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Showing posts with label Dell Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dell Books. Show all posts
Friday, December 9, 2011
Quickie Review: A Taste of Midnight
A Taste of Midnight
Author: Lara Adrian
Release Date: Dec. 5, 2011
Publisher: Dell
Midnight Breed #9.5
ISBN: #978-0-345-53259
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-book (novella)
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
|
A shimmering holiday gala lights up an ancient castle in the Scottish Highlands, but beautiful widowed Breedmate Danika MacConn feels alone in the crowd. Even among the friends and festivity of the Darkhaven celebration, she can’t forget her lost love, a fallen warrior of the Order. Her brief return to her mate’s homeland has become treacherous after rejecting the advances of a dangerous Edinburgh crime boss with a taste for blood sport.
As Danika seeks to expose the vampire and his dark trade, she discovers an unexpected ally in his forbidding, enigmatic henchman, Brannoc, a man who exudes heat, danger, and dark menace--and seems somehow achingly familiar. Bran has his own reasons for wanting to keep Dani out of his employer’s business . . . and his own secrets he means to keep buried. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a woman who tempts the wildest part of his Breed nature--especially when that woman is Danika MacConn, the one woman capable of bringing him to his knees.
What I’m talking about:
|
Danika MacConn lost her life-long mate while he was serving the Order... a band of warriors who protect Breeds (vampires) and humans alike from the darker side of their kind. Danika left the Order's Boston compound to live a quiet life with her Breed infant son in her native land. While reconnecting with her mate's family, she overhears a dangerous Breed criminal planning to use humans for illegal and horrific purposes, and Dani cannot let it go. (Note: you do not need to have read the series to read this story, back knowledge of the characters is not necessary.)
I have to admit, I was a little upset with Danika when she purposefully walked into a known criminal's place of business after refusing to ask for outside help in bringing this criminal down. As a mother, my first thoughts were "NO! you idiot, do you want to orphan your poor child? Don't be so stupid woman!" I got over that quickly, especially since it brings her into contact with Brannoc, and Dani realizes his true identity is a close childhood friend.
The fact that the pair were would-be lovers from long ago allows for an immediate and fiery passion to ignite. Their romance is not hampered by the shorter length of the story, and is enhanced when both acknowledge it is okay to move on after a mate dies. I could have done without the "I love you's" but in the end it didn't detract from their story.
There is a lot of action packed into this short story, which creates a "cannot set this book down" situation. I like that the storyline is self-contained, and there are no unanswered questions when the story is over.
For those fans of the wonderful Midnight Breed series, A Taste of Midnight is the perfect Christmas gift from Ms. Adrian. Not only does she give us a steamy taste of her Midnight Breeds, but she also includes an excerpt from Chase's book, Darker After Midnight. I highly recommend this enjoyable novella-length story for all paranormal romance readers - if you haven't tried this series, here is your chance to see what you've been missing. The story is a perfect capsule of the series flavor and Ms. Adrian's talent and writing style.
I have to admit, I was a little upset with Danika when she purposefully walked into a known criminal's place of business after refusing to ask for outside help in bringing this criminal down. As a mother, my first thoughts were "NO! you idiot, do you want to orphan your poor child? Don't be so stupid woman!" I got over that quickly, especially since it brings her into contact with Brannoc, and Dani realizes his true identity is a close childhood friend.
The fact that the pair were would-be lovers from long ago allows for an immediate and fiery passion to ignite. Their romance is not hampered by the shorter length of the story, and is enhanced when both acknowledge it is okay to move on after a mate dies. I could have done without the "I love you's" but in the end it didn't detract from their story.
There is a lot of action packed into this short story, which creates a "cannot set this book down" situation. I like that the storyline is self-contained, and there are no unanswered questions when the story is over.
For those fans of the wonderful Midnight Breed series, A Taste of Midnight is the perfect Christmas gift from Ms. Adrian. Not only does she give us a steamy taste of her Midnight Breeds, but she also includes an excerpt from Chase's book, Darker After Midnight. I highly recommend this enjoyable novella-length story for all paranormal romance readers - if you haven't tried this series, here is your chance to see what you've been missing. The story is a perfect capsule of the series flavor and Ms. Adrian's talent and writing style.
My Rating:
|
Labels:
4 stars,
Dell Books,
Lara Adrian,
Midnight Breed,
novella,
paranormal romance,
quickie review
|
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Thursday, October 20, 2011
Review: Night Moves
Night MovesAuthor: Stephanie Tyler
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: Dell
Shadow Force #4
ISBN: #978-0440423058
Genre: Military Suspense Romance
Format(s): Paperback (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book: |
Kell Roberts has walked the thin line between life and death for so long that it now feels like home. He is a soldier, a survivor, and a loner. Still, Kell cannot turn his back on the beautiful woman caught in his firefight against the drug lords of Mexico. She says her name is Teddie, but Kell senses there’s much more to her story—and it’s about to pull him into a mission he didn’t sign on for: keeping her alive.
