Category Archives: Paranormal Romance

Review: Free Fall – Carolyn Jewel

May 8, 2012

Expected Release Date: April 1, 2012
Publisher: Self Published
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: carolynjewel.com
My Source for This Book: Gift from the author
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 4.5, My Immortals Series
Series Best Read In Order: Works well as a standalone
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Attorney Lys Fensic has spent her life controlling a psychic power that kills. Her ability to lock herself down falls apart when her ex, a mage, sends enslaved demons to kill her. In a psychic free fall, she turns to tough guy Telos Khunbish for help. But is he a mage as she’s always suspected or is he something far more dangerous? 

What Worked For Me:

  • I loved Lys’ psychic powers.  Not only did it make for an intriguing addition to the storyline, but it gave me a lot of respect for her character as a whole. Anyone who can stay strong enough to leash that much power is worthy of my admiration.
  • Telos. Oh, Telos. *fans self*  Not only is he a hacker, which I admit, my inner nerd finds sexy as all get-out, but he’s a deliciously powerful shape-shifting demon with both a bit of rebelliousness and an enormous amount of protective instincts when it comes to Lys.  I really enjoyed Telos as a hero, and thought he was a perfect foil for Lys.
  • Watching Lys crack under stress was so engrossing, and I was literally chewing on my nails worrying over how she was going to make it through the climax of this story.
  • The chemistry between Lys and Telos was palpable, and while the love scene may have pushed the envelope a bit for more sensitive readers, I thought that the intensity between the two of them was scrumptious.
  • I have to be careful about spoilers here, but the misunderstanding between Lys and Telos towards the end made me grin.
  • I really liked how this worked well as a standalone. Now, to be fair, I have read another book in the series about a year ago, so I did remember the basic gist of what was going on. Even so, I think that newcomers to the series will have enough information to keep up, while piquing their interest about the rest of the series.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • A very minor point, but I was a bit taken aback by some of the dialogue before the love scene.  While I know “the talk” is an important and responsible one for new lovers to undertake, this one was a bit much since it included more than just the “protection” discussion.  Again, not a big deal, but it did pull me out of the action a bit.
  • I do think some readers may be put off by the fact that Telos transforms into his demon form during lovemaking. While it didn’t bother me at all, and therefore did not count against the rating, I do think it’s worth mentioning because it may be a bit weird for some readers.

Free Fall is based on Future Tense, a free short story that is available on the author’s website. Since I had not personally read the original short story, I did read over it before writing this review, and I cannot recommend emphatically enough that readers opt for Free Fall instead.   There is so much more emotion, action, romance, and of course, steam, not to mention an actual Happily Ever After in Free Fall than there was in Future Tense.

Newcomers to the series may find a slight moment of confusion in regards to the animosity between mages and demons, but honestly any bewilderment will be quick in passing.  I’ve quite literally read over three hundred books since I last read a book from this series, and I was able to easily follow along with the action.

The dynamic between Lys’ very staid, tightly controlled character and Telos’ much more laid back and even aggressive personality was wonderful, and the chemistry between the two was absolutely sizzling.

Overall, I couldn’t put it down. With plenty of action, steam, and powerful romance, this is a wonderful introduction to the series, and a great story in its own right.

A very solid 4.5/5 Stars.

My Immortals Series Reading Order:

Also posted in Short Story Or Novella – 0 Comments

Review: The Prophet – Mira – Amanda Stevens

April 23, 2012

Expected Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website: amandastevens.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3, Graveyard Queen
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

My name is Amelia Gray. 

I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I’ve broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back. 

In order to protect myself, I’ve vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar. 

Now I’m faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.

