REVIEW: Playing Easy to Get by Kenyon, Black, and Cole
June 6, 2008
Limecello's review of Playing Easy to Get by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jaid Black, and Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance anthology released by Pocket 7 Feb 06
I read this book, because TGTBTU offered a contest about it, and I discovered that Kresley Cole had her introductory story of the Immortals After Dark series published in the anthology. I've been following the series, and knew I had to get my hands on the story that "started it all."
Tags: 2008, anthology, February 2006, Grade B, Grade C, Grade D, Jaid Black, Kresley Cole, limecello, Paranormal, Playing Easy to Get, Pocket Books, Review, romance, Sherrilyn Kenyon, TWRVolIReview: Playing Easy to Get (Anthology) by Kenyon, Black, and Cole **CONTEST Closed**
May 7, 2008
Gwen's review of Playing Easy to Get by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jaid Black, and Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance anthology released by Pocket 7 Feb 06
This is an older (sheesh - 2 years) anthology that I picked up because it had the first Immortals After Dark story in it - Nikolai and Myst. It also has an earlier Sherrilyn Kenyon B.A.D. story and one of those goofy underground viking stories by Jaid Black. Here's a quick review and a handy dandy little contest at the end...
Tags: 2008, anthology, BAD series, Brade B, Contemporary, Contest, Grade C, Grade D, Gwen, Immortals After Dark series, Jaid Black, Kresley Cole, Paranormal, Playing Easy to Get, Review, romance, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Underground Viking series**Upcoming Release Roundup**
April 1, 2008
Sandy M. and Teddypig (aka the West Coast side of The Pond) have compiled a list of upcoming books that we here in The Pond cannot wait to read!! Some of the biggest names in the industry are taking risks and releasing work far outside of their usual comfort zones. WOOT! Bring 'em on!
Read more
“I am Acheron”
March 12, 2008
Sherrilyn Kenyon wrote a post a couple of days ago that has just stuck with me. And stuck and stuck and stuck. I can't get it out of my head.
Please take the time to go read her post, "Laughter through tears." It's longer than her normal posts, and it's profound, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at the same time. The reading of it goes very quickly. It proves to me that you never truly know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes - or read a blog post. It's posts like hers that makes me grateful for the Internet - we're able get glimpses into each other's lives. It makes the world a bit smaller and a lot more profound.
Here's a snippet:
I received an email earlier today that struck me vividly. It was a question from a fan asking me what it was like to live my life. To have good family and everything I have ever wanted and it made me want to cry on so many levels that it drove me here to the keyboard. She asked me how I was able to see my characters so vividly and the answer is simple. I've been there.
I know what it's like to live and love with fear, to be mocked with cruelty and to have to try and find shelter through the most vicious of storms. If there is one scene in all the books I relate to most, it's the one of Zarek walking barefoot through the blizzard, seeking comfort. Of him standing outside, looking inside the cheerful house and wishing with all his heart that he was one of the happy, warm people inside.
If my life was perfect, I wouldn't have gotten up today with only three hours of sleep to work. I would sleep until noon and have my hubby wake me with roses and my children would be perfectly healthy and happy. My oldest son wouldn't be autistic. My middle son wouldn't have health problems and my baby wouldn't be ADHD. My oldest sister wouldn't have Cerebral Palsy. My older brother and my mother would still be alive and when something good happened to me, I wouldn't feel the fear that has made a permanent hole in my heart.
You see, I am Acheron. And I know that the strongest steel is truly forged out of the flames of hell. The kindest thing I can say about my childhood is that I survived it. I know what it's like to be so poor that you have to swallow air so that you can fool your stomach into thinking it's got something in it. I was that child who went to school in boy hand-me-downs, who stared at the pretty dresses the other girls wore and wished I had one too.
Go here to read the rest. Have some tissues handy. And be ready to hug someone when you're done.
Review: Dream Chaser (Dream-Hunters, Book 3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
February 18, 2008
Gwen's review of Dream Chaser (Dream-Hunters, Book 3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Paranormal romance released 5 Feb 08 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
All hail the return of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Mojo!
Dream Chaser is the first book of hers in a while that I have enjoyed (notwithstanding the tortured syntax in this sentence). The hero and heroine were engaging. I didn't even want to slap them! Nor did I want to throw the book at the wall! And that's progress for me with one of SK's latest!
Tags: 2008, Dream Chaser, Dream-Hunters, February 2008, Grade B, Gwen, Paranormal, Review, Sherrilyn KenyonLords of Avalon: Sword of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor - Comics Excerpt **6 Feb 08**
January 31, 2008
There's an excerpt of the new comic book Lords of Avalon: Sword of Darkness up on Sherrilyn Kenyon's Myspace page. So go have a peek - it looks just terrific. It comes out next week.
Dream Chaser (Dream-Hunters, Book 3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon **5 FEB 2008**
January 15, 2008
Releases 5 Feb 2008!
