Review: Donor

Reviewed by Shelly

This was a solid first story in the Dresdan Coven series and I’m a little mad at myself it was in my TBR so long. As a former member of District 5, Elaina’s role as a tracker of the Dresdan led her to Vicq. As a vamp creation of the master vampire Russo, Vicq is not your ordinary Dresdan. He has some special skills that he uses to woo and protect Elaina. After he was exiled from Russo’s coven for his affiliation with Elaina, Vicq has left Elaina alone long enough. He’s finally ready to make her his – permanently. Can this human and vampire find their own HEA? I hope so.

I was completely shocked and impressed that I liked this short story as much as I did. Kirk did a very good job of building the world where these characters live, because it’s certainly not like any I’ve read before. I admit that I love vampire stories and their paranormal world as much as the next person, but it wasn’t the vamps that really got my attention, it was District 5. What are those people doing? I can’t wait to find out what the real story is. Elaina thinks she knows what it is but I’m hoping it’s not as elementary as she seems to think. Kirk, please bring on the tomfoolery and shenanigans because it makes for an interesting read when it’s not the obvious.

Back to Elaina, she’s a very likable character and no whimpering female when it comes to holding her own. This chick can kick a vamp's butt then go out for a meal. How cool is that? I’m hoping there’s going to more about her history once the series continues, because I’m looking for the underlying reason she fell in love with Vicq. Yes, he has the ability to ‘glamour’ – that might be a True Blood term, but I don’t know else to call it –which he did when they initially met, but I’m hoping that’s there’s something more to their love.

Vicq --- oh my my, that’s one hot specimen of vampiliciousness. He’s got a thing for Elaina and nothing will get in his way, not even his creator. And the chemistry between the two was hot and heavy. Like Elaina’s motivation and background, I hope there’s more about him in the future installments.

The other members of Vicq’s newly formed coven are very loyal to their leader and have their own interesting quirks that made for good story telling. Other than the epilogue and a few spelling errors that made me reread a few sentences, this was a good story.

Happy Reading Folks!

Rating: B-

*Book provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Donor

by Ambrielle Kirk

Original Release Date: February 24, 2011

Re-Release Date: April 28, 2013

Review: The Secret Guide to Dating Monsters

Reviewed by Jen
 

What a great introduction to the world of Secret McQueen!  It's full of action, violence, and just a hint of romance -- perfect for a novella.  And it managed to give me a taste for the series, without any big info dumps or backstory.

Secret is part-vamp, part-werewolf, and all ass-kicking bounty hunter. She works for the vampire council, dispatching rouge vamps who need to be put down.  Her job and her supernatural side have made it difficult to hold down a relationship, but her friend Mercedes is diligently trying to change that. As the story begins, Secret is getting ready for a blind-date, set up by her friend.

Unfortunately, at the same time, the council has a job for her. She needs to take out a high-profile vamp who happens to be a very famous actor.  Secret actually likes her blind-date, Tyler, but the council doesn't really take no for an answer. So she tries to knock out both in the same night.

I liked Secret. She is tough and good at her job, but her date with Tyler shows how she still longs for love.  Her handler, Holden, is sexy and mysterious. I am very intrigued there. But I also hope we see more of Tyler in the future as well!

My only small gripe is that it didn't make sense to me for Secret not to reschedule her date. If she really wanted a chance with Tyler, trying to work an assassination into the evening was clearly a recipe for failure.  Forcing them to remain on the date felt like a tenuous plot device.  But like I said, small gripe.  I liked the story quite a bit and I am excited to continue on with the series.

Rating: B

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Secret Guide to Dating Monsters

by Sierra Dean

Release Date: July 19, 2011

Publisher: Samhain

Review: Don't Bite the Bridesmaid

Reviewed by Shelly

Allee’s tale didn’t take any time at all for me to get into. To say that I was surprised when I turned the last page is an understatement. This story just kept getting better and better the more I read. Allee’s take on day walking vampires and their interactions in the everyday  human world is something that I’ve not read before and it was a good thing.

