Christmas with a bunch of werewolves ... #TerrySpear #AHighlandWolfChristmas #DreamingofaWhiteWolfChristmas

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This year a lot has been going on and I even missed writing a Christmas post

but 

I really hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas!

At least, despite all technical problems and everything else that's been going down, I had time to read. And after reading many many other Christmas stories, it just had to be shifters.  

Shifters like werewolves and their likes, you know? 

After having reread A Very Jaguar Christmas, I just had to read another one (or two) of Terry Spear's books and it had to be something christmassy as well, of course. So I found A Highland Wolf Christmas and Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas and started to read - and didn't put my reader down till I had read them both.

A Highland Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear

Blurb: 

Financial advisor Guthrie MacNeill isn’t a complete Scrooge—he just hates the enormous cost associated with the Christmas holiday season. Needless to say, when his pack hires a party planner to decorate the castle, he’s at his wit’s end. Until Calla Stewart arrives on the scene with her mistletoe in hand.

Calla has never had a client as difficult as Guthrie, but she’s determined to give the pack a Christmas season they will never forget—no matter how much it costs. But when her ex-fiancé begins stalking her and threatening her safety, Guthrie decides to loosen his grip on the purse strings and let out his inner Highland warrior wolf to protect her.

I wasn't completely sure what to expect when I started to read "A Highland Wolf Christmas" because the blurb didn't sound that promising but, well, it was on sale, I knew the series and knew that I loved the other books and I was pretty sure that I'd like it because up to now, I really enjoyed every book by Terry Spear that I've read. In the end, the book was completely different from what I had expected after reading the blurb.

I had expected that the thing about money and the costs of the party would be a big part of the story but mostly it was Guthrie and Calla's shared love for spreadsheets and organization that comes up, rather something that they have in common than something that divides them. Even more important though, is the danger Calla is in due to her refusal to marry Baird as planned. With Guthrie and Calla falling in love, Baird being on the prowl and trying to get her back no matter how ...well, they certainly have a hard time of it and things will get much worse before they'll get a chance at their HEA.

As usual with Terry Spear's books, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was witty and captivating and I enjoyed every single page of it.

★★★★

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Dreaming of a White Wolf Christmas byTerry Spear

Blurb: 

Tangling with a White Wolf--Best Christmas Ever, or Real Trouble?

Romance writer Candice Mayfair never missed a deadline in her life--until an accidental bite from a werewolf puppy turns her into an Arctic wolf shifter. She's forced to isolate herself in the wilderness to cope with her unpredictable shifting while she works on her deadlines. After all, for Candice, Christmas is just another day.

Enter private investigator Owen Nottingham, a wolf shifter hired to find Candice so she can collect her inheritance. They have a real problem: she must arrive home in human form, and that's not happening during the full moon. Besides, Owen has a new mission: to convince the pretty she-wolf her best move is to join his pack in time for Christmas...and to prove he's the only wolf for her.

Okay, so these are not very classical Christmas stories but I really loved the story about Candice and Owen and all their furry friends and, well, if you get to celebrate Christmas with those you care for and who care for you, well, I think that is one of the best things that you can wish for for Christmas. 

But....let's get back to Candice feeding a stray pup and ending up, okay, not as a pup but with fur herself. Those of you who have read "A Very Jaguar Christmas" might even recognize the little culprit whose greediness will change Candice's life. But some changes may even turn out to be one of the best things that could have happened to you no matter how bad they look at the beginning!

Oh, and let's face it - it's never easy to be a newly turned werewolf who can't control the shifting especially if you still live among mere humans and have to earn your living. That's why we (and Owen) find Candice in the wilderness when he comes looking for her because there is an inheritance to claim and with the full moon around the corner that makes their shifting unpredictable (putting it mildly) they have not much time left. 

And of course, there's also Christmas to consider and, well, with Owen being a bachelor and Candice being a very pretty she-wolf....yup, a lot of things to do, right?

I loved Candice and Owen and their chemistry and it was also fun to meet all those other shifters again and find out what's been going on in their lives. The book was once again well written, captivating and funny. I really loved reading it!

 ★★★★

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Worth of a Lady by Tarah Scot and Sue-Ellen Welfonder #WorthOfALady #NetGalley

 Worth of a Lady  

by 

Tarah Scot and Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Blurb:

No one guessed that an innocent would bring the Devil of Delny to his knees…

Spinster Chastity Hamilton is the Duke of Roxburgh’s heir. Her father insists she marry. She insists that the man who wins her hand must first find matches for her three younger sisters. Sir Stirling James takes up the challenge, and the sisters are shocked when he announces the engagement of their youngest sister to the Devil of Delny.

