FOR THE BITE OF IT by Viki Lyn & Vina Grey

Book One of the Orbus Arcana Series
ViVi Publishing
March 20^th, 2014
978-0-9912217-0-7
Paranormal M/M, Vampires
Ebook
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Author
4 Hearts


A vampire, a cupcake and a cop. What do all these things have in common? Well the world of the Orbus Arcana. Meet Vincent, the prince and heir to the vampire king and in his second year of punishment working as a cupcake baker. Working and just living from day to day, it all changes the minute a car barrels into his shop with a dead guy in it. When Vincent meets human cop John Reeder, sparks fly but Vincent is bound to the rules of not telling anyone what he is. John is attracted to Vincent but for this closeted cop, it will take more than sparks to get him to open up to the sexy baker. Can a romance survive as secrets are exposed and love finds itself in the crossfire?

I got to admit authors Viki Lyn and Vina Grey deliver a sexy tale filled with smoldering vampires, cupcakes and a simmering sexual tension that leaves you in the end wanting to jump your significant other’s bones. The authors do a wonderful job in creating a world that draws the reader in, keeps them captivated and eager for more when the last page is read. The story flows nicely though it does have a few things that left me wondering if the scenes in the beginning were just fillers (John and Vincent’s occupations for example are only mentioned a hand full of times and you never see them doing their jobs so to speak after meeting one another).

Meet Vincent and John. Vincent is a century’s old and powerful vampire who was exiled and now runs a cupcake bakery. John is a closeted cop who finds himself attracted to Vincent. A mystery, secrets and powerful sexual tension will keep the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end. I got to admit; I loved how John flummoxed Vincent and kept him on his toes. These two dance around one another, falling in and out of bed with abandon even as the secrets that Vincent holds will either break these two apart or bring them together. Only time will tell on that aspect of the story. These two characters dance and weave around one another with the grace of a dancer, letting the reader see one thing even as another scene is playing out in the background. I loved how these two main characters interact with one another and I can foresee the fireworks that will ensure after John finds out Vincent’s secrets. The secondary characters keep the story flowing nicely and were as well written as John and Vincent were.

FOR THE BITE OF IT is just the beginning of a new series from authors Viki Lyn and Vina Grey. I really liked how they fleshed out the background of the main characters and it gave the story more depth as well. Humor, sexy scenes and more abound within the story and I can attest I am eager for book two now. If you enjoy a different take on vampires and love cupcakes as well as cops, then get ready FOR THE BITE OF IT and settle in for one smoking hot ride. Now the question is can Vincent keep John and learn that some secrets need to be told or else the trust one has with someone is broken.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

Friday Guest Author Viki Lyn

Welcome to Love Romances & More Reviews Viki Lyn. Comfortable? Let’s begin, shall we? 

To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?
My current books are John’s Match, Perceived Love and Sins of Lust. All m/m romances. John’s Match is the third book in my Woodland Village series, Sins of Lust is a paranormal and Perceived Love a novella for the Finally Ever After series at Musa Publishing. I will have a free read with my characters from Lover’s Trill this Xmas at Musa. This year has been a slow one for me, and I won’t be having any new books come out within the next few months, but I foresee 2014 as being very productive. :)

How would you describe yourself using only five words? Impatient, curious, accepting, seeker, sloth

If we asked your muse to describe you using five words, what do you think they would say? Imaginative, self-critical, organized, undisciplined, stubborn

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? On the Northern Pacific coast in California. Pacific Grove would be my first choice. I love water features, even if it’s as simple as seeing my pool from my living room window. Since I live in the desert, that’s as close as I’ll come to an ocean!

How do you get yourself in the mood to write? Before I start a new writing project I have to clean my desk. Then I begin with writing the first two or three chapters. After that, I fill out a character information sheet which helps me get to know my characters better. I never used to do this, but it helps with consistency and I don’t have to go back and rewrite as much as I did in the past. I’m the type of writer that edits as I go. I can’t just crank out the first draft without making changes.

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why? I’d recommend Blue Skye if the reader prefers contemporary m/m romance. It’s the first book in my Woodland Village series and it’s a best friends fall in love story – which is one of my favorite themes. It also introduces the town of Woodland Village, a place where I’d love to visit. If the reader enjoys paranormal then Last Chance is a fun read – a Kresnik (vampire slayer) and vampire story with a twist. It’s not very ‘dark’ but it’s fun and fast paced and introduces the Hamilton brothers – sexy blue eyed slayers.

