two reasons, whatevs! Mina Carter is someone I'm fairly new to, but what I've read I've enjoyed and I know she's a cool person on top of it. Dianne Duvall is someone I've had featured here many times. It's no secret I'm utterly in love with her books. Black Dagger Brotherhood will always have a VERY special place in my heart, but - dare I say it - Dianne's Immortal Guardians series might actually top BDB for my favorite *gasp*! Rachel Firasek is one that I've seen around and read more of and her writing is also very enjoyable. She's also a big multi tasker as I know she is an editor on top of being an author, so prop...

***This book was originally reviewed for Storm Goddess Book Reviews .*** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Summary: When author Zoe Scott arrives in Applehill, Georgia, she relishes the seclusion of the old farmhouse she has rented, but the first night of peace is shattered by strange noises in the night. Zoe begins to wonder if she should believe in ghosts. Deputy Nick Wheeler answers her frantic, angry call to the police about the noises in the night, and when he comes out to do a report, sparks fly between the hot deputy and the skittish Zoe. After a break in at the farmhouse, the stakes get higher. Nick decides he will do what it takes to protect Zoe from whoever wants to harm her-- ghost or man. And he'll get the handcuffs out if he has to to keep her safe. Thoughts: This was an enjoyable read with spicy handcuff fun in the bedroom, but the storyline felt a tad shallow and the romance a bit awkward. I’m a fan of the notion of love at first sight, but while Nick seem...

Thanks to Bewitching Book Tours for hosting this blog tour. I have Jane Kindred, author of Prince of Tricks here today talking about demons. Welcome! ***************************** Listening to Demons Most writers have a complicated relationship with their characters. I used to keep mine to myself, thinking it was a little too close to saying I have voices in my head to admit that I have conversations—and arguments—with my characters from time to time. And the more dynamic the character—the more backtalk I get from one—ultimately, the better the writing. I can say with certainty that no character has ever given me more grief than Belphagor, the Prince of Tricks. But Belphagor pretty much speaks for himself. So without further ado, here are ten quotes from Prince of Tricks that should give you a pretty good picture of what it’s like living with a demon like Belphagor inside your head. One: He tightened his hand against the bruised, beautiful ass, and Vasily made a sligh...

Summary: Cole Harker, son of an alpha werewolf, is bigger and more powerful than most wolves, tongue-tied in groups, and gay. For twenty-four years, he’s lived to please his family and pack—even letting them promise him in marriage to female werewolf Analiese to secure a pack alliance and help save them from a powerful gangster who wants their land. Then Cole meets Analiese’s half-brother, panther shifter Paris Marketo, and for the first time, Cole wants something for himself. When Analiese runs off to marry a human, Cole finally has a chance with Paris, but the solitary cat rejects him, the pack, and everything it represents. Then Cole discovers the gangster wants Paris too and won’t rest until he has him. What started as a land dispute turns into World War Wolf! But the bigger fight is the battle between cats and dogs. Title:   The Pack or the Panther Series:   Tales of the Harker Pack Book #:  1 Author:   Tara Lain Approximate Book Length:   149...

***This book was originally reviewed for Storm Goddess Book Reviews .*** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Summary: Zane has been called upon to act as an ambassador between his weretiger clan and the female assassins who call themselves The Wakened Veils. He must work with the lovely but headstrong vampiress, Kesi. When she meets the handsome, blue-eyed weretiger, Zane, Kesi is overwhelmed by desire but knows a permanent relationship between them can never be. She will do everything in her power to keep from loving Zane, even if it means destroying him along with her heart. Thoughts: I love the big cat shifters, so I was immediately drawn to this one and was excited about it. Zane definitely gets some face time in tiger form, so yay! We get a quick little look into the weretigers’ culture and everything, but mostly it’s Zane interacting with his dad, and then we move into the interaction with the Wakened Veils. We get a little background and insight into them as well, but...

