Blackwater Falls: Feeling No Pain by Shannon West and Susan E. Scott

81baSEQqjKL._SL1500_Title: Blackwater Falls: Feeling No Pain
Series: Blackwater Falls, #4
Author: Shannon West & Susan E. Scott
Genre: BDSM/ Mystery/ Paranormal
Length: Novella (143 pages)
Publisher: Dark Hollow Press (May 11th, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 1/2Heart
Blurb: By pulling on his leathers and entering Cuffs, the BDSM club he frequents, Holden MacKay can leave his life in Blackwater Falls behind and become “Bobby,” a masochist and sexual submissive. The pain he craves soothes something deep inside him and makes him feel alive, and the role he plays in the club enables him to fully connect with his sexual self in a way he never could with traditional sex.

But when Holden meets the aloof and sexy Dom, Sloane McClain, there’s something about the man who reaches in and grabs him right through the excesses of alcohol and drugs Holden normally indulges in.

Could this man be the mate he’s waited for, but thought he’d never find? Holden needs to figure out if what he’s feeling is real, or if it’s all just wishful thinking. But he has more secrets than just his name, and too much to lose if anyone discovers them.

And when someone begins killing the Doms Holden plays with and dumping their bodies outside Blackwater Falls, he has to act not only to find the killer and protect his secrets, but to save the man he’s beginning to love more than his own life.

Product Link:
http://www.darkhollowspress.com/#!feeling-no-pain/c20x1

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Handsome Holden MacKay frequents a BDSM club so he can escape for a while from his life in Blackwater Falls. He flirts and plays with all the Doms there to satisfy his masochist and submissive tendencies except for with sexy aloof Sloane McClain. Holden knows Sloane’s his mate now he just needs to convince him.

Sexy Dom and Deputy, Sloane McClain wants Holden MacKay but he doesn’t want to be just another Dom Holden plays with, so he acts casual as if he could care less about Holden. But when Holden is in trouble, Sloane comes to the rescue.

This book has a lot going on in it. From Hawke’s feud with Holden and the reason why, to him making his mate Jace mad at him. There are three grisly murders that happen only to Dom’s of the club Holden and Sloane frequent. The killer’s identity shocked me. Sloane tries his best to get Holden to be with him but Holden keeps running until he ends up getting seriously hurt by another Dom.The sex between Holden and Sloane was hot.

Great read with drama, mystery, and intense scenes.

Heartsblood by Shannon West

91Vd32nptrL._SL1500_Title: Heartsblood
Series: Dark Hollow Wolf Pack, #11
Author: Shannon West
Genre: Paranormal/ Shape-Shifter/ Werewolves
Length: Novella (118 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-63105-282-8
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing (July 7, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: Nicky finally has the close connection with Marco he’s wanted for so long—the bloodlust—a rare and little understood phenomena that changes a pet into an alpha wolf. But Nicky’s bloodlust was given to him by his sworn and deadly enemy, Jeremy Tate, for reasons known only to him, and he soon discovers that the wolf inside him is dangerously insane.

When Gabe and Zack come to see the changes in Nicky, Gabe discovers something else about the wolf inhabiting Nicky’s body—something that threatens their friendship and causes Zack to attack Nicky. Will the alphas be able to tame and control this dangerous wolf or will it threaten not only Nicky and Marco’s relationship, but their lives as well?

Purchase Link: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=922

Review: This was an amazing story. Each book in the Dark Hollow Wolf Pack Series focuses on a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, we recommend reading the series in sequential order. It keeps me from getting a bit lost in the stories and gives me an insight in to their world. A world that captured my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end. I love the way each character just mixes with the others. How fast they are to defend what is theirs and what they believe. This story has quite a bit of a twist to it. I loved it and I hated it. It doesn’t make sense when I feel like that. I hate the pain that these wolves go through.

The pain that Nicky always seems to be going through. When he was first changed and mated, Marco treated him like a pet, which is what they were called. Nicky helped show him that it was all wrong, but he had left Marco for a brief period of time. Then he and Marco lost their bloodmatch thanks to a crazy scientist. Marco pushed him away, dissolved their mating and he left. He drank and used drugs to help with the pain and loneliness. Then the crazy doctor shot him with a concoction that gave them bloodlust, a much stronger feeling then bloodmatch. He got bigger, stronger, and more temperamental. It also made him attracted to one of his best friends Gabe. He didn’t know what was happening.

