3.5 Stars Ezra never even knew werewolves existed until he was bitten the night of his father's wake. From that moment on, his life has been changed fo3.5 Stars Ezra never even knew werewolves existed until he was bitten the night of his father's wake. From that moment on, his life has been changed forever.
Callum is the local pack Alpha and he's on a mission to track down a rogue shifter, infected with a condition that makes him run wild. He sniffs out the man's scent, which leads him to Ezra, the rogue's unsuspecting victim. Callum decides to bring the young man back to the pack to help him through his transition and keep him safe, should his attacker return.
Right away, Callum and Ezra are taken with one another. Ezra is a natural beta and their pheromones tie each other in knots. Both try to fight it... Ezra, because he is ashamed of his beta status and feels like he shouldn't enjoy being bossed around; and Callum, because he doesn't want to unduly use his alpha powers to force himself on a weaker werewolf. Of course, it doesn't take long before they give in to their attraction.
In the meantime, we learn someone is manufacturing the infection that spurned Ezra's attack. So Callum, Ezra and others go to work to trace the root of the poison and fight its effects. It makes for a fairly engaging mystery and gives an element of suspense to the story.
But Callum, Ezra, and the pack are really the best parts of the book. There is both an interesting array of secondary characters and a steamy (and ultimately sweet) relationship between our two heroes. There's a deep vein of dominance and submission that runs throughout the storyline --and that's often a turn off for me. But Callum never used his power over Ezra in a way that made me feel uncomfortable. And despite that dynamic, I felt that Ezra was an equal partner in the relationship. The D/s angle didn't venture much into the bedroom, either, which was a plus for me, though it may disappoint readers looking for a little more kink.
It wasn't perfect. I found the pacing a little strange, almost like the book was divided into chunks: Ezra learns to be a wolf; Ezra & Callum come together; then Ezra, Callum, and the FBI chicks solve the mystery. --And speaking of the mystery, it really wasn't much of one... the villain is just a misogynist, homophobic alpha. No, we don't find out his name until the end, but it didn't really matter who he was, since we knew what he was all along.
It wasn't all that deep... but it was a fun and sexy m/m shifter romance. I liked it. 3 1/2 stars.
Holy wow. This book was really, really good. I'm so glad I didn't give up on this series, because each book has gotten progressively better.
Lucian is Holy wow. This book was really, really good. I'm so glad I didn't give up on this series, because each book has gotten progressively better.
Lucian is the youngest of the Roman brothers, and he is destined to follow in his father's footsteps as the next Breeding Male. He'd rather die than live as such a rutting beast. But he can keep his fragile hold on sanity, as long as he can keep himself from having sex with Bronwyn, the one woman with whom he has shared his blood. Of course, he wants her like he has never wanted any other woman, but he is determined fight his attraction.
Unfortunately, the villain of our story has other ideas. He forces Lucian and Bron together in another reality, knowing the two of them will eventually give in to their desires. And sure enough, they do. And Lucian begins to transform, but they find hope for his salvation.
I'm not going to spoil the details. But I will say I loved their romance. Both Lucian and Bronwyn fought it so hard, which only made it that much sweeter when they gave in to their feelings. Wright has crafted such fantastic characters here and I was completely invested in them and desperate for them to find happiness.
The side stories were great as well, from backstory on Nicolas' twin and the other rejects... to the heartbreaking Syn and Juliet... to the amazing set-up for Gray and Dillon's book. It was all just golden. --Plus the sex was really hot. Did I mention the sex? (**fans self**) I loved the resolution to Lucian and Bronwyn's story. I just loved it all. Well, all except for that ubiquitous "c-word." 5 stars.
Thank you Laura Wright, for reading my mind. Almost all the major issues I had with Eternal Hunger have either disappeared or drastically improved witThank you Laura Wright, for reading my mind. Almost all the major issues I had with Eternal Hunger have either disappeared or drastically improved with this definitely superior sequel.
This second installment in the Mark of the Vampire series focuses on Nicolas, another son of the Breeding Male who has been forced into early maturity by the order. Like his brother Alexander, he has led a tortured life. Only this time, we see the effects of his misery. In fact, it colors almost everything he says and does.
Nicolas' mother was a drug addict and a whore, who pimped her son out at a very early age. So not only did he endure the stigma of his father, but he lived in shame... forced into acts no child should endure... until he was rescued by his brother Lucian. Now, he seems to live a normal life, but he has never really let go of the dark side of his life. He considers himself dirty and unworthy and still debases himself behind his brothers' backs.
Shortly after his forced maturation, Nicolas is approached by a woman, claiming to have rescued his son from the man who killed the boy's mother. Nicolas is skeptical about the boy's parentage and Kate's motives. But she sacrificed a lot to save the child, running away from her last two months of parole to deliver the boy. Now Kate and Nicolas are thrown together to track down the Impure who killed the child's mother, before the Order forces Lucian to become the next Breeding Male.
