Book Review: Forbidden: A Red Riding Hood Retelling by Adrienne Woods + giveaway

Forbidden: A Red Riding Hood Retelling
by Adrienne Woods
January 7, 2019

254 pages
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
This is not The Little Red Riding Hood we grew up with.

Supernatural races—vampires, werewolves, witches, you name it—all exist.

Eighteen-year-old Rue Chaperon and her family belong to an elite hunting society, the S.H.A—Supernatural Hunting Association—and what the Chaperons hunt best are werewolves.

When a new hunting group convinces the Chaperons to team up with them and try a different approach to hunting the supernatural by taking out the Alpha, it sounded like a great idea.

Taking out the Alpha meant they'd eradicate the entire race.
Piece of cake, right?

But nothing is ever easy when you're a hunter.

A Little Red Riding Hood retelling with a spin that will make you believe not all fairytales were meant for children.

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I love fairy tale stories with a new dark twist, after reading the snip-it about this one I figured why not. The cover is also really catching and after a tad more research on the author, this looks like one of her jams when it comes to eye-catching. I approve! 

The story has great flow, it moves along at a pace that never gets dull. Certainly more action than the original Little Red Riding Hood tale, but it could have even gone to a darker, sexier place. IMO anyway. Forbidden appears to be a prequel to a different saga in the series, which was fine but at times a tad bit confusing. 

Again, I would have liked a bit more action and a larger portion of the romance between our leading couple. While I will say there was nothing earth-shattering about this story, I enjoyed it overall for what it was. 

Getting 3 Sheep

KD

About the Author

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Adrienne is a USA Today Bestselling author.
She’s been in love with books all her life and knew at the age of 13 that she is going to be a writer one day.
That dream happened ten years ago and she started to pen her stories down on paper. Firebolt, her debut novel, was released 4 years after that, and she hasn’t stopped since.
Now she almost has 15 novels under her belt, and it doesn’t look like she is going to stop soon.
Go to her books to discover her series and those that still need to come.

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Exclusive Excerpt: Forbidden Claim (Forbidden #5) by R.L. Kenderson + giveaway

R.L. Kenderson is here today to share her new release, FORBIDDEN CLAIM! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

Forbidden Claim (Forbidden #5)

by R.L. Kenderson

August 17, 2018
265 pages

Genre: Paranormal Romance
She’s running for her life. He's never gotten over her. Will she let him claim her to save her? Wolf-shifter Isabelle Rand is escaping a relationship she never intended to stay in. Fleeing her abusive boyfriend who hates to lose anything, she seeks sanctuary with the only people who can help her. It has been two years since cat-shifter Zane Talon saw Isabelle, and he’s been aching for her since the day she vanished from his life. Now, to save Isabelle from a dangerous and ruthless shifter who will never stop pursuing her, Zane will take her as his mate. While Isabelle agrees to the plan, she’ll only give the cat-shifter her body. But Zane will do everything in his power to claim her heart as well. 

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Catch up on the Forbidden Series

Forbidden Blood (Book #1)

Forbidden Heat (Book #2)

Forbidden Temptation (Book #3)

Forbidden Addiction (Book #4)

Forbidden Claim (Book #5)

