LILITH by Carrie Pulkinen

Title:  LILITH
Series:  Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld #15
Author:  Carrie Pulkinen
Publisher:  Carrie Pulkinen
Publish Date:   10.04.2022
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC
Received from:  Carrie Pulkinen
Goodreads link: Lilith
Date completed: 09.07.2022
 
Description from the publisher:
World's first woman. World's first vampire. World's worst at finding love.

Lilith doesn't believe in soulmates. If she couldn't make it work with the man she was literally created for, how could they possibly exist?

She goes to speed dating on the hunt for a man to quench her thirst. What she finds instead will either rock her world or be the final stake in the Queen of the Night.

Owl shifter Spencer has learned his lesson with powerful women. After his last girlfriend derailed his career and nearly destroyed him, he'd rather have his feathers plucked one by one than let another woman sink her talons into his heart.

When his sister convinces him to go to speed dating, he can't deny his attraction to the gorgeous crimson-haired vampire who captures his attention. But he refuses to get burned again.

Can two people who don't believe in love find happiness together? Or will their colliding worlds go up in flames?

Lilith is book fifteen in the Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld shared world, filled with sultry vampires, sexy shifters, and more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LILITH is the fifteenth book in the multi-author Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld series.  Each is a stand-alone paranormal romance.
 
I knew nothing about Lilith before reading this story.  So, for me, there was a lot of “first woman?  Huh?  What about Eve?  She’s friends with Eve now – thousands of years later – but what happened in the garden??????  I guess I’ll be doing some research after the book.  This did not take away from this story, it just made me more curious about the part of the biblical story that I don’t yet know.
 
Now, about Lilith and Spencer. 
 
I love Spencer and his job.  An owl-shifter working as a cameraman on a show to hunt for cryptids (where the host is bigfoot) while never revealing their own.  What a hoot!  (See what I did there? Tee hee hee)
 
Lilith is an amazing character.  I think I would like her and her whole friend group.
 
I loved this story and was sorry to leave this world.  Carrie Pulkinen gave us the (long) list of coming stories in this series and I hope to be able to read many, many of them!
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via BookSprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld Series:
1.      Lucifer (Gina Kincade)
2.      Ash (C.D. Gorri)
3.      Azrael (Carrie Pulkinen)
4.      Samael (Julie Morgan)
5.      Azazel (A.L. Kessler)
6.      Hecate (Ariel Dawn)
7.      Bastet (Laura Greenwood)
8.      Cain (Mia Bishop)
9.      Thor (Rebekah R. Ganiere)
10.  Demi (Gina Kincade)
11.  Hell’s Belle (Julie Morgan)
12.  Arachne (C.D. Gorri)
13.  Osiris (A.L. Kessler)
14.  Hades (Ariel Dawn)
15.  Lilith (Carrie Pulkinen)
16.  Adam (Mia Bishop) – releases 10.25.2022
COMING SOON
17.  Loki (Rebekah R. Ganiere) – releases 11.15.2022
18.  Orion (Ariel Dawn) – releases 12.06.2022
19.  Hera
20.  Abel
21.  Odin
22.  Zeus
23.  Michael
24.  Asterion
25.  Váli
26.  Apollo
27.  Raphael
28.  Baldur
29.  Poseidon
30.  Gabrielle
31.  Seth
32.  Kuaket
33.  Athena
34.  Triton
35.  Medusa
 
Also from Carrie Pulkinen:
·         Azrael (Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld #3)
·         Bewitching the Vampire
·         Escorting Jessica
·         Lilith (Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld #15)
·         Reawakened
·         The Rest of Forever
·         Sign, Steal, Deliver (Gods of Thunder MC #2)
·         Soul Catchers
·         Sweet Release
Crescent City Ghost Tours Series:
1.      Love & Ghosts
2.      Love & Omens
3.      Love & Curses
Crescent City Wolf Pack Series:
1.      Werewolves Only
2.      Beneath a Blue Moon
3.      Bound by Blood
4.      A Deal with Death  
4.5  A Song to Remember
5.      Shifting Fate
Haunted Ever After Series:
1.      Love at First Haunt (previously To Catch a Spirit)
2.      Second Chance Spirit (previously To Stop a Shadow)
3.      Third Time’s a Ghost (previously To Free a Phantom) 
New Orleans Nocturnes Series:
1.      License to Bite  
2.      Shift Happens
3.      Life’s a Witch
4.       Santa Got Run Over by a Vampire
5.      Finders Reapers  
6.      Swipe Right to Bite 
7.      Batshift Crazy (COMING SOON)
Shift Creek Series:
Up Shift Creek
1.      Flipping the Bird  
 

