Dark Diva Reviews

Summary: In Cyan, Indiana, Dark Shadows is a pub filled with unique characters. The bar is a draw for the unusual, the wicked, and a place where even a Guardian defining justice can’t depart.

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Summary: Ancient evil forces a woman to fight for her life - and true love.
Man may forget horrors, but the land remembers. Built on a cursed patch of ground, George Simpson’s house of evil has ruined many lives over its hundred-year existence.

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Summary: For twenty-five years, vampire Ellory Benedikt has resisted a psychic compulsion to return to the beach in Maine where his mortal life ended. Now he can no longer resist. He is appalled to find the source of the summons is a mere human unaware of her power over him.

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Summary: Reality for Camille is no game when she has to repopulate and save a planet.

On her twenty-first birthday, computer game programmer, Camille Richards discovers that her real family is out of this world...literally. Hidden at birth for her own protection, she was given the powers of the Garnet stone. As a member of the Arienta clan from the planet Suha, she must be trained to use the Garnet Stone and return to Earth to find a consort.

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Summary: Rhys, an immortal warrior on the hunt for a demon is plagued by dreams of a human female named Amy, whom he finally encounters when she witnesses a bizarre fight. She reports it to the police, not knowing she's unleashing unearthly havoc for herself in the process…coming to her aid is Rhys, who has sworn to focus on his life's work of demon-hunting. He has always believed sex and love muddy the waters, but finds his feelings for Amy rival his overwhelming desire for revenge…

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Summary: Prince Aryan has searched his world for the one woman that is his destined mate but has just about given up when he is led to the human world. Even though it is forbidden to fall in love with a human, he finds Skye Andrews completely delectable and wonders if she is his chosen love. 

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Anthology containing the stories: Peacemaker, In Service Immortal, Wolfhound, and Sacrifice.

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Summary: After his twin brother Grae found his empathic mate who tamed his dark magick, Cash leaves home, never expecting or hoping to find his own.  Then Selene, a firestarter roars into his life on the back of Harley, bringing with her trouble.  When trouble finds them, Cash is shocked to find out Selene is the empathic mate he’d never expected to find.

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Summary: Christine Vargas is an independent, young working class-girl violently swept into another world--a world deemed unrealistic and impossible by many, a world under the mundane one she is so used to. During her physical transition, she has to come to grips with new powers she has been bestowed, and join up with her new 'Lord', Ryan Price, a gentleman of high social status, and twice her age.

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Summary: This book starts with Ella as a prostitute, with an abused past, who is still allowing herself to be used. Another main character, Wolfgang King empowers Ella as a vampire and we are immediately propelled into the world and lore of the undead. Ella deals with all the things we imagine vampires dealing with; the need to feed on blood, the secrecy, the dread of the sunlight. She also discovers the advantages we all imagine; the strength, the immortality, the transformation to bat, wolf, and vaporous cloud.

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Summary: Professor Kai Harrison is shocked when he finds out his assistant, Sari Jones has a microchip in her arm. He'd been testing the tracking device he intended to use to find the elusive black jaguars, which Sari is in no hurry to explain about. Sari like Kai has a hidden agenda for joining forces with Kai. While Kai was searching for his sister who'd gone missing on the same type of search, Sari was looking for the Facility, an underground lab where a crazy scientist had turned her into a hybrid.

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Summary: Ally Sawyer is a woman who is being tormented by her own dreams. In each dream she is a different woman but the end result is always the same: her death. Daemon is a damned demon who knows Ally is his. He’s pursued her through several lifetimes which always had the same result: her rejecting his claim. Now, Daemon has one final chance to make Ally his before he‘s damned forever.

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Summary: Raging hormones, a dominant boyfriend, and a possible demonic possession. That is just another day in the life of psychic medium Martee Hollywood.

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Summary: Merideth, a vampire and librarian, spends most of her nights researching and book collecting for Clan Gladius within the Order of the Dragon and the Rose. Much to her surprise, the head of Clan Gladius unexpectedly presents her with a luxurious gift: a trip to stay at Hotel Paradisio at Crystal Island!

The heat is on at the island resort under moonlit skies and palm trees. The tropical heat quickly transforms into a scorching hot time that will be seared into Merideth's memory forever when she runs into her long time crush, Kalia. Merideth is presented with a gift from a goddess that allows her to experience in reality her deepest fantasies...which existed before in dreams alone. But can their passion survive the intrigue and potential dangers that await them, or will it only last as long as her vacation?