It was a great romance, with two characters who are both so broken and flawed. The sexual tension and payoff are explosive. Learning about Nicolas' history is heartbreaking, but that just makes things so much more gratifying when he finally finds love. (I do wish we would have gotten a little more insight into why he was still leading his second life, however, rather than having us draw our own conclusions.)
More is revealed in the ongoing arc surrounding the Impure revolution and the power behind it. We learn more about Gray (a favorite of mine from the last book) and his journey toward a real life and --hopefully-- love with Dillon. And there's a great ending, clearly setting up a story for Lucian and Bronwyn. But despite the side plots, I felt like our main couple and their relationship got the attention they needed. I felt much more invested in them than I did with Alex and Sara.
A couple of other tidbits: I'm glad this book had a glossary... It needed one! But there is still frequent use of the "c-word" --which I guess is just a word the author likes and I'm going to have to get over it. Overall, though, a big improvement & a solid installment in the series. Can't wait to get started on Lucian's book. A little more than 4 stars....more
This anthology features a collection of short stories in the Guild Hunter world. Three have been previously published. The last is new.
Angels' Pawn - This anthology features a collection of short stories in the Guild Hunter world. Three have been previously published. The last is new.
Angels' Pawn - Throughout the first three Guild Hunter novels, we get little teasers about the hunter Ashwini and her constant foil, the sexy Cajun vampire Janvier. But in this short story, we get to see the two of them in action. Though Ash is usually hunting Janvier, here they are working together to bring in a vampire at the center of a power struggle. The whole thing serves as a little slice of life for the Guild Hunter, but it also showcases the sexy dynamic between Ash and Janvier. This isn't a story with an HEA. It does, however, leave the door wide open for the possibilities between these two. I hope they get their own story one day. The backstory on Ash alone would make it worthwhile.
Angel's Judgment - This is our chance to see Sara and Deacon when they first meet and fall in love. When the story begins, Sara is trying to decide whether she will accept the position as the new Guild Director. (Chronologically, it happens before the events of Angels' Blood.) As she works a case, trying to find a killer who is targeting vamps, she is paired with Deacon. He is known within the Guild as The Slayer, investigating rouge hunters and delivering punishment when necessary. They work together to find the guilty party, and grow close in the process. Sara has always been just a background character for me in the series, but this story gives her more depth. And Deacon is hawt! A great novella, filled with action and awesome sexy-times. Definitely a keeper for fans of the series.
Angels' Wolf - Poor Noel. Back in Archangel's Kiss, he was the vampire savagely beaten and tortured to send a message to Raphael. His body has now healed, but he may never recover from the emotional damage. As this story begins, Raphael sends him on a mission to Louisiana, to help the angel Nimra figure out who is trying to kill her. Nimra is very powerful, striking fear in even the most brutal angels. But Noel finds there is a gentle spirit behind her fierce reputation. It was strange seeing such a soft angel, when almost all the others in the series have this vein of inhumanity. But I did enjoy watching her breathe new life into Noel's broken spirit. By the time the story ends, we finally get an idea of who he was before his attack. And it's clear that through love, he'll one day be whole again.
Angels' Dance - Set 400 years in the past, this story gives us the chance to watch Galen and Jessamy fall in love. Jess is a teacher at the refuge, loved and respected by all, but the ancient angel has never known a man's touch. She is thousands of years old, but her malformed wing has kept her grounded and isolated. Galen recognizes that there is more to her than just a teacher and historian. He sees the woman beneath. And he takes her to the skies... exposes her to the world. He awakens feelings in her that she never thought she would have. This is all happening as Galen works to prove himself worthy of entering Raphael's service. Also at the same time, there is turmoil in Cadre with a missing archangel and an attempt on Jessamy's life. But the real draw is the love story that develops between Jess and Galen. They are wonderful contrasting characters, proving how much opposites attract. A lot of time passes over the course of less than 150 pages, but it only adds to the depth of their feelings. Very satisfying.
Being a social worker can be dangerous business when vampires are part of the equation. And that's becoming clearer to Nicole every day. More and moreBeing a social worker can be dangerous business when vampires are part of the equation. And that's becoming clearer to Nicole every day. More and more often, she is encountering human foster parents who are stealing and selling the blood of vampire children. And they'll do almost anything to protect their dirty secret. So a group of vampire warriors has been called in to help train Nicole and her co-workers in self-defense. Almost immediately she is drawn to one of the men.
Damon swears he'll never take a human mate, but he knows Nicole is meant to be his. She fires all of his protective instincts, and it's only a matter of time before they give in to their attraction. But at the same time their passion is heating up, so is the danger to Nicole. It seems someone thinks she is doing her job too well. Her vigilance is putting a crimp in the blood trade and now a hit has been put on her life. Damon must find a way to keep her safe as he struggles with his instinct to make her his own.
