The Sweetest Dark…A Very Pleasant Surprise

I have a different relationship with Shana Abe‘s Drakon books. I loved the first one, but things were hit and miss for me for the next four. So when it came time to decide if I was going to try her new YA spin-off series, I was a bit up in the air. I have been limiting my blind buys, especially since I found myself less than impressed with quite a few of the young adult titles I have bought lately. Long story short, I finally broke down and ordered The Sweetest Dark, still not expecting much.

I was wrong.

The Sweetest Dark was a total surprise. It is a quiet story, if that makes any sense – very character driven, without a ton of action and conflict, and very different from many of the YA novels out there. The tone was more mature, and while there is the dreaded love triangle it is like no other love triangle I have ever read, and it wasn’t the focus of the story. It reads more like a fantasy with romantic elements, if anything.

The story revolves around Eleanor Jones. Since the moment she was found wandering the streets as a child, with no memory of who she was or where she came from, she has known she was different. Raised in a harsh, cold London orphanage in the early 1900′s, life was not easy for Lora. Not only did she have to learn to survive having no one and nothing to call her own, she also had to learn how to hide the unique abilities that set her apart from everyone else. When the first World War threatens London, Lora finds herself sent as a charity case to a prestigious boarding school on England’s coast. This new world is filled with the daughters of the wealthy and privileged, neither of which describes Lora, and she is not allowed to forget that she does not belong.

It is here, at this school, that Lora meets two very different boys with secrets of their own. Sweet, quiet and unassuming Jesse holds the answers that Lora has been searching for her whole life, while rich, brash Armand struggles with demons of his own. The three of them are drawn together almost by fate, and while you never are in doubt about who Lora loves, you are left guessing right up to the end about how things will turn out for them. And let’s just say, I didn’t see that ending coming.

I thought that The Sweetest Dark was very well written, with great characters that didn’t feel overdone or stereo-typical, and I was very pleased with how Shana Abe re-worked her Drakon world for a new time and place. This was my first YA set during this time, and the looming threat of WWI made for a great atmosphere. I do have to say, it stood out in the ever-growing sea of paranormal YA.

God, I can ramble. Basically, what I am trying to say is that The Sweetest Dark was different, well written, and I liked it. It wasn’t perfect, but it definitely caught my attention and didn’t let go. Has anyone else tried this new series, or do you have it on your radar? It makes for a nice change of pace, and a great break from the same old, same old. Now, I just have to wait for August to get my hands on the second book, The Deepest Night. And believe me, I have no hesitation this time around.

Review – Dark Wolf

In yesterday’s New Series Alert post, I did a quick little spotlight on the first book of Kate Douglas‘s Spirit Wild series, Dark Wolf. It looks like Doug Meeks got his hands on an early copy, and sent over a review for it last night. Great timing.

What Doug said…

Dark Wolf
By
Kate Douglas

Summary:
It is a Bold New Beginning for the Chanku. For so long they kept their shapeshifting ability secret, but now they have assimilated into the world in ways they once never thought possible. Still there are those who want to destroy them, with dark powers of their own…

The CEO of Cheval International, Lily Cheval chooses to live alone, but a series of rapes and murders leave her wary and worried for her fellow Chanku. Then she meets Sebastian Xenakis and the connection is intense and immediate. The son of a charismatic cult leader, Sebastian is a mysteriously sensual man who uses magic to shift into wolf form. He and Lily come together in a moment of supreme ecstasy, succumbing to a primal passion that leaves Lily shaken but utterly alive. Is Sebastian her lifetime mate or is he her worst enemy?

Sebastian Xenakis is still coming into his power as a wizard. He can shapeshift by magical means and runs as a wolf using the power he draws from the elements. But young women are dying—raped by a human and then slaughtered by a wolf. Suspicion falls on the shapeshifting Chanku, but Sebastian wonders if he might somehow be guilty of the crimes.

Then he meets Lily Cheval, the uncrowned princess of the powerful Chanku, and realizes he will do whatever it takes to clear his name and win her love. But evil walks where Sebastian goes, and there are mysteries neither Lily nor her father, the powerful wizard, Anton Cheval, cannot unravel. Is Sebastian the perfect mate for Lily, or is he instead, one she should fear?

Review:
Let me start right off by saying that this is a great story.  You got the really evil, slimy villain (Aldo Xenakis).  You have the strong heroine (Lily) and conflicted hero (Sebastian) both looking for love (ahhhhhh) and a really good cast of secondary characters that are more than cardboard cutouts.