My Review: Merideth is a character you’ll fall in love with. The comparison of the vampire/librarian is wonderful. There’s an evolution of sorts with this character from sweet and shy to bold and out there. Taking risks and finding pleasure is what vacations are all about and that’s exactly what she does. Adrianne Brennan has created rich characters here that will both intrigue and delight. The adventures between Merideth and Kalia are both fun and suspenseful. Readers of any genre will be engaged in this story from start to finish.

Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Kissa!

Summary: Cursed for the crime of loving the wrong woman.

Forced to subsist as part man, part beast, Scottish Millionaire Ravin Barrilyl has waited centuries for his date with destiny. The mystical sword needed to end his torment is finally within reach, but he must acquire it before an age-old enemy can interfere.

 

My Review: Jacquelyn Frasier had gotten her Masters in Library Science focused on Mysticism and Folklore, as well as a Masters in Museum Studies. She was working on an exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Ravin Barrilyl was a six foot three, muscular Scotsman. He reminded Jac of a WWE wrestler. Ravin was personally delivering a sphinx for the exhibition that Jac was working on for the Museum. He also volunteered his time to help with the unveiling of the exhibit and explain the history of his pieces that were in the exhibit. Jac was not surprised when the Museum accepted his offer. The Museum was not impressed with his bank account and his rudeness and let him know it. Ravin was impressed because no one had ever stood up to him. Ravin's quest was to locate the Bane, replace it with a replica and irritate Jac to no end.

Jinx Williams writes a fantasy with battles, folklore, good taste in automobiles, mystery, searing passion and a happy ending. I was mesmerized by this adventurous tale.

Rated 5 Delightful Divas and a Recommended Read by Roxann! 

Summary: Jesse is a vampire and Amanda is into the occult. It seems like they would make the perfect couple.  No religious hang-ups there. A secret ingredient added to Amanda’s wine enhances her natural abilities. It also links the couple indefinitely.  Dreams are their first interactions but those soon turn to real-life encounters. James, brother to Jesse, agrees to bring her into the order but also advises a waiting period that Jesse is hesitant to abide by. Will the relish of his anticipation to turn Amanda rush him into the biggest mistake of his undead life? Will Amanda fulfill a legacy that began so many years ago? Or will she dwell on the fact that she wasn’t given a choice to live this new life she’s been given? Find the answers to all of these and more inside the pages of Blood of the Dark Moon.

My Review: Adrianne Brennan spins a tale that enthralls and delights. The vampire order she creates is made real with her realistic characters and enchanting setting. Readers will find themselves staying up late to finish this one. Putting it down to sleep just won’t be an option. If you’re up for a read that takes you to another place and intrigues you enough to keep you there- this is the one for you! 

Rated 5 Delightful Divas and a Recommended Read by Kissa!

Summary: It's never easy staying ahead of the pack when hunting for the right man.

Penny Stephens is a wolf with problems. She's contended with her wild side all her life, but it's about to catch up with her. She needs a mate who can love the woman and tame the wolf within.

Not just any wolf will do.

Lone wolf Cade Steele could be the one to fill her needs. He's wolf enough to match her animal instinct, and perhaps enough of a gentleman to satisfy her feminine side. As a mated pair, her bed might become part of his territory, but her heart is another matter.

More than love is at stake in this call of the wild.

My Review: Penny was not born a werewolf, but was bitten and turned.  She is an alpha and has always done an excellent job of controlling herself.  Her strength and strong-will made her an interesting and fun character.

Cade was born a werewolf and is also an alpha.  He is the bad boy, loner type who falls head over heels for a strong woman.

Moon Madness is a short and very hot werewolf story.  Mina Carter did an excellent job of balancing this short story with just the right amount of character and plot development, and filled the rest with scorching passion.  If you are looking for a short paranormal story to heat up your night, I recommend Moon Madness for your reading pleasure!

Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Melissa!

Summary: Cora Phillips has witchcraft in her blood, but she's convinced she inherited the recessive rather than the dominant trait. Her mother and sister are the real heiresses to the Lune tradition; Cora has neither the interest nor the inclination to take up the Dragonkeeper mantle. Years ago, she left the New York City Witch lifestyle to the other women in her family, and said goodbye to all the velvet and lace. However, during a moment of insomnia-induced insanity, she agrees to come back to celebrate Christmas/Winter Solstice with her family.

It comes as a shock to all three women when Cora, through clumsy fumblings to "get in touch with her goddess" at her sister's urging, calls a pair of ancient dragons into her meditation circle.

Cora swears it's a mistake. Her mother swears it's the correct course of events. Eventually, every Dragon keeper issues the call to mate. Problem is, nobody expected Cora to summon even a single dragon, let alone two.

Before long, the dragons' guardians come knocking, literally, and ruin any hope of politely apologizing and returning the creatures.

