Sandy M’s review of Must Love Hellhounds by Andrews, Brook, Harris, and Singh
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Berkley Trade 1 Sep 09
I don’t read anthologies very often, but once in a while they’re a nice change of pace. I figured I’d love this one because after reading Lori Devoti’s hellhounds series, I fell in love with these evil but lovable dogs. I have to say that I was more disappointed than happy with the majority of the novellas in this anthology. I’ve only read one out of the four authors, Nalini Singh, and she is the standout of the group. The other three don’t even come close to her stellar story.
Magic Mourns by Ilona Andrews
I do have the Magic series in my TBR pile, just waiting for me to get to it. The first part of this story didn’t do much to make me want to move the series higher in the pile, but that changed with the second half. Raphael, a werehyena, is full of charm but is as lethal as any other paranormal creature when pushed. He’s been in love with Andrea for quite a while, though she doesn’t know it. They grew up together, he’s like a brother to her, or so he thinks. Andrea’s just trying to get along in the world while keeping her inner self a secret. She doesn’t want to lose the life she’s mapped out so far just because of a little cross breeding in her background.
Trying to locate Raphael’s stepfather’s shade/soul when it’s stolen after his death, they start their investigation and eventually come upon a house guarded by a huge, very ugly and evil hellhound who takes his guard-dog duties seriously. The action during their journey is hair-raising, especially when battling with said hellhound. They come across a variety of different paranormal creatures that helps their trek along and keeps the story interesting. And their eventual tryst is quite steamy, and Raphael’s confession to Andrea is a highlight of the whole thing.
Grade: B-
Summary:
Kate is on medical leave and Andrea is sitting in her office. Everything is going well, until a giant hell dog escapes the Underworld and Raphael, the smoking-hot and very persistent werehyena, asks Andrea to help him track down…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
Blind Spot by Meljean Brook
This is my second favorite story of the anthology. Ms. Brook gives a reader something different and that makes reading it so much more fun. What I found most interesting and different is the fact that Geoffrey is blind due to an ancient curse that has tainted his family blood — but he can see through other people’s eyes. I perked up even more when that little tidbit came along. Maggie works for Geoff’s uncle, a very old and dangerous vampire, and has been sent to help rescue Geoff’s sister who has been taken hostage for some unknown reason. With her is Sir Pup, a fun-loving but also dangerous hellhound. He plays guide dog and guard dog with equal aplomb.
I really enjoy Ms. Brook’s writing, her characters are perfect, and she gives a story that moves at just the right pace and with twists and turns where you least expect them. I will be moving this series to the top of the TBR pile.
Grade: B+
Summary:
The job was simple: find her boss’s niece, bring her home safely, and hand out a whole lot of pain to whoever had abducted her. But Maggie hadn’t counted on her boss’s nephew, the hellhound who loved to make her life difficult, or her own past rearing its complicated and ugly head.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
The Britlingens Go to Hell by Charlaine Harris
This novella is the disappointment of the bunch. Simply, I was bored the entire way. The idea of the Britlingen Collective is interesting, but this story just didn’t live up to the potential. Two of the Collective’s warriors, Clovache and Batanya, are chosen to head to hell with a client who needs something found there. So all we get is the danger they go through as they journey through the halls of hell toward their end goal, all of which is not that interesting; a client who is not upfront with them, thus leaving them in more danger; slugs leaving slime on the ground; and at this point I don’t even remember the hellhound involved. And only a slight hint at romance.
Not a very good introduction for a reader who has a good majority of Ms. Harris’ books in the TBR mountain.
Grade: D-
Summary:
A pair of warriors, Clovache and Batanya, take on the task of safeguarding a thief, not realizing they’d be going to Hell in pursuit of Lucifer’s favorite toy and along the way, encounter some very interesting travelers.
No excerpt found.
Other books in this series:
Angels’ Judgment by Nalini Singh
I have yet to read the first book in this series, Angel’s Blood, but after reading this novella I’m now salivating to get to it. That doesn’t surprise me one bit. I should have known I’d love this story just because it’s Nalini Singh.
