Pride Mates (Jennifer Ashley)

Title: Pride Mates
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Copyright: 2010 (Leisure); 304 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-8439-6005-1
Reissued: 2011 (Berkley)
Series: Shifters Unbound #1
Sensuality: Hot
Genre: Paranormal Romance

From the Back: To most, they are animals — even in human form. They are to be collared and kept on the fringes of society, scorned because they are feared, hated for their extraordinary powers. And DA Kim Fraser has to go right into the heart of their lair. It’s her job to defend those in need. But there’s absolutely nothing defenseless about Liam Morrissey. His soft Irish lilt and feline grace can’t disguise his sheer strength. Nor can the silver chain at his throat, designed to control the aggression of his kind, completely reassure her that this man has been tamed. Yet when a feral shifter begins to stalk them both, Liam is the only one she trusts with her life.

~&~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I chose this book because I’ve read and enjoyed books written under her Ashley Gardner (Captain Lacey Mysteries) and her Allyson James (Stormwalker) pen names.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
I liked the premise of this series. The shifters in this book are out in the open and, because of this, are discriminated against, forced to live in specific areas. They can’t hold high-paying or important jobs, barred access to the latest in technology, and have almost no rights — probably can’t vote, but are still expected to pay taxes. They wear collars that zap them with a bolt of electricity if they become too aggressive, especially if they threaten a human.

I also liked many of the characters. Liam’s brother Sean, their nephew Connor, and their father Dylan. I also liked the Lupine shifters, Glory and Ellison.

There was a lot I liked about Kim. She’s compassionate and she believes that shifters should have equal rights under the law. It drives her crazy that she’s getting resistance from the shifter themselves. Kim’s also pretty gutsy, but not always smart about it. However, it does allow her to keep fear at bay in some tense moments.

I definitely loved Liam. He’s strong and alpha, but not aggressively so — he doesn’t have to do the “I’m alpha, obey me” routine. He loves his family fiercely and he’s funny.

Though this book didn’t completely wow me, I like the writer’s style and I do like the story. I will be reading the next book.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
The premise. It will be interesting to see where the author takes this series.

Favorite Quote:
“What is this ‘top o’ the morning’ crap?”
“It’s how people expect the Irish to talk. That and ‘faith and begorra!’ I’ll throw those in later.”
– Kim, Liam

Started: 20 August 2011
Finished: 24 August 2011

Rating:

Enjoyed it!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Tiger Eye (Majorie M. Liu)

Title: Tiger Eye
Author: Marjorie M. Liu
Copyright: 2005; 373 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-06-202015-4
Reissued: 2011 (Avon)
Series: Dirk & Steele #1
Sensuality: Warm
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Delilah ‘Dela’ Reese is on vacation in Beijing. A mysterious old woman sells her a puzzle box — and shortly after, Dela is accosted by a strange man who frightens her. It is the same man who was watching the old woman when she sold the box to Dela. Dela manages to get away from him, but the incident has shaken her. In the privacy of her hotel room, she examines the box. Dela has an affinity for metal — it talks to her. Though there only a small amount in the box’s construct, it tells Dela that the box is at least two thousand years old. She manages to open the box and gets the shock of her life when a man bursts into existence from the the light pouring out of the box.

Hari, a shape-shifter, was cursed by an evil man he calls the Magi. To save the life of his sister, Hari promised to be his servant. The Magi killed her anyway, and when Hari tried to take revenge, the Magi placed a curse on him and banished him to the box. Plus, the Magi stole his ability to shift into a tiger. The curse: Hari is immortal and must serve who ever owns the box as long as that person lives. Through the years, Hari’s had many masters who have used and tortured him, but none have broken him. He loathes Dela at first sight because she is yet another master he must obey. However, Dela refuses to command him and goes out of her way to be kind to him, trying to prove that she would never treat him like a slave. Slowly, Hari begins to have hope, though he doesn’t believe there is a way to break the curse and regain his ability to shift.

Shortly after, Dela is attacked. At first, it seems that maybe the man in the market and the attack are connected, but the story the knives used in the attack tells her a different story. Dela is determined figure out why the old woman sold her the box and find out who is targeting her and why.