EVERNIGHT TEEN celebrates their one year anniversary this month with a 1st Birthday Blog Hop. It’s EVERNIGHT TEEN’s birthday but you get the presents. The grand prize is a $100 iTunes gift card! EVERNIGHT TEEN books feature fresh teen fiction that is raw, gritty and real. Whether paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi or suspense, EVERNIGHT TEEN stories are about real issues and pack a strong emotional punch. You’ll find cutting edge fiction that today’s young adults can relate to and will keep you turning the pages long into the night. Upper Young Adult titles, include… Urban Fantasy: CURSED by Trakena Prevost Vampire/Shifters: SLAYER FOR HIRE by P.E. Cunningham INCARNATION by Susan Nolan ELYSIUM by Sylah Sloan Mythology: PHOENIX: THE RISING by Bette Maybee Sci-Fi: X5 by Diana Stager Paranormal: A TASTE OF GOLD by Deryn Pittar BLACK AMARANTH by Sasha Hibbs BLOOD HEX by Erin Butler Dystopian: THE TEARINGS by V.C. Repetto Historical: SHARPNEL by Stephanie Lawton ...

Summary: Able to wield thunder and lightning, wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the wyr's best weapons. And he's the one sent to protect Tricks, heir to the Dark Fae throne, when she's almost assassinated in Chicago. Soon Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them-a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds. Title:   Storm's Heart Series:   Elder Races Book #:  2 Author:   Thea Harrison Approximate Book Length:   315 Pages Recommended Reader Age:   18+ Sexual Content:   Explicit Thoughts: I liked the first book just fine, but this book just made me want the whole series. I really enjoyed this one. I love Tiago and what he’s capable of as a Thunderbird. Niniane is cute and fierce – deadly in her own right. Their chemistry is scorching and I adored them together. The conflict was a little predicta...

Obviously, I'm a new mom. With that, some adjustments have had to be made, and more are needing to be made as well. Starting March, I will be hosting blog tours very infrequently (probably only for my street team authors and such). There will be reviews posted weekly. I will try to at least post two a week, but I make no promises. We're going to be moving around this summer so that'll only add to the time I don't have to work on this. Do I still intend to write? Yes. When? I have no idea. I'm currently drowning in depression and swamped with all things baby. I really, really don't want to shut the blog down, so this is my solution. If things don't change once the moving is all done, I may have to take it down. Thank you all for reading and I hope you'll stick around.

Thanks to Book Monster Promotions for hosting this blog tour. I'm sharing a little about The Grave Series by Lori Sjoberg today. Happy reading! ***************************** The Grave Series - Book 2 She’s sexy-fierce, resourceful—and will do anything to protect victims as innocent as she once was. But this kick-ass reaper never bargained on meeting her not-quite-human match…or putting their very souls on the line. A luxury Caribbean cruise is Ruby Dawson’s idea of hell even under the best circumstances. Too many bad memories bubble up—especially of the wrenching injustice that made her a reaper. It doesn’t help that Jack Deverell is making this routine soul-collecting job twice as difficult with his devilish good looks and not-so-innocent questions. Now, as several unscheduled, unexplainable deaths throw passengers and crew into a panic, Jack becomes the prime suspect. The only way Ruby can save him is to challenge the decades-old curse threatening his soul. And ...

***This book was originally reviewed for Storm Goddess Book Reviews .*** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Summary: Race Reed doesn’t want a wife, but to save his ranch he needs a baby. To gain custody of her stepsister, Claire Jensen needs a husband, but she wants love. Wants and needs are bound to clash when they run The Baby Race. Race Reed reserves his love and attention for the abused horses he cares for on his ranch. Because his mother changed husbands as often as she changed clothes, doesn’t believe in wedded bliss. Now to save his ranch he needs the money his paternal grandmother is offering as a marriage incentive. The bizarre contest she’s set up between him and his two cousins to produce her first great-grandchild is another matter. His only option – cheat in The Baby Race. Claire Jensen wants two things out of life, home and family. During her younger years she never questioned her father’s nomadic lifestyle as he hunted for treasure, but as she grew older she longed...

