Winner's of the Forever's Darkness Falls Blog Tour

I was delighted to be giving away two books that I love. 

The Winners of 'Shadow Rising' by Kendra Leigh Castle and 'Secret of the Wolf' by Cynthia Garner are:

1) Rachel F.

2) Donna S. 

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Thank you to everyone who entered, especially to the authors who wrote the wonderful books and to Forever Romance for sponsoring the giveaway.

Secret of the Wolf (Warriors of the Rift, #2) by Cynthia Garner

• Title: Secret of the Wolf (Warriors of the Rift)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Gener: Urban Fantasy
• Format: Paperback, 336 pages
• Publisher: Forever (June 26, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0446585122
• ISBN-13: 978-0446585125
• Author's Website:  http://cynthiagarnerbooks.com/  
• Notes: Books for this book tour never made their way to me from the publisher and I ended up buying them. That is why this review is being created and posted later than I planned. I just purchased this one last night. Hopefully I'll do the book justice while suffering from lack of sleep. lol Oh the suffering we'll endure for the love of a good book. lol

Victoria (Tori) Joseph is a preternatural (pret) that crossed over to our dimension during the influx of 1866. Every 73 years the Moore-Creasy-Devon Comet creates a dimensional Rift as it makes its way across the solar system. When that happens supernatural being ascend upon the earth hijacking human bodies thereby taking control and suppressing the human being that once possessed it. Referred to as the Influx, it has been happening for years and no one can predict what supernatural creatures these body snatchers (aka EDs - Extra Dimensionals) will become until the full possession takes place. Some are political exiles, some have left for religious reasons, but the majority were banned from their world for being criminals of the worst kind. Many see this as their second chance and attempt to reform and meld into society while others don't wish to give up their bad habits. It's the latter that the Council of Preternaturals hope to stop.

Tori is the werewolf liaison to the Council of Preternatural. A werewolf appears to be terrorizing the Scottsdale area leaving behind no DNA evidence. The rogue, as it's believed to be, is dousing the wounds of the victim with bleach and sprinking the area with ammonia to hinder the scent trail he or she may have left behind. The attacks appear to be random, but aimed at changing humans to werewolves. With each new attack the violence seems to escalate. Tori and others of the Council have been brought in to help investigate the attacks and find the attacker. 

Besides trying to save the world from rogue werewolves, Tori is also attempting to figure out how a device that Tobais stole communicates between our world and the preternatural dimension. Not only did Tobias manage to take the device, but he also managed to snatch the schematics for it. Tori was a radio communication technician during World War II and it was hoped she could figure out how the device works, but she quickly realizes the device seems to function more like a computer than like a radio. That goes well beyond her area of expertise. She'll have to ask Dante, the tall dark and sexy human cop, who has a better grasp on the workings of a computer for help. Oh the things one must do for their jobs. Sometimes you've just got to grin and bear it.     

______________________

I am truly loving this series and the spin Ms. Garner put on where paranormal beings come from. 'Secret of the Wolf' takes place a month after 'Kiss of the Vampire' ends. Tobais and Nix are now married and we get a glimpse of how Nix is dealing with her newly made vampire half. Additionally, there are only a few months left before the Rift is once again opened allowing new prets to snatch the bodies of defenseless humans. Tensions are running high and the question of who and how many people will be taken over permeates the atmosphere. 

Tori is a loyal, smart and strong woman. She's recently been reunited with her brother whom she hasn't seen in nearly a hundred and fifty years. In 1866, when they'd first crossed over into this world, there was no way to find your friends or relatives who'd crossed over with you. She's now attempting to reestablish her relationship with him. She's ecstatic about reconnecting with him. She'd missed having family around.

Dante is a cop who's very family oriented and an all around good guy. He's also led Tori on a merry dance as whenever the two start to get close, he starts to pull away. He's partly leery of her preternatural state and partly afraid he doesn't have the time to commit himself totally to a relationship. He's been taking care of his sister who'd recently survived a bought with breast cancer and a divorce.  He also fears what will happen when the Rift opens up. What if he's overtaken by a pret? Does he take a chance at Tori's heart being broken or live in the moment while he still can? 

Why is the book called 'Secret of the Wolf'? Well, I believe it's because Tori (a wereWOLF) sits on some information that might help capture the rogue werewolf. She doesn't want to make any harsh decisions until she has something a little more solid to go on. She'll have to live with the consequences of her actions if her suspicions turn out to be correct.