My Review:

Cora and Diane are witches. Diane and their mother make no secret of it but Cora seems to want that part of her life to remain private. In fact she’s spoken against it in recent years and left the Lune family tradition behind. A devastating fire has changed the way Cora sees life. Urged on by her sister, and a bout of insomnia, Cora decides to give in and bring forth her inner spirit. What comes out is two dragons ready for love. Now it’s time for Cora to figure out who the dragons belong to and then choose between them. Could one possibly be good and the other evil? It’s so hard to think about amidst the fighting and turmoil. Sending them back isn’t an option- will Cora choose the right one?

Spoiled, aimless party-girl Zara Benjamin has never had to work a day in her life. At twenty-eight, she's just discovered something she wants as much as her best friend since college, the unattainable Quincy Powers. But when an elevator door opens minus the car, all these hopes and dreams are forever dashed…or are they? 

Successful financial whiz Quincy Powers made his fortune on Wall Street before his thirtieth birthday and left the rat race behind before the stress of trading could claim his sanity. Instead of the game keeping him awake, however, he now has the horrible sound of his best friend's screams to haunt his nights. 

Until two angels intervene and send Zara on a mission in the body of her twin brother, Zack Benjamin...

Summary: Zara has spent her life chasing one dream or another, not the least of which is her best friend, Quincy.  She knows he can never give her what she wants, but it won't stop her trying.

When an accident takes her life and two guardian angels give her a second chance to finally get her heart's desire, it is at the expense of the only other person who has ever seen past her irresponsible, selfish ways to the loving girl beneath.  Now, she must take everything from her twin brother Zack, including Quincy, or give up her dream, her very existence, and let the men live and love in peace.

For the first time, in life or death, Zara must be selfless, and none of them are entirely sure she has it in her.
 
My review: This was a fun read, full of scorching sex, strong men, and witty dialog.  I would have liked to be more immersed in Quincy's character, but in the end, the book is really about Zara, and given that, Gracie did a great job of making the men sympathetic and likable, even if she held them a little bit at arm's length.

As for Zara, I'm going to have to read another book to know if she's really changed, and that kind of disappoints me.  I would like for this part of her journey to be over and for her to face some other, new challenge next time. (And I'm assuming, since this is Book 1, there will be a next time.)

That little bit of disappointment won't stop me reading the next book.  This was a fast, entertaining read who doesn't like to be entertained?

My recommendation: Go for it.  Zara's story is an interesting one and I have to admit, I really rather liked the odd threesome.

Rated 3 1/2 Delightful Divas by Jamie!

Summary: Darius Markum, a man Cheri London meets online, agrees to help her
conceive a child she wants. Darius sets out to win Cheri's wary heart, but
before they can meet, she's injured and a rescuer named Allen comes to
her aid. After a night of passion, Cheri returns home without meeting
Darius...until she discovers Darius and Allen are one and the same.

My Review: Cheri London wants a baby and with urging from a psychic friend she flies from Illinois to Florida to conceive with the willing, mysterious man she met online.  Instead, she ends up alone on the beach, injured, until a chance meeting with a local named Allen gets her swept to his house.  Her hot rescuer fans the flames, especially when he offers to be her replacement donor.  Allen gives Cheri seduction and tenderness she's never known.  Slowly and surely, he shows her what it's like to have a healthy, physical relationship, soothes the fears she's carried all her life, and restores her faith in love.

For a cynic, Cheri starts out a little on the foolish side, going home with a man she doesn't know.  But this impulsiveness is dimmed when she resists the urge to let him be her donor.  Bekki Lynn does a good job of making Allen a trusty guy, subtly making the reader root Cheri's choice in his favor on.  This is where the story starts to get good, when the reader gets a peek into the hero, Allen's, life and past.  He becomes intriguing from the moment he carries Cheri into his home.  He is extremely sympathetic.  The sexual tension is taut from the first, surprising Cheri who's never had a healthy physical relationship and easing Allen's broken heart.  An intriguing blend of conflicted motivations makes this a well-paced story.  It becomes even more interesting when the reader realizes Allen isn't in it for a one-night stand.  He wants another woman in his life.  His persistence makes him all the more irresistible to both Cheri and the reader.

Ms. Lynn's writing is prone to some telling at intervals, but it is balanced out nicely by amusing and realistic internal thought.  There are a few slips into present tense, a few POV slips, and several disjointed chapter breaks.  But none of this overwhelms great dialogue, the deep, well-developed protagonists, and the enticing chemistry and sultry love scenes which set reader's fingers to blazing and flipping the pages.  There's no doubt Bekki Lynn is a clever and delightful storyteller.  Readers will enjoy A Psychic Hitch!

Rated 4 Delightful Divas by Amber!