Is music a factor for you while you are writing? Do certain songs put you in the right frame of mind to write certain stories? Yes, I love writing to music. When I wrote Lover’s Trill, I played a lot of Vivaldi :) since it was set in Vienna and had a classical theme. When I wrote Sins of Lust, I listened to angst-inspired songs, Come Undone by Duran, Duran for one...my playlist is VERY eclectic.

Are your characters able to love or do they need to be taught? Most of my characters are afraid and need to be taught that they can love and have a relationship despite their past. I usually have one of my characters wanting a relationship and willing to fight for it (Uri from Sins of Lust, Skye from Blue Skye, Antoine in The Tiger Within) and the other having to work at accepting love in his life and being okay with it. *grin*

Thanks for coming. Is there anything else you want to add? 

Thank you Dawn! Here are my links where you can find me:

http://www.vikilyn.com

http://www.vikilyn.com/blog

http://www.facebook.com/VikiLynRomance

http://www.twitter.com/VikiLynRomance

Here is a blurb from Ellora’s Cave: Sins of Lust:

Line/icons: Twilight/MM

ISBN: 9781419941573

Thou shall not kill.

For archangel Razi-el, he had no choice. He would break God’s commandment again if it were to save Uri-el from a demon’s talons. Yet even God’s most trusted archangel cannot avoid punishment. No longer Razi-el, he is now Izar, a Protector sworn to kill for the angels.

When a Protector kills an angel, Izar is summoned to work alongside Uri-el to capture the killer. Izar is shocked when his bloodlust spikes hot for the archangel. He knows better than to go after forbidden fruit. Refusing to give in to temptation, he ignores his body’s tempestuous arousal for Uri-el until a heated argument turns his blood into molten lust.

As they rush to find the killer, their passion plays into the demon’s plan. Izar will have to make a choice between life and death if he is to save Uri-el again.

Excerpt and buy link: http://www.ellorascave.com/sins-of-lust.html

Check out our reviews for Viki's books....

Blue Skye (Woodland Village Series)
Ryan's Harbor (Woodland Village Series)
Last Chance

BLUE SKYE by Viki Lyn

Woodland Village Series
Book 1
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Date published: January 26th, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-61937-241-2
Contemporary M/M
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Skye-WoodlandM-Village-ebook/dp/B00728D3V6/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345047853&sr=1-5

Skye Taylor and Drew Adams were once best friends until one night, their friendship changed and fractured beyond repair. Now years later, Skye is living the artist’s life, proud and out as a gay man while Drew has done what his wealthy father wanted and married a woman even though he longs to let his secret desires out in the open. When Skye and Drew cross paths again in Woodland Village, sparks fly and desire builds between them but problems start to draw near on the horizon. Will Skye and Drew be able to reconnect as friends again or will the life Drew made for himself unravel to the point of no return?

BLUE SKYE is one of those emotionally charged stories I absolutely adore to read. It is full of wonderful characters that we are introduced to here and we get to see just what happened between Drew and Skye. Ms. Lyn is a fabulous storyteller who knows how to keep the tension high and let her characters tell their story. There are a few twists and turns I didn’t anticipate so be aware your jaw will hang open in shock in spots. I know mine did. The story flows smoothly, writing is tight and the characters are out of this world. They are flawed, emotional beings that the reader falls in love with.

Meet Drew and Skye. Two guys who were the best of friends, did everything together and enjoyed their friendship until one night it all changed. One act leaves their friendship fractured beyond repair...or is it? It will take all their strength to figure themselves out and where to go from here when these two cross paths years later. I love Drew and Skye. You get a sense of who they were before the big issue between them and you get a sense of who they are afterward. Their relationship is complex with things being unfinished between them and I loved how this author had the sense to let these two figure it out. There are some characters I detested while I was reading this introduction to the Woodland Village series and I am eager to see what the next two books will be about.

Viki Lyn delivers an emotional story of two people coming to grips with their relationship, their choices and desires that were suppressed. The reader goes on this amazing journey between Drew and Skye and I, for one, didn’t want to get off. The characters are amazingly life like and real with flaws, issues and more they have to deal with. The author does an amazing job in creating these characters and the reader will fall in love with them just as I did. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future.

Run-don’t-walk-to grab BLUE SKYE and settle in for one emotional ride from start to finish. This is an author who is one of my favorites to read and you won’t be disappointed in BLUE SKYE.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement.

