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Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
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New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
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Showing posts with label Berkley Trade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Berkley Trade. Show all posts
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Review: Enthralled Anthology
Enthralled
Author: Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook, Lucy Monroe
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
ISBN: #978-0425253311
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Steampunk, Fantasy, Anthology
Format(s): Paperback (464 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Received as a gift
About the book:
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Lora Leigh - The Devil’s Due (Breeds #28)
Leigh's stubborn Breed meets her match, and can deny neither him nor herself.
Alyssa Day - The Curse Of The Black Swan (League Of The Black Swan #1.5)
Day introduces the League of the Black Swan, and a woman cursed to kill the man she loves.
Meljean Brook - Salvage (Iron Seas #3.5)
In Brook's steampunk Iron Seas world, a man bereft of everything finds his marriage in jeopardy, and sky pirates stealing his wife.
Lucy Monroe - Ecstasy Under The Moon (Children Of The Moon #3.5)
Monroe unleashes a werewolf's passions on the body, mind, and soul of his prey, his lover, his lifemate.
What I’m talking about:
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The Devil's Due by Lora Leigh (Breeds series)
Katie is a unique woman whose Breed DNA did not manifest until she was in her twenties. Due to this, and the imposing testing requirements of her homeland in Europe, Katie seeks asylum in the US with Callan Lyons and the US Division of Breed Affairs. Here she is a protected guest, with the notorious Devil as her body guard.
Although the opening prologue was confusing, these early events do not have a big impact on the entire novella (although for readers of the series, it will probably come into play down the road). The entire story flows smoothly after the group move to the US and settle in.
Katie and Devil are SO HOT together! This is the Breeds I’ve been missing in the last few titles. The pair are overcome by the Breed’s mating hormone - and since both are Breeds, they both exhibit the signs, including insatiable lust and desire. What makes the story fun is that Devil realizes immediately that the mating hormone is being produced, even though he had thought it was just rumor prior to his own experiences. And poor Katie--she has no clue.
The novella takes place within the timeline and plot of the larger Breeds series story arc. For fans of the series, there are a few clues for the overall story and some fun surprises. I feel someone new to the series could read this novella, but it would probably not be as enjoyable since there is a lot going on, and it does tie into the bigger story.
Overall, The Devil’s Due is a hot and sweet story of two breeds coming together. They both enjoy their mating heat and don't fight the coupling--in fact they want it, which is a refreshing change from most Breed books. There is little conflict within this story, but hints of a war brewing in the larger story arc. Things were left open ended with respect to the bigger picture.
4 stars.
The Curse of the Black Swan by Alyssa Day (League of the Black Swan prequel)
Sean, half human-half fire demon, is a firefighter in Bordertown. Although it is a paranormal friendly area, being part demon isn’t something accepted in town, and so Sean and his family hide their true natures.
Brynn Carroll is a woman cursed to turn into a black swan and sing songs to the moon every third night. She is determined to break the curse by never falling in love. Then one night, Sean witnesses Brynn transform, and the pair hit it off immediately.
The story is sweet and fun. I adore both Sean and Brynn - two lonely people who come to realize that they can be themselves and be accepted. The story follows their courtship while Sean attempts to solve the mystery as to who is starting magically enhanced fires.
Without spoiling the story, my only negative is that I wish we'd been told how “things” transpired at the end to come to the conclusion it did. The Curse of the Black Swan is a wonderful little story, happy and sweet. I adored both the romance and mystery. Although it ties into the overall mythology of Ms. Day’s new series, it can be enjoyed as a stand alone.
4.5 stars
Salvage by Meljean Brook (Iron Seas)
When Georgiana and Thom married years ago, she thought he understood her desire to have a husband who stayed home. Her expectations were shattered when Thom sailed off the morning after they were married. She may have been able to forgive that one time, but his last trip has kept him away for four years (and he abandoned her while they were copulating)!
Georgiana discovers Thom (whom we met briefly in Heart of Steel) badly injured and washed-up on shore near their home. She drags him back home, and together with the doctor, she nurses Thom back to health. Before she can ask Thom to leave for good, the pair are kidnapped and forced to make a daring salvage expedition.
Ah... I just love Ms. Brook’s world. Salvage is yet another marvelous stand alone story in her amazing Iron Seas series. Thom and Georgiana are wonderful characters, both strong as individuals, but not so much as a married pair. The reader learns so much of their situation through their individual POVs. Thom's POV is so sad. He loves and craves Georgiana; he just never figured out how to give her what she needed. And Georgiana thought she was so clear in her coversations with Thom, but it’s not until the pair are held in captivity do they really talk it all out.