Cute, 20-something Alice Shepard is in desperate need of a date for her sister’s wedding and the weeklong cruise that leads up to it. Her neighbor, Noah Thorpe, agrees to be her plus-one even with Alice’s stipulation of no funny business. Noah is in need of a quick getaway and his next door neighbor offers it just in the nick of time. Are these two really as opposite as they think or will they come together before the council makes a decision to call Noah home?

There are a lot of interesting angles and side roads in this story. As the first in the series, it’s definitely piqued my curiosity and opened a lot of questions - especially around Alice’s ex and Noah’s past. There seems to be more there than meets the eye. So, as I wait for the second one in the series I’ll tell you why I liked this first story so much.

There’s no car chases or good guys or bad guys (but I suspect that Alice’s cheater ex is hiding something.) Instead, it’s a story the ups and downs of family and relationships - Alice and her family, Noah and his family and then Noah and Alice as a couple. I liked Alice quite a lot. She was a little schizo with the yes, no, maybe mindset but I understood that considering the guest list on the wedding cruise. Her relationship with Noah was well written, nice pacing, a little angsty from both of them which was nice to see from a man’s perspective. The sex between them was good and not too soon – what saved it for me was that I considered their relationship outside of the cruise.

This couple had their highs and lows but I was on their side the entire time. The way that Noah treated Alice was refreshing in that he didn’t play the alpha male vampire thing and she wasn’t the simpering heroine who’s just so happy that a vampire has taken notice of her. There’s a whole subplot about Alice’s knowledge of vampires but I’ll leave that to you to read ;-).

In the end, I look forward to more from this writer and this series.

Happy Reading folks!

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Entangled

Click to purchase: Amazon

Don't Bite the Bridesmaid

by Tiffany Allee

Release Date: May 27, 2013

Publisher: Entangled

Review: Forsaken By the Others

Reviewed by Jen
 

I'll admit it. I was really worried that Royce was going to abandon Shiarra after the way the last book ended.  Things were a little too good to be true there. Add that to the title of the book (I was expecting some forsaking to go down.) Add that to the fact that Jess Haines has sucker punched me before, and well, it seemed like a lot of heartbreak would be inevitable.  Shows what I know.

The story picks up right where the last one left off... with Shiarra in Royce's bed.  Buyer's remorse is kicking in, but the sexy mojo he had the night before is still there too and he is not willing to let her off the hook.  Unfortunately, two problems take precedence over her love life. One: that weird almost-Other transformation she has percolating --didn't quite leave with the belt.  And two: she's no longer safe at Royce's place.  So before she has a chance to shag him more than one bonus round, she and Sara are flying the friendly skies to Los Angeles.

Royce has sent them to go stay with another master vamp who owes him a favor. But it's not like anything can ever be easy for Shia. Clyde is... eccentric... and has his own agenda.  Not to mention, there is a zombie infestation targeting his vampires, and he essentially forces Shiarra and Sara to search for the magi responsible.  No small task without her PI connections at home.

The book is high on action, violence, and gore.  But you'll also find introspection, political machinations and maneuvering. In short, it's a wild ride; one made even better with the reappearance of Tiny and Devon. As with any road trip book, we miss out on a lot of characters left behind on the home turf. There's no time with Chaz... the Sunchasers... Arnold or Jack.  And frankly, very little Royce.  I was ok with that, though. I would be happy never to see Chaz or his pack again, and I'd rather take a vacation from Royce than see him somehow break Shia's heart --or her spirit.

The time we spend with Shia and Sara is satisfying. I like seeing their bond of sisterhood, a f/f friendship is too often lacking or trampled in UF series.  It's nice to see Shiarra return to more of her normal voice. I like her --I enjoy reading from her POV.  Meanwhile, I'm intrigued by Shiarra's Other-ness and very curious to see what's behind her Hulk-Smash vibe.  But beyond all that, I am biting my nails over the gnarly cliffhanger we're left with.  The action at the end felt a little rushed and the ending bit me right in the rear. I definitely did not see it coming.  It's going to be a tough wait to see how it all plays out.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Zebra

Click to purchase: Amazon

Forsaken By the Others

by Jess Haines

Release Date: July 2, 2013

Publisher: Zebra

 

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: Stalking the Others

Reviewed by Jen

Well, I'll give you this. Jess Haines knows how to go for a big ending. Wow.

