RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Eternal Mourning (Talon Pack #7)

Eternal Mourning (Talon Pack #7), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: February 13, 2018
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) In the seventh book of the Talon Pack series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan, a Healer is forced to come to grips with the idea that he can’t save everyone…including the woman he loves.

Walker Brentwood vowed to the moon goddess that he’d protect his Pack and Heal with every last ounce of his power. He’s watched his siblings and cousin battle the worst circumstances to find love and is now afraid that the one woman who could be his might not have much time left. The rules of mating have changed, and Walker will do what he has to in order to protect the bonds that have eluded him for so long.

Aimee Reagan knows there’s something wrong with her. She’s known since the first time she found out shifters were real and magic existed. When the Talon Pack’s enemy sets his sights on her, her battle to survive becomes even harder.

Walker and Aimee must turn to each other when the powers around them change and the paths that had been laid before them are no longer clear. But when their passion threatens a curse far older than anyone dreamed, they’ll only have one chance to save something worth more than a mating bond. Their future.

OMG, I love where Carrie Ann Ryan is going with the Talon Pack series. In the last book, she introduced a new game-changer element to the Talon Pack's on-going challenges, and that was expounded upon and made a key element in Eternal Mourning.

I've been dying to get Walker's story. He's the Talon Pack's Healer, and has been a stalwart presence in every book. He's a calming presence and has an amazing and very useful ability to heal most wounds for those in his pack. He's seen his brothers and cousins find their mates, and he wants that for himself so much. He finally finds that in Aimee, but there's a big problem - she's dying. 

Aimee knows she's dying, but she has no idea why or what to do about it. When she meets Walker and has this instant connection to him, she wants so much to explore that, but her limited time complicates matters. Walker can't heal her since she's a human and not a part of the pack. And she doesn't want him to mate with her just so he can heal her. It's an impossibly difficult situation for both of them, and I can't imagine all the hard decisions they had to make. 

Meanwhile, the threats from another new enemy are escalating, which adds yet another complication to Walker's and Aimee's potential HEA. These two certainly have the deck stacked against them.

I don't want to say too much about the new elements that Carrie Ann Ryan has thrown into the mix or about the new enemy that the Talons and Redwoods are facing - it's better if you experience it yourself without me giving away the surprise. I'll just say that the ways that she is keeping this series fresh and exciting are awesome. I'm with her 100% as we explore them more in coming books. In fact, if I had one complaint about Eternal Mourning, it would be that I wanted more of these exciting changes than what we got. But, there's still two books left in the series, so I'm hoping I'll get more details soon.

Walker and Aimee are a great couple, and I loved their story. Walker is one of the sweetest Talons, and the way he cared for Aimee made my heart flutter. He might be super sweet, but when he needs to turn on the sexiness, he's on fire. This is a great addition to the Talon Pack series, and a great set-up to the final two books that are yet to come.  

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Dangerous Highlander (Dark Sword #1)

Dangerous Highlander (Dark Sword #1), by Donna Grant
Publish Date: December 29, 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) He is magnificently strong—and dangerously seductive. One of the fiercest of his clan, Lucan MacLeod is a legend among warriors, inspiring fear in man and woman alike. For three hundred years, he has locked himself away from the world, hiding the vengeful god imprisoned in his soul. But then, a young lass caught in a raging storm awakens his deepest impulses...and darkest desires.

Cara doesn't believe the rumors about the MacLeod castle—until the majestic Highland warrior appears like a fiery vision in the storm, pulling her into his powerful arms, and into his world of magic and Druids. An epic war between good and evil is brewing. And Lucan must battle his all-consuming attraction for Cara--or surrender to the flames of a reckless, impossible love that threatens to destroy them both...

Swashbuckling Scots with a paranormal flair set in medieval times - there was no way I wasn't going to love Dangerous Highlander. And I did love it - particularly when read in Antony Ferguson's sexy British accent. I've been meaning to read this series and its spin-offs for a long time now. Having been published more than seven years ago, Dangerous Highlander has been around for awhile. But, now that I've finally got book one under my belt, I feel like I can't read the rest of them fast enough. 

In Dangerous Highlander, we get a lot of backstory. It's to be expected - this is the first book in a paranormal series with good druids and bad druids and gods and beasts and warriors. The reader needs to learn about how we came to be where we are now, who the good guys are and what they're fighting for. There were times in the beginning when the info dump threatened to be a bit too much, but once the story got going and we got to know the characters, I really got into it. 

There's a lot going on in Dangerous Highlander, but the story centers around the romance between Cara, a sweet, orphaned would-be nun and Lucan MacLeod, a tortured, 300-year-old Scottish warrior who has an ancient god living inside him. There are obvious barriers to them being together - Lucan's skin turns black from time to time and Cara is harboring powers she doesn't understand yet. Plus, there's a nasty druid out there trying to capture Lucan and his two brothers, and she's pretty darn determined. 

Dangerous Highlander has a lot of awesome stuff going for it. It is super swoony and sexy. Lucan is one hot, sexy Scot, and the connection he has with Cara is intense and immediate. He is the alpha male, even though he's the middle brother. He's incredibly protective of his brothers and of the woman he falls in love with. He's everything I love in a hero. 

There's also some awesomely cool mythology at play. The backstory of how the three MacLeod brothers got an ancient god locked inside of them and how that god gives them powers is interesting. I liked watching Cara start to discover her powers. And the other warriors with the different gods inside them was clever. 

We learn a lot about Lucan's brothers Quinn and Fallon and the differences between them. They all have handled their situation very differently, and I can tell that that will affect their future happiness. And, of course that will drive me forward into the next book. 

I listened to the audio version of Dangerous Highlander, and I really loved it. Antony Ferguson is a British narrator who does a fantastic Scottish accent. I really loved his performance and hope he does the other books in this series. Because I will assuredly be listening to them. 

Audiobook Review: A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark #2)

A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark #2), by Kresley Cole
Published April 1, 2006
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult paranormal/fantasy romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) A mythic warrior who'll stop at nothing to possess her...

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he's waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy...

Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents—until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae—and their notorious dark desires—ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all-consuming desire...

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

I know - I'm a little late to this party. There's 14 books in the Immortal After Dark series, plus a spin-off now, and I just now started it. Better late than never, eh? 

