Review: The Pursuit of Pleasure by Elizabeth Essex

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Lizzie Paxton's dream in life is to be a widow-if only she could skip the wedding and the husband. When her childhood friend Captain James Marlowe proposes a marriage in name only, she accepts, knowing she'll have the independence she craves once he sets sail. Though James is the only man Lizzie trusts, she doesn't trust the scintillating desire he evokes in her.

James knows he shouldn't get involved with anyone, especially with his uncertain future. But he just can't help himself when he overhears Lizzie's declaration. Though he's promised her a marriage of convenience, he wastes no time in seducing her and taking her over the precipice of desire. Yet not even his beautiful wife can deter him from his cause.

But when Lizzie discovers her husband has deceived her, James must choose between devotion to duty and loyalty to the woman he cannot live without...

My Thoughts: Overall, I liked this book.  That said, I have to admit that there was a point where I put down the book (not because anything happened exactly, but just because I had other things to do or something) and I had a really, really hard time picking it back up again.

See, there's this thing that happens.  Oh, look.  I guess that thing I said in the paragraph above about nothing exactly happening was a lie.  It is a thing that happens that made me all mopey with the book.  Anyway.  There's a lot of buildup to this thing so you know it's coming and it's not a surprise in ANY WAY and yet when it came I was like, "Oh, cinnamon sticks!  Why did he do that?  Is he really that clueless that his actions won't have consequences?"

So I put the book down to do things like take my dogs for a walk or take a shower or make dinner and I kinda got disheartened and I kept picking up other books instead of finishing this one because I was a little disappointed in Jamie's lack of foresight with his epic plan and everything.  BUT... but then I decided that I wasn't going to let some fictional character scare me away from a book that I was enjoying and I picked it up and finished it.

Because I'm mentally strong like that.

And the book was really good.  Jamie even has a moment where he was like, "What did I do?  Why was I so clueless that my actions wouldn't have consequences?"  And I was like, *fist pump* "I am vindicated!"  And then I finished the book.

So.  Jamie and Lizzie are pretty damn good together.  They're sexy and sassy and they have this whole misunderstanding thing going on.  Only it's more than a misunderstanding.  It's that thing that I lamented up above and it's pretty much the pivotal plot point for the entire book.  But it worked.  It worked and I ended up liking it.

So after all the trials and tribulations, this is a good book.

More books by Elizabeth Essex

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Review: Steam & Sorcery (Gaslight Chronicles) by Cindy Spencer Pape

Release date: March 7, 2011
Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Sir Merrick Hadrian hunts monsters, both human and supernatural. A Knight of the Order of the Round Table, his use of magick and the technologies of steam power have made him both respected and feared. But his considerable skills are useless in the face of his greatest challenge, guardianship of five unusual children. At a loss, Merrick enlists the aid of a governess.

Miss Caroline Bristol is reluctant to work for a bachelor but she needs a position, and these former street children touch her heart. While she tends to break any mechanical device she touches, it never occurs to her that she might be something more than human. All she knows is that Merrick is the most dangerously attractive man she's ever met—and out of reach for a mere governess.

When conspiracy threatens to blur the distinction between humans and monsters, Caroline and Merrick must join forces, and the fate of humanity hinges upon their combined skills of steam and sorcery...

My Thoughts:  This book was a load of fun.  A LOAD.  The blending of steampunk, knights, magick,  vampyres and other supernatural critters just flat out worked.  The mystery of what the vampyres were working toward, the flashes of magick, the rigid social lines that both Caroline and Merrick were trying not to cross and the five gifted children that tied it all together made for a sassy, spunky, well-crafted world with surprises hiding around every corner.

First off, I loved the children.  They each had their own strengths and they all looked out for one another.  They had made themselves into a family even though they weren't all related by blood.  That becomes a sort of theme as Caroline begins to view them as more than just her charges and Merrick takes them under his wing despite his occasional misgivings.  When one of them is threatened, they all rush in to help - from the adults right on down to their clockwork dog.

Caroline is initially reluctant to get involved with Merrick's household.  She's been treated badly by other male employers and she has no desire to go down that road again.  Once she gets steamrolled (haha!  I said steamrolled and I'm talking about a steampunk book!  I love it when words come together like that!) into helping Merrick and the children, she finds that all of them get under her skin and into her heart.

Merrick's desire to do the right thing, both for the children and for Caroline, makes him a sweet, chivalrous hero.  The fact that he's a hunky knight with a handful of magick doesn't hurt him in the least.

This book pretty much hit the spot for me on every level.  It was sexy, clockwork-y, violent and sweet.  All at once.  And that's a nice combination.

More books by Cindy Spencer Pape

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Review: Reunion (Vampires Realm) by Felicity Heaton

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

For the Venia Law Keeper, Marise, returning home isn’t something she wants to do, but duty dictates that she must answer Lord Timur’s call for assistance and investigate the attempt on his life by a vampire. Faced with her old home, she tries hard to suppress the memories it evokes, of happier times in the arms of her ex-lover, Jascha, and of the darker times with him that led to her leaving.

She puts the atmosphere and looks she receives down to fear from the attempt to kill Timur, but when she lays eyes on her lord, she realises that it may be for another reason and that the attacker may not have been a vampire after all. Left with only one other source of information, a guard injured in the attack to a point beyond recovery and left to remain awaiting death, she decides to question him before he dies and then get the hell out of there.

Only when she sees that the dying guard is Jascha, she begins a battle with her heart that will see her struggle to turn her back on Jascha and her family again, and maintain her sense of duty. Is fifty years enough to forgive the one you love for breaking your heart? Will Marise finally confess to everything she’s held inside and kept hidden from him? And can Jascha convince Marise to listen to what he has to say and make her love him again?

My Thoughts: I really enjoy Felicity Heaton's Vampires Realm series.  The characters tend to be the type that you can get into their heads and feel what they're feeling.  The vampire bloodlines are interesting and different enough that you don't feel like you're retreading old ground with every book.  The bad guys tend to be bad.  And that's exactly what I'm looking for.

Here we have a two strong warriors who have been torn apart by some stupid mistakes and a lack of communication.  Or maybe it's a lack of wanting to listen as opposed to a lack of wanting to talk.  Does that even make sense?  Maybe I need more coffee before I can form coherent sentences.  Maybe I can never form coherent sentences.  That's okay.  I accept myself as I am.

Anyway.  Two warriors, lots of angst.  In the fifty years they've been apart they haven't been able to forget one another but they're both tied up in knots and the emotional iceberg that is Marise is having a hard time unthawing.