RYAN’S HARBOR by Viki Lyn

Date published: March 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60168-282-6
M/M Contemporary Erotic
E-book
Obtained by Publisher
Reviewed by Dawn




CLICK TO PURCHASE!Ryan Adams has liked the ladies and has the reputation of a playboy in Woodland Village. When he finds that he doubts himself in the ways of relationships, Ryan tries to figure out what is wrong. When he hires his brother, Drew’s assistant, Martin, to design a new building for Ryan’s Gaming Company, neither anticipates the friendship that blooms between them or the underlying desire that flares when both are in the same room. Can a friendship lead to something more?

RYAN’S HARBOR is the sequel to the wonderful Blue Skye where we met Ryan for the first time in his brother’s story. This time it is Ryan who has to decide which way his life will go. Ms. Lyn is a wonderful storyteller that showcases characters that are vulnerable as well as sexy and have follicles that give them character that fairly leaps off the pages. With the right amount of mystery, sexual tension and romance, this is an author you can settle down with and feel like you are coming home again.

We met Ryan Adams in Blue Skye when his brother Drew finally found love. Now it’s Ryan’s turn to admit what he has been hiding even to himself. When he meets his brother’s assistant, Martin, Ryan finds himself drawn to the younger man with a passion. A friendship blooms and desire simmers between them. Martin will not be involved with anyone not proud to be gay yet he is drawn to Ryan like no other. Both have vulnerabilities that, over time, become apparent within the pages and the reader finds themselves rooting for these two to finally make peace and put the past to rest where it belongs. Ryan and Martin got me intrigued in Blue Skye and I was thrilled to see these two finally hook up in RYAN’S HARBOR. With some returning characters that gave me a smile to some new ones that had me intrigued, Ms. Lyn creates a story that is more about romance, about friendship, forgiveness and finally, love.

This was a sweet, tender and at times, highly erotic story that had me flipping the pages to see what would happen next. Ms. Lyn’s newest book delivers to the readers’ a story that will steal their hearts and leave them satisfied in the end. If you enjoy a good romance story that has it all (friendship, love and desires) then grab RYAN’S HARBOR. You don’t have to read Blue Skye in order to understand any of the mentions made about that storyline but I highly recommend you do just to see how the boys of Woodland Village began. Highly enjoyable and I look forward to more from this wonderful author in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

LAST CHANCE by Viki Lyn

Publisher: Loose Id Publishing
Date published: February 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60737-516-6
Vampire M/M Paranormal
E-book
Obtained by Publisher
Reviewed by Dawn



CLICK TO PURCHASE!Seriously smart Aric Christenson is determined to find a solution to his problem in the lab. He is down to the wire to finding a cure for the disease fighting for possession of him. No desire for relationships, friends or fun-his entire life is consumed to this one particular thing. Well that is until a chance encounter with college jock, Stu Hamilton leaves him breathless as longing and desire runs rampant through his veins. Secrets are simmering between both as they find themselves drawn to one another even as danger circles Aric, getting ever closer. Can Aric trust Stu to protect him even as he doubts his own heart?

LAST CHANCE is a wild ride from start to finish. We got vampires, slayers, misconceptions and desire all wrapped up with a boy. Can this “nerd” find the strength to trust the one person who gives him hope for his own happily ever after? I have to admit, this author sucked me in from the beginning. Who doesn’t like a sexy smart guy and a hot athletic guy in the same story? I sure did especially as Stu and Alric’s personalities start to shine forth as they dodged danger, brotherly concern and their own vulnerabilities. It was a fast paced ride from start to finish and I loved every minute of it. This is truly an author who knows her characters and lets them shine within the story on their own.

Meet Alric, a smart “nerd” who is determined to find a cure for his almost vampirism before he fully turns and time is running out. Not anticipating meeting Stu Hamilton, Alric finds his life turned inside out as he tries to stay one step ahead of the vampire who is stalking him and his growing feelings for the one man who can just as easily break his heart as heal it. Stu is the sterotypical jock-seemingly a player among women as well as on the field. These two are polar opposites but the author takes that, turns it so both are the perfect half to the other’s heart and soul. I loved the way this author kept the secrets between the two main characters simmering, slowly coming out in the open. It made the suspense much more enjoyable when the revealing came about. Add in some intriguing characters that helped keep the storyline and an ending that leaves you wishing for another book, LAST CHANCE delivers more than I ever anticipated.