The book felt a little awkward in the very beginning, but it quickly grew on me. I liked both main characters. Damon's reluctance to make Nicole his mate was understandable once we learned his backstory. And in the meantime, we were treated to some good sexual tension --and eventually, some hot sex.
The villain reveal wasn't a very big surprise, but I enjoyed the journey. The ending felt a little bit rushed --I would have liked to see the events play out-- but I was happy with the resolution. Plus, the secondary cast of vampire warriors provides fertile ground for future stories. Almost 4 stars.
One of the things I love most about Kresley Cole books is the way that she weaves her stories together. It's really quite amazing how she takes all thOne of the things I love most about Kresley Cole books is the way that she weaves her stories together. It's really quite amazing how she takes all these little pieces over a dozen books and makes them all feel like they are part of this fantastic master plan that she's had all along. Lothaire has been this mysterious and enigmatic character ever since A Hunger Like No Other. We've seen him scheme and manipulate; go on quests and gather debts; and we've had little hints: a feud with Nix... a plan to rule the vampires. And now it all makes sense.
Lothaire is the bastard son of the old Horde vampire king. His mother was a princess of the lost Diacan vamps. He should have been royalty. But his father cast him and his mother out. And they were forsaken by her family. As she died, he swore his revenge --to one day rule both the Horde and the Diacans-- and it's all he has lived for ever since.
Now he has finally found his Bride, the woman fated to be his Queen. Elizabeth is a human whose body is being possessed by an evil deity. Lothaire thinks the deity is his destined mate (though obviously it's Elizabeth) and he makes it his mission to find a way to permanently expel Elizabeth's soul from her body to give Soroya the reigns. He holds her captive as he tries to track down that powerful wish-granting ring he stole from the mummy back in Pleasure of a Dark Prince. And as much as they outwardly disdain each other, there is an undeniable attraction between Elizabeth and Lothaire... one they can only fight so long, before they give in.
Here's the thing: Lothaire is sexy and ruthless. But he is also a complete asshole. He imprisons Ellie. He is cruel to her. He inflicts his will on her over and over again --and continues to do so even after he realizes she is really the one for him. He's completely self-absorbed and I felt like it took too long before he could stop seeing Ellie as beneath him. He did, however, make some powerful sacrifices and the sex was really hot... so there was some good stuff going on the romance department too. I just wish he had treated her better than he did for 90% of the book.
For me, where the book shines, are in the moments Cole lets us see the history and connections among the characters. I loved getting the backstory on Lothaire and Nix. I loved that she worked in Hag, the Oracle from Kiss of a Demon King, and gave a shout-out to Lanthe. I loved Thaddeus, from Dreams of a Dark Warrior, with a capital-L. And the last sentence of the book really knocked my socks off.
Cole sets up her spinoff Diacan series nicely --and leaves me hoping that we'll get a Kristoff and Furie book very soon. 4 stars.
If I won one of those multi-million dollar lotteries, after using a portion of my extensive wealth for good... and maintaining my harem of hot men... If I won one of those multi-million dollar lotteries, after using a portion of my extensive wealth for good... and maintaining my harem of hot men... I would throw gobs and gobs of money at Thea Harrison until she agreed to come live next door and write me stories every day. This lady continues to completely knock my socks with her Elder Races series. And Oracle's Moon may be my favorite yet.
The super-sexy man at the center of this book is Khalil. As the last book ended, the djinn agreed to watch over the young children of the Oracle. And once he makes a vow, he is honor-bound to uphold it. Not for a day, but for life. Grace, the Oracle, isn't really thrilled to have him around. Her life is hard enough. She's only recently come into her powers. She is 23, dealing with injuries from a car accident, and raising her sister's kids. She doesn't have money. She doesn't have help. She is completely out of her depth. And a blustering, know-it-all djinn is the last thing she needs on top of all that.
But as Khalil begins to spend more time with the children, he begins to transform. He lets them into his heart, and somehow Grace comes along with them. For a being nearly as old as time, he is utterly clueless, but I loved watching him learn to open himself up and embrace human feeling and emotion. At the same time, Grace finds someone she can trust and lean on. This is more important than ever as she struggles to make the powers of the Oracle her own.
The thing I love most about the Elder Races books is the fact that Harrison never relies on the overused tropes of the genre. Khalil and Grace have to struggle and grow to achieve the relationship they're working toward. But they stay true to character as they do it. There's no big misunderstanding or eye-rolling roadblocks of their own making. Khalil is alpha and powerful without being a jerk to Grace; and she is pure of heart without being an untouched, unbelievable virgin.
This isn't a book that is filled with constant action and a big, epic external conflict. Though there is some action and danger, this is a love story. You actually get to see these characters fall in love. It's not fated. It's not instant. But it's captivating and wonderful and it feels... real.
