Romancing Guest Post + Giveaway: Regan Summers on Forbidden Romance

A huge welcome to Regan Summers, author of Don't Bite the Messenger, a new and exciting urban fantasy with a perfect dose of romance! I love a good romance but there's just something about a forbidden romance that makes a story all the better. Today, Regan is giving us a little glimpse of her characters, Sydney and Malcolm, who should be off limits to each other but find comfort in each other. Stick around 'till the end and enter the giveaway to win your own copy.

You can read my review here.

"What Tastes Better Than the Forbidden?" by Regan Summers

Thank you so much for having me, Lori. I’ve discovered so many wonderful authors and stories from your blog, and am honored to be here.

I thought I’d share a couple of excerpts from Don’t Bite the Messenger. This story started as an urban fantasy, but once Malcolm Kelly stepped onto the page – with his quick smile and wicked mouth – it expanded to include a solid romantic thread. Yes, sometimes I do write stories just to get my fictional characters’ clothes off.

Malcolm isn’t your typical alpha male. He’s a little too shifty for that, and prefers to work behind the scenes rather than directing. But he has a great sense of human, is surprisingly considerate and undeniably hot. He’s also firmly off-limits to Sydney Kildare, our heroine.

“He was like the drunken midnight-sun skydives I used to do: a bold, beautiful, very bad idea. It had been so long since I’d done anything fun.”

Syd’s a recovering wild child, and while she’s trying to be good, Malcolm appeals to instincts she’s been holding back for years. He doesn’t even have to speak to make a case for himself.

“He moved behind me, so close I could feel the warmth of his body. He traced the underside of my arms, pausing on a jagged scar on my left forearm before catching my elbows and pressing upward until I stretched my arms over my head. His hands ran down my sides, fingers gentle over my ribs and tickling light against my stomach. I opened my mouth to take in air and tasted the tropical night. I knew for a fact that it tasted nothing like him. It was raw where he was smooth, sweet where he was smoky.”

I hope that you enjoy reading about Sydney and Malcolm as much as I enjoyed getting them together. 

About the Author:

Regan Summers lives in Anchorage, Alaska with her husband and alien-monkey hybrid of a child. 

She can suspend disbelief in the space of a heartbeat, is prone to spazzing out in inappropriate settings, and believes that hard work leads to happiness (after all the misery of hard work, that is).

For more information on Regan Summers, visit her here: Website |  Facebook | Twitter

In My Mailbox {37}

In My Mailbox, hosted by The Story Siren, is a weekly feature where you can showcase all your new and wonderful books, whether from the library, bought, won or received for review.

Here's what's in my mailbox this week...

Anew - Chelsea Fine

Secrets - Liz Schulte

Assasins In Love - Kris DeLake

That's what's in my mailbox this week...what's in yours?

Mini Review: Don't Bite the Messenger by Regan Summers

Title: Don't Bite the Messenger
Author: Regan Summers
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Carina Press
Format: ebook, 91 pages
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Carina Press

Anchorage, Alaska.

The vampire population may have created an economic boom in Alaska, but their altered energy field fries most technology. They rely on hard-living—and short-lived—couriers to get business done…couriers like Sydney Kildare.

Sydney has survived to the ripe old age of twenty-six by being careful. She’s careful when navigating her tempestuous clients, outrunning hijackers and avoiding anyone who might distract her from her plan of retiring young to a tropical, vampire-free island.

Her attitude—and immunity to vampires’ allure—have made her the target of a faction of vampires trying to reclaim their territory. Her only ally is Malcolm Kelly, a secretive charmer with the uncanny habit of showing up whenever she’s in trouble. Caught in the middle of a vampire turf war, Sydney has to count on Malcolm to help her survive, or the only place she’ll retire is her grave…

 My Romancing Thoughts:

 An outstanding, original vampire novella you'll read in one sitting!

Sydney Kildare, known as Mary to the world, lives a life of constant change. As a vampire courier, she is constantly on the move and has remained alive due to her discretion and chameleon ways. Even a night out can be dangerous in her line of work, needless to say, Sydney's social life is near non-existent. While having some drinks with her fellow couriers, Sydney is spotted by vampires and soon is caught in a life threatening situation. In walks the charming Malcolm Kelly ,who rushes as her knight in shining armor, "rescues" her from being dinner, and leaves her wanting with a searing kiss before his departure.

