Gwen’s review of The Lost by J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney, and Ruth Ryan Langan
Anthology released by Jove 24 Nov 09

This anthology came to me by way of Sybil and her bottomless bag o’  books.  It’s an interesting mix of all sorts of stories, some romance, some not. A nice way to while away some time waiting in line at your kid’s school at dismissal time.

I suppose there’s a common theme in the stories, though it’s tenuous.  As I write these reviews I’ll try to point out the things holding them together.  Meanwhile, on with the reviews…

Missing In Death by J.D. Robb
Futuristic Suspense (93-pages)

This is a very good entry in the Eve Dallas world.  It revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a woman on a ferry and an apparent murder with no body.

The story is delightfully twisty and turny, with lots of sleuthing by Eve and Peabody.  The story talks to old hurts and long-held revenge.  It’s a good In Death story – not the best, but still quite good.

Now to the anth title: I suppose the “lost” things in this story would be the body, the woman on the ferry, and the villain’s family.

Grade: B

Summary:

Wile investigating a woman’s disappearance on a New York City ferry, Detective Eve Dallas wonders… if she didn’t jump, and she’s not on board, then where in the world is she?

Read an excerpt here.

The Dog Days of Laurie Summer by Patricia Gaffney
Chick-lit (90-pages)

This was an odd little story.  A tad too long, and not really a romance.  However, it does describe the heroine’s love for her family, and how she falls back in love with them

I classified this as “chick lit” because it’s a nice little tale about how a woman rediscovers the love she has for her life, her family, and her self.  Prior to a literal life-changing event, our heroine, Laurie, was a pretty typical type-A personality.  She worked too much and thought too little about what was really important in her life.  The event shocks her out of this rut and spins her out into a truly odd road of discovery.

I enjoyed this story, though this kind of writing is not really my bag.

The anth title: I’m guessing the “lost” things in this story would be the heroine’s awareness of her family.

Grade: C

Summary:

After recovering from a severe accident, a woman awakens to a world as familiar as it is strange and unsettling.

Read an excerpt here.

Lost In Paradise by Mary Blayney
Paranormal/Inspirational Romance (87-pages)

This was an unusual little story.  It reads quick and has a nice pace, though I found the genre, and thus the book, a little tough to pin down.  It’s a definite “slash” book.

The romance between the main characters is a little convenient and quick.  I know that short stories and anthology entries force an author to truncate some things, but this romance felt even too quick for that.

I called this a “paranormal/inspirational” because it is the heroine’s strong faith in God and her purity that helps break a curse.  Though, in true romance novel fashion, she doesn’t remain a virgin for long with the hero’s manliness on the scene.  And this was part of my personal confusion with the book.  I didn’t know where to stand on it – figuratively speaking.

Good, but not great story.

The anth title: I suppose the “lost” things in this story is the hero and his hope.

Grade: C

Summary:

A man cursed to stay behind the walls of an island fortress finds hope in a nuirse who’s shipwrecked and in possession of the one thing that could set him free.

No excerpt available.

Legacy by Ruth Ryan Langan
Contemporary Romance (88-pages)

This was the only true “romance” of all the stories in the book. And it’s quite good.

I like the heroine, though she is a bit milquetoast for me.  The hero is extremely yummy.  Their romance develops quickly, but is believable.  The plot twists involving her family are a bit silly in their complexity and seeming secrecy, but nonetheless lend a decent amount of suspense to the story.

This is a fun romance to read.

The anth title: the “lost” things in this story are the heroine and her family.

Grade: B

Summary:

In the wake of her mother’s death, a young woman’s travels unearth a family secret buried on the grounds of a magnificent but imposing Irish estate.

No excerpt available.

I liked this anthology. The Robb and Ryan Langan stories make it worth the purchase.  The other two stories are good, but forgettable.  If you’re following the In Death stories, you shouldn’t miss this one.

Overall Grade: B-

Blurb:

Four bestselling authors venture into a world where the rules of love, of time, and of place can be forever lost…

Gwen’s review of Pride Mates (Shifters Unbound, Book 1) by Jennifer Ashley
Paranormal romance released by Dorchester/ Leisure 26 Jan 10

This is the first of  a new paranormal romance series from the ever-busy Jennifer Ashley. We are given a new world where Shifters are “out”, learning to live in a world where humans know what they are and treat them as second-class citizens.  It’s a very promising start to what should be a fresh take on a well-worn idea.  Plus, the book is based in Austin, so how bad can it be? 

Turns out, not bad at all.  I really enjoyed this book.  It seemed like a short, category length book, though it’s over 300 pages.  I think the book’s pacing and terrific dialogue (internal and external) made it seem shorter.

The heroine, Kim, is funny, smart, and righteous.  She stands by those she believes in and this makes her the Shifter leader’s worst nightmare.  The leader and the book’s villain, Fergus, has his own selfish reasons for Kim to fail in her defense of one of his clan.

The hero, Liam, is sexy, smart, loving, and oh-so-alpha.  He’s a very complex hero and I loved that.  Ashley has drawn him as a complicated mix of all that is admirable in a man and some of the things women bemoan.  I loved his easygoing nature and how he supported his community.  His love for Kim caught him by surprise and this makes him endearing.  One of the better heroes I’ve read lately.

The book sets a lot of groundwork for this new series.  We’re introduced to a new world where Shifters will have to fight for their rights.  The degree to which Shifters are treated as second-class citizens seems a bit extreme in our PC, ACLU afflicted world (not permitted new cars or cable television? huh?).  I’m ready to roll with it if Ashley is careful not to take it to too much of an extreme and use it for plot devices, and not to beat us over the head with it.

The paranormal elements of this world are very interestingly different from what I have come to expect.  The origin of the Shifters as playthings of the fae is one that should introduce some very good plot elements in the future.  The story in The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance, out 9 Feb, tells much of this history, as well as the origin of the Guardian’s sword (read Pride Mates for this detail).

This book is worth reading simply for the fun of the relationship between the hero and heroine.  I was left smiling several times, and sometimes laughing out loud at some of the things they said.  It is a clever, quick book with some interesting twists that has whetted my appetite for more.

I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of shapeshifter romances or Jennifer Ashley books.  If you like clever dialogue, then you’ll love this book.

Grade: A

Summary:

Twenty years ago, shape shifters of all kinds banded together and announced themselves to the world, only to be shunted to areas no human wanted (”Shiftertowns”). They are forced to wear Collars that control their hunting and fighting instincts (referred to by Shifters as “Taking the Collar”).

Liam Morrissey is currently liaison between the Shifters of Austin, TX, and the humans of the city. Kim Fraser, attorney, finds herself in the unique position of having to defend a Shifter on a murder charge.

She ventures to Shiftertown to seek out Liam’s help, and there stumbles across too many secrets the Shifters want kept secret. The un-mated Liam is forced to protect Kim against the wrath of his clan leader and his own father, and to his surprise he discovers a powerful attraction to the sassy, sexy lady.

Read an excerpt here.  Go here for the series’ site.

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Flirt (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, Book 18) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Urban fantasy hardcover released by Berkley 2 Feb 10

Fans of Hamilton’s Anita Blake novels will love this short side entry.  This is a novel-length short story in the very sexy, very violent world of Anita Blake.  If you’re following this series and are getting (have gotten) tired of the crazily complicated storyline, you’ll enjoy this story.  It has almost none of the “bigger” picture and just tells us a good yarn.

The action in Flirt is almost solely centered on Anita’s necromancer ability. There is quite a bit of overlap in the plot to her newly developed shifter abilities.  This adds quite a bit of spice and is not complicated to follow if you just roll with it.  A new character or two is introduced who may become players in a later novel.

I liked Flirt because it had a beginning, middle, and end.  It’s a short novel, or a novel-length short story that deals with loss and love.  There is some redemption in the story, though it’s a darker redemption as is appropriate for the setting.

In Flirt Anita is kidnapped by a grieving spouse and forced to use her necromancer abilities.  This all has Anita in a decided snit and has separated mentally and physically her from her “sweeties”.  However, in true Anita fashion, she gets herself out of her pickle with the help of a lion shifter that Anita has bound to herself.

I love it when Hamilton focuses on a story and the storytelling is excellent in Flirt. I sucked it down in a day.  I highly recommend this book to anyone following the series and to anyone new to it who wants to see if they’d like it.  This entry stands alone well enough and would actually serve to tell a new reader if they like the author or story.

Grade: A

Read more reviews and information on this series here.

Summary:

When Anita Blake meets with prospective client Tony Bennington, who is desperate to have her reanimate his recently deceased wife, she is full of sympathy for his loss. Anita knows something about love, and she knows everything there is to know about loss. But what she also knows, though Tony Bennington seems unwilling to be convinced, is that the thing she can do as a necromancer isn’t the miracle he thinks he needs. The creature that Anita could coerce to step out of the late Mrs. Bennington’s grave would not be the lovely Mrs. Bennington. Not really. And not for long.

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Archangel’s Kiss (Guild Hunters, Book 2) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal/fantasy romance released by Berkley 2 Feb 10

This is the second book in the Guild Hunters saga and the third story.  (Singh released a standalone novella in the Must Love Hellhounds anthology.) This entry deals with Elena’s new condition, her relationship with the archangel, Raphael, and the politics of his (now her) world.  It’s a ripsnorting story that is passionate and action-packed, and a helluva good tale.

There are spoilers in this review, so if you haven’t read the first book and care about that sort of thing, you don’t want to read further.

If you read the first book, you know that to save Elena’s life Raphael Made her an angel near the end.  In Kiss, Elena begins learning what that means – how to fly, what can still kill her, how to fit into her new society, and what her role is as Raphael’s mate.  This is all pretty fascinating stuff and, like Singh’s Psy-Changeling novels, is an incredibly well thought out world.  You are actually living it with the characters.  Singh is second to none in her complex and believable world building.

Kiss has a very nice pace to it.  You’re never left yawning, wondering when something was going to happen.  We’re given a mystery, some romance and passion, friendships, and loads of very cool action.  We’re carried along the story like a kayaker down a Class 5 rapids.

I just adore Singh’s characters.  Her heroines are terrific – strong, smart, and vulnerable.  I never have an eye-rolling “OMG she’s too stupid to live” moment.   Elena is all woman and all warrior.  She’s still a Guild Hunter at heart and it shows – I love the descriptions of the clothes and weapons she wears in Beijing.

Singh’s heroes are in a class of their own – masculine, alpha, and tender to their loved ones.  they’re always men I sigh over.  In this book, Raphael is enough “other” to be a fascinating character.  I think the first book showcased his personality better than this entry, but we get excellent insight into Elena in Kiss.

The villains in Kiss are suitably villain-like.  There is also some ambiguity in some of the evil.  In Singh’s world, as an angel ages, they develop more powers and the abilities they have become stronger.  Since some of the angel’s are thousands of years old, this leads to interesting ethical questions – how much power is too much, what can be done with power without morality, and how do you control amoral beings so powerful they can destroy whole cities or even planets?  All of this comes up in this book and we’re led to the conclusion that relationships like what is between Elena and Raphael are one of the very few things that can help such powerful beings retain some of their humanity – which is normally a good thing.

