Cocktails and Books

Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway: Night Walker - Lisa Kessler

2012-05-27T01:01:00.000-07:00

We have Lisa Kessler stopping by to chat with us today about being a vampire fan. Help me in welcoming Lisa to Cocktails and Books!

Hi Everyone –

I’m excited to be on the Cocktails and Books Blog today!

I’m a vampire fan. I have been since the night I met Lestat in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. As a reader, I love the sex appeal of the ultimate bad boy. Here’s a man who could kill you, but instead, he’ll kill to keep you safe.

And as a writer, I love the depth of tortured hero you can achieve from lifetimes of heartbreak and lonliness. These men need more than sex, they need someone to remind them what it feels like to be alive, to smile, laugh, and love.

My novel, Night Walker, opens on Dia de los Muertos. Calisto has been waiting over 200 years for his one love to live again. Their paths finally cross as Calisto is leaving his offering of flowers in memory of his lost love. Here’s an excerpt from the book… Hope you enjoy!

According to her friends, Dia de los Muertos was the perfect night for ghost hunting. Lori and Edie always enjoyed ghost stories when they were kids, and their fondness grew until they considered themselves amateur paranormal investigators. What better place to find them than in the oldest building in San Diego on the one night a year reserved for the dead?

Kate didn’t share their zeal for spirits, but she had no problem waiting for them to have their fun. She was happy to have a few minutes to herself anyway.

The candlelight glimmered around her, the flickering flames left to burn out sometime before morning. The warm glow made for eerie light, casting long shadows of the weeping crosses over the garden. It

was exquisite and melancholy in the same moment.

She caught a sudden chill. The longer she lingered, the more her sadness mutated into unease. The back of her neck prickled. Kate crossed her arms and walked toward the sanctuary doors. She suddenly felt exposed and alone.

Before she reached the doors, Lori and Edie came up the path at the other end of the courtyard, snapping pictures as they walked, until Lori disappeared from view.

When Edie saw Kate approach, she grinned. “Oh, you should see some of the great shots we got tonight. We had lots of orbs in a couple of pictures of the bell tower. There might be even more when we can look at them on a larger screen.”

“You’ll have to show me once you get them on the computer.” Kate glanced around the courtyard. “Where’d Lori go?”

Edie turned around. “She was right behind... ”

“Edie... Kate.” Lori’s voice, a loud and insistent whisper, emanated from the shadows.

Kate flinched when she heard her name. She had no idea why she was so jumpy tonight. They tracked down Lori and found her kneeling by one of the crosses. She beckoned them closer.

Edie rushed over with an eager grin, camera at the ready. “Wow. Look at this.” She squatted beside Lori. The cross was smaller than most of the others, weather-beaten and canted. There was a single letter in the center, a T, and a single candle burned beside a bundle of large white blossoms.

“Who do you think left those?” Lori whispered.

Kate shrugged. None of the other crosses had fresh offerings. “Probably the priests, right?”

“I don’t know.” Lori glanced at the other crosses. “Maybe this person’s relatives still visit every year.”

“Can you imagine?” Edie whispered. “Being remembered like that? I hope someone’s still bringing me flowers after I’ve been dead

a couple hundred years.”

Kate thought about correcting them, telling them these crosses were memorials to the Native Americans. But she didn’t. Something about the cross held her rapt. The conversation around her faded away as Kate moved in closer to the fragrant blossoms.

She’d never seen flowers like these with huge, beautiful blooms of white, silky petals and a center like pure sunshine. And the scent. It was the primrose-like perfume that made her reach out to touch them, entranced by their spell.

Had she seen these flowers before?

“Kate? Are you okay?”

Kate looked up at Lori, her brow furrowed and mouth pinched in concern. “I’m fine,” she said, yanking her hand away from the flowers. “Just a little tired, I guess.”

“We’re almost done. We need a couple more pictures around the front by the steps,” Edie said.

“All right.” Kate straightened, still unable to pull her attention away from the cross and its bouquet. “I’ll wait for you here, okay?”

Lori continued to frown, but Edie said, “No problem. We’ll be right back.”

Kate watched them wander off before kneeling closer to the cross. Unable to stop herself, she traced her finger along the T in the center.

Behind her, someone cleared his throat. Kate jerked her hand away and shot to her feet. When she turned around she found a tall, dark-haired man staring at her.

Her cheeks flushed with heat. She hoped he hadn’t witnessed her touching the relic. She waited for some kind of admonishment, but he didn’t say anything.

Not with words.

Something in his dark eyes captured her. His gaze wandered over her face like a tender caress, and strangely, instead of screaming for Lori and Edie, she caught herself imagining his touch on her skin.

“I hope I did not frighten you,” he said.

His deep voice resonated through the empty courtyard, and the intimate tone weakened her knees. The hint of a Spanish accent didn’t hurt, either. Nervous laughter escaped her before she could contain it.

Her face warmed all over again. “Just a little startled. I didn’t see anyone else out here.”

He stepped closer without encroaching on her personal space, his eyes locked with hers from beneath thick lashes. “Forgive me.”

She swallowed hard and prayed she wasn’t blushing. “No problem.” She looked away before she embarrassed herself even further, focusing on the cross. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?”

“Si.” He nodded slowly. “Yes, it is.” His barely there smile made her think he wasn’t referring to the flowers or the cross. “I am Calisto. Calisto Terana.”

Expectation hung as heavy as the scent of eucalyptus, as if he waited to hear something more than just her name.

“I’m Kate.” Instead of offering to shake his hand, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The honor is mine, Kate... ” His accent colored the vowel in her name. It had never sounded more beautiful. She reminded herself to breathe.

When he hesitated for a moment waiting for her to speak, she realized she hadn’t shared her last name as he had. She flipped through a rapid pro and con mental checklist, and decided it couldn’t hurt. Maybe they would meet again.

“Bradley,” she said.

A sexy smile curved at the corners of his lips. “I hope this will not be our last meeting.”