When the mysterious Genesis shows up at Alex Ryan's condo claiming to have known Alex's mother, warning that his father's death was no accident, and that Glenn Ryan wasn't the target, Alex thinks the woman is stark raving mad. Once Genesis explains that she is not human, and has been watching Alex since he was born, he is certain of it. 

Genesis is Inanna, an ancient race of people who subsist on the energy they regularly siphon from humans through sexual intercourse. But one of their own broke the sacred covenant twenty-eight years ago when she gave birth to the cambion, Alex Ryan. Now, time is running out. A power struggle is afoot in Emsharra, and a major shift is about to occur. The insurgent doesn't want any loose ends threatening her rise to power–mainly the only other blood kin of the current Quna: Alex Ryan and his treasonous guardian, Genesis.

Guardian Seductress, started out a little confusing to me with the talk of the native Inanna people, but once I understood the words, it started to flow better for me.

There is a magnetic pull between Genesis and Alex that makes the room grow so hot, it’s almost stifling.  I found myself loosening my collar several times whenever these two got together.  With hot sex, and even more—an emotional connection, and some suspense, I truly enjoyed this adventure.

Ms. McKeever has penned a sizzling and intriguing tale.  I give Guardian Seductress, 3 ½ Delightful Divas.

 

An empathic young nurse driven to help and heal others since childhood after watching her mother languish for months before finally succumbing to cancer, Aziza Lopez abhors cruelty and suffering in any form. When she is assigned comatose patient David Healey, Aziza is confronted with the depth of her abilities for the first time since her mother's death and has a chance to contribute to a patient's recovery when modern medicine fails. But can she convince anyone else outside of David's family that she knows who is responsible for his injury when she's finding it hard to deal with the knowledge herself?

The youngest of five brothers, David Healey comes from a close-knit, no-nonsense family of psychics and shapeshifters. He has never suffered fools—or demanding, jealous girlfriends—lightly. But on the eve of a bitter break-up he realizes he is about to suffer a woman scorned when he glimpses his ex behind the wheel of a car careening towards him.

Now Aziza and David are in a race to pull him out of his coma before Aziza's vengeful stepmother can get to him and finish the job she started on a dark road.

Gracie C. McKeever has written a great fantasy, which takes the reader on a wild ride.  Ms. McKeever has taken fantasy from some common fairy tales and paired it with modern day slang and her own writing style.  This book moves along at an easy pace, building with action and drama to keep you reading.  The characters are likeable and well developed, as is the story line.  If you have already read and enjoyed other McKeever stories, this one will not leave you disappointed.

Rated 4 Delightful Divas by Melissa!

Review:
Morgan is a reporter looking to get some inside scoop about murders that have occurred. She has to get Officer Audrick alone and try to get this inside info. Morgan posses as a stranded motorist and Audrick stops to help. He ends up taking her to a diner that both of them had eaten at on Friday nights. Dinner went well and Morgan learned that the local police were calling in the FBI to further investigate. Morgan felt bad for fishing for information from Graham Audrick because she liked him. He ended up paying for dinner and gave her a ride home. The thank you kiss Morgan gave him ended up being sooo much more. It went so far that he ended up claiming her as his and marking her. Morgan's boss had pressed her for the information she had obtained from Graham and she finally caved. She was to meet Graham at the police station for lunch and was worried what he would think of her for using him to get the story. She overheard the Chief of Police screaming at Graham about leaking information about the FBI specialist and the media getting a hold of it. He also kicked Graham off the case. On the way to have lunch Graham informed her that he had used her to plant the story about the FBI specialist and the argument with the Chief was staged to let the killer know that Graham was no longer supposedly on the case. Tit for tat, Morgan used Graham and in turn he used her. Graham had witnessed what the killer could do first hand. A family had been murdered and he had been called to the scene. He also had the opportunity to meet the killer up close and personal. The killer had attacked him while Morgan and he were sitting in the car in the drive-way to his log cabin. That's where Morgan learned that Graham was a werewolf and that the murderer was a werewolf as well. Graham had a sketch made of the killer and the police was circulating it trying to get some leads when a call came in letting Graham know the killer had been found about ten minutes from where he lived. Will Graham catch the killer? Will Morgan and Graham live happily ever after? You will have to read this book for yourself to get those fantastic answers. Melissa Hosak writes a beautiful paranormal about breath taking werewolves. I was mesmerized from start to finish. I hope there will be more.

Summary: For 250 years, the Arcée brothers have been in conflict. The vendetta between these two powerful vampires has shown no signs of resolve or waning. The concession made between the two is that the location of their ongoing war is moved every five decades to help prevent hapless mortals from discovering them. It was determined that the new locations would be chosen by a delegated Keeper, symbolized by a custom-made tarot card. Where the card goes, so do the Houses and also the war.

