Follow Me
Grab my feed
Posts
All Comments
Wanna Shop?
2013 Reading Challenge
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
read 0 books toward her goal of 75 books.
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
10) PJ Schnyder
11) Kait Ballenger
12) Denise L. Wyant
13) Lucy Monroe
Sunday Snippets
More Blogs
original images by marin & papaija2008 at FreeDigitalPhotos.com
banner designed by Jennifer from Books Make Me Happy
Showing posts with label Elisabeth Naughton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elisabeth Naughton. Show all posts
Friday, November 9, 2012
Review: Enslaved by Elisabeth Naughton
Enslaved
Author: Elisabeth Naughton
Release Date: Nov. 6, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Eternal Guardians #5
ISBN: # 978-1402262159
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley
About the book:
|
GRYPHON—Honorable, loyal, dependable…tainted. He was the ultimate warrior before imprisonment in the Underworld changed him in ways he can’t ignore.
She calls to him. Come to me. You can’t resist. But Gryphon will not allow himself to be ruled by the insidious whispers in his head. And there’s only one way to stop them: kill Atalanta, the goddess who enslaved him. But with so much darkness inside, he can’t be sure what’s real anymore. Even the Eternal Guardians, those who protect the human realm from threats of the Underworld, want to exile him. They’re not sure he can be trusted.
Finding Malea is like a miracle. Somehow he doesn’t feel the pull of the dark when she’s near. And he’s determined to keep her as near as possible, whether she wants him close or not. But proximity spurs temptation. A temptation that will test every last bit of control he has left. One that may ultimately have the power to send him back to the Underworld or free him from his chains for good.
What B is talking about:
|
Once a proud warrior serving alongside his fellow Guardians, Gryphon has returned from Tartarus a slave to the madness Atalanta infected him with. Even the safe haven of the Misos colony, a hidden, protected place for him to heal, has become little better than another prison. Though they are determined to save him, even his fellow Argonauts have begun to fear that he's beyond redemption. And he doesn’t really blame them.
Melea, who is also filled with the darkness of the Underworld, just wants to finally have the chance to live on Olympus with her father, Zeus. Unwanted and ageless, she's used to being alone; staying alive for three thousand years by avoiding Hades, who happens to be her mother’s husband as well as the god who wants her dead. But, when she meets the tortured, fallen hero of the Argonauts, the journey she's finally ready to begin will lead her to something unexpected, and something she'll give up everything to keep.
Enslaved is a tale of the perfect warrior who has been truly broken. Stripped of his sanity and pride, Gryphon is seen as something dangerous and uncontrollable, and doesn't do much to dispel anyone's worst fears about himself. Melea, on the other hand, proves to be clever, strong, and resourceful in ways I didn’t think she could be, which was a nice surprise. By being willing to sacrifice herself, she stands to gain, not only the family she’s always wanted, but a love beyond anything she’d ever hoped for.
Not to portray Enslaved as an overly weighty tale, there is plenty of action and romance along the way, despite a very shaky beginning for Gryphon and Melea. They have a lot in common as outcasts who are trying to break free of their circumstances, and their growing inability to resist one another goes a long way in making this story a very tender one. They are starved for an affection that neither initially wanted; but once they get a taste of the happiness within their grasp, they’ll do anything to hold on to it.
At its most basic level, Enslaved is a road trip story of self-discovery and finding true love, despite the odds. Underneath that, however, it’s a story of loss and redemption, and of determination and fate. Gryphon and Melea are both beautifully damaged heroes who find a rare kind of intimacy that incorporates the scars they’ve each been hiding behind, rather than attempts to negate them. That acceptance of themselves is probably my favorite part of the journey they take together. I’m enjoying this series more with each novel I have the pleasure to read, and am very much looking forward to the Guardians’ next adventure.
B’s Rating:
|
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Review: Enraptured
Enraptured
Author: Elisabeth Naughton
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Eternal Guardians #4
ISBN: #978-1402262128
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (416 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
|
ORPHEUS—To most he’s an enigma, a devil-may-care rogue who does whatever he pleases whenever he wants. Now this loose cannon is part of the Eternal Guardians—elite warriors assigned to protect the human realm—whether he likes it or not.
Orpheus has just one goal: to rescue his brother from the Underworld. He’s not expecting a woman to get in the way. Especially not a Siren as gorgeous as Skyla. He has no idea she’s an assassin sent by Zeus to seduce, entrap, then ultimately destroy him.
Yet Skyla herself might have the most to lose. There’s a reason Orpheus feels so familiar to her, a reason why her body seems to crave him. Perhaps he’s not the man everyone thinks… The truth could reveal a deadly secret as old as the Eternal Guardians themselves.