There's blood and fighting and sexy times.  There are even some heartfelt moments with the sibling of the ex-lover.  All in all, it was a fun, fast, free read.  I like that.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other reviews in this series:
Seventh Circle
Winter's Kiss

More books by Felicity Heaton

Quickie Review: The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Have you ever wondered what happens to the other people in the fairy tale?

Things look grim for Talia and her mother. By royal proclamation, the constables and those annoying "good" fairies have taken away their livelihood by confiscating their spinning wheel. Something to do with a curse on the princess, they said.

Not every young lady has a fairy godmother rushing to her rescue.

Without the promise of an income from spinning, Talia's prospects for marriage disappear, and she and her mother face destitution. Past caring about breaking an arbitrary and cruel law, rebellious Talia determines to build a new spinning wheel, the only one in the nation—which plays right into the evil fairy's diabolical plan. Talia discovers that finding a happy ending requires sacrifice. But is it a sacrifice she's willing to make?

My Thoughts: This was a quirky little story about an ordinary girl woven into the threads of Sleeping Beauty's tale.  I really liked that Talia wasn't chaste and she wasn't particularly sweet and she was a sometimes rotten daughter but she when she loved she loved with all her heart.

A very quick read that twisted the old fairy tale just enough to make it feel fresh and new.  Honestly, it was a nice way to kill an hour between customers while at work.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Review: Darkness on the Edge of Town by Brian Keene

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

One morning the residents of Walden, Virginia, woke to find themselves cut off from the rest of the world by an impenetrable wall of darkness.

My Thoughts: Well, I wanted to like this book a whole lot more than I did.  I really like the idea behind a town that's been cut off from the rest of the world and the breakdown of civilization that occurs as people start losing hope.  I read American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout about a month ago (similar premise of a town cut off from the world around it but with a thirsty vampire as our protagonist) and thought it was fun and quirky.  This book was neither fun nor quirky.  In fact, great swaths of it relied more on shock value imagery than creepy, atmospheric storytelling.

Told in first person, the first half of the book had so many descriptive passages that the plot felt like it was going nowhere fast.  The violence was brutal but, unfortunately, it lacked the impact it could have had if it had come from the slow slide into hopelessness and loss of morality as the townsfolk started to fall apart and crack under the pressure of what they were facing.  By making the darkness a semi-sentient entity who had the ability to affect the actions of the living and turning it into the catalyst for the entire town becoming nearly feral it made the characters less responsible for their actions.  At one point the main character, after trying to throttle his girlfriend to death, repeatedly says that it was the darkness making him do it.  That right there took the fact that he just tried to strangle the one person he cares about in the whole damn town and made it trivial.  Although he felt mild guilt over his actions, he was able to easily pick himself up, dust himself off and move on.  Because IT WASN'T HIM.  Get it?  It was the darkness.

I like horror.  I like apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic stories.  I like creepy, open-ended endings that make you wonder, but this one never really worked for me.  Not the ending, mind you, but the entire book.  I just feel a little disappointed.  And I keep wondering how terrible the town was smelling with bodies moldering in the streets and people not bathing.  Holy stinking to high heaven, Batman!  That's something I never want to smell.

More books by Brian Keene

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Review: A Wicked Gentleman (Cavendish Square #1) by Jane Feather

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Pooling their meager resources, Lady Cornelia Dagenham, her sister-in-law Aurelia, and their friend Liv Lacey arrive in London's Cavendish Square to spend a month at the home Liv has just inherited. But why anyone would show a fervent interest in purchasing the rundown property -- particularly the arrogant Viscount Bonham, who clearly could afford the finest of homes -- is a puzzle to Cornelia. His charms are undeniable, though -- and Cornelia finds her resistance to this mysterious stranger falling away...as a sparking passion clouds her view.

But their affair may place her and her friends in danger as Harry Bonham sweeps her into the sparkling whirl of high society. Leading a double life as a code breaker for the Crown, Harry is a man of many secrets. Is it Cornelia whom he truly desires, or something hidden in the house on Cavendish Square?

My Thoughts:  A sassy little historical romance with a touch of intrigue and devious shenanigans thrown in for color.  Both Harry and Cornelia were immensely likable and their interactions, from the first case of mistaken identity right on through their late night get-togethers, were fun and fiery.

It was nice to have our main lady love not only be a widow but have two children that she's deeply devoted to.  She doesn't much care for the shallowness of the society ladies or the insipidness of the men.  She loves her friends dearly and sticks by them through thick and thin.  The fact that she's not a trembling virgin (which is really a nice change of pace, btw) means that she isn't afraid of Harry's man parts and doesn't mind going on some exploratory jaunts to learn what he likes.

A quick, light read that won't over-tax the brain.

More books by Jane Feather

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Review: Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 18, 2011

Night Huntress
0.5. Reckoning
1. Halfway to the Grave - Paperback | Kindle
1.5. Happily Never After
2. One Foot in the Grave
3. At Grave's End
3.5. Devil to Pay
4. Destined for an Early Grave
4.5. One for the Money
5. This Side of the Grave
6. One Grave at a Time
6.5. Home for the Holidays
7. Up from the Grave
8. A Grave Girls' Getaway
9. The Other Half of the Grave
10. Both Feet in the Grave

Related Series
(Find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Night Huntress World
1. First Drop of Crimson

Night Prince
1. Once Burned

Night Rebel
1. Shades of Wicked

Jeaniene Frost
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father--the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner--are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her new found status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

My Thoughts: For the love of small, furry critters, this book was fabulous!  It was literally everything I wanted in a book and MORE.  It kicked me in the throat and made me gasp for breath.  It made me teary-eyed (please note: no actual tears fell, it was just the threat of tears) at the swoon-worthy declarations of love.  It had a kick-ass heroine who only got better as the story moved along.  It had some bad guys who were despicable.  IT WAS AWESOME!

*deep breath*  Okay.  I'm going to attempt this without fangirl flailing and hyperventilating.  The adoration I currently feel for this book is akin to what a teenage girl must feel when she hears the name Bieber.  Which I don't get, fyi.  The hair alone is a huge turn-off.  But that's neither here nor there.  What I'm trying to say is that I have some serious fangirl love so this review is going to be harder to write than you'd think.  You know, since I'm trying to write it without coming off like a crazed stalker who wants to trap Cat and Bones in her closet and watch them beat the crap out of each other.

Once again, not the point.

