Review: The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, this review I know I am going to have a really difficult time with. I have been looking forward to Torin's story for some time now.

As the Keeper of the Demon Disease, Torin has never been able to touch another living being without risking them becoming 1) Infected and dying or 2) Infected and a carrier of disease, spreading it to others. So, for lack of a better term, out of all of the other Lords, Torin seemed the most screwed, all-around.

Novel after novel we saw the torture this caused him - his separation from his own "brothers," his divide from the world at large - spending time in his computer-enhanced room, protecting, managing, stabilizing everyone else's lives. All while he was alone - until Cameo.

Naturally, in the last novel, something happens to Cameo (damn Paring Rod and Cage of Compulsion!), so Torin's only BFF in the world, the only one willing to risk being near him, but not THAT near, disappears. *cue depressing music* Disease meets Misery...what a combo those two made, hu? I hate to say it, because I am also pulling for Cameo, but I was damn glad that Cameo didn't fit the bill for Torin. It is said that the sound of her voice alone is enough to make a grown man want to leap from a tall building - and I believed it. Even though I love Cameo, Torin deserved better. *cue The Red Queen*

Oh Lord...no pun intended...where do I start?

I have to give Gena props; I know she re-worked this book several times over and, after reading it, I can see why. It's not that it was a bad story, or a bad anything. It was that Torin was THAT difficult of a character to write. I can tell from reading it. He has such "special" circumstances that there's no way around it, but trudging through, making it up as you go along, hoping like hell that you got it right, only to realize it doesn't work and you had to start over. I can see the process. It's what happens when you have a complex character - and there is no one character that is more complex than Torin.

So, I see Gena's answer was The Red Queen...

At first, she appears bitchy, out of control. contemptuous, nasty and down-right psychotic. Naturally, first impressions are a bitch - and so is she - but that's besides the point, because we learn there is much more to the "you will bow at my feet now" Red Queen than meets the eye.

I loved the snarky, self-defensive personality Gena applied to Keys. She fits the stereotype perfectly: The girl who has been emotionally damaged and hurt so many times, by so many people, that she has every block up possible. 'I will strike out at you before you can hit me'. Got it. Cue The Red Queen.

I loved how they met; what better place to meet the love of your life than a nasty, dirty dungeon, locked in a prison cell, trapped by your Brimstone scars? Oh, what a weakness. However, where I got a little...well, bored, was in the progression of their relationship. It simply draaaaged. You love me, you push me away, love me again, pretend to hate me and push me away, decide you can't live without me, push me away...on and on. Or so it felt like.

Now, I understand that there had to be a build-up to the finale; after all, this WAS Torin we were talking about here and no average female could jump into bed with him, play hack-e-sack and then split - at least not without starting a massive plague, if she manages to live long enough to get outside of the fortress, that is.

However, this took dragging it out to an all-time high.

We all knew there had to be something "special" that allowed Keys to touch Torin and have *gasp* sex with, Disease. Duh. But to wait until the very end of the book to let us know what it was? Worse, it was Hades who broke the big secret? The very Hades who had once controlled Keys and wanted her back? The very epitome of evil was HELPING Torin and Keys to not only have sex, but stay together, thus ending any chances he had? Nope. I just didn't buy it. Sorry.

I can really imagine how difficult Torin's story would be to write, no doubt. I can literally feel the struggle as I read it, so who am I to criticize? But, in all honestly, I wanted MORE. I wanted to see the two of them come to a solution mid-way through the book, so we could enjoy some time with them.

They spent so much time fighting their way through the various realms, that when they finally return to the fortress, Keys has to turn around and go after Cameo, Viola, Baden, the kiddo who doesn't want to be found, because she gave her word...Ghad. It seemed as though the story was about what they could do for everyone else and how much shit could be slung at them, than it was a budding love affair...or building, as it may.

In addition, I was missing the typical Gena Showalter battle of the ages that has happened in every story. Sure, we had Hades, and we even had an appearance by the lovely Lucifer, along with the creatures they encountered in the different realms, but the true battle? It was internal - Disease.