Exclusive Excerpt:
ISABELLE RAND KISSED her boyfriend, Bram, on the cheek and exited his vehicle. As she walked to the front of the school, she took a deep breath. When she reached the doors, she turned around and waved at Bram, knowing he wouldn’t leave until he saw her walk into the building. She made no move to look and see if he drove away as she walked down the hall to her classroom. But, instead of going to the end of the corridor, she took a right into the school’s office. “He’s gone,” her coworker, Jessica, said. Isabelle breathed a sigh of relief, but it didn’t last long. She was only a fourth of the way through her plan. Two more teachers, Danni and Alice, with their armsfull, came from the back office area along with their principal, Noah. Danni and Alice dropped the huge, mismatched luggage at Isabelle’s feet. “Here are most of your clothes,” Danni told her. “And here are the rest of your clothes and toiletries,” Alice said. Jessica came over from where she’d been watching the window and took Isabelle’s hand, placing a set of car keys in it. “Here’s your new car. It’s nothing great, but it’s bought and paid for.” “Give me the keys,” Noah said. “I’ll pull the car around.” Isabelle handed them over. Noah looked at Jessica. “It’s a black Kia,” she told him. Isabelle swallowed hard as she tried not to cry. “I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.” Jessica hugged Isabelle first. “This is what friends do for each other.” “Help them go on the run like a criminal in the night?” Isabelle joked as the first tear fell. Alice embraced Isabelle next. When she pulled away, she squeezed Isabelle’s arms. “No, we’re helping you escape an abusive boyfriend who doesn’t deserve to call you his.” Isabelle smiled as best she could. Danni enveloped Isabelle last. “I’m scared,” Isabelle said in her friend’s ear. Danni drew away and looked into Isabelle’s eyes. “I know. I would be scared, too. But we’ve been planning this for a month. Minneapolis is less than two hours away. You will make it before he even knows you’re gone.” “Honey, are you sure you don’t want to go to a shelter? Are you sure your friends in Minneapolis can keep you safe?” Alice, twenty years Isabelle’s senior, asked. There was no way Isabelle could tell these wonderful humans that she was going to the safest place in the world for her. Not only was Damien her friend, but he was also the alpha of the Minnesota Wolf Pack. And her other friends whom she was seeking solace from were the wolf-shifter sentinels. Once she told Damien about Bram, he would do everything to help her. And Bram wouldn’t dare take on the alpha of their pack. Not if he wanted to live to tell about it. “I’m absolutely sure. I just need to get there.” “Okay, honey. We trust your decision.” “We’d better go. I’m sure Noah has pulled the car to the side door by now.” Isabelle took one of the handles to wheel the bag outside, and Danni took the other. Once they walked outside, Noah popped open the trunk and then got out of Isabelle’s new car. The bags were loaded into the trunk, and then Noah hugged Isabelle. When he stepped away, he held out his hand. “Phone.” “What?” With his other hand, he reached into his back pocket. “Your phone.” “Oh. Yeah. I almost forgot.” The four of them had discussed the unlikelihood of Bram tracking her phone since he wasn’t on her plan, but they didn’t think it was a risk she should take. Plus, she didn’t want to deal with the numerous phone calls he was bound to make once he realized she was gone. She opened her purse and took out her phone. With a silent good-bye, she handed it over, and Noah gave her a new prepaid phone. “I programmed all our numbers into it, just in case you need anything. And please let us know when you make it there safely.” “I will.” She looked around at her friends. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.” “I do,” Alice said. “You can repay us by getting yourself to safety and staying there.” Isabelle smiled. “I will. I promise.” “You’d better.” Isabelle walked around to the driver’s side of her new car but stopped before getting in. She’d almost forgotten. “Please be careful. Bram is not a good guy, and he’s not what he seems. He’s very strong and very dangerous.” She wished she could come out and warn them that Bram was a wolf-shifter, stronger than all of them combined, and capable of turning into a wild animal that could rip them to shreds. But she couldn’t. They were her friends, but she couldn’t give away her species. “Honey, please don’t concern yourself with us. It’s a teacher in-service today, so no students to worry about, and we’ll just tell everyone else you called in sick. We know nothing.” Noah waved the phone. “As soon as you leave, I’m going to call my office with your phone. It’ll show up on your statement that you called in. Like Alice said, don’t worry about us.” Isabelle closed her eyes. “You know that’s never going to happen. But I will try to worry less. As long as you promise to be careful.” “We promise,” Alice said for all of them. And, with one last good-bye, Isabelle took off for Minneapolis…and for freedom.

