#BookReview -- Archangel's Storm by @NaliniSingh

One of the things I love most about picking up on a series late is that there are plenty of books for me to read.  Less of that frustration of having to wait for the next book :-)

After catching on to @NaliniSingh Archangel series, I was thrilled because there were several books for me to read.  But, now, it sucks because I've just read Archangel's Storm, and it is the last.  The next release will be Archangel's Legion, which won't be available for months.

Anyway...

For anyone who's read the series, or who has been reading it along with me, you're familiar with Jason.  He's the sad one.  The one with the beautiful tattoos that are mysterious and intriguing.

As Jason's story is told the sadness in my heart grew for him.  His tale is heartbreaking, and as it was told, I pictured the little boy -- fractured and alone -- in my mind.  The tears he shed for his mother, his family, I cried for him.  It was hauntingly distressful.

I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but there is a scene with a young Jason and his mother on the kitchen floor of their home that broke my heart.  From @NaliniSingh description to the emotion that shoots off the page, it broke my heart.  I was unable to read the words on the page through my tears.

Then, there's Mahiya.  Gentle, but strong.  When we're first introduced to her, I don't know if she's an enemy or a friend.  It couldn't be more perfect for a spymaster to have the this kind of puzzle in a woman.  It's a puzzle I can't tell you much about without spoiling it for you, just a little.

The complexity of Mahiya is, in part, due to her relationship with her aunt, Neha.  The one who both provides for her, and at the snap of a finger can take everything from her, including her life.

Jason is so dark and unknown, and Mahiya, although not dark, is also an unknown.  At times, her character seemed almost too gentle for Jason, but as Jason's story unfolds, you wonder if it's not just what he needs.

Throughout the story, there is a little interjection of another story line -- Dmitri and Honor, every time I read a piece of it, I kept expecting something catastrophic to happen. Hopefully, my fears will not come true.

I can't wait for Archangel's Legion!

#BookReview -- "Lover Reborn" by J.R. Ward

At last year's Romantic Times, I purchased an autographed copy of "Lover Reborn," but refused to read it until the release of "Lover At Last."

Why? Because I completely love the character of Tohrment and John Matthew, and because I love Blay and Qhuinn.  And I knew that Tohr's book would set-up Blay and Qhuinn's story.

For those that don't know John Matthew's story, you have to start at the beginning, and know Darius' story to know his story.  The connection between Darius and Tohrment continues with Tohrment's relationship with John Matthew.

As  I read this book, I found myself crying and smiling.  Happy that John and Tohr had found their way back to each other because they don't know just how important they are to each other.  They have a love for each other that cuts John so deeply when Tohr disappears after the death of his wife and unborn son.  It cuts John in a way that Tohr didn't realize or think about until he began to face his demons.  Likewise, John didn't understand his adopted father's loss until he was faced with the same possible loss.

With the introduction of Autumn and the development of a relationship between her and the daughter she tried to kill while still in the womb, you are once again overwhelmed with emotion.  Although I like Xhex, she's not particularly one of my favorite characters, but John Matthew does deserve a strong mate, and she is strong.  And in time her mother Autumn also regains a sort of inner strength.  I would like Autumn to eventually be stronger in all ways, but hey one step at a time.

I've always loved Lassiter, but after this book I'm even more in love with him.  He sacrificed what -- we don't know for the love between Autumn and Tohr.

To see Tohr reconnect with John, and learn to love Autumn was a great experience for me.

In true J.R. Ward-style, she has several sub-plots: John and Xhex, Xcor and B.O.B., Autumn and Xhex, Assail and everyone.  In one way, I enjoy the other story lines because it continues to let me know what's happening with the other members of BDB, but sometimes it almost takes away from the story that you're reading.  It's as if you don't get enough of the story you purchased.  In the case of this one, I think I got the story that I wanted, but probably a touch too much of the others.

I don't know if I care enough about Xcor and his B.O.B, but I may read the lead book because of who his potential love interest may be.  I am not terribly interested in the struggle for the throne, and don't know if I care to read that story.  But, I would like to see his potential love interest happy.  And if it happens as I think, I am interested to see how J.R. Ward will justify the fight.  Curiosity might just make me read.  But, we'll see.

My next read will be "Lover at Last"!  I can't wait to read Blay and Qhuinn's story.