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. I'm thoroughly enjoying the world Ms. Garner has created. I'm intrigued as to how the Rift will affect everything when it finally comes to be. I loved the quick pace, all the action and drama, and the mystery of who was converting people to werewolves and why. I loved witnessing the sexual tension between Dante and Tori that is so strong everyone around them could practically feel the heat from it. While I still have many questions as to how everything dealing with prets works, I'm hopeful we'll get closer to the answers with the next book. This is a series I HIGHLY recommend. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scored a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of Series:

Giveaway - Forever's Darkness Falls Blog Tour

Kendra Leigh Castle

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KendraLCastle

Follow her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kendraleighcastle

Check out her website: http://kendraleighcastle.com/

Kendra Leigh Castle was born and raised in the far and frozen reaches of Northern New York, where there was plenty of time to cultivate her love of reading thanks to the six-month-long winters. Sneaking off with selections from her mother’s vast collection of romance novels came naturally and fairly early, and a lifelong love of the Happily Ever After was born. After graduating from SUNY Oswego (where it also snowed a lot) with a teaching degree, Kendra ran off with a handsome young Navy fighter pilot and has somehow accumulated three children, three dogs, and one enormous cat during their many moves.

While stationed in a remote corner of the Nevada desert, Kendra penned her first romance, and a career often spent working in fuzzy slippers and pajamas was born. Her work has garnered both critical praise and award nominations, but the best part has been connecting with readers who share her love of dark romance (not to mention heroes with sharp, pointed teeth). Kendra currently lives in Maryland, and can usually be found curled up with her laptop and yet another cup of coffee working on her next book. She loves to hear from her readers, and can be contacted via email or her Facebook page. (Information gotten off of Kendra's website)

The Dark Dynasties Series

Dark Awakening (Dark Dynasties #1)
Enter the world of the Dark Dynasties...

For centuries, shapeshifting vampire Tynan MacGillivray has prowled the night as an outcast, valued only for his ferocious hunting skills. When a feud among the immortals escalates into all-out war, he is ordered by his ruthless queen to locate a Seer - a human woman with a special gift - who can secure victory for their clan. Ty's search leads him to a quiet New England town, but once he has the Seer in his grasp, her touch awakens within him a hunger like he's never known...

Lily Quinn has always been different. Since childhood, she's had vivid nightmares and an eerie sixth sense. When a sexy, silver-eyed stranger demands her help, Lily plunges into a new world of danger and sensuality. With Ty, she discovers sizzling passions she cannot deny and powers she cannot control. Soon, it is clear that Lily is much more than a Seer - she holds the key to ancient secrets and unthinkable destruction. But will a vampire's vow of eternal protection stop these evil forces...or unleash her dark destiny?

Midnight Reckoning (Dark Dynasties #2)
Two separate worlds ...

One passion that binds them

Wild and passionate by nature, Lyra Black is not just any werewolf. She's the future leader of the powerful pack of the Thorn - if she can stay alive long enough to inherit the title.

One of the Cait Sith bloodline of vampire cat-shifters, Jaden Harrison has no interest in the wars plaguing the world of night. But when he rescues Lyra from a violent attack, they're both captured by an insatiable desire that threatens to overwhelm them and bind them together for eternity... just as ancient enemies prepare to strike. And when they do, the Thorn and the Cait Sith - and Lyra and Jaden's love - may never recover from the deadly blow...
(Please note both descriptions were taken from the back of the respective books.)

Shadow Rising (Dark Dynasties #3)

Ancient Secrets, Dark Passions...

As one of the Grigori, a noble vampire dynasty shrouded in mystery, Ariane has spent her life hidden away in the desert. Like all of her kind, she is a watcher, fated to observe, forbidden to act. Yet when her best friend, Sammael, vanishes, she defies all rules and flees her safe haven to bring him home.

A shape-shifting assassin for the House of Shadows, Damien Tremaine is hired to locate Sammael. His hunt for the wayward Grigori leads him to Ariane, the rogue vamp who stands between him and his bounty. Damien never lets emotion interfere with his work, but a single touch from the sexy, beguiling vampire shatters his self-control. Drawn together by their common goal, what begins as an alliance of necessity soon becomes one of desire. But when the secret at the dark heart of the Grigori comes to light, Damien and Ariane must make a choice that could bind them eternally...or tear them—and everything they care about—apart.