I can't think of a single thing I didn't like about this book. From the uber-hot sex... to the romance... the action... the danger... the cameos... It was everything I wanted. And it provides a great set-up for the next book, which again focuses on Dragos and Pia. I can't wait. 5 stars.
In the world Kris Cook has created with his Eternally Three series, immortals live among us. But they need a certain sexual energy to sustain their liIn the world Kris Cook has created with his Eternally Three series, immortals live among us. But they need a certain sexual energy to sustain their life force. An angel must join with a jinn and a human in "tripling" and share energy. (By the way, a "tripling" is exactly what you think it is.)
This story follows Micki, a human woman who is searching for her missing brother. She knows something is wrong, thanks to a cryptic message he left her, asking her to bring his flash drive to a club and give it to a man named David. It turns out that the club is a hedonistic house of flesh. And once she arrives, she has trouble remembering her mission. All she can think about is her erotic attraction to the two men who remind her of the dirty sex dreams she's been having. --And wouldn't you know it? One of them is a jinn and the other, an angel.
Apparently, David's a big muckety-muck in the supernatural world and he has assigned Jared and Bradley to watch over Micki. And boy, do they ever. But the mind-blowing sex reveals there is something special about their tripling and the woman in the center of it. As the book progresses, we see Micki, Jared, and Bradley fight the agents of the Dark who hope to harness their power, search for Micki's missing brother, and have lots and lots of sex.
The menage action is seriously hot. Dirty, sweaty, slutty, look over-your-shoulder to-see-who's-watching-you-read hot. Micki is the clueless human, learning to embrace her carnal side... Bradley, the do-right angel... and Jared, the damaged jinn who is trying to redeem himself for past mistakes. It's a fun supernatural sexcapade, with a fairly straightforward conflict to anchor the dirty bits together. And they were good dirty bits --but I had a few nitpicks. One: You have to accept a lot of the supernatural parts of the story at face value, without a lot of world-building. Two: It bothered me a little how easily Micki jumped into the nasty with two strangers in a public place, no matter how hot they were. And three: As good as the sex is between among them, they all fell in love really fast.
It was fast, fun ride, though... as long as you don't try to take it too seriously. A little more than 3 stars.
One of the things I like best about Larissa Ione is that her books are unpredictable. And there is always so much going on. And they are so freaking hOne of the things I like best about Larissa Ione is that her books are unpredictable. And there is always so much going on. And they are so freaking hot! (I guess that's more than one thing, but let me gush for a moment.) I enjoyed Eternal Rider, but it took me a little while to get into. Not the case here. This story reeled me in from the beginning and didn't let go.
Limos is the only female among the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. She is as beautiful as she is deadly. She is also a virgin. Limos was promised to Satan as his bride when she born. She wears a chastity belt that attacks anyone who tries to get in her pants. And if she ever allows herself to give in to an attraction to another man, it's bad news for the object of her affection.
Arik's been part of the Demonica world for a long time. He is Runa's brother and part of the military force that fights deadly supernaturals. He is drawn to Limos, and as the book begins, he finally gives in to the temptation to kiss her. That's when everything goes to hell. Literally. Satan's minions set out to torture him... the curse saying that if he screams Limos' name in agony, she'll have to return to the Underworld and take her place at Satan's side.
This is only the beginning of a long journey for these two. Of course, Arik makes it out, but one obstacle after another is thrown in their path. Not the least of which is Limos' own shady past and the looming damage it could do if it comes to light. Pestilence has a hand in all the madness. And there is a great side story featuring the angels Reaver and Harvester.
Oh! And speaking of great side stories... I loved, loved, loved the direction Ione is taking with Thanatos. I feared his story was going to be predictable with the nature of his seal, but I was dead wrong. The great b-plot stuff just wasn't there in the last book, but it definitely is here --and it's a big win.
I will acknowledge: it takes forever for sexual payoff between our main characters. But there is plenty of sexy action going on throughout the book. I won't spoil the details, but... wow. The whole thing was really good. And I. Am. Dying. For the next book. Almost 5 stars.
This book reminded me why I fell in love with Sherrilyn Kenyon. For me, the Dark-Hunter series has kind of lost its way a little bit lately. But The GThis book reminded me why I fell in love with Sherrilyn Kenyon. For me, the Dark-Hunter series has kind of lost its way a little bit lately. But The Guardian felt a lot like some of the earlier books that I loved so much. It's technically a Dream Hunter novel, but it brings together many different threads from previous books. We've got many of the Dream Hunter characters we've met before, like Solin, Delphine & Jericho. But our heroine is half Dream Hunter, half Kattagarian... so we've got a healthy dose of Were-Hunter. AND our hero is a slave to Noir, which ties us into the whole Azmodea/ Hellchaser storyline. Plus we get a visit to Sanctuary and a Malachai connection.
If all that sounds intimidating, well, I'll be honest when I say there were times my memory was creaking, trying to remember all the threads from the previous books. But Kenyon does a good job filling in the blanks and bringing you up to speed. And besides, the real draw of this book wasn't all background stuff anyway. Our main couple stole the show.
