Review: Twisted

Reviewed by Jen
 

Rebecca Zanetti definitely knows a thing about creating anticipation! I have been excited for Maggie and Terrent's story since I first saw them face off in Consumed.  I love that Maggie is this klutzy, amnesiac wolf who still manages to get the upper hand over a big bad enforcer like Terrent. I just can't believe he has waited so long the pick things back up.

It's been five years since these two have seen each other. And we find out right away, there is more to their attraction than we ever realized.  Terrence KNEW Maggie before she lost her memory.  Even better (or worse, depending on how you look at it) --they were in love.  Now, he is ready to put their relationship back on the front burner.  This, as she tries to infiltrate his pack, to sniff out who is behind some inoculations that were tampered with.

I thought it was cool that there was more depth to their connection, but I had some trouble with the idea of Terrent staying away from his great love for 10 years.  Yeah, his job is important and all, but that bothered me.  Setting that aside, I did enjoy the sexual tension and the hot sex between these two. I could do without the spanking/ dominating scene, but the other encounters were great.  There is also some pretty good banter.  Maggie is sassy and smart.  I like that she gives as good as she gets with Terrent. I also like that she isn't powerless in their relationship, even though Terrent is so strong and alpha.

Over the course of the story, we learn about Maggie's history --and Terrent's too-- which is kind of interesting. (I wonder if that is going to be incorporated more into the series.)  And we get a few Jase and Dage cameos, which I was happy about.  The ending takes a bit of an obvious route, but in the end, I was pretty satisfied with how it all turned out.    At first, I was disappointed this love story would not have a full length book, but I think it was served well as a novella.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Kensington via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Twisted

by Rebecca Zanetti

Release Date: June 20, 2013

Publisher: Kensington

Review: Hunted

Reviewed by Jen
 

It's not easy being mated to one of the Kayrs brothers.  Sure, they love you to the moon and back, but they aren't afraid to bully or muscle their way into winning an argument. Admittedly, none has been worse than Talen, the hero of the first book. But we see hints of the alpha-hole in them all.

I had hoped Conn would be better.  After all, when he accidentally mated Moira a century ago, he actually acquiesced to her request for time apart so she could train as a witch.  He let her do what she needed as a witch with a powerful potential in her line.  Which made it all the more disappointing when he started pulling the caveman routine here.  He isn't nearly as bad as Talen, thank goodness, but I had hoped he would give his mate a bit more credit. She is a lethal enforcer for her coven --a trained killer-- but he still tries to put her in a bubble to "protect" her. It annoyed me.

I still enjoyed the book, despite my annoyance with Conn.  That's thanks to the great world-building and the fascinating series storyline. There is a lot happening in this installment. The primary plot involves the witches. Someone is using magic to take out members of the ruling council. Moira is on the hit list --and she wants to figure out who is targeting them --and why. This, as the witches consider aligning with the demons against the vampires. That puts Moira in the terrible position of potentially having to choose between her family and her mate.

Meanwhile, we're seeing the set-up for Katie and Jordan's book.  Katie still can't shift, prompting her to take desperate measures. --And we're seeing more of the Kalin-Zane-Janie interaction.  It's amazing how their scenes always manage to steal every book for me! I know Kalin is bad, bad, bad, but there is just something about him that makes me want to see his redemption.  (Maybe I need my head examined.)

The sex is hot and the characters are well defined.  Conn does make some progress before the story is over, but he doesn't quite hit the mark for me.  I struggle with imbalance of power in the relationships in these books.  Even with Moira being the most kick-ass of witches, Conn still has to win.  At least she gets a couple of small victories.  I guess that's progress.

Rating: B

Click to purchase: Amazon

Hunted

by Rebecca Zanetti

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Publisher: Kensington

Review: Araya's Addiction

Reviewed by Shelly
 

If you like your demon cocky and a little bit bad, then Kean is who you want. Araya’s mother has finally done what Araya has been dreading all her life – she’s taken an Incubus as a prisoner for the insatiable lust that he presents to Sempires. Although Kean is only part Incubus, he’s a got enough of the demon gene in him that he makes it hard for a girl to resist him.

Kean screwed the pooch when he met Talith, Araya’s mother, in a local nightclub. After waking naked and locked in a cell, he discovers that Talith’s motives for taking him as a prisoner are for the love of her daughter. Yes, it’s a little manipulative but they’re demons and demons only fear what’s bigger and badder than them and Kean definitely isn’t that. So he’s stuck until he can do what’s required of him and then he can leave and go on his merry way. That is, until he meets Araya and gets to know her in the short time that he’s allotted.

Araya is really a gentle soul who doesn’t want what Kean is offering. Kean is not such a gentle soul who’s only in it for himself, but we soon come to find another side of him that’s really quite charming and even likable. Once these two get together and the sexing commences, and it does get hot!

In her debut novella, Dex does a credible job of making this story interesting. I’m totally looking forward to more from this author.

Happy Reading folks!

Rating: B

*ARC provided by publisher for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Araya's Addiction

by Jocelyn Dex

Release Date: January 11, 2013

Publisher: Ellora's Cave

Review: The Demon's Song

Reviewed by Jen
 

Let me preface this review by saying that I am a fan of Kendra Leigh Castle's Dark Dynasties books, and when I found out she was kicking off a new series, I was very excited to get started.  But when I started reading, I kept finding all these references to prior events.  As a longtime PNR reader, I recognized the signs of a series already in progress and I double and triple checked to see if there were earlier books.  This is, indeed, the first book in the Hearts of the Fallen series.  BUT my instincts were not wrong.  This is a spinoff to her Harlequin Nocturne stories Renegade Angel and "Vivi and the Vampire."  Stories I haven't read; stories where the events and characters are heavily referenced. Be warned.