I've never read a LOTU novel where the battle was solely the demon. In this case, even Gideon was a good guy, so focused on his Honey (Legion) that it seemed the bad had bled right out of him. What. The. Heck? And what's with the Honey? I'm sorry, but I want my Legion back. =(

It was a good story, but not my favorite LOTU - not by a long shot. Would I read it again? Sure. Would I recommend someone else to read it? Sure. Would I place it in my top five favorites in the series? Nope. It was simply too draaaaawn out for me, The best way I can describe it is what I just did with the word drawn. There was so much filler going on between the d and n, I almost forgot the original word I was typing. That's what The Darkest Touch was for me - too much filler.

One last thing, and I know this may sound insane, but da-yum. I love the cover. Love it. Gena always has beautiful cover designs, no question. But, once I started reading, I was wondering if the cover artists knew what the character was supposed to look like, besides being muscular and having white hair, that is.

Torin has longer hair, not shorn. His eyes are brilliant green, not dull. Urgh. I know there are only so many things that you can do with a cover, but how hard would it have been to make his brows and eyelashes black, his hair longer and his eyes brilliant green? I wanted to see my Torin on the cover.

Instead, I got a poser. Hurumpf.

In ending, Gena had a difficult character with limited options available to him and she worked wonders - I just missed the magic.


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Review: Revenant by Larissa Ione

Revenant by Larissa Ione
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**Spoiler Alert: Items in review may tell some of the key points of the story.**

Having literally just put Revenant down all I can say is WOW.

I've always loved Larissa's work - all of it - but especially her Demonica/LOD series. But Revenant? Holy cow. His book is A-MAZ-ING!

There were times when I was yelling out (in my head, naturally, lest my family hear me and come running!) and then I would hit the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, with tears falling down my cheeks. Larissa has an amazing talent for pulling you into her characters emotionally, but Revenant - a character everyone wanted to hate - stunned me the most.

To see Revenant and Reaver finally come together was... Well, since I was blessed with the privilege of reading this title well before its release, I don't want to give specifics because then that would ruin it for everyone. But I will say you will NOT be disappointed.

Rev's relationship with Blaspheme was endearing. For someone who was so scared, so damaged, so...living in hell, Revenant was given a moment to chase after Heaven.

And Blaspheme... Her story is one that had me gripping the book so hard that my knuckles turned white, all the while thinking, quit being so...good.

So you can imagine Revenant and Blaspheme together? Combustible. BOOM! *cue explosions*

I can tell you this - Revenant is not a book that you will want to put down once you pick it up. Even when I was done reading it, it was a loathsome feeling for me to actually set it down; I wanted to flip back to page one and start the journey all over again!

I can't wait to see what comes next in this amazing world - the kids. Oh, those naughty kids...

A powerhouse of Paranormal Romamce, Larissa Ione delivers a solid one-two punch with Revenant. I will take him anyway, anyplace. - Heaven or hell. Just give me the word "GO!" and I'm all over that.

Five stars. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Be ready for this one - release day, December 16th 2014

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Review: Furious Fire (Grimm's Circle #8) by Shiloh Walker

Furious Fire by Shiloh Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been thinking about this review for over a week, conflicted on how exactly to proceed. There's so much happening, as the series comes to an end, with a lot of questions finally answered, and, naturally, even more questions created, just teasing us, waiting to be answered in the final book.

In writing the review, the issue I faced was not a problem with the story, the plot or the characters. Rather, I was seeking a way to tell you how incredible Furious Fire is without giving anything away. It really is good enough that I don't want to spoil even a bit of it for those who have yet to read Furious Fire. And what an apt title that is!

So, I decided that a summary would work best, giving not a lot more than what you could read in a blurb.

Thomas Finn has been casting about for quite a while and he's always been an intriguing and mysterious, his identity the one thing I had yet to define. It turns out that, out of all of the ideas that ran through my feeble mind, I was never even close. Shiloh pulled a good trick on me on this one; it's not very often that I am so far off-base regarding a character - and there is nothing more thrilling, as a reader, than having the hood pulled over you.

