The Elder Races world has always been full of hits and misses for me. Some books I absolutely love (Dragon Bound, Oracle’s Moon, Lord’s Fall, Kinked, The Elder Races world has always been full of hits and misses for me. Some books I absolutely love (Dragon Bound, Oracle’s Moon, Lord’s Fall, Kinked, most of the novellas) and some I really don’t (Storm’s Heart, anything with a vampire in it). I quite liked the Moonshadow series too, so I was intrigued to see how this new series would go. The Wyr will always be my absolute favourites, but I was willing to see what the full-blood humans had to offer in this magical world.
Oh dear. Whatever they have, I didn’t find it in this book. It starts well, it ends okay, but the three-fifths or so in-between didn’t do much for me.
I loved Molly in the beginning. I loved how she confronted her husband, I loved how she got the good stuff when she left, I loved how she took care of herself. I was less fond of her occasional brattish demands with Josiah, but I forgave her because she is going through a lot. Also Josiah is an asshole. He really he is. I know he has this grand mission and all, but wow, what a jerk.
I have no idea when they fell in love or even why. I don’t even know when Molly started to like instead of hate him. They have an attraction from the start, fine, but the deeper emotions came out of nowhere. I had little to no interest in their romance, and unusually for me skimmed their sex scenes, until right at the end when I felt like they had a chance to finally get to know each other. Especially Molly who changes so much throughout the book.
Oh, speaking of Molly and changes, here comes the spoiler. (view spoiler)[I hate accidental pregnancies, especially when the author makes a big deal of everyone using protection. It was already pretty obvious which way the wind was blowing when Molly made a point of bringing up choosing not to have children with her cheating scum of a husband, and then lamented the empty rooms in the house. Then came the split condom and Molly’s whole thought-stream about being on the pill, but not the normal pill because PlotConvenientReasons!, so she has to take the mini pill and, oh noes, she didn’t take it, because she was beat up and broken. The tortured logic! Urgh. Do. Not. Want.
Especially when the whole pregnancy is (a) ridiculously unlikely and (b) totally unnecessary. Molly is around forty, she’s never been pregnant before, she’s been on the pill for at least her entire marriage, but she gets pregnant after one encounter. Maybe her magic made her more fertile? I don’t know, because despite the dissertation about which pill she didn’t take and how to use a pregnancy test, she doesn’t seem to question the sheer coincidence. Also, Josiah is over a century old. Magic must be at work there too, because his swimmers should be dust.
The pregnancy is unnecessary because Molly already had enough reasons to run away and keep Josiah at a distance. I’ve already mentioned he’s an ass, but she needs to get out of Atlanta for her own safety and also has a teacher she’s aiming for. Perfectly acceptable reasons. The baby is not needed as an excuse to keep them apart.
It also isn’t needed to bring them back together. The conversation where Molly is telling Josiah he can’t be in the baby’s life because he’s too dangerous, and then turns around and says she’s going back to Atlanta in a few months because she needs her money and he’s not the boss of her – despite people being out to kill her, and you know, DANGER! Made me lose all respect for her. Especially as it’s a blatant plot manipulation to get her back in the action where her super special, ultra high levels of magic will be needed to fight the bad guys. It’s ridiculous – and it wasn’t even needed because the plot took a different turn anyway!
It would have been fine to have had them split up after New Orleans, be all sad and regretful, while Molly goes off to learn about her magic and Josiah gets back to work. His accident making the national news was all Molly needed to fly back, especially with his messed up communication spell. The baby is utterly redundant. You could take the entire plot strand out and nothing would change. Josiah’s near-death experience would have been enough to get him to change his mind, especially as Molly offers him something different to what he’s ever had before. (hide spoiler)]
I also agree with another reviewer that the use of the word holocaust is extremely jarring. No, it wasn’t coined purely to describe the horrific mass slaughter of Jews in WW2, but of all the words in all the thesauruses, Harrison not only went for that one, she used it twice in separate contexts in the same chapter. It wasn’t the only word usage I had issues with in the book, but it was the most extreme and makes everything else seem petty.
Throw in that a lot of this book is slow moving and perilously close to boring at times, and let’s just say it won’t be on my list of favourites any time soon. Sorry, but I'm not sure this Elder Races series will turn out to be for me. Alas, at present, these witches are closer to the vampires than the Wyr.
