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
The latest romance suspense series from Christina Dodd is an odd story that offers readers two interesting mysteries as readers find themselveGrade: C
The latest romance suspense series from Christina Dodd is an odd story that offers readers two interesting mysteries as readers find themselves trapped at an exclusive resort where everyone seems to have a secret. The tagline instantly captivates...
I have three confessions to make: 1. I’ve got the scar of a gunshot on my forehead. 2. I don’t remember an entire year of my life. 3. My name is Kellen Adams…and that’s half a lie.
and hooks you up as the story reveals a mixture of suspense, intrigue, action, and murder. Told from the heroine’s POV, Kellon, we see how she came to the resort and why as she flashes between the past and the present. While Dodd reveals the motives of the various mysteries almost from the beginning; it becomes apparent that there is so much we and the heroine do not know. Multiple plot lines give readers a plethora of suspects and clues to unravel while the obviously unreliable narrative and odd dialogue create an interesting abet confusing paradox of information. The anti-climatic and cliffhanger ending wasn’t expected and left me feeling manipulated and skeptical of Dodd’s intentions. Enjoyable up to a certain point, I'm on the fence for book two....more
DNF Demons, Watchers, and Guardians…OH MY. Warren’s latest PNR involves Gargoyles and saving the world.I enjoyed her The Others series which I found thDNF Demons, Watchers, and Guardians…OH MY. Warren’s latest PNR involves Gargoyles and saving the world.I enjoyed her The Others series which I found the perfect blend of action, romance, and dry humor. I hadn’t read the first five of this series but I know Warren usually writes her books as standalones. Warren starts off recapping the ongoing arc painstakingly explaining the world and the events that led up to where we are now and jumping immediately into the action. The premise is good vs evil. Demons break free their prison to come overtake the world and a group of watchers “wake up” their guardians/gargoyles to fight and dispatch them back to Hell. The gargoyles are then put back to sleep until they are needed again. Of course, after never-ending cycles of this the gargoyles get tired of being used and stop coming to the rescue. Now the watchers are being murdered and a new batch of watchers are being inducted-female watchers. Unfortunately, I couldn’t even get past the first 20% of this one. I couldn’t seem to connect on any level and the dry academic tone bored me....more
We met our hero, the genetically ill Alastor Vega, book one, He, along with various other leaders, all met in Ash Valley to broker a peace treGrade: B
We met our hero, the genetically ill Alastor Vega, book one, He, along with various other leaders, all met in Ash Valley to broker a peace treaty. The treaty was broken by Vega’s power hungry brother and now a reluctant and Alastair must muster forces and the strength to defeat his brother before he destroys them all. He receives some help from Dr. Sheyla Halek, a physician and feline shifter who follows him into battle to ensure he stay alive. As allies and enemies turn and battles rage Alaster and Sheyla grow closer and eventually succumb to the blazing hot chemistry that burns between them. Their relationship is doomed from the start unless they are willing to fight for what they want and need-each other.
I thoroughly enjoyed book one of this series-The Leopard King. A paranormal romance with a strong fantasy base, Aguirre introduced us to a world of shifters, politics, and magic. I was pleased to see the world building was increased and we learn more about the various races and their history. Flowing informative narrative, strong and concise plotlines, well-developed characters, witty dialogue and some surprising racy sex scenes. Seems our couple likes some kink in their connection. *wiggles eyebrows* Alaster and Shelya fit well together and Aguirre moves their romance at a comfortable speed with very little conflict. Action packed with pinches of suspense and intrigue, I am looking forward to book three-The Wolf Lord-blurb and release date to be announced....more
Urban Fantasy welcomes Chelsea Mueller and her authorial debut with open arms as she introduces readers to Gem City, a place where religion holds sway and people are able to borrow souls for a price in order to commit sin without compromising their own. All condoned by the Church. Solid characters and familiar content create a comfortable base for readers to begin their journey. Key elements emerge and engage as Mueller balances the world building and character set up with the main conflict. Snarky wit and snappy narrative keep the story flowing at an enjoyable pace. Multiple subplots offer readers the assurance that this is just the beginning of what’s to come.Though this particular world view isn’t new (think Stacia Kane’s Downside series) Mueller adds her own personal stamp to it and creates an action packed unique adventure that I quite enjoyed.
Our protagonist, Callie Delego, is 22 years old and has spent her life taking care of her mom and brother. She finds herself forced into one predicament after another because of her drug addict brother and her motto that family always come first. Not your usual urban fantasy heroine, Callie isn’t a natural born warrior or a powerful magic wielder. She isn’t on a mission of revenge, redemption, or growth. She’s just an average woman whose unwavering loyalty towards her worthless family is her Achilles heel. Her vulnerability and low self-esteem make it hard to connect with her at first though you begin to understand her motivations as you get to know her. She makes choices that come across as weak and/or naive but there is a commendable determination to her actions. She is who she is and she neither excuses herself nor expects you to make excuses for her. I am very interested to see what direction Mueller takes in Callie’s growth and evolution.