Sadly, Finn is, mentally, on his last legs. He is filled with all-consuming anger and guilt over the loss of his beloved Rebecca, carrying it around with him like over-stuffed luggage ready to burst. Star-crossed lovers they are, but Finn and Rebecca's story is not over yet. Only Finn doesn't know this - yet.

Kalypso has lived several times since she was last Rebecca. During each of her incarnations, her soul is compelled to find Finn, which only leads to a never-ending loop of disaster; within hours, days or weeks after finding Finn, she dies. Repeatedly.

Finn and Kalypso's story is told in a series of memories, in both first and third POV (point of view). Their story unfolds beautifully, naturally and the flashbacks draw you further into their past, present and future. Shiloh is masterful in her creation of their story and never once did I get lost during the transition from past to present. It's that well written.

In the end, we finally learn what occurred that tore these star-crossed lovers apart and how the events set them on they journey...and who Finn really is...or was. No, I'm not saying more - you have to read Furious Fire to find out! =)

And, as if the evolution of their story is not enough, the Grimm is very busy; demons are getting bolder and, while one Warrior's gifts evolve, another has to make the supreme sacrifice. Woooo! *cue titillating music*

That is really all I can say about the story without giving away too much. If you haven't had the opportunity to read this series, I highly recommend it. Even if you don't want to start at the beginning of the series, this book can easily, and enjoyably, be read as a stand-alone.

While I am looking forward to the wrap of this series, simply so I can have all of my questions answered once and for all, I will miss it greatly.

Grimm's Circle is masterfully created and written - Highly Recommend!

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Review: Generation 18 (Spook Squad #2) by Keri Arthur

Generation 18 by Keri Arthur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I was provided a complimentary copy of Generation 18 in exchange for my honest review.**

This, the second book in the series, picks up right where Memory Zero left off; Sam is partnered with the reluctant Gabriel, who is doing his best to make the partnership as boring as possible, hoping that she will get tired of it all and request a transfer. Unfortunately for Gabriel, she's not going down easy. Their banter and power plays are enjoyable, especially since she usually wins with her brains, strength and determination alone. She is a strong female character with a solid foundation.

Meanwhile, Sam is developing some interesting powers. There are many unknowns in her life and she has few answers to her questions; her dreams lead her to a mysterious man, who seems to have all the answers she seeks, but is only interested in playing games with her. Like everything else, she knows the knowledge is there, that she is on the cusp, but it remains forever out of her reach.

Gabriel, the self-imposed loner, wants nothing to do with another partner. Having to watch them die...he's just had enough. He will not allow his feelings to be exposed, ever vigilant to keep them under a visage of indifference. But when his family is endangered, we see a crack in his shell, seeing a bit of the inner core of Gabriel.

During the story Sam is attacked by an angry budgie. Yes, a budgie, or commonly known as a parakeet. It was hysterical! And the vision was also entertaining! On the reverse side, there are intense attacks scenes and, as every good Keri Arthur novel can attest to, perfectly built bad guys. =)

I enjoyed this story as much, if not more, than the first book. As we come closer to the answers, distance seems to build for any romance. It makes me wonder where the author will take book three in the series.

A change of pace, story-wise, from what I am used to reading from Keri Arthur, but there is no doubt what is similar - her ability to build a strong foundation that supports the story and characters built upon it.

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Review: The Heaven's Rise by Christopher Rice

The Heaven's Rise
by Christopher Rice

Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Hardcover/e-book, 336 pages

Published: October 15th 2013 by Gallery Books

Rating: 5 of 5 stars - Recommended Read!

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice brilliantly conjures the shadowed terrors of the Louisiana bayou—where three friends confront a deadly, ancient evil rising to the surface—in this intense and atmospheric new supernatural thriller.

It’s been a decade since the Delongpre family vanished near Bayou Rabineaux, and still no one can explain the events of that dark and sweltering night. No one except Niquette Delongpre, the survivor who ran away from the mangled stretch of guardrail on Highway 22 where the impossible occurred…and kept on running. Who left behind her best friends, Ben and Anthem, to save them from her newfound capacity for destruction…and who alone knows the source of her very bizarre—and very deadly—abilities: an isolated strip of swampland called Elysium.

