Review: Lord's Fall by Thea Harrison

In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, two mates find themselves on different paths, torn between their duty to the Wyr and the passion that binds them… 

Before she met Dragos, half-human/half-Wyr Pia Giovanni was alone and on the run. Now she’s mated, pregnant and heading south to repair the Wyrs’ frayed relationship with the Elves. Being separated from Dragos is painful, but for the good of the Wyr demesne they need to figure out how to be partners—in more places than just the bedroom.

In New York to preside over the Sentinel Games, Dragos is worried about his mate, but knows that finding two replacement sentinels is essential to show the rest of the Elder Races just how strong and brutal the Wyr demesne can be. But as the Games heat up, Pia’s negotiations with the Elves take a turn for the dangerous, straining her bond with Dragos and threatening everything they hold dear…

I hate to say this book is "filler" when I loved the first book of this series, Dragon Bound, so very much and Lord's Fall revisits Pia and Dragos, the two characters who helped to hook me on this series.  Maybe the reason I claim "filler" because I didn't savor this book and read it slowly.   Whatever it is, I will be honest and say that I didn't enjoy Lord's Fall as much as I had thought I would.  Oh, it has its moments, particularly the final chapters, but speeding through 280 pages with a teensy bit of payoff in the last third isn't what I've come to expect from Ms. Harrison, especially when Pia and Dragos are the main characters of the book.  Still, those final moments did give me a happy sigh. 

    

Review: Kiss of the Goblin Prince by Shona Husk

The Man of Her Dreams

He is like a prince in a fairy tale: tall, outrageously handsome, and way too dark for her own good. Amanda has been hurt before, though. And with her daughter's illness, the last thing she needs right now is a man. But the power of Dai King is hard to resist. And when he threads his hands through her hair and pulls her in for a kiss, there is no denying it feels achingly right.

In a Land of Nightmares

After being trapped in the Shadowlands for centuries with the goblin horde a constant threat, Dai revels in his newfound freedom back in the human realm. But even with the centuries of magic he's accumulated, he still doesn't know how to heal Amanda's daughter—and it breaks his heart. Yet for the woman he loves, he'd risk anything...including a return to the Shadowlands.

While Kiss of the Goblin Prince is the second book of a series, I don't feel it's 100% necessary to have read book one, The Goblin King.  And though Kiss of the Goblin Prince is book two, it is very much a different story and tone.  

Dai has lived in the Shadowlands for centuries.  Now that he and his brother, Roan, have been freed of the goblin curse and are living in the Fixed Realm, Dai is unable to fully acclimate.  He depends on magic, yet is unable to stop thinking of Amanda or how to heal her sick daughter.  

This novel focuses on Dai and Amanda equally, together and apart.  Both are struggling; both are alone.  In a way, both are tortured.  They learn more about each other and their love grows from that.  Kiss of the Goblin Prince is a well-written and intriguing romance. 

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Kiss of the Goblin Prince.) 

Review: Now or Never by Michele Bardsley

In Nevermore, Texas, witches and wizards live side by side with humans in harmony. But when a woman with magical powers is taken hostage, the residents of Nevermore find themselves at odds....

Trapped...
Lenore Whyte’s blood might be able to open a portal to the underworld, but she doesn’t understand how to wield the powerful magic bound within her—knowledge that would have come in handy when she was kidnapped and set to be sacrificed.

...and Haunted
Tormented by nightmares of a woman’s death, Sheriff Taylor Mooreland is shocked to find the woman from his visions chained to an altar in the woods. Even though he barely knows her, Taylor is determined to protect the mysterious Lenore no matter what. Even if it means dealing with magic.

And when an investigation into a series of suicides leads Taylor deep into the town’s past, he discovers that the key to saving both Lenore and Nevermore may require the ultimate sacrifice…

I liked the first book of this series, Never Again, so I had hoped I would enjoy this new take on paranormal romance.  Now or Never, I think, just had too many aspects pulling the narrative in varying directions.  

