Review: After Dark

Reviewed by Jen
 

This anthology features two novellas: one which was previously published by Gena Showalter as part of her Lords of the Underworld series; the other a prequel to Kait Ballenger's new Execution Underground series.  I'd read the Showalter short before.  If you didn't catch my review on it the first time around:

"The Darkest Angel" - Gena Showalter seamlessly connects the dots between The Darkest Whisper and The Darkest Passion with this super sexy short story.  Our heroine is Bianka, sister to Gwen, and a fellow Harpy.  As our story begins, she is kidnapped by the angel Lysander. It turns out, she is his one true temptation and he thinks to neutralize the threat she poses. Ultimately, they each prove to be more temptation than the other can resist. But can they overcome their huge differences? 
 

The great thing about this short story is that it hyper-focuses on the romance. And by "romance,"  I mean spectacular sexual tension and payoff. --Yeah, you could skip this short story and still understand what is happening in the next book. But honestly, why would you want to? It was a great story. (I'm still fanning myself.) And unlike some of the other short stories set in the LotU world, this one actually features the Lords, albeit in supporting roles. 

Rating: B

"Shadow Hunter" -  This was a story with an interesting premise.  Damon is a vampire hunter, part of an elite fighting team called the Execution Underground.  He is trying to kill Caius, the vampire responsible for the death of his best buddy Mark.  Damon feels responsible for Mark's death and has lost more than his friend. He also lost Tiffany, Mark's sister and the woman he has been exchanging letters with for years. Damon has no idea that Tiffany, too, has been hunting Caius, until the two come face to face on the job.  The spark between them is instant and they explore their relationship as they work together to find justice for Mark.

There were problems for me from the start.  One: Tiffany is 22 years-old, gorgeous, and has never even been kissed. COME ON.  So unnecessary to the story and immediately had my eyes rolling.  Two: the instant overwhelming attraction between Damon and Tiffany (who each had no idea who the other was) was something you would expect, maybe, from shifters. But to go from never been kissed to sex with a stranger in the same night? Again, I say COME ON.  Three: Damon's constant bemoaning about lusting after his friend's baby sister.  And this was all in the first 25%.

But as trying as all that was for me, the absolute worst part of the story is the ending.  The completely NOT HAPPY ENDING.  I have an expectation of a HEA --or at the very least, HFN, in PNR.  But no. The ending is bad.  Unforgivable.  

Rating: D

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon 

After Dark

by Gena Showalter & Kait Ballenger

Release Date: June 25, 2013

Publisher: HQN

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: Last Kiss Goodnight

Reviewed by Jen
 

I absolutely love that Gena Showalter is expanding her Alien Huntress world with this spinoff series.  This story serves as a great introduction for new readers, but also fits very well with the existing books.  It has a sexy, unloved alpha-male... and a tortured heroine who hasn't allowed her difficult life to diminish the light of her spirit.

Vika grew up under the cruel hand of her father, the owner of a traveling circus.  His menagerie once held exotic animals. Now, members of otherworld races are caged and subjected to humiliation and torment.  Vika abhors her father's actions, but he is too powerful for her to stop.  When she has tried, it has earned her beating after beating, including one viscous attack that took her hearing. She realizes she must plan her escape quietly --and in the meantime, offer what kindness she can to the prisoners.

Solo is an otherworlder who works as a black-ops agent, essentially killing people who need to be killed.  He grew up only knowing love from his adopted parents. Everyone else turned their backs on him, calling him a freak and a monster.  Just moments after he was tasked with tracking down some missing aliens, he was incompacitated and sold into the circus.

At first, he lashed out, but it did no good. And slowly, he began to see the goodness in Vika.  She seems to see him as no one ever has, and her gentle crush on him has an effect he can't ignore.  The two grow closer and plot their escape. But can they really get out from under her father's thumb?

I enjoyed the romance.  It was actually very sweet. Vika is innocent to the ways of love, but it felt much more genuine than with so many ingenue heroines.  She has to compromise what she knows is right in order to survive, but she hangs onto her humanity no matter the cost.  Solo is solid mildly-tortured hero.  He had a solid foundation with his adopted parents, so he wasn't completely wrecked. But he struggles with the rejection of others and his assassin work doesn't leave him feeling altogether worthy of love.  It's quite nice to see them each find the love they never thought they would have.

There's not a lot of sex, though we did have some toward the end.  I would imagine it would be hard to work in, with Solo in a cage for so much of the book.  Also, notably lacking, is Showalter's fabulous wit and snark. This story is much more somber.

There's a good set-up for future books, centering on the other members of Solo's team who have gone missing.  And we're even treated to a cameo from Dallas!  Overall, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next installment... especially if it centers on John.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Pocket Books

Click to purchase: Amazon

Last Kiss Goodnight

by Gena Showalter

Release Date: December 26, 2012

Publisher: Pocket Books

5 For Friday - October 26

Happy Friday, everybody. I hope you guys are having a fantastic week.  With the changes at work, I've found myself cramming almost all of my reading time into the weekends.  I recently wrapped up How Beauty Met the Beast, and I am already anxious to pick up book two.  Waiting is not my forte. And speaking of waiting...