Seth is part Egyptian God, but was cast out by his parents. He has been rejected and betrayed his whole life, and has spent thousands of years as a slave to the primordial god Noir. He has been tortured beyond any point I could convey to you. He's never known love. In short, he is a super-awesome- dreamboat of a tortured hero.
By the bidding of his master, Seth has been torturing the Dream Hunter Solin to get him to reveal the location of the key to Mt Olympus. But then, Solin's daughter Lydia comes to rescue her dad. She becomes Seth's prisoner, while Solin goes to get the key. As his captive, Lydia spends more time with Seth and gets to see the man behind the mask he wears as Noir's Guardian. And she wants to show him all the love he has never known.
He pulled her hand up and laid it against his chest before he finally explained, "I can perform a lot better for you if you wait until the end to hurt me there."
She didn't know what made her hurt the most, the sincere honesty in his voice or the expectation of pain she saw in his eyes. He spoke as if he were nothing more than a trained monkey with no other purpose than to service her and go.
Her hand trembling, she brushed his curls back from his forehead. "Has no one ever made love to you?"
Scowling, he cocked his head. "Made love? I don't know what that is."
Of course, he didn't. Because no one had ever touched him with a loving hand. They had used him, abused him, and then thrown him away his entire life.
But that was going to change.
I really enjoyed this book alot. Kenyon is sooo good at writing tortured heroes and this reminded me a lot of Dance With the Devil in tone. My only complaint, was that ending felt a little bit rushed. Maybe more than a little bit. But I can forgive it. I really think fans of the series are going to be happy with this one. I definitely was. 4 1/2 stars.
This anthology contains four novellas, each featuring a different brand of supernatural love story. There is not a lot of cohesion among the offeringsThis anthology contains four novellas, each featuring a different brand of supernatural love story. There is not a lot of cohesion among the offerings. They vary in everything from the tone... to the hot-factor... to even the species of supernaturals involved. There wasn't one that was boring, but I enjoyed the last two quite a bit more than the others.
"Hidden" - Lila is in trouble. The beautiful Fae princess has made a binding deal with a human trying to take over the forests where her people live. Now she must convince the neighboring werewolf pack to give him their lands instead. Of course, the wolves aren't interested, so she resorts to kidnapping their leaders to force their cooperation.
Rafe, the Alpha's son, crosses Lila's path when he comes to rescue his packmates. He's immune to most of her magic, but her beauty and her personality are harder to ignore. Can the two of them work together to find a way to save both of their homes?
This was a pleasant, easy read. It wasn't too much of a love story, though you could say it's the beginning of one. It's got simple world-building with an easily defined obstacle and a creative solution.
"One Soul to Share" - Nolan is on a quest to replace the soul he lost when he became a vampire. He has discovered that he might be able to obtain one from the old sea hag, so he ventures out to find her. He meets a mermaid named Sarina, who agrees to act as his guide to find the hag's underwater lair. But Nolan has no idea that Sarina is really hoping he'll survive long enough for her to trade him to the hag for her sister's soul.
The two of them meet one challenge after another as they journey toward the hag. In their own way, each reveals themselves to be something beautiful and something monstrous. They are kindred spirits and eventually come together in something more than their missions.
It's not everyday you get a vampire/ mermaid underwater love-story. And I found that I kind of liked it. The story wasn't like anything I've read before and that's a rare thing. Both main characters are believable (in their own fantastical ways) and romantic in the ways they were willing to sacrifice for one another.
"Cruel Enchantment" - The fairy Bree has no idea what to expect when she is kidnapped by werewolves and locked up with a hungry vampire. She certainly would have never dreamed that the vamp would be her Intended mate. She knows fairy ichor is like a drug to vampires, but she allows Rev to drink from her anyway. They go their separate ways once they make an escape, but they never forget one another.
It took Rev months to overcome his addiction to fairy dust, but now he's clean. His job investigating the vampire fight clubs has brought him face to face with Bree again. It turns out that she is an informant who has stopped helping his organization. When the two meet again, their connection is undeniable. But it seems like they are doomed before they can even begin. Rev can't be with Bree without wanting to drink from her. So how can they make something work between them?
This was one of the stronger stories in the anthology. It's sexy and hot. I found myself wanting Rev to ravish Bree almost as much as she did. The story is part of Hauf's Beautiful Creatures world, but this works easily as a stand-alone. Dark, steamy, and tough to put down.
"Enemy Embrace" - They saved the best for last with this uber-hot demon story. Nicole is a half-demon, on the hunt for revenge against the vampire who killed her family. But she is outmatched... until the sexy demon Dak comes along. From the moment she lays eyes on him, all she can think about is, jumping his bones. She discovers they are meant to be mates. Once they sleep together, they will be tied to one another for the rest of their lives. But Dak is reluctant to make such a huge commitment. He tries to teach Nicole to draw on her demon side to help her prepare to the fight the vampire. And the more time they spend together, the less they can fight the attraction.
