#EarlyReview: Archangel's Viper by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Viper - Viper and Holly Chang

(Guild Hunter #10)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Once a broken girl known as Sorrow, Holly Chang now prowls the shadowy gray underground of the city for the angels. But it’s not her winged allies who make her a wanted woman—it’s the unknown power coursing through her veins. Brutalized by an insane archangel, she was left with the bloodlust of a vampire, the ability to mesmerize her prey, and a poisonous bite.

Now, someone has put a bounty on her head…

Venom is one of the Seven, Archangel Raphael’s private guard, and he’s as infuriating as he is seductive. A centuries-old vampire, his fangs dispense a poison deadlier than Holly’s. But even if Venom can protect Holly from those hunting her, he might not be able to save himself—because the strange, violent power inside Holly is awakening…

No one is safe.

Review:

This book was all of the things! I was amazing! I've actually already read it twice.. After the first read it spurred a re-read of the series which of course I had to re-read Viper once I got through the series. I had a feeling these two would end up together when they first started interacting in Dmitri's book and I am so glad that came to fruition.

Its several years after Holly/Sorrows attack and she is finally building a new life for herself. She has respect and for the most part the watch dogs are off of her. She's been able to fake it well enough that Dmitri isn't as cautious. She still has to meet with her arch nemesis Viper because of their similar abilities but at least he's in the refuge.. Until he's not any more.

Viper has seen a lot of things, he's done a lot of things, he has a good life, friends, respect, but always he's alone. He's so very other, no one else is like him. Except now Holly. While not the same, she is similar enough that he feels a kinship. When her life is in danger he now feels more than a kinship.. maybe an attraction?

Singh takes you through an action packed, emotional ride in another installment of the Guild Hunters. This series is one of my all time favorites and it never fails to disappoint. Look forward to a thrilling ride.

*Review copy provided through NetGalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.

Early review: Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Heart: Raphael and Elena

(Guild Hunter #9)

Expected publication: November 1st 2016

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

One of the most vicious archangels in the world has disappeared. No one knows if Lijuan is dead or has chosen to Sleep the long sleep of an immortal. But with her lands falling into chaos under a rising tide of vampiric bloodlust, a mysterious and ancient order of angels known as the Luminata calls the entire Cadre together to discuss the fate of her territory.

Accompanying her archangelic lover Raphael to the Luminata compound, guild hunter-turned-angel Elena senses that all is not as it seems. Secrets echo from within the stone walls of the compound, and the deeper Elena goes, the uglier the darkness. But neither Raphael nor Elena is ready for the brutal truths hidden within—truths that will change everything Elena thinks she knows about who she is…

Nothing will ever be the same again.

Review:

Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh is the ninth book in the Guild Hunters Series and we return to Elena and Raphael two years after the end of the last book. Some might be unhappy to return to this powerful couple but I for one have no issues revisiting Elena and Rafael as the seven all revolve around these two and come on, does Singh put out a bad Guild Hunter book regardless of the featured couple?? Nope, she sure does not.  In this book we dont see as much as the Seven as I’d like but we do get glimpses of them as well as a bit of Elena’s Guard. Aodhan does play a bigger part of this book since he goes with Elena and Rafael to Morocco.  I know a bunch of people want an Aodhan and Illium pairing but I'm pretty sure I remember reading that they are NOT going to end up together, but I can see why fans would want this to come to pass.

So anyway, the three of them head to Morocco to deal with the douches that are the Luminata. Ok to be fair not all of them are douchebags but there are more than a few that are. Near to the Luminata compound is a human settlement and when Elena arrives, the whispers start, people look at her as if in recognition. So a good part chunk of this book is the mystery that is Elena’s past. It’s quite intriguing. I had a lot of fun trying to guess the outcome but ended up being mostly wrong, but isn’t that the fun of it?

Overall, it was fun to look into Elena mysterious family tree. I also loved the glimpses into Aodhan past and present. Little by little Aodhan is overcoming his past and becoming someone with one does not mess with. I’m looking forward to more in the Guild Hunter world and I don't see an end anytime soon.

ARC was provided through NetGalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.

*You can also see this review on Brazen Babe Reviews

Review: Archangel's Legion by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Legion: Elena Deveraux and Raphael

(Guild Hunter #6)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Nalini Singh, the New York Times bestselling “alpha author of paranormal romance” (Booklist) returns to an immortal world of violent passion and lethal power…on the brink of a deadly archangelic war.

Angels are falling from the sky in New York, struck down by a vicious, unknown force.

Vampires are dying impossibly of disease.

Guild hunter Elena Deveraux and the Archangel Raphael must discover the source of the wave of death before it engulfs their city and their people, leaving New York a ruin and Raphael’s Tower under siege by enemy archangels.