An interesting and diverse cast of secondary characters decorates the story, each with their own story and agenda that looks to slowly reveal over the course of the series. Callie’s mother and brother are both manipulative users who use the past to keep a tight leash around Callie’s neck. Derek is an enigma and very sweet, patient, and protective under his rather large and gruff exterior. An enforcer for the Soul Charmer, he is who you’ll meet if you don’t return the soul you borrowed on time. His and Callie’s romance is slow to develop and actually quite charming but still moved a little faster than I was used to in Urban Fantasy. I’m curious to see if his connection to his boss is what I think it is and with whom his loyalties will eventually end up. The Soul Charmer and Ford the crime boss are both villains of the story and each wants something from Callie regardless of the price she may be forced to pay. I enjoyed the multiple dimensions Mueller gave her characters. They are neither predictable nor expected. The notion of good and evil is subjective and even Callie has shades of gray within her.
I did find the story dragged a little at times but that is common with the first book of a series, especially in fantasy. Heavy magical world and character building take time and it can interfere with the flow of the story line. I also found the romance a bit premature. I would have liked for a slower build up between Derek and Callie, perhaps over a couple of books, but that is my personal preference when it comes to urban fantasy.
Mueller leaves us with plenty of questions and concerns as she breaks off rather abruptly and leaves Gem City. Callie’s life is changing…whether it’s for better or worse remains to be seen. I look forward to reading the next in the series, title and release date to be announced. If you looking for something beyond the usual shifters, mages, and vampires in your urban fantasy then Chelsea Mueller has the perfect read for you.
Now for the fun part!! I have one copy of Borrowed Souls to give away. Just leave a comment telling me what your favorite urban fantasy trope is. I will pick a winner Sunday. Giveaway is open to US residents only.
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.
Favorite Quote: “Hey. The stable called, they want their high horse back.”
Genie McQueen is back and ready to rock and roll in the second installment of Sierra Dean’s spin off series-Genie McQueen. Fans will remember meeting Genie in Dean’s parent series-Secret McQueen. Genie is Secret’s sister-same mom, different dad. Unlike Secret, Genie is half werewolf and half witch. Like Secret, she is a magnet for trouble. Recently made alpha of New Orleans by her uncle Callium, the King of the South, she is slowly coming to terms with her added responsibility.
When two of her pack are arrested for suspicion of murder, Genie involves herself in the police investigation to help prove their innocence. At the same time, her ex boyfriend Cash requests her help in locating some missing girls at his girlfriend’s sorority house. Plus, her twin brother Ben is in town intent on causing trouble. Using her wits and magic, Genie dives in to try and tries save her boys, find the missing girls, kick her brother’s butt, and get herself a first date with her hot new boyfriend.
Black Magic Bayou is a strong, well written sequel that picks up where book one, Bayou Blues, leaves off while helping to re-familiarize readers with Genie McQueen and her small slice of the McQueen world while introducing some new characters and setting up future plotlines. Jam packed with action, humor, romance, and some seriously scary things that go bump in the night, Genie’s first true test as the Alpha of New Orleans requires her to
Heavily character driven, Dean balances on a fine line with her latest heroine whose character and situation similarities to her sister are noticeable yet Dean admirably strives to keep Genie her own person. This likable, engaging heroine has the powers and skills, neither which guarantee she will survive whatever is thrown her way, and it makes for an enjoyable ride. I like that her magic isn’t treated as something horrible to be hidden in fear of the consequences. She embraces both sides of her nature; not seeing herself as an either/or.
It helps that Genie was raised in the pack and received training as a witch and that she doesn’t have to deal with all the extra baggage her sister was forced to drag around with her. It also helps that unlike Secret, Genie only has to answer to Callium (and possibly her grandmother).
The two conflicts ride side by side with Genie trying to solve them both, though I felt the sorority conflict was more tighter and more evolved. Dean uses one to solve the other, effectively morphing them into one with some interesting results. Plenty of twists and turns takes us on an fast paced enjoyable investigative ride that leaves you a little shocked at results. Genie’s own actions show us the surety of future issues with her dual nature as does the introduction of Santiago-a male witch who offers her some warnings. He is an interesting mixture of appeal for Genie; both in terms of attraction and power and that worries me a little. He is what Genie could be if she practiced her magic more, a powerful draw, that could lead to possibility of a love triangle. As Genie seems to have made the choice to be with Wilder, I hope this is just a feeling on my part.