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WISTERIA WEDDING by Angela Pepper

Title:  WISTERIA WEDDING
Series:  Wisteria Witches # 13
Author:  Angela Pepper
Narrator:  Tiffany Williams
Length:  8 hours 10 minutes
Audible Release Date:  05.18.2022
Publisher:  Angela Pepper Publishing
Publish Date:   01.14.2022
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Recommended for:  14+ due to situations
Listenability:  OK  or  NSFW
Received from:  Angela Pepper (as an Audible gifted copy)
Goodreads link: Wisteria Wedding
Date completed: 05.30.2022
 
Description from the publisher:
"I'm a good witch. I may use my powers more than I should, but I don't go around killing innocents."
 
Wedding bell chimes are in the air....
 
As the residents of Wisteria snuggle up in the cold weather, two people take their relationship to a whole new level.
 
But who will be getting married?
 
And who will find themselves tangled up in more magical mayhem than ever?
 
The adventure continues, and the prophecy unfolds, in book 13 of the hit series Wisteria Witches Mysteries.
 
"Destiny does not care if you believe in it or not." (The Oracle at Dragon’s End)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WISTERIA WEDDING is the fourteenth book in the Wisteria Witches series.  You will definitely want to read the previous books to best understand all of the characters.
 
Narration:  Tiffany Williams once again gives a superb performance of old characters and new.  She is the best narrator in this universe or the alternate one!
 
One of my favorite new characters is T.O.A.D.E. (The Oracle at Dragon’s End).  He’s no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is, a little grumpy-old-man, and yet entirely loveable and human…. Err toad.  Even though he’s in the parallel universe, I hope we get to see him again!
 
This story actually starts out dark.  When a wedding becomes a wake, you know it can’t be good.  That is only one of the surprises in this story.  There is a baby on the way; death is not forever when djinn are involved; and then there is the ending.  I won’t give anything away, but don’t miss this ending!  A new beginning!
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Wisteria Witches Series:
1.      Wisteria Witches
2.      Wicked Wisteria
3.      Wisteria Wonders
4.      Watchful Wisteria
5.      Wisteria Wyverns
6.      Wolves of Wisteria (City Hall #1)
7.      Wisteria Wrinkle (City Hall #2)
8.      Wardens of Wisteria (Daybreak #1)
9.      Wisteria Warned (Daybreak #2)
10.  Wishful Wisteria (Daybreak #3)
11.  Wisteria Woven (Daybreak #4)
12.  Winter in Wisteria 
12.5 Critter Calamity
13.  Wisteria Wedding
14.  Wayward Wisteria
15.  Wisteria Wildcard
Also from Angela Pepper:
·         Funny Ladies
·         Love Singer
·         The Mystery of Broken Shell Island & Other Fantasy Tales
Diamond Files Mysteries:
1.      Girl in the Shadows
Eli Carter and the Ghost Hackers Series:
1.      The Cat Who Went Bump in the Night
2.      The Ghost Who Wasn’t There
3.      The Dog Who Barked Fire
Restless Spirits Series:
1.      Interview with a Ghost
2.      Date with a Ghost
3.      Dancing with a Ghost
Stormy Day Mysteries:
1.      Death of a Dapper Snowman
2.      Death of a Crafty Knitter
3.      Death of a Batty Genius
4.      Death of a Modern King
5.      Death of a Double Dipper
Baker Street Neighborhood Romances (written as Angie Pepper):
1.      Romancing the Flower Shop Girl
2.      Romancing the Complicated Girl 
3.      Honey, We Missed Our Honeymoon
4.      Dating the Funny Waitress
5.      Boyfriend Wanted, Must Love Dancing
6.      Handful of Peaches (Peaches Monroe’s Diary #1)
7.      Whole Lotta Peaches (Peaches Monroe’s Diary #2)
8.      Everything Is Peaches (Peaches Monroe’s Diary #3)
 

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IMMORTAL RISING by Lynsay Sands

Title:  IMMORTAL RISING
Series:  Argeneau #34
Author:  Lynsay Sands
Publisher:  Avon and Harper Voyager
Publish Date:   04.26.2022
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing:  A – near perfect
Received from:  Avon and Harper Voyager (as an ARC gifted copy)
Goodreads link: Immortal Rising
Date completed: 12.08.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
The Argeneaus are back! Filled with love, passion, and adventure, New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands returns with another sexy romance about everyone's favorite immortals.
 
