50 New Book Releases for the Week of December 2

Lots of fun hits the page today!

Click on the covers to be taken to the amazon page. I Smell Sheep is an affiliate of amazon and we will get a tiny percentage of each sale for advertising.

This is our WTF-ery of the week:

The first one speaks for its self. The second looks pretty good...just a crazy cover. The third one is on here because it is a Jane Austen Space Opera.

Book Review: Wolf's Fall (Alpha Pack #6) by J.D. Tyler

Wolf's Fall (Alpha Pack #6) 
by J.D. Tyler

352 pages

December 2nd, 2014 
by Signet
A top secret team of wolf shifters, the Alpha Pack are former Navy SEALS that use their Psy powers to take on the world’s greatest predators. But while each member is loyal to the pack, it can be hard to deny the call of desire…

Still tormented by his recent captivity, Alpha Pack commander Nick Westfall isn’t sure he’s fit to lead—especially when he meets the one woman he can’t claim without reliving the torture he endured at the hands of a rogue vampire.

Vampire princess Calla Shaw has seen her own share of heartbreak, but she can tell that the wild attraction she and Nick feel for each other could turn into something significant—if only he’d let it. But Calla isn’t about to give up on her mate without a fight.

Time is running out, not only for Nick to claim his mate, but for Calla and her coven. A vampire war is on the horizon, one the Alpha Pack can’t hope to win if their leader can’t pull himself back from the abyss.

To be fair, this was my first time jumping into this series. Saying that, you can certainly read this latest story as a standalone if you fancy. 

Wolf's Fall starts out really interesting, being in Nick's head and hearing the internal struggle he's got going on. It all laid the ground work from some compelling reading. 

Enter stage left, Calla the vamp princess. I didn't really get a chance to feel much for her. Fairly soon the story is moving along to capture the vampire and the chance begins. A lot of back and forth action between the wolves and vampires brings the action, but brushes over the continued building of a realistic relationship between the pair. 

In short, they fall for each other really fast and hop in the sack to get it on. I would have liked more time on building a bond between the pair, without kidnapping and rescuing. But that aside this was overall a pleasant read. 


Sheep review: Cole's Redemption (Alpha Pack #5)

Getting 3 and 1/2 Sheep 
KD

About the Author:

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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.

Book Review: The Stag Lord (Bannerman Boru) by Darby Kaye

The Stag Lord (Bannerman Boru)
By: Darby Kaye
Paranormal Romance
299 pages Publisher: Spence City/Spencer Hill Press

Plot:
On the run across America from a vengeful shape-shifter, Bannerman Bann Boru has only one thing on his mind: keeping himself and his young son, Cor, alive. At any cost.

Then he meets Shay Doyle, healer and member of a secret group of immortal Celtic warriors, the Tuatha De Danaan, who live in modern-day Colorado. When Cor is injured, Bannerman is forced to accept her help. He quickly realizes that the golden-haired healer is shield-maiden tough and can hold her own on the field of battle with the big boys. And Shay soon discovers that there is more to Bann then meets the eye.

Now, with the shape-shifter Cernunnos teaming up with the local pack of Fir Bolgs (Bronze Age creatures with a nasty taste for children), Bannerman, Shay, her wolf-dog Max, and the rest of the Doyle clan must figure out how to battle one insane god.

Amazon-Barnes & Noble-The Book Depository

Go to Goodreads and add it to your reading list!

Do not judge this book based on the cover or the title, both of which needed some major work, cause this story is amazingly wondrous! I'll get into this a little more in a minute. For now, the Fey are coming at you in a whole new light. Demons and fighting ancient evil, sure it's been done before. But not like this!

I was sucked in from the first heartbreaking chapter. The humanness of this tale is off the charts. The character development and interaction was everything you could hope for and more. Lore that was deeply rooted and well thought out. The heavy situations these folks face, while fantastical, seem realistic in this dynamic world. I was blown away, on many levels and this continued throughout many of the chapters.