The story drops you right into a good scene from almost page one and continues pretty well as the mystery/action/romance shift around and take center stage from time to time.  Great stuff and a sure fire winner as a paranormal romance and thriller.  Right ??

OK, here is the parts that detract from this 5 Star story, the author known for her over-the-top sexual writing felt the need to do a few things to support her reputation it seems (the fact that they added nothing to the story other than distraction seems not to matter). First in the middle of the romance/story of Lily and Sebastian she keeps dropping us into the lives of her best male friend and HIS love life, not bad but all it does is take us away from the story we were reading while adding nothing. Second (and MOST irritating/distracting) we are sailing along on the story which is moving at a decent pace and it was like “WOW, damn I almost forgot to write the big sex scene I am famous for” and proceeds to immediately within about one chapter give us very graphic F/F – M/M – 3 Way – 4 Way plus add a touch of voyeurism and masturbation just to make sure we covered everything.

Now since we polished off that (all within less than 24 hours of story time) we can get back to the story we got the book to read about.

Bottom Line:  The book is a solid 4 Stars in spite of the author’s efforts to include distracting sexual scenes that did nothing for the story.  I enjoy well written passionate scenes but this was contrived dribble that had no purpose other than to support the author’s reputation from past books and add to the page count. Will I get the next book in the series?  Probably, since I did love the story but 80% or more of the sex was nothing but filler that added pages and kept you from the actual story.

Reading Roundup…

I thought there had only been a couple of books since my last Reading Roundup post, but it looks like I was busier than I thought since it looks like I read 14 books/stories since then. I won’t go over them all here, but just some of the highlights.

Heart of Atlantis – Alyssa Day‘s Warriors of Poseidon series falls into a strange category for me. I read them, then promptly forget them. Details just don’t stick, I don’t remember who most of the couples are, I can’t remember character names or storylines or anything. Now I am not saying that I don’t enjoy them because while I am reading them I actually do – they are not my favorites but they aren’t bad, either – but they just don’t stick with me. I have had Heart of Atlantis on Mount TBR for what seems like forever, but I was in no rush to read it even though it was the long awaited story of Alaric and Quinn. Turns out I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Alaric is the one character throughout the whole series that stood out for me, so I was hoping he would finally get his chance at a happy life. Characters were great, lots of action to the story, and while it felt like the perfect way to end the series on a high-note, it also seems like the beginning of a new Atlantis storyline. And as a bonus, it has been a couple of weeks and I still remember what happened.

Desperately Seeking Shapeshifter – I was pleasantly surprised by the first book of Jessica Sims‘ Midnight Liaisons series, enough so that I immediately ordered the novella and the second book, Desperately Seeking Shapeshifter. The novella wasn’t bad, and I quite enjoyed this second book, too. A bit of a different storyline from others that I have read, since it revolves around a dating service for the supernatural. A light, fun read, but not goofy or dumb. These books are a great break from the usual dark and gritty stuff I usually read, and I find myself looking forward to book three when it comes out later this year. I will save it for when I need a break from the drama and just want something fun to read.

House Rules – Last year, one of my reading goals was to get up-to-date on the Chicagoland Vampires series from Chloe Neill. I did, and quite liked it. It is never going to rank up there with my favorite UF series, but it is still a very good series. I did find myself a bit underwhelmed by this one – not a bad book, but not something that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go, either. I had no problem putting it down several times to drift off to something else, but I was still interested enough to want to find out how it all ended. Not a favorite, but still not all that bad, either.

Apollyon – Jennifer L. Armentrout is a YA favorite, so I was very happy to get my hands on the second last Sentinels book (crap, almost done). There is a lot of action in Apollyon, very fast paced. I have seen where many say that this one was a bit of a “filler” book, building up to the finale, but I didn’t find it to be so. It does set the stage for the big showdown, but there was enough happening to keep me interested. And thanks to reading the novella Elixir, I finally have a new appreciation for Aiden, and I even have some hope for Seth. I liked this one, but still sad to see the ending is only one book away.

Lone Wolf – I broke down and actually read a couple of e-novellas, too. One of them was Jennifer Ashley‘s Lone Wolf, only since it was part of the Shifters Unbound series which I read faithfully. I was meh about Lone Wolf, though. Not sure why, but I found it hard to get into and I even caught myself skimming though several parts (even though it is short enough as it is). I could’ve skipped this one and not missed a thing.

What did you read recently that you were surprised by, good or bad? Any disappointments or pleasant surprises?

Review – Shadow of Doubt

Thanks once again to Doug Meeks, who this week is reviewing Shadow of Doubt by Mell Corcoran. This one just came out on March 19th, and from the other reviews I have seen around things look very positive.