Salvage reads with the details and descriptions usually found only in a full-length novel. The action is fairly intense and exciting; the plot is engrossing. All of the characters are well-developed and fun. It is a wonderful story about second chances. Being kidnapped and threatened with death allows Thom and Georgiana to share their feelings and passion uninhibited.
4 stars
Ecstasy Under the Moon by Lucy Monroe (Children of the Moon)
Ecstasy Under the Moon is the only title in the anthology that is a new-to-me author and series. Thankfully, Ms. Monroe includes a detailed prologue; however, even with the details, I was lost for a while.
Ean are bird shifters that have stayed hidden for years. The Faol are wolf shifters. There is a bad history of the Faol hurting and killing the Ean. So it comes as a great shock that the high priestess of the Ean, tells of visions that the Faol and Ean will need to merge tribes.
Una and her father are not pleased with the news that emissaries of the Faol shall come to live with the Ean. However, once Una meets one of the Faol warriors, Bryant, in the Chrechte spirit realm (in her dreams), her attitude begins to change. Even her long-held fear of the Faol begins to dissipate.
Ecstasy Under the Moon has a traditional fantasy feel, more so than a paranormal romance. The world-building is extremely complex and intense. I enjoy fantasies, so this did not bother me; however, if you are looking for more of a light-hearted PNR, this one may not be for you. The highland/Scottish clan setting also gave it a historical feel.
I liked the easy-going nature and flow of the story after I became grounded in the world. Bryant is a noble man/wolf, and I admire what he is trying to accomplish with his Faol brethren. I enjoyed the stories of his history, which piqued my interest and left me wanting to know more. The story had a strong message of good over bad and “never judge a book by its cover.” It never got deep, but had a solid message.
There was also a bit of humor - subtle, but fun.
Overall, Ecstasy Under the Moon was enjoyable. It was my first introduction to Ms. Monroe's series. Even though it is obvious that there is much to Ms. Monroe's world, and possibly several other books, I was able to enjoy this as a stand alone.
3.5 stars
In conclusion, Enthralled is an extremely enjoyable anthology, especially for those that read some or all of the series represented.
Overall Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series:
Monday, July 8, 2013
Review: Fangs for Nothing by Erin McCarthy & Kathy Love
Fangs for Nothing
Author: Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
The Fangover #2
ISBN: 978-0425257449
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (304 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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When one of their own ties the knot with a dominatrix (no pun intended), The Impalers—a vampire rock band—are ready to party down. But trouble awaits them once again when they wake up…
Attending their bandmate Saxon’s wedding seemed simple enough for Johnny Malone and Drake Hanover. But after waking up in a dominatrix’s dungeon, they realize their cash and cell phones have been stolen—along with the bride’s wedding dress and the groom. And then there’s the matter of the two women in the room…
Loose cannon Johnny is handcuffed to Lizette, an uptight paper pusher. She wants to help save Johnny from the horrible fate in store for him at the hands of the Vampire Alliance, but he won’t sign the paperwork. Then there’s Josie, the waifish caterer from the reception, who rescues Drake from a sex swing. Josie may be cute and make a great cupcake, but Drake knows she might also be the thief. Or it could have been that gang of drag queens all dressed as Cher…
Regardless, Johnny and Lizette need to get out of these handcuffs. Drake and Josie need to find their missing belongings. And Saxon needs to be located before the Vampire Alliance comes down on them hard…
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Fangs for Nothing, a dual effort for Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love, combined cross-dressing with sunlight-avoiding vamp rockstars in one of the cutest, quirkiest, funniest reads this summer. I’m not gonna lie. I yearned for moments that I could sink my teeth into this cute story, set in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Vampire + Domme = crazy wedding antics. Add in Cher through the Decades and the insanity begins! You’d think that Saxon and his bride, Zelda, would be the main focus of this title… but not so. We’re focused on Johnny and Lizette (love that name!) as well as Drake and Josie Lynn. Watching their antics to solve the age-old high school prom-ish mystery, ‘Who spiked the punch?!?’, was intense and hilarious!
What I absolutely adored: They all woke up in Zelda’s ‘dungeon’ in various states of undress and creative dress. Lizette’s propriety. Josie Lynn’s intensity. Johnny’s change. Drake…period. He qualifies as Hunk-o-the-book for me. The entire plot arc – especially the conflict resolutions between the couples.