The ending resolves the main conflict though we are left with some open plot lines that I’m sure will cause Genie some problems in the future. A small cliffhanger scene at the very end only solidifies that.
Black Magic Bayou gives us another McQueen to love and cheer for and I can’t wait to see what Dean has in store for Genie and the pack next.
The first book in Aguirre’s newest PNR series-Ars Numina- introduces us to a world of danger, intrigue, and an emotional second chance romance as a yoThe first book in Aguirre’s newest PNR series-Ars Numina- introduces us to a world of danger, intrigue, and an emotional second chance romance as a young woman risks it all to save her people from destruction. Fantastic world building and exceptional characterization left me engaged from page one. I can’t wait for book 2-The Demon Prince.
I do hope book 2 divulges a little deeper into the history of this world, giving us insight into how the different species came into existence, how and if they co-exist with humans, and the basis of the war at hand. ...more
Gods, goddesses, pantheons, explosive magic, vengeful antagonists, and a world on the brink of destruction is just the beginning in Galenorn’s newest PNR series-Fury Unbound. This action-packed supernatural conflict is saturated with Galenorn’s trademark wicked humor, personable characters, and explicit attention to detail. Set in an alternative post-apocalyptic Seattle, the world has been changed drastically due to a temper tantrum thrown by the goddess, Gaia. One woman, Kaeleen Donovan aka Fury, a servant to Hecate, is charged with recovering an ancient artifact before it falls into the wrong hands. As with most fantasy-based stories, the world building, and character setup holds a large part of the storyline though I found the sheer amount of information pushed at us in the beginning daunting and somewhat confusing. The story soon settles and we are off as Galenorn takes readers on a wild untamed ride that will leave readers ready for the next installment. My only qualm, besides the information overload in the beginning, was the weak interaction with the main antagonist . I hope the following novels allows them more on-screen time. ...more
Struck is the first in her new PNR Phoebe Meadows series. A young woman finds out the hard way that she is the result of a liaison between Odin andDNF
Struck is the first in her new PNR Phoebe Meadows series. A young woman finds out the hard way that she is the result of a liaison between Odin and a shieldmaiden. Forced on the run, she finds herself struggling to accept her destiny while trying to stay alive. I am a fan of Amanda Carlson’s and Viking/Norse mythology so I was excited to be offered an arc. I really wanted to like this one but there was just no connection for me. I like the potential of what Phoebe and the arc could become but watching her and the arc set up was painful. Her inability to accept what was right in front of her left her and those helping her in hot water. I found her struggles to survive more irritating them adventurous.The narrative was odd. It felt forced at times; the humor an uncomfortable addition. The storyline also seemed to struggle to find balance between the seriousness and more comedic aspects, giving the story an unbalanced feel. While reading, I kept feeling as though I was missing some pivotal scene. Certain plotlines didn’t reveal well or skipped around so much I became lost. I did like the secondary characters-especially the witches who I thought were very well developed-but not enough to keep me engaged. I may try again in the future but for now I don’t feel this series is for me....more
The Sweetest Burn is the 2nd installment in Jeaniene Frost’s New Adult fantasy series-Broken Destiny. Book one-Beautiful Ashes– introduced us to a multi-dimensional world filled with demons and angels preparing for war and the one person who can save us. Destiny and the Bible claims that Ivy, the last Davidian, is the only hope humans have to beat back the demons who are readying to inherit the world. She meets and falls in love with a half demon prince who comes to help her train for what’s coming only to reveal at the end that he is the last Judian and like the original Judas, it is his destiny to betray her. At the end of book one, Ivy commands Adrian to leave her and he does, leaving us to wonder what now?
The Sweetest Burn opens with Ivy angry that Adrian left her and stayed away with no communication or begging to be with her. He does come back though, declaring his love for her and determined to prove he will defy their destiny and not betray her. Ivy is on the fence but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Zach, their middle man to heaven, alerts them to the second hallowed artifact and sets them on their course. They need to find the second artifact before the demons do as it is the one item that can stop the walls between the demon and human realms from collapsing.
Frost’s voice definitely seems louder and more settled in this installment. I found the pacing smoother and the characterization stronger though the story still dragged in places. We seem to still dealing with the same issues from book one though we do get more explanations this time around. Ivy and Adrian make peace and decide to deal with their attraction and everything else later as they begin their journey to find the second hallowed relic-the staff of Moses. This leads them on a worldwide adventure that offers readers more insight into the reasons behind the war and those that are a part of it. The story remains relatively laid back until the last quarter when the action, suspense, and intrigue explodes.
