This is Where We Begin by Shannon McCrimmon

Title: This Is Where We Begin
 
Author: Shannon McCrimmon

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published Date: May 2, 2015

Buy on Amazon: Kindle  & Paperback 
   
Author Facebook:
 
www.facebook.com/shannonmccrimmonauthor 

Author Website: www.shannonmccrimmon.com

Synopsis: 

In this continuation in the Hearts of Haines Series, Katie McDaniels is unemployed, pregnant, and relying on Evie and Finch for a place to live. She is trying to survive. Nothing seems to be going right for her until Preston Dobbins steps into her life and an unexpected gift comes her way, finally giving her a chance at happiness. Preston Dobbins is fighting his strong feelings for Katie McDaniels. He guards a well-kept secret, one that consumes him with guilt. As an old foe threatens Katie's happiness, Preston risks everything to save her from tragedy.

 

My Thoughts:

This is Where We Begin is the third novel in Shannon McCrimmon's Hearts of Haines series. The first two novels in the series, Kiss Me Hard Before You Go (my review) and Like All Things Beautiful (my review) centered around Evie, Finch and their love story. We met Katie, Evie's best friend, in the first two books as a supporting character. However, in This is Where We Begin Katie, who is towards the end of her pregnancy, takes center stage as she struggles to build a new life for herself and her unborn child.

Katie left her family home after her father, a shady man who basically runs the town, was extremely unsupportive regarding her pregnancy. After the father of her baby abandoned her, Katie knew that being a single mother would not be easy but she was determined to prove everyone in the little town of Haines that she could do it. She leaned a lot on Evie during the first two books, but in This is Where We Begin Katie has a couple of good things happen to her. Excited at the chance to give her baby the best life possible, Katie embraces her luck and moves into her own house.  Fortunately for her, ex-carny Doris also moves in with her in order to both be more independent and to help Katie.

This is Where We Begin is told from the viewpoint of both Katie and Preston. Preston is a hometown farm boy who moved away and became a Federal Drug Enforcement Administrative Agent. In the first two books it seems that Preston and Katie have a connection. He does not visit much, but when he does there is a visible spark.  In This is Where We Begin we learn much more about Preston. While he is a bit older than Katie, Preston enjoys being around Katie and feels very protective of her. When he is in town on work business or just visiting his parents, Preston finds ways to see her. Soon it is evident that their relationship has progressed into something more than friendship. While Katie is ready to embrace what they share, Preston fights it every step of the way.  It is not until later in the novel that we discover why Preston is so skittish.

This is Where We Begin has many surprising twists and turns.  From reading the first two novels in the Hearts of Haines series we know that Katie’s dad, Nate, is not a nice man.  However, it is not until this novel that we learn just how devious and evil he truly is.  Nate hates that his daughter is doing well without him. He controls every aspect of his family’s life and knowing that Katie is prospering sends him over the edge. Nate takes things past the point of forgiveness and truly becomes immoral.   

Shannon McCrimmon’s This is Where We Begin wraps up the Hearts of Haines series perfectly.  We get some nice glimpses of Evie and Finch’s Happily Ever After, and we are able to fall for a new couple.  If you haven’t picked up this series you really are missing out.  It is unique and well written, with very relatable characters.  Definitely one to put on your ‘To Be Read’ list- it is well worth it!!!

Shannon McCrimmon

*I have been provided a complimentary copy of the book, This Is Where We Begin, for the purpose of review.*

Blood Hunger by L.E. Wilson

Title: Blood Hunger
 
Author: L.E. Wilson

Publisher: Lisa Earl Wilson

Published Date: January 12, 2015

Buy on Amazon: Kindle  & Paperback 
  
Author Website: http://lewilsonauthor.com/author/le/

Synopsis: 

 

Emma Moss still has nightmares about the horrors she and her sister saw that summer night. Her sister has not been seen or heard from since, but Emma refuses to believe that she’s truly gone, and continues to search for her. However, she’s running out of resources, and running out of ideas. So when a stranger calls out of nowhere claiming to have information for her, she doesn’t hesitate to go meet him. Nikulas Kreek is a six hundred year old vampire, and he knows a secret about the Moss girls; a secret he soon realizes that even Emma herself is unaware of. A secret that can help them both. But what he didn’t expect, was the blood hunger that would assail him upon meeting her, and the internal fight he would have to resist it. Now bound together by more than just their cause, Emma and Nik set out on a rescue mission. Will they be able to get to there in time? And will Nikulas be able to fight his instincts, and leave Emma to live her human life in peace? Or will he be bound to make her his for all eternity?

 

 

My Thoughts:

Blood Hunger, Book One in L.E. Wilson's Deathless Night Series, fits perfectly into the paranormal genre with a touch of suspense and a whole lot of romance. Emma, the female protagonist, leads a very mundane life: work, exercise, work, home late, shower, dinner, TV, bed, repeat.  Emma is all alone in the world after her sister, Keira, was brutally kidnapped in front of her seven years earlier. All Emma has left are nightmares and scars (both physical and emotional) from surviving the ordeal. Emma believes that Keira is still alive, but after seven years her trail has run cold and the police have written her disappearance off as a bear attack.  Emma knows otherwise but has run out of places to turn.  However, everything changes when Emma is contacted by a mysterious someone who says he has information about Keira's kidnapping.  Emma jumps at the chance of finding her sister and decides she will do whatever it takes to bring her back home, no matter the consequences.