I honestly can't think of a single plot point that didn't work for me.  I adored Cat.  Even when she was in her troglodyte-fashion phase and was trying unsuccessfully to flirt.  Even when she was fighting every instinct she had that said that falling into bed with Bones would be perfect.  I just loved her.  I loved her with Bones.  I loved every single one of their interactions.  I loved how Bones pushed her and pushed her to be a better fighter and to come to terms with her dual heritage.  I loved how he accepted her, flaws and all.  Gosh, I just loved Bones.

I totally get why Cat and Bones made it onto a lot of readers lists of top couples.  I GET IT!  They spark and flirt and have chemistry.  I GET IT!  Totally.  Absolutely.

The one thing I'm beyond thrilled about is that I have the next three books in the series waiting for me to devour them.  I'm honestly in love with so much about this world that I don't think I could have stood waiting.

Loved it, loved it, loved it.
And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Review: The Chosen Sin by Anya Bast

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

The Chosen are vampires fighting for their very existence. It is Daria Morris’s destiny to become one of them…

Daria is a special forces agent with one obsession: to wreak vengeance on the vampire who nearly destroyed her. But to succeed, she must become something she detests: a vampire. Her fate rests upon Alejandro Martinez, a sexy vampire with whom she once shared an unforgettable night of scorching passion.

Now, while Daria struggles against her newfound bloodlust, the two must slip into the shadows to bring a monster to justice—even as their desire threatens to consume them…

My Thoughts: I'm not really sure how I feel about this book.  There was nothing exactly wrong about it, but I never found myself caring whether our heroes were going to get out of their situation in one piece.  I'm also torn about the bad guy.  There were times when he came across as an amoral killer who reveled in his bloodlust and then there were times when he was portrayed as a man wracked by guilt over what he's done.  Instead of making me relate to him, as I think it was trying to do, it just made me confused.

Honestly, there's nothing I can put my finger on (other than the confusion inducing bad guy) as to why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I think I should have.  It took me a long time to get into and a long time to get back into when I put it down.  I never really connected with any of the characters.  Daria's emotional flip-flopping was hard to stomach.  The only character who had any fire in him was Alejandro and he couldn't carry the entire book on his own.  Unfortunately.

Bottom line: okay, but nothing fantastic.

More books by Anya Bast

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Review: Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1) by Melissa Marr

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

My Thoughts: Oh, hello, wonderful, dark, creepy, fantastic world!  You're all shiny and pretty and then you go all cold and gloomy on me and that's kinda awesome!  I absolutely adore when I can't see a way for a book to have any sort of satisfactory ending and then it goes and kicks me in the head and gives one to me anyway.  Way to go, book!

First and foremost, I really do love when Fae are shown as dark, cruel creatures who thrive on tormenting others.  It's such an opposite picture of what I grew up with that it draws me in and holds me tight.  The Dark Fae and Winter Fae are wicked.  They revel in pain and cold and inflicting little hurts on mortals and each other.  And then there's the other side of the coin, the Fae who are light and happy and full of sunshine.  Yet, they're not immune to that darkness either.  The Winter Queen's rule is so far spread that even the Summer Fae are affected.

I loved Aislinn.  I loved Seth.  (Have I ever mentioned my fascination with tattoos and body piercing on men?  No?  Consider it said.)  I loved that Aislinn was torn between what she wanted and what she needed to do.  Was I thrilled that she ultimately had no choice in what was done to her?  No.  But I liked that she took her circumstances and molded them into something that worked for her.

This world is dark and hard and cruel.  The Summer King himself is bound by chains that nearly break him.  Metaphorically speaking.  All in all, this is a fabulous book with characters that I'll be happy to dive into again.

More books by Melissa Marr

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Review: Zombie Cupcakes by Zilly Rosen

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

The cupcake craze is still going full blast, and the invasion of cupcake shops spreads across the planet. But if there’s one thing that sticks in the throat, it’s that those cupcakes are so damn cutesy. Zombie Cupcakes will rise up through the ranks of sugary-sweet cupcake books by featuring a ghoulish army of delicious little creations that are anything but sugar-coated. Recipes range from Zombie Flesh, to Zombie Brain, Gravestones, Maggots, Night of the Living Cupcake, 28 Cupcakes Later, and more! The recipes feature complete cooking and icing techniques, along with full-color photos and even illustrations of some of the more difficult techniques, making the book perfect for beginners and more accomplished pastry chefs alike. Each recipe also features a difficulty rating, prep time, and cooking time, and sidebars of zombie trivia will be sprinkled throughout the book.

My Thoughts: There are two things you need to know about me:

#1 - I adore Halloween.  I have ridiculous amounts of love for the holiday.  I start planning my H-day decorating months in advance.  I dress up.  I have Halloween-themed decorations up year-round in my room (the rest of the family nixed the year-round H-day decors in the main part of the house.  Jerks.).  I love all the assorted goblins and ghoulies associated with the holiday.

#2 - I make the most amazing banana bread you will ever eat.  Seriously.  If you ever tasted it you'd be like "MY GOD!  You are a genius, Kelly!  You've ended world hunger with this fabulous bread!"  And I'd nod sagely and go about my merry way.  So, while I make the most amazing banana bread ever, I'm not so great with the other types of baking.  I mean, I can make a passable cupcake... most of the time.  However, I'm just not at the level where my cupcakes will make people gasp in wonder and bow down before me.

Oh, man!  Do I wish I had the skills to make these.  And, honestly, maybe I do.  Maybe there's an artistically inclined, zombie sculptor buried inside of me.  I've seen the way I draw, though, so I kinda doubt it.

The book starts out easily enough with some basic recipes, such as the dark chocolate ganache that used throughout as well as instructions on how to make the various decorative bits like the knives, gravestones, flies, and teeth.  Yes, teeth.  Isn't that awesome?!?!

The cupcakes range from movie-themed (Resident Evil, 28 Days Later) to general zombie-themed (severed hands, moonlit graveyards) and the book is sprinkled throughout with trivia from various zombie movies.  Seriously, if I had even the slightest bit of skill I'd be all over the brain-y cupcakes.  Those are just neat!

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Review: Don't Die Dragonfly (The Seer #1) by Linda Joy Singleton

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny-Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco.

Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head . . . or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger.

My Thoughts:  There were parts of this book that I really, really enjoyed- namely Sabine's visions and the mysterious Dominic- and then there were parts that I never quite connected with.

