What a mind f*uck. A dark erotic PNR that pushes boundaries and blurs the lines between good and evil. No one is who they say, nothing is what it seemWhat a mind f*uck. A dark erotic PNR that pushes boundaries and blurs the lines between good and evil. No one is who they say, nothing is what it seems, and everyone has an agenda.
Merged review:
What a mind f*uck. A dark erotic PNR that pushes boundaries and blurs the lines between good and evil. No one is who they say, nothing is what it seems, and everyone has an agenda....more
Favorite Quote: “It was good to be free. Good to be home.”
As Lyonesse is slowly being destroyed, it’s ruler, King Oberon, sleeps deep within his palacFavorite Quote: “It was good to be free. Good to be home.”
As Lyonesse is slowly being destroyed, it’s ruler, King Oberon, sleeps deep within his palace, the victim of an assassination attempt. His only chance at a cure comes in the form of the top Elder Race surgeon, Dr. Katheryn Shaw. When she arrives, her presence awakens him though he is no longer the man he was before. His only means of survival caused his emotions to be stripped from him. Now Katheryn must find a way to not only cure his body but also his soul. Because Queen Isabeau is coming to finish what she started and unless Oberon can come to care about Lyonese and his people again, it will fall forever.
The 3rd story in Harrison’s Moonshadow trilogy gives us King Oberon’s story and the final conclusion to the war between the Fae Courts. Set in the same world as her Elder Races series, the focus here is on the Fae demesnes and the ongoing war. Easily read as a standalone, you do not have to read the Elder Races to enjoy though I do recommend starting with book one of this trilogy-Moonshadow. If you have been following the series, you will remember that Oberon had vanished and Lyonesse has been shut off from the world by the Light Queen’s Hound-Morgan le Fae. Those who managed to escape are seen in book one, rallying for help while book two deals with Morgan Le Fae and his battle to escape Isabeau’s control.
Fans of the Elder Races, especially Dragos, will definitely love King Oberon (King of the Daoine Sidhe) who exhibits the same sense of power, arrogance, and all-encompassing passion. As old as Dragos, Oberon was celebrating the Winter Solace when Morgan le Fae bespelled him. Oberon was forced to put himself into a coma to save his life and the lives of those around him. Unfortunately, when he went to sleep, his power went unchecked and the city became a frozen tomb. When he realizes his domain has been breached, he awakens with a fury, seeking to destroy that which has dared to disturb him.
Pieces of dried fruit lay sprinkled over the trampled crimson-and-gold bedspread like confetti, and there was the sharp, aromatic scent of cheese. Curious, he pawed at a small, overturned tub. As he flipped it over, one of his claws sank into soft butter.
He licked it off as he took in other details. Amid the rubble was a fur-lined cloak and a strange piece of clothing that looked like a formfitting blue coat, and another odd, lightweight sheet of something that looked like metal but was pliable and made of a foreign substance he had never seen before. The interloper had planned a ravishment, and she had brought… snacks?
Dr. Kathyrn Shaw has been a mainstay throughout the Elder Races series. She has saved the day on multiple occasions and her assistance in Moonshadow opened the door to the fight that ends in here. One of the Wyn and trusted by the inner circle surrounding Dragos, she has the moxie and strength to hold her own against the bigger creatures who exist. Intelligent and witty, I found her calm demeanor, crisp mannerisms, and innovative ideas quite amusing as she pits herself against one of the most dangerous creatures in the demesnes.
Silkily, he asked, Cat got your tongue?
Very funny. Her grumpy mental voice sounded much better than her physical voice did. Okay, I apologize. I am so very sorry for what happened—
Come down here and face me properly, or are you too much of a coward to do so? He threw out the challenge carelessly. He had no real expectation she would comply. If they stood face-to-face and she was grounded from flight, he had no doubt he could easily destroy her.And she certainly didn’t seem to be motivated to continue the confrontation on the ground. Instead, she told him in a steady, crisp voice, Oberon, you’re going to die unless you consent to medical treatment.
That voice. That sounded exactly like the voice that had wound through his dreams, interrupting his nightmares of Isabeau. He snapped, I did not give you permission to address me by my name.
She retorted, I don’t really give a shit.
When Kathryn and Oberon come to an “understanding” the real work begins.
Harrison does an excellent job in here of not only expanding on the history and politics of the Fae courts without overburdening us with recaps and unnecessary information while slowly building a romance between two strong-willed people. Warriors who are honor bound to care for those around them. The enormity of their precarious situation is tempered by sharp wit and moments of compassion and sorrow. I love that Kathryn gives Oberon no quarter. She treats him like a patient and slaps him down when he gets a little too autocratic. She has served under Dragos for centuries…Oberon is a piece of cake.
“What other symptoms have you experienced since the attack?” […] I remember having the emotions, but I no longer experience them. In fact, I only feel two things anymore: anger and lust.”
She stopped writing, suddenly inundated with the memory of yesterday’s encounter. The feeling of his mouth moving so urgently over hers as he speared her with his tongue. The delicious sense of weight as he shifted to lie on top of her, and the thick, heavy feeling of his erection pressing against her hip. For one shocking, mindless moment it had been glorious.
His voice sounded softly in her ear, deep and dark as the ocean and rough with the lion’s purr. “But I do feel anger and lust very deeply, Doctor.”
She had gotten so lost in her reverie she hadn’t noticed he had come around to her side of the desk, and she nearly leaped out of her skin. “For crying out loud, Oberon! Back up and give me some personal space!”
She listened to her own exclamation with deep dismay. That was supposed to have come out much more sharply than it had. Instead of sounding disapproving and offended, her voice had sounded as breathless as a gasp.