I’m always fairly confident of two things going into a Shelly Laurenston book. One, it will be hilarious. Two, the cast will be so big it will sometimI’m always fairly confident of two things going into a Shelly Laurenston book. One, it will be hilarious. Two, the cast will be so big it will sometimes feel like being spun around until you feel sick and then having your head smacked into a wall. Er, in a good way. Mostly.
Actually, the sheer number of characters coming and going in this book was sometimes a problem for me, especially at the start. It felt like it took ages for the book to settle down because we kept meeting so-and-so and their mate/spouse/significant other/sibling(s)/best friend/best frenemy/worst enemy/colleague/random stranger who happens to be standing next to them. It’s a lot and it’s relentless. But it’s also business as usual for this author, so I took some headache pills and waited for things to settle down.
Which of course they didn’t, because honey badgers. I love these badgers. Or, more specifically, I love these three sister badgers, because Charlie, Max and Stevie are amazing and their dynamic is hilarious. Epically violent too, but mostly hilarious. I wasn’t quite sure how Stevie’s story was going to go, given her many anxiety issues and unusual qualities, but Shen was a great match for her.
Oddly, I wasn’t that interested in the romance. There is some hot sex and they are a good match, but I didn’t really care. I like Shen, I like Stevie, I like them together, but there’s so much else going on that their relationship felt underdeveloped and shoved to one side. Especially because Stevie basically told Shen everything and that made it so – we are dating, you are my boyfriend, we’re in a relationship, I am seducing you, of course we’re in love. Shen resisted at times, but it always eventually worked because of who Stevie is. It wasn’t the best part of the book for me and I probably would have enjoyed it just as much without it. I felt the same about the main suspense plot. Which probably isn’t a good thing, but everything else was so much more fun and interesting. Even the ballet drama felt like it had more depth than the evil science mystery.
I did however love the pandas and the way Shen moves through shifter society, making his point without needing to be over-sized, overloud or oversensitive. The bamboo effect was particularly good. I loved Stevie making friends. I loved the funeral – their dad is awful, but it’s always so funny when he shows up. I also loved the end.
So in standard reviewing terms I probably shouldn’t have enjoyed this. The romance was overshadowed by pretty much everything, the mystery felt weak and under-explored and the longer running plot of the twins and evil Mairi didn’t really go anywhere. BUT that’s because everything else squashed them out of existence. The characters, the relationships, the whole shifter society is crammed with fun and detail and drama and crazy antics that I couldn’t not love it on some level. Sure, I frequently felt like I’d been punched, but I still came back for more. I have absolutely no idea how Max's book is going to turn out – and I can’t wait!
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)...more
This sounded like it would be a cute and funny read. Sadly, it wasn’t. If you like lots of family drama, including a really annoying twin brothDNF@23%
This sounded like it would be a cute and funny read. Sadly, it wasn’t. If you like lots of family drama, including a really annoying twin brother and a mother who clearly hates her daughter, then maybe you’ll like this.
It’ll also help if you don’t mind your heroine acting pretty immature for her age and have a love of in-depth legalese discussions about the minutia of rules and regulations. So many rules and regulations. So many discussions.
Alas, none of those are on my Must Read lists, so I’ll pass on this one.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)...more
The Moonshadow trilogy comes to a fitting end with a cursed sleeping king and the woman brave enough to wake him up. There is magic, there is war, theThe Moonshadow trilogy comes to a fitting end with a cursed sleeping king and the woman brave enough to wake him up. There is magic, there is war, there is hot, sexy romance and Robin finally has a chance to return home.
If you’re a fan of this series, or the wider Elder Races world as a whole, then this should tick all the right boxes for you. We see a bit of Morgan, we get a brief chat with Sophie and Nik, and even Dragos makes a short but effective appearance. And Kathryn, a minor character who has appeared in many of the Wyr-related books, finally gets her own chance at a HEA, which nicely ties this series in with the rest.
If you’re not familiar with anything I just said, but like your paranormal romance to have a strong, occasionally overbearing hero and a heroine more than smart and capable enough to bring him to his knees, then consider more boxes ticked. The spell hasn’t turned Oberon into the nicest of heroes, but even underneath it all he’s still a king, with all the dictatorial baggage that comes with it. Seeing Kathryn dismantle that was very satisfying. They also have scorching chemistry, which helped a lot.
