HBIC Review Masked by Moonlight- Nancy Gideon

Masked in Moonlight by Nancy Gideon

May 2010 by Pocket Books
Paperback, 375 Pages
Purchased

Review Posted by Tina at TinasbookReviews
Book Synopsis

New Orleans homicide detective Charlotte Caissie is dedicated to bringing down the crime boss responsible for her father’s murder. Using Jimmy Legere’s mysterious and irresistible right-hand man is a dangerous gamble, and not only due to his reputation as more monster than man. Because her feelings for Max Savoie are . . . complicated. Rescued from the swamps as a child, Max exists silently in Legere’s shadow, heeding only his voice—until Charlotte Caissie awakens his emotions and tests his loyalties. Stepping outside his cautious rules threatens more than just his heart. He could expose his darkest secret. Testing boundaries they weren’t meant to cross means facing the truth about who and what they are—and what they need from each other. If Max is the murderer she seeks, Charlotte could be his next victim. She can’t afford to trust any man. Good thing Max isn’t one. (Goodreads)
Review

What do you get when you take a tough chick that can deliver a deathly blow, has a tough exterior and can wear the deadliest shade of red lipstick and make it look good.....well you get Charlotte Caissie. Now my friends what do you get when you take a tall, dark, smoking hot assassin who can wear leather better than the animal it came from.....well you get Max Savoie. These two are just two hot for each other and they should of known any trip into romance valley would be the undoing of them both, but just like sizzling bacon always makes it to my plate, Max and Charlotte make it into each others arms. With a murderer on the loose killing your basic deadbeats, the two will find themselves at the very center of the murders and the very thing that links them together.

The world of Moonlight was a dark, well created plotline that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. The chemistry in the novel however, defiantly worked for a fiction setting.....BUT.....I couldn't buy the relationship realistically, I tend to agree with my comrade Parajunkee on this one and cant see this happening in real-life, minus the fact that Max was a werewolf, he was deeply entangled in high crime and murder, while Charlotte was a lead detective and police officer. I'm sure somewhere the written rule is never get sexually or emotionally involved with the criminal or lead suspect in a case. Regardless though, it worked well for Charlotte and Max, having similar pasts, each coming from a traumatic experience that changed both their lives, the two had connections that made sense and the draw was easy to connect to in its paranormal setting. While Charlotte is deeply committed to her job as a detective, Max is deeply committed to Jimmy, the man who saved him as a child. And while Charlotte jumps the gun a bit (handcuffing a werewolf for example) and Max always seems to be running away- the whole enchilada just wrapped these two in a mess of tangled emotions, betrayal to their jobs and sketchy futures.The murders, crime and suspense all played backseat compared to the love roller coaster Gideon threw me on. Even though from a reality standpoint I couldn't see a couple like this making it, somehow Max and Charlotte pulled it off. Gideon's writing was sharp and highly engrossing. I became immediately sucked in the world of Moonlight and loved every minute of it.

Rating
Masked by Moonlight is recommended to adults only. Contains graphic language, violence, murder, blood and gore, explicit sexuality, paranormal themes and smoking hot abs........

3/3- PNR- Werewolves

Link up Your Masked by Moonlight Reviews

Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon

Homicide detective Charlotte Caissie is used to investigating grisly killings and going after the mob. She's not used to working alongside New Orleans' preternatural mob enforcer to keep the city from erupting in violence and she definitely isn't used to falling for a mob boss's sexy, shadowy right-hand man. The dark rumours that swirl about Max Savoie are frightening, but he's a contradiction with his unblinking stare and sly smile, Armani suits and red Converese tennis shoes. There's something endearing about him, something naive and...familiar. One night when Cee-Cee is attacked in a dark alley and Max steps in to rescue her, she realizes he saved her life years ago as a teen. Max is everything Cee Cee should steer clear of. He's hiding a dangerous secret and some unknown link to her past. But he's the perfect stepping stone in her crusade to bring down New Orleans' mob boss. If only she could get over her annoying aversion to using Max, and could stop falling in love with him - or at least use that love to her advantage...

Kicking Up the Giveaways for September...

In honor of this September's books and a surprise win for me, Blog with Bite will be hosting a giveaway of the September's books---PLUS some.