“Are you sure that’s what you really want?” Callused fingers traced the line of her jaw, down the side of her neck, and lightly pressed against the very spot where he had sucked so hungrily at her pulse. She remembered. Oh, she remembered it all too well. The shadow of his body fell over hers on the desk as he bent over her, and his lips brushed against the sensitive shell of her ear as he whispered, “Or wouldn’t you rather experiment with just how deep and hard my feelings can really go?”
Oberon had her rattled. He knew he did.
But suddenly she laughed, and the bright, carefree sound broke the sensual spell he had begun to weave over them both. “Did you really just say that to me? My lord, that line was bad.”
She wasn’t funny.
Though heavily driven, the strong narrative and steady bites of action and intrigue keep the storyline flowing at a brisk pace. Favorite characters from both series make appearances to this readers delight. I enjoy any interactions with Dragos and the New York demesne, especially when clues are given to what is coming new. We also meet back up with couples from books one and two. I was a little disappointed we did not see Queen Titania and Queen Tricks. As part of the fae demease, it was odd they weren’t a part of this trilogy. I especially loved the scenes with Robin aka Puck. Heartfelt, his journey has been a tough one and everything he went through to save his king was heart wrenching.
Your king is going to die unless something is done for him. Why didn’t you want to bring Annwyn and the troops with us?”
He stamped at the snow desultory. Other than tangling his mane and tail, the wind and the massive cold didn’t seem to affect him at all. “I wanted to judge you for myself while they weren’t around. If you were a threat, I would take care of you.” He looked at her sidelong to see how she took his words.
He might be old, unpredictable, and dangerous, but he had nothing on a cantankerous, bullheaded dragon. She said gently, “You were looking after your king.”
“He told me to guard his place and watch them. A long time ago, Isabeau took me and held me captive for years. I failed him once. I won’t fail him again.”
Lionheart leaves readers happy with it’s firm resolution to the main conflict yet just enough open to allow her back into this world again. As always, Harrison gives readers an adventure overflowing with action, suspense, humor, romance, and just enough tragedy to make the journey unforgettable.
Adele has come home for her father’s wedding after being exiled for making a pass at her friend, confidant, and father’s best friend. UncertaGrade: B-
Adele has come home for her father’s wedding after being exiled for making a pass at her friend, confidant, and father’s best friend. Uncertain about what’s going to happen when she sees her first love and crush, Peter, the man she never got over, she is unprepared to have to stay with him during her time in town. As she and Peter try to reconnect, all her old feeling come rushing back but Peter is still stuck on their age difference and treats her like the child she no longer is. When a series of events place them on the path to no return, Adele must ask herself if Peter is who she really wants and what happens if he says no again.
Kylie Scott’s latest is a humorous abet bittersweet contemporary that features a slow burn romance between a young woman and her father’s friend/employee. Told entirely from the heroine’s POV, Scott seamlessly blends the past and present to show us the emotional range of Adele’s crush and the power it has over her years later. Overflowing with strong women, witty dialogue, and some nice steamy sexual tension, I found myself laughing throughout the book. Adele is hilarious with her internal musings and snarky comebacks. A slew of secondary characters helps to round the story out and offer some much-needed lessons in life for Adele and Peter. My only true qualm about this story is the lack of Peter’s voice. Though you felt their connection, the story would have really benefited from his POV. I never was able to understand his reactions and the reasons behind them because everything we see is through Adele’s eyes. A fun and engaging story that left me satisfied overall but only because of the heroine and the amazing women who stood at her back....more
B+ A deliciously sexy and amusing tale of mistaken identity, family, and first love when a clock setter finds herself teaching two young orphans and tB+ A deliciously sexy and amusing tale of mistaken identity, family, and first love when a clock setter finds herself teaching two young orphans and trying desperately not to fall for their delectable guardian. ...more
Favorite Quote: “As long as you stay here, you have a home. I’ll never abandon you.”
Hugh d’Ambray has been cut loose by his master and pseudo-father, Favorite Quote: “As long as you stay here, you have a home. I’ll never abandon you.”
Hugh d’Ambray has been cut loose by his master and pseudo-father, Roland. He wallows in the booze until his will to live and need to save his people overrides his death wish. With no money, shelter, or weapons, the Iron Dogs have no hope of surviving the necromancers that are gunning for them. Until his advisor approaches him with a proposition. A marriage of convenience to one they call the White Lady.
Elara Harper just wants to keep her people safe. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Elara knows there is a war coming and they are right in the middle of it. She needs help and if she has to make a deal with the devil to get one…then so be it.
Hugh needs a home. Elara needs a weapon. And they need to make this relationship as believable as possible if they want to survive what’s coming for them.
Sometimes the devil is in the details.
Iron and Magic, first in the Iron Covenant trilogy, spins off the Kate Daniels series and runs concurrently with book 9 in the KD world-Magic Binds. Hugh d’Ambray has been disavowed by Roland and he and his people are being hunted down and killed by Landon Nez, Roland’s Necromancer. Hugh needs a miracle and it comes in the form of a witch whose own reputation is as sketchy as Hugh’s.
I will be the first to admit I was skeptical when I first heard this story idea. Anyone can write a story of redemption, the trick is not only making the redeeming believable but getting your readers to buy it. Hugh D’Ambray; Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers, Nemesis to Kate Danials, has to be one of urban fantasy’s top unredeemable men. First seen in book 3-Magic Strikes, he reappears like a bad penny in Magic Rises and Magic Breaks. Rescued by Roland as a child and trained by Voron, Hugh has strength, power, skill, and an unimaginable ego that Kate has repeatedly trampled on. He has committed some unspeakable acts against Kate, Curren, and their friends and his jealousy of Kate and what she represents is what got him in the mess he’s in now.