Our hero, Phenix, is the fallen angel of song.  He and a small band of his brothers spent some time in hell, but now they help guard the supernatural underworld called Terra Noctem and help maintain the balance between good and evil.  He has turned off his emotions; cut himself off from humanity... until he meets Sofia.  The fiery nurse gets a crash course in all things supernatural when she saves her friend from being killed by a vampire.  The rouge vamp could be part of a larger problem threatening the Terra Noctem, which makes it Phenix's problem... and to make a long story short, Sofia becomes bait to draw out the bad guys and Phenix becomes her bodyguard.

The book started out a little slow for me.  Maybe it was because Phenix didn't really light my fire (until later in the story.) Maybe it was all the references to the backstory that kept pulling me out of the book. Either way, it didn't click for me at the beginning, but once things started heating up between Phenix and Sofia, it did take off.

As with all of Castle's books, I really liked the dynamic between the hero and heroine, both emotionally and sexually. The tension is great and payoff is satisfying.  Phenix isn't quite as tortured as most of her heroes, but I did enjoy his journey to regaining his emotions. And I really liked two things about Sophie: 1) She is a grown woman who is comfortable and confident. She isn't an ingenue virgin or a clinging vine.  2) She stands up for herself. She doesn't sublimate her own life for one with Phenix.  Both are a refreshing change of pace from most heroines in the genre.

The arc concerning the external conflict was fairly good, though it took a firm backseat to the romance.   The ending wrapped things up rather quickly, but I was satisfied with how it all played out.

I'm definitely interested in continuing the series.  But I really need to read the the previous stories first. The borderline OCD in me will have it no other way.

Rating: B-

*ARC provided by Entangled

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Demon's Song

by Kendra Leigh Castle

Release Date: April 21, 2013

Publisher: Entangled

 

Review: The Cursed

Reviewed by Jen
 

Alyssa Day introduces us to a engaging new world in this first installment of her League of the Black Swan series.  I had a bit of trouble engaging in the story in the first half... mostly because of the romance.  But I got more invested... especially in the final third of the book.

The story begins with Rio in deep trouble.  She witnessed a kidnapping at the hands of a powerful and Very Bad Man.  Thanks to her ability to read minds, she knows he is now coming after her... so she runs to the most powerful man in Bordertown for protection, a wizard PI named Luke.  Rio is messenger and has delivered to Luke before. In fact, she has quite the crush on him... and figures --if anyone can save her, he can.

It just so happens that Luke is investigating the very kidnapping Rio witnessed.  And he has a thing for her too.  When she fills him in on her situation, he quickly becomes her protector, her partner in solving the kidnapping, and later, her lover.  All this, as she tries to figure out the mysteries of her origins.  She grew up an orphan, knowing nothing of her past, but suddenly all kinds of powerful beings have an interest in her and her upcoming birthday.  Now, it seems like everyone knows who she is, except for her.

I had a really hard time buying into the relationship here. Luke and Rio are completely smitten with each other from the get-go.  A physical attraction, I get. But I never understood why --after centuries without love and near celibate conditions-- Luke's plan to avoid attachments is so utterly decimated by Rio.  WHY is she so special? WHY does he love her? And speaking of love... these two are tossing around the L-word in a couple of days.  All of this kept me from really connecting to the romance.  I didn't feel deeply invested in either main character either. I didn't dislike them or anything; I just did feel like I knew them beyond the superficial.  I didn't feel for them

That's not to say I didn't end up enjoying the book.  The world building was good and once we started learning about the secrets of Rio's parentage, the story really got interesting.  I liked how that all played out.  And I didn't see it coming. For that reason, I'm glad I stuck with the book. But the first half was difficult to get through.

Rating: C+

*ARC Provided by Berkley

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Cursed

by Alyssa Day

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Berkley

 

Review: Eternal Demon

Reviewed by Jen
 

Oh Erion! When I first met you back in Eternal Kiss, I had no idea what a great hero you would make, but thanks to the end of Eternal Beast, I started this book more than ready for your story.  Not only did the book deliver, but Erion is what really sold it for me.

As the story begins, our hero is desperate to recover his son, Ladd, who was stolen by the evil Cruen.  Erion and his brother fled the twisted man who raised him and now Cruen is using the boy as leverage to draw Erion back into the fold.  Instead, Erion kidnaps the women Cruen is betrothed to --and proposes a trade: her for Ladd.

Of course, when he abducted Hellen, Erion had no idea she was a powerful demon. Nor did he understand that her father was blackmailing her into the marriage.  Despite the fact Hellen doesn't want her intended, she is determined to marry him. Her sisters' future depends on it. But when she goes into something like a sexual heat, she and Erion are unable to fight the growing attraction between them.  From then on out, they are pulled between their personal desires and their need to protect the people they love.

Neither Erion nor Hellen has ever had anyone want or love them for who they are.  One of my favorite parts of the book was watching them each feel love and acceptance for the first time.  There is a great sexual tension between them, but even better for me was for each of them to find a home in the other.  Both characters are noble and selfless, brave and loyal. It was impossible not to root for their HEA.