5. I feel like I am going to die if I don't get my Qhuay love soon. JR Ward has released the back cover copy for Lover at Last.

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young- just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

I am imploding.  Can someone fast forward time to March?

4. Apparently, Gena Showalter revealed the cover for her second Angels of the Dark book last week and I missed it!! (Bad Jen.)

Beauty Awakened is Koldo's book. It's out February 26th.

3. The wait is almost over for Karen Marie Moning's Iced.  The book trailer is out and KMM is dropping little teasers from the book all over her Facebook page.

Iced releases Tuesday.

2.  Kresley Cole is sharing an extended sneak peek of her upcoming IAD spinoff book, Shadow's Claim.

She's got the first five chapters up on her Facebook page. It's under the Members Only tab. Shadow's Claim is only a month away...

1.  A new interview with Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev says at least one or two more main characters are set to die this season on the show.

There aren't really that many main characters left alive.  There's Bonnie, Matt, and Jeremy. Am I missing anyone else?  Everyone else is already dead or part vampire.  I would guess Matt is going be the one to go, but people have been saying that for years and he's still around.  Got any predictions?

That's it for now!

XOXO,
Jen

Favorites From... Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter

Right now my absolute favorite series is Barefoot Bay by Roxanne St. Claire.  It’s set in Mimosa Key, a fictional island off the Gulf coast of Florida. These books center around four female friends who met in college and remain close, all in their thirties.  The books are romances at the core, but they deal with universal issues so many real life people face.

This brand new and utterly amazing contemporary series begins with Barefoot in the Sand and gives readers everything they want with a summer getaway book -- a sizzling cougar romance chock full of heartache and heat (meow!), it’s set in a tropical paradise (yes, please!), and has the promise of a whole cast of characters you'll want to visit again and again.  You don’t want to miss it!  I can’t tell you how excited I am for the next one, Barefoot in the Rain.  (And by “excited” I mean I’m foaming at the mouth for it!)




Thanks so much to Gena Showalter for sharing her recommendation. I asked Gena to be a part of this feature because I am totally crazy about both her Lords of the Underworld series and her Alien Huntress books.  I am also really excited about her upcoming book The Last Kiss Goodnight. It's the first Otherworld Assassin novel, a new Alien Huntress spinoff series. It's out in December. 

Now, here is your chance to try out Gena's recommendation.  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below enter to win both books in the Barefoot Bay series. (That's Barefoot in the Sand and Barefoot in the Rain.)  US Only.

Be sure to check out all of the Favorites From My Favorites posts and giveaways this month, by clicking here.

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5 for Friday - August 24

Congratulations on making it through another week!  I've now come down from my AAD high and am already anxiously awaiting RT in May. (Yes, I am a planner.)  As if I wasn't already excited enough about Kansas City, now I hear RT2014 will be in NOLA!  I can't wait.  I still have some AAD books to give away, so make sure to check out the contest at the end of the post.

5. I really enjoyed Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld spinoff, Wicked Nights.

This week, she released the blurb for book two in the Angels of the Dark series: Beauty Awakened.

His name is Koldo. He is scarred, powerful, his control legendary-and he lives only for vengeance, determined to punish the angel who viciously removed his wings. But if he yields to the forces of hatred, he will be kicked from the heavens, eternally damned.

She is his last hope. Nicola Lane was born with a defective heart, yet this fragile human shows surprising strength as demons stalk her every move, determined to end her. She is the key to Koldo's deliverance...and his downfall. Though he fights duty, destiny and his first addictive taste of desire, his toughest battle will be the one for Nicola's life-even if he has to sacrifice his own...

No sign of a cover yet. Beauty Awakened is scheduled for release February 26th.

In other Showalter news, Gena announced the title of her next Lords book, The Darkest Craving. Kane's book will be out next July or August.

4.  Kim Harrison has revealed the cover for the next Hollows book, Ever After.

The ever after, the demonic realm that parallels the human world, is shrinking. If it disappears completely, so does all magic. It's up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to avert catastrophe and keep life from changing... for the worse.

While saving the world is important, it isn't Rachel's only motivation. There's also the small fact that she caused the ley line to rip in the first place, setting off a chain reaction of unfortunate events. That little mistake has made her life forfeit unless she can fix it. It's also made her more than a few enemies, including the most powerful demon in the ever after—a terrifying entity who eats souls and now has an insatiable appetite for her. He's already kidnapped her friend and goddaughter to lure her out, and if Rachel doesn't give herself up soon, they'll die.

But Rachel has more than a few impressive and frighening skillls of her own, and she isn't going to hand over her soul and her life without one hell of a fight. She's also got a surpise: elven tycoon Trent Kalamack. With this unlikely ally beside her—a prospect both thrilling and unnerving—she's going to return to the ever after, kick some demon butt, rescue her loved ones... and prevent an apocalypse before it's too late. Or, at least that's the plan..

I didn't love the last book like I loved Pale Demon, but I have high hopes for Ever After. It releases January 22. If you can't wait until January for your Rachel-fix, Harrison is releasing a compilation of Hollows short stories, including a new one about Trent & Jenks kidnapping the baby! Into the Woods is out October 12.

