Review: Last Wolf Standing (Bloodrunners, Book 1) by Rhyannon Byrd

Shannon C’s guest review of Last Wolf Standing (Bloodrunners, Book 1) by Rhyannon Byrd
Paranormal romance released by Harlequin Nocturne 1 Mar 08

Rhyannon Byrd’s Blood Runners series will not be new to anyone who’s read paranormal romances for any given amount of time. The series features fated mates, blood bonds, a group who needs to hunt down rogues, and plenty of sequel-baiting.

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Tags: 2008, Bloodrunners series, Grade C, Harlequin, Last Wolf Standing, March 2008, Nocturne, Paranormal, Review, Rhyannon Byrd, romance, ShannonC, Wolves

SPOTLIGHT: Harlequin’s Silhouette Nocturne

TGTBTU Spotlight:  Harlequin’s Silhouette Nocturne
By Devon

Werewolves and Vampires and Demons…Oh my!

Paranormal romance is everywhere these days, and it seems like you either love it or hate it. I lurve it. Paranormals got me back into reading romance back in late 2003.  Over the next year or so the number of titles featuring broody, leather-clad supernatural heroes (and the ladies who love them) seemed to grow exponentially. We were inundated with vampires, in particular, and suddenly it seemed as though every author was dipping their toes into the supernatural waters. It was only a matter of time before Harlequin entered the fray, and so they did with the launch of the Silhouette Nocturne line in September 2006. Read more

Tags: 2008, Devon, Harlequin Silhouette, Harlequin Spotlight, Nocturne, Silhouette, TGTBTU Spotlight

Review: Last Wolf Standing (Bloodrunners, Book 1) by Rhyannon Byrd

Devon’s review of Last Wolf Standing (Bloodrunners, Book 1) by Rhyannon Byrd
Paranormal romance released by Harlequin Nocturne 1 Mar 08

Soul mates, fated mates, life mates…just the mention of the device is enough to strike horror in the hearts of some readers and sighs of delight in others. The idea that there is someone out there meant for one of us, someone with whom you can have a bone-deep connection, is very romantic. However, the soul mate premise, so often used in paranormal romance, usually means that romantic and sexual tension is slim to none. There is no “will they-or won’t they,” no delicious drama where two disparate souls come together, because it’s all auomatic and “just because”. So when half-breed werewolf Mason Dillinger spots Torrance Watson across a crowded café and knows she is his, I was a little leery.

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Tags: 2008, Bloodrunners series, Devon, Grade B, Harlequin, Last Wolf Standing, March 2008, Nocturne, Paranormal, Review, Rhyannon Byrd, romance, Wolves

Review: Scions: Resurrection by Patrice Michelle

Devon’s review of Scions: Resurrection by Patrice Michelle
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne January 1, 2008

This was a tasty little treat for those of us who enjoy vampires. The first couple of Silhouette Nocturnes I tried were mediocre, but they have gotten better and better. I have now read several that I would recommend to others, and Scions: Resurrection is another to add to the list. It was a fast-paced story with nice chemistry between the hero and heroine.

Jachin, a loner who has been exiled from his vampire tribe, kidnaps Ariel because he thinks she will help fulfill a prophecy and get him back in with his people. From there on out it’s non-stop action, as they dodge baddies and fight their growing attraction. Jachin had overbearing prick potential, but…I liked him. Not even sure why, I didn’t think I would at first. Ariel skirted the edge of annoyingly sassy, but never went over. She was brave, but never TSTL.

In this world, vampires were created by humans to be a kind of superhuman weapon, accounting for their strength, agility and various abilities. The fangs are an unexpected anomaly, and the aversion to sunlight was created by the humans in order to give the vamps a weakness. It was an interesting and unexpected idea. However, there was one issue that nagged at me increasingly. What was with the blood-drinking? Why? Did the scientists want the vampires to suck on human blood? Maybe I missed something, but I didn’t see how the blood thirst fit in. The Lupreda, werewolves created by the vamps, seemed contrived just to throw shapeshifters in there.

The book also suffered from some pacing issues. It was so fast-paced, then after the climax the last few scenes felt oddly tacked on. Despite these issues, this was an enjoyable book. The story and characters overcame my world-building quibbles, and after a couple of days I still liked the book. I will definitely read the next installment.

Grade: B-
Blurb:

Everyone believed vampires were extinct. Everyone was wrong.

When Ariel Swanson wrote a novel about vampires, she hoped it would exorcise her fear of the creatures that had, not so long ago, terrorized the human population.

Instead, it brought her to their attention.

And to the attention of Jachin Black - a man banished from the Saguinas, a vampire pack, and forced to hunt among the despised humans. For he clung to the prophecy given years ago, of a better way for his kind to live - a prophecy Ariel unknowingly used as the basis of her novel.

Ariel hates and fears vampires. Jachin despises humanity. But the prophecy - and passion - binds them in ways they could never have

imagined. Ways that may heal the past, and change the future.

[Ed. Check out Alicia’s review of this book]

Tags: 2007, Devon, Grade B, Harlequin Silhouette, January 2008, Nocturne, Paranormal, Patrice Michelle, Review, Scions: Resurrection

Review: Unbound by Lori Devoti

Sandy M’s review of Unbound (Unbound series, Book 1) by Lori Devoti
Paranormal romance published 1 Jun 2007 by Nocturne (Harlequin)

For some reason he just couldn’t turn Kara over to the witch and that wasn’t like him. When Risk finds out Kara is a twin, he begins to plan his escape from Lusse, his captor. Twin witches are rare and very powerful, a power that he can use. For so long he hasn’t cared about anything or anyone, so what’s the destruction of a couple of witches to him? Read more

Tags: 2007, Grade A, June 2007, Lori Devoti, Nocturne, Paranormal, Review, romance, Sandy M, Silhouette, Unbound, Unbound series