What Worked For Me:

  • Devlin. Oh Devlin. *sigh* I adore John, and I was so happy to have him back as a major character in this novel.   Haunted by his past (literally), John can’t let go of his guilt in regards to the death of his wife and his precious daughter.  Complicating matters is his estranged relationship with Amelia, a murder that Devlin might be under suspicion for, and complicated dealings with the arcane.
  • As always, Amelia is my favorite character in the series.  She has some very tough decisions to make in this book, each with the potential for serious consequences, and while we get a little more insight into her powers, there’s still plenty left unknown for future novels, without leaving the reader feel as though the story were incomplete.
  • That ending was incredible! *whew* I’m fairly certain I was holding my breath for almost the entire climax of the story, and some of the twists were absolutely fantastic.
  • While not everything is sunshine and roses for Amelia and Devlin, I was left with a much more optimistic feeling in general at the end of this story than I had been with the two previous novels.
  • One thing I really appreciated about this novel is that the romance was much stronger than it had been in previous novels. Sure, Amelia had a “love interest” of sorts in the other books, but there was never really any sense of anything really progressing on that end.  The Prophet, however, finally has Devlin opening up and Amelia making some very difficult choices in order to really advance their relationship.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • If anything, I think my one complaint would be that The Prophet wasn’t as creepy as The Kingdom was.  Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of ghosts and danger and surprising twists and arcane weirdness. There just wasn’t quite as much of a “spookiness” in New Orleans as there was in Asher Falls, no matter how many ghosts and terrifying witch doctors Amelia may run into.

While I do feel that the Graveyard Queen series is best read in order, I’m not sure how much of that stems from my immense enjoyment of the series and how much of it is really the feeling that new readers wouldn’t quite “get” it. While old fans of the series will relish the plotline deeply involving not only John but also both his ghosts and his history, I do think newcomers will be able to easily follow along, though of course they won’t get the benefit of having witnessed the developments in both John and Amelia’s lives.

As a very solid member of Team Devlin, this book absolutely thrilled me. Not only was there the same arcane mystery, complete with plenty of twits and red herrings, as I’ve come to love from this series, but Devlin played an enormous part in the story — possibly even moreso than in The Restorer if that’s possible.

The final chapters of this book left me breathless, and I’m anxiously awaiting future installments in the Graveyard Queen Series.

A very solid 5/5 Stars.

Graveyard Queen Reading Order:

 

Also posted in Contemporary, Horror, Mystery – 2 Comments

Review: Hunter’s Prey – Samhain – Moira Rogers

April 10, 2012

Expected Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Samhain
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://moirarogers.com
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, Bloodhounds
Series Best Read In Order: Yes, but works well as a standalone
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

He can’t fight his inner beast, but she can tame it.

Ophelia retired from life as a prostitute, but her new position is even more complicated. Managing the bloodhound manor in Iron Creek is difficult and time-consuming, a job she enjoys less with each passing day. Then there’s her inconvenient attraction to Hunter. The newly turned hound seems eager to enjoy her company, but wary of anything more intimate.

Having survived the violence of his first full moon out of a cage, Hunter isn’t looking forward to his first new moon. Ophelia offers to be the woman who sates his needs during the three long days of sexual fury, but he can’t abide the thought of hurting her in a state of mindless lust. Especially since she longs to settle into a respectable life, and his needs are anything but respectable.

Their mutual goal is simple: avoid entanglements. It’s a solid plan, at least until a vampire drug lord and a couple of nosy Guild representatives force them to work together to defend their friends and everything they hold dear—including each other.

Warning: Contains a mostly feral, vampire-hunting hero and a tough survivor of a heroine whose retired-hooker heart is more steel than gold. Also included: dangerous frontier intrigue, fancy brothels, mad-scientist weapons and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

What Worked For Me:

