Exclusive Interveiw with Janna MacGregor

Hello fellow Readaholics!!!!

Today we have the super talented Janna MacGregor hanging out with us! 

I recently read The Bad Luck Bride by Janna and it rocked.  

I can’t wait to meet her this week at RT.

Janna, thank you for joining us today.  We thought it would be fun to have you answer a few questions.

How did you select the names of your characters in The Bad Luck Bride?

Thank you so much for inviting me here today! I’m always delighted to discuss romance-it’s one of the best pleasures in life. The two main characters in The Bad Luck Bride are Lady Claire Cavensham and Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke. I really didn’t pay that much attention to my characters’ names, but subconsciously, I must have been thinking about that particular aspect all along. Claire means clear or light. In this story, Claire has to go through tremendous darkness before she finds her way and her own forgiveness. It’s through her journey that she helps Alex–short for Alexander. Alexander means defender of man. Throughout the story, Alex has to defend not only his loved ones but also his own actions. Claire’s love helps him through his own darkness. Isn’t that the meaning of true love? Two people who through their commitment and devotion make each other stronger and help each other through life’s struggles.

Although the broken engagement trope has been done before, I thought yours was untried and fresh. What came first, the idea of the curse or that of the broken engagements?

The broken engagements! But then I had to explain why all these men wouldn’t marry an heiress of considerable fortune. It had to be a curse that caused all these mishaps to the men who sought her hand in marriage then faced horrible catastrophes such as death, disease, and dismemberment. I did a tremendous amount of research on curses in the UK. A lot have their origins from the Roman invasion. From there, it was easy to come up with reasons for why the men of the ton didn’t dare approach Claire for her hand in marriage. 

What was the most interesting thing you learned while writing The Bad Luck Bride?

Even though I’ve read Regency romances forever, I had to research the institution of marriage during the early nineteen century England to see what avenues were available to women when they wanted to escape an unhappy marriage. The fact is that they had few, if any, options. A couple of Alex and Claire’s stature had to air all their dirty laundry in front of the public and wait for the scandal to erupt. Their future and the ultimate decision whether a divorce would be granted was decided by the House of Lords. A divorce normally required the wife be denounced as an adulteress with proof of her affairs. Literally, a woman had to ruin herself completely in order to dissolve her marriage. Another example of how little individual freedom a woman had during that day and age.

Do you think villains deserve a chance to be redeemable in romances? 

Oh, this is a fabulous question. ABSOLUTELY! One of my favorite romances of all time is The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas. The way she redeemed Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, was a masterpiece. I reread that book at least once a year and sigh in happiness each time. As a matter of fact, I hope to redeem Lord Paul, the villain in The Bad Luck Bride, in a future book. I believe that underneath every villain is a hero waiting to emerge.

Do you have a special ritual after completing a book? 

My husband is my biggest supporter. When he realizes I’m getting close to the end of a story, he chills a bottle of champagne and invites our children to join us. They’re twenty-six, and even though they have lives of their own, they always make time to join in the celebration. As soon as I type “The End,” my husband pops the cork and we toast the hero and heroine of the story. But the next day, I start editing. No rest for the wicked!

Are you interested in writing other genres?

I actually outlined a series of contemporaries tentatively titled “Lawyers in Love.” I’m an attorney and receive a monthly newsletter on the happenings of the legal community in Missouri. There’s a ton of material for romance novels there-believe it or not. But for right now, my heart and soul are in writing Regencies. There’s just something about the romance of the time that lends itself to a beautiful love story.

What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?

All you have to do is look on my keeper shelf for my inspiration. I’ve already mentioned The Devil in Winter. But Eloisa James writes stories that are absolutely some of my favorites-Much Ado About You, Three Weeks with Lady X, and A Kiss at Midnight are just a few that have had an impact on my life and my writing. Maggie Robinson’s Master of Sin is a lovely novel about redemption that I absolutely adore to pieces.