Ivy and Adrian continue to evolve, developing individually and as a couple. Ivy remains her tough, courageous, and snarky self though she whines more and makes some questionable decisions in here. What bothered me about Ivy in here is she instantly realizes the things she is doing are wrong and then a few chapters later does it again. I did appreciate that she continues to question everything. But… why she hasn’t sat down and brushed up on her bible studies? Frost really opens up Adrian more in here and I feel readers definitely get to know him better. I like his commitment to Ivy and their relationship though he still isn’t being 100% honest with Ivy. The use of a dual POV certainly helps. Book one felt more like Ivy’s book while this one is definitely a joint venture.
Chemistry wise, the passion and attraction between Ivy and Adrian is more intense and focused this go around though the soulmate/destiny issue remains iffy for me. On one hand, it allows Frost to gloss over the development of the romance-sort of a cheater in my opinion-but on the other hand, it does give us a weighted romantic conflict that works well in here. As it is right now, the physical attraction is still the strongest feature of this romance. Also, the story still has a distinct YA sound and feel to it; even with the racy scenes. Its disconcerting at times.
Frost continues to expand her character base, adding personality and essentially ‘humanizing’ those considered not human. We finally learn what is the motivation Zach’s and Demetrius’s actions and it’s definitely going to make things more interesting in the end. I am enjoying the religious direction Frost takes here and in the overall premise though, as this series is heavily character driven, we only learn what the protagonists tell us which leaves you in the dark at times. Free will remains an important feature that the book uses to answer or avoid answering certain questions and situations.
Once again, there is a small cliffhanger at the end but nothing too major. While I did find this installment more stable and developed then book one, I still wasn’t as engaged as I would have liked to have been. All in all this is a quick read that basically delivers what it promises without much fanfare or expectations on my part.
Harbin, a broody alpha snow leopard shifter/assassin was exiled from his clan when his libido leads to devastation by the enemy, the Archang RATING: C+
Harbin, a broody alpha snow leopard shifter/assassin was exiled from his clan when his libido leads to devastation by the enemy, the Archangels. He becomes an assassin for survival and to atone for his failure by using his skills to kill every Archangel he comes across. When he learns of a hit being placed on another snow leopard, he demands the mission and soon realizes this woman is his mate. Aya has spent seventeen years in hiding, craving vengeance for the loss of her loved ones. When the situation presents itself, she takes advantage only to learn she has been played and now must find away to stop the events she has placed in motion. A hardened tortured assassin’s latest kill target is his mate? WHAAAA? Gimme. Enjoyable to a point, the problems I had with the story is it was extremely slow to start off. There is a lot of emotional and descriptive prose that weighs the story down. Also very repetitive. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times we are told the same thing over and over and over again. Harbin has a lot of guilt and we are subjected to multiple scenes where he ruminates over his past in great detail. On a good note, the characters are vibrant and well developed. The storyline engages & Heaton provides plenty of subplots to hype the interest for future stories. once Harbin snaps out of it, the action and intrigue picks up and the story flies like the wind as our hero and heroine band together to stop the villains and learn to forgive one another and themselves. ...more
“…I’m a girl and girls are made of…” “Sugar and spice,” he interjected, remembering the rhyme. “Wrong. Girls are made of vodka and ice. The two combined increase our tolerance for masculine nonsense.”
The Darkest Torment is the twelfth book in Gena Showalter’s popular long-running LOTU series. A fun, sexy, action-packed dark PNR that has kept us entertained through the years with her sexy dominant alphas and the insane women they choose to give their hearts to. Showalter keeps the pace frantic, the plotlines crazy, and the laughs coming in this release. I will admit I was a more than a little shocked when I first learned this would be Baden’s story. While Baden (The original holder of distrust) has been seen on and off throughout the series, we’ve never had any real interaction with him due to his actions bef The Darkest Night. But all that changes in here. Book e-The Darkest Touch-gave us some clues to what Baden has been up to and how he was going to become a more active player in the series but this wasn’t quite what I expected.
Showalter quickly brings us up to speed on Baden, the brewing war, and Hades involvement. We have learned that Baden has been released from Lucifer’s control and given corporal form by accepting Hades offer of freedom and agreeing to wear his bands. Bands that Keeley and William convinced him to take. Bands that essentially make Baden a slave to Hades. Needless to say, Baden is NOT happy about this development and begins to plot his freedom. As Baden comes to terms with the constraints on his new life, he learns that Pandora has also been released by Hades and he and she will be competing against one another with the winner taking all.