An accomplished surgeon, Niquette’s father dreamed of transforming the dense acreage surrounded by murky waters into a palatial compound befitting the name his beloved wife gave to it, Elysium: “the final resting place for the heroic and virtuous.” Then, ten years ago, construction workers dug into a long-hidden well, one that snaked down into the deep, black waters of the Louisiana swamp and stirred something that had been there for centuries—a microscopic parasite that perverts the mind and corrupts the body.

Niquette is living proof that things done can’t be undone. Nothing will put her family back together again. And nothing can save her. But as Niquette, Ben, and Anthem uncover the truth of a devastating parasite that has the potential to alter the future of humankind, Niquette grasps the most chilling truths of all: someone else has been infected too. And unlike her, this man is not content to live in the shadows. He is intent to use his newfound powers for one reason only: revenge.

Review:

Having never read Christopher Rice's work before, I went into this with my eyes wide open - and it wasn't long before I wished I had left them closed. Tightly closed.

As I worked my way through the story, I could feel my anxiety and trepidation building as my adrenaline and pulse spiked and my palms started to sweat. Realistically, I knew I was displaying the physical symptoms of distress, but it confused the hell out of me. After all, I was only REA-DING. I'd never had such a visceral reaction to reading a story before. Sure, my pulse had spiked and "things" had hummed and thrummed during hot romance scenes, but this...this was different.

In addition to the physical mess my body was fast becoming, I found my mind at odds as well. One of the characters I truly felt sympathy for and liked, another I genuinely wanted to Mother - and yet another I wanted to wrap my hands around his spindly throat, throttling him myself. My emotions, along with my body, were a complete mess.

Continuing through the story, it became creepier and more malevolent as I read on. Talk about chilling! I won't give specifics, because that would give away the key factor in the story, killing it for everyone. But, I will say this - you will never, and I mean never, expect what Christopher brings to the forefront in this novel! It's as unique as it is unexpected and creepy-chilling.

I found myself racing through The Heaven's Rise - I couldn't put it down until I had fully absorbed each slimy, crawly, little devious word.

Afterwards, I found myself desperately wanting to take a bath; I felt so...dirty...and cold. Oh God, *shivers* I was so cooold. But, as luck would have it, I was too damn afraid to get in the water at that precise moment, thanks to the images still circulating in my mind.

Instead, I found myself sitting back in my reading chair, with my arms drawn up, tightly encasing my up-drawn knees with my blankie wrapped tightly around my shoulders desperately trying to warm the deep chill I had sunk into, quietly shaking back and forth trying to sooth myself.

And that is exactly how my husband found me - something I know I will never live down. Thanks Christopher Rice for briefly turning MY mind to gelatin, thus allowing my husband to capitalize on my temporary weakness.

My husbands first words? Were they words of comfort? Maybe an arm draped around me to offer comfort? Na-ope! His exact words were, "Guess you finished reading that Novel, hu? My turn!" he yelled, as he snagged it off the edge of my chair, turned and ran down the hallway.

Seriously? I'm almost catatonic with fear, my mind in a continual terror-loop, rewinding and replaying the days after I watched Jaws for the first time and was so afraid of any water, even my parents couldn't get me to sit on the toilet, and he...jokes, running down the hall with his prize? If I'd had my full wits about me, I would have charged him for the privilege of reading the damn thing before he snagged it, wiping the smile off of his smug face. ! I have one word to describe the feeling - BETRAYED.

The only thing that made me feel better? The next day I could tell he had finished The Heaven's Rise; the vacant look of terror now occupied his eyes...along with his hands rubbing over his body as I laughed. *snickers* =)

In ending, Christopher's characters had depth, carried their individuality through the story and were well-developed; when you love, hate and somewhere in-between, you know that the author has made a perfect hit.

The premise of the story is new, unexpected and incredibly original; a thrilling suspense-horror surprise in a market too often overwhelmed by the "alike."