Comment: I discovered this book when the hidden object/puzzle game was released. I was curious about the game and liked it enough to pick up the book as well as the Dirk & Steele series. Until I read the book, I had no idea how the story ended because the second part of the game hasn’t been released yet! Now that I’ve read it, I really do what to see how the second game plays out, since the author made changes (from the book) when she worked with the developers for the game.

I liked Dela and Hari. They’re both good, decent people. Hari’s been through a lot, but it never destroyed his core ethics. There were a couple of times I agreed with Hari and the others when Dela seemed to be a bit blasé about her safety — but I also agree with her reasoning, that she couldn’t just hide under the bed all the time either.

I really loved this book. One of the things I wanted to learn about was Dirk & Steele itself: how Dela was connected to it, what was its purpose. The game barely touches on it. I also wanted to know more about Roland, too, but like Charlie from “Charlie’s Angels”, he’s only heard from, not seen.

Once Dela and Hari are back in the States, we’re introduced to several members of Dirk & Steele: Artur, Dean, Blue, and Eddie. I loved these guys and I can’t wait to continue with the series.

(Cross-posted, with some modification, from Good Reads)

Started: 3 September 2011
Finished: 4 September 2011

Rating:

Loved It!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Visions of Heat (Nalini Singh)

Title: Visions of Heat
Author: Nalini Singh
Copyright: 2007 (Berkley); 332 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-425-21575-3
Series: Psy/Changeling #2
Sensuality: Hot
Genre: Paranormal Romance

From the Back: Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous — aching need. . .exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her. Changeling Vaughn D’Angelo can take the form of either man or jaguar, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar’s instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating, and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith’s sight for their own purposes. . .

~&~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I chose this book for several reasons.  It’s been several years since I read the first book in the series and I’ve been meaning to continue with it.  I made reading this book, plus the next in the series, part of my reading goal for the year (the one I dubbed, “Sweet Sixteen”).  It also met the criteria for a group challenge I was participating in at the time.  Shortly after reading this book, I made it my goal to get caught up with the series by the end of the year.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
Even thought it’s been over two years since I read Slave to Sensation, I was able to pick this one up without any problems. Though the plots are similar, I really thought this book flowed better because it wasn’t encumbered with all the world-building and character introductions that the first book had.

Like the first book,  it’s about a female Psy (Faith NightStar) and a dominant male Changeling (Vaughn D’Angelo). Unlike Sascha, Faith is considered a valuable asset to her family and her PsyClan. Faith is a foreseer, and her abilities allow her to make financial forecasts. She’s the best. I liked her more than I did Sascha. I thought she was a stronger person than she gave herself credit for, even when afraid. I also liked her interactions with the NetMind.

I do love feline shape-shifters as a whole, and I liked Vaughn. I liked how he interacted with Faith. He knew she was strong and he challenged her, teased her. I also liked where he lived. The DarkRiver leopards live in some very interesting “homes”.

I’m really looking forward to reading this series.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
I would recommend this book to readers who read the first book and wasn’t sure about reading the next book.  I would not recommend reading this book as a stand-alone.

Started: 10 May 2011
Finished: 12 May 2011

Rating:

Loved It!

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Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Kiss of Midnight (Lara Adrian)

Title: Kiss of Midnight
Author: Lara Adrian
Copyright: 2007 (Dell); 402 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-553-58937-5
Series: Midnight Breed #1
Sensuality: Hot
Genre: Paranormal Romance

From the Back: He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night — or this man — is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed — realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

~&~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I’ve had this book in my pile for a few years and I made it my goal to read at least this book and the next in the series by the end of the year. Also, this book met the requirements for the first shelf called in a game of bookshelf bingo I’m participating in on Good Reads. The comments below are from my post on the game’s thread, with some editing.

I initially passed on the Midnight Breed series without really knowing much about it, but decided to give it a try when I learned that the author made them descendants of an ancient alien race.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
I liked the idea of them being part alien, part human. They are alive, not undead. The aversion to light could be explained by their alien DNA, just as their digestive systems couldn’t process the plants and animal products, and therefore have to rely on human blood to sustain them. I also liked that the Breed are born, not made.

