Two mortal enemies must work together when their lives work is stolen and sold to the highest bidder. A bidder who wants to destroy them all.
Fans of Two mortal enemies must work together when their lives work is stolen and sold to the highest bidder. A bidder who wants to destroy them all.
Fans of Ilona Andrews' Hidden Legacy series will love the Kinsman series. Fated Blades is an ass-kicking enemy to lovers sci fi adventure filled with humor, sacrifice, drama, suspense, and a centuries-old family grudge. You don't have to read these in order to enjoy them.
An entertainingly start to an urban fantasy/paranormal mystery series that has a lot of potential once the author settles the storyline, smoothes out An entertainingly start to an urban fantasy/paranormal mystery series that has a lot of potential once the author settles the storyline, smoothes out the dialogue, and gets a handle on her tendency to repeat herself. ...more
Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser Mystery Suspense
I picked up this book because of the premise. A woman and her two kids disappear after a neigNot That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser Mystery Suspense
I picked up this book because of the premise. A woman and her two kids disappear after a neighborhood bonfire the night before. I thought it would be an amateur like detective mystery with the neighborhood women taking it upon themselves to find their friend and her kids and discover exactly what happened. Only, that’s not what we have here. Instead, the story focuses on two women, Izzy and Clara, and their struggle to understand what happened to their friend while dealing with their own issues. The beginning is strong. Strawser sets up the plotline and introduces the main characters, opening the story with a police detective visits Izzy, explaining her friend Kristen and her kids are missing and her ex-husband was the one who reported them missing. From there, the story flashes between Izzy and Clara, and the mystery slowly unfolds within their thoughts and observations. Izzy moved into the neighborhood after her sister married Izzy’s best friend and the man she loved. The man she never had the nerve to tell she loved. Clara loves her kids and her husband but beginning to questions her life and the decisions she made. I hit the 40% mark and realized how bored I was. Lots of talking and watching but little action. I could not connect with any of these characters. I think women’s fiction would have been a better genre to slate this in as it deals more with friendship, love, loss, and acceptance with a very light mystery. I gave up halfway in.
Once a year, the Empire requires the local villages to send a young woman to burned alive for the amusement of the Emperor and his queen. One village Once a year, the Empire requires the local villages to send a young woman to burned alive for the amusement of the Emperor and his queen. One village has sent the same young woman for five years; a young woman whose magic protects everyone in her village. Only this year, something has changed. Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator and the son of a chieftain is determined to escape his slavery and reclaim his birthright. But he needs Gilene and will use whatever possible to get her help. Now on the run, Azarion and Gilene will overcome extreme obstacles to get what has been taken from them. But in the end, in order to be free, Gilene will have to burn one more time.
Grave Draven’ lyrical voice soars in her latest fantasy endeavor filled with love, loss, retribution, and redemption. Emotionally plump and mastery written, Draven creates seemingly impossible odds for our protags to overcome and overcome they do, using their wits and skills. Told from dual POVS, the narrative expands the story, creating a rich sense of intimacy that gives readers insight into Azarion’s ingrained hero complex and the growing resentment Gilene feels as she is once again forced into a situation beyond her control. A slight power imbalance only sweetens the pot as Draven weaves in dark themes that are used to build this compelling world and character dynamics. A rich slow burn romance kept this reader on edge as Draven takes her time building the embers of friendship and trust into a burning inferno that inflames the mind, body, and soul. Though the main conflict is resolved to satisfaction, Draven leaves enough open to easily usher us into book two, title and release date to be announced. Once again Draven proves she is on her way to becoming a force to be reckoned with in the arena of high fantasy romance.
Are You Sleeping is a psychological thriller that uses social media and its intrusive nature to dissect a decade’s old murder and the characters who were affected by it. Two sisters are torn apart by the murder of their father, the abandonment of their mother, and a shocking betrayal, must come together and finally deal with the past. Barber flips back and forth between the podcasts and Josie as she struggles to understand what is happening and how to control the damage being created by it. Through Josie, we are guided down a long and twisting road of lies and secrets, manipulated by faulty recollections and the obligations of family.
