New Beginnings (Others of Edenton Prequel) by Brandy L Rivers

☆☆☆☆

Published
December 22, 2013
Publisher
Brandy L. Rivers
Genre
Paranormal Romance
Word Count
59,960
Pages
224
Author’s Page
https://www.brandylrivers.com/

Jess is a bad-ass woman who relocates to get away from one Alpha (before she kills him) only to fall into the lap of another Alpha, who her wolf instincts say is hers.

Wow, just wow!!! I haven’t cracked open an actual book since I got my tablet. But I got The Others of Edenton boxed set from Passion in Portland last September and figured that since I am no longer allowed to use my tablet while parked at the school waiting for my students (I can still take my tablet on trips with me though), that I wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth and took this book to work with me. The only real dilemma I had with this new circumstance is that when I came a crossed an area that needed an edit, I had no way of making notes because I just could not bring myself to violate a work of art with my pen or pencil so I am now carrying around a pad of post-it notes. Sorry for the babbling of my rabbit chasing but thank you for letting me get that out.

Now about New Beginnings, I really liked Jess, Slater and Brody. The preconceived rules that both Slater and Jess have imposed on themselves certainly made the whole courtship interesting and I was certain that Jess was going to kick Slater in the balls although I think Liam’s bizarre behavior towards Jess saved Slater his balls. Liam is the definite ass-hat in the story but Jess, being the bad-ass in her own right running out a back door to get away from him confused me as much as I think it confused Jess herself because it was the only contradiction to her personality. I also really liked the steamy lake scene that was more like a claiming between Slater and Jess. Back to Liam, I think that was one wolf that should have been put down for turning rabid, I would really like to know what triggered his downward spiral because I am almost convinced that it was something that happened long before what Brody and Slater think it was. I was expecting a lot steam after reading Nights Embrace but there wasn’t as much action in the this one, someone was obviously getting something but it wasn’t as graphically steamy but not disappointing.

I suspect I will be reading this book again someday and look forward to it so the five-star review that I want to give this book would be justified except for the edit that I found but thankfully those edit only reduce my rating by one star.

Book Cover Rating
I decided to write the review for each individual book in the series as I get to it rather than review it as a boxed set so I will place the cover of each book with the review as well as the boxed set cover. Because I am quite certain I will be reading the whole series over time. So, for this part to work my rating of the cover will be based on what I think of the cover for each individual book. However, I want to state now that I do really like the boxed set’s cover very much.

Book’s Blurb
Jess knew her life would never move forward if she remained a part of Gregory’s pack. Some Alpha’s just don’t know how to take care of their wolves. She had managed Gregory’s bar for years but she knew he would never sell it to her.

After one giant mistake, he went from bad to worse. As a psychic, she knew it was a downward spiral.

Taking her future in her own hands, she contacts the Alpha in Edenton. He is happy to sell the empty bar no one has the time, nor desire to renovate, much less run.

Their attraction is unexpected and the last thing either want, but they find the only thing they need in each other.

There is just one problem. Slater’s second in command is plotting against him. Liam will use anything to take over as Alpha.

Plenty of werewolves, an old vampire flame, plus a paranoid second, and don’t forget the psychic with a whole lot of attitude.

Sometimes to move forward you need to seek a new beginning.

As a psychic, Jess Abrams knew pack life would fall into a downward spiral if she stayed after a drunken mistake. Her alpha was never going to sell her the bar she’d managed for years, and sleeping with him only ensured he would treat her worse. Taking life by the reins, she decides on a fresh start.

Edenton’s Alpha is more than happy to sell the vacant bar to the new werewolf. Years ago Slater lost his first mate. Now he avoids dating his wolves to prevent possible heartache.

Their attraction is unexpected and the last thing either wants. Resisting their obvious connection may prove impossible.

There’s a problem. Someone is plotting against Slater, wanting to take the pack for himself. He’ll use anything, or anyone, to achieve his goal.

Purchase Links
AMAZON (Affiliate Link) 
SMASHWORDS (Affiliate Link) 

Nights Embrace (Others of Seattle #1) by Brandy L. Rivers

☆☆☆

Published
March 30, 2014
Publisher
Brandy L. Rivers
Genre
Paranormal Romance
Word Count
103,490
Pages
347
Author’s Page
https://www.brandylrivers.com/

Trevor Malone and his clan have just moved to Seattle to escape yet again the rival pack that is determined to make their lives miserable. While he and his band, Lunar Storm, are in the middle of their gig a sexy brunette walks into the bar and he knows she is his. When his clan drags him from the bar before he can talk to her again, he just hopes he can find her again.

Roxana Nights is sick of dealing with her messed up drummer, but he has been in her life, as a friend then a lover and finally an ex, since she was three so kicking him to the curb is easier said than done. When she hears the lead singer of Lunar Storm her reaction is instantaneous, so he her set ends and he is gone she is disappointed.

I loved Nights Embrace, there was so much going on that it seemed like I had really walked into world full of people who are so fully developed that you can almost see exactly what they look like. I love it when I get to read books like that and these days those are exactly the books I need to take me away for mini brain vacations. I loved Roxana, Trevor, Mikey and Joey instantly and I was sure Jordan was going to be the bad guy monkey wrench in the story, so Boyd and Dina kind of came out of left field. AND the best part is the bad guys were an intricate part of the whole story instead of just popping up out of the blue one or two times or just at the end and the same thing happened when William the dick head and Kathryn the bitch face entered the story. My favorite part besides the sex scenes was when Roxana broke Dina’s face with one punch, hot damn that was awesome. Add in the hot make out scenes and rockin’, steamy hot sex scenes for good measure and you have a great book worth the time it will take you to read it.

The bad news is I really, really super bad want to give Nights Embrace a five-star rating but after counting up all the edits that I found I can only give it three-stars which saddens me since it is an amazing story.

Favorite Quotes
“Good, because it’s all true. Now, stop moping. You did amazing, even when some arsehole punctured your lung because he couldn’t win a fist fight against a girl.”—Sorcha (I assume since that was who she was conversing with right before this statement was made)

“Oh, no. Not in a million years. A man has to earn that title, and you haven’t done so.”—Roxana to her sperm donor.

Book’s Blurb
It all started with a song.

Roxana Nights was late to another gig, thanks to her first love, and drummer. It’s been years since she left Jordan, but he won’t let her go. Then she hears a voice that pulls her under a spell and changes her whole world.

Trevor Malone just moved to Seattle with his band. Music is his only passion, until he lays eyes on Roxana. He’s never felt anything as strong as the pull to her. Now he needs to find a way to introduce her to his world.

There’s only one problem. A rival clan won’t rest until they’ve taken Trevor’s down. Unwilling to let old grudges die, they target Roxy. Trevor will do anything to keep her safe.

Roxy learns that the world she writes is closer to reality than she ever imagined, and that not all monsters are evil, though some are ruthless.

Will love stay strong when the past comes out? Can they survive the centuries old vendetta?

Purchase Links
AMAZON (Affiliate Link)
SMASHWORDS (Affiliate Link)