In a word: marvelous. I wish to the lore I could say "flawless", but there were a few things that needed to be reworked a tad. The cover and title, as mentioned. Both of which do not do justice for the tale. The face, it has no meaning to the overall depth this story portrays. The title of this book, it holds no value for the struggle and obstacles that are faced.

There was a lot of build up to the Stag Lord himself, but once you get to him the story almost comes apart. He's not the imposing character that I thought he would be. I mean maybe he's got more to come, but with book one you just really expected something a little more dangerous.

Overall, this is a great start to a new series. Book two is not coming out until the end of 2015, which I hate! I want it now! But, this gives everyone the time needed to get caught up. And maybe, just maybe, change the cover. *shudders*

The sequel, Unholy Blue, will be released December 2015 from Spence City.

Getting 4 Sheep 

KD

About the Author:

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Darby Karchut is an award-winning author, dreamer, and compulsive dawn greeter. Her books include the Griffin Rising series,theAdventures of Finn MacCullen series, and writing as Darby Kaye, The Stag Lord and its sequel, Unholy Blue.

A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Pikes Peak Writers, Darby has been known to run in blizzards and bike in lightning storms. When not dodging death by Colorado, she writes urban fantasy for tweens, teens, and adults.

Book Review: The Darkest Touch (Lords of the Underworld Book 12) by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Touch Lords of the Underworld (Book 12)
By: Gena Showalter
Paranormal Romance
496 Pages 

Plot:
Fierce immortal warrior. Host to the demon of Disease. Torin's every touch causes sickness and death—and a worldwide plague. Carnal pleasure is utterly forbidden, and though he has always overcome temptation with an iron will, his control is about to shatter.

She is Keeleycael. The Red Queen. When the powerful beauty with shocking vulnerabilities escapes from a centuries-long imprisonment, the desire that simmers between her and Torin is scorching. His touch could mean her end, but resisting her is the hardest battle he's ever fought—and the only battle he fears he can't win.

amzon-B&N

It's crazy how, sometimes, a book and actually a series in general, can end up meaning so much to you. How characters both complex and diverse can haunt the coroners of your mind. That these immensely entertaining immortals can be real in your heart. I have loved and enjoyed each and every edition to this ongoing saga. It's become something I crave reading. Again and again. 

Here we are, book 12, and so much has happened to these guys and gals it's hard to sum it all up! So I won't. New readers should start at book 1 and follow the journey to where we diehard readers are now. It's worth it. Trust me.

Torin's story has been highly anticipated for quiet some time now. Did I know how badass of a warrior he was before this? NO, hell no. Do I know it now? You're damn skippy I do! He's got the skills to kill some fools like dead and drop a beating heart at your feet just for funzies. He's fan yourself hot. He's deadly. And he's all male. LOVED it.

My only big let down was his wishy-washy personality when it came to love and being in any kind of a relationship. Yeah, yeah, he's the carrier of disease. I get it. But he kept doing the I love you/I have to push you away for your own good, just a few too many times. Stick to a decision already!!!!

On the other end of the spectrum is The Red Queen. I swear, she's my new book BFF. This chick is amazingly funny and so sweet, she just needed a chance to show it. Though she is super powerful, I disliked that many people could combat that power with a trump card. Let her be badass! Cause she was. Aside from that, I loved her and I loved the romance plus the die hard dedication she has for those she holds dear.

More amazing side characters then you can shake a giants stick at. Tons of adventure and signature action-packed sequences keep the whole story moving at a wonderfully paced tempo.

If you love PNR and can't wait to get balls deep in some steamy romance, then check this one out!

Getting 4 and 1/2 Sheep

KD

Excerpt

She appeared in front of him, displaying more tanned skin than she concealed, her hair falling around her face in lush, golden waves. Her eyes glittered with remnants of her anger. Her lips were slightly swollen and pinker than usual.

