ARC Review: SEAL WOLF HUNTING by Terry Spear

SEAL Wolf Hunting

by Terry Spear

Heart of the Wolf series, Book #16 

Paul Cunningham is one of the only bachelors left on the SEAL wolf team, and he's less than thrilled to hear he's been volunteered for a local charity bachelor auction.

Lori Greypaw suspected that her grandmother would use the auction as an opportunity to fix her up. So she's not surprised when she "buys" Paul to help Lori renovate her mountain cabin for a week. Lori's had a crush on the sexy SEAL wolf for years, but he proves to be handy with more than a hammer when two fugitives come knocking and he'll do anything to protect the woman he's falling for...

SEAL Wolf Hunting is book 16 in the Heart of the Wolf series and my first book by this author.  I found this book to be entertaining, if a bit uneven. At its foundation, there is a good storyline.  Paul is a member of an elite covert security company made up of SEAL shifters.  He loves his work.  He is also a member of a pack in his hometown, one of only two male wolves.  His parents were the leaders of the pack before they were killed and he is in line to take over the alpha leader role.  So far, he has not taken up the mantel. He is now home for a little R&R and gets roped into a “honey-do” bachelor auction.  But being home also means being close to Lori Greypaw, the woman who makes him think about more than his work with his teammates. 

In the field of shifter stories, this is nice read.  Interesting elements such as the recovery of bones buried in the lake, and Native American art and culture pepper the story. However, the narrative is uneven.  Pacing is a problem.  The romance takes way too long to establish, especially since Paul and Lori already know one another.  On the other hand, the suspense/mystery is rushed and resolved too quickly.  Repetitive phrasing and words make the story feel clunky.  The term “SEAL” itself is used 82 times.  Additionally, dated phrases from the 80’s such as and “enjoying each other to the max” bring a chuckle and seems out of place in this very contemporary story.  

IN A NUTSHELL:

Although the story has lots of potential, there are many other shifter series that are faster paced.  I would probably put this in the middle of a PNR TBR list.  Something enjoyable, if not overly exciting.      

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

ARC Review: NEED YOU FOR KEEPS By Marina Adair

Need You for Keeps

by Marina Adair

Heroes of St. Helena, Book 1

When it comes to caring for the furry residents of St. Helena, California, groomer and pet rescuer Shay Michaels can handle anything. Humans are another story, though especially Deputy Jonah Baudouin. He's the town's resident superhero: upright, uptight, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous, even when he's investigating complaints about Shay's beloved foster animals. And that spells danger for Shay, a free spirit who can't risk trusting the wrong person again.

Jonah and Shay have been circling each other ever since she came to town, and he's running out of reasons to "not" kiss her senseless. But this deputy is a straight shooter with his eye on the sheriff's badge. He can't afford to get involved with Shay, a chaos magnet with luscious curves who's liable to turn his career and his life upside down. He enforces laws. She breaks them repeatedly. Keeping her out of trouble is becoming a full-time job and it's one he hopes is never going to end.

Need You for Keeps is book one in the Heroes of St. Helena, a spin-off of the St. Helena Vineyard series. Marina Adair is a new author to me.  I chose this book on a whim and mid-way through, I stopped to go back and purchase all five books in the St. Helena Vineyard series. The Napa Valley region is one of my most favorite places in the world and I can easily imagine these characters living this kind of story there in the quaint town of St. Helena. 

Stories like these make me happy and remind me why I read contemporary romance. I fell in love with the writing, the characters, the plot, and the setting. After reading so many dark paranormal stories recently, Marina Adair’s story is bright and refreshing.  She expertly conveys the sweet nature of the characters.  No, they are not perfect, but they are, at their core, essentially good, and this is what binds Jonah and Shay together as a couple.  On the surface, their personalities seem to be opposite from one another.  She is the free-spirit, willing to bend the rules a little, animal lover.  He is the follow the rules, disciplined, hometown law and order hero.  We are just so different.  He is determined to walk the line, and I walk it until I find where it fades.   She grew up in the foster system where she learned that she never quite belonged: Even when she’d been in foster care she’d been forced to knock on the front door if it had been locked when she’d gotten home from school.  He grew up with solid family support and ties.  

Although their obstacles seem almost insurmountable, through misunderstandings develops a keen appreciation for each other’s strengths.  It’s a familiar story, but done so well with beautiful words and wonderful phrases that make me sigh: You are the color in my black and white world, and I love every shade that you are. 

St. Helena is a small town and, as expected, there are standout supporting characters.  The townspeople are intimately a part of the charm and humor of the story.  Northern Californians give Southerners a run for their money in the quirkiness department.  