3. Just a little tidbit for fans of the Charley Davidson books.  Darynda Jones has announced a change in the title for book five. It was originally supposed to be Fifth Grave Off the Beaten Path, but it's now Fifth Grave Past the Light. I like the new one! Fifth Grave isn't out until next May, but book 4, Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet releases in October.

(I can't wait to see where that series goes next. I am so mad at Charley's dad!!)

2. As sad as I was to see Kelley Armstrong end her Otherworld series with Thirteen, there is now reason to celebrate!!  Armstrong announced Thursday that Space, a Canadian sci-fi channel, has ordered 13 episodes of a tv show based on Bitten!!

Can we get this channel in America? I must watch this show. Who could possibly be hot enough to be cast as Clay?

1. And finally, the premiere for the new season of Sons of Anarchy is just two weeks away.  This is one of my favorite shows, people!  In honor of Jax and the boys, help yourself to these new trailers.

 

The season premiere is September 11th on FX.

Oh yeah... I promised you a giveaway! Fill out the Rafflecopter form to win a copy of both books in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series by Phillipa Ballantine and Tee Morris. That's Phoenix Rising and The Janus Affair. Contest is open to entries in the US & CAN.


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Interview & Giveaway: Gena Showalter

I am a longtime fan of Gena Showalter and her sexy paranormal romance books. I am especially partial to her Alien Huntress and Lords of the Underworld books. Now she's got a new spinoff series to tell us about. Please help me welcome Gena to the blog!

Jen: First, Gena, I want to say thank you for taking the time to chat with me today. I’m such a fan.

Gena: Thank you for having me!

Jen: Angels of the Dark is a spinoff of the Lords of the Underworld books. How does it fit in with that series?

Gena: There is an unseen world in operation around us. A world populated with angels and demons, good and evil, where a war rages and humans are the prize. The Lords of the Underworld revealed the seedy underbelly of the life with a demon. The Angels of the Dark shine light in the darkness and reveals the truth about love and redemption.

Jen: LotU fans are already familiar with Zacharel, but let’s talk about him for a minute –and Annabelle too. Is there anything you can tell us about them that’s not in the blurb?

Gena: Zacharel… my cold as ice Zacharel. I knew a simple melting would not be enough for him. To reach the heart he was no longer sure he possessed, a woman would have to shatter him. There was no one better suited for the job than Annabelle. She is tough yet vulnerable, hard yet kind, determined yet willing to be swayed. And Zacharel is able to give her something she desperately needs. Someone to stand in her corner and fight for her, no matter the obstacles thrown at him.

Jen: Other than Zacharel, how much character overlap can we expect from the LotU books? Lysander or any of the Lords? Will the events in one series affect what happens in the other?

Gena: You will see Lysander, yes, and a handful of the Lords do appear in Wicked Nights. Paris, Strider, Lucien, Amun, and their females. I’m working on book two now, and I’m not yet sure about series overlap. However, I do think what happens in one will bleed into the other.

Jen: What about people who have never read the Lords of the Underworld. Can they jump right in to Wicked Nights?

Gena: Absolutely! Because Wicked Nights is the start of a brand new series, it is written as a standalone book.

Jen: I’ve got to say, the cover is so incredibly hot! One of the hottest I have seen! Tell me you love it as much as I do.

Gena: I actually squealed when the cover came in! (And I’ve seen the concept cover for book two, and it’s just as sexy!)

Jen: How many books are you planning to write in the series?

Gena: Right now there are three books contracted. The first belongs to Zacharel, the second to Koldo, and I’m not sure who will get the third. But that doesn’t mean there will only be three, I promise!

Jen: My vote is for Xerxes!! But there are still more LotU books too, right? (I won’t be able sleep at night if you tell me Torin won’t get an HEA one day.)

Gena: Oh, absolutely! I’m set to write Kane’s story next. And how his story goes will decide whether Torin or Cameo next step up to the chopping block.

Jen: Any chance that Galen will get a book? Am I weird for loving the idea of him with Legion?

Gena: From the moment Legion chased him down, I have seen the two paired. But I also thought Torin and Cameo would end up together and that didn’t happen. Stubborn characters! However, I would really really love to tell the story of Galen and Legion. Redemption—I love it!

Jen: Thank you! Thank you! It’s so great having you here today. I hope Wicked Nights is a great success!

Gena: Thank you so much!

If you haven't tried Wicked Nights, there is no time like the present. Gena is giving away a copy. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This one is open to residents in the US & Canada.


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Review: Wicked Nights

Reviewed by Jen
 

I have no doubt that Lords of the Underworld fans are going to love this one.  It's got all the things that make a great Gena Showalter book: hot sexual tension, humor, great world-building, a strong heroine, and an alpha hero undone by his first feelings of love.  --Oh, and did I mention the hero is a virgin?  Mmm.

We first met Zacharel in The Darkest Secret, an angel sent to deal with Amun when he came back from Hell, dripping with demons.  He's gorgeous and powerful, but seemingly void of emotions.  The only person he has ever cared about was his twin brother, Hadreniel. The brother who begged for death after being tortured by demons.  The brother he killed to end his suffering.

