Showing posts with label paranormal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paranormal. Show all posts

Carnal Desires Review

Carnal Desires
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Crystal Jordan has released three of her Wereplanet novellas in one book called Carnal Desires. Fans of her work will shout for joy!
"In Heat"
Recently returned from a trip, Varad Mohan walks into the ballroom of his palace and immediately smells his wife. She is in heat and Varad knows that once she sees him, nothing will do but for them to mate, no matter that their passion has seemed to have dimmed with the death of their child. Varad knows that his queen will never turn him down but getting her to admit that she loves him once more is another thing and Varad won't settle for less.
Mahlia sees her husband, King Varad across the crowded room. Her senses kick in and the only thing she knows to do is run. She runs because she can't stomach the thought of delivering another child with the possibility of losing it like she lost her infant son. Her plans go awry when Varad catches her and proceeds to show her how the king of all weretigers makes love to his mate.
"In Heat" was out of this world hot. I love the concept of mating heat and uncontrollable desire. Varad loves his queen but in his inability to deal directly with his child's death, he hurt her and while he realizes this almost too late, I thought him quite honorable to admit his feelings to her and show weakness when he was supposed to always be strong. Mahlia's character was a bit dearer to my heart because of her sadness and total devastation at the loss of her son. My heart ached for her.
"In Smoke"
Weredragon Lady Katryn has been living with weretigers on the planet of Vesperi for her entire life. Pretty much ignored by her ambassador father, she is now required to head back to Harena, the planet of her birth in order to mate with her own kind and become part of a harim. Totally ignorant in the ways of dragons, Katryn is not sure she will be happy living in a new place. The emissary sent by her affianced mate to transport her to the capital city, Tarkesh makes Katryn yearn for something she can't have: him.
Lord Tarkesh and Lord Nadir are a mated couple. Required by their matriarchal planet to mate with a female in order to breed, they know that their love for each other is strong. However, they want to cherish and love their female mate as well. Since Nadir is the more dominating of the two dragons, he sends Tarkesh to meet Katryn so that she won't be scared. Things backfire when Tarkesh and Katryn hit it off more than Tarkesh thinks they should and he feels like he has betrayed Nadir. Only time will tell once Tarkesh and Katryn arrive and go through with the bonding ceremony.
I love a good ménage story in which the characters are all bonded and in love with each other. "In Smoke" was that type of ménage. Tarkesh and Nadir were combustible enough as lovers without Katryn but add her into the equation and the entire trio was simply flammable.
"In Mist"
Sera Gibbons has spent the last five hundred years in a cryogenic freeze. As one of only two survivors of the spaceship she was traveling on, she survived the crash landing on the werebear world of Alysius. Her friend Jain chose to remain on the planet with her newly found mate and Sera chose to stay with Brettan, a merman ambassador. After nearly a year of being with him, Sera has fallen in love but she is no nearer to finding out his feelings for her than she was months ago. One minute Bretton is aloof and the next he is sensual. No matter how many times they come together in sexual ecstasy, Sera always feels as if Bretton only comes to her when he has no other choice. She is so very wrong.
Give me a merman right now! I want one and am willing to do what it takes. Bretton was drop dead gorgeous from the tip of his toes to his waist length black hair. His overt sexuality kept me and Sera well entertained. His emotions were hard to read; defense mechanisms he used very well. I think "In Mist" is my favorite of the three novellas in Carnal Desires for this reason alone.
Crystal Jordan entrances and intrigues with Carnal Desires, a series of three intertwined novellas about a sensuous world of shape shifters and the mates that love them. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the world that is the Wereplanets.