This installment of H&W Investigations picks up right where the last one left off.  Shiarra is out for blood. Chaz and his pack nearly destroyed her in the last book. She is livid over his betrayal and terrified that she may be turning were.  So she decides to take matters into her own hands and seek revenge.

Unfortunately, the Sunchasers don't make it easy for her. They go into hiding at the same time she knows she is a walking target. She can't stay home; she won't stay under Royce's thumb, so she goes to find sanctuary and back-up with the White Hats.  Just like we got an intimate look at the weres in the last book, here we are getting even deeper with the renegade humans here, especially Jack.

But the real meat of the story was inside Shiarra head.  One of the things I have consistently liked about these books is Shia's voice. I have always found her easy to relate to; I could always understand her thoughts and motivations.  Here... not so much.  She really goes off the deep end. I found myself questioning her bloodlust and her need for vengeance which seemed totally out of proportion and, honestly, out of character.  I mean, yeah, Chaz is a dick. He deserved to be dumped --humiliated, even-- but does he deserve to die for being a cheater?  It was a tough read at times to see Shiarra fall so far.

But Haines has a plan.  I won't tell you what it is, but I will say I started to suspect about 40 pages before it was revealed.  It was enough to make me feel a little smart, but also a little dumb for not figuring it out sooner.  I still hate Chaz.  And Royce... well... I have mixed feelings there.  He is sexy to be sure. And I believe he feels something for Shiarra.  But I don't know what. I don't entirely trust him, and his power over Shiarra makes me nervous.

All in all, I'd say the book is a pretty good ride.  Kind of a roller coaster.  I'm still kind of high on the ending. But I am scared to pick of up the next book. It's called FORSAKEN By the Others. Who is going to betray her next? I don't know if my heart can take it.

Rating: B+

P.S. Huge improvement on the cover!

*Book provided by author

Click to purchase: Amazon

Stalking the Others

by Jess Haines

Release Date: July 3, 2012

Publisher: Kensington

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: Deceived by the Others

Reviewed by Jen
 

Jess Haines throws the H&W series on its ear with this installment.  Just when things seem like they are going in a clear direction for Shiarra and her life, Haines takes her on a screeching detour filled with danger and a shocking betrayal.  In short, she blindsides Shiarra (and me) with a sucker punch I never saw coming... and I'm still reeling.

Let me back up. The story starts with Shia making plans for a getaway vacation with Chaz. The idea is to get a closer look at his pack and cement her relationship with Chaz after their struggles in the last book. She's even thinking of signing a contract with him, to show him how much he means to her.  Unfortunately, their romantic trip is quickly upended by threats from inside the pack and from outside sources as well.

I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read, so only click through to the spoilers if you have already know what happens.  I know not everyone loved Chaz, but I actually empathized with his character. He always seemed so loyal and loving to Shiarra. When his betrayal was revealed, I felt sick.  I always figured Royce was the endgame, and I had wondered how Haines was going to get Chaz out of the picture. But I never dreamed it would be this way.  I don't know how I feel about the choice, but I am heartbroken for Shiarra.

The pacing of the book is very different in the first half and the second. The first is slower, but in hindsight, I can see what a setup that is for the back half --which just flies by.  As with the first two books, I enjoyed the world-building and the voice of the main character. Haines does a great job of making me experience her range of emotions... the yearning, the hurt, the fear, and anger.  I believed it all, which makes me feel so invested in her story.

Then there's the ending. Which managed to sneak up on me out of nowhere. We're left with many lingering questions and I can only say thank goodness I have book 4 waiting in the wings. This would have been tough if I had to wait for the next installment.