She glanced around the shadowed courtyard, feeling vulnerable, and almost gave in to her first instinct—to run. But she remembered her promise to herself. Be strong. Take action. She lifted her chin and

said, “I guess you never know.”

With a smile that said he had every intention of seeing her again, he tipped his head. “Buenos noches, Kate Bradley.”

Her heart raced and her palms sweated when she realized he meant to leave. No man made her palms sweat. Ever.

His gaze held hers for a moment, full of unspoken promises she didn’t understand. Without another word, he walked away.

I hope the excerpt intrigued you… Calisto is a very tortured hero, but it makes the Happily Ever After at the end even sweeter, right?

So what about you? Do you love to read about immortals?

Lisa is hosting a tour-wide giveaway of: a signed paperback of Night Walker, a signed Night Walker poster and a $25 Amazon giftcard. To enter the giveaway, complete the Rafflecopter below.

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About the Book

He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her...
Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.
She's haunted by dreams of her own death...
After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.
They've waited in the shadows for centuries...
Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he's ever loved again.

Night Walker review quotes...

"Hot romance and cool characters make Night Walker an all-night read." - Kelley Armstrong, #1 NYT Best-Selling Author

A stellar first novel with heart-stopping suspense and a hero to die for. -- Angie Fox, New York Times bestselling author THE LAST OF THE DEMON SLAYERS

“Lisa Kessler pens the kind of lyrical romance we all want to experience!”
~ Linda Wisdom, national bestselling author of A DEMON DOES IT BETTER

“Night Walker is a wonderful tale about the power and magic of a love that transcends time.”~ Linda Thomas-Sundstrom, author of the Vampire Moons series

“A soulful, timeless love story and an engrossing new take on immortal mythology—if you’re looking for a touching paranormal romance, Kessler’s got one for you!”~ Christine Cody, author of the Bloodlands series

The characters were very relateable and I found myself investing in them as the story went. The plot and pace kept me glued to the book. With twist and turns, Ups and downs, I couldn't stop. My Rating 5 stars!! - - Were Vamp Romance Reviews

"Haunting and beautiful." - Fresh Fiction Reviews

Top Pick - Lisa Kessler has now officially been added to my authors-to-watch list. After reading this captivating tale of love, lies, betrayal, and redemption, I am hard pressed to find things I didn't like. - Night Owl Book Reviews

Night Walkers, rogue monks in a secret Brotherhood, a megalomaniac monk and a love that spans centuries make for a great sensual paranormal romance in this first of Kessler's new The Night series. - Bitten By Paranormal Romance

3 star RT Rating

In the first of her Night series, Kessler tackles a love that has waited 200 years. While the tale is tender and poignant, readers will sigh both in dreamy acceptance of a love that never dies as well as exasperation for the secrets the characters keep from each other. ~ Reviewed By: Sabrina Cooper http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/night-walker-0

Blog Tour Review: Night Walker - Lisa Kessler

2012-05-27T01:00:00.001-07:00

Night Walker by Lisa Kessler
Series: The Night Series #1
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Buy the book at:

He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her...

Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.

She's haunted by dreams of her own death...

After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.

They've waited in the shadows for centuries...

Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he's ever loved again.

Reviewer's Thoughts:

I always love when an author comes up with a new twist on an "old" character. In the case of Night Walker, it's putting a Native American spin on the vampire tale.

Calisto Terana is a Night Walker. He was given his powers by the Old One who vowed Calisto would live to see his love live in another life and be reunited with her. He willingly gave up the sun and accepted immortality for the hope that he would see is Tala again. He's lived hundreds of years waiting for that moment and not much else.

Kate Bradley ran from San Diego and to be a teacher in Reno. After she catches her fiance, Tom, in the arms of a student. Desperate to get away from Tom and determined to stop running from the pain of her parents death she returns to San Diego. Once back home, she's meet Calisto. A man who calls to her very soul. She's skeptical at first, but she can't fight the draw to Calisto.

I like the idea that Calisto (or Gregorio since that was who is was as a human) would give up his humanity in the hope that he would eventually be reunited with his one true love. That is a testament to the phrase "I'll love you forever". Then there is Kate, who in her soul, knew that Calisto was the man she was meant to be with upon first sight. Did she question her sanity and why she was so drawn this this virtual stranger? Yes, she didn't fight it. Almost like she knew, at an elemental level, he was hers.

What good is a romance if there isn't some sort of evil to try and thwart it. In this story, it was the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo and their fight to stop Calisto from creating another Night Walker in Kate. Funny how those that deem themselves to be the righteous and right manage to look out instead of in when trying to ward of those they feel are evil. In the case of the Fraternidad, if they had looked in, they would have found a brother in their midst who was not on the same page as their agenda. Because they chose to point the finger of evil-doer at Calisto, the caused the very thing they were hoping to stop.

Night Walker is a story that will tug at your emotions for both what Kate and Calisto must endure in the name of God and the steps they must make to finally commit to one another.

Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway: Frey - Melissa Wright

2012-05-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

Melissa Wright is joining us today, talking about her favorite books. Which has made me think, what are my top ten favorites. Hmmm....While I ponder this, help me in welcoming Melissa to Cocktails and Books!

Oohh...if you want to know my thoughts on Frey, click here, to read my review.

Top Ten Favorite Books

It seems like my favorites change pretty often, as I’m always finding new things or rediscovering the old. As such, it’s hard for me to nail down a favorite song, ice cream flavor, movie, anything for all time. But, if you ask me today, here are my top ten fave books, including a few childhood favorites:

Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales
A Song of Ice and Fire – George RR Martin
Twilight – Stephenie Meyer
Driving Mr. Dead – Molly Harper
Ender’s Saga – Orson Scott Card
Watership Down – Richard Adams
Hounded – Kevin Hearne
Miss Suzy – Miriam Young
Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis

We're giving away an ebook copy of both Frey and Pieces of Eight to on lucky blog follower. Complete the Rafflecopter below to enter. The winner will be chosen, at random, on May 31, 2012.