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

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Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 6) Review

Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 6)
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*No spoilers*
I started out reading Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series because I enjoy the Paranormal Romance genre. The love stories in the prequels to LEn are excellent (with the exception of Lover Unbound) IMHO. But it looks like this series has come to a fork in the road. Choosing the Urban Fantasy route verses the Paranormal Romance one. I don't mind the change in genre so much (as Ward is a captivating writer) but others might and may feel duped. So you've been warned.
I didn't particularly care for the romance in this book. A quick recap: Phury is the Primale. Essentially the Brother chosen to breed more Brothers. He is the sire of a 'harem' of forty Chosen females. Phury is supposed to mate with them and produce many children, the males of which will hopefully become the warriors (Brothers) who defend the vampire race from the evil lessers. Phury's first mate is Cormia. Their romance is tepid at best. I did not *see* them fall in love at all. More like I got the vibe that Cormia is merely a soothing and gentle influence on Phury's tumultuous life. She came across as a helpful friend rather than mate potential. Not the I-would-die-without-your-love feeling I got in the previous books. Since those books were so smack down emotional, I hoped this one would be too. I just didn't feel it.But, BUT, and this is a big one. The rest of the book rocks! As I recall the lessers were sadly missing in LU. They are back in a BIG way here in LEn, specifically with the Omega making multiple appearances. John, Qhuinn and Blaylock also all have prominent roles in this book. Their stories make major advancements as well. With tons of surprises. And Rhevenge's and Xhex's characters are spot lighted too. There are also some very interesting twists (including new characters) to the series which leads me to believe that Ward is going in the Urban fantasy direction.
So although I think the romance is lack luster, the rest of the book is keeper material. I don't mind that LEn read more like three stories in one rather than a central romance with two subplots. Fans of Paranormal **Romance** will be VERY disappointed. But I still recommend reading LEn just for the advancement of other character's plots. Skip this one if your in it for the romance or wait to get the book at the library if your skeptical.
And for anyone new to the series? Don't start here! You'll miss out on a lot of the back story. These books are NOT meant to be read stand alone. Besides the previous books have some awesome romance.

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Web of Smoke Review

Web of Smoke
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I was instantly pulled into the the novel after reading the first few paragraphs. The story begins with Chiristie McCoy waiting for something. That something is never revealed. A man named DC invades her house and attacks her. Throughout the novel she is determined to find out why, with the help of her soon to be ex-husband Sam. In addition to attacking Christie, DC also kidnaps a little girl named Jessica. There are many plot twists, which always make you raise an eyebrow, and after completing a chapter you find yourself hating DC even more. This was a good read and I recommend this book to anyone who loves to be on the edge of their seat.

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Red Smoke Rising Review

Red Smoke Rising
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One hundred years ago, the Nor invaded Muoro, taking over the Muorokin and using them as slaves. It was all so they could have unlimited access to a drug that is only available in the sea around Muoro called ku, which can - after processing - be smoked or changed into a liquid derivative and taken on the tongue. This drug enhances the abilities of the person taking it - the Nor use it to create Myrmidons, super-humanly strong warriors, whose brutality is infamous. Mia has disguised herself as Nor and taken advantage of the university training to advance her skills in controlling auras and has become a Master - she can change into a tiger or a horse, and also use the power to manipulate others' auras. She is a member of the Underground, rebels who are trying to drive the Nor out of the Muorokin lands.
This book is very fast-paced and action-oriented - it is a quick read and should appeal strongly to those who like near-constant action in their books. The only complaint I had is that there isn't much character development or explanation about the history of people or things - we're just sort of thrown into the middle of all of it and have to try to keep up. Fortunately, the pacing is smooth and the plot is engrossing to the point where you just decide to go with it - and what a ride it is! A stunning debut novel - pick it up and be on the lookout for more books from this highly talented writer!

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Over a hundred years have passed since the invaders came to steal the drug, since Mia's homeland was occupied. Once they understood the drug's secrets, the Nor army was unstoppable, superhuman. Mia's people were overwhelmed and defeated - slaves in their own lands.In the time that has passed, Mia and the Underground have stolen the drug, along with the knowledge of how to use it to create an army of their own. Now, the time has come for the resistance army of shapeshifters, Masters and Trademasters to stand against the Nor Empire and take back their homeland... before their chance is gone forever.