What Doug said…

Shadows of Doubt
By
Mell Corcoran

Summary:
Humans sit comfortably at the summit of the food chain; rarely does any other animal get the advantage. But other people? Now there’s something to fear. In Mell Corcoran’s thrilling crime novel debut, Shadows of Doubt, women are being hunted, tortured, killed and their assailant leaves the same clue on each of them but it has no scientific explanation. Detective Lou Donovan (because nobody better call her Tallulah) must figure out this killer’s signature because he’s escalating and no one knows where he will strike next.

When the first victim appears in Shadows of Doubt, neither Lou nor her partner wants the case but it’s dropped in their laps. As soon as they make some progress, however, the case is taken from them and the explanation is weak at best. Lou won’t let go and tries to work below the radar but she’s foiled at every turn. It’s as if someone is watching her and knows her every move.

Shadows of Doubt is an exciting ride. It has everything a good crime book needs: a fiery detective with a bloodhound’s sense, dark figures with dark pasts, twists, turns, and action. And then there’s the tall, gorgeous man. Lou and this mysterious stranger keep crossing paths and his presence disarms her. What she doesn’t know is that her effect on him is the same and therein lies the rub. If he can’t think straight, Lou will die.

Review:
Shadows of Doubt was a pleasant surprise to me since as with the summary above you cannot see anything but a murder mystery/police procedural but this is a paranormal story that you don’t even know it IS paranormal until about 50% through the book.  Nice touch in my opinion for the reader but not sure that the author may have missed the real target audience.

The story revolves around a series of murders where young women of questionable character are found dead after apparent torture and ritual carving.  Lou keeps getting close to the truth and then the case gets taken away to her shock.  Something is going on here and she wants to find out what.

The story leads you in several directions and had me guessing all kinds of theories as to what was going on (all of them wrong) and about 50% through the book you find out the answer to a lot of these questions and the reason I can say this IS paranormal.  The serious main plot of finding the killer is laced with a sometime humorous romance that evolves along with the investigation.  I loved it totally.

Unfortunately, I cannot go into a lot of detail because the second half of the book revolves around things that are a mystery in the first half which made it a exceptional reading experience but a nightmare to try to review other than something akin to “trust me”.

Bottom Line:  This is pretty close to a full 5 Star effort but the editing could have used a better hand since several instances of you’re/your and then/than pop up but after you get about 30% in either the editing got better or the story had me so hooked I did not even take notice (sounds like a WIN-WIN).  So grab a copy of this book and enjoy, note that it is NOT a short little thing, it is about 425 pages in paperback and not filled with filler like many are so get this book!

Guest Review – Death’s Servant

Thanks again to Doug Meeks, who sent over a review for C.J. Ellisson‘s Death’s Servant, which is an e-prequel novella from the V V Inn series. I meant to post this last night, but I kept getting distracted by Henry Cavill The Superman trailer below. Not sure how many times I watched that sucker at all. Purely for the art. I promise.

What Doug said…

Death’s Servant

By

C.J. Ellisson

Summary: Jonathan Winchester has clashed with his alpha one too many times. After another argument he leaves the Manitoba pack, his only home since the werewolf attack that changed his life. He returns to his home state of Virginia to start a new life free of pack politics. Jon finds work and meets a young waitress, Raine, who appears to be a lone werewolf, too.

As their relationship progresses, Jon’s embroiled in more intrigue than he bargained for and a danger bigger than he can handle. He’s running scared until his own alpha tendencies surface, making him unable to leave the pretty werewolf’s problems behind. The young man is desperate to save Raine—even if his efforts may lead him straight to death.

Journey along in this first prequel novel involving the favorite characters from the bestselling V V Inn series. Written at reader demand, this stand-alone story explains how the beloved Jonathan came to serve the deadly redheaded vampire, Dria.

Review: Well let me get one thing out of the way, I tend to dislike prequels since a lot of the mystery is lost and you kind of know the ultimate outcome so it is hard to get excited about them …. usually.

This prequel for the VV Inn series (insert link) is a bit different since we never really had much of a back story on the characters and the plot here is much more interesting than almost any prequel I can think of that I have read in the past. Jon is pretty much the most important person in the VV Inn books after Dria and Rafe and this is his story and how he comes to become the “right-hand man” of the VV Inn.The story grabs your attention from page one, the action and hurt are almost immediate and the story proceeds from there to a bit slower pace for a few pages but the groundwork for the mystery part is being laid.

