Review: Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

Title: Kiss of Snow
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy/Changeling #10
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.

Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would've been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.

Then Sienna changes the rules and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other's secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight…

A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna's darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home…and the alpha who is its heartbeat.

This probably was my most anticipated book of the year. We met Hawke and Sienna in the first book and we saw the sparks fly. These two have been circling their way towards each other for nine books and we finally got their story.

One of the most important things you have to know about the heroine, Sienna, is that she's a fighter. She has been fighting for her life since she was little and training under the Psy Council so when it comes the time to fight for Hawke, she never gives up. I think that was one of the things that made me like her the most.

Hawke is a stubborn, arrogant and controlled changeling. He is the alpha of SnowDancer and is used to people following his orders. Sienna has been pushing his bottons since they met and it all reaches a boiling point in this book.
I was interesting seeing Hawke trying to deal with his emotions, but most importantly, I loved that Hawke finally found that one person he could be completely normal with. Their journey towards that was full of angst, action and most importantly, love.

There is a secondary love story, and that's the one between Lara, SnowDancer's healer, and Walker Lauren, Sienna's uncle. I wasn't expecting it, and honestly, I was hoping that Walker would get his own book, but it worked out in the end. Theirs is a sweet story, with Walker learning to let go and Lara helping him along the way.

We also get glimpses of Kit (baby cat alpha, as Hawke calls him), Judd, Sasha and Lucas. This parts were among my favourite too. I just love getting updates on the lives of previous heroes and heroines, plus getting to know better other characters that I hope get their own book in the future.

All in all, this was a fantastic read with an amazing and long awaited main couple, a lot of action and major series changing events.
I had really high expectations for this book and I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint one bit.


Memorable Lines:
"They‘re not dating, but he‘s very protective of her," Lucas said as Hawke was about to rib him on his sartorial elegance in retaliation for the other man‘s quip, "just so you know."
Hawke didn‘t bother to respond to that—he‘d eat the baby cat alpha for breakfast.

Previous Books:
1. Slave to Sensation
2. Visions of Heat
3. Caressed by Ice
4. Mine to Possess
5. Hostage to Pleasure
6. Branded by Fire
7. Blaze of Memory
8. Bonds of Justice - Review
9. Play of Passion - Review

Next Book:
11. Untitled (June 2012)

Rating:

Review: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Title: Dragon Bound
Author: Thea Harrison
Series: Elder Races #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful-and passionate-of the Elder races.

This book was an incredible start to a fantastic new series. You have a smart, sassy heroine that doesn't let herself be controlled by anything or anyone; an arrogant, always in charge hero who unexpectedly starts caring for someone other than himself; an amazing world building full of all kinds of creatures; and an intriguing bad guy who won't stop until he gets what he wants, the hero dead.

I loved the relationship between Pia and Dragos, especially that it wasn't love at first sight (more like lust at first dream), instead their love story developed all through the book. While Dragos is the ultimate alpha male, Pia never let him take charge of her life and stood up for herself at all times.

I also liked the other wyr. They are Dragos' closest friends but they are also part of the guard. They are bodyguards, they deal with the most important parts of Dragos' business, they are powerful and they trust each other. In other words, they are family. They were one of the things I liked the most about the book and I really hope they get their own stories.

The world building was fascinating and while in this novel we only got to discover the wyr race in depth I hope we get more information about the other races, especially the Fae, in future books.

Overall, this was an amazing book with great, interesting characters, a very creative world building, plenty of action, but most importantly, an incredible romance between the main characters.


Memorable Lines:

I'm sorry, the message said.
The theft was a violation of privacy. It was an unbelievable act of impudence and disrespect. Not only that, it was—baffling. He was murderous, incandescent with fury. He was older than sin and could not remember when he had last been in such a rage.
He looked at the paper again.
I'm sorry I had to take your penny. Here's another to replace it.
Yep, that's what it said.
One corner of his mouth twitched. He gave himself a deep shock when he burst into an explosive guffaw.

Next Books:
2. Storm's Heart (August 3, 2011)
3. Serpent's Kiss (October 4, 2011)

Rating:

Review: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Title: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf
Author: Molly Harper
Series: Naked Werewolf #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Pocket Books
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.

For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question.

If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . . .

I've read and loved Molly Harper's previous paranormal series so I had really high expectations. This series is very different from the other one and I personally think that's a very good thing.

Mo, the main character, practically run away from her parents to find some peace and quiet in Alaska. The town doesn't like her instantly, but after a while she's considered a local. I loved Grundy or more especifically the people. They are funny and care for each other or leave you alone depending on what that person needs.

Cooper is the ultimate loner and a first doesn't have a positive reaction to Mo, meaning that he likes her but doesn't really know how to show it. He's keeping a big secret (that he's a werewolf) and that influences most of things he does.

The first interactions between Mo and Cooper are very funny and it was great seeing them develop a romantic relationship although Cooper does some things toward the end that didn't make me like him much.

There are also some murders that need to be solved that eventually tie up to the werewolves, and while they seemed important it wasn't very interesting.

The thing I was missing the most in the book was Mo's parents. We are told several unusual and interesting things about them all along the book and I would have loved for them to get more page time.