Mostly, though, I was happiest for Robin. It was great to see the puck have his string of important moments. I love him and I loved how Oberon was (eventually) with him.
Passionate and intense at times, fierce and satisfying at others, I really enjoyed this final piece of the Moonshadow trilogy. I can’t wait to see where the Elder Races world turns next.
Although I thought this sounded cute, what really sold me was that cover – a Muslim superhero was something I definitely wanted to read. Alas, I’m stiAlthough I thought this sounded cute, what really sold me was that cover – a Muslim superhero was something I definitely wanted to read. Alas, I’m still waiting to read it, because this was nothing like I was hoping.
Firstly, these characters don’t read anything like fourth year university students. There’s a lot of swearing, but other than that, all the characters involved are really immature. Lilly is the worst of the lot. If she was actually twelve, I could understand her level of naivety, but she isn’t, so it was just annoying. Pairing the hijab her parents sent her with a Templar Knight tunic is… I think it was supposed to be funny, but it just summed Lilly up for me. She’s been living away from home for four years, but somehow remains incredibly childish and her view of everything is completely black and white. The idea of trying to become a Super without any plan as to how she’d go up against people with actual powers was disappointing. I at least hoped she’d have some sort of alchemy skills, but nothing.
Then again, this world is not at all well described. The idea is great and all, but there’s a distinct lack of detail. Are Villains really so awful, because it seems like a load of shallow entertainment considering the fact they get scored. In which case, what is Lilly defending everyone against, exactly? There’s a mention of a kid whose arm got broken in the crossfire between Supers and Villains, but again, no detail about how or what happened, or whether it was the Villains or Supers – or both – to blame. And what do they really do for the world? It seems like not a lot, which seems entirely pointless.
So, sadly, I didn’t enjoy this. If it had been set in a boarding school or with Lilly having just left home or something, I think it would have worked better for all the characters. More explanation about the world and how Supers and Villains fit into it would also have been nice. As it is, this was an interesting idea with a beautiful cover that sadly didn’t live up to my expectations.
(Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)...more
This book left me with a problem, because there are parts I liked, parts I really didn’t and an awful lot that I was indifferent to. I loved2.5 stars.
This book left me with a problem, because there are parts I liked, parts I really didn’t and an awful lot that I was indifferent to. I loved the idea of an amnesiac werewolf and I liked most of the characters, but the main problem I had with the book was that it was too long, dragging everything out before reaching a very unsatisfying conclusion where absolutely nothing is resolved except the romance.
Although, that might not be as concluded as I’d like to think either, because over the course of this book Natalie and Fella/Ripper have a few moments where they seem to be heading towards HEA and have everything settled, and then Natalie will have a sudden panic about something and one or other of them will flounce off because they’re better off apart and talking is not something they’re capable of doing. There’s a lot of not talking and making massive assumptions, on both sides, and it’s all a bit irritating. Especially the big huff towards the end, because the fallout is completely not in keeping with any of the characters involved (especially Ripper’s family), but is highly convenient for the big ol’ plot climax.
Speaking of the plot, it takes a long, long time for it to get going, and although I can see the suspense side of things is the sort that’ll run over the course of a few books, or possibly the whole series, there are several strands and it would have been nice to have had at least one of them conclusively solved. Which doesn’t happen here and left me slightly cheated after sticking with it for so long.
Which is sort of like the sex scenes. Actually, there’s only really one. It’s early on and hot, with a kinky twist. But it also felt a little “off” to me, thanks to the way Ripper brings out his kink without asking at any point if Natalie’s okay with it. Saying you won’t hurt her is not good enough. A simple, “is this okay?” would have sufficed without breaking the mood, he didn’t have to stop everything, sit her down and explain it all (though a bit of advanced warning would be nice), but nope, Ripper just ties her up and away we go.