We are reintroduced to Sheriff Taylor Mooreland, who has murder and/or suicide to solve.  He's irritated because (1) the gun found at the scene of the crime should be under lock and key and (2) he's the man with the key.   Add to this mystery the strange dreams he's been having, and Taylor is imbibing more coffee than he's like to stay awake and keep his mind focused.

Gray Calhoun, the Guardian of Nevermore, expects a visit from his mother.  Gray plans to formally introduce his wife, Lucinda, to his mother, so he doesn't want a murder investigation adding more tension to what he assumes will be a very tense visit.  When Taylor discovers Lenore and an altar in the woods near his home, he turns to Gray for help, meaning Gray has to juggle his mother, his wife, and protecting Nevermore from possible invasion.

The various plot threads and secondary characters bisect one another, which makes it difficult to keep the action 100% straight.  And the romance between Taylor and Norie is firmly in the background, perhaps a distant second (or third) to stopping whatever evil force is coming for Norie.

I am disappointed in Now or Never.  I'm even more disappointed in and frustrated by the cliffhanger I fear I won't learn more about until March 2013 when the third and final book is released.       

Review: The Wolf Who Loved Me by Lydia Dare

A new sexy Regency paranormal trilogy by bestselling
author Lydia Dare features hunky werewolves who need
to learn how to behave in polite society. Can this pack of
‘gentlemen’ be trained in the ways of the ton, or is it too
late to teach an old Lycan new tricks?

Lady Madeline Hayburn is called upon to lend her
respectability and introduce the Hadley brothers to
society. Mr. Weston Hadley admires her from afar, yet his
very presence draws her in...

Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed in this new book from Ms. Dare.  I loved (loved, loved) the original trilogy and could even make some concessions for The Taming of the Wolf, which introduced Dash and the Hadley brothers and spun off into the series featuring the coven.

The Wolf Who Loved Me, while a quick read, was one of those books when after I finish it, I have to ask myself what just happened.  The plot seemed thin, yet one of the best moments of the book -- Weston's shifting in front of Madeline -- didn't offer as much angst as I had hoped.        


(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Wolf Who Loved Me.)

Review: Oracle's Moon by Thea Harrison

As a second daughter, Grace Andreas never had to worry about the intrigues of the Elder Races. But when her sister, Petra, and Petra’s husband are both killed, Grace inherits the Power and responsibilities of the Oracle of Louisville, as well as her sister’s two young children – neither of which she is prepared for.

Yet, she is not alone. Khalil, Demonkind and Djinn prince of House Marid – driven by his genuine caring for the children – has decided to make himself a part of the household both as their guardian and as an exasperating counterpoint to Grace’s impudence toward the Elder Races.

But when an attempt is made on Grace’s life, she realizes that Khalil is the only one who can protect her – and offer her more than a mortal man…

Oracle's Moon picks right up from where Serpent's Kiss ended in the continuing Elder Races series.  I do think Oracle's Moon can be read alone, especially since Serpent's Kiss was my least favorite of the books.   Oracle's Moon brought me back to what I loved about this series in the first place:  extraordinary characters.

Grace Andreas never wanted to be an Oracle.  Her older sister, Petra, inherited the gift, and Grace was just fine without that kind of added pressure.  Then her sister and her brother-in-law are killed in an accident, Grace herself is injured, and she must attempt to raise her young niece and nephew while allowing the Oracle's power to integrate within her.  Her introduction in Serpent's Kiss is how Grace became acquainted with Khalil, Djinn prince. 

What I loved the most is that we see every aspect of Grace's life: the injury she'll continue to suffer from thanks to the accident; her financial concerns;  her exploration of her innate ability plus the power of the Oracle; and raising her sister's children on top of all that.  She first views Khalil as a nuisance, then comes to rely on him, especially to keep the children from harm.  We see this unlikely couple fall in love -- and it's sweet and passionate and amazing.  The subplot and major source of external conflict was a bit weak in my opinion, though I'm sure the repercussions will be felt by the  entire Wyr world in future books.

Review: Ember by Kristen Callihan

After a fire consumes the Ellis family fortune, the beautiful and resourceful Miranda finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma: enter a life of petty crime or watch her family succumb to poverty. But once her fiancée learns of her descent into danger--and of the strange, new powers she's discovered --saving her family may come at the high price of her heart.