Read the excerpt of the new Dream-Hunters novel, Dream Chaser, on Sherrilyn Kenyon's Myspace page. It's some of the best writing I've seen from her in a few books. Here's hoping the excerpt isn't like a movie trailer; you know the ones - they contain the only good scenes in the movie. Hey, one can hope... Read more
Tags: 2008, Book Alert, Dream Chaser, Dream-Hunters, February 2008, Sherrilyn KenyonReview: Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunters Book 2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
December 15, 2007
Devon's review of Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream Hunters Book 2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Contemporary paranormal romance published 30 Oct 07 by St.Martin's
Sherrilyn Kenyon's Night Pleasures was the book that introduced me to paranormal romance and, in fact, re-introduced me to the world of romance reading. Her Dark Hunters were addictive: entertaining, action-packed and hot. There were issues--sometimes the characterization was so broad as to be cartoonish, the wisecracks sounded like something a middle schooler would come up with, and the language could be cliched and repetitive. But the complex mythology was entertaining, and the mix of angst and humor helped make the whole package rock. Unfortunately, I have found the more recent releases to be increasingly disappointing, and I am afraid Upon the Midnight Clear continues in that vein. It was as if Kenyon focused on the stuff I don't like, but forgot to include the stuff that makes her books good.
Ms. Kenyon specializes in heroes whose caring, strong natures have be twisted by ill-treatment and betrayal. Many of them are sexy and delicious (see my personal favorite Valerius). UtMC's actor hero, Aidan O'Connor is standard Kenyon hero. He is Angry! Bitter! Jaded! He loved and supported his family and friends, and they all betrayed him out of greed and jealousy. Now, he walks alone, he walks alone. Unfortunately, he's also kind of boring and one-note. When the heroine, Dream Hunter Leta shows up at his remote Tennessee cabin, he's all cynicism and TMI, spewing cliches about how everyone's out to get you. Leta herself was ok, but a bit boring.
This is completely a personal taste, but I just don't find the Dream Hunter mythology as compelling as that of the Dark Hunters and Were-Hunters. And Aidan got screwed, but man it was all so cartoony. Everyone he had surrounded himself with was just soooo evil, because they had no Oscars. This book just failed to keep my interest. I found myself counting pop culture references instead. There was Bauhaus, Dexter, The Indigo Girls, 300 and Joe Walsh, off the top of my head. There's something about the god of Dread quoting "Life's Been Good" that makes me feel angry.
Although this book was sold as a full-length title, it felt skimpy. Some of the issues I had are problems I often have with novellas: rushed and unconvincing romance, caricatures rather than characters, speedy plot with abrupt ending. When Aidan's few loyal hangers on show up at his cabin, bearing good wishes and a ham, I had to walk away for a bit. It was a shadow of a Dark-Hunter romance, with some cheesy sentiment thrown in for good measure.
What kept this book a C was the added story "Holiday Gatherings," which I rather enjoyed. In it we return to the world of the Dark Hunters, and peek in on their holiday celebrations. Again, it was a bit cheesy and sentimental, but it was like seeing old friends. "Hey Aimee, Fang. When are you guys getting your own book?" "Valerius, Kyrian, Deveraux clan! Good to see ya." Same for Bride and Vane. The scene with Sin, Katra, Ash and Artemis made me want to read Devil May Cry, which I've skipped, and I'm still excited for Ash's book. I would suggest saving your money and hitting the library instead. Henceforth, I think I'll stick with the Dark Hunters and leave the Dream Hunters be.
Grade: C
Blurb:
Ever think Scrooge had it right before the ghosts ruined his life? Meet Aidan O'Conner. At one time he was a world-renowned celebrity who gave freely of himself and his money without wanting anything in return...until those around him took without asking. Now Aidan wants nothing of the world-or anyone who's a part of it.
When a stranger appears at his doorstep, Aidan knows he's seen her before... in his dreams. Born on Olympus as a goddess, Leta knows nothing of the human world. But a ruthless enemy has driven her from the world of dreams and into the home of the only man who can help her: Aidan. Her immortal powers are derived from human emotions-and his anger is just the fuel she needs to defend herself...
One cold winter's night will change their lives forever...Trapped together in a brutal winter storm, Aidan and Leta must turn to the only power capable of saving them-or destroying them both: trust.
Excerpt: Prologue, Chapter One
Read Gwen's review of this book here.
Read more from Devon at Is that a stake in your pocket?
Tags: Devon, Dream-Hunters, Paranormal, Review, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Upon the Midnight ClearReview: Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunters, Book 2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
November 6, 2007
Gwen's review of Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunters, Book 2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Contemporary paranormal romance published 30 Oct 07 by St.Martin's
Sherrilyn Kenyon is quite good at writing heroines. I have always loved her women and Leta is no exception. She's determined and self-sacrificing. An all-around nice person. She's also a Greek goddess of dreams and isn't supposed to have any emotions, as per Zeus's curse on her kind. A curse that isn't working, by the way.
Tags: 2007, Dream-Hunters, Gwen, October 2007, Paranormal, Review, Sherrilyn Kenyon, St. Martin's, Upon the Midnight ClearReview: Devil May Cry (Dark-Hunter, Book 11) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
July 26, 2007
Gwen's review of Devil May Cry (Dark-Hunter, Book 11) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Paranormal romance published 7 Aug 07 by St. Martin's Press
This is the latest entry into Kenyon's long-lived Dark-Hunter series. The heroine is one of Artemis's koris, Katra, and the hero is a Sumerian ex-god named Sin. This book is centered around a new fight with a new pantheon's baddies. These baddies are actually badder than the Daimon baddies.
Tags: 2007, August 2007, Dark-Hunters, Devil May Cry, Gwen, Paranormal, Review, Sherrilyn Kenyon, St. Martin's