By the way, I loved the chapter titles. They always made me smile.

This was a funny romance book with awesome characters, especially Cooper's pack, Mo's parents and most of the population of Grundy. I can't wait to read the next book, who has Cooper's sister as the main character.


Next Book:
2. The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf

Rating:

Review: Seduce the Darkness by Gena Showalter

Title: Seduce the Darkness
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Alien Huntress #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: July 28, 2009
Publisher: Pocket Star
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Bought
Blurb:

The war between otherworlders and humans changed Earth beyond recognition. It also saved Bride McKells's life. Before, the gorgeous vampire was a target for every fanatic with a stake and a crucifix. Now, she's free to roam the streets -- and desperate to find others of her kind. One man claims to have the answers she seeks. Devyn, King of the Targons, is a warrior and a womanizer, and he makes no secret of how much he wants Bride -- and how dangerous he could be to her in every way.

An avid collector of women, Devyn easily seduces human and otherworlder alike. Until now. Not only does Bride resist him, but she leaves Devyn feeling something entirely new...a bone-deep need bordering on obsession. Her blood is the key to curing a vicious alien disease, but helping Bride uncover her origins will compel her to choose between electrifying passion and a destiny that could tear her from Devyn's side forever.

This is the fourth Alien Huntress book and it's the one I liked the least. We have Devyn, the king of his planet, a ruthless killer and a man slut. He sleeps with different women at least once a day and he never "repeats" with the same alien race (which tells me that there has to be at least thousands of alien races on earth). I like reading about how this type of men find their perfect match. The problem is, while at the beginning I really liked Bride, the heroine, as the story advanced she changed so much that at some points I couldn't neither stand nor understand her.

At first Bride comes across as shy, with an air of innocence but very determined to find the only person in the world she loves. That's what made me like Bride so much. I guess I just didn't like how Devyn manipulated Bride even when he got what he wanted and then how she didn't even fight much at all. To tell the truth, those parts pissed me off. After that Bride changed and she became a seducer; confident and ultimately very powerful. I just couldn't understand how she changed so much. I will say that I liked that she wasn't as tough as previous heroines of this series.

As for the plot, the alien virus is still around and I would have liked variety on that front. The book also explores the vampire race, which was very interesting, especially since we're introduced to McKell. This was a good adition to the series but I liked the other ones better. I guess I just didn't like much the main couple and how their romance evolved.

Memorable Lines:
“I only answer questions when the one doing the asking is naked, and as we won’t be getting naked anytime soon . . .” Another of those disappointed sighs. “If I wasn’t in a hurry, you might have been able to make me forget I prefer variety. As it is, I’m late and have to go. But do dream of me, darling.”
That dirty, rotten bastard! How dare he! “Leave, and I’ll come after you. I swear I will.”
“Won’t do you any good, I’m afraid.” And with that, he disappeared amidst the churning crowd.
Bride was unable to follow and all the madder for it. He’s going down, she thought darkly. In every possible way.

Previous Books:
1. Awaken Me Darkly
2. Enslave Me Sweetly
3. Savor Me Slowly - Review

Next Books:
5. Ecstasy in Darkness
6. Dark Taste of Rapture (August 2011)

Rating:

Review: Savor Me Slowly by Gena Showalter

Title: Savor Me Slowly
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Alien Huntress #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: December 26, 2008
Publisher: Pocket Star
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Bought
Blurb:

Mishka Le'Ace was created to be an undercover operative...literally. Her beautiful body has been mechanically augmented to give her superhuman strength -- strength she's going to need. Her latest mission sends her to rescue Alien Investigation and Removal agent Jaxon Tremain from torture and death. With him, she discovers a passion unlike any other. A passion she was forbidden to know....

From the moment they meet in a darkened cell, Jaxon craves her touch. But the machine half of Le'Ace forces her to do things she doesn't always want to do. Even betray him...and ultimately destroy him. Now Jaxon must battle the man controlling Le'Ace, and even Le'Ace herself, to at last claim the woman he's come to love.

This is the third book in the Alien Huntress series and I love the world the story is set in. You have all types of aliens living in earth after the alien/human war almost destroyed the world. The A.I.R. are the ones that police the aliens and Mishka is sent to discover all the secrets A.I.R. agent Jaxon has, any means necessary.

What I liked about Jaxon was that he didn't care what anyone thought, not even his friends, and he stood by Mishka when things got ugly. At the beginning I didn't like how the romance between the two of them started, it felt forced, the attraction was too instantaneous, especially since Jaxon had been tortured for a long time and suddenly the only thing he wanted to do was bed Mishka. As the story advanced and both of them began talking to each other, I started liking the two of them together.

I'm still not sure if I like Mishka. She had been forced to do things or she she would had been killed, and while I understand the will to live, I didn't like her much when she said that she killed innocent people and children just so she could live. At that moment I didn't think she was heroine material. What I'm trying to say is that I liked the person she was when she was with Jaxon, but without him her past actions made me dislike her.