Yet even as they fight desperately to save the city, an even darker force is stirring, its chill eyes trained on New York…and on Raphael. Rivers of crimson and nightmares given flesh, the world will never again be the same…

Review:

Archangel’s Legion by Nalini Singh is the fifth book in one of my absolute favorite series, the Guild Hunters Series. In this installment we return to the leading couple of New York, scary ass Raphael and Elena who does his best to keep one of the most powerful beings on the planet sane. N. Singh is a master of her craft, within the first couple of pages you are pulled into the story with the imagery. Singh can create a scene so vivid you swear you can see and smell what the author is describing to you. She just has such an amazing way with words. The book starts in an intimate scene with Elena remembering one of her first meetings with Rafael… He then flies in and they have a moment together before the shit hits the fan. Or in this case birds and angels literally fall from the sky, like its Armageddon or something. This book is full of action and intrigue almost from the start and does not let up until the very end. This book kept me up until 6am turning pages to see what happens next! This series leans more towards the dark and violent but it has its moments of humor as well almost so unexpected that you’re like wait am I laughing?! For me in this book while I love an action packed let’s keep this story moving and there is plenty of that; at times it’s the quiet moments when it’s just Raphael and Elena bared to each other that are some of the best moments on the book.

Raphael and Elena are not a new couple in that this is their fourth book together but they are still learning each other and what makes each other tick. Despite that as separate beings, both very strong willed with abundant personalities that often clash they remain a solid unit. Their love for each other burns off of the pages and fills each other, together, always together. Whether its hosting a dinner party, battling an archangel or plummeting to their sure deaths, its always together. These two rank pretty damn high on my favorite couple scale. I like how that they are unfailingly a unit but they remain themselves. Raphael while more grounded with Elena he’s still a scary ass archangel, THE archangel, alpha supreme, I mean you really don’t get much more alpha then Raphael! Then there is Elena, who is kind of crazy! Not only was she a mortal who tangled with an Archangel in the first book but she remains this fearless, not not fearless, but courageous female that pretty much faces everything head on. She is usually the one running straight for danger. Sure, she is a bit crazy and always running towards what she should be running away from but she retains a bit of innocence even after everything she has seen in life. She refuses to give into the darkness and refuses to let Rafael give into it as well. Throughout this book, Elena proves herself as Raphael’s anchor.

So throughout this book we learn more of Raphael and Elena as a couple but as promised there is tons of action and so much happens in this book. We are entering into a Cascade which happens throughout history where basically the Archangels get a surge in power and typically war breaks out. So for the entire book we are building up to something big, a showdown of epic proportions. As with the previous books Singh will weave several occurrences going on at once to keep you guess on what is really going on. So while one catastrophic event is occurring there is another lingering right around the corner. So the whole book we are building… building… building… towards something huge. So often in a book when we build up to a big show down we are often let down, the author spent so much time building up to it, that the most important part gets the shaft and is over before it ever really began and you are like that’s it?! That’s the big show down? I thought there would be more… In this book, this is not the case, there is an epic battle that lasts longer than I thought it would. You are really pulled into the fight and of course you have to root for the home team! So the epic battle and the ending get an A++++ from me!

So, yes the bulk of this book is Raphael and Elena, but worry not my friends the Seven are still included, there is a battle after all, and what would Raphael do without his Seven by his side? We see less of Dmitri in this book then we have in previous book as well as Jason, maybe because they already got their moment to shine and for a while it looked like many people’s favorite our Bluebell wasn’t going to be in it much as well but he’s Elena’s best friend so worry not ladies he’s still around and he reveals some of his past to Elena that may break your heart a little. Now the big surprise in this book is Naasir, in previous books he is mentioned but rarely seen. In this book he is much more prevalent and man is he intriguing. I like all of Raphael’s Seven but I never knew what to make of the enigma that is Naasir, in this book he makes quite the impact. I am more now more intrigued than ever. Raphaels Seven are quite possibly the most intriguing Guard I have ever read about. Aodhan also plays a bigger role in this book and finds some of his lost humanity in the middle of war. Aodhan makes his own impact although much different from Naasir’s. So I know I just wrote a damn book about this one, but I freak’n loved it! LOL so I’ll leave you now to go forth and read or something.

Review: Kinked by Thea Harrison

Kinked: Aryal and Quentin Caeravorn

(Elder Races #6)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Two opponents must confront the cause of their obsessive fury in the latest Novel of the Elder Races…

As a harpy, Sentinel Aryal is accustomed to dealing with hate, but Sentinel Quentin Caeravorn manages to inspire in her a burning ire unlike anything she’s ever known. Aryal believes the new Sentinel to be a criminal, and vows to take him out as soon as the opportunity arises. But the harpy’s incessant wrath has pushed Quentin to the limit, and forces him to make a deadly vow of his own.

To put an end to the conflict, Dragos, Lord of the Wyr, sends them on a reconnaissance mission to the Elven land of Numenlaur. Forced to work together, Aryal and Quentin’s mutual antagonism escalates. Each fight draws forth more passion—culminating in an explosively sexual confrontation. But when their quest reveals real danger, Aryal and Quentin must resolve their differences in ways beyond the physical, before the entire Wyr is threatened.

Review:

Kinked by Thea Harrison is the newest installment in one of my favorite series, the Elder Races. Thea Harrison has a great sense of humor and her characters are memorable and loveable. Wicked is another great installment in this fun series. Kinked takes place months after the Sentinel Games, tensions are riding high between Aryal and Quentin, Ayral has been investigating Quentin for a long time and things are finally coming to a head between them, and Dragos has had enough. Ayral and Quinton are sent from New York to an Other Land to work out their differences and to check to make sure nothing has happened to the Other Land since it is no longer occupied. Aryal and Quentin quickly realize that there is more to their tension then the mutual hatred they thought they were harboring, they realized a lot of the tension is sexual. Both Aryal and Quentin are sexually dominate and part of the fun is seeing who's going to be on top.