When the card changes hands, each house sends out Seekers, specially trained vampires who race against each other to be the first to discover the card’s new location. The first one to find the card and take control of the new keeper has the upper hand in the battle for that duration as they gain first foothold in the new city.

This year is a turning year. Julio Mendoza receives the card in the mail, unaware of its meaning. When he learns of the history of the card, he realizes he has been thrust in to a war that holds nothing for him, yet he cannot escape his fate. Still he will not accept his role meekly.

Michelle Bryson is a Seeker for the House of François Arcée. She is pitted against a ruthless rival from the House of Pierre Arcée to get to Julio first. Michelle is a young Seeker and if she fails to capture the Keeper, her life may be forfeited. What Michelle did not plan on was to find the Keeper to be a sexy, rebellious man who has a spirit in him unlike any Keeper she has seen in the past.

Julio knows the vampires are coming for him. He knows that he cannot hide forever. When the Seekers find him though, he cannot deny his attraction toward Michelle – an attraction that they will both pay dearly for if the Seeker from the House of Pierre Arcée has anything to do about it.

My Review: Two vampire brothers have been at war for 250 years.  After all this time, the battle is still fierce, but with strict rules that must be followed.  The most important rule is that they move battlegrounds every fifty years.  Previously chosen Keepers receive a tarot card in the mail.  That tarot card holds a scent detectable by vampires, especially those that have dedicated their lives to being Seekers.  When the card is mailed, each House of vampires sends out their Seekers, in a race against one another to be the first to find the Keeper.  The first House to find and hold on to the Keeper has the upper hand in the war, in the new city.

When Julio receives a tarot card in the mail, one that he has never seen, and from an envelope with no return address, he immediately goes to his mother for answers.  She is a tarot card reader and will know what it means. He is astounded to hear the story of the two vampire Houses and the 250 year war; and even more so, that he is the chosen Keeper and has no choice but to wait for them to find him and watch as his home becomes a battleground.

The first Seeker to find him is Michelle, and he is instantly attracted to her. The passion that Julio and Michelle find together could cost them and Michelle’s House more than they could have ever imagined.

Desiree Lee has written another great book!  I enjoyed every aspect of Brothers at Arms.  Julio, although a mortal, is very open minded because his mother raised him that way.  The Arcee brothers and the other vampires misjudged him and did not give him credit, but he quickly proved himself to be more than worthy of the role as Keeper, and so much more.  Michelle, the voice of reason for the vampires, has a long history of heartbreak, but has maintained her intelligence and kindness.  This story flowed together very nicely at a quick pace, filled with hot sex scenes and heart stopping action.  I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys erotic paranormal romance!

Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Melissa!

Summary: Teenagers Dane Grissinger and Kit Eisley never meant for things to go so far when they snuck into the Coulbourne cemetery on Halloween night. Dane's idea of a seance to contact the wife and son that Silas Coulbourne had murdered seemed like a scary, but thrilling prospect for the night.

When Dane disappeared during the ceremony, nobody believed Kit's story that a ghost took him.

Now, 10 years later, Kit is visited by an apparition claiming to be Dane. Kit must bring herself to deal with her ghosts from the past and find the truth about what happened to Dane on that fateful night.

Some secrets, however, do not want to be unburied.

My Review: When they were thirteen, Kit and Dane decided to go to the Coulbourne Manor on Halloween night, to do a séance.  Dane thought that it would be a great idea to contact the ghosts of Mrs. Coulbourne and her son, who had been murdered by Mr. Coulbourne.  Never could they have imagined that they would make contact with a ghost, or that a ghost would take Dane.  When Kit ran home, screaming that a ghost had kidnapped Dane, no one believed her. After hours of searching with no results, it was called off, with no trace of where Dane may be.

Ten years later, Kit still has a hard time during the month of October, especially Halloween night.  Everyone in the town shunned her after that night, calling her crazy and a murderer. She has never forgotten Dane and the guilt continues to eat away at her.

When Dane’s ghost begins haunting her at night, she becomes obsessed with finding out the truth about the Coulbourne family and giving Dane peace, so his soul can finally rest. With each minute of research and every question she asks, Kit is more and more surprised and horrified.  Can Kit get to the bottom of Dane’s disappearance? If she does, will she be strong enough to help put his soul at peace?