I loved that characters from the previous books are still important in the story and how Gena gives us glimpses of future heroes and heroines. All in all, I really liked this book, especially the A.I.R. agents. There was plenty of action and I can't wait to see how the virus plot arc evolves in future books.

Memorable Lines:
Jaxon closed his eyes and said goodbye to one of his favorite body parts. I love you little guys. We had some good times together.
“Last chance, Jaxon.”
His gaze met Marie’s, locking, clashing. Unflinching. “I told you. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Her lush lips rose in an exquisite smile, lighting her entire face. Just then, she was the perfect blend of good and evil, innocence and absolute wickedness. His traitorous heart skipped a beat in total, masculine appreciation. Her teeth were straight and white, the pink tip of her tongue peeking out the center as if she were nibbling on it. “That answer just saved your life,” she said, and then her arm lashed to the side and she stabbed Thomas in the stomach.

Previous Books:
1. Awaken Me Darkly
2. Enslave Me Sweetly

Next Books:
4. Seduce the Darkness
5. Ecstasy in Darkness
6. Dark Taste of Rapture (August 2011)

Rating:

Review: Evenfall by Liz Michalski

Title: Evenfall
Author: Liz Michalski
Series: -
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Edition: Trade Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

In life, Frank could've had any woman he wanted.

In death, he'll try to win back the one that mattered...

Frank Wildermuth always regretted a mistake he made as a teenager: choosing Clara Murphy over her sister Gert. And like a true Murphy woman, Gert got on with her life, never admitting to heartbreak. Not even now, decades later, with Frank dead-dead, that is, but not quite gone. Now, Frank's niece, Andie Murphy, is back in town to settle his estate, and she sees that things have changed in Hartman, Connecticut. Aunt Gert still drives her crazy, but Cort, the wide-eyed farmboy she used to babysit, is all grown up-with a whole new definition for the word "sleepover." Even freakier are the whispers. Either Andie's losing her mind, or something she can't see is calling out to her-something that insists on putting right the past.

I enjoyed this book and I really liked that it was told in three points of view, Andie who has come back to Evenfall to help her aunt Gert and decide what to do with her life, Gert who has a main regret from her past that she has never let herself acknowledge, and Frank who regretted choosing Clara over her sister Gert and is now trying to let Gert know how much she has always meant to him, even though he's now dead.

You may be confused because I said that this was two different genres: paranormal romance and contemporary fiction. The truth is I wasn't sure which genre this book was, one point of view is told by a ghost, so clearly that's paranormal, but Andie's point of view, while it involves some incidents done by Frank, doesn't have a touch of paranormal, so I decided to give it two different labels.

I loved reading about Gert and Frank's story and I liked that it wasn't told in flashbacks, instead we get to read part of their memories and we get comments about what they wished they could have changed or done differently. I sympathized with both characters and I wanted so badly for them to have a happy ending, which is hard seeing as how Frank is dead. Their story is one of really heavy regrets, could have beens and how at the end you don't have all the time in the world to make things right.

Their story heavily impacts Andie's, as she's recovering from a break up and trying to figure out what to do with her life when she meets Cort again, a boy she used to babysit who's not a boy anymore. Cort was one of my favourite characters and I loved seeing him and Andie together.

I wish there could have been a more detailed ending, especially concerning Andie, and that the author could have written from Gert's point of view one last time at the end.
All in all this was a great debut novel told in a beautiful way about life, love, regrets and learning that you shouldn't let opportunities pass since you may not get them again.

Memorable Lines:

Frank

I press my firgertips against the windowpane and feel the molecules slide and shift beneath my weight, smooth as ice. I want to shatter the glass, let it fall like knife-sharp rain. I want to run down the stairs and block her path, grip her by the shoulders until she's finally forced to see me. I want to take her in my arms and weep.
But what power I have is featherlight, the merest echo of desire. I can whisper my yearnings through the walls of this house. I can alter the way an image appears. But I can't make Gert stay.

Rating:

Review: Visions of Magic by Regan Hastings

Title: Visions of Magic
Author: Regan Hastings
Series: The Awakening #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Edition: Mass Market Paparback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

In the ten years since magic has reemerged in the world, witches have become feared and hunted. For weeks Shea Jameson has been haunted by visions of fire. When she unintentionally performs a spell in public, she becomes one of the hunted. Her only hope is Torin, a dangerously sensual man who claims to be her eternal mate.

After reading the blurb I couldn't wait to get my hands into this book, but after reading a few pages I knew I wasn't going to like the novel much.
The worldbuilding is really good, witches are awakening and the world is afraid of them, to the point of incarcerating them, burning them and in some cases experiment on them, and they do that without having hard evidence that you're a witch.

* Minor spoilers, I don't give away anything important *

The world doesn't look pretty for people with unexplained abilities, so it should be obvious that witches have to be careful. Well, I can tell you that Shea, the main character, makes so many stupid mistakes that there were times I wanted to throw the book against a wall. She runs away from Torin, the hero, without even asking any questions about what's going on, and when she goes around to ask them, she doesn't believe anything the hero says, she doesn't even acknowledge that she's a witch even after using her abilities. Also in one part of the book, after having been attacked and almost killed, they discover she has a tracking chip. Do they take it out? No, of course not. They decide to have sex instead. And then they are attacked, again. At this point I didn't really want to read anymore because both of them were too stupid to live.