As with all Thea Harrison novels her trademark sense of humor prevails in this book, both Quentin and Aryal have sharp tongues and even sharper wit. They are both intelligent, funny, dangerous and thoroughly alpha. A lot of the fun of this book is watching two Alphas battle it out to be on top. Both are sexually dominate with a more then a bit of kink to their sexual preferences. They make a bargain, an arrangement of sorts, but their arrangement gets thrown to the side when all is not what it is supposed to be in the Other World and all of a sudden a simple mission becomes significantly more dangerous as they are attacked and Aryal may never be the same. I swear when Aryal is thinking about what had happened to her, she about had me in tears, a couple of times. Part of her was crushed, and it crushed more than just her bones. Aryal is a fierce warrior and a wild spirit to see her broken like that is disheartening, but its Quentin that unexpectedly help pull her out of it. Aryal and Quentin are both extremely passionate in nature and love as much as they hate so when their hate turns, is their hate to turn to love? It’s fun to watch them try to figure it out.

While the name of this book is called Kinked, it’s not very kinky and probably the least steamy of all of the Elder Races books. I think I know where Harrison was going with this but it didn’t quite make it there. She put two dominates together and wanted to watch them work it out, take turns but it mostly ended up being a lot of talk and little action. They did come together but mostly it was pretty vanilla and tame. Luckily, the rest of the story was action packed and kept the pages turning. Their mission was definitely interesting and takes a very dangerous turn very quickly when spirit wolves attack and a powerful witch comes at them, things take an even more dangerous turn when they are thrown bloodied and crushed with no access to their magic and healing powers in a dungeon where they find three missing elves on the brink of death. We are taken on a roller coaster of powerful emotion and ferocious action. All in all another great story from Thea Harrison can’t wait for the next!

Review: Cursed By Destiny by Cecy Robson

Cursed By Destiny: Celia Wird and her three sisters

(Weird Girls #3)

Summary:

Goodreads.com

Celia’s a girl in trouble.  Her heart is bound to Aric, but he is a pureblood were who must deny her or risk condemning his species to extinction.  And that’s just her love life. She’s also been called to take down a group of demon terrorists seeking to overthrow the paranormal world. (No pressure.)

In order to bring them down, Celia must ally herself to Misha, the master vampire who has made no secret of his desire for her. And if that weren’t enough misfortune for one girl, a clairvoyant’s prediction could destroy Celia and Aric’s love for good. The only way to protect the world from unbridled supernatural terrorism is for Celia to bind herself to her destined mate. And that doesn’t appear to be Aric

Review:

Cursed by Destiny by Cecy Robson is the third book in the Weird Girls Series an action packed humorous Urban Fantasy series with a bit of romance for you romance lovers out there. This series is on my up and coming favorite paranormal series, so if you haven’t been reading it, you’ve been missing out. It has all of the great elements, lots of paranormal (witches, special powers, vampires, were’s, demons, etc…), good laughs to be had, a love triangle, and tons of ass kicking! These are some strong powerful women and the men who adore them.

So enough fan girl time with the series and on to the book itself; so basically when we left off hell had pretty much broke out in Tahoe and the demons had demolished a huge chuck of the paranormal world especially the pure bred wolves. Aric as a pure bred has a duty to his species to procreate with another purebred and left Celia devastated. All she can do is move on and she has chosen to ally with Misha the master vampire that has never hidden the fact that he has desired her. With the demons gunning for Celia she can’t live with her sisters and potentially endanger them. Somehow word has reached the demons about Celia and they have a real hard on to take her out. The Wird sisters are no wilting flowers and they plunge into battle right next to their older sister. Seriously from beginning to end it is non-stop action and intense. Either there is an intense battle, intense training or intense passion at any given time within this novel and don’t forget the story while intense in this series even in the midst of an intense scene Cecy Robson always takes the time to give us a good chuckle.

So the love triangle, so I know you are dying to know what happens here. Aric is engaged to another purebred, will he go through with the wedding and make the elders happy? Or will his mating instinct be too strong.. HA! Like I'm going to tell you! I will admit to being on Team Aric tho. Yes, I thought him being a bit of a pansy by giving into the elders but Cecy does go a bit into it in this book so he’s not as much as a sissy as I was feeling for him before. So this may restore some reader’s faith in Aric and swing them back to Team Aric and away from Team Misha. Misha is not giving up; however, he still wants our fair Celia. What I don’t get about Misha is he wants Celia and claims to love her but he parades so many women in front of her. Ahhh Misha, I gotta tell you the way to a woman’s heart is not constantly proving you are a manwhore it will just make her feel like a notch in the belt. So that’s kinda my thoughts on Misha, maybe if he wasn’t such a manwhore I could have liked him more and been on Team Misha at least be a bit more discreet about it. Oh and to complicate things there is a new player in town, a lion who is “destined” to be the father of Celia’s babies! Oh yeah, Cecy Robson just upped the ante! How thrilled do you think Misa and Aric were to hear that?! Ha! Seriously there is never a dull moment in this book. Maybe not as emotionally charged as the last one but it is no less fantastic. I’ll pick up a Cecy Robson novel any day! Put her on my auto buy list for sure.