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About the Book

Unaware she's been bound from using magic, Frey leads a small, miserable life in the village where she's sent after the death of her mother. But a tiny spark starts a fury of changes and she finds hersef running from everything she's ever known.
Hunted by council for practicing dark magic, she is certain she's been wrongfully accused. She flees, and is forced to rely on strangers for protection. But the farther she strays from home, the more her magic and forgotten memories return and she begins to suspect all is not as it seems.

Review: A Gentleman Says "I Do" - Amelia Grey

2012-05-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

A Gentleman Says "I Do" by Amelia Grey
Series: The Rogue's Dynasty #5
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Source: NetGalley
Buy the book at:

Iverson Brentwood has finally met his match. Catalina Crisp heats his blood like no other lady. Her alluring countenance has stopped him dead in his tracks. But no matter how attracted he is to her, he can't give into his desire to possess her in every way...she is the daughter of the man he's sworn to destroy.

Catalina's father is a well-known writer, but wastrel whose disappearances continuously put them close to destitution. Something drastic must change, so it is with quill in hand, that Catalina completes her father's latest parody of Iverson and Matson Brentwood's spectacular arrival in London. When the story hits the newsprint, a darkly handsome man is at her door, looking for her father.

Seeing the dashing rogue in the flesh, for a bewildering moment dallying with the rake seems like the perfect fictional escape—and it's all she can do not to give into the madness of the intriguing man.

Reviewer's Thoughts:

Iverson Brentwood, the Rake of Baltimore, returned to London with his twin with the hopes of building their shipping empire on home soil. What he's returned to is being fodder for the gossip mill because of his similar appearance to a certain member of society who is not his father. Hope of the gossip ceases ends when a poet by the name of Sir Phillip Crisp writes a parody of the Brentwood Twins return. Determine to instill the fear of Brentwood into the poet, Iverson stomps over to Chez Crisp and force the man to stop writing about his family.

Catalina Crisp has been holding her little family together by a hair. Her father, while a renown poet, has no head for business or managing money. That leaves Catalina to scrimp, save and beg to ensure they can stay in their home in the lifestyle her father wishes to live. It also means that when her father can't be bothered to finish a scheduled piece of work, she must finish it for him. Of course, covering for her father is what lead her to meet Iverson Brentwood.

Catalina was a woman who took care of everyone: her father, her aunt, the staff at her home, and always put herself last. That is until Iverson Brentwood. When he should have intimidated her, he intrigued her. She loved verbally sparring with him and knowing that she usually threw him off guard. But she also knew that he made her feel, even when they were debating, that she mattered.

Iverson was a man of action and was used to things going according to his plan. Catalina, of course, threw those plans off. But Iverson discovered that with Catalina he found someone who didn't care who he looked like or what he had done in the past, she simply enjoyed him for who he was. He found himself letting go of his anger towards her father and willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to find him simply because it would make her life easier.

A cute story with likeable, witty characters that have you turning the page awaiting their next verbal assault.

Blog Tour Author Interview & Giveaway: A Gentleman Says "I Do" - Amelia Grey

2012-05-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to have Amelia Grey with us today, chatting a bit about herself and her release, A Gentleman Says "I Do". Help me in welcoming Amelia to Cocktails and Books!

Tell us about yourself.

The first thing I would like you to know about me is that I’m a girly girl! I love pearls, lace, ruffles, candlelight, and soft music. I love flowers but don’t want to get my hands dirty planting them.

I’m a big fan of college football, and I always pick a team and watch the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and the World Series. I love to watch sports—I just don’t want to play sports. I love living on the beach but I don’t like to walk barefoot on the sand or getting in the water. I love to watch the waves roll in and listen to them crash on shore and one of my favorite things to do is watch the sun set over the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

I enjoy going to movies, reading books, and traveling to places I’ve never been before. I would rather have a quiet dinner with my husband and a few friends than be at a loud, rocking party.

Growing up, we never had a place to go to where I could dress up in fancy clothing so now I love to dress up in lovely dresses and got to dinner and fancy parties. I think that’s why I always have a ballroom scene in all my books.

When did you discover that you wanted to be a writer?

In 1983 my husband’s job took us from Alabama to Connecticut which was fifteen hundred miles from my nearest friend or relative. I didn’t have much to do while my son and daughter were in grade school, I had plenty of time to read my beloved romance stories. One day I saw an interview with Janet Daily and she said she told her husband, “I think I’ll write one of those books.” And that gave me the idea to write a romance book.

How did you pick which genre(s) you would write in?

I was newly married when I discovered Harlequin romances. I still have the first copy I bought—The Road Boss. It cost seventy-five cents back in 1976. But, I really fell in love with romance books when I discovered historical romances by Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Bertrice Small, and too many others to mention here. I like to call them the Masters of Historical Romance. Those books quickly became my first choice of books to buy and read because I loved being transported to a different time period. And when I decided to write, historical was my first choice.

Do you have a writing routine? Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?

Yes, I consider my writing a job and I work most every day. I have an office in my husband’s office building so I’m usually up, dressed and in my office no later than 9:30—five days a week. I never work at night or on the weekends. I usually check e-mails, blogs, and general office work first. Sometimes that takes only a few minutes and other times it takes more than a couple of hours.

My first must have is my costume book. I often write about how my characters are dressed, and I love to look at pictures and describe the clothing. Second, I must have Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (mine is the 10^th edition) so I can check to see if a word was in use in the Regency. I have to admit that I sometimes I still make mistakes, but usually my editor and or the copy editor will catch it before the book goes to print.

You’re touring for Gentleman Says “I Do”. Tell us about he book.

Iverson Brentwood has finally met his match. Catalina Crisp heats his blood like no other lady. Her alluring countenance has stopped him dead in his tracks. But no matter how attracted he is to her, he can’t give into his desire to possess her in every way… she is the daughter of the man he’s sworn to destroy.
Catalina’s father is a well-known writer, but he’s a wastrel whose disappearances continuously put them close to destitution. Something drastic must change, so it is with quill in hand, that Catalina completes her father’s latest parody of Iverson and Matson Brentwood’s spectacular arrival in London. When the story hits the newsprint, a darkly handsome man is at her door, looking for her father.
Seeing the dashing rogue in the flesh, for a bewildering moment dallying with the rake seems like the perfect fictional escape—and it’s all she can do not to give into the madness of the intriguing man.