It made me a little uncomfortable, if I’m honest, and it was also really weird because it is pretty much the only sex scene in the book. These two have plenty of sex, but every other scene fades to black. Which is important when we learn a few things about Ripper and why he acts the way he does during their first time. Except THEY NEVER TALK ABOUT IT! Both reach the same conclusion on their own, but they don’t talk, and it would have been really nice if they had, and maybe we could have seen Ripper being a little less intense. Or Natalie being a little less startled by his rope tricks. Or both of them having a lot more fun, say when they’re messing about around her apartment. If the rest of the book had had more sex, maybe it wouldn’t have been so awkward, but it sets a hot tone early on that the rest of the book bypasses in a very strange way. It also glosses over a few things, like Natalie’s injured elbow – which I can’t see how Ripper could possibly have tied up without hurting her further, especially as she pulls at the ropes on her wrists – and the radio intercom Natalie wanted to set up to enable a bit of privacy, or the self-defence lessons Serena wanted her to have. Any of which would have provided far more entertainment than another round of doubting Natalie or oblivious Ripper.
Also, am I the only person who has heard of Saarloos Wolfdogs and think they’re the perfect excuse for having a dog that looks too much like a wolf? No need to completely make up some Hungarian breed, because there’s already a Dutch one (and a couple of others). Just Google wolfdog and you’ll find plenty. Unless you’re Natalie.
All of which is a real shame, because there’s plenty of stuff about this book to like. Natalie and Ripper are pretty cute together and I loved Ripper’s family – his brothers and male cousin were all a bit interchangeable, but Serena and his uncle were great. There’s a lot of world-building to be done, introducing Natalie to their supernatural lives, but these two provided excellent info-dump conversations and show that it is possible for characters to actually talk to each other in a meaningful and useful way. I also really liked the disconnect between the rules of a wolf pack and the way Natalie is used to living. Her chef boss and the handsome detective were good too.
But the book is too long and there are too many places where nothing much is happening except unnecessary relationship drama between Natalie and Ripper. I thought everything was building towards a big showdown, and although there is a fight at the end, it didn’t end in any way I was expecting and was less exciting or interesting than an earlier dramatic moment. All of which left me feeling flat and a little let down by this book. It has potential and the Foresters themselves are great fun, but I probably wouldn’t want to wade through it again and I’m not convinced the next one will be any different. Still, my curiosity might just be enough to tempt me back one day.
(Review copy provided by the author via NetGalley.)...more
I can’t believe this is the last ever Pia/Dragos novella. I love these two, they’re my absolute favourite thing about the Elder Races world, and I canI can’t believe this is the last ever Pia/Dragos novella. I love these two, they’re my absolute favourite thing about the Elder Races world, and I cannot believe that they’re never going to be the stars again. The story does make it clear why and how, because things are definitely shifting in the wider world and Dragos is just too old, too powerful and too protective of his family to want to cope, but still, I love these two.
Enough whining. This story is a typical Pia/Dragos tale. Their relationship has been strained by Pia’s difficult second pregnancy, but underneath it all, they definitely still love each other – as the unfolding events show. Trouble is never far behind these two, but I loved how Pia stayed strong despite all that happens, and how Dragos tries to rein it in for her sake. It was also so good to see him working with Rune again.
Because this is such a short read, with a fair few things happening in it, it’s hard to talk about without spoilers. All I can really say is that I enjoyed the whole thing. There is a definite lack of redeeming qualities to the baddies, but Dragos is too large a grey area himself to allow for nuances in his enemies, and that side of things did end a bit quickly. But that’s okay, because there’s plenty more stuff that needs to be wrapped up – including the sheer cuteness of a certain new character.
Overall, this was an enjoyable last hurrah from these two, setting things up beautifully for a new phase in the Elder Races world. I’m sad their leading role in things is over, but I’m also excited about what’s still to come. As long as it has lots of Wyr in it, I’m pretty sure I’ll learn to cope.
There are only three words you need to know about this book: Honey Badger Shifters. If that doesn’t appeal to you, then move along. But if i4.5 stars.
There are only three words you need to know about this book: Honey Badger Shifters. If that doesn’t appeal to you, then move along. But if it does, whoo, you are in for a treat. I’m not quite sure how Shelly Laurenston does it, but she’s got this weird alchemical gift that takes massive amounts of violence, mayhem, crazy bad behaviour, sexy times and characters who should frequently annoy the spit out of me, and somehow turns it into this amazing wild hilarious ride that keeps me coming back for more. It’s a strange and twisted magic, but I love it.
I especially love the characters. Charlie, our main heroine, is the oldest of three half-sisters united by their honey badger father and his habit of constantly messing up their lives. She’s the oldest, most sensible one, an excellent organiser and a stress baker. But she’s also half wolf, half honey badger, so she has her moments of sheer violence and rage. She’s amazing, whether it’s wrangling her out of control siblings, handling military attackers or just befriending bears, I loved her.