Review: The Single Undead Moms Club by Molly Harper

The Single Undead Moms Club: Libby Stratton and Wade Tucker

(Half-Moon Hollow #4)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Widow Libby Stratton arranged to be turned into a vampire after she was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. It wasn’t the best idea she’s ever had, but she was desperate—she’s not about to leave her seven-year-old son to be raised by her rigid, overbearing in-laws.

On top of post-turning transition issues, like being ignored at PTA meetings and other mothers rejecting her son’s invitations for sleepovers, Libby must deal with her father-in-law’s attempts to declare her an unfit mother, her growing feelings for Wade—a tattooed redneck single dad she met while hiding in a closet at Back to School Night—and the return of her sire, who hasn’t stopped thinking about brave, snarky Libby since he turned her.

With the help of her new vampire circle, Libby negotiates this unfamiliar quagmire of legal troubles, parental duties, relationships, and, as always in Harper’s distinct, comedic novels, “characters you can’t help but fall in love with” (RT Book Reviews).

Review:

Here we are at the fourth book in the Half-Moon Hollow series by Molly Harper. It’s been a funny, snarky and quirky ride and I live revisiting this world each time a book is released. This installment is no exception. You know when you pick up a Molly Harper book you are in for some laughs.  The humor is the primary reason I read this series, I love to laugh. Now as with a lot of Molly Harpers books, the romance is not really the central theme. I think the point of these books is to be humorous, display the different characters as their quirky selves, tell an outrageous story and then the romance: and that’s what we get with this book. We get to meet up with most of the gang again as they help newbie Libby navigate her new vampiric world. Jane is seen a lot as the new head of the council. Seeing Jane in “official” mode is funny as she tries to be “professional” and you know she doesn’t have professional bone in her body. Lol  

Libby is super cute and a loving mom. She goes to extremes to make sure her baby does not grow up alone and without her. I think she handled her transition pretty well, considering she had no real guidance going into the whole thing. Her interactions with the fellow parents are quite funny especially after they find out she’s turned. Talk about Mean Mommies, her only real ally is her kiddos, best friends, father.. Wade.. as they spend more time together, the more they realize they want to spend more time together. But then Libby’s sire shows up on her doorstep and suddenly we have a love triangle! HAHA and not an obnoxious one. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It’s another solid installment and gave me everything I wanted from a Molly Harper novel.

Review: Shadowed Blade by J.C. Daniels

Shadowed Blade: Kit Colbana

(Colbana Files #5)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Something wicked this way comes…

The arrival of a very important person in her office seemed to be the start of a lot of problems for Kit Colbana, investigator extraordinaire. Claiming that he needed somebody with her special skillset, he sends her on a series of jobs that made little to no sense until one culminated with both her and her partner, Justin barely escaping with their lives.

Back in Orlando, they go their separate ways to recover, Justin heading to the house of a local witch, while Kit returns to the Lair, where she’s recently been living with her lover Damon, the Alpha of the Southern Cat Clans.

There’s barely a chance for to catch her breath before trouble of the highest order comes knocking on her door. This time, it’s the form of a psychic by the name of Nova. Nova has bad, bad news…Justin has gone missing and so has the witch who was going to put him up while he healed. Colleen, one of Kit’s closest, dearest friends.

With all sorts of non-humans disappearing, fury doesn’t even touch what Kit is feeling as she heads out to hunt down the people responsible.

But Kit isn’t the only one out on a hunt…somebody is hunting for her…somebody Kit would rather never, ever see again.

Review:

I LOVED this book, it is non-stop action from beginning to end. When we end the last book its on a WTF moment. Starting this book Kit realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew this time. Her new client is sending her on increasingly strange and dangerous missions.  Justin has barely healed from a last mission when she drags him out again and they end up almost dying.. Again. They are in bad shape, but there is no rest for the wicked but as soon as Kit’s healed up she’s out again.

We’ve heard about the mysterious Nova, but in this book we get to meet him and I got to say, I wish we had met him earlier! He is AWESOME and hella powerful. He has changed the fate of many over the years and he is not getting left behind on this mission. In addition to Nova, kit has been getting help from another mysterious ally?? A person that keeps calling her and directing her out of danger but when Colleen and Justin are kidnapped and the trail leads to this anonymous helper.. Are they friend or foe? There is just so much that happened in this book. I’d say it was worth the wait! I just hope we don't have to wait so long for the next one because I can’t wait.

Review: Of Silk and Steam by Bec McMaster

Of Silk and Steam: Leo Barrons and Lady Aramina

(London Steampunk #5)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

When her beloved father was assassinated, Lady Aramina swore revenge. The man responsible is well beyond her grasp, but his dangerously seductive heir, Leo Barrons, is fair game. When Mina obtains evidence proving that Leo is illegitimate, she has the means to destroy both the killer and his son, a man who troubles her heart and tempts her body.