That mysterious someone turns out to be Nikulas, a powerful vampire who happens to be the second in command of a Vampire colony, right behind his brother.  Seven years earlier his brother, Luukas, disappeared after going to confront an enemy vampire.  Nik believes that the disappearance of Keira is somehow connected to the vanishing of Luukas and in order to find them both he needs Emma to help.  However, working against him is the fact that Emma has no idea what he is, or what she is for that matter. 

Emma’s world literally turns upside down when she meets Nik.  Not only does she learn that vampires exist, but she realizes that the monsters of her nightmares are in fact real as well.  Perhaps even more distressing to Emma is finding out that Keira is a witch, which by default makes Emma a witch too.  Emma and Nik enter into an understanding and go full steam ahead in their plan to rescue their siblings.  What neither of them expects is the strong chemistry they feel towards each other.  What follows is a suspenseful adventure full of romance, intrigue, and action.

I enjoyed Blood Hunger; it was both a quick read and a fun book to lose myself in.  I loved the spunkiness of Emma; she was an interesting female character that was both strong and brave. My second favorite character was definitely Aiden, Nik’s guardian.  When scenes were getting heavy all it took was a one liner from Aiden to make me chuckle.  Aiden definitely has a great sense of humor and I look forward to seeing what happens to him in the Deathless Night Series since Blood Hunger ended with his future up in the air. 

If you are a fan of the paranormal genre and love steamy romances then you definitely need to check out Blood Hunger, by L.E. Wilson.  It ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger which was just what I needed to make me crave the next novel in the Deathless Night Series, Blood Vengeance.      

 

L.E. Wilson

*I have been provided a complimentary copy of the book, Blood Hunger, for the purpose of review.*

Safe At Last by Maya Banks

 

Title: Safe At Last
 
Author: Maya Banks
 
Publisher: Avon

Published Date: June 23, 2015

Buy on Amazon: Kindle & Paperback

Author Website: http://mayabanks.com/

Synopsis: 

They say young love doesn't last, but a girl from the wrong side of the tracks with unique abilities and the hometown golden boy were determined to defy the odds. For Zack Covington, Anna-Grace—his "Gracie"—was the one. Until one night forever alters the course of their future, when a devastated Gracie disappears without a trace, leaving Zack to agonize over what happened to the girl he loved. As the years pass, his desperate efforts to find her uncovered nothing.

Now working for Devereaux Security, he stumbles across a painting featuring a special place only he and Gracie would know. The image is too perfectly rendered for it to be coincidence. His Gracie must be alive. When he finally tracks her down, he is shocked—and heart-broken—to discover the wounded shell of the girl he once knew and still loves. Her psychic gifts are gone, and worse, she believes he betrayed her all those years ago.

Zack has enemies, and once his weakness is discovered, Gracie becomes a target for revenge. He'll have to save her before he can earn her trust and her love. And he vows they'll never be torn apart again.

My Thoughts:

Safe At Last, by Maya Banks, is the third book in her suspenseful series Slow Burn. The first two books in her Slow Burn series, Keep Me Safe and In His Keeping, were about the Devereaux brothers and their quest to protect their family.  Beau and Caleb ran a very powerful and successful security company (DSS) and both found themselves in love with women that had extraordinary powers. In Safe At Last, Zack is one of the best agents at DSS. In the first two books we don't learn much about Zack other than he is very quiet about his past. He was a professional quarterback for two years before he was injured and went into law enforcement. In Safe At Last we learn more about Zack and what makes him tick.

Twelve years before he was a rising star in college football and he already had his whole life planned out. He was going to marry Gracie, the love of his life, fill a mansion up with babies, and work as a star quarterback in the NFL. However, things drastically changed for Zack when Gracie disappeared. Not knowing if she was kidnapped, murdered, injured in an accident, or just walked out on him, Zack has continued to search for her for the last decade. When he finally decides that he has to move on with his life, DSS was asked to work security at an art gallery opening.  This is when Zack's whole world is turned upside down and everything he thought he knew comes crashing around him as he stares at a painting of a familiar location by the artist Anna Grace- his Gracie. When Gracie proceeds to walk into the art gallery and comes face-to-face with Zack she becomes absolutely terrified and things quickly go south. The other memories members of the DSS force quickly realize the situation is going to escalate and get Zack out of the gallery before anything bad happens. Zack then makes it his mission to do anything in his power to not only learn the truth behind Gracie's disappearance, but to win her back as well.