Rating: B+

Click to purchase: Amazon

Deceived by the Others

by Jess Haines

Release Date: July 1, 2011 

Publisher: Zebra

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: Taken By the Others

Reviewed by Jen
 

I am really enjoying this series! Taken By the Others picks up a few months after the events of book one, but despite the passage of time, the transition is a smooth one. Private investigator and reluctant badass Shiarra is doing her best to avoid the vampire she never wanted in her life. She is happy solving her small cases and spending time with her were-boyfriend. But it's only a matter of time before Royce is back --with a vengeance.

It seems an old frenemy of the ancient vamp is targeting Shiarra as a way to get to Royce.  A long time ago, Royce killed a woman he loved. Now Max wants to return the favor.  This was a little perplexing for me, since I don't entirely understand the depth of Royce's feelings for Shiarra. The interaction between Royce and Shia in the first book didn't seem enough for me to extend beyond attraction, but I can compartmentalize this and move on.

Shiarra has to decide who she can turn to in order to protect herself from Max's evil plans. Royce?  Her boyfriend Chaz? The White Hats?  She is definitely not strong enough to take him on herself... even with all the mojo she gets from her fancy belt.  Much of the story is spent revealing different facets of all the players in her life.  I liked going behind the scenes of the White Hats and meeting some of them.  Seeing the members as individuals instead of as a rabid, racist whole helped give that part of the world-building more depth. We're also seeing behind the curtain on some of Royce's vampire family.  I am intrigued my some of his peeps, especially Mouse.

But the real show is in the main characters. Shiarra is growing and questioning her own ideas and prejudices.  She is evolving into a better heroine. I like Chaz. It's hard not to root for him with his unwavering devotion to Shia.... though her feelings for him are a little murky to me as a reader.  Maybe that's the only way to keep that door firmly cracked open for something to happen with Royce.  I've got mixed feelings about him. But I like that he is sort of an enigma because it keeps things interesting.

I think my favorite thing about the book is Shia's voice. Jess Haines does such a great job of making me understand her; of making her so easy to relate to.  Between that and the great world building, it's just so easy to fall into these books! Can't wait to keep reading.

Rating: B+

Click to purchase: Amazon

  Taken By the Others

by Jess Haines

Release Date: January 1, 2011

Publisher: Zebra

Review: Tempted

Reviewed by Jen
 

This novella is a nice little side romance that takes place between the events of Claimed and Hunted. It doesn't really advance the overall arc of the series, but it features several characters from the full length books. It also dips into the established worldbuilding and the romance provides some great sexual tension and some satisfying bedroom action.

The hero of the story is Max. He's one of the vampires who helped take care of Janie in the earlier books. He is tough as nails and built like a brickhouse.  The Kayrs brothers sort of adopted him after he left behind an abusive father in Russia, but he never really considered himself part of the family. He never really let himself feel, until Janie helped open his heart.

Now he has a new mission: find and protect a special, enhanced woman who is in danger from the Kurjans.  Sarah was almost killed by them, but when she went to the police, it earned her a one-way ticket to an insane asylum.  Max must convince her to trust him, while teaching her all about the supernatural world she has stumbled into. It won't be easy; her own brother is working with the enemy to take her down. But with Jase and Conn around to help, the good guys are armed for the fight.

I liked the romance here, because even though Max is tough and powerful, he doesn't feel the need to utterly dominate Sarah.  Even though he knows she is his mate, he gives her choices. He treats her with respect and doesn't threaten her dignity. My favorite line of the book:

He had no intention of being a bossy asshole with her.

If only more alpha heroes felt that way! As for Sarah, she is ok.  I didn't have strong feelings for her one way or another, except that I was happy that she accepted Max without the requisite drama of the other heroines, and gave him some happiness.

Rating: B

Click to purchase: Amazon

Tempted

by Rebecca Zanetti

Release Date: March 27, 2012

Publisher: Kensington

Review: Hunted by the Others

Reviewed by Jen
 

What took me so long to try this series? OK, I know the answer to that. I've seen mixed reviews. Some people really, really liked it, while others took issue with a few particular elements that essentially ruined the book for them.  I came out on the side of those who enjoyed it.  I found it a fun and entertaining ride.