While the mystery is a strong base the story is built on, I found the character dynamics far more prevalent. Josie is an intense neurotic character whose fear and anxiety are a tangible presence. She annoys, distracts, and wears you out as she tells her story, showing us the different ways people react to grief. Josie chooses to disappear. She leaves her hometown and heads to NYC to reinvent herself, leaving her past and family behind as she felt they left her. Now she is poised to lose it all. Her mother’s suicide sends her home and here the real Josie begins to emerge.
There is almost a sense of self-punishment involved as Josie simultaneously avoids the interview attempts of the extremely pushy Poppy Parnell (the investigator) while religiously listening to the podcasts and reading all the threads devoted to the podcast as the public begins to weigh in on the podcasts, asking their own questions and offering up advice and condemnation.
As the story plays out, Barber lets us form our own opinions about what happened as we follow along with the investigation and hear from all those involved from the police detectives to the man convicted of the murder itself. Barber does an excellent job of balancing the mystery with the internal conflict between Josie and her sister, Lanie. We learn the reasons behind their estrangement and watch their awkward attempts to move past it. We see the fragile yet unbreakable bonds that tie us to those we love regardless of how desperately we seek to escape them. Barber highlights the complicated dynamics that make up family, made more so by parental influence, flawed memories, and personal experiences.
As we head towards the finale and Barber begins to tie off all loose threads, the answers we have been seeking become crystal clear as the truth is finally revealed. I did have some issues. I wish Lanie and Caleb had evolved more beyond their preconceived roles. Both were never able to fully grow beyond Josie’s shadow. Josie’s lies about her past and reluctance to come clean to Caleb was odd and I felt she dragged it out for all too long. Also, I found the narrative tended to repeat itself when expounding on Josie’s past.
Regardless, Are You Sleeping engages the reader as it addresses the pervasiveness of social media and the harm it causes when used as judge and jury.
Killing June wasn’t at all like I expected though I’m not complaining. This author’s debut dark romance is far more nuanced and layered than I suspected; highlighted by a cast of intriguing and flawed characters who live in the gray area between right and wrong. More than just a BDSM themed erotic romance; it is a journey of one woman’s self-discovery as she learns about forgiveness, salvation, and redemption. Bridges does address some heavy and dark subject matter so some readers may want to proceed with caution.
Heavily character driven, the arc itself is interesting-one woman with two distinct and opposite lifestyles must find away out- but the characters are the stars in here, even when it doesn’t serve the storyline best. Bridges set the stage as we are immediately introduced to the main players and we get a hint at what’s to come. Intriguing narrative popped me easily right into the story as a strong forceful voice and smooth pacing kept me hooked. Even though Bridges switches between Alex and June regularity, the transference is very smooth and organic.
Alex/June isn’t the victim of a split personality but rather the shame of enjoying pain with sex. Having discovered this as a teenager, Alex and her best friend Robert explored various kink clubs in their search for gratification. A series of assaults in Alex’s past fractures Alex, blurring the lines between consent and force and forcing Alex, in her mind, to create June. Alex uses June as a tool to deliver and receive punishment. She also uses her as a bargaining chip. Robert helps Alex find clients and takes a cut in exchange for helping her locate someone from her past. As time passes, Alex struggles to keep herself and June separate. Especially when she has victimized again and learns that Robert hasn’t been honest with her.
Bridges does well in her development of Alex and June and highlighting their contrasts and similarities. The psychology behind it all is fascinating. Alex is an intelligent, well liked business woman with two loving parents whom she goes to church with once a month. In contrast, Ms. June is a mysterious dominatrix who offers her clients the pain and pleasure of the whip for a steep price and her own gratification. Their contrasts seem extreme until you get to know them. The crossovers in their personalities slowly emerge and we see how much Alex’s past reflects on the decisions June makes.