Although a book precedes A Hunger Like No Other, it's really more like a prequel novella. Last time I checked, The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark #1) was available for free on Kresley Cole's website. But, A Hunger Like No Other was the first full-length story set in this awesome world where we humans exist among all manner of creatures - vampires, werewolves, valkyries... it's a veritable melting pot of weird, and I loved it. 

Emmaline is one in a million - a half valkyrie, half vampire. She's on a mission to find information about her parents when she is kidnapped by sexy Lycae, Lachlain. Lachlain has been imprisoned for over a hundred years, and he finds the strength to escape when he senses Emma - his true mate. He is devastated, though, to find out she's half vampire. Her strength and character break through his prejudices, though, but will it be in time to save her from a bigger threat? 

I loved the dark passion in this book. Lachlain is such a tortured soul. He's spent so long all alone being tortured. He's half nuts when he finally connects with Emma, and then he's half blinded by that and half blinded by rage that she's the mortal enemy of his kind. Add to that the fact that the world is a much different place now than it was when he was imprisoned, and it's no wonder Lachlain is a bit surly. 

Emma, although timid and meek at first glance, is really pretty brave. She stands up to Lachlain time and time again. She knows when to pick her battles, so she handles him pretty well. My problem with Emmaline was that she handled Lachlain a little TOO well. She not only pushes him away, but is pretty mean and hurtful to him for so very long. Admittedly, Lachlain deserved it in the beginning. He didn't exactly make their first meeting sweet and romantic. He chased her and tackled her in the mud, and then kidnapped her and forced her to drive him to his home in Scotland. 

But, eventually, Lachlain wised up and realized how incredible she was and that her being a vampire wasn't the end of the world for him. Problem was, Emma still was having a hard time getting over his initial treatment of her. That irritated me, and it did get a little old after awhile. 

There was a whole lot of other things going on besides the romancing of Emma and Lachlain. It's obvious the various species of supernatural beings don't get along with each other very well. They are all on the cusp of war, and the tensions spill over and create little skirmishes all over the place. We see several of these take place in the book. 

We also see Lachlain's intense desire for revenge against his jailer which ends up having some pretty crazy ties to Emma. So, that story sort of comes full circle, which was interesting. A Hunger Like No Other was told in third person, so we shift frequently between Lachlain's and Emma's POV. Since it is in third person, we also get several other characters' POVs as well, and a nice set up for the next book in the series. 

I listened to the audio version of this book. Male narrators haven't ever been my thing. It's harder for their voices to change enough to distinguish between the characters. Robert Petkoff who narrated A Hunger Like No Other was freaking brilliant. He was, by far, my favorite male narrator - hell, he was one of my favorite narrators ever, period. Lachlain is Scottish, and the Scottish accent that Petkoff delivers was sexy and perfect. I look forward to the next book in this series, partly just so I can hear his voice again. And, partly because I really enjoyed this complex supernatural world that Kresley Cole created and can't wait to go back again soon. 

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Primal Law (Alpha Pack #1)

Primal Law (Alpha Pack #1), by J.D. Tyler
Published August 2, 2011
Publisher: NAL
Format: audiobook, gifted
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Founded by a group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers tasked with eliminating the most dangerous predators in the world. But the gift of their abilities comes at a price…

After a massacre decimates half his team and leaves him crippled, Jaxon Law must relearn how to fight—and battle the anger and guilt threatening to overwhelm him. But when he rescues a beautiful woman who reawakens his primal instincts, Jax is unprepared for the dangers that lie ahead.

On the run from her employer, brilliant lab assistant Kira Locke has evidence that leads the Alpha Pack on a hunt for someone targeting human civilians with Psy abilities. And as Jax and Kira circle both the killer and each other, Jax will have to decide if the deep connection he feels with Kira is worth breaking the ultimate shifter rule—because bonding with Kira means putting his abilities at risk, and they might be the only tools he has to keep his mate alive…

OMG, it's been way too long since I've read a good, classic-style paranormal romance. I've had the audio version of Primal Law on my iPod for months now, and after I finished the book prior to it, and was scrolling through my choices, this book really stood out. All of a sudden, I absolutely HAD to listen to it. Decision made. 

In Primal Law, we are introduced to the Alpha Pack, a group of shifters that used to be Navy SEALS. Each member of the team has an extra special ability outside of the fact that they can shift into wolves. These abilities come in handy when on missions - or when trying to save a damsel in distress, as Jaxon Law does in Las Vegas one night. He is inexplicably drawn to the woman he saves - Kira. In between trying to get a handle on these new feelings for her, he and his team are compelled to learn more about Kira's former employer and the nasty human experiments they are conducting. 

This book was exactly what I needed. Who doesn't love a good book about a bunch of hunky shifters, right? The Alpha Pack was the best part about Primal Law, hands down. I was thrilled when I thought it was just five or six guys who can change into massive wolves. But, J.D. Tyler surprised me by adding extra powers on top of that. Like, one of the guys can call up fire with his hands. Another can see glimpses of the future. And Jaxon can even rewind time. I loved this unique twist on your run-of-the-mill werewolves. 

Did I mention that the shifters aren't the only supernatural creatures in this world? Oh no. There are lots them in Primal Law, and I love that even the characters in the story don't know all about them or what all is out there in the world. It's like, they are discovering these races along with the reader, so that was pretty cool. We became most familiar with a fae prince, a gremlin and a sorcerer. And, the way that they were all introduced to the storyline was creative and fit in with the rest of the story. 

Kira was the token human in the story. She's ballsy and smart and pretty much fearless. She has a very tender heart too, which causes Jax a lot of stress since she's always putting herself in danger to help someone else. I also liked that Kira questioned everything and didn't accept it at face value just because someone told her to. 

Jax is the extra broody member of the Alpha Pack. He has a lot on his conscience. A mission gone bad weighs on him still, six months after the fact. He feels like it was his fault, and to make matters worse, he still sports an injury that sometimes hampers his ability to walk or run. But, when he meets Kira, everything changes. He fights it - I mean, he's a virile, independent man. He wasn't prepared to be shackled with a mate. But, once he gives in to it, he changes, at least toward Kira. One of my favorite parts of the books about shifters is their uber protective nature when it comes to their mates. It's SO swoon-worthy. Jax was no different. I loved how grumbly he got when other males got too touchy feely with Kira. I loved how he tried to keep her from charging into danger, and how on alert he was when he couldn't convince her to stay home. 

Jax's and Kira's relationship was sweet and sexy. I liked that Primal Law was a dual POV book, too. Jax's perspective on everything that went on between the two of them was interesting and enlightening. He and Kira were great together. 