#BookReview - Archangel's Blade by @NaliniSingh

You guys all know by now that I'm a huge Nalini Singh fan. I love her stories for so many reasons.  One of them being the strength of her story telling.  I love the way she layers in her sub-plots and wraps up everything by the book's end in a way that makes me impatient for the next one.  Each book deepens your knowledge of the entire world the characters live within.

"Archangel's Blade" filled in so many questions for me about Dmitri.  I wanted his story, but honestly, didn't realize it would be so good.  Dmitri is Raphael's second.  He's a man of tremendous dedication and strength. But, you never know why he has such allegiance to Raphael or vice versa.

This book explains to us why Dmitri became a man deserving of the respect and friendship of an Archangel.

Honor, the heroine of the story, is just as broken and damaged as Dmitri.  There are still a few mysteries to Honor.  But, what we do know of her by the end of the book touches your heart.  And I found myself truly hoping that she discovered a way to become stronger and be able to grow closer to Dmitri, instead of running screaming from him.  (I might have run screaming in the other direction!)

As the story unfolds, and you learn more about Honor and who she could possibly be, the only thing you can do is smile.  Dmitri and Honor's tragic stories gives them a unique bond.  A bond that can't be broken by anything, not even time.

I love this series, and I hope it continues for many many more books.

#BookReview - The Vampire, The Witch, and The Werewolf by @Louisabacio

I picked this book up at RT 2012.  One of the many things that comes from exhibiting at RT is that you meet great authors.  Louisa Bacio was one of the many authors that sat near me during the exhibit.

The longer she and I sat and talked the more I became intrigued about her writing and her books.  I can't tell you why this book captured my interest because I don't read much Erotica or Erotic Romance.  And books that feature threesomes never really draw my attention.

This book surprised me because of the romance.  Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of sex :-)  But, the sex fits the story, and you saw the closeness of the relationship between all of the characters grow with each encounter.

The story is set in New Orleans and the author uses New Orleans to bring in every supernatural creature: ghosts, demons, Voodoo priestesses, and of course, witches, vampires, and werewolves.  (Sometimes it seemed like creatures made appearances just because it was New Orleans, but hey, it's New Orleans.)

I enjoyed the story.  I think the story builds to a gradual climax, and then she tosses you right on over the cliff as the story winds up pretty quickly.

I would've loved to have seen Lilly learn how to use and control her powers.  I guess it's cliche, but the heroine, Lily, kind of went from not knowing who she was to knowing and quickly accepting it to knowing how to control and use the powers that grew inside of her.

My heart felt for Trevor, the werewolf, he seemed so torn and and lost, and so deserving of true love.  Lawrence, is your typical Alpha.  The three of these characters fit well together.

I'd love to know more about Lily's father, Trevor's sister.   And will there ever be a baby?

#BookReview - A Perfect Darkness by @JamieRush

Yes, I've discovered a new series! Love it when I don't have to wait for the next book to release :-)

This book made me think of some of my favorite scifi TV shows and movies as I read it.

Amy Shane and Lucas Vanderwyck our heroine and hero in "A Perfect Darkness," are twenty-somethings and the offspring of parents who were part of an American CIA psychic program gone horribly wrong.

Amy Shane is the "typical" twenty-something loner type.  She makes her living working on computers hidden away from the world, until Lucas.

Lucas Vanderwyck stumbled on a secret because of his best friend/brother.  None of them knew what they were in for, but now that they're in it, they have to fight or die.

What I think I enjoyed most about this book was the way the love grew between Amy and Lucas.  She loved him through his art, his friends, and her dreams.  Awesome!

Lucas broke his promise to himself.  Trying to save her, he involved her in something he only partially understood.

Together with their friends, they begin to put together the puzzle pieces of their pasts.

Jaime did a great job with pulling me in and keeping me interested.  The characters were probably a little young for me.  (I'm not a super YA fan, and although this was not YA, the characters are young.)  But, I will read Eric and Petra's stories!

#BookReview - Wicked Nights by @genashowalter

I've read books by Gena before, but it's been a while since I picked up anything.

The cover of this book stopped me in the store!  Walking through the aisles searching for something by one of my other favorite authors, I literally stopped when I saw the cover.

