A Bibliophile's Persuasion

Vampires Of Nirvana : Book 1 – Never Kiss Me Goodbye by Ranay James

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Synopsis:

Kari Ransom’s career as a journalist is on a stellar trajectory. She’s making a name for herself by exposing some heavy hitters in the political arena for serious crimes and shady dealings. But that rise to the top is cut short when she’s gruesomely murdered by a professional killer leaving very few clues behind for the authorities to follow.

Her sister Kristen knows there is something more going on under the surface, and to find the culprits, she enlists the help of homicide detective Slade Jericho. Kristen senses there is more to Slade than he’s letting on. But what could that be?

Slade has seen his share of murders in his years on the Phoenix police force. And, his gut’s telling him that Kristen is in serious danger from the same heartless killers who executed Kari. He calls in the best to help him keep Kristen alive, and when Chase McKinnon, from the extraordinary McKinnon clan, steps in to lead the security detail, things start to get really dicey.

Will Chase’s past work for or against them as that past leads them straight into the vampire collective? Will Slade and Kristen find the killers before they are both murdered for the information now in her possession?

If they can unravel this twisted web of lies, love, and deception, they will be free to give in to fate and see how perfect they are for each other even against the odds.

This paranormal romance will keep you on the edge of your seat, rooting for the good guys and wondering what’s going to happen next.

Review:

There are times when I am excited about a new book, I will jump into the story without reading a synopsis or even paying much attention to the cover. As a result, I will find myself lost regarding the storyline. I must have known Vampires of Nirvana was a vampire book, but for probably 90% of the story, it behaves like a murder investigation mixed with some conspiracy. I was literally wondering where are the vampires?? However, as you near the climax of the book, the reader learns about the behind the scenes operations of the vampire world and it opens a door for the imagination! This is not your typical vampire story, and highly recommend this book as well as the series.

Ranay’s writing could be classified as art and I really cannot figure out why she hasn’t reached superstar status in the industry. She has a special way of molding her characters so you can feel their heartaches, passion, and emotion. As an added bonus, I have recently learned that all of her books have a tie to each other in a similar fashion to Disney’s Easter eggs. It has been fun trying to figure them out.

Vampires of Nirvana is currently $2.99 on Amazon and is well worth the money! Buy it here.

Happy Reading!!!

About the Author:

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Ranay James moved to a small farm in East Texas along with her husband and two dogs after walking away from the fast paced corporate life in 2012.

Ranay graduated from college majoring in accounting and finance with a minor in business management and law. This is very concrete subject matter as a major. Becoming a romance writer seems a most unlikely path for a woman who spent most of her career managing people and operational practices within the corporate environment.

It all began in 2004 on New Year’s Day. Having made a list of things that she wanted to accomplish for the year, she added some items to that list that would push her skill set, and take her out of her comfort zone. Writing a novel was one item that she felt would stretch her abilities the most having no prior training in creative writing. Later that day, Ranay sat down at her computer. Looking at that blank word document, she simply wrote the first thing that came into her mind.

“What were you thinking?” she wrote having remembered the line from a dream she had in a hotel room in Houston, Texas in 2002. Several chapters in, Ranay found her voice as the story began to form. It poured out from a place that she never knew existed. Ranay began to write that day in 2004, and simply never stopped.

The bulk of her work is fiction. A few works are self-help and business aides. (She comes from a corporate background, and she is still a businesswoman, so it does creep in from time-to-time).

Ten years later with eight published works to her name, and nine more completed awaiting publication, Ranay has found a new passion – the love of storytelling and sharing her characters with the world.

Visit Ranay’s Website.

Ranay’s Facebook Page.

Ranay on Twitter.

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To Each His Own – Anna Albergucci

If you like paranormal romance, you will like this book by Anna Albergucci!