The story proceeds to a quest for Jon to save werewolves and a female in particular that he has found are being captured and tortured and he can’t do it himself and other of his kind have been reluctant to assist. So what do you do? You go looking for the biggest, baddest, vampire you can find and into the story steps Dria and Rafe mostly by fate and chance. The story of rescue, tragedy and bonding is done exceptionally well, so well in fact that a time or two you actually get worried about Jon (even though you know he is in the later books  DUH).  That tends to speak of good writing in my book.

Bottom Line:  Great story, great writing and if you have not read the VV Inn books, maybe this would be a great place to start and if you have it was still great.  Win-win it appears and 5 Stars from me.If you want more info on the series go here:http://www.bittenbyparanormalromance.com/2013/01/review-vv-inn-series-by-cj-ellisson.html

I have to admit, this is another one I have never heard of. There are just so many e-books out there that you know a lot of great ones are getting lost in the shuffle. But since I am barely keeping up (read not keeping up at all) with the print books, I don’t think I will be making the jump any time soon.

Reading Roundup…

It looks like since there are no new series starting up this week, I will be doing a reading roundup post instead. I thought that I had just done one, but it looks like it was quite a few books ago. I covered a bit of everything this time, it seems, since I am trying to switch around formats and genres so I get a bit of everything.

Beauty Dates the Beast – after finishing the epic Fever series, I wanted to grab something a little lighter. Loved Fever, but there was a lot going on. I hit Mount TBR, and came up with a new-to-me author that had been sitting on the shelf for quite a while – Jessica Sims. Cover was a bit cheesy, but it sounded like fun. Well, I was surprised by how much I got into this one. It was a fast, fun read, exactly what I needed, and when I finished I promptly ordered the rest of the series. I was very glad I finally broke down and read this one, and now looking very forward to seeing how the rest of this series goes.

Wolf With Benefits – Shelly Laurenston‘s Pride series is wild and crazy and fun. This one was a little different for me since I found myself getting more wrapped up in the story than I usually do. There was less slapstick comedy (although there was some, of course) and more plot than I usually find, and I liked it. Probably one of my favorites for this series so far. I do wonder who’s story is next, though…

Frost Burned – not much to say about this one. Patricia Briggs can always be counted on for a terrific story, and this one is no exception. I was surprised by two things, though – one was how much time Adam and Mercy spent apart, and two was how much I found myself gravitating towards Ben. Ben had been interesting in the previous books, but I have to say he grabbed my attention (and respect) in Frost Burned. Now I think he ranks up there with Samuel in characters that I really want to have get their own stories. The only thing I wish is that Bran had made an appearance, since things usually get very interesting when he shows up. You know those authors that you wish would write faster but the wait is worth it in the end? Patricia Briggs is one of those.

Clockwork Princess – Crap. Holy crap. Cassandra Clare‘s final Infernal Devices book was good. This series stands apart for me because it is the best written love triangle I have ever come across. I know some have the Team Will/Team Jem thing going on, but I went back and forth. Book one I was convinced it was Will that Tessa belonged with. Book two Jem stole both my heart and the spotlight. Book three was anyone’s game. There was no one more deserving, more likeable, or more worthy. I think what made the difference is that all three characters loved each other (of course, in different ways, but love is love). All three respected each other, and all three would sacrifice anything for the other two. I went into this one with a bit of dread, actually, since I couldn’t figure out how all three characters could be happy. Good thing Cassandra Clare could, because after some true tragedy the book gave me a better ending than I ever could have hoped for. But I dare anyone to not shed a tear when they read the epilogue. Dare you.

Twice Tempted – Ah, Vlad. I’ve been waiting for you. Book two of the three Jeaniene Frost plans to write about Vlad, Twice Tempted was a one evening read for me since I couldn’t put it down. Love the characters, the world, the whole works. And Leila stands out as a particular favorite of mine, and that is saying something since I usually don’t pay much attention to the heroines at all. She is gutsy, brave, and holds her own against Dracula. How many characters can say that. Finding out Vlad’s true feelings was even more dramatic than I had expected, and there is no way that I can wait for the as-yet unknown third book. No way.