Marco was a loss. He had lost Nicky more than once. He finally got his mate back, but a mate he didn’t really know. Nicky had changed more than just physical. He scared him a bit, but more that he could lose Nicky for good. Although it was Gabe that realized something about Nicky’s wolf. They were indeed two separate beings. What he discovered could destroy them all. Marco loved his mate and would die to save him. And Nicky realized he felt the same way.

Shannon’s stories always have this dark intent in them. I love the other ones more than this one. I love Nicky and Marco but I am tired of hearing about them and their pain. It feels like they are just not getting a break ever. It is still a great story though. Characters that will draw you in and will keep you with them. The story caught my attention from the start of the story and kept it all the way to the end. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Dead Reckoning by Shannon West and L.L. Brooks

631cea890bcca0d1799cd3e36ca766fab84b5207Title: Dead Reckoning
Series: Dead Hot Vampires, #1
Author: Shannon West & L.L. Brooks
Genre: Paranormal/ Vampires
Length: Novella (112 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-61885-737-8
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing (June 10, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Blurb: Master Dominic, leader of the vampire covens on the Eastern coast, is in Atlanta to kill a rogue vampire who’s been hunting humans indiscriminately. When he traps the rogue in a basement theater, he’s surprised to also find a young, human vampire slayer there before him.

Shawn Maples is beautiful, but time’s running out to save him from the cancer consuming his body. Dominic decides to turn him and keep the beautiful human as his own, but first he has a difficult task. He has to convince Shawn not to keep trying to kill him, while keeping Shawn safe and alive as his entire family tries desperately to kill him.

Purchase Link: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=625&zenid=7lbsrbjm2uuvmgkh9d19pkn086

Shorty’s Review: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Shawn Maples is a handsome slayer who is dying of cancer. Master Dominic, sexy leader of the vampire coven is stunned when he realizes Shawn is his mate and a slayer. Shawn tracks a rogue vampire to a theater where he kills him and is injured in the process. Dominic asks if he can turn him to save his life from the cancer slowly killing him.

Shawn denies him but does drink his blood after being satisfied by him. Waking up much later Shawn is disgusted with himself. He goes home where he is confronted by his brother Luke who throws him out after finding out he drank Dominic’s blood. Not having anywhere to go, Shawn heads to his favorite lake where Dominic finds him. In the middle of their conversation, gunfire erupts. Dominic wishes Shawn away and gets him out of there as he questions him how they knew where he was. They determine he’s being tracked by the GPS in his cell phone.

Once they arrive at Dominic’s house Shawn asks Dominic to turn him. After Shawn is turned, he begins to fight with Dominic. Shawn goes hunting with Dominic and afterward at home they talk to Melvin, another vampire, and find out Shawn’s father wants him dead and that the rogue vampires from the west coast that they killed may not be rogues as they were missing from their coven’s and the sabb caught them and they got away.

Shawn’s dad tips his arrows with various substances so they think that vampires are being turned temporally rogue to let others kill them. Melvin is taken by Shawn’s brothers as a trap to get them. In the ensuing battle, both Luke and Hanley are killed but Luke is turned by Shawn and another vampire Vincenzo agrees to be his master. Melvin disappears with Hanley. Melvin returns with Hanley alive and reveals he’s his mate. Shawn’s father disappears along with the other sabbs.

Intriguing vampire story with drama, mystery, and action all throughout this wonderfully written book. The sex scenes were hot and intense.

Lisa’s Review: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
This was an amazing story. Each book in this series I have a feeling will focus on a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, we recommend reading the series in sequential order. It keeps me from getting a bit lost in the stories and gives me an insight in to their world. A world that captured my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end.

I love the way each character just mixes with the others. How fast they are to defend what is theirs and what they believe. This story has quite a bit of a twist to it. It seems to have a dark tone to it. I admit I wasn’t so sure about it, but once I started reading, I just couldn’t seem to stop.

Shaw was a vampire hunter, although he seems to go after only the rogues unlike the rest of his family. However, he has one thing they don’t and it is what changes his feelings. He is dying of cancer and just wants to take out the powerful Dominic. A powerful vampire that he had grown up knowing he killed anyone and everyone he comes across. He was told by his family that Dominic killed his grandparents. What he learns is the exact opposite and he is in for a big surprise.

