3.5 Collision Point is heralded as a new series by Lora Leigh, but I suspect it's a spin off. Its media res beginning is both intriguing and a bit madd3.5 Collision Point is heralded as a new series by Lora Leigh, but I suspect it's a spin off. Its media res beginning is both intriguing and a bit maddening. Characters have clearly a backstory that was lost to me, that said the plot was really easy to follow. Unfortunately, I thought it was a bit too thin, as the sex to story ratio was pretty high. 😊 The ending saved the day: It packed a punch of twists and revelations that had me reaching for my own tumbler of whiskey.
Her heroine is a mix of naïve and innocent, and sassy and strong, and was really easy to like. Her hero the usual brooding Alpha, their love story both tender and heartrending with a touch of paranormal that is left unexplained.
Her fans will love this news story as it has her usual sizzling signature. ...more
A sweet, clean western romance. It's not a strong book, I wasn't hooked or in love with the characters nor the story, they were too flat for that. YouA sweet, clean western romance. It's not a strong book, I wasn't hooked or in love with the characters nor the story, they were too flat for that. You could easily see it in the children who were mostly a ploy rather than real, but so were the other secondary characters.
I didn't get a strong history feel either, but I guess that wasn't meant. Pity though. I'm sorry to say that the book was merely a meh for me, something with potential that never went fulfilled.
ARC courtesy of publisher/author via Negalley. ...more
Rejoice fans, Suzanne has given you an other perfect Mercury/Phoenix story. Beware fans, the reason to rejoice is that there's no doubt you'll like itRejoice fans, Suzanne has given you an other perfect Mercury/Phoenix story. Beware fans, the reason to rejoice is that there's no doubt you'll like it: you have already read it. This book walks the other books's path point by point (paw by paw?), except the frame, and that include the sex. ...
I really love her female characters, but at the beginning of the book I realized that they were only names. I couldn't remember anything about them and their stories. I couldn't separate them. Reading I got glimpses of memories, but this shot home the idea that she's basically giving me the same character. And yes I do really love that archetype, but maybe it should be built on the frame a little more. Same with the plot, it's exactly the same of the previous book (romance wise), and it's a pity as Ms Wright has some really nice ideas that could be better played and fleshed out.
I'm sorry to underline (again) that this author's books would really get up a notch with some decent worldbuilding. Otherwise you are left at the end of the book wondering why the human world didn't rain nuke on the shifters given their brand of violence. How's the law? International relationships? Did they ever exist? There are so many unanswered questions. And yes, I know, this is romance and we read it for the cuddly feeling, but how much better this good stories could be with a world able to stand on its own?
Would I recommend this book? Undoubtedly. Just know what you're getting....more
I guess every love story has its bumps on the road to a happy ending. This was the first fight Ms Reynolds and I had.
I couldn't get into the story. I I guess every love story has its bumps on the road to a happy ending. This was the first fight Ms Reynolds and I had.
I couldn't get into the story. I felt the romance way too rushed, insta lust and insta love since the first few chapters, the sex and the romantic thread overpowering the rest of the plot. But mostly I couldn't get to like the main characters. I almost despised the hero, a supercilious ass if I've ever seen one, and the whiney, insecure heroine that had me cringe on more than one occasion. I couldn't stand the emphasis on his ripping body nor the fact he was compared to a god every few paragraphs.
Midway when she's on the verge of crying because she has offeded him and sh's terrified he's leaving her, I knew I couldn't go on reading.
I'm sorry, Ms Reynolds, can I get a rain check and wait for the next book? ...more
Ms Wright's fans will be delighted by this new story in The Phoenix Pack series. Like me, they probably won't care too much about some clankiness in tMs Wright's fans will be delighted by this new story in The Phoenix Pack series. Like me, they probably won't care too much about some clankiness in the writing or that the story is more or less always the same (and so are characters).
At the end of the day how can we live without one of her snarky, quirky, funny heroines? *grin* Life can be .. well life (with all that this entails), books like Savage Urges make our day when stress is a bit overwhelming, but we know we can run away to a place like The Phoenix Pack where even Greta has her reasons to be. (In real life how long would it take for all of us to kill the woman??)
Ryan and MacKenna were an absolutely lovely couple, sigh-worthy. My only real problem with this book was its subject matter. It's really a too important one to be treated this superficially. Yes, Ms Wright did try to give some depth to the story. But her villains were too stereotyped this time to be fully acceptable. We are talking of children here, guys. It's not something that can be trivialized. Nor so easily resolved, I fear.