Zacharel's lack of feelings and general disinterest in humanity have him in trouble with his Deity. Too many times, Zacharel has considered a human to be collateral damage in his fight against demons.  As punishment, he must lead a band of problematic angels on the cusp of losing their wings.  He is responsible for their actions and together, they will either all be redeemed or they will all fall.

A demon killing mission leads Zacharel to the institute for the criminally insane where Annabelle is being held. She was accused of killing her parents years ago. But it was really a demon attack --and she has been plagued by monsters ever since.  No one else can see or hear them, though, and that only makes her look crazier.

When Zacharel and Annabelle meet, he is instantly drawn to her. She is a fascinating contradiction. Strong yet vulnerable. Naive and jaded.  In many ways, her spirit reminds him of the brother he lost so long ago. He ends up rescuing her from captivity and decides to help her figure out why she is a demon target and, later, to track down the monster that ruined her life.

There were so many things I liked about this book.  I loved watching Zacharel's transformation.  The way he discovers emotion and desire.  I liked that it wasn't an easy path and that he makes mistakes.  I loved, loved, loved the secondary characters in his band of angel warriors.  Koldo's story is next, but I already have a favorite and I will be waiting with baited breath for Xerxes' book.

The events of Amun's book and The Darkest Seduction are referenced here and we do get appearances from a handful of the Lords and their mates. That was great for me, but I'm not sure how it would play for a new reader.

The sex is hot, but I felt like we had to wait a long time for it.  I think I would have liked a little more payoff on Zacharel losing his virginity.  My only other complaint was that I figured out the villain reveal very, very early on in the story. Maybe I've read too many Showalter books because I saw it coming a mile away.  But I liked how it all worked out in the end. It was very sexy and satisfying. Definitely worth reading!

Rating: B+

*ARC provided by Little Bird Publicity

Click to purchase: Amazon

Wicked Nights

by Gena Showalter

Release Date: June 26, 2012

Publisher: HQN Books

5 for Friday - June 22

This week has really flown by! Of course, I spent half of it getting a healthy dose of sunshine and extended family during my vacation at Fontainebleau State Park.  It was gorgeous out there and I was happily surprised that they had wi-fi in the cabins, so I wasn't completely cut off from the blog and my Twitter addiction.  Hours of play knocked the kids out at night and mixed drinks did the same for the hubs, so I even got a little reading time in!  But there is no place like home and I'm glad to be back with Tumblr you guys.


5. Tuesday is a huge, huge release day.  It's like the publishers decided to save up a ton of big books to drop on us all on the same day.  Some of the best coming out this week: Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost, Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt, and Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter.

I also enjoyed Chasing Magic by Stacia Kane and Tempest's Fury by Nicole Peeler.  Oh! And Consumed by Rebecca Zanetti.  But really, those are just the tip of the iceberg.  What big June 26th release tickles your fancy?  Tell me what you're looking forward to *or* which books you wanna spread the word about.

4. A couple of tidbits from the awesome Jennifer Estep.  The next book in her Elemental Assassin book, Widow's Web is out in August, but if you can't stand the wait, she's got Chapter 1 up on her blog. In the meantime, she has revealed the cover for her next YA Mythos Academy book Crimson Frost.

That one is out in January. And Estep says the name of the book after that will be Midnight Frost (out August 2013.)

3. The amazing Ilona Andrews is giving us a sneak peek of the next Edge book. You can find chapter 1 of Steel's Edge up on her blog.  This is the last contracted book in the series from what I understand and I must say I am sad. I really was hoping for a Jack and/or a George book. (**sniff**) I shall keep hope alive.

2.  By now, everybody and their mama has seen the Breaking Dawn Part 2 trailer. But you could be living under a rock. Or just itching for a chance to talk about it.  Either way, here it is:

  

Yes. I will go see it.

1. And speaking of guilty pleasures. Dallas is back.

I was a huge fan of the original recipe Dallas, back in the 80's.  Of course, I was around 10 years old and I didn't even realize how much of it I didn't "get" until I watched the episodes again during a CMT re-airing while I was in college.  So, have any of you seen the new version? Is it worth watching?  Here's the trailer if you've missed it.  I need opinions before I commit.

**Bonus Item**

 
I saw this cover reveal on Harlequin's Facebook page and Rrraw. 

Badly disfigured Lady Isobel Dalceann has fought fiercely to defend her keep, with little thought for her safety. Why, then, has she let a stranger within her walls? While he threatens danger, his battered body marked by war mirrors her own scars and tempts her to put her faith in him.

Marc de Courtenay is a mercenary and a loner, although he is drawn to damaged—beautiful—Isobel. But in taking him into her highly defended, buttressed walls, she has unwittingly given him secrets that will enable him to betray her. What would she do if she were ever to find out who he really is…?

XOXO
Jen

5 For Friday - May 25

Wow! Is it Friday already?  It's been a busy week for me, which I guess made the days fly by.  The hubs is back from his trip to Miami.  Baseball season has (thankfully) come to a close for my son. And now the kids are spending the long weekend with Grandma in New Orleans.  So PARTY AT MY HOUSE.  Of course, by that I mean "more time to read."  Let's get to it!