There was some mystery, that wasn't a mystery at all because if you haven't figure out who the bad guy is at the middle of the book, you're told anyway. As for the romance, I really didn't like it either. This wasn't a book were the main characters get to know each other, is one were the heroine has to remember her past life and remember the love they had together. I didn't like that, because it seemed to me like to hero was in love with a woman that had her soul in the past and not with Shea herself, but the point isn't even raised in the book.

Would I recommend this book? No. Will I read the next one? Maybe, the overall plot is a good one so there is a chance I may enjoy the next book.


Next Book:
2. Visions of Skyfire (October 2011)

Rating:

Review: Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Consort
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Mass Market Paparback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil…

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school—the assault one of sheer, vicious madness—and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders. The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed…

At the end of Archangel's Kiss we have Elena trying to recover from the battle against Lijuan. Elena has been protected from the public, but in this entry she finally has to face the public, the people of New York in especific. It was interesting seeing her adapt to her new life as an angel and as an archangel's consort. The relationship between Elena and Raphael is as strong as ever, and even though Caliane, Raphael's mother, does what she can to separate them, it only ends up consolidating their love even more.

I especially liked the interactions between Elena, Raphael and the Seven. They are loyal to the end to Raphael but most of them still disapprove of Elena, and I loved seeing them all fight and quibble. Dangerous and sarcastic Venom still is my favourite of all the Seven, although I'm really curious about the intriguing Jason. It was also great learning more about Illium's past and family, and I really hope Nalini has a HEA for him.

Truth be told, while there's plenty of action, I expected more, especially at the end. There was a lot of build up but the end felt a bit short. Still, I loved this book and I just can't get enough of Elena and Raphael.


Memorable Lines:
"There is a legend," Raphael murmured, his wings flaring out as he tugged her into the curve of his body--as if he would protect her. "That mountains will shake and rivers overflow, while ice creeps across the world and fields drown in rain." He looked down her at, his eyes that impossible, inhuman chrome blue. "All this will come to pass . . . when an Ancient awakens."

Previous Books:
1. Angel's Blood
2. Archangel's Kiss

Next Book:
4. Archangel's Blade (November 2011)

Rating:

Review: Deadlock by Moira Rogers

Title: Deadlock
Author: Moira Rogers
Series: Southern Arcana #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Samhain
Edition: eBook
Source: Author
Blurb:

Carmen Mendoza's shapeshifter father abandoned her. Raised by her psychic mother, Carmen ignored her paternal family's political machinations--until the day they decided to use her in their bid for power. Trapped between two worlds and snared by a vicious spell meant to wake her inner wolf, Carmen's only hope is to trust the one man strong enough to soothe her darkest instincts.

Born a pureblood wolf, Alec Jacobson lives as a rebel, the black sheep alpha who protects the supernatural residents of New Orleans from wolf politics. Too bad he can't protect himself from his need for Carmen. Staking a claim on his enemy's niece will turn his city into a battleground, unless he can find a way to stop breaking the rules--and start making them.

The first thing I'll say is that I love this series. I love the characters, the ruthless world they live in, how they fight to try to make their world a better place and how it always includes a very hot and sexy romance. That doesn't change in Deadlock. This novel focuses on Alec, the stubborn alpha who at first only wants to be left alone, and Carmen, an empath with a lot of problems, the main one being her family.

One of the things I liked the most about this couple was that they worked really well together. Alec grows a lot in this book, I loved how he wanted to be a better person for Carmen and how at the end he fought for what he believed in, for what was right. The problem I had was that I didn't connect with Carmen; I would have liked to know more about her and her past.
The worldbuilding is expanded in this book and I really enjoyed reading about the wolf pack structure and learning a bit more about empaths.

One of the main storylines is the relationship between Kat and Andrew. I might be in the minority here but after how badly Andrew hurt Kat I want him to suffer. A lot. The next book is about them and I really want Kat to raise some hell.

This was a great entry to the series, with plenty of action and world changing events, but most importantly, a very hot and sweet romance with a devious, powerful and sexy hero and a clever and strong heroine.


Memorable Lines:
Kat nodded. "You can go, Alec. I'm okay. Just promise me you and Jackson aren't going to go track down my date and eat him."
"Not going to track him down."
"Or eat him."
The corner of Alec's mouth twitched. "Or eat him."

Previous Books:
1. Crux - Review
2. Crossroads

Next Book:
4. Cipher (September 2011)

Rating:

Review: Demon Marked by Anna J. Evans

Title: Demon Marked
Author: Anna J. Evans
Series: Demon Bound #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Edition: Trade Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Emma Quinn satisfies her demonic cravings by feeding on human life force, and keeps her conscience clean by preying only upon those who deserve it. But when Emma overindulges one night, she's in trouble with her victim's gang-or she will be...if they find his body. She turns to mob lawyer Andre Conti, an arrogant womanizer-a man who doesn't believe in her powers, but who will awaken sensual cravings Emma wasn't sure she possessed...