Teddie Lassiter knows this lean, mean rescuer just saved her life, but the steel glint behind those soft gray eyes seem to be hiding something deep. The men after Teddie are deadly, but the man who holds her life in his hands and tempts her with his wicked touch is even more dangerous. He could make her dream about living and loving again. And if they can survive, maybe, just maybe, they can stop fighting the world and each other—and simply surrender.
What I’m talking about: |
Welcome to the high-stakes, fast-paced world of the Shadow Force! Ms. Tyler’s fourth installment is an exciting suspense mystery with multiple layers that all feed into one fantastic ride!
The story picks up not long after “band of brothers” that compromise “Shadow Force” (some current and some ex-military) are finally reunited in upstate New York. Their adventures thus far were chronicled in the first three books; however, you could easily pick up this story and read it on its own merits. The men and their women have been through some rough times, but things are about to get worse when a dangerous enemy of their leader, Dylan, resurfaces, vowing to destroy all that Dylan holds dear. Meanwhile, Kell and his best friend/partner, Reid, are on a covert operation in Mexico to assassinate a drug lord. Things go haywire when a near-death Teddie runs into the middle of their operation.
Teddie has her own problems to overcome. A runaway from the Witness Protection Program, she went to Mexico to find the men who murdered her family and prove her deceased father is innocent of the heinous crimes he is suspected of committing. When she is saved by Kell and Reid, she isn’t sure if she can trust the men who are just as dangerous as those out to kill her.
Night Moves starts off kicking and doesn’t slow down for very long. The multiple story lines intermingle and gel superbly. As someone who has read the previous books in this series, I will say that the book almost had a “last hurrah” kind of feeling; however after completing the book, I know this wasn’t the end. The men all band together and fight the common enemy. It’s very much and “all for one and one for all” situation. Not to mention the story has several nail-biter scenes that kept me glued to the book, completing the emotional piece that had me thinking the series would end here.
Kell and Teddie are a good match. Per the usual, both have pasts haunted with sorrow and regret. They are two lost souls searching for truth and justice, brought together because of circumstance, but staying together because of an intense (and immediate) connection. There romance was pretty good - not over the top, but sexy and sweet. I was a little disappointed near the climax of the story when the pair were imprisoned and Kell spilled his secrets to Teddie. It was a bit too easy for me to believe years of suffering melt away because he confesses to her. After hearing about Kell in the previous book, In the Air Tonight, I would have liked to get more of his background and time he spent hunting down the enemy. I was under the impression that he was a desperate man trying to save himself by protecting others. I wanted more of that angst.
I enjoyed Crystal, Dylan’s former mentor now mortal enemy. He is one of those bad guys that you love to hate - no redeeming qualities and beyond any help. He has no conscious and will manipulate to everyone to cause the maximum suffering. He is the mastermind behind the puppet show, bringing all of the pieces of the puzzle together. He alone kept me guessing what would happen next. I felt his demise was a little to simplistic, and I was honestly disappointed to see him go. (I can always hope...)
As the book drew to a close, I realized that the story was not going to be a happy ending for all the brothers of the team. Reid has met his match in Marshall Grier Catherine Grace Vanderhall, and I’m hoping we don’t have to wait long to read their story.
My Rating: |
Books in the Series
Promises in the Dark: Shadow Force Novel 2
In the Air Tonight: Shadow Force Novel 3
Night Moves: Shadow Force Novel 4
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Sunday Snippet #74
In The Air Tonight
Dell BooksAugust 2, 2011
He was slick from the shower—the only thing keep- ing him from being exposed a thin towel tied low on his waist... very low. Her eyes noted the light dust- ing of hair leading down below the towel.
“You’re staring.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sure you’ve seen it all before, being a nurse and all.”
“You’d think.” Her fingers played with the buttons on her borrowed shirt absentmindedly, unbuttoning, seducing, praying it would work.
Another button—he couldn’t tear his eyes away now and that was what she’d wanted from the second she stepped into the bar and laid eyes on him.
“Paige...”
“I like the way you say my name.” With the final button undone, she slid the big borrowed flannel shirt easily off her shoulders and let it drop to the ground. Her bra came next, too fast for him to think about protesting, thanks to the front clasp, and she could see by the strain on the front of his towel that nearly all protest had left him.