I really liked the audio version. Kirsten Potter was a new narrator to me, and I thought she did a fantastic job. I'll definitely be checking out her other work. 

Speaking of, things were set up nicely to bring you into the second book in the series. I've already added it to my Audible wishlist. So, the next time I get a hankering for a good shifter book, I'll be ready.  

REVIEW: Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson #2)

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson #2), by Molly Harper
Published August 25, 2009
Publisher: Pocket Star
Format: audiobook, gifted
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) With her best friend Zeb's Titanic-themed wedding looming ahead, new vampire Jane Jameson struggles to develop her budding relationship with her enigmatic sire, Gabriel. It seems unfair that she's expected to master undead dating while dealing with a groom heading for a nuptial nervous breakdown, his hostile werewolf in-laws, and the ugliest bridesmaid dress in the history of marriage.

Meanwhile, the passing of Jane's future step-grandpa puts Grandma Ruthie back on the market. Her new fiance, Wilbur, has his own history of suspiciously dead spouses, and he may or may not have died ten years ago. Half-Moon Hollow's own Black Widow has finally met her match.

Should Jane warn her grandmother of Wilbur's marital habits or let things run their course? Will Jane always be an undead bridesmaid, never the undead bride?

Combining Mary Janice Davidson's sass and the charm of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels, this is an incredibly satisfying read for fans of paranormal romantic comedy.

When I need a sure thing on the light side, Molly Harper is always my go-to girl. Okay. That sounded really bad. But, you know what I meant. I have never met a Molly Harper book I didn't love and didn't laugh out loud at repeatedly. Sometimes, especially after a few deep heavy reads, her books are absolutely perfect to bring me out of a funk.

In the second Jane Jameson book, Jane is playing Best Maid to her BFF Zeb and his fiance Jolene. And, it is the wedding from hell. His family hates her and her family hates him, and they go to extremes to try and derail all the plans. Meanwhile, Jane is dealing with her own stressors - namely, her sister and Gabriel. Her sister is still trying to squeeze her for everything she has and Gabriel is acting shifty and shading one minute and telling her he loves her the next. And, all of this happiness is capped off by the fact that Grandma Ruthie's new fiance is not exactly human.

I love Jane. Really, I do. But, seriously, my girl needs to grow a backbone. A strong one. She is treated horrendously by her grandmother and her sister. Her mother walks all over her. And, most of the time, Jane sits back and lets them. She cracks a sarcastic comment from time to time, but otherwise let's them crap all over her. And, I have no idea why. She could put them in their places in more ways than one.

And, Gabriel's another one. He has these wonderful moments that make me swoon. And, then he acts like an ass and tells Jane to trust him. She catches him in lies, asks him about them, and he blows her off. She lets him. I get that Jane is a librarian at heart and not this big, bad vampire. And, maybe that's the beauty of her and this series. She's this delicious dichotomy. She's an undead bloodsucker that can't hurt a fly's feelings.

With Gabriel in Europe or wherever the hell he was most of the time, the focus shifted to the other people in Jane's life. We learn a lot more about Dick, and I learned there's a lot more to love about him. He's this loveable cad with bad manners and a big heart.

The weres in Half Moon Hollow are a crazy bunch. Jolene's family is nearly as nuts as Jane's and Zeb's. Their customs and traditions, especially around weddings, are completely off the wall, and with the Kentucky redneckness thrown in for good measure, These people are an absolute hoot.

Once again, I listened to the audio version, and once again, Amanda Ronconi's narration is absolute perfection. Even though I have a few of these books in paperback, I choose to listen to them instead. The audio versions are just so much fun. Ronconi's delivery is hysterically accurate, and I love every minute of it.

REVIEW: Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts #4)

Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts #4), by Stacia Kane
Published March 27, 2012
Publisher: Del Rey
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) READING, WRITING, AND RAISING THE DEAD

When Chess Putnam is ordered by an infamous crime boss—who also happens to be her drug dealer—to use her powers as a witch to solve a grisly murder involving dark magic, she knows she must rise to the challenge. Adding to the intensity: Chess’s boyfriend, Terrible, doesn’t trust her, and Lex, the son of a rival crime lord, is trying to reignite the sparks between him and Chess.

Plus there’s the little matter of Chess’s real job as a ghost hunter for the Church of Real Truth, investigating reports of a haunting at a school in the heart of Downside. Someone seems to be taking a crash course in summoning the dead—and if Chess doesn’t watch her back, she may soon be joining their ranks.

As Chess is drawn into a shadowy world of twisted secrets and dark violence, it soon becomes clear that she’s not going to emerge from its depths without making the ultimate sacrifice.

I cannot get enough of Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series. Each new book is more innovative, creative, emotional and impactful than the one before it. And, Terrible... I mean, what can I really say about this hero that comes close to doing him justice? Prepare for a bit of fangirling and babbling. 

In Sacrificial Magic, Chess' newest case from the Church takes her back to school. A school in Slobag's territory has reported a haunting and, after the first debunker assigned to the case flakes and runs off, Elder Griffin passes it off to Chess. Unfortunately, that means she'll be spending lots of time on Lex's side of town, which is what she does NOT need now as she's trying to rebuild Terrible's trust in her. To make Chess' plate even fuller, there are other ritualistic murders being committed on Bump's side, and it looks like a snitch in his ranks is partially responsible, and Bump wants her to get to the bottom of it. 

We've slowly had a picture of Chess and her past painted over the course of the last three books in the Downside Ghosts series. We know now that she was passed around from foster home to foster home, and horribly abused in most of them - mostly by the men. Chess has learned to rely only on herself and her pills and that has served her well. Until Terrible entered her life. Now, she's in love and while it should be a completely wonderful thing, it instead has heaped stress in spades upon her life. 

Chess has to come to terms with the fact that she gives a crap about someone. She's never cared about anyone before. Not even herself. Hell - probably least of all herself. But, she loves Terrible fiercely, and Chess doesn't know what to do with all those feelings. She over-analyzes everything Terrible says and does to the point where it all gets twisted in her brain to some unrecognizable version of the truth. She second-guesses herself all the time. Should I tell him I love him? Should I touch him now? Would he want me to? Should I call him, or will that seem too needy? OMG - it was sad and painful to read how little credit Chess gives herself. 