  • Good LAWDY Moira Rogers can write some hot scenes, without ever going into the really crude or kinky end of the romantica genre.  *fans self* I love the incredible intensity and almost desperation of Hunter’s attraction to Ophelia, and how open Ophelia was to his lovemaking.
  • I don’t typically like promiscuous heroines in my romances, but by golly I loved Ophelia. And yes, I just said “by golly”. *nods*  Her pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to sex was very realistic for a border town in the Wild West, even if it is a Wild West filled with vampires rather than natives as a threat.
  • Nate! I’d actually forgotten about the development with Nate, as it’s been quite a while (and literally hundreds of books) since I’d read WILDER’S MATE, but I absolutely loved him in this book.
  • Hunter was absolutely delicious.  Literally a tortured hero, I think I fell in love with him the first time he called Ophelia “Miss”. Good manners make me swoon, and it was lovely seeing him treat her like a “real lady” even knowing she used to be a prostitute. Knowing that he really wanted to be with Ophelia and yet was too afraid that he would end up hurting her made for some lovely angst as well, and added a delicious amount of heat and tension between them.
  • There was quite a bit of action as well, with the scene at the train depot absolutely blowing my mind. I could actually picture it in my head like a big budget Hollywood movie, and let me tell you, it’d be awesome.
  • I also enjoyed the politics with the Guild, especially in regards to Hunter and Nate, and I am greatly looking forward to seeing two certain bloodhounds in the future.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I hate to say it, but I’m not really a fan of the cover.
  • There were a few tiny moments of confusion for me, involving the train depot and the whole “Wilder and Satira and Archer are all gone” bit, but this was a minor issue and didn’t really count too terribly against the final rating.

I’m a huge fan of the Moira Rogers writing team in general, and an even bigger fan of this series specifically.  A bewitching blend of magic, Wild West, steampunk, and some hot, hot lovin’, the world that they’ve created is absolutely captivating.

Ophelia is an intriguing character, unapologetic about her history and practical when it comes to every day matters, and yet, still rather tender-hearted, which I really enjoyed.   Hunter’s hesitance to involve himself with anyone, especially given his history, made him endearing without negating his very strong sex appeal, and when the new moon hits? *fans self* Some major heat is guaranteed.

Recommended for fans of wild west action, fascinating steampunk adventure, betrayals, politics, and romance, all liberally doused with some delicious heat.

4.5/5 Stars

 

The Bloodhounds Series Reading Order:

 

Also posted in Historical, Steampunk, Western Romance – 3 Comments

Review: Eternal Captive – Signet – Laura Wright

April 6, 2012

Expected Release Date: February 7, 2012
Publisher: Penguin
Imprint: Signet
Author’s Website: www.laurawright.com
My Source for This Book: Library
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3, Mark of the Vampire
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

He’ll become a predator to protect his prey. 

Marked By Blood 

Lucian Roman knows he must stay away from Bronwyn Kettler for sanity’s sake. Since feeding her his blood, he can think of nothing else but possessing her—fighting an uncontrollable desire to kill her, if he has to, and the vampire she has sworn to wed. 

Bronwyn, a brilliant vampire genealogist, can never escape her connection to Lucian. He sustained her when she was starving. He still rules her dreams. And when the nights get dark enough, she still craves him. Though is essence courses through her body, she has found a true mate in someone else. 

But when a dangerous enemy threatens Bronwyn, only Lucian—bound to her forever by blood—can save her life. Even if it means sacrificing his own.

What Worked For Me:

  • I have to admit that the chemistry between Bron and Luca was intense, and the love scenes had just the right amount of heat for the story.
  • I absolutely adored the scenes in the cabin, not just for the heat but for the emotion that was evoked. There were some truly poignant and heartbreaking moments for both of them at that cabin, and I just ate it up with a spoon. 
  • O-M-G Luca’s mother. That was completely unexpected for some reason and I loved it.
  • Oh the ending was incredible! I had gotten to the point where I truly wondered how on earth things could possibly work out for this couple, and the final result was quite satisfying.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Do I even have to say it?  Forced nudity is a Big No in my book. Blech.
  • Honestly, the first time Lucian and Bron made love, the situation seemed so…. contrived for lack of a better term. Don’t get me wrong — it was hot.  It’s just that I think I was a bit disappointed that they gave in relatively easy, knowing that it would turn Lucian into a mindless, raping monster for the rest of his long life.
  • There was a character death that absolutely broke my heart, and I admit, I was quite disgruntled at that part.
  • A minor issue, but the infidelity in the book was a bit of a turn-off as well. It was a bit forgivable since it was obvious that Syn wasn’t in any way actually in love with Bron, but even so, it was still cheating in my book and therefore a bit distasteful.
  • This did not count against the final rating, but the ending of this book and the snippet from the next book, Eternal Beast, seemed to contradict each other. Again, this didn’t affect my final rating, but it still left me a bit confused.