What writing project are you working on at the present?

I’m currently working on the third story in The Cavensham Heiress. It’s tentatively titled The Bride’s Own Luck. It features Claire’s cousin, Michael, the Marquess of McCalpin and a heroine named March Lawson who’s introduced in the second book of the series. Speaking of which, The Bride Who Got Lucky features Claire’s cousin, Lady Emma and Alex’s best friend, Nick St. Mauer, the Earl of Somerton. Those two were an absolute joy to write. 

Thank you so much for stopping by Janna! We would love to have you visit again!

It was my pleasure and I’d love to chat again. Thank you for having me! Can’t wait to meet you all at RT. Please stop by and say hello! We’ll talk romance! 

Check out an exclusive Excerpt from The Bad Luck Bride!

Buy Links:

                

Author Bio:

Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs. She loves to hear from readers. The Bad Luck Bride is her first novel.

Social Links:

http://www.jannamacgregor.com/

Twitter: @JannaMacGregor
Instagram: @jannamacgregor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Janna-MacGregor-309105569287049/

Twitter: @SMPRomance

Facebook: @SMPRomance

READ MORE

Tempt Me Tuesday #159 by Mad Hatter Reads

Have you had a hard week? You deserve a new book! Have you had a great week? You deserve a new book too! New books for everyone! Here are a few that I found to tempt us this week. Does anything look good to you? Let me know.

Cursed by Christina Bauer

Beholder, #1

Most days, Elea couldn’t care less about having Necromancer magick. Who needs to conjure skeletons and sprits when you’re a farm girl? Elea only uses her powers to speed up chores and scare off suitors.

Everything changes when the evil Necromancer Tsar curses Elea. Now, Elea has five years left before she burns as a ghost, tortured for all eternity. They say there’s nothing she can do, but Elea disagrees. She decides to embrace her Necromancer powers, train as a magickal assassin, and kill the Tsar… All before his curse kills her. Impossible as it may sound, Elea thinks she has it in the bag, but then everything goes horribly wrong.

That’s when a handsome mage named Rowan steps up to help. Elea wants an ally, but she doesn’t need all the mixed-up feelings that come along with Rowan’s crooked smile.

An assassination mission is no time to fall in love, but Elea’s heart may have other ideas.

Dragon Soul by Katie MacAlister

Black Dragons, #3

NOTHING BURNS HOTTER

Sophea Long knows that escorting her octogenarian client to Europe will be an adventure. Mrs. P has a habit of stealing anything shiny, and the former "hoochikoo dancer" is a lot faster than she looks. But Sophea hadn't counted on Mrs. P leading her right into the arms of a smoldering, dark-haired stranger who kisses like a dream. If only he'd give up all this nonsense about Sophea being some kind of dragon...

THAN THE FIRE INSIDE

There's a reason Rowan Dakar is known as the Dragon Breaker. The last thing he needs is to fall for a woman who literally sets him aflame every time they kiss. After all, he has a mission-one that will finally free him of dragonkin for good. He can't afford to be distracted by the funniest, most desirable woman he's ever set eyes on. But no prophecy in the world can ever stop true love.

Half Lost by Sally Green

The Half Bad Trilogy, #3

A stunning, magical world. An international sensation.

Nathan Byrn is running again. The Alliance of Free Witches has been all but destroyed. Scattered and demoralized, constantly pursued by the Council’s Hunters, only a bold new strategy can save the rebels from total defeat. They need the missing half of Gabriel’s amulet—an ancient artifact with the power to render its bearer invincible in battle.

But the amulet’s guardian—the reclusive and awesomely powerful witch Ledger - has her own agenda. To win her trust, Nathan must travel to America and persuade her to give him the amulet. Combined with the Gifts he has inherited from Marcus, the amulet might just be enough to turn the tide for the Alliance and end the bloody civil war between Black and White witches once and for all.

