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Showing posts with label J. D. Tyler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J. D. Tyler. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Book Review: Chase the Darkness: An Alpha Pack Novel (Book 7) by J.D. Tyler

Chase the Darkness: An Alpha Pack Novel (Book 7) 
by J.D. Tyler
Pages: 288
4 August 2015
Paranormal Romance
Plot:
Believed dead by his Pack mates, Micah Chase, a wolf shifter and Dreamwalker, was held captive for months, subject to tortures that left him physically scarred and emotionally unsettled.

Now under the care of the Alpha Pack’s doctors, he’s been prescribed an experimental healing drug, but he still can’t shake the nightmares. Even more damning is that Micah’s problems pose a danger to his team, and if he doesn’t get himself under control, they’ll all suffer a terrible fate.

There is a key to his salvation. Jacee is a beautiful coyote shifter, and though her kind is hated, she’s falling in love with a man whose very future is in her hands. Together they’ll face his personal demons as well as a deadly enemy—and for both of them desire has never come with such risk.


Chase the Darkness is book 7 in this shifter pnr series, this was my first time reading about the saga. I was very pleased that it;s written in such a way that you can start from this point. Or any point. The writer does a good job of filling in any holes with past characters, without making it tedious for longtime readers. You can tell that past relationships were had and if anything, you want to go back and read about their journey to HEA.

Our leading man hunk Micah has some skeletons rattling around in his closet. He's not telling the whole truth about his dark desires, but soon his secrets will come out and he's going to have to face the sober music. For anyone who's struggled with addiction, a lot of this may hit home. But there is hope and you're there to take the journey with him, it's a good one.

This pack seems to be an eclectic one, most have some type of additional shifter power. Which is fun and gives them an almost super hero team feel. But I do need to complain that the impression I got was women getting the shit end of the stick. Not one of the gals had any type of power that I could see. No super strength or even healing powers. Nothing. Maybe it's in past books, maybe not. The whole team of badass shifters is made up of males. So the men head off to war, while the little ladies sit at home and await them.

It sure does not help that our leading gal Jacee, while being a coyote shifter, is meek and easily spooked out. She's a shifter. She can shift into a coyote. I don't know but it seems she should be able to hold her own in some capacity. Other then making chili and shopping. Just my thoughts, but this surely wont bug all the gals.

Overall, this was a fun tale in the shifter world or paranormal romance. I would have enjoyed stronger female characters and villains a little less transparent, but overall enjoyable.

Getting 3 and 1/2 Sheep




KD

About the Author:
J.D. Tyler is an award-winning, multi-published author who writes for New American Library under three pseudonyms. Whether this is due to an overdose of ambition or a multiple personality affliction, she’ll never tell.

J.D. writes dark, sexy paranormal romance and has a huge thing for shifters, vampires, the Fae, and just about everything else that goes bump and grind in the night. She can’t get enough of those dangerous supernatural heroes, and the fun of creating her own was just too much temptation to resist… so she didn’t. J.D. doesn’t do self-denial.

When she isn’t writing, J.D.’s idea of a good time certainly isn’t cleaning house (sniff), bungee jumping (not in this lifetime, or the next), or camping (her idea of “roughing it” is a slow bellboy). She enjoys reading, being pampered like the diva she is, and spending time with her awesome family. She lives in Texas with her two teenagers.




Monday, March 17, 2014

Book Review: Cole's Redemption by J.D. Tyler

Cole's Redemption (Alpha Pack #5)
By: J.D. Tyler

Kindle Edition, 325 pages
Published March 4th 2014 by NAL/Signet Eclipse

Once, they were Navy SEALS. Now they are the Alpha Pack: a top secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers who take on the darkest dangers on Earth. But sometimes the greatest danger lies within their own hearts....

Healer and black wolf shifter Zander Cole has survived horrors that would have broken a weaker man. But when a battle leaves him deaf and his powers dimmed, Zan is devastated. Believing himself to be a burden to his team, he sees only one option: leave the Pack forever.

White wolf shifter Selene Westfall knows pain—she is certain her father was responsible for her mother’s death. And she lives to exact revenge. So when she is challenged by a savage black wolf, she puts up a vicious fight—only to become the black wolf’s Bondmate as a result of his bite.