I have not read the other books in this series. I actually started the first book, Eternal Hunger twice, but for some crazy reason never ended up finishing it (which I admit is ridiculous, because it was an enjoyable read. That’s neither here nor there however), and as such, I’m woefully behind on the mythology and main story arc of the series.  I did end up feeling as though I’d arrived late to the party, and that there were several facts and situations that I was supposed to be familiar with before starting this one.

While I wanted to roll my eyes at the “island” scene in its entirety, and I was more annoyed than frightened by the Big Bad, I admit that I did enjoy this one.  The chemistry between Bronwyn and Lucian was crackling, and while  I don’t particularly care for crude sexual language in romance,  even with the c-word being thrown around willy-nilly, I couldn’t deny the heat in the love scenes.

Recommended for fans of steamy paranormal romance, fated mates, and truly starcrossed lovers.

4/5 Stars.

Mark of the Vampire Series Reading Order:

 

2 Comments

Review: The Wolf Who Loved Me – Sourcebooks Casablanca – Lydia Dare

April 3, 2012


Expected Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Author’s Website: http://www.lydiadare.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 5, Westfield Wolves
Series Best Read In Order: Worked well as a standalone
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Regency England Has Gone to the Wolves!

Lady Madeline Hayburn Has Money Problems…

Specifically, she has so much of it that she’s dogged by fortune hunters, including her bewilderingly attractive, penniless neighbor, with his wild nature and uncouth manners…

Weston Hadley Has An Identity Crisis…

Specifically, he’s just turned into a wolf while Madeline was watching. Now it’s up to the regal lady to tame the wild beast…if she can…

What Worked For Me:

  • The cover is gorgeous. It’s most definitely what made me pick this book up in the first place.
  • I didn’t want to like Weston. I really didn’t. He’s immature, slutty, and moody.  And yet… I couldn’t help but love him.  His boyish charm, combined with how very obviously besotted he was with Maddie made him a bit hard to resist, no matter how annoyed I might have been with his rakish ways.
  • I really liked Maddie. Prim and proper because she had to be, I loved watching her finally let loose and be herself.  Granted, she needed to be smacked occasionally, but that’s the case for most historical romance heroine I believe, and not something I could really hold against her.
  • I’m a huge fan of forced/arranged marriages in romance, and this was no exception. There’s just something so sweet and romantic about watching two strangers forced into an unwanted relationship, and then falling in love.
  • I admit, as frustrated as I was with Maddie giving into her hormones so early on, the love scenes were quite nicely steamy.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I didn’t really care for the whole Sophia/Archer subplot. While I liked Sophie and want to see Archer get his comeuppance, I felt that far too much time was spent on the setup for the next book.
  • Monologuing villain. Blech.
  • Okay. So. You’re a “proper lady” in Regency times, the daughter of a Duke. You witness a man literally turn into a wolf right in front of your eyes. You’re rightfully terrified and run for your life, get attacked, kidnapped, and told you’re going to have to marry this man.  You’re terrified, angry at the injustice, and absolutely filthy from your run through the woods. Do you kiss him? And get all happy happy from it?  I should hope not. If you’re a normal person, I would like to think that you’d still be, oh, I don’t know, terrified out of your mind because the dude turned into a freakin’ wolf in front of you.  In other words, I wish Maddie had held off with the hormones for just a wee bit longer and milked the whole “You’re a werewolf/I can’t believe you’re kidnapping me/I don’t want to marry you/Did I mention you’re a werewolf” thing.
  • I’m not really into “humiliation humor”. For example, movies like “Meet the Parents” was far more horrifying for me than it was amusing.  While that type of humor wasn’t nearly as rampant in this book as it was in that movie, I still found it a bit distasteful.  Add to that a moment that was pretty much a “forced nudity” situation (the good old “wet chemise” thing that happens in far too many historicals), and I wasn’t really thrilled. I just felt like Maddie had been put through enough without the added embarrassment.
  • As much as I love a “Grand Gesture”, I really prefer it to be on the part of the hero rather than the heroine.