Ready to give up her life of running, Sydney is set on retiring far away from Alaska, where she plans to live a normal life. Before she can do that she gets a job, one last gig before retirement can't hurt, right? Wrong. Sydney has a special ability that she keeps secret but plays a huge role in her line of work, she cannot be enthralled by a vampire. When her secret is discovered, she is caught in the middle of a vampire turf war and will need to seek the help of her "dark knight" in order to live another day.

I'm a vampire junkie, if it's about vampires, I've either read it or going to read it. After reading so many books on the subject of vampires you feel you've read it all...I must say, Don't Bite the Messenger totally caught me off guard and I was deeply immersed in the dark, yet romantic world of Ms. Summers. Our heroine is my favorite kind, she's smart, ballsy and sometimes vulnerable. She's confident and her voice really shines in this story; I instantly liked her and loved her by the last chapter. Malcolm has an aura of mystery and a suave personality that make him a swoon-worthy hero. I truly adore that there is undeniable attraction between these two from the start but not the "I know we just met but I'm in love with you" that we often see. Their pairing is smart and just fits. Although I wanted more sexy scenes between these two, I was satisfied with the carnal passion Sydney and Malcolm share.

Don't Bite the Messenger is a quick-paced, action packed urban fantasy with a touch of romance. The author introduces her fascinating world of vampires politics and their human courier "pawns" in the perfect setting for the paranormal, Alaska. A well developed plot and captivating characters draw you into an original story but unfortunately ends too soon. I must praise Ms. Summers for bringing our couple back together but there are some loose ends I want answered. I'm hoping this is the beginning of a series and that I haven't seen the last of Sydney and Malcolm yet. This is a must read for anyone who loves a thrill ride with a kick a** heroine and a sexy leading man!

My Rating

Romancing Guest Post + Giveaway: Author Tiffany Allee

Today I have the pleasure of having paranormal romance and urban fantasy author Tiffany Allee on Romancing the Darkside. Her latest release, Banshee Charmer is an entertaining sexy murder mystery with a fun heroine and a smooth talking hero that will keep you turning the pages. Check out my review here. Say hi to Tiffany and be sure to enter the giveaway for your chance to own your own copy!

"The Best Friend" by Tiffany Allee 

I know what you're thinking—oh yeah, best friend turned lover. A fun and many times engaging trope. I'm not here to talk about that, although I do enjoy it in romance. Today, I'd like to talk about giving props to the regular best friend, the non-love interest, the pal. A character who doesn't always get as much notice in books—particularly in romance, where most of the attention is on the soon-to-be happy couple.

A big part of the focus in Banshee Charmer is on Amanda, a police detective in the paranormal unit and the main character's partner. Mac, the main character, is a tough cookie herself, but her partner is a bodybuilder, a witch, and a department veteran. Their banter is mostly cop-talk, but I hope their feelings for each other come through. Here is an excerpt that shows how these two best friends relate.

The crisp air licked my skin as we made our way to Amanda’s car. Safely out of hearing range of our fellow officers, Amanda pulled a pack of cigarettes from her inner pocket and tapped one out. The fire from her lighter flashed and I blinked.

“Don’t give me that look.”

“I’m not looking at you,” I grumbled, continuing to glare at her cigarette. Amanda only smoked when a case really got to her. Her one vice lingered despite her best efforts to control her life with a stranglehold grip. Considering the stress of the job, smoking was pretty damn harmless compared to what she could be doing to cope. It bugged me enough to give her a dirty look, but I wasn’t about to criticize her aloud for a single weakness.

Not with everything she’d done for me.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts, and for the first time noticed her eyeliner and fading lipstick. “So how’d the date go?”

She crinkled her nose. “He canceled. I canceled the last one. I don’t think a doctor and a cop are capable of dating. If my schedule isn’t screwed, his is. Been over a month since we’ve met for a cup of coffee.”

“Want a hug?” I opened my arms wide and grinned at her.

“Shit.” She chuckled and tapped her cigarette lightly, releasing ash into the breeze.

Unfortunately for Mac, Amanda is killed early on by the very serial killer they are searching for. Not only does Mac have to deal with her death, she has to find a killer. Amanda's death aside, I love reading about the relationship between main character's and the non-love interests in their lives. It can add depth and humor.