Two damaged souls—one filled with hatred and one who’s lost his reason for living—are forced together as they come to terms with their unlikely, turbulent bond. A love neither expected may be all that stands between them and a killer trying desperately to keep the past dead and buried.

This is the first time I’ve ever read Tyler’s work and to me, it was worth my time. It’s clear that the author took plenty of time to create a believable world and interesting character backgrounds to go with it yet didn’t drone on and on with descriptions and back stories. As a reader I was fully immersed and invested in the story and characters before the end of chapter 3.

Zander for all his power and alpha male presence is a kind, charming and witty character. I expected an angsty, brooding, and borderline a-hole of a character but was caught by surprised with the tender aspect of his character. Not what I expected from a former Navy SEAL

Selene on the other hand is fueled by rage. She’s a very driven, single minded character. Every move she makes is to bring her one step closer to getting revenge on the person she believes is responsible for her mother’s death. It was interesting to watch how Selene handled the addition of suddenly finding herself Zander’s Bondmate and the responsibilities that come with it. 

I enjoyed the addition of more than just shifters in Cole’s Redemption. It felt like a paranormal buffet and added some interesting possibilities for the series. 

There’s plenty of action, mystery, suspense and of course some very sexy scenes between Zander and Selene, those two are pretty hot together. However, Cole’s Redemption lacks a bit in the building of an emotional relationship between Zander and Selene. It’s always tricky when a story has “fated mates” or Bondmates as in this story but I felt like there wasn’t enough growth between them romantically to justify them going from virtual strangers to “in love” Bondmates. The potential for a great romance was there, but it just never quite hit the mark.

As a paranormal romance Cole’s Redemption wasn’t too immersed in blood and gore, yet it wasn’t exactly a light and fluffy romp either. I would put it right in the middle of the paranormal scale, not too much and not too little. 

All in all, Cole’s Redemption did what it was supposed to. It had a likeable cast of characters, told an interesting story and introduced me to a new series that will have me picking up the next book in the series as soon as possible.

Sheep Rating: 4






Adria Reyes
Reviewer/Owner of Adria's Romance Reviews
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About the Author:
J.D. Tyler is an award-winning, multi-published author who writes for New American Library under three pseudonyms. Whether this is due to an overdose of ambition or a multiple personality affliction, she’ll never tell.

J.D. writes dark, sexy paranormal romance and has a huge thing for shifters, vampires, the Fae, and just about everything else that goes bump and grind in the night. She can’t get enough of those dangerous supernatural heroes, and the fun of creating her own was just too much temptation to resist… so she didn’t. J.D. doesn’t do self-denial.

When she isn’t writing, J.D.’s idea of a good time certainly isn’t cleaning house (sniff), bungee jumping (not in this lifetime, or the next), or camping (her idea of “roughing it” is a slow bellboy). She enjoys reading, being pampered like the diva she is, and spending time with her awesome family. She lives in Texas with her two teenagers.


Thursday, December 13, 2012

Sheep Interview: JD Tyler + giveaway

Today we sit down and drool talk with JD Tyler about the Navy SEAL shifters from her Alpha Pack series. Book #3 Alpha Moon just released so there are two other books and a novella for you too taste! Be sure to read on because we talk about everything from spandex pants on Jon Bon Jovi to naked tennis!

Sharon: Hello, can we call you JD, maybe? Grab a sheep bean bag chair and let’s talk smexy paranormal men!

*pulls out some napkins and hands them to JD and Katie* 
I just took a drool stroll through your website and based on what I read… we are gonna need them ;) 
JD: Hi Sharon and Katie! It’s great to be here. Ooh, I love nothing more than talking about hot men with special, um, abilities! 

Sharon: unfortunately we are a PG-13 site so we have to talk about some of those “abilities” a little later… you did bring visual aids, right?

JD: I might have brought a hot Alpha Pack shifter or two we can “inspect”…

Sharon: You are a new author to me so could you tell me about your Alpha Pack series? And why you chose to release a novella between book 1 and 2.
JD: The Alpha Pack is a team of black ops shifters who battle the world’s most dangerous human and non-human predators to keep citizens safe. They can be sent anywhere on a moment’s notice. They are the ultimate heroic male animal. 