About the Author:

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R.L. Kenderson is two best friends writing under one name. Renae has always loved reading, and in third grade, she wrote her first poem where she learned she might have a knack for this writing thing. Lara remembers sneaking her grandmother’s Harlequin novels when she was probably too young to be reading them, and since then, she knew she wanted to write her own. When they met in college, they bonded over their love of reading and the TV show Charmed. What really spiced up their friendship was when Lara introduced Renae to romance novels. When they discovered their first vampire romance, they knew there would always be a special place in their hearts for paranormal romance. After being unable to find certain storylines and characteristics they wanted to read about in the hundreds of books they consumed, they decided to write their own. One lives in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and the other in the Kansas City area where they’re a sonographer/stay-at-home mom/wife and pharmacist/mother by day, and together they’re a sexy author by night. They communicate through phone, email, and whole lot of messaging. You can find them at http://www.rlkenderson.com, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, and Goodreads. Join their Facebook Reader Group. Or you can email them at rlkenderson@rlkenderson.com, or sign up for their newsletter here. They always love hearing from their readers.

Enter R.L.’s Giveaway: 

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Sheep Interview: Jacquelyn Frank

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Today we have the very busy (have you see how many books she's written?) PNR author Jacquelyn Frank.  She is starting a new series called "The World of Nighwalkers" and the first book Forbidden comes out Oct. 30, 2012 with the Forever (book #2) coming out March 2013. We get Jacki to give us a crash course on her Nightwalker world and how all the books fit together, which book she thinks is the best she has ever written... and she even gives us an exclusive about a new novel coming out next year under her sexy erotic pen name Jax.

Sharon: You live in one of my favorite places, the NC Mountains. Has the change started? I always drive the Blue Ridge Parkway at some point in Oct (I live in the Triad area). It is such an awesome site. 

Graveyard Fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Jacki: It HAS started, and I’m so very excited about it. The fall is my favorite of all seasons. And Halloween is by far my favorite holiday. I love to go all out decorating. Although I am way behind this year because of a deadline crunch. 

Sharon: Let’s get the basics first, then we can ask what readers really want to know…You have 17 (insert *holy crap!* face) novels and 5 different series. For those who aren't familiar with your work can you tell us about your series and how they are related or different from each other? 
Jacki: Okay here goes. 
My biggest series is the NIGHTWALKERS series, but it conjoins with other books and series so I am going to list the order in which they SHOULD be read…although they could be read individually (eep!) Just don’t tell me about it. It kills me when people start in the middle!

THE NIGHTWALKERS (A story arc about six races of beings that live and love in the hours of darkness. It centers mostly around the Demon race and their struggle to find their ultimate mates in order to keep themselves from going crazy.) These go like this… 

JACOB 

GIDEON 

ELIJAH 

DAMIEN 

NOAH 

Then we shift to THE SHADOWDWELLERS which is a focus on one of those six breeds that is very secular from the others. However, things and characters develop in this line that show up in the last NIGHTWALKERS book.) 

ECSTASY 

RAPTURE (I consider this my best book. Ever.) 

PLEASURE 

Then we take a segue into the anthology of: 

NOCTOURNAL  

KANE (This is a flashback story of the night Kane meets his mate, which is taking place simultaneously with the end of JACOB) 

Then we jump back to the NIGHTWALKERS for: 

ADAM 

And next we go to my upcoming release in THE WORLD OF NIGHTWALKERS: 

FORBIDDEN 

FOREVER 

FORBIDDEN AND FOREVER however can COMPLETELY stand alone. If you want to start with FORBIDDEN that’s just fine. It’s introducing all new NIGHTWALKERS who have no clue the other NIGHTWALKERS exist…yet ;). Although, series fans will see glimpses of our beloved characters…but not to fear, there is a full-on crossover event planned!

Then there are the GATHERERS. There are only two books in this world with no plans to continue at this time. However, the stories are not open ended so it is complete in and of itself. 

HUNTING JULIAN 

STEALING KATHERYN 

Then we have the THREE WORLDS series. Two books so far with a possible third in the future. It was put on hold for the NIGHTWALKERS series. (I am only one woman after all!): 

SEDUCE ME IN DREAMS 

SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES 

Then I have a short story in SUPERNATURAL called THE PHOENIX PROJECT 

Which, btw, will be continued under my JAX name (my sexier erotic writing nom de plume) in an anthology titled THE PLEASURE PROJECT with THE SCIENCE OF PLEASURE

And a full length novel in this same world coming out sometime next year! I don’t think we've settled on a title, but the working title is THE CATSKILLS PROJECT. 