If you’re a fan of Singh, or simply of “angel books” you do not want to miss this one.   If you’re not sure about whether you’ll like this series, don’t start with this one.  The first book, Angel’s Blood, will take you by surprise and bring you to love the series as much as I do.  This book just takes the story to the next level.

I can’t wait for the next entry.

Grade: A

Read other reviews and information on this series here.

Summary:

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel Raphael, is used to being in control—even when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority…

They’ve barely begun to understand each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits them there. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan holds a power that lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

I’ve been incognito of late.  I haven’t talked to you good folks in a while so I crawled out of my hole to have a whine and whinge, and to see how many of you are in the same situation. It’s the start of a new year – a year I know will have a lot of changes for me and my family.  I’m just waiting to see what will be the next shoe dropped… 

The holidays were joyous mayhem – a whirlwind of family, cooking, cleaning, visiting, more cooking, more cleaning, more family.  Just insane fun.  Now January is painfully slow in comparison.  So as I take stock, it  occurs to me that the Grateful Dead had it right in their song “Truckin’” (video provided below for your enjoyment)…

Sometimes the lights all shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long strange trip it’s been

My life of late has certainly been a long, strange trip.  Despite my perennially creative counting, I’m still getting older.  Of course, this means my daughter and my parents are also getting older.  Relentless aging has introduced so many complications into what was once such a simple life that my mind is regularly boggled.  Not that it takes a lot to boggle this old girl, but, still, consider me boggled.

For example, I have a regular sense of outrage that my body is rebelling.  I used to prize my “cast iron stomach” that is now made of easily dented tin, metaphorically speaking.  And my eyes! Oh my goodness, my eyes.  I’m convinced signs and menus are being made in smaller type than before.

My daughter is a different story.  I made the mistake the other day of watching a video of her when she was a baby.  I could just eat her up.  She was so small, and sweet, and so very pink.  She was like a strawberry confection – red hair, ivory skin, and always, always dressed in pink.

Today? Today she’s a pre-teen who has begun to notice boys and frequently thinks her mom is weird.  She has occasional flashes of her younger self – I cherish those times when she seems like “my little pink girl” again.  She also has regular bouts of some other entity that just makes me want to shake my mom and say “how did you put up with me?!?”  Because, as you could guess and to my horror, my daughter is JUST LIKE ME.  Argh!

Then there’s my parents.  My folks have been married for 50 years.  After college, I left and did my own thing, occasionally living at home, but mostly on my own.  I moved close to home about 8 years ago and have gotten to know my parents.  I have come to realize that they’re not only the people who sired me, but they’re my friends as well.  And they’re aging.

My dad has lived with a significant illness since March 2000.  The doctors told us to prepare to lose him in two to five years, or less.  As you can tell, he’s lasted much longer than that mostly due to the tremendous care of my mom.  She nurses and cares for my dad, oversees his meds, argues with doctors for the best care, and generally holds him together.  She’s become an expert on all aspects of his care.

Now Dad is getting more frail.  He’s not bouncing back from mild illness as he once did. His mind is starting to falter much like his mom did just scant months before she died.

I also noticed the other day how much my mom has aged in the last ten years, and especially in the last month.  This has  taken such a toll on her.  She was once the very pampered wife of a hale and hardy man who did very nearly anything she asked. The overnight adjustment to a diametrically opposed role has been hard on her.  Now that Dad is getting worse, I’m equally worried about Mom.

This all came on the heels of my being laid off last September from a job I’d had for 13 years.  Admittedly it was a job that I had come to hate, but still…  I want to use a less polemic word than “hate” but I really had come to dread each day for so many reasons.

Keep in mind I’ve done nothing but work full time for almost 30 years.  I’ve never been more than a week out of a job in my life.  Not working – not going to work each day – has been very odd.  I have some severance that will last me another few weeks and I really will start seriously looking for a job.  Soon. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to get to know myself.  I’m even going to go back to school.  We’ll see what the future brings.

So all this to say aging sucks.  It has its high spots – watching my daughter grow into a wonderful young woman – and its low spots – watching my parents age.  But as Jim Morrison said, no one here gets out alive.  It’s up to us to make the best of it we can.  I think it was Chuck Swindoll or Lou Holtz who said something to the effect that our attitude in life is 10% what happens and 90% how we react to it.  Words to live by.

Gwen’s review of Bound to Shadows (Riley Jensen, Book 8 ) by Keri Arthur
Urban Fantasy released by Dell 27 Oct 09

It’s been a while since I read and reviewed one of the Riley Jensen books.  Have I told you lately how much I love this series?  Well, I love this series.  Of all the Urban Fantasy, first person POV series out there, this is one of the best.  I’m always amazed at how totally immersed into Riley’s  stories I become.  And since Arthur is one of the more prolific writers out there, there’s plenty to jump into.

In this entry to the Riley-verse, our heroine is relishing her role as a Guardian – one of the enforcement types who keep the paranormals from consuming humans and each other.  Until recently in the series, Riley resisted this role.  She’s also firmly in love with Quinn – an ancient vamp who is the love of her life.  She’s also in reluctant lust/hate with her soul-mate, Kye.  As per normal, Riley’s personal life and libido is wild and crazy, and very eventful.  Arthur is in fine form in the sensual scenes with this entry.  If you enjoy Riley’s lovelife, don’t miss this book.

As usual, Riley is also doing a kick-ass job kicking bad guy butts all over Melbourne.  There’s a very good suspense element to this entry that is actually rooted in somewhat normal, human motivations.  Sure some otherworldly (and very creepy) things happen, but Shadows has a very good suspense element.

If you’ve never read a Riley Jensen novel, this might be a passable standalone. You may be at bit at sea with some of the details and history, but if you just roll with the story, you’ll be entertained.  Nevertheless, I highly recommend trying to read as much of the series as possible.

The only reason I’m giving Shadows a B instead of an A is because of the first person POV.  Even though Arthur is one of the absolute best authors out there with this POV, it’s still a pet peeve of mine when a story is told using it.  This POV is too limiting to the story and I’m left guessing too much.  I have a very difficult time giving them A’s unless something about the book just blows my socks off.

I recommend this book to any UF fans and anyone following the Riley Jensen series.  Good storytelling, good romance, good action… good book.

Grade: B+

Read other reviews and information on this series by following its tag here.

Summary:

In the darkness, demons come out to play… and someone must bring their sins to light.

Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don’t play well with others. But she’s never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups—and the victims aren’t just killed, they’re beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive—and highly suspicious—club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.

For Riley, solving multiple cases—in a world going mad with human and vampire passions—would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley’s wolf blood howl—and Quinn, the cool, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years’ experience at fulfilling women’s desires. While she’s busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley’s detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Never Romance a Rake (Neville Family Trilogy, Book 3) by Liz Carlyle
Historical romance released by Pocket 22 Jul 08

I enjoy breaking up my urban fantasy and contemporary reading with a nice, refreshing historical.  I tend to the “heavier” historicals and try to avoid “teh funny” as much as possible.  This book delivered on all levels – it cleared my palate mid-pile o’ UF, and is a weighty tale that distracted and entertained me. 

I realize I’m late to this series – the last book was released a year ago last July – but at least I came along for the ride.  I’m glad I read this book before the other two.  Though it would be entertaining to read them all in order, I don’t believe it’s necessary – this book stands alone fine.

The hero is Kieran, Lord Rothewell, and the heroine a young French woman named Camille.  Through some rather tried but true authorial maneuvers, the hero “wins” the heroine in a card game (he cheats, by the way). The two are thrust together mostly by choice and somewhat by circumstance.

Kieran is a rake of the worst sort – dissolute and depressed.  He is convinced that he’s an awful person and punishes himself suitably by totally abusing his body.  Camille has been raised by two of what must be the most selfish people on the planet.  As a result her self-image is not the best.  Nevertheless, Camille is determined to have a child so that she can have someone in her life she can truly love.

What I found surprising about both of these damaged people was how much I liked them.  I’m not a fan of the “oh woe is me” type of character.  You know the kind – Kenyon’s heroes are almost all a bunch of whiney babies.  Camille and Kieran doubt themselves, and Kieran wallows a bit, but neither of them whines.  They eventually talk to each other about what has damaged them and then overcome it together.  They act like, gasp, adults!

There’s a few other things that happen in the book that made me think for a few pages that I was reading a Dynasty script.  Regardless, the book remained entertaining and didn’t fall into the “no way!” realm.  Near as I can gather, this is the only book of the trilogy that doesn’t rely on a political suspense element to carry the story.  It’s all about the couple – another thing I really liked.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a meatier romance that is truly centered on the couple.  If you’re a fan of historicals, you’ll also like it though there’s actually not much about the period in this entry.

Grade: B+

Read more reviews and information by following the series tag here.

Summary:

Baron Rothewell lives a dark, shuttered existence by day, and a life of reckless abandon by night. Scarred by a childhood filled with torment and deprivation, Rothewell cares very little anyone or anything. His life on the edge of ruin suits him—until he meets a man who just might be his nemesis. The Comte de Valigny likes to play deeply and dangerously, but Rothewell’s recklessness is undeterred. Until one night when de Valigny wagers something just a little more valuable than gold.

Mademoiselle Marchand is a desperate woman in a strange land, and her pleading eyes seem to swallow Lord Rothewell body and soul—assuming he still has one. Now the baron must play his hand with the utmost care, for at last something meaningful is at stake…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series (I adore these covers – such pretty colors):

Gwen’s review of Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, Book 8 ) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Urban fantasy hardcover released by Ballantine 8 Dec 09

Laurell K. Hamilton’s Merry Gentry novels typically revolve around the politics of the Unseelie Court.  A couple of the early books were more about Merry’s Men and her day job working for a private detective agency.  There are many LKH fans who, after the last few Merry books that were all about sidhe politics, were begging for a return to the private investigation roots.  With DM those beggars get their wish. 

I’m not sure what side of that fence I sit on – politics or private life.  I enjoy reading about Merry’s problems juggling all those men.  I also enjoy reading about the utterly foreign and Machiavellian sidhe courts.  With both, there is a significant sex element.  Merry has TONS of mystically enhanced sex with all sorts of creatures big and small.  It all normally combines to be a rather wild tale that is fun to read.

DM is certainly a return to Hamilton’s roots.  Merry and her men meander their way around a serial murder mystery involving the fey.  The PI agency that Merry works for is brought in for expert advice.  Things happen, sex is had, and the mystery solved.  End of book.

What I think LKH is trying to do with this entry in the series is show how Merry is growing into her role as leader of the sidhe.  In spite of her rejection of the crown(s) in the previous book and frequent verbal rejections of the title in this book, it becomes apparent that Merry still subconsciously feels she will have to be queen.  Her actions, decisions, and general behaviour in DM all point to Merry eventually accepting the crown(s).

