Review: Secret Unleashed – Sierra Dean

After her last mission tested the limits of her humanity and took her out of this world, Secret’s friends, determined to keep her safe from her old nemesis Alexandre Peyton, keep ushering her from one babysitter to the next. 

Couch surfing would be a lot more fun if Alexandre would let up on her long enough to allow her to get in some alone time with her lovers. Including Holden, her self-appointed shadow. 

As if living out of coffin isn’t bad enough, Secret literally brings down the house while hunting a rogue, causing the council to exile her from New York—for her own safety, of course. 

With her list of people to trust getting shorter and shorter, Secret ends up embroiled in a mystery to find a vampire warden gone AWOL and a missing artifact. Things go from bad to worse when she falls into the hands of a man who will prove that humans can be the worst monsters of them all. 

Warning: Contains a cross-country journey, an unexpected family reunion, heated lovers’ embraces and a hell of a lot of trouble.

My thoughts:

While reading this I had sat down in an uncomfortable position, but did I move? NO! That would mean precious lost reading time. And when it comes to Secret then that is not acceptable. Yes I did start reading this almost the minute I got it, and yes after having slept (evil sleep!) I did start reading again and did not stop.

Secret is as cool as ever. Her life is crap as always as Peyton is on the loose. Her love life is screwed up as always. But I am all Team Des. He is a puppy and I wanna hug him. Holden is, well hot, but nope. He does not do it for me. And now to my confession, it’s a dirty secret, but in this book, I can’t! Ok, I still have feelings for Lucas! I know, shoot me now. But there they are Lucas feelings popping up again.

The book takes Secret on a trip and shit hits the fan. This is one evil author I tell you. Poor Secret. I have more respect than ever for her. And while on her mission, ohhh the secrets we learn. We learn something about Sig and something about, spoilers darling. Spoilers.

I really can’t say anything about this book. It feels like one huge spoilers. But it will give you action, romance and secrets 😉

Conclusion:

Read this series.

ebook, 343 pages
Expected publication: October 15th 2013 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Secret McQueen #6
Urban fantasy
for review

Review: Pitch Perfect – Sierra Dean

Emmy Kasper knows exactly how lucky she is. In a sport with few opportunities for women at the pro level, she’s just landed her dream job as head athletic trainer for the San Francisco Felons baseball team. Screwing up is not an option.

She’s lost in thought as she pedals to the spring training facility, her mind abuzz with excitement as she rounds a corner—and plows head-on into two runners. The end of her career dances before her eyes when she realizes she’s almost run over the star pitcher.

As Tucker Lloyd watches the flustered Emmy escape with his bandana tied around her skinned knee, the view is a pleasant change from worrying about his flagging fastball. At thirty-six, the tail end of his career is glimmering on the horizon. If he can’t pull something extraordinary out of his ball cap, the new crop of rookies could make this season his last.

The last thing either of them needs is a distraction. The last thing either of them expects is love.

Warning: Contains a down-on-his-luck pitcher, a good-girl athletic therapist, chemistry that’s out of the park and sexy times that’ll make them round all the bases.

ebook, 292Published August 6th 2013 by Samhain PublishingBoys of Summer #1Contemporary romanceFrom the author for an honest review

My thoughts:

Baseball, it’s not that I do not like the game (actually I take that back I don’t). It’s a game that we do not have here, no one watches it, so I am always lost. But it did not matter that I do not understand one inning of the sport. This book sailed me through it. Also, it would make the best baseball movie, I would totally watch it and hope for someone hot to play Tucker. But that is not what I meant to talk about.

This book is about baseball, well that is the background. The true story is the budding romance between Emmy and Tucker. As they work together it should not happen but the chemistry is just so right. I also like that the author made them work for it. There was friendship first, and they hid those other feelings.

Emmy is nice hardworking woman. I can’t say anything bad about her, and Tucker is is the same. Together they just seem perfect. I rooted for them. I also wanted him to get his career back. Look at me, going all wohoo Baseball.