Insane pacing, strong writing, amusing narrative, and multiple storylines give us a well rounded look into everything that is going on in the Lord’s personal lives and their war against Lucifer. Even with the convoluted plotlines, Showalter keeps us firmly in hand and allows the story to unfold in an easy to understand manner of the issues at hand. She also spends a considerable amount of time developing Baden and beginning the seemingly daunting task of wrangling the overreaching arc into some semblance of order
The story starts out on a high note as William is trying to get Baden to have sex, explaining he is becoming increasingly unstable and needs some type of release before he goes DEFCON 20. Baden isn’t too keen on this as physical contact hurts him and the entity that has taken up residence in him really just hates everyone. Of course, once Baden gives in, the woman he picks is an agent for Lucifer and tries to kill him. Poor Baden. He just can’t win.
“I knew I should’ve just waited for you to weaken from orgasm.”
Baden seems to catch a break when Hades commands him to retrieve a gold coin from a human man. This doesn’t go well at all and Baden ends up kidnapping the man’s wife instead of the coin. Thus we meet Baden’s soul mate-Katarina Joelle.
Katarina Joelle is a renowned dog trainer whose biggest mistake was refusing to sell a man a pair of security dogs. Aleksander Ciernik, a vicious drug lord, bulks at being denied and forces her into a no win situation. In order to save the rest of her dogs, she must agree to marry him. At her wedding, Katarina is shocked when she gets her own version of a red wedding when Baden and his friends drop in and demand a gold coin. Alek refuses, causing not only the death of his entire wedding party but the kidnapping of Katarina.
“Taking a human is kind of a creeper move, you know that right?”
Similar in format to the prior romances, a healthy portion of the story is Baden and Katarina getting to know one another, learn each other’s backstories, and engage in a passive-aggressive style of foreplay. Katarina isn’t happy Baden kidnapped her and makes sure he knows it with repeated escape attempts and insults. Baden and his entity aren’t sure what to do with her though both of them are equally amused by her.
I loved Katarina. She fits in brilliantly with the rest of the gang. An amusing heroine who isn’t at all hampered by the fact she’s human. Intelligent, sneaky, smart-mouthed, and compassionate, Katarina has a will of steel only made stronger by a core of vulnerability that resides inside of her. Abandoned and/or betrayed by everyone she’s loved, she chooses to pour all her love into rescuing and rehabilitating dogs.
Baden is adorably grumpy in here and heaven at his worse, I couldn’t help but love him. He has some anger issues that need working out. He blames himself for what has happened to his friends once Pandora’s box was opened and has some serious guilt over his actions in the past. He doesn’t feel he is worthy of friendship or love and seeks to overcome his time spent with the demon distrust. Katarina is somewhat of an anomaly for him. She’s nothing like he thought and he truly fears for her life if she is dragged into the coming war.
The romance itself is very slow to develop; kidnapping and insults can put a damper on anyone love life and the animosity between them is strong. Katarina doesn’t just accept her circumstances but rather uses all her skills and knowledge to turn the tables on Baden and keep him on his toes. I find it hilarious she uses her dog training to try and bring him to heel.
Surviving a feral, rule one: Never show fear. Basically, fake it till you make it. Two: Use a soft but assertive tone. Anything else could rouse hostility. Three: Remember you get what you reinforce, not necessarily what you expect. In this case, she ignored rule number four: Place the dog’s needs first. And skipped to number five: Find out what will work best with each individual dog.
The chemistry is not to be denied and soon it sets this couple on a fiery course with some equally steamy and laugh out loud scenes as Baden struggles to override his bossy and overprotective side to treat Katarina as an equal. He is a dominant force to the core but he visibly struggles to tone it down for her and comes across as quite the romantic at times. What I truly enjoyed was no matter what Baden said to Katarina, she was able to hold her own with him and had no issues walking away when he went too far. It was also interesting how Baden’s entity comes to love Katarina as much as Baden does. She grounds them both, much to the surprise of the others.
“And Rina? You may be able to survive the world without me, but I can’t survive the world without you. We can’t. You keep us calm. You are our home.”
The LOTU craziness we all love is had here in spades. Willam almost steals the show with his advice and help. There are multiple storylines that ride parallel alongside one another and intersect at key times; bringing some needed updating to the ongoing arc and clueing us into future couples. I was happy we are given updates on the statuses of previous characters-revealing some good and not so good news. Showalter narrows her focus on Cameo’s search for Lazarus, alerting us that her book is next, while dropping a huge bomb on William and Gilly’s relationship. I imagined a million different scenarios over the years concerning them but I never saw this one. It will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out.