This story was HOT. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for these two to come together. Patti O'Shea... where have you been all my life? I haven't read from this author before, but I'll be looking for her other work after this.
Overall, it was kind of a mixed bag. Though there were no stories I disliked, the last two were definitely more of a hit for me. A little less than 4 stars.
Just weeks before her 25th birthday, Kat thinks she has dodged a bullet. In her family of witches, the firstborn daughter often has a vision on the daJust weeks before her 25th birthday, Kat thinks she has dodged a bullet. In her family of witches, the firstborn daughter often has a vision on the day she meets her soulmate. If she doesn't commit to that man by the day she turns 25, she'll lose all of her powers. Kat's sure such a thing will never happen to her. But, when she bumps into Jake, she gets a glimpse of his future and ends up saving his life.
Jake is everything Kat would have chosen in a man. And he's really attracted to her too. But the idea of magic is too much for him to take. Can he get over it by the time her birthday rolls around or will his fears ruin their chance at happiness?
This was a sweet and entertaining novella. The relationship between Kat and Jake progressed really quickly, which part of me wants to forgive, since they are soulmates and everything. But I think we could have resolved their love story without going quite so far as we did by the end of the book. Also, while I understand Jake's skepticism about witches, there were times he did annoy me with his negative feelings toward Kat.
But those issues aside, it was a pleasant little story... a quick and easy read. 3 1/2 stars.
Julian is one of the top dogs in the demon hierarchy. In just 200 years, he has climbed the ranks to Archdemon. He seduces the innocent; he revels in Julian is one of the top dogs in the demon hierarchy. In just 200 years, he has climbed the ranks to Archdemon. He seduces the innocent; he revels in debauchery. Or at least, he always has.
Serena is guardian angel. She follows her charge Nick into Julian's club one night, having no idea she is stepping into a demon's realm. Her beauty and innocence captivate Julian and he decides he must have her. Serena feels the attraction too, but she is determined to stay true to her righteous path.
When Julian manipulates Serena into spending a week with him in Sin City, he is sure he'll break down her resolve. But instead, she begins breaking down the walls he has spent centuries building around his tattered soul. Can a demon know love? And what could it mean for his chances of redemption?
I'll bet you know the answers to those questions without even reading the story. And that leads me to one of my two complaints about the book. It's a bit predictable. With the notable exception of Nick's path, you can pretty much figure out what's going to happen from chapter one. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the ride. I did. Julian is sexy and angsty in all the right places. He makes for a great reluctant hero and reforming bad boy. There is good sexual tension and the love scenes are steamy.
Lucianna makes for a good villain in that she is completely off the chain crazy and that makes her very dangerous. I believe she would happily cut anyone's throat in the blink of an eye. Then bathe in their blood.
I can't say I was as crazy about Serena as I was Julian. (Here comes that second complaint.) She was oh-so-good and so very innocent. But one kiss from Julian and she wants to jump his bones. Obviously, she shows restraint. But would such a beacon of virtue have to fight her carnal impulses so hard? Plus, at times, she is almost too good for me to relate to.
That being said, I still really wanted things to work out for them. And I liked watching it all unfold. I'm interested to see where the series will go next. Almost 4 stars.
This was definitely my favorite book in the Royal House of Shadows series. It focuses on Micah, the youngest prince of the magical world of Elden. He This was definitely my favorite book in the Royal House of Shadows series. It focuses on Micah, the youngest prince of the magical world of Elden. He was only five years-old when the evil Blood Sorcerer attacked and killed his parents. Just before they died, the couple used the last of their powers to spirit their children away to safety. But the Blood Sorcerer twisted the magic, and it landed Micah in the realm between the living and the dead.
He now serves as the Lord of the Abyss. He collects the souls of the dead and ferries them to the other side. Micah remembers nothing of his childhood. He doesn't even remember his own name. Liliana wants to change that. She is the Blood Sorcerer's daughter and knows better than anyone, the depths of her father's evil. She travels to the Black Castle intent on helping Micah remember his life and his destiny, so that he can reclaim the land stolen from his family.
The story is a play on Beauty and the Beast, though Liliana is no beauty. She manages to see the true man beneath his fierce veneer. Slowly, she peels back the layers of his armor and reminds him what it is to live and to feel. It's touching to watch, especially since Liliana, herself, is very damaged. And it's also quite sexy.
I liked that the conflicts between Liliana and Micah are resolved in good time. A lot of authors would have milked their issues out into angst that lasted a lot longer. I liked the simplicity and purity of their relationship and the steam they generated together.