I haven't read the previous book of this series, but I had no trouble following the novel. I was surprised that the heroine, Emma, was 20 years old, although she has been through so much that she doesn't seem that young. I liked that even though she is a very strong character with a deadly ability that she has to use constantly, she still has hopes and dreams and it's not bitter about the kind of life she has had to live.

Andre is a 30 something sex addict, something I've never read about in a book, and I would've liked the author to explore that more. He also has gone through some bad stuff, but ultimately he is a good guy who is stuck at the "family business". The romance between these two at first seems to grow slowly, but the truth is that the story develops in one day. They have a really strong connection once Emma uses her ability on him, and while it may seem a little rushed seeing as how pages before they didn't like each other much, if at all, it works really well.

The world this book is set in is half paranormal, half dystopian. There were a lot of things that I would've liked could have been explained more, especially about the Demons and how they got there in the first place. This was a easy, fast read with plenty of action and intrigue and a very strong romance. I hope there's a third book, because I really want to read about Ginger and Mickey!


Memorable Lines:

She craved human life force and had to steal the vitality of others to survive. But she only stole from those who deserved what she did to them, those whose karmic balance was firmly tipped into the realm of evil. The choice allowed her to sleep at night, and as an added bonus…
Evil was damned tasty.

Previous Book:
1. Shadow Marked

Rating:

Review: Frostfire by Lynn Viehl

Title: Frostfire
Author: Lynn Viehl
Series: Kyndred #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Signet Select
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

As one of the genetically enhanced Kyndred, Lilah's mind-reading powers make her vulnerable to a mysterious biotech company willing to murder to acquire her superhuman DNA. But her true fear may come from her own Kyndred brethren...

I'll start by saying that this cover is much better than the ones from previous books. As I said in my reviews of the other books of this series, I still think there are too many unnecesary narrators, and while they did give insights into other characters, I would have prefered if the novel focused exclusively on the main characters. Also, the fact that I haven't read any of her Darkyn books yet and that she includes so many characters of that series in the novel made me feel lost in some parts, plus I didn't feel connected to the Darkyn and there was a lot of information that was assumed the reader knew and wasn't explained, even though I had no idea what they were talking about.

Lilah is a interesting character, she's very strong and has had to be on her own since she was very young. I liked that she didn't panic when she was in a very bad situation, that she had a clear head and knew what she wanted. As for Walker, he's a bit of a mystery. He's damaged and tries from the start to protect Lilah from himself. I loved how he treated Lilah, he always had a reasuring word or touch for her and while sometimes he lost control, the love he and Lilah had for each other always brought him back to sanity. Walker and Lilah had a very strong conection from the start, that only strengthened as time went by.

This was an interesting entry to the series, with plenty of action, a good mystery and a very sweet romance. I got lost in some parts, but if you've read the Darkyn series I don't think you'll get lost at all.

Memorable Lines:

"Tell me," he said before he could stop himself. "Tell me again what you feel for me."
"You know it," she looked down at his face and smiled, her eyes clear, her expression pure joy. "You're all over me, inside me, in my bones and my blood and my heart. You're part of my skin and my breath and my secrets. You're my love, my lover, my beloved, the sun in my dreams, and the stars in my soul."

Previous Books:
1. Shadowlight - Review
2. Dreamveil

Next Book:
4. Nightshine (TBD)

Rating:

Review: A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Title: A Werewolf in Manhattan
Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson
Series: Wild About You #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Emma Gavin writes about werewolves, but that doesn't mean she believes in them-not until a pack of real-life New York weres decide to investigate the striking accuracy of her "fiction".

When Aiden Wallace, son and heir of the pack leader, tries to sniff out Emma's potential informant, he discovers something even more dangerous- an undeniable attraction to her.

This was one of my most wanted books of January 2011 and while it was entertaining, it didn't live up to my expectations.

Emma, one of the main characters, is an introvert who realizes she wants more of her life when she meets Aiden, the other main character. These two have an instant atraction, they fight it for a big part of the book but then they give in. Emma is a funny character and I liked that she put herself out there, risking humiliation but trying to get what she wants anyway. On the negative side, I found Emma to be a little unbelievable, especially the part where she truly believes that writing is more important than losing her life.

As for Aiden, for a security expert, he made quite a lot of stupid mistakes. I also didn't like that he didn't stand up for what he believed was right and that he kept playing the martyr for a big chunk of the book. On the other side, he was very sweet and attentive and he always tried his best to keep his promises. I also loved his interactions with his brother, who I found to be a very interesting character.

The big problem I had with this book is that since the beggining we're told that the bad guy is dangerous and could cause a big problem for all the werewolves, but at the end there wasn't much of a confrontation. I really hope the author closes that storyline in her next book.

There wasn't much of a worldbuilding but you do get a very sweet romance. All in all, this was a quick and funny book, perfect if you're looking for a very light read.

Memorable Lines:

“And you want her.”
Aidan tried to stare his brother down, but it was no use. Roarke’s senses were as finely tuned as his, and they were brothers, only nineteen months apart. The minute Roarke had walked into the club, he’d known.
So Aidan said the only thing he could. “I’ll control it.”
“What, your johnson?”
That brought a snort from Sylvester.
Usually Aidan rolled with his brother’s cracks, but tonight he wasn’t amused. “The situation, Roarke. I’ll control the situation.”