There were a few issues I had with this installment. Showalter seemed to really micromanage Baden and Katarina. At times, the sheer amount of small talk and play by play descriptions became redundant and slowed the story down. There is quite a bit of filler in here and the urge to start skimming through these areas was strong. I also wished Keeley’s actions concerning certain events had been explained a little better. She does a few things in here that make no sense. I’ll be honest, after reading this book, I can’t help but think The Red Queen aka Keeley increasingly reminds me of The White Queen aka Nix (Kresley Cole’s IAD series) with her cryptic prophecies, increasing forgetfulness, and offers of help that often make the situation ten times worse. As we all know, Showalter and Kresley often drop easter eggs in their books concerning each other’s characters so I wonder if this is an indication that these series will begin to interact in a more visible fashion as we near the end of both of them.
My issues aside, Showalter once again proves to readers that she has BIG plans for her LOTU and that we ain’t seen nothing yet. The Darkest Torment takes readers on a wild roller coaster ride that will leave you will begging to ride again and again.
Favorite Quote: “Fuck the guy, take the girl, save a soul”
Raze is a medic for Underworld General and a supernatural night club. He is also a seminus demon (sex demon) who has a bit of a problem. He’s gay. Unfortunately, he can only obtain the sexual release he needs to survive with females. 30 years ago he met a succubus, Fayle, who saved his life and now services him when he needs relief. Raze appreciates what Fayle does for him but neither are interested in each other and her possessiveness is beginning to wear on him. Raze has accepted his fate but when he meets a sexy man, he wonders if it’s possible for him to not only have what he needs…but who he wants.
Slake is an assassin for a demon run law firm. He escaped his violent homeland and made a deal with the devil (or someone pretty close to Satan) in order to survive but now finds himself on a deadline. He needs to retrieve a succubus and deliver her pronto or he forfeits his soul forever. The stunning medic he recently met has all his engines firing at full throttle but when he discovers his target, Fayle, is the only thing keeping the Raze alive, he finds himself caught in a trap of his own making.
As Raze and Slake look to find some middle ground, Fayle’s jealousy turns deadly, and suddenly Raze and Slake are fighting for more than their right to love. Now they’re fighting for their lives.
If you are anything like me, you glom Larissa Ione’s Demonica series with an unholy passion. I continue to wait breathlessly for each little niblet Ione releases in this world. When I heard she was writing an MM romance…my grabby hands went into hyper drive. As always, this wickedly dark and gritty paranormal world continues to thrive with it’s dynamic characters, devious plots lines, steamy sexually intense romances, and engaging often humorous dialogue.
Raze and Slake are a delightful addition to this world. Both are intelligent, gorgeous, honorable men who haven’t had the easiest of times. Ione weaves a sensual “lust at first sight” romance and divulges just enough into their backgrounds to help fan the flames of desire and attraction. Delicious love scenes and some unusual but well plotted twists helps these boys towards their happily ever after. Fans will delight in seeing cameos of various beloved characters who pop in and out to help Raze and Slake. My only qualm is the blurb claims Fayle and Raze are best friends but the storyline doesn’t support that. Their relationship is anything but friendly and decidedly one sided.
Once again Ione has given us a much desired and sexy glimpse back into her world and reaffirms that in the PNR genre, she is definitely royalty.
Layla Starling, toast of the London stage, has come home to rest. She is tired of the endless singing engagements and constant traveling. When her guardian informs her that it is time for her to marry and that her long time crush and childhood friend, St. John Evernight will be acting as her bodyguard, Layla is caught off guard but soon agrees. As Layla dances her way through the ton, seeking her future husband, her thoughts continue to focus on only one person-St. John Evernight-and what it will take to make him hers forever.
St. John (Sin) has pined for Layla from afar for years. Due to his position in the supernatural world and his tangled past, Sin knows he is not good enough for Layla and strives to keep her at arms length. When the SOS reveals that Layla is in grave danger, Sin will put everything on the line to save the only woman who has ever held his heart and soul.
Forevermore is the seventh and final installment in Kristen Callihan’s sensual and action addictive Darkest London series. From the first book, Callihan has taken readers on a fantastical adventure of epic proportions as she slowly built a world within a world as we are given an intimate look into the supernatural entities that live, love, and fight for survival in London, England during the 1800s. One word of warning. This series MUST be read in order. It is ongoing, with intense bleed over from one installment to the net.
As always, taut suspense, delicious deception, and dangerous antagonists combine to create a fascinating read that captured me from page one. Strong layered characters have driven this world, each installment using the exploration of one couple’s romantic journey to love as the key element on which this series is built. Each book flows smoothly into the next, bringing more life and surprises to this already complicated arc without losing the reader to unnecessary static and fillers. Light and dark narrative blends effortless, keeping you firmly engaged as Callihan continues to add to the adventurous spirit of the characters and world.