If feels like DM is one of those “bridge” books that transitions the Merry Gentry story into the next big phase.  If I had a crystal ball, I’d say that the next book will have Merry giving birth to her twins – no doubt in some crazily mystical method – and something significant will happen on the throne(s) front.

I enjoyed this book, but felt the sex scenes were a little forced and not as hot as previous books.  And let’s be honest, we read Merry Gentry partially for the rampant sex.  Also, the “mystery” is a bit obvious.  It’s resolution is a little confused and facile.

Even with the flaws, this is a very readable book and an interesting entry in the Merry Gentry world.  I do not recommend the book if you haven’t read any of the other entries – it’s not a standalone book.  However, if you’re a fan of Merry, you should read it to see how she continues her evolution into the queen of the sidhe.

Grade: B-

Read more reviews and information on this series here.

Summary:

You may know me best as Meredith Nic Essus, princess of faerie. Or perhaps as Merry Gentry, Los Angeles private eye. In the fey and mortal realms alike, my life is the stuff of royal intrigue and celebrity drama. Among my own, I have confronted horrendous enemies, endured my noble kin’s treachery and malevolence, and honored my duty to conceive a royal heir—all for the right to claim the throne. But I turned my back on court and crown, choosing exile in the human world—and in the arms of my beloved Frost and Darkness.

While I may have rejected the monarchy, I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. My kind are not easily captured or killed. At least not by mortals. I must get to the bottom of these horrendous murders, even if that means going up against Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, my rival for fey loyalties in Los Angeles.

But even stranger things are happening. Mortals I once healed with magic are suddenly performing miracles, a shocking phenomenon wreaking havoc on human/faerie relations. Though I am innocent, dark suspicions of banned magical activities swirl around me.

I thought I’d left the blood and politics behind in my own turbulent realm. I had dreamed of an idyllic life in sunny L.A. with my beloved ones beside me. But it becomes time to wake up and realize that evil knows no borders, and that nobody lives forever—even if they’re magical.

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Vampire Sunrise (Delilah Street, Book 3) by Carole Nelson Douglas
Urban fantasy released by Pocket 24 Nov 09

I’m a huge fan of urban fantasy.  I love it when authors cut loose and create a whole new reality that’s only loosely based on the “real” reality.  It’s an opportunity to really explore the “hey, what would  happen in our world if…”.  They’re almost always set in a slightly futuristic world, too — which I find even more fun. 

This series is based on the adventures of our heroine Delilah, who has some unusual abilities that make her valuable in this world’s alternate Las Vegas.  Delilah threatens the existing were and vampire power structures, while at the same time she seems to tantalize them into keeping her around.

Naturally, she has an ex-FBI boyfriend – otherwise, she would have a tough time doing what she does.  Delilah also has one of my favorite heroine accessories – a really big, really loyal dog. Lots happens with and around that dog in this book, so if that’s one of your favorite things too, you’ll like this book.

This is the first book in this series I’ve read.  I found it stood alone fine and there was little I struggled with understanding.  The author does a fine job giving the reader details without info dumping.

Douglas’s writing and storytelling rhythm is quite good in Sunrise. I immediately enjoyed reading the heroine’s thought process and internal dialogue.  The book is told in first person POV, so it’s important to like the pace.

However, there is one element of her writing that almost ruined the book for me – scene transitions.  These segues are very often clumsy, with the characters deciding – out of the blue and apparently with little to no reason – to do something or go somewhere.  The reader is jerked along for a rather bumpy ride with a “whoa – wait, why are we here again?” kind of feeling.  Sometimes very jolting.

I found this a very interesting quandary for a book told in first person POV.  It’s downright difficult to not give the reader the full skinny in this voice – almost impossible, really.  It made me think that perhaps quite a bit of this transition text didn’t make it through one of the edits.  I can’t imagine a writer not writing about why a heroine goes to a place or does an important thing.  It makes the heroine appear a bit aimless and that she’s just dithering along through life.

I also think this author hates commas.  That made some of the sentences difficult to read, but d0-able.

Nevertheless, I was entertained by the book.  I like the heroine and the story enough that I’ll probably read the next in the series.

I gave this book a C+ because it was good, but not so good that I could recommend it without reservations.  If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, books set in a future Vegas, or wry humor, you’ll like it.   But it’s a narrow recommendation.

Grade: C+

Summary:

Werewolf mobsters and vampires run Vegas, but that’s yesterday’s news for Delilah Street, paranormal investigator. What’s truly fearsome is her bloody discovery of an undead evil rooted in ancient Egypt. Now, with her lover Ric fighting for life after a grim battle, the chips are down.

But Delilah is a born winner who has never let a little danger throw off her game, and she’s been learning fast since she came to Sin City. Her affinity for silver is making mirror-walking a real breeze, and being forced to accept the albino rock star sorcerer Snow’s Brimstone Kiss has ramped up her powers to a startling new level. With the help of her trusty uber-wolfhound Quicksilver, not to mention the orange demon parking valet Manny, Delilah is determined to solve even more paranormal secrets, and hopefully save the few innocents left in town. But can Delilah win her high-stakes gamble for life and love against ancient gods and lethal supernatural odds?

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Born of Night (The League, Book 1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sci-fi romance released by St. Martin’s 29 Sep 09

This is one of the first books written by Kenyon, early in her career and pre-Dark Hunters.  You can see quite a bit of her later books in this one, except this one is set in the future with aliens, spaceships, and blasters.  I don’t think Einstein would have liked the Ichidian Universe – the normal laws of physics don’t seem to mean much, but in a sci-fi, they often don’t. 

In this book, we have a heroine, Kiara, who is a very famous professional dancer, who, truth be told, is bored with her life and dancing.  She’s called “princess” but I couldn’t figure out what she was princess of, since her father wasn’t a “king” or some similar rank.  Regardless, she’s made a pawn in a planetary pissing match between her dad and a neighboring world, and, as a result, a contract is taken out on her life.  A very lucrative contract for the right assassin.

Enter our hero, Nykyrian, professional assassin – trained since childhood to be the ultimate killer.  He’s the “most deadly being in the universe” and he’s tired of being hunted because of who he is.  There’s also a very lucrative contract out on his head as a result of him abandoning his assassin brotherhood when he got tired of killing.

Through a variety of rather obscure moves, Nyk and his compatriots come to protect Kiara from the killers who are hunting her for the contract payoff.  Nyk and Kiara grate against each other, but naturally fall in lurve as they are forced to spend time together. Nyk, you see, is a fan of Kiara’s dancing.

As with most Kenyon heroes, Nyk has had the most horrendous life imaginable prior to meeting the heroine.  At the end of the book, many of the awful things are explained.  Some eye-rolling ensues, but, it’s Kenyon so you expect a bit. There are also a few times when either Kiara or Nyk do some really stupid thing (let her go to the bathroom by herself in a public place when there are bad guys after her?  really?).

Even with the quibbling little things that made me crazy (going from one planet to another seems to take as much time as running down the street to the store), it was still a fun book to read.  I just had to let myself roll with it a few times.

And, yes, I’m going to read the next book in the series.  It’s a fun universe and I’m addicted to Kenyon like a crack whore.  If you’re thinking about waiting for the next book, you definitely do NOT want to read these books out of order.  There are gigantic spoilers at the end of this first book that will ruin it for you if you read Book 2 first.

I recommend Born of Night to anyone who is a fan of Kenyon, or a fan of sci-fi romances where you don’t have to think too hard about the science.

Grade: B-

Summary:

In the Ichidian Universe, The League and their ruthless assassins rule all. Expertly trained and highly valued, the League Assassins are the backbone of the government. But not even the League is immune to corruption . . .

Command Assassin Nykyrian Quikiades once turned his back on the League—and has been hunted by them ever since. Though many have tried, none can kill him or stop him from completing his current mission: to protect Kiara Zamir, a woman whose father’s political alliance has made her a target.

As her world becomes even deadlier, Kiara must entrust her life to the same kind of beast who once killed her mother and left her for dead. Old enemies and new threaten them both and the only way they can survive is to overcome their suspicions and learn to trust in the very ones who threaten them the most: each other.

Read an excerpt here (click on “Read More” in the Excerpt area).

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changeling Series, Book 7) by Nalini Singh
Futuristic paranormal romance released by Berkley 3 Nov 09

At this point, I’ll sound like a broken record I’ve said this so much.  Nevertheless, I’ll say it again.  Singh is one of the best storytellers out there today, and the best paranormal romance author.  Her stories are set in an interesting, complete world, have luscious heroes and heroines, good plot lines, full and logical story arcs, excellent villains, and really dreamy romances. 

Blaze is no exception to these rules.  We get a full, rich romance with lots of great details and a really fun story.

Singh tells us a story about the head of the Shine Foundation, Dev, and a psy named Katya.  They meet under unusual circumstances.  Katya initially suffers from complete amnesia. (I know, I know, it’s a familiar tune, but it works here.  Honest.)

Over the course of the book, Dev and Katya, with other psy and changelings, solve the mystery of Katya and her condition.  They fall in love, have some awesome sex, and thwart a seriously nasty plot set in action by the villains.

I won’t give away any other details except to say that if you’re following this series, you definitely want to read this book.  If you’re new to the series, you might be a little at sea with Blaze - by this book, there’s so much backstory that you might miss quite a lot jumping in here.

Blaze is a romping good time with a new group of characters in this rich, interesting series.

Grade: A

Read other reviews of this series by clicking on its tag here.

Summary:

Nalini Singh returns to the Psy/Changeling world and its “breathtaking blend of passion, adventure, and the paranormal”* as a woman without a past becomes the pawn of a man who controls her future…

Dev Santos discovers her unconscious and battered, with no memory of who she is. All she knows is that she’s dangerous. Charged with protecting his people’s most vulnerable secrets, Dev is duty-bound to eliminate all threats. It’s a task he’s never hesitated to complete…until he finds himself drawn to a woman who might yet prove the enemy’s most insidious weapon.

Stripped of her memories by a shadowy oppressor, and programmed to carry out cold-blooded murder, Katya Haas is fighting desperately for her sanity itself. Her only hope is Dev. But how can she expect to gain the trust of a man who could very well be her next target? For in this game, one must die…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

		The Cannibal Princess
A Gift For Kit

So here’s the deal with all this review blog stuff.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has decided that blogs and other similar opinion websites should disclose when a reviewed item has been supplied by the manufacturer/vendor/seller/etc., or when a manufacturer/vendor/etc. has paid for said review.  A “full disclosure” kind of thing. 

If you want the full story and more opinions on all of this, go to Dear Author.  Jane has done extensive analysis, including actually talking to a guy at the FTC, and has arrived at what seems to be reasonable conclusions about the possible impacts to big and small review sites.

Personally, I don’t think the FTC’s ruling is such a bad thing.  If someone publishes a review, I want to know if it’s an honest opinion or simply blather from a shill.  It allows me to appropriately weigh the opinion and make up my own mind whether that opinion is honest.