Wild Invitation – Nalini Singh can do no wrong with me, as I have always said. This is no exception, since I loved a book I had already read half of. The two new novellas are great additions to the series, in different ways. I loved heading into the San Gabriel den for Declaration of Courtship, and this story introduced a ton of new SnowDancers. Cooper’s den was a nice change of pace, and got me hoping we get more into the other SnowDancer areas in the near future. What I enjoyed most about their story was the dramatic difference in Cooper and Grace’s dominance, and the inherent problems it caused. It was a great glimpse into something that has been touched on before (Indigo and Drew’s story, for example), and I found it very interesting. The other new story was Texture of Intimacy featuring Lara and Walker, and I enjoyed this one in a very different way. Walker was the one character that I never really got a feeling for before – but you definitely see the man behind the Silence in this one. He is more like Judd than I ever realized, and carried much more of a burden than I suspected. And as a bonus, there is a subtle focus on Aden and Alice, which got me hoping for a pairing for those two sometime in the near future. The Psy/Changeling world is my absolute favorite, and both of these stories added to that.

So, what about you? Did you read any of these? I have been on a run of great books lately which I am truly grateful for, so here’s hoping that continues. What have you read and loved lately?

Series Recommendation – The Emerald Seer

Thanks once again to Doug Meeks, who has sent over another review for a series he really enjoyed. This time around, he reviewed the Emerald Seer series by Violet Patterson.

What Doug said…

Reading Order
Ryder on the Storm – Emerald Seer 1
Light My Fire (Emerald Seer)
Whiskey, Mystics, and Men (Emerald Seer Novella)
Love Her Madly (Emerald Seer)
End of Night (Emerald Seer Finale) 1 May 2013
(NOTE: First thing is you might notice that the titles are all songs by The Doors which appealed to me before I ever read a page, well done hook)

Summary:
This is the Emerald Seer series. An urban fantasy with a supporting cast of Immortals, Seraphs, and Deities the series covers the life of the Emerald Seer -  Storm Sullivan. Storm Sullivan is a Seer from an ancient line forced to return home after the brutal murder of her aunt. But Storm finds she’s inherited more than just the family estate.

Ryder Cohen is an Immortal, a former enforcer commissioned to eradicate the Sullivan line and prevent the rise of the Emerald. But Ryder has come to question his mission and the reasons behind it. Storm Sullivan’s life has changed drastically – married, pregnant and attempting to master her new, unpredictable powers while bracing for the next supernatural attack.

In addition to the many other problems piling up, Lucian has not been completely honest with his friends- about his personal mission against the witches, the depth of his burden, or Sophia Bedeaux.

Everything comes to a head when Lucian’s past collides with his present and threatens all he has come to care for. If he can manage to trust in Storm’s abilities, Lucian could find his way out of the curse and back to the only woman he could ever love. Storm Sullivan’s problems exacerbate as secrets and prophecies are unraveled to reveal her true enemy. After a devastating betrayal, Storm and her friends are forced to reevaluate their plans and reinforce their alliances.

Interwoven with Storm’s struggles is Damarra and Roane’s love story spanning a time before written word through the improbable birth of their child who would one day come to be known as the Anomaly, Storm’s father.

It began with Storm and Ryder in RYDER ON THE STORM, continued with Lucian’s fiery past and a stunning rebirth in LIGHT MY FIRE, do not miss out on LOVE HER MADLY, the penultimate novel in the Emerald Seer Series. The thrilling conclusion, END OF THE NIGHT, is slated for a May 2013 release.

Review:
This series starts off in one direction of Storm trying to find out who she really is and Ryder thinking he has an assignment to kill her…. Things they are a changing. Among the other things that have handcuffed Storm for all of her life is the lack of emotions due to some spells and a curse.  All those old spells and curses are breaking down as she begins to fulfill her destiny as the Emerald Seer. Ryder is starting to think he may have spent a large amount of his Immortal life hunting people that had no desire to harm him or to create the Emerald Seer who can lead to his and other Immortals destruction if the ancient scrolls are to be believed.

What could go wrong?  Falling in love with the person you were supposed to destroy could be a big one.  Shocking as that revelation is there are a LOT more to come as this seems to be a series full of surprises and conspiracies that date back centuries. Among the other things that are hampering their desire to move on with their destiny is the need to remove a 500 year old curse from Lucien so he can be more of a help than a destructive force in their midst.  So now in addition to saving the world we have to figure out how to remove the spirit of a Phoenix from him and it seems to require a specific witch ……. who he loves and happens to be dead.

Nothing is impossible but that becomes a pretty big order to fill.  Just another day in the life of the Emerald Seer it would seem. Lest we forget Damarra (Goddess) and Roane (Immortal) are her grandparents and they have a love story that started before the written word it seems and is interwoven into this series and adds yet another dimension to this series. The “big evil thing” here is twofold of her father (using the term loosely here) and The Unseen (not a scary name but it works).  It may require the sacrifice of more of them before victory can be had if at all.  There are a few battles to be won along the way but the ultimate battle is yet to come.