(This is the first time I’m telling anyone about this!)

Also in my JAX name is THE BID. It is soooooo damn sexy. And I was once told my villain gave someone nightmares. Gotta love that! 

Sharon: O_O I think I will need visual aids to keep all these men straight…yeah lots and lots of visual aids.. 

Katie: Who's been your favorite character that you love to hate? 
Jacki: Baron Majum in The Bid! (Not who you thought I was gonna say, now was it!) 
Sharon: I so knew you were going to say him…okay that’s a lie. 

Sharon: The World of Nightwalkers is a new series you have coming out and Forbidden will be the first release (10/30/12). What does this series offer that your others don’t? And what is up with the hero’s name!? Ram, that brings up a certain mental picture <G>. 
Katie: Hey! I'm an Aries so Ram works for me! 
Jacki: You’ll love the name even more when you read the book. This series shows how much I have matured as a writer, I think. My villains are more complex than the others. Or so I hope. 

Katie: Did you ever do something to your characters that caused a lot of grief with the fans? 
Jacki: Oh HELLS yeah. The opening chapter in ADAM. EVERYONE wanted to kill me for that. I cannot tell you how often I wrote: --Trust your author, go back and finish the book--in response to a scathing fan letter. 

Sharon: You are a big advocate of animal rescue. Here is your chance to give your two cents 

*brushes off moonpie crumbs and hands soap box to Jacki* 

Jacki: Firstly, I focus mostly on cats, so this will lean toward that. Nothing infuriates me more than people who don’t spay or neuter their animals either through laziness or some fucked up idea that the animals should at least experience motherhood once; that we are robbing them of the natural order of things. Especially felines. Feline queens can give birth three even four times in a year (depending on mildness of the weather.) If she only has four kittens a litter that can mean SIXTEEN cats with no home, no food, and no veterinary care. Every single rescue group I work with is bursting at the seams with cats and are forced to turn them away. I’m on the board of the Animal Compassion Network, as well as being a foster mom, and right now we have 110 cats in our system. That’s 110 mouths to feed, 110 vet bills to pay (more if they have severe illness or injury) and 110 foster families to find. It’s also 110 adopting families to find. And we aren't even the biggest rescue in the city of Asheville. And as far as cities go, we are extremely small! 

Also, a cat can start queening as young as six months old and often these females are confused about what’s happening to them and abandon their litters, leaving them to starve. I’m a bottle feeding foster mom and I can’t tell you how many times that happens. The two biggest kitten seasons are the early months of spring and in October. They are very cold months, and newborns cannot generate or control their own body heat. The freeze to death very quickly. If you do see a litter with no mother, they start to starve after two or three hours. If mama cat doesn't return after that amount of time, it’s best to fetch them out of the cold ASAP and fine a foster like myself. And I can tell you bottle feeding neonatal kittens is much more specialized than you might think. It’s not just about giving them a bottle. It’s about us not being the natural mothers they deserve and just doing the best we can. We are very poor substitutes though, I promise you that.

Almost every city or town has low cost spay neuter clinic or rescue groups that can give out low cost vouchers. It only takes a few phone calls to find these resources, starting with calling the local animal shelter. Animal rescue is a tight community and everyone knows about everyone, for the most part.

*Dusts off soapbox and hands it back* 

Sharon: well done! Now go out and spay/neuter your pets people! 

Sharon: If every time you entered a room theme music would play what would yours be? 
Jacki: Fortune Empress of the World. 

Katie: Can you speak another language? 

Jacki: Sign language, though obviously that’s not SPOKEN. But it is every bit a language with syntax, colloquialism and grammar. 

Sharon: What drinks do you have in your refrigerator right now? 
Jacki: Mike’s hard lemonade. Moscato di Asti (mmmm grown up kool-aid!) lemonade, and root beer. *slurp* LOOOOVE me my root beer. 

