Ashley Stoyanoff Review: Unintentional Virgin by A.J. Bennett

★Ashley Stoyanoff's Review ★

Unintentional Virgin

By A.J. Bennett

~

Title: Unintentional Virgin

Author: A.J. Bennett

Number of Pages: 203

Publication Info: A.J. Bennett (Dec 2013)

Genre: New Adult, Romance

Shelf: Books I Bought

Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads: Here

Purchase: Here

 Authors Website: Here

~ Summary from Goodreads ~

Karma Points is cursed. Cursed with a stupid name and the inability to lose her virginity. She's on a mission to lose her virginity before she turns twenty if it's the last thing she does.

One night, her good friend Eva brings her to an underground club where Karma meets a tattooed bouncer. He’s far from the clean-cut type she normally falls for, which makes her think this finally might be the night she crosses the threshold of womanhood.

Excited, she goes home with the bouncer named Jax and as always, her dreams crash down once again. Jax cannot believe she is willing to give away her virginity to a stranger she met at a club. As the only son with five sisters and a widowed mom, he can't morally go through with it, even though he's never been more tempted in his life.

Unwilling to let her walk away he strikes a deal. Karma has to spend three weeks dating him and then decide if she wants to have sex or walk away.

~ My Review ~ 

Unintentional Virgin was a fun read with a great romance and a bit of drama.

Karma Points (love her name) is determined to lose her virginity before she turns twenty.  She hasn't had the best luck with guys, but with the help of her best friend, they come up with a plan to help her get the deed done.

The girls head off to a club looking for the perfect guy for Karma.  She meets Jax, the sexy, tough bouncer, and to her surprise he’s actually interested in her.  But when Jax finds out she’s just looking to lose her virginity he can’t do it.  Instead, he comes up with a compromise.  Karma has to spend three weeks dating him.  If she still wants him to be her first after the three weeks he’ll do it.

I wasn't a huge fan of Karma in the beginning.  She came across as a bit of a brat, but I warmed up to her in the end.  However, even if I wasn't a fan of Karma, I loved Jax.  He might be a tough guy, but his mom raised him well.  He was protective and respectful.

I have to say I loved the “bucket list” dates.  They kept the story moving along and watching Karma face her fears was definitely entertaining.

Overall, this was a quick, fun read.  It kept me laughing and there was enough action to keep me turning the pages.  Great book!

Ashley Stoyanoff's Review: Charred Hope by Lizzy Ford

Charred Hope 

By Lizzy Ford

Title: Charred Hope (#3, Heart of Fire)

Author: Lizzy Ford

Number of Pages: 143

Publication Info: Guerrilla Wordfare (Mar 2014)

Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance

Shelf: Books I Bought

Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads: Here

 Purchase: Here

 Authors Website: Here

~ Summary from Goodreads ~

Skylar struggles to save both the shifters and the slayers, but falls prey to the mastermind behind the disappearances of both. With a price on her head and her allies dwindling, she will survive only if she trusts Chace once more. She loves her dragon but fears the man inside will betray her again. Will she take a chance on him or try to face their common enemy alone?

Chace’s magic has not yet resurfaced, and he suspects it’s because he’s meant to earn back all he callously traded away – including Skylar’s love. Before their tenuous relationship can grow, he must learn what it means to put the life of another ahead of his own. But he must learn quickly or he risks losing Skylar and those she’s destined to protect.

~ My Review ~

A great ending to the Heart of Fire series!

Charred Hope answered a lot of my question, including if Chace would grow up and get his magic back, what happened to Sky’s mom, whether or not Chace and Sky would defeat their enemy, and whether they would end up together.

I loved watching Sky as she explored her new power as the shifter protector, and when she figured out exactly what she could do for the first time, I found myself laughing out loud.

I loved Mason and Gunner in this installment.  And surprisingly, I even liked Chace.  I really didn’t think I could like him after the first book, but he finally became the guy I wanted him to be.

There was action, romance, suspense.  Everything flowed so well.  There were a few places where I would have liked more information.  Some events felt as if they were just brushed over, and although my questions were answered, I still wanted more of an explanation, particularly with Sky’s mom.  But overall I was satisfied with how it all played out.