This book was a very hard one to rate.  There were multiple things that didn’t appeal to me over the course of the story, and yet, I couldn’t put it down. So when it came time to write my full review, and I compared the positive point against the negative points, it looked as though this book would end up with a low-ish rating.

However, despite the fact that there were quite a few things that didn’t quite work for me, in the end, this book was simply entertaining. There was a sort of light-heartedness to the story, despite some of the very serious events that occurred, which left me feeling quite happy at the end of the book.

So, overall, I thought this was a very enjoyable historical paranormal romance.  4/5 Stars

 

 

Also posted in Historical – 1 Comment

Review: Lessons After Dark – Sourcebooks Casablanca – Isabel Cooper

April 1, 2012

Expected Release Date: April 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Author’s Website: http://www.isabelcooper.org
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2
Series Best Read In Order: Worked well as a standalone
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

For years, Gareth St. John put his supernatural talent for healing in service to the British Army. Now he’s the doctor at a very unusual new school that helps people with special “talents” learn how to hone their abilities. 

Olivia Brightmore became a fake medium to support herself after her husband died, but she never expected to discover real magic as the school’s newest teacher. Olivia tries to keep the handsome doctor at arm’s length, but she can’t resist the urge to get under his skin.

What Worked For Me:

  • It doesn’t count towards my final rating, but isn’t that cover absolutely gorgeous?! I’m not sure who Ms. Cooper’s cover artist is, but I’m certainly a fan.
  • I really loved how Gareth didn’t trust Olivia any further than he could throw her, no matter his attraction to her.  His own experience with “psychics” and fortune tellers makes him less than welcoming when he recognizes Olivia as having once worked as a medium in order to make ends meet, and he’s not at all shy about letting his feelings be known. In spite of himself, however,can barely keep his hands to himself, and the resulting sexual tension is quite delectable.
  • Olivia was a wonderful character. Having done what was necessary to make ends meet after the unexpected death of her husband, she lives with only minimal regret for her life before coming to teach.  I think what I liked the most about Olivia is that she’s a strong character without really having to result in brash speech or behavior. So often in fiction we find that characters tend to be rather loudmouthed when trying to establish their strength as a character, but Olivia doesn’t do this.  Sure, she has a temper when provoked, but in general she was a smart, sensible woman who let her actions speak far more than her words.
  • The thick tension between Olivia and Gareth added quite a bit of heat to their relationships, and I loved that Olivia wasn’t all virginal and missish, despite her rather limited experience.
  • I also enjoyed the children far more than I’d anticipated. I tend to avoid romances that involve youngsters because they either tend to be absolutely horrible or perfect, saccharine little angels.  The children in this book were instead, well, children. They each had their moments where their mischievousness got the better of them, but so did they also each have an opportunity to shine, which I appreciated.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • If I had to choose something (which of course, I do), I would say that I almost felt as though the I Love You’s came a little too suddenly. While there was plenty of background and progression in their relationship, I still found myself surprised by the declaration when it occurred.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.   The push and pull between Olivia and Gareth is what really made this story really wonderful — the chemistry is so strong between them that they can’t keep their hands to themselves, and yet they don’t particularly even like one another.  The love scenes had just the right amount of heat, and though I did feel that the I Love You’s may have come a touch quickly, the excitement and danger in the story kept the pacing quick without feeling rushed.

Throw in some supernaturally gifted children, a ghost or two, some demons, a dash of poison, and buckets of magic, and this book is firmly on my Keeper shelf.

4.5/5 Stars

Reading Order:

Also posted in Historical – 1 Comment

Review – The Kingdom – Mira – Amanda Stevens

March 26, 2012

Expected Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: Harelquin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website: http://www.amandastevens.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, The Graveyard Queen
Series Best Read In Order: Probably, but might work well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town… 

My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I’ve been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I’m coming to think I have another purpose here. 

Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I’ve discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.