Dominic is the leader of his coven and he also kills rogues. He comes to kill a newly turned rogue, but what he finds is one sexy little slayer. A slayer that is his mate. He knows he is dying from cancer and the only way to save his is to change him and mate him. He is a bit feisty and argues about it all but he soon realizes Dominic is telling the truth. Now between the dangers of his family and the lust he feels he is totally lost. He has fallen in love with the big, bad vampire. And he loves every minute of it.

This was a good story a bit strange but once you start reading, it you won’t be able to put it down. It captured my attention and I cannot wait to read book two. It gives you two sexy men, vampires, vampire slayers, excitement, adventure, action, and danger. Well it gives you that and so much more.

I would recommend reading this book just for the fact that it has sexy vampires in it. You will fall in love with the guys just as I did and that doesn’t even count the way the whole story just flows together.

Deader Than Hell by Shannon West and L.L. Brooks

704d48e030bb8f17aec660cb3953da678ad6e854Title: Deader Than Hell
Series: Dead Hot Vampires, #2
Author: Shannon West & L.L. Brooks
Genre: Gay Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Vampires
Length: Novella (118 Pages)
ISNB: 978-1-63105-148-7
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing (May 8th, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Blurb: Shawn and Dominic enjoy a wonderful love life but everything else in their world is going to hell. Luke, Shawn’s brother, has awakened to find his new vampire master Vincenzo is gorgeous, sexy, and male. Vincenzo has to keep him sedated constantly, and that’s the least of his problems. Someone reported to the council that Luke was turned against his will. The council summons them all, along with Melvin and Hanley, Shawn’s remaining brother.

When the three couples arrive, they learn that not only are they in serious trouble with the council, but their archenemies, the Sabbatarians, have launched an attack directed squarely at them. Harnessing the power of demonic ghouls, the Sabbs hope to bring about a final battle with the vampires. Unless Shawn and Nic can find a way to defeat them, the world will be destroyed. Only the power of their love stands between them and the destruction of the world—will be enough?
Purchase Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/436318
Lisa’s Review: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
This was an amazing story. Each book focus on a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, we recommend reading the series in sequential order. It keeps me from getting a bit lost in the stories and gives me an insight in to their world. A world that captured my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end. I love the way each character just mixes with the others. How fast they are to defend what is theirs and what they believe. This story has quite a bit of a twist to it. It seems to have a dark tone to it. I admit I wasn’t too sure about it, but once I started reading, I just couldn’t seem to stop.

Luke was a hateful, vengeful, aggressive, cruel and a sick human being. He hated gay men and he absolutely hated vampires. So when he was dying his little brother changed him. He didn’t ask him and in fact went against what he would have chosen. Here he was stuck with a vampire master and a vampire himself. The thing is one of the older vampires found out a truth, a truth that none of them had none. First, he was to be fixed, after Vincenzo kept him thalled. He was in fact a kidnapped child. A child born from a vampire. Also, when he was ill he told Vincenzo things he never told anyone before. The man he thought was his father had abused him and a brain injury was impeding he focus. He found out that he had been lied to all his life, so when he was calmer he could see that the vampires were not like what he was told. He also found out that he loved being with Vincenzo, although he wasn’t planning on telling him.

Vincenzo had fallen in love with his mate. When he looked in his eyes, there was the glimmer, telling him that this slayer was his life mate. A mate that seemed not to want anything to do with him. A mate that seemed to fight him at every turn. To find out that he was not truly human before he was turned into a vampire was a surprise. Shouldn’t be, Luke and his brothers were unique to say the least. Then the threats were coming for them in even more disturbing ways. Now to keep his mate and his friends safe. What did surprise him was the way Luke behaved when he thought Vincenzo was going to die. Maybe Luke did love him the same way.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book. This turned out to be one heck of a good surprise. It has characters that I fell in love with, sexy men, vampires, feisty and head strong mates, lots of danger coming at them and a twisted man who raised them. The story itself was amazing. The way it was told had me fascinated and my attention captured. I loved it and cannot wait to read the next book. It caught my attention with the first paragraph and kept it all the way to the end.
Shorty’s Review: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Vincenzo informs, Shawn, Hanley, Dominic, and Melvin that Luke is not taking to being turned into a vampire. Not knowing what else to do he asks Vanessa to help, when that doesn’t work she informs the patriarchs as to what has happened. The patriarchs summon them all to a meeting. Master Geoffrey informs everyone that Luke, Shawn, and Hanley are dhampir children that were stolen by the Sabbatarians many years ago.