The scene-building is astounding! As I read, it felt as if I was walking through the story, able to visualize every detail and clearly see the grit and grander that makes up the amazement of the Louisiana Bayou. New Orleans is the one place in all the world I long to visit and I was thrilled (when not shivering or heaving) to get the opportunity to see the environment through this authors eyes.

I RARELY give 5 stars - but this novel deserved it.

Highly recommend, but remember, you have been warned...

Purchase Links:

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Author's Website:

http://www.christopherricebooks.com/index.php

Review: Night's Honor (Elder Races #7) by Thea Harrison

Night's Honor 
(Elder Races #7)
by Thea Harrison

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Trade Paperback/e-book, 304 pages 
Published: September 2nd 2014 by Berkley

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, a woman finds herself in need of protection—and seduced by honor…

On the run from her former employer, Tess knows that she’s vulnerable on her own amongst the Elder Races. That’s why she decides to audition to become the human attendant of a powerful Vampyre of the Nightkind demesne. But while her position affords her the safety she seeks, her protector turns out to be more than she bargained for.

The right-hand man of the Nightkind King, Xavier del Torro is both terrifying and alluring. While his true nature frightens Tess, she can’t ignore the appeal of his innate sense of integrity and self-restraint. Thrown into Xavier’s world, Tess must quickly learn to navigate the dangers—both to her life, and to her heart. But the biggest threat comes from her own past…

Review:

First, I want to start by saying that I have loved the entire Elder Races Series; Thea has hit gold with this series, of that there is no doubt. However, as I started reading Night's Honor, I found myself in an unusual position... I was a little bored. Meh.

The characters didn't appeal to me as they usually do; I found they had little to offer, at least that stood out right away, nor did their plight draw me in. Honestly, being Julian's second-in-command (of the entire Vampire Nation) and all-around tough ball-busting Vampire, I was expecting more of a bad boy - or a bad ass. Instead, I found a fairly decent, loving, HUMAN acting Vampire beneath the surface and it ticked me off. Isn't that saying something? Ha! Normally, we would be thrilled to have a decent character, but in this case I (still) wanted to see that he had IT.

It wasn't that I didn't like his decency, or more specifically, his humanity, it was that I felt he was SO human, it took away from his naturally more feral vampire nature. I hadn't ever "met" a vampire in this world that didn't have a feral quality about them. This one was so...abnormal. It threw me.

Fortunately, I waged on, convinced that Thea had to have SOMETHING up - I knew there just HAD to be more to it than I was seeing - Thea's past work has just been THAT good.

As to not ruin if for those who have yet to read it, I will say this: by the end, I was satisfied - not thrilled, but satisfied. The problem may be mine; I have become so accustomed to Thea's characters being bad-asses who embrace their feral-sided natures (Dragos, Carlling, etc.) that running into a "tamer" one threw me off-balance. Thankfully, he's not all that tame between the sheets, but you get the idea. =)

In addition, I kept looking for Carling to make an appearance... Where the hell was she? Would she make a showing? I knew the history between her and Julian was, at best, contemptuous and because of this I expected her to at least make a cameo, especially knowing Julian's book is coming next.

As I neared the end, I had to accept that Carling wasn't due for her appearance in this novel and I can only guess the reason for this - Thea is (likely) saving her appearance for when it will have the biggest hit, the most impact - Julian's story. Ah-ha! =)

All-in-all, I enjoyed reading Night's Honor. While it is not my favorite of the Elder Races' Novels/Novellas, it still made a strong showing. And the way it ended? It leaves me chomping at the bit, anxious for Julian's story!

Purchase Links:

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Author Website:

http://theaharrison.com

Review: A Very Levet Christmas (Guardians of Eternity #11.5) by Alexandra Ivy

A Very Levet Christmas 
(Guardians of Eternity #11.5)
by Alexandra Ivy

Genre: Paranormal Romance
e-book, 77 pages
Expected publication: September 30th 2014 by Zebra

Rating: 5 of 5 stars - Recommended Read!

Synopsis:

A gargoyle of Levet’s charm and intelligence should not be facing a solitary Christmas. True, he may appear a little unconventional—not to mention unconventionally little—even for a gargoyle. 

