Feature and Giveaway: Can't Hardly Breathe by Gena Showalter

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with an irresistible Original Heartbreakers story about a woman who’s never felt desired and the man who wants her more than air to breathe…

Bullied in high school, Dorothea Mathis’s past is full of memories she’d rather forget. But there’s one she can’t seem to shake—her longstanding crush on former Army Ranger Daniel Porter.  Now that the sexy bad boy has started using her inn as his personal playground, she should kick him out...but his every heated glance makes her want to join him instead.

Daniel returned to Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma to care for his ailing father and burn off a little steam with no strings attached. Though he craves the curvy Dorothea night and day, he’s as marred by his past as she is by hers. The more he desires her, the more he fears losing her.

But every sizzling encounter leaves him desperate for more, and soon Daniel must make a choice: take a chance on love or walk away forever.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes | Kobo |

Feature: The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter

The Queen of Paranormal Romance, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter, returns with THE DARKEST TORMENT, the eagerly anticipated twelfth novel in her Lords of the Underworld series, available May 31, 2016! Pre-order your copy today!

Pre-order your copy of THE DARKEST TORMENT by Gena Showalter, and each week, be entered to win 1 of 4 darkly dangerous prizes! Just fill out the form! http://bit.ly/23mjCxS

ARC Review: The Hotter You Burn by Gena Showalter

**Part of a series but a standalone, you don't have to read the other book first**

This book is kind of a variation on the Cinderella theme which I really enjoy. In this book, Harlow is cast as the flawed Cinderella and the entire town of Strawberry Valley plays the role of the evil step family. It turns out that Harlow was a notorious bully in high school and even though that was years ago, no one has forgotten it or forgiven her for the torture she visited on them and their loved ones, So unlike poor Cinderella, Harlow maaaaay have had something to do with her treatment by others. Similar to Cinderella, however, Harlow finds herself in some tough financial times which puts her at the mercy of the town that hates her. As she is struggling to recover without leaving the town that she (inexplicably) loves, Harlow meets Beck and he ain't no Prince Charming.

Beck is struggling with his own demons from the past. In fact, Beck's past experiences have given him the impression that true love and lasting relationships are a myth. Beck has lived his life on the 'one night' train that so many of our favorite book boyfriends can't seem to stay off of. Beck is immediately attracted to Harlow and recognizes that his feelings for her are unlike any he has had for other pump and dump chicks in his life but he spends most of the book not being able to overcome his past.

I love the relationship between Harlow and Beck as it develops. Beck was protective of Harlow and wanted to protect her from nearly day one. Despite his feelings he gets the idea that the way to get Harlow out of his mind is to hook her up with someone else. This leads to all sorts of predictable shenanigans. For Harlow's part, after she accepts the fact that she has feelings for Beck, she refuses to accept anything that is temporary. Beck thinks he can only give her temporary, they struggle with communication issues and Harlow struggles with her life of poverty and scorn.

The thing that really sets this book a part in my mind is Harlow's story. I don't think I've ever read a romance about a former bully. And it wasn't just Harlow being a former bully that drew me in, it was the way she valiantly tried to do penance despite the fact that the people of Strawberry Valley were petty as hell and couldn't let go of anything. I had moments where Harlow's attempts to win people over drove me a little crazy (especially the hotel scenes) but mostly I thought that it added a lot of depth to her character and made her an unforgettable heroine. I especially appreciated that Harlow refused to give up on what she wanted out of a relationship. There was a point at which she could have settled for less but sticking to her guns gave her and Beck a better chance at having something genuine.

There is great dialogue in this book with lots of witty banter. The supporting cast is also pretty good. Harlow makes friends with some of the women who previously hated her and they guide her through her romance with Beck since she doesn't know much about romance. There were moments that I found the girls group a bit high schoolish but for the most part they were just really funny and added a lot of entertainment to the book. Beck's friends also added entertainment value to the story and I'm really looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. There wasn't as much of the steamy stuff as I usually prefer but what was lacking in steam was made up for in the overall story. This is a true romance and it's well worth the read.

**ARC provided by RockStarLit PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |

Feature and Giveaway: Barbarian's Concubine by Lisa Cach + Tempt Me Eternally by Gena Showalter

Grab your e-reader and enjoy Barbarian's Concubine by Lisa Cach and Tempt Me Eternally by Gena Showalter many more e-books this summer. Wherever you go, Pocket Star-E Nights are guaranteed to make your evenings shine!