And, Terrible - man, I love him to pieces. But, the dude is not a conversationalist. And, honestly, sometimes I think he's not much better than Chess at all this relationship stuff. Together, they're like the blind leading the blind, and it makes for some seriously tense situations. Not to mention the fact that Terrible is still trying to come to terms with Chess' prior relationship with Lex and her ongoing friendship with him. Lex is always the elephant in the room. Chess and Terrible have some horrible fights and say some awful things to one another before they finally cut through the crap and are truly honest with one another. Those fights made my heart hurt. But, the making up... now that was one of my favorite parts. ;)

The thing that I think amazes me the most about these books is the flawlessness of the worldbuilding. I am in awe of Stacia Kane's storytelling abilities. She has made Downside explode to life with these vivid characters and interesting mythology. The Downside lingo is so awesome - it just adds to the complexity and seamlessness of the rest of the world. 

In what I'm seeing is typical Downside fashion, Chess starts out working two separate cases - one for the Church and one for Bump - and somewhere along the way, she discovers they're connected. There were twists and turns and surprises along the way. I love being surprised, and it happens in every one of these books. 

After the dust settles from the final showdown, it's clear that things are going to change in Downside. The real question is, how much, and how will it all affect Chess and Terrible? I know that currently there is one more book out - Chasing Magic. The best news ever appeared on Stacia Kane's website earlier this month - not only are Downside #6 AND #7 a go (!!!), but so is another Terrible novella (!!!!!!!!!!). OMG - that is the best news ever. I can't wait to find out if Chess can at least lessen her addiction to drugs and if she can pull herself out of her own head long enough to realize that Terrible and she are each others' end games. If you haven't started this dark urban fantasy series yet, you now have plenty of time to get all caught up before the story continues again. What are you waiting for?!

REVIEW: Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson #6)

Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson #6), by Darynda Jones
Published May 20, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 3.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Few things in life can come between a grim reaper and her coffee, but the sexy, sultry son of Satan is one of them. Now that Reyes Farrow has asked for her hand, Charley Davidson feels it's time to learn more about his past, but Reyes is reluctant to open up. When the official FBI file of his childhood abduction lands in her lap, Charley decides to go behind her mysterious beau’s back and conduct her own investigation. Because what could go wrong?

Unfortunately, another case has fallen into her lap—one with dangerous implications. Some very insistent men want Charley to hunt down a witness who is scheduled to testify against their boss, a major player in the local crime syndicate. If Charley doesn't come up with an address in 48 hours, the people closest to her will start to disappear.

Add to that a desperate man in search of the soul he lost in a card game, a dogged mother determined to find the ghost of her son, and a beautiful, young Deaf boy haunted by his new ability to see the departed as clearly as he sees the living, and Charley has her hands full. The fact that Reyes has caught on to her latest venture only adds fuel to the inferno that he is. Good thing for Charley she's used to multi-tasking and always up for a challenge…especially when that challenge comes in the form of Reyes Farrow.

I love the Charley Davidson series. The books are always entertaining, there's one hell of an alpha sex god in them, and, since I always seem to listen to these books in audio format, I can say that the narration is always so perfect. #LoreleiKingRocksMySocks

One of my favorite things in this book is the relationship Charley and Cookie have. They are the bestest friends of any friends I've ever read about. I truly believe they would die for one another if it came down to it. Charley is like a second mom to Cookie's daughter Amber, and that shows in spades in Sixth Grave on the Edge. I love the motherly figure Charley presents when the situation calls for it. 

Reyes is just the hottest of all hot males. My favorite moments in Sixth Grave on the Edge were when Charley's life was in danger and Reyes shows up in all his incorporeal, dark sexiness to save her. We got to see the softer side of Reyes in this book. He's trying to get Charley to say yes. He's trying to get her to move in with him. He loves her and loves taking care of her. Reyes was amazing in this book. We saw him "son of Satan" angry, frustrated, tender, worried, snarky, and sweet. 

Charley, on the other hand, I take issue with. Seriously - the snark needs toned down a lot. There were some serious things that went down in this book, not least of which is that the man she loves (but has NEVER TOLD HIM SO) has asked her to marry him, and she decides it would be more fun to string him along than to just say yes, which she admits is a foregone conclusion. I don't understand why she has to play games all the time with people she cares about. Cookie and Ubie are another example. She screwed with their lives too, and even when it was clear that neither party would be cool with it, Charley forged ahead anyway. 

The snark and silliness is definitely one of the best things about this series. It's also one of the worst. Snark at an appropriate time and in measured doses is perfect and makes an interesting character AMAZING. Constant jokes at inappropriate times reduces the legitimacy of the characters' motivations and is just plain irritating. Charley is blackmailed by a very upset cop who doesn't like her. He spends time setting her up to look like a drug dealer and threatens to fabricate more charges if she won't do what he wants. What does Charley do? Jokes about kiddie porn. Really?? I wanted to scream. 

There was a lot going on in Sixth Grave on the Edge. There is the story of Reyes' real family and who they are. There is getting to the bottom of Angel's real story. There's the naked guy in Charley's car. There's the letter that threatens Charley's loved ones if she doesn't find a witness in a federal case. There's Rocket and Garrett and their predictions. There's the introduction of a new character named The Dealer. There is Charley's dad and whatever is going on with him (what ever happened to that story line, anyway??). And, there is the mysterious Mr. Wong and who he really is. Honestly, it was a lot to keep up on, and I did get a little confused at times with which characters went with which story line. 

I know it sounds like I'm highly disgruntled. Eh - it's more like, slightly disgruntled. I still love the series and fully intend to keep reading. There were a TON of loose ends left untied, including a major end-of-the-world prophecy, that I can't wait to see get tied up. I just really, really hope that in Seventh Grave and No Body, Charley learns to temper the snark with some seriousness.
 

REVIEW: The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12)

The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12), by J.R. Ward
Published April 1, 2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre:  adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Long live the King…

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle--with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything--and everyone--at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response--or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?

In the immortal words of Ash from the Evil Dead franchise...

I've got to be honest. I was losing faith in The Warden. The last few books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series just didn't seem to have the same spark as those that came earlier. It seems as if ever since the new baddies on the block, the Band of Bastards (or, BOB), hit the scene, the story lines seemed to multiply and fragment, which detracted from the main Brother we were supposed to be focusing on. After reading The King, though, it truly felt like the magic was back. 

