September 30, 2013

Review: Alchemystic

Alchemystic (The Spellmason Chronicles , book 1) by Anton Strout

alchemystic

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: eBook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Alchemystic

An Old Friend of the Family...

Alexandra Belarus is a struggling artist living in New York City, even though her family is rich in real estate, including a towering Gothic Gramercy Park building built by her great-great-grandfather. But the truth of her bloodline is revealed when she is attacked on the street and saved by an inhumanly powerful winged figure. A figure who knows the Belarus name…

Lexi’s great-great-grandfather was a Spellmason—an artisan who could work magic on stone. But in his day, dark forces conspired against him and his, so he left a spell of protection on his family. Now that Lexi is in danger, the spell has awoken her ancestor’s most trusted and fearsome creation: a gargoyle named Stanis.

Lexi and Stanis are equally surprised to find themselves bound to each other. But as they learn to work together, they realize that only united can they save the city they both love…


Review:

Gargoyles, gosh how I love them! So I was only too eager to toss my money out and buy this book! No, really their was begging. Even though Anton Strout's writing hasn't been my flavor in the past. I figured he was just underdeveloped at the time and now he'd be A-mazing!

Boom, always trust your gut instinct. Chapter 2, and I was living in a world of disappointment. Lexis (AKA Alexandra) was annoying. Weak willed, a push over (though I believe this was supposed to be taken as kindness, but no she had her bitchy moments), not independent, and lazy. Now she's a hard worker when it came to learning about her Spellmason/Alchemy skills. However, when she has to step in to help out the family business, she does nothing but complain. There's a lot of avoiding and—oh, yeah—complaining. She's had her whole life to do whatever and now when she needs to help out the family it's woe is her. Stanis, the gargoyle, was the only thing that kept me reading, I just knew why his memories had been stolen! And I had to confirm it.

Now the character connections, nothing felt real. Which is something I always find myself experiencing in Strout's work. It was like a fog was covering they're interactions. Most of the time it felt like Lexi, Rory—the best thing to happen to this book—and the nerdy Marshall where at each others throats! They're all supposed to be friends. Rory has been Lexi's bestie since forever! Lexi is bringing her friends into this whole new world and simply expects her friends not to have minds of their own.

Rory steps up and saves their asses from danger!
Lexi: what have you done! Monster!

The gargoyle suddenly attacks poor Marshall. Rory and Marshall get worried and question Stanis.
Lexi: He doesn't deserve that, he's our hero!

Really!? It felt like they were hating each other constantly. Marshall is bullied non-stop, even when he comes in handy. Nerds are funny, they make wonderful comic reliefs. However, I don’t like to read about bullying. Even if it’s trying to pass as affectionate friendship. Phew, I'll stop.

Stanis and Lexi had to have romance. That's what us Gargoyle fans want! Forbidden love of the ultimate beauty and beast variety! Lexi thinks of Stanis as a servant or toy at the beginning. Which I found strange considering that despite his lack of emotions and his missing memories, it's clear that Stanis is more then a lump of rock. Plus, if Lexi is as sweet and kind hearted as readers are being led to believe, why would she just assume he was a lump of stone? Why am I still complaining? Lexi starts to fall in love with Stanis! That love had there was no development. Boom! We've jumped to a budding romance, with no stalk to support it. (Yes, flower comparisons.)

There were plot holes. Huge ones! An enemy recognizes Stanis, but then later on in the book no one knows him. How did this random—expandable minion—guy know what really happened? Also, Lexi runs into other stone critters who have once been human. Wouldn’t a logical jump be to think that something as complicated as Stanis and these strange living rock men be related? Sure one is cruder looking then the other, but let's make logical jumps here! Plus a few other issues that I don't want to spoil the book with.

Though I have to hand it to Strout. Despite this book being really predictable, he pulled one over me. Here I am all this will happen next and this—BOOM! Total-awesome plot twist. Loved it! Then I realized that maybe about 72-ish percent in, Alchemystic finally grabbed my attention. (About where the “BOOM!” happens.) It was a fun rush and suddenly boring hunts for gem stones turned into Indiana Johns adventures! Er, with a few really stupid mistakes to make it grind my nerves. However, the last 20 percent was awesome. The emotions started to connect just a little bit better!