I also loved Berg, a bear shifter triplet who takes one look at Charlie and falls in love. He’s adorable and strong and almost impervious to the overwhelming mess that is Charlie’s life and her sisters. I really liked his siblings too, both his even more oblivious brother and his awesome sister who takes charge with ease.
Then there are Charlie’s sisters – Max and Stevie. Wow, just wow, in all kinds of ways. Max is all honey badger and violence and murder and unnerving smiles, while Stevie is a genius tiger-badger mix with high anxiety and a hilarious reaction to bears. There is never a dull moment in this book, but whenever these two are involved, even the most ordinary conversation becomes supercharged. Plus there is a plot, quite a complicated at times plot involving family, but one that promises a lot more to come.
If you’re a fan of this author already, you’ll know what to expect, and this book is everything you could want from honey badger shifters. If you’re new, well, you’re either in for an absolute treat or… perhaps about to be in need of a lie down. This kind of writing will not be for everyone, but if mayhem and madness and seriously twisted humour work for you, then you should definitely give this a try. Can’t wait for the next one.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)...more
The Alpha and Omega series goes back to its roots in this latest installment. Not just because Anna and Charles are home, sorting out problems in AspeThe Alpha and Omega series goes back to its roots in this latest installment. Not just because Anna and Charles are home, sorting out problems in Aspen Creek, but because the wider plot cleverly loops back around to not just Anna’s beginnings in Chicago, but to where this whole world began with Moon Called from the Mercy Thompson series.
I loved getting to see more of the Aspen Creek pack – Asil especially, but also Tag and Sage, even Leah – as they tried to work out what was wrong with the Wildlings while Bran was AWOL. I especially enjoyed seeing how far Anna and Charles have grown, as a couple as well as individually. Charles is so much more than the bogeyman of werewolves, while Anna is really learning to explore her omega powers and stretch her instincts. The pair of them make a great team, but the fact that Anna is capable of working just as well away from Charles is one of my favourite things. He (and Brother Wolf) might want to protect her at all times, but he also understands what she needs in order to be strong enough to protect herself.
The plot is gripping, giving some fascinating hints and insights into different parts of this world. The Wildlings are a very interesting bunch, from sad Devon, through the unhinged Viking twins, right up to Hester and Jonesy. There’s clearly a lot more going on in Bran’s backyard than has ever been shown before, and now they’ve drawn the wrong kind of attention. It also sets things up very nicely for future books in the Mercyverse because all those hints about Sherwood Post are clearly not accidental. Plus there’s all those loose ends that need to be tied up.
However, this book also had another agenda, which seemed to be to improve everyone’s opinion of Leah, while also making us hate Bran. There’s an extremely creepy conversation that I wish I could scrub from my brain because, no, just no. But that aside, there is very little Bran positive space in this book. Even in the kindest reading he betrays the trust of the Wildlings by running away and leaving Charles to sort everything out, without even having the courtesy to provide Charles with the information he really needed to know.
I really didn’t like finding out how he essentially abandoned Charles for most of his childhood, only settling down when he brings Leah home, who hated this poor wild boy. Charles might be Bran’s son, but I can’t help feeling that Samuel is the one that gets all his concern and attention. I mean, okay, the pair of them have been together for over a thousand years, but Bran is a bastard to Charles – just look at the other A&O books to see evidence of how he continuously mistreats him. Samuel is old and fragile and must be protected. Charles is strong and must be pushed until he almost breaks. And that’s leaving out the whole Mercy thing. Speaking of Mercy, this book makes me doubly sad that she’s scared of Charles, when he’s the only one of this fucked up family who cares for her because of who she is, not what they want her to be. He looked after her as a child, while Bran threw Leah at her and Samuel wanted her to have his babies. Charles is the only Cornick worth knowing.
Then there’s Leah. I don’t think I’ll ever like Leah, but her relationship with Bran is messed up. I have a certain level of sympathy for her because of her marriage, and I did like seeing more of her in this book, but I don’t think I’ll ever forgive her for Charles and Mercy, because they were innocent children regardless of whatever her fucked up Bran-related reasons were. Which is fitting, because now I’m not going to be able to forgive Bran for the same. My opinion of Bran has been all over the place for a while – usually fairly positive in the Mercy books, less so in the A&O ones – but this time it’s taken a complete nosedive that it’ll be a struggle to recover from. He really is the Monster he calls his beast, but I’m thinking the wolf is the most honest and decent part of him.