When Quin Ramsey’s surrogate brother Sir Stirling James informs him he is to wed the fourth daughter of a lesser duke, he refuses. But when he waltzes with the lovely innocent, he realizes that he wants no other man to waltz with her.


Somehow this book left me wanting for much more - unfortunately not for the right reasons. I wasn't anticipating the next pages, the next book or...what ever... but I felt as if somehow I must have missed the story or at least huge parts of it.

Oops, her father forces her to agree to the bargain, oops, Stirling has taken up the challenge, oops, he and the first groom to be turn up aaaaaaaand...love at first sight, the prospective but up to date very unwilling groom doing a 180 and declaring his wish to marry right away. Wedding, bliss, and happiness all over. Yay.

I was not only missing a real story but unfortunately, the characters are rather one-dimensional without any actual development of character or, well, development of anything, actually.
The story was pleasantly written and I kept reading but when I closed the book I just wondered whether I had somehow missed some pages and actually turned back to check whether there were passages or pages that I hadn' tread yet, but.....nope, that was not the case, I had really read every single page and hadn't missed anything.

I've read other stories by Tarah Scott that I really enjoyed reading but unfortunately, this one isn't one of them.

★★

The Traitor's Club: Jeb by Laura Landon #TheTraitor'sClub:Jeb #NetGalley

                 The Traitor's Club: Jeb by Laura Landon             

Blurb:

Against his better judgment, Lieutenant Jeb Danvers undertakes one last secret mission for the Queen. She has made him an offer he cannot help but accept. One that will secure his financial future. But when he discovers that the jewels she has sent him to recover are in the possession of the beautiful Mariah MacFarlane, he knows the jewels aren’t the only things in need of rescue.


Laura Landon is also one of those authors whose books I buy without even looking at the blurb because every book I've read so far has been amazing. The Traitor's Club series is her latest series and I really love those guys. We married off Hugh and Ford in the other two books and now Jeb is on his way to Scotland, right in the middle of intrigue, rebellion and - of course- danger. This assignment is meant to be his very last one, a special one that comes directly from the Queen herself who has promised him a very nice and useful reward.

Well, when he arrives in Scotland and gets to know his host's daughter Mariah, he might find that the unexpected rewards are the ones that really count. Oh, right, you have to get away first, preferably alive, to make things even more complicated. Let's just say that his host might think that Jeb has taken something of value on his trip back, maybe even two things and somehow things very soon get very rough.

Jeb and Mariah are a wonderful couple, tough, lovable, charming and so very much in love with each other that you can almost see the sparks flying off the pages.I really loved those two and I also loved the way the Traitors were there when one of their own needed them. The story is captivating and well told, keeping me glued to my reader from the first page on. I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series!

★★★★★

 

 

 

The Silent Duke (The 1797 Club #4) by Jess Michaels #TheSilentDuke #NetGalley

    The Silent Duke by Jess Michaels              

Blurb: 

 Born mute, Ewan Hoffstead, Duke of Donburrow was abused by his wicked father and wretched younger brothers until an uncle swept in to save the day. Still, he carries the scars of his past with him, including a terrible belief that perhaps a “person like him” truly doesn’t deserve the title his uncle fought so hard for him to earn.

Recently widowed Charlotte may be the proper Countess of Portsmith to Society, but when she is around Ewan, she still feels like the enraptured little girl who met him decades before when her brother was best friends with him and his cousin.

A planned trip to spend Christmas with their families at Ewan’s estate reunites the old friends. But when a storm keeps the others from arriving on time, Charlotte decides to stop living in fear and pursue the man she has desired and loved her entire life. Ewan cannot resist her seduction, but he fears giving in to his heart. Especially when the family that disposed of him returns and threatens not only his life, but that of the woman he loves.


Another wonderful book by an author whose books I really love. Each and everyone that I've read so far, I've loved and "The Silent Duke" was no exception.

We met Ewan Hoffstead, the Duke of Dunborrow before when he turned up in one of the other books. The Silent Duke, the one who can't speak and who has much to tell. As well as his friends, the other Dukes, his family was somewhat lacking especially in the loving and caring department. When his uncle rescued him from his parents' home, he had already suffered a lot. The constant abuse has led to lots of self-doubts that are overshadowing his interactions with other people, well, especially those with women.

When due to circumstances his longtime friend Charlotte is his only guest, things start to change. Having lost him once, Charlotte doesn't want to give up on him for good without even trying to show him how things could be. Mix in a bit of family drama and some attempts at finishing Ewans life, stir in some of the warmth and the wonderful and loving characters that I've come to expect when reading a book by Jess Michaels and you'll end up with the perfect recipe for another amazing book that I've already read more than once up to now. Now I'm looking forward to the next book in this great series.