When a brick and wire made character becomes the highlight of your reading experience with the lead’s page time, something is wrong. When you like the best-friend more, another bad sign. Though Rory is an amazing character and it's hard to top her—a dancer with fighting instincts—she should have been the main character. Lexi felt like a character created for Lanis to protect. That's his job, but there should have been more depth all around. As said the last 30 percent made this book so . . . cool. Yet, I still feel torn, and I almost gave up. Which I hardly ever do. That last 30 percent can not be what I judge this book by. In the end I will say I have to get the next book, but I might try to find a copy to borrow before I commit to this series. No begging shall occur.

Sexual Content: Pretty clean by book peeps. Heck, I vaguely remember some sexual humor!

  
2/5- Average/disappointing, library check-out


Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW: Amazon: Goodreads:
Alchemystic (1)
Stonecast (2) 

Alchemystic (1)
Stonecast (2)
Alchemystic (1)
Stonecast (2)

September 25, 2013

Goodreads, it is censorship!

To be honest I wasn’t planning on any posts this week except my usual Wednesday Wishes post. However, I feel compelled to get my view point out there in cyberspace.


Goodreads is doing a good job of keeping there new policy under wraps, and I hadn’t even heard about the changes until today. After stewing on it all day I went from calm to slightly annoyed. Then it hit me, I am ticked!

For those of you who haven’t heard Goodreads has made an update to it’s terms. Mainly concerning reviews. Now I’ve always noticed that Goodreads states not to use the authors name in the reviews and such, just reference it such as “Stephanie Meyers writing is lovely”. Now they’re saying reviews that explicitly criticize the author and not the book are being deleted period. Or if they’re bullying the author basically. Which I support!

However, if reviews that express that the author bullied the reviewer or interacted negatively to them, or other friends,they don’t want that reviewer. Well that’s not acceptable!

goodreads1

However, Goodreads is taking it farther. Shelves can be deleted now. “Due to author” shelves are being deleted, but “awesome authors” and “fave(orite) authors” shelves are being left behind. Now I’m not going to point out all of the cases, but these are the ones that stand out to me. But I think that sets the tone. Negative things about authors bad, positive good. Amazon anyone?

Yes, I can see their points on the reviews. No. I can not see their points on readers shelves! This is how members keep track of things and if they want to have “due to author” (what does it even really mean?) or “least favorite authors” isn’t that they’re right? It’s not all happy love and if you want to remember that you didn’t like some authors what’s wrong with that?

Goodreads always, ALWAYS, states that they are for the reader, not the author. However, they’re really covering their butts not to upset them. If the way an author acted or treated someone is a reason that reader won’t read the book or isn’t going to support them, that’s an honest view point to me.

Plus, they’re still not making a site wide announcement about these changes, probably in fear that the fall out will be worse. Twenty-one members were affected without the new policy being posted.  (Though I have suspicions if that was really the number.) Yes, they apologized and it’s now posted so they’re can censor away. Even there new updates are pussy footing around notify members and simply deleting what they want. Notice the bold text in the image below.

goodreads2

But it just seems unfair that our bookshelves are being questioned and judged now. Yes, I understand that we the members are storing our stuff on the Goodreads website for free.  Yet without the dedicated members who have helped to build Goodreads to it’s current point, it feels like a slap. Two words. Goodreads Librarians. It’s not been added to the Terms of Use page, I think they need to put some new shelf stuff about what you can and can’t do with your bookshelves.

What I will state is I’m 100% for deleting reviews that bully or bash the author and do not review the book. Heck, I’ve flagged some of those reviews. I’m fine with that, and I support actions that need to be taken. Because as much as I like to say Goodreads members are friendly (which they are) there are some members like any online community that take things too far. (Though I wonder where Goodreads was when authors were bashing and abusing reader/reviewer members.)

In no way can I find any reason to support bookshelf censorship. No. Readers should be able to have “rude author to deal with” as a legit shelf. If someone wants some type of wacked out vulgar titles shelf, fine by me.

All right I’ll stop. While I’m not the most eloquent response out there, it feels good to get my two cents out there. I encourage everyone to read up on it and form your own opinions and would love to hear about what you think.

Here are some additional posts that I enjoyed reading on the matter:

  1. Goodreads Feedback discussion > Announcements > Important Note Regarding Reviews
  2. ComPost
  3. Lit Reactor
  4. Mashable (This one is my fave!)