Things I wasn’t too keen about: The bat thing. It was, however, creative!
It’s really difficult to write a review without gushing about some of the antics of the ensemble. It was such a fun read – I don’t want to ruin it for anyone! Fangs for Nothing is a perfect vacation read! Steamy enough to fill a sauna, yet light-hearted and comedic. Totally awesome break from my traditional reading fare.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Review: Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes
Viral Nation
Author: Shaunta Grimes
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
ISBN: #978-0425265130
Genre: Young Adult (Urban Fantasy)
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.
What G & U are talking about:
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Viral Nation is a new young adult novel in a post-apocalyptic world. Due to a nasty viral outbreak, populations were decimated; leaving survivors encamped in walled cities. The cure to the virus that saved the world turns out to be a future drug. The suppressant was brought back from the future, manufactured by the Company who then started to take over… everything.
It is an ominous world that Clover and West live in, although they don’t know it. This new world is what they grew up in. Children only attend primary school. After primary school they either work growing food for the government or they go work for the Company. If a child is particularly bright, they attend the Academy where, upon graduation, they are able to obtain high-level positions in either the Company or the government. Life within the walled cities is safe and crime is nonexistent. With the Company keeping tabs on future events, they are able to detain and execute criminals prior to committing the crimes.
Clover is an extremely intelligent young woman who just so happens to have Autism. West, her older brother, has cared for her since their father moved up the ranks within the Company and was required to live in the barracks. They have come to depend on each other.
West is looking forward to Clover going to the Academy. With her intellect it is a no brainer that she will certainly get in. This means West can follow his dream of working for the Company as soon as Clover leaves to live in the dorms. However nothing ever seems to go as planned. When Clover attends her interview for the Academy, she is sent to the Company to work instead. Strangely not only does she get sent directly from her interview to the Company, but straight on to her first training mission. From there, Clover’s future is changed, along with West’s and that of the few friends they meet on the way.
This is not the only strange issue Gikany and Una find while reading Viral Nation. We do not know anyone personally that is autistic. However, we felt that Clover’s autism was not severe. She seems far more social than what we would believe. Although Clover tenses and prefers to not be touched when under duress, she seemed more accepting of it when calmer. It felt like she would have an autistic moment and then continue on as a stubborn, seriously smart girl. Maybe it is due to her being only mildly Autistic, but we are given the impression that she is supposed to be more than mildly Autistic.
Another issue we found a bit off-putting was when Clover is on her mission (we are keeping this spoiler free). There is a portion when traveling that noise and vibration are an issue. Mango, a bulldog and her assistance dog, is subjected to the loud noise and vibration. Clover is up in a cushioned seat with her feet elevated on a board which minimizes the impact along with wearing hearing protection. From what we are allowed to believe, Clover lets Mango sit on the floor (getting full force vibration) and must endure the loud noises. With a dog’s sensitive ears, it must have been cruel. This really bothered us.
Although we felt Viral Nation had a few issues, we did find it to be an interesting world. Considering how we are left at the end of the novel, we would like to see what happens in the next installment. We do recommend Viral Nation to any age starting at seventh grade and above. It is a good mix of urban fantasy and light science fiction.
Their Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Purchase Info:
Labels:
3 stars,
Berkley Trade,
G-U Review,
paranormal YA,
Shaunta Grimes,
YA Literature
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1 comments
Monday, June 17, 2013
Review: Entwined With You by Sylvia Day
Entwined With You
Author: Sylvia Day
Release Date: June 6, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Crossfire series #3
ISBN: 978-0425263921
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format(s): paperback (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publicist
About the book:
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From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn't resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside--so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.
No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I'd been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.
Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession...
What VampBard’s talking about:
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I want to go on record saying that I was glad to see Gideon and Eva again. I absolutely adore them as a couple, and I have no doubt that they make the perfect couple. I see that. I feel that. Stuff happens in the lives of every person out there, and they manage. Why should we be surprised that a couple as perfect for one another as Gideon and Eva are managing? We shouldn't. Marriage and commitment has become something that appears disposable in today's society. It's not.
With that said, I had some issues with Ms. Day's latest offering in her Crossfire series, which has increased from three to five titles. I do adore the characters, but I feel:
- Gideon was a hot mess in this book. A wuss.
- Eva...Brett... grr.
- Conflict was unnecessarily increased. No couple should have to endure this much crap.
- Eva seems like she drank the Kool Aid. She normalizes thinking errors.