In the meantime, Synjon is back. He was the dear friend that Bronwyn was going to mate with in Lucian's book.  If you recall, Cruen was responsible for the death of his true love and he is on a mission to make the man pay.  (Eternal Beauty gives us a look at what he's been up to since we last saw him.)  So he joins the Roman brothers and their mutore brethren to track him down.  Poor Syn is just a shell of his former self, but Wright does a great job laying the foundation for his book.

I was really happy with how this story played out and was very satisfied with the ending.  A must read for fans of the series.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Signet Eclipse

Click to purchase: Amazon

Eternal Demon

by Laura Wright

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Signet Eclipse

Review: Hot Blooded

Reviewed by Jen
 

It's an action-packed ride in this second installment of the Jessica McClain series. The story begins with our heroine chomping at the bit to save her mate and things do not slow down once between the first page and the last.

First off, let me say that if you haven't read Full Blooded, I urge you start there.  This book is a continuation of that one --and while this has a self-contained mission, it all hinges on the events of the first installment.  There is a little bit of backstory mixed in, but not much.

Basically, the entire book is about Jessica's journey to rescue Rourke from the clutches of the evil Goddess Selene, who kidnapped him.  She takes along her brother and one other wolf --along with her human nemesis and general PITA Ray-- plus two vampire guides names Eamon and Naomi.  Their path is full of traps and landmines laid out by Selene.  As Jess overcomes one after another, she (and we) learn more about her strengths as a Lycan, and what that means in relation to the prophecies about her.

I like Jess. She is very powerful, but is determined to hold on to her humanity.  She not only wants to do the right thing, she puts her money where her mouth is, even when it's hard.  But the real highlight of the book for me was Naomi. She was not what I expected and I grew to really like her.  And Ray... well, I think there is more to Ray than meets the eye somehow. (I could be totally off-base on that, but time will tell.)

Here's the thing, though.  I liked the book, but didn't love it the way some of my fellow reviewers did.  It's well written; the pacing is good; the world-building is solid.  But I don't feel an emotional connection to the characters. I like them.  But I don't feel their feelings. Yes, I know Jess wants to get Rourke back, and thinking about him makes her wolf run in circles, but I don't feel a crushing weight or fear of a life without him.  (Frankly, their time together as mates lasted about as long as a sneeze, so maybe that has something to do with it.) It's not just about Rourke, though. It's deep feeling for anything, everything.  Her thoughts and feelings are intellectually conveyed to me, but it's missing that intangible thing that makes me feel like I am not only inside Jessica's head, but her heart.

It is a good read, though. It kept me interested and invested in how it would all play out.  And Amanda Carlson does a great job laying the groundwork for the next battle ahead.  It looks like another exciting ride.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Orbit

Click to purchase: Amazon

Hot Blooded

by Amanda Carlson

Release Date: April 23, 2013

Publisher: Orbit

Review: Immortal Trust

Reviewed by Jen
 

One of the things I like about The Curse of the Templar series is that each hero is deliciously tortured and alpha. Though admittedly, Lucan doesn't come off as quite as tortured as Merrick and Farran, he made up for it with earnestness and charm.

This installment in the series is actually different in a few ways. Not only is our hero a bit less miserable than his predecessors, unlike them, he knows who his seraph is from the start. As the story begins, he is already seeking Chloe out at the archaeological dig she is leading in France.  Chloe doesn't know it, but she is about to uncover a vital artifact to the Templars, the Veil of Veronica.  Not only do the Templars want the items, but so do the evil minions of Azazel.  The dark lord has infected her brother in order to get to the item by any means necessary.

Lucan is determined to handle his mating better than his brothers did. He is resolved to take things slowly, and to court Chloe properly.  It's not that easy, though. Chloe has been plagued by demons for years. Between that, and a bad relationship in her past, she is dead set against a future with the man she sees as a representative from the Church at her dig.  Her brother's negative influence makes it even harder for Lucan to gain any ground. But, of course, it's only a matter of time until destiny becomes a reality.

I liked Lucan a lot. He is gentle and loving with Chloe and takes great care with her emotions. It's nice to see a hero who isn't so dominating that he loses sight of his woman's wants and needs. It is frustrating at times to see the hesitation he has --as it will so clearly burn him in the end.  You see, both Lucan and Chloe hide the truth from each other for most of the story. Chloe keeps her demons a secret because she doesn't think Lucan will believe her. And Lucan keeps the Templar truths quiet, because he fears Chloe may already be compromised by Azazel.  Secrets, as always, lead to misunderstandings, which can drive you crazy when you see them coming a mile away.

However, the romance is sweet, and I like that this is a bit different from the previous books, because that keeps the series from getting stale. The sexual tension is great and the bedroom action is definitely worth the wait!

We're still keeping up with some of the other familiar knights... but I am coming to think Claire Ashgrove is only giving me glimpses of Declan and Tane to torment me. When will they get their books, for crying out loud???

Overall, it was sexy and sweet, though a little predictable.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Tor

Click to purchase: Amazon

Immortal Trust

by Claire Ashgrove

Release Date: March 26, 2013

Publisher: Tor Books

Review: Night Demon

Reviewed by Jen
 

Lukas wants nothing more than to end his immortal existence. He never wanted to be a Night Walker; he was turned centuries ago, by accident.  Ever since then, he's barely been able to contain his hunger.  And he is plagued by the times he has failed at control.