I love the idea of Catalina writing this Brentwood parody under her father’s name. Where did the idea for the storyline come from?

Unlike today, poetry was favored reading and the poets were looked upon with great interest during the Regency. It was a way to transport and entertain people. Most poets were dreamers and not very good at handling their money. So my first thought was to have the heroine’s father be a poet and a dreamer and she would have to look after him. As I worked on ideas for the book it came to me that she would need to finish the story that had made the hero so angry and generated the conflict between Iverson and Catalina.

What do you think will attract readers to Iverson and Catalina?

Catalina is a giver by nature. She steps into her father’s role and takes care of him and their household. By doing this, she has learned to be strong, independent and resouceful. Iverson is a mover and a shaker. If he sees something needs to be handled, he does it. He doesn’t sit around and let things happen to him. He goes out and makes things happen.

What is your favorite scene from the book?

Catalina has an aunt who tends to drink too much so Catalina tries to shelter her from the public eye by always leaving parties early, before her aunt has too much to drink. One evening, the aunt slips out to a party without Catalina. Iverson finds the aunt very happy in her tipsy state. But knows he must get her home to Catalina. Iverson could have left the aunt to be teased, but he did the honorable thing and took her home to Catalina.

What’s next for you?

We haven’t settled on a title for the 2^nd twin’s story which should be out next spring or summer. I’m happy to give you a sneak peek into what Matson Brentwood and Sophia Hart’s story is about.

Matson Brentwood has finally met the woman of his dreams. The lovely, red-haired Sophia Hart heats his blood like no other lady. Her alluring countenance has stopped him dead in his tracks. But no matter how attracted he is to her, he can’t give into his desire to possess her in every way because she is the ward of the man he’s sworn to hate.Newly arrived in London, Miss Sophia Hart is in need of a husband, but not for herself. She has twin, spinster aunts and one of them has decided she wants a man. Sophia refuses to give into the maddening charms of the darkly handsome and intriguing Matson Brentwood and agrees to help her aunt by allowing older gentlemen to call on her and then come up with ways to make sure her Aunt Mae spends more time in the gentleman’s company than Sophia does.But there’s more than just an unwanted guardian and a long list of beaus standing between Sophia and Matson. Sophia promised her dying father she would honor his lifelong wish and only marry a titled gentleman. Matson isn't titled so she must deny her love for him and make up to her father for costing him the love of his life.

Thank you for letting me share about A Gentleman Says “I Do” with your readers. I love to hear from readers. Please visit me at ameliagrey.com, www.Facebook.com/AmeliaGreybooks, or email me at ameliagrey@comcast.net

A big Thank You to Amelia for stopping by and chatting with us.

As part of Amelia's visit, we're giving away a print copy of A Gentleman Says "I Do" to one lucky blog follower. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below. A winner will be chosen, at random, on May 30, 2012.

Giveaway is open to US and Canada shipping only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the book

Iverson Brentwood has finally met his match. Catalina Crisp heats his blood like no other lady. Her alluring countenance has stopped him dead in his tracks. But no matter how attracted he is to her, he can't give into his desire to possess her in every way...she is the daughter of the man he's sworn to destroy.

Catalina's father is a well-known writer, but wastrel whose disappearances continuously put them close to destitution. Something drastic must change, so it is with quill in hand, that Catalina completes her father's latest parody of Iverson and Matson Brentwood's spectacular arrival in London. When the story hits the newsprint, a darkly handsome man is at her door, looking for her father.

Seeing the dashing rogue in the flesh, for a bewildering moment dallying with the rake seems like the perfect fictional escape—and it's all she can do not to give into the madness of the intriguing man

About the author

Amelia Grey (aka Gloria Dale Skinner) grew up in a small town in the Florida Panhandle. She has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over twenty-five years. She has lived in Alabama, Connecticut, New Hampshire and now lives in Florida.

Amelia has won the coveted Romantic Times award for Love and Laughter, the prestigious Maggie award for best historical and Affaire de Coeur's best American historical award. She has been a finalist for the Golden Heart and the Holt Medallion awards which are given by Romance Writers of America and numerous other awards. Her books have been sold to many countries in Europe, Russia and China.

Amelia likes flowers, candlelight, sweet smiles, gentle laughter and sunshine.
Web Site: http://www.ameliagrey.com/main.html
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmeliaGreyBooks

Review: Let Me In - Callie Croix

2012-05-24T21:09:00.001-07:00

Let Me In by Callie Croix
Series:
Release Date: May 21, 2012
Publisher: Carina Press
Source: NetGalley
Buy the book at:

On leave for Thanksgiving, the last thing marine lieutenant Talia Barnett expects to find is Liam Brodie waiting for her at the airport. He's had a starring role in her fantasies for the past two years, and although she'd love to make them a reality, she has a dark secret that prevents her from taking things further.

A former marine, Liam's specialty is planning tactical operations, and that's just what he plans to do to win Talia. The woman has kept him at arm's length for too long, and this time he's finally going to claim her—body and heart.

What begins as comfort quickly turns hot. When Liam shows Talia a hint of the dominant nature inside him, the submissive part of her flares to life. Though she desires him, she's going back on deployment and doesn't want to dump all her drama on him. Will he find a way to break through the protective walls around her heart and convince her they have a future that goes far beyond the bedroom?

Reviewer's Thoughts:

Talia Barnett finds herself flying home to Colorado over Thanksgiving with no idea what awaits her. She and her mother, her only remaining blood relative, have a tenuous relationship due to her mother's mental illness. But when she exits security at the airport, she find her best friend, Angie, and her older brother, Liam waiting for her.