Shiarra is a private investigator who works in a world where the supernatural exists.  The "Others" came out after September 11th, making awareness of them relatively new, but the knowledge has been out there long enough that there isn't mass hysteria.  Shiarra doesn't work with the Others as a rule (mostly because they scare the pants off her.)  But her business is in dire financial trouble and a magi offers her a job too lucrative to refuse.

Her mission is to recover a powerful device from an ancient vamp. Royce is sexy, scary and older than dirt. And it takes him no time at all to realize what Shia is after.  So she basically gets stuck between two supernatural factions --and somehow ends up more powerful than anyone could have predicted.

I won't spoil the details of the plot, but I will say that I found the progression of Shiarra's character interesting. When I said she was afraid, that was a huge understatement.  She was terrified, but over the course of the book, she became pretty bad ass. I know some readers didn't like the Shiarra at the beginning of the book: the quivering bundle of nerves who broke up with her boyfriend because he was a were. But I think the reason we meet Shiarra this way is to be able to appreciate the contrast when we see what she becomes... and the struggles she continues to have as she works to overcome her fears.

I like the cast of characters... the supportive best friend, the nerdy Magi, the earnest ex and the sexy vamp.  Yes, some of the names are unfortunate (ie. Shiarra and Chaz,)  but Jess Haines made me feel like I had a vested interest in them all. I loved Arnold and Chaz --and I was intrigued by Royce. And I believed in each role that they played in Shiarra's mission.  I liked the world-building. It's simple and easy to understand.  It has a similar feel to Kim Harrison's The Hollows world, but it's not a copycat by any stretch. It has mostly traditional UF elements with its own little quirks.

There's not quite a romance, but there's a hint of one (or two) --enough to satisfy my need for a love interest.  There is no sex, though.  I would have liked to see more of Royce --there was lot of build up there-- but I feel like it's more of a setup on him for future books.

I'm definitely going to keep reading to see what happens next.

Rating: B+

Click to purchase: Amazon

Hunted by the Others

by Jess Haines

Release Date: May 1, 2010

Publisher: Zebra

Review: Claimed

Reviewed by Jen
 

This is a definite improvement for me over Fated... and picks up right where that one left off. It even overlaps a tiny bit. The story begins as Emma is separated from her sister Cara at the Kurjan (evil vampire) facility and transported to the evil king that wants to be her mate.  But before she can make there, she is rescued by the good vampire king, Dage, mid-flight.

Emma knows she is destined to be with Dage. She has dreamed of him for the past 15 years.  Part of her already loves him.  He, meanwhile, has dreamed of her for centuries.  Her face has haunted his dreams. And now that they are finally together in the flesh, it is intoxicating.  The thing is, Emma knows more than she is letting on.  Thanks to her powerful psychic abilities, she knows her death is coming and she wants to shield Dage from the pain that will follow. She figures, if she fights the mating, she can prevent him from loving her enough to be destroyed by her death.  Of course, that's ridiculous because he already loves her.

Meanwhile, the plague engineered by the Kurjans is hitting closer to home. Cara is infected and so are Katie and Maggie.  Dage and his brothers now have more reason than ever to find a cure. How fortunate that Emma is a brilliant scientist!  She and Dage's brainiac brother Kane work together to crack the virus. This, as Dage and his people teeter on the brink of a supernatural war.  It's a tough time to be king.

As with all the books in this series, I really like the world building. And the layers grow from book to book.  Could this be read as a standalone? Yes. I read books 4 and 5 that way, but obviously that motivated me to check out the backlist and learn more about the characters and their history.  The series as it stands (from book 1 to 5) has progressed over the course of 15 years or so, so there is a lot of ground to cover.  Rebecca Zanetti lays it all out simply, and while it's a little complicated, it's not convoluted; you won't get lost.

What's so much better here than in book one is the relationship.  Yes, there are still times the hero is overbearing, possessive, and bossy. But he tries not to be. He sees the value in giving Emma choices (most of the time) and does not try to cut her off at the knees at every pass.  Meanwhile, Emma's got a little more hutzpah than her sister did. She is tougher and is more powerful.  --There were moments that gave me pause. Like using sex as "punishment" and making her beg to show her who has control.  Both are turnoffs for me. But it's such a vast improvement from the Talen/ Cara dynamic, I know we are going in the right direction.