Coming 2013

Immortal Craving (Dark Dynasties #4)

The last-and most lethal-of his kind . . .

Wild, uncontrollable, and powerful, the lion-shifting Rakshasa were hunted down by vicious rival vampires who feared their dark, magical abilities. Somehow one survived, and now, after centuries of hiding, Tasmin Singh reemerges as fierce and fearless as ever at the door of the Lilim queen, seeking answers . . . and sanctuary.

The human best friend to a vampire queen, Bay Harper traded her quiet, comfortable life for a world filled with immortal assassins, warring werewolves . . . and this hauntingly sexy shifter. Only Bay's gentle touch can subdue Tasmin's inner demons, even as he brings out a passion and sensuality she never imagined she could feel. But when a bloody struggle threatens to tear them apart, can Bay risk everything on her faith in him-or will his dark side be stronger than even their all-consuming desire?

Cynthia Garner

Follow her on Twitter: @CynthiaGarner

Check out her website: http://cynthiagarnerbooks.com/

Cynthia Garner discovered her love for making up stories when her sixth grade teacher told the class to write a story that began “It was a dark and stormy night…” With that Cynthia's love for all things paranormal was born. When she's not working her day job as a mostly mild-mannered human resources manager, she's on her laptop writing or playing way too much Solitaire. Originally from Northeast Ohio, Cynthia now lives in the desert Southwest. (Information obtained from the back of her current book 'Kiss of the Vampire') For your information, Cynthia also writes erotic romances under the pen name Sherrill Quinn.

The Warriors of the Rift Series

Kiss of the Vampire
(Warriors of the Rift #1)

Once a generation, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing supernatural entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world-or send it spiraling into chaos. 

Half-demon, half-human, Nix de la Fuente is accepted by neither and mistrusted by both. Determined to prove she's more human than not, she devotes herself to solving crimes between the world's mortals and its most unsavory undead. But her latest case brings her face to face with the one vampire she could never resist . . .

Called in to investigate a string of violent murders, special agent Tobias Caine isn't interested in rekindling his relationship with Nix. Yet one look and the vampire knows his need for her is as strong as ever. Once, their all-consuming passion nearly cost Nix her fragile hold on her humanity. Now, as their hunger for one another intensifies, exposing them to an unimaginable danger, it could cost them both their lives.

           Secret of the Wolf
     (Warriors of the Rift #2)

Once a generation, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing supernatural entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world-or send it spiraling into chaos.

As a werewolf liaison to the Council of Preternaturals, Tori Joseph is used to straddling the world between humans and immortals. She plays by the rules and always delivers justice, no matter the cost. But after a string of increasingly brutal attacks results in humans turning into werewolves, Tori doesn't reveal her horrifying suspicion: Someone very close to her might be responsible.

Investigating the paranormal violence, no-nonsense detective Dante MacMillan believes Tori is hiding something. His search for the truth draws him into greater danger as he gets closer to the dark realm of the immortals-and to the sexy werewolf who stirs his primal lust. Now with evil closing in around them, Dante must convince Tori to trust him . . . before her deadly secret destroys them both.

COMING 2013

       Heart of the Demon 
    (Warriors of the Rift #3)


Demon Finn Evnissyen and fey princess Keira O’Brien go undercover to expose the person behind the rift device and put an end to whatever plans he or she may have. They are reluctant allies then lovers as the danger of the situation heightens the closer they get to the bad guy. If they survive, they must overcome their distrust and differences and find out if a fairy princess and a demon can have a happily-ever-after.

GIVEAWAY

I'm giving away to two winners one copy of Secret of the Wolf by Cynthia Garner -AND- one copy of Shadow Rising by Kendra Leigh Castle.

Rules for eligibility:

Only residents of the US who are 18 or older are eligible.

Please leave either your email address or a link to your Goodreads profile so I may get in contact with you to get your mailing address. **No P.O. Boxes, please**.

Become a follower of my blog, if you aren't already.

Winner will be randomly chosen. Giveaway ends August 5th, midnight eastern time. Only one winner per person and per address. Winners will be posted on my blog and notified by email or message posted to them via Goodreads. Winners will have 24 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. I need to get the names and addresses of the winners to the publisher by the 8th. Good Luck!

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