Cade and Robert are both interesting characters though not as dark as the blurb leads you to believe. Both are deep into the criminal underground. Robert is the local drug czar and loan shark while Cade is a freelance enforcer. We meet them both in violence. Cade bursts in on June during a session as he has been paid to collect her client for an overdue debt. We soon learn Robert set it all up when June goes to confront him. Cade, though styled as an anti-hero, isn’t really a bad person though he is extremely comfortable in his lifestyle. He sees the maelstrom surrounding Alex and does everything he can to try and help her, even when he discovers the extent of her issues and learns the hard way you can’t force someone to change. Robert, in contrast, comes off somewhat sad and pathetic. You don’t doubt he loves Alex but his love has become corrupted and he has been controlling her through June. He’s like a little kid who has it all but is always unhappy.
Sexually, Alex and Cade are as explosive as unstable dynamite. Their chemistry is off the charts and Bridges makes sure to explore that chemistry while slowly developing their romance. Cade tries so hard to be what Alex needs and is more than able to satisfy her both physically and emotionally though he pushes her constantly in an effort to help her heal. I love that the BDSM is not made a flaw and interweaves with the romance flawlessly. It is an essential part of Alex’s sexuality and while her methods are suspect, her being a masochist is not.
The drama and suspense all boil together softly, increasing its roll till we reach the end and its climactic finale. I did feel it took way too long to get to the cusp of Alex’s issues. I knew what it was right off the bat. Also, Alex’s blackmail problem was more an annoyance and she could have nipped that in the bud from the onset. The longevity of the conflicts felt a bit manipulative to the storyline. The ending felt rushed but I did appreciate the thorough clean up of plotlines and settling of the romance. This is the first book of the series and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I am looking forward to reading more from May Bridges in the future.
After Christina Henry’s masterful retelling of Alice in Wonderland, she brings her talent to J.M. Barres’ story of Peter Pan, subverting the tale into a darker frame as we see Peter Pan through the eyes of his greatest enemy and former best friend…Captain Hook.
“Peter will say I’m a villain, that I wronged him, that I never was his friend. But I told you already. Peter lies. This is what really happened.”
Jamie, the narrator of the story, is one of the first Lost Boys and Peter Pan’s best friend. Though he looks to be between eight and twelve, he is in reality 100 plus years old and he has slowly grown disillusioned with his endless childhood and the burdens placed on him by Peter’s callousness, irresponsibility, and perpetually need for adoration.
“I had been with Peter longer than I’d been in the Other Place, longer than I could count, anyway.”
Jamie assumes responsibility for the boys Peter brings over from the Other Place though Peter insults him by frequently comparing him to the dreaded grown up for babying and mothering the boys. It doesn’t take long for Jamie and the others to realize that never growing up doesn’t mean immortality. Neverland is an island of adventure of unseen dangers with pirates, crocodiles, sharks, mermaids, and other vicious beings inhabiting the landscape.
“The island takes them and chews them up.“
And when the boys succumb to death one by one (through illness or other methods), Jamie is the one who buries and mourns him. When Peter lures an orphaned five-year-old to the island against Jamie’s advice, Jamie finds himself in the role of protector when Peter grows jealous of Charlie and seeks to permanently get rid of him.
“I stared after him, felt the familiar mix of love and worship and frustration that I often felt with Peter. You couldn’t change him. He didn’t want to be changed. That was why he lived on the island in the first place.”
Fans of Disney’s or Barres’ versions of Peter Pan will be hard pressed to conjure up the usual feeling of nostalgia over their childhood favorite with this version. Though this is a story filled with the magic and mayhem of childhood fantasies, it is also a story of murder, madness, and violence. Henry keeps the story fresh and energetic with diabolical twists and turns to keep us guessing. Dynamic characterization and narration bring the story to life as Henry shows us how Captain Hook came to be and why.