Summary: With the challenge complete and the corrupt Alpha of Coldspring defeated Fane is now free to complete the mate bond with Jacque and perform the Blood Rites. Although the challenge is done, the affects are far reaching. Once it is known that Vasile one of the strongest Alphas in the world is in America, specifically Coldspring, TX, there is one Alpha who cannot over look the significance of this. An Alpha who happens to share Jacque's DNA, but is this the one she needs to fear? With her mom driving and her two best friends, Jen and Sally in tow, Jacque set off for her happily ever after. She will soon realize a plan has been put in motion that will change her course and possibly tear her from Fane's grasp forever. It will take a wolf pack, her mother's love, her two best friend's unrelenting determination, her own will to survive and the undying love of her mate to bring her home. The question remains, if she fights, if she endures, who will she be, what ...

Thanks to BTS Tours for hosting this blog tour. I'm sharing my review of Ariel's Song by Evie Knight today. Happy reading! ***************************** Summary: Colin Hoskins, famous classical violinist, is tainted by his past. Angry at life, unable to move beyond the betrayal of his dead fiancé, he’s sworn off performing or falling in love ever again. All Colin wants is to be left alone, except no one listens. Especially the pretty little assistant he can’t fire and his body burns to claim. Stranded in a foreign country, bankrupted heiress Ariel Parks needs a job to fund her way home. Assistant of sorts to the musician she’s fantasized about for years sounds like a dream job. She never imagined the gorgeous genius would be a reclusive beast. But the real problem is the way every nerve in her body tingles at the mention of his name. Title:   Ariel's Song Series:   In Bed with the Enemy Book #:  1 Author:   Evie Knight Approximate Book Length...

***This book was originally reviewed for Storm Goddess Book Reviews .*** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Summary: Sophie is just your average teenage girl who's world gets turned upside down by the handsome stranger in her dreams. Or so it seems... She no longer knows where her dreams end and reality begins. Thoughts: The blurb for this book had me really intrigued, but after reading, I’m a little confused and disturbed. First of all, the thirty pages this book is estimated at included a several page peek at book 2, so this one is actually more like eighteen to twenty pages long. It’s really short and is mostly all about Sophie trying to decipher what’s real and what’s not with her mystery dream stranger. I believe it’s because of the length that I’m left so confused. Separating reality from dreams wasn’t that difficult, but we’re given zero information about the mystery guy and why he does what he does. Seducing a seventeen year old out of her virginity purely f...

Burning - Tears of Sin Book 2 “Never say never.” Gabe James never thought he’d suffer from a broken heart. He never thought he’d have to work for a living. And he sure as hell never thought he’d fall for a woman that carries a torch for the man that is trying to ruin his life. Jade McKenzie has danced with demons most of her life, and just when she feels like the dark clouds have lifted, a pointless fight with an ex-boyfriend leaves her with a scarred face and ends her ballet career. Now she dances on a stage where the sway of her hips trumps the pirouettes of her past, a mask concealing her marred beauty. But nothing will stop the pain of shattered dreams. Except love. With Gabe’s career on the line and the threat of financial ruin blazing on the horizon, he’s guarded against a woman threatening to distract him even further when he needs his focus most. Jade can’t escape the memories of her past or Gabe’s heated glances—even if he swears that it’s her enthralling him. The t...

Summary: Ever since high school, Kayla has been crazy for gorgeous football player Talon. But before she could muster the courage to tell him, he became a hot item with her beautiful BFF, Reagan. The only person who knows Kayla’s secret is Wesley, Talon’s best bud—and he’s got it bad for Reagan. Now they’re all in college together, hanging out 24/7. For Kayla, seeing the two lovebirds together is absolutely unbearable. So Kayla and Wesley hatch a plot to drive them apart before Talon has a chance to give Reagan the Christmas gift she’s been waiting for. Soon enough, the once happy couple is fighting. Reagan suddenly can’t get enough of Wesley’s goofy sense of humor, and Talon seems to be paying more attention to Kayla than a guy who’s “only a friend” ever should. But just when everything seems to be falling into place, Kayla and Wesley accidentally spend a night together and discover a hitch in their plan they never considered: that switching partners may not lead to a perfect ...

