Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
KILL THE QUEEN

Dear Readers: I started reading epic fantasy in high school, and I quickly devoured every single epic fantasy book that I could get my hands on. In fact, the very first (unpublished) book that I ever wrote back in college was an epic fantasy. That’s why I’m so thrilled to finally be writing my own epic fantasy series. KILL THE QUEEN is book #1 in my Crown of Shards series. KILL THE QUEEN focuses on Everleigh Blair, a royal who is distantly in line for the throne of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. But when the unthinkable happens, Evie finds herself fighting for her life—both inside and outside the gladiator arena. So the book is sort of like Gladiator meets Game of Thrones with a kick-butt heroine. If you are looking for a fantasy book with a strong heroine, plus lots of action, adventure, magic, and a healthy dose of romance, then you should check out KILL THE QUEEN. You can read the first chapter of KILL THE QUEEN on my website I hope that everyone enjoys getting to know Evie and all the other characters in KILL THE QUEEN. Happy reading! 🙂 New York Times bestselling author…

Shape-Shifters I love
ParaNormal Bites / May 17, 2018

As I’m about to read SERPENTINE – the latest book in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series – and dive into a world of vampires, hunters, and wereleopards, it got me thinking about my love of romances featuring animal shifters. I enjoy a good vampire story, but in the age-old debate over blood suckers vs furry warriors – I’m Team Werewolf. I love werewolves, werebears, werehoney badgers, and everything in between. And how amazing are heroes who also happen to turn into dragons? Recently I’ve read a bunch of fabulous new releases with shape shifters of all sorts as main characters – MIDNIGHT WOLF by Jennifer Ashley, HOT AND BADGERED by Shelly Laurenston, ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WOLF by Terry Spear, WICKED AND WILD by Cynthia Eden, and the anthology THE BIG ALPHA IN TOWN with stories by Eve Langais, Millie Taiden, and Kate Baxter. MIDNIGHT WOLF by Jennifer Ashley Shifters Unbound #11 Angus Murray, bouncer for a New Orleans Shifter bar, is sent to round up an elusive, Collar-less Shifter woman, Tamsin Calloway, who is causing trouble for Shifter Bureau, and possesses information they want. If Angus refuses, he risks losing his cub. He finds Tamsin but she’s…

The Ultimate Summer Reading List for Paranormal Romance
ParaNormal Bites / June 23, 2016

Here in Toronto, the sun is finally out, and it looks like it’s here to stay. Many people have thrown on the shorts and sunglasses, and color splashes every article of clothing and makeup. I think it’s safe to say that summer is officially here. But even if it isn’t quite as warm where you live, that doesn’t mean you can’t get ready for the hottest summer releases! June is rife with hot, new titles just waiting to be devoured, so set a reminder for yourself to pick up these amazing books! The first book I want to talk about is THE CURSE OF TENTH GRAVE by Darynda Jones. Charley Davidson has had a wild ride so far in this series. While you’ll probably want to read this series in order, this book is sure to be calling your name when it hits the shelves. Not only is this series laugh-out-loud funny, but Reyes will have you falling under his spell in no time. I cannot wait to see what’s in store for these characters next! ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR by Nalini Singh is a book that almost marks an end to an era, so to speak. It closes up a…

You’re My Hero: Male POVs in Romance and Urban Fantasy
ParaNormal Bites , Urban Fantasy / June 9, 2016

With the celebration of Father’s Day this month, I wanted to take a moment here to talk about the presence of men in books. In Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance especially, male leads are very important to the storyline. A good hero can either make or break a book. In my reading experience, if I don’t like a hero in a Romance book, that’s it. That pretty much ends all chances that I’m going to enjoying anything else about the book, because if you aren’t invested in both characters in a love story, it won’t have the same lasting impact on the reader. I’ve come across some amazing heroes over the years. Some are alpha and possessive, others are charming and witty, but I love them all. And now, I think whatever your tastes are in men, you’ll likely find an author who writes your kind of hero. Alpha heroes are a popular choice. Readers like heroes that take charge, who show a sense of responsibility for something other than themselves. They also tend to be quite bossy, which isn’t a terrible thing in the bedroom *winks* Some readers prefer beta heroes, who are still amazing but they’re a little…

Young Adult Novels to Watch for!
ParaNormal Bites / May 5, 2016

The month of May is rife with Young Adult releases but the ones I have chosen are a little bit more special because they have that have a paranormal twist to them! If you’re like me, you are looking forward to these releases. Personally, I’m a lover of both YA and PNR so whenever I find a series that combines the two, they tend to get pushed up on my TBR pile. Authors like Sherriyn Kenyon are no strangers to both genres. In fact, The Chronicles of Nick series is closely tied to the Dark-Hunters world so there is a lot of cross over. In contrast, Sarah J. Maas and Danielle L. Jensen write YA but with a heavy Fantasy influence. The series, however, do include fae and witches, making it easy for supernatural fans to devour. The only thing I would say about all these books is that you must read the series in order. Since they are YA, the stories do not have a resolution at the end of every book like typical Paranormal Romances do. Therefore, it’s important to read in order to benefit from the story the most. Don’t worry if you’re behind because I can…