What else can I say?  I loved, loved, loved the ending.  It totally made me smile.  Just perfect!

Overall, the Heart of Fire series was entertaining, especially this last book.  If you love paranormal romance with shifters, then this series is a must read.

Ashley Stoyanoff's Review: Burning Skies by Caris Roane

★ Ashley Stoyanoff's Review ★

Burning Skies

By Caris Roane

Title: Burning Skies (Guardians of Ascension, #2)
Author: Caris Roane
Number of Pages: 480
Publication Info: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (April 2011)Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Shelf: Books I Bought
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads: Here 

Purchase: Here

Authors Website: Here

~ Summary from Goodreads ~

Enter a hidden world of winged vampire warriors -- bound by duty to protect humankind, and sworn to fight for the women they love....

THE HUNGER WITHIN

A vampire warrior in exile, Marcus Amargi resists the call to return to the ranks of the Guardians who fight the death vamp armies. Here on Mortal Earth, Marcus has another battle on his hands -- the seductive lure of Havily Morgan. The woman meant for him. Whose blood he craves. The one who comes to him in dreams -- and demands his surrender...

THE FIRE UNLEASHED

A beautiful immortal with extraordinary powers, Havily lives in the realm of Second Earth but, in her fantasies, yearns for her winged lover Marcus. Soon, their bond will be put to the ultimate test. When their bloodthirsty enemies set the night on fire with sky-blazing weapons, Marcus and Havily must unite body and soul, to unleash the full power of their passion -- and fight fire with fire...

~ My Review ~

Burning Skies is a whole lot of awesomeness!

This segment of the Guardians of Ascension series focuses on Marcus and Havily, the newest couple to be struck with the Breh-hedden.  At one point in time Marcus was a Warrior of the Blood, sworn to protect Second and Mortal Earth.  After his sister was killed some 200 years ago he deserted his warrior brothers to live on Mortal Earth. Problem is his Breh lives on Second and she’s right in the middle of the war, but not just that, one of their enemies wants her blood.

I was totally crushing on Marcus by the end of the first book and I’m glad to say he didn’t disappoint.  I just loved him.  There was a moment at the beginning that I thought he was the lowest of the low, but it didn’t last.  Thank goodness!  He ended up being the incredible hero that I wanted him to be.

The world building was fantastic and continued to grow throughout this book.  I didn’t feel like this one dragged at all, which was one of my small complaints from Ascension. The characters were well developed, and there really wasn’t a dull moment.

My final thoughts ... I’m completely hooked.  The next story was setup perfectly and I’m really looking forward to reading more about these awesome warriors.  I would highlyrecommend this series.

Ashley Stoyanoff's Review: Testing Fate by Belinda Boring

★Ashley Stoyanoff's Review ★

Testing Fate

By Belinda Boring

Title: Testing Fate (The Mystic Wolves, #3)

Author: Belinda Boring
Number of Pages: 189
Publication Info: Blushing Heart Press (Mar 2013)
Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Werewolves

Shelf: Books I Bought
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads: Here

Purchase: Here

 Authors Website: Here

~ Summary from Goodreads ~

Nothing burns as bright as the flames of the refiner’s fire.

Moments after hearing the Council sentence her enemy to life imprisonment for attempted murder and illegal use of magic, Darcy is whisked away by the Fates—accused of tampering with destiny. The cherished dream she shared with Mason has been called into question, placing doubt about whether they are actually true mates. To resolve it, a price must be paid—the Heart or Death—a grueling series of tests designed to reveal a person’s worth.

The stakes are high and Darcy finds herself facing the unknown in conditions that leave her more vulnerable than she’s ever been. Separated from Mason and her Pack, with Devlin as her only companion, she is pushed to her very limits. She must succeed—or lose everything.

Will she crumble under the pressure or emerge stronger for testing fate?

~My Review~

Finally!!!  That was my first reaction when I finished this book, but then my second reaction came barreling down on me and all I could do was stare at those last few sentences in shock.

