Liviania‘s review of Unbound (Unbound, Book 1) by Lori Devoti
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocture 1 Jun 07

This was my first category, ever. Okay, I cracked a Suspense once but I didn’t make it farther than three pages. Therefore it does not count. This was my first category to finish. I really had a fun time with it. Kara is a young woman searching for her twin sister – even braving the strange bar known as the Guardian’s Keep. Outside she is attacked by a dog, which is in turn attacked by another dog . . . when she wakes up she is in the home of the attractive Risk Leidolf.

Hellhound Risk has been ordered to bring Kara back to his employer Lusse so she can steal Kara’s power. Kara does not know she is a witch, although her sister realized they were. He is reluctant to betray Kara after he captures her because he feels a connection. Risk holds onto his humanity rather than giving into his animalistic side. He desperately tries to find a way to save her and his son Venge, who is also under the control of Lusse. He’s the whole package: brains and brawn. Even Jormun, the exiled Norse god, respects his strategizing.

Did I mention the mythology of the story is based on the Norse tradition? Because it is. And that is sexy.

So is Venge. I wanted his story right after I finished, but alas I still have not bought Wild Hunt. (He’s a redhead. I have a weakness for red hair. He had other endearing qualities, but that gave him a foot in the door. He’s a kicked puppy, who wouldn’t like him?) I did buy Guardian’s Keep, which alas features Kelly. TSTL Kelly. She ignores the garm bartender’s warnings, gets a friend killed, and puts herself and her sister in mortal danger. She also tries to convince Kara not to trust Risk despite the fact he’s obviously twenty times smarter than she is. Kelly dragged a good book down.

Unbound was a good choice for my introduction to categories. It had two solid leads, a fast-paced plot, interesting world-building, and a few cool side characters who let the main characters have center stage. I bought Guardian’s Keep instantly because I enjoyed Unbound so much. Many a single title paranormal romance has satisfied me less. Yes, I could have done without Kelly, but she does not show up until the end. Until that point I breezed through the story. Once she appeared she managed to cause minimal trouble, mainly because Kara possessed common sense.

Grade: B-

Risk Leidolf is a hellhound—a legendary, otherworldly creature who is both man and beast. For centuries, he’s been bound to do the bidding of an immortal witch. But after being ordered to destroy novice witch Kara Shane, the man within him rebels. And the beast within him is held at bay—for now.

Fiercely drawn to each other, Risk and Kara soon form a passionate alliance as they set out to find her missing sister—and the key to his salvation. For the power unleashed by the twin witches could free him from the immortal witch’s bondage. But that freedom comes at a steep price. For the fierce battle will put more than one soul at stake…and two hearts on the line.

Click on the Unbound series tag for more reviews and information.

We have the winners for the “Hunt is On” contest!!

Some of our lucky winners are going to win a copy of Wild Hunt, the third book in the Unbound trilogy, and others will win the first book, Unbound.

The copies of Unbound go to:

• acdaisy77
• Phyllis Lamken
• Liviania
• Tez Miller
• Deirdre

The copies of Wild Hunt go to:

• Ashley
• Jody W.
• Azteclady
• Wendy

• Crystal GB

Congratulations! Please email your contact info to redwyne (at) gmail (dot) com and put “Lori Devoti Contest” in the subject line.

…for some Reader/Reviewers!

Wild Hunt, the third book in the Unbound trilogy by Lori Devoti will be released by Silhouette Nocturne in June 2008. Read the blurb and excerpt, then read on to find out about the contest!

Natural enemies–hellhound and Valkyrie–their alliance made them more powerful than anyone could anticipate…

Alongside his hellhound brethren, Venge Leidolf was summoned to start the Wild Hunt anew. But in this dreaded pursuit of souls, Venge sought to free himself from his infernal bondage–by claiming the heart of a fierce Valkyrie…

Geysa never questioned the alluring gifts that set her apart from the other Valkyries, or her hatred of hellhounds–until Venge fell under her spell. Drawing the alpha hellhound so close made Geysa doubt her every instinct. To stop the Hunt, the two blood-born enemies would need to cast aside old vows and allegiances. Only then could no one question the strength of their union…
Read an excerpt here.

You can find find out more about the Unbound world here. The previous two books in the trilogy were reviewed and enjoyed by Sandy, and I’ve read numerous recommendations.

Book 1: Unbound Read the blurb and excerpt here Read Sandy’s review

Book 2: Guardian’s Keep Read the blurb and excerpt here Read Sandy’s review

Have we piqued your interest? I must admit to being interested in finding out more about the hellhounds. Don’t think I’ve read any hellhounds…that’s refreshing. Lori Devoti is giving away ten copies of Wild Hunt and ten copies of Unbound to twenty lucky readers residing in the US or Canada. But such a bounty does not come without a price. If you win, you are obligated to review, discuss or mention the book somewhere on the ‘Nets. On your blog, myspace page, website, where ever. Them’s the rules. Think about your karma.

Now, to enter the contest I want you to answer the following question:

What is the most unusual supernatural creature you’ve seen featured in a paranormal?

Contest will end on Saturday, May 3 at noon. Go, ponder, comment, and keep your fingers crossed!!  *Closed*

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? But when he discovers how innocent and unaware Kara really is about her power, when he discovers he can’t get enough of her, his plans change to saving Kara and Kelly instead, even if it means his death. He doubts Kara would still want him anyway when she learns what he is.

Kara is grateful Risk offers to help her search for Kelly. She’s run into so many dead ends that she’s totally frustrated and doesn’t know where to turn next. She’s always been the more timid sister, letting Kelly take care of her in urgent situations, but once Kara finds the lead she’s been looking for and survives unbelievable events to finally get to Kelly, she’s not the same person any longer. But the final straw is when it looks like Risk was never on her side at all. Will he betray her even after all they’ve shared?

These Nocturne books are good! I’ve only read a couple of others and thoroughly enjoyed them, and this book has made me a total convert.

Unbound is full of mystery and suspense, love and deception, adventure, and it has a great villain in Lusse, the immortal witch who has owned Risk for 500 years. I hated her, but, boy, she’s fun to read. And Risk is a very tortured hero, one you feel for immediately, one your heart breaks for when Lusse uses her ultimate weapon against him, something he had no knowledge of and now has to protect from her evilness just get to him. It’s also great to watch Kara grow into a confident and proud woman, ready to take on the fights she always avoided before.

A very satisfying read with a great plot and wonderful characters. What more can you ask for?

Grade: A

Blurb:

Risk Leidolf is a hellhound – a legendary, otherworldly creature who is both man and beast. For centuries, he’s been bound to do the bidding of an immortal witch. But after being ordered to destroy novice witch Kara Shane, the man within him rebels. And the beast within him is held at bay – for now.

Fiercely drawn to each other, Risk and Kara soon form a passionate alliance as they set out to find her missing sister – and the key to his salvation. For the power unleashed by the twin witches could free him from the immortal witch’s bondage. But that freedom comes at a steep price. For the fierce battle will put more than one soul at stake – and two hearts on the line.

Read an excerpt.