Step Into My Web by Cynthia Eden

Standalone - Death and Moonlight #1
Release - October 27, 2020
Genre - Romantic Suspense/Thriller
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5/a couple of scenes
Format/Source - Kindle purchase
Length - 417 pages
Publisher - Hocus Pocus Publishing, Inc.

Step into my web…and you’ll never get out.

Chloe Hastings doesn’t like rules, and she doesn’t exactly play well with others. But she does have one amazing talent—she can get into the mind of killers like no one else. A police consultant and profiler, Chloe is definitely not like anyone that Joel Landry has ever encountered. From the moment they meet—in the middle of a bank robbery—she throws him off balance and pulls him under spell. She seems to have no fear, she plots constantly, and…Joel quickly finds himself trapped in her web.

She needs a new partner…and he’s just the man for the job.

There’s a sadistic killer hunting in the streets of New Orleans, and Chloe plans to catch him. First, though she needs a partner she can trust, and she’s decided that Dr. Joel Landry is the best fit for the job. Sure, he has a dark past. The doctor was attacked by a serial killer, but Joel survived while his attacker did not. Now the ruggedly handsome doctor has turned to the shadows. He’s learned how to hunt, how to fight, how to kill in a thousand brutal ways—in short, he’s acquired all of the skills that Chloe absolutely adores in a man.

He’s exactly what she wants. She could become the only thing he needs.

Together, they should be a perfect fit. She knows the minds of criminals better than anyone else, and Joel can protect her from any threat that comes their way. They’ll have one hell of a time tracking down the bad guys, provided Chloe and Joel don’t kill each other first. Another unanticipated twist for the new partners? Their attraction to each other is explosive, their desire uncontrollable. One reckless kiss seals their fate, and their need won’t be denied.

And neither will the killer who waits for his moment to attack.

Once you step into a spider’s web, there is no going back.

Author’s Note: Chloe Hastings always has a plan in play. Her investigations are unusual, her friends are generally on the shady side, and her social skills? Well, those are pretty much non-existent. But Chloe solves every case that crosses her path, and she never, ever backs down. When she teams up with her new partner, all bets are off. Joel is gorgeous, sinful, and about to break through every wall that Chloe possesses. He’ll fight for her, she’ll fight for him, and the criminals in their path had better get ready. There is a new crime-solving team in town.

Find your copy of Step Into My Web here:
Amazon * iBooks * Nook * Kobo

And this is why I will never ever question why Cynthia Eden is on my one-click list! Step Into My Web was on the right side of creepy (if creepy could be right) and gave me the thrilling story I was looking for.

After surviving an attack by a serial killer, Dr. Joel Landry was trying to get by. Surviving but not really living. He was scarred both physically and emotionally and Chloe Hastings believed she could offer him a way back. Be her partner. Help her catch a killer. Fall in love. No biggie.


There was so much to love about this story:
⭐ Chloe's mind, her secrets,her insights
⭐ Joel's strength and determination, his fight, his integrity, his endurance
⭐ the side characters that made their team — I hope to see more of them
⭐ the killings. I was seriously caught up in trying to find connections and didn't quite figure out whodunit until it was shown to me. I love to be kept guessing!

My only issue was the part about Chloe's ex, Morgan, who seemed to warrant more of an explanation. However, knowing that there will be another book, I'm hoping it will provide all that I found missing. I will definitely be one-clicking Save Me From the Dark when it releases in April.

"You're changing me. I feel like I've been sleeping. Or, hell, maybe I just haven't been living. Ever since that bastard put me in the ground, I haven't been the same. Nothing mattered. I dug myself out of the grave, but I felt like I was still buried. The days just passed and passed..."

"We should go —"

"Then I met you. You matter, Chloe. You matter." She'd changed everything for him.

She was searching his eyes. Searching —

"Joel?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Please touch me again."

Please. A fucking magic word. He slid his hand under her chin.

"Lean toward me.

He leaned close.

Her lips pressed to his. A soft, tender kiss. "You matter, too."

Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

From New York Times Bestselling Author Sawyer Bennett comes the Chronicles of the Stone Veil, a five book urban fantasy/paranormal romance series. A departure from contemporary romance, the Chronicles of the Stone Veil is a return to fantasy/paranormal romance, where Sawyer started her fiction publishing journey. Readers can expect to find all the elements they love from Sawyer’s books—strong heroines, alpha heroes, and an epic romance—with a fantastical element to add to their reading experience. You can get the third book in the series, The Evolution of Fae and Gods, now!

Details for the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series are below:

 

You can start the series today with The Revelation of Light and Dark now.