All Hallow’s Haunting by Desiree Lee is a tale of two young teenagers, in love for the first time.  When Dane is taken from Kit, it changes her life forever.  She is not accepted by her neighbors and becomes a loner.  At thirteen, she didn’t think that she or Dane knew what real love was, but now she thinks she may have actually been in love with him.  Kit’s guilt, pain, and love are embedded so deeply within her, it has shaped her into the person that she is today.   When she learns all of the Coulbourne secrets, she discovers how truly strong she actually is, and maybe she can finally find peace for herself and Dane.  This story was very interesting and I enjoyed reading it.  The dialogue could have been a bit more realistic, but the story itself was touching and intriguing.  If you enjoy quick, paranormal reads, I recommend All Hallow’s Haunting for an entertaining Halloween story!

Rated 4 1/2 Delightful Divas by Melissa!

Available for purchase in October!

Deylen uncovers a secret Seneca harbors, bringing them closer together, more closer than he would have imagined. It also puts his own secret in danger of being discovered.

When a rival clan challenges Deylen for the city, Seneca is caught up in to a world she knows nothing about. Can Deylen keep his clan affairs separate and protect her innocence or will she become an unwitting pawn in the fight for supremacy amongst the arachnid shifters?

My Review:

When Deylen’s father is killed, he becomes the alpha of the werearachnid clan, the Centruroides.  Six months later, he receives his first challenge as alpha.  The other main clan in the area, the Loxosceles, is led by Koda, a vicious fighter, with a reputation for being a man not to be tangled with.  Koda and his clan are spider shifters and are not nice or easy to deal with.

Deylen is the owner of a toxicology lab.  When he is in need of a new employee, he has no choice but to look outside of his clan to find someone with the correct qualifications.  His new employee, Seneca, is beautiful, but also very strong-willed and opinionated, to the point of being rude at times.  If she were sweet, she would be the perfect woman.

While out and about, scoping out his rival clan, Deylen runs into Seneca and uncovers a secret about her.  He has no idea that this idea will bring them closer together, or that uncovering her secret will put his secret in danger of being discovered by Seneca.

When Koda and the Loxosceles challenge him for control of the city, Seneca is caught up in the middle of the war.  Deylen must try to keep his secret safe from Seneca, or she could become a pawn in the war between the two clans.

Desiree Lee wrote a unique shape shifter story, of werearachnids.  This was a first for me and I was not so sure if I would enjoy it.  However, Ms. Lee took the time to explain how the clan works, as well as describing in detail the werearachnids’ ability to shift, totally and partially, keeping their bodies half human.  Deylen is a strong alpha who has endured a lot over the last several months, forcing him to grow up and change quicker than he had anticipated.  Seneca is first presented as an irritating, but intelligent woman.  When her aspirations in life are explained, I could understand more of why she acts the way she does, and enjoyed her character much more.  The attraction between Deylen and Seneca kept the story hot, while the action of the clan war kept it interesting.  Scorpio Risen was an enjoyable read and I recommend it for those who enjoy paranormal romance.

Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Melissa.

Summary:  Larue is never alone. Her love life kind of sucks, and she has only one really good friend, but she always has company. Trouble is, only she can see her companions.

When she’s not running her book store, Larue is a ghost hunter. The down side of this occupation is that rather than convincing her ghostly friends to cross over, they tend to follow her home. She’s learned to live with this, right up until hunky Callaghan moves his coffee shop in next door.

Larue and Callaghan hit it off immediately, and she thinks maybe her luck is finally turning around. All she has to do is figure out how to tell him she talks to dead people. Life is never so simple, though. Witchy Brianna has set her sights on Callaghan too, and she has more than just her natural assets to get his attention. Larue is going to have to pull out all the stops, and so are her invisible friends, if they are going to save Callahan from Brianna’s not-so-loving attentions.

My Review: Well, this sounded like a really good premise. I like a good ghost story, and a good romance. This isn’t really either. At least, it isn’t a ghost story in the traditional sense. Larue’s ghosts are a little more off the cuff than most, and this isn’t a bad thing. I kind of like the idea of irreverent ghosts. Some of them are cranky, some are kind. Some are just there. It’s a decent mix. To me, though, they were comedy relief without as much plot substance as they might have had. At least they amused me.

As for romance, there just wasn’t enough. There were some delicious hints spread through the book of Larue and Callahan’s burgeoning relationship, but they were brief and too far between.  I have to say, though, this kiss? Yummy. I wasn’t looking for sex, or anything, just more connection between the characters. What was there was effective, but it was just too sparse.

This leads to what I really didn’t like about this book. There was so much filler. So many unnecessary bits of Larue’s everyday life, uninteresting little details, pried apart the good bits that I lost track of where I was in the story.  And the action, what there was of it, was sparse and rushed through. The actual plot wasn’t given the attention it deserved or the weight it needed to carry my interest.

It’s a shame, because what there was of the main relationship sports a lot of tension and sizzle. I wanted to see more of it. I was disappointed.