A woman of mystery, Mina's long driven Leo crazy with glimpses of a fiery passion that lurks beneath her icy veneer. He knows she's hiding something, and he's determined to unravel her layer by silken layer. He just doesn't expect the beautiful liar to be the key to overthrowing the corrupt prince consort… or to saving his own carefully walled-off heart.

Review:

Wow.. I totally thought I had reviewed this book forever ago, but I guess it slipped through the cracks. So anyway. Of Silk and Steam. Can’t say I liked Mina or Barrons all that much from the previous books, so needless to say I wasn’t really all that excited about this installment. That being said, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I would even go as far as to say that it was a really strong installment in this series. Mina is a lot more complex than we ever knew. She’s got some serious layers going on and is super sneaky. I wasn’t expecting all that, at all! Go Bec McMaster for sneaking that in.

Barron’s who knew he had a heart? But apparently he does and it’s all for Mina and has been for quite some time. Mina leads him on a merry chase and I say good for her. A man should have to work for it every now and then. Barrons had a secret of his own, one we’ve known about for a long time but if anyone in the Echlon finds out, it could mean his death. When Mina finds out, he puts his trust in her to keep his illegitimacy a secret.

But these are dangerous times, and Barrons and Mina dont have the luxury of finding their way towards love in a safe environment. The Prince Escort is escalating and now is the time to overthrow him but no one knows who their allies are or if they can trust anyone else. It’s a time of peril and can Mina and Barrons learn to trust each other before they are both destroyed?? Dutduhdaaa

PS. This series should totally be read in order. This would not be a good place to pick it up.

A Cursed Bloodline by Cecy Robson

A Cursed Bloodline: The Wird Sisters

(Weird Girls #4)

Summary:

The Weird Girls return in another edge-of-your-seat novel from Cecy Robson! Just when Celia thinks the supernatural world can’t turn deadlier, a new rival emerges, proving just how dangerous a power-hungry were can be.

Since being cursed with unique abilities, Celia Wird and her three sisters have fought the most bloodthirsty preternaturals in the Lake Tahoe region. But Celia’s greatest threat is someone she would have never suspected: Anara, a werewolf Elder who has allowed his hatred for Celia to spiral out of control. In a play for dominance, Anara tortures Celia and gives her an ultimatum: sever her mate bond with pureblood were Aric—or Anara will kill everyone she loves.

From the instant they met, Celia and Aric have shared an attraction that cannot be tamed. So keeping Aric away is impossible, and Aric would sooner die than allow anyone to hurt the woman he loves. Misha, master vampire and Celia’s sworn protector, also finds his way into the chaos, seeking blood from those who have harmed her.

Now Celia and her sisters are caught in the middle of a war driven by lust, fueled by hatred, and destined to end in tragedy. For Anara is a force to be reckoned with, and he will not succumb without robbing Celia of those who hold her heart.

Review:

Another action packed installment of the wired girls. Always nice to revisit this world, I don't know what took me so long to read this installment when I loved the 1st three. Oh well lesson learned.. don't leave this series for so long again!

So anyway, thoughts on the book. It was really good. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Just when I thought I wouldn't be able to endure the "love triangle" anymore it changed. So I was happy about that. There are some real tear jerker moments and I admit I almost cried but I put my big girl panties on and preserved. There were a couple of surprise twists that i'm interested to see how they will play out. Overall, It was good to be back and I look forward to reading the next one in the series... Like now. :) Happy reading!

Review: Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

Sweep in Peace: Dina Demille

(Innkeeper Chronicles #2)

Sweep in Peace on Amazon

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Dina DeMille doesn’t run your typical Bed and Breakfast. Her inn defies laws of physics, her fluffy dog is secretly a monster, and the only paying guest is a former Galactic tyrant with a price on her head. But the inn needs guests to thrive, and guests have been scarce, so when an Arbitrator shows up at Dina's door and asks her to host a peace summit between three warring species, she jumps on the chance.

Unfortunately, for Dina, keeping the peace between Space Vampires, the Hope-Crushing Horde, and the devious Merchants of Baha-char is much easier said than done. On top of keeping her guests from murdering each other, she must find a chef, remodel the inn...and risk everything, even her life, to save the man she might fall in love with. But then it's all in the day's work for an Innkeeper…

Review:

I’m a total Ilona Andrews fan girl, this is no secret. Whenever a new book comes out its on my auto-buy list. I haven’t read a single book by Ilona Andrews that I haven’t enjoyed.  This particular series is made available online in pieces on Ilona Andrews website. This in itself is super awesome and lets you know they care about their fans. That being said, I did start out reading this tale online as the pieces came out but stopped about halfway through so that when it was all done I could read it in one piece.. I was a day late and missed it being online for free so alas I had to wait until they prettied it up and released it as one piece. Was it worth the wait and the cost?! Absolutely!

So we are back with Dina, maybe 6 months ish after the last book. Sean had left the planet to see the universe and repay a debt. Arland aka Rapunzel (Seans nickname for him) left to join his House and now it’s just Dina and Caldenia in the house and no guests. When the Arbiter approaches Dina, she knows what she is about to undertake is very risky and dangerous but she needs this, not just for herself and the quest for her parents but for the inn itself.