First, we will be giving away a signed copy of Rebecca Maizel's Infinite Days.  You see, I already own a copy - and then I won a contest on her blog for the audio book of Infinite Days. As a wonderful lagniappe she threw in a copy of the book and signed it! Since my unsigned copy is already read and slightly used, I won't hoard the signed copy...I'm passing it on to you guys! { Keeping the audio book though :P }

But...there is more! The stars have aligned for this massive giveaway as the good peeps at Simon & Schuster were sooo excited to see that Masked by Moonlight was chosen as our adult books...and are offering up some books for giveaway also. Just a few though. FIVE {count 5} entrants will receive a copy of both Masked by Moonlight and Captured by Moonlight! And this all happened today. Read below for contest deets.

Contest Deets:

• Six winners for this particular contest
• Winner One will receive a signed copy of Rebecca Maizel's Infinite Days
• Winner's Two - Six will receive a copy of Nancy Gideon's  Masked by Moonlight and Captured by Moonlight
• Commenting on this post will earn entry into this contest
• Winners will be chosen using Random.org
• Following BlogwithBite.com is not required, but winner will be announced via post
• Extra entries will be offered, separate comment for each entry please, if you leave multiple entries in one comment it will only be counted as one entry

Extra Entries:

• Follow BlogwithBite.com
• Like BWB on Facebook {Leave name last initial}
• Add our new button to your sidebar {leave link}
• Spread the word in any way, twitter, facebook, post, sidebar, etc. {leave link}
• Reviewed Generation Dead for BWB

Generation Dead Top Reviewer

Our Generation Dead Top Review is from Sarah's Book Reviews:

Review: Generation Dead - Daniel Waters

The dead boy reached for her, his pale eyes glowing in the darkness.

All over the country, teenagers who die aren't staying dead.

Against her better judgement, Phoebe finds herself drawn to Tommy Williams.  He's gorgeous, funny, on the football team.  And dead.

But not everybody is as accepting as Phoebe.  There are those who would like to rid the community of this sinister phenomenon, and they'll stop at nothing to achieve it...


Generation Dead Series:
Generation Dead
The Kiss of Life
Passing Strange (July 2010)

For more information visit the Daniel Waters' Blog



Review:
All over America teenagers who have died are coming back from the dead but not as your traditional zombies.  They have very slow speach and aren't very fast at moving but other than that they are basically able to carry on as normal - even attending school.  No one knows how or why some teenagers are coming back but it is happening more often and the living-dead community is growing larger.  Some people are very understanding but the majority aren't happy - some even think that it's a sign of the end of the world. 

I have really mixed feelings about this book, I thought the premise was brilliant and I really thought I was going to love the story but unfortunately I was disappointed.  To start with the positives I thought the way Daniel Waters dealt with the relationship between the living and the not quite dead was very well done.  I'm sure if teenagers ever do start coming back as zombies then the reaction from society in general (and teenagers in particular) would probably be very similar to how it was described in the book.  The book tackles important issues regarding discrimination and prejudice and it did make me think a lot about racism.  I love a book that can make me think so I really enjoyed this aspect of the story - especially as we are able to get inside the heads of both the people who are prejudiced and those who are being discriminated against.

On the other hand I found it really difficult to relate to Phoebe who was the main character.  Even half way through the book I was feeling that I hardly knew anything about her & I still have no idea why she was interested in Tommy.  I think if she'd known Tommy from before he died then it would have been a lot easier to believe her attraction to him.  I actually found the fact that she had a crush on a dead guy that she'd never even spoken to & knew absolutely nothing about really creepy.  I was also really unimpressed by Tommy - as a friend or a minor character he would have been fine but he just didn't strike me as main love interest material and I spent most of the book thinking "please don't go there Phoebe". 

My favorite character by far was Adam who is Phoebe's best friend.  I thought he was great - at first he doesn't seem like the nicest guy, he's got anger issues who gets in fights and hangs out with a rough crowd but it soon becomes clear that he is changing.  He isn't happy with his old crowd and although he isn't keen on the living dead characters to start with he doesn't like the way his old friends bully them.  Throughout the book you really get to see him grow up and come into his own and I loved him for that.