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Silver Smoke (Seven Halos #1) Review

Silver Smoke (Seven Halos #1)
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I stumbled across Monica Leonelle's breakout novel "Silver Smoke" by sheer chance and ultimately couldn't put the book down. The book is centred on Brie and Pilot Van Rossum, who have been exiled to Honolulu following the tragic death of their mother. However, Brie is not convinced that her mother's death was an accident and is determined to find out what really happened. Brie's first answers come from a group of cheerleaders at her new school - who confess that Brie (and themselves) are not normal teenagers... they are descendents of archangels, known as Hallows, who are sent to protect human (earthlie) souls from the archdemons descendents, known as Nephilim's. As if learning that you are superhuman isn't enough, Brie also learns that there are more than just the Nephilim that are her enemies.
Leonelle has managed to create a fascinating world that is rich and vibrant. The bonds of family and friends are the heart of this novel but it also challenges the demarcation of good and evil and what one is willing to do for the love of another. Her complex world of Hallows and Nephilim's are both refreshing and much needed in the fantasy genre, which currently seems over-whelmed with vampire tales. Finally, I cannot wait for the next instalment ;-)


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15-year old Brie van Rossum wants to know what caused her mother's death, but she's trapped in Honolulu under the watchful eye of her rock star father James, her overprotective older brother Pilot, and the relentless paparazzi who would love to capture her breaking down on film.

A clue about her mother's death finally comes in the form of four teenage girls--or at least, that's what Brie thought they were when she met them on the first day of high school. The girls are not normal teenagers, but Hallows--descendants of archangels and humans--with supernatural powers that allow them to manipulate matter and cross miles of beach in seconds. Brie learns that she is a Hallow too, just like her late mother.

But Brie's family has enemies--specifically the New Order, a group that killed most of Brie s family before the last survivors went into hiding one hundred years ago. Brie's new friends don t think the New Order killed Brie s mother, but that begs the question--who did?

Now, Brie faces a choice--she can follow the clues her mother has left behind, and risk exposing her family to a death sentence from the New Order; or she can stay in Honolulu and keep her family safe, but forsake the Hallows to the New Order's firm fist.

The Seven Halos series consists of seven books about seven humans who are descendants of archangels and archdemons. Each of them must uncover the chilling (and sometimes sinister) mysteries of their lineage in order to save two races of superbeings from an all out war that no one can win. It is a story of love, death, heartbreak, betrayal, and the one thing that matters most--allegiance.


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Smoke and Ashes (The Smoke Trilogy, Book 3) Review

Smoke and Ashes (The Smoke Trilogy, Book 3)
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This book is the third in the series starring Henry Fitzroy's old sidekick Tony. Let me note that while the book is enjoyable as a standalone, you will get far more out of it if you have read the first two in this series, since there are quite a few references to the Shadowlord of the first book, Smoke and Shadows, and the haunted house of the second book, Smoke and Mirrors. You will get even more out of this series if you've read Huff's earlier series about Henry Fitzroy, romance writer, [...] son of King Henry VIII, and vampire. (If you check my profile, you can find reviews of all five books in that series.) Constable Jack Elson, for example, is an even more interesting character if you can also recall Mike Celluci, Vicki's fellow cop, and also the werewolf cop from "Blood Trail."
Since other reviewers have summarized the plot, I won't go into that. (Besides, those of you who read Huff know that many of her books have variations on the same plot: a hole opens up between hell and our earth, and our protagonists have to close it. This is not a complaint; I am continually amazed at how interesting she manages to make that same plot over and over.) Instead, let me tell you a few of the things I specifically enjoyed about this book:
* Huff's wonderful sense of humor. Examples: Tony turns on the TV and sees "some guy eating a bug on either the Learning Channel or FOOD - he didn't stay long enought to see if it came with a lecture on habitat or a raspberry vinaigrette" and the use of cherry cough syrup as a warding spell.
* The references to many classic science fiction and fantasy stories and books - not just well known ones such as LOTR, but also to stories that only literate and experienced SF fans are likely to have read; this isn't just catering to the reader who is currently reading urban vampire fantasy because it's "in" - although there's nothing wrong with that; welcome, new fantasy readers, and we hope you stay and enjoy the rest of the genre!
*The references also to many classic TV shows and movies, both SF and non-SF, everything from the coyote and the anvil to "Where castle?" to car chases.
*The characters who are neither all-bad nor all-good, but show signs that even though they are relatively "bit parts" right now, they have complex enough personalities that they might become more. Kevin Groves, the obnoxious tabloid reporter, for example, has a few good qualities, and shows some signs that in an emergency, he might be capable of doing good things. And Chester Bane, well, I have the feeling there's a LOT we don't know about Chester, and some of it will turn out to be supernatural sooner or later.
I do have a few small quibbles with the book: the Demon Lords' names don't sound right for demons to me. (Demons have first and last names? Really?) And Huff uses the phrase "red-gold eyebrows" too often, which is especially confusing since sometimes she is referring to Mason Reed, and sometimes to Henry. But those are pretty small change.
I will say that those of you who are squeamish about sex - although I doubt there are too many of such people reading urban vampire fantasies to begin with - would find some things to be squeamish about here. There is sex - gay, straight, and mixed. It's all necessary to the plot, appropriate in context, tastefully done, and not overdone - but it's there. So if that sort of thing bothers you... there is also a lot of use of four-letter words, again appropriate in context and not overdone, but if those bother you... They didn't bother me at all, because they went with the plot and characters so well, and let me tell you, I have a pretty short threshhold for unnecessary sex scenes and unnecessary vulgarity, so this must be well done, since I liked it. But you probably wouldn't want to give this book to a 12-year-old to read. I'd say 16 and up, at least, older if you really have hangups about your teenagers being exposed to anything at all graphic.
In summary: great continuation of the series, best enjoyed if you read all the others in order first; terrific characters, with lots of potential for more.