We here at TGTBTU (a.k.a. the Pond) blog, review, and comment here because we love to read.  (By the way, we’re Ducks because Sybil – the blog’s owner/maven/priestess – loves dicks er, ducks.)  TGTBTU is our hobby and definitely NOT a money-making venture.  We support the site from our own pockets, defraying some of the cost with what you’ll read below.

On the negative side of our little hobby, not including the cost of the books we read or the postage to send those books back and forth to each other, is the cost of the site and its Internet domains.  Sure we could run the site for free by using a blog host like Blogspot, but have instead elected to upgrade to a specific domain and server space – making us both easier to find and faster to load, which is a good thing.

On the plus side and helping to defray some of the cost, are Associate Programs.  We primarily use Amazon’s because it’s dead simple to create their product URL’s  – those little deelywhoppers inserted in reviews with the product’s thumbnail.  None of these Programs pay much – something like 3% per item purchased using the ID, or about $0.20 for a paperback.   There are other Associate Programs (Harlequin, etc.), but their links are so bloody complicated to craft that we generally don’t bother with them.

In fact, if you like it here at the Pond you can help support us by by adding our Amazon Associates ID, preceded by a slash (/thgothbaanthu-20), to the end of a product’s Amazon hyperlink before moving the item into your shopping cart. It’s not a lot of money, but every little bit helps.

With regard to a provider influencing our reviews, keep in mind that Amazon is not a publisher – they just sell the stuff, good or bad, new or used, in print or out. This means there isn’t an opportunity for an Associates Program provider to influence a reviewer’s opinion before the review is published. The money comes to us AFTER a review is published if the book review uses the ID-containing links, if you click on those links, AND if you put the book in your shopping cart right then and complete the purchase. A lot of ifs.

Also plus side for TGTBTU is that for the last year or so Harlequin provides TGTBTU with coupons for books bought on their site.  Syb will have to say how much it is, but I know it’s not a lot.  The understanding is that we’ll review a few of them every month.  They don’t push specific books – we can buy and review anything we want.  As you can see from our many C and D grades of Harlequin imprint books (even an F here and there), this allowance definitely does not guarantee a positive review of said books.

Again on the plus side is the normal book marketing done by the larger publishers, editors, and authors.  Publisher send a few advance reading copies (ARC’s), and sometimes final published copies, to an author and/or editor, who can then send those ARC’s/finals to reviewers in the hopes that the reviewer will do what reviewers do.  By the way, every year this ARC’ing seems to become more controversial as publishers spend less money on book marketing, pushing more of that responsibility on author’s shoulders.  So who knows how long they’ll do this and how picky they’ll get selecting recipients.

Now let’s consider the other negative side of the review blogging equation – the cost of the books and the postage to send a book to another reviewer.  I read an average of about one book per week.  This can lead to significant costs that are alleviated somewhat by the above mentioned book marketing practices:  roughly one-third of what I read is in the form of ARCs or finals from an editor or author.  From what I can gather, the other Ducks have similar habits to my own.  This means our book habit cost is defrayed somewhat, but not entirely.

Nevertheless, as with most book review sites, you should assume we have received for free all of the books we review.  That isn’t always the case, but considering the size of each of our TBR piles, to try to detail which book was a freebie or which book we bought would be nearly impossible.

Back over to the plus side is that we can, if we wish (most of us don’t), sell the final book copies we buy or receive.  (ARCs are never sold by the Ducks – in fact, since we take ARC responsibility seriously, we spend considerable effort to ensure we always know who has which ARC at any given time.)  If we do sell finals, it’s normally at a used book store like Half-Price Books where we can make a few pennies per book.  Yeah – we’re still not getting rich and we don’t even really cover costs, but it helps.

Here’s what all this plus-ing and minus-ing does: it allows us to nominally afford our hobby, and, if we feel strongly enough, share it in a public forum like this site. Otherwise, with the cost of books rising at an ever increasing rate, our little reading habit er, hobby would cripple our personal budgets and we wouldn’t be able to talk about the books with all of you lovely folks.

So what does this all mean to you, our readers? Not much more than just informing you that none of us are getting rich here.  We don’t sell reviews and don’t sell advertising on the site. We don’t really break even with the cost of the site, but we’re okay with that.

I liken TGTBTU to a very large book club that includes readers from all over the world.  It costs each of us a little to participate.  But it’s worth it because of the enjoyment we derive from sharing our collective hobby with all of you.  It’s definitely a labor of love.

Gwen’s review of Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter
Paranormal romance duology hardcover released by Pocket 13 Oct 09

Two of my favorite paranormal authors in ONE BOOK?  Dang.  How could I NOT read this?!  This book has one long story set in Cole’s Immortals After Dark world and another set in Showalter’s Alien Huntress world.  A terrific combination and way, way fun to read. 

Untouchable (Immortals After Dark, Book 7) by Kresley Cole (256 pages)

This story/book (long for a story) takes place roughly the same time as several of the other Immortals After Dark entries.  This one tells the story of the “man-whore” brother of the Wroth Brothers – Murdoch – and his downfall to the Queen of the Icere fae, Daniela.

The heroine and her world are so very different from anything I know.  Ice, snow, skin that burns from other’s body heat, etc., that it was difficult for me to relate.  Remember, though, that I moved to central Texas because I hate, abhor, and generally detest cold weather.  She is a good heroine, but I would have liked to see her kick a little more butt (personal preference, not a criticism).

The hero is the rake brother of the Wroth brothers.  Murdoch is used to women falling all over him and to being able to dispose of them like a used tissue.  He doesn’t want to do that with Danii and this completely perplexes him.  His normally smooth moves have all the grace of a pig on roller-skates, so you can imagine how this goes over with Danii.

The romance between these two is intense and believable.  The action is a little less than we’re used to in Cole’s other books, though it’s still fun.  Untouchable introduces a new species into the Lore – the Icere, or the ice fae.  Their world is a little “out there,” but I suppose there’s not a lot in this series that isn’t.

I enjoyed this story, though perhaps not as much as the other IAD entries.  Nevertheless, I highly recommend reading it if you’re following Cole’s saga.  I suppose this story could standalone, but I’m not sure if I’d recommend it.  You’ll get a lot more out of it if you’ve read at least one of the other Wroth brother books.

Grade: B

Summary:

KRESLEY COLE delivers a breathtaking tale of a brutal vampire soldier about to know love for the first time…and a Valkyrie aching to be touched.

Murdoch Wroth will stop at nothing to claim Daniela the Ice Maiden — the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in three hundred years. Yet the exquisite Danii is part ice fey, and her freezing skin can’t be touched by anyone but her own kind without inflicting pain beyond measure. Soon desperate for closeness, in an agony of frustration, Murdoch and Danii will do anything to have each other. Together, can they find the key that will finally allow them to slake the overwhelming desire burning between them?

Read an excerpt here.

Tempt Me Eternally (Alien Huntress Series) by Gena Showalter (169 pages)

I have got to read more of this series.  This is the second book I’ve read so far and I really like this world.  From what I can gather, the first one I read, Seduce the Darkness, takes place just after this story.

The hero, Breean, is a Rakan – a gorgeous male who smells like honey and cinnamon when aroused.  His blood is golden and tastes like sugar.  He’s also practically unkillable because of special abilities.  He’s puzzled by the heroine because he feels that he wants her and no other – apparently something unusual for his kind.

The heroine, Aleaha, is of unknown extraction and is a shapeshifter.  Out of desperation, she’s impersonating a member of AIR (Alien Investigation and Removal) named Macy, and is hiding from unknown bad guys her mother warned her about but didn’t specify.

The romance evolves well, but feels a bit convenient.  I enjoyed the story but felt like very little outside of the plot moves forward.  This may be because I haven’t yet read the other books in the series – contrary to my vow in my review of StD and for which I feel eternally remorseful.  I think I’d get a lot more out of the story if I did.

I recommend this story if you’re following the Alien Huntress series.  It stands alone, but I think a reader will get more out of it if they’re reading the series.

Grade: B

Summary:

GENA SHOWALTER puts a daring spin on a tale of huntress and hunted…and concocts a sensual chemistry that is positively explosive.

Aleaha Love can be anyone — literally. With only skin-to-skin contact, she can change her appearance, assume any identity. Her newest identity switch has made her an AIR (alien investigation and removal) agent and sends her on a mission to capture a group of otherworldly warriors. Only she becomes the captured. Breean, a golden-skinned commander known for his iron will who is at once dangerous and soul-shatteringly seductive, threatens her new life. Because for the first time, Aleaha only wants to be herself….

Read an excerpt here.

I enjoyed this duology quite a bit.  I like reading anthologies and the stories in this one are particularly nice because of their length.  If you’re following these series, you do not want to miss it, though you may want to wait for it to come out in paperback.

Overall Grade: B

Connect to more reviews and information for these series by clicking on the tags below.

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Immortals After Dark Series:

Alien Huntress Series:

Related YA books in the “Teen Alien Huntress” series:

It should come as no surprise to any of you that I am a fan of science-fiction.  I love it in all mediums – books, movies, television, manga, graphic novels, and good ol’ comic books.  It’s all good to me. Love Heinlein, Bradbury, LeGuin, Asimov, Herbert, Zelazny, etc.  And lately, I am finding sci-fi romances to be particularly fun.

But, no. WAIT! I’m a GIRL! That must mean I’m “ruining” sci-fi for all the Spanky and Alfalfas out there.  Let me explain… 

I ran across a post over on Karen Scott’s blog where she picks out the best quotes found on the web that week.  She was sharing a quote from a post written by author John Scalzi.  John was commenting on yet a different post written by an unmitigated jackass about how women (and gays, apparently) were ruining science-fiction.  Still with me here?

I’m not going to link to the original simpleton’s post because they don’t deserve it.  However, you can find it if you do a Google search for asswipes er, “The War on Science Fiction and Marvin Minsky”.  “War”?  Really? Hyperbole much?

Now.  I know and you know that statements like the following are merely misogynistic twaddle and deserve less than our attention.  Nevertheless, I was a bit outraged (like the sun is a bit hot) that this fool could be so misinformed (I’m guessing it’s been a while since his last blowjob):

“As we know, science fiction has inspired boys to pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology as grown men.  With women killing science fiction on television, the current generation of boys won’t have this opportunity to be inspired to work in these fields.  There is still a great deal of written science fiction that is real science fiction, so all is not lost.  However, many boys who would have gone on to make scientific discoveries and invent new technologies will not do so since they will never be inspired by science fiction as boys.”

Statements like that imply women aren’t inspired by science-fiction (news to me and my women friends who are engineers), and that women in science-fiction aren’t inspiring to others.  Guess I shouldn’t have read any of that nasty old Ursula K. LeGuin, Mary Shelley, or Anne McCaffrey.  Ruined me, apparently.  ::eyes rolling::

By the by, who else thinks this guy still lives in his mom’s basement, eating cheese from a can and drinking Mountain Dew while typing his blog posts in a bathrobe?  I agree with John Scalzi when he says that this jackass needs to…

“… STFU and take his ignorant ass back to his snug little wank hole…”

I’ll close while doing as John has suggested – just point and laugh my ever lovin’ ass off.