5. My plan to read Armed & Dangerous this week was a success. It was so good! Now, I am putting all my Ty & Zane excitement into the next book.  Stars & Stripes comes out August 13!! I am beside myself that it's releasing so soon.  The publisher is changing. I don't know what's up with that, but here's the blurb:

Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have managed the impossible: a few months of peace and quiet. After nearly a year of personal and professional turmoil, they're living together conflict-free, work is going smoothly, and they're both happy, healthy, and home every night before dark. But anyone who knows them knows that can’t possibly last.

When an emergency call from home upsets the balance of their carefully arranged world, Ty and Zane must juggle family drama with a perplexing crime to save a helpless victim before time runs out.

From the mountains of West Virginia to a remote Texas horse ranch harboring more than just livestock and childhood memories, Ty and Zane must face their fears—and their families—to overcome an unlikely enemy and bring peace back into their newly shared world.

4. The book trailer is out for Gena Showalter's latest!  Wicked Nights is the first in her new Lords of the Underworld spinoff series, Angels of the Dark.   The cover is smoking-hot, no?

Wicked Nights is out June 26th.


3. Biting Cold is still more than two months away but Chloe Neill is already gearing up for the next book in her Chicagoland Vampires series with her new cover reveal.

House Rules is scheduled for release in February 2013.


2. Most of you know that I have not read the 50 Shades books, but that doesn't mean that I couldn't enjoy this dramatic reading from the cast of Snow White & the Huntsman.  Funny --especially when Chris Hemsworth realizes what he's reading and tosses the book away in horror.

1. And finally, the Tumblr Photo of the Week.  (If you click on it, it gets bigger.)

(**Photo removed to prevent copyright infringement**)

Have a great weekend!

XOXO
Jen

5 for Friday - May 11

Happy Friday everybody! Before I jump into my Top 5, I have give you a quick follow up from last week.  I did, indeed, go see The Avengers and Chris Hemsworth did NOT disappoint.  My single complaint is that he did not take off his shirt at any time in the movie. It was, frankly, a missed opportunity in my opinion.  But he looked quite delicious, even with those pesky clothes.



5. We've got two great cover reveals to talk about from two of my favorite PNR authors, Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter. Kresley's is for Shadow Claim, the first in her Dacian spinoff of the Immortals After Dark series. It's out November 27th.

He won’t be denied

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people, striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

She’s bound to another

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A battle for her body and soul

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever-pitch...

Gena's is for Last Kiss Goodnight, the first in her new Otherworld Assassin series. 

The breathtaking first novel in New York Times best selling author Gena Showalter’s new paranormal romance series, Otherworld Assassins, featuring a black ops agent who is captured and enslaved…and the beautiful deaf girl who holds the key to his salvation…

THE SWEETEST TEMPTATION…

Black ops agent Solomon Judah awakens caged and bound in a twisted zoo where otherworlders are the main attraction. Vika Lukas, the owner’s daughter, is tasked with Solo’s care and feeding. The monster inside him yearns to kill her on sight, even though she holds the key to his escape. But the human side of him realizes the beautiful deaf girl is more than she seems—she’s his.

THE ULTIMATE PRICE…

Vika endures the captives’ taunts and loathing, hoping to keep them alive even if she can’t free them. Only, Solo is different—he protects her. But as hostility turns to forbidden romance, his feelings for her will be used against him…and he’ll be put to a killer test.

It's scheduled for release December 26th.

4. I am absolutely dying to read Archangel's Storm. The next installment of the Guild Hunter series --featuring our poor, tortured Jason-- doesn't come out until September 4th. But Nalini Singh has put up an excerpt on her website.

Let's see how long I can go without reading it.

3. While we're talking excerpts... Thea Harrison has a snippet from her next Elder Races novel, Lord's Fall, out November 4.

This one features Dragos and Pia again and I am very interested to see how Harrison will advance their story.  You can check out the excerpt on her blog.

2. If you haven't had a chance to peruse Brenda Novak's Annual Auction for diabetes research, it's a great time to go check it out.   Not only can you help support a worthy cause, but you can snag some great prizes, from ereaders and trips, to ARCs from authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon, Mary Janice Davidson, and Sylvia Day.  There's a ton of stuff to choose from and all money earned will go to The Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami.

1. This last one is totally not book related. But who doesn't want to watch Jon Hamm answer questions from the inquiring minds of teenage girls?  Check out his answers from Ask a Grown Man:

Have a great weekend!

XOXO
Jen

Review: The Darkest Seduction

Reviewed by Jen
 

Let me start out by saying that I am a huge, huge fan of the Lords of the Underworld series. And like everyone else, I have been anxiously awaiting the story that would give poor Paris his HEA. This book gave me all the things I wanted –and even worked in some amazing surprises—but it didn’t quite live up to its potential for me.