★★★★★

 

 

When a Warrior Woos a Lass (Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts #6) by Julie Johnstone

  When a Warrior Woos a Lass by Julie Johnstone

Blurb:

The past haunts them. Treachery awaits them. Love will save them.

A shattered lass…

Scarred by the cruel whims of her late husband, Lena MacLeod lives in fear of men and marriage. So when the king’s edict obliges her to wed Scottish warrior Alex MacLean, she never expects to feel safe, let alone happy. But behind Alex’s fierce exterior lies a gentle, gallant highlander who renews her soul, emboldens her, and offers her the one thing she never thought she would possess—true love. Now that Alex has her whole heart, she’ll settle for nothing less than all of his.

A tortured highlander…

Haunted by violent nightmares of his dark past, Alex MacLean has put off getting married for as long as possible. But now he finds himself the husband of the fragile, beautiful Lena, and he’s drawn to her as he has never been to another. He vows to protect and heal her, and as she grows stronger, so does his love for her. Yet, his horrible memories and a treacherous task are preventing him from giving himself to her entirely, and the secrets he harbors threaten to destroy their life together.

A union…

When Lena uncovers a dangerous scheme involving Alex, she embarks on a desperate journey to save the man she loves. But Alex still hasn’t let her in, and he runs the risk of losing her—and his life—unless he can accept that his once delicate wife is now an ally strong enough to light his way.


This is by far not the first book by Julie Johnston that I have read and it not the first book in this series either and again this hero and his heroine took my heart by storm.

Seeing the two of them so vulnerable and on the other hand so determined to be there for the other one, wow... I couldn't stop falling in love with them. They are so sweet and hurt and messed up and both of them just desperately want to help the one they..yes, the one they love.
Somehow it was Lena who became stronger and more courageous with each page that I turned and the big, strong warrior, well, she made it her mission to get him there as well. Sometimes it's not the things you can fight or even touch that keep you prisoner but the things, the memories that your mind provides. And, well, despite his gentleness and his kind heart, Alex definitely has his share of baggage and for a man as strong as him, it is not easy to let someone else in to help.

Seeing Lena and Alex free themselves from the hurt and the pain of their past was amazing. Lena is a wonderful heroine, warm, loving and, yes, courageous, even when things get rough and I was so happy for her and for Alex. Alex might just learn that he has married more than he has bargained for ...in a good way though. And Alex, wow, hard, demanding, fair, kind and gentle and just amazing.

Captivating and sweet, this book kept me glued to my reader. I loved the story and meeting old friends again, I loved those wonderful, complex and interesting characters and I was captivated once more by the author's way to tell those stories. After having read this book, I started to re-read the series and I must admit that I am really looking forward to the next books by Julie Johnstone and I just hope that we will learn more about our hero and our heroine in the future and, of course, about their friends as well.

★★★★★

 

 

 

Moonlight over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

Moonlight over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

Blurb:
 

She'll risk everything for her own Christmas miracle… 

Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list—dealing with Madi's temporary dog sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry.

Ethan thought he was used to chaos, until he met Madi—how can one tiny dog cause such mayhem? To Ethan, the solution is simple—he will pay Harriet to share his New York apartment and provide twenty-four-hour care. But there's nothing simple about how Harriet makes him feel.

Ethan's kisses make Harriet shine brighter than the stars over moonlit Manhattan. But when his dog-sitting duties are over and Harriet returns to her own home, will she dare to take the biggest challenge of all—letting Ethan know he has her heart for life, not just for Christmas?

Sarah Morgan is back with more love and laughter in her acclaimed series, From Manhattan With Love, which Publishers Weekly calls "engaging…[a] classic sweep-you-off-your-feet romantic experience."

I loved this book, plain and simple. I laughed and swooned a lot, I felt with our heroine and I really really hoped for this magical HEA - and the author delivered. A wonderful, very christmassy and very amazing and wonderful story that kept me glued to my reader. I just had to know what happened next and if the two of them would fall in love and overcome their obstacles. Those obstacles might not have been that huge from the outside but, as they are rather personal, from the inside it looked very different.