Add in epic battles, love from beyond the grave, tragedy that is heartbreaking and a love story for the ages and you have The Emerald Seer series.  It is a true 5 Star series as the overarching story is addicting and enthralling.  Each book builds on the one before and adds another level of story and characters and builds to the battle for the final victory of defeat and which may take the lives of more of her friends (this is a mixture of UF/PNR and epic fantasy where sadly, sometimes heroic characters die).

While I highly recommend you read the novella it may not be a requirement but it gives you a look at events that kind of happened “offsceen” through another characters eyes, I found it enlightening. I highly recommend you get these books and enjoy them since you will be pulled into the story on an entertainment and emotional level, enjoy the ride.  I certainly have …

Reading Roundup…Fever Edition

Quick warning: long-winded, semi-coherent, and possibly spoilery words to follow in three…two…one…

Way, way back in the day, a friend told me I absolutely had to read the Highlander books from Karen Marie Moning. Time-traveling Druid Scotsmen? Why on earth would I ever read those? Fine, to shut her up I read them…and loved them. It was well before I even knew what PNR or UF stood for, but I loved them. Dageus. Drustan. Adam. Cian. The whole gang. And my love for them was part of the reason I held off on reading the Fever series. I had heard it was nothing like those great books, so why would I bother? But I kept hearing about them, over and over, and I finally decided that 2013 was going to be the year I read them. And guess what? I loved them, too. Fabulous, fabulous story. These are not quick, fun reads. They are complex, involved, and very layered. And if you are like me, you get good and hooked.

I went into the Fever world with my eyes wide open, though. I had a few spoilers, but nothing too extreme. I had heard a lot of the pros and cons many felt over the course of the first five books (or maybe I should say the first arc?). There was quite a bit of talk about Mac 1.0, the blonde barbie in way too far over her head. Her annoying accessorizing and good southern girl miss popularity routine got on some nerves. But I was surprised to say that not only didn’t she bug me at all, but I liked the fact that she was normal. She was a normal girl – well, correction. She seemed like a normal girl – in an absolutely abnormal situation. And she learned. Book after book, Mac learned, and adapted, and made mistakes, then picked herself up and started again. By the end of Shadowfever, Mac is one hell of a heroine and a force to be reckoned with in her own right.

The one thing I had heard repeatedly was that there was no other, er, “hero” like Jericho Z. Barrons. Ever. Turns out that was true. Hard to get a handle on, impossible to second-guess or even hope to control, he had no limits. At times suave, brutish, violent, protective, mocking and downright nasty, he did definitely rise to the top of the most memorable male leads from any series I have read. I don’t think you can say he is a good guy – but he is the perfect guy for Mac.

One blessing I am most grateful for is that I did not actually start these books until after the fifth one had been released, since there was no way I could’ve handled those cliffhangers. No. Way.

But then came Iced.

As much as I can truly say I enjoyed the first five Fever books featuring Mac and Barrons, I was surprised by how completely I got involved in Iced. I shared the same concerns as most others about a book that was focused on a 14 year old heroine, but in no way, shape of form is this a YA story. None at all. It is violent, brutal at times, and no one is spared. While I know many found Dani an annoying character, I enjoyed her because she is what she is. The “dudes” and “fecks” do get old sometimes, but that is Dani. A ball of energy. No whining, no self-pity, just all out fight. She jumps in without thinking most of the time because she is determined to save the day, determined to fight for those who sometimes don’t even want her help. Do I wish that as a character she had been a bit older? Sure. But the way it was written the only time I thought of her age was when someone made a specific mention of it. She will age throughout the following two books, and then things are really going to get interesting.

So, here I am. Loving me the Iced. And then…it happens. IT. The thing that bugged me when I read it, then flat out pissed me off all day today at work when I thought about it. Ryodan…and Jo. You know you have read a great book when the story sticks with you, but you might be a bit too invested when you are cranky all day at work because a character in a book hooks up with some random chick in what comes across as a…a…relationship with someone other than the heroine. Nuh-uh. Did I want Dani and Ryodan doing anything when Dani is 14? Nope. Did I want some other broad claiming some sort of rights over Ryodan? Hell no. It really bugged me, and the first thing I did tonight when I got home was do some research on this whole Jo debacle (die Jo. Die). Yes, I have gotten that bad.