Now he is working to decipher some ancient Mayan text, hoping to unlock the secrets to his kind, and eventually to find a way to die.  But somehow, despite his best intentions, he has fallen for Gretchen, the beautiful translator who he's been working with all of these months.  He wants her, but he refuses to expose her to his world, so he pushes her away.

Unfortunately, Gretchen is getting a healthy dose of the Night Walker world anyway.  Someone has unleashed a powerful demon on the world, very close to the Mayan site where Gretchen and Lukas are working.  It feeds on death, prompting a string of suicides, and nearly taking Gretchen's life as well.  Only the four original Night Walkers can return the demon to her prison.

This sets the stage for several things.  Gretchen and Lukas are thrust further together. Calisto --Lukas's maker and the hero of book 1-- is drawn into the storyline, along with his mate, Kate.  We get to meet the oldest Night Walkers and learn their origin story.  And we get a front row seat to the dangerous mission to best the demon, hellbent on destroying humanity.

I liked both Gretchen and Lukas, though perhaps my biggest complaint about the book is that their romance felt overshadowed by the other events of the story. Sometimes, it felt like too much was going on.  I was frustrated over and over by how many times we cut away from our couple to the stuff going on with the ancient ones.  There was a strong sexual tension and great build-up, but I wish we would have had more time to enjoy them together.

I loved seeing Calisto and Kate again, as well as Kane and Rita. And I was intrigued by the Guardian. The world building is cool --and more involved her than in the previous books.  It wasn't too hard to follow until the reincarnation element came in force.  At that point, I got lost. It was explained eventually, but it all ended up a little... convenient.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, though probably not as much as I liked Night Walker.

Rating: B-

*ARC Provided by Entangled 

Click to purchase: Amazon

Night Demon

by Lisa Kessler

Release Date: March 18, 2013

Publisher: Entangled

Review: Rapture

Reviewed by Jen
 

I liked it, but I didn't love it.  It's always a sad day when I say that about a JR Ward book.  I know this lady has the juice to knock my socks off, but this fourth installment in her Fallen Angel series left me feeling lukewarm.  It was even more disappointing on the heels of that big shocker in the last book, but I digress...

The hero in this story is a familiar face.  Matthias was the soul Team Angel lost to the bad guys in Crave.  They're getting a second chance to guide him on the righteous path, however, as the Almighty is punishing Devina for breaking the rules of the Game.  If none of this makes any sense to you, that means you are a new reader and this book is not for you.  Go back to the beginning and start with Covet or much of ongoing plot will be lost on you.

Anyway, as Matthias is returned to earth, he has the good fortune of stumbling in front of a car driven by newspaper reporter Mels Carmichael.  The accident gives him amnesia and draws Mels into his life.  At first, he turns to her to help him figure out who he is, but then he quickly falls for her.  As his memories trickle back, he is horrified by what he once was, and he must work along with Jim and Adrian to skirt both assassins and the demons who want to have him back in hell.

The book felt overly long, but love happens way too fast. Two days, I think.  Both Mels and Matthias want each other from the get-go, but unfortunately his suicide attempt with an IED has left him impotent, forcing an unsatisfying sexual relationship.  (By unsatisfying, I mean, for me.)

Also unsatisfying: no progression on the Eddie storyline.  I really hoped Ward would fix this, but it's barely addressed outside of Adrian's angst.  Jim continues to obsess over Sissy to epic levels, yet makes a huge out-of-character move with Davina which left me scratching my head.

I dunno. It wasn't bad, but it was tepid.  And starting to feel formulaic.  And at the end, I wanted to smack Jim in the face with a dead fish.

Rating: B-

 Click to purchase: Amazon 

Rapture

by JR Ward

Release Date: September 25, 2012

Publisher: NAL

Review: Beauty Awakened

Reviewed by Jen
 

This book was almost great.  It pains me to say that, because the parts of it that were good were very, very good.  But the two issues I had with it really took away from my overall enjoyment.

This second installment in Gena Showalter's Angels of the Dark series features Koldo, and though I wasn't that excited to learn he was getting his own book, he ended up a really good tortured hero.  He was raised by a mother who hated him and cut off his wings. Then he was abandoned to be tortured and kept by his evil father, until he was eventually freed to fight on the side of the angels.  He has never known love or tender emotions from anyone.  But that changes when Nicola enters his life.

Nicola and her twin sister were both born with heart problems and both face an uncertain future.  But when Koldo comes across them in the course of another mission, he can't ignore how he is drawn to Nicola. He makes it his task to free her from the demons who foster her illness and to teach her how to fight their influence.  And in the process, they fall in love.

I think what I liked best about the story is how effortless the romance is between Nicola and Koldo.  I can see how and why they fall for each other. There is no great misunderstanding or hurtful mistake one has to forgive the other for.  Koldo just wants to be loved and Nicola is the balm to his tattered soul.  It hit my romance happy buttons all over.

Unfortunately, the book failed big time in the sexual arena. Usually Showalter's books really deliver with the sexy times. Here, I reread their first sexual encounter three times and I'm still not sure what the hell happened.  It was that vague.  Then, when they finally do seal the deal (a measly one time) again, the language is vague and totally unsatisfying.