As this is the final installment, Callihan takes great care to build an emotionally fluid romance with ribbons of angst, fear, and humor running through it while assembling all the remaining puzzles pieces into order to offer up a masterpiece which answers all our questions. Forevermore brings us the most complex and secretive character to date-St. John Evernight. Brother to Poppy, Daisy, and Miranda Evernight, Sin was hidden from his sisters by their mother at birth. When he is finally discovered, his sisters are devastated by their mother’s deception and by what he has become, causing them to turn their backs on him. In Evermore, it is revealed his situation is anything but what it seems but there is still more to be told.
This is his story.
This is his redemption.
This is his forevermore.
Forevermore begins in the past. Augustus has come to Boston at the request of his long time enemy and soul mate, Lena. When he arrives, Lena informs him she has given birth to a child and requests that he take and raise the child. Augustus is angry and hurt that she has chosen to give to another man what he coveted for so long but in the end, his love for her has him agreeing. From here we travel 20 plus years forward into the present; learning who that child was and the reasons Lena abandoned them.
Layla and Sin have a complicated history, made more so by destiny, deception, and betrayal. Layla and Sin spent their childhood together in Ireland but when Augustus takes Layla away, both their hearts were broken. We soon learn that this simple act is the catalyst that starts Sin on his road to perdition through Mab, Queen of the Fairies. Sin’s time spent with Mab has left him a bitter shell whose feeling of worthlessness and despair weigh heavily upon his shoulders. He sees himself as disgusting and dirty, and with his recent ascension to a Vengence Angel, he feels Layla deserves so much better than him.
He tried his best to ward off the finer feelings, to remain numb, detached from life. And yet he could not, for the life of him, remain immune to Layla Starling.
Layla is a strong, intelligent, resourceful woman; like all of Callihan’s heroines. Though she has had a picture perfect life, she has had her own struggles with inadequacy and self doubt. She has loved Sin all her life and refuses to allow him to push her away. She flirts, cajoles, teases, and outright taunts Sin in her quest to make him understand that he is hers and she is his.
Because you, St. John Evernight, are mine. Whether you wil it or not. Your heart and soul have been mine since I climbed up in that bloody tree to drive you mad. Mine to protect.
As Sin battles his desire for Layla, her parentage and birthright comes to light, leaving Sin to decide if he is brave enough to defeat his past in order to battle for a future with her. A series of subplots surround the main conflict, alluding to all previous characters and interestingly enough, focusing on the fate of the one man who it all started with-Archer. We learn the true extent of Augustus’s and Lena’s centuries of meddling and the convoluted nature of the ties that bind all the Evernights and their friends and lovers together. Callihan finally shows us what has been up her sleeves all along and I applaud her ingenuity and skill.
Are we flying or not?
The conclusion is a dramatic, action-packed finale that leaves the reader delighted, relieved, and satisfied. We are left assured that all those we have grown to love have achieved their heart’s desires and will indeed embrace whatever the future holds for them. While I am sad that this is the last we shall see of Callihan’s Darkest London, I am pleased with the solid send off Callihan provides. Forevermore delivers what it promises and fans will be pleased.
Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series is one of the best-selling paranormal romance series to date. Appealing to readers of all ages Ms. Kenyon’s unique twist on vampires, Greek mythology, and religion combines fantasy with paranormal romance to create a genre all its own. Ms. Kenyon has enthralled us since her first book, Fantasy Lover. Now over 30 books in, Kenyon expands her world once again, taking us into the past and introducing us to the original Hellchasers with Deadmen Walking.
Deadmen Walking is the first in a historical fantasy trilogy set in the same world as the Dark Hunters. Kenyon uses a plethora of mythologies, along with various religions, reincarnation, magic, revenge, and an enemies to lovers romance to bring to life her pirates, monsters, and high sea adventure for her readers. Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean and Black Sails will see some strong similarities as we are introduced to a sea captain and his deadly crew who must save the world. Set in 1700s Captain Deyvl Bane is a former warlord/druid who marched across the plains spilling blood and leaving carnage in his wake. With the magical ability to reincarnate (so to speak), his lifespan dates back centuries. Think Vikings, Asgard, Norseman. Eventually murdered by his ex-wife and sent to Hell, he is given the opportunity to escape by the infamous Thorn with an invitation to join his Hellchasers. Bane and his crew now sail the seven seas fighting all manner of evil in an attempt to redeem themselves and free their souls.
“There’s something not right about the lot of you.”
“There’s something not right about the lot of the world, mate. We just embrace our natural differences with gusto.”