When Lord Benjamin Archer's one chance for redemption is destroyed by corrupt London antiquarian Hector Ellis, he vows to take what Ellis values most-his daughter Miranda. Forced to hide his face behind masks, Archer travels the world hoping to escape the curse that plagues him so that he can finally claim his prize.

But once Archer returns home to London, will it be revenge he seeks? Or will the flame-haired beauty ignite new, undeniable desires? 

An interesting premise, to be sure.  Jen from Red Hot Books glowingly recommended the first full-length novel of this series, Firelight, and I was intrigued enough by her comments to read the prequel. 

Perhaps the "meat" of the story -- Miranda's relationship with Archer -- is better told in a longer format.  While it was interesting to see them meet accidentally on the street and to know the backstory of how they came to be together (I assume), I'm not sure what's detailed in Ember is enough to sufficiently entice me into reading Firelight at this time.



(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Ember.)

Review: Daybreak by Ellen Connor

Their mission was to save the world.
Their destiny is to fall in love.

It’s been twelve years since the Change, and Penelope Sheehan is one of the few still practicing magic for the good of humanity in this dark, dangerous world. Determined to infiltrate the notorious O’Malley organization, she poses as an abducted girl–until a furious lion thwarts her mission. When the beast turns into a devastatingly handsome man, she recognizes in him the troubled boy she once knew.

Since becoming a skinwalker, Tru Daugherty has allowed his animal nature to take over. Aloof and cynical, he takes no interest in making the world a better place. He’s a creature of instinct and impulse, living only to satisfy his senses–ignoring the scarred heart nobody has ever reached. He’s also the best man to help Pen bring down the O’Malley crime ring.

Fighting alongside the last holdouts of humanity, they unleash a passion that tempts them to risk everything for love. But if they succeed, Tru and Pen hold the power to brighten the Dark Age for all time.

A great end to a fantastic trilogy.  I think I say this in each review for the previous books, but if you want a myriad of genres blended seamlessly together, this series is a great one.  It's got it all -- in spades.

We are reintroduced to Pen(ny) and Tru twelve years after the Change brought them together in the first place.  While both have matured and grown, benefiting from their years with Mason and Jenna, they are still, on the inside, the same characters we learned about in Nightfall.  Tru has kind of a chip on his shoulder; Pen keeps to herself, not quite silent but ever observant.  That they find each other again is a little bit shocking and also expected because as we saw in Nightfall, they compliment one another.  They need one another.

I'm sad to say good-bye to this world and these characters.  This is a series not to be missed.        

Review: Serpent's Kiss by Thea Harrison

In order to save his friend's life, Wyr sentinel Rune Ainissesthai made a bargain with Vampyre Queen Carling—without knowing what she would ask from him in return. But when Rune attempts to make good on his debt, he finds a woman on the edge.


Recently, Carling's Power has become erratic, forcing her followers to flee in fear. Despite the danger, Rune is drawn to the ailing Queen and decides to help her find a cure for the serpent's kiss—the vampyric disease that's killing her.

With their desire for each other escalating just as quickly as Carling's instability spirals out of control, the sentinel and the Queen will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of surviving the serpent's kiss…

The slow build almost took my attention span away from this book.  I had high hopes for Rune and Carling's paring, given the effect Carling has on Rune in Storm's Heart, but once I'd reached the end, I didn't feel as fulfilled as I'd hoped. 

Rune has promised a service to Carling.  They strike a bargain in Storm's Heart, though Rune is not sure what exactly Carling wants him to do for her.  He knows what he'd like to do.  Carling is a vampyre who has come to accept her time is soon ending.  She's brought Rune to San Francisco, yet she's not exactly sure why.  With Rune's presence, however, she feels something she hasn't felt in a long time: the will to live. 

Given the explosive sexual tension between the leads of the previous books, I expected Rune and Carling to be off the charts.  Their passion felt a little ho-hum.  There were also some plot threads left hanging which I assume will be revisited in future books, so the sense of finite closure for this book wasn't present.  That being said, I cannot wait for Oracle's Moon (March 2012), and I'm interested to keep up with the characters we've been introduced to thus far. 