I really liked this book. I read it a lot faster than I thought I would. To me, it did not feel like 402 pages. I liked the couple. Gabrielle sometimes made stupid decisions, but I didn’t think she was “too stupid to live” either. Lucan is a stubborn, one-track-mind kind of guy, but I also think he’s learning to loosen up a bit. At one point, I thought, “This guy needs a hobby. Or a wife.” Since he’s not the type to take up knitting or scrap-booking, it’s a good thing he finally caught on to the fact he was in love.

I do plan to continue with this series, and bought them all awhile ago, based on my reading of the prologue alone.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
A different take on the vampire myth.

Started: 23 July 2011
Finished: 25 July 2011

Rating:

Liked It A Lot!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Hot Mama (Jennifer Estep)

Title: Hot Mama
Author: Jennifer Estep
Copyright: 2007 (Berkley); 356 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-425-22300-3
Series: Bigtime #2
Sensuality: Hot (ha!)
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Spoiler: If you haven’t read the first book, and planned to, then it might be a good idea to stop reading and turn back now! There’s no way to talk about this book without revealing the true identities of the superheros.

From the Back: By day, Fiona Fine is a successful couture designer, catering to the high-society players of Bigtime, New York. By night, she’s Fiera, a superstrong superhero who can create and manipulate fire with her bare hands. Fiera, along with the other members of the heroic Fearless Five, makes life miserable for the ubervillians who want to take over the city.

~&~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I read and enjoyed the first book in this trilogy.  I’d been meaning to read the other two books in the series for awhile.  I picked this book because it fit the requirements for a reading challenge:  the main character is involved in fashion industry.  I also read it as part of a game of bookshelf bingo.  The remarks below are cross-posted from my comments about the book during the game, with some minor editing.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
Hot Mama was written in first person.  I felt it worked better as an urban fantasy than a paranormal romance.  In fact, I would have rated higher had it been an UF.

What I liked:

Fiona’s dedication to her duty as she sees it:  protect the innocent and stop the uber-villains, preferably without killing them.  She doesn’t see herself as a vigilante, exacting her own justice as she sees fit.  If at all possible, villains are captured and turned over to the police.  Death sometimes happens — for instance, failing to heed warnings to flee when things about are about to explode, self-destruct, or backfire is an occupational hazard faced by both superheros and uber-villains.  Killing them for revenge is a no-no in Fiona’s book.

Fiona isn’t in it for the glamor or notoriety.  She would be the first to admit that being a superhero is a lot of hard work.  It’s dirty, rough, painful.  She may have super strength and be immune to flames, but she can still get hurt.  And as for notoriety, it’s no picnic having the press constantly in your face, prying, and asking inane questions.  She already puts up with it as a successful fashion designer.  However, Fiona also knows that fame has it’s uses, and she uses her popularity to further worthy causes important to her.

The Fearless Five is her family and she’d do anything for them.  Chief Newman is her father, but the rest of them are just as important to her.  Fiona may have gotten off on the wrong foot with Carmen, but she’s grown to accept her for Sam’s sake.  She’s even gotten to the point of confiding in Carmen, and see her as a friend and confidant.  The same goes for Lulu Lo  — Carmen’s hacker friend and Henry’s honey — to a lesser extant.

I also liked that the superhero aspect of the story was over-the-top and intentionally corny.  It was fun!

What didn’t work:

The romance.  I had no problem with Fiona’s issue regarding whether she was ready to move on after her fiancés death — I thought it was realistic to still have her doubts.  I also liked that she was willing to sacrifice her own chance at happiness if Johnny continued his vigilante ways.  The romance just felt flat to me.  I think it was a combination of the first person narrative and the quantity of Johnny’s page-time in the book.

I liked the first book, a lot of the second book (including Fiona), and the author’s writing style in general, so I plan to read the last book.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
It’s fun and over-the-top.

Started: 12 April 2011
Finished: 15 April 2011

Rating:

Enjoyed it!