The way the woman is holding onto the man made my heart melt.  And the way he uses both is body and his wings to protect her makes me jealous :-)

I may be the only person in the world who hasn't read Gena's Lords of the Underworld series, so I knew nothing of Zacharel.  Immediately, I was interested in this man.  Because he seemed so alone.  You cared about him and his losses.  You cared for the team that he was charged with leading.  All of them equally broken and damaged in their own way.

Annabelle Miller, the heroine, again so alone in everything.  And to add to it, she's been locked away in an institution and drugged for years for a crime she didn't commit.

When I began the book, I thought, I know where this is going.  But, I'll stay on the ride.

Gena surprised me.  She'd dropped little clues, but I didn't catch one of them until she did the big reveal at the end!

And when she did, my heart opened up even more for Zacharel.

This book was not what I expected.  It had many elements we're all familiar with: alpha male, damsel in distress, angels and demons.  But, Gena used them slightly differently than I expected.

When I finished this book, I sat and thought about it.  If I were to have been in Zacharel's position, what choice would I have made, if tested in the same way?  Honestly, I don't think I would've made the same choice.  Guilt would've utterly consumed me.

If you are looking for a good read that has heart, action, and one or two surprises, this one will do it for you.

#BookReview - Archangel's Consort by @NaliniSingh

You guys already know that I caught onto this series late, and I love it.  And I still have two more books to read, and another one will release in 2013!

Just to catch you up.  Archangel's Consort is the third book in the series.  The series follows the love and relationship between Elena and Raphael.  Elena is hunter-born, and in the world Nalini Singh has created that  means Elena hunts and returns rogue vampires to their owners, angels.  Raphael is an archangel who rules over the territory that includes New York which is where Elena lives and works.

At this point in the series, Elena and Raphael are a couple.  But, no one respects the immortal newly-Made.  This is something that constantly places Elena in danger, and maybe Raphael.

Because there may be other late-comers out there like me, I will breeze over some of the story because it would be a complete spoiler if you haven't read Archangel's Kiss.

In this book, the reader is re-introduced to an old nemesis, as well as, the possibility of a new one, Raphael's mother--Caliane.

Immortality sounds like it would be wonderful until you have people losing their minds, bringing people back from the dead, or killing everything they see.  And let's not forget that you outlive every one you love.

The ending left me wanting a little more.  I'm anxious to know more about everything.  There were no pretty little ribbons wrapped around the end of this book.  At it's conclusion, we have the reappearance of an old nemesis, and another who we can't quite figure out, yet.  And by the book's end, Raphael is sitting beside one of them as if nothing ever happened.  Not me!  I'd still be trying to shoot her full of angelfire.

Guess, that's just me :-)

Anyway, still loving the series, and looking forward to Dmitri's story, next.  I think it'll be fun to watch him fall in love after all the trouble he causes Elena.

#BookReview - Archangel's Kiss by @NaliniSingh

Yes, I hit my magic button when I put down Angels' Bood, and freaking immediately began reading Archangel's Kiss!

I mean, what was I supposed to do.  The freaking angel was in my dreams.  I had angelfire coming from my own fingers.  Honestly, I was forced to do it.  I won't start Archangel's Consort until...January.  Maybe :-)

Raphael is delicious and I kick Elena out as much as possible.  

Archangel's Kiss catches us up on what happened in Angels' Blood.  For people like me, this allows you to not necessarily have to read Angels' Blood to know what's going on.  

Nalini continues to introduce readers to her group of god-like angels.  Their faults:  jealousies, pettiness, and power struggles.  Like Elena, my heart breaks a little more with the knowledge of each angel's human-like behavior.  

Along with Elena, I want the angels to be better than me.  And if they can't be, then I want Raphael to kick their arses!

There are a number of sub-plots in this book.  Nalini does a great job of giving you just enough of each to tantalize.  Enough to make you want to know more.  Where's Raphael's mother?  What will Neha do next?  What is Lijuan?

So many questions.

#BookReview - Angels' Blood by @NaliniSingh

I fell in love with Nalini Singh's writing when I read her Psy-Changeling series.  But, I hadn't read her Archangel series.