What I found made me feel better. I came across a chat that KMM did back in November on MoningManiacs.com., and in it she assures that all is not as it seems. She assures that there is no blood connection between Ryodan and Dani (the thought did cross my mind once or twice myself, especially after DieJo showed up). She says that Christian is in an in-between stage right now, but that she has big plans for him. And as for DieJo, she says…

       Ok, that’s it. I wrote her too good.  Crimeny. You were SUPPOSED to be irritated by this. Just not quite so bent out of shape. It’s intended to make you feel all those things: Ew, Jo doesn’t deserve him, Ew, what about Dani, Ew, what about Ryodan anyway because we really can’t get a “romantic” feel for him in this book (because you’re not supposed to yet.) ICED is book 6 in the series but book 1 in this trilogy. This is the foundation where I lay out the characters, establish their flaws, point you toward the hero’s journey. Can’t be a journey if everybody’s already at the end of Perfect Street.

And when someone asked why Ryodan has a girlfriend when none of the others are allowed to because of their pact, her answer made me giggle…

        Ryodan doesn’t have a girlfriend and they all know it.

Heh. That really did make me feel better.

This rant is pretty much so I can keep things straight in the probable year we are going to have to wait for Burned to be released. What did you think of Fever 1-5 and Iced? Love? Hate? Epic or not? Did you share my Fever love, and my Jo hate? What do you see happening. I will add that I do think that Shadowfever should be the end of Mac and Barron’s story. End it on top, and maybe move on to Lor after Dani and Ryodan’s turn is over. Lor, gotta love him.

Doug’s Double Review…

Review time again boys and girls. Doug Meeks has kindly sent over a few reviews in the last couple of days, so I thought that I would put up a double review post with not just one but two books that he really enjoyed. Doug’s first book is Hellsbane from Paige Cuccaro…

What Doug said…

Hellsbane
By
Paige Cuccaro

Summary:
Twenty-three-year-old Emma Jane Hellsbane just found out she’s not human—or, at least, not only human. She’s half angel, too, and now Heaven’s got a job for her: round up all the Fallen angels and their red-skinned, horned devil-demon minions and boot their butts back into the abyss. Only problem? The demons and their Fallen masters fight back…and they don’t fight fair.

Luckily for Emma, she can put a stop to the constant threat of having her head hacked off if she figures out which Fallen angel is her father—and then kill him before he kills her. Of course, in the meantime, she’ll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.

No one said being Heaven’s bounty hunter would be easy. But with a name like Hellsbane, Emma Jane was born for the job.

Reviewer’s Note: One of the very best things about reviewing books like this is when you get one that vastly exceeds your expectations, I loved this world and the characters, I believe you will also but it is pretty much PG rated in this first book (the author indicated things heat up later), all that means this was 5 Stars in my opinion based solely on a great story supported by excellent writing. – dcm

Review: Emma Jane Hellsbane has got to be one of the most entertaining heroines I have read about in a very long time.  Her humor and her dedication to an ideal make her perfect for the job ahead of her. She is much more than she appears and through an “accident” she has become much, much more than human. She is now what amounts to a Heavenly Bounty Hunter complete with magical sword. The appeal of this story is multifaceted and includes the humor (usually at very inappropriate times), the action (a lot of it) and the strange feelings she has for her angelic benefactor/trainer are just part of it. I usually hate love triangles but this one takes off in a new direction for a good portion of the book (this is not sexual) and watching it play out becomes a major subplot with a major surprising twist.  Emma’s life has never been normal or easy and it just took a big dive to bottom but she does get a few benefits like strength, healing, speed and a few others we are still trying to figure out. The author took a lot of Judeo-Christian trappings (not to be confused with actual religious teaching, these angels never touched the Good Book) and used them to build a world quite unlike anything I have read elsewhere.  I read one review that thought this was some attempt by the author to subtly sneak some sort of religious bias into the story.  I have to assume he did not read the same book I did nor any of this authors other works to come to such a conclusion.

I would expect the next book in this series to heat up a bit more but there are all sorts of problems associated with those ideas that I can’t begin to explain here but the author handles it quite well and unless you are needing erotica to enjoy a novel you won’t be disappointed in this well told story.

I am giving it 5 Stars because when it ended I had a good closing for the book while desperately wanting more of Emma’s story and seeing how her future plays out.  This is storytelling at its best and I loved it, I have to believe you will also unless you have no love of a great story.  I can’t wait for the sequel Heaven and Hellsbane.

Book number two is the just-released Shifting Dreams by author Elizabeth Hunter.

What Doug said…

Shifting Dreams: Cambio Springs Bk 1
By
Elizabeth Hunter

REVIEWER NOTE:  READ THE SHORT STORY LONG RIDE HOME FIRST

Summary:
Caleb wanted a new start and Cambio Springs would give him that new start.
Jena was doing much the same thing but for different reasons.