- Eva pushes past 'NO' and 'Stop'. Which pissed me off.
- Why add in the Cary drama? Oh... wait... I see now. Nevermind.
- Don't leave me hangin' about Megumi. I like the sassy receptionist.
- San Francisco. Foreshadowing book 4. That is all.
- Deanna. No one flips from ticked to helpful in 30 seconds flat. Over a glass of wine. Once scorned.
- Spying. Not attractive.
So, while there's a list of things that annoyed the crap out of me, I have to say that this was sweet sexy compared to the intense and smokin' hot encounters between Gideon and Eva in the first two titles. Entwined With You seems to be a transitional piece, and as 'that' book, I think it works. I liked the fact that Eva stopped worrying about what everyone else thought, and that she did something for her. For her heart and soul. It's no spoiler that Gideon and Eva end up together. A love like theirs is intense. It's a burning that draws in anyone observing, including readers. The slow simmer of their heat is undeniable. I don't know how many other euphemisms I can use to describe them. You get the idea. What I liked about the journey of this title was watching them basically tell the rest of the world to bugger off and seeing to their own happiness. There's several specific things that I really liked, but no spoilers!
Sure, we're left with stuff unresolved. There's 2 more books to work out the rest of the kinks, after all. I suppose I'm rather annoyed that I have to wait for 2 more books to see how the ultimate HEA plays out. As far as I'm concerned, we have a HEA now, but there's still some conflicts to resolve. Not quite sure why it's going to take two more books, though. It's obvious that Gideon and Eva can weather any storm. I'm interested to see how Ms. Day finishes up the series, but I don't know whether I'm interested enough to read the next two tiles in the series.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Review: Wicked Memories by Nina Bangs
Wicked Memories
Author: Nina Bangs
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Castle of Dark Dreams #7
ISBN: #978-0425256077
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (304 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley
About the book:
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Thorn Mackenzie was a young Viking when he met Sparkle Stardust long ago. She used him and then abandoned him. Over a thousand years later, he has finally found a way to repay her. Employing his power of persuasion, he assembles a team that can create the ultimate fantasies and illusions. The group will work together in Nirvana, the amazing amusement park Thorn has built—right across the street from Sparkle’s Castle of Dark Dreams. To fight back before Thorn bleeds her business dry, Sparkle must hire a spy.
Kayla Stanley needs extra money, so she reluctantly agrees to do some sneaking and peeking for Sparkle. But as she gets closer to Thorn, she discovers they have a lot more in common than just a need to crush the competition and a willingness to fight dirty. As sexual tension between them mounts, she finds it harder to see the gorgeous Viking as her enemy. But with an evil force working to destroy their city, they may not survive long enough for her to help him overcome his... Wicked Memories.
What B is talking about:
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Setting her sights on law school instead of joining the family P.I. business has left Kayla Stanley in need of additional funding for her education. So, when her father’s most “important client” requests her specifically for a job, she figures it’s a good way to keep her family happy a little longer, and earn some much-needed income at the same time. But, working for cosmic troublemaker Sparkle Stardust isn’t what she expected, and taking on the sexy vampire out to destroy what Sparkle’s built will mean an end to life as Kayla knows it—one way or another.
Living for centuries with nothing but a desire for retribution to keep him warm, Thorn Mackenzie has finally gotten close to his ultimate goal—to take down Sparkle Stardust and the business she holds so dear. Everything about his plan is perfect, except for the stubborn, human investigator she’s hired to help put him out of business first. How can one mortal woman make his heart feel alive after so many years of hatred and denial? Despite all the risks, he’s determined to keep Kayla close, no matter the cost.
This is the second novel in the Castle of Dark Dreams series I’ve read, and while still very entertaining, Wicked Memories doesn’t have the same frivolity I felt in the previous story, Wicked Whispers. That’s not a bad thing in this case, as it gives the denizens of the Castle a chance to really show what they are capable of when they all work together. Although this is Kayla and Thorn’s story, it’s really Sparkle Stardust who sets the overall tone of the book, which, given my increasing familiarity with Ms. Stardust, isn’t a huge surprise.