Testing Fate picks up right where the last book left off at the end of Amber’s trial.  Darcywas accused of tampering with destiny in order to stake a claim on the alpha of The Mystic Wolves pack.  To solve the issue of whether or not Mason and Darcy are actually meant to be mated the Fates decide that they have to prove their worth by completing a bunch of challenges.  The big question is will they be able to rise to the challenge?  Will they finally be mated?  Well, guess what … you’ll finally get the answers in this awesome book.

Testing Fate kept me at the edge of my seat and completely absorbed.  I thoroughly enjoyed getting peeks into Darcy’s past.  It really broadened her character and made me love the person she is even more.

The only thing I would have really liked to see was Mason POV.  I didn’t really expect to get it since all the previous books were solely in Darcy’s POV but I really would have liked it.  I wanted to see his struggles and how he handled each test.

In the end, this was the best book so far and I’m so glad I read it.  It ended with an awesome cliffhanger that has me dying to start the next book.  If you are looking for a sweet romance with action and werewolves thrown in, then you need to check out The Mystic Wolves series.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Ashley Stoyanoff's Review: Ascension by Caris Roane

★ASHLEY STOYANOFF'S REVIEW★

Ascension

by Caris Roane

Title: Ascension (Guardians of Ascension, #1)

Author: Caris Roane

Number of Pages: 480

Publication Info: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (Dec 2010)

Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Shelf: Books I Won

Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads: Here

Purchase: Here

Authors Website: Here

Summary from Goodreads

Vampire. Warrior. Legend. Lover.

Discover a secret, sensual world of winged vampire warriors and the women they crave—in an epic battle between unearthly longing and immortal love...

On The Wings Of Desire

Alison Wells is no ordinary woman. Born with supernatural powers, she can never make love to a man without putting him in grave danger. But when her special vision reveals a glorious muscled man soaring overhead on mighty wings, she feels an overwhelming attraction she cannot resist—even as he tells her: "I have come for you. Your blood belongs to me." 

In The Heat Of Passion

Kerrick is a vampire and a warrior who has fought his hunger for a woman's love for the past two hundred years. As a Guardian of Ascension, he is sworn to protect Alison from the death vamp armies who crave her blood and her power. But Kerrick has cravings of his own—a forbidden longing to open his heart and veins to Alison. To share his blood...satisfy his thirst...and seal their fates forever.

My Review

There are hot vampire warriors!!! Do I need to say more?

Ascension struck me by surprise, much like the infamous Breh-hedden struck Kerrick and Alison. For the first 30-ish pages I just couldn’t get into it. I’d read a page, put it down, a couple days later I’d read another. But then ... I was struck down and completely enthralled. I actually forget to eat for a full two days. All I could think about was this book. I read every second I had, before work, on my lunch, as soon as I got home. This booked had me gripped and refused to let me go.

Alison was born with powers. She knows deep down that there’s something more for her and she longs for it desperately. When she meets Kerrick the attraction between them is electric and she realizes exactly what she’s been longing for. She makes her way to the borderland and starts her rite of ascension, a three day process for her to become a vampire and ascend to Second Earth. But for someone with as much power as Alison, three days is a long wait, especially when Second Earth is in the middle of a war and the bad guys want her dead.

Right from the start I liked Kerrick. He’s a Warrior of the Blood and sworn to protect the world from the Death Vampires. His leader assigned him as Alison’s Guardian, his job,to keep her alive. Will he be able to do it? Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out.

The characters were amazing. All of them. Endelle was my favorite for sure. She’s the leader of Second Earth. She’s a kick-ass, 9000 year old vampire. Her attitude was awesome and had me laughing out loud more than once.

I loved the idea of the Breh-hedden. The intense drive that came with it for this couple was breathtaking. The constant sexual tension was amazing. Roane did an awesome job with the destined to by mated theme. Although the hero and heroine fought the connection to some extent, they also acted on their cravings. 

I didn't have to wait until the end of the book to see these two together. It was perfect. Just perfect.

Now the reason for the four stars. I loved this book, I really did. I can look past the hard start, because when I first started it, I was crazy busy, so I figure it was probably just me. 