“You’ve failed me, Hugh. I have no further use for you.”
The prologue offers us a look into Hugh’s backstory. We learn why he worshipped Roland and blindly followed his lead. We see what led to his downfall and then the story begins with how he has chosen to survive. Is this a story of redemption? No. I think it is more of a rebuilding. Hugh d’Ambray has had his entire life ripped from him. He has hit rock bottom and now must crawl up and out of his hole to keep promises he hs made.
“The bottle of moonshine called to him. He didn’t have to turn around to know exactly where it was, tempting him to do what severed limbs did-wither and rot. And while he rotted, his people would die one by one. No. No, he owned Nez a debt. He was Hugh d’Ambray. Preceptor of the Iron Dogs. The Dogs paid their debts.”
Hugh needs a miracle…and her name is Elara Harper.
“Who will I be marrying?” “The White Warlock.” “You want me to marry a man?”
Elara is an Andrews heroine through and through. Strong, bold, opinionated, powerful, kick arse, and untrusting. Considered an abomination by some and a God by others, she is responsible for hundreds and takes that very seriously. Living in an old castle on an estate smack dab between Roland and Kate’s power bases, Elara knows what is coming and knows the humans under her care will not survive these two heavyweights. A witch of unimaginable power, she is the monster under the bed…the bogeyman used to scare little kids into being good. While she does have a moral code of sorts, it revolves around those under her care. She is a wild card in this series and I am more than ready to discover everything about her.
“She had to teach d’Ambray who she was. The White Warlock. Unclean. Cursed. An abomination. They would come to this meeting tables as equals, and if they chose an alliance, she had to make sure they left as equals.”
I loved Hugh and Elara and I appreciated the care taken to develop them as individuals and a couple. I didn’t come into this story expecting Kate and Curren 2.0 and I was pleased care was taken to make sure there would be no mistaking this couple for anyone but themselves. The old saying, “God made then and the Devil matched them,” describes them perfectly. A relationship built on antagonism and lots of snark, I laughed so hard as this couple bickered, threatened, fought, insulted, and demanded concessions from one another. Elara and Hugh are a lot alike in that their loyalty can be deadly and they will do what it takes to survive. This couple will burn down the world and everyone in it who stands between them and their loved ones. No self-sacrifice in their make up.
Their evolution from strangers to friends is slow and well worth the wait. Both have been betrayed by those they cared for; tossed aside and threatened for their gifts. They have…issues and enough baggage to stock a Samsonite store. The sexual tension is quite intense and the one small sex scene is perfect in its resolve to stay true to this couple’s nature.
Some new and some very familiar faces are seen here as Hugh and Elara prepare for Nez and eventually Roland. I enjoyed meeting the Iron Dogs and seeing them as people with their own hopes, dreams, and desires. Elara’s people are just as interesting and look forward to learning more about their own gifts. Though Kate and Curren are referenced multiple times, we don’t see them. This is not their story. Color me surprised when Raphael and Andrea pay an unexpected visit to the castle. We even get a visit from Roland though it did NOT go the way he planned. *fist pump* I can’t wait for Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels series) and the next book in this series.
I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!!
Once again, Ilona Andrews have used their powers for good and wrote a story that is what Urban Fantasy strives to be. Action packed with intrigue, suspense, adventure, danger, laughter, sadness, and a cast of characters whose energy and spirit drags you right along with them as they prime their swords and sharpen their tongues for the next battle.
Favorite Quote: “The darkness has always tempted her. The locks. The barriers. The Impossible.”
Felicity Fairclot'sh fall from grace has left her and hFavorite Quote: “The darkness has always tempted her. The locks. The barriers. The Impossible.”
Felicity Fairclot'sh fall from grace has left her and her family in a pickle. From her unfortunate discovery in a man’s bedchamber to her involvement with a married man, Felicity has lost her friends and her social standing, becoming yet another flower on the wall. When anger and pain have her telling a whopper of a lie, she finds herself a pawn in a dangerous game of revenge when she is forced to deal with the devil for her sins. But Felicity has plans of her own and soon decides tis better to rule in Hell than to serve Heaven. Now she just needs to convince her devil of that.
Once again Sarah MacLean crafts a delightful romance overflowing with laughter, adventure, intrigue and glorious sexual tension. Faithful readers will remember Felicity Faircloth from The Day of the Duchess (#3 in Scandals & Scoundrels series). Witty, intelligent, and quick on her feet, Felicity is a delight and I found myself utterly enchanted as she struggles to extract herself from yet another mess and is forced to deal with a man that not only understands her…but accepts her for who she is. She wants marriage and a family but only with love.
The Devil himself (the illegitimate son of a Duke and the King of London’s underground) has a troubled past and it colors his perceptions of people and romance. His reputation is hard won and he wields it like a sword. His insults and slights towards Felicity are countermanded by his overwhelming need to protective her-especially from himself.
“Lock this door behind me. You wouldn’t want a nefarious character coming in while you are asleep.”
“Locks didn’t keep the first nefarious character out of my room tonight.”
Sparkling chemistry sets off a game of wit between this strong-willed couple. It slowly burns only to blaze up as their attraction catches fire. The more time they spend together, their attraction for one another intensifies but Felicity must use all her skills to convince Devil they have a chance if he is willing to let go of his need for revenge. Emotions run high and the sexual tension is delicious as MacLean leads us towards the conclusion.
A dynamic set of secondary characters help to elevate and push the romance. Devil’s backstory includes three other people whose stories will come in the future though MacLean does dole out clues, hinting at what is to come. Felicity’s relationship with her brother and mother is so much fun. You can feel their love for one another in their lively banter.
