Clubbed to Death (Jordan Davis Mysteries, Book #2) by Alyssa Lyons

My Ratings: 5 Stars 

Title: Clubbed to Death (Jordan Davis Mysteries, Book #2)

Author: Alyssa Lyons

Publisher: Black Opal Books

Cover Art: Dawné Dominique

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Length: 199 Pages with a sneak peak at the previous book in the series following at the end.

Summary:  

She’s up to her old tricks again... 

Newly minted private detective Jordan Davis takes on a murder case where family loyalty trumps sisterly hate, when she sets out to prove her half-sister innocent of murder. 

He’s wondering if he wouldn’t be safer in jail... 

Her lover, Gray, thought he had it rough during Jordan's last escapade. After all, he ended up spending a night in jail. Now with her packing heat, he wonders if jail isn't the safest place in town to be. 

Together, they’ll flip the town of Lynchburg, VA on its ear, provided they live long enough. 

As Jordan gets closer to the truth about the murder in the Junior League clubhouse, the killer is determined to see her dead. And what about the three kids Gray and Jordan are hiding?

Review: 

Don't you just love finding a new series that you, well....love? I do. It's like Christmas morning for me. When I find a series that I really enjoy, it goes on the keeper shelf. Then, when I am bored, or feeling nostalgic, or simply missing the new friends I've made in these books, I can just snag one off the shelf and re-visit them. This one is no exception. In the first book of the series, Last Wishes, I fell in love with Gray and Jordan. Getting to re-visit them has been a treat.

In fact, I've never really understood the whole “sexy little schoolgirl” fantasy that men have until I met Gray. Men in suits have never been my thing. To me they just say....soft. I like my men hard-bodied. But Gray? Well, Gray has inspired me to have “sexy men in suits” or “sexy men in black judge's robes” fantasies. That can be just downright disturbing considering how often I visit courthouses for work. Especially when you consider the fact that most judges that I see could (almost) be my dad. Or, at the very least, the creepy perverted uncle at family gatherings. Just eww. Gray is about as far on the opposite end of the spectrum from “eww” as you can get though. Whether he is doing the “I'm on the side of the law, obey me” routine, or the “I'm a sensitive guy, let me run a bath for you” routine, he is H.O.T. And, the scenes between the sheets are sizzling.

Then there is Jordan. I want Jordan to be my new BFF. She is so much fun with such a devil-may-care attitude. I love the fact that she rides a motorcycle and wears red leather. I adore the fact that she got her dog a leather jacket to ride her motorcycle with her. And the fact that she wants nothing to do with the snobby junior league. On the flip side of that, she is open-minded enough to take those junior league snobs and see to the people they are beneath the surface instead of just the picture they present to the world. Jordan is compassionate, caring and there is so much more to her than what she appears to be. The way she gets around Gray's concerns and sometimes overly protective attitude are so similar to how I get around my husband on occasion that I feel as though we could be sisters.

The secondary characters are, as usual, vivid and entertaining. Fireball is still sexy and mysterious. I would love to see more of this guy. Gray's mother is her usual fun self and the kids are adorable. Kiki is just too pinch-her-cheeks cute, making you want to just scoop her up and hug her. The other two, Paul and Emma, are the type of kids that are old beyond their years and make you want to see them have the childhood they deserve. It also wouldn't surprise me to see them on their own adventures on the written page when they are all grown up. The addition of the kids does make me wonder about the future dynamics between all of the characters, most especially (naturally) Gray and Jordan. The mystery is nail-biting with plenty of misdirection and suspense.

I look forward to the next installment in this series (there will be another installment, won't there Ms. Lyons? Pretty please?) with great anticipation. If you enjoy the romantic suspense genre, real characters and great humor, I highly recommend checking this series out. If you haven't yet had the chance to check out Last Wishes, well...what are you waiting for? But, even if you haven't, these books can be read as stand-alone books. 

 

Blood Fest: Chasing Destiny by Pepper O'Neal

My Rating: 5 Stars

Title: Blood Fest: Chasing Destiny

Author: Pepper O'Neal

Publisher: Black Opal Books

      Cover Art: Dawné Dominique

Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Romance

Length: 237 Pages

Summary: 

She didn’t know what she was—or that what she was could get her killed...