The patriarchs ask for their help in eliminating Maples before he gathers an army to wipe everyone out. Dominic remembers what the ancient prophecy says about the three dhimpri’s turned vampire bonding with their masters to be called the six. As long as they stand together, they will be able to destroy the evil and bring in a new age.

Well written and a fantastic read. Loved the details. The sex between the three couples was hot.

Logan's Choice by Shannon West

640dcca93f53ed8ce01598f62e9aa0e2.image.266x400Title: Logan’s Choice
Series: Dark Hollow Wolf Pack, #3
Author: Shannon West
Genre: Paranormal/ Werewolves
Length: Novella (145 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-61885-350-9
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing (July 24, 2012)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: As the beta of the Dark Hollow Wolf Pack, Ian is supposed to be the calm, sensible one, but when a young Hunter is captured, his overpowering attraction to the gorgeous man has him acting way out of character. As a sworn enemy to the wolf pack, the captive can’t be allowed to go free, yet the pack hates to keep Logan imprisoned. The only solution is to convince Logan to agree to mate with one of the wolves to form an unbreakable bond.

Unwilling to see him mated to anyone else, Ian makes a decision—he must make the young man fall in love with him and agree to stay on as his mate. Can Logan make this difficult choice and leave behind the life he used to lead? When Ian is captured and tortured by the Hunters, Logan must make the most difficult choice of his life.

Purchase Link: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=372

Review: This was an amazing story. Each book in the Dark Hollow Wolf Pack Series focuses on a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, we recommend reading the series in sequential order. It keeps me from getting a bit lost in the stories and gives me an insight in to their world. A world that captured my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end. I love the way each character just mixes with the others. How fast they are to defend what is theirs and what they believe.

Logan was a hunter, always believing what he had been taught. That the wolves were only animals and attacked humans. There were many other things that he had been taught, but once he was captured by them, he was slowly changing his mind. In his cell a big man comes to him, thinking that he was going to be tortured boy was he in for a surprise. To save his life, they had decided that one should change him and mate with him. At first, he thought it was the changing that had made him want Ian, but he soon found out that he was falling in love with him.

They were given only one true blood mate, and Ian’s had passed away a few years ago. So when they came up with the changing and mating plan, Ian had agreed. He wanted to get the information about the hunters, but he had not known that he would find love again. When they were captured, Ian had thought for sure Logan was betraying them, but he would never harm his mate. Then the alpha’s mate and Casey’s mate came and saved them. Earning the mates punishment. The punishment turned out not to be for the mates though, because the mates turned out to be a lot stronger than they gave them credit for. They had learned how to get even in a pretty awesome way.
I loved this book and cannot wait to read book four. I love the way the dominates are slowly falling apart, when their mates give them attitudes. It made me laugh through Rory, Nicky’s, and Logan’s stunts. I loved this book and am amazed at the way it just came together. It was told with a hint of both humor and seriousness.

I would recommend reading this because it gives you two very sexy men, quirky mates, dangerous situations, passion and fire and excitement.

Cry Wolf by Shannon West

91tj2lAXJzL._SL1500_Title: Cry Wolf
Series: Dark Hollow Wolf Pack, #2
Author: Shannon West
Genre: Paranormal/ Shape-shifters
Length: Novella (121 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-61885-302-8
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing (June 8th, 2012)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: Casey, a good-looking young wolf shifter has sworn to kill the man who killed his brother. He has joined the Mountain Wolf Pack to carry out his revenge. On his first work detail, he discovers that the handsome young man in charge is his blood mate. The trouble is, the man, whose name is Rory, is straight, and a wolf. Two wolves are allowed to mate, but only if one assumes the submissive role. Neither of these two stubborn wolves is willing to compromise. If that’s not bad enough, they soon discover that Rory is the wolf who killed Casey’s only brother.

Now Casey must find some way around his sworn oath. Can the two sexy wolves overcome their distrust and hatred of each other, or will they be forced to give up their happiness, along with their only true blood mate?

Purchase Link: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&products_id=345

Review: This was an amazing story. Each book in the Dark Hollow Wolf Pack Series focuses on a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, we recommend reading the series in sequential order. It keeps me from getting a bit lost in the stories and gives me an insight in to their world. A world that captured my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end. I love the way each character just mixes with the others. How fast they are to defend what is theirs and what they believe.