Conclusion:

It was a fun and cute contemporary romance book with lots of passion too of course. It also made me want to read more in this series, and I have my eye on someone. Oh and I still want that movie too 😉

Cover

Nice

ARC Review: Grave Secret – Sierra Dean

Sometimes a secret goes to the grave. Sometimes Secret puts you there.

It’s been a hell of a year for Secret McQueen, and the last thing in the world she wants is to get caught up in werewolf drama. But when her former fiancé Lucas Rain shows up asking for her help, she knows there’s no easy way out.

After making it known she wants nothing to do with him, Secret agrees to help find Lucas’s wayward sister Kellen. After all, how much trouble could one socialite get into in the city that never sleeps?

Unless that socialite has been spirited away by fairies.

Trying to track down a missing girl in an alternate reality is just the start of Secret’s problems, though. Someone appears to be killing teenagers, and the MO looks eerily similar to something for which the half-fairy oracle, Calliope, might be responsible. Throw in a rogue wolf pack claiming allegiance to Secret’s mother, Mercy, and she’ll have miles to go before she rests.

My thoughts:

The last book ended with such a cliffie…of the passionate kind. I could not wait to see where it lead. Not to mention that Sierra was devastated after Lucas being a total ass and not showing up to their wedding. There was drama to be told and I needed to know.

Sierra was a bit messed up but was doing better. Des was nowhere to be found (still Team Des!) and Holden, well I will not tell you whatever happened in the beginning. Whether I am Team Holden or not, well, no not really. I just do not feel him. Can’t be that team then. But trust me, not team Lucas at least, and that leaves Des. He is just such a good beta and I want to hug him.

Away from the teams. This book gives us fairies, murder and a twist that kept me reading and reading. Then I cursed our tiny flat as I could not continue to read, but I did wake up earlier the next day so that I could finish this book. And the end, oh she is evil. She leaves such an opening for more and I know the next book will be filled with action. I can’t wait to read it.

The romance will not get resolved in this one, I do wonder how she will play it at the end. I am just so curious and want to know, like right now. This is an author that makes you want more.

Conclusion:

This is a great series that I recommend to everyone.

Cover Cool

Series: Secret McQueen #5Genre: urban fantasyPages: 301To be published: March 19th 2013 by SamhainSource; For review

Reviews: Secret McQueen 0,5 and 2,5

They say it’s impossible to find a man in New York City. Secret McQueen needs to find two in one night. Of course, it ll mean pulling off the impossible find and kill a displaced rogue vampire without disrupting the first promising date she s had in ages. As a werewolf hybrid used to walking a fine line of survival in the vampire world, though, Secret eats impossible for breakfast.

Somewhere between hello and the first round of drinks, Secret makes her move. Her target, Hollywood s biggest star, shouldn t be hard to spot. Just look for swarms of fans. Except every time her vampire liaison, Holden, helps keep her mission on track, her date runs further off the rails.

Either Holden has a hidden agenda, or he knows more than he s letting on about her quarry. One way or another, Secret is determined to get her man, and meet Mr. Right. Or die trying.

My thoughts:

As you all are aware of now I do not like writing reviews for novellas. What to say? Not to mention that most make me want more, and not in a good way. Here I did want more too cos I love the books, and 47 pages is way too little Secret.

Anyway, blind date, off to kill a Hollywood star, Holden being Holden and some ass kicking 🙂

I am glad though that I read this one now first, cos prequel are almost never as good as the real thing.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The season for mistletoe, Christmas lights…and a killing spree. When Secret’s friend, Detective Mercedes Castilla, asks for help to solve a series of murders longer than a string of lights, Secret resigns herself to the fact her holidays will be anything but peaceful.

It seems someone is killing New Yorkers in an unusually gruesome way, and as the bodies pile up faster than presents under the tree, the police are no closer to finding the killer than Secret is to finding the perfect present for one of her boyfriends, Lucas.

Tracking down a monster in Manhattan the week before Christmas is almost as difficult as shopping for her ever-expanding collection of loved ones. When tragedy strikes close to home, Secret must do everything in her power to put an end to the horror in time for Santa to come down the chimney.