But he waited, so still, watching to see if she’d go all the way. And yes, she would...
She skimmed her stretch pants off, kicked them out of the way. She leaned in, letting her body press against his, even as she was careful to keep her hands off him.
“Paige, I can’t.” But his arousal told her otherwise.
“You can tie me up,” she murmured against his ear and his erection jutted against her belly as his breath quickened. “Do you like that, the idea of me all spread out and naked for you?”
It was so easy to talk to him like that. She’d stirred him up, and these consequences she could easily live with.
“Jesus, Paige—yeah, I want you like that.”
“Then go ahead, finish what we started last night. Please.”
Thursday, July 21, 2011
ARC Review: In The Air Tonight
In The Air TonightAuthor: Stephanie Tyler
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Publisher: Dell Books
Shadow Force #3
ISBN: #978-0440423034
Genre: Military/Suspense Romance
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Author (eARC)
| About the book: |
With danger closing in, all they have is each other.
Haunted by a mission he barely survived, Delta Force operative Mace Stevens still carries a soldier’s burden. Running a small bar in upstate New York, he remains a stone cold warrior who guards dangerous secrets and stays ready for anything. Anything except beautiful, vulnerable Paige Grayson, who shows up at his door, demanding answers about her heroic stepbrother’s death under his command.
Paige bears burdens, too. She’s plagued by demons unleashed by an older brother who committed mass murder before her eyes. But here in this snowy haven with Mace, she almost feels safe from the menacing promises of her insane sibling. As a nurse whose hands can read the deepest thoughts of anyone she touches, Paige knows Mace needs her as desperately as she needs him. And when a faceless killer begins unleashing fresh terror, Mace proves just how far he will go to save the woman who means everything to him.
| What I’m talking about: |
In the Air Tonight is the third installment of Ms. Tyler’s Shadow Force series, and it picks up a few months after the conclusion of Promises in the Dark (review HERE). There is enough break between this and the last book that it could certainly be read as a stand alone. The main hero, Mace, and most of his military brothers were minor characters in the last book. With that said, this book does pick up on the Cael-Vivi romance which began in Promises.
The story opens with a bang as ER nurse Paige is taken hostage. We quickly find out that she’s had a tough life (I was almost in tears by page 13) -- her older brother was the perpetrator of a Columbine-type school shooting. To compound problems, her best friend, stepbrother Gray, was recently killed in the line of duty, and to top it off, Paige is has pschometric hands, able to read thoughts and histories from a touch.
Paige managed to keep her true identity a secret for years, but when news of her capture and release hits the TV, soon everyone discovers her secrets. She escapes to a small town where Gray’s best friend, Mace, lives and runs and bar when he’s not on missions with the Delta Force. Although they had only met once before, both Paige and Mace never forget one another.
I was a bit confused for the first 40 pages or so of the story because I was trying to remember who was who from the last book AND I didn’t realize that time had passed since the conclusion of the second book. Prior to the start of this one, the Delta team goes on a mission that goes bad where Gray is killed and Cael walks away with amnesia (these aren’t spoilers, I just didn’t pick up on the fact that time had passed and a mission took place.)
Once I got myself straightened out (well even before) I was hooked on the story. Ms. Tyler does an excellent job of mixing action and suspense with romance. I adore that her characters are never perfect, in fact can have significant flaws, but they are always able to move past them without completely forgetting their problems or suddenly finding out everything is alright.
I loved Cael & Vivi together, and was a bit disappointed when they didn't have HEA at end of last book. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed when I first read about the amnesia storyline - frustrated that the two weren’t together (and in fact took many steps backwards), but wow - it really worked. It was wonderful watching Vivi and Cael fall in love all over again. Their interactions were emotionally satisfying and Ms. Tyler did a superb job describing Vivi’s frustration and pain.
As for the primary couple, Mace and Paige... Another well-written romance. They had great emotional and gut-wrenching dialogue and some sizzlin’ smex. At one point, they didn’t really trust each other and wanted to use each other to forget, but there was always that “maybe it’s different” feeling for both. Mace was cruel and blunt, and it worked. It hurt me to read his words when he was so direct with Paige. I wanted Paige to deny them, but they were true... She was a strong woman to accept his words and move forward.
This book has much more of a whodunit feel to it than the first two. Someone is helping Paige’s evil brother torment her and the clues point back to Paige’s allies. Each time I thought I’d figured it out, there was a new twist in the plot.
I really enjoyed this one... It’s my favorite of the series so far. The book had a real sense of closure, even though I know more stories are coming. The story was quick-paced and high action, but full of emotions and detail.
| My Rating: |
Enjoyed - strongly recommend
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