Getting to know Harriet and witnessing her warmth and her loving nature, seeing Ethan rediscover his heart and his feelings, I was so happy to see Harriet grow stronger and more secure of herself. She takes her life into her own hands but she still manages to care for others and to be there for them.
Okay, I might have wanted to kick Ethan the one or the other time but, well, let's just say that he is able to learn rather quickly and - considering his former relationships- I forgave him in the end.
The characters are authentic and real, it is very easy to take them into your heart and to feel with them. Harriet hasn't had an easy childhood but she didn't become bitter or hard but stayed warm and supportive. It is good to see how much she cares for her brother and sister and how close those three are but it is even better to see her spread her wings, gaining confidence and finding her own way.
Family is important to both of them and even though their families and their dynamics are completely different they are a very important part of their lives and a big support.

Warm, witty and very much in the spirit of the season, I really loved this book and will definitely read it again, probably next Christmas.

★★★★★

Running into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Running into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Blurb:

Fawn Reed has kissed one too many toads and has finally decided that Prince Charming doesn’t exist. After countless mishaps, mistakes, and unmitigated disasters on the dating scene, she’s decided to give up and move on with her life…solo.

Everything changes, however, after Fawn runs into Levi Fremont, a homicide detective new to New York City.

Dedication to the job has rendered Levi’s love life nonexistent—until he moves in next door to the free-spirited Fawn. After a series of comedic run-ins push them together, will they finally give in to the inevitable and realize—maybe—they are perfect for each other?

When I saw this book on Netgalley, I realized that it was written by an author who will also attend RARE London in  February and I also realized that I hadn't read any books by her yet.The blurb sounded really promising so I just had to request an ARC of this book. Let's just say that maybe this was the first book by Aurora Rose Reynolds that I've read but it definitely won't be the last.
I really, really enjoyed reading this book even though the hero's bossiness and possessiveness sometimes made me a bit mad.

Fawn is attracted to Levi and she is rather shy and insecure so it definitely helps that he kind of bullies her into celebrating with him and letting him in her life and so on but sometimes I was a bit annoyed. He couldn't be sure that she felt for him the way she felt and if she hadn't shared his feelings, she might have been pushed into a relationship that she didn't want. Perhaps he would have realized it and would have accepted it but...
Apart from that I loved Levi and Fawn. Their chemistry is amazing and I just kept laughing and giggling and, of course, swooning my way through the book.

I also loved when their families meet, all this chaos, drama and laughter - wonderful! Fawn is a very sweet and loving character and the way she cared for the little girl just made me love her even more. Levi is also a wonderful character, despite his bossiness, hard cop and loving boyfriend all rolled up in one gorgeous package.

If you are looking for a sweet love, great characters and a lot of wit and humor, this book is the right one for you. If that's not what you are looking for---well, try it anyway, it is amazing!

★★★★

Wicked Seduction by Tina Donahue

Wicked Seduction by Tina Donahue

Blurb:

Marnie is getting back on her feet after fleeing a bad relationship. As part of her new life, she arrives at Wicked Brand in search of tattoos to cover scars from a long-ago trauma, hoping it will allow her to finally feel pretty. What she gets is a hot Latin tattoo artist who sets every part of her afire.

Sexy as sin Tor can work magic with his stunning 3-D designs and wants nothing more than to see Marnie smile. She’s a rare combination of sweet and wickedly sensual. The kind of woman he can’t easily resist—and doesn’t try.

Their sessions at the parlor turn into evenings of steamy delight as they feed their carnal hunger and growing intimacy, playing shameless games that leave them breathless and wanting more.

When her ex shows up, determined to have her back under his control, the danger is real. But this time Marnie is stronger, determined…and no longer alone.


Okay, whereas Wicked Takeover couldn't entirely convince me yet, I read Wicked Seduction in one sitting and I really enjoyed reading it.

Tor and Marnie are wonderful together and I loved their chemistry. Both of them are interesting characters, very lovable and cute. I loved to see Marnie open up to Tor, I felt for her when we learned what had happened to her and I loved to see them fall in love. Having been abused before, Marnie doesn't trust easily and it is good to see her start to find her place and to find a home.

The book is well written, fast-paced and rather hot and steamy. There's a certain amount, - well, a lot of naked skin and their likes, so it might not be the right book for you if you tend to blush a lot but the two are sweet and where I skipped some pages in Wicked Takeover because it was just too much, I didn't have that problem in Wicked Seduction. Right, I know that the word "wicked" hints at some rather intensive sexual encounters so if you are alright with that, I can definitely recommend this book.

★★★★

Demon Ash (Resurrection Chronicles #3) by M.J. Haag and Becca Vincenza

  Demon Ash by M.J. Haag and Becca Vincenza

Blurb:

 The world is nothing like Mya remembers. While in Ernisi, cities have been bombed and burned in an attempt to stop the hellhounds and the plague. The survivors are doing everything they can to win back their world from the hell that was unleashed with the first quake.