Sharon: looks like the party is moving to your house! We’ll bring the chips!


Rapid Fire Round:

Sharon: Live in Mister Roger’s Neighborhood or On Sesame Street? 

Jacki: Sesame Street. I already live in Mister Roger’s neighborhood and these people need to loosen up a little. 

Katie: Cheetos or Cheese Puffs? 

Jacki: PUFFS! 

Sharon: awesomesauce or crazysauce? 
Jacki: Awesomesauce of course. 

Katie: Coke or Pepsi? 

Jacki: Pepsi. 
Sharon: of course! Someone as awesome as you and I would drink nothing else! 

Katie: Send the Ravens or Send the Rider? 
Jacki: Okay you lost me here. 
Sharon: (me too)

Sharon: fishing or hand gliding? 
Jacki: Never heard of hand gliding ;)…but as I am terrified of heights I’d say fishing…except fishing is frikken boring so I probably wouldn't do that either. Also, I’m no good at keeping quiet. Unless it’s deep-sea fishing. That totally rocks biscuits. And you can party while waiting for a nibble. 

this is hand gliding

Sharon: I like the phrase “rocks biscuits”…biscuits are the food of the gods in my opinion.

Katie: Yo ho yo ho or All aboard? 
Jacki: All aboard! 

Sharon: ticket for three to Crazy Town!

Katie: Have your wicked way with me or I'll show you who's boss? 
Jacki: Why can’t we all just take turns?? 

Sharon: Thanks for taking the time to visit the Flock, got anything you would like to add? Upcoming appearances, blog stops, how much you spend on kitty litter a month?

Jacki: I spend 300 dollars a month in cat food and about 100 dollars a month in litter. That’ not counting my fosters, just my personal animals. And did I mention the astronomical vet bills??
I am signing books live and in person in New York City Friday, November 2nd at 6pm at Posman Books in Grand Central Station 

lickable cover #1

Forbidden (The World of Nightwalkers #1) 
Publication Date: October 30, 2012 
Preorder Now: 
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From New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Frank comes this first book in The World of the Nightwalkers—an exciting and sensual new spin-off series in which the Bodywalkers, an ancient race of the night, battles the evil forces who prey on them.

The unexpected happens in an instant. On her way to work, secretary Docia Waverley hurtles into a crashing crossroads, and she quickly begins to suspect that things will never be the same. Then, when a tall, blond, muscular stranger intervenes on her behalf, telling her it is his duty to protect her at all cost, what is just a feeling turns to proof positive. That is, as long as Docia’s savior doesn’t turn out to be a crazed kidnapper.

When Ram finds Docia, he has no doubt that she is his queen. But as this golden warrior sweeps in to protect her, he feels something more than body heat every time they touch. He is overwhelmed by a searing connection that goes deep into the twin souls inside him. A desire rises in him that is forbidden—this woman is his queen, the mate of his king, his leader, his best friend. And yet Docia is so vulnerable and attractive that she awakens a hunger in Ram that is undeniable, a carnal craving he cannot yield to . . . not without risking the very survival of the Bodywalkers.

lickable cover #2

Forever
(The World of Nightwalkers #2) Publication Date: March 26, 2013 
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After being brought back from death, police officer Jackson Waverly receives the shock of his life: he has become host to a Bodywalker, a spirit that is reborn in flesh and blood, and part of a proud, ancient race that uses its extraordinary gifts to battle dark, evil forces. Jackson’s spirit is a powerful one—none other than the Egyptian pharaoh Menes, who longs to reunite with his eternal love, the Egyptian queen Hatshepsut.