But what Levet lacks in height he makes up for in loyalty, and being banned from the festivities surrounding the Queen of Weres’ new pups is quite unfair. So when a beautiful Christmas angel begs for help in fulfilling her duties, Levet has nothing better to do than agree. 

Armed with a magical wand, Levet confronts Damon, a pureblood Were intent on seizing the throne. Challenging the King will put the pups at risk—and drive away Damon’s potential mate, Gia. Who better to convince Damon to choose love, not war, than a gargoyle expert in amour? With a little magic, and a lot of Levet, this may yet be a truly wonderful Christmastime…

Review:

(I was provided an advance copy of A Very Levet Christmas in exchange for an honest review.)

A wonderful story, with the main character being our most beloved, disastrous gargoyle, Levet.

As to be expected, Alexandra instantly ensnares the reader in her story, brining them along on her adventure, filled with challenges, love and, anytime Levet is involved, disasters and humor abound!

I have been very anxious to "see" Harley & Salvatore's pups, so it was nice that was an added addition in this story (but I still want more). This was a perfect story for Levet, who always loves being the Knight-in-shinning-armor; starting out with him feeling shunned, then (hysterically) running into a damsel in distress, which he is now smart enough to be leery of but is too big of heart to ignore, and after a few typical Levet disasters, TA-DA! hero time again for Levet!

The story may be short, but it's impact is no less powerful, bringing me through a full range of emotions from start to finish. I went from feeling sad for Levet, to laughing at his suspicions and disasters (love the pointed tail as he's whisked from one place to another!), to feeling warmth of heart at his basic HUMAN need to be loved and accepted. He may be all gargoyle, but he's all heart - not a mean bone resides in his body. This shows how talented Alexandra a Ivy really is; it's hard to design a character that EVERYBODY loves, but I have no doubt that she has done this with Levet.

I love Levet - how could I not love A Very Levet Christmas!

A perfect story to bring us into the holiday season! I would highly recommend this novella!

Purchase Links:

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Author Website:

http://www.alexandraivy.com/index.htm

Review: Out of Control (The Sentinels #0.5) by Alexandra Ivy

Out of Control
(The Sentinels #0.5)
by Alexandra Ivy

Genre: Paranormal Romance

e-book, 109 pages

Expected publication: October 28th 2014 by Zebra Books
Previously Published: January 1, 2013, Predatory

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Ivy quenches your thirst for illicit desire with this seductive tale of the Sentinels—outcast humans with the ability to tread the line between life and death—and pleasure and pain…

Ph.D student Angela Locke has a crush on her sexy professor, Dr. Nikolo Bartrev. When she learns he’s actually a Sentinel with extraordinary powers, she joins forces with him to catch a psychopath. But soon, their hottest pursuit is of each other...

Review:

(I was provided an advance copy of Out of Control in return for an honest review.)

I didn't realize that this was the same novella as was in Predatory, but was quickly reminded once I started reading. However, this was one of the novellas that I really enjoyed in Predatory, so it was a pleasure to read it again. I find myself quickly falling for this new series; supernatural alpha-males do it for me every time!

Alexandra has a masterful quality to her storytelling, enabling the reader to journey with her into her world, bonding with her characters - or hating them - whichever she has devised. I have no doubt that The Sentinels series will hold the same weight as her other work has. This is just the beginning, and already, I am ensnared, anxiously awaiting the next in the series.

Predatory (original) Review:

A real mixed bag for me. While reading this group of Novellas, I had an experience I can honestly say was a first for me. One minute, I was reading a Novella I loved and the next not. It was a strange reading experience, to say the least. 

I'm not sure if it was simply a few of the stories weren't my cup of tea, or the Authors together didn't work for me. 

Summing it up? Two of the Novellas I loved. One I liked. One I could have done without. A hard review for me to give, putting it mildly, as I respect all of these Authors and, an Author myself, I know the challenges and work which go into creating a story. But, I have to be honest. I will not say which was which, letting you read the Novellas and make your own decision. Enjoy!

Note: One of the novellas that I spoke of loving above, was Out of Control!