Gwen’s review of The Warlord’s Daughter (The Borderlands, Book 2) by Susan Grant
Sci-fi romance released by HQN 1 Feb 09

I really love a good sci-fi romance.  The last couple of months I’ve been lucky enough to read a couple of really good ones.  This is definitely one of them, so much so I’m going to have to glom all of Grant’s backlist. And I admit, I have heretofore been unwise to underestimate Grant’s books simply based on the rather, well, “lighthearted” titles.  I mean, How to Lose An Extraterrestrial In 10 Days? Seriously?  My unwarranted prejudice is understandable, right?

This is another of Grant’s books set in the same world/universe as I think all of her other sci-fi’s, allowing her to expand on the details, history, and characters.  This gives these books a very “real” feel because of the impression of visiting someplace that has real substance.  I think this all adds to the reader’s  enjoyment because you can just cut loose the disbelief and dive into the story without fear.  There won’t be some little  detail will jerk you out of the story’s “zone”.

I love when that happens.

This is the first book of this world/series I have read. Regardless, I had no trouble following it and yet I didn’t feel like there was any info-dumping.  The details are woven into the story in a very natural manner.  As a result, Daughter stands alone very well, though I am definitely going to read the related books.

From what I gather, Daughter’s hero and heroine are royal members of what has largely been, until this book, the bad guys – the Drakken Horde (I know, cool name, innit?).  When they were early adolescents, they met eyes across a crowded room and from then on, they thought of nobody else.  In fact, the hero connived, maneuvered, and basically sold his soul to make sure he was able to claim the heroine as his wife.  It’s tremendously romantic.

I very much enjoyed the “quest” aspect of the story.  We’re brought along with the heroine, Wren, as she makes some heartbreaking discoveries about herself and her family. I frequently got teary-eyed as she struggled with yet more devastating news. There’s quite a bit in this book about prophecy fulfilling and the goddess aspects of this society, but it’s all fun and adds to the story.

There’s so much happening in the plot that it’s tough to pick out just one detail that really sells it.  I suppose that’s why it all worked so well for me.  I really felt like I was reading about something that happened.  Even the secondary characters have a full and interesting life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a departure from the normal fare.  While it is definitely a wonderful romance, it’s got so much more – it’s got intrigue, politics, human interest, and just a rocking good sci-fi story.  Go get it.  Now.  I’ll wait here for you to comment with your own kudos.

Grade: A

Summary:

The war is finally over. But Wren’s life is in tatters. The only living offspring of the notorious Drakken Warlord, her genes could very well start a new dynasty of terror. And the Coalition can’t have that.

She alone holds the key to finding a legendary treasure. Having seen enough bloodshed, shy, petite Wren vows to destroy it before anyone, Drakken, Coalition or Earth, can get their hands on it – but she’ll need help.

The Drakken’s ruthless evil turned Aral toward the Coalition years ago. War is all he knows, until he finds passion and love in the most unlikely of women – the Warlord’s Daughter. But will trusting each other with their secrets risk not only their hearts, but their lives?

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

and Sureblood (Book 3), scheduled for Aug 2010

Gwen’s review of Heart of Gold by Jessica Bird
Contemporary romance released by Ivy Books 3 Jun 03

Every now and again, I dig through my stacks and pull one out that I have held onto forever but haven’t read.  You know what I mean – walk up to your TBR stack, cover your eyes, and point at a random book, hoping for the best.  That’s how I picked this oldie but goodie to read.

Jessica Bird, a.k.a. J.R. Ward, has written some very nice contemporary romances for the Harlequin imprints.  There are also a couple of her early books out there, like this one.  Her contemps almost always have a seriously alpha male (I know, go figure).  But until this book I’ve almost universally disliked her female characters.

Carter Wessex, our heroine, is unique in Bird/Ward books.  She’s actually a believably strong heroine who acts in a consistent manner for, gasp, THE WHOLE BOOK.  I know.  I was a little surprised, too.

At the beginning of the book, Carter knows our hero, Nick, by reputation and she isn’t at all impressed.  Nick slowly discovers more about Carter as he agrees to let her perform an archeological dig on his land.  What he learns impresses and intrigues him.  Over the course of the book, these two strong people come to know and trust each other – slowly.

There’s some excellent action, lots of fun dialogue, and interesting characters in this book.  The story follows some rather predictable lines, but it’s still entertaining.  The passion sizzles between Carter and Nick – some very nice love scenes, as is common with Bird/Ward.

I recommend this book if you want to read a nice, easy romance with good characters, a bit of action, and some very tender moments.  If you’re a Ward/BDB fan, you’ll like this book.*

Grade: B+

Summary:

She has a chance to find something more precious than gold, if she’s brave enough to trust her heart. . . .

Her intense passion for unlocking the secrets of the past is what made Carter Wessex an archeologist. Now she’s been given a chance to dig on Farrell Mountain where a doomed party of minutemen lost their lives—as well as the gold they were carrying during the Revolutionary War. Carter refuses to let the mountain’s owner, Nick Farrell, rattle her, even though she’s all too aware of his sexy yet sardonic presence. Her work on the mountain could be the most significant find of her career . . . if she can pull herself away from the smoldering attraction that is undeniably growing between them.

Beneath the steely façade Nick Farrell wears like a well-cut suit, he is a man of hidden tenderness. From his first meeting with Carter, there’s an immediate flare—hotter than he has ever experienced before. But no one is more surprised than Nick when his desire for her deepens into something enduring. Now Nick must find a way to convince Carter that the real treasure to be found on Farrell Mountain is a true and lasting love. . . .

Read an excerpt here.

* And, hey, there are no brand names or pseudo-rap slang.

Gwen’s review of Undead On Arrival  (Crimson Moon, Book 3) by L.A. Banks
Urban fantasy released by St. Martin’s 31 Mar 09

Sybil sends me random urban fantasies and paranormals to read and review.  I’m usually happy with the books – sometimes they suck and sometimes I’m pleased as punch with the book.  This book sits in the middle of that spectrum for me. 

My first mistake was to read this book before I read the first two in the series.  Undead is most definitely not a standalone book and relies heavily on the reader’s foreknowledge of the world, the players, and all the plottin’ and politickin’ in this series.

My next mistake was ignoring the “at sea” feeling I developed, and never gave up, during the beginning few chapters.  I should have just stopped, put the book down, and picked it up after reading the previous two books.  But nooooo.  My OCD wouldn’t let me.  Once I start something I just have to finish it.  That means I sat reading this book, puzzling thru the plots, subplots, names, personalities, and details that make up this world of Banks’s.

GAH!

Frustrating as hell.

One of the things that made me a little crazier than normal was the herky-jerky path the book takes down the plotline.  Banks does do a LOT of head and scene jumping, sometimes for only a paragraph.  It’s not that I dislike this – it’s rather invigorating to read constant forward motion down a complex path.  However, I was *completely* and *utterly* lost on several of these side trips.  Plus, sometimes a plot jump lasts for several pages and when we return to a previous plot line (frequently hours later, once some laundry and soccer practice has seen the positive side of my “to do” list), I have NO IDEA what the hell I’m reading about.  I have to go back and re-read the previous plotline just to catch up.

Frustrating as HELL.

I’m sure this series is fun if/when you start at the beginning.  It seems exciting.  It doesn’t come together very well for me, though.  There’s just too much unsaid, too much going on, too many heads and factions, and too much that didn’t seem important to the story.  Remember – I’m the Johnny-come-lately to this series.

I can recommend this book to fans of the series.  If you like L.A. Banks’ other books, then you may like this one – IF you start at the beginning, that is.

Grade: C

Summary:

Just one month ago, secret government operative Sasha Trudeau thought she’d tasted victory. Orchestrating détente between the warring factions of the supernatural world had nearly cost her life—but it also opened the door to a future with Max Hunter, her mate and fellow Shadow Wolf.

Until now. A poisonous virus is wreaking havoc on Hunter’s immune system. And the passionate man who Sasha loves has become unpredictable, dangerous—and possibly deadly. When Hunter disappears the night a human is found ravaged, Sasha is thrust into a race against the clock to find the cure for her mate…and the traitor who’s determined to see them both dead.

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Tempt Me At Twilight (The Hathaways, Book 3) by Lisa Kleypas
Historical romance released by St. Martin’s 22 Sep 09

There are a few authors that I always enjoy.  Short story, novel, or just plain interacting with readers – they’re always pleasant and gracious.  Lisa Kleypas is one of those few sincerely nice people and her writing normally reflects that niceness.  So imagine my surprise when she created the morally ambiguous hero, Harry, in Tempt Me At Twilight.  A hero who is even worse than St.Vincent (be still my heart).

Don’t get me wrong – by the ened Harry manages to redeem himself.  Just.  But I do believe he is the most damaged of all of the Kleypas heroes and I LOVED him!  He is a bit mad, very bad, and willing to do anything to win Poppy’s hand.  This sets up some fun scenes and terrific dialogue for the morally centered and very nice Poppy when dealing with the determined and unprincipled Harry.

Twilight is a typical Kleypas romance in that the heroine is imminently likeable and the romance is sigh-worthy.  However, it departs from Kleypas’s formula in that the hero acts in a very un-herolike manner for purely selfish reasons.  In her other novels (in my experience) unworthy actions normally have heroic purposes or outcomes.  Harry has none of these.  He just wants Poppy.  Period. And does whatever he has to do, short of murder, to get her.

This creates amazing tension between the main characters.  It also presents interesting predicaments for Poppy’s oh-so-close family.  You can imagine how Cam and Merripen feel about a man who connives, cheats, and maneuvers their “little sister” into marriage, breaking her heart along the way.  It is tremendous fun to read.

I found myself moved to tears several as Poppy and Harry make discoveries about each other and themselves.  Harry’s childhood and his inability to connect normally to others is quite heartbreaking to read.  This element is a real masterstroke for Kleypas.  It’s all so wonderfully nuanced and complicated, and entertaining as hell to read.

Twilight stands alone – you needn’t read the other books in the series to enjoy it.  Though I highly recommend all of the Hathaways books.  This family has the best of late Regency, odd-ball romance entertainment.

I highly recommend Twilight for anyone who is a fan of historical romance or just romance in general.  It is a lovely, complex story about redemption, discovery, family, and love.  You shouldn’t miss it.

Grade: A

Read reviews and information for books in this series by following this tag here.

Summary:

Poppy Hathaway loves her unconventional family, though she longs for normalcy. Then fate leads to a meeting with Harry Rutledge, an enigmatic hotel owner and inventor with wealth, power, and a dangerous hidden life. When their flirtation compromises her own reputation, Poppy shocks everyone by accepting his proposal—only to find that her new husband offers his passion, but not his trust.