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This third novel in Tanya Huff's action-packed series features Tony Foster and the crew of "Darkest Night," a TV series about a vampire detective. This time they find themselves facing another supernatural menace, a Demonic Convergence. Tony-with the help of vampire Henry Fitzroy and Leah, a stuntwoman who is the last surviving priestess of a sex demon, plus a tabloid reporter and a Canadian Mountie-must keep the key to the convergence alive to prevent a demonic invasion so large scale that it could be the finale-for the whole world.

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Smoke and Mirrors (The Smoke Trilogy, Book 2) Review

Smoke and Mirrors (The Smoke Trilogy, Book 2)
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Smoke and Mirrors, by Tanya Huff, is the second book in her new Tony Foster series, highlighting the mystical adventures of a production assistant (and junior wizard) who occasionally pals around with vampire Henry Fitzroy in his off time. The first book was quite good; the second book is fantastic. A traditional "haunted house" story, it simply explodes beyond the confines of the genre, primarily through the strength of Huff's writing and characterization. Fans of shows like Forever Knight or Buffy: the Vampire Slayer or even Blood Ties--based on the Vickie Nelson/Henry Fitzroy series by Huff--may find great pleasure in the affectionate skewering of the type in this book. Smoke and Mirrors has a wry sense of humor. It's laugh-out-loud funny in some places and genuinely horrific in others, manipulating reader's emotions deftly as Tony and his hapless companions set out to save the day.
Some readers, I know, have been disturbed by the fact that Huff's hero is gay--unabashedly so--and some reviewers have mentioned discomfort with Tony's active, on-page love life. I personally found nothing distasteful about Tony's interactions with other men, which are no more explicit than I've encountered in many other books of this type and *considerably less so* than some (Laurell K. Hamilton, anyone?). If the idea of men kissing is a buzz-killer for you, you probably ought to look for another series. For me, the protagonist's keen interest in his love life just contributes to his three-dimensional nature. I find him charming.
Smoke and Mirrors dazzled me from very nearly the first page, and I read the whole with tremendous pleasure. It goes on my "enthusiastically recommend" list, and I will be looking forward tremendously to my opportunity to read Installment 3.

