The Kiss by Sotia Lazu

Eliza is out on a first date, when the lights go out and someone other than the man she's out with takes advantage of the dark to kiss her more passionately than she’s ever been kissed before.

Since the mystery kisser has to be one of the men sitting nearest to her, Eliza is now determined to kiss as many frogs as she needs to until she finds her prince.


Where to Buy

Amazon

This was a cute story, and I really liked the first part when she was trying to figure out who had kissed her. It's pretty obvious almost right away to the reader who it was, but was interesting to see how she went about trying to figure it out. I thought the story drug on just a bit too long though, and the last chapter and a half or so could have been left out I think and the story would have still been reasonably complete. I also found the teenage antics/angst a bit off-putting at times, but not enough so that it was ever really an issue for me. Still, I think I might have enjoyed this just a bit more if the characters had been a bit more grown up and mature instead of still barely out of high school as they are. I'll give it 3½ stars, and I'm sure fans of new adult contemporary romance will enjoy this one.

• The Kiss on Goodreads
• Sotia Lazu's website

Old Souls by P.A. Lupton

 Sometimes we choose love, but sometimes, fate chooses for us.

Alyssa has started a new job, and from day one, she’s been haunted by dreams of a man she’s never met but can’t seem to forget. Then Alyssa meets her boss and her world comes to a grinding halt. It’s him. But as impossible as that is, things are about to get even stranger.

Mark is a man with secrets. Plagued by guilt and regret, he has spent countless years simply existing. They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, and no one knows that better than him. He’s lost a piece of himself he thought he could never get back. Until the day he met Alyssa for the first time…again.

When unexplainable events occur, the two learn that some actions have consequences so severe that even a powerful love may not overcome them.

Where to Buy

Amazon

A fascinating novella that introduces us to an alternate version of Earth where magic is real and those who can use it truly exist. The author's take on how it works is unique and fairly original, and I found myself wanting to know more about this world and the various magic users that exist in it. While we do learn quite a bit about it in this book, since the focus is necessarily on Alyssa and Mark and their story I'm sure there is quite a lot that we don't get told.

West of Want by Laura Kaye

Betrayal is all he's ever known, but in her, he'll find a love strong enough to be trusted...

When Marcella Raines' twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she's gravely injured--and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce--Ella fights to survive.

Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn't protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he's sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph's heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her.

Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting...everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want--a love that can be trusted.

Where to Buy

Amazon
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All Romance eBooks

After the relatively lighthearted and fun romance in North of Need the series takes a more serious and emotional turn in this book. As if all the grief and angst that Zephyros and Ella are feeling because of their individual situations isn't enough, we also get the more sinister threat posed by Zeph's brother Eulus who seems to have made it his mission to destroy Zephyros and anyone he holds dear.

Reckoning by Jeaniene Frost

In New Orleans, a pair of undead serial killers is about to turn Mardi Gras into a horror show - unless the immortal hitman Bones can hunt them down first. From Jeaniene Frost comes a thrilling novella featuring characters from her New York Times bestselling Night Huntress series. Originally appeared in the anthology Unbound.

Where to Buy

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
OmniLit
Audible

In case it is relevant to anyone, I'll note that I've read this story after having only read Halfway to the Grave in this series.

An interesting story that gives us a little bit of background on Bones. While I'm not sure if we really learn much about him that isn't in Halfway to the Grave, we at least get to see him on his own, completely himself, and not entirely invulnerable. It will be interesting to see if any of the tidbits of info and occurrences from this story will prove relevant in future books or stories in the series. I imagine that reading this story is probably totally optional to understanding the storyline in the main books, but it does add a nice bit of color, and fans of Bones will enjoy getting the chance to see him in action.

• Reckoning on Goodreads
• Jeaniene Frost's website

North of Need by Laura Kaye

Her tears called a powerful snow god to life, but only her love can grant the humanity he craves…

Desperate to escape agonizing memories of Christmas past, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband, realizing too late that she’s recreated the very thing she’ll never have.

Called to life by Megan’s tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity.

Megan is drawn to Owen’s mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things. But this Christmas miracle comes with an expiration—before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow’s grief and learn to trust love again, or she’ll lose Owen forever.

Where to Buy

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance eBooks

 

An enchanting read that will have you believing in magic. Almost from page one, Kaye pulls you into her winter wonderland and keeps you spellbound, riding the roller coaster of emotional ups and downs right along with her characters and hoping that their idyllic interlude might never end.

Eternal Lover by Hannah Howell, et al.

Theirs is a world of ancient desires and forbidden pleasures. They are men of mystery and women of seduction, wild creatures with the power to entrance and enchant, tease and tantalize. Enter their secret world, if you dare...

The Yearning by Hannah Howell
Alpin has lived for centuries with a lust that can never be quenched with mere physical pleasure. And then he meets Sophie whose own search for lasting love binds them together in a cloak of shimmering sensuality...

A Hell of a Time by Jackie Kessler
Jesse's immortal life as a soul-stealing succubus is over. And now that she is human, she longs to tempt her lover with all her persuasive powers of total sexual seduction...

City of Demons by Richelle Mead
Seth cannot resist the intense sexual allure of his demon lover Georgina. Yet their love reaches beyond the physical, into a place of complete untamed surrender...

Bitten by Lynsay Sands
Keeran's existence as a vampire has taught him to accept a life without love...until he saves Emily from certain death. And suddenly he discovers the soul-searing passion he thought he'd lost forever...

Where to Buy

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance eBooks
Ebooks.com

Note: I'm not going to rate the book as a whole until such time as I've read the whole thing. Ratings for individual stories are provided in the text of the review.


"City of Demons" by Richelle Mead
Georgina Kincaid #2.5 - ★★★★

An interesting story that reveals more of Georgina's personality and further highlights how different she is from most other demons and immortals on Team Evil. Her sense of justice is highlighted, as is her desire for the truth, even when knowing the truth will likely serve little purpose. We also get to learn more about Seth's character, and how he's feeling about their relationship. Two separate plots are interwoven here, with the narrative switching back and forth nearly seamlessly. Georgina finds herself in an impossible position a few different times on a few different fronts, but just when you're sure she's just going to have to suck it up and deal with some setbacks, a last minute twist salvages a lot of the mess she's been in. This was a relatively quick read, and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone following the series, especially reading it in order, as it's worthwhile for the character insights alone.

• Eternal Lover on Goodreads
• Hannah Howell's website
• Jackie Kessler's website
• Richelle Mead's website
• Lynsay Sands's website

Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . .

She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.

Two lovers will dare to risk all.

Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .

Where to Buy

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
OmniLit

In the face of so many glowing reviews, I guess I expected to be blown away by this book, but really? I wasn't. Not that I didn't like it, because I did, but it didn't have an "OMG, WOW!" factor for me that it seems to have had for others. Maybe it's because I mostly had to read it in short snippets over several days, I dunno, but nothing here really left my jaw hanging or anything.