Casey was an alpha wolf and his intent was to kill the man named Rory, the man who killed his brother. The problem was he had found his mate at the pack he worked his way into to find Rory. Attracted to the little man, he was not only troubled but also shocked. At first, he was going to find a way to get his mate to submit to him. That is until he found out that his mate was the man he had intended to kill. He also found out that things were not what they seemed. So he had decided that by mating him, it would kill his wolf. He blamed the wolf for his brother’s death.

Rory was in love with his mate. However, when he found out what Casey’s plan was, he was hurt and angered. He never felt this kind of pain before and he knew that he could not let Casey continue with his plan. He had lost his wolf, but he would not lose the rest of himself. He found out that he couldn’t stay away from the man he had begun to love, but feared Casey could never love him the way he should. Now it was up to Casey to continue either to hate and be angry or to love the man. A man who was not what he had expected.

I loved this story and cannot wait to get my hands on book three. It didn’t turn out the way I thought it would though, or maybe it turned out better than I thought. A man bent on revenge learns that the man he hated and wanted dead was not the man he thought him to be. A man who drew him in and showed him how love was to be. There is that hint of kink in this story and it showed me even more. I absolutely love it.

Breaking Up With the Alpha by Shannon West

7af36a4178a158a6c29e970530ff9551.image.266x400Title: Breaking Up With the Alpha
Series: Dark Hollow Wolf Pack, #6
Author: Shannon West
Genre: Paranormal, Shape-Shifter, Werewolves
Length: Novella (102 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-61885-462-9
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing (November 21, 2012)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: Nicky’s living his happily ever after with his handsome mate Marco. He thinks he’s finally getting his life together now that the Hunters are gone, and he and Marco have the relationship he always wanted. When Marco falls desperately ill, Nicky sees his world crashing around him. Nicky’s prayers are answered when Marco awakes, but he’s horrified to discover that the illness attacked the blood match, and Marco has no memories of Nicky and their life together.

Even worse, Marco has reverted back to the overbearing, dominant alpha Nicky first met. Desperate to regain what they had, Nicky agrees to the D/s relationship he never really wanted, but unable to be submissive, he asks Marco for a separation, only to discover that Marco can’t let him move on. In despair, Nicky runs away. Can Marco find him and regain what they had? Or will they lose each other forever?
Purchase Link: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=480
Review: This was an amazing story. Each book in the Dark Hollow Wolf Pack Series focuses on a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, we recommend reading the series in sequential order. It keeps me from getting a bit lost in the stories and gives me an insight in to their world. A world that captured my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end.

I love the way each character just mixes with the others. How fast they are to defend what is theirs and what they believe. I love the way the pets or as they are also known as mates can bring the alpha’s to their knees sometimes. The alpha’s are still in charge but they are slowly learning how to bend for their mates. This story tore me up more than any story I have ever read. It brought me to tears with what happened.

Nicky and Marco had been mates for over two years. One night they had been going to save one of their wolves from capture, when Marco had been injected with a concoction. It had slowly started making Marco mad and very ill. So ill, in fact, it had dissolved their blood match. Marco couldn’t remember Nicky at first, but he knew he was his mate. However, with the dreams he couldn’t remember the important parts, so he was always aggressive with Nicky. Even getting close to be violent with him. It was slowly making him loose his mind. So much so that he wanted their mating dissolved. He had considered their mating wrong, and that the only reason he mated with him was because of the blood match. He destroyed Nicky with his behavior and his choices.

Nicky couldn’t be around Marco and his pack any longer and left. He knew what would happen if he did. He would go feral, but he just couldn’t take in any more. He loved Marco with all of his heart but he also was slowly beginning to hate him. Ending his relationship was the worst thing in his life but he knew he could make it. He just didn’t know how. He loved Marco and wanted him back. It took the time Nicky was gone for Marco to realize what he had done.

I hated this book so much, but I also loved it. Kind of the way Nicky felt I suppose. To be hurt the way he had been hurt must be the worst feeling in life. I think this was one of the strongest stories that Shannon has written. It made me feel so much. I would recommend reading this book but you need to start with book one. It will tell you more about Nicky and Marco.

This story will give you everything you could want in a story. It gives you two very sexy men, a strong-willed alpha, a quirky and feisty mate, excitement, dangerous situation, devastating attitudes and grief, anger and pain. It caught my attention from the moment I started reading it and kept it all the way to the end.