I sat in on Nalini's discussion at RT 2012, and you guys know I became a true fan at that moment.  She was so incredibly warm and open.  The fans and authors in attendance all spoke of her angel series, and I felt like I couldn't be a part of the discussion.  So, I wanted to be sure to read as much as possible before RT 2013.

I stood in line to purchase a copy of Angels' Blood directly from Nalini, and, of course, I had to have it autographed!

I read Angels' Blood in two days.  Until I read J.R. Ward, I was never really a fan of series.  Then, all of a sudden, I thought it was the best thing in the world next to Netflix.Why?  Because when I finish one, I can push a magic button on my Kindle and boom there's another lovely book.

Nalini twisted the mythos of angels and vampires and dropped it on its head.  Angels become god-like creatures that put more fear than hope into those that love them.  The relationship between angels and vampires was for me the "touch" of Nalini that was all her own.

There have been so many treatments of vampires and angels that you become a little bored with it all.  I'm glad that I've found this series because it made it fresh for me.

My love affair with Jeaniene Frost's Cat and bones isn't over.  But, I am definitely enjoying the ride with Elena and Raphael.

Raphael the immortal that's lived so long, his heart is silent.  Elena, human--hunter-born, thrown away by her father left to to her own devices.  How do you love someone that you fear?  Sometimes, that can go both ways :-)



Nalini and me @ RT 2012!

#BookReview - Anne Rice's The Wolf Gift

Finally, I've finished reading The Wolf Gift! It took longer than I'd planned, not because of the quality of the book.  But, because I dreaded finishing the book.  For many reasons, would the characters I'd grown to love die, where were the other werewolves, was there a bigger plan?

Anne slowly folded back the layers of the story.  She did it in such a way that my emotional connection with Reuben built to a level of true love for him and his well-being.

I still couldn't help writing the story in my mind.  I wanted more for Reuben's family.  When I say more, I mean I wanted them to be included more in the story of Reuben's life as a man wolf.  I kept imagining how his brother, mother, and father could contribute.

When I think about the men of the pack, I think of how great the members of Reuben's family would fit right in with them.  Including Reuben's girlfriend.

So,what does this mean for the book overall?

For me, it means that I wanted more at the end.  Maybe, Anne Rice's plan is to write a sequel.  Or, this will become a series.  And I know exactly how it should go :-)

But, I'll leave it to Anne.

For now, know that this book takes its time introducing you to Reuben.  But, you become so connected to Reuben that you fear for his safety and hope for his love.  You want his parents to be able to become part of his inner sanctum.  You cry for his brother's pain.

When the members of the pack finally make themselves known, you feel their power and the fear they place in those around them without even trying.  And you want to know more.  You want to know why they are feared so.

The ending has a little too much talk and not enough action because Anne preferred to leave all explanations until the last chapters of the book.  She keeps the readers as confused and two steps behind as she does Reuben.

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who wants a good read with a well-developed character and story.  It's not a pace quickening thriller.  But, a comfortable read.

#BookReview - Once Burned by Desiree Holt

I picked up Once Burned while attending RT2012.  I picked up so many books at that conference, and I've still got a long way to go before I finish the pile of books I brought home.

I've probably said it before, but I don't normally read Erotica.  So, when something catches my eye, there's normally a reason.  My reason - curiosity ;-)

Once Burned is an Erotic Romance Suspense.  It layered in just enough suspense to keep me turning the page.  Once Burned is not a thriller, but is truly a cozy little "whodunit," think updated "Murder She Wrote."  I found myself despising the people of the small town of Stoneham just as much as Cassie Fitzgerald.  And, honestly, couldn't wait for the next scene between her and Griffin Hunter :-)

It's one of those intriguing stories of when you leave home can you really return.  And do you really want to?

If I were Cassie, I don't think I'd want to.

Although this book has murder and break-ins, I never get the sense Cassie Fitzgerald is ever in danger.  I feel that she is instead in the middle of a conspiracy that would rather her gone than dead.

The characters were developed well, and the story moved at an even enough pace appropriately spaced with sex and story.  The sex moved the story forward and wasn't just thrown in to titillate, but it did!

I had the discussion with a friend of mine of what is Erotica.  Before I read the book, I'd imagined the sex would be more hard-core.  I was surprised by this book, and enjoyed it.

Who do you consider to be a classic author?

