Review: SOUL SEDUCTION by Lori Toland

Soul Seduction
by Lori Toland
Publisher: Loose ID
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Source: ARC from Publisher

Ashlee Bennett has her priorities straight. Fighting demons is at the top of the list until she meets her sexy neighbor, Luke Byrne. Even though he is human, she can't stop dreaming about his buff body and sexy grin, until her dreams turn to nightmares.

Her world is turned upside down when Luke follows her one night but instead of being afraid, he is only more determined to stand beside her and fight. Ashlee knows she needs to keep her distance from Luke, not just to protect her virginity but her heart as well. But Luke may be the only one who can save her from the night, and her dreams.

Ashlee Bennett is a nurse by day and a demon slayer by night. After losing her parents and her mentor, she decides to leave relocate to Liverpool, England and start a new life. One night, after one of her demon slaying sessions, she meets her extremely attractive neighbor, Luke Byrne. She’s immediately attracted to him and doesn’t know why because he’s only human. As a demon slayer she must mate with another slayer in order to increase her strength and survive past the age of thirty. Oh, and she also has to remain a virgin until she meets her slayer mate.

Ashlee starts having vivid erotic dreams of Luke shortly after meeting him. Around this same time she learns that her life is in danger. Some unknown supernatural creature is after her soul. With Luke’s help she tries to find out what it is.

I really liked Ashlee’s commitment towards ridding the world of evil demons. She took her job very seriously and wasn’t going to let her attraction towards Luke get in the way of her goals. The sexual tension between the two was great and Ashlee’s steamy erotic dreams brought the sexy without compromising her precious virginity. My one gripe with this story was that Ashlee sure did have a lot of orgasms for someone who was a virgin. Now I don’t know if this gripe is born out of jealousy or my disbelief that anyone can come so fast and so often. Needless to say there are several wet panty episodes in the story. But I did enjoy watching their relationship develop. I also liked Ashlee’s new mentor, Terry. He offered some comic relief in the story plus he owns a fun little sex shop and gives Ashlee free toys. I was kept in suspense  throughout the novel trying to figure out what creature was after Ashlee. There’s also some question as to what Luke’s real role is in her life. Is he really only human? 

I am looking forward to reading more about Ashlee’s demon slaying adventures and her hot new romance with Luke. Lori Toland’s writing style was fun and flowed well. I think Soul Seduction is a great start to a captivating new series. This was a great read and will appeal to the paranormal, urban fantasy junkies. 

Lori Toland is currently on a virtual book tour promoting Soul Seduction. She stopped by the blog yesterday to talk about her heroine, Ashlee Bennett. Click HERE to read Lori's  guest post and to follow her throughout the tour.

Guest Post & Giveaway: SOUL SEDUCTION by Lori Toland

Hi Everyone! I am really excited to be the first stop on Lori Toland’s book tour for her new urban fantasy novel Soul Seduction.  The new book releases tomorrow, November 29th. It's a wonderful story and I highly recommend you pick up a copy. Today Lori is going to talk about her heroine Ashlee Bennett.

When life throws you curveball…

I love romance. I guess that goes without saying. Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing it. But my focus for years was m/m romance. It’s been my passion since ’99. So when I started writing Soul Seduction, Ashlee showing up threw me for a loop. 

At first, I didn’t want to write her story. The tale was too dark and I was working on a different story (my next story from Loose Id tentatively titled The Long Con, which is m/m) but as the attraction and desire developed between Luke and Ashlee, I quickly found myself drawn in by these two characters. Soon I couldn’t wait to write more of their tale, watching as their attraction grew until Luke and Ashlee could no longer deny themselves. 

I adore Ashlee because she’s adventurous. After losing her mentor, the woman who protected her as she learned how to kill the demons that plague the darkest catacombs, she picked up her life and moved to England to be with a mentor who lost his slayer. Not long after she arrives, she meets her new neighbor Luke. She’s quite spunky too, rejecting Luke even though she’s never wanted a man this badly before. 