“Oh, please. I told a tiny lie. […] Plenty of people have done far more outrageous things. It’s not as though I took up work in a bordello.”
“A tiny lie? And you shouldn’t even know the world bordello.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“I suppose you think that it isn’t proper, me knowing the word bordello.”
“I don’t think. And stop saying bordello.”
The ending is predictable though the hero’s grovel and the heroine’s insistence on saving herself and her man left me clapping my hands in excitement. A short sweet epilogue lets us know how our couple and other characters are doing. Another sure-fire winner for MacLean. I am looking forward to the second book in this series-Brazen and the Beast-set to release June 25, 2019
Fans of subversive fairytales will love the twists and turns Sharp imagines into her version of Cinderella. Witches, stepsisters, curses, prostitutes Fans of subversive fairytales will love the twists and turns Sharp imagines into her version of Cinderella. Witches, stepsisters, curses, prostitutes and some borrowed elements from other fairytales creates a story that is brimming with action, suspense, humor, romance, and a huge dose of feminism. I look forward to reading more from Sharpe in the future. ...more
Favorite Quote: “I know how to be Catalina Baylor, an ordinary person. I know what’s expected of me. I do not know how to be a Prime.”
Nevada Baylor aFavorite Quote: “I know how to be Catalina Baylor, an ordinary person. I know what’s expected of me. I do not know how to be a Prime.”
Nevada Baylor and Connor Ander Rogen are getting married and both families are ready to lend a hand in helping this couple tie the knot with no problems.
That’s easier said than done.
Catalina Baylor is at a crossroads since her power was outed to the world when she was declared a prime. Choosing to focus on her sister’s upcoming nuptials rather than her slowly imploding life, Catalina finds herself forced to once again use her powers when it becomes obvious that certain someone(s) want to stop the wedding no matter the cost.
As Catalina digs deeper into her investigation, she learns that jealousy is a powerful magic all it’s own but she is a Baylor and her sister will marry her Prince Charming if Catalina has anything to say about it.
Diamond Fire is a novella that picks up right after book three. It focuses on Catalina, Nevada’s sister, and a very rare Siren, building a bridge for the next full novel that is her journey. Catalina has been struggling with accepting her magic and the consequences of it since birth. If you are a Kate Daniels fan, you will recognize a similar element in that storyline. According to Greek mythology, Sirens are creatures who used their voices to lure sailors into crashing their ships upon the rocks of their island. Catalina’s life has been somewhat unconventional as she was only allowed interaction with people who were immune to her gift. Now older and more in control, she is able to turn it on and off at will. That, however, doesn’t negate its impact or her own feelings towards it.
“I had practiced controlling my magic since the moment I understood it ruined lives.”
Fast pacing propels the full-bodied storyline along. Witty dialogue and lots of action adds to the story’s overall appeal. I had so much fun reading this novella. I adored getting Catalina’s pov. A sweet teenager who just wants to be ‘normal’ in a family that is anything but. Intelligent and quiet, she isn’t a roll with it kinda girl. She needs rules to feel safe and being a Prime means she needs to learn a whole new set. She has a little bit of all her family in her, though it only shows when she has hit her breaking point. A tight-knit family, the Baylor’s are always there for one another. Through the good…and bad. Co-opted into helping plan Nevada’s wedding, you can’t help but laugh as she and her younger sister, Arabella, attempt to maneuver and manipulate Nevada when she becomes a little to bridezilla for them.
“The queen has dismissed us, “ Arabella announced.
I dropped into a deep curtsey. “Your majesty.”
“I hate you guys.”
“We hate you back,” Arabella told her.
“We hated you before the wedding.”
“Before it was cool to hate you.”
“Get out!” Nevada growled.
A theft and manipulative relatives lead Catalina on a merry chase and forcing her to confront all her fears. But luckily for her, she has more than the Baylor’s on her side this time. She now has the Rogan’s and no one crosses that family and survives.
Grade: A
***Smexybooks is giving away 1 copy of Diamond Fire. One lucky commenter to win. End 11/2.**
Favorite Quote: “Love is sending someone away because you would rather hurt than hurt them. Love is fighting beside them, bleeding along with them and putting their well-being above your own. Love is trembling at their touch so much that you do not notice that they are trembling at yours.”
“I’m not trembling.”
“I am,” he whispered and kissed me.
Reviewed by Tori
Dorina Basarab is a dhampir–half-human, half-vampire. As one of the Vampire Senate’s newest members, Dory already has a lot on her plate. But then a relative of one of Dory’s fey friends goes missing. They fear he’s been sold to a slaver who arranges fights–sometimes to the death–between different types of fey.
As Dory investigates, she and her friends learn the slavers are into something much bigger than a fight club. With the Vampire Senate gearing up for war with Faerie, it’ll take everything she has to defeat the slavers–and deal with the entirely too attractive master vampire Louis-Cesare…. (Goodreads)
Dory is once again tossed into the fray with little more than a prayer and some help from her friends. Currently living with her bestie Cassie who has her own issues, Dory is experiencing more activity from her twin, Dorina, the dhampir side of her personality. The increasing flashbacks and blackouts have Dory scared that Dorina will eventually take over her body. She is also helping Olga and the other trolls find the slavers and rescue Olga’s nephew while trying to stay alive since being “elected” to the North American Vampire Senate and keep her lover, Louis-Cesare, a master vampire and fellow senator, safe from her craziness.
“Why are you here?” I asked wearily, looking up at him. “Why wouldn’t I be?” “Because, when you hitched your wagon to the crazy, it wasn’t this crazy?”