Above all, once read the book is not that memorable. Still, it does what it should: give me a break. Arc courtesy of publisher via NetGalley.
Years ago I read Ms Reynolds' only werewolf story and was intrigued by it. It seemed a pity to me that she focused all her attention of her ViA seri<4
Years ago I read Ms Reynolds' only werewolf story and was intrigued by it. It seemed a pity to me that she focused all her attention of her ViA series (even if I love it) as, if I remember correctly, she wasn't at ease with shifters' stories.
Imagine what a (lovely) surprise when I realized she had written a new book, and it was a shifter story :) As a fan I couldn't resist, could I? :D
Shifter planet, ungainly title apart, was everything I wanted in a PNR romance: world-building, solid characters and, my god, a real romance! (As opposed to fated/mated/no reason to develop a love story book, not that she writes those books anyway *grin*)
Amanda is a great heroine, strong, stubborn without ever being stupid, loyal with a core of steel. It was great reading how she saved herself and the guy too, it was great to see a truly competent woman. I loved her relationship with her mother, even if it's only touched (and her mother's relationship with the admiral). And here comes my only nit, I found some secondary characters needed a stronger development, even when the same can't be same for other characters (see the mother and the admiral above, where a few touches were revealing enough). I guess it depends on their role in the story. Fionn for example was too bland for me, or maybe I simply needed a more populated planet :D
This was Amanda's story, and the focus was squarely on her and her alpha. But I missed some solidity on the other inhabitant or earthers.
It's great a new series come to life, and I hope ms Raynolds will branch out often :D
2015 is a magic year for Ms Wright. She wrote two great new books starting a new series and a spin off.
I've been one of her fan since she was self-pu2015 is a magic year for Ms Wright. She wrote two great new books starting a new series and a spin off.
I've been one of her fan since she was self-publishing a few years ago, and it's a pleasure to see her "growing up" and keeping on. I liked almost everything she wrote in the past. But I have no problem in admitting I loved Burned and Spiral of Need.
I love her heroines, never ones to back down, with a mouth full of sassy, and some serious backbone. Spiral of Need is romance, so you don't get a surprise if the focus is on the main couple. But it's very well balanced by an outside plot with different threads (and threats) and a full pack of characters (pun intended...yes sue me :)
If you loved her formula in the past, you'll love SoN. And this is the only (minor) nit I found in the book. Even if really successful, you still see the mold from which it has been made.
My impression was this is NA with a male main character; but the silliness of the setting and the whining nature of the 'heDNFed at 10%, so no rating.
My impression was this is NA with a male main character; but the silliness of the setting and the whining nature of the 'hero' made me understand this is not the book for me. His total lack of maturity and professionalism (he is supposed to be a cop) drove the nail in the coffin.
I thank the author and the publisher for the Arc....more
Writing a villain' story is never easy, all those expectations :) This is in fact Finn's story, head of the Fianna, the Irish mob, and of a famil2 1/2
Writing a villain' story is never easy, all those expectations :) This is in fact Finn's story, head of the Fianna, the Irish mob, and of a family feud.
The three points converge in a moment, when lovely Ann enters his life. Finn is then compelled to revise his role, and decides to make a change. All of it is very romantic, but is not unfortunately compelling to me as a reader. My tastes run a little deeper, darker.
Blade Dance is as nice to read as the previous books. It's smooth, interesting, with a strong heroine that's impossible to dislike. (And here strength is not only metaphysical, but real, as she's something more than human...)
I believe it can be read alone, but of course you'll miss a few hints, and won't understand how big the Consort's final act is. But you will still be able to appreciate the full romantic story. :)
It's a cute story, but not much else. How much you will like it really depends on your personal tastes. The more romantic out there will be probably be ecstatic. I didn't feel the love between the two, but then I doubt I felt it in all this series.
**spoiler alert** There are few books that leaves me wordless when trying to describe or review them. Any Given Doomsday seems to be the case.
Unfortu**spoiler alert** There are few books that leaves me wordless when trying to describe or review them. Any Given Doomsday seems to be the case.
Unfortunately for the book, it's not necessarily good. I really don't know what to think about this story, because the story doesn't know itself nor its characters. It has aspects of UF and others of PNR, but mostly it doesn't know where to stand.
