Review: Otherworld Nights by Kelly Armstrong

Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I was provided a complimentary copy of Otherworld Nights in exchange for my honest review.**

Otherworld Nights is a compilation that contains a series of novellas about several of Armstrong's more popular characters. If you have enjoyed her characters in the past, then this book has something for everyone.

What I enjoyed most was that, rather than each story rehashing what we already knew about certain characters, it added to our knowledge of them, answered questions we may have had or delved into their unknown history that we learned about in Armstrong's prior books.

Although this book can easily be read as a stand-alone, I believe it would be much more satisfying if it was read in order, after having read the novels. And here's something to keep in mind if you haven't yet read the novels in the series and are reading this as a stand alone - each novella will contain spoilers. No question.

While the stories are short, they are well written and still follow the traditional story arc, just on a much, much shorter band. The intro gives you enough background that you have a sense of setting and relation to the larger story, even if you haven't yet read it.

Then there is the meat of the story, quick and to the point, filled with action, suspense, and emotions. It's typical Armstrong writing - solid, clear and defined. One thing I did notice that was outside of her "normal" writing style was that the endings didn't have the cliffhanger they usually do,. But, I figured since we seem to be looking back, rather than forward, it's more of a flashback to the past than a planning for the future.

Overall, the stories were solid, filled with a variety of her most popular characters; it's like a Jerry Springer follow-up on Armstrong's most loved. =)

Solid, enjoyable, it left me wanting more - which, in this case, is a good thing!

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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: Hotter Than Helltown by SM Reine

Hotter Than Helltown by S.M. Reine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**I was provided a complimentary copy of Hotter Than Helltown in exchange for my honest review.**

This is the third book in the Preternatural Affairs series by SM Reine and my first time reading work by this author. While I enjoyed parts of the story - we spanned the full range of emotions with this one - I had a little difficulty with the fact that the main character, Cesar Hawke, seemed so....well, weak.

I think what bothered me the most about him was his ineptitude when it came to his magic. He seemed to have to skill, knowledge or know-how on how to utilize his magic, which to me weakened his character, and during the height of the story, I had the feeling that the use of his magic was more luck, or accident, than anything.

I don't know...maybe I am being too hard on him, but when the main character has a special talent or skill, I like it to be his (or her) fallback - not weakness, as I felt it was in Cesar's case. Cesar, being the main character, actually ended up feeling like the weakest of them all and he definitely was not the alpha male I was looking for.

Rather than his skill with magic strengthening him, bonding him tighter to the story, I thought his ineptitude made him look, well - weak. Additionally, because of this weakness I saw in Cesar's character, and the strength of those surrounding him, I had a difficult time seeing him as "attractive." He didn't seem masculine (enough), outside of his physical appearance.

The difficulty I had with the main character affected my read of the entire book, without a doubt. I felt that Helltown had a hell (no pun intended) of a lot more that could have been utilized in it. What more creepy and frightening location can you possibly get? The author did the world-building part wonderfully, developing a location that appeared frightening at best. But then to under utilize it? I was disappointed. I wanted more scenes in Helltown - more everything. Here is this perfectly shiver-inducing environment, that can feed the story, drawing the reader in further and...what?

In the overall scope of the story, Helltown was left as background music, rather than the featured performance.

All-in-all I enjoyed Hotter Than Helltown, though for me, it could have been much stronger with Cesar's aptitude matching his physical strength. Leaving the character unbalanced made him appear weak. And a weak main character eroded the remainder of the story, allowing me to dig in and find other weaknesses that, most likely, I would have otherwise overlooked.

The question is, after reading Hotter Than Helltown, would I go back, starting at the beginning and read the rest of the series I missed? I don't know. I might if they were on sale, or I had no other reading, simply for the fact to see if the author built on Helltown more, or if Cesar had a place in any of the stories - and how his character was written and developed from the start.

More important, would I read the next in the series? Likely, yes. The reason? I love the premise of the story, no question. I love the world the author has created. Given this, I would be interested to see if the author pulls this into the next novel (more) and how the main character develops, if it's not still Cesar. So, yes. I would read it. Every author has a book here and there that isn't perfect - how well I know - so I would give SM Reine another chance.

Helltown is just too damn cleaver to not.

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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: Her Lone Wolf by Paige Tyler

Her Lone Wolf by Paige Tyler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I was provided a complimentary copy of Her Lone Wolf in exchange for my honest review.**

I love how the paranormal aspects blended beautifully with the romantic suspense. The shifters and evil doctors, along with all of their plans, set the stage for a suspenseful story with world-building at an all-time high. I felt as if I was living through the story, rather than simply reading along with it.

Clayne Buchanan was not very likable in the first book in the series. However, we're now given the chance to find out why; with his past - losing both his partner and lover two years ago - and the DCO, his already rough demeanor only gets rougher as he is forced into a situation he clearly wants nothing to do with.

With Danica never wanting to walk away from Clayne, but having felt as if she had no choice, she realizes that her feelings for him are just as strong as before, but that she has to put those feelings aside for the case. There is only one priority - stopping the killer.

I enjoyed Clayne and Danica chemistry from the start, cheering for them as they repeatedly faced challenges, and the revelation at the end of the book leaves the reader chomping at the bit, anxious for the next book in the series!

Highly recommend!


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