To start with, Josh is the most freaking perfect person EVER.  The guy volunteers at a Children's Hospital for Pete's sake.  He doesn't lose his temper.  He doesn't have any vices that were mentioned.  He's... perfect.  And let's face it, Mr Perfect would be nice in real life but in a story he's just boring.  That right there was the problem: I never got a sense of chemistry between Sabine and Josh.  She has these great, life-defining secrets and he's an open book.

Dominic, on the other hand, was layered and surly and infinitely more interesting.  His past is muddled and painful and I'd rather read about him than Perfect Josh.  Sadly, Dominic wasn't even presented as a love interest in this book.  I can see it happening somewhere down the road but Sabine spent the better half of the book despising him for breathing.  Which was kinda cool, unto itself.

Now Sabine... I liked her visions.  I liked that she was willing to put aside her fears and try to help when she could.  The downside is that I never felt like she was a high school kid.  The sense of conflict she felt over her gift was presented but it not really fleshed out.  She was too poised most of the time.  I (vaguely) remember high school and I sure as hell didn't have anything as volcanic as a psychic gift to deal with and I was still fumbling my way through the dark more often than not.  She wasn't.  It took me out of the story, honestly.  I could have done with more angst and less poise, I guess.

Overall, I liked the book but I wasn't wowed by it.  I am curious as to where Dominic will end up and how he'll put his past behind him but I could do without Josh and his perfect perfection.  If Sabine's visions are consistently of the bloody, violent variety I'd be all over the next book.

More books by Linda Joy Singleton

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Review: The Spurned Viscountess by Shelley Munro

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Cursed with the sight and rumors of witchcraft, Rosalind's only chance at an ordinary life is marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings. She doesn't expect love, only security and children of her own. Determined to go through with the wedding, she allows nothing she encounters at the gloomy Castle St. Clare to dissuade her.

Recently returned from the Continent, Lucien has no time for the English mouse his family has arranged for him to marry—not when he's plotting to avenge the murder of his beloved Francesca. He has no intention of bedding Rosalind, not even to sire an heir.

Though spurned by her bridegroom, Rosalind turns to him for protection when she is plagued by a series of mysterious accidents and haunted by terrifying visions. Forced to keep Rosalind close—and tempted into passionate kisses—Lucien soon finds himself in grave danger of falling in love with his own wife...

My Thoughts:  This is a dark historical that has both mystery and mayhem.  It comes with a crumbling castle, ghostly goings on, a woman who could be a witch and a scarred, amnesiac hero with a hardened heart.  There might also be a crotchety old aunt and a hidden treasure.  Yeah, it pretty much has all the hallmarks of AWESOME with a side of drafty hallways.

I really liked that the main characters didn't fall madly in love with one another at first sight.  Lucien is mourning his recently murdered wife while trying to regain the memories of his childhood.  He has no wish to remarry, but his title requires it.  Rosalind is resigned to marrying the Viscount even though he terrifies her at first because the alternative is to either be burned as a witch or spend the rest of her days as a burden to her family.  He is literally her last hope.  She takes the hand she's dealt and she makes the best of it.

Watching Lucien fall for Rosalind is sweet.  He's completely against the marriage at first, only agreeing to it for his father's sake.  Slowly he comes to admire Rosalind's strength and kindness and he's able to see that loving her doesn't negate the love he had for his first wife.  Like I said, it's sweet.

A quick, fun little historical with some paranormal elements (Rosalind's gift) and an easy romance.

More books by Shelley Munro

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Review: The Vampire Voss (Regency Draculia #1) by Colleen Gleason

Release date: March 29, 2011
Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Regency London - a dizzying whirl of balls and young ladies pursued by charming men. But the Woodmore sisters are hunted by a more sinister breed: Lucifer's own.

Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member of the Dracule - a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls - the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral...until Angelica.

Angelica Woodmore possesses the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger - for her body and blood.

But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him - to protect her.

My Thoughts:  Oh, my.  Oh, ever lovin' my!  This book was ridiculously fun to read.  It skated the lines between whimsy, romance and sexy vampires with ease.  I adored how shallow Voss was sometimes.  He fretted about his clothes, his hair, when he'd managed to nab a lady for a quick sip and screw.  He has no shame about using his vampire thrall to lure ladies into bed with him.  He initially intends to use Angelica's gift for monetary gain.  Then he finds himself caring whether or not she'll be harmed.  It all went downhill for him from that point on.

The poor guy actually has to restrain both his bloodlust and his desire for her body.  Ye, Gods!  What horror is this?!?!  He has to choose a side between the warring factions of Dracule.  He has to go against the very things he's been wallowing in for the past 140 years.  *pets him*

Seriously, though, this book was a hoot.  The characters were fun to read about, from Angelica's straight talking to Maia's bossiness.  From Voss' tendency toward pranks that inevitably go wrong at the worst possible moments to the vampire Dmitri's horror at being named guardian to a trio of mortal girls.  The world they inhabit is packed with dark alleys, shadowed alcoves and blood-laced whiskey.

And as every good vampire knows, the dark places are where all the fun happens.

More books by Colleen Gleason

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Review: The Unfinished Song: Initiate by Tara Maya

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

A DETERMINED GIRL...
Dindi can't do anything right, maybe because she spends more time dancing with pixies than doing her chores. Her clan hopes to marry her off and settle her down, but she dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, one of the powerful warrior-dancers whose secret magics are revealed only to those who pass a mysterious Test during the Initiation ceremony. The problem? No-one in Dindi's clan has ever passed the Test. Her grandmother died trying. But Dindi has a plan.

AN EXILED WARRIOR...
Kavio is the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth, but when he is exiled from the tribehold for a crime he didn't commit, he decides to shed his old life. If roving cannibals and hexers don't kill him first, this is his chance to escape the shadow of his father's wars and his mother's curse. But when he rescues a young Initiate girl, he finds himself drawn into as deadly a plot as any he left behind. He must decide whether to walk away or fight for her... assuming she would even accept the help of an exile.

My Thoughts:  I have to admit that this book really caught my fancy.  In fact, it has the worst cliffhanger ending EVER.  No, that's not quite right.  It has a ending that made me sit up and frown.  I can't stop thinking about it.  I really want to know how things turn out for Dindi and Kavio.

Dindi's world is an interesting blend of traditional fairy-type creatures, magic and a tribal society.  Exile is a feared punishment and when the tribes go to war blood stains the land.

As the first in a series, there are quite a few characters and plot threads that are laid out.  The use of dancing to channel magical energy is fun and interesting.  The legend of the Corn Maiden, told in flashback visions, lends the story depth and a sense that this world is well developed.