Talia has always envied Angie and Liam for their close knit family, wishing she could have a sliver of what they have together. It's that wish that caused Talia to inform Liam, in the past, that despite their attraction, nothing would happen between them. Talia really does want Liam and she's denying herself a chance with the man because of her embarrassment over her mother's mental illness. But something happens to Talia once Liam starts pushing her. She finds herself giving into him.

Liam has had a thing for Talia for as long as he's known her. While he's let her push him away, he's decided that this Thanksgiving it's going to be the time he makes his move. He soon comes face to face with the ugliness Talia has been dealing with on her own and vows to be there to support her and prove that she can rely on him.

As the book blurb says Liam sees Talia's submissive side and shows her small portion of what he would like to do with her. While their sexual chemistry was hot, Liam (in my opinion) was more a tender lover who likes to be a little pushy than a Dom. And Talia didn't come off as being a submissive, instead she let Liam take the lead.

I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. It was refreshing to actually have the heroine needing to suck it up and crawl back to the hero after screwing things up colossally. If you want a read where a "broken" lead manages to turn their life around and get a HEA, give this one a try.

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow

2012-05-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that begins on Fridays and runs through the weekend, hosted by Crystal from Reading Between the Wines. This is a Friday blog hop with the objective to find and visit other book blogs that share the same interest as you, namely books geared towards the 18 & over crowd, and make some new friends!

Question of the Week: Do you feel the need to write a review for your personal reads, as oppose to requested reviews, or are there some books you read just for the joy of reading?

I generally write a review for any book that I read, whether it's one I'm reading it as a requested review or just because it was one that called to my wallet and had to be bought. I figure, I started the blog as a venue to share my views on the books I read, so I'll review whatever I read.

How about you?

Review: Improper Relations - Juliana Ross

2012-05-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

Improper Relations by Juliana Ross
Series:
Release Date: April 23, 2012
Publisher: Carina Press
Source: NetGalley
Buy the book at:

Dorset, 1858

When Hannah's caught watching her late husband's cousin debauch the maid in the library, she's mortified -- but also intrigued. An unpaid companion to his aunt, she's used to being ignored.

The black sheep of the family, Leo has nothing but his good looks and noble birth to recommend him. Hannah ought to be appalled at what she's witnessed, but there's something about Leo that draws her to him.

When Leo claims he can prove that women can feel desire as passionately as men, Hannah is incredulous. Her own experiences have been uninspiring. Yet she can't bring herself to refuse his audacious proposal when he offers to tutor her in the art of lovemaking. As the tantalizing, wicked lessons continue, she begins to fear she's losing not just her inhibitions, but her heart as well. The poorest of relations, she has nothing to offer Leo but herself. Will it be enough when their erotic education ends?

Reviewer's Thoughts:

I always like when there is a heroine in a historical novel that is willing to step outside that propriety box women were placed in and ask questions about sex. While our heroine doesn't go set down a path to ask those questions deliberately, she's given an opportunity that she can't pass up.

Hannah, left penniless after the death of her husband, if forced to beg for the position of companion to her husband's aunt (for which she does not get paid), doesn't know much about relations between a man and a woman other than the brief encounters she had with her husband (who donned a cap in bed. LOL!) and the wisdom imparted to her by her mother. With that knowledge, Hannah is glad to not have to engage in the activity. Her thoughts on the subject change when she witnesses a tryst between her late husband's cousin, Leo and one of the housemaid in the library. Fueled by the housemaids response and Leo's willingness to school her, Hannah embarks on a sexual awakening she never expected to experience.

Hannah is a woman who is beaten down by circumstances but when an opportunity such as Leo's "lesson" becomes available, she jumps on it. She's open and willing to let Leo and his experience guide her in her education. It was interesting that as much as she needed her companion job to keep a roof over her head, she was willing to do what she needed to do to be with Leo, including putting her job and her heart in jeopardy, without getting any kind of commitment from Leo. It didn't take much to realize Hannah was going to be the one that, quite literally, got screwed over in the big climax.

The sex lesson were hot and Leo gladly took on the role of being Hannah's teacher. She was a most disciplined student!

My only wish for this book was a little bit more emotional development of the characters on the pages we were reading. I needed to read Hannah's feelings for Leo or the see her struggle between her building feelings for him and the fact that his family was trying to marrying him off to someone else.

Review: If the Slipper Fits - Olivia Drake

2012-05-24T15:17:00.002-07:00

If the Slipper Fits by Olivia Drake
Series: Cinderella Sisterhood #1
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: Provided by publisher
Buy the book at:

Is This Love Real?

Raised in a girls’ school, Annabelle Quinn longs for the world outside the walls of the academy. When she’s hired as the governess to an orphaned duke, Annabelle never expects the child’s breathtakingly handsome guardian to capture her imagination—or her heart.

Or Are They Living in a Fairytale?

Falling for his young nephew’s governess is an irksome complication in Lord Simon Westbury’s orderly life, but Annabelle’s quiet beauty and wry intellect are too much to resist. Meanwhile, a mysterious danger looms over the remote Cornwall estate. Will their newfound desire stand the test of time? Or are some happy endings just too good to come true?

Reviewer's Thoughts:

Annabelle Quinn is an orphan who was raised within the confines of a girl's academy in Yorkshire. While she dreams of great adventure, she knows her life will remain at the academy. But when an unexpected visitor offers the opportunity for Annabelle to become the governess to an young Nicholas Duke of Kevern, who's lost his parents, she does what she must to ensure she has a chance at the position.

Annabelle takes on her roll as governess with a fortitude that is commendable. She manages to get rid of the horrible Mr. Bunting who believes in ruling the schoolroom with an iron fist and boring lectures and wrangle the Nicholas' uncle, Lord Simon Westbury, into making attempts to connect with the boy. But she also manages to ruffle feathers, not only within the Westbury / Kevern household but also those she wasn't even aware she was ruffling.

Annabelle was a character that, despite of her upbringing (or maybe because of it) was able to take enjoyment in the things other might take for granted. Everything was an adventure to her and she made it a joy for others to enjoy whatever activity she was in participating in. She was also someone who knew what it would take to make a little boy fell loved again. Everything Annabelle did was to ensure Nicholas knew he was loved and always would be.