My only complaint is that the resolution of the series felt rushed. We've built up the big sibling reunion and battle with the Sorcerer over the course of four books and the climax lasts less than 30 pages. I liked the book alot as a series installment, but for a finale, I wanted more. More time for the Sorcerer to get his comeuppance; and especially more time for the siblings to reunite. But it was not to be. A little more than 4 stars.
As a child, Reda's mother gave her a special book... a unique version of Little Red Riding Hood, filled with magic. After her mother's death, she refuAs a child, Reda's mother gave her a special book... a unique version of Little Red Riding Hood, filled with magic. After her mother's death, she refused to stop believing in the magic her mother assured her was real. Her father feared for her sanity, so he got rid of the book. But now, Reda has found it again. She realizes that there is more to it that she understood as a child... a sensuality... and she feels unquestionably drawn to both the book and the woodsman in the story.
After reciting some words her mother taught her, Reda founds herself transported to the wolfyn realm, where she comes face-to-face with Dayn. He is a dead ringer for the woodsman in the book and the man featured in the sexy dreams she has been having. Dayn recognizes Reda from his dreams as well. But to him, she is not just a beautiful woman, but the guide he has been waiting 20 years to help him find his way back to his homeland. You see, Dayn was a prince of Elden. But his castle was attacked by a blood sorcerer and his parents used magic to send him away to protect him.
Dayn is a vampire. But he's been living among the wolfyn in secret all this time. Once he meets up with Reda, he begins his quest to return home and save his kingdom. But of course, the two of them find love along the way.
I didn't enjoy this story quite as much as I liked Lord of Rage. First of all, I wasn't a big fan of the heroine. Yes, she has suffered some hard knocks lately, but she came off as a kind of a wimpy whiner, especially in the first half of the book. And every new revelation about Dayn made it worse. She wanted to take no responsibility for her feelings and actions... wanted to make everything his fault. She gave up too easily. And when she finally did come around, it felt abrupt and out of character.
As for Dayn, he made for an ok hero. (Though it's hard to be the follow-up act to a sexy berserker.) But he was responsible for the repetative dialogue that made me want to poke my eyes out. I swear to you, if I had to read him say, "Gods and the Abyss" one more time...
Anyway, the sex was pretty good. I liked the action, the wolfyn, and the dragon. And I'm looking forward to see Dayn reunite with his brothers and sister to kick some Blood Sorcerer ass. It's been a long time coming. 3 1/2 stars.
It's no secret that Lord of the Vampires didn't exactly light my fire. But I am so glad I didn't give up on the series, because I enjoyed this installIt's no secret that Lord of the Vampires didn't exactly light my fire. But I am so glad I didn't give up on the series, because I enjoyed this installment so much more.
If you're unfamiliar with the Royal House of Shadows books, the basic premise is that a Blood Sorcerer has attacked the royal family of magical land of Elden. He killed the king and queen but before he could attack their children, the royals used their powers to spirit the princes and princess away. The queen imprinted on them each a will to survive, while the king instilled in them the need for vengeance.
The princess, Breena, has always had the power to walk in the dreams of others. And for some time, she has been sharing her dreams with a mysterious warrior. When her parents' magic sends her away from home, she is drawn to the man who she comes to know as Obsorn. She doesn't remember everything that happened right away, but she remembers Osborn. What she doesn't know is that he is the last of the Berserkers. His people were killed off a decade ago and he's been caring for his younger brothers, the only other survivors from his village. Osborn thinks the people of Elden planned the bloody attack... so you know it's not going to be good once he finds out where he dream woman is from.
Anyway, Breena manages to convince Osborn to train her in battle. But every moment they are alone together, neither can deny the rising heat between them. Can Obsorn teach Breena what she needs to know to reclaim her lands? Will he still burn for her once he finds out who she really is? Could berserkers be any sexier? Meow.
This was my first book by Jill Monroe and I'd be happy to read from her again. The writing was clear; the dialogue good; the sex was hot. The only thing I would have changed if I could would have been a bigger climax at the end, but I guess that won't come until the end of the series. I'm also wondering about the time discrepancies among the different installments. Hopefully, that will be addressed as well. 4 stars.
P.S. The book was a take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, which made me wonder if Lord of the Vampires was supposed to be a play on any particular fairy tale. I looked it up and it was supposed to be a take on Alice in Wonderland. I had no idea.
I didn't care much for Detective DelVecchio when JR Ward introduced him in Lover Unleashed. In fact, I wondered what the hell his side-story was even I didn't care much for Detective DelVecchio when JR Ward introduced him in Lover Unleashed. In fact, I wondered what the hell his side-story was even doing in that book, since it had little or no relation to anything else in the storyline. Obviously, the plan was drive Black Dagger Brotherhood fans to the Fallen Angel series... and I think the idea was kind of off-putting. I would have read this book anyway, but I hated the idea that Ward stuffed its set-up into LU... a novel that was already fractured with so many storylines, the main characters were barely the focus at all.