Purchase Links:

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Author Website:

http://www.alexandraivy.com/index.htm

Review: Copper King (Takhini Shifters #1) by Vivian Arend

Copper King
(Takhini Shifters #1)
by Vivian Arend

Genre: Paranormal Romance

ebook, 152 pages

Published: May 6th 2014 by Vivian Arend 

Previous Published: March 26th 2014, Alphas After Dark

Rating: 3.5 stars of 5

Synopsis:

Three things make billionaire Jim Halcyon’s to-do list: women, work…and more women. It’s a perfect agenda for a rich shifter who has no problem letting his inner grizzly out to play. From the bright lights of Vegas, to the sophisticated action of New York—he’s got the money and the power to do anything he wants.

Anything, except resist the lure of Lady Luck, an ancient copper coin he gambles yearly to possess. Jim is determined to regain control of the pretty penny, and damn if he’ll let any bit of eye candy distract him from his goal. Not even the mesmerizing woman in the middle of the casino floor with the shimmering hair and enormous green eyes.

With a life-changing move ahead of her, Lillie’s finagled a temporary layover en route to her future. She’s got five days to soak in new experiences, and while Vegas is too big and shiny and loud for her shy bear self, she’s eager to do this up right. It’s the last chance she’s got to let her hair down.

Until his challenge begins, Jim is more than willing to oblige Lillie’s wish for a final fling. Only Lady Luck has some twists of fate planned for them both…

Review:

(I was provided an advance copy of Copper King in return for an honest review.)

Adorable story, of that there's no doubt. However, I hate to use a reference to the characters last name (Halcyon - a sleeping pill for those of you who may not know), but there were times where I felt almost as if I were ready to fall asleep. 

Normally, Vivian's stories keep me on edge; the character's capricious, the sex scenes hotter than hell. However, in Copper King I found two cute bears who seemed like they were still in hibernation. Seriously? An alpha-male Grizzly should not be cute. I was expecting lots of growling (I did get some) and for him to be a bit more...demanding. Making matters worse, the way the story was written (technically - sentence structure) was stilling, affecting the overall flow of the story. 

To explain what I refer to when I say stilling: rather than smoothing the way through a scene, blending, the sentence structure was abrupt, cutting the scene/thought/action right then and there. (Example) "She walked to the door. Opening the door, she stepped back." As opposed to a smooth transition that I normally see in Vivian's writing, this is what I experienced throughout Copper King. It made the entire story feel...abrupt. As if it was written in rapid speed, quick, get it out!

Additionally, the sex scenes were so quick and lacking such detail, I felt as if I were rushing through the experience with them. It was unpleasant. One minute he's pushing into her, the next it's over. So unlike VA and it only added to the abrupt, rushed feeling of the entire story. As I said earlier, the overall story is CUTE, but it felt like I was eating food made from a recipe that was lacking key ingredients - Vivian Arend's normally smooth transitions and HOT sex. 

Because of this, overall I was left feeling...meh. Cute story with a great ending, good bi-play between the best friends (I am anxious for the next in the series, to see an ego-driven wolf brought back down to four paws), but Copper King was missing what I have come to expect from Vivian Arend.

If you like reading with sexy bears, a wolf with a playful attitude and light on the descriptive sex, this is the book for you! 

Enjoy! =)

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Author Website:

http://www.vivianarend.com

Review: Son of No One (Dark Hunter #14, Hellchasers #6) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Son of No One
(Dark Hunter #14, Hellchasers #6)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Hardcover, e-book,  432 pages

Published: September 2nd 2014 by St. Martin's Press 

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

It’s not easy being life’s own personal joke, but Josette Landry has made an unstable peace with the beast. Life will continue to throw every bad thing it has at her, and she will continue to not put her head in an oven. But that’s okay. That which doesn’t kill her will just require a few hours of mental insanity. Completely down on her luck, Josette takes a job with a local paranormal group trying to get their own cable show as a photographer and camerawoman. Yeah, they’re even crazier than she is. The only paranormal thing she believes in is the miracle that keeps her rusted out hoopty running. But when her group accidentally releases something truly evil into the world, they are forced to call in reinforcement.