After trying, unsuccessfully, to oust Wrath from the throne with force, Xcor and the BOB have decided to try the legal route. They have teamed up with the glymera council to take the throne away from Wrath based on the idea that he mated with a half-breed, the product of which would never be a full-blooded heir. Meanwhile, Beth feels her biological clock ticking and wants a baby, despite Wrath's very strong feelings to the contrary. 

Wrath and Beth were the very first couple that J.R. Ward wrote about in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. For fans, this is where it all started. So, for her to go back to them and focus on their relationship now, after being together for several years, was somewhat cathartic. We all thought their story had been told. As it turns out, Ward had only scratched the surface.

Wrath's devotion to Beth has never been called into question. In fact, it is this intense devotion which has him paralyzed in fear at the thought of her having a child since many of the females of their race die in childbirth. It's understandable, but what is he to do when that is what she wants more than anything? He struggles greatly with this decision and doesn't always handle it well. 

And, while this is all going on, Wrath is also being hit from the other side by the smarmy glymera who are drafting papers with the assistance of Saxton's father to take the throne away from him because of his choice in a mate. 

As we have seen from Ward lately, there are multiple POVs in The King. Within the first 13%, we get POVs from Wrath's father, Wrath's mother (both in the form of flashbacks that happen periodically throughout the book), Wrath, Beth, Alocer, Xcor, Sola, Assail, Trez and John Matthew. I was concerned that with that many POVs, we were going to get more disjointed stories and not enough of the one I really wanted to read. 

And, then something awesome happened. Things started pulling together. The stories solidified and I got interested in them. All of them. Assail's and Sola's story came together in an incredibly dramatic fashion early on in the book, and an event caused them to end up at the Brother's house. Trez's obsession with the Chosen Selena grows and his ability to avoid her diminishes. iAm develops a bromance with Boo the cat (seriously - it was awesome). Xcor's fixation on Layla puts him at odds with the other members of the BOB. Which then affects the actions to dethrone Wrath. 

All the side stories seemed to come together in cool and interesting ways. There were interesting twists thrown in too involving both the baby situation between Wrath and Beth and the attempts to find a way around the glymera's attempts to castrate him via paper. I had an impossible time putting down this book. 

We don't see too much of the other brothers in The King. There is a lot of John Matthew, as peeks of Darius show through some more. We see Tohrment and Vishous as they help Wrath through his marital struggles, and Zsadist as he helps Wrath work through his mental blocks regarding having kids. Payne helps Wrath work out his frustrations. Other than that, there's only glimpses of the others - Rhage, Butch, Phury, Qhuinn, Blay, Xhex and Lassiter. I did miss the Brotherhood togetherness. 

J.R. Ward has already said that the next book in the series will be about Trez and iAm. Trez's story built up quite a bit in The King, and we learn a lot more about him, iAm, and their close relationship to each other. We find out about the impossible situation Trez is in, thanks to his horrible parents, and the lengths that iAm is willing to go to to save him. And, we saw how much he truly cares about Selena, who has some serious problems of her own. After the awesomeness that was The King, I have very high hopes for The Shadows.

REVIEW: Up From The Grave (Night Huntress #7)

Up From The Grave (Night Huntress #7), by Jeaniene Frost
Published January 28, 2014
Publisher: Avon
Format: paperback, purchased
Genre:  adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Lately, life has been unnaturally calm for vampires Cat Crawfield and her husband Bones. They should have known better than to relax their guard, because a shocking revelation sends them back into action to stop an all-out war…

A rogue CIA agent is involved in horrifying secret activities that threaten to raise tensions between humans and the undead to dangerous heights. Now Cat and Bones are in a race against time to save their friends from a fate worse than death…because the more secrets they unravel, the deadlier the consequences. And if they fail, their lives—and those of everyone they hold dear— will be hovering on the edge of the grave.

The entire time I was reading Up From The Grave, I had this undercurrent of bittersweet sadness coursing through me knowing that never again would I read a book about Cat and Bones for the first time. The Night Huntress series is one of my most favorite paranormal series of all time, and although Up From The Grave is not my favorite book in the series, it didn't take away from its poignancy. 

Cat and Bones become alarmed when they can't reach any of their friends who have been working for the dastardly Madigan. While trying to figure out where they are, they stumble upon a plot of epic scope, of which Madigan is smack in the middle, and the potential outcome could spell extinction for both vampires and ghouls. The couple must use the connections and favors they've culled over the years to stop Madigan and those he works for. 

There are some things that Jeaniene Frost does so well. She has always managed to keep me guessing, and Up From The Grave was no different. I knew going into it that there were some secrets that needed to come out. What was Don hiding? What was Madigan's end game? There was no shortage of surprises as these answers and other twists were revealed. I love that after seven books, I still couldn't see them coming. 

Bones is, without a doubt, my favorite paranormal hero EVER. The way he loves and protects Cat is just so romantic and swoony and passionate. He's not TOO perfect, either. He can be a downright ass sometimes. He pulls a few moves in Up From The Grave that made me want to throttle him, actually. But, his motivations are always pure, and they have to do with keeping Cat safe. So, I guess you can't be too mad at him when it's all said and done. 

The thing I liked best about Up From The Grave was the appearance of all our favorite side characters from the previous books. We saw Mencheres, Kira, Spade, Denise, Ian, Annette, Vlad, Leila, Tate, Dave, Cooper, Juan and Justina. We even saw some characters from books way back in the beginning, like Timmy. It was the perfect way to send off the series. All our favorites played a role of some sort in the overall plot arc - some moreso than others - and, it gave a sense of finality to it that otherwise may have been lacking. 

Although there were some plot elements that I didn't necessarily agree with, on the whole, Up From The Grave was a perfect send-off. It had a great mystery to figure out. There was tons of action. I laughed a lot - particularly whenever Ian opened his mouth. I also cried. How could I not knowing this was the end? I swooned, too, because Bones and Cat love each other hard and passionately and with such devotion. And, when it was all said and done, Bones and Cat get their happily ever after, although it happened in a form that I couldn't have guessed before reading this book.  

I'm still hopeful that this won't be the very last time we see Cat and Bones in a book. There's still one more Night Huntress World book expected (please let it be about Ian!!), and one more Night Prince book (VLAD!) to look forward to. There's a chance that my favorite couple will have cameos in both. But, their own story has very literally reached its final chapter. It was a fantastic farewell and really fun ride.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Death is but a Dream

Mythology lovers unite! Welcome to my stop on the Death is but a Dream tour, organized by Xpresso Book Tours. Check out my review and the other tour stops. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for copies of Death is but a Dream and a Kindle Fire!