September 20, 2013

Attention Immortal After Dark fans!

Feels strange for how much I stalk my fave authors that I never seem to post Author Gossip anymore. So I thought a good place to start up would be with one of my favorite authors Kresely Cole.

Oh, and then some Keri Arthur goodness.


The latest IAD has been revealed in author Kresely Cole’s newsletter. Honestly I thought it was going to be twin time! Especially after that huge cliffhanger. But nope.

Lanthe and Thronos

Now if you’re like me if you’re not currently reading the book there are probably some characters you don’t remember off the top of your head.

Lanthe is also known as Melanthe Queen of Persuasion. If that doesn’t ring a bell she’s the sister of Sabine Queen of Illusions, they’re both born of sorceri parents. AKA Sorceresses. Last I recall she was being dragged off by her winged nemesis on the island that The Order had her imprisoned on. Now that was a cliffhanger from a few books ago!

Now speaking of the “winged nemesis” come on we all new it was going to be Thronos. He’s hunted her for how long? He helped kill her parents, she helped kill his father. This is angst love of the Cole kind! Thronos is a Vrekener, a race that’s on the verge of extinction and they’re main goal is the to hunt evil sorceri.

If you want further refresher you should check out Wicked Scribe’s amazing character guide.

Lanthe and Thronos’ story is one that I have been waiting for! Ever since Thronos dragged her off, but that has been quite a few books ago and I have to admit I’m 100% ready for the next MacRieve’s tale. Oh, well. Twin power later.

Look for more info on this installment in the upcoming months. Tentative publication date is next spring (2014). –Cole’s newsletter

keri_arthurKeri Arthur will be releasing her first self-published title this month, Who Needs Enemies. Instead of “sexy urban fantasy, this is straight up paranormal romance.

It’s startling how many well known authors are starting to go the self published route. What I really want to know is if they’re established fan base helps them out, and if they get more money this way? Obviously it helps them to have total control over the creative development of the story. Which is a plus in my book. But I still want to know if it works out for them.

whoneedsenemiesHarriet Phillecky is a rare part elf, part siren and wanted by neither race. Not that she really cares. A successful news photographer turned paranormal investigator, she now has a 'family' of friends that includes ogres who constantly raid her refrigerator and take over her TV, and a dragon who drinks far too much for his own good.

But when the only elvan relative she has any contact with asks her to investigate the disappearance of a siren, she finds herself unable to refuse.

All too quickly the disappearance becomes murder, relatives come out of the woodwork, and a man she'd much rather forget steps back into her life. Harri wants nothing more than to run—especially when the evidence beats a path to the doors of those who'd long ago abandoned her. But when the life she's created for herself comes under threat, Harri has little choice but to hunt down a killer—before everything she holds dear is destroyed.

Grab the book on Amazon or Goodreads.

Brandon Sanderson’s first venture into urban fantasy, though I don’t think it’s as simple as that, it’s got super heroes too with a bit of a dystopian world. The official book trailer is out.

Plus, fans can read a 5 chapter preview and an Audible sampler released by Random House. Just click here to enjoy.dangerousdream

Author’s Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl of the Beautiful Creatures series have news! Yep, you probably guessed (or heard about it by now) there is to be a spin off series called Dangerous Creatures.

Here’s the official word:

The Dangerous Creatures series will follow Link and Ridley, two fan-favorite characters from Beautiful Creatures. Readers will catch up with Ethan, Lena, and Link as they graduate from high school and get ready to leave the small Southern town of Gatlin, along with Link’s sometime girlfriend, Ridley. The series will launch on December 17, 2013, with Dangerous Dream, an e-novella that will tie Dangerous Creatures to the world of the original series. Dangerous Creatures, the first book in the new series, will be published simultaneously in hardcover, ebook, and audio formats on May 6, 2014.

“We are ecstatic with the massive success of Beautiful Creatures, which has sold nearly 3.5 million copies to date,” said Megan Tingley. “We’re eager to satisfy Kami and Margaret’s passionate fans with the swift release of a riveting e-novella just in time for the holidays, and a brand-new novel the following spring.”

andrea_cremerTo be honest I don’t really care. The book Beautiful Creatures book actually put me to sleep. (You should never fall asleep reading, even if you’re tired!)