Review: The Goblin King by Shona Husk

ONCE UPON A TIME

A man was cursed to the Shadowlands, his heart replaced with a cold lump of gold.  In legends, he became known as The Goblin King.

For a favored few he will grant a wish.  Yet, desperately clinging to his waning human soul, his one own desire remains unfulfilled: a willing queen. 

But who would consent to move from the modern-day world into the realm of nightmares?  No matter how intoxicating his touch, no matter how deep his valor, loving him is dangerous.  And the one woman who might dare to try could also destroy forever his chance at a happily ever after.  

Except for the movie Labyrinth and mentions of goblins in Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series, the goblin world is one overlooked in paranormal romance.  So the use of an underused species -- as the hero of a romance -- really intrigued me. 

There were multiple layers woven throughout The Goblin King, and the emotional impact of the narrative as a whole made for a very good story.  The concept of doing what one knows is right also lends more of a fairytale vibe to the underlying romance.  What I disliked was Eliza's fiance almost becoming a caricature of an evil villain.  His insistence that Eliza belonged with him and he would do whatever he could to keep the lifestyle to which he'd become accustomed was a bit over the top.  I almost hoped he'd become the new goblin king, though he wouldn't have maintained his humanity as long as Roan had. 

Overall, I thought The Goblin King was just what I needed to step away from the typical paranormal romance and take a chance on a lesser known paranormal species. 

Review: Midnight by Ellen Connor

Their desire destroys her defenses.

Their love gives him a reason to live.

Three years of wandering the post-apocalyptic wasteland has stripped Dr. Chris Welsh of humanity and hope. He’s a dangerous man now, full of dark energy and yen for violence. A harrowing loss drove him from his home, and he hasn’t stopped moving since. Grim and sardonic, he never found anything worth sticking around for–until now.

Rosa Cortez runs Valle de Bravo, a haven of civilization amid the chaos of the Change. Soldiers take their orders directly from her–the iron hand within a velvet glove. The last thing she needs is a feral loner upsetting the town’s tentative balance. However, for the good of her people, she lets the sexy doctor stay. He evokes a delicious new longing, but she won’t submit to any man.

Tension rises as bloodthirsty raiders strike again and again, bent on possessing Valle and its resources. Together Chris and Rosa battle hellhounds and dust pirates while also fighting desperate attraction. To save them, love must overcome the pain of the past–and build a future in this brutal Dark Age… 

Dang, Midnight is a great addition to this series. 

What I found so striking is the change in Chris from when we met him in Nightfall until now.  He's wandered for three years, alone perhaps by his own choosing but partially because he cannot escape the memory of Angela and her death.  When he arrives at Valle de Bravo, he's certainly not looking for anything further than helping his own survival.

Rosa Cortez is also running from memories, though she channels her past into a future as "la jefe" of Valle de Bravo.  She runs a well-oiled machine, training her bravos and seizing the O'Malley organization trucks which venture into her territory.  She's spent the last couple of years avoiding male companionship as she believes it will put her position in jeopardy.

This book has everything: action, adventure, romance, sex, violence, death, life, rebirth.  It's a mile-a minute journey with ultra-satisfying twists and turns.  I cannot wait to read Daybreak (December 2011).  

Review: Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison

During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle "Tricks" Periwinkle found sanctuary among the Wyr in New York.  Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle's death, there are those who don't want to see her ascend to the throne...

Able to wield thunder and lightning, Wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries.  His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the Wyr's best weapons.  And he's the one sent to protect Tricks when she's almost assassinated in Chicago.

Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them--a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds...

For as much as I loved Dragon Bound, I prepared to go into Storm's Heart on a high note, unable to put the book down until I'd inhaled it.  That didn't really happen.

Let me back up and say I didn't dislike Storm's Heart, not in the least; it was just a different book than Dragon Bound.  (I think I like the thrill of the chase, so to speak, and while Dragon Bound had that in spades, Storm's Heart is more upfront, like say, a kick to the teeth.) 