Ms. Lyn is a wonderful author who captures her readers’ imagination from the first page to the last. With the right touch of mystery, romance and passion, this is an author who knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to know more. I am hoping she revisits in the future Stu, Alric and their friends/family as some questions were not answered in the end and it leaves you hanging a bit. LAST CHANCE is a wonderful, well written story that will appeal to the reader on many levels. With each book Ms. Lyn writes, she creates characters that you can call friends and delivers countless hours of reading entertainment. I am eager to see what else this author has to offer in the future for my reading enjoyment.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

BLUE SKYE by Vicki Lyn

Date published May 29th, 2009
ISBN 978-1-60168-218-5
M/M (GBLT) Contemporary
E-book
Obtained via:Self-purchase
Reviewed by Dawn



CLICK TO PURCHASE! Skye Taylor and Drew Adams were best friends until one passion filled night in high school changed everything. Now years later, Skye is an openly gay artist who lives for his art and Drew is content with his work and his loveless marriage. His secret desires locked tight inside him until the one man who knew him so well, comes back to town and turns his life upside down…with just one touch. Can Drew and Skye find the way back to one another before it is too late?

BLUE SKYE is an entertaining story of two people who are opposite of one another yet compliment each other. Ms. Lyn does a great job in capturing each characters vulnerabilities and desires within BLUE SKYE. I really enjoyed the way Skye kept pushing Drew to acknowledge his feelings for him and I felt for the man when it didn’t turn out like he wanted all hearts and roses. Viki Lyn is a new to me author and I wasn’t disappointed in BLUE SKYE. Tight writing, a fast paced storyline and some interesting secondary characters keep the story flowing smoothly.

Meet Skye Taylor and Drew Adams, two best friends since high school. Skye always knew he was gay and was comfortable in his own skin. Drew came from a prosperous family and was uncomfortable on his feelings for Skye…until one night changes everything in their lives. Skye leaves Drew and his hometown and Drew goes onto to fulfill his father’s desires and marries someone he doesn’t love. Both of these characters are interesting. You have charismatic Skye, who loves life and is openly proud he is gay and there is Drew, determined to do the right thing for his family even if it destroys him in the end. The complete opposite of one another and they work in BLUE SKYE very well. Ms. Lyn delves into how Drew and Skye’s relationship irrevocably changed that one night years before and it makes the story intriguing especially as these two people try to find the way back to friendship and eventually love. I really enjoyed some of the secondary characters as they brought a smile to my lips with their banter and kept the story flowing nicely. The only problem I had was that it ended too abruptly for me. I wanted to see how Skye and Drew worked their problems and issues out more as well as see what the future held for them. Maybe this author will return to Drew & Skye’s world again for a sequel.

BLUE SKYE is a nice, well told story that will keep you smiling even after the story is done. Ms. Lyn does a great job in getting into the hearts of her characters and I look forward to more stories in the future from her. If you enjoy a story that will keep you entertained from start to finish, then grab BLUE SKYE.


THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW

BLUE SKYE by Viki Lyn

Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
Date published: May 29, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60168-218-5
Novella, Contemporary, Gay
Ebook
Reviewed by Miss April



CLICK TO PURCHASE! Looking for a good contemporary M/M book to read? Something with angst and tension? Then pick up BLUE SKYE by Viki Lyn. This is a wonderful story of love denied and then found again.
Drew is a man living a lie. So eager to please his family and to do his duty, he will deny his own feelings and live a life he hates. He has closed himself off from his feelings in order to survive. Only one person has ever gotten to him. Skye Taylor, a childhood friend. And for one night, he was able to be free. Then Skye leaves and Drew must stay behind. Now Skye is back and Drew must make some hard choices.
Skye has always loved Drew. After one wonderful night with him, he makes plans for them to leave together but Drew never shows up. Skye chooses to leave without him. Now he’s back as a famous artist and Drew is the man who has designed the gallery to showcase his work. It is inevitable that they meet and that sparks will fly.

But there are issues. First and foremost, Drew is married. He has married for family duty and to hide his real desires. Second, Skye won’t be someone’s dirty little secret. He is out and proud. The author, Viki Lyn does a good job of showing both sides to this and I appreciated that. No one person was wrong or right in this.

I loved this book. Both Skye and Drew were men that you could feel for. Both had legitimate reasons for being the way that they were and acting the way that they did. You wanted them to work it out but it seems to be so hard for both of them. When they do come together, the heat rolls off of the pages. By the time the reader reaches the end of the book, you will be rooting so hard for these two to get together. I give this book a solid rating of 4.