The story is laced with typical Andrews’s humor/sarcasm. The description of Grumpy Cat about had me rolling.  Dina is participating an a peace talk among three factions that desperately want peace but their prides won’t permit it, on top of that there is a thief she must find and a temperamental chief in residence.   The pace of the book is steady and intriguing, there isn’t time to get bored not with all the preparations to be made and the three factions out to kill each other.  The end of the story when Dina has to interfere to get everyone on the same page is so deeply emotional and heartbreaking. George is a conniving asshole but he gets the job done. Caldenia has her typical wise insights and wisecracks and we get a new cat! (With no name) My only issue with this book is we didn’t get enough time with Sean, but im sure he’ll be featured in the next book whenever that one starts. I assume early next year. 

Early Review: Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole

Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole

Rune the Baneblood and Josephine Doe

(Immortals After Dark #16)

Sweet Ruin on Amazon

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

A foundling raised in a world of humans

Growing up, orphaned Josephine didn’t know who or what she was—just that she was “bad,” an outcast with strange powers. Her baby brother Thaddeus was as perfect as she was flawed; protecting him became her entire life. The day he was taken away began Jo’s transition from angry girl…to would-be superhero…to enchanting, ruthless villain.

A lethally sensual enforcer on a mission

A threat to the Møriør has brought archer Rune the Baneblood to the mortal realm to slay the oldest living Valkyrie. Whether by bow or in bed, he never fails to eliminate his target. Yet before he can strike, he encounters a vampiric creature whose beauty conceals a black heart. With one bite, she pierces him with aching pleasure, taking his forbidden blood—and jeopardizing the secrets of his brethren.

A boundless passion that will lead to sweet ruin…

Could this exquisite female be a spy sent by the very Valkyrie he hunts? Rune knows he must not trust Josephine, yet he’s unable to turn her away. Despite his millennia of sexual conquests, he can’t ignore the unfamiliar longing she arouses deep within him. When Jo betrays the identity of the one man she will die to protect, she and Rune become locked in a treacherous battle of wills that pits ultimate loyalty against unbridled lust.

Review:

It is no secret I am a Kresley Cole fan girl, but even a fan girl can admit when an author misses. Thankfully that has not occurred here and I continue in my deep abiding Kresley Cole worship!  We are now 16 books deep into the Immortals After Dark series, based on trends of other series past it should have gotten a bit stale by now, but Cole keeps pumping out hit! If anything the series keeps getting better! She continually surprises us and keeps the series fresh by not taking us where you think she is leading us. You think she is setting you up for one thing and bam, it’s you with something completely different. Like… two completely new characters we have never heard of!  Who does that, who introduces two brand new characters so late in a series when readers already have their favorites and have already been set up for a completely different set of lovers? (Think back to Munro and his gypsy that we were set up for 2 books ago) But here we are, and count on Kresley Cole to make it work.  Now I know I saw some outraged fans, thinking there are so many other characters that deserve to have their happily ever after, but keep your faith fans! Has Kresley Cole ever let you down? I know she hasn’t for me.

So why is this book so great, you ask? Why do these newbies deserve their happily ever after? Well as we all know Cole has been leading us into the Ascension and into possible Apocalypse and the Møriør is leading us there… Or are they?  Rune is a member of the Møriør but he’s not particularly evil. Maybe misunderstood and a total manwhore which after his stint as an actual whore is not all that surprising.  He’s 7000 years old which I think is one of the oldest main characters we have encountered thus far, but like the other immortals he’s kept up with the times.  He’s been dispatched by the Møriør leader to assassinate our beloved Nix and he’s trolling Nola to find her.  

Josephine is a young’n in her early 20’s, but her earliest memory is when she is eight and she doesn’t remember anything before then. She wakes up in the ghetto with her infant brother and knows she is now responsible for him. Jo is incredibly snarky with an ego a mile wide and has an obsession with being a superhero and at the tender age of I think 11 she takes on a local gang only to be shot in the face. She wakes up in the morgue with bullets in her face and her little brother in the care of a librarian. She believes herself a ghost who can incorporate and for the next decade or so has no idea what the heck she is. But she keeps her superhero obsession and is the protector of prostitutes and she ghosts into shells (living bodies) to feel a connection with people. Now she is in Nola and when she meets Rune she meets another freak like herself and she needs to know more. Instinct kicks in and she is compelled to snack on Rune’s tasty blood and he becomes hooked!  He’s a Banesblood and his blood is poison to every being except another Banesblood (Think Natalya Reigns roommate on the island of hell) so when Jo drinks and doesn’t die he knows he’s got to keep her around. From here we go on a rollercoaster ride of action, orgasm denial, a battle of wills, combat situations, lots of nymphs, and chasing down Nix. It’s a fantastic ride to be on! Oh and speaking of Nix, we get to see some of her other awesome powers besides her foresight and man does she kick some ass! Who knew she had it in her. Get ready for one of the best books in the series! Now go forth and pre-order if you are reading this before its out.  