“Peter needed to be the hero, so somebody needed to be a villain.”
In here, Peter Pan is a narcissistic sociopath who uses the island of Neverland and the fear of growing old to entice children into joining him in his never ending quest for adventure and excitement. But as always, promises from the devil come at a high price.
“To Peter, all children were replaceable (except for himself). When he lost one here on the island he would go get a new one, preferable an unwanted one, because then the boy didn’t miss the Other Place so much and he was happy to be here and to do what Peter wanted.”
There is a Lord of the Flies feeling in here as Jamie gives voice to the rot and anger festering underneath the surface of Peter and the island. Peter encourages the violence and bloodshed of the their games and it’s only after Jamie rips aside the last remaining vestiges of his childhood does he learn exactly why. Peter’s final and most brutal betrayal of Jamie combined with Henry’s subtle nods towards Wendy and Tinkerbell floods the story with anticipation and sorrow as Henry prepares us for the end.
“Peter will never let me go. If I’m not to be his playmate and friend, then I am to be his playmate and enemy. He brought me to this island and he swore I would never leave and so I haven’t.”
Once again, Henry takes readers on an adventure of epic and horrific proportions as she reinvents a childhood classic using our own fears and desires. Her smooth prose and firm writing hooked me up instantly and held me hostage to the very end. I am firmly team Captain Hook and I hope there will be a sequel.
Favorite Quote: “One of these days you’re going to say my name, and you’re going to say please, and then you’re not going to be able to say anything at all.”
Awkward can’t even begin to describe this couple’s relationship. Anne Calhoun brings the heat when she reconnects Riva Henneman with the man she fell in love with seven years ago. Ian Hawthorne. The only problem is he was the undercover cop who busted her for selling drugs on the local college campus and then blackmailed her into becoming his CI.
Riva ends up leaving college after her arrest and now manages a farm to kitchen restaurant that teaches urban kids how to eat and cook healthier. She is shocked when Ian walks through her door. When she learns he has arrested one of her kids and wants to use him like he used her, she jumps in and offers to give Ian the bust of a lifetime. The top man behind the drug ring.
Ian Hawthorne knows what it’s like to have his dreams derailed. A former navy seal candidate sidelined by cancer, he is now a Lieutenant in the Lancaster PD and up for a promotion. The guilt he feels over his actions concerning Riva seven years ago rides him hard. He knows he strong armed her into being his CI and put her in danger in order to boost his own career. He also fell in love with her but knew the power dynamics were all wrong and he refused to lose his job over her.
She’d always been his, the power he had over her as close to owning another human being as possible, and therefore never his. Riva had never chosen him.
Now seven years later, he’s surprised to see her and even more shocked when he learns she’d held out on him. He agrees to her terms, only this time they will go undercover together. And when he gets what he needs, he will once again have to turn her loose and this time hope she comes back to him.
Turn Me Loose is the 6th book in Anne Calhoun’s Alpha Ops series and continues with the drug running/corrupt law enforcement subplot from book five-Going Deep. Each book can be read comfortably as a standalone though there is character and scene cross over from previous books. I found this one more balanced and emotionally tight then the last book. Well written with an intriguing suspenseful plotline and enlightening dialogue; it’s the main protagonists and their journey of growth and second chances that is the main theme of the story. Calhoun works her magic in creating two characters whose inability to act on their feelings for one another is more than a just stubbornness or a few simple issues to overcome. Calhoun interjects pieces of their past into the story, showing readers exactly what happened and where they stand now.
“Would it make you feel better if I crossed that line? Give you plausible deniability?”
Riva Henneman learned at an early age to never show fear and to do as her father bid her to do. When she was arrested and her father washed his hands of her, she handled it all on her own. A born protector, Riva sacrifices herself again in order to help one of her kids, Riva will have to go back under Ian’s thumb again which brings to the surface all the resentment and distrust she has harbored towards him since the arrest. Though she understood and agreed with the arrest, she freely admits she was breaking the law, she chafed at the leash he put on her and the subservient role she was forced to play.