Go to Sawyer's website for details: Click here to learn more about The Chronicles of the Stone Veil series

The Evolution of Fae and Gods is available now:

Amazon | Nook | Apple | Google | Kobo

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The Evolution of Fae and Gods

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #3

An Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance Series | AVAILABLE NOW

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Add it to Goodreads

Book Blurb:

Evil is coming. A dark malevolence the likes of which this world has never seen, and it comes straight from the depths of Hell. Darkness meant to destroy. A prophecy I am fated to fulfill but will most likely not survive. Through it all, Carrick Byrne has stood strong by my side. Something has deeply changed between me and the man I once despised, and all it took was a kiss of provocation for both of us to feel it. I know deep in my soul we’re being guided by destiny, but I don’t know if I can trust it. Carrick is holding something back, and I fear the consequences could be deadly once his truth is revealed. We’re not ready, but calamity waits for no woman. I have discovered a power within myself I must learn to master. A new connection in the Underworld has been revealed to me, one that I hope is friend but is just as likely foe. We are in a race against time as we try to figure out how to stop the end of the world from occurring. The battle is coming, and I can only hope we’re prepared for what happens next. The Evolution of Fae and Gods is book three of the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series and is best enjoyed if read in series order.

 

The Evolution of Fae and Gods is available now:

Amazon | Nook | Apple | Google | Kobo

Purchase in Print

This series has quickly turned into something I'm going to be recommending to all urban fantasy readers and to those who are looking to try it. It's character-driven, plot-heavy, and I cannot wait to get my hands on A Battle of Blood and Stone.What's going on with Carrick? How will the heroes stop fake Fallon? And what other world will they be hopping into?

Find the full review HERE

---

 

AVAILABLE NOW

The Revelation of Light and Dark

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #1 | Available Now

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Add it to Goodreads

A Discovery of Secrets and Fate

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #2 | Available Now

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The Evolution of Fae and Gods

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #3 | Available Now

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---

COMING SOON IN THE SERIES

A Battle of Blood and Stone

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #4 | Coming April 13, 2021

Add it to Goodreads

--------------

The Rise of Fortune and Fury

Chronicles of the Stone Veil, book #5 | Coming May 4, 2021

Add it to Goodreads

 

-------------------------

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

 

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Wicked Cravings by Suzanne Wright

Standalone - The Phoenix Pack #2
Release - April 16, 2013
Genre - Paranormal Romance/childhood crush
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/frequent scenes
Format/Source - borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 395 pages
Publisher - Montlake Romance

Despite having been besotted with Dante Garcea since she was a child, wolf shifter Jaime Farrow figures that it’s time to move past the crush. If he wanted her, he wouldn’t have ignored her flirtatious behavior, right? Hiding her intense attraction to him isn’t easy – especially now that they're part of the same pack again – but with bigger issues to worry about and with the submissive wolf act to maintain, Jaime is resolute on moving forward. Now if only the workaholic control-freak would let her…

As the pack Beta, Dante doesn't have the space or time in his life for a relationship. As such, he ignores his intense hunger for the willful – and sometimes crazy – Jaime. Yet when her flirtations abruptly end, Dante finds that he doesn’t like losing her attention. He finds something else too – Jaime's hiding something. Determined to uncover her secret, he sets out to break through her defenses, even though being around her intensifies his cravings for her. What he finds is a problem that Jaime is convinced not even a powerful Beta can solve.

After reading Feral Sins, I had to know what was going on with the rest of the pack. I was dying to see Trey again, see what other crazy things Taryn would find to say, and just spend time with these people who had become so familiar to me.

I was told to wait. Step away from the series and dive back in later, but I needed to do it NOW!

I should have waited.

I absolutely loved Dante, but I already knew I would because I already caught feelings for him in the first book. As Beta for the Phoenix pack, he took his job seriously. In Wicked Cravings, I finally found out what made this male tick. After falling in love and half-mating, he was ultimately betrayed and swore off lasting relationships. That's why Jaime's ridiculous crush on him was so irritating. At least it was until he lost her attentions.

It was a classic case of wanting, being pushed away, and then the chase. It was extremely entertaining. Actually, I found the entire story enjoyable. From Dante's hesitance to have something real to Jaime's battle with her traumatized wolf to the push and pull and fight for dominance between them. Even the side characters had me smiling.

So why should I have waited before reading this book?

Jaime was a heavily diluted version of Taryn. I don't care what anyone says to defend it because it's true. While there were many outrageous things Taryn did that I might have cringed at in real life, she got away with it. Jaime... not so much. She came off as rude and obnoxious and not nearly as funny. She was my least favorite character so far. It's not that I didn't like her. I just felt that she was doing too much.