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Cycle, #4

The fourth and final installment in the spellbinding series from the irrepressible, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.

All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

In a starred review for Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Kirkus Reviews declared: "Expect this truly one-of-a-kind series to come to a thundering close."

The Undoing by Shelly Laurenston

Call of Crows, #2

A risk worth taking…

No one would ever accuse Jace Berisha of having an easy life—considering her husband…you know…killed her. But that was then! Now she fights for mighty Viking gods with the spectacular and vicious Crows.

But things are turning very bad, very quickly because a vengeful, ancient goddess has come into the world with just one thing on her mind—ending it. And the only way they can hope to stop her is if the Crows join forces with their one-time enemies, the Protectors. A Viking Clan created to do nothing but kill every Crow they see.

Thankfully, Protector Ski Eriksen is a peace loving kind of guy. Because the woman he is desperately trying to get close to is the beautiful and not-very-chatty Jace. Battling Nordic clans? Unkillable goddesses? Jace’s mean-spirited dog? None of these things would ever get in the way of a true Viking!

The Visitor by Amanda Stevens

Graveyard Queen, #4

My name is Amelia Gray. I'm the Graveyard Queen.

Restoring lost and abandoned cemeteries is my profession, but I'm starting to believe that my true calling is deciphering the riddles of the dead. Legend has it that Kroll Cemetery is a puzzle no one has ever been able to solve. For over half a century, the answer has remained hidden within the strange headstone inscriptions and intricate engravings. Because uncovering the mystery of that tiny, remote graveyard may come at a terrible price.

Years after their mass death, Ezra Kroll's disciples lie unquiet, their tormented souls trapped within the walls of Kroll Cemetery, waiting to be released by someone strong and clever enough to solve the puzzle. For whatever reason, I'm being summoned to that graveyard by both the living and the dead. Every lead I follow, every clue I unravel brings me closer to an unlikely killer and to a destiny that will threaten my sanity and a future with my love, John Devlin.

READ MORE

Tempt Me Tuesday #155 by Mad Hatter Reads

 

Are you ready for your next good read? Yay! Here are a few that I’ve found to tempt you with. Are there any that you’ve been looking forward to?

 

Blood Passage by Heather Demetrios

Dark Caravan Cycle, #2

A jinni who's lost everything.

A master with nothing to lose.

A revolutionary with everything to gain.

When Nalia arrives in Morocco to fulfil Malek's third and final wish she's not expecting it to be easy. Though Nalia is free from the shackles that once bound her to Malek as his slave, she's in more danger than ever before.

Meanwhile, Malek's past returns with a vengeance as he confronts the darkness within himself, and Raif must decide what's more important: his love for Nalia, or his devotion to the cause of Arjinnan freedom.

Set upon by powerful forces that threaten to break her, Nalia encounters unexpected allies and discovers that her survival depends on the very things she thought made her weak. From the souks of Marrakech to the dunes of the Sahara, The Arabian Nights come to life in this dazzling second installment of the Dark Passage Cycle.

 

Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie

Burning Glass, #1

Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her.

But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

BURNING GLASS is debut author Kathryn Purdie’s stunning tale of dangerous magic, heart-rending romance, and the hard-won courage it takes to let go.

 

Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire

InCryptid, #5

Fifth book in Seanan McGuire’s funny and fast-paced urban fantasy InCryptid series featuring ballroom dancer and monster expert Verity Price.

Verity Price is back on the West Coast and getting back into the swing of the family business: cryptozoology. She’s rescuing cryptids from bad situations, protecting them from monster-hunters, and generally risking life and limb for the greater good, with her ex-Covenant partner/husband, Dominic, by her side. Her ballroom dance career is behind her—or so she thinks. When Verity gets the call from the producers of Dance or Die, the reality show she almost won several years before, she finds the lure impossible to resist, and she and Dominic are off to L.A. for one last shot at the big time.

