My TBR List ~ #OctobeRecFest Edition ~ Polling is Open!

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

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I'm continuing my quest, and working at one of my Bookish Resolutions to catch up on series (since I'm behind in 148 series) I'm once again having y'all decide which series I'm going to work at catching up on this month! :D FYI, this will be my theme all year. And since I'm letting random.org choose from the list of series I'm behind in, you might see books show up more than once. ;)

Funny how the choices for this month are PNR/UF...perfect for October!


Your Choices Are:


Jabril
Vampires in America #2

Synopsis
Houston, Texas--Cowboy boots, baseball and journeys to the stars...right?

Wrong. Because Houston is also home to Jabril Karim, one of the eight powerful Vampire Lords who control all of North America. And as Private Investigator Cynthia Leighton will soon discover, not all Vampire Lords are created equal. For Jabril is the face of evil in the new world, a vampire who values no life but his own, who enslaves those he desires, steals whatever he covets and destroys anyone who stands in his way.

Running from L.A. and its seductive Vampire Lord, Raphael, Cyn sees the Houston job as a welcome refuge, a place to get away and heal her broken heart. But Texas will be no vacation. For in Jabril Karim, Cyn will confront a true enemy, one who will go to any lengths to satisfy his lusts, enrich his coffers and expand his power.

Fighting for the lives of two young sisters, Cyn's journey will take her through the streets of Houston and back to L.Al, where the human police are determined to bring Raphael down for the murder of one of their own. But the danger doesn't end there. For Jabril has set his sights on Cyn, and he will stop at nothing to have her.



Soul Resurrected
Sons of Wrath #2

Synopsis
As Wrath's fiercest son, Logan carries the scars of fifty years spent in the most dreaded prison of the underworld, for a sin he'd kill to keep secret. Enduring decades of gruesome torture has left Logan feared by and detached from others, until a female Alexi's blood resurrects his soul from death and, with it, the pleasures he's been denied for so long.

Plagued by shame of her own, Calla is drawn to the ruthless demon, Logan, whose insatiable craving for her touch rouses buried passions and, for once, leaves her feeling desired.

A dark and dangerous evil has been reawakened, however, and when Calla is drawn too close to its breeding grounds, Logan vows to summon the violence of Wrath in order to keep her safe. First, though, Callas must save him from a past riddled with deceit and corruption... but only if she can accept the chilling consequences of unearthing his vilest skeleton.




Lover Revealed
Black Dagger Brotherhood #4

Synopsis
Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world-to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have Marissa, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back. But even her love may not be enough to save him...



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#2015HW #ShelfLove Review ~ Raphael ~ DB Reynolds

Raphael
Vampires in America #1
Release Date: April 15, 2009
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms

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 by 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 by destroy them both.

Wow! This is a book I'd had on my TBR for so long and I one-clicked it after reading Lorna's (@Rabid Reads) review. Clearly I should trust my instincts and read books I'm intrigued with, rather than waiting, despite not seeing recent reviews from my blogging friends. THANKS, Lorna for lighting a fire under me. ;) It took Lorna liking Raphael to spur me into action - and while I'm grateful for the kick in the pants, I'm sorely disappointed in myself for having put off a great story for so long!

Cynthia Leighton is a former cop and current PI. She is one touch chick with confidence in her abilities to do her job, wit, and absolutely no belief in love. She's taken on a case that's going to test her limits in all areas - especially her ideas about love.

Raphael is a Vampire Lord in the West. He's powerful, gorgeous, cunning, and arrogant. He's lived a long time, earned the respect that feeds that arrogance. But someone dear to him was taken and it seems there's a traitor in his midst. And he's hired Cynthia to help him root out that traitor.

Reynolds has created a fascinating world in which the vampires are "out" and are very powerful. However, they tend to keep a low profile and not much is known about them. The dynamics and politics within vampire society, while not explicitly described, are also intriguing. The suspense element was well done even if there wasn't much mystery. I was anxiously flipping pages to see what Cyn would do next. The resolution to the danger is the only thing keeping this from being 5 Bookworms, as I felt it wrapped up a tad too easily - especially after all Cyn had endured. It should also be noted that Reynolds doesn't put a bow on the story. This is the first in a series and Cyn and Raphael's story continues. It is a story I'm quite eager to continue as I'm very curious where this couple goes from here.

Another element worth mentioning is the supporting cast introduced. Duncan, Raphael's lieutenant, is one vamp I'd like to get to know better. And Cyn's training partner, Eckhoff, also has me curious. Cyn's sister, Holly, is a character who, if she's present in future installments, I'm going to love hating.

Raphael is a very well-written introduction to the Vampires in America series. It's an exciting and pleasurable read! If you've had it on your TBR, I highly recommend you get on to reading it. :)

Teaser Tuesdays #68

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Raphael
Vampires in America #1

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 live 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 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.

***Teaser***

"A cynical grin lifted one corner of her mouth, and he felt the stir of a long dormant desire as her green eyes flashed with a combination of humor and irritation. Intriguing, indeed."