Harry was willing to do anything to win Poppy—except to open his heart. All his life, he has held the world at arm’s length…but the sharp, beguiling Poppy demands to be his wife in every way that matters. Still, as desire grows between them, an enemy lurks in the shadows. Now if Harry wants to keep Poppy by his side, he must forge a true union of body and soul, once and for all…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Covet (The Fallen Angels, Book 1) by J.R. Ward
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Signet 29 Sep 09

With the Fallen Angels books we get a new set of bad guys, some cameos of the BDB and related characters, and a new set of good guys – angels.  I have a feeling that we’ll be seeing something of Lassiter in future Angels books. So you ask, is this book good? Well, yes and no. 

Covet is an interesting paranormal romance. I think it’s WAY too long, but is still an entertaining read.  I read nearly all of it, though I admit to skimming some of the paragraphs simply because how many times did I need to read about the heroine’s guilt or the hero’s obsession with money.  However, Ward is setting up a new world here, so I cut her some slack.

I was a bit perplexed about the title.  Greed is a deadly sin but coveting isn’t.  Though I guess they’re related.  Dumb thing to pick up on, I realize, but it bugged me.  Regardless, the cover art rocks.

As with the BDB books, in Covet Ward indulges a bit too much in the period.as.a.speech.pacing.tool.  I seriously hate it when authors do that.  Totally throws off my reading rhythm.  I wish the author would just say “he ground out” or “he said slowly” or anything except mess.with.my.reading.mojo with a stinkin’ grammatical stop sign.  There’s a lot of that in Covet.  There’s also a lot of slang like “freshies” and other oddities that will make this book a hoot to read in about ten years.

The romance between Vin and Marie-Therese is sweet and fun to read.  The heroine’s profession and personal situation is heartbreaking to read about.  The hero is much more understanding than you can imagine.  I was happy to read about their HEA, but I sincerely wonder how a couple can overcome all they have to overcome.

The good guys are interesting – Jim Heron is a terrific fallen angel.  He’s just bad enough to be fun and still noble.  I do wonder what’s going to happen in the next few novels in this series.  And if Dog is more than he appears to be.

There’s no vampires or lessers, but there are demons and angels, plus some hot romance and cool action.  I did feel like the pacing dragged a bit – again, the book is just too long.

I can recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the author and is looking for a new, but similar series to the BDB.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about—his specialty, both personally and professionally, is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charged with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. His weapon: the power of love. His enemy: the darkest of evil. And failure is not an option.

Vincent Di Pietro has surrendered himself to his business—until fate intervenes in the form of a tough-talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior, and a woman who will make him question his destiny. With an ancient evil ready to claim him, Vin has to work with a fallen angel not only to win his beloved over…but to redeem his very soul.

Read an excerpt here.

Gwen’s review of Burning Alive (Sentinel Wars, Book 1) by Shannon K. Butcher
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Onyx 5 May 09

As any of you who have read my reviews know, I loathe selfish or TSTL characters.  I can forgive the occasional fall off the Smart Wagon into Stupid Land, but I really hate characters that make it a habit to return again and again to the to-stupid-to-live side of the tracks.  And selfish people just suck. 

What I didn’t like about Burning was how often the heroine was sincerely clueless.  I got so frustrated by her that I wanted to slap her around a bit (so I slapped the book). The hero was much more interesting and yummy.

The main romance in Burning is really very nice, even if it is one of those “fated to be” kinds of things.  I enjoyed the complications Butcher introduces, giving the heroine choices.  I also enjoyed the implication that there are motivations within motivations, plots within plots, even within the good guys’ camp.

Burning is an excellent paranormal romance with a very interesting world and story.  I mostly enjoyed the characters – Butcher does a nice job of building the backstory for each.  This promises to be an interesting series with nice romances and good action.

Grade: C

Read other reviews of this by following the book’s tag here.

Summary:

They are the Sentinels. Three races descended from ancient guardians of mankind, each possessing unique abilities in their battle to protect humanity against their eternal foes–the Synestryn. Now, one warrior must fight his own desire if he is to discover the power that lies within his one true love…

For too long, Helen Day has been haunted by visions of her own death, surrounded by flames as a dark-haired man watches her burn. So when she sees the man of her nightmares staring at her across a diner, she attempts to flee–and ends up in the man’s arms. There, she awakens a force more powerful and enticing than she could ever imagine.

The instant the Theronai warrior Drake touches Helen, the anguish he has borne for years fades away. He is determined to know why this beautiful, fearful woman has such power over him. The answer lies in his very blood–and in Helen’s as well. For together, they may become more than lovers–they may become a weapon of light that could tip the balance of the war–and save Drake’s people…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Running Scared, Book 3 – May 2010

Gwen’s review of Holding Out For A Hero by HelenKay Dimon
Contemporary romance released by Brava 29 Sep 09

Hero is set in the world of Dimon’s loosely related books set in Kauai.  You don’t need to read the others to enjoy each book, but they’re so much fun that there’s no reason not to read them all.  Hero is no exception – it’s a fun, hot romance with a good story, first-rate dialogue,  and great characters.

We meet Josh and Deanna on what is definitely NOT their best day.  Josh has just “quit” the DEA in a bit of a huff and Deanna is on her last hope for finding someone to help her find evidence her nephew is innocent of a horrendous crime. They have a previous acquaintance with each other that was not, shall we say, positive.  Suffice to say they can’t stand each other.  Naturally they’ll fall in love!

Dimon is a real pro with snappy dialogue.  Her books are always full of it and most of the story is told through what the characters say.  Hero is one of her best for quick-witted come backs.  The hero and heroine in this book are smart people trying to make it through tough times.  Naturally they resist each other as much as they can, but can’t resist the animal attraction.  Their dialogue is smart, sometimes snide, but always fun.

The heroine, Deanna, is desperate to find someone who can help her vindicate her nephew.  She’s lost a lot of people she loves in her life and she doesn’t want him to be yet another.  Because of her experience with him, Deanna believes the hero, Josh, is the man to help her.

Josh wants nothing to do with the glacial Deanna of the upper-crust Hawaii society.  He sees her as a privileged, protected princess who has never had to deal with life’s consequences.

In some ways, as Deanna comes to discover, Josh is right.  Watching these two people overcome their individual prejudices and preconceptions is the most interesting part of this book.  Watching Josh uncover detail after detail about the nephew’s crime is also interesting and adds a very real bit of drama to what is already an interesting story.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a read full of snappy dialogue and a believable romance.  If you’re a fan of Dimon’s Hawaii books, you need to read this one.

Grade: B

Summary:

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT…

Deana Armstrong needs a hero—not for herself, but for the nephew all her money and time can’t seem to get out of jail. Unfortunately, the best hero in all the Hawaiian Islands is set on turning in his badge and getting his excellent butt into another line of work. If that wasn’t enough, Josh Windsor also has a big-time grudge against Deana herself. But if there’s anything being rich, smart, and stubborn has taught Deana, it’s never to settle for second best…

Josh has had it with saving people. He’s had it with getting hauled into court. And boy, has he ever had it with Deana. Or well, he hasn’t had it. Yet. But the more she pops up sounding infuriating and looking good enough to eat, the more her hot bod and her cold case wriggle into his mind. And there’s only so much even a hero can resist…

Read an excerpt here (scroll down).

Gwen’s review of Demons Not Included (Night Trackers, Book 1) by Cheyenne McCray
Urban fantasy released by St. Martin’s 2 Jun 09

This is the first of a new series for McCray.  It’s an urban fantasy using a lot of familiar paranormal elements overlayed on a modern day New York City.  But what’s nice is the characterizations are unique and interesting, even if we’ve been down this particular paranormal road before. 

The heroine, Nyx, is half human, half dark elf or Drow.  This gives her unique powers when in her elf form, which she uses to kick bad guy butt. There are two heroes – one is a light elf and the other a human.  I like love triangles, so this was fun for me.  The complications were juicy and sad, at the same time.

There are a lot of similarities between this book and many other paranormals.  The comparisons will be unavoidable if you’ve read any Hamilton, Kenyon, or Saintcrow.  McCray saves the inevitable correlations by giving us interesting characters and a fun storyline that has lots of action.

While there is certainly romance and sensuality in the book, at the end we’re left wondering what’s going to happen there.  As with many urban fantasies, the romance isn’t the reason we’re here – it’s all about the characters and the action.  The story and plot is interesting and different enough that I didn’t feel like I was reading yet another of the same.

I recommend this book to fans of UF and of the author.  If you’ve had your fill of first person POV (done well in this book) and similar paranormals, you may want to avoid it.  I enjoyed it, so I must not be wholly done with the genre.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Meet Nyx. This half-human, half-Drow private eye investigates paranormal crimes by day and is an elite Tracker of demons by night. She prefers working solo—and playing rough. So when a terrifying force starts murdering innocent humans and paranorms, and leaving strange demonic symbols burned into their buildings, it’s a case Nyx takes very personally…

Meanwhile, Nyx’s fellow Trackers are being killed one by one—and a sexy new Tracker named Torin is shadowing her every move. Torin has powers Nyx can’t read, and sometimes she wonders whose side he’s on. Nyx’s instincts tell her something’s brewing in the city’s meanest supernatural streets, and that it’s ready to unleash hell on Earth. Who can she trust? Now it’s five minutes to permanent midnight…and Nyx’s last chance means risking everything—even her own life.

Read an excerpt here (nice long excerpt).

Other books in the series:

No Werewolves Allowed, Book 2 – coming early 2010

Gwen’s review of Hunting Ground (Alpha and Omega, Book 2) by Patricia Briggs
Paranormal romantic suspense released by Ace 29 Aug 09

I love Briggs’ storytelling.  Her books are always these lovely tales that are full of interesting, unique, and oddly believable paranormal elements.  You sincerely feel as if her world could exist and she’s just telling you about it like a newspaper relates events.  I love that kind of confidence in an author – I have no trouble giving them several hours of my time because I know it won’t be wasted. 

The Alpha & Omega books are set in the same world as the Mercy Thompson books.  While Mercy is told in first person POV, the A&O books are in third (yay!).  We get to see into all of the characters’ motivations and heads. There are a few common characters, some common story arcs, and common species, but that’s where the similarities between the two series ends.  And Hunting stands alone fine – no need to read the first book in the A&O  series; but why deprive yourself, read it already.

Charles and Anna are set the task of negotiating the U.S. werewolves’ “coming out” to the public.  They’re negotiating the reveal with the other werewolf communities – helping some to stay hidden, helping others with public relations expertise and expense, and just generally making sure everyone knows what is about to happen.

As you can imagine, there are quite a few beings who are NOT happy about this upcoming event.  There are plots within plots and lots of gamesmanship involved – some of it deadly.  I had a lot of fun reading all the action and machinations.

The romance between Charles and Anna continues to be sweet.  However, I would have liked to read more about their one on one time and that’s the only reason I dropped the grade from an A to a B.  Otherwise, I really enjoyed the book.

I highly recommend the book to fans of the author and the series.  It stands alone fine, so if you haven’t read any of the related books, please pick this one up.  It’s a very fun story chock-a-block with lots of interesting action and characters.