I'm not referring to the "classics."  Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, or Milton.  I'm talking about modern classic authors.  Authors that have something to teach all of us aspiring authors.

I'm reading Anne Rice's The Wolf Gift, and honestly, it's taking longer than I thought it would take to read.  Not because there's anything wrong with the book, but because it's not written to be read quickly.  Some may say this is a plot-driven story because there is a bit of an unknown element to the book, but I think it's more character-driven.  There is a ton of character development and it's driving the pace of this story.  We don't know anything the main character doesn't know.  We discover as he does.  I find myself pushing the character wanting him to explore another room, walk through the forest, look at one more artifact.  I want to know more.  I want him to be okay.  To be safe.

I feel so connected to this character that it's making me anxious.  I worry that with the flip of one more page something I don't like will happen to him.

I find myself reading this story as much for pleasure as I am for studying how she's tied me to this character so much that I think as he does about the people in his life.  And that I fear what will become of him and his power.

Have you read anything lately that's taken it's time to pull you in and clamped on tight?

(Of course I'll let you know how this one goes.)

#BookReview - Lover Unleashed

You guys know I love all things J.R. Ward, but it took me some time to decide to read this one...I don't know why.  I guess I really didn't have much interest.  I think mainly because the heroine--Payne, hadn't really captured my interest in the other books that lead up to her own story.  J.R. Ward does such a great job of building anticipation for the next book.  I'm about to explode waiting on Lover At Last!  But, this one has sat on my Kindle for awhile.

Our heroine, Payne, is injured.  That injury requires the medical expertise of Dr. Manuel Manello. The introduction of a human into the clandestine world of the Black Dagger Brother possesses problems for many reasons.  But, the constant use of this doctor's abilities is needed.  However, the BDB's use of Dr. Manello begins to cause problems for him in the human world.

Also, we see the introduction of the Band of Bastards lead by Xcor, and learn why they are who they are separate, but equal in skill and ability.  The question that must be answered is: who is Xcor to Payne and Vishous?

The more questions I post here, the more I will raise or answer questions for those who've not read these books, and I'd hate to spoil it for you.

But, I will say that J.R. Ward continues to intrigue me with her ability to create couples that compliment each other seamlessly, which is why my heart quietly broke in this one for Vishous and his mate Jane.  I guess we'll all see what happens.

This books only continued to fuel my excitement for Blay and Quinn!  Stop teasing me!

Book review - Once Burned (Night Prince, Book 1)

First, I have to begin by saying that I read this book in two days!  Yes, two.  Also, let me say that I absolutely love all things Jeaniene Frost!  I literally gobbled up the Cat and Bones series, and I couldn't wait for this one to be released.

Now, that that is out of the way...

Talk, smoldering (literally,) and sexy!  Throughout the Cat and Bones series, we've been casually introduced to Vlad Tepesh, and personally, I've fallen a little in love with him every time, but I still love you Bones!  His hard and fast rules regarding loyalty both frighten and appeal to me.  Could anyone ever live up to it...who knows, but I definitely understand his want for loyalty, honesty, and love.

The book opens light and fun, and the action kicks in fast.  But, Jeaniene Frost doesn't spoon-feed you, she lets you discover the answers as the characters do.  Sometimes, maybe a step behind.  When I found myself asking the question of why, moments later the characters supplied an answer.  Although JF is writing in the world of paranormal, she doesn't front-load the story with unnecessary world-building, maybe because so much of it has already been introduced through Cat and Bones.

Vlad is one of JF's best Alpha males, and Leila is wonderful woman on a path of discovery.  The two of them together a very reminiscent of Cat and Bones, but still have their own identities.  But, JF, knows we love her other characters, and throws us a little cameo with a hint of mystery to keep us hungry for more.

Vlad and Leila's story is fast, fun, and a little heartbreaking, but every step of the way, I'm right there with them anxious to turn the page, but all the while dreading the last one.  Now that I've flipped that last page, I can't wait for that next one.  Spring is way to far away :-)

I won't name this one

This book I won't name because I'm not sure if it was me or the author :-)

This one had a more formulaic love affair: fireman and writer.  I think it depends on what kind of story you like to read.  If you want to feel a little more comfortable with your story and know where it's going, this would be your type of book.

Within pages, you know the couple will be together, and you know he'll rescue her.  After all isn't that what heroic firemen do?