For those not familiar with this series, it is a spin-off of Karen Chance’s Cassie Palmer series. This series revolves around Dorina (Dory) Bashabas who is a dhampir and the daughter of Mircea; a significant player in the Palmer series. I have been a long time fan of this series and have waited six years for this novel. Having not read the novella in between books 3 & 4, I left off after Fury’s Kiss and wow what a ride THAT was. As always, Chance jam packs her novel with action, suspense, intrigue, and violence while softening the never-ending blows with plenty of humor, wit, and some very nice romance scenes. It starts out with a bang and you are forced to hold on for dear life. Some may find the pacing slightly chaotic as we not only see Dory’s POV as expected but we also experience scenes from Dorina’s POV and are gifted with scenes from the past that highlight Dorina’s father’s actions- a nice addition because it goes far in explaining what happened to lead Dorina and Dory to this point. Dory is fighting on multiple fronts and she is tired and scared. Scared of losing her friends, family, lover…and now herself.
“Someday she would take over…then what would happen to me?”
I love Dorina. She is the definition of Urban Fantasy. Strong, snarky, vulnerable, and over 500 years old, she is the bogeyman that vampires fear. Born to a master manipulator who was cursed into being a vampire by a witch, she was ignored by her father for safety purposes and used by the Vampire Senate for centuries. Stronger and more secure in her life, Dory is slowing coming into her own and has enough powerful friends that any attempts to harm her will bring about serious consequences.
“What did you do to my car?” Blondie demanded, from the driver’s seat. “Is there a problem?” “You know damned well there’s a problem! It won’t go!” Purple Hair didn’t say anything, just stood there, all daytime dominatrix in black leather jeans and jacket, and a low-cut silk shirt the same shade as her hair. She checked me out, in my ratty sweats, and her eyes narrowed in judgment. Or, you know, because I hadn’t bothered to arm myself, and she was wondering why. “That’s a shame,” I said, glancing at Claire, who had come out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a flour-dusted apron. “I wonder what’s wrong with it.” Claire just smiled. It wasn’t a particularly nice expression. But Blondie didn’t seem to notice. “Damn it! This is brand-new,” he told us furiously. “If you’ve fucked it up—” A scaly arm reached through the window and jerked him out because Claire was suddenly beside the car. I blinked. I hadn’t even seen her move. I guess the vamps hadn’t, either. Because Purple Hair’s hand twitched, in the general direction of her jacket. I tensed, prepared to jump her, but she paused the action, probably realizing that she was about to make things worse. She had no idea. So both of us just stood there, watching Blondie kick his heels several inches off the ground because Claire is a tall drink of water. One who suddenly had a wealth of iridescent purple scales covering one arm. And three-inch talons, shading from black to maroon to milky white, on the newly armored hand. […] “My car now.” After a moment, Purple Hair looked at me. “The car we wrecked. It was hers?” I nodded. “Ah.” She looked at Claire. “Your car now.”
Vampire politics and fairy tales make for strange bedfellows and this book pounds that point home. The past features heavily in here; from the decisions Mircea made to try and save Dory’s life when she was a child to the ongoing war between the species and a long forgotten fae legend. All of it running together, flirting with one another until they collide with a bang, leaving Dory with an impossible decision to make.
Lots of new faces and old ones keep the story from becoming too bogged down. I found myself laughing at most of their antics. Ray, one of my favorite characters and Dory’s sidekick of sorts features heavily in here. He sees Dory as his new master and nothing will deter him from his new position.
“What?” he demanded. “You’re as much as a trainwreck as I am. And soon as the war’s over, someone else will have my seat anyway. You think they’re going to keep a dhampir on the Senate one second longer then they have to?” “Well, not with that attitude.”
Cassie remains an integral part of Dory’s life. As her bestie and a magical null who helps to keep Dory’s psychotic nature in check calm, she remains a constant but her own dual nature is beginning to show itself in some interesting ways. I can’t wait to see where this plot line goes. Olga and her boys are a hoot and definitely the muscle Dory needs. Meeting Dorina was a highlight of the book. Always there but never heard or seen, tucked away like a bad secret, it was enlightening to see things from her perspective. I found her scenes bittersweet as she tries to find her own footing as she tries to make Dory understand what is really happening while doing what she can, in her own homicidal way, to keep Dory safe.
… there’s a truth about pain that most people never learn unless they’re really unlucky. Or really long-lived, long enough to have felt almost every kind there is. Pain has a signature to it, a type, a song. The first time you experience a new one, it’s a bright, white-hot, cutting edge; or a searing, brain-twisting burn; or a shattering, soul-crushing thud; or any of the thousand other forms it takes to torment you.
But the second time? Or the third? Or the fiftieth? No. It’s still terrible, still rage inducing, still debilitating, but it’s not the same shock as at first. You know this song, all its terrible highs, and dismal lows; you can hum it with your eyes closed because it’s just that familiar. Not like a friend—never that—but like an old enemy you’ve grown to know as well as to hate, his weapons and his limits.
You know what he can do to you.
But you also know what he can’t.
As for Mircea…it’s a love/hate relationship. You’ve no doubt he loves Dory; he sacrificed much to obtain the means to save her life. But as always, there is a price to pay whenever he helps and unfortunately, Dory always seem to be the one who pays it. He’s a meddlesome dad who happens to be immortal. OY VEY. The real treat though, as always, was the time spent with Louis-Cesere. A Disney-esque prince (Dory’s own words) who is strong, intelligent, battle fierce and deeply in love with her and she can’t seem to accept it or understand why. But she is beginning to. There are some gauntlets they have to run and some issues that must be dealt with eventually but in the end, love triumphs and alls well that ends well.