Grade: B++

Read other reviews and information by following the series’ tag here.

Summary:

Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son -and enforcer -of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles’s reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer -or Charles will take the fall.

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Untitled Book 3, Aug 2010

Gwen’s review of The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman
Historical romance released by Zebra 1 Sep 08

Some books are just so damn good, you truly want them to never end.  I put this book down and sighed.  It delivers on so many fronts, it’s difficult to summarize them all. 

To begin with – the title.  This is one of the rare cases of the title really saying it all.  Throughout the book, I was struck by how much it was about how much desire costs everyone.  Whether it’s their own desire or someone else’s; whether it’s the desire for money, power, love, or another person, it all has a price.  It’s a case of the title being scary good.

Next in my list of “damn that’s good” is the pacing of this book.  I was struck time and again by how much I was enjoying myself with nary a slow moment or pause in the story.  I got the impression that the author was very much in control of me and really had something to tell me.  I just had to let go and enjoy the ride, because Goodman was going to tell it to me whether I wanted it or not.  When a book is that good, I trust the author to just let go, enjoy the moment, and never look back.  It’s incredibly freeing to trust a book and an author that much with my time.

Next in the list are the characterizations.  Goodman’s hero and heroine (Griffin and Olivia) are historical romance character types that have been seen before – scarred and damaged hero who is a peer, heroine down on her luck having to bail out a brother who is a cad.  However, Goodman does one better.  She reveals to us solid, tangible, and realistic reasons for our protagonists to be the way they are.  I didn’t feel that she was simply saying “trust me” – she actually shows why the heroine has night terrors and why the hero is desperate to succeed.  Goodman also manages to make the cad brother a sympathetic character (difficult to do, as you’ll see).  These characterizations make the story very believable and rich.  (By the way, I loved Nat.)

The evolution of the characters in Price is probably my favorite element in this excellent book.  And make no mistake – they all evolve and we’re there to watch it all unfold.  My favorite being the heroine – how she survived and eventually thrived is beyond me.  I cried several times for her in this book.  The characters remain true to their personalities with never a false moment to be had.  However, their lives change through the course of the book and this forces them all to adapt.  Watching the adaptations is fascinating.

Last on my list of “why I loved this book” is the romance.  I loved this romance and so wanted it to succeed.  It also evolves and these two damaged people, Griffin and Olivia, come together, find the core of who each other is and respects it despite society, despite the past, despite the present circumstances.  The romance is just so satisfying on so many levels that it’s difficult to tell you of it all.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and complex characterizations.  It’s a must read of fans of historical romance, and fans of the author.  I have read other books by Goodman, but none this good.  I’ll be glomming more of her backlist based on what I’ve read here – yes Sybil, including her westerns.

Grade: A

Summary:

Olivia Cole is devastated to learn that her ne’er-do well brother has promised her to the operator of a London gaming hall as payment of his debts. Olivia accepts her fate-even if it means that her reputation will suffer from living among rogues and gamblers. But when she meets the sexy and mysterious Griffin Wright-Jones, the Viscount of Breckenridge, Olivia has more than her good name to worry about-for he rouses in her wanton thoughts she’s never dared entertain-until now…

Griffin wears the scars of his life on his striking face, Although he wants Olivia like no other woman before, he doesn’t force her to share his bed-a difficult task considering how beautiful she is. But with each passing night Griffin and Olivia’s resolve weakens until finally they take their greatest gamble on one night of reckless pleasure…

Read an excerpt here (click on the Google Preview icon on the right).

Gwen’s review of Doomsday Can Wait (The Phoenix Chronicles, Book 2) by Lori Handeland (WARNING! Sound on her site.)
Urban Fantasy released by St. Martin’s 28 Apr 09

I dithered about the grade to give this book.  It was some good storytelling, but the plot didn’t move forward as much as I would have liked.  I have the same complaint about many serialized books these days. It seems that authors or publishers or editors (not sure who to blame) want to stretch out stories beyond a book’s reasonable length so that they get multiple books where one or two would have done better. 

I realize this is a simple economics lesson – supply-demand, etc.  However, are we really doing the story and the reader any real favors by doing this?  In many cases – one of which being, unfortunately, The Phoenix Chronicles – there just doesn’t appear to be enough story to support this many books. It feels like small-ish details are stretched out beyond all reason, dragging the story down and slowing the pace to a point where it becomes a chore to read.

Books that seem to be written this way are full of rather pointless character introspection.  You know what I mean.  Paragraph after paragraph where a character (the heroine, in this case, since it’s written in first person POV) does endless navel lint inspection.  If I want this kind of writing, I’ll pick up Gore Vidal, or Ayn Rand.  I’m here for a story, doggonnit, and I want dialogue and action.  Not paragraphs of “why me? why not me? what’s the meaning of life”.  Gah.  Dull!

Sawyer is still my favorite character in this series.  The ending was interesting, but only because something actually happened in it.  The series has some interesting characters in it and an interesting premise, but that’s not enough to carry the plot.

I hope the next book is the end to the series, though I’m unlikely to read it.  And I really don’t think it should be dragged out beyond that unless something changes significantly in these characters’ lives.

I can recommend this book to fans of the author and the series.  If you haven’t picked up the series but still feel interested, be prepared for a book with a sedate pace.

Grade: C

Read more reviews of books in this series by following its tag here.

Summary:
.
SHE CAN SEE EVIL COMING FROM ALL DIRECTIONS…
It took the near annihilation of humanity for Liz Phoenix to understand the true meaning of her premonitions. Liz is one of the sacred few on earth who has the psychic powers to fight the malevolent forces that have tried to wipe out the human race since the beginning of time. She battled these beings once, thwarting Doomsday but losing most of her soldiers in the massacre. Now she must replenish her troops quickly-because the supernatural war isn’t over yet.
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Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Hidden Currents (The Drake Sisters, Book 7) by Christine Feehan
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Jove 30 Jun 09

I always look at the Drake Sisters series as Feehan’s “Dark Series Done Lite.” It’s my least fav of her many series, but Feehan even on a bad day is still imminently readable paranormal romance. Her heroes are darkly hot, hot, hot and alpha; her heroines are more variable, but still normally interesting. 

The Dark/Carpathians series are part paranormal, part romance, and part horror.  Some very scary scenes from the earlier books are still vividly frightening in my mind.  Her other series also have similarly wrenching scenes peppered throughout.  All, that is, except for the Drake Sisters.  I always looked at the Drake Sisters as the “nice” series – a Samantha Stephens to the Dark series’ Marilyn Manson.  In fact, the die-hard Drake Sisters fans preferred it that way – light and romantic.

So imagine the outcry when Feehan mixed some of her horror elements into this entry in the Drake Sisters.  GASP! SHOCK!  The outcry has been, shall we say, vocal.  And it has made me giggle a bit.  I love the fact that this entry is more “raw” than the others. I love that some of the walls came down between Feehan’s nice little worlds.

Well, I liked it until the end of the book.  More on that in a minute.

The pacing of this seventh, and presumably last, book in the series was a bit off to me.  It felt like it stagnated about mid way through – slowing down to such a point that I started to lose interest.  It seemed like the same thing just kept happening over and over again to the hero and heroine.  That’s a bit dull by anyone’s measure.  This also made the book feel too long, which I’d judge it to be by almost 100 pages (440 pages!).  There were several scenes that could have been cut short, or nixed altogether, and made the book much more interesting to me.  But, again, even on a bad day, Feehan can write like nobody’s business.

The characterizations in this book are good.  The hero, Jackson, and heroine, Elle, are both suitably developed, though I did get a bit tired of the hammering on the “seventh sister” business and her legacy.  What happens to Elle in Hidden is horrific by anyone’s measure, but I didn’t see it as a detraction from the story – worse things happen to her heroes and heroines in her other series.  Plus this put Elle on a more even keel with Jackson and what he experienced in his life.  They can help each other limp through the moments in their emotional lives where they will need the support and it’s easier to visualize now that what happened has happened.

What I didn’t like, and what really turned me off, was how bloody awful the climax of the book was.  I mean, c’mon! BUBBLES??  Geez louise!  Gimme a break!  But, this falls back on the Mayberry-ness of the Drake Sisters series.  But, oh my word – the only thing keeping me from throwing the book across the room was the fact that it’s so big, I was afraid it would leave a dent in the wall.

I can recommend this to fans of the author.  If you’re a fan of the series, be warned there are some more extreme elements to this story.  If you’ve never picked up a Drake Sisters novel, I wouldn’t start with this one – several of the others are actually quite a bit better.

Grade: C

Read other reviews of this series by following its tag here.

Summary:
.
From afar, Sheriff Jackson Deveau has always loved Elle Drake, the youngest telepath of seven sisters. After a long time away she’s finally returning home to the small coastal village of Sea Haven. But someone has been following Elle, someone who doesn’t want her to make it back. And when Elle fails to arrive, her disappearance strikes fear in the hearts of everyone who loves her. Now it’s left to Jackson to uncover the mystery of Elle’s vanishing, and rescue her from an unseen danger. But Sea Haven is no longer safe for anyone, and it’ll take the powers of all the Drake sisters and their men to survive the coming storm.
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Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Gwen’s review of Beyond the Rain by Jess Granger
Science-fiction romance released by Berkley Sensation 4 Aug 09

I love me a good sci-fi romance.  When they’re done well – and this one is done very well – you can totally cut loose from your normal world and be completely transported to literally a whole new world.  (Did you see what I did there?  Pun? Yes? No? Well. It amused me.) 

Jess Granger has penned a really wonderful novel with Beyond the Rain.  I’m very much hoping it’s the first of many novels set in this world and that we get a similar stellar (heh) level of writing in the subsequent entries.

The start of Beyond has our heroine, Cyani, on the edge of exhaustion and ennui.  She’s tired of the warrior biz and ready to hang up her spurs, retiring to a dull life in the temple. Cyani suffers from PTSD and reminds me of an otherworldly version of a female Iraqi War veteran – seen and suffered too much at the hands of both enemy and friend to be comfortable with either, and is ready to just pretend none of it happened by holing up in a small job doing everyday things.

Of course, as any of us who has ever tried to do that knows, it never works out the way we thought it would.

Instead, Cyani meets and falls for our hero, Soren.  Soren is a nice being who, because of biology and what happened to him in his enslavement, has to bind with a mate or die.  Through the course of their time together, he binds with Cyani but doesn’t tell her.  He’s willing, on many occasions, to let himself die rather than take away her choice to stay with him.  He knows she’s honorable and selfless and that she may stay with him just to keep him alive.  However, Soren wants Cyani to choose him.

Soren is and uber-hot and sexy hero that isn’t overly alpha.  He’s a very down to earth (so to speak) and cares about those weaker than him.  And, even though he recognizes Cyani is very strong and capable, he cares about her in a way she never thinks to care about herself.