It's not the first UF with a romantic thread in it, and I have no problem with those books. AGD doesn't have a romantic thread, it has confusion on its stead. Same with the heroine, some UF cliched traits, plenty of PNR: unique heroine coming from foster care, the walking-bags of hormones trope (see a man, get wet, stop thinking), focus on sex and relationship rather than plot.
Plus the heroine's own brain and ability come into question every other page. If humanity's destiny is in her hands, we are really doomed...
Again unfortunately, there was no other character able to balance this situation, they were either bland or unlikeable.
There were a few personal nits that should be taken in to account when reading this review/rating. I can't really stand women in stories who can't forget their lost love or who can't do anything together with a man without thinking about sex. (I found all of it demeaning to both sexes.) Mostly, I had a problem with the ease with which the heroine accepted every thing, from the supernatural to rape(s). She didn't have a single reaction that was appreciable. I expected rage and fury, and was given blandness. I found it funny (not really), when the heroine repeated this same thought in the page...
Plus, I'm not a fan of destiny in UF (I want to choose mine thank you) or in PNR (with the mate bonds). And I prefer heroines who fight destiny and fate to those who shrug and accept it as something you must do... :)
I really have no beef against this book, but I can't really find in me to love it either. I suspect it's going to be one of those stories you'll love or not depending on very personal tastes.
A few days ago I was sorely tempted to trow this book on a friend's head during a heated discussion on food (I was enough in control to avoid it, mostA few days ago I was sorely tempted to trow this book on a friend's head during a heated discussion on food (I was enough in control to avoid it, mostly because it would have been costly to replace my pc... :). So many people are stuck with habit or national pride they forget how good [insert your country here] food can be.
Deliciously Irish showcase Irish cuisine showing the rest of the world how varied it can be. The book is incredibly encompassing: it touches all kind of recipes, from entrees to dessert, baking and preserves. I have bookmarked quite a few, from classic like the scotch eggs, salmon cakes, baked hake, and potato soup with salmon and chives to -notably- the rabbit with almonds (it's so difficult nowadays finding recipes with rabbit meat).
My only nit with this lovely booklet is that the recipes aren't meant for a novice. It takes someone who's already good on the stoves to appreciate it fully. Instructions like prepare pastry the usual way aren't exactly helpful. :) They might have been detailed more, adding value to different readers.
On the other side, the book is international-ready, it gives hints on substitutions and it's been adapted to a US public. Note that some recipes were cut (in my copy), like the apple tart, leaving out baking times.
Deliciously Irish suffers a bit due to its digital format. Its recipes are peppered with beautiful pictures of the Isle, and unfortunately, you're not going to enjoy them as mush as seeing them on beautiful glossy paper. :)
From what I can gather this novella and the following ones make up a full novel. The first can be read alone, as it has some kind of resolution. But IFrom what I can gather this novella and the following ones make up a full novel. The first can be read alone, as it has some kind of resolution. But I can't say it has a strong, gripping writing. Maybe with a more tight plot, a smoother style, it would have been a better reading experience for me. The idea is interesting, but the format is too short, and it takes a very skilled writer to give me a good feeling with shorter stories. Here I got a silly/messy world building, not enough characterization (some back story isn't enough), half a plot with some holes too.
I guess it's normal, it was supposed to happen sooner or later. The first Saintcrow book I didn't like. Damn, I feel wrong even writing this.
But ClouI guess it's normal, it was supposed to happen sooner or later. The first Saintcrow book I didn't like. Damn, I feel wrong even writing this.
But Cloud Watcher is the weakest book in an already weak series. I read three books out of five, and if the other two books were mostly ok to me, the fourth has not much to it to say at least "meh. it's ok, even if I didn't really like it".
As per usual with Ms Saintcrow the setting is intriguing, unfortunately here both plot and characters were cringe worthy for me. The plot was so stupidly clear that in the initial chapters you could spell the ending. And yes this is not exactly a mystery, but I don't want to be told what I already know. (I don't mind retelling, but even those kind of stories need something different.) Telegraphing your ending isn't good.
Add a leading lady who is the Webster definition of TSTL. She is massively stupid, whiny, and over the top in both compartment. Add a hero who's so self-centered in his martyrdom to be annoying. Add a secondary character whose role you're not sure about. And voilà the perfect recipe for boredom. I can't believe I'm writing this about her.. but I can't deny that there's nothing in this novel I found appealing. And it's a pity because this story is filled with possibility: a woman on the run who doesn't know who to trust, the pull between the needs of a care-needing boy and one's life. But everything is flattened. The evil corporation is so evil to be unreal, therefore never a problem.