After Clovis becomes king of his tribe of Salian Franks he reunites with Nimia. He soon realizes how useful her Phannic gifts will be, and with her help, plots to take down Soissons. She is in love with Clovis, however, and while he says he loves her, too... there is a calculating coldness in his eyes sometimes that makes her wonder if he knows what love is.

Sygarius, meanwhile, is outraged that Nimia fled, and he too has realized that she has useful powers. He wants her back. And he is prepared to fight for what’s his.

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

Pre-order Giveaway with Gena Showalter and Kait Ballenger

The AFTER DARK Anthology featuring Gena Showalter's The Darkest Angel and Kait Ballenger's Shadow Hunter is being released in mass market paperback on December 31 and to celebrate we are giving away lots of goodies.

ENTRY RULES:

PLEASE BE SURE TO READ ENTRY RULES COMPLETELY!

In order to enter, you must email a picture, screen shot or attach a copy of your receipt from your purchase of either the MASS MARKET PAPERBACK or MASS MARKET EBOOK version of After Dark.

PLEASE NOTE: It MUST be the MASS MARKET format to be eligible for the giveaway.

Email your receipts to: 

kaitballengergiveaway@gmail.com

PRIZE PACKAGES:

GRAND PRIZE

Two (2) random entrants will each receive a $100.00 gift card to Amazon.

FIRST 10 ENTRANTS

will receive a giant SWAG pack that contains a signed bookplate plus bookmarks from Gena along with SWAG from 50+ authors, courtesy of Book Monster Promotions.

FIRST 50 ENTRANTS

will receive a goodie bag from Kait that includes bookmarks, magnets, pens and other goodies.

FIRST 500 ENTRANTS

will receive the first chapter of Immortal Hunter, Book #2 in Kait's Execution Underground series for an exclusive peek.

You have until 1/10/14 to purchase your Mass Market edition and submit your receipt. Winners will be announced by 1/15/14.

A Timeless Seduction

A Unique Temptation

And a Whole World of Dark Desires…

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter….

The Darkest Angel

Winged warrior Lysander has been alive for centuries, and yet he's never known desire—until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of his enemy, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the untouched Lysander into temptation. He may try to evade her attempts, but even the most iron-willed demon assassin can resist for only so long….

And from debut author Kait Ballenger….

Shadow Hunter

Vampire hunter Damon Brock's newest assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn't the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family—and she works solo. But being alone is no longer an option when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. Forced to unite against the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they must decide between their lifelong beliefs…and their newfound desires.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble |

Feature and Giveaway: Black and Blue by Gena Showalter

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter's pulse-pounding paranormal series continues with an electrifying story about the ultimate warrior and his prize: a beautiful woman he will do anything to possess.

HE IS EVERY WOMAN’S FANTASY. . .

Corbin Blue is a man of many talents. One of the most powerful otherworlders ever born, he is wealthy, a professional football star, and a legend in the bedroom. But only a select few know he is also a black ops agent...and there is no better killer. When he and his crew are attacked and separated, he’s forced to turn to his boss’s daughter for help―a woman with even more secrets than Blue.

. . .SHE BECOMES HIS ONLY OBSESSION

Evangeline Black has always been wary, guarded. No man has ever breeched her walls. Until Blue. He has never been denied something he wants, and now, he’s decided he wants her. As he sweeps her into his double life of seduction, intrigue, and danger, he helps her see beyond the darkness of her past. But as an enemy closes in, Blue will have to let Evie go to keep her safe—even though he'd rather die than live without her…

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Feature and Giveaway: The Lords of the Underworld Series by Gena Showalter

Long ago, twelve immortals warriors – each more dangerously seductive than the last -- stole and opened Pandora’s box, unleashing the evil from within. Now they carry that evil within themselves. Violence, Pain, Death, Disease, Disaster, Misery, Doubt, Promiscuity, Defeat, Lies, Secrets, and Wrath. When a powerful enemy returns, they will travel the world in search of a sacred relic of the gods – one that threatens to destroy them all.

LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD Series Reading Order:

The Darkest Fire (Lords of the Underworld, #0.5)

The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld, #1)

The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld, #2)

The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld, #3)

The Darkest Prison (Lords of the Underworld, #3.5)

The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld, #4)

Heart of Darkness Anthology (Includes: Lords of the Underworld, #4.5)

After Dark Anthology: The Darkest Angel (Lords of The Underworld, #4.5)

The Darkest Passion (Lords of the Underworld, #5)

The Darkest Lie (Lords of the Underworld, #6)

The Darkest Secret (Lords of the Underworld, #7)

The Darkest Surrender (Lords of the Underworld, #8)

The Darkest Seduction (Lords of the Underworld, #9)

The Darkest Craving (Lords of The Underworld, #10)

ARC Review: Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter

Don't hate me, but I didn't love this book. I really want to love it but for some reason I just couldn't really connect with it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this story a lot and I liked the world and characters Gena introduced us to, I just felt like something was missing.

Zacharel is a cold, calculating warrior angel who has spent the last several hundred years emotionally dead inside. He has no feelings towards anyone else and does not care who he hurts in his attempt to banish the world of demons. Because of his ruthlessness and his disregard for human life he has been given one more chance to prove himself worthy of being an angel. He must take a army of misfit angels that are all on the cusp of being thrown out of the heavens for their rebellious and bad behavior and train them which isn't an easy job. Any mistakes and it's Zacharel's wings that are on the line.

Annabelle Miller has spent the last four years locked up for a crime she didn't commit. When she was eighteen she witnessed her parents murder at the hands of a demon and no one will believe her. She now resides in a facility for the criminally insane. She knows she isn't crazy and she had nothing to do with the death of her parents, but ever since that horrific day Annabelle has been able to see demons that no one else can and because of this she has spent the last four years defending herself against demon attacks. She has no idea why the demons attacked and killed her parents or even why they come for her now. When a chance meeting with Zacharel she finds she may finally get her answers.

Zacharel can't help but be intrigued by Annabelle. She has awakened something in him that he hasn't felt before. She is feisty and strong and will fight to the death if she must and he can't help the strong attraction he feels towards her. He quickly decides he wants to help keep her safe until they are able to figure out just what exactly is going on.

I really liked Annabelle and I thought that she is unbelievably strong. She has been through hell and back and she doesn't let it defeat her. She continues to fight tooth and nail and doesn't take no one's crap. I liked that she stands up to Zacharel and doesn't cower in the corner waiting for someone else to save the day.

As for Zacharel, it took me awhile to warm up to him. He was never my favorite and I always found him a bit cold and uncaring. But once I got a feel for him and started to understand the reason why he's the way he is he started to grow on me. He's got a lot of burdens to bear and the way he copes is by shutting himself off from everyone. I enjoyed watching him learn to care and to feel emotions.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Annabelle and Zacharel. Neither walks on eggshells around the other and they are both pretty blunt and to the point with everything. They didn't dance around one another or play any games. I actually really enjoy the beginning of their relationship because there was a bit of back and forth arguing going on that is very reminiscent of her LOTU books.

This was a good opening to what looks to be another great series for Gena. While I might not have liked this books as some of Gena's previous works, I did enjoy it and still found it hard to put down. Gena just has a way with creating a world full of interesting characters that you just want to know more about. She introduced a few characters that I can't wait to see more of. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in the Angels of Dark series. I give this book a high 3.

**ARC copy provided by author**

Purchase:
| Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Review: The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter

I know I'm in the minority when it comes to my rating of this book which is 3 and a half stars, but it honestly did not live up to my expectations. I'm not sure if it was because I've been waiting for this book for what seems like forever or if it was something else. Honestly, I don't really even have anything bad to say about it. Just for some reason I wasn't able to connect with this book like I was able to with the others. For me this book just seemed to drag on and on.

I think I just had a harder time trying to connect with Paris. Throughout the series he has been one of my favorites of the Lords, but in this book there was just something about him. I'm not sure if it was his tendency to be slightly too possessive and controlling of Siena or what, but he came across too alpha for me at times. I found myself rolling my eyes more than once and putting the book down out of sheer frustration. I hated that he tries to forbid Siena to do anything. I understand, he just wants her safe but damn, give the girl a chance. Don't get me wrong, I love alpha males but I hate when they don't let the heroine think and act for themselves.

Siena was actually a surprise to me. She had more backbone and spunk then I was expecting. She continuously stands up for herself and the ones that she loves. I really admired that about her. She isn't some simpering heroine that sits back expecting everyone to fix everything for her. She finds her own solutions to her problems. Another thing I liked about Siena is her complete honesty with Paris. She doesn't lie or play games. She is real with him and I really enjoyed watching their relationship pan out.