Andrea Cremer (seen on our left) is cooking up something for fans in the Nightshade world! OK. So there’s the original Nightshade series, then Nightshade Prequel series, and now Nightshade Legacy. The first book in the Legacy series is Snakeroot and it follows right after events in Bloodrose. Snakeroot releases December 10th of this year.

snakerootFans asked for it, and now they've got it! Andrea Cremer is continuing the story she began in in her internationally bestselling trilogy: Nightshade, Wolfsbane and Bloodrose. In this new installment, Bosque Mar haunts the dreams of both Adne and Logan, trying to escape for the Nether, where Calla, Shay and the other Guardians trapped him in the final battle in the War of All Against All. Will he turn Adne to the dark side? Will Logan reclaim his birthright? And will darkness take over our world? In a novel filled with magic, romance and breakneck action, master storytelling Andrea Cremer's newest installment will not disappoint!

Grab it on Amazon or Goodreads!

Still on Andrea Cremer news, she is putting out a The Forbidden Side of Nightshade adult romance and erotica. She will be writing them under A.D. Robertson so if you search for them under Andrea Cremer you might not have any luck. (Oh, you should look at her profile image for her pen name. She even looks more “erotica” writer!)

captive

The first adult novel set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Nightshade series, Captive delivers a steamy, forbidden romance between sworn enemies drawn together by an irrepressible desire.

Twenty-five-year-old Tristan Doran enjoys a life of incredible power and privilege. As a direct descendant of the Keepers—witches who have embraced dark magic—he defers to no one but his overlord, Lord Bosque Mar. For most of his life, Tristan has been kept out of the centuries-old Witches War, his bloodline too valuable to risk in battle.

But when a beautiful, young human Searcher named Sarah is captured and made a prisoner in his Irish castle, Tristan’s infatuation with her flings him headlong into the fray. Captive and captor, unable to contain their longing, embark on a passionate, forbidden romance together—only to learn that their love is at the heart of a prophecy predicting the downfall of the Keepers’ ages-old reign.

Captive explores the darker side of the richly imagined Nightshade universe, a fantasy world of powerful dark witches, shape-shifting wolf warriors, and fascinating history. The first of three erotic novels, Captive delves deeply into the fiery, illicit romance of two young lovers whose very desires invite their doom.

Grab them up on Amazon and Goodreads!


That’s it for me! Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

September 19, 2013

Cover Coveting(6)


Cover art is found from Wicked Scribes, ATUF, Goodreads, social networks, and other sources.
***All cover art may not be final.***

Goodness it feels good to come back and post a Cover Coveting. Oh, how I’ve missed my lovely, sinful, ladies.


Battle Scars by Sheryl Nantus

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon


battlescars Series: Blood of the Pride, book 4 

Add it: Goodreads | Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Shera’s thoughts:

Each time I see a cover for a book in this series I get goosebumps of joy! They’re so gritty and leather bearing. Looking for the placements of the claw marks makes my day!

Good ol’standard Urban Fantasy cover. Sweet joy.

Cursed Moon by Jaye Wells

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon


cursed-moon Series: The Prospero’s War, book 2

Add it: Goodreads | Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Shera’s thoughts:

Something. Is. Wrong. With. This. Woman’s. Hair. Yeah. Petty, but it’s true. I think it’s supposed to be slicked back. However, it looks like a mullet. Someone save her hair.

Other then that, I really love the cover. The typography is awesome!!! The colors look great and the background is good-weird.

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon


dreams-of-gods-and-monsters Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book 3 

Add it: Goodreads | Amazon
Genre: Paranormal YA

Shera’s thoughts:

Just when you think this series can’t get any more awesome covers! It does! Totally awesome. Sure they’re antlers, but who new they good be so cool.

Feral Heat by Jennifer Ashley

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon


feral-heat Series: Shifters Unbound, book 5.5

Add it: Goodreads | Amazon
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Shera’s thoughts:

Gives paranormal romance a bad name.

Half Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon


half-off-ragnarok Series: InCryptid, book 3

Add it: Goodreads | Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Shera’s thoughts:

Another moment of honesty, these covers have put me off this series for quite a while. No the art looks good.

The problem is these covers are damsel covers. The man looks powerful and the woman is propped up like a tribute to TSTL poses everywhere.

Yes, they do have weapons. But they look like nothing more then cover candy. I can’t take any of them seriously.