One thing I’ll say about Ms. Bangs is that she is very adept at matching up unlikely pairs. I liked both Kayla and Thorn a great deal, and even though there doesn’t seem to be any way for them to work out, they are actually quite perfect for each other. While Thorn’s name (which he chooses for himself) is remarkably fitting, it could just as easily apply to Kayla’s aptitude for causing her own brand of trouble. As Kayla struggles to accept the knowledge that humans aren’t the only beings to walk the earth, she finds that she can’t resist the one man she’s been hired to ruin. Thanks to her attraction to Thorn, not only is she no longer desperate to escape her assignment, she very much wants to stay. Thorn is likewise altered, his thoughts of revenge becoming muted by the vibrancy Kayla brings to his world.
Sparkle Stardust and Ganymede’s relationship is the anchor throughout the series, and she is definitely at her best when Ganymede is by her side. Vulnerability simply isn’t a trait I associate with Sparkle, but seeing her perfect veneer start to fray around the edges was refreshing. As was seeing all the nonhumans join in battle to fight off a Norse god looking to relocate to their turf. These characters fight hard and have lots of cool tricks, making for a great, if somewhat easy, fight to the finish.
Wicked Memories is a great addition to the Castle of Dark Dreams series. Even though it works well as a standalone, a familiarity with the other characters would have made it even more enjoyable. I read snippets and overviews from all the other books, which helped, but I regret not having followed the series from the beginning, and I’m enjoying reading them so much that I’d still like to go back to the very first one. I’m not sure what else Ms. Bangs might have in mind for the residents of the Castle, but I sincerely hope that the note of finality present in the last line of the story is an indication of even more adventures to come, rather than an ending.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Review: Fever by Maya Banks
Fever
Author: Maya Banks
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Breathless Trilogy #2
ISBN: 978-0425267066
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Format(s): paperback (416 pages), e-book
Book Source: Publisher / NetGalley
About the book:
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Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise...
Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.
When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.
Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Maya Banks certainly left me Breathless whilst reading the second title in that trilogy! LOL. Couldn't resist... but, seriously. Fever certainly ratchets up the heat index with the turn of each page.
When we left the Breathless hunks, Gabe had proposed to Mia, Jace's sister. Jace & Ash were OK with the idea, and neither were threatening beat his ass any longer. We pick up the story, rather seamlessly, at Gabe and Mia's engagement party. The focus has shifted from Gabe and Mia to Jace and Ash, as well as the beauty in their sights for the night. I have to say, I was really surprised that we had a menage at the beginning. Yeah. Starts hot, stays hot! HEAT INDEX: 4 out of 5. (I need to blush to issue a 5!)
I knew that this story was about either Jace or Ash after reading the first chapter at the end of Rush. It was obvious from the beginning that Jace would be our focus, however. I'm not quite sure what drew me to Jace as a hero. It could be his intent focus, his selflessness, or his compulsion to 'possess' Bethany. Over time, I think that as we grow and we have to control so much in our environment, it's important to have someone that will simply take over and make sure that everything is 'taken care of'. Don't think I'm talking about a D/s lifestyle being the be-all, end-all for everyone. I think that, at times, everyone needs someone to call the shots so they don't have to in SOME aspect of their lives, in a controlled manner. I'm not sure, but Jace feels like he's more THAT type of person than the complete Dom. While he SAYS he wants to dictate every minute of her day, it doesn't seem to me that he really wants to completely control Bethany. He wants her safe. He wants her taken care of. He wants her to be happy. Rarely were we shown that Jace dictated what Bethany should wear, or activities she was to attend. We weren't privy to the concept that Bethany was less than amenable to anything that Jace suggested, and we learned through the course of the book that Bethany was not an over-all sub. Jace was constantly trying to please Bethany without completely compromising his own perspectives on life. He did things FOR HER HAPPINESS that he never would have considered, previously.
I do think, however, that Jace wins the award for biggest transformation in this book. He changed from someone that resisted making connections with people – except for Gabe, Mia, and Ash – to being completely enamored with Bethany. His connection to Bethany caused him to grow as a character, for me. He was no longer the dude that wanted to kick the shit out of one of his best friends because he fell in love with his little sister. He had transformed into the person that KNEW what it was like to be so wrapped up in another human being that he understood the changes in his friend and sister. Jace seems to be the 'love at first sight' kind-of dude in this book. Realistic or not, Jace does fall for her from square-one.