But the thing was, the last 60 pages dragged. A lot of the ending felt like filler. And then there were the confessions of love that seemed so formal, especially for Kerrick. It kind of ruined his image for me.

My final thoughts ... This was a great read, even if I didn't love the ending. I will definitely by buying the next one in this series. Right now I’m totally crushing on Marcus and his story is up next. If you like hot warriors, want some steamy romance, and you love vampires, then you need to check this book out.

Ashley Stoyanoff's Review: Charred Tears by Lizzy Ford

★ASHLEY STOYANOFF'S REVIEW★

Charred Tears 

Heart of Fire series Book 2

By Lizzy Ford

Title: Charred Tears (#2, Heart of Fire)
Author: Lizzy Ford
Number of Pages: 174
Publication Info: Guerrilla Wordfare (Dec 2013)Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance

Shelf: Books I BoughtRating: ★★★★

Goodreads: Here 

Purchase: Here 

Authors Website: Here 

~ Summary from Goodreads ~

Skylar is being hunted by the very people she used to trust. Stung by Chace’s betrayal, she struggles to keep one step ahead of the slayers while digging deeper into the past she doesn’t remember for answers. Her heart belongs to Chace, but she won’t be fooled by him again, not when the price of trusting him could cost more than their lives.

Chace got what he wanted – freedom from the curse – only to discover he’s given up much more than the power he didn’t want. He’s lost the woman who holds the other half of his heart. Exiled and powerless, he’s all that stands between her and the danger tracking both of them. To save her, he must prove himself worthy of her heart and trust and find a way to recover the magic he traded to become human.

~ My Review ~

Okay, I’m officially addicted to this series.   Charred Tears is the second book in theHeart of Fire series.  It picked up right where the first book left off, not missing a beat.

The world really grew in this one.  The shifters and relationships, more clear.  Ford did a fantastic job laying out the details and back story without slowing down the storyline.  Everything flowed so well.

So much happened in this segment.  Secrets were revealed.  There were some fantastic twists.  I’m literally itching to find out how it’s all going to play out.

I’m still struggling with Chace.  I don’t really like him all that much, not even in a ‘love to hate him’ kind of way.  I’d be perfectly content to see Sky walk away from him and never look back.  He grew up a little in this book, but I just can’t shake the jerk-ish, selfish vibe he gave me from the first book.  But maybe there’s still hope for him.  Like I said, he did grow up a little.

Hmmm ... What else can I say without spoiling anything?  Oh, I loved the figurines.   They were just perfect.

Overall, Charred Tears was a great read, even if I still don’t like Chace.  There’s lots of action and it kept me guessing.  If you haven’t checked out this series yet, then you should.  I totally recommend it.

Ashley Stoyanoff's Review: Charred Heart by Lizzy Ford.

★ASHLEY STOYANOFF'S REVIEW★

 Charred Heart

The Heart of Fire Series

By Lizzy Ford

 

Title: Charred Heart (#1, Heart of Fire)
Author: Lizzy Ford
Number of Pages: 198
Publication Info: Guerrilla Wordfare (Nov 2013)
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance

Shelf: Books I Bought
Rating: ★★★★

 

Goodreads: Here

Purchase: Here

 Authors Website: Here

~Summary from Goodreads~

For a thousand years, Chace has searched for a way to break the curse placed on him by a jilted lover. He’s a dragon shifter, one who can’t control when the magic will force him into a different form. He’s already lost everyone he ever cared about a few times over and doesn’t know how much longer he’s meant to suffer.

At his wit’s end, he makes a deal with a mysterious figure that offers him what he wants most – an end to his misery – in exchange for everything that’s his: His life, his power. His heart.

The next day, he meets Skylar, a modern day dragon slayer whose mission is to cage him – or kill him. Sexy, witty and brave, she is the yin to his yang, the woman destined to break the curse, balance his magic and make his broken heart whole.

Except it’s too late. Not only has he sealed his fate, but an innocent one-night-stand with Skylar has dragged her into the middle of a deal with the devil, one she won’t escape, if he can’t convince her that dragon shifters aren’t her enemies.