Hearts of Chaos by Kira Brady

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon


hearts-of-chaos Series: Deadglass, book 3

Add it: Goodreads | Amazon
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Shera’s thoughts:

Another shame of the paranormal romance cover world. *palms face* Good lord, it’s a chest floating in the sky! Seattle, home of the pecs. That’s what I take away from this cover.

September 18, 2013

Wednesday Wishes

The weather has been cray-cray! I’ve gotten so used to never seeing rain where I’m at, that now that it’s here it feels so foreign. Don’t get me wrong we’re not getting near as much as we used to. But even these few inches are nice.

On that note they’re expecting to get our first freeze tonight! What! I need blankets for the outside stuff.


The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

coldestgirlincoldtownGet it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Paranormal YA
Series: N/A

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

Now it’s been a while, but in a anthology I read a Holly Black short featuring vampires. With this concept. It’s about time that she wrote a full book for it! The short was sweeeeeeet! The full length book is going to be better.

Geekomancy by Michael R. Underwood

geekomancyGet it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Ree Reyes, book 1

Clerks meets Buffy the Vampire the Slayer in this original urban fantasy eBook about Geekomancers—humans that derive supernatural powers from pop culture. Ree Reyes’s life was easier when all she had to worry about was scraping together tips from her gig as a barista and comicshop slave to pursue her ambitions as a screenwriter.

When a scruffy-looking guy storms into the shop looking for a comic like his life depends on it, Ree writes it off as just another day in the land of the geeks. Until a gigantic “BOOM!” echoes from the alley a minute later, and Ree follows the rabbit hole down into her town’s magical flip-side. Here, astral cowboy hackers fight trolls, rubber-suited werewolves, and elegant Gothic Lolita witches while wielding nostalgia-powered props.

Ree joins Eastwood (aka Scruffy Guy), investigating a mysterious string of teen suicides as she tries to recover from her own drag-your-heart-through-jagged-glass breakup. But as she digs deeper, Ree discovers Eastwood may not be the knight-in-cardboard armor she thought. Will Ree be able to stop the suicides, save Eastwood from himself, and somehow keep her job?

In my book (ha-ha!) any synopsis that needs to compare its self to buffy is lacking. No. Really.

Every time I read a book that throws in the “B” word things never go well. However, a number of amazing Goodreads friends and authors have named this book as a good read. So I’ll listen and throw this on my pile.

Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen

justellaGet it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: N/A

A Proper Romance

Ariella was only looking for a distraction, something to break up the monotony of palace life. What she found was a young man willing to overlook her title and show her a new and vibrant way of life. But when her growing feelings for Gavin spiral out of control and clash with the expectations of her station, she will discover that the consequences of her curiosity are far more severe than she'd imagined.

I watched in helpless horror as two guards hauled Gavin to his feet and dragged him from the room. My voice was frozen, unable to protest as another guard took hold of my arm, leading me upstairs. From the confines of my room, I stared into the darkness beyond my window, hoping to catch one more glimpse of Gavin. He was gone, and I wondered if he would have been better off if he had never met me.

Sigh. Love, love, fairytale type books. This one was recommended to me by a Goodreads pal.

September 8, 2013

Review: Burning Up

Burning Up (Psy-Changeling, book 0.6) by Nalini Singh

burningup

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Edition Reviewed: eBook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Burning Up

Passion runs as hot as a fever dream in these all-new stories by four New York Times bestselling provocateurs of the paranormal...

In Angela Knights's Blood and Roses, a vampire warrior and his seductive captor join forces to stop a traitor from unleashing an army of demonic predators on their kingdom.

New in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series is Whisper of Sin, in which a woman in lethal danger finds an unlikely protector- and lover- in a volatile member of the DarkRiver pack.

Virginia Kantra continues the haunting tales of the Children of the Sea in Shifting Sea, the story of a wounded soldier rescued by a strange and enigmatic young woman.

Meljean Brook launches a bold new steampunk series with Here There Be Monsters, as a desperate woman strikes provocative- and terrifying- bargain to gain overseas passage.