"Nicola," he said, and finally --finally-- claimed her...
Hesitantly, he leaned down and kissed her again.  Softly, gently.  It didn't take long to renew their passions, and then, oh, then, they wed in body, as well.  She yielded to him without reservation, accepting him, burning for him, loving him, enfolding him in her arms, crying his name, begging him for more, nipping at his lips.

They wed in body?? Who is this author and what has she done with Gena Showalter's sex scenes?  This was a total missed opportunity, since Koldo is a sexy virgin hero who is just exploring his sexuality for the first time.

My second big issue?  It's a little too... religious isn't the right word.  But it felt dangerously close to having a "message."  The angels have been a part of the Lords of the Underworld series for some time now, but not until this book did it have more of a traditional ring for me.  Essentially in the sense that it is faith in the Most High that can make or break you in this book.   It felt like PNR with a little bit of an inspirational bent.

The romance was really good though, as was the construction of the characters.  I felt like I knew them and I was 100% invested in them. So much so, I might have given it an A, had it not been for the disappointing sex and the feeling that I was supposed to find God when it was all said and done.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Harlequin

Click to purchase: Amazon

Beauty Awakened

by Gena Showalter

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Harlequin

Review: Winterblaze

Reviewed by Jen
 

There are so many things I like about the Darkest London series. I love the dark atmosphere and gothic feel of these books.  The characters are engaging and interesting.  The sexual tension and payoffs satisfy.  Each story maintains the tone and core characters, but they still manage to stand apart from each other... each with very different kind of romance.

This book features Poppy, the third and eldest of the Ellis sisters.  Unlike the first two book, our couple is already an established one here. Poppy and her husband Winston have been married for 14 years, and they are very much in love.  But at the end of Moonglow, Winston was attacked by a paranormal being, which opened his eyes to a world he never knew existed.  A world his wife is very much a part of.  As long as he has known her, she has hidden not only her ice elemental abilities, but the fact that she runs an organization which polices the rogues of the supernatural community.  It's too much for him to handle, and walks out on her.

As the story begins, it's been three months since the two of them have been apart.  Each is miserable without the other, but neither knows if they can forgive the other for the hurt caused.  A demon puts an end to their separation when he threatens Winston to get to Poppy.  Without spoiling the details, Poppy and Win must work together to meet the demon's demands or their lose something more precious than either is willing to sacrifice.

It's not often I can get really invested in an established couple. I'm really more a fan of that first blush of attraction and feeling you get with a new relationship.  However, I thought Kristen Callihan really made this love story sing.  First of all, I loved the flashbacks.  We do get to see the beginning of this relationship.  But even better is the way that the roadblocks between Winston and Poppy in the present create a believable threat to their future.  The sexual tension is still phenomenal (something that is usually the first thing to go with a married couple story) and I found myself rooting hard for these two to make it to the bedroom.

I liked both characters a lot.  Winston is not the paragon we first thought him to be and I like seeing his flaws.  By the same token, we find that Poppy's deceit isn't as cut and dry and we thought either. She tried to do the right thing, and through the course of the story we learn how her choices were taken away.  Everyone has made mistakes, but all for honor or love.

I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to address the secondary characters.  Archer, Miranda, Ian, and Daisy are back. (And we learn more about the sisters and what makes them so special.) But the real scene stealers are Mary, the Ghost in the Machine, and Jack Talent, Ian's shapeshifting valet.   Clearly, they are the focus of the next book, Shadowdance, and their setup is amazing. Their scenes here have me foaming at the mouth to read their story.

I'd say this book is about on par with Moonglow for me. I liked it a lot, though a shade less than I loved Firelight.  Maybe Firelight will just always be my favorite. But this is very, very good and I would definitely recommend it to fans of the series.  And for those of you who haven't tried these book yet... what are you waiting for??

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Forever via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon or Enter to Win

Winterblaze

by Kristen Callihan

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Forever

Review: Kiss of the Betrayer

Reviewed by Jen
 

This second story in the Bringer and the Bane series picks up much where the first book left off.  All the main players are back, only this time, the core romance features Jade and Luc.

We already knew that Jade hated Luc, though now we find out why. She believes he is responsible for her sister turning Bane more than a decade ago.  Luc had been a suitor to Esmerelda, but through his actions, the Bane attacked the girls' home, killed their father and turned Esmerelda into a demon.  Rell (as she is known now) raised her young sister, while teetering on the brink between good and evil.  Now she demands justice, in the form of Luc's death.

Killing Luc becomes increasingly difficult, once Ravyn turns him into a Bringer.  And shortly after, the same happens with Jade.  She and Luc are brought deeper in the fold of Ravyn and Rhys' fight and in doing so, they draw closer.  Jade must decide whether her future lies with the man she's hated all her life --or the sister who is losing more of her humanity by the day.

The story moved slowly for me.  It wasn't bad, it just dragged a bit, especially in the first half. I started to get a little excited when it looked like there might be an unlikely demon love-connection.  In fact, I found the possibility even more intriguing than what was developing between Luc and Jade, but alas, it was just a taste.  I feel fairly certain it won't amount to anything when all is said and done, but I hope it is explored a bit more in the next book.

It's been a year or so since I read Shield of Fire, and I felt like this book assumed a familiarity with the story covered there.  Frankly, I had forgotten some of it and when we picked up some of the old dangling threads, the answers left me a little more confused than satisfied.