Now, of course, I have to wait for the second book so I can see how Dindi manages to get herself out of the problem she finds herself in.

More books by Tara Maya

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Review: Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling #3) by Nalini Singh

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now he is a defector, and his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins - cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna...

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted - and had her mind violated - by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives...

My Thoughts:Well, well, well.  This series just keeps getting better, doesn't it?  I loved that where the first two books in this series focused on a male-Changeling/female-Psy pairing, this one flipped it and gave us a male-Psy/female-Changeling.  Not only that but our Psy is a lethal assassin who fears that his deadly powers will hurt the very people he's coming to care about if he breaks the emotionless conditioning chaining him.

Love it!

There's also a whole continuity thing that I absolutely loved: Brenna was the only surviving victim from the psychotic Psy that targeted Sascha in book 1.  Brenna's just starting to get her life back together after being tortured and mentally raped and suddenly she's drawn to a man who everyone sees as cold and unfeeling.  Her brothers are being overprotective, her own longing for Judd is off the charts and Judd thinks that the only reason she's attracted to him is because she's trying to heal from her horrific ordeal.

The Psy Council is as shifty and underhanded as always, although the actions of some of the members are driving the term "underhanded" to an all new low.  The Changelings are one big, furry, fanged, lethal family and they're learning that the autonomy of the different species is a weakness that they need to find a way around.

I really, really enjoy the mythology and worldbuilding of this series.  The characters are fantastic and they interact with their world in a way that feels very real to me.  Every book has upped the stakes and the overall arc just keeps expanding.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other reviews in this series:
Book 1: Slave to Sensation
Book 2: Visions of Heat

More books by Nalini Singh

Review: Jewel of Atlantis (Atlantis #2) by Gena Showalter

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

All Atlantis seeks the Jewel of Dunamis, which legend claims can overcome any enemy. Grayson James, human agent of the ultra-secret Otherworld Bureau of Investigation, has orders to keep it from the wrong hands -- or destroy it. What he doesn't know is that Jewel is a woman, not a stone! But once he meets this precious gem, destroying her is the last thing on his mind . . .

Jewel, part goddess, part prophet, is a pawn in Atlantis's constant power struggles. She needs Gray's help to win freedom and uncover the secrets of her mysterious origins. Gray needs her wisdom to navigate monster-ridden Atlantis. But need blossoms into passionate love as they fight demons, dragons, vampires-and a prophecy that says the bond between them could destroy them both.

My Thoughts:  Dudes.  So, Atlantis is like this crazy mish-mash of a Xena-verse with dragon shapeshifters, vampires, demons and any number of other bizarre mythological creatures.  Throw in a human with noble intentions who happens to work for a group of people who might or might not use whatever they find in Atlantis for evil and you've got a pretty funky, fun time.

I have to admit that this crazy underwater fantasy world works for me.  It's so densely populated with critters who are just as likely to gut you as help you that I find myself a little in love with it.

Have I mentioned the Alpha males yet?  Well, Atlantis is crawling with them.  Some of them can fly, some of them drink blood and sometimes they're just a poor soldier who's never screwed up a job and doesn't plan on starting now.  Any way you cut it, these boys are just yummy.

Gray and Jewel's connection is sweet and sometimes sad.  I was a bit confused as to whether Jewel was immortal or just very long-lived.  Not that it has much of a bearing on the story, just something I was wondering.

Anyway.  I really liked this installment and I loved seeing Darius and his dragons from the first book.  I like the continuity and the set up for book 3.  I'll be all over the rest of this series.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other reviews in this series:
Book 1: Heart of the Dragon

More books by Gena Showalter

Review: Hunted By the Others (H&W Investigations #1) by Jess Haines

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Shiarra Waynest's detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm-if it doesn't kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York's most powerful vampires.

As soon as Shiarra meets sexy, mesmerizing vamp Alec Royce, she knows her assignment is even more complicated than she thought. With a clandestine anti-Other group trying to recruit her, and magi being eliminated, Shiarra needs back-up and enlists her ex-boyfriend-a werewolf whose non-furry form is disarmingly appealing-and a nerdy mage with surprising talents. But it may not be enough. In a city where the undead roam, magic rules, and even the Others aren't always what they seem, Shiarra has just become the secret weapon in a battle between good and evil-whether she likes it or not...

My Thoughts: I have a tendency to go through book reading phases where I'll glut myself on particular genres.  This can be a good thing when I'm all revved up about vampires or zombies or fantastic urban fantasy and I just can't get enough of it.  It can also mean that I reach a point where I become like a bloated leech and I just can't hold any more inside me.

I think this is what happened to me with this book.  I've been reading a ton of urban fantasy and while there were definite aspects of this world that I enjoyed, I never quite fell into it the way I thought I should.  Part of it stems from Shia herself.  She's so ... not strong in the beginning that reading about her was a turn off.  She's terrified of vampires.  She's bigoted about nearly all Others.  Frankly, I can't figure out how she managed to make it up to this point in her life with a semi-successful career and without being dumped off the nearest bridge for her narrow-minded ways.

Once again, I could be seeing this through the blood-drenched glasses of someone who has read way too many UF books lately and wants her heroines strong and able to take on the world.  Shia is far, far from that.  Even when she grows a spine and stops acting like a whimpering victim it never really connected for me.  For the most part, her turn around doesn't stem from internal enlightenment.  She stops being afraid when she gains a magical physical boost that makes her able to take on the supernatural beings.  Yeah, she agrees to work with the Others and even decides to give a relationship with one of them a try, but ... without her magical ass-kicking belt she would still be the woman who spilled all her secrets at the mere hint of violence against her.

I guess I expect more from someone who has to step into the middle of an epic battle between good and evil.

Here's the thing, I didn't hate the book by any means.  I just never really connected with it.  I liked both the vampires and the werewolves.  I liked the nerdy mage.  I liked Alec's ruthless ability to use the human world, especially the court system, to his advantage.

See?  This book has me all confused.  I liked it.  I wasn't enamoured of it.  I wanted a little more romance.  Or at least I wanted the conflict that Shia felt at being forced to help the supernatural community to have more impact.  Yes, she was conflicted.  But ... I don't know.

More books by Jess Haines

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Review: The Sweet Scent of Blood (Spellcrackers.com #1) by Suzanne McLeod

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Genevieve Taylor is a sidhe - one of the noble fae - and she's unusual even in a London where celebrity vampires, eccentric goblins and scheming lesser fae mix freely with humanity...