Bad Moon on the Rise by Shannon West

91MbvFe4xDL._SL1500_Title: Bad Moon on the Rise
Series: Dark Hollow Wolf Pack, #7
Author: Shannon West
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novella (139 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-61885-548-0
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing (February 4th, 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: Living on the Gulf coast of Florida, Detective Tucker is investigating a series of strange, violent murders. Encountering a gorgeous stranger named Gavin in a bar, his attraction is powerful and immediate, but he learns the man is somehow involved in the savage killings that have already taken three lives. After an argument with Gavin sends Tucker to the beach to figure things out, he is attacked by a savage creature, and almost killed except for the intervention of a fierce animal that looks like a wolf.

When he wakes up in Gavin’s hotel room he’s told that he’s not who he thought he was all his life, but a natural pet of the Dark Hollow Wolf pack. He wants to run, but if Gavin catches him, he’ll be taken away from everything he’s ever known and thrust into an alien world to become the mate of a powerful alpha.
Purchase Link: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=519&zenid=3dlboj4mfv4nfg3d3n1v0f16n6

Review: This was an amazing story. Each book in the Dark Hollow Wolf Pack Series focuses on a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, we recommend reading the series in sequential order. It keeps me from getting a bit lost in the stories and gives me an insight in to their world. A world that captured my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end.

I love the way each character just mixes with the others. How fast they are to defend what is theirs and what they believe. I really think this could probably be my favorite out of this series so far. It just that the characters are more believable and the fact that Gavin and Tucker seem to act like I always thought mates should act like.

Tucker is a police officer in search of a killer. The killer is tearing his victims apart and he found that he had been hanging at a club. Going there ends up changing his life forever. His mother had been killed in a car accident and he had been raised by his grandparents. When he comes across Gavin, his life goes in a whirlwind. The killer is a member of Gavin’s pack and he attacks Tucker. Gavin manages to get there in time to save his life, but he wonders if Gavin is not a bit crazy.

Gavin knows that Tucker is his mate and tries his hardest to explain to him what they are. Doesn’t turn out the way he had intended. Here he was trying to find Tommy, the young pet turned into a killer and ends up finding his mate. A mate that had been kept away from his father when he was a young child. A mate that is actually a wolf. A wolf that doesn’t change into one, so he is considered a pet. Talk about a hard thing to explain without someone thinking you were crazy. A mate that he was falling in love with.

I loved this story just a bit more than the others. It is just that the guys seem more believable and easy to love. Gavin isn’t as dominating as the other wolves and Tucker is not a submissive at all. I got a kick out of the attitude that they have with each other. This story gives you that, but also two very sexy men, a strong wolf, a quirky and feisty mate, excitement, dangerous situations and enemies out to get everyone.

I would recommend reading this because once you start you will fall in love. It caught my attention from the moment I started reading this book and kept it all the way to the end. It gave me that and so much more. I love the little twist these stories have. I loved this book and cannot wait to read the next book.

Wolf's Bounty by Shannon West

18486748Title: Wolf’s Bounty

Series: Love Slaves to an Alpha, 06

Author: Shannon West

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novella (99 pages)

Publisher:  Secret Craving Publishing (September 12th, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts ~ Liked it

Reviewer:   Mandingo

Blurb:   Larsson Balenescu is trying hard to get over the fact that his fated mate is not only a Tygerian, and one of the Alliance’s most bitter enemies, but also the fact that he’s Tarr Bonnet, one of the worst pirates and sex slave traffickers in the known galaxies. When Larsson discovers that Tarr has put a price on his head, he’s furious, and vows never to mate with the man, no matter how painful it is for him to stay away from him. Soon he’s captured by Tarr’s men and taken to his ship where Tarr sets out to claim him as his love slave. An accident en route forces them to crash on a strange moon, where Larsson is captured by the inhabitants. His only hope lies in Tarr’s ability to save him. But, who will save him from Tarr?