This book is stacked to the brim with interesting moments and very rich details about Cyani and Soren’s world.  You are immersed in it but never feel like you’re drowning.  Granger does an admirable job of keeping the alien-ness recognizable.  She has created a world that uses mostly common terms and reactions.  Sure it’s alien, sure it’s futuristic and sci-fi, but it feels more like “Serenity” or “Firefly” than “Star Trek,” if you know what I mean.  The reader can recognize large portions of the author’s undoubtedly futuristic world.  It’s a flawless little piece of world-building that Granger has done here.

The emotional development between Cyani and Soren is believable and very touching.  You see Cyani come to realize she deserves to care about someone and she deserves to be loved in return.  You see her move from being afraid to live to actually living.  It’s a lovely tale and made me really want more by the end.  And thanks to the oh-so-tantalizing epilogue, it looks like we may get more.  Soon??  Please??

The action is very fun to read and story arc is logical and complete.  We’re never left with a “wtf” feeling – even when the details stretch a reader’s ability to suspend disbelief.  I very much enjoyed the pace of the book and the author’s style.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a rich sci-fi romance set in an interesting, recognizable world.   I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Grade: A

Summary:
.
In a universe torn apart by civil war, a warrior and a slave must fight for their freedom, for their lives, and for a love that may destroy them both…
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After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani is ready to retire to her homeworld of Azra as one of the Elite – the celibate warrior sisterhood that rules the planet. But first she must complete one final mission to rescue her fellow Union soldiers. The last thing she expects to find is a prisoner, chained and beaten – but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit…
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Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates – and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. For years, he has endured torture at the hands of his captors as they leeched his very essence. The last thing he expects is to be freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.
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Driven by her rigid sense of honor, Cyani frees Soren even though her life hinges upon the success of her mission. But after so many years in bondage, his hormones are so unbalanced that he will die if he does not bond with a woman. Can the lovely but distant warrior be the woman he needs to survive, or will the forbidden bond destroy them?
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Read an excerpt here (scroll down).

Gwen’s review of Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling Series, Book 6) by Nalini Singh
Sci-fi/UF/Paranormal romance released by Berkley 7 Jul 09

Nalini Singh just busts up all my neat little genre categories.  Her books are undoubtedly science fiction, unquestionably urban fantasy, solidly paranormal, and very firmly romances.  Hot, hawt romances.  She also mixes in healthy servings of romantic suspense, mystery, and sometimes a little bit of horror.  I love her books and just roll with the genre morphing, knowing that no matter what they are, I’ll enjoy myself. 

Branded by Fire is no exception to this rule – we get a little bit of everything, and them some, and it all mixes well to make a tasty cake of a book.

Our hero and heroine are introduced earlier in the series.  Mercy (heroine) is a Leopard shifter and sentinel (read, warrior/pack protector) and Riley (hero) is a Wolf shifter and lieutenant (also warrior/protector of his pack).  Mixing them is a bit like mixing fertilizer and diesel fuel – strong enough on their own to do their job and explosive together.  Of course Singh has to make them fall in love/lust and complicate everyone’s lives.  I mean, we ARE talking romance here, right?

I won’t spend too much time reviewing the plot in this review – if you’ve read any of Singh’s Psy-Changeling novels, you know that the world is complex and the bad guys are remorseless and legion.  There’s a little bit of bad in every faction involved, also some good, and some “positionally evil” as well (evil depending on where you stand on issues).  This makes for interesting plot twists and very exciting reading.  Singh does a terrific job pacing the revelations and plot movement, so you’re never left with a dull moment.

In Branded, the romance between the hero and heroine is steaming hot and sweet.   Mercy and Riley are undeniably attracted to each other, but because they’re both alpha and different animals, they’re left with a “hopeless love” kind of thing.  Neither one of them knows what to do with their emotions at the beginning, but they figure it out by the end.  Mercy is a bit slower to accept the relationship, but Riley’s steadfastness  – even when he’s a bonehead trying to control Mercy – makes up for her doubt.

This book is a fast-paced good read.  You get to hear about the couples from the earlier books – the characters playing logical roles in Branded without being simple reunions or sequel bait. The romance is sweet and sad a few times because of the alphaness of both main characters and because of the different species.  Nevertheless, there’s an HEA that is very interesting.  It makes me wonder if there will be more inter-pack couples in future books.  I wonder what a kid who can shift into either a wolf or a leopard would be like…  8).

In this book we’re introduced to a new Changeling faction – the Hawks.  We’re also reminded of The Forgotten – the Psy who didn’t follow Silence from the first, who have been hunted by the Psy who did follow Silence, and who have since melted into society by intermarrying with other races.  This will prove key in the next book in the series, Blaze of Memory (excerpt here), coming November this year.

As always, I highly recommend Singh’s series and this book to anyone looking for some genre olio and a hot summer read.  While it could standalone, I believe you’ll get much more from it if you have read at least one or two of the earlier books.

Grade: A

Read more reviews of, and information on, this series by following its tag here.

Summary:
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Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she savagely resists when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, tries to possess her. The problem is not simply that he pushes her buttons; the problem is that he’s a wolf, she’s a cat, and they’re both used to being on top.
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But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young man-before his shadowy captors decide he’s no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it’ll leave them both branded by fire…
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Read an excerpt here (scroll down).

Other books in the series:

		The Cannibal Princess
A Gift For Kit

Gwen’s review of Atlantis Unmasked (Warriors of Poseidon, Book 4) by Alyssa Day
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Berkley 7 Jul 09

This book starts with a bang and does not slow down for several chapters.  You are immersed in the battle of humans and Warriors of Poseidon against vampires and their minions.  In this series, the vamps are the bad guys and they also have their own house in Congress.  The vamps are doing everything they can to destroy the Warriors and to take over the world.  It’s up to our hero and heroine to do all they can to stop this plan. 

This is all characteristic of Day’s Warriors novels – strong heroines, yummy alpha heroes, hot romance, and action.  Where they differ from each other is the personalities involved.  Day is adept at weaving in secondary characters without obvious sequel-baiting – they actually serve a purpose for the current book’s story arc.  There’s some “convenience” in the Alaric character (Kenyon fans will see small similarities to Ash from the Dark-Hunter novels) – he’s seemingly all-knowing and -powerful, haunted, and moody as hell and he tends to bail the main characters out of trouble.

What I liked about this entry in the series was the focus on the main characters.  We don’t spend too much time in other heads, even with the rather large cast and complex world.  This is one of the nice things about Day’s books – you really get to know the main characters.

The romance is very steamy and believable.  I loved how kick-ass the heroine is and how the hero let her be so – he wasn’t trying to protect or change her.  He let her be her kick-ass self and she was able to shine and develop as a result.  Was it easy for him to do that? No.  But he loved her enough to let her be who she is.  That makes me smile.

There’s lots of action and an interesting new story arc with the fae begins in this entry.  I can’t wait to see where it goes in the next entry in Feb 2010, Atlantis Redeemed.  SPOILER ALERT!  At the end, the bad guys are naturally thwarted; but something unknown, and probably awful, has happened to Quinn.  That’s the other thing about these books – main characters often go through some rather horrendous experiences and all for our entertainment and, presumably, the author’s desire to torment us  .

I’m not sure if this book stands alone – there are a lot of moving parts to this world and it may be a little difficult if you haven’t read at least one of the other entries.  All in all, Unmasked is a very good entry into the Warriors saga and one that I recommend to all the fans following the series.  If you’ve dabbled in the Warriors series, make sure you pick this one up.  There’s yumminess to be had between these covers – so to speak.

Grade: B+

Summary:
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Poseidon’s warriors swore an oath eleven thousand years ago to protect humanity from those who stalked the night. Yet when a woman with an ancient Gift dares to claim the heart of one of Poseidon’s fiercest warriors, the world teeters on the knife’s edge between desire and darkness . . .
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A warrior scarred…Alexios survived two years of unspeakable torture at the hands of a vampire goddess. Now he’s been ordered to team up with a beautiful warrior and take on the most dangerous mission of his life: to retrieve the Vampire’s Bane. Without it, Atlantis can’t ascend to the surface and take its rightful place in the world. But when evil threatens, will Alexios be led by duty-or his heart?
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A descendant of Diana…Grace is part of the rebellion against the vampires and shape-shifters trying to take over her world. She is deadly with her bow, because when she takes aim, she never misses her target. But suddenly she’s focused on a damaged Atlantean warrior who sees her as a weapon, not as a woman. When thousands of lives are on the line, will passion overrule, or will her aim still be true?
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When two worlds collide…Atlantis is unmasked.
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Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

		Atlantis Redeemed

Gwen’s review of Wicked Is the Night by Catherine Mulvany
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Pocket Star 25 Nov 08

I’m not a terribly picky reader.  I’ll read almost anything if it’s fiction – contemp, historical, erotic, romance, science-fiction, suspense, fantasy, urban fantasy, or any combination of all of the above.  You name it, I’ll read it.  This book is a combination of contemporary, paranormal, and romance.  And, you know what?  I think it only needed two of the three and it would have been oh so much better. 

Wicked delivers on the contemporary front – the hero is a former race car driver and the heroine is a pretty amnesiac who is running from some bad guys but isn’t sure why (yes, that semi-trope) and is rescued by the hero.  It delivers on the romance front – sort of – we actually get two romances for the price of one.  But the paranormal? Not so much.

In fact, I didn’t understand why the author felt she even needed the paranormal bits.  I think the book would have been fine without it.  In fact, I think it would have been considerably better without the distraction of the vampire baddies – they were silly and the vamp-ness add nothing whatsoever to the plot.

The characters were okay – I liked the secondary characters better.  The setting was interesting.  The premise of the plot was a little tired but readable. So it wasn’t an awful book, but neither was it very good.  If only the author knew when to leave a subgenre behind…

Here are my notes on the book right after I read it: Okay story.  Didn’t really believe in the main romance.  Believed in Marcello and Britt’s [secondary characters] romance more than Trick and Nevada’s [hero/heroine]. Most of the paranormal elements felt like an afterthought. The vampire angle ruined what would have been a perfectly good romantic suspense. Took too long to resolve the mystery of Nevada’s identity in the characters’ knowledge. Would have liked more of an ending.

This one wasn’t horrible, but I’ve read much better.  I can’t recommend this to anyone except those who are a fan of the author.

Grade: D+

Summary:

They’d erased her past. Now they were trying to erase her future.
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Desperate to discover her true identity, Nevada Smith, a.k.a. Subject 111, escapes from the research facility where she’s been forced to play guinea pig for the last five years. She hitchhikes across the country, determined to follow up on her only clue, an anonymous address in San Francisco.
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But someone else is just as desperate to prevent Nevada from unlocking the secrets of the past. That someone sends two blood-sucking demons to track her down.
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They nearly succeed, too, until she joins forces with gorgeous former race car driver Trick Granger. Together, Trick and Nevada delve into her past.
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But the closer they come to solving the mystery, the more Nevada fears she may not want to know who-or what-she really is.
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Daylight can be dangerous, but in a world full of secrets…Wicked Is the Night.

Read an excerpt here.