Review:

****This is a review of Whisper of Sin only.****

Many guides and readers state that this story is the 2nd—or first if you skip Tammy's—short you should read before starting this series. Somehow Goodreads kept getting the reading orders mixed up so I had it has 8.5 in the series. Personally, I think reading this story later on only enhances it, especially if you're a first time reader. You know all the characters and enjoy seeing them younger (especially Dorian!!) and there isn't awkward moments of wondering why this or that character is getting so much stage time. The emotional connection is instant.

Speaking of connections. Finally Ria and Emmett. Ria has been a favorite of mine and I love that the reader gets to take peek back into 2070 and get a feel for the growing DarkRiver pack and some of the challenges they faced taking over LA as part of there territory. The mix of gang violence and vigilantly justice is so exciting!

Speaking of exciting! Ria and Emmett are magic on the pages. It's wonderful that this short story is so long, plenty of time to enjoy the heat these two cook up together. It's also nice to get a feel for Emmett. I've been so curious about Ria's mate, but besides his appearance in book one I don't actually remember him entering the story any other time up (I'm up to book 8 Bonds of Justice).

This is going to please Psy/Changeling fans immensely. New readers will probably get a yummy taste of what Singh has to offer through this series. It's hot, action between and out of the sheets, action(um, like fighting and stuff), humor, and the best part of a sweet romance of a great character that fans have been dying to read about. What's not to love?

Sexual Content: Yes, some yummy steamy scenes! Of course, some sexual humor!

 
4/5- Great! Really enjoyed it.


Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW: Amazon: Goodreads:

An Enchanted Season (.5)
Burning Up (.6)
Slave to Sensation (1)
The Cannibal Princess(1.5)
Visions of Heat (2)
Caressed by Ice (3)
Stroke of Enticement (3.5)
Mine to Possess (4) 
A Conversation (4.5)
Hostage to Pleasure (5)
A Gift for Kit (5.5)
Movie Night (5.6) 
Branded by Fire (6)
The Party (6.5) 
Blaze of Memory (7) 
Christmas in the Kitchen (7.5)
Bonds of Justice (8)
Play of Passion (9)
Wolf School (9.1)
Kiss of Snow (10)
Wild Invitation
(.5, 3.5, 9.5, 10.5)
Tangle of Need (11)
Poker Night (11.1)
Stalking Hawke (11.2)
Heart of Obsidian (12) 
Shield of Winter (13) 
Shards of Hope (14) 
Allegiance of Honor (15) 

An Enchanted Season (.5)
Burning Up (.6)
Slave to Sensation (1)
The Cannibal Princess(1.5)
Visions of Heat (2)
Caressed by Ice (3)
Stroke of Enticement (3.5)
Mine to Possess (4)
A Conversation (4.5)
Hostage to Pleasure (5)
A Gift for Kit (5.5)
Movie Night (5.6)
Branded by Fire (6)
The Party (6.5)
Blaze of Memory (7)
Christmas in the Kitchen (7.5)
Bonds of Justice (8)
Play of Passion (9)
Wolf School (9.1)
Kiss of Snow (10)
Wild Invitation
(.5, 3.5, 9.5, 10.5)
Tangle of Need (11)
Poker Night (11.1)
Stalking Hawke (11.2)
Heart of Obsidian (12)
Shield of Winter (13) 
Shards of Hope (14)
Allegiance of Honor (15)
An Enchanted Season (.5)
Burning Up (.6)
Slave to Sensation (1)
The Cannibal Princess(1.5)
Visions of Heat (2)
Caressed by Ice (3)
Stroke of Enticement (3.5)
Mine to Possess (4)
A Conversation (4.5)
Hostage to Pleasure (5)
A Gift for Kit (5.5)
Movie Night (5.6)
Branded by Fire (6)
The Party (6.5)
Blaze of Memory (7)
Christmas in the Kitchen (7.5)
Bonds of Justice (8) 
Play of Passion (9)
Wolf School (9.1)
Kiss of Snow (10)
Wild Invitation
(.5, 3.5, 9.5, 10.5)
Tangle of Need (11)
Poker Night (11.1)
Stalking Hawke (11.2)
Heart of Obsidian (12)
Shield of Winter (13)
Shards of Hope (14)
Allegiance of Honor (15)

September 6, 2013

Review: Christmas in the Kitchen

***Sorry, I have hunted and hunted trying to find the link again! But I can’t!***

Christmas in the Kitchen (Psy-Changeling, book 7.5) by Nalini Singh

christmas in the kitchen

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Edition Reviewed: online
Amazon: Free Short 
Goodreads: Christmas in the Kitchen

This story slots in before Bonds of Justice and features several members of the DarkRiver leopard pack, including two sentinels (the most senior members of the pack aside from the alpha).
**free story in her newsletter. 12/21/12


Review:

Dorian's and Clay's happy family get together. Along with kit and a few other friends. It's another great peek into the DarkRiver pack and some beloved characters. There's ahhhhhh moments and plenty of laughs. Oh and a bake off between some hot dominants already mentioned above. Thank you Singh for another wonderful freebie.