While Menes is obsessed with finding the perfect vessel for his queen, Jackson cannot stop thinking about Dr. Marissa Anderson, the gorgeous precinct shrink who keeps pushing him to confront his grief over the loss of his K-9 partner. But what Marissa really arouses most in Jackson is intense desire, which is exactly what Menes is looking for. To fight a great enemy, pharaoh and queen must join; but to host Hatshepsut, Marissa will first have to die. Fate has given Jackson a profound choice: save Marissa from Menes’ plan or keep an entire species from the brink of extinction

About the Author:

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New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Frank is an old and decrepit 44 years old. She can’t remember shit, loves her eight cats to the point of lunacy, and lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She prides herself on being a crazy cat lady in the making (if not having already succeeded) and spends her free time rescuing teeny tiny kittens barely big enough to fill the inside of a toilet paper roll. You can watch for upcoming projects at www.jacquelynfrank.com or you can write to her at jackifrankwrites@gmail.com. If you’re writing her to complain about something, make sure you finish the book before you do ;) She loves to mess with your head.

Sheep Book Review: Forbidden by Syrie & Ryan James + GIVEAWAY

***Stay tuned until the end of the review for your chance to win the paperback edition of this book! Open to US residents only***

Forbidden, by authors Syrie James & Ryan M. James, ( a mother and son team) is a YA paranormal story that frankly I thought would have been a bit of a bore. Surprisingly, I found myself going against my usual dislike of "teen angst" stories and enjoying what was offered, and there quiet a bit going on at this buffet table!

Plot:

She should not exist.

He should not love her. Claire Brennan has been attending Emerson Academy for two years now (the longest she and her mom have remained anywhere) and she’s desperate to stay put for the rest of high school. So there’s no way she’s going to tell her mom about the psychic visions she’s been having or the creepy warnings that she’s in danger.Alec MacKenzie is fed up with his duties to watch and, when necessary, eliminate the descendants of his angelic forefathers. He chose Emerson as the ideal hiding place where he could be normal for once. He hadn’t factored Claire into his plans. . . .

Their love is forbidden, going against everything Alec has been taught to believe. But when the reason behind Claire’s unusual powers is revealed and the threat to her life becomes clear, how far will Alec go to protect her?

If the High School scene appeals to you, OR you enjoy a book that's more for the young at heart, then you'll be pleased with what Forbidden has to offer. I was surprised by the darker element the authors were able to intertwine within the story's plot. Characters coming from an angelic descendant take some turns towards evil and as the story picks up you get invested in the young adults and plot line. But in an attempt at full disclosure, the beginning of the book, for me, was an uphill STRUGGLE! Fortunately it got much better and after that first third of the book I found myself flying through the pages to get to the ending and see how this might all possibly end.

Brennan is our young high-school student who's moved around from town to town with her mother since as far back as she can remember. As someone who personally changed school multiple times through the Junior High-High School years (6 schools in all) I could totally relate. She's surrounded herself with a tight-knit group of friends who seem to be very supportive of her and each other. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and your typical back-stabbing to take place but was surprised yet again with these young adults.

Alec is the Scottish hunk who's new to town, (Kalpar: Why do they always seem to be Scottish?) and is immediately embraced by the group he finds friends and gets going down the right path. That is, until Brennan has some major changes taking place and starts making waves on the psychic grid. Angels descend with family secrets coming into play and the plot thickens. The Fallen ones come lurking about looking to recruit a vulnerable young girl to the dark side (No, Vader not you, please go back to your seat) and all Hell is about to break loose if she can't fight what's coming. In a very literal fashion. Alec, the man with the skills to fight back the Fallen hordes, steps into the scene just as a possible romance starts to heat things up.

Some twists to the plot line keep things interesting and as you get to the ending new foes and friends will arise. Forbidden is a well thought out story with the young in mind but one that anyone who's looking for a fun read could enjoy. It's PG on the smutty scale (for the kiddies) but holds some powerful elements of friendship and discovery. I could have used a little less "does he love me, does he love me not" metaphoric flower petal pealing but hey it's a YA book and kinda comes with the territory.

Getting 4 'weeee on the Farris wheel' Sheep

KD

***Giveaway***

If you'd like a chance to win a paperback copy of this book make sure to list all the things in the comments below. Double entries for followers. Contest ends February 20th at midnight.

1. Your email address.

2. What's your favorite memory from High School?

3. Did you tweet or FaceBook about this giveaway? If so add another entry for either or.