With Drav's help, Mya reunites with her family, but they are far from safe. Marauders, hellhounds, and the infected are doing their best to destroy what's left of the world, and it's up to Mya and Drav to save it.


You know this feeling of dread when you start the last book of an amazing series? The feeling that this book has the power to destroy it all? No matter how good the other books were but a bad or even mediocre last book will bring them down. So, naturally, every last book in a series that I love, is something that I long for while fearing at the same time that I might be disappointed when I get it.

Do you know that feeling? Well, you can stop worrying, "Demon Ash" doesn't disappoint at all. It is simply amazing! From the first page on I was captivated by it and couldn't put my reader down. I loved meeting Mya and Drav again, getting to meet her family and see them interact with Drav and his friends. I laughed and giggled a lot, especially when Mya's mum was around, I stopped breathing, I might have shed a tear or two - and I absolutely loved every single page of this book.

This book was perfect, it was the perfect ending to a wonderful story. It took me on a long journey, getting to know Drav and his friends much better, seeing them interact with children (soooo cute) and women (even though they still have to learn the there are some questions....wellllll..... ), protecting those around them and of course, protecting Mya.
The whole series is amazing. It is funny and captivating and I loved each and every one of those books.

★★★★★

 

 

 

 

Because of Him by Terri E. Laine - audiobook -

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First of all, I must apologize. It's been a very long time now since I have posted my last review but life and the stupid internet or rather a lack of internet due to technical problems (old cables and such annoying things) interfered. But I am back now, my internet is back and ....the reviews are back!

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 Because of Him by Terri E. Laine

read by 

  Jason Clarke and‎ Erin Mallon

 

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Blurb:

Past and present intertwine with light and dark to tell a story ...Because of Him

Something inside me fiercely craves normal.
Sheltered all my life and taught to be afraid, I want to be bold, fearless.
Up until now I've kept myself and my heart safe.
Tade Astor, a guy so hot he steals my breath away, jeopardizes it all.

He isn't the kind of guy to give up on what he wants—me.
He’s determined to prove my safe world is missing something—him.
Even though he may not be the cocky guy I assumed him to be...
He’s definitely not the guy I should give my heart to.
But each time I see him, he becomes harder to resist.
I want to be brave and give him a chance... though it might come back to haunt me.

At the heart of Because of Him is a love story. But due to certain sensitive topics, it might not be suitable for all readers. 


I got this book as an audiobook from the author with a warning that it might not be easy to listen to for some people because due to some sensitive topics it might trigger reactions. Okay, I didn't think that that would be a problem because even though some things are really hard to read and some books I would never read because I find them too hard to stomach, on the whole, I don't have a problem with such topics. That's what I thought at least.
I had definitely underestimated the effect of an intense and well-done narration versus reading myself. Listening to a good narration, you have fewer chances of blocking unwanted images and emotions than when you are reading the text yourself.

Soooo... if certain topics could be a problem, you might want to read it first instead of listening or - the trigger warning is real, the book deals with some really hard stuff. The author kept the fine balance between telling enough to get the horror of the things done to the young girl across and keeping it vague enough that the situation and the images weren't overwhelming.  It's a very fine line but without ever belittling the horror and the pain of everything that happens and that is done to her, Terri E. Laine succeeds at writing a story that is captivating and beautiful while still showing this very dark part of the human nature and the pain and the suffering of those who are caught in it.

Right, this book was absolutely intense, like - standing in front of your supermarket, listening on and on and finally going in with red, puffy eyes and such intense. It wasn't even the hard parts that really made me cry but the beautiful and wonderful parts in between. Tade's awakening love for Reagan, Reagan, spreading her wings, defying her mother (Oh. my. ....that was really hard. You get why her mother reacts that way, at least, you think you get it and you probably do so but nevertheless, this is so hard and I was so proud when Reagan pushed and fought to rid herself of her mother's fears and worries), daring to love and to trust. Nothing is easy for them because their history isn't easy and there are always those around them that interfere and make things even harder but I love how they fight for their love and how they stand together.
Reagan frees herself and Tade, well, I think you can see him grow and become more mature. He was never a bad guy (just a wild one) but loving Reagan makes him realize what really counts and well, just read it  - or listen to it.

The story is amazing, beautiful and, yes, I have to repeat it, intense and the audiobook is really well done. A wonderful narration that makes you feel and dread and hope even more.
As I ordered the print book the moment I finished the audiobook, I think it is safe to say that I can definitely recommend this book and I am really looking forward to the next books in this series. Gavin's story is already out and will find its way on my reader very soon....and next year, well, I am so very much looking forward to that one!

★★★★★