The biggest problem is simply that the book is bloated. It's too long and stuffed with too much stuff. I was excited when I first saw how thick it was, but it was actually a hindrance to the storytelling. The first 100 pages or so really dragged. It didn’t feel anything like the snarky, snappy, and sexy series I love. It was a portrait of a miserable Paris and a miserable Sienna, each enduring their own tragedies as they dream of a reunion. This could have been streamlined enormously and still conveyed the same things. It isn’t until Paris finally tracks down his long-lost woman, that the book becomes engaging at all. Maybe around page 150.

Once Paris and Sienna are together, you can start to see the sparks. And in their interactions, the book has some of its best moments. After all, their reunion is what we’ve all hungered for. But Paris has changed so much, he is almost unrecognizable from the character we once knew. I know he’s been through a lot, but I would have liked to see a few more glimpses of the suave Lord of Promiscuity. This guy is supposed to be the end-all, be-all Lothario and he just didn’t deliver. Yeah, the sex is hot, but no more so than with any of the other Lords.

We’re introduced to a slew of new characters, from the annoying Lord of Narcissism to three random Lords stuffed in a castle turret. I could have done without all of them. We also get a healthy dose of Zacharel, which is no doubt designed to set up Showalter’s new Angels of the Dark series. And I’ll admit… I’m intrigued.

There were some things I really did enjoy. Surprisingly, I liked the Galen and Legion sidestory and I find myself really rooting for these two to make a go of it. We got the set-up on Kane’s story with the female Horseman. And we got a few new teasers on the enigma that is William the Dark. Oooh—and Ashlyn finally has those babies. Hallelujah!! That woman has been pregnant for like, 10 years. All of that was great –as were the fantastic developments on the Cronus/ Rhea front… and a shocking tidbit about Strider’s history.

Yet, the book didn’t quite satisfy. Maybe it’s because it took too long to get to the good stuff. Maybe it’s because Paris isn’t Paris anymore.  I don't know.  It wasn't bad.  It just wasn't everything I hoped it would be. 3 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by Harlequin

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Darkest Seduction

by Gena Showalter

Release Date: February 28, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin

Review: The Darkest Surrender

Reviewed by Jen
 

I didn't care much for Strider early on in this series.  It wasn't until The Darkest Secret that I ever really gave him much thought at all.  Here, he charms me utterly with his over-inflated ego and inner dialogue.  And while that may not sound all that attractive, I found him more endearing that I ever expected that I could.

As the story begins, Strider is working hard to resist his attraction to Kaia.  At the end of the last book, she revealed that he is her consort, but he rejected her outright.  After all, he thought he had feelings for Haidee and on top of that, Kaia once slept with Paris.  What if Strider couldn't measure up to the Lord of Promiscuity?  It would cause him immeasurable pain.  But Kaia refuses to give up, and she forces herself back into his orbit.

In the meantime, Kaia and her sisters are summoned to participate in the Harpy Games.  The last time they took part was over a thousand years ago, when Kaia made a terrible mistake that resulted in the deaths of many of her kind.  Now, it's clear that the Skyhawks are targets; their lives are in danger. So Strider comes along, knowing his blood could help Kaia in the event she is injured.

The story surrounding the Harpy games is really quite good.  The backstory allows you to see vulnerability in Kaia, who is overwhelmingly strong.  We learn alot about the Harpy culture and the bonds Kaia shares with her sisters.  At the same time, a real relationship begins to develop between Kaia and Strider.  It's fun watching them challenge themselves and each other, yet somehow they each manage to put the other person first.  Like in all of the Lord books, the sexual tension is uber-hot and the payoff is sooo satisfying.  Win!

We're also treated to a side story with William and Kane which shines some light on Willy's background and Kane's possible future.   And additional cut scenes feature Paris and his search for Sienna.  Hallelujah -- Paris' story is finally up next. That poor guy really needs a happy ending. He has been miserable forever.  Almost 5 stars.

*ARC Provided by Harlequin

The Darkest Surrender

by Gena Showalter

Release Date: September 27, 2011 

Publisher: HQN Books

Review: Dark Taste of Rapture

Reviewed by Jen
 

Gena Showalter is on her A-game with this latest installment in her Alien Huntress series.  I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one. I didn't exactly love Noelle in the last book. But here we get to see that there is much more to her than good looks, piles of money, and a perverse sense of humor.  And Hector... (sigh)... he is my favorite kind of hero: broken, tortured, powerful and unsure.  Not to mention: ripped, loyal and sexy.  Yum.

I expected the book to pick where Ecstasy in Darkness left off... but it actually started about a year before the events of the last book.  Noelle and her best friend Ava were just beginning their training for the Alien Investigation Removal (AIR) agency.  Hector is one of the instructors there, as are his best friend Dallas and Noelle's cousin Jaxon.  Right away, Hector is taken by Noelle's beauty. But she projects the image of a spoiled debutante. It's a defense mechanism she uses to keep people from seeing the real her.  And slowly, Hector begins to see past the facade.

He is unbearably attracted to her, but fights his feelings tooth and nail.  He can't be with any woman.  When he gets angry or aroused, his hands and arms atomize, turning anything in his path to dust.  The one time he tried to be intimate with someone, he killed her. And he isn't taking that chance again.  At least, that's what he tells himself.