Sexual Content: Clean!

 
4/5- Great! Really enjoyed it.


Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW: Amazon: Goodreads:

An Enchanted Season (.5)
Burning Up (.6)
Slave to Sensation (1)
The Cannibal Princess(1.5)
Visions of Heat (2)
Caressed by Ice (3)
Stroke of Enticement (3.5)
Mine to Possess (4) 
A Conversation (4.5)
Hostage to Pleasure (5)
A Gift for Kit (5.5)
Movie Night (5.6) 
Branded by Fire (6)
The Party (6.5) 
Blaze of Memory (7) 
Christmas in the Kitchen (7.5)
Bonds of Justice (8)
Play of Passion (9)
Wolf School (9.1)
Kiss of Snow (10)
Wild Invitation
(.5, 3.5, 9.5, 10.5)
Tangle of Need (11)
Poker Night (11.1)
Stalking Hawke (11.2)
Heart of Obsidian (12) 
Shield of Winter (13) 
Shards of Hope (14) 
Allegiance of Honor (15) 

An Enchanted Season (.5)
Burning Up (.6)
Slave to Sensation (1)
The Cannibal Princess(1.5)
Visions of Heat (2)
Caressed by Ice (3)
Stroke of Enticement (3.5)
Mine to Possess (4)
A Conversation (4.5)
Hostage to Pleasure (5)
A Gift for Kit (5.5)
Movie Night (5.6)
Branded by Fire (6)
The Party (6.5)
Blaze of Memory (7)
Christmas in the Kitchen (7.5)
Bonds of Justice (8)
Play of Passion (9)
Wolf School (9.1)
Kiss of Snow (10)
Wild Invitation
(.5, 3.5, 9.5, 10.5)
Tangle of Need (11)
Poker Night (11.1)
Stalking Hawke (11.2)
Heart of Obsidian (12)
Shield of Winter (13) 
Shards of Hope (14)
Allegiance of Honor (15)
An Enchanted Season (.5)
Burning Up (.6)
Slave to Sensation (1)
The Cannibal Princess(1.5)
Visions of Heat (2)
Caressed by Ice (3)
Stroke of Enticement (3.5)
Mine to Possess (4)
A Conversation (4.5)
Hostage to Pleasure (5)
A Gift for Kit (5.5)
Movie Night (5.6)
Branded by Fire (6)
The Party (6.5)
Blaze of Memory (7)
Christmas in the Kitchen (7.5)
Bonds of Justice (8) 
Play of Passion (9)
Wolf School (9.1)
Kiss of Snow (10)
Wild Invitation
(.5, 3.5, 9.5, 10.5)
Tangle of Need (11)
Poker Night (11.1)
Stalking Hawke (11.2)
Heart of Obsidian (12)
Shield of Winter (13)
Shards of Hope (14)
Allegiance of Honor (15)

Review: Blaze of Memory

Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changeling, book 7) by Nalini Singh

blazeofmemory

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Edition Reviewed: eBook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Blaze of Memory

A woman without a past becomes the pawn of the 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 prove to be the enemy's most insidious weapon yet.

Stripped of her memories by a shadowy oppressor and programmed to carry out cold-blooded murder, Katya Haas is fighting desperately for her sanity. 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...


Review:

Maybe I went into it with too many negative thoughts, there were no shifters as love interests this time around. But I don't think that's it. There was no fire between Dev and Katya. The whole I'm-stuck-in-the-Net-don't-trust-me stick has been done, but now add the twist of Katya being brainwashed by Ming turning her into a walking weapon. One designed to kill Dev. It just added a little too much to the same old story that seems to be the Psy female way of the romance. Plus, the fear that she might not be able to make it out of the Net is no longer a fear after Faith and Sascha safely made the jump. Of course Singh tries to make us guess by saying no Psy has ever entered the Net of the Forgotten . . . yeah. We still know what's going to happen.