Sara is being considered to take over as Guild Director who reports to the Cadre of Ten, archangels who rule the world. She enjoys her current job as a vampire hunter, returning rogues to their masters. But she knows Simon, the current director, is weary after so many years and wishes to retire. She’s on one last mission before she has to make her decision.
Hunting down the villain killing vampires is that mission, and Simon sends Deacon, The Slayer, along to help but also to protect Sara if need be, because he knows the archangels will test her. As they work together, an attraction between them grows, and with Deacon’s secretiveness and sexiness, I can certainly see why. Their fling, which Sara believes is all they can have – how can she date such a dangerous and secretive man once she becomes director? – is hot and steamy and the best parts of the story. I didn’t care about the hellhound – which is owned by one of the suspects in the killings – I just wanted more of these two together.
Now that I have some of the background of the series down, it’s time to start Angel’s Blood. And I know I will like it just as much.
Grade: A+
Summary:
Vampire trackers Sara and Deacon must discover who is murdering vampires; one suspect owns a hellhound…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
Overall Grade: B
I’m confused by the review of the Andrews novella. Kate Daniels is the protagonist of the Magic books so far, but Andrea is the heroine of Magic Mourns. She and Raphael did not grow up together, and he’s been openly courting her since they met in the last book. Maybe that wasn’t clear from the novella alone?
I thought it was clear in the copy I read. I’d say it was just a note taking fail maybe, except that I have no idea where the reviewer got the: ‘They grew up together, he’s like a brother to her, or so he thinks,’ bit from as it applies to neither Kate or Andrea and I’m pretty sure that’s not in the story either.
Sorry for the confusion – I recall now reading the synopsis before I began the review and had Kate on my mind, obviously, but I’ve now corrected that.
And I seem to recall that Andrea and Raphael had a history — he and his mother, I think, helped her through a bad time to do with her were-self. So perhaps I could have used something other than “grew up together” for that history. They did not just meet in this story. But “the reviewer” stands by her interpretation that Andrea didn’t think of him as more than a brother, or something equivalent, until late in this novella. She’d been putting off his interest for quite sometime, is my memory of the whole thing. Have no idea if anything is mentioned in any previous books since I haven’t read them.
Raphael is most certainly like a brother to Andrea, in any way shape or form. He has fancied her since the first time they met, though. Advice to the reviewer – move the Ilona Andrews books to the top of your TBR pile – you won’t regret it. The first one is good, the third is so excellent it is sheer torture having to wait until June 2010 for the fourth one to be released. Ilona Andrews’ non-Kate Daniels book, On the Edge, is also excellent.
Thanks, Malin, for confirming my thought. And I will definitely move these books to the top of the TBR pile!
You guys are so going to make sandys want to read every book in a series before reviewing anything worse.
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I have the book IIRC sandy had an ARC. Honestly I haven’t read Ilona Andrews and prolly would have skipped it but now am some what interested. I think they were questioning the ‘grew up’ part and if that came across in the novella. As people who have read the series are saying they didn’t grow up together. err… if I am understanding them.. ::shrug::
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🙂 aren’t you glad I kept annoying you to review this sandy, amazing how I can be offline and STILL be a pain in the arse 🙂
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On the Edge is on the way to Gwen for review Malin E hope she enjoys it as much as you did.
I have a copy of this book in my TBR, so I’m skipping the review.
I’ve read On the Edge, and I love it.
I also have all 3 Kate Daniels books in my TBR, hopefully
it will be as good as On the Edge.
Does anyone know if On the Edge is part of a series or is it a stand alone?
arani,
I am thinking it is a stand alone or the start of a new series… IIRC it was listed by itself under a heading of Edge Novels. I would assume there are more to come BUT don’t know either way.
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Above it there was a listing for Kate Daniel Novels and it wasn’t apart of that – of course it could be a spin off or something. So I am pretty much no help sorry.
As per author’s website, On The Edge is the first in a new series, not related to the Kate Daniels series, not set in the same world even. Hope that helps.