What’s On Your TBR?
ParaNormal Bites / April 7, 2016

Finally we are headed into spring with the month of April but other than looking forward to the warmer weather, there’s also plenty more in the book world to get excited about. April has so many releases that I’ve been anxiously awaiting so for this week’s recommendations, I wanted to share what I plan on reading and hopefully you’ll find them interesting enough to add them to your own to-be-read pile! During the first week of April, THE BEAST by J.R. Ward will be unleashed onto the world. As Ward’s fourteenth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Ward will be returning to a previous couple in the series who have already had their HEA and Since Rhage and Mary are my all-time favorite couple, I’m especially excited to have Ward revisit them. Another title that I think is worthy of putting on your TBR list for April is Donna Grant‘s SMOKE AND FIRE. As book nine in the Dark Kings series, Grant takes the dragon mythology and runs with it, breathing new life and culture into her books. This particular book is one of my favorites in the series because not only to get a steamy romance but there’s…

Into The Night: Read the Write Way!
ParaNormal Bites / March 10, 2016

This March get ready to be bombarded left and right with hot new releases that are sure to keep you spellbound for the rest of the month! All of the books I’ll be talking about today will probably be familiar to you as they are written some bestselling authors. Their series have been chart toppers numerous times and been loved by many readers. But instead of talking more about each series and its characters, which you’re already probably familiar with, I wanted to share why I think each author is worth checking out. The first author I want to talk about is Patricia Briggs. Briggs is releasing her ninth book in the Mercy Thompson series. The sheer number of books in this series displays just how good of a writer she is. To be able to continue with a series that is this long-lasting means that she is doing something right. But to be honest, I think Briggs’ greatest achievement was creating a heroine that is very relatable to readers. Mercy Thompson isn’t your typical Urban Fantasy heroine. Although she has special powers and connections, she doesn’t walk around toting a blade and intimidating others. She’s far more subtle in…

Favorite Scenes in Romance
ParaNormal Bites / February 4, 2016

With the quick approach of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to celebrate this holiday by sharing my all-time favorite scenes in Romance. After years of reading Romance, I had so many good scenes to choose from but I will admit that it wasn’t hard to pick out my top two favorites. These are scenes that constantly stand out in my mind. I remember reading them for the first time and feeling my heart squeeze with emotion as the scene panned out. My first and possibly my most favorite scene of all time is from LOVER ETERNAL by J.R. Ward. It’s the scene where Rhage appears at Mary’s house. At this time, it’s still the beginning of their relationship and despite the uncertainty that Mary has about Rhage, she rushes out of the house, straight into his arms as she sobs that “she’s not okay”. It’s an emotional moment that made me sob right along with her because it’s that moment where she finally opens up to him. And from there, it’s only the beginning of their happily ever after. About LOVER ETERNAL Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act…

Reading Remedy: A Book to Fit Every Mood
ParaNormal Bites / January 28, 2016

It’s that time of the year when our moods drop. The holidays are over and for many, the cold, winter months make the everyday seem like an impossible task. It’s also a month for change. People are trying to reorganize their priorities, hoping to take better care of themselves or start new endeavors. It’s easy to get lost in the process and overstress yourself. Thankfully there’s something I can rely out to get me out of those foul moods. Books are my medicine. If I’ve had a particularly long and grueling day, there’s comfort in knowing that I can slide into bed, curl up under the covers with a cup of hot tea and escape to a new world just by opening a book. I know that just reading a few pages can make me forget the day’s events and I can simply let my mind drift. Whether it’s the relaxing routine of settling down or the type of book you are reading, stories are a welcome distraction and it’s not hard to find a book that will fit the current mood you are in. There are so many that it took me a while to narrow it down this…

A Look Back into 2015 and New Releases to Look Forward in 2016
ParaNormal Bites / January 4, 2016

Has 2015 been good for you, reading-wise? Looking back on this past year, I can definitely recall many books that have either made me laugh or cry. Those ones are sitting proudly on my keeper shelf and will no doubt be ones I’ll be returning to again and again. For me personally, I think J.R. Ward has had a fabulous year. Not only did she shock fans with her latest Black Dagger Brotherhood release, THE SHADOWS, but she also started a new spin off series with BLOOD KISS, featuring the Brothers and new trainees. Moreover, she even returned to her roots and wrote the first book in a new Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction series. Another series to get excited about is Chloe Neill’s new series Devil’s Isle. THE VEIL delivered on its world building and character development. In just one book, I was hooked. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series. It feels like it’s been forever since I first read BURNED by Karen Marie Moning back in January but it’s not a book that you can easily forget about. The events in BURNED changed the course of the series and marks a new chapter…