Thanks to Bewitching Book Tours for hosting this blog tour. I have Elise Sax, author of Bounty here today. Welcome! ***************************** I may be in love, and the weird thing is that I created him. He’s a figment of my imagination. He’s tall, dark, and handsome. He’s smart, manly, and he has muscles in all the right places. And sure, he’s a mercenary, and sure he kidnapped a woman and sold her to a crazy despot, but nobody’s perfect. Right? So, who am I in love with? He’s the hero in BOUNTY, my latest rom com thriller. Luckily my heroine is in love with him, too, but it took a while. I mean…they had a bumpy start: He kidnapped her. Then, there were the guns and mines and just about everybody trying to kill them. But love conquers all. And did I mention he’s really hot? Normally, I would warn you not to fall in love with him because he’s mine. But the funny thing about writers is that they share their heroes. It’s the kinky part about authors that ...

Big thanks to Rachel Firasek for hosting this blog hop! First off, I'll share a couple of my favorite books of 2013: &nbsp &nbsp Second, let's talk about my goals for this year. I want to read all the books I currently have without flooding myself with new buys too! I have SO MUCH! I'm literally going through my books on my Kindle alphabetically. I eventually need to go through my shelf too, especially since I'll hopefully be moving this coming summer. So hears to working through my TBR list! I also want to review a TON of those books, so I'm hoping to do...let's say 200ish reviews this year between my blog and GraveTells :-) No for the fun part. My giveaway! I'm offering up an Amazon copy of any book by Jennifer James! Just enter the Rafflecopter below and you're golden! Open to US/INT since it's a digital copy up for grabs. a Rafflecopter giveaway There's also a grand prize for on the hop! a Rafflecopter givea...

***This book was originally reviewed for Storm Goddess Book Reviews .*** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Summary: Focused on the bottom line, corporate paralegal Linda Underwood answers to no one. Her world is torn apart when a bear shifter turns her romantic weekend rendezvous into a desperate struggle to stay alive. Now a recently-turned shifter herself, she is determined to beat the affliction by ignoring her newly awakened beastly impulses. After the accidental death of his wife, shifter Flynn Cromwell finds solace in a remote mountain cabin, immersed in his computer network security work. When he discovers Linda's ravaged body near the brink of death, he's compelled to protect her. Can Flynn save Linda from her own stubborn nature and defend her from a vicious shifter with a taste for her blood? Can Linda soothe the beast within, even the score with her maker, and gain Flynn's trust as well his heart? Thoughts: I don’t know if it’s because I was reading a r...

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling authors C.J. Ellisson and Celia Kyle have teamed up with SEVEN more sizzling Bestselling paranormal writers to create a pulse-pounding read like no other! Eight stories. Some of the hottest authors in the industry. One place.  WOLF PROTECTOR by Milly Taiden: A woman with a secret. A man with one desire. A case that pushes them to the edge...  WHY THESE TWO by Jackie Ivie: Reika has found her mate. Darryl Bailes. He's big. Brawny. Black Ops trained. Brutal. And stubborn. He's not interested in being anyone's mate - especially a vampire's. Well. The knives are out. Challenges made. And somebody is going to lose.  DEATH TIMES TWO by C.J. Ellisson and Boone Brux: The V V Inn has a ghost problem, one that requires the help of Lisa Carron, resident Alaskan grim reaper. Tasked with helping her, fledgling vampire Asa soon realizes that not only can she provide the dead a peaceful passing, but offer him solace in a way no othe...

Summary: When Lana Bloom learns the devastating news that her mother is dying, she is faced with a terrible dilemma. The one thing that can save her is the one thing she does not have. For young and Innocent Lana, The unthinkable is her only choice. When she walks through the door of that exclusive restaurant she has no idea of the seismic shift her life is about to take, for the highest bidder will not be the rich man she has accompanied. Fate drops her at the feet of the deeply mysterious and dazzlingly gorgeous American banker, Blake Law Barrington. Throbbing with raw masculinity and arrogance, this is a man who owns all that he pursues. And now he wants her. Lana cannot deny she is both intrigued and intoxicated by the world Blake inhabits and the smouldering passion he stirs in her body, but she is also fearful for this man is addictive and right now she is very vulnerable. She knows she should focus only on the arrangement, but how can she? When he has opened a door th...