One aspect of Storm's Heart that I loved was not knowing who Tricks/Ninane could trust.  She's in the middle of her people, yet she doesn't know any of them; she's attended by various councilors and commanders, but she cannot be certain what they advocate or suggest is the correct course of action to take.  Talk about a rock and a hard place!

Storm's Heart was a very good addition to the paranormal world of the Wyr Ms. Harrison is creating.  I'm excited and anxious for the next installment, Serpent's Kiss (October 2011), and cannot wait to learn more about this universe and these characters. 

Review: What a Goddess Wants by Stephanie Julian

IN HIS ARMS, HER MAGIC POWERS ARE ON THE RISE...


Tessa, Etruscan Goddess of the Dawn, is losing her powers and now there's an Underworld god determined to run her down. She needs a hero and fast, because only sexual energy can give her power. So she seeks out Caligo, whose sexual prowess is legendary...

AND SHE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN BRING HIM INTO THE LIGHT...

Caligo is a fabled Cimmerian warrior determined to stay away from spoiled goddesses who trample hearts after they've had their fun. But there's something irresistibly hot and inviting about Tessa and he knows he's her only change to escape the encroaching darkness...



I've never read Ms. Julian's work, so I was happy to give this erotic paranormal a try.  And when I say erotic, I mean erotic.  Cal finds an sleeping Tessa in his house, where he proceeds to strip her naked and tie her up...and the sex doesn't slow down.  It wasn't necessarily out of place within Tessa's and Cal's growing relationship -- the pair also uses sex to "recharge" Tessa, so to speak -- but at times I felt it wasn't necessary for the plot and would have almost preferred conversations to the loss of clothing. 

I did enjoy the world Ms. Julian created with the Etruscan goddesses, and I hope to learn more about them and the secondary cast of characters in future books of this trilogy.  What a Goddess Wants is a lighter paranormal where there is the threat of death, but it's an not overwhelming fear, though it is what brings Tessa and Cal together in the first place.  It's a quick read with a lot of sex and a bit of conflict.  Mix them together and you've got a lot of fun. 

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca who provided me with an ARC of What a Goddess Wants.)

Review: Taken by Fire by Sydney Croft

HIS MISSION WAS TO DESTROY HER.

BUT DESIRE GOT IN THE WAY.

A product of genetic manipulation, Melanie Milan shares a body with her malevolent sister, Phoebe. A sleek, blond predator with a heart of pure darkness, Phoebe puts their body through the wicked underbelly of sex for thrills—when she’s not igniting her pyrokinetic skills for an evil organization bent on taking over the world. Melanie rarely gets out to play—much less fall in love. But that changes when rival ACRO agent Stryker Wills shows up, with a mission to terminate the woman who torched his partner.

An operative with rare abilities, Stryker soon realizes that the woman he’s about to kill isn’t the murderous fire starter he’s been hunting. But he does want her. Melanie, with the power to ice anything in her path, is heating things up in ways that are setting fire to his blood. As long as Melanie stays in control, she is his best ally to bring down her sister and stop hellish havoc from being unleashed. Walking a tightrope of longing and hate, Stryker and Melanie begin to understand that true power lies in sweet surrender to each other, to the flames between them, to the erotic adventure that’s joined their hearts and abilities to become their salvation—and perhaps the world’s.

What a great ending to a remarkable series!

When I first read Riding the Storm, I was shocked -- in a good way -- about the erotic nature of the story.  It wasn't what I'd expected at all.  But it was so.  Very.  Good.

As this series progressed, we're introduced to more characters within the ACRO world, characters I came to care deeply about.  That Taken by Fire brings them back, at least those connected with the original trilogy, is a nice way to round out the series.

But, boy, were there some tense moments.  Ms. Croft isn't pulling any punches in this finale, and the angst and action is at a fever pitch.  The ending is worth those few fingernail biting instances, though.  A great series from beginning to end.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Review: In the Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare

Chivalry is far from undead...

Matthew Halkett, Earl of Blodswell, is one of the few men in the ton who can claim to be a knight in shining armor- because that's precisely what he was before being turned into a vampyre. When he spies a damsel in distress in the midst of a storm in Hyde Park, his natural instinct is to rush to her aid...