But this book isn’t about Bran, dammit! And I refuse to let him, his behaviour and one suspect conversation spoil everything else. Because Asil is in this book. So much Asil! And Charles, and Anna, and we see a little bit of Kara too, and meet some really interesting old wolves that I’d love to know more about. There is so much more to this book than Bran, and that’s what I really enjoyed. I can’t wait to see where the whole Mercyverse heads next....more
Two very different shapeshifter novellas come together with a mix of mayhem, mystery and wolfish romance.
Like a Wolf With a Bone was full of Shelly LaTwo very different shapeshifter novellas come together with a mix of mayhem, mystery and wolfish romance.
Like a Wolf With a Bone was full of Shelly Laurenston’s trademark humour, but I’ll admit I found it a bit much. There are too many side characters and I found Darla’s sisters in particularly just blended into one. There are simply too many brothers and sisters floating around with too similar names for me to get a hold on them in just a short novella. The overall story is quite fun, but I wasn’t in the right mood for this kind of over the top, madcap family humour.
Wed or Dead is completely different. We have a human marrying a werewolf, lots of secrets and lies, a secret government agency and more family drama than you can shake a tranquiliser at. I found it an enjoyable if not particularly spectacular suspenseful read.
So overall I found this okay. If you love wolf-shifter romance then you’ll probably love it, especially if you’re already a fan of one or other of these authors. If you like crazy humour, then Laurenston always has you covered, but if you’re more a fan of suspense then Cynthia Eden does a pretty good job. Personally I liked the second more than the first, but neither one left me wanting to explore more of the series the came from.
(Review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.)...more
Eh. Okay, so I like dragons. No, actually, I love dragons, so that’s my excuse for picking this up. Also I wanted something easy to read.
Sadly, this rEh. Okay, so I like dragons. No, actually, I love dragons, so that’s my excuse for picking this up. Also I wanted something easy to read.
Sadly, this really wasn’t for me. Firstly, I really hated Lena’s brand of thievery. I’m not saying any kind of stealing is good, but the way she can take other magical creatures’ powers without their permission – even temporarily – was far too invasive and down right wrong for me. Which meant things didn’t start off too great.
Then there’s the olde worlde way this is written in – until it isn’t. Mostly the dialogue just doesn’t fit with the medieval tone the narrative keeps striving too hard for.
Throw in the whole dragon-mind-invading-sex-trick and additional chains and lack of boundaries and I guess this just wasn’t my kind of read. It’s not quite non-con because Lena is sort of into it, but it came pretty close – and I was done.
My long-running grumble about this cute series has always been “needs more Lumie”, so imagine my delight when I discovered that not only was this LumiMy long-running grumble about this cute series has always been “needs more Lumie”, so imagine my delight when I discovered that not only was this Lumie’s book, but that he also wasn’t about to be romantically paired up with Alloy. (Goldie? Who is Goldie? Did I miss something?) Then imagine my horror when I found out that Lumie was all grown up, whiny and lazy, and I didn’t like him much at all!
Thankfully this doesn’t last long. Yes, he’s a bit whiny and is very lazy, but he’s still cheeky little Lumie underneath, doing unfathomable things with his magic just because he can. And the way he feels about Goldie is so sweet. He tries so hard to make the quiet, nervous dragon smile for him, wanting him to feel safe and be happy, but he’s also mature enough to realise that not even his crazy-wonderful magic can fix everything.
I liked Goldie too, even if he is very nervy and uncertain at first, and his sudden sadness over Lumie giving up on him seemed to come out of nowhere. I absolutely adored seeing him overcome his fears and take control of his powers. He’s a strong dragon, but still sweet underneath, and a perfect match for Lumie.
It was also great to see Lumie face challenges for the first time. He’s pretty cocky about his abilities and how instinctive they’ve always been, so it was interesting to learn a little more about what they are and where they come from. I liked seeing the relationship between him and Goldie grow too. Just because Lumie’s always known Goldie was his mate, didn’t mean it was easy, so that was nice.