What types of characters (aside from the main ones) do you like reading about most? The best friend? The villain? Someone else?

Sexy Snippets: Risking Eternity

 Tuesdays just got sexier!

Sexy Snippets is a weekly meme hosted by Secrets of a Book Lover and Reading Between the Wines. To join in just grab the button, post a sexy paragraph or two from your current read and share the author & title so other participates can add the book to their TBR lists if they like. Add your post to the linky on either host's page so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!

My sexy snippet:

"After it became clear she had no intention of responding, he cupped her chin in his palm and leaned his face toward hers. The touch of his lips was hot to the point of burning. As she responded to the sensation, meeting his kisses with an ardor that was almost painful, Hayden tried not to think about what was happening between them. She didn’t want to think at all, wanted only the dark, brutal melody of his tongue twining itself with hers, the crush of his full lips pressing against her own. Hayden barely registered that his hands were in her hair, caressing her shoulders, running down her back. She was no longer a woman but something utterly different, a being without a body, pure sensation."

"At the exact moment when Hayden thought she would die of the exquisite fire of his touch, Valentin broke off the kiss and stepped away from her. “I nearly forgot,” he said, removing the Glock from his coat and placing it into her open palm. “I believe you’ll be needing this. It wouldn’t do, to let down your guard.”

- Risking Eternity by Gwenan Haines

I've shown you my sexy snippet...now show me yours!

Early Review: Banshee Charmer by Tiffany Allee

Title: Banshee Charmer
Author: Tiffany Allee
Series: {From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency #1}
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Format: ebook, 159 pages
Source: Publisher
Release Date: January 24, 2012
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

When she’s sent to a crime scene and finds her second dead woman in as many weeks, half-banshee detective Kiera “Mac” McLoughlin is convinced a serial killer is on the loose. Incubi are extinct, her boss insists. But what else can kill a woman in the throes of pleasure? When her partner is murdered after using witchcraft to locate the killer and Mac is thrown off the case, her frustration turns to desperation.

Certain the killer is an incubus, Mac works behind her department’s back to chase down slim, sometimes perilous leads. While the killer eludes her, she does discover handsome Aidan Byrne, an investigative counterpart from the enigmatic Otherworlder Enforcement Agency. Mac typically runs her investigations fast and hard, but with Aidan at her side, she’s running this one “hot” as well. But Aidan knows more than he’s letting on—something that could shatter their blazing romance and add Mac to the killer’s growing body count…

 My Romancing Thoughts:

A charming, sexy murder mystery!

 While working her latest case, detective (and half-banshee) Kiera "Mac" McLoughlin is convinced the two murdered victims are the work of a serial killer, an incubus to be exact. The only problem with her theory, incubi have been extinct for years. When her partner becomes the third victim of the serial killer, Mac is taken off the case but refuses to walk away from the investigation. With no solid leads, Mac's chances of finding the killer before he strikes again seem slim, until she meets the intriguing and handsome Aidan Byrne, an investigator for the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency. Mac knows her only option is to accept Aidan's help, but working close to the sexy investigator will prove far more dangerous than the killer she seeks.

Banshee Charmer is an entertaining story filled with a bit of mystery, humor and a sizzling romance! Tiffany Allee's world where humans and paranormals exist, side by side, is a fresh new take I really enjoyed. Mac is a solid heroine, she's tough and daring, but comes off as insecure sometimes...which I wanted to scream at her for, I mean she's a cop for crying out loud! Aidan is smooth, calm and collective, I love his swagger and feisty personality instantly! These two really bring out the best in each other and the sparks between them are electrifying. I couldn't get enough of their interaction before things really heat up, these two are great together. Although the story deals with the very sexual beings that are succubi and incubi, this element is written in a very tasteful way that fits well into the plot.

With the perfect blend of supernatural and suspense, Banshee Charmer weaves a little urban fantasy into a paranormal romance for a stellar debut! Fun characters, intriguing mystery and a hot romance make this a great lazy afternoon short read. I'm looking forward to getting to know the "other worlders" in Ms. Allee's developing supernatural world!

My Rating

For more information on Banshee Charmer and Tiffany Allee, visit:

In My Mailbox {36}

In My Mailbox, hosted by The Story Siren, is a weekly feature where you can showcase all your new and wonderful books, whether from the library, bought, won or received for review.