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Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Bound by Shadow (Anna Windsor)

Title: Bound by Shadow
Author: Anna Windsor
Copyright: 2008 (Ballantine); 412 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-345-49853-3
Series: Dark Crescent Sisterhood #1
Sensuality: Hot
Genre: Paranormal Romance

From the Back: Riana Dumain is a fully trained Sybil, a warrior priestess battling evil whose practical magic keeps her grounded in earthly science — and desires. She knows that gorgeous NYPD detective Creed Lowell is dangerous and possibly a foot soldier of the evil Legion cult, using his badge and drop-dead looks to consolidate power. Creed’s low-profile Occult Crimes Unit pulls Riana and her two sister Sybils into the case of a politician’s son murdered in a ritualistic sacrifice. Soon Riana’s instincts prove true. Creed, the hottest half-human she’s ever known, a demon in bed and out, is guarding a trapdoor to hell. And unless Riana can find a way to tame her mystery man’s treacherous inner self (and her heart), all of Manhattan may be enveloped in darkness.

~&~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I picked this book because it fit a requirement for bookshelf bingo I was participating in on Good Reads. The remarks below are cross-posted from my comments about the book during the game, the only difference being that I thought this book was more of a 3 1/2-star read. However, since I only rate in full stars, I “rounded up”.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
Fist off, what I liked. I liked the idea of the Dark Crescent Sisterhood – triads of women who can manipulate the elements (earth, fire, air). Their Motherhouses are in Russia, Ireland, and Greece respectively. The triad this trilogy focuses on is headed by earth Sybil Riana Dumain. Cynda Flynn is the fire Sybil and Merilee Alexander is the air. They battle demons. The Sybils operate completely under the radar, thought Riana’s triad has befriended NYPD cop Andrea “Andy” Myles, who doesn’t know the truth about them. She and her partner Creed Lowell work for a small, specialized section known as the Occult Crimes Unit. She’s approached Riana, in the past, to help her on cases, though she’s never brought Creed along before now.

I really liked Andy’s and Creed’s partnership. They definitely got each others’ backs. More than once during the book each has jumped in to defend the other. Andy’s not afraid to threaten a house full of Sybils who want to eliminate Creed for what he is, regardless of the fact he’s done everything to help the Sybils in their efforts against the Legion.

Creed’s not completely human. And that’s a problem for the Sybils. Up until he meets Riana, all he knows is that he’s got this “other” he keeps hidden. He and his twin, Dominic, have always been that way. I liked Creed. He’s protective of Andy, but not in a domineering way. He didn’t tell her about the “other” for fear of her reaction. He’s also honest about his feelings towards Riana — whether it was lust or love. He wasn’t afraid to tell her he loved her.

Now for what I had problems with — even though there was a lot of action in this book, at times I felt it was dragging.

But that was minor compared to some of the confusion caused by a few overlooked errors. For instance, a character was being sent to one of the Motherhouses. I think the author originally intended to send the character to Russia, but changed her mind and sent the person to Ireland. Not all the references got switched. The scene in question had a lot going on involving all three houses, so I can see how it could have been overlooked in a rush — but still. Confusing, and I had to re-read the scene because I thought I was missing something.

Something I wished had been addressed but hadn’t — what caused the “other” to be less of a threat to Riana, especially during the finial confrontation with the bad guys. Did it have something to with Creed being in love with her (him declaring it, her own confession/acknowledgement). That’s my take, but it would have been nice have it confirmed.

None of my nitpicks have deterred me from reading the rest of the series. I DO plan to read them..

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
The “power of three” dynamics of the Sybils. Strong female characters.

Started: 7 April 2011
Finished: 11 April 2011

Rating:

Liked It A Lot!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Whisper Kiss (Deborah Cooke)

Title: Whisper Kiss
Author: Deborah Cooke
Copyright: 2010 (Signet); 391 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-451-22616-7
Series: Dragonfire #5
Sensuality: Hot
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Possible spoilers for previous books!

The source of the Dragon’s Blood Elixir and the Dark Academy have been destroyed, but many of the shadow dragons still remain. Niall Talbot has taken on the role of eliminating them and any Slayers that get in his way. With most of the Pry currently occupied with their mates and young children, there are only a few of his fellows he can call on for backup. Additionally, Niall is supposed to be mentoring Thorolf, who isn’t showing much progress or initiative, and he’s also running his eco-travel business alone. With so much already vying for Niall’s attention, the last thing he needs, or wants, is a firestorm.