Of course, nothing is that simple. When two contestants turn up dead, Verity will need every ally she can find with the investigation, without blowing her cover.

 

Dark Wolf Unbound by Stephanie Rowe

Heart of the Shifter, #2

New York Times bestselling author, Stephanie Rowe, returns to the Heart of the Shifter series with her most riveting entry to date, in which a dangerous wolf shifter must face his darkest truth to save the woman he was born to protect.

Driven by his intense moral code, alpha Jace Donovan's only mission is to protect his pack, until deadly trick turns him into the monster he has spent his life hunting. Haunted by the nightmare he has become, Jace is faced with an impossible choice…until a bold, sensual woman tears him from his well-ordered path and thrusts him into the very situation that destroyed him the first time.

Raised as the daughter of a depraved killer, Abby Collins is being hunted by the pack she escaped from when she was nineteen. Haunted by the evil she was forced to do, Abby must call upon Jace to help her when her former pack hunts her down, even though he is the one man she should never trust.

Scorching hot passion ignites between Abby and Jace the moment they meet, hurtling them toward a deadly fate in a heart-pounding race against the psychopath who owns them both.

 

Forest of Wonders by Linda Sue Park

Wing & Claw, #1

Raffa Santana has always loved the mysterious Forest of Wonders. For a gifted young apothecary like him, every leaf has the potential to unleash a kind of magic. If only Raffa's cautious father would allow him to experiment freely, Raffa knows he could discover miracles.

When an injured bat crashes into Raffa's life, he invents a cure from a rare crimson vine that he finds deep in the forest. The powers of the vine are stronger than Raffa could have imagined. His remedy saves the animal but also transforms it into something much more than an ordinary bat, with far-reaching consequences. Raffa's experiments lead him away from home to the forbidding city of Gilden, where troubling discoveries make him question who he can trust . . . and whether exciting botanical inventions, including his own, might actually threaten the very creatures of the forest he wants to protect.

This enchanting new series from Linda Sue Park, recipient of the Newbery Medal for A Single Shard, richly explores the links between magic and botany, family and duty, environment and home.

 

Her Fierce Warrior by Paige Tyler

X-Ops, #4

The woman tensed. As anger and fear ricocheted across her face, her eyes changed from red to green to brown in a dizzying display like nothing he'd ever seen.

Every instinct in Angelo's body screamed at him to lunge for his weapon. Instead he set his feet for impact, blocking her slashing claws. Unbelievably, after a few moments of struggling, she went still, all the fight gone...

Minka isn't sure she should trust the sexy Special Forces soldier who found her. Subjected to horrors, on the run from scientists set on locking her in a cage, Minka is terrified of the monster she's becoming...and somehow, Angelo is the only one who can calm the beast inside her and make her feel safe. But can she trust the way he makes her feel when she's not even sure she can trust herself?

 

Honour Bound by Helen Harper

Highland Magic, #2

Integrity Taylor should have been a Clan princess. Instead she's lived a life on the very periphery of society. Now that she's learnt more about her heritage, however, and the magic that she's capable of wielding, she's not going to hide in the shadows any longer. The once-in-a-generation Sidhe Games are going to provide the perfect opportunity for her to win back her birthright - and the fact that she'll be going head to head, toe to toe and mouth to mouth with golden haired Byron Moncrieffe might just be the icing on the cake.

 

Midnight Bites by Rachel Caine

The Morganville Vampires

MIDNIGHT BITES, the new Morganville Vampires short story anthology! It will bring together almost everything that I've written in short form about Morganville ... though I did leave out some of the original "diary" entries that appeared on an earlier version of the Morganville website, simply because they were just scenes and not stories, and were generally really short snippets. This is all short fiction, and it's been carefully organized into the timeline, so you can read from the earliest adventures (some of which belong to vampires) all the way through some post-Daylighters goodies.