Bethany, formerly homeless, was living in the lap of luxury, under the 'protection' of Jace. We learn some truths about Bethany, and while they don't 'make a difference' to Jace, I don't think they're completely forgotten. We see Bethany asserting her independence while concurrently thinking that it would be nice to have someone take care of her, as she's been on her own for pretty much her entire life. This is a totally realistic mentality, BTW. I work with kids that have been in the 'system' for a really long time. I work with the 'troubled' kids. In reality, they need to learn skills, and they need someone to give a shit long enough to help them learn these things. Bethany totally needed someone like that in her life, and it wasn't Jack (more on him later). Bethany was a totally believable character for me. She wanted to be cared for, but not in a smothering, all-encompassing way. I'm not sure whether that was expressly stated during the course of the book – in her actions and reactions – or whether it's me reading into the text, based upon my own experiences. Bethany is a pretty complex character, and I feel we could have seen more from her. Maybe there will be a wrap-up with Bethany in the next book. I felt like she wasn't fully developed, and that leaves me with a 'meh' feeling.
There were a couple major conflicts in this title, and I was comfortable with them both. The first involved Jace's relationship with Ash, and ensuring that he involvement with Bethany didn't push them apart. He had to make it OK with Ash, or his relationship with Bethany would be tainted. The other conflict involved Jack, Bethany's 'brother'. That was a hum-dinger...you'll have to read to figure out THAT situation! I was satisfied with the resolution of both, and I felt comfortable that the resolutions would be OK with the supporting characters as well as the main characters.
Overall, I felt that Fever, the second title in Maya Banks's Breathless trilogy, lived up to it's name. It raised the temperature with it's hotness, and ratcheted up the intensity of the characters. Since I read both Rush and Fever, I can't wait to read Burn (August 2013 release), and anticipate the words will cause incineration to the pages. Ash, after all, is our central character!
VampBard’s Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Monday, April 1, 2013
Review: Lush by Lauren Dane
Lush
Author: Lauren Dane
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
The Delicious Series #3
ISBN: # 978-0425256084
Genre: Contemporary Erotica
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Mary Whaley has her hands full running a successful catering company and overseeing her supper club. She has everything she ever wanted—or so she thought. When she meets ridiculously hot and very dirty rock star Damien Hurley at her friend’s engagement party, the attraction she feels is overpowering—and she isn’t about to deny herself.
Damien is used to a hard and fast life. He and two of his brothers started a band when they were fresh out of high school—then they hit the big time and stayed there. He’s also a legendary madman on the stage and in the bedroom. But when he meets Mary, something clicks, and the bad boy starts thinking he may have finally found something good.
What begins as a series of fleeting trysts soon gets much more complicated. Damien can’t figure out why Mary doesn’t want more from him. And before long, it’s Damien who wants more from Mary. But it turns out Mary is no stranger to celebrity news, and he’s got a very big job ahead of him: proving that he’s worth more than a one-night stand…
What Nima’s talking about:
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Lush visits the next member in a group of friends who call themselves “Delicious” in the Delicious Series. It lays out the relationship of Mary Whaley, the younger sister of Cal Whaley who found his happily ever after with Mary’s friend Juliet (and Gideon Carter in a three-way relationship) in the previous book, Tart. The course of this book reverses the traditional romance where a couple moves slowly from shy glances across a crowded room to steamy and can’t live without the other sort of fairytale.
Instead, Mary is immediately attracted to bad-boy rocker Damien Hurley and gives herself up to a hot and heavy one night stand. She tells herself that she’s too busy building her catering company to nurture a relationship, but still has “needs.” Damien Hurley is just the right guy to scratch that itch. Over the course of the story it goes from all about the physical chemistry to deeper, sweeter emotions. The story does develop a kind of depth that is missing at the beginning of the book.
It would seem that Lush has a lot of elements which make it easy to want to read: great food (I got hungry reading it) steamy sex, celebrity, ease with money, and supportive people who love you. It’s those same elements, however, that make a significant depth difficult to develop—the characters don’t really struggle with anything except themselves. In fact, as characters, they had nothing in common except their mutual attraction to each other. The emphasis at the outset on the physical connection makes it an unemotional read. By the time the characters develop deeper feelings, I was already over it. It would have made a better TV movie than book.
At its core, Lush is about trust, trust in oneself and trust in someone else. I felt Mary should have given Damien more of the benefit of the doubt when push came to shove. Mary proved herself in the previous books to be too smart to have the self-doubts she had during Lush. Her behavior at the story’s climax was immature and a little baffling. Only the intervention of certain family members brought back my attention and their part was too short. I would have loved to have seen that portion of the book expanded. The plot had a lot of potential, but it didn't really reach down deep enough to satisfy me. Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, in fact, it was better than Tart in my opinion, it just wasn’t a good book either.
Nima’s Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
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