Simon was a little bit harder connect with. He was cold and hardened by the betrayal of his brother and sister-in-law. He let that coldness he felt for them bleed over into his dealings with his nephew. His lack of sympathy for the little boy was what made it hard to have any kind hope that he would turn into the type of man Annabelle needed. However, once Simon let go of the past and the animosity he held towards two people who where no longer around, he did change into a person that was more likable.

This was a unique and entertaining spin on Cinderella. While we didn't see a lot of the "evil stepmother and step sisters" it was clear who Annabelle's Fairy Godmother was. It will be interesting to see who she slips those jewel encrusted slippers on next.

Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway: Tempting the Best Man - J. Lynn

2012-05-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

We have J. Lynn chatting with us today as part of her blog tour for Tempting the Best Man. Help me in welcoming J. Lynn to Cocktails and Books.

Tell us about yourself.

Most people know me as Jennifer L. Armentrout and from the YA novels I’ve written (Covenant and Lux series currently), but I write adult under the pen name J.Lynn. It’s like having a split personality that everyone knows about. Tempting the Best Man is my first adult romance available to buy, but it’s not the first one I’ve written. Unchained, which arrives in October, was my first adult novel. It’s a fiesty mix of urban fantasy and parnormal romance. When I’m not writing, which isn’t often, I’m usually working out, reading, or watching really bad zombie movies.

Tell us about Tempting the Best Man.

Tempting the Best Man centers around Madison Daniels and the crush she’s been nursing for years on her brother’s best friend, Chase Gamble. One night they blurred the lines between friendship and lovers, and ever since then, they’ve been at each other’s throats. But during her brother’s wedding, they are forced together through a series of accidents and denying the red-hot spark between them becomes impossible.

What do you think readers will be drawn to about Madison and Chase? What makes them likable?

Most women can relate to having a crush on someone who is forbidden: the brother’s best friend, the best friend’s brother, the older guy, etc.

Reading about Madison and Chase working out their feelings for one

another will bring back memories for a lot readers, plus make them

sweat. =)

What was your favorite scene from Tempting the Best Man?

The wine cellar. Read it. You’ll understand why.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why?

Ah, my favorite fictional character in the whole wide world? Right now, and this changes from time to time, it would probably have to be Rhage from The Black Dagger Brotherhood. True.

Thanks for having me today!

A big Thanks to J. Lynn for stopping by today.

As part of J's visit, we're giving away an ebook copy of Tempting the Best Man. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below. The winner will be chosen, at random, on May 29, 2012.

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About the book

Madison Daniels has worshipped her brother's best friend since they were kids. Everyone thinks she and Chase Gamble would make the perfect couple, but there are two major flaws in their logic. 1) Chase has sworn off relationships of any kind, and 2) after blurring the line between friends and lovers for one night four years ago, they can't stop bickering.

Forced together for her brother's wedding getaway, Chase and Madison decide to call a truce for the happy couple. Except all bets are off when they're forced to shack up in a tacky 70’s honeymoon suite and survive a multitude of "accidents" as the family tries to prove their "spark" can be used than for more than fighting. That is, if they don't strangle each other first…

About the Author

Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you've heard about her state aren't true. When she's not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russel Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories....which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is the author of the COVENANT Series (Spencer Hill Press), the LUX Series (Entangled Publishing), and the upcoming YA contemporary mystery/thrillers DON'T LOOK BACK (Disney/Hyperion Fall 2013) and yet untitled book (Disney/Hyperion tentative Fall 2014).

4th Annual U.S. Military Wives Contest—Open for Entries!

2012-05-23T16:23:00.001-07:00

Sourcebooks author, Sara Humphreys has an awesome contest she's running as a thank you to all those that serve our country and their families. Check it out!

For the past couple of years, as a special thank you to our service members and their families, I have held a contest just for Military Wives. It turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience. I had the privilege of meeting several incredible women and their beautiful families. It's so easy to forget that there are real people who are deeply affected by the conflicts overseas. Hearing the personal stories of these families helped me remember that our troops are husbands, fathers, brothers and sons who are immensely loved and sorely missed.

This contest will run from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend but start sending those entries in now!

Who is eligible? Wives of any U.S. military service member may enter. Retired or active-duty.

How do you enter? Send an email to info@novelromance.net with a picture of you and your family member in uniform. Tell us a bit about what branch he serves in, where you've been stationed, challenges and so forth. We want to hear your story! Please put "4th Annual Military Families Contest" in the subject line.

Once a week, beginning Memorial Day weekend, I will pick one entrant to be highlighted on my blog. These weekly entrants are semi-finalists. Labor Day weekend I will select three winners.

Second Prize: A $25 Amazon Gift Card, Signed copies of Unleashed and Untouched

First Prize: A $50 Amazon Gift Card, and signed copies of Unleashed and Untouched

Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon Gift card and signed copies of Unleashed and Untouched

For more information about the contest and Sara Humphreys, please visit http://sarahumphreys.com/ and follow Sara on Twitter, @AuthorSara.

Check out the Huffington Post Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-taney-humphreys/military-families-_b_1533949.html?ref=tw

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sara Humphreys has been attracted to the fantasies of science fiction, paranormal, and romance since her adolescence when she had a mad crush on Captain Kirk. An actress and public speaker, Sara lives in Bronxville, New York with her husband, who is very considerate of her double life, and four amazing boys. For more information about the contest and Sara Humphreys, please visit http://sarahumphreys.com/

Reviewers Wanted

2012-05-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

Do you like to read romance books? Do you read ebooks? Do you like free books?

If you answered yes to all three of those questions, then I have a job for you! Cocktails and Books is looking for a few individuals who would like to review books. I need readers who like to read in any of the romance sub-genres (contemporary, chick lit, erotica, historical, mystery/suspense, paranormal/urban fantasy and some YA) and can commit to reading and reviewing at least one (1) book a week.