MIDNIGHT BITES includes a total of more than 50,000 words of brand new content, which makes me very happy indeed (and I hope will also make you happy, too). From stories featuring our favorite bunny-slipper-wearing mad scientist to a mystery solved by police chief Hannah Moses, I think you'll find this is a diverse group of stories that will shine a little more light in the murkiest corners of Morganville.

 

Midnight Marked by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires, #12

As the Chicagoland Vampires series continues, Merit and Ethan find themselves in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, where winning may require the ultimate sacrifice...

A vampire’s grudges don’t stay dead long...

Merit is one of Chicago's most skilled vampire warriors; these days, she doesn't scare easily. But she and Master vampire Ethan have made a new and powerful enemy, and he won't give up until he owns the Windy City.

With his last plan thwarted, he's more determined than ever to watch Cadogan burn. Ethan has put the House's vampires on high alert, but their enemy will stop at nothing, including pitting vampire against vampire...

In this deadly game of cat-and-mouse, the stakes are life or death—and winning might mean sacrificing everything.

 

Panthers Claim by Eve Langlais

Bitten Point, #2

Cynthia: So I met a man. Mom: Is he single?

Hitting on the wrong woman finds Daryl regaining consciousness in a motel taped to a chair. Things were looking up--and not just below the belt.

A sexy, cocoa-complexioned veterinarian--with killer curves--wants answers, and he's only too happy to give them to her, for a price, say a kiss, or something more, from those luscious lips. The problem is Cynthia isn't the type to fall for flirty words and panty-dropping smiles. She tempts Daryl into helping her. Teases him into acting. Claims his heart without even trying.

But that was okay because...She's mine...and someone was trying to hurt her.

Hell no.

This kitty isn't afraid to unleash his claws and rescue the woman he wants. An intriguing, hot woman, a mystery, and danger? Sounds like fun, and Daryl is ready to play. He'll do anything to claim Cynthia as his mate.

 

Rocked by Love by Christine Warren

Gargoyles, #4

Bestselling author Christine Warren returns to the secret world of gargoyles-where legends come alive, and lovers are caught between a rock and a hard place...

Kylie Kramer knows that she's putting her life in danger when she decides to investigate her friend's mysterious death. What she doesn't know is that she's being watched over by a powerful protector. A legend in stone who has defended humanity throughout the ages. A rock-hard savior who swoops down from the sky, scoops Kylie into his impossibly strong arms, and draws her into a world that no mortal woman can imagine...or resist.

ROCKED BY LOVE

As the strongest of the gargoyles, Dag is sworn to destroy the demons that threaten Kylie's world before returning to his stony slumber. But the burning desire she ignites in him is even harder to fight-an all-consuming force that, once unleashed, can never be tamed. As their passion grows, so do the ranks of a demonic army plotting to take over the earth. When the ultimate battle begins, Dag and Kylie must face some demons of their own-to carve out a love that's stronger than time.

 

The Incubus Job by Diana Pharaoh Francis

Mission: Magic, #1

It’s tough to have a conscience when you kill for a living.

So six years ago, Mallory Jade gave up killing. Now she’s a fixer. Got a problem with a demon? She can help. Infestation of pixies? She’s got you covered. Kidnapped by an undead lich? She’s on her way. Anything you need, so long as she doesn’t have to kill. It’s her one unbreakable rule.

Aside from a few near-death experiences, her new life is good, until her job dumps her in the lap of the man she walked out on six years before. Law Stanger, her former partner and lover, wants her back in his life. He’s not above playing dirty. But Mallory knows it can never work. She has secrets Law can never understand or forgive.

All Mallory wants now is to finish her job–track down an incubus and the precious box he stole–and get the hell out of town before Law shatters her heart again. But it wasn’t fate that drew her and Law together after all these years, it was cunning calculation. Now they must face an enemy more powerful than they can imagine, one that has no intention of leaving anybody alive.

 

READ MORE

Tempt Me Tuesday #153 by Mad Hatter Reads

 

Ah Tuesday, tempting Tuesday. How I love it when it brings new books. What have you been looking forward to this week?