The side plots where actually the most alluring parts of Blaze of Memory.  Stepping into Sascha and Lucas's lives again, and it's made better by the fact that Sascha is preggos!! Yeah, our first baby in the Psy-Changeling series (you know what I mean). Other characters get to step in and it's great to see them. It bodes well that Singh is going to continue to utilize past characters to pull the story ahead. Readers aren't simply getting the evil villains' view point and the happy couples. Each book is a taste of the latest sizzling couple and visiting old friends.

My favorite part of Blaze of Memory is seeing how the Forgotten have evolved and the slow erosions of the Net. It's clear Silence has failed, and may actually be speeding up all of the issues that had driven the Psy to create Silence in the first place. The warfare and battle of minds is another interesting view point that is shared with readers. As Ming breaks Katya and basically kills the woman she was under silence. The true beauty of this story is how Katya creates herself and is basically reborn. And while I stated above that “there was no fire between Dev and Katya” their romance was sweet and by the end of the book I was warming up to them.

For me, after some of the more incredible entries into this series, this title just didn't have enough to bring to the table. Hunger pains kept hitting. It's with hope and fear that I look forward to the next book. Hope that they keep coming out with incredible new twists and developments because this series has somewhere to go! Fear that the series doesn't just fall back and slow down. For me this was probably one of the few weak titles in the series.

Sexual Content: The sex is a tad more kinky, not by much.

 
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.


Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW: Amazon: Goodreads:

An Enchanted Season (.5)
Burning Up (.6)
Slave to Sensation (1)
The Cannibal Princess(1.5)
Visions of Heat (2)
Caressed by Ice (3)
Stroke of Enticement (3.5)
Mine to Possess (4) 
A Conversation (4.5)
Hostage to Pleasure (5)
A Gift for Kit (5.5)
Movie Night (5.6) 
Branded by Fire (6)
The Party (6.5) 
Blaze of Memory (7) 
Christmas in the Kitchen (7.5)
Bonds of Justice (8)
Play of Passion (9)
Wolf School (9.1)
Kiss of Snow (10)
Wild Invitation
(.5, 3.5, 9.5, 10.5)
Tangle of Need (11)
Poker Night (11.1)
Stalking Hawke (11.2)
Heart of Obsidian (12) 
Shield of Winter (13) 
Shards of Hope (14) 
Allegiance of Honor (15) 

An Enchanted Season (.5)
Burning Up (.6)
Slave to Sensation (1)
The Cannibal Princess(1.5)
Visions of Heat (2)
Caressed by Ice (3)
Stroke of Enticement (3.5)
Mine to Possess (4)
A Conversation (4.5)
Hostage to Pleasure (5)
A Gift for Kit (5.5)
Movie Night (5.6)
Branded by Fire (6)
The Party (6.5)
Blaze of Memory (7)
Christmas in the Kitchen (7.5)
Bonds of Justice (8)
Play of Passion (9)
Wolf School (9.1)
Kiss of Snow (10)
Wild Invitation
(.5, 3.5, 9.5, 10.5)
Tangle of Need (11)
Poker Night (11.1)
Stalking Hawke (11.2)
Heart of Obsidian (12)
Shield of Winter (13) 
Shards of Hope (14)
Allegiance of Honor (15)
An Enchanted Season (.5)
Burning Up (.6)
Slave to Sensation (1)
The Cannibal Princess(1.5)
Visions of Heat (2)
Caressed by Ice (3)
Stroke of Enticement (3.5)
Mine to Possess (4)
A Conversation (4.5)
Hostage to Pleasure (5)
A Gift for Kit (5.5)
Movie Night (5.6)
Branded by Fire (6)
The Party (6.5)
Blaze of Memory (7)
Christmas in the Kitchen (7.5)
Bonds of Justice (8) 
Play of Passion (9)
Wolf School (9.1)
Kiss of Snow (10)
Wild Invitation
(.5, 3.5, 9.5, 10.5)
Tangle of Need (11)
Poker Night (11.1)
Stalking Hawke (11.2)
Heart of Obsidian (12)
Shield of Winter (13)
Shards of Hope (14)
Allegiance of Honor (15)