Away from these two, it looks like the overall plot has kick-started again, which is great because I was beginning to wonder just how much longer the series would continue. Now I have high hopes that there’s still plenty more to come, especially Alloy. This book needed more Alloy… because, apparently, I am never satisfied. Can’t wait for more!
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)...more
Containing two short novellas, I liked this second Warriors of the Wind installment more than the first, but this series isn’t really doing 2.5 stars.
Containing two short novellas, I liked this second Warriors of the Wind installment more than the first, but this series isn’t really doing much for me. However, if you’re looking for a short, easy paranormal read with hot, powerful men, women willing to stand up to them and lots of sex, then you’ll probably enjoy this.
Personally, I’d like a little more depth to everything going on, especially the characters, plus a little more exploration of the powers involved and a little less predestined romance stuff that sees everyone throwing themselves at each other just because!
I didn’t really enjoy Storm all that much, because Samia’s whole deadly assassin grows a conscience when faced with killing a beautiful man isn’t quite my thing. Seduction was better, because Antonio and Sophia at least had their work in common, but still, everything moves so fast and all falls so neatly into place that it just left me a little bored.
So overall this isn’t really my thing. However, if you want something light and easy, with a hint of heroic powers and plenty of steamy scenes, then you’ll probably enjoy this.
As a fan of Anna Hackett, I’ve long been curious about this old series of hers, so I was happy to hear it was being re-released. I’ve also always loveAs a fan of Anna Hackett, I’ve long been curious about this old series of hers, so I was happy to hear it was being re-released. I’ve also always loved the personification of the directional winds, so the idea of five brothers being in charge of them definitely piqued my interest.
However, this book didn’t really work for me. Part of it is the set up, which could have had the magic elements removed and come straight out of a M&B/HQN set up (well, they were the original publishers), with the rich Italian man living on his own island and the woman sent to work with him, striking sparks off each other as they resist (or don’t) their shared attraction. Not that there’s anything wrong with that kind of book, because I’ve read mountains of them, but if not you’re not really interested in Alphahole heroes who justify their behaviour because of a tragic past, then this probably won’t be for you either.
Aside from that set up, I also didn’t really like either character. Lorenzo is all brooding alpha, using his powers to keep his emotions at bay, while Riley is just plain pushy. She’s fiery and argumentative, and revels in testing Lorenzo’s control. She’s as much an alphahole as he is, using her powers in quite frankly invasive ways, and their relationship is pure lust – which he is trying to ignore, but she won’t let him.
The wider plot was more interesting and the action definitely improved towards the end. But it’s a short read with a lot to do and most of it didn’t really work for me. The characters didn’t interest me, the mythology did but was only briefly skimmed, and to be honest if this wasn’t an Anna Hackett book I wouldn’t have even finished it. However, if you like your paranormal romances to be quick, easy, lust-filled reads with more than a touch of contemporary Italian billionaire hero antagonised by a plucky, stubborn heroine, and aren’t too bothered with deeper world-building, character development details, then you’ll probably like it well enough.
The second Playboy Genie book is much like the first (Her Wish), in that it’s a fun contemporary romance that happens to have a hero who’s m3.5 stars.
The second Playboy Genie book is much like the first (Her Wish), in that it’s a fun contemporary romance that happens to have a hero who’s magical in many, many ways. Hailey is a stubborn, independent woman who is still recovering from a bad break up, Ryder is a gorgeous genie with commitment issues and a hidden heart of gold, and thanks to some high heels, sad eyes and a not-quite-accidental-bid, their paths not only cross but collide and get entangled in the best romantic way.
It’s cute. Hailey is a determined career woman who loves planning weddings for people. She is very detail focused and likes to be in control of every last thing, while Ryder is much more of an impulsive, live-for-the-moment kind of guy. Yet they get on really well. He’s straightforward and perhaps a little too blunt at times, but Hailey appreciates that, just as Ryder likes her sarcasm and sass. They see the person behind the front and like each other for who they really are, faults and all.
For the most part this is very much a normal contemporary romance, it’s just that the hero can flash them over to Rome for breakfast, or across the country to go horse riding, should he so choose. Which he does, but not too often. I actually liked how relatively normal Ryder is – perhaps because he’s only been a genie for ten years. He’s far more respectful with his powers than Jax was in the first book. Well, apart from the whole auction thing. He also has his twin, Leo, to help keep him grounded.