I love the underlying Janie story... and the two young men visiting her dreams. I can't wait to read that book one day.  In the meantime, though, I will occupy myself with Conn and Moira's story.  I can't wait to see their reunion.

Rating: B

Click to purchase: Amazon

Claimed

by Rebecca Zanetti

Release Date: October 25, 2011

Publisher: Brava

Review: Fated

Reviewed by Jen
 

Ever since I read Rebecca Zanetti's Consumed (the fourth book in this series) more than a year ago, I've been dying to pick up the backlist.  The world-building was so great in that book (and then in book 5, Provoked) that I really wanted to see where it all began before continuing with the series.  I waited, though, because I thought $12 was a bit too pricey to pay for a two year-old ebook.  Thankfully, a sale, coupled with a Kobo coupon, put this in a more reasonable price range --and I finally got to reading.

I'm glad I didn't pay full price.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that I finally got the chance to learn more about the history of the series.  This book lays all the foundation for what lies ahead. Unfortunately, I had issues with the romance that kept me from enjoying this installment as much as I have the others I've read in the series.

Cara is a scientist and single mother with a special psychic ability.  As the story begins, she and her daughter Janie are kidnapped by a sexy vampire named Talen.  It seems the bad vampires, the Kurjans, are aware of Cara's gifts and they want to kidnap her and her child to force them into mating with their warriors.  Instead, she is forced to mate with Talen to ensure their safety.  --It's not rape or anything. Cara and Talen are physically attracted, but things have to progress much further and faster than she wants.

In short order, Cara goes from knowing nothing about the supernatural world to learning all about the vamps, shifters, and their age old wars. And we, too, learn it all along with her.  We find out what the Kurjans are plotting and see their plan as it all begins to unfold --and meet some of the fantastic characters that will feature heavily in future books.  All good stuff. Lots of action, hot sex too.

But I had a serious problem with the balance of power between Cara and Talen --or the lack thereof. There is a certain expectation of "alpha" in most paranormal romance, but in the successful ones (for me) the heroine manages to find her own power in the relationships.  Yes, it's usually more subtle than the hero's power, but they each have a chance to win some of the battles. Here, Cara never gets to win.  It's all Talen's way and he never gives an inch.  I appreciate that he loves her and she holds his heart or whatever, but he controls everything, including, at times, her body and her will.  He orders her around. He "punishes" her.  I'm just not down with that dynamic.  It's also got some of the more eye-rolling PNR tropes, like the heroine having an orgasm on demand --and sex so good she blacks out.

I'm glad I didn't read this book first because I likely would not have continued with the series.  But I know I liked the later installments, so I will keep reading. I know they get better.

Rating: C-

Click to purchase: Amazon

Fated

by Rebecca Zanetti

Release Date: March 1, 2011

Publisher: Brava

Review: Dragon Heat

Reviewed by Shelly
 

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this story, considering that it’s a relatively new author. I always hope for something good, but you just never know. Phoenix you’ve got yourself a new fan.

Draconian demigoddess, Zoricah, is on the hunt for the killer who has been taking out both dracos and vampires. The bad guys have finally done the unthinkable and taken one of Zoricah's and she doesn’t have a lot of time to get her people back alive. Using her only option, she enlists the help of Tardieh, the Vampire King who she’s helped out in the past. Will these two put their differences aside and do what’s right for their people?

This was a fun, sexy, solid story. There are a couple of issues that could be solved with some stronger editing, but they didn’t take away from the story. Phoenix’s world building for the existence of dragons and vampires was well done. I found myself pleasantly enthralled with the imagery. Born into a world where their differences made them enemies, Zoricah didn’t let that stop her from helping Tardieh escape from a brutal imprisonment that he suffered by the hands of an unknown assailant. It’s too bad that Tardieh’s trust of her was based not on her actions but by tradition.