In A Nutshell:
Sweet, adorable, humorous and infinitely re-readable, don’t miss this old-fashioned love story. 

Marina Adair is a National bestselling author of romance novels. Along with the St. Helena Vineyard series, she is also the author of Tucker's Crossing, part of the Sweet Plains series. She currently lives in a hundred-year-old log cabin, nestled in the majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, with her husband and daughter.


As a writer, Marina is devoted to giving her readers contemporary romance where the towns are small, the personalities large, and the romance explosive.

Don't Miss The St. Helena Vineyard Series. 

Goodreads

Kissing Under the Mistletoe | Summer In Napa | Autumn In the Vineyard

Be Mine Forever | From the Moment We Met

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.  

ARC REVIEW: "Cold Burn of Magic" by Jennifer Estep

Cold Burn of Magic 

by Jennifer Estep

Book 1 in the Black Blade series

There Be Monsters Here. . .

It's not as great as you'd think, living in a tourist town that's known as "the most magical place in America." Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power. 

I try to keep out of it. I've got my mom's bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick. 

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend's pawn shop, and I have to make a call--get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn't. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I'm stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I'm going to end up just like her.

After reading this book, I know one thing for sure; Jennifer Estep knows how to build a darn good magical world with just the right amount of Southern charm. 

In Cold Burn of Magic, book one in Ms. Estep’s new Black Blade series, we are introduced to the charming town of Cloudburst Fall, West Virginia – where the magical creatures are the focal point of tourism.  Underneath the pretty Disneyland-like façade is the dark and dangerous world of family dynasties and rivalries that put the mafia to shame – the Sopranos have nothing on these families.   

Lila Merriweather is a teenager that has been on her own, escaping the foster care system after her mother died.  She is a high school student currently living in a storage room at the local library. She survives by committing petty crimes and helping out her “Uncle” Mo, a friend of her mother and sometimes guardian.  Mo sends her out on “missions” to steal or reposes items from the rich.  Lila also has a secret. Although not obvious from the outside, Lila has special and unique powers that could make her a target for exploitation. 

Lila soon gets involved with the Sinclair family when she saves the favored son, Devon’s, life.  Through circumstances, she then becomes his bodyguard, following in her mother’s footsteps.  

I enjoy this new set of characters.  Lila is a survivor.  She is scrappy, living on the streets because she has to.  She reminds me of a young Gin Blanco from Ms. Estep’s other series, Elemental Assassin.  (I guess the comparison is inevitable, right?).  On the outside she is aloof, tough and thick-skinned. On the inside, she wants to see the good in people and situations.  She has skills, but more importantly, she has a huge capacity to care.  This is not a new type of character in the urban fantasy genre, but Lila’s is really developed well. 

Devon is a standout from one of the ruling families.  Despite the questionable behaviors of his family’s business, he has been able to maintain his goodness.  However, rival families target him because of his special gift. This is a risk that Lila and Devon share. 

There are great fight scenes, highly dramatic revelations, and just a wee bit of angst – enough to make the story interesting, but not too much to turn people off if you are not a YA reader. 

This story takes place in the Elemental Assassin universe.  There is mention of Ashland – home of The Spider, Gin Blanco.  This will, of course, invite comparisons.  But I found that it also helped me rediscover and appreciate Jennifer Estep’s creative and imaginative writing.  With a long running series like Elemental Assassins, where the context is familiar, it is easy to forget how difficult it is to continue to create something new and fresh.  That is what Ms. Estep does here.  She balances elements that are familiar with a fresh new set of characters and storylines that are attractive and engaging.  After I finished, two words flashed in my head, “Gimme more!”

IN A NUTSHELL:
Where you are a long time fan of the author or someone new to her work, this is a fantastic start to a new series. 

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin adult urban fantasy series for Pocket. Books in the series are SPIDER'S BITE, WEB OF LIES, VENOM, TANGLED THREADS, SPIDER'S REVENGE, BY A THREAD, and WIDOW'S WEB. THREAD OF DEATH, an e-novella, is also available. 

HAINTS AND HOBWEBS: AN ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN SHORT STORY can be found in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF GHOST ROMANCE.

DEADLY STING, the eighth book, is set to be released on March 26, 2013.

Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. 

Books in the series are TOUCH OF FROST, KISS OF FROST, and DARK FROST. CRIMSON FROST, the fourth book, is set to be released on Dec. 24, 2012.

FIRST FROST, a prequel e-story to the series, is available as a download. HALLOWEEN FROST, an e-short story, is available in the ENTANGLED e-anthology.


Jennifer is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. Books in the superhero-themed series are KARMA GIRL, HOT MAMA, JINX, and NIGHTINGALE. A KARMA GIRL CHRISTMAS, an e-story, is also available.