Genny is a rising star at Spellcrackers.com, where she finds the "M" in magic - which can mean anything from mischief to malice to murder. The spellcrackers are run by the Witch Council, whose ancient tenets prohibit any contact with vampires. And that's just fine with Genny, who wants as little to do with the bloodsuckers as possible.

But when a sinfully sexy vamp is accused of killing his lover, an old debt forces Genny to help prove his innocence, risking her job, her safety - and the exposure of her own dark secrets. Genny soon realizes that she and her client are both unwitting pawns in a centuries-old power struggle. And it's not just her own neck at stake but the lives of all of London's supernatural beings.

My Thoughts: Okay, my first thought with this book was that I LOVE that the cover model has the eyes and hair that I envisioned as Genny was being described.  That is just too awesome.  My second thought was: HOLY SMOKES!  This book has a lot of stuff going on in it!  One could even argue that at times there was too much going on and I find that I can't disagree with that.  Yet, I still enjoyed it and I absolutely loved the worldbuilding.

I was hooked on the story within a couple of pages.  It's dark, vibrant, scary and seductive all at one.  The parts that started to get crowded all had to do with Genny's backstory.  Her past was unrolled in fits and starts to the point that when things would happen I'd have to backtrack to see if I missed something.  The main sticky points for me: Genny's parentage and the alter-vamp scenes.  I really couldn't figure out what was going on until pretty deep into those scenes.  It was like being dumped into the middle of a dream and having no idea how you got there or what was coming next.

The world created here was interesting and multi-layered.  The biggest issue I had was in keeping up with the different characters, many of whom didn't have names just colorful descriptions- Mr. June, Red Poet, Corset Girl.  Admittedly, when Genny first runs across them in the course of her investigation she doesn't know who they are and uses what they're wearing to identify them.  While that makes sense, it added a layer of OMG! Who's she talking about now?!?! for me.

Honestly, the book was fun and cool and there are so many threads that can be unraveled for later books that it makes my head spin.  I loved the sexy vamp Malik and the devilish satyr Finn and I can't wait to see how they mess with Genny's life.

More books by Suzanne McLeod

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Review: Bond With Me (Fallen #1) by Anne Marsh

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Fallen angels… They rule Moscow’s seedy underworld, promising untold pleasure to the females who dare to mate them. That promise – and Brends Duranov’s own raw sexual power – has hopefuls mobbing the velvet rope outside his elite club G2’s.

But Mischka Baran has no intention of hooking up with one of the Fallen. Not even after Brends gives her an unforgettable taste of the sin and seduction he can deliver with those wicked lips. She’s after information, not a stint as some Goblin’s toy of the month. What she doesn’t know is that with a sadistic killer carving up his brethren, Brends is playing for keeps, hunting the one woman whose bloodline can end the mayhem, whose bond can restore his lost wings.

My Thoughts: I liked this one.  It wasn't the traditional take on fallen angels... well, maybe it was a little.  I mean, they were cast out of heaven and all that, but the thing that got me interested would have to be that the fallen angels were known as Goblins.  To me, Goblins are dark, squat little critters who probably smell unpleasant and who have bad manners and rude mouths.  They're not darkly sexual fallen angels who are battling against a bloodlust that burns inside them and who routinely make deals with mortals for their souls.  Like I said, it was different and I liked it!

Brends wants Mischka from the first time he senses her.  He wages a war against her desire for him but she has some things in her past that make her distinctly unimpressed by the thought of becoming a Goblin's plaything.  Hunting down her runaway cousin and then getting caught in the crosshairs of a rogue Goblin puts her firmly in Brends' path but she resists his pull with everything inside her.  Until she doesn't.  :)

Intriguing mythology and the idea of redemption in the form of a soul-mate kept me reading.  The revelation that other soul-mates have been targeted through the millennium, potentially destroying any chance at redemption for some of the other Goblins, made me curious as to how things will play out in future books.

A fun, fast read.

More books by Anne Marsh

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Review: Past Pleasures (Desire Through Time #1) by Charlotte Stein

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

When Kate agrees to a mad experiment with something as insane as time travel, she expects exactly what Professor Waites had suggested: dystopian nightmares and possible barbarians.

So when she finds herself in a future where women no longer exist and the men have no idea what they’ve been missing, she can’t seem to catch her breath.

Especially when the men in question—the darkly handsome Tem, and his starkly beautiful companion Aley, are so curious and so ready to learn everything she has to teach—including all the past pleasures they never knew existed.

My Thoughts: This is one of those books that's more about the sex than the plot.  Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  It's just the way it is.  You can look at it this way: if you're looking for some steamy, fairly light reading, you've found it.

Kate pops into a barren, woman-less future and becomes enamoured of the two men she encounters there.  She's drawn to their oddly innocent sexuality and the pleasure they find in her and in each other.  It's funny that a book that is basically all about sex can give the two male main characters such an innocent outlook on life.  It was sweet, really.

My one complaint would have to be that this story felt very claustrophobic.  I don't know if I can explain it any differently than that.  The bulk of the narrative takes place in Tem and Aley's apartment-type place in the future.  There are a few scenes back in Kate's time but those are brief and sparsely detailed and you never get a real sense of the world that Kate came from.  Tem and Aley's world is likewise hidden from us.  They make reference to some things outside of the confines of their home, but all Kate's experiences happen within those walls.  It keeps the focus of the story very narrow and I do think it would have been nice to see snippets of the outside world and the way things have carried on and changed in it.

Look, it's a sexy time-traveling adventure.  There's really not too much more than can be said.

More books by Charlotte Stein

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Review: Silver Bound by Ella Drake

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Sheriff Guy Trident doesn’t have much to do with off-worlders; he has his hands full keeping his own planet safe. But he’ll do anything, go anywhere to save Jewel Quinn. She broke his heart years ago when she left to marry a Terraloft aristocrat. Now she’s run away from her husband, only to fall into the clutches of slavers.

Posing as a wealthy playboy, Guy arrives at Zuthuru Station to learn he’s too late: Jewel’s memories have been erased. She’s been tipped in silver, a process that leaves nothing behind except her body, sexually bound to pleasuring her master. Unwilling to give up hope, Guy buys her.

Jewel fights to reclaim herself, recalling a different connection to the handsome sheriff, remembering the frightened eyes of a young boy and the events that made her run. Together she and Guy search for her cure, plan her son’s rescue from her ruthless ex, and test if they have any kind of future...before the past catches up to them.