Noelle has other ideas.  She wants Hector and manages to get close to him once or twice.  Just enough to excite them both... and send him running for the hills.  Fast forward a year, and both Hector and Noelle are AIR agents. He's been trying to avoid her all this time, but they are forced together by a case.  And if things aren't complicated enough with Hector's disability, we've got Dallas thrown in the mix.  He's had a vision that he and Noelle are supposed to sleep together... and another vision that Hector and Noelle are supposed to be together.  If the wrong chain of events is set in motion, it could be disastrous for him. But he has no idea which path is the right one.  (This thread of the storyline confused me a little. I remember his visions in the last book, but I still don't get how an "unchangeable" vision can still be wrong.)

Aside from my Dallas-induced head-scratching, I was completely besotted by this book. There was great action, as Hector and Noelle worked their case together.  There was great sexual tension.  And there was romance.  Perhaps one of the things I liked most about the book was the fact that this was no flash in the pan, instant-love.  The attraction happened right away, but the feelings developed over time.

(By the way... There was no mention of the ongoing arc involving the evil-Queen-alien turning people into cannibals.)  We do have appearances by the great cast of characters we have grown to love, including Mia, Devyn, Ava, and McKell.  And we see someone introduced in Awaken Me Darkly, who I didn't expect to see again.  Somehow, I think Mr. Surprise will end up with his own book.  One can only hope.  5 stars.

*ARC Provided by Pocket Star/ Simon & Schuster

Dark Taste of Rapture

by Gena Showalter

Release Date: August 23, 2011 

Publisher: Pocket Star

Review: Lord of the Vampires

Where are my nipples?

Reviewed by Jen
 

I feel like a traitor. I LOVE Gena Showalter. She is one of my top go-to authors for paranormal romance. So when I found out about this book and the Royal House of Shadows series, I was sooo excited. But (I can't believe I'm saying this) I was disappointed. This book had all the hot sex you'd expect from a Showalter story, but for me, it was missing something substantial. I couldn't connect with it; I couldn't feel what the characters were feeling.

The premise of the series is this: An evil sorcerer has killed the king and queen of the magical world of Elden. But before they died, the sovereigns used their last bits of power to reach out to their four children. The king instilled in them a burning need for vengeance; while the queen wished them away to safety. Each of the four gets his or her own book, penned by a different author. Showalter's book features the eldest prince, Nicolai.

When his mother's magic whisked him away from the castle, he was in the middle of a sexual conquest... And with the strange way the magic worked, he reappeared as a sex slave. Some evil witch princesses bought him and had his memory erased. He doesn't remember who he is, but his need for revenge still burns in him and on some level, he knows he is more than a slave.

Using magic, Nicolai summons a human named Jane to free him. (The how and why of this are revealed over the course of the book.) Jane appears in the visage of one of the princesses and together, they flee from the royal court. The two are instantly attracted to each other. It's one of those "mine-at-first-sight" things. I'm not usually bothered by the whole alpha-male "mine" mentality, but here, it went on and on.  And while I am a big fan of some steamy love scenes, I tend to enjoy them most when they resolve an underlying sexual tension. I just didn't feel the tension here... the two of them were ready to get busy with each other from the first moment they saw each other. No build-up at all. Nothing to grab me and say, "If I can't see these two get together soon, I'll die."

Beyond that, I never felt a fear that something would come between them. Jane's concerns about Nicolai's reaction to her job felt out of left-field and contrived. Worries that he might have a woman floating around out there... suffice it to say, I wasn't worried. Then to top it all off, I didn't understand how Jane resolved the final obstacle to their happily ever after. Nicolai sends her a note telling her to "use her head" and then all of a sudden her science experiment works in a way it's never worked before? I'm just... kind of at a loss.

I'm sorry, Gena, because I really do think you're awesome. 3 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Lord of the Vampires

by Gena Showalter

Release Date: August 23, 2011 

Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne

Series Reading Order: Royal House of Shadows

This is the reading order for the Royal House of Shadows series:

• Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter
• Lord of Rage by Jill Monroe
• Lord of the Wolfyn by Jessica Andersen
• Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh

Review: The Darkest Secret

Reviewed by Jen
 

Before I started this book, I had some serious concerns about how Gena Showalter would pull this one off. I mean, the hero of the story essentially can't speak. And the leading lady is an old-arch enemy who killed a man that he loved like a brother. But there's a reason Gena Showalter is the best-selling author and I am the fan-girl. Not only did she pull it off, but she actually managed to give us great insight into our hero and made our heroine extremely sympathetic.

Amun shares his body with the demon Secrets. He can read minds and in extreme cases, steal memories. At the end of The Darkest Lie, his gift (curse?) opened the doorway for hundreds of crazed lower-demons to also take up residence in his head... and he has been driven to madness.  Meanwhile, Strider (a fellow Lord, possessed by Defeat) has captured Haidee. She is a Hunter, who has dedicated her life to slaying Lords. In fact, centuries ago, she managed to kill one.  But once she is in the fortress, Amun reaches out to her telepathically. It is quickly revealed that the two share some kind of bond that makes them warm and fuzzy, despite the fact that they should be enemies.  In her presence, the torment from the demons quiets inside Amun.  But the Angels who have allowed him to live while he regained his sanity, demand he return to Hell (with Haidee) to be rid of them for good.