The main love story was ok.  Usually, my beef in romance is that the love happens too fast, but here it was just a bit too slow.  Maybe love isn't the right word... I just wanted more movement... to feel a little more engaged.

I'll tell you one thing that definitely worked, though. Icarus.  I find this character so intriguing. I want to know everything about him. I want all of his backstory. I want him to have a romance. I want him to have a book. Now. Now. Now.  I've already got my theories!!! Let's make it happen.  (*sigh*) Until then, clearly we have Siban's book next.  I would like to order a little more angst please.

Rating: C+

*ARC Provided by Entangled via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Kiss of the Betrayer

by Boone Brux

Release Date: November 19, 2012

Publisher: Entangled

Review: Ever After

Reviewed by Jen
 

This is my absolute favorite installment of the Hollows series to date.  The best book I have read in months.  I loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.  It's as though Kim Harrison made this book to order, handpicking all of my favorite elements of the series and letting them shine.  Tons of Trent.  Al.  Jenks. And, of course, the ever after.  It's light on Ivy, the vampire culture, witches and werewolves.  And we actually see real growth in Rachel.  It's like Christmas and my birthday all at once.

The story feels more like a follow up to Pale Demon than A Perfect Blood.  We're experiencing a lot of repercussions from that book.  The ley line Rachel accidentally made is leaking --and slowly destroying the ever after.  Of course, she is blamed, but it's really Ku'Sox who is setting her up. He exacerbated the problems with the lines to put Rachel in the crosshairs --and he'll only fix the problem if she takes the curse off of him that keeps him away from her reality.

Ku'Sox is also gunning for Trent. He's been kidnapping Rosewood babies and he wants Trent to manipulate their genes to make more day-walking demons like Rachel. Ku'Sox wants control of the babies to boost his power among the demons.  Trent won't budge, so Ku'Sox takes desperate action.  Trent and Rachel must work together to best Ku'Sox, as the demon endangers those near and dear to both of their hearts... and all of demonkind.

There is a ton of action in this book. I was pulled in from the very beginning and I did not want to put it down until the last page.  It is unpredictable.  Remember the kind of shockers Kim Harrison delivered in some of the earlier books in the series?  Oh yeah, those are back.  At right about the halfway mark, she kicked me in the gut --hard.  No punches are pulled. No easy roads are taken.  It had me by the seat of my pants the whole time.

One of the things I love about these books is the continuity. Harrison never tries to ignore past events. Instead, she weaves them into current stories, reminding us of those things that built the characters into who they are.  From the rat fights to the doctor Trent killed --from Rachel's failed romances to Denon's death and the boat explosion.  It's all there and then some... all kinds of little Easter Eggs for longtime fans.

We continue to learn more about the demons --and their history.  We meet more gargoyles. Learn more about the ever after. Plot Ellsbeth's death (wait... maybe that last part was just me.)  And we get movement on the whole Rachel and Trent will-they or won't-they dance.  I won't spoil it.  But it's a pretty big story thread, or at least, a major current throughout the book.

I am forcing myself to stop gushing now, before I tell you everything that happened.  Just know that if you were on the fence about continuing this series after A Perfect Blood, please take my advice and read this book. If it doesn't make you fall in love with The Hollows again, I don't know what will.

Rating: A

*ARC Provided by Harper Collins 

Click to purchase: Amazon

Ever After

by Kim Harrison

Release Date: January 22, 2013

Publisher: Harper Collins

Review: Provoked

Reviewed by Jen
 

After I read Consumed earlier this year, I told myself I would go and read the backlist on this series.  Now, reading this latest installment, I am renewing my pledge to do just that. This series is really cool. It's got great world-building with continuing threads that span from book to book.  Yet, Rebecca Zanetti makes it easy to jump in as a new reader.  She manages to fill you in with everything that's been happening in a way that seamlessly folds into the story.  It's good stuff.

This is Kane's love story. He is the analytical, brilliant adviser and brother to the king of the vampire people.  Their youngest brother, Jase, is being held captive by the demons and he has a plan to rescue him.  It requires finding and drafting a demon destroyer.  And wouldn't you just know that one is broadcasting her abilities loud and clear??

Amber has no idea of what she is.  In fact, she is an adamant pacifist.  But Kane isn't the only one picking up her unintentional signal.  The demons are after her too --and once the danger becomes obvious, she throws her lot in with Kane and agrees to help him.

I can't say I was in love with Amber as a heroine.  Her tree-hugging sensibilities were hard for me to connect with.  And I felt like a little too fine a point was put on her forcing her veganism and other preferences on everyone else.  But that was probably the only thing I didn't enjoy about the book. I liked Kane... his intensity and his honesty.  I thought the sexual tension was hot and so was the bedroom action.

The secondary stories were great. I was really into the sidestory with Jase... and even more wrapped up in what is happening with young Janie and the two men in her life.  Clearly, this has been an arc percolating for a long time.  And when the payoff comes, that book is going to rock my socks off.  I'm feeling like Zane is the obvious choice for her, but part of me carries a little hope for Kalin. (Is that wrong?)  Honestly, their history is the biggest reason I want to go back and read the older books.

There are plenty of action and battle scenes.  Plenty of scheming and machinations.  It's all layered in with the romance and the b- and c-plots.  I love books that are intricate in this way. Especially when the author can pull it all off without being confusing.  (Which she totally does.)