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Synopsis:

Douglass McGrail is a Scottish water horse—his clan the deadliest in the British Isle. When the shifter chooses to save—rather than eat—a young lassie, he never expects her innocent face to mark his memory so strongly. Months later, he stumbles onto a perceived attack in progress and plays the hero once more. He’s shocked to find the victim is the same lass who haunts his dreams. Jinny Fairchild is an English miss who’s come to the Highlands to live with her last remaining family. She is pursued by her handsome older cousin, Lachlan Brockhouse, but he has a dark side that lands her in the path of the mighty Douglass McGrail. Douglass wants Jinny for himself, yet discovers she is connected to the attacker she denies knowing. He’s determined to find the truth. Jinny loves Lachlan, even with his dark side. And she loves Douglass, even with his dark secret. Her heart is torn, but one thing is certain—no matter which of these men she chooses, she will be choosing a monster.

Click here for a free download of the book!

About the Author:

 

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Anna Albergucci has always had a vivid imagination. When she was a child, she entertained her mother and anyone who would listen with the telling of her intricate dreams. Now she puts that inspiration to paper, weaving her stories into deeply passionate characters that live lives the rest of us only dream about.

Married to her high school sweetheart, Anna lives in Texas surrounded by her ever-growing family and her fur babies. She serves as president of Cisco Writers Club and is the founder of a yearly writers’ retreat she hosts at her estate each fall.

She loves mornings, coffee, and sitting on the porch appreciating her life. She’s a sucker for hosting parties, especially historical costume parties. And in her spare time, you can find her touring old mansions, shopping for antiques, or curled up reading a romance, paranormal, or thriller, whether historical or contemporary.

You can learn more about Anna on her Website or on Facebook!

 

 

 

 

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Finding Amy by Carol Braswell

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Synopsis:

When Texas Ranger, Carson Garrett is assigned to locate and place in protective custody the wife of a man suspected of illegal activities with a Columbian drug lord, it turns into more than routine. The estranged husband has put out a hit on his wife and the only person who knows where she is hiding is her twin sister, Amy Summers. It is a race against time for Carson to find Amy, convince her of the imminent danger and get her to lead him to Jamie so he can escort both women and Jamie’s four-year-old child back to Texas. Besides the obvious problems of running from a man who is trying to kill them, Carson and Amy have an instant attraction to each other and it is clouding his usual sharp judgment and causing them both to make costly mistakes.

Review:

Carol Braswell has a knack for storytelling, and there were definitely some unexpected twists that I found surprising.  I liked the storyline, it is an easy read and it was entertaining.  However, the book contains some serious grammatical/spelling errors that were difficult to swallow and even distracting at times, and I wasn’t reading with an editor’s hat on.  That being said, everyone reads with a different perspective, so I believe it is worth reading because it has an intriguing plot and it is an enjoyable read.

Purchase Finding Amy Here

To learn more about Carol, you can visit her social media venues below:

Carol’s Website

Carol on Facebook

Carol on Twitter

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The Phoenix Decree by Anna Albergucci

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Synopsis:

It’s nineteenth-century England. Social decorum reigns. Devon Phoenix, Marquess of Phoxdale and first-born son of the Duke of Seton, shuns society when he is bound to his soul mate through the discovery of a buried family secret. He learns she will need his protection from those drawn to her because of her lineage. When he crosses two centuries into present day to claim her, it is not without cost. The life of Boston artist and history buff Elz Valli is about to be irreversibly altered. Coming face-to-face with Devon, she feels certain this striking, intellectual man bears more than a shocking resemblance to the man marked in the pages of her history books. Even so, she does not expect the chain of events that unfold because of one heated dance with him. With the pendulum in motion, there is no turning back as Devon’s presence in today’s world ignites raging fires both good and evil. Driven by his insane love for her, Devon will stop at nothing to have and protect Elz. But will this be enough to overcome the powers that will attach themselves to her? This book is intended for mature audiences.

Review:

I admire writers who are able to take a concept that is not so new and spin their theory in a unique way to take the reader down untrodden paths in their imaginations.  Anna Albergucci used fresh ideas that I had never seen or read before with regard to time travel and it made for a very interesting novel.  Additionally, there are subplots within the story that keep the reader guessing page after page.  I was surprised many times while reading, and the ending was unexpected and intense.  The Phoenix Decree is powerful,  profound, fierce, and even harsh at times and is definitely not for the feint of heart.

Buy the book here.

Anna does a great job of drawing the reader in and making her fictional story seem plausible and I cannot wait to read the second book in the series, Phoenix Unbound!