But not every woman needs to be rescued...

Weather-controlling witch Rhiannon Sinclair isn't caught in a storm-she's the cause of it. She's mortified to have been caught making trouble by the imposing earl, but she doesn't need any man-never has, and is sure she never will...

But when Rhiannon encounters Matthew again, her powers go awry and his supernatural abilities run amok. Between the two of them, the ton is thrown into an uproar. There's never been a more tempestuous scandal...

I was a little disappointed in this book.  Given "clues" in the previous book of the series, It Happened One Bite, I assumed the heroine for the next novel would be Sorcha, the youngest witch in the coven.  When I learned the heroine would be Rhiannon, I was quite surprised, simply because we the reader don't know much about her, other than her magical abilities concerning the weather.   Turns out, she had a lot to deal with: neglectful father, younger sister, hateful aunt.

Matthew, the Earl of Blodswell, also has problems: he's a vampire who's started having chest pains when he spies Rhiannon having a temper tantrum in the park.  Then his fangs won't distend, except for Rhiannon.

(Sing it with me now -- "Rhiannnnnon...")

There didn't seem to be much conflict between Rhiannon and Matthew, or perhaps I didn't believe it.  All reasoning for why they shouldn't be together is the same as that in It Happened One Bite with Blaire and James, except any sexual tension that might be present because Blaire fights her attraction to James isn't because Rhiannon gives into hers.

No one was turned; no one got into a fight.  In the Heat of the Bite felt like a "filler" book, and I almost believe Rhiannon and Matthew would have been better served as a secondary romance over the course of these last three books.  But I plan to read the final book in the series, Never Been Bit, to see Sorcha get her man and hopefully witness Elspeth give birth.       

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca who provided me with an ARC of In the Heat of the Bite.)

Review: Nightfall by Ellen Connor

Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought in her wildest nightmares that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.

The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna's father. Skilled and steadfast, he's ready for the prophesied Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.

When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion-a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age. 

Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty writing as one?  Okay, I'm sold.  Add in the post-apocalypse and romance, and this is a series I definitely want to read.

I'm not a fan of Doomsday romances.  True, I've never read one but finding romance during (or after) the end of the world is not my cup of tea.

Nightfall is so much more than that. 

We the reader are introduced to the new Dark Age as the heroine, Jenna, is introduced to it.  Yes, she's heard about such things from her father, but he's long dead.  When a man who claims he was sent by her father to protect her tosses her in the trunk of her car and takes her to a cabin in the woods, one could assume this is the makings of a horror.

Nightfall is so much more than that.

Jenna tells us of the prophecy her father clung to and as we meet the six other people she and Mason invite into their sanctuary, we learn she's believing her father's teachings.  As they struggle to survive, the implications of what has happened to the other side of the country hits them full-force, and I believe all of them are changed forever.

The ending, specifically the epilogue, felt a little sudden, but I'm hopeful the next two books in the series will fill in any blanks.  I'm also anxious to learn more about these characters as we move forward into the new Dark Age.

Review: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

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.

As the most feared and respected of the Wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed.  And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they've ignited in each other.

Pia knows she must repay Dragos for her trespass, but refuses to become his slave--although she cannot deny wanting him, body and soul...

My Twitter stream was BUZZING about this book.  Everywhere I turned, I saw good things and high praise.  Because of that, my expectations were elevated, and I found myself a bit disappointed because I didn't love it as much as everyone else.

Don't misunderstand -- Dragon Bound is a very good book and a great start to an intriguing paranormal romance series.  It's a series I hope will bring characters we met to the forefront in subsequent books yet still strive to tell the plot arc(s) we learn as this world unfolds.  The big picture, if you will, like who or what exactly is Pia's mother. 