Well done.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Kensington via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Provoked

by Rebecca Zanetti

Release Date: November 1, 2012

Publisher: Kensington

Review: Shadow's Claim

Reviewed by Jen
 

I am a huge fan of Kresley Cole and her Immortals After Dark world.  This may be the first in a set of spinoff books, but it fits in perfectly along with the other installments in the existing series.  In fact, it reminded me quite a bit of an earlier book, but I'll get back to that in just a minute.

The Dacian series centers on the vampire sect we met in Lothaire's book. They are an ancient and secluded sect which many among the Lore basically consider to be a myth.  Trehan is one of their princes, a killer who serves as the sword of their people. And as the story begins, he is on the hunt for Castion, a demon who somehow sneaked into his lands and left.  No one is allowed to visit Dacia and leave, because of the risk they'll tell others about the secret society.  So Cas is marked for death.

Bettina is the princess of Abbadon, a demon realm. She is a demon-Sorceri hybrid and considered weak for it.  Unfortunately, her physical vulnerabilities were exploited by a group of men from her people's enemies and she was attacked. Bett was beaten within an inch of her life and her power was stolen. As a result, her family decided she needed a protector and devised a tournament to find her a husband.

The only man Bettina wants is her childhood friend Castion, but he loves her only as a friend.  It's during Trehan's hunt for Cas that he is drawn to Bettina and recognizes her as his Bride.  From that point on, his mission is twofold: win the tournament and make Bettina love him more than she thinks she loves Castion.

This story reminded me a lot of No Rest for the Wicked. A lot. That was the one where the vampire Sebastian entered the Hie tournament to win the love of Kaderin the Cold.  The heroes in both books are very similar --and while the details of the tournaments are different-- the whole "I must win for her" vibe is the same.  Kaderin and Bettina are nothing alike, though.  While Kaderin was cold and ruthless, Bettina is starry-eyed and needs to find her inner strength.  The similarities in the books didn't bother me, per se, but it kept it from feeling fresh. 

It has all the Kresley Cole markers: snarky, powerful women (in this case the Sorceri Morgana;) powerful, broody men who have gone too long without the love of a good woman; hot sex; humor; and a Nix sighting.  I think fans will enjoy it.  We've even got little tie-ins with the MacRieve's and the Lanthe-Thronos story (ie. the book I've been waiting for since Kiss of a Demon King back in the beginning of '09.)  My patience wears thin, Kresley.

Anyway, if you're wondering where this fits into the IAD timeline, it starts before the events of Lothaire and ends after that book's conclusion.  I point this out only because I spent the first few chapters wondering where the heck the Enemy of Old was.  For what it's worth, I liked this book better than that one.

Rating: B

Click to purchase: Amazon

Shadow's Claim

by Kresley Cole

Release Date: November 27, 2012

Publisher: Gallery Books

Review: King of the Damned

Reviewed by Jen
 

The more I read from Juliana Stone, the more I enjoy her books.  This story centers around the fallen angel Azaiel and a witch named Rowan.

We've met Azaiel before.  He's part of the League of Guardians, a supernatural consortium that tries to keep the balance between good and evil.  But before that, he was an angel who betrayed his kind for the affections of a beautiful woman who eventually betrayed him --then was held captive for countless years in hell. Now, he's on a mission for his brother --the leader of the League-- who wants him to investigate the death of an old witch, Rowan's grandmother.

Rowan has spent the past six years of her life away from her hometown of Salem, trying to hide herself from a demon who has marked her as part of a family curse.  But when her grandmother calls, she returns home, only to find the old woman has died.  The demon has marked her whole coven in an effort to find her and now she realizes that it's time to take a stand and end the curse, once and for all.

Azaiel was at her grandmother's home when Rowan learned what happened to the old woman and she recognizes the power in him. So when he offers to help with her cause, she accepts.  Azaiel knows the demon who is after her is very powerful, so he calls the League for reinforcement --and Nico and Priest show up to lend aid.  From there, the story follows Rowan and the three men from the League as they work to reunite her coven and vanquish the demon.

The action was really good and the storyline was easy to follow. Even though this is the second book in the League of Guardians (which was a spinoff of the Jaguar books,) I think this would still work as a standalone.  The wordbuilding is solid and the pacing is good.  The real draw, though, is the romance.

Azaiel doesn't believe he can ever trust a woman again after what happened in his past. He is attracted to Rowan but doesn't want to act on it.  The more time he spends with her, the more she wears down his resolve.  She is a woman who is not afraid to go after what she wants.  And it's hard not to want Azaiel. It really takes a long time for these two to really act on their feelings, but the sexual tension between them is very hot. It's cool to see the woman be the aggressor here and I was very pleased with the payoff.

Azaiel makes a great reformed hero.  I like watching his struggle and his demons from the past.  Rowan is pretty bad ass too. She's a very tough and take no prisoners kind of chick. There's a great wealth of secondary characters too... I definitely want to know more about Priest and there seems to be a side romance brewing for Nico (maybe we'll see it from his perspective in another book?) I've got my fingers crossed.  --All this and a very satisfying ending.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

King of the Damned

by Juliana Stone

Release Date: November 27, 2012

Publisher: Avon

Review: Rogue Rider

Reviewed by Jen
 

Before I started this book, I had some serious concerns about how I was ever going to be able to get behind Reseph as a hero.  After all, we just spent the last three books with him as a really, really evil villain.  He raped. He killed. He tortured. He has questionable interactions with his mother.  This guy was as horrible as they come. Granted, he wasn't really himself. He was taken over by the evil Pestilence. But frankly, he wasn't great hero material before he turned evil. He was a flighty man-whore.  Somehow, though, Larissa Ione managed to do something incredible with this character. After everything, she has made him likable.