Stephanie McGill was attacked and turned when she was just a teenager. Worse, her abilities are unlike any other immortal. Now 13 years later, with the help of her adopted Argeneau family, Steph has carved out a new – if not lonely – life for herself. Until a new neighbor arrives…
 
Thorne is also one-of-a-kind. The result of a genetic experiment, he’s not an immortal, but he’s not mortal either. He’s looking for a place to hide, to get some peace and quiet so he can figure things out, and Stephanie’s sanctuary is perfect. In fact, Stephanie is perfect. For the first time, Thorne is free to be himself and he’s falling for her.
 
But if they’re going to have a future together, they’ll first need to deal with their past…because the mad scientist who created Thorne is now after Stephanie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IMMORTAL RISING is the thirty-fourth book in the Argeneau series.  While this may stand on its own, I highly recommend reading as many of the previous books in the series as possible.  There is a lot of reference to past events. 
 
I love Stephanie.  Well, everyone loves Stephanie; because she was turned at such a young age, everyone has adopted her as a baby sister, daughter, niece… But I love her because she would be me as a vampire.  It all has turned out wrong and made her a freak among the hidden society.  She is Edentate; she has no fangs.  Plus, she has a unique ability to hear everyone, all of the time.  This ability makes everyone think she will go rogue from the constant bombardment of sound in her head. Her new immortal friends worry about her constantly, so she hides (internalizes) anything she thinks may cause them more worry.  I. Get. That!
 
Thorne is genetically the son of Dressler, but also one of Dressler’s mutants.  He has the DNA of several animals within, but the one that is physically prominent is Bald Eagle.  He has large, beautiful, brown wings and a white feather cap instead of hair.
 
I love that Stephanie sees Thorne as a man first and foremost.  Yes, the wings are obvious and intriguing, but she connects with him as a human being before discussing what makes him different from every other person on earth.
 
It may have only been a few days from meeting to accepting that they are life-mates, but Stephanie and Thorne are so unique as individuals that they are able create a slow-burn romance that develops naturally in those few days instead of the usual life-mate insta-lust and love. 
 
Absolutely wonderful to read and become Stephanie for a day.  I was also Thorne for part of the day, but I identified with Stacie.  Great romance, suspense, and emotion.
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
The Argeneau Series:
1.      A Quick Bite
2.      Love Bites
3.      Single White Vampire
4.      Tall, Dark, & Hungry
5.      A Bite to Remember
6.      Bite Me If You Can
7.      The Accidental Vampire
8.      Vampires Are Forever
9.      Vampire, Interrupted
10.  The Rogue Hunter
11.  The Immortal Hunter
12.  The Renegade Hunter
13.  Born to Bite
14.  Hungry for You
15.  The Reluctant Vampire
16.  Under a Vampire Moon
17.  The Lady Is a Vamp
18.  Immortal Ever After
19.  One Lucky Vampire
20.  Vampire Most Wanted
21.  The Immortal Who Loved Me
22.  About a Vampire 
23.  Runaway Vampire
24.  Immortal Nights
25.  Immortal Unchained
26.  Immortally Yours
27.  Twice Bitten
28.  Vampires Like It Hot
29.  The Trouble with Vampires
30.  Immortal Born
31.  Immortal Angel
32.  Meant to Be Immortal
33.  Mile High with a Vampire 
34.  Immortal Rising
Also from Lynsay Sands:
·         All I Want
·         Always
·         The Bite Before Christmas
·         Bitten by Cupid
·         Bliss
·         The Brat
·         Eternal Lover
·         The Fairy Godmother
·         Holidays Are Hell
·         Knight of My Dreams
·         The Lady in Disguise
·         Lady Pirate
·         Love Is Blind
·         The Loving Daylights
·         My Favorite Things
·         The Perfect Wife
·         The Reluctant Reformer
·         Sweet Revenge
·         The Switch
·         Three French Hens
·         What She Wants
The Deed Series:
1.      The Deed
2.      The Key
3.      The Chase (releases summer 2022)
Highland Brides Series:
1.      An English Bride in Scotland
2.      To Marry a Scottish Laird
3.      The Highlander Takes a Bride
4.      Falling for the Highlander
5.      Surrender to the Highlander
6.      The Highlander’s Promise
7.      The Wrong Highlander
8.      Hunting for the Highlander
9.      Highland Treasure
10.  Highland Wolf  
Historical Highlands Series:
1.      Devil of the Highlands
2.      Taming the Highland Bride
3.      The Hellion and the Highlander
The Madison Sisters Series:
1.      The Countess
2.      The Heiress
3.      The Husband Hunt
The McNachton Vampires Series:
1.      The Eternal Highlander
2.      Highland Vampire
3.      My Immortal Highlander
4.      Highland Thirst
6.      Highland Beast
8.      Highland Hunger
 

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