It took quite a long time for the story to suck me in but once it did I was curious to find out what was going to happen.  I'm don't want to give any spoilers so I'll just say I was gutted by the ending!  I'm going to have to read the second book just to find out what happens next.

Source: Library

Winners of Vampire Week!

We have chosen winners! Yeah.

Winner of the J.K. Beck Prize Pack:

Meredith said... My first was Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. 

Winner of the D.B. Reynolds Prize Pack:

Virginia C said... Thanks for a great giveaway! I have read "When Blood Calls", and it is terrific! A fantastic start to a great new paranormal suspense series!

The first, the best, the scariest Vampire of all is "Bram Stoker's Dracula". It scared the stuffing out of me, and it still does!

Winner of the Madelyn Ford Prize Pack:

 jellybelly82158 said... I think my first vampire book was Dracula.

You have 48 hours. Email at parajunkee at gmail.com with your address. Virginia please email me which Vampire in America book you would like 1, 2 or 3!

 

September Books!

The masses have spoken, here are BWBs September books...




Our Adult Title:

Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon

All She Wants Is Revenge 

Homicide detective Charlotte Caissie is dedicated to bringing down the crime boss responsible for her father’s murder.  Using Jimmy Legere’s right hand man is a dangerous gamble, not just because of his ruthless reputation as more monster than man, but because her feelings for her mysterious and irresistible enemy are … complicated.  There’s just something about Max.

Then He Risks His Life to Save Hers

Rescued from the swamps as a child, Max Savoie owes Jimmy Legere his life. Existing silently in his rescuer’s shadow, he heeds only one voice.  Until Charlotte Caissie awakens his emotions and tests his loyalties.  Forced to step outside his cautious rules to save her, he risks more than his heart . . . he risks exposing his dark secret.

Now They're Both In Over Their Heads 

Working together means facing the truth about who and what they are, and what they need from one another.  If Max is the murderer she seeks, Cee Cee might be his next victim. She can’t afford to trust any man.  Good thing Max isn’t one.

September's YA Title:

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

“Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you…no one.”

Those were some of Rhode’s last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.
It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.

Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.

I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn’t Rhode.

But Justin was…daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream.

I never expected to be sixteen again…then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me…

When Blood Calls --Featured Reviewer

This is my first time reading this author and this is the first book in the series.


Ryan Doyle is in the FBI in the supernatural division through Homeland security. Luke is powerful vamp in the city of LA and picks up Sara and has a one night stand with her. Sara get a promotion with the DA office and then is moved to the Paranormal division. Sara first case to prosecute is Luke Dragos for murder of a werewolf judge .


There were so many points of views --it was a bit tough in the beginning to keep track of all the characters. I had to write notes of who was who and what kind of paranormal they were in this book.

Sara was thrust into this world after one day and has to figure out if Luke is innocent or not. Through out the book she was swooning over him, and then the next minute she didn't want to be attracted to a vampire. She was sending mixed signals and I for one got tired of it. Sara's father was killed by a vampire many years ago. Luke wants to continue to have a relationship with her and is surprised when she becomes a DA. Luke seemed to have many plans in place, so clue clue if romancing the DA was part of it.

Luke and Ryan also have some bad blood between them ,and want to know more of why they so dislike each other. Luke also has a ward Tasha who isn't all there . It was interesting to see how this world is setup and all the many paranormals in this book. This book also dealt with some serious issues from killing kids or doing naughty things with them. It was interesting to get an idea of their thoughts but as a parent, its not something I want to read about in a book.

Many people through out the book are trying to keep their Daemon at bay and fight the blood lust, and hearing about it reminded me of a drinking game. I loved all the twists and turns with all the characters and talking about events being Black or White or Grey.

 I was curious of all the romancing of Sara was all of Luke's plan B. I didn't completely trust him at time and for me the reader that's good.

Overall I liked this world and loved the hot romance between Luke and Sara. I hope the next book is about Ryan.

Book Review=4/B

Thanks to the author for the book and this is my Honest Review

Raphael by: D.B. Reynolds -- Featured Reviewer

Rating: 4/5
Origins: Provided by the Author
Format: Trade Paperback
Release Date: 15 April 2009
Publisher: ImaJinn Books
Synopsis: Malibu, California-home to rock-and-roll gods and movie stars, the beautiful, the rich . . . and vampires.