Death is but a Dream, by Erin Hayes
Published September 29, 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace
Format: e-galley, provided by the author and Xpresso Book Tours
Genre:  Adult Paranormal Romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  3.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Homicide detective Callie Saunders knows that death isn’t all pearly gates and angels. After being hit by a bus, she finds that it's the ancient gods and goddesses of Greek mythology who are in charge of everything.

So when Hades offers her a deal, she accepts. If she wants to be brought back to life, she’ll have to figure out who is trying to kill his son. But if she fails, both her soul and the world will be destroyed.

With the odds mounting against her, it’ll take everything she has within her to wake up from death. But the rules are constantly changing. And someone wants her to stay dead.

I was drawn to Death is but a Dream for two reasons. First, the mythology. And, second, the overall concept is brilliant. I wasn't always thrilled with the execution, but I fell in love with the story idea and sometimes, that's enough to suck you in. 

Callie is a good cop who dies saving someone's life. In the underworld, she's approached by Hades with a job. He tasks her with protecting his son, Plutus from a would-be assassin. In return, he will restore her to life. The job is a dangerous one that puts Callie's life and afterlife at risk on a daily basis. That makes her job protecting Plutus extra hard, and when her feelings for him start to get in the way, it becomes damn near impossible. 

I love Greek mythology. Always have. Any book that features mythological characters is a must-read in my book. And, in Death is but a Dream, we see many familiar faces from the Greek stories of myth - Hades, Apollo, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Ares, Charon. I always love seeing how different authors put their own modern spin on the myths. In this case, the underworld is run like a business. There is a large office building, in which, Hades, as CEO has an office. The underworld has everything you could need - shops, restaurants and even an indoor firing range. 

The concept was awesome. The world building was great. I truly loved the underworld and what Hayes did to modernize it.  And, I loved the mystery to be solved. Mysteries are always fun, especially when the answer isn't always immediately obvious or available. 

Callie never quite did it for me. She was almost there, but some of the things she did didn't fit what we knew of her. Callie was a workaholic. Someone who believed her job was the most important thing in her life. She was in a two-year relationship that she ended with little remorse. I don't believe that she would fall in love with Plutus in mere weeks. It just didn't make sense. 

The pacing of the story was a little choppy. It stalled for awhile in the middle when the story shifted from the Underworld to the mortal world. Plutus and Callie take a cross-country road trip, and there was so much potential for action and mayhem. Yet, almost nothing happened. Callie was constantly getting stabbed with one thing or another, and by the end, it was almost a little funny. Poor girl just could stop getting impaled with things. 

The mystery, although it started out as one of my favorite parts, fell flat too. It was solved pretty quickly. Halfway through the book, we knew who was trying to kill Plutus, who the peons were and what the motive was. Although the final battle was pretty cool, I would've liked to have been surprised by who the bad guy was. 

The happily-ever-after in Death is but a Dream isn't a traditional one. There is one, of sorts, but being a reader who likes my HEAs tied up in a nice bow, I felt a little unsettled at the end. I wish things had happened a little differently. But, all-in-all, it wasn't bad. If you like Greek mythology and crime dramas, you should definitely give Death is but a Dream a go. 

About the Author

Sci-fi junkie, video game nerd, and wannabe manga artist Erin Hayes writes a lot of things. Sometimes she writes books, like the fantasy mystery Death is but a Dream and the sci-fi middle grade book Jacob Smith is Incredibly Average. You can reach her at tiptoegirl87@gmail.com and she’ll be happy to chat. Especially if you want to debate Star Wars.

Learn more about Erin Hayes --> Website / Twitter / Goodreads




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REVIEW: This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress #5)

This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress #5), by Jeaniene Frost
Published February 22, 2011
Publisher:  Avon
Format: audiobook - borrowed from the library
Genre:  Adult Paranormal Romance
To Buy:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Danger waits on both sides of the grave.
  Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance .

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"; the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

After the emotional roller coaster that Jeaniene Frost took us on in Destined For An Early Grave (Night Huntress #4), I was ready for a more comfortable Cat and Bones. Comfortable with each other - yes. I did get that. But, in true fashion, comfortable is most definitely NOT the word to describe their situation. And, I don't actually think I'd have it any other way.

While things seem to be calming down on the home front, at least as far as Cat and Bones' relationship goes, the pot is getting stirred elsewhere. A very nasty ghoul has his designs on eliminating Cat - permanently - as a means to stop a species war between vampires and ghouls. Of course, Bones is most definitely not down with that plan, war be damned. So, he, Cat, Mencheres, Kira, Vlad, Spade and Denise set about trying to formulate a plan B.

Meanwhile, Cat is trying to get the hang of being fully undead - well, as undead as her nuances will allow her to be, anyway. She's got all these powers she can't fully handle yet. Then, after a meeting with Marie, the Queen of the Ghouls, that problem is amplified ten-fold.

I have to tell you, as much as I love Cat and Bones, This Side of the Grave was one of my favorites because of a different character. VLAD TEPESH. 

"Much slower, I turned around to see Vlad examining his fingernails, as if his hands weren't still ablaze in the flames that had blasted the ghoul's head off moments before.
'What the hell was THAT?' I gasped.
'Premature inflamulation,' he replied. 'Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing. I don't like to talk about it.'"

While Bones is off playing his part in the plan to take down the ghoul nasty, Cat, Vlad and Mencheres work on trying to get her powers under control. Vlad's method of "teaching" involves poking her and antagonizing her and outright beating the crap out of her. I frikkin' love that guy. And, his methods work. Cat not only figures out her unique powers, but I get the feeling that she gained a very good friend and ally in Vlad. Not that he wasn't already those things, but their relationship seemed strengthened by their time together.

Bones and Cat seem to have entered a very comfortable stage in their relationship. There are less hot and sexy moments between these two, and I definitely miss those. Those moments just seem so... right... between these two warriors. There was one in This Side of the Grave, but one is just not enough for me. I must insist on more Russell married sex moments in the future.

Despite the lack of physicality, the love between Cat and Bones is till very palpable. It's the best part of the story - Bones' adoration and protectiveness for his wife is what has made him one of my most favorite male book characters of all time. That has not changed, and thank goodness for that.

There is tons of action, laughter, excitement and fear in This Side of the Grave. Once again, Frost has outdone herself. The Night Huntress series continues to be one of the best series out there.