Some days, Jena Crowe just can’t get a break. Work at her diner never ends, her two boys are bundles of energy, and she’s pretty sure her oldest is about to shift into something furry or feathery. Added to that, changes seem to be coming to the tiny town of Cambio Springs, big changes that not everyone in the isolated town of shapeshifters is thrilled about.

Caleb Gilbert was looking for change, and the quiet desert town seemed just the ticket for a more peaceful life. He never counted on violence finding him, nor could he have predicted just how crazy his new life would become.

When murder rocks their small community, Caleb and Jena will have to work together. And when the new Chief of Police isn’t put off by any of her usual defenses, Jena may be faced with the most frightening change of all: lowering the defenses around her carefully guarded heart.

Shifting Dreams is the first novel in Cambio Springs, the new paranormal romance series from Elizabeth Hunter, author of the best-selling Elemental Mysteries.

Review:

This was an excellent novel with all the things that make great novels.  The writing was excellent, the story was compelling, the characters were interesting and the mystery revolved around the romance (or maybe vice versa)

The story is multi-faceted in that you have to deal with the reasons behind Caleb’s reasons for coming to Cambio Springs, Jena’s reasons for avoiding him, a murder and a BIG secret.

The love/hate romance of Caleb and Jena is the core of the romantic part of the story but solving the murder is the other major event and when you realize that the new Chief of Police is an “outsider” (meaning he is unaware of the shifters in this small town) makes his job a LOT harder since it becomes obvious that the murder seems to be committed by a shifter and nobody will talk to him about such things.
Throw in a lot of unemployed people needing jobs and the murder ties in with the possibility of a new hotel resort being built which would benefit the town and you have all the necessary elements for a good murder mystery then add it the romance and the paranormal aspect and it all melds together perfectly.
5 Stars and no reservations from me.

I have one of the Elizabeth Hunter books on my TBR pile, and I really do need to move that up. I have tried developing all sorts of systems to attack the pile, but I think that I just need to grab a book and start reading. Now.

A Review…and a Book Plug

So, a few weeks ago, word started to trickle through from different commenters that they had gotten their hands on a great new book from Anne Bishop, Written in Red. People like Charry said that they couldn’t put it down. I have been trying to be good, and for some reason I had skipped right over this one, but all of the positive response made me take a second look. It arrived yesterday…and I finished it last night. And it really is a great book. It gave me a Kate Daniels vibe – not in terms of storyline, but in terms of tone and world-building. Be warned, though, that these “Others” are not your usual paranormal characters – they bite, and they enjoy it. If you need more convincing, Doug Meeks did up a review that can say how great this book is better than I can…

What Doug said…

Written In Red
(A Novel of the Others)
By
Anne Bishop

Summary:
As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

Review:
Meg Corbyn is a blood prophet but while that is a part of the story it is not THE story.  This is a novel of multiple plots all taking place at the same time, the motivations of the individuals are myriad and the interactions are unlike most any other UF/PNR you have read.

Simon is an “Other” and what that means in this world is that he is NOT human and is not sensitive and misunderstood and there is no MINE moment at all in this story.  Be aware, the wolves in this story will eat humans if they are provoked and I have not seen one looking for a mate ….yet.

Meg was considered “property” of some unseen entity (we assume human) and she represents thousands possibly millions of dollars to him with her prophetic powers.  What this means is that getting her back becomes paramount to the story and the amounts of money are enough to motivate people to cross the “others” which has always been a very, VERY bad idea.

The “others” are the predominate race on the planet BUT the humans seem to forget or are unaware of that fact …… and that is going to cost them …a LOT.

The thing that separates this story from almost all others is partly the world Anne Bishop has created but it is a large part of how Meg who has no real personality manages to befriend these non-humans and the growing relations ships that form.

I can’t delve too deep into this story in a review without giving away a lot of information best discovered while reading the pages of this book.  Suffice it to say that of the books I have read in the last year (20oish I would guess), this will be in the Top 10 if not the Top 5.  It really is THAT good and if she was not writing a series, she could have added a few more chapters and ended this as an epic stand alone novel.  There is no cliffhanger, it has an ending and leaves a few threads hanging that will build in the next book but this opener will be hard to top in the “can’t sleep until I finish this book” category.

Saying I rate this book 5 Stars is almost an understatement since it was so good.  Get this book, steal it if ya have to but you don’t want to miss this one.

Who else loved this one? Can’t wait to get my hands on the next story, either. There is a ton of potential for great stories from this world, and I look forward to seeing where it will go.