 

~My Review~

Fun, sexy, and action packed.  Charred Heart kept me fully engaged right until the end and has me ready for more.

 

The Story

This story starts out with Sky going to a shifter bar while hunting the elusive dragon shifter, Chace.  Her mission: take the lethal dragon shifter back to the compound to be rehabilitated.  She’s been trained and she’s ready, or so she thought.  Once in the bar, things spiral out of control and she finds herself being rescued by none other than the dragon shifter.  With a strong attraction and sparks flying, what was meant to be a one night stand turns into more and Sky finds herself questioning everything she thought they knew about her world.

 

The Characters

I simply loved Sky.  She’s brave, has a fun sense of humor, and she doesn’t give up.  Really, she was everything I could have wanted in a female lead.

 But then there was Chace.  He was … a jerk?  Yeah, I think I’m going to go with a selfish jerk.  I don’t think I’ve ever read a Lizzy Ford book where I saw nothing redeemable in the male lead.  He’s a dragon shifter that’s been around for a thousand years, except what I saw was a guy who had no life experience, and only worried about himself.  He’s going to have to do something pretty amazing in the next book to change my mind about him.

 The Writing

I’ve always loved Ford’s snappy dialogue and this book did not disappoint.  The descriptions were vivid, and each scene was well thought out.  There were quite a few typos that became a bit distracting, but even though I found them distracting, they didn’t take the enjoyment factor out of the book for me.

 In the end

Charred Heart was an enjoyable read, and one that I could not put down.  If you like shifters and you want some steamy romance then check this one out.

 



Ashley Stoyanoff's Review: Tucked In: Jessica by N. Kuhn

★Ashley Stoyanoff's Review★

Tucked In: Jessica

By N. Kuhn  

Title: Tucked In: Jessica (The Hollywood Files, #2)
Author: N. Kuhn
Number of Pages: 85
Publication Info: WheelMan Press (May 2013)Genre: Adult Romance

Shelf: Gifts
Rating: ★★

Goodreads:Here

 Purchase: Here

 Authors Website: Here

~Summary from Goodreads~

Lance Tucker has spent years trying to forget one of his early clients. Having thought she was dead, he spent his career trying to make up for it. Until she walks back into his life, upsetting the careful balance he once had. Can he forgive Jessica and help her escape the grasp of The Master, leader of The Coven?

Christian Thompson is the Golden Boy of Hollywood. When you have too much money, boredom is your greatest enemy. We see it all the time, funny religions, groups and cults provide a way to relieve the rich of their money and beliefs. He disappears with his son, and Tuck must face The Coven, posing as a Religion, to save the child. Will Jessica be able to help him, or is she just there to get in the way. Tuck faces his greatest challenge to date, forgiveness.

~My Review~

I wanted to love this book.  Really, I did.  After the first one, I was super excited to read this.  I was dying to know more about Jessica.  But there was just something … awkward about it, and to be honest, I didn’t like Jessica at all.

When Tucker first started out in Hollywood, he fell for one of his first clients: Jessica.  They were crazy in love and got engaged, and then … she was killed—or so he thought.  In this book, Tucker is reunited with the love of his life but when he has to face The Coven that had taken her five years ago he realizes that he doesn’t know if he can trust her.  Not that I blame him, he did think that she was dead for five years and she never bothered to try and find him to tell him any different.

Like the first novella, I loved Tucker’s character.  He was a great lead and totally swoon worthy in this action packedstory. The plot was great.  It was paced well and really well thought out.

I guess the biggest problem for me was that I didn’t like Jessica.  I would have really liked to see more character development for her.  Also, this story could have used some work in the editing department.

In the end, this book was okay, but it really wasn’t for me.  Even with the big cliffhanger ending, I don’t think I’ll be continuing on with this series.