Here's what's in my mailbox this week...

 Claiming their Cat - Maggie O'Malley

Dirty Blood - Heather Hildenbrand  ~ from Jana @ Infinity Delicate Flower

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf - Molly Harper ~ Anonymous R.A.K. (if anyone reading this sent me this Thank You!!)

My IMM is pretty small this week but I've been trying to catch up with my reading and reviews so hopefully I'll be able to get a great new stash of books to post about soon!

What's in your mailbox this week?

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow

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 and Kelly at Secrets of a Book Lover. (This meme was formerly hosted by Laurie from Bitten by Paranormal Romance.)

The 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow 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 new friends!

How to join in:

• You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 & over adult reads should be your majority.
• Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.
• Copy the html for the button on either host's site and place it at the top of your post.
• List & answer the ‘Question of the Week.’

Head on over to Reading Between the Wines or Secrets of a Book Lover for the rest of the details!

Question of the week:

"Do your prefer your romance heroes inked, pierced, neither or maybe even both?"

Hmm...great question. When it comes to my heroes I prefer inked over pierced but there are some guys like BDB's Rehvenge that are so sexy, I'd take however they are...LOL

Some of my fave inked heroes are the Alpa Black Dagger Brotherhood, the inked Demonica Brothers and Lords of the Underworld, ok so not all of them are inked but they're still HAWT...these men are sexy to begin with but go to OMG status (yeah, I just made that up...LOL) with their body art and piercings!

And now some eye candy...

Happy Follow Friday!

How do you like your heroes? Leave a link to your post and I'll be sure to stop by!

Review: Bannockburn Binding by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Title: Bannockburn Binding
Author: Tracy Cooper-Posey
Series: {Beloved Blood Time ~ Book #1}
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Author
Format: ebook, 162 pages
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon

In the early 23rd Century, vampires learned how to travel back in time, and created a time-tsunami that threatened life as we know it, until they corrected their mistake. They created the Chronometric Conservation Agency, which is tasked with preserving history and therefore protecting humanity’s future. The Touring arm of the Agency offers trips back into the real past, with vampire guides, called travellers.

When Natalia (Tally) Marta, vampire and traveller, takes her client to visit the siege of Stirling Castle in 1314, she is caught and held hostage for ransom by Robert MacKenzie, a Bruce clansman. Rob finds himself drawn to the willful, stubborn and very different English lady he has captured and the relationship becomes an intimate, highly-charged sexual pairing. Swiftly, Tally and Rob realize their bond is more than sexual, that the emotions stirring their hearts are true.

Christian Lee Hamilton, vampire, one of the last true southern gentlemen, and Tally’s ex-lover, knows the 1314 time marker enough to jump back and help Tally return home. His arrival at Bannockburn adds complications, for Christian finds himself drawn to Rob MacKenzie as much as Tally is. But neither of them can stay in the past forever. To do so means certain death. (Goodreads)

 My Romancing Thoughts:

A scorchingly hot paranormal time travel romance!

In a world where vampires and time travel are a common occurrence, vampire Natalia works as a traveller and tour guide for the Chronometric Conservation Agency. Her latest client has requested to travel back to medieval Scotland but things go from smooth to awry when Tally is discovered by Robert MacKenzie who mistakes her for an English noblewoman and holds her captive for ransom.

Tally sees Rob as nothing more than a Scottish brute but the more she's in his presence, the more she's attracted to the warrior Scotsman. Time is running out for Tally and when the Agency decides to send help, it comes in the form of her ex-lover, vampire Christian Lee Hamilton. Christian is determined to bring Tally back at any cost, but when he meets Rob MacKenzie, he stirs feelings in him he's only felt for Tally. In this trip to the past, Christian and Tally will get a chance to rekindle their love for each other while finding new love.

Bannockburn Binding is a story that goes beyond your usual time travel romance! The story successfully intertwines elements of the paranormal, time travel and sci-fi into one cohesive plot. Tally and Rob are a great pairing, their chemistry is sultry and when Christian comes into the picture it's  ultra hot! While most of the story takes place in the past, we also get a glimpse of the Agency and some of its members that provide a backstory of why time travel came to be. The world building is unique and the characters are solid, but I would have preferred a bit more background on the main characters.