I really enjoyed getting to know Amun. He's been around since the beginning, but like Kane, he was kind of like a piece of furniture. He was there in the background, utilized or referred to from time to time, but never given much of a personality.  And Haidee is fleshed out wonderfully. I couldn't imagine how her character could be redeemed, but she was... with a fantastic backstory.  Of course, we had our sexy-Showalter love scenes. They were good; though not quite as red-hot for me as in some of the previous installments.

This book also gives us some more inside into Strider. (Win!)   I find I like him more and more with each passing book. At the end of The Darkest Lie, I really thought he would be paired with Haidee, but it was interesting to see how his lust for her is dealt with.  It was resolved a little too neatly in the end. But I can get over it, now seeing who his love interest will be in The Darkest Surrender.  I can't wait to see how it plays out. 4 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by Harlequin Books

Review: The Darkest Lie

Reviewed by Jen
 

I have some mixed feelings about this book.  Our hero is Gideon and as one of the Lords of the Underworld, he holds the soul of a demon inside him. His demon is Lies, which makes him incapable of telling the truth without experiencing debilitating pain.  This. Is. Utterly. Annoying. Every single bit of his dialogue is in this absurd reverse-speak, followed by a translation so we can grasp his meaning.  It bugged me to such a degree that it almost ruined the book for me. And that would have been a shame, because outside of that, the book was really good.

Scarlet is the daughter of a goddess, and also carries a demon. Hers is Nightmares.  When the Lords found her back in The Darkest Passion, they imprisoned her while they tried to learn about her. She calls out to Gideon in a dream and he comes to the dungeon to meet her. That's when she informs him that she is his long-lost wife.  Gideon feels a connection toward her and has flashes of her in his mind, but can't remember any history together.  So the book chronicles the couple as they try to sort out their own histories and what could have made their memories so different.

Scarlet is a wounded warrior. She is strong and fearsome, but her psyche is hanging on by a thread.  The realizations that she unveils are utterly heartbreaking. I found myself crying at her memories.  And her fear of her own feelings for Gideon is so poignant.  Their love story is beautiful.

We've also got two side arcs in play. One where Strider takes an unexpected enemy captive. The other follows Aeron, William and Amun into Hell, where they try to rescue Legion from Lucifer.  It's been tough to get to know Amun, since he doesn't speak. But it was nice to get a little insight into his character as we lead up to The Darkest Secret. 

So as I come to the end of the review, I'm struggling to give it a rating. The story itself was really, really good. But the Gideon-speak was really, really bad.  Grrr. 4 stars... I guess.

Review: The Darkest Passion

Reviewed by Jen
 

I'm a sucker for a tortured hero.  It's one of the reasons I loved Lucien's book so much. But Aeron... poor, poor Aeron. He always puts the needs of his loved ones first. He rarely seeks happiness for himself, because he doesn't really think he deserves it.  But Olivia knows better. She is angel tasked with killing him. His crime: rescuing his beloved Legion from Hell.  Olivia is given a choice... kill Aeron or lose her status as an angel.  But in the weeks she has been secretly observing Aeron, she has fallen in love with him.  So she makes the sacrifice of becoming human to give him a reprieve and to allow her a chance to meet him.  Becoming a fallen angel is excruciating. She comes to Aeron bleeding and broken.  He fights the pull he feels toward her. (Don't they always?) But she is persistent in trying to win him.

There is a lot going on in this story. Aeron is trying to protect Olivia, the other Lords, and Legion, who he sees as the daughter he never had.  But Legion wants Aeron to love her in a very different way. It was creepy and disturbing to watch the lengths she goes to.  We've got great advancement of the series story arc and a solid set-up for Gideon's story.  There is also a fantastic surprise ending that I never saw coming.

But as great as all that was, the very best part of the book was the absolutely amazing romance between Aeron and Olivia. It was both sweet and scorching. All hail Gena Showalter. 5 stars.

Short Story Review: The Darkest Angel

Reviewed by Jen
 

Gena Showalter seamlessly connects the dots between The Darkest Whisper and The Darkest Passion with this super sexy short story.  Our heroine is Bianka, sister to Gwen, and a fellow Harpy.  As our story begins, she is kidnapped by the angel Lysander. It turns out, she is his one true temptation and he thinks to neutralize the threat she poses. Ultimately, they each prove to be more temptation than the other can resist. But can they overcome their huge differences? 

The great thing about this short story is that it hyper-focuses on the romance. And by "romance,"  I mean spectacular sexual tension and payoff. --Yeah, you could skip this short story and still understand what is happening in the next book. But honestly, why would you want to? It was a great story. (I'm still fanning myself.) And unlike the other two short stories set in the LotU world, this one actually features the Lords, albeit in supporting roles. 5 stars.

*This short story can be found in the anthologies Dark Beginnings and Heart of Darkness