REVIEW: Destined For An Early Grave (Night Huntress #4)

Destined For An Early Grave, by Jeaniene Frost
Published July 28, 2009
Publisher:  Avon
Format: audiobook - borrowed from the library
Genre:  adult paranormal romance
To Buy:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.

Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave

Destined For An Early Grave was a different kind of Night Huntress experience. Up until now, the books in the series have been on the light side, I mean, if you don't take into consideration the fact that Cat and Bones are constantly fighting for their lives. At least they did it with a smile and some really hot sex. Right? 

This, the fourth book in the series, marked a major turning point for our favorite blood suckers. Cat's and Bones' relationship has seemed pretty solid up until this point. But, when a super powerful master vampire stakes a claim on Cat that can't be refuted, neither she nor Bones handle it in the best way. And, suddenly, everything they thought they had is gone. 

Destined For An Early Grave is the perfect example of why Jeaniene Frost has very quickly rocketed to the top of my My Favorite Authors list. This book really had it all. It was not without the wit, sarcasm, and laugh out loud hilarity that I've seen in the other Night Huntress books. But, for the first time, Ms. Frost made me laugh, and then on the very next page, made me cry. Like. A. Baby. It was easily the darkest installment in the series, and also the saddest. Which also makes it the most incredible. 

The supporting characters that we have grown to adore play a huge role in Destined For An Early Grave. Vlad, Mencheres, Spade, Don, Cat's team, and even Ian provide a much needed support system and distraction while they work through their issues with each other and with the baddie trying to force them apart. 

Honestly, it was a bit refreshing to see Cat and Bones tackle a rough patch in their relationship. They love each other so much - it all seemed just a little too perfect, y'know? Bones was kind of an ass. And Cat was super defensive. It made these characters seem so genuine and real. 

Jeaniene Frost is a genius. Who else can make me think, if only for a little while, that maybe somewhere out there vampires really do exist. And, if they don't, she makes me really wish they did.

REVIEW: Feral Sins (Phoenix Pack #1)

Feral Sins (Phoenix Pack #1), by Suzanne Wright
Published March 4, 2012
Publisher:  self-published
Format: e-book - I own
Genre:  adult paranormal romance
To Buy:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) When female wolf shifter Taryn Warner first encounters Trey Coleman, an alpha male wolf shifter with a dangerous reputation, she’s determined to resist his charms. After all, Trey—who was only fourteen when he defeated his own father in a duel, winning the right to be alpha of his pack—can’t have anything to offer the talented healer besides trouble, or so she thinks.

Taryn finds herself drawn in by Trey’s forceful demeanor and arctic-blue eyes, and she eventually agrees to enter an uneasy alliance with him. If the two succeed in convincing their respective packs that they’ve chosen each other as mates, Trey will win valuable political allies, while Taryn will escape an odious arranged mating.

But there are a lot of potential pitfalls to this plan—including the very real possibility that the wolf shifters, overwhelmed by their growing attraction to each other, will be unable to maintain the clear heads needed to pull off the deception.

It's been awhile since I've read a werewolf book. At the time I'm writing this, I've read three in the past week and a half. Feral Sins (Phoenix Pack #1) was what started my reacquaintance with one of my favorite supernatural beings. 

Taryn is a latent wolf, which means she is unable to shift form, but she still has the wolf inside of her. It makes her a less attractive mate, so her father has arranged to have her mated to the alpha of another pack as part of an alliance agreement. This alpha is a major ass - I mean MAJOR. So, she'll basically do anything to get out of it. 

Enter Trey, the alpha of a small pack who needs some alliances of his own. He offers to mate with Taryn first - temporarily - and pretend like they're "true mates," or, soul mates, so that no one could force them apart. When the dust settles, he has his alliance, and Taryn can leave. Of course, neither one of them plans to actually fall in love with one another, which causes its own snafus. 

Trey is the reason why I love werewolves. He is VERY alpha. VERY dominant. Call me prehistoric, but I love a dominant, take charge man. And Trey has those qualities in spades. I absolutely loved Trey. The circumstances of his youth have hardened him (and made his wolf just a smidge unstable, which was pretty exciting during the fight scenes), yet he obviously cares deeply for the wolves under his care. When Taryn comes on board, he's open to a physical relationship with her (hello - he's still a man), but the thought of an emotional relationship with her is abhorrent. When that starts to change, his range of reactions is interesting and endearing. 

Taryn, honestly, got on my nerves for the first half of the book. She is a dominant female, so she doesn't want to submit to any male. Subsequently, she fights Trey tooth and nail to the point where she is a total bitch to him most of the time. It gets exhausting and annoying. But, at a pivotal point in the book, her attitude changes somewhat and makes her much more likable. 

The pack members - Dante, Tao, Ryan, Marcus, Dominic, Grace, Greta and the rest - they make me wish that werewolves are real. I love the pack relationship and togetherness. If only some of that could be recreated in real life. 

This is the first book I've ever read by Suzanne Wright, and it certainly won't be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed the world she created, as well as the characters. The dialog was sharp and witty and the emotions she created in me were real. The sex was H-O-T, but not too over the top. It didn't dominate the story - it was the perfect balance. So, if you like sexy paranormal stories, don't miss this diamond in the rough. 

REVIEW: At Grave's End (Night Huntress #3)

At Grave's End (Night Huntress #3), by Jeaniene Frost
Published January 1, 2009
Publisher:  Avon
Format: paperback - I own
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Adult Paranormal Romance

 Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield’s life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she’s successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat’s worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover’s finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger.

As if that wasn’t enough, a woman from Bones’s past is determined to bury him once and for all. Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat’s about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she’s learned as a special agent won’t help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself—and Bones—from a fate worse than the grave.

I know, I know - another Jeaniene Frost book. What can I say? I'm slightly addicted. Seriously - the Night Huntress series is just so darn entertaining! The chemistry between Cat and Bones is constant and real, and I love every minute of it. You would expect some of that chemistry to diminish with each passing book in the series, but so far, with three under my belt, I haven't found that to be the case. 

At Grave's End brought a lot more attention to the supporting characters around Cat and Bones. For the first two books, it was largely the two of them against the world. Now, Cat's special forces team is in the forefront of the action since Bones is now also an unofficial member. In addition, Bones' friends seem to be playing more of a role. We see a lot more of Vlad, Spade, and of course, Mencheres. 