*review copy was provided for an honest review, no other compensation was provided 

Review: Seduce the Darkness by Gena Showalter (Re-Post)

Seduce the Darkness: Bride McKells and Devyn, King of the Targons

Alien Huntress Series Book 4:





Summary:


Bride McKells is a Vampire at least she thinks she is. All she really knows is she can’t go out in the sun, her skin is too sensitive to it and that she needs to drink blood and cannot eat real food. That’s a vampire, right?! In all of her 100 years she has not met another like her and she has only had one friend, Aleaha Love. Over a decade ago Aleaha and Bride got separated in a raid and Bride has been looking for her ever since. Finally she picked up Aleaha’s scent and it brought Bride right to the obnoxious Devyn who refuses to give her any information about her friend and after Bride refuses to sleep with him he dismisses Bride and immobilizes her from following as she promised. Devyn is a self proclaimed womanizer and species collector. At first he thinks Bride is a new species he has never tried and is intrigued, when he finds out she is a vampire something he has already tried he loses interest (or does he?) . Devyn has information that Bride wants! He has met other vampires and has been with her dearest friend recently so Bride sets out to find Devyn and get information out of him at any cost. In her quest for answers Bride captures Nolan an alien that carries a disease that could wipe out the entire population of Earth, she plans on trading Nolan for information about vampires and Aleaha, but of course Devyn has his own plans and they all center around seducing Bride who he has been unable to get out of his mind. This book is nonstop entertainment with the vampire slayers trying to capture Bride, AIR trying to recapture Nolan and save Earth, Dallas’s vision, Devyns plot to seduce Bride and Bride coming into her powers…


Review:


I think I read out of order, I accidentally skipped Savor Me Slowly oops, but that didn’t diminish this novel at all. I was a little confused about the whole Nolan plot at first but Gena caught me up to speed without having to stop and go back and read the other book first. So you are able to skip books in this series or read out of order which I like in a series, but the series still feels a little disjointed and not quite as cohesive as the Lords of the Underworld series, it’s almost a little forced like all the characters are trying to find their place. That being said, I highly enjoyed this story, this is what I expected from the first few books but wasn’t quite getting. The dialogue was entertaining and funny! Bride and Devyn fit together perfectly, I can’t imagine any other female being able to handle Devyn quite as well, she has the right amount of humor and self confidence to handle the womanizing Devyn and the fact that she has more than a few tricks up her sleeve doesn’t hurt. Be prepared for a few surprises!

Review: Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter (Re-Post)

Dark Taste of Rapture: Noelle Tremain and Hector Dean

Alien Huntress Series Book 7:

Summary:

Noelle has been under estimated her entire life, always left wanting by her entire family. To say she has acted out would be the understatement of her lifetime. Noelle was 12 when she met Ava, Ava became her entire life. Ava was the one person who understood and accepted Noelle as she was. So when Ava wanted to join the AIR, Noelle joined with her, even though she would rather have been sitting around not working enjoying her vast wealth. All that changed when she met her AIR trainer and “torturer” Hector. He pushed her further than anyone else ever had. She shouldn’t be attracted to this dark, intense, obviously can’t stand her man, but like a moth to a flame (literally to a flame) she went. Hector grew up less than trash, his own parent forced him and his brother to live in cages and fight other children to their death. After his brother was killed Hector went crazy and took off on his own at a very young age, changing his identity and growing up on the meanest streets, but Hector carried a deadly secret. The lives of everyone around him depends on his keeping his control, feeling as little emotion as humanly possible, because when he gets mad or aroused his arms flam up and people tend to catch fire. Forced to keep this secret his whole life, he has become an expert at keeping people at a distance until Noelle, nothing can stop that woman when she sets her sights on something or someone. Now, Noelle is a full time agent and she is paired with Hector much to his dismay on a case that takes them through Noelle’s territory, the rich and famous. As they work together the flames between them escalate until they are sure to catch on fire.

Review:

So, it’s no secret that I am a SUCKER for the tortured/wounded, tattooed, intense, brooding type and if he is or is close to being a virgin he is MINE! And Hector is all of these things. His character reminds me a lot of Lore from Larissa Ione’s Demonica Series and Lore is one of my all time favorite book boyfriends, so how could I not fall for Hector too… I enjoyed Noelle as well, she is sassy, feisty and knows who and what she wants and is not afraid to go after him. She would not let Hector give up on them or himself and I have to admire her for that. Although, I didn’t expect her to have as low of self esteem that she sometimes had, I think I would have liked her a little more kick arse, not that she didn’t kick some arse, but I’d have to say Ava was more violent in her book. I also would have liked more Noelle/Ava interaction. These two cracked me up in Ava’s book and I wasn’t quite ready for them to be as seperate as they were, since Ava was on her honeymoon and all. Despite these two very small nitpicky things I vastly enjoyed this book, it did keep me up all night reading. The typical Gena Showalter humor was present, there was plenty of action, and we still got glimpses of the other AIR folk, in case you missed them from their books. I do foresee myself rereading this book in the near future for more glimpses of my Hector and Noelle! Oh and one of the best parts of this book, there was not a single mention of the diseased queen lady with the zombie STD that really just creeped me out, the last thing I want to read about in my romance novel is death by sex zombie, YUCK! If the Alien Huntress plot lined NEVER return to the diseased zombie STD plot line again I will be a happy camper. Oh and I can't not mention that cover! How gorgeous is that cover, i want it in poster size! (Not that I would have anywhere to put it, but just to know I have it. LOL)