 

Dark Alpha's Embrace by Donna Grant

Reaper, #2

An exclusive new series from New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant!

There's no escaping a Reaper. I'm an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I'm coming for you...

I'm a warrior. My unbreakable determination, my backbone of steel define me. As a Reaper who does Death's bidding, weakness is a word I don't understand. Until a stunning librarian stirs emotions deep within me I've never felt before. Her soft curves blunt the sharp edges of my soul, crushing my defenses - yet make me stronger. But underneath those wide eyes and fierce femininity, she has a weapon, one she won't hesitate to use. And when the Dark begin their deadly descent, we'll need each other's love and protection...or risk fracturing apart.

 

Dawn of the Flame Sea by Jean Johnson

Flame Seas, #1

The first in a new fantasy series from the national bestselling author of the Sons of Destiny novels.

They call themselves the Fae Rii, or Fair Traders. Elfin-like beings capable of wielding sophisticated forms of magic, they travel between universes exploring new worlds and establishing settlements for their people to live peacefully among the locals.

The humans of the White Sands tribe, refugees fleeing from powerful enemies, see the Fae as potential invaders stealing their newfound natural resources. Jintaya, the leader of the Fae travelers, manages to forge an alliance, promising to trade skills and knowledge—magical and otherwise—to build a lasting community.

But the Circle Fire Tribe has no desire to share those rich valleys and ravines with the people they’ve hunted to near extinction—or the supposed deities they worship.

 

Ghost Talker by Robin D. Owens

Ghost Seer, #4

In the latest from the author of Ghost Killer, Clare Cermak and Zach Slade adjust to living as psychics—and a couple—as they encounter vengeful souls...

An angry poltergeist is stirring up trouble at Buffalo Bill’s grave, and Clare and Zach have been hired to investigate. Assisting them on the case as usual is their ghost dog Enzo, but they’re also aided by the restless ghost of Bill’s friend, Texas Jack. Meanwhile, the most well-known psychic in Denver is angered by Clare’s involvement in the case and will do whatever it takes to stop her.

Of course, facing threats both living and undead are nothing new for Clare and Zach. Their relationship has weathered many storms. But there is a growing danger inside of Clare that could tear them both apart.

 

Hunted by Darkness by Katie Reus

Darkness, #4

From two different worlds…

Now that she’s escaped her oppressive family, Nyx is enjoying her new life and friends—even if most of her friends don’t know who or what she is. As a rare demigod, she’s just learning how powerful she truly is, but family drama turns her world upside down, throwing the one man she cares about into danger.

He wasn’t supposed to fall for her…

Nyx is nothing like the females half-demon Bo Broussard has been with. Sweet and innocent, she’s not even remotely his type. But the moment she walks into his bar, he knows he’s not letting her go. Unfortunately someone from her past thinks they can force her into an arranged marriage.

He’s not letting her go…

Someone is targeting one of them, and Bo doesn’t know why. When they’re thrown into a hell realm together, he and Nyx will need to band together if they want to survive the perils of that world. No matter who was behind the attack, his choice is clear. Defend Nyx at all cost and make her his forever.

 

Hunter Forsaken by Nancy Corrigan

Wild Hunt, #2

"A vow to the dead...the mark of the Hunt...a love with one chance to survive."

In the slice of a moment, Ian Callahan lost everything he cared about-a deed done by his own hand. He awakens on the edge of sanity, chained in his own personal hell. He is to be the newest rider in the Wild Hunt, if he can learn to control the rage and guilt that consume him.

Then...a whiff of vanilla. The face of a lover he's seen only in his dreams. He doesn't know her name, only that she stirs the hungry beast within him.

For a millennium, Tegan and her sibling riders of the Wild Hunt were imprisoned, suffering under a curse meant for the Unseelie Court. Though her body is free, she carries the curse with her-and the additional burden of finally knowing the name of her destined mate. A human named Ian Callahan.