My publisher actually asked me to do a novella between books 1 and 2 when they launched Penguin eSpecials, and of course I said yes. We decided that the novella should be a short story about Kalen and Mackenzie, setting up their novel. I was pleased with how the story turned out.

Sharon: do your stories have HEAs?
JD: Yes, definitely. I’m a firm believer that I have enough stress in my life and the world has enough sadness that I don’t need to add to it by writing stories that make me or my readers depressed. I need hope and happiness from my stories, and even though I like to put my heroes through the wringer, that’s what I deliver to readers! They can count on things turning out all right in the end. 

Sharon: What is the heat level of this series?
JD: The heat level is very hot, but not erotic. There are no multiple partners, or mates in this series. 

Sharon: When you came up with idea for Alpha Pack, how far ahead did you plan the books? Is there an overall story arc with an eventual conclusion and have stuck to your original plan or has the story evolved into something else?

JD: The first 3 books were outlined more than a year in advance. Yes, I planned a story arc with the horrible experimentation being done on humans and shifters that the Pack is trying to stop, and I knew Kalen would play a key role in that climax in book 3 (heehee, pun intended?), BLACK MOON. I stuck to the arc because it was so vivid in my mind and I knew exactly where I wanted it to go. 


male-animal!
Sharon: What is it about an Alpha that pushes your “buttons” and shifters in particular?
JD: I used the term “male animal” earlier and that’s what pushes my buttons—there’s just something super-sexy about a man who can shift into a fierce animal counterpart, who’s protective of his mate. He won’t take shit off of anybody, and he has the strength to back it up. To me, that’s a recipe for a dream hero. 
Sharon: male animal…hmmm, I like the sound of that! The thought of a man that growls, loudly, is…mmfmff 
*Katie slaps duct tape over Sharon’s mouth* Sometimes, you just have to!
JD: What was that, Katie? I want to hear more about growling and why our sexy shifters would do that! 

Sharon: Why did you pick Navy Seals? 
Katie: Really, that's just a silly question Sharon. I mean, come on, they are too hot for words.
JD: Katie, I agree! (Fanning myself.) I knew I wanted my team of shifters to have a military background for the types of dangerous situations they would find themselves dealing with. They needed to possess certain real-life skills sets, such as being able to dismantle a bomb, fly a Huey, do recon, etc. They couldn’t do those things if they’d held regular Joe Citizen jobs before being turned. I picked Navy SEALs in particular because the training they have to successfully complete to join that unit is among the toughest around. These guys are BADASS. I wanted that heroic portrait for my Pack guys. 
Sharon: I bet researching SEALs was a terrible chore for you…

JD: Ooh, yes, just terrible! Surrounded by all that testosterone and toned muscles… what’s a poor author to do?! 

website
Sharon: If the Mayan apocalypse happens, what would your last meal be?
JD: I think it would have to be Mexican food, maybe chicken flautas, accompanied by a great big margarita on the rocks. 

Sharon: Do you have a favorite piece of artwork or favorite artist?
JD: I love impressionist art, the scenes of places or landscapes done with soft swirls and splashes of color. I’m house hunting, and I’d love to find some work done in this style to hang on the walls. 
Katie: Might I suggest checking out Redbubble.com? They may have just what you are looking for!
JD: Awesome! I see some beautiful work on there. 

Katie: If you had to be stuck with one fictional character for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?
JD: Does it have to be one of mine? If not, then my choice would be Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series, hands down! He’s a hot PI Master Wizard. And he can conjure me Jennifer Lopez’s body while he’s at it. What more do I need? 

If it’s one of mine, then it would be either Sorcerer Kalen Black, or Firestarter/Telekentic Aric Savage. Any of these guys would do me juuuust fine. 

Sharon: it is funny how often Harry is picked for questions we ask! Most people pick him to have their back during a zombie apocalypse too. 
JD: Harry is SO yummy! It doesn’t hurt that the cover model the publisher uses as Harry for the artwork is drop-dead gorgeous! Have you guys seen a pic of the model, John Paul Pfeiffer? Google him and get back to me. OMG! 

*Sharon and Katie crowd around the computer*

Sharon: Holy crap on a cracker!