What Worked For Me:

  •  One thing that Amanda Stevens never fails to do is scare the pants off of me.  The “creepy factor” of her books has me hiding under the blankets while simultaneously marking my calendar for when I can expect a new book in the series.
  • I also adore the setting in this story. Still set in the lush South, The Kingdom moves away from the city of New Orleans and instead takes us to Asher Falls, North Carolina — a tiny town set in the mountains of the Carolinas, complete with plenty of folklore, unfriendly townspeople, and plenty of history.
  • The Twist! Well, all of the twists actually.  So much is explained in this book while still leaving so much a mystery, and the many twists and turns the story takes makes it impossible to put this book down.
  • One of my favorite things about this book was the suspense and how it played into the paranormal.  One of Ms. Stevens’ many talents is scaring the fire out of her readers without relying on cheap tricks, and I don’t recommend reading this book while home alone at night.
  • I’m not usually a big fan of first person point of view, but I’ve noticed with this series that after the first few paragraphs, I don’t realize that it’s written in first person any more.  I love how in this series, the first person POV serves to draw the reader in and allows us to experience everything just as Amelia does, which adds immeasurably to the sense of mystery and horror of the story.
  • While not a traditional romance in the least, and not even having what I would consider to be “traditional” style love-scenes, there is still enough chemistry and tension between characters to keep things quite interesting for romance fans.
  • There were quite a few developments in Amelia’s own personal life as well, which any fan of the series will more than appreciate.
  • I was also quite pleased with the ending as well. No spoilers, but things worked out very satisfactorily, while still leaving plenty of openings for a sequel.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I’m solidly Team Devlin, so I wasn’t thrilled that there was another love interest brought into this novel, despite things having been left so up in the air with Devlin when we last saw him.

I should probably start this review off with how much I adore this series.  The Restorer is the first book I ever rated as 5-Stars on this blog, and The Kingdom is more than I could have hoped for in a sequel.

One thing that is difficult for me, however, is to accurately categorize any of the books in this series.    There’s romance, certainly, but no traditional “happily ever after”, nor are there any traditional “love scenes”, though some sensuality and eroticism does play a part in each book. There’s mystery, but there are such strong horror and paranormal elements that I don’t think that’s really the correct designation either.  There is a strong female protagonist who uses her paranormal powers to fight evil, but this series is quite different from any “urban fantasy” story I’ve ever read.

While I would suggest that any newcomer to the series first pick up The Restorer, simply because it not only introduces Amelia and her ability, but sets the stage for much of the action in The Kingdom, I do think that this book could stand well on its own.  There is enough history given that I think new readers will be able to get a general feel of the background needed for this book, and the plot of The Kingdom is more than enough to keep any new reader engaged.

The utterly creepy atmosphere of Asher Falls, the terrifying interactions with the ghosts and the townspeople, and the beautifully crafted mystery all came together to remind me exactly what I love about this series. No matter how deep my love for Devlin, and despite the fact that he didn’t make an appearance in this one,  I do believe I might have even enjoyed The Kingdom even more than The Restorer, and I don’t say that lightly.

Highly recommended for fans of suspenseful horror, spooky ghost stories, and family intrigue.

A resoundingly spooky 5/5 Stars.

Also posted in Mystery – 0 Comments

Review: Deadly Is The Kiss – HQN – Rhyannon Byrd

March 24, 2012

Expected Release Date: March 20, 2012 (Paperback. April 1 eBook)
Publisher: Harelquin
Imprint: HQN
Author’s Website: http://www.rhyannonbyrd.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, Primal Instinct World
Series Best Read In Order: Yes, recommend reading Primal Instinct Series first.
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

Tasked with protecting humanity from harm, the last thing Ashe Granger was searching for on his mission was his destined mate. Then, a mysterious dark-eyed beauty reluctantly offered him shelter. A spark of danger—and a soul-deep recognition—ignited a burning, carnal need….Since her family’s exile, Juliana Sabin had borne full responsibility for their safety. So when evil struck, she had no choice but to ally herself with the sexy guardian vampire. Now, months later, Ashe is back and tempting Juliana to reveal her darkest secrets…and desires. For the killer stalking the shadows isn’t acting alone—and he won’t rest until his deadly cravings are fulfilled.