He's her Trojan horse, the only one who can heal her heart. Just one last challenge stands in the way of claiming each other, once and for all. Failure means facing eternity the incomplete halves of a whole.

"Warning: Contains a hero who's more than just the total...package. And a daughter of the Underworld who thought she knew what Hell was...until she fell in love. Boundaries of monogamy pushed, pulled, stretched-but never broken."

 

Ruler of Beasts by Danielle Paige

Dorothy Must Die, #0.6

Danielle Paige delivers a dark and compelling reimagining of a beloved classic, perfect for fans of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Beastly by Alex Flinn, and Wicked by Gregory Maguire.

When the Cowardly Lion set off for the Emerald City in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with Dorothy and the others, he sought courage above all else. This digital original novella is the sixth installment in the prequel arc to the edgy and thrilling New York Times bestsellers Dorothy Must Die and The Wicked Will Rise, and is the Lion’s story after he got what he’s always wanted.

The Lion’s wish has finally come true—he is the courageous ruler of the forest and all of its beasts. But the Lion is bored—he misses the days of his adventures with Dorothy, the Tin Woodman, and the Scarecrow. When Glinda the Good Witch shows up unexpectedly and tasks him with a mission back in the Emerald City, he jumps at the chance to do something exciting, even though he knows she’s not telling him the entire truth.

 

READ MORE

Tempt Me Tuesday #108 by Mad Hatter Reads

 

Happy Tempt Me Tuesday!!! Take a peek at what I found for us this week. Is there anything that you just can’t do without? I know I’ve been dying for Molly Harper’s latest, but what about you?

 

Catalyst by Lydia Kang

Control, #2

For fans of Uglies and The Maze Runner comes a complex, thrill-filled love story that will make you question exactly what it means to be human.

In the past year Zel lost her father, the boy she loves, her safety, and any future she might have imagined for herself. Now she, her sister, and the band of genetic outcasts they've come to call their family are forced on the run when their safe house is attacked by men with neural guns. But on the way to a rumored haven in Chicago, Zel hears something--a whisper from Cy, the boy who traded himself for her sister's safety. And when she veers off plan in order to search for him, what she finds is not what she expected. There's more to their genetic mutations than they ever imagined...aspects that make them wonder if they might be accepted by the outside world after all.

 

Diamond Moon by Celia Breslin

Black Hills Wolves, #12

Human-wolf hybrid Darci Diamond spends every full moon locked in auntie’s basement in Southern Oregon. Her excruciating shifts terrify her, the last one causing her heart to stop beating. Seeking a cure, she journeys to Los Lobos.

Ross Luparell returns to the struggling Tao pack, using his millions made in the tech industry to build homes for pack families in need. He never imagined he would also find his one true mate. But when a hybrid with the biggest green eyes he’s ever seen lands on his doorstep in the middle of a wicked summer storm, there’s no denying it. She’s the one.

She wants a normal human life, free from pain-filled shifts. He won’t give up on her Wolf, and will do whatever it takes to help her accept her true nature. But can he convince her to trust him with her heart?

 

In the Time of the Dragon Moon by Janet Lee Carey

Wilde Island Chronicles, #3

An epic fantasy about dragons, dark secrets, Pendragons, and magic.

On the southernmost tip of Wilde Island--far from the Dragonswood sanctuary and the Pendragon Castle--live the native Euit people. Uma, who is half Euit and half English, and not fully accepted by her tribe, wants to become a healer like her Euit father. But the mad English queen in the north, desperate for another child, kidnaps Uma and her father and demands that he cure her barrenness. After her father dies, Uma must ensure that the queen is with child by the time of the Dragon Moon, or be burned at the stake.

