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.

Shadow Rising (Dark Dynasties #3) by Kendra Leigh Castle

• Title: Shadow Rising (Dark Dynasties)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Paranormal Romance
• Format: Paperback, 368 pages
• Publisher: Forever (July 31, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 1455511641
• ISBN-13: 978-1455511648
• Author's Website:  http://www.kendraleighcastle.com/
• 
  

The Grigori are a secretive group. Of all the vampires dynasties in existence, they are the most mysterious, secretive, reclusive and feared. With males of the dynasty standing "nearly seven feet tall, broad-chested, and well muscled". They are a fearsome looking lot. The most curious thing about the dynasty is no female Grigori has ever been sighted out in the world. That is, until now.

Ariane has lived nine hundred years in seclusion in the Grigori palace. Never being allowed to venture off the palace grounds. Sam, her dearest friend, had disappeared without a trace somewhere in the world outside the palace gates and Ariane isn't allowed to look for him. Without him around to keep her sane she's decided to leave the palace. She's determined to find Sam and venture out into the great unknown. Doing so will seal her fate. If she is ever found or attempts to return to the palace she will  probably never live to tell her tale. "The Grigori did not take kindly to deserters."

Damien Tremaine was a master thief and assassin and a member of the House of Shadows. He was hired to find Sammael (Sam) for the Grigori. It was the first request the Grigori had ever made to the House of Shadows for help. Damien was warned he might "run across one of their women who who has taken it upon herself to look for this Sammael personally." He was told not to help her and let them know where she could be found. He figured that would be a piece of cake, but he'd never met the likes of her--Ariane.

What Ariane and Damien could never have imagined was that events had been set in motion that could unleash something that, if not stopped, could rise bringing with it a shadow of darkness.

     "So many secrets you don't know. Secrets in the sand...in your blood."...
     "Why are you hunting me?" she asked. Just because I have the...the blood of one of the ancients? It shouldn't matter. None of them will ever claim me. I'm nothing, no one. I don't know any secrets like you said."
     "Because," Oren said, black blood leaking from one corner of his mouth, "every one of us is a living secret, Ariane. And you are a Pathetic Grigori, but the ancient blood brightens your soul. You...you are perfect to stop the Rising...for another hundred..."...
     "He stirs and hungers beneath the sand."

_______________  

I truly love this series. It's got an underlying complexity to it that isn't hard to follow or understand, but makes it more enjoyable to read. The series is like a puzzle with a gazillion pieces that we slowly put together piece by piece with each new book.

I loved how Ariane finally decided to take charge of her life and leave the safe haven she'd lived in for over 900 years. I also loved seeing the tightly wound secrets about how she became a vampire, and who sired her slowly unravel as the story progressed. For most of her life she was treated as if she was imperfect because unlike the other Grigori, she was in touch with her feelings. They saw that as a weakness, but Sam had felt it was an asset.

On the surface, Damien seems like he is the wrong person for Ariane, but somehow she sees past the man he portrays himself as and sees him for the man he truly is. Damien is an intriguing character who has issues from when he was turned. As a human he'd been an aristocrat and was happy with his life. Not so with his new life as a vampire. Over the years he'd gotten himself to a point where he didn't care about anything. Slowly, he's been starting to reconnect with others and is coming back to life, so to speak.

I loved watching the interaction between Damien and Ariane. They come from dynasties that are on the opposite ends of the vampire hierarchy. Damien is a Cait Sith, a dynasty thought to be one of the lowliest among vampires. Ariane, on the other hand, is a Grigori and is thought to have one of the purest bloodline among vampires. He felt he needed to protect her but she'd been trained to fight. It was fun to see Damien attempt to control Ariane and how she refused to be. She'd been controlled all her life and she was done with that.

My favorite secondary character is Sammael. I would love to learn more about him because while he's one of the ancient Grigori, he seems different from the rest of his brethren. He's encouraged Ariane over the years to hold on to her humanity which the others see as a imperfection. I have a feeling there's a really good story behind him that Ms. Castle has yet to reveal.

Overall, I loved the book and gave it 5 out of 5 roses. It had a lot of action, secrets and twists and turns. I enjoyed finding out more about the Dark Dynasty world Ms. Castle created. While we learn a lot about the Grigori in this book, I think there is still a lot we don't yet know. Not all my questions were answered, but I'm hoping more will be revealed in the next book. Additionally, I loved how in the midst of chaos Damien and Ariane fell in love. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one got 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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