The worldbuilding was phenomenal.  I found myself able to dive right in without having to backtrack to understand various components of the interlocking Other realms.  I loved Pia and Dragos together, though his possessiveness at first was off-putting.  Yes, he's an ultimate alpha; I wanted him to question why he wants her so much, why he couldn't control his feelings around her.  (Don't alphas do that?)  Pia was more difficult to pin down because of her...personality, I suppose.  Maybe it's not her personality so much as her reaction to various instances: the dream she and Dragos share; the aftermath of fighting the goblins; when they arrive in Manhattan.

Regardless, I'm glad I caved to the peer pressure and read Dragon Bound.  I'm looking forward to Storm's Heart very much (c'mon August).  

Review: The Legend of Michael by Lisa Marie Jones

He is sin and satisfaction, lust and damnation, a lethal weapon created from greed. A human soldier injected with alien DNA, he is a legend. Untamable, he has walked on the dark side, and returned to the light. Women desire him, hungry for his raw passion. Men envy his power; they lust to control him. But there is no controlling a creature such as he, no taming the primal fires within him. Michael revels in his superior strength and trains as a fighting machine. But when he encounters scientist Cassandra Powell, he begins to long for a more human connection...

I was really intrigued by the premise of The Legend of Michael.  Unfortunately, while I finished the novel, it was slow-going to get there with detours that I felt detracted from the romance aspect.


We're introduced to Cassandra Powell first.  She's a scientist whose father is a general and commander of the GTECHs, a group of alien DNA enhanced soldiers.  She's been brought in to study and document the GTECHs and their mutations for research and testing purposes.  Cassandra and Michael meet in the hallway of the base her first day on the job, and they're instantly attracted to one another.  She reluctantly agrees to coffee, then we skip ahead of their next four dates. There is a six-month time skip, and Cassandra and Michael are in a serious romance.  Due to his genetics, he can bond with a woman -- which he does with Cassandra -- though he swears her to secrecy.  It's a good thing, too, because there's a war brewing within the GTECHs, and Michael abandons Cassandra to fight on the side of evil.

Skip ahead two years...

The Legend of Michael is definitely an action-based plot with the romance between Cassandra and Michael taking a secondary status in the narrative.  The fact that we don't see the romance build between them is very frustrating. 

The over-the-top villains are an ode to comic books, as the bioweapon is called Green Lantern and its antidote Red Dart, but I didn't enjoy them.  Adam and Ava and their motley crew could have been a serious psychological threat, despite the fact that Michael spent two years as Adam's right-hand man.  They were almost Dr. Evil-ish in their appearances within the novel.  There were secondary characters I'd have rather learned more about, such as Caleb, though it seems he will not have his own book within the trilogy.

Perhaps I had too high hopes going into this series as I've enjoyed Ms. Jones' Harlequin Blazes.  Ultimately, it was a struggle to finish this book. 


(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca who provided me with an ARC of The Legend of Michael.)

Review: Never Again by Michele Bardsley

Welcome to Nevermore, Texas, population 503, where witches and wizards live side by side with humans.  Small towns like Nevermore are vanishing in America--and in this case, that could be the work of a freelancing witch...

CURSED AND DOUBLE CURSED

Lucinda Rackmore never would have been caught dead in a town like Nevermore.  Of course, that was before the "great reckoning" drained the family finances and her former lover, ruthless master wizard Bernard Franco, snuffed out Lucy's magical abilities.

But can Lucy really expect protection from the Guardian of Nevermore, her ex-brother-in-law, Gray Calhoun?  Gray wants nothing to do with her--and Lucy can't blame him.  Not after her sister sacrificed him to a demon lord.  Still, with everyone in town looking to settle a score with the Rackmores and Bernard bent on dragging Lucy back into his clutches, Gray might be her only hope for survival...

What first attracted me to this book was the cover.  Yes, I'm shallow, and I can admit it.  Then I read the back cover -- wizards, dragons, magical beings; okay, I'm pleasantly intrigued!  I've never been a big fan of fantasy, but stick some magic in a small town and apparently I cannot look away.  (See On The Edge by Ilona Andrews.) 