Terrified and alone, Uma reaches out to her only possible ally: the king's nephew Jackrun, a fiery dragonrider with dragon, fairy, and human blood. Together, they must navigate through a sea of untold secrets, unveil a dark plot spawned long ago in Dragonswood, and find a way to accept all the elements--Euit, English, dragon, and fairy--that make them who they are.

 

Keeper of the Peace by Jennifer Malone Wright

Graveyard Guardians, #2

The love of her life left her long ago, shattering her heart into a million pieces. It’s taken Hannah almost twelve years to push away the hurt and move on with life. That is, until the death of a Reaper brings Detective David Foster back to town and their paths cross once again.

With more and more of the soul-eating Reapers passing through town in search of the Chosen One, who happens to be her sister Lucy, the Estmond family has been busy enough. Now, they rally together in hopes of keeping Hannah out of prison.

With all the trouble lately, being a Keeper, a protector of souls, has never been more difficult for Hannah. Will she forgive David and rekindle their relationship? More importantly, will he find out she is the one responsible for the murder he is investigating?

Sparks fly in more ways than one in the second installment of the Graveyard Guardians.

 

The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire by Molly Harper

Half-Moon Hollow, #3

In the next book in Molly Harper’s beloved Half Moon Hollow paranormal romance series, Gigi starts her first job (at Vampire Headquarters), gets over her first love, and may even fall for her first vampire!

Gigi is no longer an innocent teen. All grown up and looking for love, her family and friends worry she’ll go for the sexy, alluring vampire instead of a nice, safe human. But sexy and alluring, with a penchant for biting, could be just what Gigi wants.

 

The Door in the Moon by Catherine Fisher

Chronoptika, #3

This New York Times bestselling author once again shows us that she is a master of world-building and surprising plot-twists. The vast, intricate world, fascinating revelations, and unexpected turns in the final book of the Obsidian Mirror trilogy will appeal to readers of Cassandra Claire, and will satisfy existing fans fully.

   

The Midnight Witch by Paula Brackston

"The dead are seldom silent. All that is required for them to be heard is that someone be willing to listen. I have been listening to the dead all my life."

Lilith is the daughter of the sixth Duke of Radnor. She is one of the most beautiful young women in London and engaged to the city’s most eligible bachelor. She is also a witch.

When her father dies, her hapless brother Freddie takes the title. But it is Lilith, instructed in the art of necromancy, who inherits their father’s role as Head Witch of the Lazarus Coven. And it is Lilith who must face the threat of the Sentinels, a powerful group of sorcerers intent on reclaiming the Elixir from the coven’s guardianship for their own dark purposes. Lilith knows the Lazarus creed: secrecy and silence. To abandon either would put both the coven and all she holds dear in grave danger. She has spent her life honoring it, right down to her charming fiancé and fellow witch, Viscount Louis Harcourt.

Until the day she meets Bram, a talented artist who is neither a witch nor a member of her class. With him, she must not be secret and silent. Despite her loyalty to the coven and duty to her family, Lilith cannot keep her life as a witch hidden from the man she loves.

To tell him will risk everything.

Spanning the opulence of Edwardian London and the dark days of World War I, The Midnight Witch is the third novel from New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston.

 

The Moon Tells Secrets by Savanna Welles

"Don't trust nobody. Not family. Not friend. Don't let it get him like it got my son, not until he is ready to meet it. And remember that blood must pay for blood. A debt must be paid. Your boy can never forget. That is his destiny."

Raine is at her wits' end. Her eleven-year-old son, Davey, whom she has raised by herself, has the power to shapeshift into any animal—a "gift" from his dead father. As Raine struggles to control his abilities that are so clearly out of her realm, a darker threat moves closer—a skinwalker bent on killing Raine and Davey. But even if the skinwalker doesn't succeed, someone closer to Raine will become just as vicious…

Cade, still grieving the brutal murder of his wife, finds solace in Raine's companionship. But as the savage details of her death mirror the powers Davey is soon to have, Raine will have to fight to protect her son.

 

READ MORE