My thoughts:
A holiday novella where Secret gets to meet Des’ parents for the first time, scaaary! 😉

Some cute time between her and Des (love ya Des!). Some tension between her and Holden.

And of course the hunt for a really creepy serial killer who leaves bodyparts as a gift. Just your typical paranormal NY xmas.

Both Novellas from 2011 by Samhain Publishing
Source: Own

Early Review: Low Down Dirty Shane – Sierra Dean

Thick-skinned vampire assassin meets smart-mouthed druid archer. Run, Cupid, run.

Shane Hewitt has been many things—failed husband, supernatural punching bag, and now a bitch to the vampire council of New York City. He thought killing rogue vampires was the hardest thing he’d ever do. Until a hot redhead smashes into him, shouts orders and announces she’s saving his life.

The sole female warrior in a family of druids, Siobhan O’Malley knows how to take care of herself and protect the big city from beasties who breach gateways from the fae realm. The last thing she needs is a misguided, leather-clad hottie’s help to get the job done.

Except maybe he’s exactly what she needs. Siobhan is expected to be a willing, virginal sacrifice on her twenty-fifth birthday. Sex with Shane to stay alive? If he can pull his foot out of his mouth long enough and stop driving her crazy, no problem.

Now if only the bad guys would leave them alone long enough to get the deed done.

My thoughts:

Shane is out hunting vampires when he meets a hot woman who is running for her life. Now who can say no to that?

As it’s a short novella, about 70 pages, there is not much to say. They meet, they fight monsters and her family. Her messed up family who wants to sacrifice her, a virginal sacrifice, well there is one way to solve that problem 😉

Shane is cool, Siobhan is kick-ass. They make a great team and I think that they can be fun together. I would sure like to read more, they could have some action filled and hot adventures for sure.

Series: Misfits & Mayhem #1, Secret McQueen
Genre: urban Fantasy
Pages: 92
To be published: Dec 25th 2012 by Samhain Publishing
Source. For review

…………………………….

Discussion Point

I will ask this again tomorrow so I can get as many opinions as needed.

I have posted the Lady Scoundrels thing now for a few weeks. The questions is:

* Do you like that there are 3 reviews of the same book?

* Or should we just have one discussion post / or 3 short reviews in one? (with links to longer reviews if there are, goodreads for example)

Thanks!

2 in 1: Deep Dark Secret and Keeping Secret by Sierra Dean

Secret McQueen has hunted vampires, werewolves, and every conceivable supernatural menace-to-society. Seen it all? Not even close. When the queen of the were-ocelots comes to her for help finding a missing girl, the half-vampire/half-werewolf soon realizes how much she has to learn about the things that go bump in the night.

The case of the missing cat is one thing. Pile it up with her new duties as a Tribunal Leader, her tenuous position as mate to the king of the Eastern werewolves, and a slew of new (and unwelcome) supernatural abilities, and Secret is once again in familiar territory. “Way” over her head. But for this multitasking half-breed, it’s business as “un”usual.

What knocks her for a loop, though, isn’t her lover’s intoxicating kiss. It’s the missing memories rushing at her from out of nowhere, signaling a rapidly approaching fork in her destiny. Her choice will affect not only her life, but her love.

My thoughts:

I am gonna try to keep this short (something I never managed anyway) as I have to write a review for book 4 too. Yes I finished this book in a hurry and immediately started book 4 because the series is just that good!

Secret is kick-ass as always and adjusting to her new position among the vampires. She still keeps her two delicious boyfriends, I heart Desmond all the way but he sure gets the short stick of everything. Then there is Lucas, I do like him, he is king after all. I keep forgiving him cos he has this presence and they are meant to be after all but…yes but…

This story is about her searching for a missing girl, meeting an old friend, going to school (sort of), and dealing with her messed up love life.

And it’s good! I just can’t gush enough because I have fallen for this series. I am just going to recommend it to everyone!!! Read it!