The majority of the books we receive are in ebook format (about 99% in fact), but occasionally we will get hard copies. Any book (whether ebook or hard copy) is yours to keep should you agree to review that selection.

If you're interested, please complete the Book Reviewer Interest Form, found here.

If you have questions and want to ask them before committing, please email Shannon at Shannon@cocktailsandbooks.com.

Blog Tour Promo Spot & Giveaway: Deadly Addiction - Kristine Cayne

2012-05-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to have a promo spot for the second book in Kristine Cayne's Deadly Vice series, Deadly Addiction. Enjoy!

Deadly Addiction

Deadly Vices Book Two

By Kristine Cayne

A proud people. A nation divided.Rémi Whitedeer, police officer turned substance-abuse counselor, dreams of restoring order to his tribe. Violence and crime are rampant throughout the unpoliced Iroquois reserve, and a civil war is brewing between the Guardians, a militant traditionalist group, and other tribal factions. As the mixed-race cousin of the Guardians’ leader, Rémi is caught in a no-man’s land—several groups lay claim to him, but all want him to deny his white blood.
A maverick cop on an anti-drug crusade.When she infiltrated the Vipers to take down the leader of the outlaw biker gang responsible for her brother’s death, police sergeant Alyssa Morgan got her man. But her superiors think she went too far. Her disregard for protocol and her ends-justify-the-means ethics have branded her an unreliable maverick. To salvage her career, she accepts an assignment to set up a squad of native provincial officers on a reserve.
A radical sovereigntist bent on freeing a nation.Decades of government oppression threaten the existence of the Iroquois Nation. But one man, Chaz Whitedeer, is determined to save his people no matter what the price, even if it means delving into the shadowy world of organized crime.
When Rémi and Alyssa uncover the Guardians’ drug-fueled scheme to fund their fight for true autonomy—a scheme involving the Vipers—Rémi must choose between loyalty to family and tribe or his growing love for Alyssa.
Can Rémi and Alyssa leave everything behind—even their very identities—for a future together?

Tour wide Giveaway is handmade Native American necklace, two book thongs- three total giveaways tour wide (pictures below).

To enter, complete the Rafflecopter.

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Excerpt

Closing her eyes, Alyssa pressed the glass of water to her neck. “I can do the talking if that makes you feel any better.”

Although Rémi heard the words, it would have taken an act of Parliament to get him to respond.

The heat of her skin caused the condensation on the glass to liquefy. Like a tractor-beam, his gaze followed a drop of water as it slid down the long pale column of her neck, followed the curve of her right breast and slipped under the collar of her blue cotton T-shirt into the V of her cleavage. Oh fuck. He wanted to be that drop of water. He wanted to be snuggled between her warm ripe breasts. His cock swelled and lengthened, letting him know that it wanted to be there too.

He squeezed his eyes shut and willed his hard-on away. This wasn’t the time and certainly not the place for Mr. Happy to make an appearance. But the more he tried not to think about where the drop had gone, the more he did. He’d thought he was a leg man, but he knew the truth now. It had slapped him in the face. He was a breast man. An “Alyssa’s breasts” man, and he fucking wanted to see them, to feel them, to taste them. Right now.

Deadly Addiction is available at the following retailers:

Amazon ebook: http://amzn.com/B007WNTXR4

Amazon print: http://amzn.com/0984903429

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007WNTXR4

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-addiction-kristine-cayne/1110068745

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/154765

All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-deadlyaddiction-784712-152.html

Kobo: http://bit.ly/M4wfbR

About the Author:

Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.

The heroes and heroines of her Deadly Vices series, beginning with Deadly Obsession, are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.

Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.

website www.kristinecayne.com

Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/KristineCayneAuthor

Twitter: @KristineCayne

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5428452.Kristine_Cayne

For information and links to Kristine’s other writing, check out Deadly Obsession http://kristinecayne.blogspot.com/p/deadly-obsession.html and Anthologies http://kristinecayne.blogspot.com/p/anthologies.html on her blog.

New Releases List: http://kristinecayne.blogspot.com/p/new-releases-list.html

Author Interview & Giveaway: Cindi Myers

2012-05-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! Cindi Myers, author of Always a Bridesmaid is chatting with us today.

Tell us about yourself.

Thank you for hosting me on your blog today. I write romance, women’s fiction and historical novels and I love telling stories. I’m originally from Texas, but now live in Colorado with my husband and two spoiled dogs.

When did you discover that you wanted to be a writer?

When I was 8 or 9 years old, I read all the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and fell in love with them. I decided that telling stories for a living would be the absolute best job in the world. I began writing stories then and haven’t stopped!

How did you pick which genre(s) you would write in?

The first book I wrote was just a historical novel. I sent it around and landed an agent, who tried to sell the work for two years. Finally, she wrote me and suggested I consider writing romance, because my book had a strong romantic relationship in it, and she thought I’d be good at romance. I hadn’t really read romance at that point, so I went to a friend who was a romance fan and she loaned me a big stack of books. I was hooked! I loved romance and decided that yes, these were the kinds of stories I wanted to tell. What could be better than writing about the experience of falling in love?

Do you have a writing routine? Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?

You know, I really don’t. My first job out of college was working for a newspaper and that taught me to write on deadline, almost anywhere. It’s a good habit that’s carried over to my fiction writing.

Who are some of your must read authors? Why?

I have a pretty long list of favorites – authors who are auto buys – Carla Kelly, Kristin Higgins, Deanna Raybourne. I think I have every book Jane Austen, LaVyrle Spencer and Jude Devereaux have written. What makes a must read author for me is realistic characters with emotions that feel so real to me, interesting plots and writing that makes me say “Wow – I wish I’d written that!”

What is your favorite scene from a book from one of your must read authors?

The scene in Morning Glory, by LaVyrle Spencer, when the hero and heroine meet up again when he’s on leave from the war. So romantic and sexy!

What three items can’t you live without?

Since you said items and not people or dogs, I’d pick my laptop, a spiral notebook and chocolate!

Share three fun facts about yourself that may shock your readers.