What B is talking about:
|
Orpheus isn’t just caught between two worlds, he’s being tossed about by three. Part witch, part demon, and now an Argonaut, he’s an incarnation that simply shouldn’t be. Resentful and angry, he claims to care about nobody. Too bad he can’t convince those he keeps saving over and over of that.
Naughton writes brilliantly conflicted characters, and tosses all sorts of trials their way repeatedly; balancing the darkness with just enough hope to keep them going. Orpheus is a perfect example of how well this type of conflict can be done and was one of the most engaging characters in the last novel in this series, Tempted. But, he absolutely owns Enraptured.
Skyla is a fun heroine, too. As the top Siren, she’s stubborn and strong, and saves Orpheus about as much as he saves her. But there’s more to Skyla, as well, and she turned out to be surprisingly endearing in her own right. As she did with Orpheus, Skyla’s strength throughout the darkest part of Enraptured really won me over, and I think she’s one of the better female characters I’ve read yet.
While the Eternal Guardians series is rooted in mythology, both of the novels I’ve read revolve around free will and destiny. And although each character is destined to follow a certain path, who they become is ultimately up to them, and decided solely by the choices they make on their journey.
Enraptured has it all: fantastical creatures, adrenaline-fueled battles, clever plot twists, heartbreak and humor, and characters that kept me turning pages way past bedtime. With a Siren who’s built to seduce, and a half-demon who can’t resist her, there’s plenty of heated seduction to go around. I definitely think this novel is better within the series, rather than as a standalone, but both of the novels I’ve read were so good, I consider that a bonus. All in all, this was a great read, and one I recommend very highly.
B’s Rating:
|
Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the series:
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Review: Tempted
TemptedAuthor: Elisabeth Naughton
Release Date: September, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Eternal Guardians Series #3
ISBN: #978-1402260469
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (416 pp.), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
DEMETRIUS—He’s the hulking, brooding warrior his fellow Guardians avoid. Too dark. Too damaged. And given his heritage, he knows it’s best to keep everyone at arm’s length.
Isadora is missing. The words pound through his head like a frantic drumbeat. For her own protection, Demetrius did all he could to avoid the fragile princess, his soul mate. And now she’s gone—kidnapped. To get her back, he’ll have to go to the black place in his soul he’s always shunned.
As daemons ravage the human realm and his loyalty to the Guardians is put to the ultimate test, Demetrius realizes that Isadora is stronger than anyone thought. And finally letting her into his heart may be the only way to save them both.
What B is talking about: |
Isadora is the heir to the throne of Argolea, her father is on his deathbed, and she’s just awakened to find herself in the clutches of the enemy. As if she needed more bad news, her captors intend to use her as a pawn in an evil goddess’s plan to rule the world, and her best hope of survival is a warrior who seems to hate everything about her. Lucky for her, the feeling is mutual.
Demetrius is the darkest of the Argonauts, untouchable and solitary. But he’s chosen his path for a reason, one he can’t bear for anyone else to know. Especially the princess he publicly refused to be bound to, who, in his opinion, thinks only of herself. She’s also the one woman he can’t stop thinking about, and if he’s right, she’s not only his curse, but also his one chance at love.
Combining paranormal romance and Greek mythology, Tempted has a lot going for it from the start. As the third in the Eternal Guardians series, I got the impression that some of the missing back-story would have been helpful to have more familiarity with the main characters. The story was very easy to get into, however, so aside from that, I had no trouble immersing myself in Naughton’s world. Being familiar with the myths is a plus, but not necessary, as she uses her characters’ dialog and inner thoughts to fill in any blanks.
Having said that, I am very happy to have had the opportunity to read this novel. The Argonauts are each distinctive, though they’re a fighting unit. A few of them are a complete hoot, and it was extremely entertaining watching them jab at each other like brothers sometimes do, yet join together seamlessly when their duty mandates it.
Demetrius fights himself harder than anyone else, but it was thoroughly enjoyable to watch his barriers crumble. He’s snarly and sexy, and very much surprised when Isadora turns out to be so much more than he’d given her credit for.
Isadora, despite being labeled a spoiled, selfish, weak princess in the beginning, is nothing of the sort, and is extremely loyal and giving to those she loves. By fighting for her heart’s desire, she realizes she’s strong enough to fight for her entire kingdom as well.
Naughton doesn’t hold back on the sensuality of her characters, and Demetrius and Isadora are a perfect pair in that respect. His self-enforced denial creates a lot of tension, and when it finally breaks, it makes for some delightfully naughty scenes.
Tempted was a nice surprise, especially not having read the first two novels in the series. It’s smart and well written, and Naughton incorporates familiar myths comfortably with her own tale. Her warriors are worthy of appreciation; while her heroine isn’t content to merely be a bystander to the workings of her own life. Add in some magic and lust, and Tempted is certainly a novel worth reveling in.
B’s Rating: |
Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Books in the Series:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Grab My Button