Although there seems to be less sexy scenes between Bones and Cat, there is more action to make up for it. I love reading about Cat wielding her silver blades and striking fear into the hearts of undead creatures everywhere as The Red Reaper. She never loses her edge. And, I love that, while she's flawless on the battlefield, she always manages to stick her foot in her mouth and say or do the wrong thing. In At Grave's End, Cat makes some very mature moves and acts a little out of character (which is a good thing, in this instance), which was so nice to see. It's good to see that she's got it in her. 

Bones is one of my favorite characters of all time. In my eyes, he can do no wrong. I love all his new cool powers, thanks to Mencheres. I love his snarky attitude toward Tate and Vlad. Doesn't he just seem like the kind of guy that would be so fun to hang out with? 

No doubt about it - the Night Huntress series is going down as one of the best I've ever read. Three books in, and it shows no signs of slowing down. So, neither am I. 

Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood #11)

Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood #11), by J.R. Ward
Published March 26, 2013
Publisher:  NAL
Format: e-book - I own
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Adult Paranormal Romance

 Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

Talk about a hotly anticipated book. I was jonesing to read Lover at Last like I want a Hershey bar after dieting for two weeks. No - make that two months. I wanted it BAAAAAAD. When March 26 came and I downloaded it to my Kindle at 5:30 in the morning, I just sat there and petted the cover image while telling myself that I couldn't start reading it right then because I had to get ready for work. 

And, after all that anticipation, I have to tell you that I expected a lot. I mean, this is the Black Dagger Brotherhood. One of my favorite series of all time. And I absolutely adore Qhuinn. I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I expected whatever I got to be perfection. Perhaps that was my problem. I set the bar way too high in my mind. Because, to be honest, I was slightly disappointed. 

My problem was not with Qhuinn and Blay's story. My problem was that there wasn't enough of it. There was A LOT going on in this book. It's become a hallmark of the BDB books that, along with the main story, you get offshoots that set you up for the next book or two down the line. I knew that. But, in this case, it seemed like there was more of those side stories than usual. In addition to Qhuinn and Blay's story, we also had:

• Xcor and Layla (and Xcor and the BoBs and Layla and Qhuinn - all interrelated)
• Assail and Sola
• Trez and Selena
• Wrath and Beth (!!!)
• Mr. C., the new forelesser
• Saxton

That's a lot of other stuff that took away precious time that I felt was needed for Qhuinn and Blay. Their story has been building for so long now. They really needed more page time. BUT, I will say that, the page time they did get was well spent. Their story was sweet and frustrating and engrossing. Qhuinn broke my heart and then put it back together again. And, Blay was so frustrating, but man, when he gets his stuff together, wow is he amazing. 

The epilogue was a little out of place, though, I thought. A lot of what happened in it was a complete disconnect for me. It's not something that I would've ever seen Qhuinn do, and that made it feel really superficial and fabricated. I could've done without it. 

The side stories was all okay, but I feel like I didn't absorb them like I should have because I rushed through them to get to the parts about Qhuinn and Blay. It feels like Ward is trying to give Xcor a semblance of a heart. Assail seems like a Rhevenge clone to me, albeit a lesser version of him. He's more "bad" than Rhev ever was, and honestly, I wasn't all that taken with Sola, who is a new character. 

Trez's story starts in this book, and of all of them, this one was my favorite. He and his brother iAm have been around for quite a few books now, so we have had an opportunity to get to know him. I think that helps with the engagement - I feel more invested in his story than in Assail's or Xcor's. I look forward to his own book. 

Which will NOT be the next one, because as Ward announced last week, the next book will bring things full circle and be about Wrath and Beth (hence the !!!!s above). Ward's been flirting with the idea of them having a baby in the past few books, and events in Lover at Last indicate that the issue will be brought to a head in The King, which is the title of the next BDB book (no "Lover" in the title - curious...). 

And, yes, we do meet the new forelesser, but honestly, the lessers seem so much... less... then they used to be, especially with baddies like Xcor and Assail on the scene. Then, there's Saxton - poor Saxton - who was Qhuinn's sad stand-in until Blay got his head on straight. I think we'll see more of him moving forward. 

All in all, Lover at Last was a good read. How could it not be? I had some problems with it, but none that couldn't be overlooked. If you're a fan of the series, this is definitely NOT to be missed. 
 

REVIEW: Twice Tempted (Night Prince #2)

Twice Tempted (Night Prince #2), by Jeaniene Frost
Published March 26, 2013
Publisher:  Avon
Format: e-book - I own
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Adult Paranormal Romance

 Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Leila's psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn't sure what the future holds. If that weren't enough, her lover, Vlad, has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she's also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won't admit that he loves her.

Like choosing between eternal love and a loveless eternity...

Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity.

I just can't leave Jeaniene Frost's work alone lately! I'm burning through her Night Huntress series, I recently read my first book in her Night Huntress World series. And, the crazy thing is, for me anyway, it all began with the Night Prince series. Once Burned was the very first Frost book that I ever read. So, getting Twice Tempted as soon as it came out was a definite priority for me. For as much as I loved Once Burned, I have to say that Twice Tempted topped it.

Vlad rocks my lady socks. The book starts off with some serious tension between he and Leila. He's been ignoring her a lot lately and she's left wondering why. After a horrific scene and a confrontation that goes badly, they part ways. It's a really emotional scene - Leila is devastated because Vlad is still unwilling to take that leap with her and admit that he loves her. And, sure - why wouldn't she?

I really loved seeing Leila's growth in Twice Tempted. She's been strong ever since the beginning, but she demonstrated here that in addition to being strong, she is also independent and willing to do what she needs to in order to take care of business, even if it physically and emotionally kills her. She's really the perfect mate for Vlad in that respect.

Vlad, however, is the bees' knees. He starts off a flaming jerk and ends an absolute freaking hero. It's awesome to see a many-hundreds of years old vampire who still opens himself up to personal growth. Bravo to Frost for making such a strong guy vulnerable at times. It turns him from being too rigid, unrelatable, and unlikable to being just the perfect mix of hard and soft.

This world that Leila and Vlad live in is just as alive as the Night Huntress world that I love so much. The creatures that exist and the rules that govern them are some of the best, most creative and most realistic of any urban fantasy world I've read. It's one of the reasons I love reading Frost's books.

So, now starts the agonizing wait until the final Night Prince book is released. It's okay - it'll give me plenty of time to re-read.