Review: Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter

Ecstasy in Darkness: Ava Sans and Victor McKell

Alien Huntress Series Book 5




Ecstasy in Darkness on Goodreads

Ecstasy in Darkness on Amazon

Summary:

Ava has something to prove to herself to her peers to the world… She is not trash she is better than that. Growing up on the streets has made Ava hard and a spitfire. She has learned hit first ask questions later! As a trainee for the AIR with her bestie Noelle, she has something to prove. They are sent on a mission that no other AIR agent has been successful with. To bring in McKell a dangerous vampire that has been shunned by even his own people. McKell is insulted first AIR sent some agents which he sent back missing some fingers and now they send two females, trainee’s at that! Really?! Is that the best they can do two tiny females who are in training… So when they catch him off guard and one of them calls “Dibs” on him he is shocked. Luckily McKell has the ability to control time and freeze people in place so when he is stunned he easily freezes Ava and Noelle until he is out of the stun. When the two come back the next day he knew he should have killed them! But one more look at Ava and any annoyance they cause him is worth it. After Ava stabs McKell he hunts her down to her place because he is not healing, at least that’s what he tells himself is the reason for seeking her out. In the mean time there is a very real threat of the diseased queen who wants to destroy Earth and the AIR could really use McKell and his unique talents. Mia tasks Ava with keeping her eye on McKell since she seems to be the only person McKell will let near him. Together Ava and McKell must battle vampires, the queen and her army and most importantly each other.


Review:


I really enjoyed this story. I could relate to the commitment phob Ava, she is feisty and independent. She relies on no one and is really only close to Noelle, to whom she is fiercely loyal! I can relate most closely to Ava so far of all the females in this series. I love her relationship with Noelle they count on one one else but each other that is until McKell makes his claim.

McKell takes arrogance to a whole new level, watching him try to navigate his new life topside is interesting. He gets a crash course in living among the humans he used to round up and bring below for food. His possessiveness of anything he considers "HIS" is quite humorous and a bit disturbing at the same time. When he writes “DIBS” on Ava in her lip gloss I about died laughing! This book is the MUST read! 

The story itself is entertaining and keeps it moving, lots goes on but I have to admit the zombie queen plot-line is not my favorite but there is plenty else going on so you dont have to focus on that. This is old Gena Showalter at her best with lots of great laughs to be had! This is one of my favorite books of this series. 

Review: Bound by Night by Larissa Ione

Bound by Night: Riker and Nicole Martin

(MoonBound Clan Vampires #1)

 

Bound by Night on Goodreads

Bound by Night on Amazon

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD

Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories—along with every bloodsucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most . . .

A VAMPIRE OUT FOR REVENGE

A member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clan, Riker is haunted by demons of his own. When he recognizes Nicole and remembers how her family enslaved his loved ones, his heart burns for vengeance. But when he kidnaps Nicole and holds her in a secret lair, his mortal enemy becomes his soul obsession, his greatest temptation, and, perhaps, his only salvation—a hot-blooded lover who could heal him with her touch . . . or bury him forever.

Review:

Bound by Night by Larissa Ione is the first in a brand new series featuring vampires. This book was a good opening to this series, we get a crash course into this world where the humans have taken vampires as slaves and few vampires live in clans as free vampires. The worst of the humans to the vampires are the Martin family. With their company they have killed and oppressed more vampires than any other. Now on the brink of war with a neighboring clan the MoonBound clan needs an insider and Nicole will have to do. Riker kidnaps Nicole, so that she could release their vampire who had been taken by her company.

The story and the world are interesting. The vampire clan’s origins begin in Native American history which adds an interesting twist to vampires as a genre. We get bits of legend and lore with how Vampires came to exist and this is definitely a new version on the origins of vampires and I got to say I like it. It brings an interesting element into the mix. All of the characters are interesting and I quite enjoyed all of them. As individual characters I liked both Riker and Nicole. Riker is a hard headed alpha male; he holds a lot of guilt in how his mate died 20 years ago. For 20 years he’s been holding onto his guilt and lusting for revenge against anything Martin. He’s in turns angry and sexy, all brooding, but in turns sweet. Nicole is pretty feisty, she’s intelligent, she makes her own decisions and she knows that things are not adding up in her world and she wants answers as much as she wants to get that vampire back. Each character is flawed in a good way. They are likeable and go through their own personal journeys.

As a couple, for most of the book I wasn’t really buying the romance. I don’t know what was missing, I really don’t, but for about 75% of the book I wasn’t really feeling the love between these two. I felt the attraction, which was obvious and real, but deeper than that I wasn’t feeling it. It wasn’t until pretty much the end that it felt like there was some real love going on and not just lust. While I wasn’t necessarily feeling the love, I was feeling the story. It was interesting and action packed a lot goes on and keeps everything moving fast paced. We get a loaded ending that promises to be a doozy and really sets up the next book, which I have to admit I am already looking forward to it.