Anna’s Website

Anna on Facebook

Anna on Twitter

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Divine Enounter, JoAnna Grace

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Synopsis:

Long before Avery McClain came into the picture, the gods set into motion encounters that would impact the future of her family…
Keona and Piper Nadal are twins with a history that keeps them as far under the Olympian radar as possible. Their last name carries an automatic death sentence if the Thracian Master finds them. The last person they ever wanted to run into was a man with ties to the Castille Clan.
Evander Castille, a healer, finds the gift of a lifetime in Keona Nadal, and Piper is exactly what his dear cousin, Hayden, is looking for. He wants nothing more than to get the girls to the safety of the Haven but they are scared.
When Evander is warned to keep the twins away from the Haven, he has to wonder where the real danger lies. Rogue Olympians are working with Demons and no one is safe anymore.
Start your journey with Divine Awakening!

Review:

My initial response to a modern story based on Greek Mythology was somewhat skeptical. However, after reading Divine Encounter, I was left shaking my head as to how JoAnna Grace managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat for this story line. Even though it is completely fictional, I felt the character’s emotions and their plight tugged at my heartstrings while I was reading. Divine Encounter is entertaining, intense, violent, and steamy.  I jumped in at Book 4 in the series, and the synopis instructs you to “Start your journey with Divine Awakening” and I am wishing that I had!  It’s only $.99 on Amazon right now, and based on Divine Encounter, I’m guessing it’s well worth the change to read it.  I will definitely be starting at the beginning, myself.

Buy the book here.

When asked,  JoAnna said she didn’t know  many books were in the series, “I’ll keep writing this series until I run out of stories or people run out of interest…I love them too much to limit their world.” JoAnna, I think there will be many late nights in your future!

JoAnna’s Website

JoAnna on Facebook

JoAnna on Twitter

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The McKinnon The Beginning: Book 1

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Synopsis:

It is the year of our Lord 1493, and King Henry VII has been seated on the English throne for eight years. He did not get there by chance alone. Nor has he stayed there with ease. He has his favorites, generously rewarding those who serve him well. Sir Nic McKinnon is at the top of that list.

For his faithful devotion, Nic finds himself graciously rewarded. That reward is the hand in marriage to the seventh Duchess of Seabridge. The only issue is Nic isn’t interested in the bounty, and taking a wife is certainly not in his plans. However, he understands that seeming ungrateful to Henry for his gift or disobeying a king’s command is never wise. Nic reluctantly agrees to marry. Living with his duchess was not one of Henry’s stipulations.

To that end, Nic’s plan is to marry the young duchess, and then leave her to her own designs. That is until he finds that she is in danger, so much so that she is fleeing for her very life. Nic is sworn to protect the king’s subjects who cannot protect themselves, but more than that, no one threatens what belongs to a McKinnon. She belongs to him by the king’s decree. The question now is not whether he will marry her and leave her behind—the question is much more clear: can he keep her alive?

Review:

The setting of this book is in a day and time when men were really men and honor was sacred, and vengeance was not sacrificed for political correctness. As a result, it was easy for me to escape into the story of Nic and Morgan. I love historical fiction/time travel/romance and I was immediately drawn in when I first started reading this book. Book one is well written and on a scale of 1-10, I give the book a 9 for an excellent story line, character development, plot, and a cliffhanger at the end that leaves you clamoring for the next one in the series!!!  It is not for the faint of heart though, in addition to violence that seems to be historically accurate for the 15th century, there are some steamy scenes that will definitely leave the reader somewhat breathless, but that are not too graphic where you find yourself looking up to see if anyone is watching you blush while reading.

I have only recently discovered Ranay James’ series about the McKinnon men and I am wishing that I had known about the books for longer!  Currently, it is free on Amazon, iBooks, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble, and it is NOT one of those freebies that you will regret downloading.  There are ten books in the series, and although I haven’t read them all, the ones I have read are equal to their predecessor.

Preview the book here

From what I have learned about Ranay James, she seems to be a pretty cool person, and I was happy to discover that we are practically neighbors! After she learned of my newfound love affair with her series, she signed a copy for me to keep in my personal library!  To learn more about her, you can follow her on:

Ranay’s Website

Ranay’s Facebook

Ranay’s Twitter

Ranay on Smashwords

 

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