“Temper much?” she quipped.

His relief was palpable. She hadn’t forgotten him! But the relief was quickly replaced by concern. “Are you all right? Did someone hit you?”

She blinked with confusion. “No. Why?” “Your lips are swollen.”

She rubbed them, color heating her cheeks. “Someone didn’t hit me, but someone sure did hit on me.”

Hit on her. As in kissed her.

Already on edge, Torin. Utterly. Erupted.

He forgot everything he’d planned to do and say and got in Keeley’s face, snarling, “Who was it?”

Her eyes widened. “Hades. Why?”

“You dare ask why? You belong to me! We agreed. You do not kiss other men, Keeley. Ever. Have you for- gotten my rules?”

Her jaw dropped, and she gasped out a few unintelligible words as if she couldn’t quite figure out what to say to him.

He stood in place, breathing too quickly, too heavily, his throat and lungs burning. He reached for her, but as so many times before, fisted his hands and dropped them just before contact. This is crazy. I’m crazy. I have to leave.

“Are you…thinking about touching me?” she asked, her eyes widening again.

No, she had to leave. He could not be in public right now. “Go shopping. Buy yourself something pretty. My treat.” He basically tossed his credit card at her. He should be calm by the time she finished. “Come back in an hour. Maybe two. Actually, we’ll reconvene to- morrow.”

“You are,” she said. “You’re thinking… Even craving me. You don’t like the thought of another man’s hands on me, and you want to replace the memory with your hands.”

That. Yes. Hades would die, and Torin…Torin would touch this woman and never stop.

He gnashed his molars. “Last chance, Keeley. I sug- gest you take it and leave.” Soon. His control was almost completely shredded.

“No way. You’re the big bad warrior, yet I’ve had to come on to you time and time again. I’ve had to battle within myself—worth the price or not worth it. Well, it’s your turn.”

“There is no damn way you just suggested I haven’t done the same. I’ve battled.”

“When have you ever caved without prompting from me? You’ve resisted me so easily, always walking away. Sure, you’ve snarled while you’ve done the walking, but still you left me behind. So, tell me. When did you ever—”

“So easily?” he roared. Had she just said so easily? She had no clue about the intensity of his need—but he would teach her better.

Torin cupped her by the nape, yanked her close and smashed his mouth against hers. The kiss was a brutal assault meant to silence her, to dominate and possess. He held her still, making her take it, take everything. But the moment she softened against him, welcomed him inside her mouth, the darkness churning inside him switched gears. From the need to punish and master to the need to seduce and please.

This was Keeley. His princess. She deserved his best. He gentled the pressure, rolling his tongue inside her mouth, learning her all over again, tasting her. Summer berries and melted honey. So sweet. And mine. All mine. He framed her cheeks, angled her head and rolled his tongue just a little deeper. This time, she met him with a roll of her own.

That was his undoing.

About the Author:

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Gena Showalter is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author whose books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines, as well as Entertainment Weekly. Her novel Red Handed has been optioned by Sony Television. Critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories,” while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise.” Her mix of humor, danger and wickedly hot sex provides wildly sensual page-turners sure to enthrall.

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At I Smell Sheep we love the spirit of giving during the holidays. We have our personal favorite charities that we give to and would love to know yours!

Katie

World Vision - donate a sheep

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Sharon

I like to donate to local charities. Especially food banks. I have kids in the public school system and I've seen children whose only good meal each day is the school lunch. I know giving to a local food bank directly helps the families in my area.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Western NC

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IWK Health Centre - a place that changes lives and saves lives; a place that provides critical and specialized care to women, children, youth and families throughout the Maritimes.

IWK Foundation

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I volunteer a day here, helping, and donate toys and books each year. Many more families need this since the economic problems. This is local one to me (there is Henrico and Richmond too)

County of Chesterfield, VA | Social Services - Christmas Mother Program - Social Services

Salvation Army

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http://www.literacyinc.com/

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