Ashley Stoyanoff's Review: Forget Me Not by Belinda Boring

★Forget Me Not ★
Mystic Wolves Book #2
By Belinda Boring

Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads: Here

Purchase: Here

Authors Website: Here

~Summary from Goodreads~

Only a fool would think they could steal from a werewolf …

Anticipating a quiet night alone with the man she loves, Darcy’s world is sent into a spin with the arrival of someone from the past—Mason’s. She is further shocked by the intruder’s claim she may not even be the true mate of the Mystic Wolves Alpha. Accusations start to fly, leading to her new enemy being granted asylum, and this is just the beginning of trouble.Relying on the reassurances of Mason and the support of her friends and Pack, Darcy soon falls under attack. Suspicions are raised, and with no other choice, she must flee with Devlin to safety where hopefully they can untangle the lies hidden behind the use of magic. Time is quickly ticking away, leading to a showdown where everything is on the line.They need to uncover the truth before it’s too late, or once again, Darcy will need to fight to hold onto her dreams.

~My Review~

Action packed and leaves you begging for more.  Forget Me Not is a fantastic sequel toMystic Wolves!

What I loved:  I loved the swoony kisses from the first book, and we still get them in this one, but not as often.  And without the pages of swoon, there was definitely more story/character development.  I fell in love with Mason all over again and I loved every second of it.

And that cliffhanger ending … LOVED IT!  I’ve always loved cliffhangers.  They give the reader something to look forward to, and I love that itching feeling, waiting to get myhands on the next book.  Forget Me Not definitely has me itching for the next one.

What I liked:  This segment of the Mystic Wolves series had a lot more action than the first one and I really enjoyed that.  There were lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing, and I really liked watching the different supernatural beings interact in this book.

What drove me crazy:  Amber, yep, Amber.  She drove me batty.  She was an okay villain, but really, she could have been so much more.  She brought a bit of tension to the book, but not enough.  All she did was tell a few lies, and it was never enough for me to believe that she was an actual threat to Mason or Darcy.

So my final thoughts … Well, it was a fun, light read.  I enjoyed it and will be continuing on with this series.

Ashley Stoyanoff's Review: Hear No by Lizzy Ford.

★Ashley Stoyanoff's Review★

Hear No

Hidden Evil Book #1

By Lizzy Ford

Title: Hear No (Hidden Evil Trilogy, #1)

Author: Lizzy Ford

Number of Pages: 196

Publication Info: Guerrilla Wordfare (Oct 2013)

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

Shelf: Books I Bought

Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads: Hear 

Purchase: Here 

Authors Website: Here

~Summary from Goodreads~

It’s only the end of the world at stake …

Nathan’s job for the past three thousand years has been to clean up supernatural messes. Jaded, ruthlessly effective and selfless, he’s seen it all and can handle anything - demons, homicidal angels, even bad bosses.

His latest challenge: A creature named Shadowman is seeking out the three keys it believes will open portals between earth and hell. Nathan must eliminate the human host guiding Shadowman to the keys. Except Nathan isn’t expecting the woman anchoring Shadowman to the human world to be beautiful, witty, innocent and completely unaware of the creature manipulating her. Worse, she makes him feel alive for the first time in his long existence, and he haphazardly discovers she’s meant to become the love of his life.

Life becomes more complicated when Nathan helps rescue one of the key holders, a deaf girl charged with protecting the secret of who Shadowman really is: the first of four demons headed to the human world, intent on bringing about the Apocalypse. They will succeed, unless Nathan kills the woman he loves, and sends the demon back to Hell.

~My Review~

I’ve been trying to write this review for a few days now and each time I write it, it’s riddled with spoilers.  Since I do not want to give anything away, because this really is a book you need to read and experience for yourself, I’m scratching the other tries.

So … what can I say about Hear No that is not a spoiler?  Well, it was definitely another hit by Lizzy Ford.  Angels, demons, guardians, humans.  What I really loved about this book was the characters.  There were a ton of them, and they all fit together perfectly. Loved Nathan and Kaylee.  Loved Amira and Troy.  Honestly, I loved them all.

The storyline moved at a great pace, without a single dull moment.  But then, if you’ve already read some of Lizzy’s books, you know that her pacing is always awesome.  She has a way of telling stories that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you not want to put the book down, even when it ends.

To sum it up … THIS BOOK ROCKS and I cannot wait for the next one in this series.