Though this is the start of a new story arc and introduces a new character base, this cannot be read as a standalone. Seriously, this is not the place to introduce yourself to this world. Hell, this world is now the size of a small galaxy and we have officially left Earth. We see character and situational cross over from the Dark Hunters series all the way to the Chronicles of Nick with references to previous scenes and storylines. I’m a seasoned veteran of this world who has read every single book and I was confused at times. Also, there are some big spoilers in here.
Those who are familiar with SLK will recognize this basic characterization trope she uses in a majority of her stories. An abused and misunderstood character is betrayed by the one person they trusted to never harm them and in return, they isolate themselves into a grumpy “I hate you all and want to kill you all” shell to protect them from being betrayed ever again. They will then be forced to save the lives of those around them including those who may have betrayed them and there is a 99% chance self-sacrifice will be involved. And they’ll do it because, all in all, despite all their bluster and posturing, they just want to be loved.
“Thieves, drunkards, lunatics, wastrels, and whores we might all be, but there ain’t a coward among us.”
Captain Bane is this story’s grumpy hero who was betrayed first by his parents, then by his allies, and eventually by the woman he loved. The kicker here though is Bane is no saint and is equally guilty of the crimes committed against him. He and his crew, a personable and rambunctious bunch, are on a mission to rescue a fellow sea captain before he’s used to open a gate of Hell and release Bane’s demonic ex-wife, Vine. He needs the help of the Sea Witch who hates him. His ship is an actual living being, Marcelina (Mara) aka the Sea Witch, who has long and bloody history with Bane.
“We are the protectors-”
“My ass cheeks.”
“Du, please watch your language!”
“Watch your lies! Are you really going to stand there and preach that as if I wasn’t there?
Marcelina grimaced at him. “And what of yours? How many fell to your race and army? Need I remind you how we met?
“Need I remind you how we parted? Blood soaks us both!”
I liked though I didn’t love. It has a nice pace to it along with an engaging main storyline. The action, intrigue, and humor blends well with the mild romance. I’m a sucker for pirates and have long been fascinated by the men and women who sailed the high seas looking for adventure and treasure. My main problem is there is too much going on and Kenyon notes everything single little detail. We see a mixture of multiple religions, legends, and mythologies used to try to explain the protagonists’ backgrounds and how they tie into the main arc. My eyes glazed over once I realized the hero had three other names he went by depending on which timeline we were speaking of. There is a lot of world building that is based on these characters’ history and it slows the story down. We are also led to believe the heroine is Cameron Jack only to discover she’s actually just meant to establish the storyline and help push the real heroine (Mara) and Bane together. *shaking my head to clear it* Kenyon with her skill and finesse almost makes it work too but misses the mark.
The romance is hot, sweet, and oh so slow going as this couple has centuries of lies and anger to work through. The romance is really no more than an element in here. Bane, in the past, decimated Mara’s clan and kidnapped her and her sister. Mara watched her brethren fall one by one and in retaliation bound Bane’s life to hers. As Bane and Mara work together, Mara finally understands the anger that drove Bane back then and how wrong she was in her thinking. Bane also has his own epiphany and acknowledges the damage he did to Mara.
He couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.
The main plot and subsequent subplots are pretty intense as Kenyon brings in various familiar faces, closes some open-ended plotlines, and answers some almost forgotten questions. We learn the battle lines have been long in the making and we are slowly learning who will stand with who…and on what side.
”You do not escape here. You do not escape me.” […] “You wanted war? By all means, have some!”
The ending is a dramatic affair and a bit of a shock as Kenyon dumps yet more characters and information on us. I was overwhelmed. So many groups have a hand in what is coming and unlike Kenyon’s earlier books, we aren’t being given the time to absorb all the new information and characters. It’s tossed at us and then Kenyon whisks us away to another part of this huge galaxy for more information and world building. I will admit one particular scene broke my heart a little. All I can say is Thorn better find a way to keep his promise to Cameron and Kalder. Even with the issues I had, it was still a fun read. Pirates, sea monsters, and good old fashioned sword fights are enough to make this old girl happy. Will I read the next in the trilogy? Yes, because I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO KALDER!! But I’ll be getting it from the library. I hope Kenyon settles down soon because for some reason she is really making this world almost too complicated to follow anymore.
An enjoyable erotic pnr/urban fantasy filled with humor, crazy characters, steamy sex scenes, and well plotted romance, and a wee bit of action. I wouAn enjoyable erotic pnr/urban fantasy filled with humor, crazy characters, steamy sex scenes, and well plotted romance, and a wee bit of action. I would have liked a more solid approach to the various plot lines concerning Harper and who/why she was being targeted but otherwise an engaging fast read. ...more