From the moment Josette meets Cadegan, she knows something about him isn’t quite right. And it’s not just because she can’t even begin to pronounce his last name: Maboddimun. Mysterious and armed with lethal sarcasm, he seems a lot older than his apparent age…

Centuries ago, Cadegan sold his soul for vengeance against the betrayer who cursed him. Forced against his will to do good, he hates everything in life. All he wants is a way out. But for the damned there is only eternal suffering. And yet there is something about Josette that intrigues him as much as it irritates and frustrates him. Something he can’t seem to fight, and the last time he felt this way about a woman, it cost him his soul.

He knows he has to stay away from her, but the evil her friends unleashed is hellbent on consuming her soul. Something he cannot allow. If one more innocent is taken, he will be sent back to an unimaginable prison that makes his current hell look like paradise. But how can he keep her safe when his being with her is the greatest threat of all?

Review:

I don't quite know what to say about this one. I don't want to sound negative, but at the same time I feel I need to be honest.

I've been a fan of Sherrilyn's work from the very start; her Dark Hunter Series is one of my all-time favorites. However, when it comes to Son of No One, I felt as if I was reading a book written by someone else (at least in part).

On top of that, there were shockingly careless editing errors (missing periods, mis-spelled words) and, no matter how hard I tried to look for it, I didn't pick up the "classic" SLK "tone" that underlies all of her work. It was simply missing. Non-existant. I felt as if I was reading a novel written by a ghost writer and worse, re-reading the same thing over and over - it's one thing to repeat something, assuring the reader of the impact you want to make, but this was nothing but...filler.

Not to be repetitive myself, but I have to emphasize this because it is so unlike SLK - The writing was, at times, so repetitive I started to get angry. We all know how (he) feels about himself and that (he) has trust issues, thank you. There were times I felt as if I was reading someone else's work and the story actually *gasp* lagged, which I've never once said about a SLK Novel. Never.

Then we get to the specifics of the story - The "instant love" got me above all. Who, In their right mind, drops into a hellish environment, having been ignorant of it to begin with, meets a tortured demi-God and falls in love? BAM! Nope. Where's the meat of the story? The character-building, the escalating storyline? It all felt absent in this book - as evidence by the space-filler I discussed earlier.

And this may seem a minuscule concern, but, especially considering the next DH Novel (dragon character), I have to bring it up... Who the heck made the final design decision on this cover? This is not to say that it wasn't beautiful, because like all SLK Novels, the cover was beautifully designed, but a dragon? Seriously? I felt as if the cover had been designed for the NEXT DH Novel and they decided to slap it on this one. In this Novel, the dragon only made a BRIEF appearance. Usually, her covers are completely in-sync with the context of the story; this cover had me thinking one thing, yet reading an all together different one.

As if I wasn't aggravated enough by all of this, there was something that topped it all; there is NOTHING I dislike more than a publisher who attempts to make a book APPEAR longer than it is in actuality, by shrinking margins (disgustingly so) and upping the font to "If I were half-blind I could read it" status. Heck, I wear glasses and the font was so large, I had to remove them to read it!

Take the issues with the (filler) story, careless editing errors, a cover that confused the hell out of me and then add in the almost 3" margins with 18pt font and I was one unhappy camper!

Readers are not dumb - if you write a (shorter) story, then advertise it as such. Don't shrink down the margins and increase the font simply to keep the page count up, and therefor the selling price. It just pisses readers off, as it did me.

When I pick up a thick book, I expect (especially with SLK) to have hours of quality reading ahead, making it more than worth the money. As per her normal, I expected this with Son of No One - only to be left feeling cheated in the end.

In summary, taken as a whole, I was extremely disappointed in Son of No One. When I received the book I was giddy with anticipation; hours later, I slammed it shut in frustration.

Sadly, this is the FIRST SLK Novel that will NOT make it on my favorites shelf. Here's to hoping that the next Dark Hunter Novel will be back on track with what we have all come to expect from Sherrilyn Kenyon!

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Author Website:

http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com