My issues:
⭐ Dante compromised WAY too much. Where was this guy's head at? What the heck happened to this Beta? He was going to stand against Trey??? His funeral.
⭐ I was disturbed by the lack of consequences for Jaime. She constantly bucked orders, although she was new to the pack, hadn't earned a place, and was LYING to everyone, and she had NO PROBLEM being disrespectful and out of order.
⭐ Jaime basically challenged her Alpha and NOTHING happened. What kind of pack were they running???
⭐ the lies... I was so tired of the lies. Lies are what turn me off every time.

Will I continue with the series? Absolutely! Aside from my above issues, I really liked this story and its characters. While Dante and Jaime weren't as hot as Trey and Taryn, they still had amazing chemistry and their story had a uniqueness all its own.

Half an hour and a lot of cursing, growls, and cries later, they heard Taryn declare, "I can't do this! Just leave her in there. She'll be fine."

"You're doing really well," Lydia assured her.

"No, I'm done! I'm tired, I'm sweaty, I'm in agony, and why do I feel like I need to shit?"

"It's totally natural to feel that way," said Gracein a placatory, calming voice. "Some women even have one during labor."

"What?" The word dripped with horror. "Women can shit when they're in labor? Tell me that won't happen to me! Don't you let me shit, Grace!" A loud, lengthy cry signaled that she was having another contraction.

Trey's voice was soft and encouraging. "Just breathe, baby."

"I am fucking breathing! And why does this gas and air make me sound like Darth Vader?"

"Here, how about I move it out the way for —"

Don't you touch it," she growled at him. "It's mine. Understand? Mine."

"Okay, okay, you keep it, it's yours."

"Wanna try it?"

"No thanks, baby." His smile could be heard in his voice. The only time his tone ever softened that way was when he was talking about, or talking to, his mate. It was a tone totally reserved for her.

A loud groan. "God, here comes another one."

"You're doing so well, Taryn," praised Shaya. "I think you've only broken one of my fingers."

"I think I've had a shit, Shaya." The poor woman sounded distressed and mortified. "Have I, Grace? Don't lie to me."

"No, you haven't."

"I have, you're lying. Is she lying, Lydia?"

"No," Lydia quickly said, "you haven't, I promise."

"Shaya, why does it feel like the bed's floating?" Tarryn asked in a very loud whisper, though Jaime was sure that Taryn thought she was being quiet.

"Maybe we should take the gas and air from her," suggested Trey.

"Fucking try it."

"Stop gowling at me," he whined.

"I'm not fucking growling! You need a fucking hearing aid!" More cries of pain as another contraction hit. "Grace... I think I can feel the head."

"It is the head, Taryn," confirmed Grace. "On the next contraction, I need you to push for me, okay." A long pause. "Ready? Go."

"Push," encouraged Trey.

"I am pushing, doofus." A few moments later, there was a sob. "Why isn't anything happening?"

"I know you're tired, baby, but —"

"Don't you touch me, Flintstone, this is your fault! Don't think we're playing Hiding Pedro ever again!"

Shaya sounded stern yet amused. "Now, Taryn, that wasn't nice."

"Cut it out of me!" Presumably Taryn was totally ignored, because she growled, "Fine. Give me a knife, I'll do it!"

"One more, Taryn, and it'll be over, I promise. I need you to push really, really hard this time."

"What do you think I've been doing all along?"

In her words...

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing something, whether it was stories, poems, or even songs – though I can’t carry a tune. I only have one rule when I’m writing a book which is that it has to have a happy ending. Other than that, pretty much anything goes. I write stories that I would enjoy reading and then I just hope that others will enjoy them too.

I was born and raised in England where I live with my husband (a person who doesn’t judge me for hearing voices in my head – how often do you come across people like that?), and my two demanding children.

“Oh no, honey, I'm an angel, I swear. The horns are only there to hold up the halo.”

Feral Sins by Suzanne Wright

Standalone - The Phoenix Pack #1
Release - March 3, 2012
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - 4.5 out of 5/plenty of scenes
Format/Source - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 428 pages
Publisher - Montlake Romance

NOTE: this is a review of the edited version of this book. Not a menage scene in sight!!

When female wolf shifter Taryn Warner first encounters Trey Coleman, an alpha male wolf shifter with a dangerous reputation, she’s determined to resist his charms. After all, Trey—who was only fourteen when he defeated his own father in a duel, winning the right to be alpha of his pack—can’t have anything to offer the talented healer besides trouble, or so she thinks.

Taryn finds herself drawn in by Trey’s forceful demeanor and arctic-blue eyes, and she eventually agrees to enter an uneasy alliance with him. If the two succeed in convincing their respective packs that they’ve chosen each other as mates, Trey will win valuable political allies, while Taryn will escape an odious arranged mating.