But then dreams of Luke start to plague her. Dreams that started from the moment she met Luke. Torn between her duties as a slayer and the direction her heart is pulling her, she may just have to sacrifice her chance at true love to keep living. 

So I had to tell her story. I hope you enjoy reading her tale as much as I enjoyed writing this novel. 

Soul Seduction
by Lori Toland
Release Date: November 29, 2011

Ashlee Bennett has her priorities straight. Fighting demons is at the top of the list until she meets her sexy neighbor, Luke Byrne. Even though he is human, she can't stop dreaming about his buff body and sexy grin, until her dreams turn to nightmares.

Her world is turned upside down when Luke follows her one night but instead of being afraid, he is only more determined to stand beside her and fight. Ashlee knows she needs to keep her distance from Luke, not just to protect her virginity but her heart as well. But Luke may be the only one who can save her from the night, and her dreams.

Author Bio –

CEO by day, erotic romance writer by night, Lori Toland lives in Orlando where the summers are hot but the romance between her characters is even hotter. Writing since the tender age of 13, Lori somehow finds time to play video games and watch movies while taking care of her beloved cats and a husband who will forever be her hero.

http://loritoland.com/
http://loritoland.livejournal.com/

Giveaway:

Lori will be giving away winner's choice of a $25 gift card to Amazon, AllRomanceEbooks or LooseID to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The more comments you leave the better your chances of winning.

 

To Enter:

Leave a comment or question with your email address.

Be sure to visit the other blogs on this wonderful tour. Click on the tour button below for a list of participating blogs.

Review: THREE SINFUL WISHES by R.G. Alexander

Three Sinful Wishes
by R.G. Alexander
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Release Date: June 7, 2011

In hot and steamy Sedona, Arizona, three women are about to be granted their most intimate desires.

Dani, Bailey, and Kaya think they know what they want from life- success, independence, and a gorgeous man to share their beds-but when they perform an old wish-making ritual together, each of them gets a sinful surprise.

In these three interrelated love stories, these women discover that two is company...and three is even better.

Three best friends get together and inadvertently make wishes during a shower of falling stars. In the following weeks, one by one each of them is granted their most carnal wish.

I really enjoyed everything about Three Sinful Wishes. The setting of the Sedona desert made me want to move there. I liked all of the main and secondary characters. The three stories blended well together. Each story had all three women working through their own relationship, family or work issues with the help of some very sexy, strong men.

Ms. Alexander did an excellent job of weaving in all the paranormal elements so well that I didn’t realize it was a paranormal read until after I was finished reading the book. Yeah I really thought men could turn into wolves and coyotes! The smex scenes were hot especially Bailey’s scenes with her boss. Oh and a ménage scene occurs in each of the woman’s stories. I liked the magical elements, the Indian legend & folklore and the sexy shape-shifting men. Kaya’s Grandfather and the newcomer Stax were both mystifying figures within the story and they added a mysterious feel to this novel. Dani, Bailey and Kaya were all interesting, independent women and I was glad that they all got their happily ever afters. The dialogue and interactions between the many characters was at times funny and very well-written. 

Going into this book, I had no idea what to expect as  R.G. Alexander is a new to me author but I am hooked and can’t wait to read some of her other titles. Three Sinful Wishes will appeal to paranormal erotic romance junkies. I’m giving this wonderful novel 4.5 dragons.

Interview & Giveaway: Rebecca Royce - LOVE BEYOND SANITY

Hi Everyone. Please help me welcome Rebecca Royce to AsianCocoa's Secret Garden today! Rebecca's new novel Love Beyond Sanity was released in October.

AsianCocoa:  Please tell us a little about yourself and why you became a writer.

Rebecca Royce:  Well, I am actually a little bit dull.  I am the mother of 3 adorable little boys and married to my best friend. We live in New Jersey, around the corner from where I grew up. 

I’m an avid reader who believes, unapologetically, in happy ever afters!

AC:  Your new book, Love Beyond Sanity was released in October. Would you tell us a little about it?