A struggling private detective in Los Angeles, Chase Alcott has no idea about her unique genetic makeup. So when she takes on a new client—an old man with ulterior motives—she’s unaware of the danger she’ll soon face. Traveling to England to solve a mysterious murder at the request of her new client, Chase encounters terrifying creatures she thought only existed in her nightmares—only to find out she’s one of them. Caught in a web of evil and deception after learning some terrifying truths about her long dead parents, Chase doesn’t know who to believe. Does she dare trust the enigmatic Roman, a man with dark secrets of his own?

He knew what she was—he just had no idea what to do about her…

English nobleman, Roman Fernwood, half-werewolf/half-vampire, doesn’t want a mate, especially not a half human/half-weretiger with no knowledge of what she is. But there’s something about Chase, Roman can’t resist in spite of his determination not to fall in love. Is it her fascinating American spunk and courage or her stunning cinnamon eyes? Or could it be the passion he senses just beneath her calm, unruffled demeanor? Whatever it is, Roman must keep her safe from those who want to kill her—and find a way to show her what she is without driving her into the arms of the other Weres who also want her for a mate.

Review: 

The paranormal genre is, without a doubt, my favorite genre to read so I was really looking forward to reviewing this book and it did not disappoint. Take a sexy man, make him into not only a vampire but also a werewolf, throw him in England with that killer accent and make him a nobleman? Drool. Then put him together with a woman that can handle him and sit back and watch the fireworks fly.

Chase is just the kind of female character that I love to read about. She is strong, smart and sassy. She knows what she wants and goes after it. She doesn't need a man in her life, but who is she to resist when the opportunity presents itself in the form of tall, dark and yummy?

Roman is an aloof English aristocrat that has no interest in finding a mate, much to his adoptive father's dismay. His father sets out to find him one anyway, sending Chase his way. Once he meets Chase, and realizes that she doesn't know what she is, he can't turn her away.

Chase's best friend and business partner, David (who is drooling over Roman as well), goes to England with her. David is a fun secondary character that is well developed and adds to the book. Then there is Grayson and Drake. They are part of the local were-tiger pack and both sexy in their own right. If I had to pick a secondary character that I wanted to see more of in a future book it would probably be one of these three.

Chasing Destiny is a well written book with well developed characters and a fun new world of vampires and shape-shifters, with plenty of page turning action, fun characters and humor. The way Roman and Chase go at each other is funny and realistic. David is the friend you'll wish you could have that is loyal, caring and amusing. His reactions to situations are totally believable and amusing. The added characters from other were-packs are mysterious and sexy and will leave you wanting to see more of them.

The background that the author gave Chase adds a sort of an “Anastasia” mysteriousness to her, with the potential for a prequel sometime in the future, if Ms. O'Neal is so inclined. It would be a history that would add depth to not only Chase, but the entire were-tiger culture in the book.

It looks like Ms. O'Neal may plan to make this a series, based on the title but that is pure speculation (and hope) on my part. I look forward to being able to revisit some of these characters in the future if that is the case and I'll keep my fingers cross that Grayson and/or Drake are in future installments.

If you enjoy paranormal romance, vampires and shape-shifters – you will definitely want to check out this book. It is one that may end up on your keeper shelf. Wouldn't want to miss out on that would you? This book is also available in paperback, as well as ebook format.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

(From the publisher)

WE HAVE DISCOVERED A TEMP WORKER UPLOADED A DRAFT COPY OF PEPPER O'NEAL'S BLOOD FEST: CHASING DESTINY TO OUR EBOOK DISTRIBUTORS. THIS COPY HAD NOT BEEN THROUGH A FINAL EDIT OR PROOFING. ANYONE WHO PURCHASED THIS BOOK BETWEEN APRIL 30 & JUNE 3, 2011, PLEASE CONTACT US AT INFO [AT] BLACK OPAL BOOKS [DOT] COM TO RECEIVE A FREE CORRECTED COPY & A 50%-OFF COUPON FOR ANOTHER OF OUR BOOKS.