That being said, in his own novel, Veck makes for a pretty interesting lead. He is haunted by the legacy of his serial killer father and a darkness that he has always carried within himself. And as our book begins, he is convinced that he is responsible for that attack on another serial killer named Kroner. Reilly is the Internal Affairs officer sent in to investigate. And she becomes his temporary partner while the police try to figure out what really happened to Kroner. Together, they begin to investigate the disappearance of Sissy Barten... the young virgin Devina killed in Covet. Veck thinks Kroner had something to do with it, since Sissy disappeared around the same time as his other victims.
In the meantime, Jim is determined he will find Sissy's body and somehow get her soul back from Devina. And his single-minded focus is causing a rift with his back-up angels Ad & Eddie. At times, the Jim and Sissy vibe comes across as a borderline romantic possibility... which bothers me. Sissy is 19. Jim is 40. Yes, they're actually both dead, but it's still squicky. And with Veck working Sissy's disappearance (and obviously with him being the soul in need of saving for the book) Jim has twice the motivation to be a part of his life.
I found that I liked the storyline of Veck's internal struggle, though how Devina got her hooks into him via his father wasn't entirely clear to me. As with all Ward books, the sex was rockin' -- though I was disappointed with Reilly for her lack of faith at a pivotal time. The real meat of the book for me, though, centered on Jim, Ad & Eddie. Some pretty powerful developments take place within their dynamic and we can expect the repercussions to continue into future books. We're also tipped off on the identity of the soul in question for the next book. It's a familiar face, but I don't know how I feel about it.
Overall, it was a solid installment in the series... very consistent in tone to the books that came before it. 4 stars.
Tate is on a mission to find and protect a female stray until he can bring her into the fold of the Shifter Underground. Lia doesn't want his help. EvTate is on a mission to find and protect a female stray until he can bring her into the fold of the Shifter Underground. Lia doesn't want his help. Everyone who has tried to get close to her has died, horribly, at the hands of the man who considers himself her mate. And she is sure that Trent will meet the same fate if she lets him into her life.
The past few years have been torture for Lia. She and her sister were kidnapped by government agents, then kept in a facility. They were experimented on... injured... humiliated. That's where she met Asher... where his mark was forced upon her. Even now that she is out of the facility, there is no escape. He can track her; he can punish her --and he will destroy anyone who dares to make a connection with her.
Of course, Tate ignores Lia's protests and takes her under his protection. For the first time in a very long time, she allows herself the luxury of feelings --and desire. Together, they learn what true mating really is and what it means to bond their souls to each other.
All of this happens against the backdrop of a world where shifters are feared and maligned by society. The series follows a small group of wolves trying to create a home and new life for others of their kind. The world building is straightforward and easy to understand. And while there are references to the events of the first book in the series, I never got lost or too bogged down with information overload.
The love story was ok, the ongoing shifter story is better.... but for me the Epilogue was the best part of the book. All too often in romances, these days, authors use an Epilogue as a dumping ground for a wedding, pregnancy or a baby. But this one adds to the story and gives it an extra layer of emotional resonance. Well done. 4 stars.
I'll be honest. I went into this book fearing the worst. The last installment in this series left me wanting and I was afraid the best days of Cat & BI'll be honest. I went into this book fearing the worst. The last installment in this series left me wanting and I was afraid the best days of Cat & Bones were behind us. This book didn't quite measure up to the glory of the early books, but it was better than the last one.
It picks up shortly after where the events of This Side of the Grave left off. Cat is still carrying the residual effects of Marie Laveau's blood magic. And her uncle Don has appeared to her as a ghost. He can't move on to the hereafter, but no one knows why.
It doesn't take long for the book's big conflict to be revealed. Elizabeth, a ghostly friend of Fabian's, comes to Cat asking for help to destroy an evil spirit. His name is Kramer and he tortured and killed Elizabeth --as well as other women who he once branded as witches. It seems Kramer has developed a lot of power in the hundreds of years since his death. He uses that strength to adopt a mortal body every Halloween to continue his attacks on innocent women. Of course, Cat can't turn down Elizabeth's plea. And the rest of the story follows Cat and Bones as they work to bring Kramer down.
One of the ways the last book fell short was the lack of action, but that's not the case here. The story moves at a fast pace and there is some tension generated by the threat from the Kramer. The unbridled passion, discovery, and angst once featured in the Cat and Bones relationship are gone. In their place is now a deep and abiding love between them... Love, trust and an unbreakable faith. Their relationship is different now. And by necessity, I guess, it takes a backseat to the main story arc. It's hard to make married love sexy.
Many of the series' great supporting cast of characters are here: Charles and Denise are featured heavily... We also have Ian, Justina, Tate and Don. And speaking of Don: there is a side story featuring him and a dastardly new character, Madigan, who is taking over Cat's old unit. It seemed like Frost was going somewhere with this, but it never really came together. Maybe it will be resolved in the next book. A little more than 4 stars.
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