Roxanne “Rox” Kincaid isn’t, at first glance, the sort of woman that would normally attract Niall. When he first sees her, she’s punked out — fishnets, spiked hair, and heavy makeup. Rox knows Thorolf, and thanks to his clumsiness, she knows that dragons are real. Rox has seen Thorolf shift and isn’t the least freaked out when Niall unexpectedly shifts in order to protect her from falling debris. In fact, Rox is thrilled. She’s been fascinated with dragons her entire life. To meet one who is good-looking, and seems to have his act together, is just icing on the cake. It’s quiet possible that Rox would have chosen Niall as a lover, even without the firestorm.

But firestorms are about creating a child, something Rox isn’t too keen about and Niall feels it’s still too dangerous for him to father a child while he’s focusing on eliminating the shadow dragons. He feels specifically targeted. A new enemy emerges, one with a different agenda than the Slayers.

Comments: First off, I like that Rox is a friend of Thorolf’s. She believes in dragons, knows they exist. She’s a talented tattoo artist who’s skill at drawing dragons is good enough to impress the real thing. Rox is also a very generous and giving person. She tries to make a difference in any way she can. She’s been trying to get Thorolf to make something of himself, long before he met the other Pyr, and she sympathizes with Niall in his frustration regarding Thorolf’s many short-comings.

I also like the fact that Niall makes the mistake of judging her by her appearance and she takes him to task for it. Rox and Niall have a lot more in common than Niall would have initially guessed.  Niall overcomes his refusal to deal with the firestorm early in the book, which is a good thing because he was a bit of a jerk — it’s Thorolf, of all people, who’s knowledge of Rox helps Niall see her in a different light.

This book also introduced another character, one who’ll, I’m guessing, play a bigger part in future books beyond Darkfire Kiss. The character has his own agenda that has nothing to do with Magnus and his group, which I’m glad because I’m tired of Magnus — he’s not a dragon, he’s a cat with nine lives!

Though it might not be my favorite of the series, Whisper Kiss held my attention and I was amazed how quickly I finished it.

Started: 26 February 2011
Finished: 28 February 2011

Rating:

Liked It A Lot!

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Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Blood Spells (Jessica Andersen)

Title: Blood Spells
Author: Jessica Andersen
Copyright: 2010 (Signet); 443 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-451-23165-9
Series: The Final Prophecy #5
Sensuality: Warm
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Possible Spoilers for first 4 books!

From the Back: Trained from birth to fight with fists and magic, Patience White-Eagle knows that she should focus on the coming war for souls. But she isn’t just a warrior — she’s a wife and mother, too, which leaves her loyalties divided between the Nightkeepers and her family. Brandt White-Eagle broke the rules when he married Patience and fathered their twin sons — and now he’s paying the price. Torn between his magic and his marriage, and separated from his ancestors’ wisdom by a curse he can’t remove, Brandt is fighting to his life back together. When an Ancient Aztec god-king arises, Patience and Brandt must set aside their problems and team up as a mated warrior pair. But as they race to prevent the Nightkeepers’ enemies from enacting a terrible ritual that could tear apart humanity, the threat turns even more personal, becoming a deadly test of their powers. . .and their love..

~&~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
Blood Spells is the 5th book in The Final Prophecy series.   It is one of my favorite series.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
One of the things that made this one stand out from the others is the fact that the main couple were already in a relationship prior to the Nightkeepers banning together to prevent doomsday. It’s a relationship that started to fall apart not long after the talent ceremony way back in book 1. And to make things worse, their twin sons Harry and Braden have gone into hiding with the winikins Woody and Hannah. Even though she knows it’s for their own safety, Patience — at a very low point — lied to Strike and went behind her king’s back in an attempt to make contact with them.

I also like that we continue to see things from Rabbit’s perspective.  In this book, we learn a little bit more about his mother’s people — and it’s pretty significant.  Things also start to improve between him and Strike — something that’s very important to Rabbit, since Strikes always been like a older brother/young uncle to him.  The only one not psyched by the healing of the rifts between Rabbit and the others is Myrinne.