Next Book:
2. A Werewolf in the North Woods (October 2011)

Rating:

Review: Day of the Dragon by Rebecca York

Title: Day of the Dragon
Author: Rebecca York
Series: -
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

The search for clues to an ancient civilization sends Ramsey to an archaeology conference in Las Vegas where he meets Dr. Madison Dartmoor. Her current dig in Italy has put her in mortal danger, and when Ramsey saves her from thugs bent on stealing a copy of a startling artifact, the two of them team up to unearth the secrets of an ancient civilization. As their relationship heats up, Ramsey guards his own secrets that may tear him and Madison apart or save their lives.

Apparently this book was the first one of a new series by the author, but the truth is that the hero is first seen in the last book of her Moon series, Dragon Moon. You could follow the story pretty well, the only problem was that, while you get some background on the hero, I felt like a lot of his story was missing and that made me not like Ramsey much.

The heroine, Madison, is written as clever and strong, but her actions say otherwise. I think she makes pretty dumb mistakes and she's also very naive. There's a part in the book where she is arguing with the hero and the next thing you know she forgets all about it and goes and hugs him. While I understand that declaring their feelings for each other is big thing, I just couldn't understand why she let the subject drop and then went on as if everything was fine.
The romance between the two of them felt rushed and not at all believable. The truth is that I didn't see the love they had for one another. Their relationship was very cold, in my opinion.

I knew who the bad guy was since the beginning, so there wasn't a lot of mystery in that department. The only thing that was interesting were the parts that dealt with the dragons' history, but at the end there wasn't much information on them.

In short, it took me three times to finish the book and in my opinion it wasn't that good. For me, there were some scenes that were unnecesary and the romance between the main characters felt cold and rushed. Maybe you'll enjoy it more if you've read the author's Moon series.


Next Book:
2. Shattered Destiny

Rating:

Review: Cross Your Heart by Michele Bardsley

Title: Cross Your Heart
Author: Michele Bardsley
Series: Broken Heart Vampires #7
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

After the death of
her husband-and her dreams of motherhood-Elizabeth Bretton returned to the
family estate in Broken Heart, Oklahoma. Little did she know she would also give
up her life as the Silverstone heiress.

But escaping the past isn't that easy-especially with a vengeful ghost trying
to kill her, a 150-year-old mystery to solve, and an outrageously hot
were-jaguar named "Tez" trying to get into her boudoir...

I've enjoyed the last six books of the Broken Heart series and Cross Your Heart it's not an exception. The main character, Elizabeth, is a very solitary vampire, but all of it changes when Tez, a really handsome shifter, saves her from an attack from a ghost. From there, things start getting complicated for her, and she has to discover why she is the target.

The thing that I liked from the ghost story line the most is that it resolves a mystery that started in book one, but if this is the first book of the series you read, you'll probably won't find as interesting. There are some surprises in the book, but most of the time I saw them coming.

The relationship between Elizabeth and Tez felt rushed. I would have prefered they developed their relationship more slowly, or that they at least talk more to each other, instead of always being up to something. We don't learn much about Tez, and that's one of the reasons I didn't like the book as much as the others.

We also get some updates on the others citizes of Broken Heart although they don't meddle as much in this novel because the heroine is a bit of a loner.

This was a funny and light read, just as the rest of the books in this series. Personally I didn't find it as good as previous ones, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

Memorable Lines:

"I refuse to discuss my lingerie with you. And I do not appreciate your assumption that you're going to see me in my undergarments. Ever." I paused and tried to gather my wits. And tone down my ... well, lust.

He grinned at me, and my stomach took a peculiar dive.

"I love that mouth of yours, princess. Go on," he dared me. "Talk pretty to me."

Previous Books:

1. I'm The Vampire, That's Why
2. Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire
3. Because Your Vampire Said So
4. Wait Until Your Vampire Gets Home
5. Over my Dead Body
6. Come Hell or High Water

Next Book:
8. Must Love Lycans (September 2011)

Rating:

Review: Healer's Choice by Jory Strong

Title: Healer's Choice
Author: Jory Strong
Series: Ghostland World #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Edition: Trade Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Born into a world of violence and paid-for sex, Rebekka longs for a family of her own and dreams of freeing those trapped in the shapeshifter brothels of the red zone. A witch's prophecy claims she'll one day use her gift to heal the Weres made outcast by their mixed human-animal forms.

But Rebekka knows that everything comes at a cost. A plea to save five children sends her into the arms of Aryck, a Jaguar enforcer-and into territory controlled by pure Weres. It's a place where humans and outcasts aren't welcomed, where plague threatens and the fate of the Weres hangs in the balance. And where the choices Rebekka and Aryck make are paid for with their hearts...if not their souls.