I thought these two were really well suited and I found myself rooting for them as a couple. Zoricah was a strong leader, fighter and woman, but not so strong that she couldn’t and wouldn’t take the advice of her most trusted warriors. Her ‘girls’ as she called them - which of course totally reminded me of Charlie and his angels – were well suited and provided the levity that she needed to continue by not taking herself too seriously and still getting the job done. The Vampire King, Tardieh, was actually a nice guy. He has his special moments of needing a verbal take-down or two, but overall I must say he was surprisingly and pleasantly likable. His guards added a nice foil to Zoricah’s girls and I can definitely see a future where they’re flushed out with their own stories.

The chemistry between Zoricah and Tardieh was smoking hot and although it moves along pretty fast, there’s the backstory of their acquaintance that makes their romance not seem so rushed. Taken as a whole, this was a good effort and I very much look forward to more from this author.

Happy Reading Folks!

Rating: B+

*Book provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Dragon Heat

by Ella J Phoenix

Release Date: April 6, 2012

Publisher: Cobblestone Press

Review: The Charmed Fates

Reviewed by Shelly
 

When I read the blurb for the first in the series of the Charmed Trilogy, I would have never guessed Wenrick’s would take me on such a roller-coaster of adrenaline. Each installment is absolutely better than the last and this story is no different; this story is so much darker than the others -The Charmed Fates - is my favorite in the series.

Enjoyable to say the least, Wenrick’s writing style is captivating - there’s just enough dialogue that carries the story along quite well. One of the many things I like about her is the way that she conveys the passage of time. I’ve noticed that a lot of writers in this genre don’t express this in real time (days, weeks, etc.); this author does and it’s one of those quirky things that helps me believe that even in their paranormal world, these characters are subject to something that mutually affects us.

It’s been about a year since Olivia Greyson was involved in a horrific train accident, lost her best friend Sarah, and met Daywalker Caleb Wolfe. It’s during that time that she found out that she’s a Charmer, a Dhampir, whose talents are a wanted commodity amongst the most powerful in the community of vampires. Since she’s spent time and trained with her guardians at The Oracle, strengthening both her physical and mental self, Olivia is becoming a formidable warrior.

The Walker Coven - Olivia, her mate Caleb, her grandfather Jax Walker, and her good friend and fellow Dhampir Gemma - are living under the radar, always on the lookout for the dark and evil vampire, Luther Davin. Since their mating, Olivia and Caleb have gotten closer, but in this the final installment of the series, their relationship will undergo some significant challenges complicated by Olivia’s insecurities and Caleb’s need to protect. These two are still as hot as a couple. Olivia by herself continues to impress me in her maturity and the way she handles her business, especially with Caleb. Jax and Gemma’s relationship will see some incredibly happy times and undergo heartache that could shatter even the most patient soul. Jax couldn’t be any more perfect as a mate for strong-willed Gemma and as Olivia’s grandfather.

The Brethren are back - Alec is hunky and cankerous as usual, that foul-mouth delectable Lucas takes a more prominent role and I liked it just fine. The GLD (good looking Dhampir) Phin and his love Maya are as cute as ever, and the biggest horndog ever in the history of horndogs Kane is bringin’ it and bringin’ it well – fighting to keep Davin from increasing his power.

Now on to the bad guys, and boy howdy are they bad. At one point in the book, I was close to jumping to the end because I was so mad at Wenrick. I couldn’t believe what was going on – I was like ‘NOOOOOO way!!!’. But that’s what make a good writer isn’t it?  The antagonists are just as well written as the protagonists. Davin in all his ugliness and evilness has been trying to get Olivia to come over to his side for quite a while now. With the increasing dangers to Olivia’s safety, the tension in the coven increases to a boiling point. If that’s not enough to drive the sane insane, Caleb’s 600-year-old maker Celeste shows up because she wants her Caleb back and will do whatever she needs to do to make that happen. Celeste is awesomely bad, twisted, a complete and total megalomaniac.

In the end, I relished this story individually but I gotta tell ya, I thoroughly adored the series and I’m so glad that I read it. Thanks Wenrick! I look forward to more from the ‘Men of Brahm Hill’.

Happy Reading Folks!