My Thoughts:  This was a free Wednesday-in-February download from Carina Press.  There were aspects I enjoyed about it very much (the idea of silver tipping and the sexual submission that came with it was intriguing) but there were a few things that I never quite connected with.  The main one being that I didn't understand why all law enforcement was loathe to try to help her.  Regardless of her status as a sex slave, the fact that she was kidnapped and forced into sexual servitude BY HER HUSBAND as a way of controlling her should have given her some measure of protection with the law.  Instead, everyone who came across she and Guy together kept harping on how Guy wasn't allowed to own slaves.  Dude.  Okay.  But, once again, I would think that someone who was the victim of a crime (did you hear that part about being kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery??) would have earned the right to be helped in any way possible.  Even Guy's Mounty friend, who knew that what her husband had done to her, said he couldn't get involved.  I really, really didn't get that.

And after that mini-rant I'm going to say that I really enjoyed this book.  Like I said, the idea was intriguing.  I liked that Jewel had to battle to get her memories back.  I liked that Guy was willing to go to the ends of the universe if needed to help her.  I just flat out like spacey sci-fi things.  I just wish that her status as a silver tip hadn't reduced her to nothing more than a possession in the eyes of the law.

All in all, it was a well written story that spans planets and space stations.  The sex was steamy and the ending was ultimately satisfactory.

More books by Ella Drake

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Review: Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling #2) by Nalini Singh

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous-aching need...exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her.

Changeling Vaughn D'Angelo can take either man or jaguar form, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar's instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith's sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced-and keep her from Vaughn...

My Thoughts: I have to say that I thought this book was even better than the first and I liked the first a lot.  This one struck my fancy with its unrepentantly Alpha male who's a bit of a loner (okay, fine...a lot of a loner) and who's deeply sexual. Although pairing him up with an unfeeling Psy should have been a recipe for disaster, Nalini Singh made them sizzle.  And steam.  And burn.  Nice.

I loved the way Vaughn pushed Faith the first time they met.  He crawled right past the boundaries she'd been told she couldn't allow anyone to breach and showed her that touching wasn't bad and wouldn't break her.  I'm talking about skin touching, not sexy touching.  She had been brought up to believe that a Psy of her strength and abilities couldn't withstand the physical touch of another without crashing and burning.  Watching Vaughn draw Faith out of herself and show her the world she'd been isolated from made for a fascinating read.

The secondary characters, and I'm mostly talking about the other Changelings here, are simply gorgeous and well-written.  I can't wait to see how each of the Sentinels and the others who have been drawn into their orbit get caught up in their own story.

All in all, I absolutely loved this second journey into the Psy-Changeling world.  The characters are compelling, the emerging story arc with the PsyNet is intriguing and the world itself is captivating.  Book 3 is waiting for me.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other reviews in this series:
Book 1: Slave to Sensation

More books by Nalini Singh

Review: Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

My Thoughts: I had a really tough time even starting this book.  It honestly had nothing to do with the book itself but more because I really, really loved the ending that Grace and Sam were given in Shiver.  I didn't want them to have problems.  I didn't want them to fall apart.  I didn't want their Happily Ever After to unravel.

To my delight, Maggie Stiefvater made their story even more poignant.  Yes, they have roadblocks they have to find their way around, but it makes sense in the mythology of the story.  I loved that their relationship burned with the same steady love as book 1.  I thought Cole, with his yearning to be a wolf and his desire to escape his life, was a good addition.  Isabel is a well-written mix of brittle honesty and hidden grief.

As much as I wasn't expecting it, this book really worked for me.  Sam's inability to believe in his cure.  Grace's spiral downward.  Cole's self-destructive personality.  Isabel's disconnection with her family.  Even Grace's parents' actions- which are usually the type of actions that drive me batty- worked in the context of the story.  I loved the snippets of songs, the paper cranes, the slow drive toward spring.

And the ending?  Beautifully full circle with the events that started this whole arc out.  I'll be content to wait patiently for book 3 and see how it all resolves itself.

More books by Maggie Stiefvater

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Review: Healing Hearts by Taryn Kincaid

Release date:  February 28, 2011
Synopsis (via Goodreads):

As a girl, Emma Whiteside asked Adam Caldwell, Viscount Riverton, to wait for her to be of marriageable age. Now, twelve years later, Emma hates Adam as much as she once loved him, holding the former army major responsible for the death of her brother on the battlefield.

Adam already blames himself for the loss of the men under his command. But the fiery young woman Emma's become sparks his arousal, as well as emotions Adam thought long dead. The passion between them makes him want to reclaim the man he was before the war.

Though she tries to hold on to her hatred, Emma's longing for Adam is undeniable, especially after the two share a smoldering kiss. Still, Adam is certain no woman would want a man so damaged. Can Emma prove him wrong?

My Thoughts: This was one of those slow, sweet books that winds around you and lets you flow into the lives of the characters.  Relatively short, the book draws you in and lets you feel how two people on the edge of very different precipices find a way to come together.

Emma's sadness over losing her brother is translated into anger toward Adam, her brother's commander and long-time friend of the family.  Her father has abandoned her in his grief and she's on the edge of losing everything she holds dear.  Adam feels guilt over not being able to save her brother yet at the same time he's drawn to Emma and the memories he has of her childish declaration of love.

Short on action, this book is more about emotion and internal dialog.  Sweet, sad and ultimately hopeful, it was a quick read that hit the spot for a historical romance.

More books by Taryn Kincaid

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Review: An Unwanted Hunger by Ciana Stone

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Passion this strong is dangerous. They both know it. Mortal enemies, their respective factions have been at war since the dawn of man. Resa is a Dhampir, bred and trained to hunt Vampyres. Constantine is a prince among the Vampyre, the oldest and most lethal.

Nothing good can come of this hunger, this need that drives them relentlessly toward one another. Neither reason nor devotion to duty can stay their need. There is but one way to quench the thirst that drives them. Once sated, they can return to the battle and see which one, if either, is left standing.

But one drink from the cup of desire serves only to magnify the hunger. One act of lust that could alter them forever, changing the course of destiny.

My Thoughts: I read this book back-to-back with another Ciana Stone book, All In Time, and I noticed that several of the sex scenes were nearly identical.  I could have handwaved it and just moved on but when I say nearly identical, I mean just that.  The characters used similar phrasing when they were in the zone, the positioning of the characters (Ha! That sounds funnier when I read it then it did in my head) while doing the deed... it was really off-putting.  I'm guessing that if I hadn't done the back to back reading I wouldn't have noticed or not realized exactly how alike the two scenes were but now that I've seen it I can't unsee it.