The romance itself takes a while to get going. Mostly because Hailey is very stubborn and still hurt by her awful ex (and the fact she now has to plan his wedding). There’s a bit of fake dating involved, then the no-strings deal, but it’s never in doubt where this is heading. The only question is how they will get there and what roadblocks will be thrown up along the way. I have to admit some of those roadblocks felt a little over the top, while another I expected to crop up sooner, but it does provide conflict and drama to keep things ticking along.
Overall, I liked this. I think Hailey and Ryder are a more believable couple than in the first book, but at the same time, it did occasionally feel a little too long and drawn out and I wasn’t as engaged with both characters as I’d have liked to be. Ryder is also just a bit too perfect, all things considered, almost too good to be true with all his amazing good points and relative lack of faults. However, it’s still a fun and easy read, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next one. I’m hoping for more of twin Leo – and that mysterious woman he was searching for at the party…
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)...more
This was fun, a lot of fun, mostly because I absolutely loved David. He’s a little bit geeky, occasionally clumsy, but he’s determined and endearing aThis was fun, a lot of fun, mostly because I absolutely loved David. He’s a little bit geeky, occasionally clumsy, but he’s determined and endearing and caring and funny and wonderfully stubborn that he’s going to keep this new job, regardless of what he’s grouchy beast of a boss has to say. I loved David’s quirkiness and the way he handled Alun’s interesting array of clients. In fact I would have been perfectly happy to have stayed in this part of the plot forever. After all, there’s plenty of scope to be found tackling the psychological issues of a supernatural community.
But this book isn’t just about David, it’s about Alun too. Or, more accurately, his curse. Because Alun is a high lord of the fae, once powerful and beautiful and arrogant, until it all came crashing down and he was left disfigured and exiled from his homeland. Now he lurks in shadows, helping out other troubled supernaturals and growling at David for being both human and far too attractive. He is grumpy at first, but I loved how David’s charm and quirks slowly work their magic on Alun, bringing out the man beneath the sulking beast.
I really enjoyed how things progressed between the pair of them, and I even liked it when the action moved over to the faerie realm. It wasn’t quite as fun or charming as the beginning, though, and things became a little predictable and a bit too much like many other fae stories I’d read before. David remained brilliantly entertaining, even under stress, so it was still enjoyable. However, it does all move pretty fast, and I’d really like to know a lot more about many, many things (Cassie, that new album, more clients, the lack of Welshness in Alun's accent, etc), I also wish the romance hadn’t been slightly shoved aside in favour of the curse-solving problem.
In all, though, this was a great start to this series, funny and cute and quirky. The supernatural element was nice and I enjoyed the romance, but really, this is all about David, and I would happily read an entire series devoted simply to him and his new life dealing with supernatural community. Sadly, I don’t think I’m going to get that, so I’ll just have to settle for Alun’s brothers instead. Can’t wait.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)...more
The X-Ops return with a cracking tale of mistrust, betrayal and revenge as the DCO is in crisis. Shifters are leaving, the new agents are useless and The X-Ops return with a cracking tale of mistrust, betrayal and revenge as the DCO is in crisis. Shifters are leaving, the new agents are useless and nasty rumours abound, but Trevor refuses to leave while Thorn remains free – and former-CIA newcomer Alina was simply hoping for a nice new job without any traitors in it. Sadly, the DCO is not a happy place for either of them.
But that hardly matters because Trevor is a man on a mission. He’s focused and determined, and suspicious of his new partner – not least because he’s so attracted to her. I liked Trevor. Yes, it takes him a while to trust Alina, but all thing’s considered you can see why. I liked Alina too, in her straightforward, kickass way. She is a great partner for Trevor, in many ways, not least because she’s strong and competent enough to keep up with him, even if she isn’t a shifter. She also adapts really well to the new world she’s thrown into.
And the world is pretty messed up this time around. The shifters are scattered, in hiding or trying to survive in the new DCO, John is gone, Adam is being his usual mysteriously annoying self and Thorn has plenty of nasty new tricks up his sleeve. The action rips along at a fairly slick pace, moving from investigation to altercation with ease, and the romance fits neatly into it all.
With another action-packed finale that leaves plenty of new questions to be answered, I really enjoyed this latest installment of the series and can’t wait for the next one.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)...more
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