But there are a lot of potential pitfalls to this plan—including the very real possibility that the wolf shifters, overwhelmed by their growing attraction to each other, will be unable to maintain the clear heads needed to pull off the deception.



I knew there had to be a good reason why this book kept popping up on my radar, but until now, I didn't know why that was. This book is incredible. It's definitely being noted as one of my favorite paranormal romances of all time!

What I found:
⭐ a damaged, tortured, brooding Alpha male who happened to be freaking gorgeous and had no clue about all of the greatness he deserved — I loved TREY!!
⭐ a latent Alpha female who was constantly ridiculed and reviled, frequently underestimated, and the queen of zingers — under all of her thorns, Taryn had a heart of gold, one huge enough to heal her hero
⭐ an intriguing and hilarious cast of secondary characters (I'm looking at you, Greta). All of these characters demanded their own story to be told
⭐ deadly consequences to anyone who thought to separate the mated pair
⭐ oodles of sexy times — dang, but this author can write a sex scene. Two Alphas fighting for dominance and Trey's dirty mouth certainly did the trick!
⭐ a well-developed plot. I love when the sex seems to feed the plot instead of being the plot. I felt that the author created a great balance of heavy story, funny dialogue, intimacy and suspense.

I'm the idiot who took forever to finally read this and introduce herself to the wonder of Suzanne Wright. I have definitely learned from my mistake and I will absolutely be reading more from her. Dante's story is next and I've already got it loaded up!

Feral Sins is FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited! https://amzn.to/394irxN

In her words...

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing something, whether it was stories, poems, or even songs – though I can’t carry a tune. I only have one rule when I’m writing a book which is that it has to have a happy ending. Other than that, pretty much anything goes. I write stories that I would enjoy reading and then I just hope that others will enjoy them too.

I was born and raised in England where I live with my husband (a person who doesn’t judge me for hearing voices in my head – how often do you come across people like that?), and my two demanding children.

The Evolution of Fae and Gods by Sawyer Bennett

Chronicles of the Stone Veil #3
Release - March 23, 2021
Genre - Urban Fantasy
Dual POV - Finley/1st & Carrick/3rd
Heat - 3 out of 5/a bit descriptive and yet still pretty vague
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 269 pages
Publisher - Big Dog Books, LLC

Evil is coming.

A dark malevolence the likes of which this world has never seen, and it comes straight from the depths of Hell. Darkness meant to destroy. A prophecy I am fated to fulfill but will most likely not survive.

Through it all, Carrick Byrne has stood strong by my side. Something has deeply changed between me and the man I once despised, and all it took was a kiss of provocation for both of us to feel it. I know deep in my soul we’re being guided by destiny, but I don’t know if I can trust it. Carrick is holding something back, and I fear the consequences could be deadly once his truth is revealed.

We’re not ready, but calamity waits for no woman. I have discovered a power within myself I must learn to master. A new connection in the Underworld has been revealed to me, one that I hope is friend but is just as likely foe. We are in a race against time as we try to figure out how to stop the end of the world from occurring. The battle is coming, and I can only hope we’re prepared for what happens next.

The Evolution of Fae and Gods is book three of the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series and is best enjoyed if read in series order.

I'll tell you this... this book gave me so much of what I've been wanting since I started this series, such as:
⭐ Answers — although some of them led me to more questions
⭐ Moving Plot — obviously I ain't spoiling but so much happened, some of which I predicted, which led to those answers I needed and the new questions I now have
⭐ Romance — WOOHOO!! It happened and I couldn't have been more thrilled. What was brewing between Carrick and Finley in the first two books finally boiled over and it was amazing! Walls came down, communication became easy, and their connection... their feelings for one another... I can't get enough of all of it.
⭐ Further Character Development — not only did the people I had come to care for seem to expand in personality, but my feelings towards Finley have turned a corner. Was she still annoying? Yup. Was she still bogging me down with the minutiae of her daily life? Absolutely. But either she's growing on me or she's growing up because I was far less frustrated with her than I've ever been.

This series has quickly turned into something I'm going to be recommending to all urban fantasy readers and to those who are looking to try it. It's character-driven, plot-heavy, and I cannot wait to get my hands on A Battle of Blood and Stone.What's going on with Carrick? How will the heroes stop fake Fallon? And what other world will they be hopping into?

Find your copy of The Evolution of Fae and Gods at the following retailers:
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2NJjlbO
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3tEOkFa
iBooks: http://apple.co/36HKTEN
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/3iWaT49
Kobo: http://bit.ly/39uE0It

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).