It's really ruined this book for me.

Up until the duplicate sex scene, the book was already teetering on the edge in my opinion.  I knew going into this that it wasn't a typical vampire story and it's not.  Constantine and his people aren't vampires exactly, they're aliens.  I'm cool with that part, actually, because I can see how an alien race with the physical and psychic gifts they had could be easily mistaken for vampires.  What got me was that there was almost too much information introduced about the alien world and culture.  It became overwhelming and hard to follow. Half the time I was unsure who was aligned with who and where they fit into the grand scheme of things.

All in all, what could have been a fun, interesting, new take on the traditional vampire tale fell apart somewhere in the middle and never found its footing again.  And I still can't get over the duplicate sex.  It's like finding out that your best friend stole your patented sex move and is wowing all the guys with it.  Very off-putting.

More books by Ciana Stone

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Review: All In Time by Ciana Stone

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Sara's life is filled with mysteries. Why did her parents abandon her as a baby? What's behind the baffling blackouts she suffers and the frightening images she creates while she's out? Who is the strange woman claiming to hold the answers, and why does she keep calling Sara a Hussy?

Morgan's got a few mysteries of his own. What was his father going to give him on the day he died - the gift he said would change Morgan's life? Who is this bewitching woman who keeps passing out and creating pictures of his past and future - and why was she sent to save his life?All they both know from the moment they meet is that the bond between them is stronger - and more passionate - than anything either has ever known. And that fate has brought them together for a very important reason. If only they knew what it was.

My Thoughts:  This book wasn't bad but I had a really hard time getting past the use of the word "Hussy" as meaning a proud, powerful, warrior woman.  Ciana Stone even has a discussion between two of the characters about the etymology of the word and while that helped put things in perspective whenever Sara was called a Hussy it kinda made me cringe.

Once I managed to worm my way past the whole Hussy thing, the book was pretty good.  It moves quickly, the characters are likable, the sex is pretty hot.  While it would have been nice if the mystery behind Sara's abandonment as a baby had been a little more difficult to figure out, Morgan's confusion and emotional demons made up for it.

Decent, not necessarily outstanding, but it was a nice afternoon reading diversion.

More books by Ciana Stone

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Review: Beyond the Night (Envy Chronicles #1) by Joss Ware

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

A man with no future . . .

When Dr. Elliott Drake wakes from a mysterious fifty-year sleep, the world as he knew it is gone. Cities are now desolate, and civilization is controlled by deadly immortals. Stranger still is Elliott's extraordinary new "gift"—he has the power to heal, but it comes with fatal consequences.

A woman with a past . . .

Jade barely escaped the immortals and is now hell-bent on revenge. She trusts no one . . . until Elliott. His piercing gaze and tempting touch shatter her defenses, but the handsome doctor seems to have dangerous secrets of his own. Is it safe to trust him with her heart?

If they are to survive in this dark new world, Jade and Elliott must work together to fight the forces that take them beyond danger.

Beyond desire.

My Thoughts:  I read the 4th book in this series a while back and liked the world that was created enough to pick up the first 2 books when the price dropped.  I have to admit that starting a series from book 1 really makes things make so much more sense.  You might think that's a no-brainer but I like to live life dangerously and read books out of order.

Seriously, though, starting with book one and watching this world come into being, watching the four men who survived in a sort of suspended animation and are trying to find their footing is this new world, made everything much more bittersweet than jumping into book 4 straight away.  For Elliot and the others only months have passed since the world wasn't broken.  On top of struggling to survive, they're trying to make sense of how the way of life they knew has collapsed and had to be reinvented.  The cities are broken shells, the people are doing the best they can with the scavenged bits they can find.

When they finally find their way to Envy, the only large settlement left on the West coast, they're drawn into an even bigger set of problems: it looks like the catastrophe that ravaged the planet was caused by a group of people who are practically immortal and who will do whatever they need to do to maintain their position of power.  On top of that, the odd powers several of the men have developed all come with some serious side effects.

While the overriding arc is about finding a way to topple the regime of the Strangers and protect the last remnants of humanity from being wiped out by the voracious zombie-like creatures who roam the land, there's also a blossoming romance or two.  After being held against her will for years by the Strangers, Jade doesn't want to lose her independence.  She doesn't want to trust Elliot with her heart.  She doesn't want to fall in love.  She just wants to stay as safe and sane as she can while helping build an underground resistance against the Strangers.  Elliot's dealing with a manifestation of his new power that could turn out to be deadly for anyone who gets close to him.

What can I say, a lot happens in this book.  You'll get broken cities, zombie chases, steamy kisses, deadly touches, giant snakes and a couple of throwback computer geeks.  Hey, I had myself at 'broken cities'.

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Other reviews in this series:
Book 4: Night Betrayed

More books by Joss Ware

Review: Lone Star Trouble by Autumn Piper

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

One hot cowboy plus one tough rancher-girl adds up to trouble! Kiersten Day holds a grudge against all things Texan, especially cattle baron CJ Howell, with his hubcap-sized belt buckle and tacky white hat. He's set his sights on her tiny Colorado ranch, and he's a master of dirty tactics, slinging threats to make her sell out. Caught in the fight of her life, Kiersten meets Cleve, a tall, handsome good guy. Too late, she finds out he's Howell's son. She might be pregnant, she doesn't know who to trust, and danger is closing in. She's head over heels -- and kicking herself! Content warning, a hot cowboy, dirty tactics and lots of lone star trouble.

My Thoughts: Every once in a while I get in the mood for some hot cowboy action.  Honestly, it doesn't happen often and if I can ride it out it'll usually pass and I won't have to delve into a world with sweaty, hard-bodied men who might or might not spell like cows.  For some reason, I decided that this weekend would be the perfect weekend to give one of them a try.

I'm going to be honest here, I didn't really care for this book.  My biggest hurdle to get over was that I didn't like Kiersten.  I felt like she was a veritable shrew whenever she'd talk to her friends or Cleve.  The way she'd blow hot and cold with her best friend Nate drove me crazy.  I get that she wanted to be independent but with the threats she had against her she acted downright stupid at times.  Most of the time, come to think of it.

I did like Cleve.  I liked Cleve's family.  I liked Nate, although I was confused when Kiersten described him as being "all macho" at one point because he talked like he was going for the gayest guy ever award most of the time.  Honestly, it was Kiersten herself who dragged the story down.  It's hard to get invested in something when you want to throttle the main character.

More books by Autumn Piper

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