“…when you’re part of someone else, you don’t get to make that call,” I told him quietly. And then felt like cursing, because the damned man still didn’t get it. I could see it in those shimmering blue eyes: confusion, awkwardness, more than a little fear. He, who wasn’t afraid of anything, was afraid of this. Of me. Of being sent away. And there was one really good way to solve that problem, wasn’t there? I felt my fangs pop. “I’m proprietorial about my things,” I snarled and bit him.
An enjoyable novella that revisits Ms. Carriger's Parasol Protectorate world with the wooing and romancing of a certain very grump gamma wolf and a yoAn enjoyable novella that revisits Ms. Carriger's Parasol Protectorate world with the wooing and romancing of a certain very grump gamma wolf and a young American woman for whom a moment of ill trust almost destroyed her. ...more
Favorite Quote: “Persephone’s blessing says hands off to creepy boys who bargain with the crossroads and want to hurt me.”
Rose Marshall died in 1952 in Buckley Township, MI. On her way to look for her boyfriend after he stood her up for the prom, she is chased to her death on the infamous Sparrow Hill Road. A psychopomp of sorts but referred to a hitcher, Rose haunts the local truck stops and diners, always the last face seen before death claims another traveler while staying one step ahead of her killer. Hellbent on winning her freedom from a man who bargained with the crossroads, Rose will do whatever it takes to destroy him. After all, she has all the time in the world.
Anyone who has grown up in the midwest has heard of the Phantom Prom Date Ghost or the Girl in the Silk Green Dress. An Urban legend that despite its many names and appearances, all centers around a sixteen-year-old girl who died on her way to the prom and often appears to those driving down a long winding road, looking for a ride home. McGuire expands upon this legend, gracing readers with a humorous and bittersweet piece of Americana folklore as she tells us the story of the spirit known as the Girl in the Diner, the Lady in Green, The Phantom Prom Date, the Shadow of Sparrow Hill Road, and her journey through death as she plays guide for the dead while plotting revenge against the man who killed her.
“Let’s go kick some dead guy arse.”
McGuire’s already active imagination goes into hyperspeed as she builds a whole nother world that exists between twilight and daybreak. Set in her Incrypid world, McGuire draws upon different legends and mythology to add flavor and depth to Rose’s story. Originally presented in serial form (2010), McGuire restructures these stories, shuffling them into four parts, with each part focusing on an individual moment in Rose’s life. Though they are all set loosely in order, they read a little abrupt with some repetition until they find their rhythm. Using a conversational style of narrative, McGuire flashes between the past and the present as she slowly prepares Rose for what’s to come.
Rose is an entertaining conversationalist. Lively and opinionated with a very dry wit, she had me laughing throughout the book.
“I have never wanted to punch a highway in the face as badly as I do right now.”
Though perpetually sixteen, Rose is no juvenile anymore having been dead for over fifty years. Surprisingly not bitter over what happened to her, she took her death in stride and now looks forward to the little things that soften the unbendable rules she is forced to adhere too. Cheeseburgers…milkshakes… a nice warm coat. She has plenty of friends among the living and dead, each one a viable force to be reckoned with. Rose’s home away from home is the Last Chance Diner, owned and operated by her bestie, a bean sidhe named Emma. Emma knows how the rules work with Rose and helps when she can, but she doesn’t coddle Rose and often tells it like it is.
“I’m not the only hitcher in this state.”
“Is that so? And what state are we in then, Rosie-my-dear? Denial? Transition? Oh, could be in the state of grace? I’m really quite fond of that one, grace.”
Other personable entities drift in and out of Rose’s life as she travels the ghostroads towards her destiny. A destiny that harkens back to her murder and a love that never died.
Sparrow Hill Road is a unique ghost story filled with both light and dark moments that offers readers something different in this genre. McGuire leaves us with more than one unanswered question and I am looking forward to revisiting this world and spending more time with Rose, Gary, and the other residents of this world. Book two
Wow, we’re at book ELEVEN already? I swear it seems just yesterday I nicked the first in this series out of an old lady’s hand who had waffled on buyiWow, we’re at book ELEVEN already? I swear it seems just yesterday I nicked the first in this series out of an old lady’s hand who had waffled on buying just a little too long for me. You snooze you lose! Finally back in Manhattan with our favorite pair main couple, Elena and Raphel, we immediately learn the calm before the storm is over. Using a base dipped in rich mythology and legend; it drapes itself over the story like a possessive lover. Clues from previous stories begin to make sense as Singh weaves a compelling tale of love, loss, betrayal, and sacrifice. I’m being purposely obtuse here as I really don’t want to spoil and there is ALOT to spoil in here. Archangel’s Prophecy is the turning point and there is no going back. Be forewarned, there is a bit of a cliffhanger in here though, in my opinion, it only adds to the overall anticipation once you get over the shock. I did feel the secondary storyline cluttered the main storyline and that the main conflict became a little verbose and repetitive towards the end.
Elena is regressing. The first human to ever be made immortal, she suddenly finds herself becoming more human as the world slowly begins to burn. A voice haunts Elena’s mind as a serial killer stalks the streets and the Cadre learns that the Archangel Favashi is beginning to show signs of madness. As Raphel races to save his beloved consort and mankind, it may be too late for any of them.
Robert “Dare” Ashton, the Earl of Darington, is an English privateer for the Royal Navy. His latest score involves incredible wealth when he strips a France freighter of its cargo of gold, silver, and jewels. Now plump in pocket, Dare turns his attention to settling down and he begins to look for a wife. An impromptu trip with his sister to a wedding results in their attempted kidnapping and him getting shot. Lucky for him, help arrives to save the day and his life.