I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. It may be because I didn't read the previous two books of this series, but I think this could be read as a stand alone.
The world the author has created is complicated and harsh. There were a lot of rules that I really didn't understand, creatures and magical beings that aren't really explained, aside from the Weres who are the main focus of this novel, and the abilities of the heroine are not explored until the very end of the book, instead we are told that she is scared of them and that she can do all these incredible things, but we don't really see them, she just keeps doing what she knows how to do. She never steps out of her comfort zone, at least for most of the book.

As for the main characters, Rebekka is a strong although predictable character. She had a difficult childhood and her life didn't really get better as she got older. The thing I liked the most about her was that, even though she was afraid, she fought for what she believed in. I got the sense that some important events happened in the previous book that affected her, but they were never explained in this book, which confused me.
Then there's Aryck, the jaguar were. He is without a doubt an alpha male, but sometimes I wished he would have stood up to his father. I know that this is going to sound contradictory, but what I liked most about him was that he wasn't perfect. He made mistakes but he also tried to fix them.

There were some parts of the book, like Melina's who was the female jaguar that wanted Aryck, that I think were unnecesary. There also were parts narrated by a character named Radek that while they gave some depth to the story, bored me.
In my opinion, the best things of the book were the interactions between the tiger cub Caius and the tiger were Canino and the relationship between Rebekka and Aryck.

This was a promising book but there were times where I skimmed some pages, especially when a character I didn't care about narrated the story. The romance between the main characters is very hot and I loved seeing how they got together in the end. I may read the next book of the series, but it all depends on what the story is about and who is the hero/heroine.


Memorable Lines:

A small hand holding a bouquet of purple flowers appeared in front of Rebekka's face, jerking her from her thoughts. She turned her head slightly and saw the Tiger cub standing on the other side of the log she sat on.
"For making me better," Caius said.
Rebekka took the flowers, holding them close to her nose and inhaling. "Thank you."

Previous Books:
1. Ghostland
2. Spider-Touched

Next Book:
3.5. Angel-Claimed - Primal Anthology (Feb 2011)

Rating:

Review: Something Wicked by Michelle Rowen

Title: Something Wicked
Author: Michelle Rowen
Series: Living in Eden #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: October 5, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

Every woman has a sexy demon inside her just waiting to get out, but for Eden Riley it’s a little different. Her inner demon is named Darrak, and he’s been inhabiting bodies for the past 300 years. In the daytime, thanks to her special psychic energy, he’s able to take physical shape—a shape she wouldn’t mind getting her hands on, if it wasn’t a threat to her immortal soul…

Because of her possession, Eden now has uncontrollable black magic at her fingertips, and she and Darrak are trying to end the curse that binds them before the situation gets any worse. To do it, they’ll have to get tangled up with some unsavory characters from the underworld. When sparks and spells fly, they could get the distance they need…or each have their own private hell to pay.

I was really looking forward to this book, especially since I loved The Demon In Me. Darrak and Eden continue their journey to free them from the possession and they meet some interesting new characters on their way.

First of all we have Theo, Darrak's "best friend". He's an archdemon and he is really evil. The funny thing is that even though I know he is evil I like him anyway, especially since he cares a great deal about Darrak and he will do all he can to free him from his curse, no matter what.
We also have Andy, Eden's PI friend and co-business partner. There were some developments on his storyline that I wasn't expecting, and it was so funny reading his final reaction to what happened to him. I can't wait to read how everything goes for him in the next book.

And then we have Ben. If you read my review of The Demon in Me you know that I didn't like him at all. Well, that hasn't changed in his book. He keeps trying to save Eden even though she tell him repeatedly that she doesn't want him to help. He is very narrow minded and the choices he made make him a very unlikeable character. Truth be told, I don't think I'll even change my mind about him.
My favourite character without a doubt was Lucifer. It was really interesting seeing his interactions with Eden and finding out what his deal was.

Darrak suffers a little from identity crisis and that makes him do some bad stuff but at the end it only brings him closer to Eden and makes them move forward in their relationship. Sometimes I just wanted these two to start talking to each other and make some things clear, but both of them are very stubborn and don't say anything at all. While there wasn't much worldbuilding, this series doesn't really need it.

All in all, this was a great follow up to The Demon In Me that solves some issues but that mostly rises up a lot of questions and reveals long kept secrets in the characters lives, but the truth is that I liked the previous book more. This is a light and funny paranormal romance that I enjoyed from start to finish. Now I can't wait to get my hands on the last book of the trilogy.


Memorable Lines:

“I’ll give you a call tomorrow, Eden. Promise,” Graham said before moving off into the crowd, which seemed to swallow him whole in a scattering of light and mingling bodies.
“I hate that guy,” Darrak said. “Loathe him. And I can’t believe you let him kiss you. I almost made you slap him, but luckily for him he didn’t try to slip you the tongue. It’s obvious to me that he’s only after one thing from you and –”
“He’s gay,” Eden said simply.
“Oh.” There was a pause. “I totally knew that.”

Previous Book:
1. The Demon in Me - Review

Next Book:
3. That Old Black Magic (TBD)

Rating:

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

Review: Firewalker by Allyson James

Title: Firewalker
Author: Allyson James
Series: Stormwalker #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: November 2, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

Janet Begay's Crossroads Hotel has attracted the supernatural ever since it opened. But a new, dark power is rising, this time inside Janet herself. Her boyfriend Mick, a sexy dragon shapeshifter the Navajo call a Firewalker, know what terrifying magic is threatening to overwhelm Janet and her Stormwalker powers. He watches over her, ready to fight for her, to do anything to keep her safe.