Sharon: We have a magical do-over wool hat. If we let you put it on, what would you use it for? (what would you want a do over for?)
JD: Oh, that’s a toughie. There are so many things I’d love a second chance to get right. But sometimes I think there are things you’d just like to do again, period. I suppose I would go back to the 80’s when I was in my early twenties, single, and cute, and live all of those fun times all over again! I wouldn’t take for granted how short time really is. Ahh, the memories… 
Sharon: OMG! Yes! I miss those times too… do you remember when MTV started? Adam Ant? 
Katie: I was sadly not allowed to watch MTV in the 80’s!
JD: Sharon, I remember when MTV debuted! I was in awe, and I watched every day. Music videos were a revelation! I was riveted to Bon Jovi strutting around in Spandex. I’m still riveted to them, but thank God they no longer wear Spandex. LoL. 

Rapid Fire questions!

Sharon: King of the Summer Court or King of the Winter Court?
JD: Summer Court. 

Katie: Coke or Pepsi?
JD: Coke. With rum. 
Sharon: NOOOOOOO! I thought we were bonding over the whole 80’s thing *sob*
Katie: HA HA!! More wins for Team Coke!
JD: You’re both wrong. It’s a win for Team Rum. :)

Sharon: moans or growls?
JD: Growls. 
Sharon: I’ve already made my opinion on this clear ;) 

Katie: Naked Golf or Naked Tennis?
JD: Naked Tennis. More jiggling! 
*Sharon spits Pepsi out nose*
JD: (innocently) What? 

Sharon: Singing in the Rain or Dancing in the Streets?
JD: Dancing in the Streets. 
Katie: 80's rock or 90's?
JD: 80’s rock! Is there any other kind? 
Sharon: favorite song or artist?

JD: Bon Jovi all the way! I would make a nice cold cut in a Jon/Richie sandwich. Just sayin’. 
pass the bread and let's eat!
Sharon: moonlight or sunlight?
JD: Moonlight. 

Katie: mani or pedi?
JD: Pedi. 

Sharon: shop at the mall or shop online?
JD: Online. 
Sharon: are you done with holiday shopping?
JD: Almost. Just a couple more things and I’m finished! Much better than last year when I was still working on a book at this time. 

Katie: All you can eat salad bar or dessert bar?
JD: Salad bar. 

Sharon: flamboyant or plain?
JD: Plain. 

Sharon: Thanks for stopping by. Anything you would like to add before you head for the hot air balloon. You did know about that right?
JD: Hot air balloon? Oh my, I’m afraid of heights! I’ll have to call a cab! 
I just want to thank readers for their support, and for coming by today! Hugs and kisses!

Black Moon: An Alpha Pack #3
A group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers combating the greatest dangers in the world. But sometime those dangers are more intimate than they bargained for...

Ever since he saved Dr. Mackenzie Grant's life, panther shifter and sorcerer Kalen Black has had trouble keeping the beautiful doctor out of his thoughts, and his heart. The brush with death awakened an intense passion between them--one that for the first time had the notorious loner letting down his guard.

With the Alpha Pack battling an evil Fae who is slowly gaining control over Kalen's mind, Kalen can no longer trust his own actions, and he breaks off his affair with Mackenzie in order to keep her safe. But when Mackenzie learns that she is carrying Kalen's child, no amount of danger will keep her away from the man she loves. To be with his mate and unborn child, Kalen will have to unleash the full fury of his power, and risk destroying them all...


You can meet the cast of Alpha Pack 
on JD's website

About the Author
website-FB-twitter-newsletter
J.D. Tyler is an award-winning, multi-published author who writes for New American Library under three pseudonyms. Whether this is due to an overdose of ambition or a multiple personality affliction, she’ll never tell.

J.D. writes dark, sexy paranormal romance and has a huge thing for shifters, vampires, the Fae, and just about everything else that goes bump and grind in the night. She can’t get enough of those dangerous supernatural heroes, and the fun of creating her own was just too much temptation to resist… so she didn’t. J.D. doesn’t do self-denial.

When she isn’t writing, J.D.’s idea of a good time certainly isn’t cleaning house (sniff), bungee jumping (not in this lifetime, or the next), or camping (her idea of “roughing it” is a slow bellboy). She enjoys reading, being pampered like the diva she is, and spending time with her awesome family. She lives in Texas with her two teenagers.



BLACK MOON BLOG TOUR
11/25/12 - 12/15/12

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