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Holy Smokes (Aisling Grey, Guardian, Book 4) Review

Holy Smokes (Aisling Grey, Guardian, Book 4)
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"Holy Smokes" is the fourth in a series and it's immediately apparent, on reading the book, that it very much helps to have read the previous novels. There are a lot of characters and is a huge amount of world building that isn't explained in any depth in this novel and it's quite hard going for someone new to the series to follow all the different situations, people and powers.
Aisling Grey seems, in a rather Anita Blake manner, to have picked up a number of different skills/roles in the course of this book series. Not only is she a Guardian but she is also a Demon Lord, a Dragon's mate, a Prince of Abaddon and various other things. She has a voice in her head trying to encourage her to the dark side, a demon familiar that's a dog and various other assistants who appear at various times. Her love interest, Drake (a dragon) spends a lot of this book disappearing, being kidnapped and keeping things from Aisling - they are meant to be getting married but things keep getting in the way so that one or other of them doesn't make it to the church. A side note, here, that if you didn't arrive for your wedding in a Church of England church on Saturday there is no way you could have the wedding the next day instead - things just don't work like that!
Anyway, the wedding is a theme throughout the book as various things crop up that require Aisling and Drake to go off and do some troubleshooting. They travel around a lot, both in Europe and to Abaddon, various old foes reappear, along with some new friends (or are they friends?) The plot has many strands taking place at the same time and Aisling seems to spend most of her time rushing ahead where angels fear to tread, getting in the way of things that she doesn't know about, and requiring Drake to tell her he loves her. But despite all this she's an appealing character despite her blundering and her desire to trust people comes across well, if a little naive.
For those who have read this series from the beginning they will enjoy this latest episode. For newcomers to this series this isn't a great book to start with as there is too much backstory to catch up with and too many plot threads to give it an overall shape.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox 2007

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A new Aisling Grey, Guardian, novel from the author of The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires Drake Vireo, the green dragon of Aisling's dreams, is finally ready to make an honest woman of her-if she can ever get him to the altar. Being stood up cools Aisling's jets, but not her passion, which is a good thing when Drake disappears and it's up to Aisling to find him. At least her doggie demon Jim is always at her side. Just call him a Guardian's best friend.--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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The Smoke Thief (The Drakon, Book 1) Review

The Smoke Thief (The Drakon, Book 1)
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I hate it when a good idea and good writing gets ruined by the misconception that a manipultive, abusive liar is a romantic lead. Christoff repeatedly ignores, insults, and disrepects the heroine. When he finally bullies her into submission, they ride off into the sunset, happy and in love.
In a "passionate" moment, he doesn't care if it is "rape or seduction" as long as he can have sex with Clarissa. Any hero that can confuse rape with passion is no hero.
I like a strong male as the love interest, but when his "strength" destoys her hopes and makes her miserable, I could only feel disgust for him and for her for not having the backbone with him that she had everywhere in the rest of her life.


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For centuries they've lived in secret among northern England's green and misted hills. Creatures of extraordinary beauty, power, and sensuality, they possess the ability to shape-shift from human to dragon and back again.Now their secret–and their survival–is threatened by a temptation that will break every boundary....Dubbed the Smoke Thief, a daring jewel thief is confounding the London police. His wealthy victims claim the master burglar can walk through walls and vanish into thin air. But Christoff, the charismatic Marquess of Langford, knows the truth: the thief is no ordinary human but a "runner" who's fled Darkfrith without permission. As Alpha leader of the dra´kon, it's Kit's duty to capture the fugitive before the secrets of the tribe are revealed to mortals. But not even Kit suspects that the Smoke Thief could be a woman. Clarissa Rue Hawthorne knew her dangerous exploits would attract the attention of the dra´kon. But she didn't expect Christoff himself to come to London, dangling the tribe's most valuable jewel–the Langford Diamond–as bait. For as long as she could remember, Rue had lived the life of a halfling–half dra´kon, half mortal–and an outcast in both worlds. She'd always loved the handsome and willful Kit from the only place it was safe: from afar. But now she was no longer the shy, timid girl she'd once been. She was the first woman capable of making the Turn in four generations. So why did she still feel the same dizzying sense of vulnerability whenever he was near?From the moment he saw her, Kit knew that the alluring and powerful beauty was every bit his Alpha equal and destined to be his bride. And by the harsh laws of the dra´kon, Rue knew that she was the property of the marquess. But they will risk banishment and worse for a chance at something greater. For now Rue is his prisoner, the diamond has disappeared, and she's made the kind of dangerous proposition a man like Kit cannot resist....In this bewitching novel, Shana Abé transports us into a world of exhilarating romance and magic.From the Hardcover edition.

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