Emma St. James is on her way to the docks to board a ship for America to wed a sea captain sight unseen. Her stepmother and brother’s repeated attempts to marry her off and steal her inheritance take on a sinister tone when they threaten to have her declared insane if she doesn’t do as they say. With only a maid in tow, Emma runs away. A random chance of fate puts in her in the path of kidnappers and an injured man. Using her wits, Emma hides the injured man and then helps him to a local inn where they pretend to be man and wife while she tends to his injuries.
An investigation shows the man who destroyed Dare’s family and robbed them blind is the same man behind the kidnapping. He sends Emma away to keep her safe as but they soon meet up again when Emma is forced to hide from her stepbrother on his ship. Dare will do anything to keep Emma safe…and he may have to before it’s all done.
The second book in Amanda Forester’s The Daring Marriages series is Dare’s story. If you read book one, If the Earl Only Knew, you remember that Dare and his twin sister Kate suffered greatly after their father died and their estate was plundered. Sent to debtors prison as children, they escaped and preserved though they still bear the scars of their childhood. Kate’s story is told in book one. You do not have to read it in order to understand the long reaching arc, Forester does a mild recap, however, it is amusing and introduces the main characters, the world, and sets the stage for the finale.
Earl Interrupted is an action-packed, adventurous concoction of humor and charm that introduces, by chance, two people who are perfect for one another. The long reaching arc is elevated by various subplots sprinkled throughout though the overall tension and drama is pretty lowkey. A steady hand opens the story and sets the stage with two eye opening introduction scenes. We watch our hero pirate a ship for it’s bounty while learning our heroine is an amateur physician who is in the midst of trying to keep her fortune from being stolen. Using dual first-person narrative, Forester switches between our hero and heroine, building up the anticipation as they inch their way to one another. The real fun begins with they meet. I do want to add that if you are looking for a historically proper or correct romance, this isn’t it. Forester takes too many liberties but the story works regardless.
Heavily character driven, Emma and Dare are delightful characters whose personalities shine through. Their witty banter and sexy flirtations kept me smiling throughout. Emma is quite unique in that she trained as a physician’s assistant under her father and when he passed, he left most his fortune (homes, etc…) to her. Raised almost exclusively by her father; Emma is opinionated, forthright, loyal, and intelligent. She makes her own choices in life, not at all that concerned with the priorities imposed by society or her stepmother’s wishes.
Dare is admirable, honorable, loyal, and A PIRATE!! :) He was forced to take on an adult role as a child after his father’s death and the steward’s betrayal. Sent with his sister to debtor’s prison, he has since used his wits to not only raise them both but replenish what was stolen from them. Now he searches for the man who destroyed his family while plundering other ships for treasure. :) As the current Earl, Dare knows he must marry but is positively being dubbed “the pirate Earl” will not work to his advantage.
And it doesn’t. He is turned down twice.
The romance is fun to watch unfold. Their attraction is instant and the flirtation lively but this couple stays rather chaste and uses their time together to get to know one another. I enjoyed that Dare didn’t judge Emma on her actions-thinking her forward or trying to trap him as one of this era might think. He showed her respect and admiration which elevated him even more in my eyes. There are a few stolen kisses, some heady looks, and a few sexual innuendos made but that is about all you’re going to get till the end. Dare proposes to Emma but she has committed herself to marrying someone else and doesn’t want to be someone’s obligation. Dare wants Emma but in what way is something he still needs to figure out.
An energetic and varied cast of secondary characters infiltrates the storyline, adding humor and depth. Dare’s sister Kate is in attendance and still fighting her attraction to the Earl of Wynbrook but he isn’t giving up yet. I adored Dare’s ship crew and how they immediately draw Emma into their group. Her maid Sally is a plot device used to show just how unconventional Emma is. Emma’s stepmother and brother aren’t so much villainous as selfish and greedy. Emma manages to elude quite easily.
Forester wraps up the storyline back where it all began; on the sea. Dare enacts his revenge and Emma once again comes to the rescue and saves the day. Most of the loose ends are wrapped with viable explanations and expected results.
I did have some issues. I felt some of the explanations resolved a little too easily for the stated damage done. One issue I really fought hard against was Emma herself. I loved her independence and general joyful outlook but there was a sense of naiveness to her that seems out of sorts. She does things that had anyone but Dare been witness to it, she would have been ostracised immediately. Forester gets around it by keeping Emma mostly secluded but gossip was a form of currency back then and no one was immune. Especially when one has a maid who doesn’t like them. And while I had no issues with the fact she was religious and vocal about it (she says little prays and quotes scripture throughout, I did find it odd that it received such a strong position in the book when seemed to serve no real purpose.
Regardless, Earl Interrupted is an enjoyable lightweight historical romance filled with humor, romance, high sea adventure, and of course, a well earned happily ever after.
Katherine Center celebrates the love, loss, hope, and rebirth in her latest release of a woman who is forced to re-evaluate her life after a tragic accident. Emotionally honest and poignant with a delightful thread of humor running through it, Center introduces us to Margaret Jacobsen, a 20 something who wakes from an injury with her life shattered. Readers share a front row seat with Margaret she returns to her childhood home to recuperate and piece together the fragments of her life while symontaniously dealing with her family’s dysfunctional ways and her fiancee’s guilt over her injuries. Narrated in a bright and bold voice with no filters, Margaret is forced to view her life and the choices she made through new eyes. When a romance develops in the most unlikely of places, Margaret sees a chance at a new future if she can come to terms with her past and present. How to Walk Away is a story of one woman’s journey through pain and betrayal to emerge triumphant as she and her family learn to embrace the challenges life has in store for her.