I think a lot of my difficulty with the book stemmed from some of the paragraphing.  Character point of view was, at times, difficult for me because there were no spacial of character indications of POV changes.  And the transitions weren't always smooth.  I reread several passages to have a better idea of what was actually happening.

The character development flowed easily enough, but the two leading characters were both distrusting loners, where do you think the story is headed?

Short and simple, the story wasn't complicated, and overall, I was satisfied at the end.  But, I guess, I wish mainstream publishing houses didn't always throw the formulaic story at us.  I'd be nice if they gave us a little credit for wanting something more.  It may not always be hugely successful (financially,) but until they give it a shot, who really knows.

What type of book do you like?  Do you want to know what happens, or do you like a few surprises?  Do you need the pretty bow wrapped around your ending?

Yes, yes, I love J.R. Ward

Soap Opera style story-telling is how I’ve heard J.R. Ward’s writing described, and if I’m being totally honest, I hate soap operas, so it’s amazing for me to say how much I love her books.

The stories of Rhevenge and Phury didn’t engage me as much as the others, so I’d actually stopped reading them, but I jumped back on board because of RomanticTimes, and I’m quickly making my way through the remaining books in anticipation of the story of Blay and Quinn (Can’t wait for this one!)

Everyone out there has probably read Lover Mine, but just in case there are a few out there like me, I won’t spoil it for anyone.

John Matthew (I loved him before he was John Matthew and love him more now) is the kind of hero that many can relate to.  He was never perfect, and only because of his own moral compass did he not end up causing as much trouble as he fought.  But, when he finds the man that snatched his Xhex from underneath his nose, he will show him that he is a member of the Brotherhood for a reason.

Lash was privileged and took full advantage of what that afforded him.  Now, that he knows the secrets to his true identity, he wastes no time using what he now knows of himself to take revenge on those that have wronged him.  Kidnapping Xhex was meant to “get even” with those that pissed him off, but her fire and temper feed into his own twisted reality, and he falls in love with his captive.

Xhex only knows one thing—how to be a good assassin.  Love doesn’t play into her future.  The casual relationship she had with John Matthew was successfully put behind her.  But, now in the prison created for her by Lash the one thing that gives her peace is the memory of the gentle giant, John Matthew.  She needs to escape, revive, and get her revenge on the man that trapped her.

While the excitement of this moves forward, we learn more about Xhex and John’s connection.  Why John has always felt inexplicably pulled to the mysterious woman with the gun metal grey eyes.

And we learn why Xhex has chosen to cut herself off from love.  Why she believes her love can destroy a man and make him lose everything.

What I love about this book is that it takes me back to why I love to read J.R. Ward, it’s non-stop action that takes you right up to the big reveal. 

These books are not stand-alone, I believe you would be completely lost if you don’t start at book one, but hey that’s what a soap opera is all about…isn’t it.

I think that newer authors wouldn’t get away with the large chunks of Darius’ diary that were thrown in as stand-alone chapters.  But, as a lover of J.R. Ward, I kept reading and waiting for the connection not only of these chapters, but also of the chapters detailing the exploits of a ghost being chased by the paranormal film crew.  Yes, I said paranormal film crew.

Reading Lover Mine, at times, felt like reading three or four books at once, but at the end of the book I was happy.  Excited about the possibilities of the next books in the series, namely Tohr and Blay and Quinn.

Like always, the book moved fast, some of the twists were unexpected, and although the Darius chronicles and paranormal TV show interruptions slowed the pace of the book quite a bit, it enhanced the over all story.

I think the only story line that didn’t capture my interest in this book was Payne’s.  I’m hoping that her story will draw me in more because I have to read it, right?  Can’t miss out on anything that will be further developed for Tohr or Blay and Quinn.

Now, the only real distraction for me would be the slang.  I had to reread a lot of passages because I don’t have kids, and had no clue what J.R. Ward was talking about J

I was extremely happy with the conclusion of this story.  John Matthew has been one of my favorite characters since he first appeared in her books.

I’ve already got my Kleenex prepared for Tohr’s story.  I love him just as much as John Matthew!

I’d definitely recommend this book, but would advise that you pick it up from the beginning of the series.  It might get a little confusing if you don’t.