Rating: A+

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon 
Learn more about the series & Enter the giveaway here

The Charmed Fates

by Christine Wenrick

Release Date: February 8, 2013

Publisher: Red Tree Publishing

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: Blood Roses

Reviewed by Jen
 

I had a really hard time getting through this book. I liked the premise and I found the world building intriguing, but the romance did not work for me at all.

It all starts when Leila gets a call from her sister, Alisha, begging for help. Alisha says she is being held by vampires. She needs Leila to bring her ancient spellbook to vampiretown (Blackthorne) and use her magic to save a dying vamp. It goes against everything she believes, but Leila agrees, for her sister's sake.

It's dangerous for any human in Blackthorne, but it's even worse for Leila. She's not only a witch, but a serryn, a rare woman whose blood is toxic to their kind. Unfortunately, Caleb, brother to the dying vamp, figures out her secret. And it only goes downhill for Leila from there.

Despite her deep seeded aversion to vampires, Leila is attracted to Caleb. An attraction he mercilessly exploits. Caleb is convinced Leila is a killer, as most serryns are. He puts her through the wringer, with test after test to prove her "true nature." Most of these tests involve sex.

I had big issues here. Yes, ultimately Leila wanted Caleb, but at the same time, she really had no choice but to sleep with him. Not exactly non-con, but a little too close for my comfort. Add to that, Caleb lies to her, jerks her around, and threatens to kill her and her sisters throughout the book. I kept waiting for things to get better, for him to be redeemed, but it never really happened. And for the life of me, I cannot understand how Leila could fall for him under such circumstances.

I almost put the book down a few times... I was just so unhappy with Caleb's treatment of Leila, but the world building was interesting and I figured the payoff would be worth it. But it wasn't. The ending is terrible. Things aren't really resolved and even calling it a HFN is a stretch.

The dynamic of the relationship was very off putting to me. The balance of power, virtually non existent. I can only watch my heroine get kicked when she's down so many times before you can just count me out.

Rating: D+

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Blood Roses

by Lindsay Pryor

Release Date: April 23, 2013

Publisher: Bookouture

Review: Diana's Hound

Reviewed by Jen
 

I continue to be impressed with this super-sexy and gritty series.  If you're unfamiliar with the Bloodhound books, they center around a breed of engineered shifters in a kind of alternative- western- historical world with a little bit of a steampunk vibe.  If that sounds kind of schizophrenic, it's not... it really works. Of course, it helps that is has some smokin-hot sex in there too.

We met Diana in Archer's book.  She is an anomoly among the Bloodhounds --A-- because she is a woman and --B-- because she wasn't turned by the Bloodhound Guild. Instead, she was attacked by a rogue hound and survived, changed.  She was taken in by the inventor of the Bloodhound alchemy, though she didn't know it at the time.  Now that he is gone, she is working with Nate, hoping to understand his research.

Nate has been a part of the series from the beginning. I must admit, it was little hard for me to see him as a love interest at first. After all, he was introduced as a father-type figure to Satira... a man in his 60's.  Now that the vampire-Bloodhound hybrid thing he's got going on has changed his physiology, he looks young again. But in my head, Nate = old dude.  However, that all went out of the window when the sexual vibe kicked on.

Nate and Diana want each other.  He's fighting it because of the age difference and because of what he is.  But once they go undercover together to figure out who is selling hounds to the vampires, that reticence gets harder to hold onto.  Especially when they spend the New Moon together.  For new readers, the new moon means "wild, passionate, crazy sex for three days." (*fans self*) In other words... one of the highlights of every book.

If it sounds like I am fixating on the sex, maybe I am I'm not.  But that isn't all the book has to offer.  I liked Diana. She has survived so much and still remains strong and whole and willing to love again.  Nate is a dumbass once or twice, but for the most part, he respects both sides of Diana and only wants what's best for her.  We get some advancement in the overall series arc.  And... dammit, the sex is really hot.

Just read it.

Rating: B+

*ARC provided by author for review 

Click to purchase: Amazon

Diana's Hound

by Moira Rogers

Release Date: April 23, 2013

Publisher: Samhain

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