Purchase Link: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=704

Review:   Quintessential Shannon West paranormal fare. Larsson and Tarr are wolves and tigers respectively. This is a story about two dominant forces colliding in the futuristic tale of two men who are locked in both personal battle as well as the battle to literally save themselves from slavery. If you like this genre, and want a read that is all about finding mates and succumbing to those desires, then this will appeal to you.  Author West presents the reader with more of the Balenscu clan and Larsson is delightful in his need to be his own man and not succumb to his desire for Tarr Bonnet, a disreputable pirate involved in the sex trade.  The reader gets to enjoy the jog from Larsson’s resistance to its inevitable futility; when both men will end up together while also skipping through issues and crises as they arise that stem from kidnappings, misunderstandings, the need to mate, and then fights to near death. *phew*

The fact that Author West has created an entire alternate universe in which same-sex love is seen as normal is wonderful.  She manages to find other avenues of human conflict that makes us understand that while we struggle here on earth with same-sex love, even if we lived in an alternate realm, human(oids) would still find a reason for strife and discord.  Tarr’s meeting with those who are like him, yet different illustrates how humanity can be different, but we are ultimately still the same.

I also find the novel’s ability to blend fantasy and paranormal with a blend of the future adding a dash of the past.  The gladiator style fights and clothing when juxtaposed with the futuristic nature of space travel should seem unrealistic, but it works well.  A nice addition to Ms. West’s already impressive roster of paranormal m/m fiction.

Making the Grade by Shannon West

51LRobsx8SLTitle: Making the Grade

Series: N/A

Author: Shannon West

Genre: MM / Contemporary Erotic Romance

Length: Novelette

Publisher: MLR Books (May 3rd, 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Will misunderstandings and shadows from their past sabotage Travis and Shane’s hot new romance?

Travis is trying hard to make enough money to pay at least part of his tuition so he’s not still paying off student loans with his social security checks.

Enter Shane Bradfield, rich, sexy and sinfully good looking. Shane has never been attracted to cute little twinks, even those who look like Travis, but when Travis darts out in front of his motorcycle, he falls for Travis quite literally.

They begin a hot romance, but shadows from their past, misunderstandings and Travis’s notion that Shane is way out of his league all threaten to sabotage their budding romance.

Product Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=SWMKGRAD

Review: A typically rich boy/poor boy college romance? An assistant teacher/student stereotype? Or a cliché college romance with lots of sex that are thrown in a transparent plot?

None of the above. This story is absolutely delightful and we get to see it from the very first line. The witty humor and special way of narration begin then and in a unique way we get engrossed in a most fun and lovely story.

It’s lust on first sight for both of them. Travis, a poor kid, working his way through college is trying very hard to juggle the tutoring sessions, the assistant teaching job and his own studies. His private life is nonexistent, socializing has become a distant memory and he all but falls asleep on his books every night. Add there this sense of unworthiness and you got a young man who doesn’t expect much from others. Especially a guy like Shane. That is… well, sex on legs? A wet dream walking? Whatever you call him, he is that and more.

And he knows it. Yet, when the young twink seems not to bow his head to his charms and literally ignoring him, Shane’s ego makes a stand and he gets hell bound on impressing that incredible creature that dared escape.

And what starts as an ego boost and insta-lust chase, escalates into much more when Shane finds that the young twink is hiding so much more under his shyness and clumsy ways.

But, I feel inadequate to properly describe this book. It’s way too funny. the author has managed to get the entire text, even the serious parts, sparkled with a light humor. The writing is engaging and the surprise was that we get to see it from both views in a quite unique way, at least for me. You see every chapter is a different point of view. First we see Travis and his thoughts, then second chapter comes and we see most of the first through Shane’s eyes, and the same event is described through each character’s “personality”. One would have thought I’d hate it. I usually dislike the repetition with a passion, but damn, and here is where I love the author and quite literally bow to her talent. In this instance it worked, because the author avoided repeating word for word the events and rather focused on the experience and emotions as were felt for each individual character.

And it worked for me, I loved them both. I loved Travis and his shy personality. I loved that his thoughts were firm and he opened his mouth to push Shane away and be professional and all, but utterly failed every time succumbing instead to this incredible man who wanted him. I loved that he was such a nice guy even if nothing was ever easy on him.

And Shane, egotistical and arrogant Shane. Well, I admit, while I recognized his charm from the beginning, I very much wanted to bitch-slap him at some points. And even when his behavior was totally explained and “justified”, I still remained a bit on the defense with him, wanting to give him a good shake. Still, what a good fit and how delightful being in his head was.

I had a blast reading this book, it was funny and fun. It had a plot that was light yet properly developed and for its length perfect and it was sexy and sensual. It was a very good fast read for every fan of college-romance and “inappropriate” relations between teacher/student. A very engaging read that I don’t even hesitate recommending.