As the book begins, Reseph has been cast back into the human world with no memory of who he is.  Reaver has bottled up Pestilence deep inside him and freed him from hell.  He lands, naked, in a snowy Colorado town, where Jillian finds him unconscious.  Fearing for his life, she gets him back to her cabin and nurses him back to health.

From the moment he regains consciousness, Reseph starts flirting.  As sexy and gorgeous as he is, though, part of what really gets to her is the vulnerability underneath.  Jillian knows better than anyone what it means to be vulnerable. She is still getting over a terrible attack from a demon that nearly killed her and she has plenty of fear inside of her.  Of course, she has no reason to believe Reseph is anything other than human, but she is just as worried about the pain that a regular man could inflict on her battered heart.  So as much as she grows to want him --and as much as he wants her-- both are afraid to let real feelings begin to grow.  Jillian, because she is afraid of abandonment and heartbreak; Reseph, because he fears what he'll uncover about himself if he ever gets his memory back.

Most of the first half of the book sets the foundation for the romance, but in the second half, the pace picks up in a big way.  There is a lot Reseph must face from his actions as Pestilence. The other Horsemen feature prominently, as do Reaver and Harvester.  And lest you think there is no danger, the demons of Sheol are after Reseph --as are the Aegis.  There's action. There's bloodshed. There is sex.  --Goodness-- I haven't talked about the sex!!  It is so, so hot. Ione is incredibly creative with her love scenes.  You could practically feel the heat in the air.

As always with these books, the world-building is fantastic. The continuity is outstanding. And the b-plot is strong. I am positively counting the minutes until I can get my hands on Reaver's book.  The mystery of his past is already starting to unfold!!!

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Rogue Rider

by Larissa Ione

Release Date: November 20, 2012

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Review: Mark of the Witch

Reviewed by Jen
 

Night after night, Indira has the same nightmare.  She is being killed for practicing witchcraft, along with her three sisters.  Only, it's no dream. It's a memory of her past life.

Tomas is priest who has trained his entire adult life for a single mission: to stop a witch from freeing a demon from hell.  When his sister Rayne calls him to consult about the strange dreams one of her sister witches is having, he realizes the nightmares match the circumstances of his calling. Right away, he sets out find Indira.

Both Tomas and Indira have been feeling disconnected from their faith. Indira had already stepped away from Wicca and Tomas turned in papers to leave the priesthood.  But once they are thrown together, they both begin to reconnect with their beliefs.  The effects of Indy's dreams are beginning to manifest physically and together, they work to find the amulet and the portal necessary to free the demon. Of course, they do this with the plan to keep the demon safely locked away.

It's only a matter of time before these two are drawn to each other, but are the feelings real or remnants of their past life together?  Is Tomas's mentor a true believer or a crazed zealot?  Who are the heroes and who are the villains in this story?  It's hard to tell until the very end.

It took me a little while to invest in the story.  Tomas was really kind of a waffler.  It took too long for him and Indira to get together and I thought the sexual tension could have been better in the meantime.  I usually really like the whole forbidden priest relationships, but this one was just ok.  I understand he had to let go of some long-held beliefs but I wanted to shake him more than once for how long her bought into the lies he was told.

I will give the book credit for an unpredictable plot. There was nothing obvious about the direction the story would take... and I liked how it all played out.  And I'm intrigued about the potential reunion story between Indy's sister Lilia and her man.  I will definitely read that story.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. The romance just fell a little short of its potential.

Rating: B-

*ARC Provided by Mira via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Mark of the Witch

by Maggie Shayne

Release Date: September 18, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Mira

Review: To Hell and Back

Reviewed by Jen
 

I know. I know. You can't judge a book by it's cover, but before I start talking about the pages inside, let's all take a moment to appreciate the absolutely gorgeous cover art for this book. . . . Wow.

Moving to the actual story, To Hell and Back is a companion novella to Wrong Side of Hell. It continues the story of the tortured heroine Kira -- and Logan, the hellhound who loves her.  The story picks up right on the heels of the last one. Logan is trying to get Kira to safety after having rescued her from Purgatory.  They are happy together, but the odds are stacked against them. And it's only a matter of time before they can no longer outrun the monsters that are chasing them.

Logan is kidnapped and dragged back to hell. There, he must finally face his past and his enemies.  He must find a way vanquish them if he ever hopes to have a real future with the woman he loves. In the meantime, Kira is offered help from some familiar faces from the League. But can she trust them?

The story is pretty fast paced and our couple must fight their battles separately for most of the book.  There are a few love scenes, but this is really a story about these two fighting to get back to one another.  I liked it. I was glad to see more of Kira and Logan. These are two people who complete one another. Both have endured horrific pasts.  But in each other, they have found the peace and happiness that they never believed existed for themselves.

We do get cameos from Priest and Cale, in addition to Lillith, Seth the Golden, and Samael. This book could be read as a standalone, but you are really better off reading Wrong Side of Hell first, so you can see how these two fell in love.

I enjoyed it. I hope there will be a third story for these two one day.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

To Hell and Back

by Juliana Stone

Release Date: October 30, 2012

Publisher: Avon