Though their luck has improved, the Nightkeepers still suffer a personal setback, but it still ends on a positive note.  I couldn’t help but smile, when the jeep drove away from Skywatch.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
To those already reading the series:  We learns some important things about Iago and the Order of Xibalba.

Started: 7 February 2011
Finished: 20 February 2011

Rating:

Liked It A Lot!

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Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Unchained (Sharon Ashwood)

Title: Unchained
Author: Sharon Ashwood
Copyright: 2010 (Signet); 359 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-451-23073-7
Series: The Dark Forgotten #3
Sensuality: Warm
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Possible spoilers for the first two books!

Previously, in Fairview…Ashe Carver — Holly’s older sister — came to town intent on staking her vampire brother-in-law, convinced he had Holly in his thrall. Instead, she ended up joining forces with Alessandro and Mac to save the Castle from destruction. Holly gives Alessandro some very unexpected news.

Six months later…

Madame Librarian: Ashe has officially retired from the monster slaying biz. She’s got her daughter Eden with her now, and she wants to prove that she can be a good mother. To that end, she works at the library, located in the local mall. Now the only battles she routinely engages in are ones with the bookstore clerks, consisting of pranks and practical jokes. But Holly and Alessandro have a new baby in the house, so Ashe is willing to pick up her weapons, on their behalf, to keep Fairview safe for all law-abiding beings. She ends up partnered with Captain Reynard, chasing an invisible and deadly creature through the botanical gardens. And that’s just the beginning of their problems.

Captain of the Guard:  Reynard is everything you’d expect in a hero from a historical romance novel, as if he had stepped from the pages of one. The second son of British nobility, destined for the army. Unrequited love for a woman who chose another. The rakish good looks and behavior. But life as a Castle guardsman has changed him — over 250 years in the prison has made him more disciplined, honed his skills and his sense of duty, and smothered all the feelings and desires from life outside the Castle. Leaving the Castle to hunt the creature is dangerous — the longer he stays in the world, the harder it will be for him to return to the nothingness of his existence in the prison.

Soul Mates:  Someone has stolen the jar that contains Reynard’s soul and removed it from the Castle. He can exist, for a time, separated from it. However, the longer he remains outside the Castle, the more alive he feels and the magic that binds him to the prison weakens. Eventually, he will die. He asks Ashe for help. Reynard hasn’t forgotten that he nearly died in her arms during the battle to save the Castle and he feels a connection. But Ashe has her hands full with her own problems. Eden’s paternal grandparents have hired lawyers and are looking to get custody of the girl. Plus, there’s a powerful vampire in town who wants what Alessandro has and he thinks Ashe — because she’s Holly’s sister — can give it to him. The fact that it has nothing to do with genetics alone and everything to do with the love Alessandro and Holly have for one another is completely lost on the fellow. Add “creepy stalker” to Ashe’s list of troubles.

All in the Family: Once again, there is a strong family theme. Ashe is trying to be a good mother and get to know her daughter. She still harbors guilt over her own parents’ deaths. Reynard’s love for his own family is the reason he ended up in the Castle in the first place. Then there’s Ashe’s vampire stalker — he wants an heir. Even Miru-Kai was motivated by his desire to save someone he cared for like family.

Going Out for a Book Can Be Dangerous in Fairview: As they are heading for the big showdown, Holly notices the newest release of a real author and Alessandro tells her he’ll get it for her if they save the day before close of business. But the scariest part — some of the most destructive scenes take place in places you can find books — the local bookstore, the public library, and a used bookstore. All those poor books! The horror!

The Romance:  Reynard doesn’t want to die or fade away, but he’s not sure he could return the empty life now that he’s fallen for Ashe. He isn’t the least intimidated or put off by Ashe’s strong personality — even though he’s from a time when women were more genteel, he likes the fact she can stand toe-to-toe with him. For her part, Ashe has already been widowed once, and she’s not sure she can cope with falling in love with someone who’s doomed. Reynard doesn’t treat her like she’s a delicate damsel; she’s a warrior and he respects that — not once does he tell her it’s too dangerous for her and he should handle things. How can she not fall for a man who understands her so well; a man who would risk his life to save her daughter?