What Worked For Me:

  • It’s been a while since I’ve read some of the Primal Instinct series, but I do remember my anticipation of these two finally getting together.  I was not disappointed. Juliana is not one to just sit back and let Ashe get away with his douchebaggery, and Ashe is also alpha enough to not let Juliana step in and run the show. The chemistry between them was absolutely explosive and I loved the tension that it brought to the story.
  • Rhyannon Byrd has a talent for writing some of the most intense, passionate, and (no pun intended) primal love scenes I have ever read. There’s such powerful chemistry between her protagonists that even without delving into taboo, she manages to really crank up the heat. *fans self*
  • I really enjoyed the reason that Juliana and her family were in exile. It certainly wasn’t what I’d anticipated, but it fit perfectly.
  • I loved the scene where Ashe does something completely idiotic in a bar, and it backfires on him, and it was so much fun seeing things get turned around on him.
  • There was also plenty of action, with all sorts of terrifying assassins on their tails, and of never quite knowing who to trust.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  •  Ashe was a complete and utter asshat.  The entire “bargain” with Juliana made me want to smack him, and his general treatment of her in regards to the Burning made me really just want to sell him to some scientists and have him vivisected or something as punishment. Yes, I’m bloodthirsty like that.
  • I felt that the result of the final confrontation was a little too… tidy, for lack of a better term.  I can’t really explain without giving away major spoilers, but it felt a bit too convenient when everything was said and done.

While this book is considered to be Book 1 in the Primal Instinct World, I do highly recommend that those unfamiliar with the series go back and read at least a book or two from Primal Instinct series before attempting this one. While the main story between Juliana and Ashe is indeed self-contained, there is enough history between the characters, and enough cameos and references to the events, locations, and characters from the original series to make it confusing for those who have not yet read any of them.

As a fan of the original series, I have been greatly anticipating Juliana and Ashe getting together, and I was not disappointed.   The delicious intensity and chemistry that Ms. Byrd has become known for is in full force between these two, and the push and pull between them was a joy to read.

While I wasn’t thrilled with some of Ashe’s behavior or his treatment of Juliana, I have to admit that I was still quite happy with their journey in the end.

A delightfully steamy 4/5 Stars

Primal Instinct Reading Order

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Review: Fair Game – Ace – Patricia Briggs

March 21, 2012

Expected Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Penguin
Imprint:  Ace
Author’s Website: http://www.patriciabriggs.com/
My Source for This Book: WalMart
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3, Alpha & Omega
Series Best Read In Order: Works well as a standalone
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind. 

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can’t afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father’s dirty work is taking a toll on Charles. 

Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack’s help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer’s sights…

What Worked For Me:

  • Anna has long been one of my favorite heroines in paranormal/urban fantasy, and in this book proved to be no exception. With her innocent, girl-next-door looks, her Omega status (and the protectiveness she brings out in others), combined with what is some serious toughness, I loved her in Fair Game.
  • Charles, too, was wonderful, with his job as his father’s enforcer weighing hard on him as more and more he’s called to enforce the stricter rules that have been imposed on the werewolves, and his determination to protect his mate at the forefront, even when it means he must hurt her to save her.
  • One thing I felt strongly was that the side characters really made this book. From the brief appearances of Bran and Asil, to the new characters such as Leslie, I really enjoyed everything they had to add.
  • I also really enjoyed the new setting. Boston isn’t a city I usually associate with Urban Fantasy, but I think it worked beautifully for the storyline.
  • The final confrontation was intense and quite terrifying. I also loved the twist.
  • I also was quite pleased with the final outcome of the book. No spoilers, but I admit I did enjoy the final chapters very, very much.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • One very major issue that had been plaguing Charles was resolved quite abruptly and the final resolution almost felt like an afterthought as we neared the end of the book.
  • On a very similar note, that trouble in Anna and Charles’ marriage could have (and perhaps should have) been milked a little more before turning so optimistic.