He pointed, she walked. He insisted, she gave in. He judged, she swallowed her pride. Seven years ago he held all the power in his hand, because helping him was the only thing that stood between her and prison. She’d resented him with every cell in her body, and wanted him just as badly.
Ian Hawthorne was raised in a law abiding family. A police officer with a chip on his shoulder, he used what and who he had to as he made his way up the chain of command. Older and wiser, he is a mess of emotions when he and Riva connect again. He’s thrilled to see her again, their attraction rearing it’s head as if they had never parted, but angry she kept something this important from him. He feels betrayed though he knows deep down he’s reacting more from the heart than the head.
The lie of omission stung more fiercely than it should have, and not just because she withheld critical information about known illegal activities. She’s withheld a key piece of information about herself. […] He’d taken care of her and she’d lied to him.
The romance is deliciously slow-burning and brimming with angst and anger as Ian and Riva delightfully poke and jab at one another in attempts to hide their fear and longing. The chemistry smolders heavy as they each struggle to deal with the changes in their relationship. It’s a strong part of the storyline and complements the conflict It was very easy to get caught up in the emotional currents of these two lovers. Calhoun gives this couple plenty of time to work on their issues; attempting to heal and move on from their past relationship and dealing with the imperfect power balance that still exists. Snark tinged humor and lushly satisfying sexual scenes help to offset the razor sharp edge of tension riding this couple and give them a push when they got a little mired down in their thoughts.
“You have to call me Ian. Say my name.”
The only sounds in the apartment were the soft hum of the ventilation system and her heart pounding in her ears. Their strange, strained relationship was so intimate in so many ways, but she’d never used his first name. “Ian.”
“Again.”
Her head snapped up. “Ian.”
“Again.”
“IAN.”
“Good. Now use it conversationally.”
“Fuck you, Ian.”
[…]
“Wow That sounds different when I use your name. Lieutenant Hawthorne has the right to coerce. Ian doesn’t.”
Though we aren’t inundated with a lot of action in terms of the main conflict, we already know who the villain is, Calhoun still ratchets up the tension and intrigue as Ian and Riva work to bring down a drug kingpin. One whose connections to Riva spell danger and possible death to more than just these two if Ian’s cover is blown. I enjoyed seeing some familiar faces from previous books and learning of some possibly new couple hookups in future books.
Once again Calhoun writes a romance that digs deep into your heart, creating a relationship between you and the couple, making the outcome personal. Turn Me Loose is a must read for those who love their romances sexy, dark, and uncertain.
A fantastic and OMG SO HAWT prequel to Enemies Like You. I love antagonist relationships and this looks to be a doozy. Two men on opposite sides of thA fantastic and OMG SO HAWT prequel to Enemies Like You. I love antagonist relationships and this looks to be a doozy. Two men on opposite sides of the war-one is determined to save his client while the other is determined to kill him. Intense sexual tension balances well with the dark edginess of the main conflict. ...more
An emotional erotic story that digs in deep and doesn't let go.
By Her Touch by Adriana Anders is book two in her Blank Canvas series and in my opinioAn emotional erotic story that digs in deep and doesn't let go.
By Her Touch by Adriana Anders is book two in her Blank Canvas series and in my opinion better written than book one. Just as emotionally erotic, I really felt Anders goes above and beyond with her in-depth characterization of both hero and heroine, the joint background reveals, and the verbalization of their pain, and their individual issues with intimacy. The hint of mystery and suspense only adds to the appeal. A sure fire winner....more
I couldn't get past the 50% mark with the unlikable characters, choppy narrative, and slow moving storyline. If you are expecting something similar inI couldn't get past the 50% mark with the unlikable characters, choppy narrative, and slow moving storyline. If you are expecting something similar in writing or appeal as her later series-The Bronze Horseman-you'll be disappointed. ...more
Favorite Quote: “Ironman sounds suspicious to me. What are the others?”