RR:  It is the second book in the Outsider series.  Love Beyond Time was the first book in the series. Sanity tells the story of Charma and Jason and their journey in helping the Outsiders to destroy a demon bent of enslaving humanity.

AC:  Who/what are The Outsiders?

RR:  The Outsiders look like humans but they are not.  They have always been with us.  Powerful beings that help to keep the balance of good and evil in the universe.

But, a terrible prophecy comes true, leaving only 18 Outsiders left in the universe. If they can come together with their soul mate, they can save humanity. If not, all is lost.

To make matters worse, most of them have no idea that they are even Outsiders and are not humans. They have no idea they have a destiny at all. 

AC:  I noticed that you have 9 books planned in The Outsiders series. Why so many? Will each book be centered on each of the destined couples?

RR:  Each book will center on a different Outsider couple. Love Beyond Time was Kal and Isabelle.  Sanity is Charma and Jason. Each book will take another two Outsiders, telling their story and their battle.

This story appeared to me fully formed. It is my hope that the readers will want to stay with the journey through all nine books. 

AC:  Who has been your favorite character(s) to write about? Is there any of your series of books that has been your favorite to write?

This may sound like a bad answer, but my favorite characters are always the ones I am writing at that very second. I really don’t have favorites beyond that. I love them all.  (Like my children.)

AC:  Can you describe to us your writing process?

RR:  I sit down at the computer, open the blank page, double space it, write the chapter heading, and write for 13 pages.  In my first draft, all of my chapters have 13 pages. It’s odd, I know. But it works for me. 

AC: What was the last amazing book that you have read?

RR:  Everything Nalini Singh writes is amazing.

AC:  I know you’re a busy mom and wife but other than writing, what other things interest you?

RR:  Yes! I’m an avid reader, I love movies, lots of television shows, and I love, love, love going to Broadway shows with my husband.

AC:  Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers? Are there any new projects you’re working on?

RR:  Right now, I am writing the next Westervelt Wolf book. I hope to have that completed soon. 

I’d love to thank my readers for all of their support. It is tremendous and I am so grateful.

Love Beyond Sanity
by Rebecca Royce
Series: The Outsiders, Book 2
Release date: October 1, 2011

Eighteen years earlier, Charma lost her destined soul mate. Convinced he must be dead, she kept her fears to herself so as not to destroy the morale of the Outsiders who already live with a shaky prophecy as their only guide.

Dr. Jason Randall is a man used to getting what he wants. There has never been a problem he couldn't out think or a situation he wasn't capable of handling.

Now they are both hunted by not one but two demons as they lead the slowly forming group of Outsiders out of the darkness and back into the light. The two strong souls will have to decide if prophecy alone is enough reason to stay together through insane odds...or if love is their true fate.

Excerpt:

No, she was not nuts. He was here. The nameless man—she'd never learned his name—who had been made for her, chosen for her in heaven was in this room.

And, she had felt him die. Felt it the night he hadn't come to their secret garden. It had been like someone had taken a sledge hammer and demolished half of her body and soul with one hit. She'd known he was dead.

Alone. That was how she'd felt. With other people's problems filling her days, nights, and dreams.

Until now.

Had he been this way since he'd disappeared when he was twelve? Charma's eyes roamed his body for signs. Impossible. He looked too healthy. Muscle tone defined his body. He didn't look like a man who had been endlessly asleep on a bed. His eyes fluttered as if he was in deep REM sleep.

She cleared her throat, afraid to wake him but wanting to at the same time. "Hello."

Nothing. Charma's cheeks warmed. Why had she assumed he'd respond to her? He was in a coma for goodness sake. She was going to have to do more than speak aloud to get his attention.

Author Bio:

As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.

Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.

She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

http://www.rebeccaroyce.com

http://www.rebeccaroyce.blogspot.com

Giveaway:

Rebecca will be giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The more comments you leave the better your chances of winning.

 

To Enter:

Leave a comment or question with your email address.

Be sure to visit the other blogs on this wonderful tour. Click on the tour button below for a list of participating blogs.