I’ve been a fan of Charles and Anna ever since their first novella.  Having never read the Mercy Thompson series, I knew that this series was intended to run parallel, and yet, the fewer books meant that there would be more time elapsed between plots. However, I was a little startled to find that so much time had passed since the last story.   While I have no idea where exactly it falls on the “timeline” of the series, it did take me a moment to catch my bearings.

Once I’d come to terms with the idea that the werewolves and other paranormal creatures were “out”, things progressed very smoothly.  While not incredibly steamy, I was quite pleased at the rather intense scenes that did occur between Charles and Anna.  The mystery of the serial killer combined with the wonderful side characters to make this a book that I simply could not put down.

Overall, I found this one highly enjoyable, and easily recommend this one for not only fans of the series, but for newcomers as well.

4/5 Stars.

 

Mercy Thompson Series Reading Order:

Alpha & Omega Series Reading Order

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Review: Motor City Mage – Carina Press – Cindy Spencer Pape

March 13, 2012

Expected Release Date:  March 12, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 4, Urban Arcana
Series Best Read In Order: Probably.
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

As a cop who keeps paranormals in line, Des has a hard time trusting them. So why does he want the beautiful werewolf Lana more than his next breath? She’s mouthy, flamboyant and distractingly sexy—not the type of woman for a reserved mage like him. Lana admires Des, but she can’t be with someone who won’t take her seriously, no matter how much she’d love to rip off his dress shirt. When a dangerous new drug shows up in Detroit, Des must locate the source, and Lana is determined to help. But their plan goes awry, trapping them in a demon dimension. To return home, Lana and Des must flee through a series of unpredictable alternate realities, fighting enemies while trying to shut down the drug trade. But if they’re going to survive, they’ll have to rely on each other, even though getting closer will add fuel to a fire that’s already burning out of control…

What Worked For Me:

  • I really loved the Urban Arcana universe, and in this particular story I especially enjoyed the idea of new designer street drugs being brought in from different dimension.
  • Des was scrumptious. Sexy, intelligent, and frankly a bit of a stick-in-the-mud at first, I loved watching him struggle against his attraction to Lana. I really enjoyed watching him come over his deeply ingrained prejudices over the course of the novel, and how that worked into the plot as a whole.
  • Lana was probably my favorite character in this book.  She was a strong, intelligent woman who went after what she wanted. More than that, however, she wasn’t one of those heroines who rush off into danger only to get their bums handed to them as a result.  Certainly, she had her own weaknesses, but as alpha as she was, she was also smart enough to pick her battles, and I liked that.
  • The steam factor was also perfect for the pacing, with just enough heat to keep things interesting while not slowing down the action.
  • I really enjoyed the fact that there was so much packed into this book — action, forbidden romance, danger, inter-dimensional travel, capture, escape, political intrigue and family drama. Even more than that, however, was the fact that the story remained beautifully light in spite of being so action packed, and was never really dragged down by any of the heavier plot points in the story.
  • I was quite pleased with the ending, and I think that previous fans of the series will be absolutely thrilled.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • It was my own fault for starting a series with Book 4, but I really do not think it completely “worked” as a standalone. While there was certainly enough background information given that I was never actually “lost”, I do think there was far too much that I’d missed out on to fully appreciate this story. For example, I had the feeling that Des and Lana had some sort of history of animosity and sexual tension, but because I hadn’t actually witnessed any of that, their relationship seemed to progress far too quickly.
  • I wasn’t thrilled with the scene involving the bracelets. I can’t go further into detail without giving away a major spoiler, but it almost felt as a bit of a shortcut in their relationship, and that threw the pacing off a bit.

While I think that newcomers to the series will easily follow along with the action and the characters,  I can tell you that it would probably be better having read the series in order.  I think I personally expected there to be more unresolved sexual tension between Lana and Des, but was instead left with a suspicion that most of the tension between them may have occurred in a previous book.

Overall, however, I definitely enjoyed it.  Lana and Des worked very well together as a couple in spite of their own hesitance to enter into a relationship, and the exciting universe of Urban Arcana was highly entertaining.

Recommended for fans of fast paced paranormal romance, exciting journeys, and forbidden love.

4/5 Stars.

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