This isn't just an erotic romance, it's a unique love story that transcends time, literally. With intense action and constant twists and turns you'll want to finish it in one sitting! The ending comes together seamlessly and I love that the author avoided a cliffhanger and gives the reader a happy ending. Tracy Cooper-Posey's intriguing characters will quickly make their way into your hearts and wanting more of her time traveling vampires!


*Note: This book contains explicit sexual content and situations that some readers may find objectionable: M/M, Menage, and M/F/M sexual scenes.

My Rating

Winner: BLOOD KNOT by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Thanks to all for entering the giveaway to win an ecopy of BLOOD KNOT by Tracy Cooper-Posey

And the winner is...

{Winner has been notified via email.}

Review: A Demon Does It Better by Linda Wisdom

Title: A Demon Does It Better
Author: Linda Wisdom
Series: {Demon's ~ Book #2}
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: ebook, 352 pages
Source: NetGalley
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

Lovely witch Lili Carter takes a job at a paranormal hospital where patients have been disappearing. There she encounters Jared, a dangerously sexy demon on a mission that gets Lili into a world of trouble. Lili can't avoid Jared for long and soon they find themselves creating a whole new kind of magick...(Goodreads)

 My Romancing Thoughts:

Witty, sexy and fun!

Liliana is a witch and doctor who specializes in healing. When her friend Sera who worked at the Crying Souls Hospital and Asylum suddenly goes missing, Lili vows to get answers. To do that, she takes a position at Crying Souls, hoping to learn what happened to her friend and others who've gone missing. What Lili finds while working with the secretive Dr. Mortimer is a "dungeon" of mentally ill patients under the worst conditions. It's there she meets patient 1172, Jared, a demon and the "most dangerous" inmate at Crying Souls, according to Dr. Mortimer. Lili isn't afraid of Jared, in fact she's extremely attracted by the sexy demon. The more time she spends treating Jared, the more she realizes not everyone is who they seem at the hospital. Soon Lili finds herself trusting the one person she was told to stay away from and thrown into a dark world of secrets and magick she never imagined.

I was enthralled by Linda Wisdom's supernatural world from the first page. The story wastes no time in jumping right into the action. The mystery surrounding the sexy demon Jared had me hooked, I couldn't read fast enough to find out more about him. He comes off as if he has ulterior motives with Lili but you soon learn he's just a demon with a heart! Jared was a refreshing new hero who wears his heart on his sleeve and isn't less of an Alpha for doing so, I love his charisma, his seductive ways and selflessness.

Lili is a strong and opinionated heroine who sometimes lacks the extra confidence to speak her mind but is still brave when the moment calls for it. Lili and Jared make a great couple and I enjoyed watching their relationship blossom instead of the instant love you sometimes get in books. They bring out the best in each other and their passion is both sexy and romantic. The book also has some great supporting characters you can't help but love, like Cleo, Lili's familiar who happens to be Queen Cleopatra incarnated in a cat! Cleo is feisty and moody but always comes to Lili's aid and gives her some great advice when it comes to matters of the heart.

A Demon Does It Better is a noteworthy paranormal romance with tons of emotion and a little dark side. The characters are well developed and the world building is quite original and intriguing. It's the kind of book you go into thinking you'll enjoy but just can't seem to put down once you start. It's difficult not to become invested in the characters and story with Linda's vivid and emotional writing. It's not usual for me to read a series out of order but I was able to follow the story without any holes or questions. After reading A Demon Does it Better I'll be adding book one and all others to follow onto my list!

My Rating

Romancing the Darkside Recommends: If you love a true paranormal romance with a little edge and a good dose of humor from an animal sidekick!

In My Mailbox {35}

In My Mailbox, hosted by The Story Siren, is a weekly feature where you can showcase all your new and wonderful books, whether from the library, bought, won or received for review.

Here's what's in my mailbox this week...

 

Don't Bite the Messenger - Regan Summers

Grave Refrain: A Love/Ghost Story - Sarah M. Glover

Risking Eternity - Gwenan Haines

Stranded with a Cajun Werewolf - Selena Blake

The Wolf Who Loved Me - Lydia Dare

Bound in Sin - Cynthia Eden

That's what's in my mailbox this week...let me know what's in yours!