My Recommendation:  This author has potential to write to really spicy romance, but this isn’t quite it. I hope there will be more of the romance and less of the filler in her future work, because that, I’d love to read.

I give this one two delightful divas.

Selkines Ondine, a minor noblewoman without the means to fulfill her hunger for knowledge and power, faces a lonely life in service to the Aratriconian Church.

To avoid this fate she makes a pact with Abryax, a fallen angel who defied the god Aratricon at the dawn of time.

In exchange for bearing the demon's child she willreceive on wish for anything her heart desires.

Selkines plans to use this wish to gain the wealth and power that society denies her. But the archbishop of the Church has a secret agenda: an interest in Selkines that goes far beyond the religious. And the servants of Heaven will do anything to keep a soul they have set their sights on from Hell's grasp.

Meanwhile Selkines's longsuffering admirer, the poet Erasmus sets out to win her hand as well, unaware that his competition is a creature of ancient and terrible power.

Abryax's motto is that Hell gives us exactly what we want. But Selkines learns that what we want may come in a form we never expected or desire. Heaven and Hell ultimately gather for a showdown with Selkines's body as the battlefield, but Selkines is shocked at the depth of her own capacity to love when Erasmus selflessly enters the conflict for her sake as well.

Review:
Never in my life have I ever said a book was to long and I’m not going to start now. But I will say unless you are a fast reader, set aside some time to sit down and enjoy this book. Tyree has built an interesting and creative world, filled with intriguing characters. Throw in some scorching sex and you have a fantastic book. The religious icons and order he’s created are intriguing. The book interests you in the beginning and makes you want to read more. I found it especially interesting that at times I wasn't quite sure who was the protagonist, but I won't give any thing away I'll let you read it and make your own decisions.
I give this book 4 ½ Delightful Divas.

This collection of horror/erotic short stories includes five pieces – the title story, The Jar, The Featured Entertainer, Made to Order and Love to Stay Up For a Spell. The first story, Ghost Lover is a Halloween tale centering around twenty-two year old Ryan waking up in the back of his friend Chad’s car following a horrific car accident on a desolate country road.
The crash, which leaves his three friends Chad, Ashley and Kathy dead, fills Ryan with a serious case of survivor guilt.
Believing their ghosts to be angry that he has survived the accident, Ryan goes off in search of help…finding unlikely and sympathetic aid in the arms of Sonia Fortunata, a woman twice his age.
In The Jar, attorney Ray Alderman has started a new relationship with sexy, vibrant Ruthie, but he is plagued with suicide threats by his loony former lover, Nadine. A mysterious jar appears in his home and when Ray opens it, he discovers Nadine has wreaked revenge on Ray in a very painful way.
The Featured Entertainer is the mysterious Serena…a hypnotic, bitchy stripper in a club who is getting all the patrons’ attention and more importantly, their money too. While the other strippers hate what she’s doing their careers, are also irresistibly drawn to her like moths to the proverbial flame.
In Made to Order, balding, stuttering love loser Frank Putman is tired of striking out with real women, so he buys a life-like sex doll. Loretta might have been made to his specifications but…is she more woman than Frank can handle?
Love to Stay Up For a Spell is the story of Lisa Richardson, a divorced middle-aged woman who has been using men to keep the wrinkles at bay. When a bible basher turns up at her door, she finds new and inventive uses for him…until she discovers you really can’t judge a book or its basher by its cover.
 
Review:
Christopher Newman knows how to mix horror and sex in a gripping, page-turning way. The hooks to each of these pieces are intriguing. Each tale has a well grounded, apparently normal setting with genuine moments of creepiness thrown in the mix.
Of all the stories, Made to Order is a well-paced, very riveting read. It’s disturbing and satisfying with a brilliant ending. It’s a toss-up between this and Ghost Lover for which is the best, but these two stories alone rate this collection highly.
The heart-felt, clever twists in Ghost Lover could easily make for a longer, even more satisfying read in a novel.
Ghost Lover is very original and has many compelling elements, worthy of the likes of Stephen King. This book could easily be turned into a high concept movie.
The Jar was also an interesting concept and like the others, laced with lots of hot sex, but needed a better ending. The Featured Entertainer felt very well researched and the characters of the various strippers were very good. You could feel the strippers’ tension as the countdown for Serena’s dancing began, but once again, the ending was a bit flat.
Love to Stay Up For a Spell was the first story to use an amusing setup that tickled this reviewer’s funny bone. A bizarre, amusing tale.

For centuries the dragon has protected the village. Each year a new woman is chosen by lottery from among the unmarried women to appease
him by mating with him. Gabriella hates the idea of being chosen, not just because she loves Jason, but because the man who is also the dragon has been lusting after her for years and she wants nothing to do with him.