“There’s Thor, the Hulk,” he began.
“Sounds like porn.”
The 44th case in Lieutenant Eve Dallas’ murder book opens to Eve and Roarke nearly hitting a young lady who walks out in front of their car. Naked, bloody, and obviously injured, they take her to the nearest hospital where they learn her name is Daphne Strazza, wife to renowned surgeon Dr. Anthony Strazza. A quick case of the house shows the husband is dead, brutally beaten to death, and the house robbed. The only clue they can get out the traumatized Daphne is that it was “the Devil.”
As Eve and Peabody investigate, they learn that this one in a string of related crimes where couples are targeted and terrorized by a masked intruder but the first where a death has occurred. They also learn that Dr. Strazza may have been a wonderful surgeon, he was a terrible person and his wife was a victim of abuse before the crime even occurred.
As Eve races against the clock to find and stop the person responsible for these heinous crimes, she must also deal with flashbacks from her own childhood as she realizes the similarities between herself and Daphne Strazza are greater than she first suspected. But that doesn’t stop her from fighting for all the victims in this case. Even the ones who don’t seem to deserve it.
“No matter your race, creed, sexual orientation, or political affiliation, we protect and serve. Because you could get dead.’”
“Even if you were an asshole. We added an addendum on”
I’m a huge fan of J.D Robb’s In Death mystery/thriller series. While in no form or fashion can these mysteries be considered cozies, there is a certain appeal to the familiarity of the world and the characters who preside in it. Eve is a formidable heroine who has captivated readers from the beginning. We have watched her evolve from abused child to top notch cop through her memories. We have witnessed her falling desperately in love with her husband Roarke and eventually learning to not only accept the fact she deserves love but have seen her fight for that love. We have watched her make lifelong friends, develop pseudo family bonds with an older trust confidant, and finally grow comfortable in her own skin.
“The gods, she decided, had opted to mix together all the best elements of warrior, poet, angel-the fallen variety to add some spice-and then deemed he’d love an unsociable, badass murder cop.”
This is one of Robb’s darker mysteries with a healthy dose of suspense and intrigue. I want to note that there are triggers in here that may distress some readers. Per usual, Eve and her team use their skills and knowledge to try and find a serial rapist before he strikes again. The pacing and dialogue flow at a comfortable speed and I enjoy the ease at which Robb flows between Eve’s personal life and her professional one. As the nature of the crimes committed speaks personally to Eve, we see the connections made and the flashbacks that plague Eve. She forms a personal connection with female survivors; especially Daphne Strazza.
“You came here. You asked to help someone. You are no weak sister. “
Old friends along with some new ones take readers through a gauntlet of emotions-making us laugh, rage, and shed a few tears as Eve hunts her prey. Eve’s continued mangling of familiar sayings only adds to the feelings of comfort and familiarity. The softer storyline allows readers to spend more time with the NYSPD and the family style atmosphere only further enhances how much the story and characters have grown. The romance and chemistry between Eve and Roarke is still blazingly hot and Robb doesn’t cheat readers out of their private times together.
The ending was intense but predictable. I figure out early on who the villain was and everyone knows Eve ALWAYS gets her ‘man but regardless the journey was a solid read. Echoes in Death is a welcomed addition to the series, giving readers a suspenseful mystery to help solve and a dynamic couple whose love affair continues to capture our attention even 44 books in. I love visiting NY with Robb and look forward to the next installment.