Margaret Jacobsen had it all; an exciting career, a gorgeous fiance, and a promising future. Until it was all taken from her in a single blinding flash. Waking up to discover her fiance drunk with guilt, her career all but destroyed, and her long lost sister suddenly back in the picture, Margaret must learn to accept to her new reality. Amidst all the guilt, self-pity, grief, anger, and smothering parents, a grumpy physical therapist offers Margaret a new chance at life and a chance at romance. As Margaret works hard to move forward with her life and her relationships with her family and friends, she discovers her life isn’t over but only taking her in a new direction if she is willing to take a chance and walk away from the old into the arms of the new.
“Nuh-uh. She’s married to my daddy.” “But your daddy kisses Dr. Declan, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah, but that’s different. They’re both boys […] See, if mommy gets someone new, it has to be a girl, that’s all. Sorry man, I don’t make the rules.”
An impulsive decision made years ago left Andi married and a mother at a young age. Older and wiser, Andi finally has the chance to leave the small town of Bitterroot, TX and pursue her dreams of becoming a singer, but unless she deals with the past and her own mistakes, she will never get past the town limits.
Malcolm Colton still harbors guilt over what happened. He never meant to hurt Andi but she was too young for him back then and by the time he saw what she was doing, it was too late. When he is hired by her father, any chance he might have had is lost. This time though, things will be different. He’s going to make sure of it. He and Andi are older now and he’s ready to explore the attraction between them, but he’s going to need a lot more than luck and love if he wants Andi to give him a second chance.
Honky Tonk Hellion is the first in a new series by Z.A. Maxfield. A spin off the My Cowboy series, this book continues the story from My Cowboy Promises, branching out and adding to it. Though you don’t have to read My Cowboy Promises to appreciate what is happening in here, I would recommend it. There is a lot of unspoken tension and various dynamics playing out that may not make sense if you aren’t privy to where they are coming from. The first person dual narrative doesn’t help. Maxfield does use Andi and Malcolm’s memories to give readers a low key recap but at times I couldn’t help but feel I was missing things.
Emotionally bittersweet with indulgent flashes of charm, wit, and sorrow, this second chance romance explores all the different definitions of love, family, and relationships. Two families in similar circumstances discover the will to move past the comfortable and secure to forge their own destinies-some with blessing and some with anger. Forgiveness and redemption cast a long shadow as Andi, Malcolm, Truman, and Lorelai all learn that sometimes in order to move forward, you have to be strong enough to let go of the past. Though a romance at heart, Maxfield engages in some social commentary as she speaks of the homophobia that is embedded in this little southern town and those who choose to fight against it.
“In Mr. Evans’s hierarchy of crime, lighting people’s porches on fire beats sexual shenanigans, and he’s prepared to ‘defend our right to be freaks anyway, because we’re (gosh danged) Americans, is what.'”
Though it took me a little while to connect with the flow of the narrative, I was soon caught up in this soap opera style drama and falling in love with these delightfully flawed characters. Andi Chandler-Dent hasn’t had it easy. Abandoned by her mother and raised by her tyrannical father, she looked for love in all the wrong places and soon found herself a mother at age 15. When she tells the father, he insists she get rid of it. Instead, she marries her best friend, Ryder, who is gay, declares him the legal father, and they raise baby Jonas together. Ryder eventually falls in love with the local doctor, Declan, and soon all of them pile into Declan’s home as one big happy family.
“I wave, and my odd little family waves back from the porch. My husband, his boyfriend, our son, and the dragon, Marge.”
I loved Andi. She is a fantastic combination of vulnerability and strength with a hefty dose of mother’s wisdom. Condemned by the town for her wild ways, her marriage to Ryder and the addition of Declan to their little family has marked them all for the worse. Ready to start the career she put off to be a mother, she is torn between her wants and her needs. Malcolm re-entering her life is an added pressure she doesn’t want. She loved him for so long but his repeated rejections created a wall between them that she is not ready to knock down.
I was prepared to hate Malcolm but you really can’t. He tries so hard to make up for what he did in the past though technically, he really didn’t do anything wrong. A former and really bad rodeo rider turned lawyer, he did what he felt was right by Andi so many years ago. Their age difference (22 to her 15) was not acceptable and he knew it. He never expected her to go after one of his best friends. He also never expected that friend to sleep with her so he blames himself for not stopping her. Add in his work for her dad and he can’t seem to catch a break with her. In an effort to make up for all the pain he has caused her, he arranges for his best friend, Truman King, the famous country singer, to come hear her sing.
“I keep getting involved in Andi Chandler’s affairs from the wrong side of the looking glass and now…I can’t stop.”
As Malcolm and Andi begin to work on healing, Maxfield introduces us to Kevin Braeden and his wife, Laurleen. This is really where the story really picks up and gets interesting. So much tension and anger in this little family. Kevin loves Truman and Laurleen and they all live together but he refuses to let them out of the closet. Andi’s arrival in Atlanta to record with Truman forces them all, her included, to take a good hard look at their lives and hearts. While Maxfield doesn’t really confirm or deny, there are clues towards emotional and physical abuse on Kevin’s end towards both Truman and Laurleen. I loved that Andi speaks her mind and doesn’t allow any of them to intimidate her.
“Own your shit. Take pride in it. Take care of it or you will lose it.”
“I’m supposed to care what because some entitled strangers want to know everything about my-”
“You’re supposed to care because you’re hurting two people who love you.”
The ending is a heartfelt affair as the very foundations of these two families are rocked by change. Difficult choices are made and new paths forged. Familiar faces from books four and five of The Cowboys series drift in and we are able to see how their lives are going. We are left with the knowledge that Andi and Malcolm have found their HFN and I can’t wait to see what Maxfield has in store for Laurleen, Truman, and Kevin.