This is a lovely short story about true love. It has a tear jerking story, spiced up with some sensual sex. My only complaint is the ending seemed a bit too convenient. I give it 4 delightful divas.

A research grant takes Agnis Fitzgerald to western Ireland where she evaluates the possibility of reintroducing wolves to the coastal habitat. It's an uphill job, and the superstitious residents fight her every step of the way. They’re afraid…of werewolves.

Reynardine O’Brien has a secret. He’s the big black wolf that’s been hanging around Slieve Callan. More than that, he’s cursed to pass on his shapeshifting to his firstborn son. Determined never to let another O’Brien suffer as he has, Rey avoids serious involvements.

Until he meets Agnis.

Danger and destiny, sex and superstition…can Rey survive the hunt for the black wolf to claim Agnis as his mate?

Review:
I am happy to say I have a new appreciation for the name Agnis. I used to associate it with a granny like figure, but I’ll never look at this name the same again. I enjoyed Reyardine because there were subtle differences I haven’t found in many stories. Agnis, for one, is a take charge siren in the bedroom from the get go. Her character is a far cry from the fragile, passive heroines featured in so many other books I have read. Both heroine and hero are strong in this story, and they fit well together. The chemistry between the two was hot, hot, hot! The action in the story kept me on my toes and reading well into the night just to see what would happen next. Reyardine is definitely worth picking up!

 Four and a half Delightful Divas

The battle begun over 3,000 years ago wages on... Brigid Kawsantower travels to Ireland with her husband, Gabe, unaware of the true reason for their trip--or her true identity--until she comes to the little town of Carrigclarseach. There she learns of the Terrans, a clandestine group of supernatural beings who struggle to keep the earth in balance. Brigid is a Terran Water and Fire Keeper--and the daughter of Dagda, a powerful Water Keeper, and at one time the leader of the Terrans of ancient Eire. Retreating before invading forces, he concealed Brigid's spirit until the day when her help is needed to defeat Nimhnach, a maniacal Destroyer, who seeks to gain eternal life and world domination.
Can Brigid believe enough in her newfound powers to fulfill her destiny? Gabe is a Terran Protector with a secret--can he protect Brigid from Nimhnach's plans and his own dark desires? Irish archaeologist, Ethan Clark, is a Terran Singer and Air Keeper. Ages ago he was Dagda's harper and right-hand man. And ages ago, Ethan was Brigid's lover. Should he try to regain her love? Now they all must work together to vanquish Nimhnach before he unleashes a terror that will enslave the world and destroy Brigid's loves--past, present ... and future.

Review:
The life of a Terran may be long, but it's never easy. Especially if that Terran doesn't know who she really is or what she can really do. Brigid had no idea she was the daughter of one of the strongest Terrans ever to walk the earth, or how tangled her destiny would become when she finally discovered the truth. As her memories of a centuries-old life slowly return, so do her feelings for Ethan, the warrior she once loved. What that will mean for her and her current love and husband Gabe is anyone's guess. She has some pretty radical ideas about what she hopes might happen between the three of them, though.

Throw into that mix a demon hoping to rule the world through another, far less scrupulous Terran, and ride gets a lot hairier.

I had a good time with this one. I've never brushed up on my Gaelic myths, but I have to say, I thought it interesting how the author integrated centuries old warriors and lovers into the modern day. It was an interesting mix of myth and electronic magic.

The love triangle is great. The characters are all strong and compelling. They all have the makings of real heroes, and they all have flaws that make them more human for making mistakes and not saying or doing the right thing. There is no damsel in distress, here, and no one needs saving. I like them all. I want them all to win.

The sex was nicely written. I got a sense that these characters really do care about one another, but I do have to say, the book would not have suffered if half the sex scenes were cut. The plot was fast and engaging all on its own. It didn't need the extra heat. Though there are some scenes integral to the story that needed to be there and had a nice amount of heat, others seemed like afterthoughts; throw away scenes that detracted from the ones the plot needed and that were better written.

In the end, I was thrown for a loop to find this isn't the end at all, and the one scene I eagerly awaited never materialized. I suppose it's one way to get me to read the next book. I still want that payoff! (There will be another book, I hope!) The one thing I ask for in any book is a satisfying ending. I'm sorry to say, I was disappointed this time, especially as there was so much promise for a great conclusion, and none came. It felt a little bit like the writer reached her allotted word count and just stopped. Even if this is part of a series, I found there were just too many loose ends left dangling all over the place for me to feel like I'd read the complete first chapter in the story of these three great characters. There is a very strong feeling of 'Until next time…'

I'll give this book three and half delightful divas.