The date is 1963 and two elves compete for prestige and honor at a job fair after college graduation. Felecia Eloytrisk Cambri (Trisk) and Trenton Kalamack (Kal), have despised one another for years. An argument at the job fair ends up with both of them chastised and no longer top recruiting prospectives. Trisk is offered a job with Global Industries, a human laboratory. Her job is to monitor the lab tests the humans are running, reporting anything of interest back to the elven conclave. When a fellow human scientist, Daniel Plank, develops a biological virus to be used in war, Trisk uses her skills to tweak it so it doesn’t affect any Interlanders (supernaturals). At the same time, she herself creates a strain of almost indestructible tomatoes to try and help end hunger. When Kal is brought in by the conclave to “check” over Trisk’s work, his ego gets the best of him and we are left with a killer tomato that systemically begins to wipe out the human race.
Fans of Kim Harrison’s epic urban fantasy series The Hollows and its itchy witchy heroine, Rachel Morgan, will want to jump on Harrison’s’ newest release, The Turn. This prequel introduces the world, creating a light background bridge of information for first time readers while giving long time fans a chance to see how it all started and get some answers to lingering questions.
Fans will remember that the decline of the human population, the initial reveal of the supernatural community, and the subsequent chaos that followed for YEARS all boiled down to a virus that was blamed on tomatoes. T4-Angel tomatoes to be exact. The Turn explains the hows, the whys, and most importantly, the WHOs that set all this into motion.
Action packed with plenty of intrigue, mystery, a machiavellian like series of plot lines, and Harrison’s winning dialogue keeps pacing smooth and steady. The genre seems to split between UF and mystery/thriller with a strong dose of corporate espionage. Harrison doles out the information is a manner that instantly draws you in and holds you hostage till the end. Strong characterization and dialogue engages as Harrison builds her cast of players-using new and familiar faces. The balance between the story and the characters is well maintained-neither overpowering nor sacrificing for the other. Fans may be disappointed to see that while a romance does slowly develop, it’s awkward and added more for the convenience of the story rather than an organic pairing.
I loved getting to meet the faces behind the events that made up the basis of The Hollow series and also seeing some very familiar faces. Trisk is utterly brilliant in her makeup and showcases the strong and appealing heroines Harrison is famous for. Kal is an egotistical jerk who you will love to hate. Trisk and Kal’s relationship is very similar to that of Rachel and Kal’s son, Trent. Their antagonism is so prevalent in the story it is the fuel that powers everything. It was interesting to see that Trent got his elitist attitude honestly thought there are some things revealed that will cause some to look at the little cookie maker a little differently. Daniel was a delight and I wish we could have gotten to see what became of him. It was great to see Quen, Cormel, and others who held huge roles in Rachel Morgan’s world. Reading this story really made me miss this series.
Though tragic in ways that we know can’t be fixed, Harrison offsets the seriousness with humor, love, and shows us that in times of great need, people will rise to the occasion. She leaves us with a viable ending that leads us into world we came to love and I’m thrilled Harrison choose to revisit it one last time.
Stein once again builds an intriguing, heavily characterized story that is far more complicated than originally suspected. Lydia finds herself the victim of assault though she is saved from rape by one of the men who broke into her home. When her roommate pressures her to go to group therapy, she meets Isaac whose ability to erect barriers gives him what she wants-emotional & physical immunity from the world. She asks him for help and soon they are spending time together. When the attraction between them becomes too much to bear, Lydia and Isaac begin a relationship but there are things Isaac hasn’t told Lydia…things that may very well destroy her.
I am a huge fan of Stein’s work. Her writing skills and intuitive voice are instantly appealing. This particular series has been a roller coaster ride for me. I wasn’t a fan of book one but book two blew me away. I find this one landed right in the middle. I enjoyed the setup and hint of suspense that intertwines through the story. Wonderfully paced narrative and dialogue gives our couple the dynamics in which to meet and develop a realistic relationship. My main issue was the lack of connection I felt between them. Of course, the elephant in the room is responsible for that but I found even after Lydia learns the truth, I still didn’t feel they belonged together. An abrupt ending that leaves their fate up in the air only solidified my feelings....more