Powerful and charismatic, Raphael is a Vampire Lord, one of the few who hold the power of life and death over every vampire in existence. Thousands call him Master and have pledged absolute loyalty on their very lives. But when, in a brazen and deadly daylight attack, a gang of human killers kidnaps the one female vampire he'd give his life for, Raphael turns to a human investigator to find his enemies before it's too late.

Cynthia Leighton is smart, tough and sexy, a private investigator and former cop who's tired of spying on cheating spouses and digging out old bank accounts. When Raphael asks for her help in tracking down the kidnappers, Cyn's happy to accept. But she soon realizes her greatest danger comes not from the humans, but from Raphael himself.

Battling Russian mobsters and treacherous vampires, and betrayed by those they trusted, Cyn and Raphael find themselves fighting for their lives while caught up in a passion of blood and violence that is destined to destroy them both.

Review in Five: Fast-paced and Easy to Read.

Review: I love that the main characters in this book are strong willed and independent, they both have everything they already need out of life. Cyn is independent and strong in both her personal and business life. Raphael is a handsome, strong vampire who requires absolute obedience from his prodigy and his associates. I loved Cyn in this story far more than I liked Raphael, he is very distant and cold, almost as you would expect an actual vampire to be, and Cyn is actually quite clever.

The plot in this book is action-packed and fast paced. There was one thing I noticed in the story that brought up questions in my mind;  Cyn just shoots a guy for checking in with his boss, I think that was a tad bit extreme. Take the phone, punch him, throw him out the door, why shoot him? Who does that?

Anyway, this is pretty good book for a great paranormal romance lover and an action romantic suspense lover. There are some great scenes, some unique word usage, and great characters in this book. D.B. Reynolds's debut is definitely worth the read, as I am sure the other books in this series will be as well.

Series: Vampires in America: Raphael (1), Jabril (2), Rajmund (3)

Featured Reviewer: Monica from The Bibliophilic Book Blog

Faith Revisited by Madelyn Ford

Faith Revisited by Madelyn Ford
Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

!! Win this Book & Other Vampire Books during vampire week see above blinky!!

PJVs QUICKIE POV: Reminiscent of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Ford immediately sucked me into her stunning world of fallen angels, club owning vampires -- and nasty demons that are ever present and on a mission to spread hate and discontent. Ford titillated me with a wonderfully sexy novel that had me from page one.

REVIEW: Faith and Hope, born of a vampire father, a very powerful vampire father, are on the cusp of their change. Unbeknowst to their over-protective father they hunt demons. They are hunting a nasty one that has taken a liking to killing women in their neighborhood. When engaging this demon a very powerful demon that they are unable to defend themselves against, appears and they know they are about to die.

Bale a fallen angel, from the race known as the Grigori rushes to the rescue of what he thinks are two human women. What he finds is much more. He takes the women back to the Grigori compound, because Faith has been infected with a deadly poison and he finds himself immediately possessive of her. He refuses to let her leave his room and even allows her to feed off of him as the change quickly over-takes her because of the poison. Though it is immediately obvious that Faith is Bale's mate, both are in complete denial, but as they try to distance themselves from each other complications arise.

The entire relationship with Bale and Faith is very deep and intense. Bale is your typical old-world Alpha male. Faith is your very progressive 21st century female, together they clash...but clash good. I found the relationship real and very sexy. I wanted a Bale of my own. Sometimes I did find that their stereotypical roles did get a bit overwhelming, but this is my usual problem with Alpha ruled PNRs. While I think aggressively over-powering men are sexy, they can be a bit much at some point. I did like that Bale called Faith "baby" instead of some insipidly derogatory pet name like "little one."

On top of it they are surrounded by all these other hot Fallen Angels and Faith's twin that you know will just star in their own book, can't wait to read those!

Overall a great read, and I can't wait to read more from Madelyn Ford!

RECOMMENDATIONS: PNR fans. Black Dagger Brotherhood junkees. Adults only, there is a lot of biting, nipping and sucking ;)




BWB Rating 3/4

Review for BWB

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