As one other reader perfectly said: "I want to like these books more than I actually do." [Genrelove]
The "problem" with erotica is that everyone of us has a different idea of what's erotic and what is pornographic. I suspect this is the reason so manyThe "problem" with erotica is that everyone of us has a different idea of what's erotic and what is pornographic. I suspect this is the reason so many books "fail" in this field.
But we can't deny that a lot of problems are born from authors who can't seem to give readers the full monty: story, plot, characterization.
None of the above can be said for Captive, Mine. At least for me. It didn't fail, and neither did the authors. Even if the theme could easily rise all my hackles and push all my negative buttons, I found this story captivating, and yes erotic. I ended up involved in this dark foray into a lighter form of sadism. And even if I refuse any form of humiliation (and this did cut my enjoyment of the novel), I still liked it fully.
Captive, Mine is honest, it's not a book for everyone. But if this is your cuppa, if you liked Prisoner or Wanderlust, or if you aren't worried by a short trip in to BSDM (the heavy, not the fluffy), this is the novel for you.
ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley....more
Color me surprised. At the fourth book I get back the strength of the first: good romance, a snarky and strong heroine, a good hero and plot. I f3 1/2
Color me surprised. At the fourth book I get back the strength of the first: good romance, a snarky and strong heroine, a good hero and plot. I fully enjoyed reading Dark Instincts and its somewhat darker story. I loved letting Marcus convince me (well ok the heroine) that he wasn't a man slut, that there was depth to him. It was good to see all the cast together, the way they interact, but without ever overshadowing the new couple.
There's one thing I can't fully believe: that such an illegal ring was so stupid to go after high profile people. In such a context it doesn't make much sense (it never does): it means getting attention and, well, death. But I guess I -as a reader -get quite a thrilling ride. :)
A very short note to her editor: hey dude/dudette, Chinese is a pictorial language, made of ideograms. Yes, you can create a new word made to sound as a Western word, but you don't get "letters". So, next time an author writes in "Chinese" SMN as single letters nudge them towards words, Animals rule? Power? The extended anagram? Your choice, pal. Have fun with it!
Arc courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley....more
... And we are back to the earlier books of the series: gritty, violent, UF-themed rather than simply PNR. What a ride.
I loved this series since I st... And we are back to the earlier books of the series: gritty, violent, UF-themed rather than simply PNR. What a ride.
I loved this series since I stumbled into Raphael in 2010 and fell in love with... Cyn. Nope, I've not switched sides. Yet. But Cynthia was an heroine I could absolutely identify with. Nope, I'm not beautiful nor rich. But her world views, her abilities, her personality..yep. She was the one for me.
I love this series, all the books and novellas, but there's no doubt that the stories that centre on the West have maintained a UF core that I love way more. All Ms Reynolds' stories are usually way more than simply romance, they are part of an extended story arch which makes her books simply... "more". (Nope, no writer here...)
Deception brings the brewing war home. And it's great to see (again) how is the brilliance of a human woman that saves (again) the day for the Vamp. The rest you have to read for yourself. Any imperfection of the road are absolutely masked by the thrilling you get while traveling it. (view spoiler)[Things that didn't up for me: Juro and the forgotten manacles, Elke and Mal, Nick's past: you will understand :) (hide spoiler)]
Know this: Cyn never extends her human frailty in saving the day. You don't get a deus ex machina, but a real character with a human reaction to life.
As I said it before about Sara Reine: "she moves pretty well among different characters and types of women. You don't read the same thing or about theAs I said it before about Sara Reine: "she moves pretty well among different characters and types of women. You don't read the same thing or about the same "person/ality" twice in her books. They are never a mold for each other, quite the opposite."
And so Leah wasn't something I've read in her books. But unfortunately she still reminds me a little too much of Rylie. Not because she's the same character, simply as she's 20 and naive. Not much to like it for me, quite the contrary. NA isn't my gig, as much as YA isn't. I really am glad I left 20 behind....
Mostly I couldn't connect much to the story. I don't like mates, when this means a way to skip the reasoning part. Here, Leah being too much a doormat, I had quite a few problem with her lack of reactions. She was kidnapped, and what they wanted is pretty bad, if you turn the setting around. (sorry, trying to avoid spoilers.)
Still I'm sorry there's not an other book in the series. If you have read book one, don't expect the same, this isn't gritty nor dark at all.