But then a mysterious corpse is found near the Crossroads Hotel-and Janet becomes the main suspect. Now Janet and Mick must uncover what really happened, and their investigation leads to the most perilous decision of their lives...

This book mainly deals with the consequences of what happened in Stormwalker. The dragons are not happy with Mick and when he disappears Janet will do everything she can to get him back. I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I love dragons. Dragons are my favourite creatures/shapeshifters, which makes me love this series even more.

Janet has to deal with the new magic that awakened in her, especially since it wants her to do evil things. Mick watches over her and some of the issues this entails are solved in this book (like if Janet makes a wrong move Mick will kill her). In that sense, their relationship has evolved and we mostly discover the depth of Mick's feelings for Janet.

Somehow the character I loved the most in this book was Nash Jones, the sheriff. It was funny reading the interactions between him and Janet plus a new side of him is revealed. At the end of things he is Janet's friend and we discover how far he will go to help her. As for Coyote, he keeps being as mysterious and unhelpful as the last book.

I loved that we get to find out more about the dragon society and how it works. It was very interesting seeing a dragon trial. We also get to meet some new creatures/beings that I hope we get more info about in the next book.

This was a great follow up book in which you get more in depth information about the main characters, the worldbuilding is expanded and a new plot thread is opened.
After an incredible and surprising discovery at the end, now I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.


Memorable Lines:

“Jones,” he said. Dark, biting, laconic.
“Hey, Nash. It’s Janet.”
There was a long silence.
“Fu*k,” Nash Jones said, and he hung up on me.

Previous Books:
1. Stormwalker - Review

Next Book:
3. Shadow Walker (June 2011)

Rating:

Review + Giveaway: Play of Passion by Nalini Singh

Title: Play of Passion
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy/Changeling #9
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: November 2, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

In his position as tracker for the SnowDancer pack, it’s up to Drew Kincaid to rein in rogue changelings who have lost control of their animal halves—even if it means killing those who have gone too far. But nothing in his life has prepared him for the battle he must now wage to win the heart of a woman who makes his body ignite…and who threatens to enslave his wolf.

Lieutenant Indigo Riviere doesn’t easily allow skin privileges, especially of the sensual kind—and the last person she expects to find herself craving is the most wickedly playful male in the den. Everything she knows tells her to pull back before the flames burn them both to ash…but she hasn’t counted on Drew’s will.

Now, two of SnowDancer’s most stubborn wolves find themselves playing a hot, sexy game even as lethal danger stalks the very place they call home…

In the latest installment of the Psy/Changeling series we have the story of two members of the Snowdancer pack: Indigo and Andrew. Most of the book happens in the wolf pack territory and we finally get to meet most of the lieutenants and see how their hierarchy works.

As for the main couple, the thing I liked the most was how none of them were perfect, they both made mistakes. It was interesting seeing the dynamics between the two of them, especially since Indigo is a very strong dominant female and Andrew works outside the pack hierarchy plus almost nobody takes him seriously. These two make a very entertaining pair, and even though they go through some rough patches, at the end all of it was worth it.

We get some updates on other characters like Judd and Brenna (whose book is still my favourite of the whole series) and more importantly Sienna and Hawke. It was great reading the interactions between Sienna and Andrew, you can really see a new side of both characters and Andrew was really sweet. As for Hawke, I don't even know where to start with him but I think everyone who reads this book will see that his patience is at an end.

This is definitely a lighter book than the previous ones where we also find out some great new information like what happens when you finally find your mate but then you realize she/he already has a significant other.

This was a great addition to the series that gets you hooked from page one. Now I can't wait to read Hawke's book, I think almost everyone who has read this series is waiting for his book!


Memorable Lines:

"Is that leopard boy ... what's his name" - Andrew pretended to think - "that's right, Kit. Is Kit treating you right?" He murmured the question at a volume Hawke was certain to overhear, knowing full well he was throwing the cat among the pigeons.
"Drew," Sienna pulled back, fisting a hand on his chest. Her eyes sparked fire at him, and for an instant he could almost see through the dark brown of her contact lenses and to the night-sky eyes beyond. White stars on a spread of black velvet, it was said that the eyes of a cardinal Psy reflected the stark, sprawling beauty of the PsyNet.
Leaning down, he kissed her other cheek and - dropping his voice low enough that it would skate under even his alpha's acute hearing - said, "Give him hell, sweetheart. Then come tell me about it."

Previous Books:
1. Slave to Sensation
2. Visions of Heat
3. Caressed by Ice
4. Mine to Possess
5. Hostage to Pleasure
6. Branded by Fire
7. Blaze of Memory
8. Bonds of Justice - Review

Next Book:
10. Kiss of Snow (June 2011)

Rating:

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.


Giveaway:

To win a copy of Play of Passion all you have to do is fill out the form.
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Ends on November 8th.

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