The initial issue between Gray and Lucy is that they're ex-in-laws, and Gray was wronged -- horribly wronged -- by Lucy's sister, so to say Lucy showing up at his door unannounced is a happy time is a lie.  Gray turns Lucy away, then feels instantly bad.  Because she's got a bit of a head start, he has to "chase" her around town in order to tell her he acted rashly.  All the while, he gets a good look at the town of Nevermore, surprised and horrified that he, as Guardian, has let the town fall to ruin.  When townspeople start dropping like flies, Gray understands there's a serious problem.

Attempting to summarize any further would make a convoluted mess.  That's not to say the plot is intricate or confusing; there's just a lot happening.  And A LOT happens in a short time.  Never Again is a fast-paced book, one I enjoyed, but a book nonetheless that left me with questions once I reached the end.  As it's the first in a trilogy, I hope we're able to pick up the story immediately in Now or Never.

Review: His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he's finally found her. The hunt is over . . .

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair, of her treachery, of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant, he game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine . . .

I was really surprised by how quickly I fell into this book.  There's action, adventure and intrigue almost immediately -- something I really look for in my paranormal romances since becoming tired of them (due to overindulgence) in 2007.  Beyond the standard vampire or shifter sub-genres, I hadn't anticipated any other kind of shifter, which is what drew my initially attention to His Darkest Hunger. 

There are some slow spots in the middle, particularly where Jaxon and Libby are fighting their respective attractions for (and love of) the other.  Just admit it, already!  You're hot for one another and in lurve.  Another problem I had was the ending.  Yes, there are two more books in this series, but there was no wrap-up or sense of closure for this book.  The secondary characters were interesting, so my fingers are crossed they will remain on the scene throughout the series.  I do hope that we're clued in on what happened three years earlier, the singular event which prompts Jaxon's vendetta against Libby. 

All in all, a pretty good debut for a new author. 

Review: Tempting the Fire by Sydney Croft

EXTREME HEAT. EXTREME HUNGER.


A JUNGLE EDEN ABLAZE WITH TEMPTATION.

Deep in the Brazilian rain forest, a team of Navy SEALs has been nearly wiped out by something sinister and superhuman, sending shock waves through the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives (ACRO). Now ACRO agents Sela Kahne and Marlena West head to the world’s most unforgiving jungle to find and kill a mythical monstrosity with a taste for human blood. But to succeed in their mission, they will need the help of two men, each hiding his own dark secret.

Sela is an expert on cryptozoology with a sideline skill that could prove invaluable: When she makes love to a man, she engulfs his innermost thoughts. Teamed with Marlena, Sela makes contact with the lone SEAL survivor, Chance McCormack. Meanwhile, Logan Mills, the man who rescued Chance, leads his private company on a hunt that has nothing to do with saving lives. Soon, Sela will put her supernatural charms to work on Logan, determined to extract information about the creature they are seeking. But in this sweat-drenched realm of danger and deception, Logan is more than just a passive target. He has the power to lead a highly trained seducer into a jungle without any rules, without any limits—and with no end to the heat.

And this is a very good story.  Whew.  I was worried after my less than happy thoughts about Taming the Fire.  For whatever reason, I didn't enjoy it, so I was skeptical about Tempting the Fire.  (From a money standpoint, it's hard for me to convince myself to spend $15 on a book when I wasn't gung-ho about the previous book, no matter how much I've enjoyed the author's other offerings.)  Tempting the Fire, however, likens back to the first three books of Ms. Croft's series, and the result is scorching. 

We're introduced to new ACRO agent, Sela.  She's an interesting mix of confident and timid.  When she's paired with Marlena for an operation to the Brazilian rain forest, well, Sela believes Marlena will work sexual magic while she uses her smarts to obtain ACRO's desired result.  The mission, of course, isn't that simple.

As we go back and forth between Sela, Marlena, Chance and Logan, we're reunited with Annika and Creed.  [This may have been what Taming the Fire was missing: a core couple from one of the first three books, characters we already knew and were interested in.]  Their relationship has never been easy, though that's part of their charm.  Add Annika's involvement in Sela's and Marlena's mission, and things get dicey quickly.

If you're a fan of the paranormal (and some mighty sexy romance), I wholeheartedly suggest this author.  It's action from the word Go, whether that be on the battlefield or in the bedroom.