I’ve been belly dancing for the past five years – I belong to a local group, the Mountain Kahia Dancers.

I was once the only female employee of an all-gay-male travel agency.

I met my husband on a blind date and we were engaged 6 weeks later. We’d known each other six months when we married – 32 years ago.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on another contemporary romance. My next release is a women’s fiction novel, The View From Here, set in a small town in the Colorado Mountains. That will be out just in time for Thanksgiving.

We're giving away an ebook copy of Always a Bridesmaid as part of Cindi's visit today. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below. The winner will be chosen, at random, on May 29, 2012.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Always a Bridesmaid:

She's sworn off weddings…
After two failed relationships and six stints as a bridesmaid, Stephanie Ludlow is convinced she’s man-poison. So when her hormones point due south to her sexy—but not so charming—new landlord, she can't help the sparks that fly. It’s a good thing she’s declared a strict "no sex" policy, because Mike Brubaker might as well have “it’s not happening” tattooed across his delectable chest.
He's sworn off love…
Spurned single dad Mike has learned the hard way women are the source of all evil and should be avoided at any cost. And that definitely includes his gorgeous new tenant. But when they're thrown together in the wedding party from hell, both will stop at nothing to fight the heat building between them. Giving in is not an option for either of them.
May the best man—or woman—win.

To read our review of Always a Bridesmaid, click here.

About the Author

Cindi Myers worked as a newspaper reporter, travel agent and medical clinic manager before turning to writing full time. She's written both historical and contemporary romance, as well as dozens of short stories and nonfiction articles. Cindi thinks writers have the best job in the world.

Former president of San Antonio Romance Authors, Cindi is a member of Romance Writers of America, Novelists Inc., and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

She and her husband and their two dogs live in the mountains Southwest of Denver. When she's not caught up in creating new characters and stories, Cindi enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, skiing and hiking. She's also in demand as a speaker, teaching workshops and making presentations to both local and national writing groups.

Website

Blog Tour Review: Deadly Addiction - Kristine Cayne

2012-05-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

Deadly Addiction by Kristine Cayne
Series: Deadly Vices #2
Release Date: April 2012
Publisher: Kristine Cayne
Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Buy the book at:

A proud people. A nation divided.

Rémi Whitedeer, police officer turned substance-abuse counselor, dreams of restoring order to his tribe. Violence and crime are rampant throughout the unpoliced Iroquois reserve, and a civil war is brewing between the Guardians, a militant traditionalist group, and other tribal factions. As the mixed-race cousin of the Guardians’ leader, Rémi is caught in a no-man’s land—several groups lay claim to him, but all want him to deny his white blood.

A maverick cop on an anti-drug crusade.

When she infiltrated the Vipers to take down the leader of the outlaw biker gang responsible for her brother’s death, police sergeant Alyssa Morgan got her man. But her superiors think she went too far. Her disregard for protocol and her ends-justify-the-means ethics have branded her an unreliable maverick. To salvage her career, she accepts an assignment to set up a squad of native provincial officers on a reserve.

A radical sovereigntist bent on freeing a nation.

Decades of government oppression threaten the existence of the Iroquois Nation. But one man, Chaz Whitedeer, is determined to save his people no matter what the price, even if it means delving into the shadowy world of organized crime.

When Rémi and Alyssa uncover the Guardians’ drug-fueled scheme to fund their fight for true autonomy—a scheme involving the Vipers—Rémi must choose between loyalty to family and tribe or his growing love for Alyssa.

Can Rémi and Alyssa leave everything behind—even their very identities—for a future together?

Reviewer's Thoughts:
Wow! That was my first thought when I got to the last page of this one. And now, a day later, I still feel the same.

Having read Kristine Cayne's first book of the series, Deadly Obsession, I knew I was going to be in for a thrill ride. I have to say, I was not disappointed.

Alyssa Morgan, a very white, very blond, sergeant for SQ (Surete du Quebec) knows how to work sticky, uncomfortable assignments, but I don't think anything could have prepared her for what she was going to experience going into her assignment with the Blackriver tribe. Purposefully given limited information by her superiors, she tasked with creating an SQ lead police force within the tribal lands. Unfortunately, no one bothered to tell Alyssa that the tribe would not want anything to do with any police force lead or trained by SQ. Knowing that her job is on the line (thanks for a lovely blackmail threat from her boss's boss), Alyssa will use whatever she has at her disposal and her relationship with Remi Whitedeer to complete her task.

Remi Whitedeer, may have experience from his days with the Montreal Police force, but nothing prepared him for Alyssa Morgan or the threat that someone on the reserve was behind the rise in drug use and theft they've recently seen. But as Remi helps Alyssa investigate what's happening he soon finds himself having to look much closer than he'd like to who might be behind what is happening and more so about where he fits in the Iroquois Nation.

As with Deadly Obsession, Kristine Cayne has managed to push the envelope when it comes to thought provoking storylines. While I loved the storyline and the romance between Alyssa and Remi, it was also hard to read when it came to the discrimination we saw with Alyssa. She had some pretty awful things said to her and done to her all in the name of maintaining the purity of the tribe. But what was even more disturbing was the prejudices Remi had to face, not from other members of his tribe, but from his own family because he was only half Iroquois. To read someone laying into Remi because of who his father was and have other family members simply stand around and say nothing was a very bitter pill to swallow. My heart broke for Remi each and every time he has someone bring up something because of who he was. Add to that his relationship with Alyssa and it was enough to make you wonder what it would take for Remi to do something.

Alyssa had her own basket of issues, but her's had more to do with the fall out from avenging the drug related death of her brother. She had lost everything to her need to get back at those that took her brother away, but when she finally was able to take a step back and look at the events that had recently played out over the past few years, she realized that doing what she did was not the wisest choice.

This was one that I could not put down. Alyssa and Remi were an awesome team and an even HOTTER couple (wish I knew exactly what that move was the Remi had named after him). If you like a suspenseful read with a man who's not afraid to show his emotions. This is definitely one you should pick up.