There were also a lot twists and turns in this book that I did not see coming and they made me very anxious for the next book. Certain things have transpired and I'm dying to see what becomes of them and the Lords.

Purchase:
| Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

RATING:

Review: The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter

I.LOVED.THIS.BOOK! Gena has gone and done it again. I totally loved this book to pieces. This one is definitely going down as one of my favorites in the Lords of the Underworld series.

I honestly wasn't sure how I would feel towards Strider. In previous books he came across as egotistical and a little douchey. I honestly wasn't really looking forward to him as a hero. He more than made up for all of that in my eyes with this book. He turned out to be so caring and affectionate towards Kaia. He put her needs before his own, even though it could possibly cause him pain. He was everything I love my heroes to be.

Then there is Kaia. Sometimes it's hard for me to warm up to some heroines. I don't always find them to be the perfect match for the hero or they just come across whiny. That was not the case with Kaia at all. She is just made of awesome. She quickly won me over with her spunkiness and quick wit. But not only is she those things, but she is also very vulnerable. She puts up this facade of not caring what anyone thinks of her but it's definitely not true. She is tired of being called 'Kaia, the Disappointment' and is willing to do whatever she can to prove that she has changed.

Kaia just wants to find love and to be loved in return. She recognizes Strider as her consort, which to Harpy's is equivalent to a soul mate and the only person besides fellow Harpy's that they can truly trust with their secrets. She just wants to be with Strider but she has a past with Paris that Strider is having issues getting past. Strider is attracted to Kaia but he knows that Kaia will continuously challenge him and his demon and he doesn't want to take a chance of her defeating him at anything.

I really enjoyed watching these two together. They were both just so right together. They both are fierce warriors who have a great sense of humor. I found myself laughing out loud a few times watching these two interact. They are just so stubborn and I loved it.

Another thing I loved about the Darkest Surrender is that we get to see a little bit of what's in store for the next book which happens to be the long awaited Paris book. I cannot wait to see what happens with his book. I am also curious to see what is going to happen with Kane and William.

RATING:

ARC Review: Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter

I'm a big Gena Showalter fan and I've pretty much have read all of her books. Going into this one I had really high expectations. That being said, I have slightly mixed feelings when it comes to this book. It was a good book, but I felt it was just missing some of the Gena feeling that I've come to love with reading her other books. One of my favorite things I like about reading a Gena Showalter book is the banter that happens between the characters. May it be between the hero and heroine or some other character entirely, it's just something that I've grown to love from her. With this book there wasn't any banter at all between any characters. Jane and Nicolai instantly went from being strangers, to being lovers on the run. Even when they both did have discussions with each other it just seemed like they just kept telling each other how much they wanted one another. At times it seemed like Nicolai couldn't even string together a full sentence. It seemed like all he spoke was "Caveman". All he did was constantly say that Jane was "His" over and over. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely sexy when a extremely hot alpha male calls you "Mine" in the heat of passion, but with Nicolai that is all he would say. It just became very monotonous. I just wanted to hear more from him. Besides that I really enjoyed this story and the relationship between Jane and Nicolai.

Nicolai is everything I've come to love about alpha males. He's sexy, extremely protective, and not afraid to show his feelings. He is constantly worried about Jane and her well being. He will stop at absolutely nothing to keep her safe. If anyone is foolish enough to hurt her, he will stop at nothing to exact revenge and make it incredibly painful. Nicolai is definitely someone that I would not want to cross.

Jane was a great match for Nicolai. She wasn't just some whiny wimp of a heroine who waits around for the hero to save her. No sir, that isn't Jane at all. She is very self-efficient and is willing to go to great extremes to defend both Nicolai and herself. There are even a few times that she is successful at defending herself against others.
I really enjoyed these two together. They were exactly what each other needed in their lives. Both Jane and Nicolai are so hot together. They definitely had a few steamy scenes while on the run. I normally don't really believe in the whole "love at first sight" storyline but Gena does it in such a great and believable way.
With Lord of the Vampires being the beginning of this series, I can't wait to see what else we are in store for. I love that each book is written by a different author. It makes things very interesting and I am extremely anxious to see everyone else's take on this world and the characters within it.

**This was an ARC copy provided by NetGalley**