The Bottom Line: While re-reading parts of the book, to refresh my memory, I really fell in love with the characters. Okay… I fell in love with Reynard. His dilemma, even knowing how it ends, still got to me. I really do like Ashe, now that she isn’t butting heads with Holly, thinking she knows better than her little sis. And Miru-Kai. A character like him just doesn’t just disappear without being heard from again. I wonder when and where we’ll be seeing him again. I hope the author has plans for him.

Started: 21 February 2011
Finished: 26 February 2011

Rating:

Loved It!

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Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Darkness Dawns (Dianne Duvall)

Title: Darkness Dawns
Author: Dianne Duvall
Copyright (Author): 2008
Copyright (Kensington): 2011; 345 pgs.
ISBN: 978-1-4201-1861-2
Series: Immortal Guardians #1
Sensuality: Hot
Genre: Paranormal Romance

From the back: Once, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control. In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible — when it means forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect…

1. Reason for choosing this book:

I picked this book to fulfill a shelf requirement for the bookshelf bingo I’m participating in over at Good Reads (link is to the team’s official thread). One of the rules is to post a rating and tell the rest of the team what you liked/disliked about the book (it is required to post something or the the team won’t get credit for the “stamp”). Since that’s the case, I thought it would save time to re-post what I wrote there, here on my blog. I might not do this with every book. It will depend on what I wrote at the time. I chose this one to start with because I wasn’t going to add anything to what was already said.  Other than some formatting difference, this write-up is the same as this one here in the official thread. I also thought what I’d already written fit the Three Reason Review format.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:

I liked this book a lot. What I liked:

The world building. Immortal Guardians and vampire have a lot in common. The fangs, sensitivity to sunlight, increased strength and speed, and a need for blood. What makes them different is their “gifts”. Immortal Guardians were born with certain gifts (telepathy, empathy, healing, teleportation, etc.). Once turned by a vampire, their uniqueness transforms the virus. They are less sensitive to sunlight and they don’t have the same level of dependency on blood. Vampires go crazy from the blood lust, have shorter life spans, and rarely work together as an organized group. The Guardians are led by Seth, the oldest (Roland is 937 years old and Seth is still older than that). They protect humans and destroy vampires. They also have a network of human support staff.

The romance. The author took the time to allow Sarah and Roland to get to know each other. Though he initially conceals the truth about himself out of necessity, once Sarah learns Roland’s not human , he answers her questions. They talk about themselves, sharing things about their pasts, and they even discuss the reality of sustaining a long term relationship. There’s no big misunderstanding, no trying to push away from her on his part due to some well-intentioned, but misguided sense of nobility.

Roland. Besides the above, he was likable. A warrior, but not overly alpha. He’s been betrayed, more than once, by people he cared about, people he thought cared for him in return. A couple of them had been women, but that didn’t turn him into a woman-hater. It made him standoffish and hard for him to trust others. He avoids social interactions with humans, so there’s a couple of times throughout the book where he’s at a loss at how to handle things, especially in the beginning. Even his interactions with other Immortal Guardians over time were kept to a bare minimum. He’s a loner. I think his gift made him a naturally compassionate, caring person.

Sarah. Though she wouldn’t last long going up against a vampire alone, she’s no helpless damsel-in-distress either. She save Roland’s life. She strong enough not to fall to pieces at the first sign of danger. She’s pretty good with a gun, having learned to use one while she was living in Texas, and she can definitely fight back — she stabs someone in the butt.

I thought the pacing was pretty good, considering all the talking that goes on in the book. There are two story lines: who has been targeting Roland and how did he manage to amass a small vampire army, and the search for the mysterious person Seth can hear psychically calling out in pain. Maddeningly, the author allows Seth to find out what so special about the person he finds but leaves it as a cliffhanger for the reader. The other story gets a resolution.

I did have one niggling problem: you can see it coming a mile away — because it is a romance novel after all — but I think I would have preferred the Guardian’s scientists doing the “Eureka!” moment than having Seth basically saying “Hey, remember those cockroaches and tornadoes?” Those who’ve read the book will know what I’m talking about.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:

A different take on vampires. Some interesting secondary characters that I hope the author gets the chance to write more about.

Started: 16 April 2011
Finished: 17 April 2011

Rating:

Liked It A Lot!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.