Series: Secret McQueen #3
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 309
Published: 2012 by Samhain
Source: Own

It’s a nice day for a white wedding. At least that’s what Secret McQueen is hoping for, with her poofy-princess-dress marriage to a werewolf king looming closer and closer by the day. But as ever, nothing can be that easy for a vampire/werewolf hybrid for whom someone still harbors a death wish.

Summoned to the south by her werewolf uncle, who makes no bones about the fact her mate bond with Lucas doesn’t pass muster, Secret learns her furry heritage looks more like a tangled vine than a family tree. Getting her royal uncle’s blessing hinges on finding one of the missing twigs. Even with vampire sentry Holden Chancery at her side, she manages to land up to her neck in a swamp of trouble.

As an assassin’s scope zeroes in, family dramas boil up and a fast-collapsing love square threatens to bury her alive, making it to the church on time could be the least of Secret’s problems. 

My thoughts:

By looking at the cover you sure know something is gonna happen, yes Secret is going to marry Lucas. And I could not wait to sink my teeth into this one.

I still like Lucas but he always puts pack first! Time after time. He knows how she feels about Desmond, I mean she loves Des more! Still I like Lucas, but that love is wearing thing while reading this book. And Desmond *cries*. Why can’t she just have them all 😦 Poor beta Des.

Like that wasn’t enough, I started falling for Holden in this one. He is all..vampire and sexy. Do I need to say more?

The wedding is fast approaching and there will be a lot to deal with since not everyone is happy. And trust me, the book ends, with a big bang. A big bang that made me crave the next book like crazy! How on earth is this gonna turn out?

*craves book 5*

So start reading this series at once. Action, passion, and one girl who can’t decide since she is meant for more than one wolf.

I need more!

Series: Secret McQueen #4
Pages: 256
Published: July 2012 by Samhain
Source: My own

Review: A Bloody Good Secret – Sierra Dean

A Bloody Good Secret

After cheating death twice in one night, confessing her true nature to her werewolf soul mates and being asked to kill one of her closest friends, Secret took a much-needed vacation. By running away.

Now she’s back in town—dragged kicking and screaming—determined to clear Holden Chancery’s name. Right after she finds out what he’s accused of. It shouldn’t be hard—Holden has a habit of using their new and scintillating psychic bond to break into her thoughts and dreams at some very, shall we say, awkward moments.

Just a few things stand in her way: a secretive Tribunal leader, a group of would-be vampire slayers and two werewolf boyfriends who refuse to let her operate in her customary lone-wolf style. Even less amusing are the terrifying creatures that someone is using in an attempt to gain control of the council. Even for this out-of-the-ordinary bounty hunter, it’s a challenge with potentially deadly teeth.

My thoughts:

First of all there will be spoilers from book 1 as I am gonna squee and ramble on.

I read book 1 today and thought, why did no one tell me the series is so good?! (ok maybe they did and I did not listen). After finishing it I had a serious case of withdrawal and you know I had to get more. So I had to get and start book 2 and I did not put it down. No dinner was made today, the dishes from yesterday’s dinner is still in the sink, the bed was not made. You get the point. I was all about schhhhhh! I am reading today.

So what made it so good? A great heroine that goes her own way, and is both vampire and werewolf. And in the last book she found out she is soulbound, not only to the werewolf king but to his second in command too. Sure Lucas is good and rich, but I am lusting over Desmond more. Just cos he was more willing to stand there at the side watching them court. I heart Desmond. But, all is not good, honestly I need to read more! In the last book there was a mention that her vampire side will find someone too. And I am dying to know who it is, someone new? Holden? ..the freaky Finn Sig? 

You know a series is good if I read 2 in a day. And when I also want the books in print as I read ebooks.

Conclusion:

Recommended of course. And I need more..mooooore.

Cover:
ok

Series. Secret McQueen #2
Genre: urban Fantasy
Pages: (248 print)
Published: 2011 by Samhain

Source: Pressie from the best bookaholic cat in the world!!!!