Wade, who owns the art gallery, is Gracie’s best and only friend. In the beginning I really thought I was going to hate Wade. I could inevitably see him getting in the way of Zack and Gracie reconciling and having a hidden agenda. However, as Safe At Last progressed I really came to like Wade’s character. He truly saw Gracie as family and he would do anything to protect.  When Wade realized that Zack was on the up and up he won me over completely. Eventually, Wade begins to butt heads with the one female employee of DSS, Eliza. Eliza is a character that you like from the start. Spunky, smart, sarcastic, and obviously strong, Eliza can take care of herself and wreak havoc on those that are in her way. The chemistry between Wade and Eliza is undeniable and as the book went on I began hoping for more scenes with the two of them together. I don't know if a fourth book is planned in the Slow Burn series, but if there is I totally have my fingers crossed for a Wade and Eliza story!

When Safe At Last begins it seems that Gracie is a victim and she fits the role perfectly. Bad things happen to her over and over again and they continue to occur. When she meets Wade she finally feels that she is safe and he will protect her. As the story goes on Gracie needs more people to protect her.  However, towards the end of the book Gracie morphs into a stronger character.  She is no longer the weak girl that needs sheltered. Gracie takes control and not only stands up for herself but ends up playing a major role in helping out those that have become dear to her. She is done letting others hurt her and of being afraid, Gracie is ready to be a strong female lead. I really liked watching Gracie transform into the person she always had inside of her.

I truly enjoyed Maya Banks' third book in her Slow Burn series. Safe At Last has great characters and many twists and turns. It also has a touch of paranormal through Ramie, Ari, and Gracie's powers. Combined they are a dangerous threesome! If you are looking for a romance that is suspenseful, has a touch of comedy, and a dash of paranormal then Safe At Last is for you! 

Maya Banks

                                  

*I have been provided a complimentary copy of the book, Safe At Last, for the purpose of review.*

Like All Things Beautiful by Shannon McCrimmon

Title: Like All Things Beautiful
 
Author: Shannon McCrimmon

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published Date: May 2, 2015

Buy on Amazon: Kindle  & Paperback 
   

Author Facebook:
www.facebook.com/shannonmccrimmonauthor 

Author Website: www.shannonmccrimmon.com

Synopsis: 

In this sequel to Kiss Me Hard Before You Go, Evie Barnes is living day-to-day, trying to keep her father's land and his cattle business afloat. She is adjusting to his absence and to living with Finch and the rest of the carnies, which is creating quite a stir amongst the locals in Haines. As Finch and the others learn a new way of life that doesn't involve the carnival, they're dealing with prejudice from almost everyone in town. A string of suspicious incidents occur, prompting all fingers to point the blame at them. Just when Evie and Finch learn to deal with the mountain of obstacles facing them, the unexpected happens, causing them to question if their relationship can survive it all.

 

My Thoughts:

Shannon McCrimmon's Like All Things Beautiful is the second novel in her The Hearts of Haines series. I read the first book, Kiss Me Hard Before You Go, last May and fell head over heels in love with Evie, Finch, Gray, and the other kaleidoscope of characters (my review found here.) When I discovered that there was not only going to be a sequel, but a series as well, it seriously felt like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one! Kiss Me Hard Before You Go was one of my favorite reads last year. The whole concept of a traveling Carnival being held on Evie's farm on a yearly basis was fresh and different. McCrimmon created truly memorable characters in Doris, Mouse, Friedrich and the other carnies. Mixed in with the love story were issues everyone faces in their lives such as family problems, money difficulties, and struggles with best friends. To find out that everyone's story had not ended and I would be able to see what was next for them was exciting.  I was also eager to watch Evie and Finch's relationship bloom. 

Like All Things Beautiful picks up shortly after Kiss Me Hard Before You Go ends. Evie is not only adjusting to life without Gray but to her new found family. Meanwhile, Finch, Doris, Friedrich, and Mouse are adjusting to farm life and beginning to love their new home and lifestyle. The community of Haines, however, is anything but welcoming. Things begin rough for Evie's new family but as the book progresses things go from bad to worse. The one steady thing is Evie and Finch's relationship. It's easy to see that they truly love each other and will do whatever is needed to make their new life on the farm work. Financial issues can sometimes be the death of a relationship, but Evie and Finch are able to rise above that, judgmental neighbors, and other obstacles life throws their way.  

In Like All Things Beautiful we get to know Finch better. Evie sees another side to Finch when she travels with him to Florida to retrieve the personal belongings of Finch and the other carnies. Evie learns a lot through her conversations with Finch’s friends. We also find out more about Finch’s relationship with his mother and what makes him tick. This is an important trip for Evie; it really opens her eyes to what a wonderful man she has.

Shannon McCrimmon's Like All Things Beautiful is a touching continuation of Kiss Me Hard Before You Go. There are many up's and down's, as well as ample opportunities for you to laugh, cry, and pick your jaw up off the floor.  The next book in The Hearts of Haines series is This Is Where We Begin and follows Evie's best friend, Katie.  Katie has found herself single, pregnant, and disowned from her family and it is next on my to be read list! If you have yet to check out this series I implore you to do so as quickly as possible! You won't be disappointed!

Shannon McCrimmon

*I have been provided a complimentary copy of the book, Like All Things Beautiful, for the purpose of review.*